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Wednesday, August 28, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 3 News, page 2

‘Innovate’ occupies former frat house

Lifestyles, page 3

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 7

The new buzz in late night coffee BY CAMERON AUSTIN news editor

Study Break, page 6

Ticket troubles caused by oversight DEAN SEAL news editor

FILE 2013

Construction on the $5 million house was ﬁnished this past spring.

The Innovate Learning Community is paving the way for young Tech entrepreneurs. MELISSA DRAUDT news reporter

The recently constructed $5 million house on Oak Lane, originally intended for the Sigma Phi Epslion fraternity, has been designated a new purpose as of this semester. This semester marks the beginning of a two-year pilot program for Innovate, a new living-learning community that has been given access to the house after Sig Ep lost its charter last year due to misconduct and failure to meet national expectations. Innovate is a residential community with an entrepreneurial concentration where 35 first-year students of different majors will work together to ideate and launch student-led business ventures. The community-specific course in entrepreneurship

is being taught by assistant professor in Pamplin College of Business Department of Management, Marc Junkunc. “My immediate reaction was ‘this is outstanding, a great opportunity for the students… for the university,’” said Junkunc. “I felt this was something that really was going to be impactful.” The idea for Innovate stemmed from the collaborative efforts of the provost’s office, the Division of Student Affairs, Pamplin College of Business and the department of Housing and Residence Life. “In terms of entrepreneurship education and livinglearning communities, those are two separate phenomena that are occurring now at universities and this is bringing [those] together,” Junkunc said. see HOUSE / page two

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

The staff of Espresso Oasis put the final touches on the first floor cafe in Newman Library.

tudents and faculty will soon have a new conveniently located option to get their caffeine fi x. The new Espresso Oasis will open Thursday on the first floor of Newman Library, and will stay open till 11 p.m. on weekdays — making it the latest open of all other dining options on the academic side of campus. According to CEO Keith Exton, the company has had their sights set on the Newman Library location for a while, and as soon as the previous vendor fell through, Exton and his company jumped on the opportunity to set up their thirteenth cafe on Tech’s campus. “When Greenberry’s left in July 2012, it took a full year for us to turn the space around for the new vendor,” said BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS Dennis Herron, Director of Facilities & Purchasing Operations for univer- The cafe intends to open on Thursday morning. sity libraries. “The students were disappointed when Greenberry’s left, but there is so much excitement surroundMonday-Thursday: 7:30 a.m.-11 p.m. ing the opening of Espresso Oasis.”

hours

see BUZZ / page four

Friday: 7:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m.- 11 p.m.

The Lyric preserves town’s memories JESSICA GROVES lifestyles reporter

The Lyric Theatre on College Avenue has been in the storytelling business for more than a hundred years, and in that time has also left its mark in its audiences’ own stories. Those marks have only existed as memories in the mind of the Lyric’s guests and volunteers, until now. The Lyric’s Council Board of Directors is capturing the history of the theatre through a memory book, which will portray the stories of people who have cherished memories in the historic Blacksburg location. “Well, the idea first got started five years ago, and it wasn’t really our idea,” said Susan Mattingly, the executive director of the Lyric Theatre. At the time, a writer’s group called New River Writer’s Workshop was planning to create a memory book for the Lyric. Later, this effort was reduced to just an idea when the Lyric lost the help of the writing group. Mattingly however, said the theatre’s committee members were still inspired by the idea that they had a special story to tell, and they wanted to share it.

According to Ticketing Services, student contention regarding ticket distribution for this weekends season opener against Alabama is unwarranted. Sandy Smith, assistant director of athletics for Ticketing Services, said that students should not have felt misled by the manner of ticket distribution or their inability to control their seating based on when they picked up their ticket. According to Smith, students purchasing tickets this past spring faced a screen in the buying process that explicitly stated “Seats will be allocated randomly within the student sections,” and students had to check a box noting they accepted these terms before they could proceed. Whether all students actually read this, Smith said, was out of Ticketing Services’ control. “If they hadn’t read that and checked that box… they could not have ordered at all,” Smith said. “That’s all we can do to try and ensure that people are reading our stuff, and as you well know, a good portion of people just check and go.” Smith continued, “We can’t make people read, we can just try and provide the safeguard that they have to at least stop at that point, and hopefully they’ll read the information.” Away games have had this policy before, said Smith, in which seats were randomly pre-assigned to tickets, and this game wasn’t an exception. This system was established years ago in a joint effort by Ticketing Services and the Student Government Association that has to do with the perceived fairness of the process, as well as the price of tickets themselves. “We don’t do fi rst-come, fi rst-serve because it is a reduced price ticket, and everyone should have the same opportunity to receive what people consider a better or lesser seat,” Smith said. “It’s randomized… we’ve done this previously, and to be honest with you it’s a randomized procedure because several years ago we met with the (SGA) and that’s what they suggested to be fair to all students because all students pay the same athletic fee.” Th is process of randomly selecting seats is also done for ticket lotteries. This ticketing process occurred when Tech played Alabama in 2009, but Smith says that these discrepancies were not an issue then. He went on to say that all requisite information regarding the seating policy was stated in the immediate post-ticket sale confirmation email, as well as the reminder email sent out on Monday. “I don’t know why the students didn’t read the information, and I think that is the main discrepancy, if you don’t pay attention,” Smith went on to say.

KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS see THEATRE / page three

The Lyric’s Council Board of Directors is bridging multiple generations of moviegoers favorite stories of their time at the Lyric.

see TICKET / page two

newseditor@collegiatetimes.com

August 28, 2013

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I-81 South closes for 1-10 days CAMERON AUSTIN news editor

Traffic headaches on Interstate 81 southbound will continue for possibly the next 10 days as VDOT crews work to repair an unstable slope. A detour will be in place at mile marker 132, shutting down traffic until mile marker 118 in Christiansburg. The problems occurred after an existing crack in the unstable slope increased from approximately 50 feet to 120 feet in length. According to VDOT, geotechnical specialists have spent today reviewing the slope, and VDOT, in the interest of public safety, has decided to close southbound Interstate 81. According to a press release, “As a safety precaution, traffic will be detoured until the unstable material on the slope can be brought down. It is unknown at this time exactly how long it will take to stabilize the slope.” Crews will get a better idea of how long the interstate will be closed after Aug. 29, which is when the next blasting day will occur, and they can reevaluate the situation.

@CameronOAustin

NEWS

Ticket: Away game policy is nothing new from page one

Addressing complaints of some students not receiving lower level seating, Smith said that there was not sufficient space to accommodate all students in the lower level. The box which students had to check before proceeding through their ticket buying process noted that “Once all lower level seats have been allocated, the remaining

seats will be filled in upper level seats.” The lower level seats are reserved for the Marching Virginians band as determined by the administration of the Chick-fi l-a Bowl, said Smith. Ticketing Services used the remaining available seats for students. With an approximate total of 1,600 Tech student seats available, 560 will be in the lower level, said Stephen

Medley, associate ticket manager for Ticketing Services. According to Medley, the email that went out on Monday at 9:32 a.m. was an attempt to remind students of the information about ticket pickup that was originally provided in the confirmation email, seeing as most bought their tickets in the spring. When questioned as to why the students received the email after the pickup

had already started, Smith responded, “They already had an email they received,” citing the immediate post-purchase confirmation email. In response to the manner of the randomized seating, Smith defended the method on the principle of academics addressed by the SGA. “I think that that process is the fairest process, because if you have class on that day, should you have to cut class

in order to pick up a ticket?” Smith said. “(SGA) are the ones that felt it was more important for kids to go to class than to be able to wait in line for hours upon hours to try and get a better seat. So a randomization is fair to everybody and nobody has to miss class.”

@JDeanSeal

House: Aspiring entrepreneurs get head start from page one

Two staff members of Housing and Residence Life reside in the house with the students in the program including residential learning coordinator for fraternity and sorority life, Chad Mandala, along with the resident community fellow, Drew Stegmaier, a graduate of Virginia Tech class of 2013 and CEO of Drink it Up. Stegmaier calls his situation a “win-win.” “I’m learning a lot from the students,” said Stegmaier. “They’re so much further ahead of where I was when I was a freshman… some of them already have patents, some of them already have started companies.”

According to Junkunc, most students get involved with entrepreneurship in their junior or senior years, while one of the benefits of the Innovate community is encouraging students to pursue their ideas early on. “If we can get students engaged in those activities earlier it gives them a much greater opportunity to develop those aspirations and capabilities throughout their whole college experience,” Junkunc said. Freshman apparel, housing and resource management major, Caroline Johnson, is a member of Innovate this year and has always had dreams of opening her own clothing store. “I feel like overall we’re going to become a family,”

said Johnson. “It’s going to be really cool to bounce ideas off each other and learn what everyone’s different talents are and be able to build something.” Students in Innovate will learn to network and create business models, among other useful skills. “One of the first things we’re doing is demystifying it, showing the kids that this is possible,” said Stegmaier. “[If] you think you can’t, you’re the biggest barrier to your own success.” One concern that has been mentioned about the location of Innovate is that it may be too far from campus for the students to be engaged in the Virginia Tech community as a whole. “I don’t feel connected

to the campus just because I’m so far away from everything, but everyone in my classes are making me feel welcome and they don’t treat me [differently],” Johnson said. However, Junkunc says this barrier shouldn’t last long into the school year, especially with a Hokie Express bus stop located very close to the house. “I don’t think there’s any reason they should miss out on anything,” said Junkunc. “It’s an interdisciplinary program… We have a cross-section of many different cultures and majors. I think it’s a way for them to have a lot of likeminded housemates, but at the same time they’ll be able to plug into many different aspects of what’s going on on

campus.” Johnson says she feels very fortunate to live and learn as a member of Innovate. The future of the community is uncertain at this point, but Junkunc predicts that the results of this pilot program for Innovate will be positive and the community will evolve and grow in time. “Right now we’re just focused on doing the best Innovate program we can,” said Junkunc. “I think it’s poised to be one of the best programs of its kind in the country.”

