Thursday, April 18, 2013 Print Edition

Thursday April 18, 2013

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 103 News, page 2

Weekend, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

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Study Break, page 4

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WIDER HALLWAYS • IS THIS FACILITY EASILY ACCESSIBLE? • MORE PARKING SPACES • CAN EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO NEEDS HELP RECEIVE IT? • LARGER JANITORIAL CLOSESTS • HOW DO THESE RENOVATIONS BENEFIT THE ENTIRE FACILITY? • HOSPITAL STANDARDS • ARE THESE FACILITIES CLEAN ENOUGH FOR MEDICAL PROCEDURES • HOW DID LEGISLATORS DECIDE ON THESE CHANGES?

WHICH PLANNED PARENTHOOD LOCATIONS WILL STAY OPEN? MELISSA DRAUDT news writer

On Friday April 12, the Virginia State Board of Health voted 11-2 in favor of finalizing regulations for health and safety standards of abortion clinics that opponents fear could force some facilities to close.

Located just off of North Main Street, the local Planned Parenthood could face closure if they don’t comply with the new regulations.

Read our previous coverage on these regulations.

“They are an unfortunate and

unnecessary intrusion into patient services,” said Cianti Stewart-Reid, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, of the law.

The regulations will require that any facility where five or more firsttrimester abortions per month are performed, must meet the minimum standards for construction set for new hospital buildings.

In 2012, the Blacksburg Planned Parenthood provided 104 induced terminations of pregnancy.

Many pro-choice groups are concerned about the effect on Planned Parenthood facilities across the state, which provide a range of

Potter historian brings magic to Virginia Tech

BEN WEIDLICH/ SPPS

Melissa Anelli shares her experience with loyal Harry Potter fans.

JESSICA GROVES features reporter

Melissa Anelli, New York Times bestselling author and webmistress, never had the chance to wait for her Hogwarts letter.

She was in college when she fi rst fell in love with the Harry Potter series.

Anelli is the author of “Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, his Fans and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon.” Th e book was published in 2008 and landed in the eighteenth spot on the New York Times’ paperback bestseller list in its fi rst 10 days on the charts.

Anelli is now webmistress of The Leaky Cauldron, a Harry Potter fan website.

J.K. Rowling has praised Anelli’s work on the website, and also wrote a foreword in Anelli’s book.

Anelli presented an interactive presentation called “Harry: A History” Wednesday night at the

Haymarket Theatre. Anelli shared the story of her growing attachment to the Harry Potter series with the Collegiate Times.

Collegiate Times: What was the fi rst moment you really fell in love with the Harry Potter world?

Melissa Anelli: I read the books in the beginning of my last year of college. My sister stuck (Harry Potter) on top of a pile of books I was cleaning out of the bookshelf, and was like, “You need something to read.”

A couple of months later, I read through a couple of the books, and I was hooked.

I needed desperately to fi nd out when the fi ft h book was coming out. I went to the Internet — because the Internet has had the answer for everything since I knew it existed. There was no information about it. Th is was in September 2001, and that’s when I found the Leaky Cauldron. see POTTER/ page two

health services ranging from oral contraceptives, treatment of STDs and cancer screenings to abortions.

“It has the potential to (cause health centers to close) if they’re unable to comply with the restrictions,” said Stewart-Reid. “As a result, women would lose access to all the other services that are also provided at those centers.”

Among the regulations, those regarding design and construction could prove costly for many health centers.

However, President of the Virginia Society for Human Life Olivia Gans Turner does not foresee Planned Parenthood facilities closing due to

the costs associated with regulated changes.

“Planned Parenthood has made a lot of noise… and yet Planned Parenthood will not shut its doors,” said Gans Turner. “They make a great deal of money off this business.”

Planned Parenthood, which receives money from the federal government, reported excess revenue of over $87 million for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. That same year, federal funding provided over $524 million to the organization. see ABORTION / page two

Mural aims to showcase local creativity DEAN SEAL news editor

At 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Town of Blacksburg unveiled its new LOVEworks mural on the side of the SheSha building on Draper Road, across from Bollo’s.

The mural, designed by local artist Den Bento, was one of 16 sites chosen from across Virginia to be part of the Virginia is for Lovers social media marketing campaign.

At the unveiling, Mayor Ron Rordam spoke about the mural and the impact he hoped it would have on Blacksburg’s relationship with the local arts community.

Rordam expressed his enthusiasm about what had originally been an attempt to abate the abundance of graffiti around the downtown area but had turned instead into an effort to revitalize the area with public art by local designers.

To the amusement of the crowd, Rordam told an anecdote about his 94 yearold mother, who still creates art with water paints to this day, saying that though the artistic talent had not

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

Den Bento, local artist, poses with her mural in Downtown Blacksburg on Wednesday at the reveal. been passed onto him, “If I can’t paint, I can enjoy looking.”

Rordam described the mural as being representative of Blacksburg’s characteristics, with the deer and dogwood being symbols for the community, and that it represented the broad biodiversity of the area. He went on to express his hopes that,

with the mural, Blacksburgarea students would further embrace the town as their home.

