Monday, August 26, 2013
An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 1 News, page 2
Lifestyles, page 7
Opinions, page 5
Sports, page 8
#Instahokie: Class of 2017
Classifieds, page 6
Condoms and candy now more convenient DEAN SEAL news editor
Top Left: Students stand and cheer as the cheerleading squad performs at the Hokie Hi welcome picnic. Photo: Ben Weidlich / SPPS
Center Right: Jonathan Vert, a sophomore wildlife sciences major, moves a carpet into Pritchard Hall last August. Photo: File 2012 / SPPS
Top Center: Jennifer Cartwright, a freshman, poses with the Hokie Bird outside of Lane Stadium. Photo: @whatsahokieiam / Instagram
Bottom Left: Students jump up to touch the Hokie Stone on their way through the tunnel into the Hokie Hi welcome picnic. Photo: Ben Weidlich / SPPS
Top Right: A photo collage made by freshman Elizabeth Villaflor after moving into her dorm room at Virginia Tech, Photo: @e_vills / Instagram
Bottom Center: Freshman Corey Edson takes a photo of his dorm room after getting his belongings moved in. Photo: @lucking_fame / Instagram
Bottom Right: Freshman Marisa Cole holds up a bottle of Hokie Water for a photo. Photo: @macole7 / Instagram
The traffic of move in made it clear— fall semester has begun. The campus is buzzing with the excitement of football and the energy of the new freshmen. Before the start of classes, students enjoyed their last summer weekend playing sports
on the Drillfield and enjoying the new boardwalk Downtown. However, the last days of August also represent the beginning of syllabus week and new opportunities across campus. Here’s a snapshot of what happened as students soaked in the last minutes of summer.
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Students craving convenient energy drinks or glass bottle sodas are in luck this year. Located to the left of BreakZone, the Squires C-Store opened this past July on the first floor of Squires Student Center. The new convenience store offers a variety of items ranging from small groceries and drinks, to headache medicine and condoms. The store will also sell the Maroon and Orange effect shirts provided by Student Government Association, along with other Tech-themed clothing and gifts. The store is not dissimilar from the Dietrick General Store in the contents of its inventory, though the C-Store will not sell tobacco products. Both convenience stores are owned and operated by Virginia Tech Services Inc. (VTS), the organization that also maintains the Volume Two and University Bookstores. According to the store’s Satellite Division Manager, Sarah Buskill, the idea for the Squires store has been in the works for about a year. “I think they felt that there was a niche for (this) type of store, and the need arose,” said Buskill. “That’s something that we already do on campus with the Dietrick convenience store and the University Bookstore, so we thought the Squires C-Store would be a great addition to that.” The store primarily employs Virginia Tech students, taken either from other VTS locations or hired for the new venue. Buskill says the store is “basically student run at this point.” While the store hasn’t yet been tested against the tide of incoming students, its employees are eager for the future. “It’s small, but I think we did a good job of putting all the essentials in here,” said Andrew Salisbury, a senior economics major and assistant director of the store. The store will be open form 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. They accept all major credit cards, personal checks and cash. @JDeanSeal
Dancer makes moves beyond fitness Corps welcomes
331 new recruits
JESSICA GROVES lifestyles reporter
For some students at Virginia Tech, a trip to the gym isn’t a fitness booster or a stress reliever — it’s a lifesaver. Stephanie Mateus, a senior psychology student, is able to pinpoint the exact moment that a trip to the gym transformed her life. Mateus was dancing long before she learned to find her way to her classes during her freshman year. After five years of participating with Sensazao Dance Fitness in Alexandria, Va., Mateus sought a local fitness routine that matched her rhythm. She discovered it waiting for her on campus, and said it helped her survive. “The only time I didn’t miss home was in my (dance) class,” Mateus said. “McComas was my getaway, my haven.” In the beginning, Mateus was dancing for herself. Dancing was a way to escape homesickness and roommate issues. Over time, though, the spirit of community on Tech’s campus changed her perspective. Last year, she learned about how valuable teaching a class could be to others. She now teaches Zumba classes at McComas Hall.