@MelissaDraudt

LIFESTYLES

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com

August 28, 2013

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Sailor Jerry counter culture tastes of timelessness CHELSEA GILES lifestyles editor

hopping for liquor or beer can be overwhelming. With a slew of options resting on the shelves, is it shameful to admit the ones with eye-catching labels are usually the first choice? Walking down the rum aisle, the sketch of pin-up hula girl beside the name “Sailor Jerry” catches the eye immediately. Each bottle is clear and has a sketch of a pin-up girl on the backside of the front label. The more of the liquor you drink, the more of the girl you get to see. These sketches are designs by tattoo artist Norman Collins, famously known as “Sailor Jerry” for which the brand is named. Collins is credited with being one of the first Western tattoo artists to use Asian influences in his work. Collins embraced his fancy for Asian artwork and gave this traditional style his own twist starting in the late 1920’s. He was a sailor, a revolutionary tattoo artist, a poet, a traveler, a perfectionist and a slew of other labels one could place upon him. After all the indexes though, Collins was simply the Sailor Jerry.

“

This dark Caribbean distilled rum is just as warm and playful as the lifestyle it is marketed to compliment.”

KEVIN DICKEL/ SPPS

A sketch of a Sailor Jerry pin-up girl hides on the back of every bottle’s label.

Sailor Jerry would probably walk through a spirits store overwhelmed not by the variety of choices, but the idea of being surrounded by hundreds of stories captured and pasted

to bottles on inches-wide labels. Collins embodied the traditional outlook that a tattoo was a way to express an identity and a belonging to a certain community or culture. In the same fashion, “Sailor Jerry” fans drink the liquor out of loyalty to what the brand represents.

“

Bold outlines and the use of the colors red, purple and yellow are the ﬁrst aspects that make a Sailor Jerry tattoo recognizable. “

“Sailor Jerry” rum, sold by William Grant & Sons, is known to use counter-culture driven advertising, which has led to a particular group of consumers that are dedicated to what used to be an underground brand. Think cult classic of liquor. Th is alternative culture revolves around tattooing, music, motorcycles and being an individual, all aspects infamous to Collins himself. The label isn’t everything, though. This dark Caribbean distilled rum is just as warm and playful as the lifestyle it is marketed to compliment. As Collin’s tattoos are classic, a stamp of appreciation and respect to artists past, and also a way of saying that you know life is short, so why not live it, “Sailor Jerry” has a straight-up, nothing fancy, just the way it should be, taste with vanilla infusions and hints of cinnamon. Th is makes it a flavor punched mixer for tropical cocktails or a potent shot with a sweet aftertaste, just as the sailors flowing through Collins’ tattoo parlor in Chinatown of Honolulu, Hawaii would have preferred it. The tattoo parlor was for sailors by

a sailor, combining influences from the foreign lands they went to and their robust militaristic pride. And though the seductive pin-ups with cute outfits on the rum’s labels have become the icon of the brand, turns out, the pin-up girls were only a small corner of Collins’ tattoo design gallery. A new tattoo genre surfaced through Collins’ work. His techniques and colors reflected the blend of Asian tattoo culture and the edginess of a well-traveled sailor. Bold outlines and the use of the colors red, purple and yellow are the first aspects that make a Sailor Jerry tattoo recognizable. There is also a consistent use of images such as women, ships, anchors, dragons and birds, all encompassing representations of a sailor’s life. The cult liquor’s followers may not be ready to admit it, but their favored brand has started to attract thousands of other customers, similar to the story of Collins’ tattoo movement within his own studio. As the popularity of the rum continues to grow, much like the fascination of tattoo culture, more customers will enjoy the tease of the pin-up sketch revealed as the spirit is poured. Original “Sailor Jerry” fans would have to agree that this, along with Collins’ story and the timeless taste of rum, a favored drink that has crossed many cultures like the language of tattoos, is irresistible. “Sailor Jerry” is one bottle worth its label and priceless in the culture it leads.

@gilesreporting

Theatre: Community Tips to save when buying textbooks gathers to share stories LORRAINE MIRABELLA mcclatchy newspapers

from page one

Every member of the memory book committee can recount at least one story of the Lyric Theatre’s history. In the past 40 years alone, the theatre has played various roles from hosting biology classes, marriages and even political candidates. The Lyric has also, of course, staged live performances and screened countless movie showings. It is the only movie theatre in town that has remained standing since opening. Linda Plaut, the secretary of the Lyric Council Board of Directors, said the Lyric has thrived because it does what many multiplex theaters do not: serves as a place for the community to gather. Rather than housing multiple theaters and audiences for each showing, the Lyric’s patrons enjoy a fi lm as one group. Special events targeted for students and community members have also made the Lyric a local attraction. Lindsay West, former chair of the Lyric’s board of directors, said the Lyric’s attraction is ageless. “[The memory book project] reminds me of what a strong impression the Lyric has made on people while they lived here or lived as students here,” West said. “It reminds me of what a fi xture of the community the theatre has always been and continues to be.” Plaut refers to West as the history of the Lyric herself. In 1994, West was chair of the board of directors that restored the theatre and began to gather essential pieces of the building’s history, which she called treasures. Some of the Lyric’s history has passed on with members of the theatre who are no longer alive. Their losses have only spurred on the work to gather the remaining unsung history. It seems to be good timing, too, as the Blacksburg Museum is collecting histories from people in the area. The oral histories are even being recorded in the Lyric.