Lisa Bleakley of Montgomery County Tourism and Judy Watkins of Virginia Tourism Corporation also spoke alongside Rordam about the desire to bring more tourism to the town through the mural.

Den Bento, the mural designer, is a MexicanBrazillian graphic designer and art teacher who came to Blacksburg in 2011.

Inspiration for the subject of the mural, Bento says, came not long after she was commissioned to create the design. see MURAL / page two

Former frat house to be demolished CAITY GONANO news writer

Just half a block outside of Blacksburg’s historical district sits a house that holds more history than its previous owners may have realized.

Located right next to the old middle school property, 402 Clay Street, former home of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity for over 40 years, is in jeopardy of demolition.

Within the past year, the fraternity has moved out and into another house on Virginia Tech’s campus in KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS Oak Lane.

The former Sig Ep house sits abandoned on a 1.7 acre lot on Clay St. The controversy surround-

ing the house surfaced when recent research showed that the house holds significant historical value for the town of Blacksburg.

It is currently scheduled to be demolished due to severe damage and safety issues.

Kay Moody, chairwoman of the Historical Design Review Board in Blacksburg, has put a lot of time and effort into saving the property.

“When I heard the house was to be demolished, I wanted to document the house and get as much history on it as I could,” Moody said. see HOUSE / page two

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news

april 18, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Abortion: New regulations require structural changes from page one

The law states that the health centers will be required to maintain structural standards that include a five-foot width for public hallways, larger janitorial closets and a minimum of four parking spaces for each surgical room in the facility.

Opposition claims the regulations are a way to restrict women’s access to abortion.

“I think there’s no doubt that (the regulations) are politically motivated, and they clearly put politics above women’s health,” Stewart-Reid said.

Gans Turner, who has had an abortion, supports the actions of legislators.

“The Virginia Society of Human Life is very pleased with the (actions of the legislature) two years ago, making this proposal an effective law,” said Gans Turner.

“The fact that the General Assembly saw fit to provide

this protection for women… under the law, I think is a positive move.”

There have been additional arguments that the structural regulations in particular are not medically necessary.

“I’m disappointed that the Board of Health… did not listen to the medical experts who’ve made it very clear that these regulations are not medically necessary and will not improve women’s health care,” Stewart-Reid said.

The chair of the Board of Health and representative for EMS, Bruce Edwards, thinks otherwise, due to his experience in EMS. “I think that the whole purpose of this… is to ensure that the places are safe and they are clean,” said Edwards.

“From the standpoint of the structure, there needs to be adequate room in all these facilities so we can work on and take care of the patient.”

According to Edwards, each

of the 20 abortion clinics in Virginia were issued licenses with corrective notices for simple fi xes like placement of hand wash basins and sanitation aspects, as well as for more complicated, structural issues.

While changes to health care facilities in accordance with these regulations will be made by summer 2014, only one facility has expressed that it will not be able to comply with new regulations.

Upon inspections by the state medical examiner, 12 of the 20 clinics are in the process of, or are already in compliance.

Virginia is not alone in creating these types of regulations. Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania have adopted similar laws.

The recent death of a woman during an abortion procedure has provoked Maryland legislators to take action as well.

recently expressed disapproval of the finalized regulations.

In a statement from nine of those senators, they said “The Attorney General’s office is incorrect in their interpretation… the (legislation) never required existing facilities to need new construction codes.”

Twenty-eight public commenters also shared the opinion that existing facilities be grandfathered in, and that construction guidelines should only apply to new health care facilities.

The Board of Health included a grandfather clause in its original write-up of regulations, however, they were forced to remove it in September 2012 after the Generally Attorney’s office deemed the clause was outside their realm of authority.

Medical professionals have also spoken out against the regulations.

“Such onerous and expen-

“This is a preventative and protective, reasonable action that is warranted. Unchecked abortion (clinics) sometimes become… unwilling to protect the women who walk into their doors,” Gans Turner said.

Planned Parenthood representatives assure pro-choice advocates that the organization will not be shut down overall.

The Blacksburg location for Planned Parenthood and the Roanoke Health Center are not sure how these regulations will affect their business or facilities just yet.

The Virginia Department of Health held a public comment period for two months in which over 6,000 comments were submitted. Of these comments, over 4,000 were in opposition to the new regulations.

10 Virginia Senators, who originally voted in favor of the legislation in 2011, have

Camels come to campus The Hokie Bird enjoys an afternoon ride on a camel in front of the Graduate Life Center. The event was sponsored by Friends of Israel as a celebration of Israel’s 65th anniversary. photo by Ben Weidlich

sive structural facility requirements are not rationally related to enhancing the safety of first-trimester abortion procedure, nor prevent potential complications,” said Dr. Stephan Bendheim, chairman of the Department of OB/GYN at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital, in a comment to the Board of Health.

Twenty-two Virginia delegates as well as the former chair of the Virginia State Board of Health, Fred Hannett, spoke in opposition to the regulations as well.

