Thursday, April 25, 2013 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

More Downtown locations close Two locations downtown are facing closure as of this week. On Monday, T. Flynn’s Pub was inaccessible to customers, and a “For Lease” sign has been on display in the establishment’s front window. On Wednesday, Mad Dog, a family-owned women’s clothing and fashion boutique, announced via a press

Thursday April 25, 2013

release that it would be closing its doors in two weeks. While T. Flynn’s management and ownership were not reachable for comment, the closing comes only weeks after Anthony Faulds, the pub’s owner, confirmed he had put the establishment up for sale. Dorothy Edgar, who bought

Mad Dog in 2003, said in the press release that the dogfriendly retail store would be closing quickly and with “rapid reductions.” She went on to say she would be moving on to other things, and thanked her customer base, though she did not elaborate on the reason for the closing.

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COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 107 News, page 2

Arts & Entertainment, page 3

Opinions, page 5

Leaving his mark

Sports, page 8

Study Break, page 6

Minor centers on peace studies

SARA LEPLEY features staff writer

lients ients have traveled as far as 500 miles to be tattooed by Chris Toler, an artist working at Danny’s ’s Ancient Art Tattoo Studio in Blacksburg. burg. They are not the only ones to notice his talent nt either — recently, the Derby Ink Invitational vitational honored Toler with a place at its three-day convention in Pennsylvania. nsylvania. Of the 200 artists invited, vited, Toler was the only representative entative from Virginia. Toler had ad no difficulty filling his time there here with appointments, including ng performing work for all of the members of Opus 99, a rock ck band. Whilee Toler spent the majority ajority of his life drawing, ng, he never envisioned ned himself as a tattoo artist, nor did he enroll in a formal art class. One day, however, his childhood ildhood friend, Justin Steward, called him with an invitation to try tattooing. Steward had previously given Toler his first tattoo — a memorial piece that condensed the sparrow and anchor tattoos Toler’s father had on his body onto Toler’s wrist — which Toler allowed his friend to do straight out of his apprenticeship. Now that Steward had gained more experience and statue within the industry, he requested Toler bring in some sketches and get to work. “I was kind of thrown to the wolves,” said Toler. “I ended up drawing for 14 hours straight for my apprenticeship. It happened almost overnight.” Toler quickly established a name for himself, drawing people in with the realism of his work and the

Chris Toler of Danny’s Ancient Art Tattoo Studio inks a design onto Matt Wright’s leg.

FILE 2011

The Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention was established by the university in 2008, located in Norris Hall.

BRAD KLODOWSKI / SPPS

KELLY CLINE news staff writer

“

I ended up drawing for 14 hours straight for my apprenticeship. It happened almost overnight.” Chris Toler, tattoo artist

scope of his abilities. “Most artists kind of pigeon hole themselves into one specific genre of tattoo style that they like to do,” said Vicki Rose, the manager of Danny’s Ancient Art in Blacksburg. “What Chris likes to do mostly is photorealism, but he steps outside the box. He is a very good all-around tattoo artist where he can also handle anything.”

Despite his skill level, some clients still enter the tattoo parlor feeling uneasy, especially if they are embarking on their first tattoo, due to the painful nature of the procedure. They are often taken aback when Toler and his friend Zach Decker suggest they get a “cross between Taylor Swift and the X-men tattooed across their chest.” see INK/ page seven

A new Peace Studies and Violence Prevention (PSVP) minor will soon be available to students at Tech. The directors of the Center of Peace Studies and Violence Prevention (CPSVP), Marc Lucht and James Hawdon, hope to attract a large number of students from different majors and perspectives. “The problem of violence is one of the problems that’s plagued human beings since (existance),” said Amy Splitt, office manager and event coordinator for the CPSVP, on the effective-

ness of the minor’s desired diversity. “So obviously you want to have a multi-faceted approach to discussing this kind of issue. I think that it’s an amazing opportunity for undergraduate students to have the opportunity to discuss an interdisciplinary problem in interdisciplinary groups.” Following the massacre on April 16, 2007, the University debated what to do with Norris Hall, the building in which the shootings occurred, and how to honor the affected students and families. see PEACE / page two

Tech standout locks up spot at next level CISPA passes in ALI BOWKER sports staff writer

Virginia Tech senior fi rst basemen Courtney Liddle will embark on the next chapter of her softball career when her days as a Hokie are over. Liddle, a Haymarket, Va. native, currently holds several school records, including highest career on base percentage at .465, and is second in career home runs with 29. Her invaluable contributions to the Tech softball team made her the 18th overall pick in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) College Draft by the New York/New Jersey Comets this April. For Liddle, being drafted was just another achievement in her life. “I never sat down and thought, what am I going to do to make it to the pros, the Olympics or college,” Liddle said. “I just played the sport, enjoyed it and the Lord took me in those directions.” When Liddle received the news that she had been drafted, she realized playing softball beyond college was becoming a possibility. “When they called my name, I jumped up and started screaming and then my mom and dad called me,” Liddle said. “My dad and I have had a bond forever with softball, and this winter we had to real-

ize that it might be ending. Then he said, ‘Hey, we can keep practicing.’” The Comets have Liddle listed as a first basemen and catcher, so the senior plans to stay versatile and keep her arm strong. She prefers to be behind the plate, though, because of the leadership role a catcher has on the game. There will be no offseason for Liddle this summer; her professional career will begin as soon as her collegiate one ends. The NPF season runs from June until late August. The NPF has four teams: the Akron Racers, the New York/New Jersey Comets, the Chicago Bandits and the USSSA Pride. The teams play each other roughly 14 times before the playoffs begin. Liddle, who has been playing tee-ball since she was five and softball since she was seven, is excited that she has an opportunity to continue to play the game she loves. “I definitely dreamed about wearing USA across my chest, and playing with the people I will be playing with now,” Liddle said. Although she hasn’t even started her professional career yet, she has already begun to contemplate what she will do after her playing days are over. “I want to help (the athletes) make the most out of their four years (in college),” Liddle said.

