Thursday, October 24, 2013 Print Edition by Collegiate Times

Thursday, October 24, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 37

News, page 2

Lifestyles, page 4

Alumni design Hokie Bird towels for all fans

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 3

Study Break, page 6

Arts center named for artist, benefactor BY CAMERON AUSTIN | news editor

CHEN JIANG / SPPS

Natalie Stansﬁeld (left) and Kirsten Prior look at the towels in Campus Emporium. THEA STOLLER lifestyles staff writer

Virginia Tech alumni Scott Michael Cowan and Karen Bednarczyk Cowan found a unique way to stay connected to their alma mater inspired by a game day visit and the school’s favorite bird. In the fall of 2011, the Cowans brought their daughters Grace and Eden to their first Tech football game. Although their kids were too young to understand the concept of football, they still loved the experience and were completely captivated by the beloved Hokie Bird. “When we went to the game, the Hokie Bird was out on the field, and they were fascinated by him. They couldn’t get enough of him,” Karen Cowan said.

In a quest to find the perfect Hokiethemed gift for their children, the Cowans came up with an original idea. Instead of just buying their kids another Tech t-shirt, they decided to create their own line of Hokie Bird inspired children’s towels. The towel line, now called Little Sinks, LLC, was not an immediate success. It was competing with much bigger players in the collegiate merchandising industry. The Cowans turned to the power of social media to spread the word about their new product. “I’ve had so many people reach out to me after seeing the Hokie Bird towel on Pinterest or Facebook,” Karen Cowan said. see BIRD / page four

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

Artist P. Buckley Moss speaks at the press conference where the name of the Moss Center was announced.

Patricia Buckley Moss was announced yesterday to be the namesake of Tech’s new Center for the Arts. Virginia Tech’s $100 million Center for the Arts building has an official name — the Moss Arts Center, named after renowned artist Patricia Buckley Moss. “We are extremely happy and very proud to officially announce the naming of this beautiful facility (as) the Moss Center for the Arts in recognition of a great benefactor and wonderful lady,” said President

Charles Steger at the press conference Wednesday morning. Moss’ philanthropy was a huge part of completing the project, with her $10 million donation being one of the largest gifts the university has ever received. Steger said the Board of Visitors’ decision to name the center after Moss was a reflection of her commitment to the arts and comprehensive art education.

“I think this really magnificent building shows the value we place on the arts at Virginia Tech,” Steger said. “This wonderful place is where I would fit in, and where so many people will fit and find a home for their success,” Moss said on Wednesday. Moss has had works represented in over 200 galleries, has won numerous awards and has a foundation that works specifically with teachers to promote art education. see ARTS / page two

Womanspace brings Inaugural Poetry Slam ignites powerful student performances up abortion rights with 1 in 3 campaign MELISSA DRAUDT news reporter

“I am waiting,” Jordan Holmes said with confidence, interrupting the murmurs of crowd members still finding their seats. Tuesday night, Holmes, a senior materials science and engineering major and vice president of VT Engage launched Virginia Tech’s first Poetry Slam with a powerful poem, entitled “Get on the Bus,” about the Montgomery Bus Boycott, catching everyone in the room off guard. The Hillcrest dining room was fi lled with students, teachers and artists who gathered for the Poetry Slam sponsored by Nikki Giovanni and VT Expressions, a group made up of students who possess an array of creative talents that span from drawing to rapping. Giovanni’s connections to other universities prompted students to travel from Duke University and St. Augustine University for the event, with six Duke students performing pieces. Matthew Vollmer, assistant professor and director of creative writing, described the event as “uplifting.” “The more exposure that the creative writing program can get, the better. It shows (students) that what they have to say matters,” Vollmer said. “It was a privilege to watch other artists from other schools.” In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott,

the artistic theme for the night was based on the events in the Civil Rights Movement and the spirited efforts of those involved. After Holmes secured everyone’s attention when opening the event,

NEWS

LIFESTYLES

You know we’ve got you covered on crime. see page 2 Did you go to Color Me RAD this weekend? Check inside for a feature photo. see page 2

It’s ridiculous and I really think this all stems from the way people internalize abortion as a concept — like it’s a crime.” Megan Gisonda Reproductive Rights Chair EMILY WYNN news staff writer

ABBY JETMUNDSEN / SPPS

Jordan Holmes, vice president of VT Expressions, introduces Virginia Tech’s ﬁrst annual poetry slam, which was held in the Hillcrest ballroom.