CAMERON AUSTIN news editor
COURTESY OF STEPHANIE MATEUS
Britanie Haas and Kabemba Kapanga spread their passion to dance through Zumba. On what started as a regular day of work, Mateus received a card and a gift from a woman who had been taking her classes. The message inside it left Mateus in tears. “She told me (in her card) that her husband had passed away a few years ago, and she started dancing again because needed something to get her spirits back up,” Mateus said. “She
told me ‘Thank you for bringing the dance back into my life.’” From the beginning, Mateus was also affecting the lives of students at Tech. Kabemba Kapanga, a senior psychology, French and international studies major, started dancing because she attended Mateus’ class during her freshman year. see MCCOMAS / page two
After seven days of intense training, seminars, and activities, the Corps of Cadets class of 2017 has completed their New Cadet week. During New Cadet week, incoming freshmen are trained by 130 upperclassmen cadets on how to perform basic functions necessary to be successful cadets. Exercises include rappelling down the Ranger Tower— a military obstacle course, teambuilding activities, learning the correct way to wear the uniforms, male cadets getting the traditional buzzcut, and how conduct themselves on upper quad. The introductory week ended on Saturday with a drill rifle march, where parents and community members gathered to watch the newest cadets complete the drill rifle sequence.
The incoming class is made up of 331 freshmen, from eight different countries and 30 different states, which caps the total Corps of Cadet membership right around 1,000 students. This year, the incoming class is made of 18 percent women — a larger percent than the last few years. “Given the staff and students, we’re trying to sustain a Corps of 1,000 students,” said the Assistant Commandant of Cadets for Recruiting, Major Rewa Mariger. Mariger also noted that besides the Corps vision of 1,000 students, space is also a factor in the enrollment of the Corps. “There is a tremendous learning curve for these new freshmen,” Mariger said. “We’re essentially taking them from zero, to learning how to march in parades with rifles. see CADETS / page two
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newseditor@collegiatetimes.com
August 26, 2013
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Cadets: Training continues with Red Phase
PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH CORPS OF CADETS VIA FACEBOOK
Team building exercises, such as tug-of-war, took place created a sense of camaraderie among cadets.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH CORPS OF CADETS VIA FACEBOOK
Cadets marched in formation, concluding the end of New Cadet Week.
from page one
The upperclassmen cadres who have been training the new cadets were chosen based on their performance. Black Shirts, who are selected sophomores, have been help-
ing with the physical labor involved during the fi rst week, from placing uniforms in the classrooms to helping move all 331 freshmen into the dorms. With the conclusion of New
Cadet week, the red phase begins: a six-week period that leads up to the 26 mile Caldwell March. “Red Phase continues with a lot of the training that we weren’t able to fit into the
first week. It’s the same training, just now with academics thrown into the mix,” Mariger said. The Caldwell March will take place before midterms, and will complete
the red phase for the newest members of the Corps of Cadets. @CameronOAustin
NEWS weather watch
After an unconventional summer characterized by record rainfall and unusually cool temperatures, skies have finally cleared over Blacksburg. But how long will the rain stay away? Students on their way to classes tomorrow are in for quite the treat Monday morning. Temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s with few clouds will continue into the middle of the week with little-to-no chance of rain until Wednesday. A few storms will be possible Wednesday afternoon into the evening. The storms look to be relatively brief and will allow for cooler and drier weather to take hold during the weekend. Check back on Friday for a weather preview in the Southeast for those travelling to the Chick Fil-A Kickoff Classic between the Hokies and Alabama. Follow James on Twitter: @wxBONE
McComas: Free week of gym classes offers opportunity to exercise options from page one
“I saw these two girls dance, Kabemba and (her roommate) Brittanie. They were up there in front with me and they knew all my dances by heart,” Mateus said. Kapanga was an athlete in high school, but dancing was still new to her. She said she saw Free Week of Fitness as the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill without any pressure. “The first class was difficult for me, but I still went back and tried to see what I could do,” Kapanga said. “You go to your first class and you’re watching someone dance, but the more you go, you become the one who is leading your-
self.” Her perseverance led to success. Kapanga became a regular at Mateus’ dance classes and was certified to teach last September. Mateus said she knew how much dance had done for her, but had never imagined she could affect people in the same way. “Things like that can come from an hour of your effort and hard work, and it really changes their lives,” Mateus said. Likewise, the inspiration Mateus ignited in Kapanga continues to pass from instructor to participants in every class. Every week, the two women give and take inspiration from their students
in dance. “I teach with my roommate and we’ve had several girls come up to us and tell us ‘This is making me want to choose a healthier lifestyle,’” Kapanga said. “To see what happened with myself in Stephanie’s class is awesome.” Kapanga and Mateus aren’t just inspiring women in their contemporary dance fitness classes. Even though women take up a majority of their classes, several men have participated as well. “I had one gentleman in his mid to late 50’s who came to all of my classes and had the greatest time,” Kapanga said. “I also had a couple of undergraduate students who attend-
ed every single one, and I don’t think they were self-conscious about being there. They were having fun.” Kapanga emphasized the importance of forgetting about onlookers in the gym and focusing on having a good time. She says that Free Week of Fitness is an opportunity for students to let go and try things they wouldn’t normally be interested in. “I found something I wasn’t passionate about until I tried it,” Kapanga said. McComas and War Memorial Hall offer many workout opportunities at the start of the fall semester. During the Free Week of Fitness, students can check out more than 20
classes every day at both of the gyms. In fact, Mateus and Kapanga are just two of 30 instructors leading class at the campus gyms this week. “All of the dance instructors know each other; they know what’s going on in each other’s lives,” Mateus said. “We’ve all become more than just colleagues.” Mateus and Kapanga both said that a common goal of fitness and health has turned their group into a family. “It’s such a fun atmosphere,” Kapanga said. “Everyone’s there for the same reason, staying emotionally and physically healthy.” Their group continues to learn from each other as well.
