Thursday, November 7, 2013 Print Edition

Thursday, November 7, 2013

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BASKETBALL

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

PREVIEW No Green means others must score RACHEL FRANKS sports staff writer

With the season starting on Saturday, one of the biggest questions for Virginia Tech’s men’s basketball team remains how can they possibly replace Erick Green?

Green led the nation in scoring last year, averaging 25 points a game. The 13 games that Tech won last season were mainly due to his heroic performances.

“I don’t know if we have a guy that’s going to average 25 or lead the nation in scoring,” said head coach James Johnson. “We got a couple guys that can score 25 on a given night, but we need to have those guys be consistent.”

The returning starters for the Hokies who could take over Green’s role will be Jarrell Eddie, Cadarian Raines and C.J. Barksdale.

As a senior guard, Eddie would be the main candidate to replace Green’s scoring. He was second in scoring last season, averaging 12.3 points per game.

Eddie’s main problem is consistency.

The Hokies will need him to show up every night the way Green did last season.

Eddie will also need to step up as a leader of the team.

“As far as leadership, I really tried to emphasize that in the offseason with the team and tried to show that I want to be a leader for those guys,” Eddie said. “I met with coach and he told me he needed me to be that leader for him.”

The team’s other senior, Raines, will also need to help fi ll Green’s shoes. Last season, Raines showed flashes of brilliant post moves, but often had trouble finishing.

He looks to improve on all aspects of his game this season in hopes of getting drafted.

“I’m trying to get in the NBA,” Raines said. “I’m trying to work hard for that and prepare for the next level… shooting the midrange jumper, being able to rebound a lot more, being able to run, a lot stronger. Everything to get to the NBA.” Barksdale was able to turn his season around last year after being benched in the Maryland game. He could be a player to come out and have a big season if he can continue to play the way he did toward the end of last year.

Johnson has been impressed with the players’ efforts so far, and hopes to see consistency from returning players.

“Jarrell Eddie is in the best condi-

Freshmen ready to play large role on young team

CHEN JIANG / SPPS

Malik Mueller (left) guards Devin Wilson in a preseason scrimmage.

With 5 of Tech’s 15 players being freshmen, new faces factor to play serious minutes this winter.

WILL GROOMS sports staff writer

FILE 2012 / SPPS

Jarrell Eddie (31) looks to be one of the top scorers on this year’s Erick Green-less team. tion of his career,” Johnson said. “He is shooting the ball as well as I’ve seen him shoot in his career. Cadarian Raines is playing with more confidence than I’ve seen in his career. C.J. Barksdale is even (better) from the end of last ACC season until now. He’s playing at a high level. Now those guys, I’ve got to see them carry it to a game situation on a consistent basis.”

Sophomore forward Marshall Wood did not start last year, but looks to make a big impact this season. In the intersquad Maroon and Orange scrimmage Tech held on Oct. 11, he was the leading scorer with 22 points.

However, Wood doesn’t feel pressured to score 20 every night.

“I think I just need to go out there and do what I can,” Wood said. “I think some games I might be able to score a lot of points and some games I’m not.

That is part of the game.”

Sophomore Adam Smith is another player who could have a big season.

Smith sat out last season after transferring from UNC-Wilmington.

Coming to Tech, Smith is expected to be a big time scorer, but he says he wants to do more then get buckets.

“I will be able to score the ball, but I want to add more than just scoring,” Smith said. “I want to average a certain number of assists, steals and rebounds see POINTS / page two

Standing at 6-foot-11, freshman forward Trevor Thompson looks down at just about everybody.

The only thing bigger than him at the moment is the date that’s been circled on his calendar since his arrival in Blacksburg: Nov. 9 — Virginia Tech men’s basketball’s home opener against University of South Carolina Upstate.

Though a daunting task, the Indiana native welcomes the big stage with long, open arms.

“I’m just looking forward to running out of the tunnel with my team,” Thompson said. “This is a hard-working group of guys, and we’re all just excited and ready for Saturday.”

Thompson acknowledges the early pressures that have come with being a Division

I athlete.