Though the regulations have already been passed, prochoice groups won’t give up the fight.

“We will continue to organize our supporters to speak out against these regulations and to hopefully get them overturned,” Stewart-Reid said.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @MelissaDraudt

Mural: Art reflects nature from page one

“That deer (featured in the mural) showed up in my garden the week I was asked to join,” Bento said. “It showed up at the same time, two days in a row.”

The background of the mural came more naturally.

“The mountains (behind the deer) are how I see everything here, every street here… everything is so curvy,” Bento said.

Bento says she hopes to be able to design more murals for the town in the future, and hopes that after this unveiling, the younger community of local student artists would become interested in contributing to more murals.

She said the incoming wave of undergraduate artists would hopefully get involved through the Blacksburg Regional Art Association (BRAA), Blacksburg’s volunteer-based group of artistic and creative residents.

The project was started around December 2012 as a joint partnership between

the Montgomery Regional Tourism Office, the Town of Blacksburg, the Blacksburg Partnership, 16 Blocks magazine, the BRAA and Blue Ridge Real Estate LLC. Bento says she got involved when 16 Blocks magazine posted they were looking for an artist to take the project on, and when she showed interest, they were excited to take her on as the designer.

The LOVEworks social media campaign, run by the VTC, was started to share the message that “love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation.” They encourage visitors and residents to take a picture with the mural and share it through social media.

Another LOVEworks site opened in Christiansburg earlier this month, and the cost of creating both sites will be reimbursed for up to $1,200 by the state tourism office.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @JDeanSeal

House: Historians Potter: Popular series brings readers together attempt preservation from page one

from page one

Moody and other members of the community interested in documenting the house’s history have found a lot of what they were looking for.

Michael Pulice of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources has been a key player in determining the history of the house. He has made suggestions that the bricks used in the Clay Street house were used in the Methodist Church of Blacksburg, located where the current Methodist Church is on Church Street.

Documentation from Pulice and Moody reveal that the bricks have characteristics of the Deyerle family, who built buildings and churches in the Christiansburg and Blacksburg areas in the late 1800s.

“Would I like to see it saved?

Of course I would. But we are dependent on the owners now,” Moody explained, At this moment, the house is in the hands of the Alumni Volunteer Corporation for Sigma Phi Epsilon, who is selling the house and property for $700,000, double what the house is appraised for.

Michael Cocke, President of Sigma Phi Epsilon described the house’s current condition as “pretty run down.” The house, which sits on a 1.7 acre lot, hasn’t been occupied in over 9 months.

He said, in terms of the selling price, that the fraternity had put a lot of money into

it, and the Alumni Volunteer Corporation are looking to get that back.

Moody explained, from her trip to the site with Pulice, Jack Davis, another member of Blacksburg’s historic review board and Sam Lionberger of Lionberger construction — the company tasked with the demolition — that there had been considerable damage done to the house due to vandalism in the ten months it has been vacant.

Demolition permits have been issued, yet it is still unclear their exact status and schedule for the project.

There was no contact back from Lionberger Construction Company.

Ann McClung, Town of Blacksburg’s Director of Building and Planning said that they have received written confirmation that utilities have been disconnected, and all town requirements have been met in to demolish the house.

Moody reflected that it might be unlikely to save the historic house on Clay Street at this point.

However Moody hopes that one day, the Town of Blacksburg will be able to step in, and have a say in the preservation of historic properties.

Follow us on Twitter: @CT_newsroom

CT: You mentioned fi nding the Leaky Cauldron in 2001. How did you transition from being a fan of the website to submitting content for it?

Anelli: I started with submitting links and news.

First, there were these pictures that were going to be in (the Order of the Phoenix) movie in Vanity Fair.

I went down and got the Vanity Fair a day early, and I engaged in my fi rst act of copyright infringement.

The fandom flipped, and at the time, the person running The Leaky Cauldron said, “Why don’t you come and work for us and do this for Leaky instead of submitting?”

I had just gotten a job two weeks after 9/11, and it was a very new world. I was lucky to have a job, but because of the economy, there was a huge round of layoffs, and I went from being an editorial assistant to an actual assistant.

It wasn’t the job I signed up for, and I didn’t want to lose my job, but I was supremely unhappy. I was turning to Leaky as a source of joy.

Everything I posted, every-

thing I found was more and more fun as it started to get big.

CT: Have you been able to see that community and relationship pass on between fans even after the series ended?

Anelli: The fandom is remarkable; it’s been out of new material for six years, and it may not be as active in terms of raw bandwidth across Internet, but it’s still really strong and passionate.

The “HP” alliance reminds us to bring world themes of tolerance and hope, and it’s no accident that when you meet all these fans — and I’ve met thousands — that the spirit is so loving and warm. I don’t think its coincidence.

When you love something as deeply as we love these books, what you’re saying is “these messages of hope and tolerance resonate deeply within me.”

For the most part, you get people who feel the same feelings that Harry Potter does.