When routines start getting old and familiar, the fitness instructors collaborate with each other to find fresh ideas. “You find yourself going to other classes and finding that you might want to teach their format,” Kapanga said. “I tried cycling, and now hopefully I can be teaching that in the future, too.” The Free Week of Fitness continues in both gyms until September 1. Until then, fitness seekers have the chance to try more than 20 different forms of exercise, including cycling, dance fitness and group cardio. @jessicahgroves
SPORTS
sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com
August 26, 2013
collegiatetimes.com
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Football continues walk-on tradition ALEX KOMA sports editor
Scrappy underdog fights his way onto his college football team, earns a scholarship and becomes a star along the way — it sounds like the plot of a bad movie. Yet that’s exactly what a number of players have done at Virginia Tech by becoming “walk-ons,” or players that make the squad without initially being offered an athletic scholarship. Tech has a rich history of walk-ons fi nding success at the program, and even offered four such players scholarships this season. Receivers Charley Meyer and Willie Byrn and linebackers Josh Trimble and Derek DiNardo just became the latest in a long line of people to walk-on to the Tech football team. “We’ve had a great walk-on program for a long time,” said FILE APRIL 2013 / SPPS head coach Frank Beamer. “I Jack Tyler (58) runs down Willie Byrn (82) during Virginia Tech’s 2013 spring game. think we’re a place that walkons really want to consider because we put so many guys on scholarship and so many guys have come out of our program.” Due to an epidemic of injuries at the outside linebacker position and the departure of several key veterans at wide receiver, these four look to play a crucial role in the upcoming season. Trimble will likely start at the “whip” linebacker position after presumed starter Ronny Vandyke went out for the year with a shoulder injury. “If they’re going to figure into playing, we’re going to get them on scholarship as soon as we possibly can,” Beamer said. Coaches also hinted that
FILE 2011 / SPPS
Jack Tyler (58) prepares to take down Orwin Smith (17) in a 2011 game against Georgia Tech.
freshman Sam Rogers, a walkon who will probably start at fullback, could be next in line for a scholarship. “He’s not your typical fullback,” said running backs coach Shane Beamer. “Sam, we feel like can line up as a slot receiver and have a matchup problem with some linebackers, because he’s a football player, if that makes sense.” Although stepping in for the injured Vandyke or the graduated Marcus Davis and Corey Fuller may seem intimidating for these walk-ons, scholarship players insist that the new guys will be ready. “We expect people to come in and step up and play,” said linebacker Jack Tyler. “I went through it, I was kind of forced out there and told ‘You have to become an All-ACC linebacker because that’s who you’re going to replace.’ Trimble and DiNardo and some of those guys who are going to have to play are going to have to step into those shoes and be solid.” Tyler is one of Tech’s biggest success stories as a walk-on. Defensive backs coach Torrian Gray noticed him as a senior at Northern Virginia’s Oakton High School back in 2008, and by 2010 he’d earned a scholarship and was starting in place of the injured Bruce Taylor in the Orange Bowl. Accordingly, Tyler understands what the walk-on players are going through right now. “Before practice, (Beamer) listed them off and said ‘You guys come to my office afterwards’, and everyone knew what that meant because everyone knew all of them were obviously vying for a scholarship. I’m excited for
them,” Tyler said. “Obviously I was in that situation and I know what that feels like. I couldn’t be more excited for them, they’re all deserving of it and they’re all good players.” The redshirt senior also feels like walk-ons have an extra advantage when it comes to motivation. “I feel like walk-ons always have that small chip on their shoulder because we’ve all had the same background story: we were too small, too slow, something,” Tyler said. “That’s why we didn’t get recruited and there’s always that little bit that we feel like we’re as good as everybody else but maybe we just didn’t fit in right away.” Players like Tyler and current NFL stars Cody Grimm and Will Montgomery are living proof that Tech’s walk-ons can accomplish big things with their extra enthusiasm. Now, it will be up to new starters like Trimble to do the same. “With Josh, he’s so athletic, he has all the skills, but he’s a little like me that he doesn’t have the size,” Tyler said. “I ran with my opportunity and Josh is just as good and I think he can do the same thing. I think he can be an All-ACC type linebacker if he puts his mind to it.” If he does, he’ll help further Tech’s tradition as one of the most walk-on friendly schools in the nation. “They do a good job of finding those guys here — finding the right players to fi ll the walk-on spots that can eventually become scholarship players,” Tyler said.