House of Reps. ANDREW KULAK news reporter

CHEN JIANG / SPPS

Hokies ﬁrst basemen and catcher Courtney Liddle was selected 18th in April’s National Pro Fastpich draft by the NY/NJ Comets. “I see people who have been a the scene, setting freshman positive influence on my life, records with 11 home runs and and I want to be that for some- 20 RBI. However, Liddle came onto the Tech campus with far one else.” Liddle said that if coaching more than a hot bat. According to Hokies head doesn’t work out she would love to teach at the elementary coach Scot Thomas, Liddle showed signs of being a leader school level. “I love kids. I want to be a from the moment she stepped mom and coach, or a mom and on the field. teacher,” Liddle said. In Liddle’s fi rst season in see LIDDLE / page eight Blacksburg, she stormed onto

The controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) passed again in the House of Representatives in a 288-127 vote last Thursday. The bill is intended to protect against cybersecurity threats but has drawn criticism for violating Internet users’ privacy since its inception in 2011. “In the case of Boston, they were real bombs,” said Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX) in support of the legislation. “In this case, they’re digital bombs. And these digital bombs are on their way.” In addition to a majority of the House, CISPA supporters include a number of large technology corporations who spent a great deal of time and money lobbying for passage of the contentious bill. According to “US News & World Report,” organizations in favor of CISPA have outspent opposed groups more than 140 times. Tech giants like IBM, AT&T and Google have supported CISPA, saying that it will improve public safety by facilitating communication

about cyber threats between private companies and the United States government. The law would also shield corporations from legal liability in the event of lawsuits due to breach of privacy agreements. Conversely, the bill is wildly unpopular with grassroots online organizations like social media website Reddit and usergenerated online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which have participated in organized online protests. Civil liberties groups have also lashed out against the act, citing concerns that the law would not require any burden of proof and could essentially void user privacy agreements in the event of any “perceived threat.” “By allowing this information sharing, (CISPA) bypasses due process and requiring a warrant for information,” Harrison Bergeron, sophomore biology major and vice president of the Libertarians at Virginia Tech, said in a statement to the Collegiate Times. see CISPA / page two

news

april 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Peace: Program strives for diversity from page one

There were several proposals, but Tech fi nally decided to transform the space into a center that could combat the violence that had occurred that day, thus creating the CPSVP and later, the minor. “There is a lot of interest expressed by students in issues of peace and violence, particularly after the tragedy,” Hawdon, who teaches several courses in criminology and deviant behavior at the undergraduate and graduate levels, said. “I think there’s interest largely because it’s really such an important topic, so kind of to meet that student demand we thought a minor would be a good idea.” The CPSVP and the PSVP

minor are focused on three aspects: research, education, and outreach. The education that ensues in the minor’s courses will be a keystone in fueling research and outreach. Hawdon professes that outreach is a crucial goal in the Center’s effectiveness. “It’s great to do research about the causes and consequences of violence, but you know if it just stays in the halls of academia, it doesn’t do a whole lot of good,” said Hawdon. “We try to disseminate that knowledge to not only our students but also the community and the world at large.” The required courses for the minor will vary for each student. In addition to nine credits in PSVP, students will also choose

nine credits in either the global or local track. These classes could be from a large number of departments, from Agricultural and Applied Economics to Geographyto Philosophy or Sociology. “So many issues and topics touch on violence and the costs of violence, from the distribution of resources and identities (to) discrimination and issues of power, and all of these things touch on violence,” said Hawdon. “So we have a wide range of courses fit into that.” The global track would touch on more issues of international violence, such as war, rebellion and revolution, while the local track would focus on national issues, like crime and

domestic violence. The three required PSVP courses will be Peace Economics, Peace and Violence’s Critical Incidents, and Global Society and Violence and will be offered in the fall of 2013, spring of 2014, and fall of 2014 respectively. The PSVP minor and its classes are open to students of any major. The minor began its administrative process of approval a little over a year ago, and the CPSVP hopes that it will serve as a vehicle in achieving their goals of educating students and the community and in turn help prevent violence in the future. Follow us on Twitter: @ctnewsroom

Pledge death leads fraternity to go dry MARA ROSE WILLIAMS

newseditor@collegiatetimes.com/ 540.231.9865

upcoming events Thursday, April 25 Undergraduate ePortfolio Showcase: 3-6 p.m. at Torgersen. Students present ePortfolios related to research, professionalism, service, mentorship/leadership and learning

Pet Therapy Study Break with VT Helping PAWS: 6-7 p.m. at Newman Library. Come play

with animals to relieve some end-of-semester stress on the 2nd floor Commons area.

Blacksburg Cycle Chic (Fashion show and Commuter celebration): 6-9 p.m. The event will

celebrate the everyday people who choose bicycling as their primary mode of transportation while showcasing various local initiatives striving towards regional and global transportation sustainability and active, yet chic, lifestyles.

Relatively Speaking: 7:30-9 p.m. A series of

misunderstandings between Greg, his girlfriend Ginny, her older lover Philip, and his wife Sheila provide clever repartee and continuous laughter in this comedy by one of Britain’s most performed playwrights, Alan Ayckbourn. Directed by David Johnson. Tickets at www.tickets.vt.edu, $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors.

CISPA: Effects on privacy unclear

mcclatchy newspapers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Conjure a mental picture of a college fraternity house and you might come up with the beer- and boozesoaked abode of the Deltas in “Animal House.” But more fraternities are working to shed the popular image of being one big keg party — including the University of Kansas chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, the house where 19-yearold freshman pledge Jason Wren drank himself to death after a night of binge drinking four years ago. The SAE house, which last week held its fourth annual memorial seminar on alcohol abuse prevention, went dry this semester. “That means no alcohol, no parties anywhere in the house at anytime,” said John Stacy, who advises the house as president of the chapter’s house corporation, Kansas Alpha Chapter of SAE House Corp. Good luck with that, said Peter Smithhisler, president and CEO of the NorthAmerican Interfraternity Council, which has 5,500 member fraternities. “It is not an easy task because it still is not the norm,” he said. But it is a trend. “There is a large movement nationwide, thanks in part to liability, risk management and common sense, to have fraternity houses go completely dry,” said Amy Long, who heads the advisory board of KU’s SAE chapter. Smithhisler said many more fraternities “are substance free than you might think.” He estimated the number at perhaps 20 percent of chapters nationwide. Fifteen years ago, it was closer to zero. In 2000, the national headquarters of Phi Delta Theta was one of the first to ban alcohol at all 157 of