When you have all that in common, you have differences between you, but the general tenor of community will reflect those themes a lot differently than Twilight fandom, for

example.

CT: Do you have a character you have connected with the most throughout the years?

Anelli: Th is is a boring answer, but Hermione Granger. I do think she was (the one I resonated with), but really and truly, it was Harry and his heart that kept me loving the series.

At different times in my life there was resonance… for instance, when I was feeling the odds were insurmountable, it was Harry or Neville.

You know, Neville gets told by everybody, and he’s one of the best of them all.

So, it’s really dependent on the range of human capacity. It’s almost like, how are you feeling?

If you’re feeling angry at the world, read book five. I don’t think my essential person changes, though.

Harry is always the anchor of the series that kept me reading.

CT: Do you have a character that you feel the need to defend all the time?

Anelli: Defend? Malfoy.

You know, he’s not a good person, but he’s complicated and things have preyed on him, things in his culture

and upbringing have made him what he is.

Once you’re an adult, that doesn’t excuse anything, but I defend him a little bit.

There’s a lot of depth to plumb (with Malfoy).

Whenever someone tells me he’s just an evil bully, it’s like, he is a bully, but evil?

CT: I think there’s a quote from Jason Isaacs that says Harry and Malfoy are like two sides of the same coin, and I always agreed with that.

Anelli: Harry could have so easily become one of his cronies. The handshake could have done it all.

CT: If you could ever go back and erase everything you ever knew and read them again, would you do that? Or, would you choose to keep the way you have come to know the books as the same?

Anelli: Because of the way my life has been because of them, I wouldn’t change a thing about how Harry has participated and transformed my life; it’s uniquely special.

But if I could not know anything about the books and read them all again and have that first beautiful experience with no consequences, absolutely.

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opinions

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

april 18, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

what you’re saying

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

On abortion ruling affects free market

Collegiate Times Editorial Staff

Anonymous: 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.

MCT CAMPUS

Our Views [staff editorial]

New structural regulations on Virginia abortion clinics are undemocratic, unfair The need for stricter regulations in abortion clinics makes sense; political implications aside, there is no denying the need for protection of women’s health in all capacities.

That being said, the provisions required by the new law to create more parking spaces and increase janitorial space have yet to be justified by its proponents, and it is not likely they ever will.

There is little evidence that the structural regulations regarding abortion clinics would have a realistic impact on protecting women’s health.

It does not make sense to assume that these provisions would ensure a higher standard of women’s health for all clinics that provide abortions.

Clinics that provide non-surgical abortions may not need these provisions, and to require them to make changes to their infrastructure could put them at serious risk of closure.

These tough building standards seem overwhelmingly like the subtle action of a pro-life agenda — to discourage and complicate the process of getting an abortion.

These strict provisions seem to be nothing more than an attack on the finances of abortion clinics — a backhanded way to impose a political stance without true, democratic process.

Mental rehabilitation should focus on behavioral therapy Dr.

David Healy, controversial British psychiatrist and founder of RxISK.org, has recently come out with a statistic that states “some 90 percent of school shootings over more than a decade have been linked to a widely prescribed type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs.” Healy fi rst made himself controversial in 1997 when he insisted that antidepressants increased the risk of suicide.

Critics accused Healy of driving many patients away who needed help, nearly causing Healy to lose his job.

By 2004 though, British and American drug regulators started issuing warnings on antidepressants, stating that the medicine could cause “suicidal thoughts and behavior in some children and adolescents.”

It is likely Healy’s most recent statement will cause a similar buzz. However, it will not likely be another line added to the warnings on the prescription bottle.

The debate over how to respond as a society to the recent mass shootings in the U.S. has fallen victim to questionable causal links. The shooter played violent video games. The shooter had a mental illness. Now, the shooter was on SSRIs. I do not believe that these factors do not play a role; they certainly may.

The issue we face is singling out and stigmatizing a single factor.

Millions of people play violent video games. And according to the Center for Disease and Control, over 25 percent of Americans have mental health issues, with 11 percent of Americans over the age of 12 taking antidepressants.

“

The debate over how to respond as a society to the recent mass shootings in the U.S. has fallen victim to questionable causal links.”

With this issue, the focus should be on the underlying problems, rather than surfacelevel correlations.

One of these underlying problems, as Healy alluded to, is the inappropriate prescribing of SSRIs. According to a study done by the American Psychological Association, one in five adults in the US take at least one psychotropic medication. The study cites Prozac as the drug that opened the “floodgates” for increased antidepressant use in the U.S. In 1987, it was the antidepressant that had the least side effects compared to its com-

petitors and, as a result, quadrupled antidepressant usage.

Th is disturbing trend is coupled with two significant facts.

First, an analysis of four antidepressants in FDA clinical trials discovered that the drugs had no significant effect on patients with mild depression and had little effect for patients with severe depression.

Second, almost “four out of five patients prescriptions for psychotropic drugs are written by physicians who aren’t psychiatrists.”

In 1996, only one-third of patients taking antidepressants received psychotherapy.

