Friday, April 12, 2013 Print Edition

Fashion forward?

Check out photos from the fashion show on page 2.

Friday, April 12, 2013

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 100 News, page 4

People & Clubs, page 7

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 8

Study Break, page 6

Baseball faces top squad She-Sha fights smoking ban

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

The local hookah lounge has been facing legal woes since 2010.

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

The baseball team is tasked with facing off against the nation’s top team, North Carolina, in order to bolster their NCAA tournament chances.

MATT JONES sports editor

When the No. 1 team in the nation comes to town, they are bound to make some noise.

The Virginia Tech baseball team will square off against the top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in a crucial ACC series, the first time the Hokies have played a No. 1 team since 2010 (UVa.).

North Carolina (31-2, 11-1) boasts one of the premier pitching staffs in the country, and

packages that with a lineup that has pummeled opposing pitching this season.

Colin Moran, a preseason AllAmerican third baseman, is the frontrunner for the Tar Heels at the plate. The junior leads the team in home runs (8) and is hitting .388.

“They’ve got a special player in Moran,” said Pete Hughes, Tech head coach. “I think he’s the top one or two in the conference with Trea Turner. That kid is really good.”

The Hokies (22-12, 7-8) are coming off a weekday walkoff win over Longwood. Tyler Horan, who is tied for the team lead with five home runs, ended the game in extra innings with a shot over the right field wall to cap the Hokies comeback.

“Instead of us blowing it out and kind of walking through it, you get the hype going into (the weekend),” Horan said.

In their last ACC series, the Hokies took a major step back.

After taking 2-of-3 games

against No. 4 Florida State the weekend before, the Hokies were swept by the NC State Wolfpack.

In that series, the Hokies committed nine errors, including six in a 14-inning loss on Friday night. Hughes made some defensive changes prior to the series and hopes the results improve in the coming weeks.

Andrew Rash, who started the season’s previous games in centerfield, moved to left field, a see BASEBALL / page four

Downtown wary of campus dining ANDREW KULAK news reporter

Restaurants in Blacksburg rely on the Virginia Tech community for customers during the academic year, but their relationship with the university can be a double-edged sword. With 9000 off-campus students having purchased a dining plan last year, local establishments struggle to vie for student business with Tech’s expanding on-campus dining options.

“I’m not ragging on the

dining halls, but it would be nice for students, especially freshmen students, to come Downtown,” said Souvlaki owner Mike Buchannan, taking a break from cleaning his shop’s floors. “Right now, it’s to the point where they really don’t have to leave campus for anything.”

Souvlaki has been in business for 31 years, with Buchanan, a Tech alumnus, having owned the downtown favorite for 12 of them. He said that when he was at Tech, the food was lackluster, but recent attention to

improving on-campus dining has increased competition from the university.

He has noticed that despite his location directly across College Ave. from Squires Student Center, fewer Tech students have been frequenting his restaurant recently.

“You probably see a little bit less (patronage) because there are more options on campus than there have been in the past,” Buchanan said.

“When everything is offered on campus, the incentive to come downtown isn’t there.”

Buchanan added that the

way Tech advertises food prices to plan holders may make his price points appear higher. He thinks his prices are comparable, especially after considering the $894 f lat cost Dining Services charges for a major meal plan.

According to the price lists from the Dining Services website, the flat cost associated with any of the four major meal plans compensates Tech for the apparent 50 percent discounts offered at a la carte locations. see DINING / page four

College DJ competition to rock TOTS LESLIE MCCREA news staff writer

In a chance to show their skills and “uncover the best party rocking DJ,” four collegiate DJ’s at Virginia Tech will battle this weekend in a Red Bull Thre3style University event.

Host DJ Zeke, who won the Red Bull Thre3style competition in New York City, will join DJ Diabeats, DJ Curly, DJ TMMPO and DJ Kiff y this Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Top of the Stairs.

Each DJ will have 15 minutes to play a personal set that includes at least three genres of music. Judging will be based on track selection, mixing skills, stage presence, audience response, originality and creativity.

“I think this is going to be really professionally done,” said Chris Luceri, or DJ Kiffy, a senior finance major. “There’s going to be legitimate judges and more sophisticated equipment.”

The judges include Mike Mosley, the general manager

of WUVT, Virginia Tech’s student-run radio station, as well as fellow student DJ Byron Becker, also known as DJ BYRN, and Alec Yuzhbabenko, surf club member and Young and Restless brand rep on campus.

First place winner will receive $1,000 and the privilege of closing out the night, and second place will get a $200 gift card.

But for the DJ’s, the night is about showing off their skills.

“It’s just so much fun. The crowd is so hype at all of these parties, and it’s the best time as a DJ,” said Matt Shiller, a sophomore packaging science COURTESY OF MICHAEL DAYTON major, otherwise known as DJ The host of this year’s competition is last year’s winner, DJ Zeke.

Curly.

Shiller won a previous Red Bull DJ Competition at TOTS that would showcase what Tech Dayton explained that this in November 2012. has and put a Red Bull twist on event is great to come out, Michael Dayton, student it,” Dayton said. experience student DJ’s and see brand manager for Red Bull at Aside from competitions, the what they are all about.

Tech, worked with both com- student DJ’s involved normally “It’s going to be an incredible petitions by organizing the DJ for Greek events, house par- time, Red Bull is putting a lot of event and contacting local stu- ties, O’s Lounge, Sycamore Deli effort and money into this and dent DJ’s. and other venues near campus. I know we are really excited,” “Red Bull tries to put on vari“The way I DJ is by read- Luceri said. ous student events, and there’s ing the crowd. It’s all about a lot of student DJs here, so we understanding what they want Follow the writer on Twitter: @lesliemccrea wanted to choose something to hear,” Shiller said.