editors: mallory noe-payne, priscilla alvarez, dean seal

from page one

DAVID EULITT / MCT CAMPUS

Dylan Clark, a freshman at University of Kansas, studies in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon library on campus. its fraternity houses across the country. In the past decade, more national fraternity offices have prohibited members from having alcohol or drugs in their houses. Some fraternities ban alcohol in common areas but allow members who are at least 21 to have alcohol in their bedrooms. In those fraternities, parties with alcohol must be held at another venue. The SAE house at KU had that policy. But keeping a big brother from sharing alcohol with an underage brother is hard to police. The new ban allows a member three alcohol violations before he’s kicked out of the house. The KU fraternity has been working toward the new policy since Wren died March 8, 2009. His death was a springboard for the fraternity to join a campus discussion on the effects of alcohol abuse. The memorial seminar, part of that effort, is co-sponsored by the Delta Gamma sorority. “Since going alcohol free, we have seen it as a reason to better the house,”

said Robert Abby, a junior and chairman of the Jason Wren initiative. “We are looking for higher GPAs and more philanthropy and community service.” Abby acknowledged that it hasn’t been an easy thing for the fraternity brothers to do. “It has definitely been an adjustment,” he said. “But when it came down to it, the guys all knew it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it.” Of the 15 fraternity houses at KU, SAE is the second to go dry, behind Phi Delta Theta, which banned alcohol 13 years ago. All Panhellenic sororities that include housing at KU and nationwide are alcohol free. The National PanHellenic Council governing Black Greek organizations, citing “the alarming number of disastrous incidents in which alcohol and drugs play a part,” prohibits the sale or consumption of alcohol at all council-sponsored events. At Kansas State University, nine of 19 fraternity houses are alcohol-free. The move to prohibit alcohol at the SAE house at KU didn’t come down from the fraternity’s national office. Last fall, chapter members took the idea to their advisory board, which was put in place to help the fraternity weather the storm after Wren’s death. He was found in his bed at the SAE house the afternoon after a night that began with him drinking with friends at a Mexican restaurant. When he returned home to the fraternity house that night, Wren drank more alcohol until he passed out in his bed. An autopsy indicated he’d died of alcohol poisoning. Police and campus investigators found the fraternity had done nothing criminal to lead to Wren’s

death. The fraternity settled out of court for an undisclosed amount in a civil lawsuit filed by Wren’s parents.

“

Since going alcohol free, we have seen it as a reason to better the house. We are looking for higher GPAs and more philanthropy and community service.” Robert Abby Chairman of the Jason Wren initiative

“We were in a hole four years ago,” Stacy said. “Our pledge class dropped significantly. We did nothing wrong, but Jason did die in our house and right or wrong, we had to go through the fallout.” Stacy said that since SAE went dry, pledge class numbers have jumped this semester. He wouldn’t say how few pledges the fraternity had each of the past three years, but he said it has 31 pledges now. About 50 members live in the off-campus house, which has room for 65. Stacy said he hopes other fraternity houses on the KU campus will follow SAE. “I encourage going dry,” he said. “I think all fraternities ought to take a good look at the idea.” To those fraternities resisting the wave toward alcohol prohibition, Stacy said, “sooner or later insurance companies are no longer going to insure this type of behavior, or they will make it so expensive no one will be able to afford it.” No insurance, he said, no fraternity house.

“Any legislation under the guise of safety and security needs to be scrutinized publically to determine if the freedom we inevitably will lose is worth the sense of added security.” Some also worry about the potential for “corporate vigilantism” online, as wording in the bill allows large corporations to engage in counter-hacking operations that would be illegal if undertaken by a private individual. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) added a section to the law, limiting corporate actions to their own networks. The effect of the addition remains unclear, however, as some analysts believe exemptions elsewhere in the bill may allow hacking by companies to take place beyond their digital walls.

Hacktivist collective Anonymous called for an Internet blackout earlier in the week to raise awareness about CISPA. The passage of the bill in the House received less scrutiny this year, as major media outlets were devoting time to covering unfolding developments in the Boston marathon bombing. CISPA is now headed to the Senate, where it died last year. With gun control and immigration reform in the spotlight, senators again seem to have little interest in passing the bill. Obama has threatened to veto the bill if it makes it to his desk without significant revisions that take user privacy into account. Follow the writer on Twitter: @AKulak

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

arts & entertainment

april 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Pixar fans anticipate sequels Idol winner shares all on new album GERRICK D. KENNEDY mcclatchy newspapers

It’s been more than 10 years since the premiere of “Monsters, Inc.,” but audiences are finally getting a second helping of scares. “Monsters University” is a prequel to the 2001 film, which portrayed a world where monsters generate power by scaring children. The monster community believes humans can contaminate them, so when the top scaring team of Sulley (John Goodman) and Mike (Billy Crystal) inadvertently bring a child into the city, all hell breaks loose. “Monsters University” turns back the clock to Mike and Sulley’s first meeting as roommates in college. The small, nerdy Mike and huge, boisterous Sulley don’t mix well at first and even develop an intense rivalry. Chaos ensues from this rivalry, including some jail time, but of course, it ultimately ends up bringing the two together. With such a vast lapse of time since the original movie, it was quite a surprise when Pixar confirmed plans for a sequel in 2010. But what was even more shocking was when Pixar announced a sequel to the blockbuster “Finding Nemo.” “Monsters University” will premiere on June 21, 2013, but audiences are going to have a much longer wait for the “ Finding Nemo” sequel — more