@AlexKomaCT
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featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com
August 26, 2013
collegiatetimes.com
LIFESTYLES
Facing freshman nerves EXIT
KEVIN DICKEL / COLLEGIATE TIMES
MADELEINE GORDON lifestyles reporter
Feelings of nervousness often plague many new students during their first year of college. They’re living somewhere new, making new friend groups on campus and are finally experiencing newfound independence. “Been there, done that,” most upperclassmen would say. Yet looking back on their freshman year, many upperclassmen can offer the best ways to make the most out of the four — or more —years at Tech. In fact, many can relate to how new students are feeling now. Looking back on their freshman years, Adam Pearcy, a senior biochemistry major, and Cara Bilheimer, a sophomore economics major, share advice
they wish they had received upon coming to Virginia Tech. “I was more nervous than excited (about freshman year) to be honest,” Pearcy, said. Pearcy also said the process was made easier by building a great relationship and becoming good friends with his roommate. The friendship helped him transition to college life, and made his time at Tech more meaningful. Bilheimer said that like Pearcy, she also felt a bit anxious when she first made her way to campus. “I came from Pennsylvania so I knew no one else attending the school and I felt like everyone else had like 50 people from their high school with them, and I just didn’t,” Bilheimer said. “I felt lost.” Bilheimer said she was able
to find her place at school after making a close group of friends by getting involved on campus. She found friends through joining the Residence Hall’s Hall Council and by pledging a service sorority.
info on the go Visit Gobblerfest Sept. 6 for more information on student organizations. Both Bilheimer and Pearcy agree that the best thing new students can do is engage with the Hokie community. “My number one piece of
advice for any first year student would be to get involved with anything,” Pearcy said. “There are hundreds of different organizations and finding your niche by getting involved is a great way to leave a strong legacy here at Tech.” Pearcy found his niche in being a resident advisor for Slusher Hall, a Hokie Ambassador and an orientation leader. “Get involved as soon as you can,” Bilheimer said. “Find something you like and go for it. If it doesn’t turn out to be exactly what you want, you don’t have to continue doing it. Find what works for you.” Both Bilheimer and Pearcy said that before joining every club out there, new students should try to make friendships in their hall first.