DEAN SEAL news editor

Since their opening in 2003, She-Sha Cafe & Hookah Lounge has remained the only establishment in Downtown Blacksburg for students to smoke tobacco from hookahs. But as a restaurant and hookah bar, the implications of the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act have led to a battle in circuit courts that started in 2010; one that remains unresolved to this day.

A court document was issued from the circuit court of Montgomery County last Tuesday, saying the ownership of She-Sha Café & Hookah Lounge’s appeal of the 2009 circuit court ruling on the Virginia Indoor Clean Air Act (VICAA) has been affirmed. Their appeal was not successful.

A complaint received by the Department of Health in Jan. 2010 claimed that the management of SheSha had allowed patrons to smoke within their lounge, an act expressly prohibited by the VICAA. Five days after the complaint was received, a Food Establishment Evaluation report cited She-Sha for two noncritical violations: for “an individual was smoking in the building, and the facility failed to post ‘no smoking’ signs.”

She-Sha, which had been issued a business license by the Town of Blacksburg in Dec. 2009

as a “restaurant and retail tobacco store,” contested the violations, but in July of 2010, the Department chose to uphold its determination, saying SheSha had been “properly labeled as a restaurant and that ... none of [the exceptions to VICAA] apply to She-Sha,” in a formal letter.

“

(The owners) are considering (further action) right now.

We’re not necessarily done with the appeal process.”

Andrew Connors She-Sha’s lawyer

The Department’s letter went on to say that, under the VICAA, a restaurant is deemed “any place where food is served,” and that definition would include any location that had a bar or lounge area, thus implicating She-Sha under that definition and subjecting them to the VICAA’s standards.

Yet She-Sha refused to discontinue their current method of operations based on this decision, nor relent in their fight to overturn these citations.

She-Sha requested a formal adjudicatory hearing, and in March 2011, a formal hearing was conducted for She-Sha. However, after months in which the see SMOKE / page four

Remembrance run endures 6 years later ABBEY WILLIAMS features staff writer

To honor those killed during the April 16, 2007 shootings, 32 white balloons will float across the sky Saturday, signaling the start of the 2013 Run in

info on the go What: Run in Remembrance Date: April 13 Time: 9 a.m.

Place: War Memorial Chapel

Remembrance.

Ali Cross, assistant director of fitness and assessment for Recreational Sports, leads a group of student organizers who have been in charge of the 3.2-mile run since its start in 2009.

“Everybody processed what happened so differently,” Cross said. “It was tough to figure out what could be done. As soon as we heard the student voices saying a run was something they would like, we worked to make sure that would happen.”

The run will begin at 9:00 a.m. starting at War Memorial Chapel, then see REMEMBER / page three

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people & clubs

april 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Fashion show inspired by 7 deadly sins

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BY MADELEINE GORDON | features reporter

1. Midori Oglesby, Fashion Merchandising and Design Society model and senior Spanish and art double major, showed off her personality as the Sinful: A Fashionable Affair show opener. “Not everyone wants a hum-drum straight-faced model,” Oglesby said. “You want to show off who you are.”

2. Meghan Gilliam, human development major, is no stranger to the runway. She has been modeling since age seven. Although Gilliam may seem like a natural, modeling is more of a hobby for her, because she is in the corps of cadets.

3. R.K. Durnwirth, model and sophomore industrial and systems engineering major, was ready to model the clothes — or lack thereof — due to his rigorous workout routine for an upcoming fitness show. His first love is fitness while modeling is just a side-gig. “Working out and school is pretty much me.”

4. FMDS designers Amelia Shoemaker and Michelle Harrell (left) have been working on their collection since the summer. Shoemaker said all of their pieces are handmade and original from start to finish.

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Photos by Catie Carrera

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people & clubs

april 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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Remember: Community takes strides in memory of 32 from page one

follow a scenic route around Virginia Tech’s campus and the surrounding area.

The participants will travel around the Drillfield and pass other Tech landmarks such as the Duck Pond, Lane Stadium and President Steger’s house on Grove Lane.

Once on Grove Lane, participants will be treated to musical arrangements from three of Tech’s a capella groups: Naturally Sharp, Mixed Emotions and Soulstice. Bagpipers will also play in front of West Ambler Johnston Hall.

Laurie Schrider, a senior HNFE major and the special events coordinator for Rec Sports, has been in charge of coordinating the musical groups associated with the event.

“It’s gratifying to see the response,” Schrider said.

“I sent an email out and within 15 minutes, I had so many people saying ‘We’re there.’ People keep saying they’re honored to be a part of the experience.”

Katie Gordon, a masters student with a focus in education leadership and policy studies, has helped organize and assist the many volunteers who help run the event. An estimated 500 volunteers are expected to help out between this weekend’s run and the community picnic that will take place Tuesday, April 16.

“A lot of people have signed up for more than one shift,” Gordon said. ”We’ve had a high number of responses from Greek life and other student organizations that want to do a water station or something with their group and be part of the experience together.”

While over 6,000 people

FILE 2012/SPPS

The 6,000 students and Blacksburg residents registered to run this year’s 3.2 miles will pass through Lane Stadium on Saturday, a location that was used in the 2012 route. are currently registered this year, the run was not expected to become such a large event.

“We had planned for a 500-person run the first year,” Cross said.

“We were shocked when we ended up with 8,000 runners.”

Unifying the community for the day is an important element for all the organizers involved.

“I think it’s an awesome

opportunity to be a part of the remembrance and play my part in something that I feel is a good cause,” Schrider said. “It helps students become closer and brings the community in as well.”

Though the end time of the run varies since everyone participating goes at his or her own pace, it is expected to finish at approximately 10:30 a.m.

“We’ve got people we pick

up on golf carts, because it means a lot to them to finish and they just can’t,” Cross said. “It’s more about the experience than the competition of the run.”