than two years, to be precise. “Finding Dory” is scheduled to release on November 25, 2015. This time around, the focus will be on Dory — the regal blue tang fish with short-term memory loss — voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, which delights many loyal “Nemo” fans. In “Finding Nemo,” Dory went on an adventure with the overbearing clownfish Marlin (Albert Brooks) to find his lost son Nemo (Alexander Gould). “Dory” is reportedly going to be set a year later off the California coast and will depict her character reuniting with her lost family. Surprisingly (or perhaps not, given how drama-hungry our gossip “news” cycle is), there is already backlash against “Finding Dory.” This is not even the usual recoil that an immensely loved film gets from fans worried about a sequel ruining the story, or even the expected criticism about unoriginality — although both those things have been already shouted about, to be sure. But this backlash is centered on a strange phenomenon that arose after “Finding Nemo.” Or, as Yahoo! News overdramatically puts it, “Finding Dory: Will It Create an Ecological Disaster?” After “Finding Nemo,” there was apparently a huge surge of people purchasing clownfish

and regal tangs, without proper preparation and without the dedication to take care of the fish after their interest in the movie waned. There were even stories of people flushing their live fish down toilets, believing this would set them free into the ocean. The whole situation sounds rather outwardly silly, but it was cause for legitimate concern when the demand for regal tangs became so high that they actually became threatened with extinction. People seem to take their tales of animated fish very seriously. Drama aside, most are eagerly awaiting both “Monsters University” and “Finding Dory.” If it’s half as good as its predecessor, “Finding Dory” will be a delightful story that entertains both children and adults. The release of “Monsters University” will likely be an especially poignant case, similar to “Toy Story 3,” as many of us grew up loving the original and are now in college ourselves. Now, all that’s left is for audiences to see if Pixar and Disney can keep the magic alive. KATIE WHITE -regular movie columnist -history -junior

LOS ANGELES _ Fantasia was ready to walk away from her music, and her life, not so long ago. “I was starting to hate what I loved — the label, the industry,” said the R&B singer on the eve of her first album in nearly three years, “Side Effects of You.” ”I was at a place where I knew what I wanted. And if I couldn’t have it, I didn’t want to do it anymore.” Fantasia Barrino was only 20 when she won the third season of “American Idol” in 2004. She then made a successful record, released a memoir, starred in a Lifetime movie about her own life and even tackled Broadway. But her career began slipping by 2008, and so did her personal life. Reports about her finances, supposed diva antics, label tension, her weight and drama during her Broadway debut, “The Color Purple,” made her a tabloid punch line. Then it got worse in 2010 when the wife of a man she was dating filed for divorce and blamed Barrino for the demise of her marriage. She threatened to sue Barrino under a North Carolina law that allows a spouse to file suit against the person they deem responsible for the marriage’s failure. It didn’t help that Barrino was fighting her personal and professional battles on camera thanks to her highly rated VH1 reality series, “Fantasia for Real.” Overwhelmed, Barrino overdosed on sleeping pills and aspirin in August 2010.” My intentions weren’t to kill myself. I just wanted to

still difficult for her to hear. “I leave the room. At this point I can talk about (the overdose) because I believe God put me here now,” she says. “I decided to share that on this album.” She grows quiet, then I was at a place where continues. “Reaching that I knew what I wanted. point, such a dark place. I don’t want anybody to expeAnd if I couldn’t have rience that dark moment,” it, I didn’t want to do it she says.” That was the hardest song anymore. to record, but I knew that I Fantasia Barrino had to. If I can help some2004 American Idol winner body through that one song then I’ll do it.” Samuels, who produced all but one track, helped Barrino didn’t want to Barrino weave together a record new music, but after disc of sumptuous conlots of prayer and time to temporary R&B dipped in “fix” herself, she changed vintage rock and soul. She her mind. Triumph over is also co-writing her own adversity anchors “Side album for the first time — Effects of You,” released something she wasn’t able Tuesday.Her first since to do on previous projects. In her songs on her 2010’s “Back to Me,” the album showcases a rejuve- new release, she’s definated Barrino, 28, singing ant against naysayers with with newfound conviction. “Lighthouse,” aching over ”I’m putting it all out a failed love in the first there,” she said, sipping a single, “Lose to Win,” and glass of Riesling over din- puts a man in his place ner at a Beverly Hills res- with the anthem “Without which features taurant. The former Idol Me,” worked with R&B producer Missy Elliott and Kelly Harmony Samuels (Brandy, Rowland. Barrino returned to the Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole) for the album that she’s “Idol” stage last week to deliver a chilling perforbranded “rock soul.” How serious is she about mance of “Lose to Win” this release? She raises her and is gearing up for a arms to reveal “rock” tat- promo campaign for the tooed on one hand, “soul” album. She will also peron the other. The album form alongside classical is at its best when Barrino singer Andrea Bocelli on a is at her rawest, like on string of dates on his tour, the title track penned by including a Hollywood British soul songstress Bowl performance June 8. Emeli Sande. “sI’m in a happy place. I’ve “I was looking for a cure to pull me through / Tried found peace. I’m back to that to decide which medicine Fantasia that first walked to use / Every bottle has onstage,” she said. “I can your name on the label,” tell you now that my smile is genuine — and it’s not just she sings. Barrino says the track is pretend.” get away. (I had) so much ... on me, on my mind,” she said. “I know one, two, three (pills) won’t get me away.”