By 2005, that number dropped to only one-fi ft h of patients.

For this reason, I believe the mental health debate should be focused on reemphasizing the role of behavioral therapy in psychiatry.

A study done by Steve Hollon at Vanderbilt University found that patients with moderate to severe depression were less likely to relapse back into depression with behavioral therapy than with antidepressants.

Concentrating on behavior better helps to monitor day-today progresses, relapses and violent tendencies.

MUKUND KATTI - regular columnist - freshman - urban affairs and planning

Consider green solutions this Earth Day E

arth Day, April 22, falls on a Meatless Monday this year, so people will have a double incentive to eat vegan meals.

Vegan is the “new green.”

You can do more for the planet by going vegan than you can by recycling, using cloth bags, taking short showers and walking to work. These actions are important and worthwhile, of course — but if you’re serious about saving the environment, you should opt for vegan foods instead of animal flesh.

Meat just has no place on an Earth Day menu. According to the United Nations, meat and dairy products require more resources and generate more greenhouse gasses than do plant-based foods.

Fortunately, a recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture report suggests that meat consumption is on a steady decline in the United States. Per

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capita meat consumption has fallen for four straight years, according to the most recent statistics. The 6 percent drop between 2006 and 2010 — the largest decline since recordkeeping began in 1970 — indicates that many Americans are fed up with meat.

Several U.S. cities, including Aspen, Colo.; Durham, N.C.; Los Angeles; San Francisco; and Washington have even issued proclamations about eating less meat. And for good reason.

Meat contributes to major health problems, including cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes and obesity, as well as serious environmental issues, including climate change, pollution and deforestation. Researchers from the University of California-Riverside claim that cooking just one charbroiled burger causes as much pollution as driving

an 18-wheeler for 143 miles.

A new Gallup poll shows that 58 percent of Americans “personally worry” about climate change. Worrying, though, really won’t do much good — but going vegan will.

“

Lets not wait until the planet is parched and extreme weather is a daily occurrence before we change our eating habits.”

According to Loma Linda University researchers, vegans have the smallest carbon footprint, generating 41 percent fewer greenhouse gasses than meat-eaters and 13 percent fewer than vegetarians.

A NationalGeographic.

com report shows that vegans use less water, too. The average vegan indirectly consumes nearly 600 gallons of water a day less than the average meat-eater. U.N. officials have urged everyone to go vegan to conserve resources and combat climate change. Some scientists even predict that people will have to go vegetarian by 2050 in order to counteract ever-burgeoning environmental problems.

Let’s not wait until the planet is parched and extreme weather is a daily occurrence before we change our eating habits. Let’s continue eating less meat — or preferably, none at all.

Great-tasting vega n foods are widely available.

The National Restaurant Association says that vegetarian entrees are a “top 10” hot trend, and many ballparks, including Safeco Field in Seattle and Oriole Park at

Camden Yards in Baltimore, are offering new vegetarian and vegan options this year.

Bill Gates and Biz Stone, the cofounder of Twitter, are investing in innovative new vegan companies, including Beyond Meat and Hampton Creek Foods, which makes Beyond Eggs.

These and other companies are creating vegan meat, egg and dairy-product options that are animal- and ecofriendly, cheaper than the “real thing” and just as tasty.

Vegan foods are also cholesterol-free and generally low in saturated fat and calories, and each vegan saves more than 100 animals every year. Plus, if everyone goes vegan now _ in commemoration of Earth Day — we’ll all be in good company.

HEATHER MOORE -mcclatchy newspapers

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april 18, 2013

Regular Edition

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“Happiness is not a matter of events, it depends upon the tides of the mind.”

Personals THANK YOU STUDENTS! For helping us find our dog!

We were hiking at Alta Mons on Saturday when our dog slid on rocks and was washed into a waterfall.

There were four college students (don’t know if they were from VT or not) who tried to help us find her for over a hour. They were great and I would like to thank them. I would also like to tell them that we went back up with flash lights and found her under the falls in a cave like area. She is fine. Guess she knew we would be back to search for her. Thanks!

Sylvia Atkinson

- Alice Meynell Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com

XKDC by Randell Monroe

Today’s Birthday Horoscope: All this network buzz inspires participation. Word travels farther for the next six months, so get it out. Direct this energy homeward. Spend time with friends and family, interspersed with introspection.

Respectfully ride out changes with grace.

Choose what you get, and create what you want. Include love.

65 Like mentors visà-vis mentees, usually 66 Complete collections 67 Differ ender 68 Highmaintenance

By Steven J. St. John

Week ending April 19, 2013

Hot New Songs MoneyGrabber • Fitz and the Tantrums Mirrors • Justin Timberlake My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark • Fallout Boy

Knights of Shame • AWOLNATION Bad feat. Tiara Thomas • Wale

ACROSS 1 Indian royals 6 Pulitzer-winning columnist Maureen 10 Popular British brew 14 Kuwaiti neighbor 15 Albany-to-Buffalo canal 16 Game point, in tennis 17 Make a case 18 Actor Kilmer et al.