Registration is still open, and people are encouraged to join until the last minute. Every participant who registers will receive a commemorative race bib and an environmentally safe balloon to release at the beginning of the

run.

While the run is a time of reflection and respect for all of its participants, some students have personal motivations behind their choice to get involved.

“I’ve run every year prior to this one,” said Daniel Inman, a senior biological systems engineer. “In particular, I run for Professor Liviu Librescu, who was one of the victims, and part of the group that brought my

family here to Tech. He was always an important person in our lives, and he is greatly missed.”

Cassidy Grubbs, a junior English major, said her running was inspired by a fellow Hokie, J.J. Stinson, who advocated for the run prior to his death last April.

“I’m running to honor the 32,” Grubbs said. “But I’m also running to honor J.J.”

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news

april 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

editors: mallory noe-payne, priscilla alvarez, dean seal newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Baseball battles top ranked team

Smoke: Lounge continues to fight in court

from page one

hearing officer made his recommendations to the Department, on June 2011, the Health Commissioner decided to uphold the violations noted in the initial report.

Yet She-Sha was again undeterred. The lounge filed a petition in August 2011 to appeal the Department’s final decision, and while the Circuit Court of Montgomery County chose to dismiss the appeal, the court was of the opinion that She-Sha should be exempt from the VICAA. The problem, the court said, was that the original statute, as written, simply wouldn’t allow for the

position he played two years ago. Horan, who had been playing left field, is now in right field while Kyle Wernicki, a designated hitter and bench player, is now in centerfield.

Rash, who enters Friday’s game with seven errors and the lowest fielding percentage (.921) of any Hokie regular, is more valuable at the plate than the field.

“Sometimes some guys need a different perspective on the field to get themselves going defensively,” Hughes said. “It’s not like he’s trying to make errors — he wants to win more than anyone. He feels terrible. He feels terrible in the box, and he’s not productive.”

It wasn’t just Rash who had errors in Raleigh, N.C. last weekend. Alex Perez (11), Chad Pinder (6), Brendon Hayden (5) and Matt Dauby (5) all have struggled defensively at times this season.

The Hokies had 49 errors through April 8, the third most in the ACC. “I don’t think we’re too concerned about it,” said Mark Zagunis. “Our defense has played well all year.”

Meanwhile, Hughes is hoping the Hokies can get back to fundamentals.

“Our thing was to get back to fundamental baseball,” Hughes said. “Get feeling good about our offense… get some bullpen depth and head into North Carolina feeling better about ourselves.”

Out in the bullpen, the Hokies will need several pitchers to step up considerably. Sean Keselica exited Tuesday’s game in the second inning with an apparent arm injury while fellow bullpen arm Tanner McIntyre is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

“Eventually, there are going to be enough innings lost that need to be made up by some guys that need to step up into expanded roles,” Hughes said. “I look at it as a great opportunity for a lot of guys to expand their role that have wanted to expand their role and are going to get the opportunity now.”

Hughes cited Ricky Hodges (six appearances, 3.86 ERA), Brendon Hayden (four appearances, 1.93 ERA) and Eddie Campbell (eight appearances, 6.93 ERA) as candidates for increased innings.

Though the Hokies have several big question marks, the team is excited to host the No. 1 team in the nation.

“We’re all eager to get back into ACC play,” Zagunis said. “It’s pretty awesome having the No. 1 team come here this weekend.

Hughes knows the challenges UNC presents for his ball club.

“They’re good man,” Hughes said. “They’re really deep, especially on the mound. They got a little more pop than they did last year or the year before.”

One thing the Hokies don’t lack is confidence.

When the dust settles Sunday afternoon, Horan believes the Hokies will come out on top.

“They have very good pitching and a good lineup, so they’re rightfully the No. 1 team,” Horan said. “It’s going to be that much better when we beat them.”

First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m. at English Field.

It’s ‘80s Night at the ballpark, and the first 400 fans will receive a free black and neon t-shirt.

from page one

exemption.

The ruling has lead to the most recent development: She-Sha’s appeal of the circuit court’s ruling.

She-Sha’s argument is that they should be considered a retail tobacco store, and thus would be exempt under the provisions of the VICAA. Another aspect of their argument is that, between being a restaurant and a retail tobacco store, a majority of She-Sha’s revenue comes from sale and use of tobacco on their property.

“There’s a large record with the Health Department … where essentially tobacco and

tobacco related make up twothirds (of sales), so presumably the one-third remaining is food and alcohol sales,” said Andrew Connors, the lawyer representing She-Sha. Without changes to the statute, the court document stated in conclusion that the “VICAA does not provide an all-encompassing exemption for retail tobacco stores that simultaneously operate as a restaurant subject to the VICAA smoking ban.” They also stated that a reinterpretation of the act would “render other provisions of the statute superfluous.”

This decision may not mean the end of She-Sha’s fight to maintain their method of oper-

ations. According to Connors, there is a variety of ways in which She-Sha may choose to respond, though he cannot say which path they may take. “(The owners) are considering (further action) right now.

We’re not necessarily done with the appeals process,” Connors said.

Connors says that the decision could negatively affect SheSha’s business model, though it is unknown if or when changes could occur.

“Whether it will change … or what the department will do, I can’t say,” Connors said.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @JDeanSeal

Dining: Local locations compete for customers from page one

Eating at D2, where the discount is 67 percent, reflects real savings over the price paid by non-plan holders.

“If the perception is you’re getting a 50 percent discount, you can’t compete with that,” Buchanan said of the pricing. “I can’t offer stuff for 50 percent off, or else I won’t be here.”

Buchanan is not the only restaurateur feeling a pinch from Tech’s growing dining operations. Log Cabin BBQ owner and Tech alumnus Brett Wolfe will be closing his store for good this Saturday. Several factors contributed to his decision, including local festivals excluding his business and disappointing sales during football season.