“

Donna Wertalik Professor of Social Media Pam mplin College of Business

april 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

weekend

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

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I DOUBT IT

New dating app sets standard for creepy Because I’m managing editor and people think that this position wields some sort of power, my inbox is filled with press release after press release, which pile up until I have a day when I’m really bored and I go through all of them. These emails are nothing more than professional spam, and they are almost exclusively comprised of politically charged messages that start out with “Can you believe what (insert other political party here) did this week?” Regardless, this is never a fun task, especially because almost every one of these emails is addressed to last year’s managing editor, Lindsey Brookbank. (Nancy Pelosi, if you are reading this, please know that I don’t care, I never will care, and you spamming my inbox will never result in me donating money). But on Tuesday, I got a press release that strayed from the usual — mostly because it found a way into the “important” tab of my email. It was a press release with information about a new dating app called “Bang with Friends.” And, unfortunately, it is exactly what it sounds like. Before I elaborate on this abomination of dating sites, I have to get something off my chest about these types of apps in general. The reason dating sites are popular is because once you’re out of college, there aren’t nearly as many opportunities to meet new people. But these apps are trying to appeal to college students, who meet new people

every day. For God’s sake, I go Downtown on a Friday night and I’ll meet 20 new people. I also will instantly forget the names of at least 19 of them, but that has a lot more to do with my horrible memory made worse by alcohol. And while I can technically see how an app like Tinder that eliminates the fear of rejection would be helpful for those who are socially awkward, I have to figure that they aren’t the people actually using them. Basically, these apps are worthless for non-creepy people. Speaking of creepy, Bang with Friends is probably the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen. It makes Tinder look like as chivalrous as cotillion. Not only does the name itself sound like a super-low budget porn spoof of the movie “Friends with Benefits,” but its logo might be the most offensive thing I’ve ever seen done with stick figures — and that’s pretty bad considering all of my friends are immature guys who can only draw stick figures. That’s not even the worst part of it. You see, unlike Tinder, the only people you can say you are “down to bang” are your Facebook friends. So, that means the people on my list are good friends, girlfriends of friends, my parents and their friends, and the dozen or so people I have “friended” while downtown and instantly forgot who they were. Oh, and my cousins are on the list of possible options too. Awesome.

There is also a “bangability” rating, which I really wish they went into more detail about. My favorite part? Since the app uses your Facebook picture, there are girls who have a picture of themselves as a baby on the site. ‘Cause, you know, who isn’t fine with saying they’re “down to bang” a baby? Finally, I want to know if there has ever been a scenario when two friends clicked on each other. Ever. Oh, how I would love to be a fly on the wall for that first interaction, and it’s not because I want to see someone hookup. It’s because I’m fairly certain that would create the most awkward conversation of all time. I mean, can you imagine how that would even go? Simply put, I really hope that this is the first time any of you have heard of “Bang with Friends,” and if you use it, we can no longer be friends. And to Mr. “C” — the creator wishes to be anonymous for some reason that isn’t totally obvious at all — this might not be the kind of article you wanted, but as they say, “there’s no such thing as bad PR,” right? NICK CAFFERKY -senior -managing editor -communication major -@nmcaff

opinions

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

april 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

MCT CAMPUS

what you’re saying On New Professors Require Better Training, Evaluation The primary function of professors at our university is to generate revenue through their research. Tech after all is a research university. It’s hard to blame them. They have pressure placed on them to focus on their research to bring in more revenue. Focusing on the students who have already handed over their money becomes less of a priority. Remember that many hired as experts in their field did not have any education courses on teaching methods or curriculum development as part of their doctoral programs. Knowing this, having professors that struggle to teach isn’t surprising.

Downtown restaurants need new deals L ocally owned downtown restaurants have felt as though the number of customers they served in the past semester has dwindled. One reason, cited in a recent Collegiate Times article, is the “9,000 off-campus students having purchased a dining plan (in the) last year.” The view of many downtown vendors is that students do not want to leave the convenience and low pricing those meals on campus offer. It is not helpful that these restaurants in the town are competing with the college that is ranked number two in the country by “The Princeton Review” for the quality of campus food. Dining Services’ job is to provide students with a multitude of dining options, while keeping students

well-nourished throughout the semester, so no one can really blame them for doing

The view of many downtown vendors is that students do not want to leave the convenience and low pricing those meals on campus offer. their job. At the same time, the town’s many restaurants are not at fault either; most eateries Downtown prepare some very unique and delicious dishes. For the average college student, however, the choice to eat on- or off-campus all comes down to money. Most college students are

more than thrilled to eat some of the best college food in the country at half price with their meal plans. Like a good number of students, I will eat off-campus when I have the money to do so. Jimmy John’s makes an amazing sub, and the one time I dined at Souvlaki, the food was absolutely delicious and the service impeccable. There is one major suggestion I could propose to the restaurants downtown: I have seen off-campus eateries located near other college campuses provide unbelievable deals at a specific time during the week. For instance, on Tuesday nights, all chicken wings at Buffalo Wild Wings cost a bargain 50 cents per wing. I know Buffalo Wild Wings, a chain

restaurant, and the local restaurants in town are apples and oranges. But at the same time, why not try to implement an idea like this? It certainly would not hurt business for a restaurant to provide a special deal on one meal one night a week. This discount would bring students into the eatery and could possibly provide it with a new customer base. When it comes to dining, college students are thrifty by nature. Let me tell you that if Souvlaki ever dropped the price of a 16-inch Philly cheesesteak for one night a week, I would be the first customer in line to order. RYAN TURK -regular columnist -freshman -business information technology

More consumer vigilance ‘No-kill’ shelters are ‘no help’ needed on social media

he Boston Marathon bombing was staged, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut never happened, and September 11, 2001 was a plot formulated by the American government. Almost any major disaster causes conspiracy theorists to search for interesting, attention-grabbing ways to provide evidence behind a traumatic event. These explanations place the blame on various, usually high-profile sources. For example, the American government is usually a target, but the connections are tenuous and devolve into laughable ideas. According to TheInquisitr.com, Sandy Hook appears as the name of a region on a Gotham City map in the movie “The Dark Knight.” Somehow, conspiracy theorists drew conclusions based on this coincidence, believing the scene caused subliminal messaging for what was going to happen in real life. Most people ignore these blatant attempts to grab attention and readers, but sometimes these conspiracy messages break into social media. For example, according to CNN, there was a fake story that went viral on Facebook and Twitter just hours after the Boston Marathon bombing about a young girl who was killed in the blast. It went on to say that she was

running for the Sandy Hook victims. However, this picture associated with the story was discovered to be a product of Photoshop because the Boston Marathon does not allow contestants that young. The picture was actually taken from a 5K in Great Falls, Virginia. It is not that hard not to fall for these conspiracy tricks. If no one shares the story then it will not gain popularity and will simply fade away into the trash that already comprises most of the Internet. An easy way to do this would be to do your own research. If a story seems far-fetched, it probably is. Checking reliable sources during and after traumatic events for upto-date details is vital. Sources that follow a traditional style of reporting are obviously best. These recent horrific events are not a joke and those who create conspiracy theories about them are humiliating the victims and the victims’ families who are attempting to deal with the loss of a family member. We as readers and consumers of the media have control over what we take in and must stay above the lies and deception. Only then will the truth be revealed. ADAM ROTHE -regular columnist -freshman -marketing