19 Not common 20 33/63-Across, in golf 23 Kirby Puckett and Mickey Mantle, by pos.

4/18/13 26 Tech sch. near Albany 27 Withered with age 28 33/63-Across, in stock car racing 31 See 7-Down 32 Words with a nod 33 With 63-Across, nickname for four immortals in this puzzle 36 Mark replacement 38 Ran into 39 West Indies native 41 Secretly watch, with “on”

42 Holler’s partner 44 2011 Libyan arms embargo enforcement gp.

45 33/63-Across, in swing music 49 Climbed on 52 Imperfect, as mdse.

53 Hog’s home 54 33/63-Across, in rock ‘n’ roll 57 Family group 58 Suffix for the wealthy 59 Protect 63 See 33-Across 64 “Top Chef” judge Simmons

Aries (March 21-April 19) Even in the face of confrontation, access your cool head and glide past old barriers. There are calmer winds ahead. Celebrate with a home-cooked meal and cozy couch time.

DOWN 1 Estuary 2 LAX touchdown 3 Drinking binge 4 Color similar to turquoise 5 __ Nevada mountain range 6 Bereft (of) 7 With 31-Across, postgraduate test 8 Setting for saloons and shootouts 9 Regardless of 10 Beer grain 11 Rhett Butler’s final words 12 Yes-Bob connection 13 Wooden Mortimer 21 “All Things Considered” airer 22 Templo Mayor worshiper 23 Alberta natives 24 Renovate 25 Frightening 29 Health care gp.

30 Devoutness 33 Mine transports 34 Attempt to strike 35 Black wood 37 Loses, as winter fur 38 Dutch artist Piet 40 Also 43 Résumé length, often

45 Raises, as a subject, with “in” 46 Brazilian supermodel Bündchen 47 The Magic of the NBA 48 Washington rival in college sports 49 Bremen brew 50 Stan’s sidekick

51 __-garde 55 Old Norse mariner 56 Eggnog season 60 Suffix with Gator 61 Wine choice 62 Wine choice

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)201 1 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

4/17/13

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Watch those nickels and dimes. You’re bringing them in, possibly the hard way.

Walking relieves tension. Move quickly and with keen eyes. Travel later. Assert your desires today and tomorrow.

Inspire, rather than demand.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) It’s getting adventurous for the next two days. Don’t overlook career obligations; handle them before dashing off. Listen to feedback. Get friends to help, and you get to spend time with them.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You’re empowered and more sensitive. Dig deeper without being too critical.

Resist the splurge temptation, and continue to increase personal assets. Observe the situation, and Gemini (May 21-June 20) Don’t be contemplate your next move. Pay back afraid to assume responsibility, and a favor. increase your authority. Only when undaunted by fear of defeat can you Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Make a taste victory. Others may want to decision you can live with. Hold irm to distract you from your goals. Stand up whatever’s most important. The more for what’s right. complete, the better. Be respectful.

Defer grati ication. There’s a potential Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your curiosity con lict of interests. You have more is aroused, and you’re tempted to buy friends than you realized. something you may not need. Think it over. Your energy is best spent making Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Decide what money. Limit your guest list or the you want. There’s a disagreement menu, or just make it a potluck. about priorities. Don’t push too hard.

Check out other options. Confront and diminish old fears. Postpone an outing.

You’re attracting the attention of an important person.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) New opportunities develop. Work to achieve immediate goals. Right now, it’s better to receive than give.

Minimize risks. Make big changes without spending money. Consult distant associates for encouragement.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) There’s so much to do. Streamlining your routine saves precious time. Surround yourself with love, and start by giving it away. Have the party at your house, but don’t go overboard on preparation.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You still have paperwork to inish. Continue to increase savings in the coming week.

Assume responsibility. Talk about your feelings. Provide facts. You’ll have more help.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Pay off another debt. Don’t believe everything you’ve learned. Watch out for misunderstandings or errors. Work out the details with your partner, and put your heads together behind closed doors. Uncork your passions.

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

weekend

april 18, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

5

Tech alumnus aspired to play music, found success with ‘The Low Down’ SARA LEPLEY features staff writer

Authenticity and motivation launched 2011 Virginia Tech alumn Will Sanford and his band, The Low Down,”not only on stages across Tennessee, but also on to lists with Kenny Chesney and Paramore as musicians to look out for this spring.

The Low Down released their debut album on April 9, giving America a taste of their classic rock and blues influences, unfiltered and unapologetic.

“It’s a rock and roll band, what you see is what you get, and we like it that way,” said Brian Bandas, the lead singer of The Low Down and former member of the country band Love and Theft.

The desire to be true to themselves not only influenced the name of the band and the style of its music, but it propelled the band members to follow their dreams of becoming professional musicians.

Like most members of the band, Will Sanford, the drummer, grew up surrounded by music.

On the rare occasion his dad did not have a classic rock station playing on the radio, Will Sanford could hear his mom practicing piano. She was a music teacher for elementary school students, but never pressured Sanford to play. “[Her influence] was sort

of passive, because my mom never pressed it on me that I had to do music,” Sanford said. “But, I was always just around it as a kid, so it sort of just happened by default.”