CAREER CORNER

Nikki Giovanni took the stage, speaking on the importance of the arts and global awareness. see SLAM / page two

Standing beside the paths of the Drillfield in yesterday’s bitter wind, members of Womanspace were spreading the word about their most recent focus: abortion issues. Womanspace, the feminist student group at Virginia Tech that works to empower women and raise awareness about gender equality issues, is sponsoring a variety of campaigns throughout the year, including the Clothesline Project, Love Your Body Day and currently, the 1 in 3 Campaign. The 1 in 3 Campaign is named after the statistic citing the fact that one in three American women will have an abortion in her lifetime. Tech is one of 20 colleges hosting the campaign, a grassroots movement with the purpose of opening up a conversation about abortion. “We decided to apply for this

OPINIONS Check out how to manage all of those job application deadlines in this week’s Career Corner.

grassroots organization that uses storytelling to change the way we talk about women who have had abortions,” said Megan Gisonda, reproductive rights chair of Womanspace. “In 2011 there were 92 anti-abortion laws passed in 24 states, so I think this is something very relevant and very important that we talk about.” Those numbers are part of a record high of anti-abortion and anti-family planning provisions made in a year. The major idea behind the movement is to change public opinion about abortion. The organization tells different stories about women dealing with the effects of abortion through various websites, their book “1 in 3: These Are Our Stories” and through different events. The 1 in 3 Campaign aims to create a more empathetic and supportive attitude toward women who have had abortions. As the gubernatorial election approaches, polarizing topics like abortion will continue to make their way to the forefront of public discussion. Gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli has been featured in several attack ads that highlight his voting history regarding abortion and women’s issues. see WOMANSPACE / page two

ONLINE How much would you pay to own a flying car? See what one columnist thinks.

Check online for constant updates throughout the day. www.collegiatetimes.com

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October 24, 2013

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Womanspace: Election time brings abortion into conversation from page one

“Ken Cuccinelli voted against the Violence Against Women Act,” Gisonda said. “He’s trying to legislate abortion. He and another candidate are trying to pass legislation to have women who have had miscarriages investigated criminally.” “It’s ridiculous and I really think this all stems from the way people internalize abortion as a concept — like it’s a crime,” Gisonda said. Womanspace will be out on the Drillfield again on Wednesday to continue promoting the 1 in 3 Campaign.

@EmilyWynnDixie

NEWS

Arts: Namesake hopes Slam: Readers visit Blacksburg arts find place at Tech from Duke, St. Augustine

from page one

She is known for her paintings of rural landscapes and life in the Shenandoah Valley. Along with her artwork, she runs the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education to assist those who struggle with learning disabilities. Moss herself struggles with dyslexia and often cites encouragement from her peers and teachers as a reason for where she is today. “There are so many people who really need scholarships and need money to go to school, and that’s why we have the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Education,” Moss said. The 147,000 square-foot building is part of a bigger effort to encompass the arts, education and technology at Tech — something Steger says is an integral part to fostering relationships with the art community. “I think it will mean

from page one

KEVIN DICKEL / SPPS

a lot just for the quality of cultural fabric of the community for many people who live here and who retire here,” Steger said. Moss, who has had grandchildren attend Tech, says that her ties to Tech as well as passion for the area contributed to her desire to fund the project. After recently buying a house at Claytor Lake, Moss said that she looks forward to seeing how the Center will contribute to the arts at Tech

and to Blacksburg’s art culture. “It’s very nice to be a part of this and I’m very proud to have my name on this building,” Moss said. “I’m very proud of all the people who have encouraged me. I thank you all.” The grand opening celebration for the center will be held on Nov. 1.

@CameronOAustin

She spoke about her time in Ghana and told a story of an experience with racism. “There’s nothing backwards, there’s just nothing forwards,” said Giovanni. “We’re reaching out because we want America to move with us.” Following Giovanni’s introduction, Kelsey Sams, a senior construction engineering and management major, performed her piece “A Letter for My Loss,” which evoked scores of snaps from the audience. “I think sometimes being as young as we are, we don’t really look back at the past,” Sams said. “This was a great opportunity to really learn your history and learn from the past so you can know where you’re going in the future.” There were musical performances along with the poetry readings to help capture the essence of the era. Midori Oglesby sang “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday and Joshua Kim played pieces on the ukulele. According to Holmes, all forms of art are an essential part of our culture that many people don’t appreciate. “I really want to emphasize people paying more attention to the arts,” Sams said. “I’m an engineer and an artist, and I think the two really go hand in hand.” “You don’t have to be an art major or an English major — Tech has something to offer (artists) too, and people don’t always remember that,” Sams said.

A blast of color A participant in this past weekend’s Color Me RAD 5K run sprays a color blaster into the air following his ﬁnishing the race. This run was the second Color Me Rad 5K to be held in Blacksburg. photo by Ben Weidlich / SPPS

crimeblotter time

offense

location

status

Sept. 6 - 9

6:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Follow up to Burglary / Breaking and Entering

Latham Hall

Inactive

Oct. 20

10:15 p.m.

Follow up to Simple Assault

Vawter Hall

Cleared by Arrest

Oct. 23

12:31 a.m.

Appearing Intoxicated in Public

Otey Street

Cleared by Arrest

Oct. 11

9:20 p.m.

Underage Possession of Alcohol

Cochrane Hall

Inactive: Reported to Student Conduct

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date

Pic k y

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Drop your needle on this.