the United States, 6 million to 8 million animals enter shelters annually, and about half of them are euthanized. Despite this sobering statistic, some advocates of the deceptively named “no-kill” movement deny that there is an animal overpopulation crisis. Tell that to the millions of unwanted animals left at shelters every year. At an animal shelter in West Virginia several years ago, a man trying to surrender two kittens was turned away by a worker who said that the shelter was over capacity and had no room. The man left with the kittens, and a few seconds later, screams were heard. They came from children who saw the man toss the kittens from his vehicle and intentionally run over them in the parking lot before speeding off. One kitten was killed instantly, and the other had to be euthanized. A new expose by PETA reveals how animals like these kittens are put in peril because of dangerous “no-kill” policies that make it difficult — and often impossible — for people to surrender animals to shelters. Video footage shows workers at more than two dozen facilities refusing admission to animals in need by citing long waiting lists, charging exorbitant admission fees, saying their facilities are experiencing disease outbreaks and overcrowding, and giving other excuses. “There is a waiting list,

between six months and a year, to come into the facility here,” a worker at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, N.C., said. “We’re referring people to the public pounds. We’re not going to take dogs that have problems — we want to move them and find homes. We’re a private shelter, and we pick and choose,” confessed an attendant at Little Shelter Animal Adoption Center in Huntington, N.Y. At Web of Life Animal Outreach in Chesapeake, Va., a staffer admitted that animals may spend the rest of their lives in the shelter: “We’re a ‘no-kill.’ If it doesn’t get adopted, it lives its life out here. And it may not get adopted. It may be here for 10 years.” Keeping animals out of shelters may keep “no-kill” shelters’ euthanasia rates low and make for effective fundraising, but it spells disaster for animals. Few people are willing or able to drive to another shelter, pay fees, or keep and care for an animal until a space opens up on a waiting list. What happens to rejected animals? They don’t just disappear. A lucky few may end up in open-admission shelters, but many are dumped on city streets or on desolate country roads, where they get injured or killed in traffic, starve, succumb to the elements or reproduce — creating even more homeless animals. Others are chained up or relegated to a lonely kennel in an isolated backyard. And some, like the kittens described earlier, come

to a violent end at the hands of cruel or uncaring people. Despite “no-kill” failures nationwide, proponents still push for reducing services, keeping needy animals out of shelters by restricting intake hours, charging high admission fees, having waiting lists for admission and transferring animals to unscreened “rescues” (which make up onequarter of the estimated 6,000 new hoarding cases reported in the U.S. each year). They promote impulse adoptions, fail to screen adopters, leave cats on the streets to die slowly without veterinary care or comfort — and worse. The words “no kill” sound appealing to donors and politicians, but they are just words without substance and without a real solution. We can turn our communities into places where no cat or dog has to be euthanized for lack of a home — but not by turning away animals in need. The key is to cut off the supply of homeless animals at its source by spaying and neutering. Each of us can help by always having our animals sterilized, never buying animals from breeders or pet stores, supporting and adopting from open-admission shelters, and encouraging our friends and family to do so, too. Together, we can make our communities no-kill the right way — by first striving to make them “no-birth.”

DAPHNA NACHMINOVITCH -mct campus

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 Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: James Dean Seal Circulation Manager: Keith Bardsley Student Publications Photo Staff Director of Photography: Brad Klodowski Lab Manager: Trevor White College Media Solutions Assistant Ad Director: Carla Craft Account Executives: Robert Alberti, Taylor Moran Inside Sales Manager: Amanda Gawne Assistant Account Executives: Catie Stockdale Jordan Williams, Elizabeth Dam, Emily Daugherty Creative Director: Diana Bayless Assistant Creative Director: Nik Aliye Creative Staff: Mariah Jones, Samantha Keck Voice your opinion. Readers are encouraged to send letters to the Collegiate Times. 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 25, 2013

Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Good financial fortune shines for the first half of the year. Take advantage of this golden chance to save. Your social life takes off. Play, share and reconnect; partnerships develop new opportunities. Contribute with groups that further your passion. Alone time for peace and vitality balances.

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

Childcare

For Rent

SUMMER CHILDCARE Local Blacksburg family seeking a responsible, experienced babysitter for the summer for a young child. Must have reliable transportation and references. Flexible schedule required. Email resume to Blacksburgsummerchildcare@ gmail.com

UT CONDO FOR RENT $280 3BR available 8/1/13 4BR/2BA unit, Kitchen/ Baths remodeled, very convenient, privately owned, no smokers. 804.387.5176

“I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure; which is: Try to please everybody.” - Herbert Bayard Swope Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com

XKDC by Randell Monroe

59 Gnarly 60 Big name in insurance 62 One of two in a historic 1869 Utah meeting 65 “Sharky’s Machine” author 66 Classroom concern 67 Wee hr. 68 Deliberate

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

By Jack McInturff

ACROSS 1 Totally 10 Rigs on the road 15 Annual AllAmerican Soap Box Derby site 16 Old French capital? 17 One may be marching 18 Keyboardist who founded Return to Forever 19 Rembrandt van __ 20 Certain protests 22 “Friends” actress, familiarly 23 Spread __

4/25/13 26 Pmt.-lowering option 27 Lacking a partner 28 Blessed event? 30 Italy’s Como, per esempio 32 Rug with a long pile 33 Fancy layer 35 “__ out!” 36 Giant in a 2000 merger 37 1980s Screen Actors Guild president 40 “The Complaint of Peace” essayist, 1521

42 Eastern Med. country 43 Ophelia’s niece, in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” 44 TV Stone Age pet 45 Court figs. 46 Lacking 48 Town across the Connecticut River from Springfield, Mass. 52 Ring support 53 Baker’s meas. 55 Puck’s eatery 56 Veep before LBJ 57 Candy heart phrase