“The museum is collecting oral histories from around town and from people of all walks of life,” Mattingly said. “A lot of those stories overlap (with ours.)” While the group creating the book is small, gathering stories is easier thanks to a modern source of help — social media. Facebook, Twitter and blogging have all become a channel for Lyric patrons and members to write their stories. Though the method of gathering of stories is timely, the purpose is to bridge multiple generations together through memories of a place they all enjoyed. “A place like The Lyric is the sum of the community,” Mattingly said. “Everyone’s story is what makes it relevant.” Although creating the memory book will be a long process for the Lyric’s committee members, Mattingly and her colleagues are thrilled to be piecing the theatre’s history together. There is a sweeping spectrum of stories to link, but Mattingly said this establishment and others like it are the centers of a community. “We started out as sort of a vaudeville house and theatre, we were a segregated theatre, that’s a story worth telling,” Mattingly said. Since its birth, moviegoers have shaped the Lyric in their minds with their own recollections of why the theatre is such a treasured place with their own stories. “I met my husband [at the Lyric Theatre] at a blind date arranged by our teenage daughters,” Plaut said. “We saw Peggy Sue Got Married.” It’s these small but pivotal moments interwoven with major renovations or changes in the Lyric’s history that complete the story of the Blacksburg landmark, one the memory book committee is striving to record.

@jessicahgroves

Students heading to college can expect to spend about $662 a year on textbooks and other course materials, according to The National Association of College Stores. But more and more college bookstores are offering alternatives through textbook rental programs, the trade group said. The number of association member stores offering rentals has jumped to nearly 3,000 from just 300 in the fall of 2009, said Charles Schmidt, a spokesman for the group. “Such print-version rental programs can save a student between 45 percent (and) 66 percent off the price of a new print textbook, and is often less expensive than digital formats,” Schmidt said in a statement. Textbook rentals from college stores saved students about $450 million during the 2012-13 school year, the association said. Schmidt said the stores offer other options as well. All sell used books, while some offer free shipping and guaranteed buybacks. More than three-quarters of students still prefer print versions of their textbooks to digital, the trade group said. The National Association of College Stores offers the following tips on how students can save on textbook pur-

COURTESY OF MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

College books can cost hundreds of dollars, a price students like to reduce as much as possible. chases while purchasing from the campus store. Become a fan of your campus store’s Facebook page and follow it on Twitter. Stores often give advance notice of money-saving specials to followers or fans. Also, be cautious of hackers, spammers and phishers when purchasing course materials online from outside/unknown sources. Items might not arrive on time, be incorrect, or not include required access codes. Don’t forget to consider shipping expenses in the total cost of the textbook, and check refund policies. Your local campus store guarantees

the correct title and edition chosen by your instructor. Consider renting print or electronic textbooks. If multiple books are listed on a syllabus, check with the store to see if there are customized options that the professor, store and publisher have created that is lessexpensive and contains only the content the professor requires. Look into buying used textbooks. College stores strive to provide as many used textbooks as possible, but they can sell out quickly. Shop the store early or buy directly from your college store’s web

site to take advantage of usedbook sales. Know your store’s refund policy, especially deadlines. This way, you won’t be disappointed if you drop a class. Don’t write in or unwrap books until you’re certain you’ll be keeping them. Most sellers won’t offer full credit for books that have been marked or bundles that have been opened. When buying locally, consider paying cash or by debit card to avoid credit card fees and interest. But use a credit card when buying from online sellers in case disputes arise.

newseditor@collegiatetimes.com

August 28, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

NEWS

Buzz: Portion of proceeds will go to library from page one

Exton calls the opening of the cafe at Virginia Tech a perfect fit. “It’s exactly the kind of thing we already do with our other locations,” he said. The cafe’s construction is still wrapping up, as finishing touches are put on the space featuring painted green walls and large chalkboard menus. Other wise, the transition into the prime location has been quick and efficient. “There are always little speed bumps in building a new shop, but these have been just minor mechanical issues,” said Herron.

“

It’s exactly the kind of thing we already do with our other locations.” Keith Exton CEO, Espresso Oasis

Espresso Oasis prides itself on being a retailer of fresh, premium, coffee products that “are roasted within 10 days of being consumed,” Exton said. Unlike other big chains, Espresso Oasis doesn’t sit around in plastic bags for months and months at a time. Besides offering a variety of coffee and espresso products, they will also partner with Next Door Bake shop to offer local bakery goods to accompany their drinks. “It was a conscious decision on our part to do business with a local company,” Exton said. They chose Next Door Bake shop after consulting with students and community members who recommended them. “We’re really excited to work with that local business.” Though the location will not accept dining dollars, it will accept Hokie Passport funds.

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

Espresso Oasis will feature a variety of espresso, drip coffee, lattes and baked goods from Next Door Bake shop. The cafe will accept Hokie passport, but not dining dollars. However if students purchase Espresso Oasis gift cards of $50 or more, students will receive a 10 percent discount on their purchase. Espresso Oasis has locations all up and down the East Coast and is located strictly in various universities and teaching hospitals. The company is unique in that it acts as a fundraising machine; giving portions of the profits to

the universities and facilities it’s located in. Library staff noted that this was particularly unique compared to other vendors in similar libraries across the country. “The amount the library gets will be on a sliding scale directly related to how much profit the cafe makes,” Herron said. The more sales Espresso Oasis makes, the more money the library will see in its

pocket. That money will go to furnishings, technology and other various activities the library sponsors. Due to the fact that Espresso Oasis is specifically catered to universities and college students, the operation hours will be later than other on-campus dining facilities— staying open till 11 p.m. on weeknights, and 7 p.m. on weekends.

