WALK THE LINE FOR THE LAST TIME Thursday May 2, 2013
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An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 109th year, issue 111 News, page 2
Weekend, page 5
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 8
Study Break, page 6
Tech announces Steger will be commencement speaker CAMERON AUSTIN news reporter
Virginia Tech announced this morning that university President Charles Steger will be giving the commencement address for 2013 graduates. “It’s not uncommon for a Virginia Tech president to give
a commencement address,” said Larry Hincker, Associate Vice President of University Relations. “It’s a long-standing tradition for the president of the university to deliver at least one commencement address.” Previous presidential commencement speakers include Marshal Hahn who spoke
four times, Joseph Eggleston who spoke three times, Julian Burruss and Walter Newman who each delivered two commencement addresses as president. Last year’s graduation speaker was first lady Michelle Obama with Virginia Senator Mark Warner, with the event being
announced at the end of March. The previous year’s speaker was Kenneth Feinberg, administrator of the 9/11 victims fund and the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. That speaker was also announced in late March. With speculations abound, the graduation date pushed closer and closer, and no speaker
had been announced. Andrew Bracy, a senior accounting and finance major, had a feeling that the speaker might not be a big name because of the delayed announcement date. “If they knew that Steger would be the speaker, why wait till an abnormal date to make the announcement?” Bracy
said. “There were complications leading up to this, and we’re just really pleased that President Steger has the opportunity, as many other Virginia Tech presidents have had,” Hincker said. see SPEAK / page two
Mad Dog owner Request for on-campus polling denied discusses closing BY MALLORY NOE-PAYNE | news editor
ANDREW KULAK news reporter
For now, Mad Dog’s iconic carved wood sign still swings in the breeze over Main Street, but large clearance posters mark the boutique as the latest addition to the long list of Blacksburg businesses closing their doors this spring. “I’d been thinking about it for a while. Th is isn’t a new thought,” said Dorothy Egger, Mad Dog owner and Tech alumna Dorothy Egger, between helping shoppers. “It’s been a nice ride, but all things have to end.” Mad Dog has received Blacksburg-based awards for its unique selection of clothing and gifts and the homey atmosphere that has drawn customers in for years. Whimsical metal sculptures, warm lighting, and cheery hardwood floors greet shoppers once they enter — unless Molly, the namesake pooch, greets them first. “I’ve always had a dog — there’s always a dog in here,” Egger said, laughing. Egger has a long history in
retail. She owned and operated Second Seasons clothing store for 21 years prior to purchasing Mad Dog with her daughter in 2003. The store opened in Blacksburg as a skate shop several years prior, but shifted to women’s clothing in order to appeal to a stronger customer base. While the merchandise changed, the name of the store did not. Under Egger’s ownership, Mad Dog took off. “We’re the number one store in town,” Egger said proudly, gesturing at the display of award certificates behind the register. Remaining fiscally successful during the economic downturn proved challenging, but Mad Dog stayed afloat. Egger worked to provide unique fashions at a price point lower than other local women’s clothing stores to appeal to cash-strapped shoppers. “We used to be a lot more expensive than we are now,” Eggers said of the shift in consumer sentiment during the recession. see DOG / page two
Time to reach the Airport polling location from West AJ Hall:
The Electoral Board would like to reconsider an oncampus location, and once again we ask for your permission and help in locating a suitable space – one that will be even more convenient to students than the airport...”
32 min 10 min 11 min
Letter to Virginia Tech from the Montgomery County Electoral Board
BRAD KLODOWSKI / THE COLLEGIATE TIMES
“
We believe, after careful consideration of the alternatives, that the airport location will continue to provide the best services when voter turnout is not at the unusually high levels experienced during the most recent election.” Letter to the Montgomery County Electoral Board from Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech opts not to renew the search for an on-campus voting location for the E3 precinct
It
seems unlikely that Virginia Tech will host an on-campus voting location for students anytime
soon. Montgomery County’s Electoral Board, which is responsible for determining and changing polling locations, sent a letter to the university at the end of March requesting help in “reconsider(ing) an on-campus location.” Tech, however, declined the request.
“There is still not an on-campus location that is better suited to accommodating the diverse requirements of the voting constituents,” wrote Vice President of Administration Sherwood Wilson, in a response letter sent April 8. After the 2008 presidential election, the Electoral Board formed a new precinct that was composed primarily of on-campus students. The E3 precinct has 4,339 registered voters. Of those, 3,748 are on-campus stu-
dents. During the most recent election, many turned out to vote at the Virginia Tech Montgomery County Executive Airport. However, long lines and heavy voter turnout led the Electoral Board to determine that the airport was not the most ideal location for students, and to reach out to the Tech once more. see POLL / page two
Security at sporting events Fighting Gravity to debut will not increase next year show in NYC this fall MICHAELA REARDON news staff writer
Hokies united in mourning with the friends and family of those affected by the Boston bombings this past week. The Boston bombings raise the question of security at sports events everywhere — including Virginia Tech. Lane Stadium holds approximately 66,000 people at any given game — a small number compared to the 500,000 spectators and almost 30,000 participants that flood Boston every year for the Boston Marathon. In response to April 16th, Virginia developed legislation requiring every school to have a threat assessment team designated to help prevent violence on campus. Virginia Tech’s Threat Assessment Team (TAT) is comprised of representatives
of student affairs, law enforcement, human resources, counseling services and residence life. The team regularly meets and evaluates risks referred to them by the community. “Our level of security is already pretty elevated. We believe that our existing strategy is sufficient,” said Major Gene Deisinger of the Virginia Tech Police. “Many of the things that other places are starting to do such as bag checks, having K-9 availability and sweeps of facilities, we’ve been doing for years.” The specific details of security for Virginia Tech events are confidential — but the security needs of every event are assessed and resources such as officers and K-9’s are assigned as needed. The most important part of threat assessment on campus is
info on the go
KATRINA SPINNERWILSON features staff writer
individual awareness. Students are asked to do their part by reporting suspicious behavior. “The public’s sensitivity to if they see things that cause them concern — there is a higher likelihood that they will report objects that are unattended or look strange or people’s behavior,” Deisinger said.
It all began when five brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity volunteered to perform at Delta Gamma’s Anchorsplash philanthropy in 2009, creating the group Fighting Gravity. Five years later, the thirteen brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha are taking their talent to yet another venue — New York. This fall, the group will debut its full-length show in New York with the aim of sharing its story. “It’s a pretty exciting time for us because everything up to this point has been five, ten minutes doing corporate events, which are fun and good, but this is really building up a 90 minute show in New York City,” said member of Fighting Gravity, Phil Deverna. “It’s about to get real.”
see LANE / page two
see SHOW / page two
There are 8 gates that lead into Lane Stadium. Stadium personnel will visually search anyone entering.
COURTESY OF PHIL DEVERNA
CT BURRITO WARS
The Pi Kappa Alpha brothers performed at Anchorsplash in 2009.
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