“Sometimes it’s really awkward just to stand in someone’s doorway and say ‘Hey, my name is … ,’ but in the long run it goes a long way in defeating the awkwardness and developing lasting and meaningful relationships,” Pearcy said. In fact, they both agree that there are a lot of uncomfortable feelings associated with being the new kids on campus, but it’s something everyone can overcome. “You fi nd that everyone’s doing the same thing. It’s not just you who is being awkward,” Bilheimer said. “You’re not the only one cutting across the Drillfield to get to class. You eventually realize that everyone is in the same boat as you and you’re not alone.” Bilheimer said that meeting
classmates is also a great way to find people to walk to class with or grab coffee with. “Being knowledgeable, especially about your surroundings, makes you feel better about everything,” Bilheimer said. “When you know where things are, you can help other people out which makes you feel like you are a part of the community.” However, to become knowledgeable, students should avoid not being intimidated to ask questions, even if means asking something seemingly obvious. Though there’s a lot to figure out now, it’s also good to keep the future in mind and think ahead. @maddi757
OPINIONS
opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com
August 26, 2013
collegiatetimes.com
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The Collegiate Times is an independent studentrun newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff Editor in Chief: Priscilla Alvarez Managing Editor: Danielle Buynak Art Director: Kevin Dickel Design Editors: Brad Klodowski, Andrea Ledesma Public Editor: Andrew Kulak Web Editor: James O’Hara Multimedia Editor: Nick Smirniotopoulos News Editors: Cameron Austin, Dean Seal News Reporters: Melissa Draudt, Leslie McCrea News Staff Writers: Kelly Cline, Josh Higgins, Matt Minor Features Editor: Chelsea Giles Features Reporters: Madeline Gordon, Jessica Groves Opinions Editors: David Levitt, Shareth Reddy Sports Editors: Jacob Emert, Alex Koma Sports Media Manager: Mike Platania Assistant Photo Editor: Ben Wiedlich Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: James Dean Seal Circulation Manager: Keith Bardsley
MCT CAMPUS
Misconceptions taint image of NSA T
he NSA is not watching you. According to The Wall Street Journal, the National Security Administration (NSA) can reach roughly 75 percent of all U.S. internet traffic, but it is not reaching for your tweets or Instagram photos. The NSA’s filtering is designed to look for communications that either originate or end abroad, or those that are entirely foreign in nature. It is absurd to believe the government is reading your Facebook statuses and tapping into your phone calls because
what people seem to forget is that the NSA looks at the U.S. internet traffic to protect us. Their work helps to prevent terrorist action that threatens our safety.
“
It is absurd to believe the government is reading your Facebook statuses and tapping into your phone calls...”
The spotlight was directed toward the NSA when Edward Snowden, a computer specialist working for the CIA and NSA, leaked details of several top-secret U.S. and British surveillance programs. Some countries saluted him as a courageous whistle-blower, but he was condemned as a traitor to his own country. All of the media focus on Snowden’s residence in Moscow’s airport and his mission to find asylum pitted the American government against countries that wanted to assist Snowden. This and the ongoing Snowden saga have cre-
ated a false sentiment that the American government is watching everything. That simply is not true. Billions of phone calls and Internet searches happen everyday. I believe that the NSA is not going to spend millions of dollars to looking into the Google searches of citizens. However, if someone is making frequent phone calls to historic terrorism hotbeds, it may be another story. The NSA monitors calls and Internet traffic they deem important to the safety of American citizens. They are not going to listen in on your
conversation with your grandmother in Italy about her new pizza recipe. So next time you go online to rant about how much you hate the American government and about how they are watching your every move, just remember that they probably aren’t. In a country of almost 314 million people, the NSA has better things to do than laugh at your late night texts or snapchats. ADAM ROTHE -regular columnist -sophomore -marketing
Virtual violence impacts reality Nerve gas use would
It
is alarming that a young child, who does not recognize the consequences of their actions, is able to gain access to a loaded firearm. Earlier in the summer, I wrote a column about a fouryear-old who shot his father with a loaded gun he picked up at a family friend’s house. However, this more recent situation is a bit more gruesome. In Slaughter, La., an eightyear-old boy intentionally shot his 90-year-old grandmother, Marie Smothers. Smothers was the primary caregiver of the boy. According to police, the law states that, “a child under (the age of) ten is exempt from criminal responsibility.” After the incident, most investigators believed the shooting to be an accident, but upon further investigation, they may have found another reason for his actions. It was revealed that the boy was playing Grand Theft Auto IV before the shooting took place. There are so many red flags in this awful, cringe-
worthy scenario that cannot be ignored. First off, the kid was not completely at fault. What grown adult knowingly allows a young child to play Grand Theft Auto IV? This child does not have the cognitive ability to distinguish the reality in the game from the reality of the world. When he shot his grandmother, he probably expected 300 points would pop up on the screen
“
There are so many red flags in this awful, cringe-worthy scenario that cannot be ignored.”
spontaneously. The big debate that stems from this issue is if violent video games can directly cause violence in the real world. Sadly, it comes down to a parent or guardians to choose whether to purchase a mature rated game for an
impressionable child. Grand Theft Auto IV is rated mature due to the heavy violence, suggestive themes and illegal acts it portrays. The whole Grand Theft Auto series is fun to play, but people under a certain age do not technically have the maturity to handle some of the situations that arise through gameplay. Due to the fact that I have played three games in the series so far, I find it inexcusable to allow a young child to witness some of the actions in the game. I also have an issue with the fact that an eight-year-old had access to a loaded gun in the house. Guns should be locked up or in a cabinet where a child cannot reach it. This grandmother was completely ignorant. As the legal guardian of this child, she displayed no control over the household she was responsible for. RYAN TURK -regular columnist -sophomore -BIT
we’re YOUR newspaper. send a letter to the editor and express your views. send an e-mail to opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com with your letter or guest column attached.
