Thursday April 4, 2013
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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 95 News, page 2
Weekend, page 6
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 5
Study Break, page 4
Threat SGA announces New coffee shop ups U.S. new leadership attracts students defense DAVID S. CLOUD mcclatchy newspapers
The Pentagon said Wednesday that it is sending a mobile missile defense system to Guam as a “precautionary move,” as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said North Korea posed a “real and clear danger” to the U.S. military base on the western Pacific island, as well as to allies and other U.S. territory. North Korea has named Guam and Hawaii as potential targets in a series of bellicose statements in recent weeks that have raised tensions on the Korean peninsula and prompted a series of military moves aimed at beefing up the U.S. military presence in the region and reassuring allies that the U.S. will come to their aid in case of attack. The decision to send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system to Guam comes after Pentagon officials were questioned in recent days about whether the island — which is a U.S. territory — has been covered by the U.S. missile defense system. The system includes ground-based interceptors in Alaska and California, as well as warships capable of shooting down missiles. North Korea has “ratcheted up their bellicose, dangerous rhetoric and some of the actions they’ve taken over the last few weeks present a real and clear danger and threat,” Hagel said in a speech at the National Defense University on Wednesday. Areas at risk include South Korea and Japan, as well as Guam, Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States, he said. “We have to take those threats seriously.” Despite the concerns, North Korea has not demonstrated that its missiles have the range to hit Guam or Hawaii, much less the U.S. mainland. Nor is it known to have a nuclear warhead small enough to be carried on its missiles. But U.S. officials said its missile capabilities have expanded in recent years more rapidly than predicted. Asked about Guam recently, Undersecretary of Defense James Miller said the U.S. missile defense system “provides coverage of not just the continental United States, but all the United States.” But some analysts note that the U.S. military’s own maps of the geographic reach of the groundbased interceptor shows Guam uncovered. Defense officials said that Guam was still covered by missile-carrying U.S. warships in the Pacific equipped to shoot down ballistic missiles. Sending the ground-based system to Guam beefs up the U.S. defense. The so-called THAAD system, which the Pentagon said would arrive in Guam “in coming weeks,” includes a truck-mounted launcher, interceptor missiles, a tracking radar and a fire-control computer system. It shoots interceptors designed to hit ballistic missiles in the final phase of their flight as they descend toward their targets. “I hope the North will ratchet this very dangerous rhetoric down,” Hagel said. “There is a pathway that’s responsible for the North to get on a path to peace.” But, he added, “you don’t achieve that responsibility and peace and prosperity by making nuclear threats and taking very provocative actions.”
See the staff editorial on page 3
BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS
The CoffeeWorks Cafe is located at the Corporate Research Center.
The cafe caters to students and faculty looking for relaxed, open space with numerous ammenities KELLY CLINE news staff writer KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS
BY PRISCILLA ALVAREZ | news editor
The newly elected president and vice president won on separate platforms and will work on joining their ideas in the next month prior to inauguration 2013 SGA ELECTION RESULTS PRESIDENT
VICE-PRESIDENT
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he new administration of SGA takes office with uncertainty surrounding them. Brent Ashley, president, and Anjelica Smith, vice president, will have to reintroduce themselves as they join initiatives as candidates from different platforms. Prior to their win, the two had been involved in the organization as senator and vice president and, in March, began campaigning for their executive roles. However, each of them ran under separate tickets with Ashley under the Engage ticket and Smith under Together for Tech. What this means for the direction of student government next year is still uncertain, according to the newly elected leaders. While the two emphasized student representation and growth within SGA, they still had separate points and approaches that will now require them to comprise a new plan by the time they take office in the next month. Ashley and Smith sat down with the Collegiate Times to discuss how they plan on tackling this as well as their future initiatives. see SGA / page two