“Everything is at a higherpaced level and there’s a lot more expected out of you,” Thompson said. “Everybody is just as good as you are or better, and you have to come out ready to play every time.”

The freshman finds himself in a favorable role. With the recent three game suspension of would-be starting power forward C.J. Barksdale, head coach James Johnson is at a loss for who will comprise the starting frontcourt.

“We’ll do different things, but we may be looking to play big,” Johnson said. “We may be looking to play Cadarian Raines and Joey Van Zegeren together and maybe slide in Trevor Thompson at the four.”

Thompson looks to seize any opportunity he gets, mindful of what it took to get where he is and what it’ll take see YOUTH / page two

2

November 7, 2013

depth allows for improved d BROOKS AKER sports reporter

The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team enters the 2013-14 season with plenty of questions and a young roster.

The Hokies have two seniors and will play as many as eight underclassmen, barring injuries.

In his second season as head coach, James Johnson faces an unenviable challenge to develop a successful, winning program in the toughest league in college basketball.

Though the departure of Erick Green creates a scoring burden on offense, the Hokies need to improve significantly on defense.

Part of the issue with last

“

The games are going to be long and there are going to be a lot of free throws shot.”

James Johnson Head Coach

year was the depth: the Hokies were playing with a short bench that limited the depth of the rotation Johnson wanted to play with his up-tempo style.

But Virginia Tech consistently gave up easy baskets in transition and in the half court.

With a deeper bench and more players, the Hokies figure to have a deeper rotation.

Additionally, the players have insisted that they are in much better physical shape after a grueling pre-season workout and conditioning program.

But all of those things will be forgotten if the Hokies can’t improve on defense.

A season ago, with many of the same players, Virginia Tech was 324th out of 345 teams in scoring defense, allowing 74.8 points per game. With the new rule changes on defense,

scoring across the country is expected to increase. The Hokies will need to improve on that ranking to have more success, and they’ll have to adjust to the implementation of the new rule about hand checking specifically.

“Any hands on the body, impeding the dribbler or the ball handler, it’s a foul,” Johnson said. “And I’ve got to admit, in the two outside competitions we’ve had, they’ve called it. They’ve been consistent with that and they’ve called it.”

More whistles have led to more fouls, and, subsequently, more scoring in exhibition games.

“The games are going to be long and there are going to be a lot of free throws being shot,” Johnson said. “If they continue to call it the way they’ve called it, and everybody I’ve talked to, all the officials, and we’ve done our clinics and they’ve kind of explained the new rules to me and explained the rules to our team and talked to our guys, and they say that’s just how it’s going to be called. And they’re calling it tight. The offense has a big advantage.”

Guarding the ball is going to be a crucial piece of the Hokies’ defense because of the new rules and the shortage of players in the backcourt.

“It affects the way we’re going to play defense,” Johnson said.

“It affects how much we’re going to press. It defi nitely affects that, and obviously I feel good about our depth up front, but our backcourt with Malik Mueller being out is not as deep as I thought it was going to be coming into the season.“ With two new players in the backcourt, Johnson has a unique option for matching up his guards, especially if 6-foot4 freshman Devin Wilson is on the court.

“He’s a bigger guard.

Absolutely. He’s a bigger guard,

FILE 2013 / SPPS

Head coach James Johnson has expressed to his team how rule changes will affect the way they are able to play hands-on defense.

Johnson said.” We can play some games there and maybe put Adam (Smith) on the point guard and have Devin guard the off guard just depending on the team we’re playing, absolutely.”

Junior Marquis Rankin, considered the best on-the-ball defender for the Hokies, said the rule change forces some adjustments in his play.

“I had a couple of close calls, fouls that were called on me, so I just really got to get used to it, just do it in practice so it can lead over into the games,” Rankin said.

The area of strength on the Hokies’ roster is the frontcourt, where Johnson has players with height, length and some experience. Players like senior forward Cadarian Raines, junior forward C.J. Barksdale, redshirt sophomore Joey van Zegeren and sophomore Marshall Wood have all played in games and know what to expect playing in Johnson’s system.