require US action
L
ast August, even as he resisted the notion of U.S. military intervention in Syria, President Obama said that “a red line for us is we start seeing a whole bunch of chemical weapons moving around or being utilized. That would change my calculus.” If new reports of the use of nerve gas to massacre hundreds of Syrian civilians are confirmed, Obama must make good on that warning to punish the government and protect its population. People around the world have been horrified by online images of bodies shrouded in white sheets victims, Syrian opposition groups claim, of an attack Wednesday by the government of President Bashar Assad in a suburb of Damascus. The government denies using chemical weapons, and Russia, Assad’s enabler on the U.N. Security Council, predictably dismissed the claims of a nerve-agent attack as a “premeditated provocation.” The initial reaction of the United States has been to demand that U.N. weapons inspectors already in Syria be allowed to visit the scene of the alleged attack and gather information. The U.S. intelligence community is also looking into the allegations. Those are prudent first steps. But if the reports are confirmed by the U.N. inspectors or otherwise, this atrocity should be met with measured military action. We say that even though we share Obama’s aver-
sion to military intervention in Syria, which would be a more complicated and dangerous proposition than the air campaign that led to the overthrow of Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The administration’s caution has reflected not only an admirable reluctance to ensnare the United States in another foreign war but also a concern that the Syrian opposition remains too volatile and divided to be trusted. The administration didn’t abandon its essentially cautious policy even after it determined in June that the Assad government had used small amounts of the nerve agent sarin against its opponents. But if chemical weapons are now being used on a major scale against civilians, the U.S. must act ideally in concert with other nations. On Thursday, France’s foreign minister suggested that the international community should respond with “force” short of the deployment of troops if the allegations are confirmed. A no-fly zone coupled with airstrikes is an obvious option. For almost a century there has been an international consensus that chemical weapons are beyond the pale because of their cruelty and potential for widespread loss of life. That understanding was reflected in Obama’s comments about a “red line.” The Syrian government must not be allowed to cross that line with impunity. MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
College Media Solutions Assistant Ad Director: Michelle Sutherland Account Executives: Taylor Moran, Stephanie Morris, Danielle Pedra Inside Sales Manager: Amanda Gawne Assistant Account Executives: Catie Stockdale Jordan Williams, Emily Daugherty, Emily Reina, Becca Schwartz Creative Director: Diana Bayless Creative Staff: Mariah Jones, Samantha Keck, Kitty Schaffernoth, Seden Craig. Katherine Miller
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, 2013. 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.
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august 26, 2013
Regular Edition Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Today’s Birthday (08/26/13). Fun and work top your priority list this year. Your career’s been expanding, and it’s harvest time; preserve the fruits of your labors. Stash a nice percentage. Partnerships flower with regular love and attention. New ones open unimagined doors. Romance infuses the year as you connect deeply.
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day
Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.
