Tuesday, April 23, 2013 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Army ROTC cadets get down and dirty: See page 3 for photos Tuesday, April 23, 2013

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Running back arrested for felony after Downtown fight MICHAELA REARDON news staff writer

Redshirt sophomore running back Michael Holmes will face a bond hearing Tuesday morning after being arrested in a fight that broke out on the 200 block of College Avenue early

Sunday morning. The police responded to the fight at 1:50 a.m. on April 21 in the Armory lot, located near the School of

Visual Arts. The fight began as an altercation between Holmes’ ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend, and escalated to a fight involving five people, one of which was Holmes, who was charged with malicious wounding. Three people were injured in HOLMES the fight. The two females were

ACC solidified through 2026-27 JACOB EMERT sports editor

The 15 presidents of the ACC’s current and future colleges and universities officially agreed on Monday to a media grant of rights agreement that will be in place through 2026-27 season. The agreement centralizes television deals with the conference rather than individual schools, almost guaranteeing conference realignment will no longer affect the ACC for at least another decade and a half. Over the past five years, the top-tier conferences have sought out the major schools because of the revenue that accompanies them in their television deals — but with this grant of rights put in place, ACC schools are rendered unappealing. “Th is announcement further highlights the continued solidarity and commitment by our member institutions,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. “The Council of Presidents has shown tremendous leadership in insuring the ACC is extremely well positioned with unlimited potential.”

info on the go As a result of this agreement, it is very unlikely that the ACC will lose members before it expires. Th is statement solidifies Virginia Tech’s place in the ACC, and comes as a disappointment to those who hoped it would depart for the SEC in an attempt to gain greater national recognition. “The ACC has long been a leader in intercollegiate athletics, both academically and athletically,” said the collective ACC Council of Presidents. “Collectively, we all agree the grant of rights further positions the ACC and its current and future member schools as one of the nation’s premier conferences.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @JacobEmert

treated at the scene and the third victim, a male, was taken to Lewis-Gale Hospital for treatment. The charge of malicious wounding was warranted due to the injuries of the male that was taken to the hospital. After investigating the fight, Holmes was also charged with two counts of assault and bat-

tery. His arraignment was originally scheduled for Monday morning, but has since been moved to Tuesday morning. He is currently being held in Montgomery County Regional Jail without bond. Later Sunday night, a fourth victim, also unnamed, reported two other suspects from the

fight, both of whom have been arrested and charged with assault and battery. The two suspects are listed as Kierra Shacruee Barnes, Radford resident, and Ciara Monet Simms, who is a sophomore sprinter for the Virginia Tech track team. see HOLMES / page two

Club rallies against coal BY JESSICA GROVES | features reporter

he cadets who live in the upper quad of the Virginia Tech campus are expected to perform at peak condition, but there is one aspect of living there that affects their and other students’ health. Lindsay Carr, a sophomore biological systems engineering major and vice president of Students for Clean Energy at Virginia Tech, lived in Thomas Hall her freshman year. She never considered looking at a campus map to find where her future dorm was located, so she had no idea it was on the upper quad where a coal plant would roar just outside her room. “When you move in, you’re not told you’re going to live next to the plant,” Carr said. “I was looking at the coal pile from out my window.” More than 350 residents sleep in Thomas Hall. It was last renovated in BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS 2004, and it stands directly between Seneca Haynes talks about Permaculture in the Students for Clean Energy’s meeting. Shanks Hall and the power plant. She said that some of the issues going green of living in the residence hall were impossible to ignore, but hard for On page 2 students to comment on. The resi-Tech earns national dents used to be both cadets and award for sustainability civilians, but this year, it houses -Historic tree replanted corps members only. on Henderson lawn “The cadets have to be careful (what they say) while in uniform, On page 4 because they represent the whole -In the Loop: List of corps,” Carr said. “They’re just kind events for Earth Week of stuck with it.” BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS see COAL / page four

Haynes handed out Permaculture literature at the talk.

Relay for Life continues despite delay Community shows up to run in honor of Boston victims

NICK SMIRNIOTOPOULOS features editor

The dreary weather didn’t stop thousands of Virginia Tech students from celebrating Relay for Life last Friday. The rain delay pushed the event back three hours, beginning at 8 p.m., but the weather subsided for the rest of the night, barring some heavy winds. Relay raised over $550,000 this year for the American Cancer Society, with the help of local sponsors and more than 6,000 participants. The event — inspired by its slogan “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.” — was divided into three sections. The Survivor lap kicked the event off at 8:30 p.m. after the opening ceremony. The Remembrance lap — complemented by a slide show of those affected by cancer and the lighting of the Luminaria — was held at 11 p.m. Sarah Leins, a junior biochemistry major, was on the mission and advocacy committe who was responsible for setting up the Luminaria.

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

Locals who participated in the Boston marathon shared their testimonies.

MELISSA DRAUDT news writer BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

A Cadet leading the way makes room for the ﬂag carrier during Relay for Life Friday on the Drillﬁeld. “I wanted to know how I freshman year).” Leins said. “She battled cancould get involved more, so I Leins has attended Relay cer for four years. Obviously, joined the mission and advo- for three years after she was she’s a big part of my life and cacy committee so I could deeply impacted by the dis- who I am today, so it’s great take part in the Remembrance ease in 2009. to be able to give back and ceremony,” Leins said. “The “I got involved in Relay work for a cure.” Remembrance ceremony because my mom passed see RELAY / page eight really pulled me in (my away from breast cancer,”

The mood was energized Monday night, as members of the community gathered to show support for those affected by the explosions in Boston last week by walking or running on the Huckleberry Trail. The Runners for Boston runs are organized as part of a national effort by the