SPORTS

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com

October 24, 2013

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Exum returns for Duke game with Facyson hurting ALEX KOMA sports editor

The Virginia Tech football team might have had their first bye this past week, but that doesn’t mean that things were quiet around the program. In the midst of the news that the Hokies placed 14th in the BCS standings, the rest of the team has been anxiously awaiting a certain star player’s return, worrying over the health of a key freshman and feverishly recruiting future stars. Exum Finally Ready It’s an old refrain by now, but cornerback Antone Exum is finally ready to step back on the field. Although the redshirt senior was medically cleared to play at the beginning of October, he’s chosen to take three extra weeks to rest his surgically repaired knee. Th is week, Exum says he thinks he’s finally ready to step on the field against Duke. “I think so,” Exum said. “That’s how I’m preparing, that’s my mindset and it’s looking good right for me to be out there Saturday.” The coaching staff is similarly confident that this will be the week Exum actually returns. “I’m pretty positive Exum’s going to go,” defensive backs coach Torrian Gray said. “I know he feels excited that he’s going to start the game. He’s defi nitely preparing mentally and physically to start the game here.” The decision to rest might’ve frustrated Hokie fans, but the

cornerback insists he made the right choice for his body. “I’ve made huge strides,” Exum said. “That week that I was cleared, I wasn’t ready to play at a high level. I would’ve been OK, but I wouldn’t have been able to do a lot of the things that I’m doing right now. And that’s just come with continued hard work.” While the bye week certainly gave Exum extra time to heal up, he claims he didn’t specifically target Duke as the opponent he wanted to play against. “If it was Clemson and I was ready, then I’d be lined up with Sammy (Watkins), but it just happened to be Duke this week,” Exum said.

“

If it was Clemson and I was ready, then I’d be lined up with Sammy (Watkins)” Antone Exum Cornerback

Now that he finally is back, the senior is ready to move on from the subject of his injury and get back to football. “I can’t wait until next Tuesday when we can talk about Duke or how well I played against Duke,” Exum said. The Hokies have to hope that Exum does indeed have a good game against the Blue Devils, since another player in the secondary may be limited. Facyson Hurting Freshman cornerback

Brandon Facyson, the very player starting in Exum’s place, had a brush with injury in practice on Sunday. Facyson suffered a concussion on a pass play that resulted in a wrestling match with tight end Kalvin Cline. “I intercepted a pass and I think (Cline) was trying to rip the ball out or something and I came down and my head came down and hit the ground,” Facyson said. “He was just trying to make a play on the ball — I would’ve done the same thing.” The cornerback was in a green jersey in practice Tuesday, which indicates he wasn’t cleared for contact, but he’s still hopeful he can play against Duke. “If I’m ready to play, I’ll go at it, but if I’m not, I don’t want to jeopardize myself,” Facyson said. “We have many great DBs here, so they’ll take up the slack. It’s kind of judging on how I feel.” The injury comes at an unfortunate time for Facyson, as Exum’s return figures to cost the freshman his starting job. However, he says he has no issues with impending change. “He’s a great player. I’m excited for him to come back,” Facyson said. “So if that means taking time from me, then so be it. We’re going to do what’s best for the team, I’m not a selfish person.” Bye Week Recruiting The bye might’ve allowed the players to take a week off, but the coaches chose to hit the recruiting trail hard. The staff travelled all over

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

Brandon Facyson (31) is currently dealing with a concussion that he suffered during Sunday’s practice. Virginia over the course of the weekend, including even Frank Beamer himself. “(Recruiting,) that’s the key, key part for us,” Beamer said. The team’s efforts paid off, as the squad landed another commitment for the class of 2014. Receiver Kendrick Holland of Winter Haven, Fla. committed to the team Monday night. Both Rivals and 247 Sports rate Holland as a threestar recruit. Gray was Holland’s primary recruiter, and was able to sway the 6’4”, 192-pound receiver to

attend Tech over offers from schools like Louisville, West Virginia and Tennessee. Moving forward, coaches are enthusiastic that some of the new staff members can provide the program with inroads to areas Tech might have previously avoided. “We’re still going to recruit the same areas. We’re always going to start with Virginia, but (offensive coordinator Scot) Loeffler has recruited Pittsburgh before so we’re able to get up into Western (Pennsylvania),” said running backs coach Shane Beamer.

“With Scot being from Ohio, we’re able to get up into that part of the country. It’s just utilizing new coaches. Aaron Moorehead’s from Chicago, he played for Indianapolis, he’s got Midwest ties.” The new recruits might not be able to make an impact against Duke, but if the team’s two recovering cornerbacks can hold off the Blue Devils, the 2014 class will have quite the program to come play for.