“We certainly thought about going into locations other than campuses, but as the business grew early on, we decided that we didn’t want to branch out with these locations,” Exton said. Exton also said that almost 90 percent of staff employed so far in the café will be students with Allie Mannon, a 2009 graduate with a degree in hospitality and tourism manage-

ment, as the manager. “It’s great to be returning to campus after graduation and be around the buzz and camaraderie among students,” Mannon said. Per approval by the health inspector tomorrow, Espresso Oasis will be open Thursday at 7:30 a.m.

@CameronOAustin

OPINIONS

opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com

August 28, 2013

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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

what you’re saying On Ticket distribution leaves some students dissatisﬁed Bill: Stop whining, you have tickets. You all sound like a bunch of spoiled brats. Anonymous: Bill, you sound like an idiot. Anonymous: They’re not spoiled brats, they payed for something and didn’t get what was advertised. Anonymous: Bill you sound like a brat. The main problem is that groups are not going to be able to sit with each other, which is going to cause problems during the game with people trying to squeeze into seats that aren’t theirs.

On US must strike in response to Syrian use of nerve gas Arafat: I’ve got a novel idea. Let’s do nothing. Let the Muslims deal with their own problems for a change. Let’s let countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait with their endless ocean of money and Western-bought armaments figure it out instead. Surely they - being practitioners of the religion of compassion and peace - will step right up to the plate in our stead.OK, you caught me there. You knew I was kidding! You knew what I know which is that there is no answer to these Islamic cesspools. Whatever we do will be discredited and if we do nothing Syria will simply become the next Sudan thanks to Islam’s inherent violent and sadistic tendencies. Anonymous: An anonymous U.S.intelligence tip? The same U.S. intelligence with distorted facts before the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq?Trillions of dollars and thousands of dead bodies later,we still haven’t recovered.Are we sure that Assad would be that foolish to use poison gas with the U.S threatening to bring down his government?Who stands to gain from U.S. involvment?It’s time for the American people to accept(demand) that the military cannot maintain a global monopoly on violence and that rather than protecting us,our endeavors become costly never-ending campaigns.Freedom and democracy aren’t inevitable. We can’t fix the Middle East. Period.

Cyrus’ antics set a disturbing precedent I was not even aware that the 2013 Video Music Awards happened until yesterday — a full day after they occurred. The only reason I heard of the ceremony was because of an attention-grabbing performance by Miley Cyrus, who is apparently ready to show the world she is no longer a child star. As I cringed at her ridiculously sexual dance moves, I asked myself how on earth this could pass for entertainment anywhere in the world, let alone at an awards ceremony that supposedly contains the most talented artists of our country. I am fairly certain that most adults around the country cringed in a similar fashion to Cyrus’ performance, and from the camera in the audience I could see many of her fellow artists also watching in disbelief. I am also under the assumption that whoever choreographed her perfor-

mance understood that this display would be considered in poor taste for most people over the age of 20. That leads me to believe that her embarrassing excuse for a performance was targeting children who probably still idolize her from previous years.

“

The dual forces of advertising and children’s musical inclinations are converging dangerously these days.”

For me, it’s hard to choose between which is more disturbing: that children are consuming so called “entertainment” from their corrupted idols, or that the idols themselves are being propped up by advertisers and organizers who do not

care about promoting real talent. The performance took various features of hiphop culture, such as “twerking”, and combined it with Cyrus’ own brand of weirdness, resulting in a lewd call for attention featuring Robin Th icke. I realize I am sounding alarm bells over something that will blow over fairly quickly. In all likelihood, the kids who are eating up Cyrus’ performance today will look back in embarrassment at this phase in their development. But the fact that it will blow over does not render it meaningless. The dual forces of advertising and children’s musical inclinations are converging dangerously these days, to preclude talented artists from rising and providing the public with artistic nourishment. Other talented artists such as Macklemore and Justin Timberlake gave tamer, and in my opinion, better performances Sunday

night. It is clearly only my estimation which ranks Timberlake over Cyrus, because there can never be true objectivity when it comes to music. Despite this, we must determine in what direction we really want our entertainment culture to go toward. There is only so much time for the average person to listen to, research and support their favorite artists. For children, there is more time, but their horizons are narrowed by what they see in the mass media. Giving such a prominent spot to Cyrus for her to showcase her mediocre musical talent and crude dancing skills reflects poorly on the state of American entertainment. SHARATH REREDDY - opinions editor - junior - economics

Our Views [staff editorial]

Better communication necessary for on-campus construction projects.

hen students live and study on a campus that is constantly under construction it creates a sense of innovation and change — two ideas that are essential to internalize as we prepare for life beyond college. The continuous advancement and transformation of Virginia Tech’s campus reflects its motto to “Invent the Future” and provide the highest quality facilities for its students. It also creates a sense of anxiousness when returning to Blacksburg for a new semester to see what has changed on campus. Though it is exciting for there to always be something new, questions remain as to if the university will continue in this expansive building phase of the school’s history. Th is especially comes into question with President Charles Steger’s resignation. As a new semester begins there is also concern regarding the distraction these changes bring to the classroom. Though the Tech community appreciates the innovations on campus, the noises rising from any construction site can be, at the very least, distracting

we’re YOUR newspaper. send a letter to the editor and express your views.