He acknowledged that competition from Tech’s on-campus dining options could have also played a role in his shrinking sales.

“When Tech dining facilities keep getting bigger and better, it affects everyone,” Wolfe said.

“We had some regular students, but not your heavy influx that you would maybe think because of the Math Emporium being there. Maybe they just don’t like barbecue. Maybe it has to do with Turner Place and West End. I don’t know.”

Cabo Fish Taco proprietor and Tech alumnus Gary Walker noted that, in addition to competing with food quality, Tech enjoys certain tax advantages that can make it difficult for local restaurants to offer comparable pricing.

“We’re competing with Virginia Tech, which has some of the best food in the country for colleges,” Walker said. “And they don’t have to pay meal tax — there’s a big, significant difference in the price.”

“

We’re competing with Virginia Tech, which has some of the best food in the country for colleges.

And they don’t have to pay meal tax...”

Gary Walker Cabo Fish Taco owner

Walker said that meals at his restaurant were taxed at around 12 percent. Tech is exempted from some of those taxes for student meal plan purchases and does not collect local taxes on purchases made by campus visitors, a point of contention for some Blacksburg business owners. Buchanan agreed that, while not a significant factor for Souvlaki given the low-cost menu, those dollars get passed on to the consumer and can add up. Tech has countered that the added overall stimulus it brings to the area economy makes up for not collecting and paying local taxes.

Dining Services director Ted Faulker is passionate about Tech’s high quality dining but is aware

that local restaurants compete with Tech for student business.

He acknowledges the relationship can be a tricky one.

He believes that policies enacted

by Dining Services give students added freedom to eat downtown, while maintaining a community atmosphere for students eating at Tech’s diverse on-campus dining facilities.

“We’re cognizant of the need for positive town and gown relations,” Faulkner said. “We understand the value of having Downtown on the edge of campus and fostering a positive attitude between the university and the town of the Blacksburg.”

Faulkner noted that at a number of other universities, students are given a set number of dining hall meals as part of their dining plan that expire at the end of each week. Tech’s current flex plan system, however, allows holders to skip dining on-campus should they choose to eat at home or Downtown, without fear of immediately losing unused meals.

“They have the flexibility to go Downtown and use local merchants and business without the fear of loss of purchasing power,” Faulkner said.

While not expiring weekly, the Dining Services website does remind students that unused flex balances are lost after spring semester each year. A reminder of this policy was recently emailed to dining plan holders.

Despite meal plan f lexibility, many Tech students do prefer to

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remain on-campus for meals. The high quality and low cost of food for dining plan holders were often cited as key factors in deciding to dine at Tech. The convenience of Tech’s many dining locations also encourages students to frequent Dining Services’ eateries, where it is easy to meet up with friends.

“I don’t usually go Downtown to eat a lot because it’s more expensive,” said Andrea Dodson, a senior human development major. When she does dine offcampus, she prefers lower-cost chains to Downtown restaurants.

“I would go to McDonalds, or someplace cheap.”

Senior finance major Ralph Vaz agreed that he prefers on-campus dining to available Downtown alternatives due to food quality and location.

“I would be more likely to eat on campus because I have a meal plan,” said Vaz. “I like the food here, it’s pretty good and it’s more convenient.”

On the other hand, John Witte, a senior mechanical engineering major, has found that eating at home or downtown is quicker and easier.

“It mostly depends on timing and convenience. I live off campus and have a small meal plan, so I won’t come to campus to eat, I’ll just go downtown – unless I’m already on campus or meeting friends who are on-campus.”

Follow the writer on Twitter: @KulakCT

editors: josh higgins, shawn ghuman opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

opinions

april 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff

MCT CAMPUS

what you’re saying On Abortion ruling affects free market Anonymous: That is an overstepping of government power but people shouldn’t be killing babies in the first place so... eh What?: Do you even understand the concept of insurance? Most insurance policies do not cover ‘elective procedures’. In this case, abortion is being seen as an elective procedure.

It makes no sense for it to be covered under and insurance policy. Insurance does not equal health care.

In a manner that something went ‘terribly wrong’ with a pregnancy, it then wouldn’t be an elective procedure and insurance could cover that cost, based on the specific case. No one is having any rights restricted. Nobody is saying that you can’t have an abortion. All that’s being said is insurance can’t cover it. The law therefore prevents my health premiums from rising because you had an elective procedure.

Anonymous: This is the same bull we see when the government passes smoking restrictions in restaurants.

Its not the government’s business how people choose to operate their own restaurant or bar. We need to get the government out of the free market it always just blows up in our faces.

Karen:By that rationale, pregnancy itself is elective and I’m sure you wouldn’t want your insurance premiums going up because *I* chose to have a child.

Women have been having babies without prenatal care since the beginning of the human species. Are you saying women shouldn’t be provided with prenatal care under health insurance policies because pregnancy itself is elective AND prenatal care isn’t entirely necessary?

Personally, I don’t want MY insurance premiums going up because people ELECT to eat garbage and get fat, or ELECT to smoke.

Therefore Type II diabetes treatment and lung cancer treatment are also elective procedures.

Anonymous: Are you really so dense that you can’t see the difference between the natural biological reproductive process and murdering a child?One is clearly an elective procedure and the other is a natural part of the human condition.

Chris: Oh no! The free market!

Job market requires diverse skills E

veryone tells you that getting a college degree will be the key to success in life. From a young age, everyone who made it here was, at some point, convinced that a four-year degree would set them apart from their peers — unless their peers were also in college.

Does the sheer volume of students entering college drive the market down for college graduates?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the amount of 18-24 year-olds attending degree-granting institutions from 1980 to 2010 was up 15 percent.

Either college is becoming more accessible, or “higher” education isn’t as good as it once was.