Independent Running Retailers Association (IRRA). At 6:30 p.m., Cortney Martin and Kirsten Thompson Mosby, who ran the marathon last week, spoke of their experiences, followed by a moment of silence at 6:42 p.m. to remember those injured or killed in Boston, as well as those in West Texas affected by the fertilizer plant explosion. see BOSTON / page two

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april 23, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Historic tree planting commemorates Earth Day LESLIE MCCREA news staff reporter

For the past 43 years, Earth Day has been celebrated nationally, and now as the holiday simultaneously arrives with blooming trees, Virginia Tech’s Environmental Coalition will host Earth Week 2013 in efforts to teach students the importance of sustainability and the environment. The week is a combination of events centered on Earth Day, as well as Arbor Day on April 26. Activities include demonstrations, speakers, movies, and daily events on the Drillfield. “Sustainability, or even the Earth in general, isn’t necessarily the first thing the students think about, even though we’re on this gorgeous campus,” said Grace Friedhoff, fifth-year architecture major and Earth Week coordinator. “It’s not always a part of our culture, so it’s a big deal that we’re celebrating it and that the university is celebrating it because we’re trying to make it be more a part of the way that Tech functions,” Friedhoff said.

Two days of the week will include tree-planting events. Thursday, April 25 is a day that all volunteers can take part in, as nine large dogwood trees will be planted from 2-4 p.m. on Henderson Lawn as a part of the College Avenue Promenade project. “The tree planting on Thursday is a great event because we actually get to physically plant trees and it’s a fun way to get people involved,” Friedhoff said. Henderson Lawn was also the site of the major tree planting on Monday, which began with a presentation including words from both President Charles Steger and Mayor Ron Rordam in order to kick-off the week. The cuttings, which are pieces of the roots, came from a beloved sycamore tree that used to grow on Henderson Lawn and had been around since 1870. The old tree was cut down in 2010 after it became a hazard, and the cuttings were taken in order to save the tree’s DNA and create an identical tree. “For the community of Blacksburg and so many people at Tech, the Henderson

Lawn sycamore was such a symbol of a place to meet,” said Paul Winistorfer, Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment.

“

The Henderson Lawn sycamore was such a symbol of a place to meet.” Paul Winistorfer Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Environment

“Think about where we would be without trees; while we have millions and billions of trees, sometimes in the urban landscape a particular tree holds a specific meaning for people,” Winistorfer said. The cutting used is one of few that survived in a group of 300 cuttings taken and grown in a campus greenhouse by professor of Forest Biology, John Seiler. “How large this project has become just shows how the community and the university put their roots down around

this tree,” Seiler said. Denny Cochrane, sustainability program manager for the Office of Energy and Sustainability, helped come up with the idea to turn the planting into a big event. “We finally found the perfect place to plant the cutting, so we said ‘Why don’t we bring this thing out of the horticulture center and plant it and make it a special day,’” Cochrane said. Tree planting has been a tradition on campus during Earth Week since Tech was fi rst named a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in 2008. Tree Campus USA is an award given for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in conservation. “We’re really excited to bring the tree back to showcase how we are a part of Tree Campus USA,” Friedhoff said. “The tree planting (was) really exciting because the old sycamore was colossal and was an icon on campus. It’s great to bring something old into something new and it’s a whole new generation that will get to experience it.” The town of Blacksburg also hosted a tree-planting event on

Saturday April 20, with three locations available to plant nursery trees, or shade walking trails and parks. In addition to tree planting, the Environmental Coalition, as the largest environmental organization on campus, hopes to promote sustainability and a ‘green’ lifestyle on campus. “It’s really easy to get involved, and it doesn’t take much to be green. It’s only a few simple steps and a slight change of thinking to make the world a better place, and that’s what we’re trying to achieve,” Friedhoff said. Friedhoff has been working for the past two and a half months with a group of facilitators from the club to put together all of the events. “(The Environmental Coalition) prides itself into putting together a program that touches all aspects of sustainability and interest the students will have,” Cochrane said. Some people engaged in this project, such as Winistorfer, were a part of the first Earth Day in 1970 as young students.

info on the go The original Henderson Lawn sycamore was planted in 1870

Winistorfer urges students to participate this week, noting that thy can bring “energy, passion, and a sense of the future.” “What used to be an environmental focus has broadened. For people in your generation, it has been taught and you have been exposed to this for a while, so it’s becoming part of the norm,” Cochrane said. “It makes sense just to pick a day, back away from it all, and celebrate the creation we have been given.” Follow the writer on Twitter: @LeslieMccrea

Tech receives silver Boston: Local runners raise money for sustainability from page one

CAMERON AUSTIN news staff reporter

Virginia Tech recently received another silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). This is the second year Tech has achieved the prestigious award, with an overall score of 63.30, just under the level of gold, which requires a score of 65. “AASHE has organized 135 different items that we ought to be looking at in an ideal situation to see how sustainable our campus is,” said Denny Cochrane, sustainability program manager for the Office of Energy and Sustainability. Tech is scored on three different categories: education and research, operations and planning administration engagement. Extra points are also awarded for going above and beyond. For example, Tech was awarded extra points for serving milk that was produced by the local dairy farm associated with the university. Tech’s score is the highest achieved by any college or university in Virginia, and is the third-highest among other ACC institutions. Georgia Tech leads the ACC with an

overall score of 78.45. “We are committed to maintaining our leadership role in campus sustainability,” said President Charles Steger in a letter that was submitted with the report to AASHE. By using the nationally recognized Sustainability Tracking Assessement and Rating System (STARS), Tech’s sustainability program can receive feedback on what they need to improve on, and see what innovations other organizations are implementing. The STARS program is intended to serve as a guideline for sustainability in higher education settings, and create incentives for the university to participate in sustainability campaigns. Virginia Tech’s Office of Energy and Sustainability is the driving force behind implementing sustainability initiatives at Tech and manages the university's involvement in the STARS program. “Tech has stepped up to the plate and said that we want to be a part of this program, and give our best effort,” said Cochrane. Follow the writer on Twitter: @CAustinCT