for students and professors. Th is not only affects learning environment, but construction side effects also trickle into other aspects of student life. What is it like to live on a dorm near a building site? Does it affect studying or sleep schedules? It’s hard to imagine it wouldn’t. Even for those living off-campus, campus can become alarming when a major building such as McBryde suddenly has scaffolding at the entrances and construction workers pounding at the façade. Though these are minor inconveniences, it still influences the overall educational experience on our campus and has a ripple affect on our college lifestyle. It has become necessary for Hokies to be aware of which parts of campus are undergoing changes. It is partly the students’ responsibility, but also the university’s responsibility to alert the community of the changes. If the campus is to be an ever-changing construction zone, it is important the university sends accessible messages to the community as to what is being changed and the expected timeline for the changes that will affect campus flow.

send an e-mail to opinionseditor@collegiatetimes. com with your letter or guest column attached.

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.

August 28, 2013

Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Today’s Birthday (08/28/13). It’s a fun year, whether you’re sharing events and causes with friends or processing a bumper harvest at work. Bring people together and share resources and skills. Fill your larder, and help your neighbor. Deepen relationships and partnerships, and remain true to your highest self. Romance weaves lowering vines throughout.

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62 Auto pioneer 63 Driven drove

Week of August 26th through 30th

By Jeff Stillman

8/28/13

ACROSS 1 Summoned, with “for” 5 Skedaddle 9 Travolta facial feature 14 Symphony member 15 Okla., from 1890 to 1907 16 Pick up 17 Carnival sight 18 Slight advantage 19 Plus 20 Redundant position? 23 “The Time Machine” people

Hot Songs Summertime Sadness Remix - Lana Del Rey vs. Cedric Gervais Perfect for Me - Mike Studd Leave (Get Out) - JoJo The Cops- The Front Bottoms Red Lips- Sky Ferriera

24 Low in a lea 25 Redundant alert? 32 Traffic stopper 33 Beauties 34 South American vacation spot 35 IRS employee 36 Pay 38 Pizzeria fixture 39 Poetic time of day 40 View from Toledo 41 Sitcom set at Mel’s Diner 42 Redundant habit?

46 Nothing but __: perfect hoops shot 47 Kiss and cuddle, British-style 48 Redundant guesses? 55 Trunks 56 Prefix with stat 57 All-night party 58 Oscar night VIP 59 Detective Peter of old TV 60 Canadian tribe 61 Hamlet in “Hamlet” and others

DOWN 1 VMI program 2 Victim in Genesis 3 Taboo 4 Settles a score 5 Apply, as a brake 6 Comedian __ the Entertainer 7 Golden Fleece vessel 8 “Jurassic Park” menace, briefly 9 Dins 10 Tissue abnormality 11 Houston-toTampa direction 12 Glenn of The Eagles 13 Explosive letters 21 Stylish vigor 22 Mosque officials 25 Anouk of “La Dolce Vita” 26 Sturm und __ 27 Halloween vandal, perhaps 28 Teeny 29 “The Empire Strikes Back” director Kershner 30 Reunion attendee 31 Departed 32 Silver fineness meas. 36 Ire 37 __ Jordan: Nike brand 38 Member of a small ruling class

40 Poetic laments 41 Speck 43 New 44 Belgian seaport 45 Marriages 48 1960 Olympics city 49 Sea predator 50 Consequently

51 Rabbi’s house of worship 52 Container weight 53 Penultimate fairy tale word 54 Future flower 55 Address bk. entry

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

8/27/13

WORDSEARCH: Disney Villains Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.

W B

W S

W L

W S

WORD BANK 1 Jafar 2 Yzma 3 Maleficent 4 Hades 5 Captain Hook 6 Cruella De Vil 7 Shan Yu 8 Sid 9 Hopper 10 Mother Gothel 11 Ratcliffe 12 Ursula 13 Frollo 14 Scar 15 Amos Slade

Aries (March 21-April 19)Passions are aroused with Mars in Leo. There’s some pride and talent on display. Friends have an excellent suggestion. Actions speak louder than words. Continue to decrease clutter. Keep someone else’s secret. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Come up with a plan for ixing everything in the next few months. Boost your actions to forward your career goals. Provide support, and ask for it, too. Maintain a realistic perspective, with enthusiasm, to pro it. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Postpone a vacation for now. Until October 15, with Mars in Leo, education is key. Be respectful to folks who feel strongly, and you’ll get farther. Imagination provides the key to open new doors. Don’t touch your seed money. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Self-esteem grows exponentially. Focus on what you’re good at, and dare to strut. List your assets and liabilities, and act accordingly. An important person comes through for you again.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Your power grows. You get everything done, even if you’re not sure how. New energy comes with expanded skills. Ask friends to show your weaknesses so you can improve. Don’t hold grudges.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You can’t help it, but you’ll suffer a severe case of wanderlust. Figure out how to combine travel with following your career path. It’s more fun with someone you love.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) It’s easier to throw things away. Trust emotion over rationality. Continue to increase personal contact. Money for a household investment becomes available.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Good news come from far away. Use what you have to create a better future. Planning is easier. Invest only in things that bring your purpose forward. Don’t get distracted by nonsense.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Together, anything is possible, especially with energetic Mars in Leo. Increase your personal commitments. Try something new to get different results. Don’t invest in whistles and bells.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) It’s easier when you let go of being a control freak. For the next two months, give your partner a leadership role. Complete un inished business to avoid confusion and trouble. Negotiate face to face.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Think quickly, move slowly. Your quick iguring can realize dreams. Count your blessings. Listen carefully. Luckily, you know how to keep secrets. Craft plans to build upon.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) New indings contradict old beliefs. Seek more information. Learn where your food comes from and invest in health. Making necessary corrections is easier than it seems. It may take dedication.