DOWN 1 Buffalo skaters 2 “Tumbleweeds” cartoonist 3 Fruit in a knockknock joke 4 Negatives 5 Cannes duo 6 Picnic trash 7 2011 Canadian Open champ Sean 8 Architectural support 9 “Chariots of Fire” executive producer 10 E-7 Army personnel 11 Ranch closing? 12 Mint family herb 13 “Help me” 14 Checkout counter newspaper fodder 21 Gulf of Guinea country 24 Staying power 25 Web issues 29 Raise 31 Asian swingers 34 Sends 37 Poe poem written at the time of the California Gold Rush

38 Cardplayer’s request 39 Type of ballot 41 Suds source 47 Cochlea shape 49 Underground home 50 Two-time U.S. Open champ 51 Unassuming 54 Nighttime disturbance, at times

57 Healer 58 Cologne conclusion 61 New Deal hom loan gp. 63 Trendy 64 “Double Fantasy” artist

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

4/24/13

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Vivid expressions of love and creativity bubble forth. Your team is on ire with productivity, and your leadership capabilities impress. It’s a good time to get messages across. Haste makes waste.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) It’s all so clear now ... handle priorities irst, and explain it to co-workers. Accept a creative assignment. Also offer your support for another’s project. Upgrade workplace technology. Expect another great learning experience.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Get inspired by your work. The action may be backstage, but you can still participate. It’s a great time to write your novel. Craft the infrastructure. Be bold, and prosper.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) It’s getting lucrative, but it’s too easy to spend new income. Shop to get the best deal. Act quickly, but not impulsively. Love is all around; share your dreams and everything looks possible.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Take responsibility. Choose strategies and budget. Accept coaching from the competition. Tempers could lare; stick to cool ef iciency and prioritize, for a shift in a donation campaign. Imagine it lowing perfectly.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Sti le outrage for now. Distractions are abundant. Keep focusing on what you want, especially your inancial objectives. Relax with friends and something tasty later. You’ll have an entertaining story.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) The next few days get active and fun. A turning point regarding home and career keeps you busy. Use your experience wisely. Get what you need from far away. It’s refreshing.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) You’d rather play than work; take advantage of the mood for future planning. Communication around scheduling eases crankiness. You don’t always have to say “yes.” A great burden lifts.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Curtail spending for now, and review priorities and plans. Deadlines are looming; keep your focus. Clean out closets, and discover something that was missing. You have plenty, distribute it wisely.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Figure out your inances. If you asked for a tax iling extension, now may be a good time to complete your return. Don’t wait for October. Get it done and celebrate.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Put your own oxygen mask on so you can help others. Keep your nest tidy. Someone surprises you by acknowledging you for the value you provide. Don’t gloss over it. Take it in.

Lifting the Veil off Blacksburg Weddings. Pick up the Collegiate Times on April 26th.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A new money-making scheme tempts, and a scheduling tool opens new possibilities. Your public life interferes with privacy. Some things may have to be left behind. Enjoy the attention.

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

people & clubs

april 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

Club previews sale BY CHELSEA GILES | special sections editor

he Horticulture Club spring plant sale was previewed at the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion Wednesday. Lisa Lipsey, the horticulture department extension program coordinator, and Holly Scoggins, associate professor and director of the Hahn Horticulture Garden, presented various trees, shrubs and perennials that will be sold at the annual spring plant sale Friday and Saturday at the greenhouse complex and Hahn Horticulture Garden. The sale will start at 8 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. both days.

2 PAUL KURLAK` / SPPS

1. Holly Scoggins, associate professor and director of the Hahn Horticulture Garden, talked to interested buyers about the plants for sale. 2. The club’s plant sale preview took place on April 24 at the Peggy Lee Hahn Garden Pavilion. 3. William Knight, a senior in environmental horticulture, talks about some of the plants he grew for his ornamental plant production class including a Colocasia “Black Coral” elephant ear.

Ink: Local tattoo artist represented Va. at convention from page one

Toler’s sarcastic sense of humor is an inescapable component of his personality and one of the many qualities that make him an excellent tattoo artist. “A lot of people feel nervous when they’re in a tattoo parlor, so Chris does a great job of making them feel relaxed,” said Decker, a junior marketing management major. “He uses his sense of humor to make people feel comfortable. Once he’s comfortable and the client is comfortable, just across the board it allows him to be more creative, and it just shines through in every one of his pieces.” Toler’s ability to be creative is more important than ever due to the tattoo industry’s recent spike in popularity. Shows such as “L.A. Ink” and “Ink Master” do more than reflect the nation’s growing infatuation with tattoo art. The shows also create an allure that attracts both customers and new artists. “I have mixed feelings about (the shows). It kind of hurts us because everyone sees this

glamorous side of (the industry), and if everyone wants to be a tattoo artist, it’s eventually going to flood the market,” Toler said.

“

It is just as likely for a petite brunette in a sundress to walk through the door to be inked as it is for a biker with a mohawk.

The tattoo shop in which Toler works reflects the industry’s expanding customer base. On the coffee table of the red and black waiting room rests myriad magazines from “Rolling Stone” to “Sports Illustrated,” and it is just as likely for a petite brunette in a sundress to walk through the door to be inked as it is for a biker with a mohawk. College students and locals who seek a way to brand a part of their identity on their skin can choose from hundreds of designs displayed inside of