"Running is a lot about freedom and getting out in the world and being unencumbered and just going… this was such an affront and assault to what we love and value," Martin said. Thompson Mosby and her husband traveled to Boston with their children to run the marathon. "I think sometimes the worst things bring out so much good in people," Mosby said. "It was really humbling to know that in such a moment of tragedy there's a lot of good still." The participants last night gathered for different reasons, but all shared the underlying hope of solidarity. Sophomore HNFE major Shacoria Winston participated last night to show her respect for the victims in Boston. "It's a time to promote unity amongst our campus again," Winston said. "I feel like we're used to tragedy and we're used to events of this nature

so the things that occurred in Boston are similar to what we have experienced. We need to show respect for them and show support in the same way that everyone else around the country has shown for us." Brett Sherfy — a graduate student in math education — sported blue and yellow, the colors of the Boston Marathon, while he ran Monday night. "Races have always been a safe, energetic environment and I think that was all kind of taken away last Monday," said Sherfy. "(The Boston Marathon) is still going to be the pinnacle of marathon running, but it's never going to be the same." Runabout Sports, a member of the IRRA, hosted the event for the area and sold "Runners for Boston" t-shirts with 100 percent of the proceeds going to One Fund Boston aiding victims of the tragedy. Owner of Runabout Sports,

James DeMarco, called the Boston Marathon a celebration of life and endorses running as a good way to express emotions. "One of the worst things you

One Fund Boston will distribute money to families most affected by the Boston Marathon explosions. The cost of an amputation procedure ranges from $20,000$60,000 with the average cost of a prosthesis being anywhere between a few thousand dolIf everyone ran more lars and $40,000. often I think we’d have One Fund Boston has already raised over $10 mila lot less violence in lion to donate to victims and families. the world” DeMarco predicts that next year the marathon will James DeMarco see more runners than ever Owner of Runabout Sports before. Martin is determined to return to run in Boston again can do is dwell on things," next year and Sherfy hopes to DeMarco said. "Running is qualify for the marathon one definitely a proven way to get day. rid of...stress. If everybody "(At Virginia Tech) we have a ran more often I think we'd really good understanding of have a lot less violence in the uniting together after a tragic world." event,” Sherfy said. “I've seen Runabout Sports donated what a community can do $300 to cover the cost of mak- after (tragedy).” ing the shirts and hope to raise Follow the writer on Twitter: $1,000 for the charity from @MelissaDraudt sales.

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Fight: Felony results in immediate suspension from page one

According to athletic department guidelines, Holmes will be suspended

indefinitely due to his felony charge. If the charge is dismissed, Holmes could potentially be reinstated. However, since Simms was charged

with a misdemeanor, she will be subject to a review process — the result of which can range from a warning to dismissal.

The date for Holmes’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for fo June 13 at 2 p.m. Follow the writer on Twitter: @MReardonCT

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

arrestees

status

4/19/2013

12:00 AM-2:45 PM

Narcotics Investigation

Owens Hall

n/a

Active

4/19/2013

9:51

Appear Intxicated in Pubic

Drillfield Drive

Eric Paul Jones, 21

Cleared by Arrest

4/20/2013

1:30 AM

Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alchohol

Armory Parking Lot

John Rowland Irwin, 19

Cleared by Arrest

4/20/2013

12:04 AM

Destruction of Property/Appear Intoxicated in Public

Outside Rasche Hall

David Ames, 22

Cleared by Arrest

4/20/2013

2:22 AM

Vandalism/Destruction of Property

Hancock Hall

n/a

Inactive

4/20/2013

3:00 AM

Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol

Lee Hall

Terence Chan Leung, 18

Cleared by Arrest

4/20/2013

2:15 PM-7:00 PM

Burglary/Breaking and Entering/Destruction of Property

Football Locker Room

n/a

Active

4/20/2013

10:00 PM

Possession of Marijuana/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Slusher Tower

Alexander George Piccirillo, 19

Cleared by Arrest

4/20/2013

11:14 PM

Appear Intoxicated in Public

College Avenue

Benjamin T Rodgers, 23

Cleared by Arrest

4/21/2013

12:15 AM

Underage Posession of Alcohol x2

Overflow Parking Lot

n/a

Inactive; Referred to Student Conduct

4/21/2013

1:13 AM

Underage Possession of Alcohol/Appear Intoxicated in Public/ Fake ID/Identity Theft

Otey Street Near GLC

Sean William Mckavitt, 19

Cleared by Arrest

4/21/2013

1:13 AM

Underage Possession of Alcohol/Fake ID

Otey Street Near GLC

Meaghan Rose Devine, 18

Cleared by Arrest

4/21/2013

1:17 AM

Appear Intoxicated in Public

College Avenue

Eugene Hayes Merkert, 27

Cleared by Arrest

4/21/2013

2:07 AM

Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol

University City Boulevard

Jared Schwalbe, 19

Cleared by Arrest

4/21/2013

2:43 AM

Appear Intoxicated in Public/Underage Possession of Alcohol

Roanoke Street/S. Main Street

Nicholas Connor Smith, 19 Cleared by Arrest

4/21/2013

3:02 AM

Underage Possession of Alcohol

Draper Road

Inactive; Referred to Student Conduct

4/21/2013

4:00 PM-8:45 PM

Vandalism/Destruction of Property

Armory Building

Inactive

4/22/2013

1:49 AM

Larceny

Dietrick Express

Inactive; Reported by Student Conduct

april 23, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

A cadet tries to stay dry in the rain as he listens to a safety brieﬁng before the land navigation test.