Help Wanted HOOPTIE RIDE The Hooptie Ride is currently hiring drivers with good driving records. Drivers must be at least 23 years old. Earn $ while having fun! Call Ken @ 540-998-5093 hooptieride@ verizon.net
- Oscar Wilde Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com
XKDC by Randell Monroe
By Janice Luttrell
ACROSS 1 Actress Anderson 5 Like one who limps 9 Exhausted, with “out” 14 Sportscaster Hershiser 15 Director Kazan 16 Biscotti flavoring 17 Sagacious 18 Computer storage medium 19 Aquarium fish 20 Dairy food with loose curds 23 Pub pint 24 Buddhist sect
8/26/13 25 Many shoppers buy on it 28 Bare minimum 30 Jibs and spinnakers 33 Often-flowery verse 34 “Is it soup __?” 36 Letters before an alias 37 Bed with a mate 38 Dip for veggies 42 “I’ve Gotta __”: Sammy Davis Jr. hit 43 Fair-hiring inits. 44 “Casablanca” pianist 45 Honest prez 46 Idyllic places 48 Lukewarm
52 Internal Revenue Code expert 54 Stable diet? 56 Brian with the album “Music for Airports” 57 Tenderloin often served with Béarnaise sauce 61 Pandemonium 63 Jackson 5 member 64 Glitch 65 Songstress Lena 66 Gunk 67 Remote button 68 Broke off, as talks 69 Ballyhoo 70 Suffix with road or hip
DOWN 1 Like diet beverages 2 Baltimore bird 3 Lipton rival 4 Abba’s “__ the Music Speak” 5 Rocky projection 6 Martians and such 7 Catchall abbr. 8 For one 9 Track transactions 10 Occupied, as a lavatory 11 “Put a lid on it!” 12 Sixth sense, for short 13 Susan of “L.A. Law” 21 Ancient Mexican 22 Mercedes-Benz model series 26 Beatnik’s “Gotcha” 27 Finger count 29 “Auld Lang __” 31 Hank with 755 career homers 32 Tina Turner’s ex 35 Precisely, after “on” 37 Game-stopping call 38 Country singer McEntire
39 “Don’t leave home without it” convenience 40 Poor grade 41 Mythical mangoat 42 Halloween decoration 46 Rubbed off the board 47 “Zip your lip!” 49 Bar snack item 50 Present from birth
51 Los Angeles ballplayer 53 “E.T. __ home” 55 Place to live, one of which starts the three longest puzzle answers 58 Cut with acid 59 Breezy 60 Doctrines 61 Revolutionary Guevara 62 Darlin’
Thursday’s Puzzle Solved
(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
8/15/2013
WORDSEARCH: 90’s Boy Bands Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.
WORD BANK 1 Plus One 2 NSync 3 Boys II Men 4 Hanson 5 Backstreet Boys 6 All Four One 7 BBmak 8 O-town 9 Jackson Five 10 New Kids On The Block 11 Menudo 12 Dream Street 13 LFO 14 Limp Bizkit 15 West Life
Aries (March 21-April 19) Watch out for work-related accidents or misunderstandings. Allow your roots to be shaken and still issue new growth. Resolve con licts as they sprout, and collect the fruits of your labor. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Stop and think for a minute. If you can’t get what you need close to home, look farther away. The more dif icult the challenge, the more rewarding the effort. Your team backs you up. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Watch the competition. Travel beckons, but expect the unexpected. Keep your inances and home in order. If you move quickly, you can make a big pro it. Practice looking at things in a new light. Romance is as close as your backyard. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Take one step at a time right now, stopping to work out kinks along the way. Be as practical as circumstances allow. Don’t be afraid to ask friends for help. Listening is key.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) It’s a beautiful moment for love, despite obstacles. The more you overcome, the better you feel. Don’t be afraid of mistakes ... the best stories come from risks taken, not the ones avoided. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Things may be starting to cool down, but you like it hot right now. There are so many adventures to be had. Discover and release an old pretense for new freedom. Weed the garden. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Choose love. You’re gaining wisdom. Be meticulous but not picky. Learn a new skill from a teammate. Bring your best game. Exceed expectations. Ignore critics. Celebrate by relaxing with someone special. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Arrange priorities. Call if you’ll be late. Find what you need nearby. Gain more than expected, with a bonus. Take care not to provoke jealousies. It’s not a good time to expand or travel.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Accept full responsibility, as you pause and re lect. Temporary confusion distracts. Stick to your point. Replace or repair something broken. Give up something you don’t need to hold on to anymore. There’s good news. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - Keep enough on hand without wasting money. Use your own good judgment. If befuddled, wait it out. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it. Prepare for some rest and relaxation. Ah, love! Share some. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Celebrate your love openly. Add romantic touches at home, like lowers or dramatic lighting. Buy only what you truly need. Take a practical inancial route. Provide motivation and the perfect setting. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Think outside your safety zone. Advance to the next level. Be the best. A female has the skinny. A slight disagreement’s no big deal. There’s more work coming in. Accept constructive criticism.
LIFESTYLES
featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com
August 26, 2013
collegiatetimes.com
watch: A
fter a pretty disappointing summer season that saw even box office favorites such as Johnny Depp and Will Smith flop spectacularly, it’s impossible to not look forward to the films of this fall. In the fall, Oscar-bait and auteurs replace the mindless action and Michael Bay-wannabes of the summer — for the most part, at least. Audiences will still get a fair number of those popcorn-flicks, although essentially all of note are sequels or part of a series, rather than original films. “Riddick,” the third in the “Chronicles of Riddick” series, opens on Sept. 6. The movie stars Vin Diesel as an alien warrior bent on revenge. Another action-flick is “Machete Kills,” opening on Oct. 11. The follow-up to Robert Rodriguez’s delightfully campy “Machete” stars Danny Trejo as the titular ex-Mexican federale who is recruited by the president of the United States to take down a dangerous arms dealer (Mel Gibson).