Danny’s Ancient Art, including temporary tattoos. Shea Inman, freshman biochemistry major, brought in a picture of a yin and yang horse drawn by his mom for her first tattoo, which Toler perfected. “He just added a professional touch,” said Inman. “His work is awesome…he is very good with needles.” Not all customers know exactly what they want for a tattoo, so they allow Toler to create his own design for them. Toler welcomes such occasions, flattered that clients possess such a degree of trust in him and excited to exercise his creativity and talent. “I aspire to get to the level where that’s what you can do on a daily basis,” Toler said. “[I want to] get to the point where, I guess you could say that you have a strong enough portfolio that people just totally trust you to do what you want.” While some tattoo designs require more skill than others, Toler cannot pinpoint the most difficult tattoo he has ever done. He does believe, however, that

larger tattoos pose a greater challenge. “When I’m sitting down with someone for four or five sessions, that’s…close to thirty, even forty hours of work on the piece,” Toler said. “It’s difficult to start something and get three or four hours into it and know what it’s going to look like once you put thirty more hours into it.” He said it’s challenging to make the pieces tattooed at separate times appear to have been done all at once. Toler certainly puts in a significant amount of time into mastering his craft. Unlike the neighboring booths at the Invitational who did not reign in as many customers, Toler spent every minute of the weekend with a needle in his hand, tattooing roughly seven to ten hours each day. With the constant influx of customers, he even had to turn five away. “It was a success in every sense of the word,” Toler said. “I actually got invited to two more shows while I was there, so I will be doing three more by the end of the year.”

Keep the law

101

on your side.

Lesson: Drinking Repercussions Will I get in trouble if I have been drinking and seek assistance for a friend?

ANSWER: Immediate action should always be taken when someone’s health or safety is in danger due to drug or alcohol consumption. If a student reports a drug- or alcohol-related medical emergency that results in the reporting student incriminating himself or herself, Student Conduct will take that into account when determining appropriate sanctions. Does Virginia Tech have a Medical Amnesty policy?

ANSWER:

There is no amnesty policy. But self-reporting will always be viewed as a positive step in taking responsibility for your actions and will taken into consideration during your hearing.

it ’s le choose to drink WHEN

gal 4U

sports

april 25, 2013 COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Liddle: Comets draft Hokie Track and field excels at ACCs JULIA CANON sports staff writer

CHEN JIANG / SPPS

Courtney Liddle is congratulated by teammates after her walk-off RBI base hit against Radford on Wednesday. from page one

“We have several great leaders, and she’s right at the top of the list,” Thomas said. “As we say, you don’t have to be a senior to be a leader; we have people lead in different ways, and Courtney assumed that role when she came in as a freshman.” Even more impressive than her statistical records and leadership skills, Liddle has made an enormous contribution to the community around her. As a result of her community service and academic efforts, she has been named one of the 10 finalists for the Senior

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CLASS award. The award is given to a softball senior student-athlete who excels in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. The award focuses on the total student-athlete, encouraging them to make a positive impact as leaders in the game and their community. “It means a lot,” Courtney Liddle said. “I think it was really surprising because the things that the CLASS Award is based off of—your schoolwork, your influence in the community—are just things you do because that’s who you

are, so it kind of snuck up on me.” Liddle said that she has learned to prioritize her schoolwork, work hard at practice and attempt to give back any free time to the community. “Blacksburg has been great to me and I want to be great back to Blacksburg,” she said. The winner of the CLASS Award will be announced during the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City, which runs from May 30 through June 5. The last Hokie to win the award was Angela Tincher in 2008.

The Virginia Tech men's and women's track and field teams capped off a successful weekend at the ACC Outdoor Championships in Raleigh, N.C. last weekend with the men’s team finishing second and the women coming in at seventh. The Hokies also excelled individually, garnering a total of eight individual titles. While the men’s team failed to defend their ACC title, they finished only 11 points behind the first-place team, Florida State. “I felt very good about our performance this weekend,” director of track and field Dave Cianelli said. “I thought that we had a chance to win, but it was one of those things where everything would have had to fall into place perfectly.” The men’s squad took home an impressive six first-place fi nishes, which started off with redshirt senior Matthias Treff easily beating out the competition in the javelin throw. Treff threw for 75.92 meters, a little more than five meters over the second-place finisher. “Matthias Treff has been injured and hasn’t thrown yet this year, so this was his first time throwing,” Cianelli said. “He is one of the few who has won four ACC titles in the same event.” While the javelin throw was an easy win for the Hokies, the day was not without drama. After losing a close race

in the 100-meter dash to Florida State’s Dentarious Locke, junior Darrell Wesh got revenge in the 200 meter, beating Locke by three-hundredths of a second. Sophomore Tommy Curtain also fi nished his 5,000-meter race in dramatic fashion. “Tommy Curtain ran an amazing 5,000-meter race. He won the indoor championship, coming back on the last lap, and did the same thing here in the outdoor championships,” Cianelli said. The close finishes did not stop there; junior Grant Pollock and senior Ronnie Black beat out stiff competition to attain their respective titles. “Grant Pollock won the 1,500-meter, which is the first ACC individual title for him,” Cianelli said. “In my opinion that field was very evenly matched, so there was any one of six or seven guys who could’ve won that race.” Black also won his fi rst ACC title, with his first-place fi nish coming in the high jump. Black passed on the first four heights and cleared the next two, ending up tied with Maryland's John Hill. Both competed in a jump off, and when Hill failed to clear the bar at 7 feet and 2 1/2 inches, Black was crowned the high jump champion. For the women’s team, sophomores Martina Schultze and Annjulie Vester defended their titles in stunning fashion. With a vault of 4.10 meters,

Schultze notched her third title in two years in the pole vault. Vester began her day off strong, throwing a personal best of 61.61 meters in the hammer throw. The hammer throw is an event in which a competitor makes three full, quick turns and then throws the weight, which is essentially a ball the weight of a hammer, on the end of a chain. “Annjulie did an outstanding job handling coming into the meet as the defending champion and favorite in the hammer throw,” Cianelli said. “Her first throw helped her confidence and I think she is going to get better as we prepare for the national meet.” With the first round of the NCAA East Preliminaries coming up at the end of May, the Hokies plan to start preparing for the NCAA tournament. A big part of their preparation will include something they haven’t done in a while: rest. “We left a couple of injured players at home from the ACC Championships, but that’s just part of the game,” Cianelli said. “Having a break between the ACC Championships and the East Preliminaries gives us a chance to get healthy and regroup after exams are over.” After competing in the East Preliminaries, individuals who end up in the top 12 qualify for the NCAA finals, which is held in Eugene, Oregon during the second week of June.