Now, students experience fierce competition to get into college, which translates to even more competition in the job market.

But is the basic B.A. enough in today’s job market?

A 2010 U.S. Census report shows that 5.9 mil-

lion people earned some form of a college degree.

How can a college degree mean anything if 6 million people already have one?

That isn’t to say a college degree is totally worthless.

Many jobs require skills that almost always must be learned in college.

College teaches young people responsibility and produces well-rounded, informed citizens.

It is, however, more than that in the 21st century.

People want to know how you can apply that knowledge toward the betterment of society, especially now that the global population has surpassed 7 billion.

Often, the perception is that a college degree alone, without any real skills, is a waste. This perceived lack of practicality runs rampant in the humanities and social sciences.

In order to stand out from your peers, why not take up a skill to supplement your degree?

Sure, take all the liberal

arts classes you want, but learn something useful like a programming language.

For example, if you’re a business major with a working knowledge of Excel, get certified in it. It will be one more useful skill to add to your resume.

“

If you have an idea of what you want to do with your life, you should take charge of that now and learn something practical to make yourself hirable.”

College students can’t sit back and let themselves coast along, expecting their phones to ring off the hook with job offers after graduation.

If you have an idea of what you want to do with your life, you should take charge of that now and learn something practical to make yourself hirable.

Many students, however, are stuck on the idea that if their major doesn’t correlate to the job they want, it is a waste of time.

In reality, you don’t need a business degree to run a business, nor do you need a computer science degree to be a software developer.

There are plenty of doctors with English degrees, just like there are many writers with medical degrees.

The idea that your college degree defines what you will become for the rest of your life is inherently ridiculous.

The point is, when choosing your major in college, no matter its practicality, learn something that applies to the real world to show your skills off against a growing pool of college graduates.

ANDREW WIMBISH -regular columnist -English -junior

Space program deserves new funding N ew funding will likely be allocated to NASA in order to jump-start one of its latest programs: a mission to capture asteroids — an idea highlighted by investors and space enthusiasts like James Cameron and Google CEO Larry Page.

The project, which remains in the earliest stages of research and development, represents an absolutely fantastic and exciting direction for the field of space exploration and travel.

The new funding has received quite a bit of backlash from opponents, most citing the government funding of NASA as unnecessary and useless. However, these individuals fail to recognize the economic, intellectual and technological gains that could be made through this asteroid-capturing mission.

As it stands, the program calls for the use of a robotic capturing system, with asteroids roughly 20 feet in diameter representing the ideal candidates for collection. These asteroids would then be transported back to Earth, the robotic systems towing the asteroids into orbit around the moon, according to Space.com.

From there, both robotic

and manned missions could be performed to recover mineral samples from the space rocks for further research or the extraction of rare minerals such as platinum and gold.

Without a doubt, this venture would greatly advance current aerospace technologies, and would aid in the goal of someday having a manned mission reach the surface of Mars...”

According to The Times, a UK media source, the price tag for this initial funding is $100 million, while a study

by Caltech’s Keck Institute for Space Studies indicates the overall cost to be roughly $2.6 billion. The estimated timeframe for this project sits between 10 and 15 years.

Without a doubt, this venture would greatly advance current aerospace technologies, and would aid in the goal of someday having a manned mission reach the surface of Mars, not to men-

tion the vast number of spinoff technologies that would come about as a result of the new research and developing deep-space technologies.

In addition to making space program development and space travel cheaper, easier and safer, this project — along with other international or private efforts — also offers a potentially enormous return on investment.

Asteroids, by nature, contain rare and incredibly valuable minerals such as platinum metals, gold and other metals, as well as oxygen and hydrogen, according to CBS News. Platinum metals are widely used in our electronics, medical devices and batteries, resulting in a high demand.

Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen can also be broken down in order to form rocket fuel and other materials, making refueling for space much easier, as it would be shipped through the atmosphere rather than from the surface of the Earth, according to CBS News. Obviously, the economic gains are gigantic.

It is true, though, that we no longer live in the age where NASA receives blank checks from the government,

and it is time to shift the focus to the privatization of the space industry.

In many ways, this has already happened: the majority of our space technologies have been developed by private firms contracted

by NASA, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Alliant Techsystems, or by private firms developing and launching their own technologies, such as SpaceX. Instead of NASA receiving the majority of the funding for the space programs, perhaps it is time NASA takes a less-intensive role in development and leaves the funding for the private firms.

It is most likely that private industry will drive down costs as well as increase production and innovation.

Of course, NASA could still provide oversight and planning for missions, but perhaps a bit more privatization and a few visionary space enthusiasts might be just what the space industry needs.

RYAN PFEIFLE -regular columnist -university studies -freshman

Editor in Chief: Michelle Sutherland Managing Editor: Nick Cafferky Design Editors: Andrea Ledesma, Alicia Tillman Special Section Design Edtitor: Danielle Buynak Public Editor: Erin Chapman Web Editor: Chelsea Gunter Senior News Editor: Mallory NoePayne Associate News Editors: Priscilla Alvarez, Dean Seal News Blog Editor: Cameron Austin News Reporters: Leslie McCrea, Justin Graves, Andrew Kulak, Donal Murphy News Staff Writers: Alex Gomez, Sean Hayden, Max Luong, Cody Owens, Features Editors: Emma Goddard, Nick Smirniotopoulos Features Staff Writers: Ben Kim, Katie White, Kara Van Scoyc, Allie Sivak, Jacob Wilbanks Senior Opinions Editor: Josh Higgins Associate Opinions Editor: Shawn Ghuman Sports Editors: Matt Jones, Zach Mariner Special Sections Editor: Chelsea Giles Copy Chief: Nora McGann Copy Editors: Allison Hedrick, Sam Huff, Kristin Gunther, Mackenzie Fallon, Alexis Livingston, Kayleigh McKenzie Photo Editor: Kevin Dickel Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: James Dean Seal Circulation Manager: Keith Bardsley Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski Lab Manager: Trevor White College Media Solutions Assistant Ad Director: Carla Craft Account Executives: Robert Alberti, Taylor Moran Inside Sales Manager: Amanda Gawne Assistant Account Executives: Catie Stockdale Jordan Williams, Elizabeth Dam, Emily Daugherty Creative Director: Diana Bayless Assistant Creative Director: Nik Aliye Creative Staff: Mariah Jones, Samantha Keck Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times.