@AlexKomaVT

Running club aims for national recognition MCKENZIE PAVACICH sports staff writer

It isn’t always the varsity teams that take home national titles. In fact, the Running Club at Virginia Tech has done just that in years past. The running club is comprised of athletes of all skill levels. Now a junior, Luke LeVan took over as president of the club during his freshman year and the club’s its third year. Luke instated a new mission for the club, encouraging competitive running, but also allowing runners of all skill levels to join. “The whole mission of the running club is to have a place where anyone who wants to come out and either be competitive, just run to get in shape, just to have fun or just to meet people,” LeVan said. LeVan and other officers work with members of the club to divide the runners into pace groups to ensure that each person has someone to run with. “We all run, but there’s also the social aspect to it as well. That’s what’s really helped the club grow over past few years,” LeVan said. The club has expanded significantly from its original 10 members over the past five years. There are now 100 active members in the group. Some hold the title of national champion, while others have never run before. The social appeal has helped the club grow, and is a key factor for the women’s team. The women’s squad recently sent nine athletes to race at James Madison University. The club hopes to send 10 of its female athletes to both regionals next week and nationals later this season. Senior Monica Kohler explains that the club has “a lot of girls that just want to come out and run for fun. Then we have girls that are really competitive … it creates great balance between social and competitive running.” The men’s squad competes in Divison II, Division III and intercollegiate club meets through the National Intercollegiate Running Club Association (NIRCA). The NIRCA is composed of 120 running clubs throughout the United States.

The men’s team holds a popular reputation of being good competition. Sportsmanship and talent alone often get the team invited back to annual meets, and has helped create a name for the club. “Our men’s team is ranked sixth in the nation, and it looks like we’ll win the national meet,” LeVan said. The club has a running history of success at nationals. Two years ago, the club came in 22nd of 42 teams. LeVan affirmed that the team was “happy with that placement, considering the fact that there were only ten of us there, all in unmatching uniforms.” However, LeVan declared that the team was “not having that again.” Due to a lack of funding, the officers put out their own money to guarantee that the team would have matching uniforms FOR the following season. The following year at nationals, the men’s team shot up to eighth overall, surpassing the University of Virginia club running team, and falling just short of seventh place. “Our top guy was, from the start of the race to the finish, in the lead … he won the race, the national title and set a new record for the course,” LeVan said. It was after that race that other schools began to take the Running Club at Virginia Tech a little more seriously. “It’s always good to be an underdog,” LeVan said. The men’s team attends numerous intercollegiate club meets, followed by regionals, where they “try, but not too hard,” according to LeVan. The athletes on the men’s team tend to hide what they can really do until the national meet, where they raise eyebrows with their high placement. Placement is not the only thing that comes as a surprise to spectators and other organizations. Unlike any other team the Hokies compete against, the Running Club at Virginia Tech is a student-run organization, and is not recognized as a club sport. LeVan, however, sees the club becoming an official club sport in the near future.

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

The Running Club at Virginia Tech may be just a student organization, but its members have competed and won against other top running clubs from around the nation. “Now that we’ve reached 100 members, and now that we’re winning meets, we really hope the school will notice how much talent we have,” LeVan said. The team has partnered up with Blacksburg business RunAbout Sports in order to raise money. The club put on the Hokie Half Marathon last month, with RunAbout Sports acting as the main sponsor. The club is planning to follow through with a few more fundraisers in the spring to help fund their expenses for the national meet. Until then, LeVan and the club as a whole is determined to push for the organization to be recognized as an official club sport. “We don’t need pools, we don’t need bikes, we don’t need equipment

… we just need a little bit of funding to push us in the right direction,” LeVan said. Without support from the university, the club will face the struggle of transporting 45 extremely qualified athletes to the national meet. “We can’t get transportation through the school or rent buses without help,” LeVan said. The running club hopes to make the transition to an official club sport this season. “We’d really like to come back to Blacksburg with another national championship this year,” Levan said.

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eat:

Dude’s Drive-In

Dude’s drive-in offers fresh, affordable burgers and nostalgic scene If you’re looking for a delicious and affordable burger served up with a side of dinerstyle nostalgia, look no further than the curbside service of Dude’s Drive-In. Only a 15-minute drive from the Virginia Tech campus, Dude’s is nestled in a small nook of Christiansburg. A glowing neon sign and bright yellow menu beckon customers to try some of the local favorites. Opened by P.L. “Dude” Griffith in 1978, the burger joint serves everything you’d expect — cheeseburgers, hot dogs, milkshakes and more, with nothing on the menu more than $10. In addition to the standard diner favorites, Dude’s also offers breakfast trays and sandwiches, available for order during any of the drive-in’s hours, which are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. After fi nding nothing but positive reviews on Yelp, I was excited yet skeptical to eat at Dude’s. Would it really be worth the drive? The simple answer — yes. After one bite of the made-toorder “Dude Burger,” every previous trip to Five Guys Burgers and Fries seemed like a waste. Plus, the burger only put me out $3.35, and I got to enjoy it all from the comfort of my car. The perfectly cooked quarterpound of ground beef served up on a soft, not soggy bun was quiet arguably the best burger I’ve ever tasted. In addition to the burger, a friend and I shared french fries, a hot dog, tater tots and a large drink, which still ended up costing us less than $15 before tip. While the tater tots and crinkle-cut french fries were nothing special, the Maine-style red hot dog topped with chili and cheese was well worth the $2.85. Although a drive-thru option is available (and seemed to be a bit quicker), we decided to sit

