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