Spring Army FTX: Field Training eXercise a photo essay by brad klodowski This past weekend, the Army ROTC held a three-day field training exercise (FTX) which was designed to prepare cadets for their penultimate leadership test before entering the Army. Approximately 350 cadets from Virginia Tech, 100 cadets from Radford and 50 cadets from Wake Forest took part in FTX. Freshmen cadets (known within the Army as MS-1) took part in activities at Radford, while sophomore and junior cadets (MS-2 and MS-3) underwent training in Dublin at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant. Senior cadets (MS-4) also attended the exercise as instuctors and graders for the other cadets.

The training consisted of three main parts. The first was a day and night land navigation course (Land Nav), in which cadets got experience reading maps and navigating to specified points within a time limit. The second was a situational and tactical exercise (STX) in which MS-3 cadets were given temporary leadership roles in a platoon. They were then givien a mission to complete and evaluated by MS-4s and Army officers on their leadership skills and tactical decision making. The final day of FTX saw the cadets completing a compass-based orienteering course.

Cadets set off from the command post and head toward the ﬁrst of eight ﬁrst land navigation objectives.

A group of cadets work with their platoon leader to plan a mission as part of the Situational Tactical Exercise (STX). STX involved four different test scenarios with varying objectives and tactical circumstances.

A cadet carries his comrade to safety after he sustained a simulated injury from an enemy ambush.

A cadet advances out of a treeline and across a ﬁeld as part of a simulated assault on an enemy position.

april 23, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

arts & entertainment

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

“Oblivion” falls to weak script Coal: Club voices concerns Movie Rating The trend of high-achieving science fiction films, recently featuring “Prometheus” and “Cloud Atlas,” continues on with “Oblivion.” Unfortunately, while “Oblivion” may end up a commercial hit, it’s not going to get anywhere near the critical success Tom Cruise must have been hoping for. The reality is that for every “2001: A Space Odyssey,” there’s at least 10 more on par with “Cloud Atlas.” High-brow science fiction films are incredibly hard to pull off, and too often audiences are left with a movie that had great potential but simply never really got it together. Regrettably, this is the case with “Oblivion.” The film certainly has an interesting premise. It also has a strong performance from Cruise and a director, Joseph Kosinski, who has an impressive background in spacey CGI from directing “Tron: Legacy.” However, “Oblivion” falls into that familiar ground of those trying-so-hard-tobe-profound sci-fi movies: it reaches too high and doesn’t have the script to back it up. After every “revelation” and plot twist, you can practically hear the writers congratulating each other on how deep and ingenious they are. But, it’s not that impressive when it feels like every aspect of the story has been ripped off from better movies. With a writing team that included William Monahan (“The Departed”) and Michael Arndt (“Little Miss Sunshine” and “Toy Story 3”), the script should have been better than re-hashed tropes from the genre. Even Kosinski’s admittedly cool CGI work and Claudio Miranda’s — winner of best cinematography at the 2012 Academy Awards for “Life of Pi” — gorgeous approach to the post-apocalyptic, wasteland Earth simply cannot overcome the weak plot and

from page one

even weaker script. “Oblivion” is part of a gradual attempt by Cruise, who stars as the main character Jack Harper, to be considered a serious actor and an abovethe-title name. His career was derailed by public relationship woes and Scientology, and it’s hard for anyone to take him seriously now that we’ve all seen him jumping on a couch. But after the two box office successes, “Knight and Day” and “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” Cruise seems to be on his way again. In “Oblivion,” after an alien invasion destroyed Earth years before, humanity has fled to a massive space station called the Tet and has established a colony on Titan, Saturn’s moon. Jack Harper is one of the last humans who work on Earth. He is a technician maintaining the drones on Earth, which aim to eliminate any remaining alien resistance while extracting all possible resources from the planet. Five years prior, Harper received a “security wipe,” which erased humans’ memories, ostensibly to prevent security leaks should he be captured by the alien enemies called Scavengers. But, Harper is having

strange dreams of standing with a beautiful woman on the Empire State Building observation deck. As Harper’s deployment on Earth nears its end, a spaceship crashes that contains several pods with humans hibernating in them. One of them is the woman from Harper’s dreams. When a drone starts shooting on the survivors, Harper is prompted to rescue the woman, who he learns is Julia (Olga Kurylenko). The Scavengers who are revealed to be fellow humans, not aliens, then capture Jack and Julia. Harper begins to question what he thought he knew about the alien invasion after he meets the leader of the Scavengers, Malcolm Beech, played by Morgan Freeman. It goes on from there, and you can probably fill in the rest of this unoriginal script. In the end, I can’t help but feel like “Oblivion” would be most accurately compared to a particularly pretty meringue dessert: it sure is nice to look at, but once you bite in, there just isn’t a whole lot there. KATIE WHITE -regular movie columnist -junior -history

Carr caught a glimpse of a rally protesting the coal plant outside her dorm during her freshman year and decided to get involved with Clean Energy on campus. Last year, the group worked to switch Tech’s focus from coal to renewable sources like solar or geothermal energy. Now, Carr has become one of the rallying students. Clean Energy has hosted several events to inform students about the conditions on the upper quad, but their most important demonstration has yet to occur — an air quality test in Thomas Hall. “The university did an air quality test, but I believe it was in the summer and on the roof,” Carr said. “The plant isn’t running as much in the summer, and I don’t think the roof is an accurate representation of the conditions students are living in.” Clean Energy took a more direct route to learn more about the experience that Thomas residents were having with the coal. The group conducted a survey to assess students’ reactions to living near the plant, but it was not as easy as expected. “It’s hard to access them, especially now that there are no civilians living in there,” Carr said. “We aren’t allowed in without an escort.” Since the plant isn’t moving, groups like Clean Energy have been working to find alternative solutions. The Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research has been doing research regarding what coal plants can improve on. Brad Kelley, public outreach coordinator for the VCCER, said carbon capture — the storage of carbon dioxide produced by power plants — is one option that coal production can pursue. “Every time you see smoke stacks, that’s carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas,” Kelley said. “We’re pioneering that project.” The VCCER is not a part of Tech, but it has devoted time and research to many of the same issues Clean Energy is working toward. The difference between Carr’s group and Kelley’s is