LIFESTYLES Bird: Hokie Bird towel designed as tribute to Tech spirit

lifestyleseditor@collegiatetimes.com

October 24, 2013

ABBEY WILLIAMS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Dude’s Drive-in was opened in 1978 by P.I. “Dude” Grifﬁth and has been serving locals every year since. out front where we could watch our food being cooked. The Dude’s style seems to include a focus on cooking things right, not fast, but the overall wait was only about 10 minutes. Ruby Stump, our friendly waitress, said she had worked at Dude’s for 16 years. “The employees, the managers, a lot of people have been here over 30 years,” Stump said. “It’s a great place to work.” When asked for her personal favorite on the Dude’s menu, Stump responded, “A hotdog with chili and cheese, and a chocolate shake. But everything is really good.” Kevin Fetty, a senior mechanical engineering major, likes the drive-in for its old-timey atmosphere. “It takes you back to a simpler time,” Fetty said. “It wasn’t busy, just quiet and relaxed. For the price, I’d definitely recommend a visit out to Dude’s.” While a trip out to Christiansburg may not always fit in the hectic schedule of a college student, a Dude’s burger should definitely be on your list of things to try before you graduate. ABBEY WILLIAMS - lifestyles staff writer - junior - English

COURTESY OF KAREN COWAN

After Karen and Scott Michael Cowan’s daughters fell in love with the Hokie Bird, they were inspired to create the towel. from page one

ABBEY WILLIAMS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Dude’s Drive-in delivers slow cooked burgers with both drive-thru and curbside service. Nothing on the menu costs more than $10.

The towel is solid maroon with a hood modeled like the head of the Hokie Bird. The back of the towel even sports the Hokie Bird’s tail feathers. After establishing their product online, the Cowans finally got the opportunity to sell Little Sinks’ towels in stores. The first place to take interest in the product was the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. The choice to sell the towels in a store within close proximity to Tech was a huge step for the business. “Because it was the very fi rst place that was geographically close to the heart of Blacksburg, we were doing backflips,” Karen Cowan said. The Christiansburg Aquatic Center is home to the Tech swimming and diving teams. Both teams use the Little Sinks towel line. Another store familiar to most Tech students, The Campus Emporium, also carries Little Sinks, LLC. The store initially took interest in the product because of its originality. “It’s very unique. I haven’t seen anything like it,” said Ken Phillips, manager of the Campus Emporium. So far, the store has seen success in the sale of the school-spirited towels. “We’ve sold almost half of them already in just a few

months,” Phillips said. Although Little Sinks, LLC currently only produces and sells towels, future plans for the business entail much more. “A lot of the products we hope to create in the future would continue to center around the Hokie Bird,” Karen Cowan said. She also expressed interest in expanding the line toward other school mascots as well. One of the greatest rewards from the entire Little Sinks experience, Karen Cowan said, is it has allowed them to sustain a connection both with the school and other alumni. “Andre Davis, who is like Virginia Tech football royalty from a few years back, actually reached out to me personally and wanted personalized towels for his children,” Karen Cowan said. As word of Little Sinks spread, more and more alumni have reached out to the Cowans from all over the country. “It has been so exciting to just feel the support from alumni who are just genuinely proud of Virginia Tech, and they have been incredibly encouraging of both me and my husband during this entire journey,” Karen Cowan said.

@theajanis93

Now Playing! Prisoners From Oscar®-nominated director Denis Villeneuve, stars Oscar® nominees Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal in a story that poses the question: How far would you go to protect your child? Keller Dover (Jackman) is facing every parent's worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes Call our Movie Line | (540) 951-0604 turn to hours, panic sets in. 135 College Avenue | Blacksburg | WWW.THELYRIC.COM Playing October 25-31

Fri-Sat: 7:00pm Sun: 3:00 pm, 7:00pm

Mon: 10:00am, 7:00pm Tues-Thurs: 7:00pm

SPORTS

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October 24, 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

MCT CAMPUS

Your Views [letters to the editor]

mentor of mine served three terms on the City Council in Alexandria and frequently told me that local government is where all the tough decisions are made. As a city councilman he “cut taxes, raised taxes, cut budgets, eliminated programs and created new ones.” These are things state and federal legislators often lack the guts to do. This year, Blacksburg residents will choose three candidates from a slate of four in an election for Town Council. When students go to vote for Town Council they should be sure to include April DeMotts on their ballot. April is a Class of 2003 Virginia Tech graduate and will be a voice for the student population. Currently, the Town Council has no such voice. April manages two apartment complexes frequently rented by students, and has made housing affordability for students as well as low-income full time residents a major part of her platform. In addition to being a small business owner, April is an active citizen in the Town of Blacksburg, working as a volunteer for Sustainable Blacksburg and serving as the vice-chair of Blacksburg’s Housing and Community Development Advisory Board. April is ready to make the tough decisions required to make Blacksburg an affordable and sustainable community for current and future Tech students. The decisions Blacksburg Town Council makes affect students directly, but such elections are often overshadowed by state and national elections. Students must exercise their civic responsibility by choosing candidates for every office on the ballot from governor to town council. April understands the responsibilities of a locally elected official and will be the type of council member that would make my mentor proud. - Jack Bardo, senior environmental policy and planning major