SPORTS

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com

August 28, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

Alabama football notebook: Tide will be tough ALEX KOMA sports editor

Frank Beamer wasn’t afraid of making news this week. Between his weekly teleconference with local reporters and his weekly appearance on the “Tech Talk Live” radio show, Tech’s head coach made headlines with several comments.

Rating Alabama Beamer’s most controversial statement came regarding Alabama’s quality as an opponent. “This is the best team we’ve ever played,” Beamer said Monday on “Tech Talk Live.” Fans and analysts alike have challenged that particular assertion in the days following the broadcast. While the Crimson Tide is undoubtedly a quality opponent due to their status as defending national champion, several other teams could claim that title. The Hokies have faced several eventual national champions, like Miami in 2001, Southern California in 2004, LSU in 2007 and the Florida State team that beat Tech in the national title game in 1999. All of these teams could’ve been the best team the Hokies have faced — yet Beamer can’t seem to find any weaknesses in the Tide. “Haven’t found one yet,” he said. “I don’t think they have a weakness. I think they’re just as solid as the day is long.” He also had kind words for

Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron. “His intelligence, I’d say, that’s probably about as good as you get,” Beamer said.

Team Conﬁdence Due to this high praise for the Tide, it’s understandable that the Hokies might be intimidated, but the team isn’t backing down. “Maybe it’s my background, coming from wrestling with coach [Kevin] Dresser,” center Andrew Miller said. “One of his main sayings is ‘Never take a backseat to anybody.’ And that’s something I never do.”

“

I can’t put words in y’all’s mouth or whatever, but I think y’all are going to see a different team than you are used to... Logan Thomas Quarterback

Quarterback Logan Thomas is similarly confident about the season’s prospects. “I can’t put words in y’all’s mouth or whatever, but I think y’all going to see a different team than you are used to seeing here at Virginia Tech,” Thomas said. “I think y’all are going to be writing about a chance of us having a superior season.”

TREVOR WHITE / SPPS

Frank Beamer and the rest of the Hokies know that the season opener against Alabama will be a tough test, but they believe they’re ready.

Depth Chart Answers Beamer also provided a few answers on injuries and position battles over the last few days. He noted that running back J.C. Coleman was still “questionable” for the season opener after spraining both ankles in fall camp. Coleman seems confident that he’ll be ready to play against Alabama, but the coaching staff is undoubtedly still cautious. Beamer also observed that receivers D.J. Coles and Charley Meyer are each struggling with injuries.

Coles is still dealing with nagging knee injuries, while Meyer is suffering hamstring problems. Additionally, Beamer shed some light on the team’s special teams positions. Rover Kyshoen Jarrett will be the top punt returner, while cornerback Kendall Fuller will back him up. Wide receiver Demetri Knowles and running back J.C. Coleman will handle kick returns. However, Beamer offered no answers on who would win the starting job at defensive end between Dadi Nicolas

and J.R. Collins. “All those guys, they’re going to end up playing quite a bit,” Beamer said. “When we’ve been able to alternate people in there, that’s when we’ve been a pretty good football team. So we feel good about that spot.”

Scheduling Tweaks Athletic director Jim Weaver turned some heads during “Tech Talk Live” when he announced the date for the Hokies’ game against Ohio State in 2015 would be changing. The match in Lane Stadium

was originally slated for Sept. 19, but Weaver said it would now be televised on ESPN as part of “Monday Night Football” on Sept. 7. The game will be on Labor Day, recalling memories of the Hokies’ games against Boise State in 2010 and Georgia Tech in 2012, which also occurred on the holiday. Weaver continued to avoid questions about which school will replace Wisconsin on the schedule in 2016 and 2017, yet noted that “nobody will be complaining” once the opponent is eventually announced.