funding. VCCER received $14 million dollars in funding from the Department of Energy to work on capturing carbon emitted by power plants. They plan to store more than 20,000 tons of carbon dioxide underneath Buchanan County. Another possibility, Kelley said, is the production of biomass pellets. Farmers in the New River Valley are already growing and transporting biomass, but the VCCER has found another place to search for material: beermaking facilites in North Carolina. Kelley added that while there are many issues related to coal production, the VCCER gets most of its work done in research. It may not be as immediately effective in reducing emissions as shutting down a plant, but for Kelley and Carr, research means progress. Erica Stratton, leader of the Water and Energy Team for UVa Sustainability, was able to tour her campus’ coal plant, which also produces steam and electricity. She said that the employees on UVa’s campus work to be as efficient as possible to combat the effects of fuel production. Neither Carr’s nor Stratton’s work focuses on the importance of the coal plant on campus, but Stratton said she believes the power plant on UVa’s grounds is sensible. “(The people) are open to using alternative fuels there,” Stratton said. “I don’t like it being right on the grounds, but it makes sense for such a large institution, which includes a hospital, to have some energy independence.” Stratton collaborates with a group of students, faculty and staff at UVa each month to discuss practical fuel options for the Strategic Fuel Plan. The group performed a trial production with biomass and coal for research and found they could replace up to 30 percent of coal production with biomass. Clean Energy has also done research with biomass as an alternative source of energy. Carr met with Sherwood Wilson, vice president of administrative services at Virginia

more info Students for Clean Energy’s mission is to inﬂuence the university’s administration to transition from the campus’ dependence on coal to a 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2020.

Tech, to discuss a cost analysis of coal and biomass production. “It was a good opportunity to talk to them, but it can be frustrating,” Carr said. “We want to work with them and see something change.” Although Blacksburg’s wind challenges many students on treks across the Drillfield, Carr says wind-generated energy isn’t the change our campus is suited for. “We’re in a valley, not on top of a mountain,” Carr said. “Since, that’s not really a possibility, (Clean Energy has) focused on new possibilities. The solar panels on top of the new parking garage are a good opportunity.” The Students for Clean Energy at Virginia Tech hasn’t existed for very long, but its founding members come from other energy-conscious organizations: Virginia Tech Greenpeace and Beyond Coal. The group is taking a new direction in promoting alternative energy use on campus, partially because of obstacles the former clubs have faced. Stratton said that students on every campus have more influence than they realize, even when they lack the ability to support their passions financially. Because they are not professionally representing their schools, Stratton said, they are freer to voice concerns about university policies and practices. “You can’t have a university without students,” Stratton said. “It’s important for the university to take student demands into consideration.”

“Evoland” serves as nostalgic adventure through development of video games Game Rating

Most independent game developers focus on a single, unique mechanic that drives the entire experience. “Evoland” is not like

most indie games—instead it is a celebration of the mechanics that fueled some of the most beloved games in the history of the entire industry. The credits proudly proclaim some of the more obvious influences such as “Final

Fantasy”, “Legend of Zelda,” and “Diablo,” which are all games that should be familiar to any avid gamer. “Evoland” is essentially a game that tracks the evolution of video games through a top-down adventure game with its own rudimentary

story. You will play as Clink, unlocking the basic elements of a game: sound, graphics, combat, weapons, and even game-types. The first few chests you open will give you left and right movement then 2D in all directions. Standard “Zelda” style 2D and 3D combat is the norm with “Final Fantasy” style battles taking place while wandering around on the world map. One of the dungeons in the game switches into “Diablo”esque hack-and-slash combat with loot dropping from every enemy. It is kind of hard to describe this as anything other than a love letter to classic video games. In some cases your enjoyment will take a backseat to the pro-

cess of unlocking bits of the game. Being required to buy an ingame “Fast DVD Player” to remove the artificial loading times is the worst example of this. Having to buy items or find your mini-map is not fun after the novelty of the first few chests you run across. The opening moments of the game are the most exciting and interesting. The pace of the “unlocks” rapidly slows down and with it, sadly, most of the fun of the game. “Evoland” is a game that relies almost entirely on novelty to entertain. With only a few hours for a first play-through, there is not any time for the story or characters to really become meaningful. Perfectionists can

spend a few extra hours finding the collectible stars and any unlocks they may have missed, but the map is fairly small with only a few obvious accessible locations. At $10, you cannot go wrong with a fun little game that will make you nostalgic for the games that you have probably spent a lot of time playing. Clink cannot stand up to a classic character like Link, but he is the perfect person to guide you through a trip down memory lane. BEN KIM -regular game columnist -sophomore -communication

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

april 23, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

The Collegiate Times is an independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff 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, Kristin Gunther, Sam Huff, Mackenzie Fallon, Alexis Livingston, Kayleigh McKenzie Photo Editor: Kevin Dickel

MCT CAMPUS

what you’re saying On “Independent Vigil Sparks Controversy” Anonymous: This story does not completely and accurately depict the events surrounding this “vigil” and the way that the controversy around it unfolded. Though she may deny it now, this “spontaneous” event was always intended to promote gun control efforts - however, knowing that this type of rally was not permissible,especially at the memorial, it was promoted under the guise of a vigil to get around those stated guidelines. When those who desired to attend a remembrance vigil began to ask questions about the entire scope of the event, Ms. Koebel Stromberg did finally (to her credit) explicitly - and repeatedly - state her desire for this to be a call to action regarding gun violence. Despite the attempts of many to dissuade her, she persisted and caused more division and pain on this day than was ever necessary.

Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski Lab Manager: Trevor White

Your Views [letters to the editor]

April 16 editorial comments display lack of sensitivity, compassion for the victims

response to the comments current students are making regarding the events of April 16, 2007, I am compelled to write this letter to current Tech students, asking for understanding as the Virginia Tech community continues to heal. Approaching April 16, as I scrolled through Collegiate Times, or other Tech websites, I was bombarded with comments such as, “The Virginia Tech community needs to move on” or “I don’t care about a day without classes.” These comments are not only insensitive, but indicate that current Tech students undeniably lack one of the largest Hokie values, as I understand them: respect. The writers of comments such as these attempt to make the point that because most of the students directly affected by April 16 are no longer in Blacksburg, the university does not need to offer any formal remembrance event, such as the vigil. However, what these commenters must recognize is that the terrible murders that day didn’t just affect students. Tech is more than its stu-

dents, anyone who has been on campus for more than five minutes will tell you that — Tech is a family. While it is true that many of the students affected are no longer on campus, it is crucial to realize that the professors, staff, coaches and members of the Blacksburg community were also affected and deserve the opportunity to honor the 32 innocent lives lost that day. Asking someone to, “get over” the Virginia Tech tragedy is perhaps the most tactless response one could offer. The students who display this shocking level of indifference to April 16 fail to comprehend that it is impossible to “move on from” and “get past” staring at your phone for hours waiting for a text from a friend or family member saying, “I’m alive.” At the very least, these comments are tragically inconsiderate. Yet, they pale in comparison to the most thoughtless comments, the comments asking Hokies why they don’t, “Live for 33.” The answer, to put it rather bluntly, is because Seung-Hui Cho was a criminal. Using the logic of the commenters,

if Hokies should honor Cho, then Americans honor the suicide bombers each September 11 as well, because the terrorists lost their lives, too. Please understand that I am not advocating hatred and animosity, instead I am suggesting that the students who recommend “Living for 33” realize that forgiving someone and honoring someone are two very different actions. I recognize that I present a unique point of view because I, like the students writing these comments, was not a student at Tech on April 16. However, my sister, and many friends, were. Like the commenters, I will never comprehend what that day was like in Blacksburg, and God willing, I never will. I just ask that current students understand that there is no precedent for recovering from tragedy. Each person is different and as a member of the Hokie family you must respect that. Courtney Smith Sister of Tech Alum

New professors require better training, evaluation The educational atmosphere within the classroom of a professor new to teaching is often atrocious. This is not always the case, as some new professors are naturally gifted or have some prior experience when it comes to instructing students, but a lack of teaching ability is quite common among new professors. One could imagine this educational atmosphere, or lack thereof, causes tempers to boil. Students hold great disdain for professors who cannot properly teach, particularly when they are fi rst-time educators. It is not the professors’ fault, though, and we should not hold contempt for them. Despite their role as educators, they are learning right alongside us.

Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: James Dean Seal Circulation Manager: Keith Bardsley

This is truly detrimental, as this sort of system clearly hinders the quality of education students are provided. Due to this lack of quality, students do not receive their money’s worth in education and they are being set up for unnecessary challenges in both the current course and future courses which build upon the fundamentals of the initial class. It appears, however, that Virginia Tech does not have a problem with this; in fact, the option to train professors appears to be left entirely up to each individual department. Two professors, Nahum Arav of the physics department and Damion Blake of the political science department, shared their observations. “The university does noth-

ing to prepare professors to teach students,” Arav stated, specifying that he spoke only about the physics department. “There is a check after the fact, such as student evaluations or professor sit-ins, but it does not help students over the teacher’s first few semesters. Even a two-week intensive training session could help to prepare new professors.” Blake’s observations in his department were starkly different, stating that many graduate school students work alongside professors to instruct other students in the department before they go on to teach their own classes. In addition, professors in the political science department go through training sessions to continuously improve their

teaching abilities. This drastic difference in training for professors between departments is absolutely unacceptable and the university holds the sole blame. If all of Tech’s departments took on policies like those of the political science department for new professors — or even current, experienced professors — it is much more probable that our professors would convey their course material much more coherently and students would better comprehend the material. Clearly, big changes need to happen. It is embarrassing that Tech is held with such a high level of prestige and yet the university fails to improve the educational conditions in its classrooms.

It is time we, as students, voice our opinions loudly; we need to write letters and speak with professors and counselors and attack this issue tenaciously. We want to be proud of the education we receive, not angered and annoyed by it. Improvements in our education will change the attitudes of students not only in regard to their coursework but also to the professors. Without a long overdue resolution to this issue of under-experienced educators, students and new professors both suffer in the end. RYAN PLEIFLE -regular columnist -freshman -university studies

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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. 365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 Fax: (540) 231-9151 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com All letters to the editor must include a name and daytime phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. All other submissions must include city of residence, and if applicable, relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). All letters should be in MS Word (.doc) format, if possible. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor-in-chief and the managing editors. Letters to the editor are submissions from Collegiate Times readers. We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Have a news tip? Call or text 200-TIPS or e-mail newstips@collegiatetimes.com Collegiate Times Newsroom 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief 231-9867 College Media Solutions Advertising 961-9860 The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The Collegiate Times receives no direct funding from the university. The Collegiate Times can be found online at www.collegiatetimes.com. Except where noted, all photographs were taken by the Student Publications Photo Staff. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The first copy is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents per issue. © Collegiate Times, 2012. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

april 23, 2013

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: For the next three weeks, renew old friendships. The first six months of 2013 bring a nice financial boost, so hide away savings. Discover hidden resources. Communications go farther, and networks grow. Focus on partnership, and learn about new cultures. Network with groups that share your passion. Strengthen ties.

April 26th Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day

“You’re happiest when you’re making the greatest contribution.”