Evolution of bullying must stop L ast week as I walked around campus and went about my daily routine, I noticed some sticky notes in peculiar places. On building windows, bathroom mirrors and doors, kind messages were posted for all to notice. And as much as my inner environmentalist cringed at the excess use of paper, I was happy to see them. I think we can all agree that both recent and past news about bullying around our country and around the world is upsetting. Pre — teens committing suicide because kids at their school are harassing them and being downright horrible is not something I want to hear about at the end of the day. But quite frankly, it happens more often than I’d like to imagine, and it’s not anything new. Just last Thursday, a 15-year-old boy from Illinois named Jordan Lewis committed suicide, leaving a note behind that called his final decision a

way to escape bullying. Remembering back to when I was at that sensitive age, I can almost understand the motivation to bully. To fit in with the cool kids, I can imagine some of us doing anything; even make fun of the outcast. However, I can’t ever remember it being a life or death matter. The most extreme case would be that someone wasn’t invited to a birthday party, but the matter would blow over by the next week. “Bullying,” to me, was a fickle thing that could be solved by a simple apology. However, something has clearly changed and the act has intensified in today’s culture. A huge factor in this apparent epidemic is the kind of TV that is being broadcasted to young viewers. How many shows are on every day that portray pretty girls acting cruelly to each other over the silliest things (like boys, looks or clothes)? These

women seem “cool,” so why wouldn’t 13-yearolds copy their behavior and think it’s okay to say and do the same things to their peers? The medium through which bullying is committed also plays a role in the increasing problem. As cyberspace becomes our main form of communication, the interaction between young people becomes constant and harder to supervise. Even among my friends now, having arguments over the Internet and texts seems to exacerbate situations. As much as those notes made me smile last week, they can’t be all we do. Fighting bullying is difficult because there isn’t much you can do other than tell someone not to bully others. Jordan Lewis’s father, Brad, took to the Internet in response to his son’s death stating: “This bullying has to stop. People have to stop treating other people the way they

do.” But in order for this harassment to truly stop, bullies need to fully understand the ramifications of their actions. Unfortunately, empathy is not a common attribute of teenagers, or young adults our age. I know that bullying is prevalent in college — I’ve seen it. It’s important for our generation to realize that we must be role models for younger kids. When these bullies grow up and go on to college, their habits are going to get much worse in an even less supervised setting. The problem is just beginning, and as kids get older, harassment will either get worse or the bullies will mature and make a change. I sure hope it’s the latter. MICHELE NEWBY - regular columnist - sophomore - English

Price tag will hinder flying car’s takeoff

remember watching “The Jetsons” as a kid and marveling at the unbelievable innovations the people of that futuristic world were exposed to. One such invention was the flying car. “The Jetsons” was set in the year 2062, but in 2015, the flying car is projected to be readily available to consumers. According to a CNN news report, Terrafugia, a privately owned automobile manufacturer from Massachusetts, has developed an automobile that doubles as a small plane. The invention is known as the “Transition,” as it adds a new dimension to the concept of the automobile as we know it. The Transition runs on premium unleaded gasoline and can travel over 400 miles in the air. It also runs 35 mpg and has a maximum speed on the ground of seventy mph. I find it unreal that something we could never place past a science fantasy world is most likely

joining a crowded and unchanged automobile market just two years from now. However, there is one major problem with this amazing innovation that will not only make it impractical, but also reduce its impact on the industry: its price. When the Transition is set to hit the open market in 2015, it is projected to cost $279,000 to purchase. This is more than triple the average amount of money a standard four-member family makes in Virginia in a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Transition will seemingly be grouped together with the Lamborghini and the Porsche as a dream car that is out of reach for the majority of the population. One should wonder, from an economic standpoint, how many people will purchase this product at such an exorbitant price. Many will argue that the Transition is such a revolutionary product that it will sell at

practically any price. Some will cite the price of computers when they first went on the market. When the Macintosh 128K was first released in 1984, Apple asked a purchase price of $2,495. The reason behind this is that the product was revolutionary and it contained functions that had not been utilized before. The Transition is in the same boat. There has never been a car that doubles as a small airplane, and manufacturers will try to price it high to gain as much profit from the hysteria as possible. However, if Terrafugia wants their flying automobile to rise off the ground, they should make strides toward making the car more accessible across all pay grades. RYAN TURK - regular columnist - sophomore - BIT