His father, on the other hand, had a heavy impact on Will Sanford’s taste in genre.

He introduced his son to The Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin.

Will Sanford often picked up seventies albums from flea markets and brought them home to his parents.

These classic rock influences stem into the music that Will Sanford produces now. In addition to his music taste, he developed his drum skills at an early age.

COURTESY OF LIZA ROOP In elementary school, when Will Sanford’s music teacher The Low Down’s drummer, Will Sanford, moved to Nashville after graduating from Virginia Tech to pursue his asprirations to be a musician. assigned other students pieces to keep their music original When his acceptance letter There were all these great moved to Nashville. to practice on the recorder, Will Sanford was hired at by focusing on the everyday she handed him a snare drum to Tech came in the mail, he musicians there, and you immediately thought of his could walk up to an engi- Guitar Center where he met man trying to make it with instead. neer and he might be this his then manager Bandas, the difficulties and frustra“Not every kid would have potential music career.

His parents encouraged him crazy guitar player, but you’d who invited him to practice tions of living in a broken been able to handle that rhythm,” said Freda Sanford. to earn a degree before pur- never know it. In some weird with the still-forming Low culture.

The band hopes to eventu“[The teacher] kind of test- suing his drumming career, way musicians just sort of find Down. Bandas had scouted each other,” Will Sanford said. guitarist Skylar Shoates, bass- ally make it up to Blacksburg, ed to see who would get the however.

Will Sanford had the for- ist Brandon Onstad and final- where Will Sanford would Despite his desire to run off rhythm and he did. He was love to play at FloydFest. and become a rocker, Sanford tune of living in a house while ly, Will Sanford. very consistent, very steady.”

Currently, the band has pro- Will Sanford encourages stuHis confidence in his play- took the route his parents pre- at school, a perfect “jam spot” ing ability did not surface ferred and enrolled at Tech, for other musicians. This gave duced a music video and will dents to support the music until middle school, however, a decision he does not regret him a space to strum up his launch their official website community in Blacksburg guitar, play with many other soon. Keeping the genuine and to follow their own when he entered sixth grade today.

While in Blacksburg, he people, and continue taking quality of music in mind, dreams. and decided to join the school “I guess it sounds crazy, played at local venues and steps toward his dream of they distance themselves band as a drummer. from “bubble-gummy” songs but you really just have to After that, he dedicated seemed to have a magnetic making it as an artist.

It came as no surprise that that create the false impres- start doing something and himself to the instrument and effect on other musicians.

“Virginia Tech, at least while after he graduated in 2011, sion of life on the road is a keep working hard at it,” Will stayed with the school band Sanford said. “Eventually, it all the way through his senior I was there, never had a pub- backed by his parent’s support party.

In doing so, they also strive works itself out.” lically vibrant music scene. and his unfaltering vision, he year.

IT T B U O D I T U G, B N O R W E B Y A IM

Reality TV to send their idiots to Mars Imagine you are trapped in a tiny little RV with three other people on the way to a destination in the middle of nowhere. It takes a whopping nine months to travel there.

There are no pit stops, and once you arrive, you can never leave.

Basically, imagine you are stuck in Nebraska.

But, coming to TV in the future could be a reality show based on the fight to compete for those four spots, as astronauts could be featured in a “Big Brother” style TV show to see who gets to be the first to colonize Mars.

OK, so maybe making history is a bit more glamorous than the nine-month road trip I described, but nothing I said was untrue.

Sure, visiting Mars would be cool — you could take an awesome picture of Earth to use as a new Facebook cover photo, and you could meet Marvin the Martian and debate the finer points of his Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator — but my attention span is too short to make that trip. I get antsy when I am sitting at a red light.

And to travel all that way to be permanently stuck on a dried out, barren planet where the dust would turn all of my clothes red? No thanks.

I guess there are a bunch of people who disagree with me though, as 40,000 people have already expressed interest in taking part in this reality show that will almost certainly turn intelligent, logical astronauts into petty children. That number is pretty impressive when you realize that applications will not even be accepted until July.

The purpose of the show will be to raise money for the actual mission itself, which is slated for some time in 2023. According to the non-profit organization in the Netherlands that is planning this, Mars One, the trip would cost around $6 billion.

Now, I am all for the privatization of space exploration, as I fully believe that there is enough crap happening on our own planet to spend money on before we fund a massive science fair experiment (granted, it is a really cool science fair experiment).

I would even be down for a documentary-type show on the History Channel.

Seeing intelligent people push themselves

to the brink would be a nice changeup from the slack-jawed yokels you see on “Swamp People” and “Ice Road Truckers” — which belong in a massive category of shows that should just be called “My Job Sucks.”

But instead of taking the high road — I cannot believe I am calling any breed of reality TV the high road — Mars One has decided the astronauts that will make history should be picked in the same way that American Idol selections are picked.

How can that possibly be a bad idea, right?