CoffeeWorks Cafe, a new coffee shop at the Corporate Research Center, opened during the first week of December in 2012 and is catching the attention of the Blacksburg community. The cafe, a ‘We Proudly Serve’ Starbucks location, provides an open space for a variety of activities, such as socializing, doing projects and meetings, said Mike Soriano, general manager of the cafe. “We’ve got plenty of parking, plenty of seats, there’s usually no line at the counter, so you can come here and get the exact same coffee you’re getting at all of the crowded Starbucks and Paneras and such,” Soriano said. “You can come here and get it and be in and out in two minutes. We just have so much more space here and it’s not overcrowded.” The eccentric furniture, numerous amenities and the free wi-fi and printing at CoffeeWorks make it especially accommodating for work and study. “I like that I can park my car, walk in, get my coffee, go upstairs and work. It’s convenient,” said Shana Williams, a
more info The cafe opened December 2012 as a ‘We Proudly Serve’ Starbucks location. Among its various ammenities are: - Free wi-fi - Free printing - Plentiful parking - Spacious seating service level specialist at the CRC and frequenter of the cafe. Williams also appreciates the many areas to plug in laptops and the natural light dispersed throughout the room. The unusual furniture in CoffeeWorks was sold to the CRC at an affordable price by Herman Miller, a furniture company, in exchange for research regarding its popularity with patrons. CoffeeWorks is starting to host events as well, such as the Sweet Jazz concert on Friday April 12. Soriano says that CoffeeWorks may start hosting one event every month to two months depending on how well the fi rst few go.
Council approves spot for rescue squad KEVIN LOHR news staff writer
On Tuesday, March 26, Blacksburg Town Council approved a purchase of land at the intersection of Progress Street and Patrick Henry Drive for the Blacksburg Rescue Squad's new headquarters. The approval was only the beginning of a process that is expected to take several years. As of now, the cost
of the land is approximately $850,000 and about three acres in size. The Council had to make a decision to put a contract on the land, said Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam. There are still opportunities in the form of public hearings for neighbors to voice possible concerns about the new headquarters that could potentially change the Council’s mind about the viability of the
new site. That being said, Rordam seemed confident that the decision would stand. “We would not have looked at and chosen the site if we didn’t think it had a lot of potential to be the appropriate site,” Rordam said. The Blacksburg Rescue Squad is cohoused with the fire department at their current headquarters, located on 200 Progress Street, and has been struggling with
structural issues and space problems. According to Squad Chief John O’Shea, the Blacksburg Rescue Squad has simply outgrown their current space. For example, their technical equipment doesn't fit into headquarters and has to be kept in storage units. “We’d like to consolidate operations and keep everything under one roof,”
info on the go The Blacksburg Rescue Squad is currently located on 200 Progress Street.
see BUILDING / page two
Virtual career fair sees increase in numbers ANUJA DAS news staff writer
Career Services at Virginia Tech is doing its own bit to help students with the process of recruitment in the virtual space. The career center offers a wide array of virtual career services for students, including virtual career fairs and a range of facilities that accommodate phone and Skype interviews. These services are proving highly
beneficial for students and employers alike. The virtual career fair ends today. Organized by CareerEco, the virtual fair for all SEC and ACC universities, provides a great platform for students and alumni to interact with employers via chat sessions. There are 59 employers currently registered for the fair. Some of the employers are Kellogg Company, AT&T and Saks Fift h Avenue. “The data suggests that
employers that are successful are using it (virtual career fair) to supplement their recruiting strategy, not to replace it,” said Jim Henderson, associate director of employer relations. Approximately 425 companies visited Virginia Tech this semester during career fairs. Companies such as IBM and Teach for America visited campus and are now taking part in the virtual career fair as well. A total of 5,301 students
registered for the fair last year, with 222 students from Tech. The number of registered students from Tech this year is already higher, with the count being at 299 and expected to increase. The procedure is simple. Students upload a resume, log onto the chat room during the specified time and then ask questions or simply talk to employers. Follow the writer on Twitter: @Anuja_Das
more info To participate in the fair visit www.career.vt.edu. The last day to join the virtual career fair is today, April 4. Have a resume on hand to be able to participate in the virtual chat room.