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2 1 6 5 7 7 9 1 2 6 3 7 5 9 2 7 8 9 7 3

9 5 2 5 6 4 3 9 7 1 3

61 Pulitzer-winning author James 62 As if it were scripted 63 Mars, to the Greeks 64 Lout 65 Ninnies

By John Lampkin

Week ending April 26, 2013

Hot New Songs Cruise • Florida Georgia Line B****, Don’t Kill My Vibe • Kendrick Lamar Still Into You • Paramore Wild For The Night • A$AP Rocky, Skrillex, Birdy Nam Nam Don’t Hold The Wall • Justin Timberlake

ACROSS 1 Popped (out) 6 Pet welfare org. 10 Swear 14 One drawing a bead 15 Feeds, as cattle 16 Kevin’s “A Fish Called Wanda” role 17 *Neat, practical types, so it’s said 19 Father of Cordelia 20 Slip 21 Swore 22 Piano’s opposite, in a score 23 Rhone feeder

4/23/13 25 Keys for a music room? 27 Department store employees 30 Dog days mo. 31 Sing like Michael Bublé 32 Is leery of 37 Kin of -ess 38 Different kinds of them are split (but not in an embarrassing way) in the four starred answers 39 Make __ with: impress

40 Radiation detection device 42 Inclined (to) 43 Here-there link 44 Invaded, with “on” 46 Epitome of thickness 50 Clutch 51 Insect-trapping resin 52 Man of many words 54 Le Mans law 57 Kind of miss 58 *Easter Bunny’s delivery 60 Bar peel

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Two days of intense work begin. Getting it done is easier than thinking about doing it. Avoid distractions; you’ll have time to stop and acknowledge efforts later. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and return the favor. Gemini (May 21-June 20) You’ll have more time for love and relaxation. How will you take your romance to a new level? Don’t look at what you want, but rather at what you can contribute. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Repetitiveness can be especially tiresome right now. Break the routine and add some wild creativity. Get outside, too. Then take care of yourself at your home sweet home with a good night’s sleep. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) There’s still plenty of work to do, but suddenly everything starts making sense. Continue exploring new directions in your career. You’ll be surprised by what you learn about yourself.

DOWN 1 Deal with 2 Whopper creator 3 Puts away 4 It’s always in Shakespeare 5 Big screen locale 6 Slip preventer 7 Peel 8 Singer Lauper 9 Beast of burden 10 *Ceremonial flag carriers 11 Wombs 12 Country 13 Abrasions 18 Innermost part 22 Final complement, perhaps 24 *Arch supports, e.g. 26 Relatives of drums 27 Emailed a dupe to 28 Cartoonist Peter 29 Resilient strength 33 Poky follower 34 Hearst Castle, for one 35 Brown of publishing 36 Dump closing?

38 Chincha Islands country 41 Marshy wasteland 42 Marshy fuel source 45 Neutral shade in London 46 Quixote’s squire Sancho 47 Arab chieftain

Friday’s Puzzle Solved

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Your ideas are attracting attention. Cash low improves. Pay expenses before splurging. You’re really cooking now, and the orders low in. Get help if needed, and stash pro its. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You’re stronger, more self-con ident and sensitive for the next two days. Watch out, world! Take charge of your destiny. This week should be very active and fun. Get outside and play. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Be sensitive to a loved one’s wishes. You’re under pressure regarding deadlines. If you can get away, it’s also a good time for treasure hunting. Notice your dreams. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Celebrate accomplishments. Your friends are your inspiration, and they provide solid support. Get out and play together, but remember your budget. Make it a potluck or go Dutch.

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48 Demean 49 Barilla rival 53 Butter alternative 55 Albatross 56 “Got it” 58 Punch that might make you reel 59 Yachtsman’s course: Abbr.

4/19/13

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) This phase brings lots of career action. Take charge and manage responsibilities. It may require discipline, determination and patience. Reward yourself later with a thought-provoking ilm or book. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) By now you should know how much you can spend. If you can get away for a little while, go. Watch the big picture, and plan your agenda. Then put on your rambling shoes. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Focus on inances; get organized and practical. Things are beginning to shift. Consider an investment in your education. Study pro itable ventures. Rejuvenate your relationship. Sensuality takes front stage. Aries (March 21-April 19) A hero comes to your rescue when least expected. Continue to put in the effort, though. Don’t depend on others to do the work for you. Stay active, and remain open to contributions.

sports

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

april 23, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Spring Game doesn’t reﬂect progress from spring practice Th ree passes. That’s all it took to completely rewrite the narrative surrounding Virginia Tech football’s spring practices. Before this weekend’s Spring Game, Hokie Nation was abuzz over the apparent progress new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffl er was making with the offense, specifically the way he seemed to be helping troubled quarterback Logan Thomas. However, after the scrimmage, fans are in a panic about the state of the offense, and it’s almost all thanks to the three interceptions Thomas threw against the second-team defense. There’s no doubt that some concern over these miscues is warranted; Thomas seemed to stare down his receivers and tried to force throws he shouldn’t have. But that doesn’t mean that all of the progress the team made in just a few weeks

should be totally discounted. Prior to the Spring Game, Loeff ler was incredibly positive about the progress Thomas was making, and everything coming out of practice seemed to indicate that the new coaches had helped change the culture surrounding the team. It’s certainly disturbing that Thomas and the offense still looked so sloppy, particularly given the level of competition they were facing, but it’s not as if this should come as a huge surprise given how radically Loeffler is trying to remake the unit. Instead, there were some positives from the scrimmage, and spring practice as a whole, which deserve to be recognized. After losing Marcus Davis and Corey Fuller last year, wide receiver was widely regarded as the team’s weakest position coming into the spring. Not only has D.J.