Preseason baseball favorites struggling as season nears end JAMES O’HARA contributing sports reporter

At the start of the MLB season, four of the most popular picks to make it to the World Series were the San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Today, just one of those teams, the Nationals, is even at .500, with the rest being among the worst teams in baseball. So what went wrong for this no longer formidable four? Injuries played a role, as all four teams saw at least one key player miss significant time. For most, ineffectiveness of previously talented players hurt, but it was exacerbated by a lack of quality depth. The defending World Series champion Giants started the year by competing for the title of best pitching rotation. With Cy Young winners Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito filling the bottom slots of their rotation, the Giants looked to have the deepest rotation in

baseball. From day one that proved to be untrue. Staff ace Matt Cain struggled immediately, giving up nine earned runs in his second start of the season. Comeback extraordinaire Ryan Vogelsong lost all command, while the two Cy Young winners continued their struggles from previous years. Today the Giants have just one opening day starting pitcher with an ERA below four, Madison Bumgarner. He’s propped up the staff with his 2.84 ERA, yet Cain (4.43), Lincecum (4.55), Zito (5.81) and Vogelsong (5.58) have all been miserable. The Giants were built on starting pitching and manager Bruce Bochy’s ability to utilize a bullpen to its full potential. With a weak offense, the struggles of the starting pitchers have sunk their season. The team with the best record in baseball in 2012, the Nationals, looked to be even better on paper heading into 2013.

What couldn’t be accounted for on paper was injuries. The Nationals’ best players — Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Wilson Ramos and Stephen Strasburg — all missed significant time due to injury. But every team has injuries, what made the Nats situation so bad was their bench. Three of the Nationals’ four main bench players have been among the worst players in Major League Baseball in wins above replacement, as Tyler Moore, Steve Lombardozzi and Chad Tracy have all struggled. When the Toronto Blue Jays made a blockbuster trade this offseason with the Miami Marlins for Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson and later traded for NL Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey, they were an easy World Series pick. But those new acquisitions didn’t pan out. Reyes was injured almost immediately while all three new pitchers have been ineffective. All three

MCT CAMPUS

Matt Cain’s 4.43 ERA places him with several other Giants pitchers who are struggling this season. have ERAs above four. In fact, the Blue Jays only have one pitcher who has started a game for them with an ERA below four, and that’s unknown Chad Jenkins, who only has three starts. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the second year in a row have the best player in baseball in WAR in Mike

Trout and will miss the playoffs both years. Superstar free agent signings Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton have been terrible and the team’s role players have been largely ineffective. The worst is yet to come for the Angels, as the Pujols contract was backloaded to allow for payroll flexibility in 2012-13. Pujols will be owed

DON’T FORGET TO PICK UP THE COLLEGIATE TIMES TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

$23 million in 2014 and that number will increase $1 million every year after that until 2021, when Pujols will be 41. All four teams have been disappointments in 2013 and have varying outlooks for the future. At this point in the season all four should be building toward that future.

featureseditor@collegiatetimes.com

August 28, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

LIFESTYLES

Hundreds in savings: grounds for making the switch? ABBEY WILLIAMS

Cost of a single mug:

lifesytles staff writer

$0.44

$1.85

$2.20

$2.50

Home Brewed

Mill Mountain

Au Bon Pain

Starbucks

Cost of one cup a day over a semester: $33.88

$142.45

$164.40

$192.50

Home Brewed

Mill Mountain Moounta ountain

Au Bon Pain

Starbucks

$108.57

$130.52

$158.62

By brewing your own coffee at home, you could save this much:

BRAD KLODOWSKI / THE COLLEGIATE TIMES

One cup of coffee on a regular basis can put quite the dent in your wallet. Aside from water and adult beverages, coffee is probably the most consumed beverage on college campuses. Many college students dread the idea of starting the day without a caffeine boost. This could be because they are hooked on what is quickly becoming known as “America’s legal drug.” On the Tech campus alone there are six different locations to fulfill students’ caffeine needs. The average price for a large coffee at the on-campus Au Bon Pain is $2.20, which may seem menial, but for a consumer that drinks a cup every day, it adds up. And that only accounts for a basic coffee. Some of ABP’s premium and specialty drink options run as high as $3.99 a cup. “I would say I get coffee two or three times a week,” said Sara Myers, a junior accounting and finance major. “I’m sure I’ve spent a good portion of my meal plan on it.” However, getting an oncampus cup of Joe is still cheaper than a Starbucks run. The average “venti” cup from this coffee tycoon will run you $2.50, which is only 30 cents more than the on-campus alternative, but most people who go to Starbucks aren’t buying the most basic coffee. The preferred drinks like the new Chocolate Cookie Crumble Frappuccino can cost up to $4.95. “I’m a recreational coffee

drinker,” said Steven Mack, a sophomore accounting and information systems major. “But I never go to Starbucks, it’s just too much money.” Local coffee shops offer a much more welcomed price. Mill Mountain Coffee and Tea on Main Street only charges $1.85 for a regular coffee. The most obvious and economical solution to saving money in coffee consumption is to brew it at home. A cheaper coffee pot at any Wal-Mart costs $14.96, which can be a dent for a jobless college student at first, but that price could dissolve in the glee from the hundreds of dollars saved by home brewing, where a cup of coffee averages at only 44 cents. Home brewed coffee also offers the chance to test new f lavors. Cam Rose, a junior biology major and barista at Deet’s place, is inspired by her new job to make her own coffee and even experiment at home. “I usually crank up the Keurig every morning and have a cup of coffee before classes start,” Rose said. “Now that I work at Deet’s, I’ll probably drink more coffee, and I’m hoping the job will expose me to new f lavors and types of coffee I haven’t tried before.” As the need for more coffee increases with the ongoing semester, if students want to save money and have room to discover their own barista techniques, brewing at home proves to be the favored choice.

@AbbeyWilliamsCT