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Collegiate Times Business Staff Business Manager: James Dean Seal Circulation Manager: Keith Bardsley College Media Solutions Ad Director: Michelle Sutherland Assistant Ad Director: Cameron Taylor Account Executives: Eric Dioglin, Touhi Zaman, Danielle Pedra, Gary Johnston Inside Sales Manager: Catie Stockdale Assistant Account Executives: Emily Reinas, Rach Biltz, Josh Dolinger, Jess Angelos, Sephanie Morris Creative Director: Diana Bayless Assistant Director: Samantha Keck Creative Staff: Mariah Jones, Ashlyn Davidson, Luke Lesinski, Emily Bollman 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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October 24, 2013

It’s your ad LET’S PUT IT TO GOOD USE

Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Today’s Birthday (10/24/13).

www.collegemedia.com

What kind of creative fun can you get into this year? Opportunities and partnerships grow, blossoming from spring to summer. Pursue passion. Travel for work and learn new ways. A romantic dream comes true. Exhibit or launch next summer. Express your love.

Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham Quote of the Day

“Always trust your first gut instincts. If you genuinely feel in your heart and soul that something is wrong, it usually is.” - Unknown Send us your quote and see it here! creative.services@collegemedia.com

CLASSIFIEDS

xkcd by Randall Munroe

65 It has banks in Germany and Poland 66 Dance and theater in Texas? 67 Red areas, once: Abbr. 68 Case workers, briefly 69 The greater part

By Ian Livengood

music downloads

ACROSS 1 Woolly grazers 5 It follows John 9 Defunct Olympic sport 13 Dieter's snack? 16 On __ with 17 Crop production toast? 18 5'7" Spud who won an NBA Slam Dunk contest 19 Words before coming or out 20 Telegraph sound 21 Lover of Psyche 22 Artist's pad

for the week of October 22nd through 25th

I Was Never Your Boyfriend- Tigers Jaw I Tore You Apart In My Head- Balance and Composure Post Break Up Sex- The Vaccines How To Hide Your Feelings- Man Overboard The Again, Maybe You Were Right- La Dispute

listen up

10/24/13 25 Ability to detect a certain orientation 27 Not like at all 30 PLO part 32 Boxing statistic 33 Actress Thurman 34 Saint in red 36 Raised entrance area 38 Ave. paralleling Park 39 Useless footwear 41 Switz. neighbor 42 Soul 44 Waist-length jackets

45 Gray gp. 46 Stray chasers 48 Not own outright, with "on" 49 Pique 50 Debate choices 52 Piano sonatas, usually 54 It covers all the bases 55 Tuna of the Pacific 57 Golden __ 61 Rice from New Orleans 62 Buckaroo at sea?

DOWN 1 Do some glass cutting, perhaps 2 "Take it easy!" 3 Goes astray 4 Declining from old age 5 Bavarian carp? 6 Friend of Fidel 7 Knotted 8 Mistletoe piece 9 Played with, in a way 10 One giving pep talks between acts of "Carmen"? 11 Maternity ward? 12 Balls 14 __-1: "Ghostbusters" auto 15 Relatively cool red giant 23 Fail in business 24 With 35-Down, fairs, and a hint to making sense of this puzzle's pairs of adjacent 10-letter answers 26 Acknowledgments 27 Pacific dance 28 Pews, at times? 29 Intersection where cabs hang out?

31 Joie de vivre 34 Tropical ringtailed critter 35 See 24-Down 37 H.S. sophs may take it 40 Basie's "__'Clock Jump" 43 Auto club employees 47 Hot tea hazard 49 Ojibwa home 51 Young pig

53 Thailand neighbor 54 New Mexico ski resort 56 Buried treasure site, often 58 Iberian river 59 Disintegrates 60 Part of MS-DOS: Abbr. 63 Dr. Mom's forte 64 __ in Charlie

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

10/23/13

WORDSEARCH: NFL NFC Teams Locate the list of words in the word bank in the letter grid.

W S

W U

W N

W B

W E

W D

W B

W G

W O

WORD BANK 1 Cowboys 2 Giants 3 Eagles 4 Redskins 5 Bears 6 Lions 7 Packers 8 Vikings 9 Falcons 10 Panthers 11 Saints 12 Buccaneers 13 Cardinals 14 Rams 15 Forty Niners 16 Seahawks

Aries (March 21-April 19) Stay home or close to home for the next two days. Let a loved one teach you a new trick. Watch out for sudden changes. The surprises may be lovely. Stay lexible and open-minded, for ease. Make important connections. Taurus (April 20-May 20) You’re very inquisitive for the next few days. It makes everything work out for the best. But don’t blindly follow a friend’s advice. It’s a great time to learn how to communicate better. Ignore the latest fad. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Focus on inances. A confrontation could arise, and clarity is quite useful. Clear your workspace. You can make extra cash. Stand up for yourself. Make a inal decision. Generate a little controversy. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Okay, now you can blast forward. Use what you have. Let the old schedule get disrupted. Postpone travel and shipping, though. You’re gaining authority. Listen to someone experienced. Implement their directions and add your own spice. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Review your priorities. Design power into the project.