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For the more highbrow audiences, there’s still plenty to look forward to throughout the fall.”
Nov. 8 sees the premiere of the season’s only major superhero film, “Thor: The Dark World.” Chris Hemsworth returns as the god of thunder and reunites with love interest Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) when she is brought to Asgard following a mysterious ailment. Together, they try to save the Nine Realms from a dark threat. Tom Hiddleston also returns as Thor’s devious brother Loki. Another sure-to-be-massive sequel is “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” which premieres Nov. 22. Just when they think they’re safe after winning the
Games in the first film, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) face further danger with the announcement of a shocking twist for the 75th Annual Hunger Games. Opening on Dec. 13 is the next in line of huge sequels, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) continues his quest with the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) to help the dwarves reclaim their kingdom. Rounding out of the popcorn flicks of the season is the December 20 opening of the long-awaited sequel to 2004’s “Anchorman.” “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues” follows the Channel 4 news team as they try to regain relevancy in the 1980s. Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Steve Carell all return. For the more highbrow audiences, there’s still plenty to look forward to throughout the fall. Alfonso Cuaron wrote, produced, edited and directed “Gravity,” which will be in theaters Oct. 4. The film hosts stars George Clooney and Sandra Bullock as two astronauts who are stranded in space with limited air, and is already getting Oscar talk. October 18 sees the opening of “The Fifth Estate,” the Bill Condon-directed biopic of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Assange with Daniel Bruhl as the group’s spokesperson Daniel Domscheit-Berg. Another biographical film is “The Wolf of Wall Street,” coming on Nov. 5. Martin Scorsese directs Leonardo DiCaprio as a Wall Street stockbroker involved in a huge securities fraud case. “American Hustle,” to be released on Dec. 25, is generating a lot of attention with its all-star cast and crew. The director (David O. Russell) and stars (Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence) of the Oscar-winning “Silver Linings Playbook” collaborate again with
some excellent additions, including Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Robert De Niro. The film follows a huge FBI sting operation into stolen property and public corruption. Rounding out the Oscar-bait of the year is perennial Oscarnominee Meryl Streep with her movie “August: Osage County.” Also debuting on Dec. 25, Streep is joined by an ensemble featuring Julia Roberts. The dark com-
Fall Movie Preview
edy film follows a dysfunctional Southern family as it deals with a tragedy. With a few high-quality action f licks and the requisite Oscarhunger dramas, there’s something for every audience. KATIE WHITE - lifestyles staff writer - senior - history major
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Forget to buy your yearbook? No worries. Visit bugleonline.com, browse our archives, and learn how to order.
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August 26, 2013
collegiatetimes.com
featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com
LIFESTYLES
Upcoming Events August 26 2013 Tech Talk Live Kick-Off show- 7 p.m. at Bull & Bones Brewhaus & Grill Bill Roth and Virginia Tech Head Football Coach Frank Beamer, Athletic Director Jim Weaver, Defensive Coordinator Bud Foster, starting quarterback Logan Thomas and starting middle linebacker Jack Tyler will be live broadcasting.
August 27 Fitness Launch Party- 7:15 p.m. at McComas Hall Come to McComas to kick off the semester with a free fitness class. Classes include Insane Fitness, Bodycombat, and will conclude with Zumba.
August 29 Karaoke - All day at BreakZone Stressed about school work already? Head to BreakZone in Squires with some friends Thursday to sing your heart out to your favorite song. Welcome Back Kick off Concert and Spirit Rally- 6 p.m. at the Downtown Blacksburg College Promenade Class of 2015 is sponsoring a concert featuring the American pop band Parachute and country musician Parker Bradway. Musician Joy Truskowski- 7 p.m. at Gillies Come listen to Singer-songwriter Joy Truskowski play her acoustic folk pop music featuring guitar, harmonies, flute, and some looping.
September 6 Gobblerfest- 4 p.m. at the Drillfield Mark it on your calendars now— the annual festival will set up on the Drillfield and give students a chance to visit booths of various student organizations. An estimated 22,000 people attended the 2012 event, so don't miss out this year! FILE 2012 / SPPS
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