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Coles begun to showcase his potential to play at new positions like H-back, but Joshua Stanford emerged as Thomas’ new favorite target. He broke off several big plays in the Spring Game, fi nishing with 86 receiving yards on the day, and seems like a sure bet to start opposite Coles once August rolls around. He took the blame for one of Thomas’ interceptions following the game, but his emergence this spring has been an important development for the offense. Ryan Malleck’s evolution has been similarly meaningful. He seemed to gain the coaching staff ’s trust late last season, yet he only caught 17 passes in seven starts. In these last few weeks, not only did he grab an impressive 30-yard touchdown in the Spring Game, but he also earned the Coaches Award for an exceptional spring. Thomas looked to him frequently as a check-down option, and Loeffler seems committed to incorporating the tight end into the offense. Although Trey Edmunds’ stats weren’t quite as notable as Malleck’s or Stanford’s, he also had an impressive spring. He only ran for 11 yards on eight carries in the Spring Game, but he looked explosive during practice, and even had a 41-yard run wiped out by a penalty in the game. Despite Edmunds’ strong performance, the running game’s success will rest squarely on the reconstituted offensive line. New line coach Jeff Grimes has not been afraid to experiment with the unit’s construction this spring, and he managed to fi nd some surprising results.

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

Tight end Ryan Malleck (88) ﬁnds the end zone on a 30-yard pass from backup quarterback Mark Leal. Laurence Gibson and Brent newcomers have raised eye- top newcomer to give the Benedict each earned rave brows, particularly defensive position some new blood. reviews in practice, and fig- end Dadi Nicolas. He only Donovan Riley also made ure to earn starting spots at saw limited playing time last a n impact, picking Thomas right tackle and left guard year, but started to come on off once in the game, and respectively, even though strong as the season wore making a strong case to start Gibson was harassed by on, picking up two sacks and opposite Kyle Fuller should Exum sit out any regular defensive end Ken Ekanem forcing a fumble. in the Spring Game. He’s been nearly as domi- season games. By all accounts, this spring Freshma n Jonat ha n nant as his defensive line McLaughlin is the biggest counterpart James Gayle was productive for the surprise of the group, howev- in spring practice, and he Hokies. There will be talk of er. A lightly recruited three- wreaked havoc in the backstar prospect from Fork field in the Spring Game en doom and gloom following Union Military Academy, route to winning the Dr. Thomas’ Spring Game strugMcLaughlin played his way Richard Bullock Award for gles, but for anyone paying attention, there have been into the starting left tackle most improved player. spot early this spring, and The secondary had the plenty of positive signs this held onto it through the most question marks of any April for Virginia Tech footSpring Game. defensive unit heading into ball. For as much attention as the year due to the absence the offense has garnered, the of Antone Exum, yet freshALEX KOMA defense has been notable for man Brandon Facyson made -sports editor its consistent excellence. an instant impression on the -junior The unit returns almost coaching staff, earning the -communication all of its starters, but some Paul Torgersen Award for -@AlexKomaVT

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features

april 23, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Relay: Teams walk for a cure from page one

The rest of the night celebrated the continued fight against cancer with inspirational speeches and live performances. Bill Roth, the announcer for Virginia Tech athletics, spoke about his sister’s fight with cancer and Patty Perillo, vice president for Student Affairs, inspired Relay participants to continue fighting for the cure. “I encourage you to let the impact of cancer change your life for the better,” Perillo said. “Don’t wait until someone tells you bad news. Live and love in every present moment as if there’s no tomorrow.” Shane Rose, a freshman engineering major, was a first-time Relay participant this year. “It was a lot of fun,” Rose said. “It was tough at times, because of the Remembrance and everything, but it was great to see everyone out there and everyone that cares.” Just like Leins, Rose also relays for one of his parents — his father, who passed away from cancer in September 2012. “I relay for my dad to help find a cure,” Rose said. “I never really knew that much about cancer before this so now that I know so much I want to help it so that no one else has to go through what I’ve been going through.” Many Relay participants have been impacted by cancer in some capacity or another. The event, which was relatively unshaken by the unfavorable weather, allowed those affected to unite in celebration, in memory and in the fight for a cure.

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Tuesday, April 23: Transportation 10 a.m. — Community Bike Ride. Huckleberry Trail. Meet at the Blacksburg Library and join other bike lovers for a ride around Blacksburg. 10 a.m. — Transportation Fair. Drillfield. This event will have bike repairs and inspections provided by Bike Barn, a showcase by the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team, bike permitting, alternative transportation displays and more. Stop by on the way to or from classes and discover other modes of transportation. 3:30 p.m. — “YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip” film screening. Lyric Theatre. Come watch this flick about three friends who drive to all 50 states in one year looking for innovators and citizens who are taking on humanity’s greatest environmental crises. Admission is free and open to the public.

Wednesday, April 24: Food 2 p.m. — Farmer’s Market. Corner of Draper Rd. & Roanoke St. Want some locally grown produce? Then come visit the farmer’s market between 2-6 p.m. 8 p.m. — “Vanishing of the Bees” ﬁlm screening. Torgersen 1010. Come out and see this ﬁlm about the sudden disappearance of honeybees from beehives all around the world. The event is free and open to the public.

Thursday, April 25: Community/Art 10 a.m. — Art Show. Squires 2nd ﬂoor. Members of the Virginia Tech community have donated pieces of art to auction off to support the Environmental Coalition. The silent auction will take place from 4-6 p.m., and anyone can make a bid. 2 p.m. — Tree Planting. Henderson Lawn. Help make the air cleaner by planting nine trees with fellow Hokies.

Friday, April 26: Climate BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

Samantha Edwards and her dog have a good time at Relay.

WANT MORE RELAY? SEE OUR VIDEO ON COLLEGIATETIMES.COM

2 p.m. — Weather Balloon Launch. Drillfield. The VTAE will release a weather launch right on the Drillfield. 4 p.m. — “Island President” film screening. The Lyric Theatre. The film centers on the story of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives who is faced with a great challenge of the island becoming uninhabitable due to rise in sea level. Admission is free and open to the public.