Bring comfortable clothing. Meetings con lict with family time. Ignore detractors. Unexpected news affects your plans. It’s getting easier to stick to your budget. Play those hidden aces. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Friends are very helpful. Others think you’re sailing right along. Hold off on making a household decision. Wait to see who wins. Listen carefully. Solidify another’s fantasies, and there’s mutual bene it. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Consider new opportunities. Involve the whole group in your plans, which will likely change. Work diligently to assimilate new information. Career matters emerge for your consideration, as well. Mull it all over. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You may need your spare change for gas money. Do without treats for now. Don’t spend what you don’t have. They are good for travel, so take a backpack and go. Enjoy your reward. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Count dollars and pay bills. Manage your resources carefully. Remember your partner. Be careful during this exercise.

Focus on your work and productivity. Teach and study from your friends. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Make longrange plans together. Don’t be afraid if you don’t know how. You’ll igure it out. Don’t mash them into place or assume you know everything. Negotiate to re ine. You warm to the game. Test theories. Listen graciously. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Get to work. Party conditions are excellent, so get ready. Gather supplies and information. Work matters bubble on the front burner, too. Juggling obligations with fun takes energy, and you can do it. Get your team involved. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Feelings boil over, and the past creeps into the present. Choose family and home. Ask for what was promised. The incident may transform into one of your strengths. Take more time for play. Treat yourself gently.

LIFESTYLES

October 24, 2013

lifestyleseditor@collegiatetimes.com

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CAREER CORNER The professional world doesn’t have time for missed deadlines, so be organized.

he work world runs on a tight schedule. If you miss a deadline, there are, unfortunately, few second chances. Many Virginia Tech students are experiencing the daunting process of applying for a job in the real world at this very moment, and it’s important to remember that the professional world is different from college. Missing a deadline is different than missing one for school. You can’t just email them with a doctor’s note or say you overslept. Those excuses unfortunately won’t work once you graduate. You have to be responsible for yourself and can’t expect someone in the workplace to give you another chance. So, to help ease some of the stress and make the application process run smoother, I want to give you some tips on how to make sure you don’t miss those deadlines. Organization is key. If you are not an organized individual, now would be the time to start working on that valuable skill. Organization is especially important if you have multiple applications due around the same time. Write down when applications are due in your planner or set a reminder on your phone. I would even go as far as putting sticky notes on objects you see or use every day. Keeping track of which companies

you are applying to and the dates applications are due will also make sure you don’t send the wrong resume and cover letter to the wrong company. Some advice I received recently from resident career advisor Ali Woodworth is to make a spreadsheet with the company’s name, the position you are applying for, a description of the job and a description of the company with some interesting facts. Also, double check you have the correct mailing or email address to send your application. Make sure to save it, because the job description will most likely be taken down from the website before the interview process. The spreadsheet will help even more when you get invited to interview with a company. Being organized will not only help you in the long application process, but you will stand out and show a potential employer that you have what it takes to work for their company. To make that impression right away, don’t miss the deadline. However, you don’t want to be too eager when submitting. Everyone has heard the phrase “The early bird gets the worm.” It does not necessarily apply to this situation. While it is nice to be the first to turn in that project or finish an assignment right after it’s assigned, when it comes to job applications, you want to make

sure you have gone over them several times and given yourself enough time to fi x any problems. Job applications are a time-consuming art. You need to make sure you fill out all the required fields and have a crisp resume and cover letter that represent you and all the work you have accomplished. So, while you may want to submit the application and hear back sooner rather than later, it’s important to give yourself enough time to edit and submit. In order to fi x any problems that might occur after sending in an application, schedule at least a few days before the deadline to have ample time to correct any mistakes or send the application again if it was not received. If you give yourself enough time to perfect every aspect of the application and know you have meticulously edited it, you will feel confident pressing the send button or dropping it in the mailbox. Besides, employers wait until after the end-date to review all applications at once, so there is fair opportunity for everyone. So, really, there is no need to rush to get it in early. What is important to take away from this week’s Career Corner is that it is time to take responsibility for your work and realize that second chances, unfortunately, are far and few between in the work world.

Hayden Roberts

NEED MORE CAREER ADVICE? CHECK BACK EVERY OTHER THURSDAY FOR CAREER CORNER IN THE COLLEGIATE TIMES

Hayden Roberts is the weekly Career Corner Columnist. She is a junior communications major with a concentration in public relations and a Senior Peer Career Advisor at Smith Career Center.

Get orga Look up anized! deadlines pplication them som, then write will see d ewhere you aily.

Early birds don't get the worm with job applications. Take extra time to edit your resume and cover let ter, then send it in a few days before the deadline.

Make a of each c spreadsheet name, th ompany's you're ap e position the job d plying for, interestinescription and the comp g facts about any.

October 24, 2013

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