It is not like fans have blown American Idol selections all of the time or anything.

If I have learned one thing in the time I have been in college — and that is entirely possible — it is that people are stupid.

Having them vote to decide who wins $1 million or gets the opportunity to completely bomb a solo album is one thing, but giving them the power to put someone’s name in our history books is a beyond terrible idea.

Making a spectacle out of what I can only assume is one of the most taxing training processes can only be a bad thing. And the way I see it, making it a televised contest will only increase the likelihood that the people applying are not doing this for the right reason, which is, of course, fleeing Earth because of a bad breakup, bankruptcy, or a warrant out for their arrest.

The whole premise is ludicrous; it is outof-this-world crazy (sorry, I couldn’t help myself…I’ll show myself out).

So, if Mars One really does go through with this plan, I think we should all do the logical thing: vote for the most obnoxious foursome on the show.

After all, if they win, we get to kick them off our planet and never have to see them again.

Keep the law

101

on your side.

Lesson: High-Risk Drinking Part II What is considered dangerous drinking?

ANSWER:

Dangerous drinking is alcohol consumption and related behavior that places yourself or others at risk fro serious injury, harm, or even death. Examples include alcohol overdose, driving under the influence of alcohol, and engaging in risky behaviors while under the influence of alcohol.

How much is dangerous?

NICK CAFFERKY - senior - managing editor - communication major

That depends, even small amounts ANSWER: impair judgements that could lead to risky behavior. It should be clear driving while under the influence of any alcohol is dangerous. As a rule of thumb, blood alcohol levels (BALs) above .15 cause significant impairments in judgement, and at BALS of .26 respiration is suppressed.

choose to drink WHEN

it ’s le g a l 4 U

6

sports

april 18, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

DH could damage National League’s style of play in future

In

today’s high-tech, high-speed world, there is something to be said for keeping things the way they were in the good old days.

There have been numerous examples of this struggle to be progressive while not losing touch with the past in the sports world. Most recently this has been with the debate over the legitimacy of bellyputters on the PGA Tour, but no discussion has been more controversial than what is in store for the position of designated hitter.

Beginning in 1973, a rule change affecting only the American League allowed a player to bat in place of any player of that team’s choosing.

Because pitchers are almost always the worst offensive performers on a club’s roster, they are often the ones replaced — with Babe Ruth being the most notable exception.

In the three decades since then, disparity between the leagues has been almost impossible to ignore.

The AL, now with lineups filled with nine professional hitters instead of eight, has lost track of the way the game was meant to be played. Instead, it has become a slugfest.

In 2012 the AL produced more hits and home runs than its counterpart, according to BaseballReference.com, but the differences are more noticeable through the style of play than in statistics.

In the NL, managers are well aware of the decrease in productivity that occurs when their pitchers come to bat, so they adjust for it. Last year in the NL there were 361 more

stolen base attempts and 569 more sacrifice bunts than in the free-swinging AL. The DH-less NL also requires managers to be more active on the defensive side of the ball.

Pitching changes in the AL do nothing more than replace who is standing on the mound; in the NL, however, they are far more important.

Managers must go deeper into their benches during the late innings of a close games to prevent pitchers from batting.

Furthermore, when they want pitchers to stay in games, but they are due to hit in the lineup, double-switches force managers to remove starters permanently from the game.

All of these changes make having a good manager in the NL far more important than in the AL. Those is favor of the DH believe it allows the best players in the league to remain active for longer periods of time.

Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, both of whom became free agents after the 2011 season, are two of a handful of players that have made the switch from the NL to the AL. AL clubs have the advantage of offering players longer contracts worth more money, a lucrative incentive in today’s money-driven market.

Gone will be the days in which it was normal for an All-Star to start and end his career in the same city. For many, this matters little, but for those who enjoy the romantic aspect of a player growing up and growing old while being supported by the same fan base, this is a sad notion.

The designated hitter cannot be blamed entirely for this, but the influence of money can be.

It drove Pujols out of St. Louis and Fielder out of Milwaukee, and the trend shows no signs of stopping.

Adding the DH in 1973 was the first of many changes to try and modernize the game, but in reality, they only made it worse.

Adding wild card teams to the playoffs, interleague play on the schedules and in-game instant replay are three examples on a long list of changes that have gone against the way baseball has been played for more than a century.

It is understood and accepted that changes are going to be made.

It’s unreasonable to expect that anything exists in today’s world the same way it did in the 19th century, especially baseball.

With that being said, the majority of changes do not detract from play in the same way that the DH does.

The DH has existed in the AL for 40 years, and many baseball fans do not remember what the league was like prior to it being in place. Though it is unknown when the changes will take place, those in positions of power in the MLB have made it clear that the DH is going to expand to the NL. Those who enjoy vinyl records, lava lamps and sacrifice bunts should prepare for the worst.

JACOB EMERT -sports reporter -sophomore -communication/history major -@JacobEmert

MCT CAMPUS

Albert Pujols is one of several DHs who have abandoned their NL clubs to head to the American League.