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6

april 12, 2013

“Edmund, my good man, did you pick up your copy of the Collegiate Times today?”

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Your network juices you up with energy, so keep it flowing. Communications go further, which generates more action, and the parties are fantastic. Fix up your place, and entertain friends and family. Career changes could happen in March and September. Create your perfect situation.

“But of course, Winston, old chap.”

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day

Help Wanted GARDEN WORK ON HISTORIC PROPERTY. Digging out perennials, shrubs and small trees; perhaps planting replacements. Some experience desirable. Call, visit and discuss compensation. David West, 607 Giles Rd., Blacksburg, 552-2023.

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT Taking time off from school?

Work for Student Services Moving & Storage Co! $11$13/ hr plus travel, tips & bonuses. Apply online! www. studentservicesmoving.com WORK ON THE BEACH THIS SUMMER! Are you sick of classes? Are you ready for summer? Do you want to get paid to work on the beach???

Telescope Pictures and 85&Sunny is looking for dynamic, motivated, and hardworking college students ready to experience the best summer of their lives!

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61 Saharan refuges 62 Use a short form of 63 __ master 64 Not sharp, say 65 Believer in the clockwork universe theory

4 2 1 1 2 3 8 6 7 6 8

2 6

8 7 2 5 6

5

8 3 9

9 5 3 2

Copyright 2007 Puzzles by Pappocom Solution, tips and computer program at www.sudoku.com

By Bruce R. Sutphin and Doug Peterson

ACROSS 1 Something to do between class and homework 6 “Animal House” house 11 Acting as 14 São __ 15 Unfamiliar 16 Prefix with form 17 Auger shape 18 Globe fleck 19 Green source, briefly 20 Anti-sweatshirt slogan?

23 Shogunate seat of power

24 Major course 25 Rabid B-ball fan’s shout?

31 Lennox of the Eurythmics 32 “__ only kidding!”

33 Get-up-and-go 36 “Waverley” novelist 37 Boston’s Liberty Tree, e.g.

38 Word of welcome 40 Push-up target 41 Progress measure

4/12/13 42 Two-dimensional products 43 Conspiracy resting place?

47 Guiding light 49 Much of the daily paper 50 Harried photographer’s wish?

56 D-backs, on scoreboards 57 Harry’s Hogwarts nemesis 58 “The Office” airer 60 Uruguayan uncle

DOWN 1 Daytona meas.

2 French city near the English Channel 3 Styne of Broadway 4 Greek salad leftover 5 Ardent fan’s purchase 6 Speaker’s platform 7 Supermodel Benitez 8 Plant family including tulips 9 Giggles 10 Caesar colleague 11 Adjusted for a larger group, as a recipe 12 Free 13 Pop singer Mann 21 Dauphin’s destiny 22 Nebraska native 25 Door closer 26 “I’ll try anything __” 27 Irregularly 28 Not be up-front with 29 Nocturnal newcomer 30 Improvises

34 Mideast flier 35 Put forward 38 Got set 39 Subject to removal 41 Desert bordering the Mojave 44 German grouse?

45 Bad luck, and a hint to the four longest across answers

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Continue to increase your income opportunities.

Think of something new and take notes. Secure the ground you’ve captured, as advancement slows over the next ive months. Play with favorite people.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Stick to your budget, but don’t blow your horn about it. Con identiality works best, although it’s good to get everyone in your household involved. Give away some treasure.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Find joy in daily routines. Add randomness.

Complete satisfaction is an achievable state of mind. Don’t let haters get you down. Patience may be required.

Imagine them in their underwear.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Spend a little on something that improves ef iciency for a new assignment. Imagination pays well. Rethink a recent decision with your partner. Clean out your workspace for the next few months.

Streamline your routine.

46 Ceiling 47 Lush-lipped doll brand 48 More than odd 51 Thing to stay on 52 Big name in slush 53 Prying 54 MX ÷ V 55 Approx. takeoff hrs.

59 Thoroughly examine

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Stick to ideas and strategies that you know will work. Don’t push risky areas. Renew a relationship by spending time with someone you love. Relax and enjoy it.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Revisit your renovation plans, and get your place perfected. Read the ine print. Over that time, family secrets get revealed.

Re-state your commitment, and persuade with clear arguments.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) A grandiose scheme takes wing. Review the house rules, and either conform or revise.

Try a new idea. Review, practice and study more to achieve mastery. Build skills.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Stash away extra loot. Extra effort puts more dollars in your pocket. Pay your savings and bills, and then get something you’ve always wanted.

You’ve earned it.

4/11/13

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Fall in love all over again. Settle into a new, improved routine until September.

Review past successes for what worked. Regenerate your energy reserves. Repeat effective strategies.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) The months ahead are good for healing old wounds. It’s more fun than it sounds.

Review personal desires. Traditional ways are best from now through September. Keep it open, transparent and cost-effective.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Take advantage of congenial circumstances and stick with the team you’ve got.

Ask friends for advice. Do what you practiced and ask for help. Plan a retreat.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today’s work positively impacts your career.

You’ll do best, from now through September, doing what you’ve done before. Speak out about what you want. Secure what you’ve achieved.

Watch the power players.

“DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE COLLEGIATE TIMES!” “Available Tuesday through Friday, by golly!”

editors: emma goddard, nick smirniotopoulos featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

people & clubs

april 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

7

She said: Try not to freak out, make new memories

I

am 20 years old. In 37 days, I will still be 20 years old.

However, in only 37 days I will have graduated from 15 years worth of education, sold most of my textbooks and furniture, packed up all of my worldly possessions and moved my cat and myself to the middle of southern West Virginia to begin a new life.

This new life will be as a minimum wage graphic designer hundreds of miles away from all my family and friends.

So, to say I have gradation goggles right now would be a severe understatement.

To be clear, I’ve hated school for pretty much the duration of the 15 years I attended it.

I chose to graduate college a year early because if I had to pay another $30,000 to scribble on desks in McBryde while I pretended to have read the novels for my Southern Lit class, I would’ve gone crazy.

The consequence of that, however, is that I now have to fit an entire fourth year of shenanigans into 37 measly days. It’s a feat that would be difficult in and of itself, but is made more complex by the fact that a majority of my friends are junior busy bees, furiously preparing for another full year of job hunting and binge drinking.

What I really want to be doing with my remaining days is sitting out on the scraggly patch of grass in University Terrace, drinking a jug of cooking wine and writing one of the nine assignments I have standing between me and graduation.

I want to sit in Waffle House eating blueberry waffles and drinking chocolate milk before I have to truck off to

West Virginia, where I imagine the waffles taste far more questionable than the ones out of the squeaky-clean shop on North Main.

I want to crash a freshman party and sit on the couch all night telling semi-lucid underclassmen about all the mistakes I made when I was their age. I want to tell them how they’ve got to live it up big for the likes of old people like me.

I want to beat my trollish, couch potato nature into submission and go hiking.

The blisters aren’t enjoyable, but the view of the valley from the top of Dragon’s Tooth makes my heart feel all kinds of squishy, sentimental things.

Instead, I get to watch everyone do course request while I lounge in bed with my cat watching Vampire Diaries, eating the leftover Easter candy I have stockpiled and browsing Pinterest for unrealistic ideas of how to decorate my future home.

I’ve given up on my own friends; I don’t blame them for working as hard as they do now. It will make their senior year easier so that I can visit on weekends and crash on their couches.

But I haven’t given up on the rest of you. Consider this an open call to all you who are as freaked out about the next 37 days as I am: let’s get together and be less freaked out together.

Or at least cause some damage in the meantime.

VICTORIA ZIGADLO - featured columnist - senior - English major - @victoriazigadlo

KEVIN DICKEL / COLLEGIATE TIMES

He said: Adulthood can wait, live up remaining days

A

s I walk back from D2 to my office in Shanks Hall, I can’t help but notice the robins hopping around blooming magnolia trees and the air fragrant with subtle sweetness.

Undergrads fill the quads outside their dorms again, tanning in various states of undress.

Frisbees float lazily in the air over the Drillfield, while bicycles dart across its crossing paths. My Facebook feed is peppered with people complaining about allergies — spring has finally returned to Blacksburg.

I imagine most, like me, welcome this sudden rush of warmth and sunshine. I can finally relax outside, open my windows to let fresh air into my house. As an added bonus, now that the ice has melted I don’t have to worry about slipping down that damn hill in front of Hokie House on Friday nights.

Well, worry as much. Those Orange Effects can really sneak up on you.

But there are those among us for whom the bell tolls, for whom the now obvious advent of spring comes as a bittersweet reminder that, as the days grow longer, their days as Virginia Tech students dwindle.

To those who are about to graduate: I salute you.

I don’t consider myself very old, but I’d bet my advanced age of 25 casts me into the realm of cultural irrelevance for some Collegiate Times readers.

I have a college degree, and I’ve worked a few jobs. I’ve briefly dabbled in the barren deserts of the dreaded real world.

But I confess I don’t have quite enough experience to provide impending graduates with the sort of condescending advice you’ve come to expect from well-meaning older people giving commencement speeches — though I’m working on it.

In the meantime, I do want to say something: Have a good time. Seriously.

Put this newspaper down immediately (after you finish reading my column) and do something fun — so long as it falls within the confines of the law and some realm of common sense.

Once you have a job, you won’t have the chance to just lie outside your house on a sunny afternoon any weekday. You probably won’t be free to hike the Cascades or go downtown and get drunk at the drop of a hat.

I have to admit that I didn’t have a spring semester my senior year at Notre Dame; I graduated early. Not that the thought of another semester in Northern Indiana at a school where tuition hovered around the median annual household income was particularly appealing.

And you think you’ve seen bad weather and bad football?

Well, let’s just say this last week wasn’t the latest I’ve seen appreciable snowfall in April.

And two words regarding bad football: Charlie Weis. If you’d frozen your extremities off watching your team lose to service academies on the way to a school-worst 3-9 record, you’d be ecstatic about Tech’s recent 7-6 season.

And everything was uphill both ways.

Point being, we have it pretty good here in Blacksburg.

For you graduating full-time student types, there’s only about a month left where going to school is your highest priority and having a good time follows shortly thereafter.

Unless you go to grad school, like me.

Then you have as much time to do that stuff as someone is will-

ing to give you to write a dissertation. The trick is to choose a liberal arts program and use a lot of colons, slashes and italics in your proposal title. Make sure you barely know what you’re talking about. That way, no one else will either, so they can’t call you out on anything.

Jackpot.

Have a good time now, while you can, before adulthood sets in and things like responsibility and obligation take their toll.

If I see you downtown, I’ll buy you a beer. I’m sort of running on the assumption that not many people read this. I’ve seen some pretty disparaging Reddit comments. But I guess that actually could get kind of expensive.

At any rate, I’ll at least have a beer with you while you tell me how you’re making your last month in college the best one yet. Memories last forever.

Maturity can wait another few weeks.

ANDREW KULAK - news reporter - graduate student - English major - @KulakCT

8

sports

april 12, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

editors: matt jones, zach mariner sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

Baseball needs UNC wins for NCAAs Stars for UNC, VT

baseball square off

In

years past, the Virginia Tech baseball team has had less leadership, less talent and less experience than it does now, making average seasons acceptable.

Head coach Pete Hughes says this is no longer the case.

Hughes has had no qualms about letting his team and the media know anything less than reaching the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. would be considered a failure in his book.

Attend any Tech game or practice, and listen for the final word the team shouts in unison before dispersing.

The loud “Omaha” ringing through the Blacksburg sky shows just how repeatedly that goal is driven home.

So, in a season when the bar has been set so high, there may be no series of greater importance than the one that begins today.

The University of North Carolina not only brings its players, coaches and equipment to Blacksburg — but it also brings the nation’s No. 1 ranking.

Hughes — with his stoic Boston attitude — says he believes that this is just another conference series, and the importance of a victory remains as high as ever.

The players, however, do not share their coach’ indifferent mindset.

Dugout leaders Andrew Rash and Tyler Horan have had this weekend circled on their calendars from the moment the schedules were released. The win would be especially meaningful to Rash, who has worn the Hokie uniform longer than any other current player.

Virginia Tech hasn’t bested a top-ranked opponent in Blacksburg since 2008 — the year before Rash’s freshman year — when they took one of three from Miami.

Perhaps more importantly than how it affects the players, is how the series could affect the Hokies postseason chances.

Currently, the Hokies sit eighth in the ACC with a 7-8 conference record, and, though more than 20 games remain on their regular season schedule, their chances at winning the ACC tournament and receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament are marginal.

In order for the Hokies to achieve their goal, they must earn one of the 34 atlarge bids awarded by the NCAA selection committee.

One of the top factors considered by the committee is RPI. A team’s RPI takes into account their winning percentage against Division I teams, their opponents’ winning percentages and how their opponents’ competition has faired throughout the year.

Accompanying RPI on the list of deciding factors is quality wins over impressive opponents. In this regard, stealing twoout-of-three from then No. 4 Florida State in late March was a huge boost for Tech — making them an attractive choice for those that will decide their future.

The very next week, however, the Hokies took a step backward, essentially negating the advances they made against the Seminoles.

Just as surely as solid pitching and f lawless defense

BY MATT JONES | sports editor

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

Chad Pinder, who’s tied for the team lead in homers, will try to help the Hokies steal a game against UNC. resulted in victories against FSU, an obvious lack of both helped NC State sweep the Hokies last weekend.

Tech allowed four runs and committed zero errors in their two wins over FSU, but 19 runs and nine errors made three losses in Raleigh inevitable.

Despite their recent troubles, the Hokies have a legitimate shot at earning one of the at-large spots.

According to

WarrenNolan.com — a website that releases up-todate RPI ratings throughout the season — the Hokies rank No. 12 nationally in RPI and No. 4 in strength of schedule. Both of these numbers will play significantly in Tech’s favor in late May when the selection committee is making their decisions.

There is an understanding that comes with playing the No. 1 team in the country

that allows the Hokies not to be punished greatly from loses.

On the other hand, a series victory would do wonders for the Hokies’ chances of reaching the NCAA tournament, and for a chance to reach Omaha.

JACOB EMERT -reporter -sophomore -communication major -@JacobEmert

UNC

VT

Colin Moran A preseason All-America third baseman, Moran is third on the Tar Heels with a .388 batting average while leading the team with eight home runs. A nephew of former Tar Heel B.J. Surhoff, Moran missed a chunk of last season with a broken wrist, but is back this season as one of the top collegiate hitters. Last season, Moran went 5-for-13 against the Hokies in the North Carolina sweep to finish out the regular season.

Skye Bolt A key new member of the Tar Heels team, Bolt brings not only added speed to the roster (8-for10 on stolen base attempts), but also one of the hottest bats in college baseball. The true freshman from Atlanta, Ga. is batting a team leading .397 through 32 games and also has six home runs. Tech pitchers will need to keep the cleanup hitter off the base paths if the Hokies have any chance of taking the weekend series.

Kent Emanuel The unquestioned ace of the Tar Heels staff, Emanuel is dazzling again as a junior. The lefthanded Emanuel has allowed just nine runs this season (1.30 ERA) and only five extra base hits. His 6-1 record is part of a UNC top-of-the-line rotation that is 19-1 with a 1.36 ERA. He will pitch Friday night, squaring off against Virginia Tech’s Brad Markey. The winner of that game will have the momentum heading into Saturday’s game.

Mark Zagunis Because Zagunis was expected to play so well in 2013, his achievements have been overlooked at this point in the season. His 32 RBI are second on the Hokies team and he currently holds the highest slugging percentage (.555) of any player on the team. His contributions behind the plate have also been critical, holding together a pitching staff that has seen several players move in-and-out.

Joe Mantiply After starting the season with arm troubles, Mantiply has settled down over his last several starts to give the Hokies a reliable Sunday arm. Mantiply served as the Friday night starter for two years, and was expected to fill that role again this season before arm problems limited him. Markey now pitches on Friday, slotting Mantiply in on Sundays to finish out series.

Tyler Horan One of the major power threats on the Tech roster, Horan secured the first walk-off win for the Hokies in 2013 Tuesday night with a two-run home run to defeat Longwood. His five home runs are tied for the team lead and his power will be much needed against the excellence of the UNC starting pitching. If Horan, along with Chad Pinder, Zagunis and Andrew Rash can provide some timely hitting for the Hokies this weekend, the Hokies will have a real chance at taking down the No. 1 Tar Heels.