“Right now I feel good about all the guys, what we’ve been able to do in practice and the outside competition that we’ve played with,” Johnson said.

“Again, C.J. is a junior that has played with the smell of the popcorn. Marshall has played some minutes. Obviously he was out eight weeks with the broken foot but he has played and Christian Beyer, I’m comfortable with him. I was comfortable with him last year and I’m still comfortable with him.”

This depth, plus the addition of 6-foot-11 freshman forward Trevor Thompson, means that Virginia Tech should have more success defending the ball in the post and in the lane. Thompson is still learning the principles of Johnson’s defense.

“In high school I could just stay in the zone and protect the basket, but in college you have to rotate over,” Thompson said.

“So you have to move more.

You can’t just stay in one spot, because if you stay in one spot you’re going to get dunked on or the other team is going to score.”

If the Hokies can lean on their experience from last year and benefit from another offseason of learning Johnson’s system, the defense has the chance to improve markedly.

FILE 2013 / SPPS

Junior forward C.J. Barksdale will try to control under the basket.

Points: Questions Youth: New faces to see serious playing time remain on scoring from page one

from page one

and I just want to help the team in any way I can.”

Another new player making an impact is true freshman Ben Emelogu, who has already been named a team captain as a freshman, the first time in Johnson’s 22 years of coaching that he has had a freshman captain.

Johnson is sure that Emelogu will contribute plenty this year.

“Emelogu as a freshman hasn’t (scored a lot) yet, but I feel confident that he can put the ball in the hole for us,” Johnson said.

In terms of replacing Green at the point guard position, the two candidates are fresh-

man Devin Wilson and junior Marquis Rankin. Rankin has more experience, but coaches have been impressed with Wilson so far.

At this time it is unclear on who will be starting, but it is expected that Rankin and Wilson share playing time.

There are a number of players on Tech’s roster who can have break out seasons.

Johnson knows that fi nding another Green might be impossible, but looks to a couple of consistent players to contribute on different nights.

But one thing is for sure, if the Hokies are going to survive in the ACC this season someone is going to have to step up.

to make progress.

“I’m just ready to do anything possible to help the team out this year,” Thompson said. “It’s a blessing, but I can’t get complacent and I have to keep working.”

Thompson’s frontcourt class of 2013 counterpart, the lesser-recruited Maurice Kirby, faces a different situation.

With up to eight players, including Kirby, that are available to play at the four and five spots, Johnson may decide that Kirby doesn’t see action until next season.

“It hasn’t been completely decided upon, but there’s a good possibility that Maurice Kirby will redshirt,” Johnson said. “I like what I see from the young man, but I’m looking at our depth up

front right now, where we stand and how the minutes will be divvied out. There’s a great possibility that (Kirby) will redshirt.”

Johnson has the future in mind as he makes this decision, comfortable with both his young and veteran post players.

“We’ll be losing a post player in Cadarian Raines after this season and we didn’t sign a post player in the 2014 (high school) class,” Johnson said. “But I’m happy with our posts and the future of our posts.”

Though it’s not the ideal news for an eager freshman, Kirby is attempting to find the positives in sitting out for a year.

“Of course I want to be playing, but I’m a very sensible person and I see our depth now and the future,” Kirby said. “Coach Johnson

and I agree that it’ll be a good opportunity to work on my game and get stronger.”

Entering college as the fourth-ranked 2013 recruit from the state of Arizona, Kirby has never experienced the view from the bench.

“It’ll definitely be a different experience,” Kirby said.

“It’ll be tough for me but I’m still here for the guys and to help the team get better, while still travelling with and being a part of the team.”

In the backcourt, freshman Malik Mueller is ineligible to play for academic reasons.

After recently arriving from Germany, Mueller looked to be in the mix for a starting spot. Despite the setback, Mueller looks to improve and not look back.

“My focus is to improve on my game and get ready to

take over next year,” Mueller said. “I’m not going to look back at the situation. I’m just going to move forward and make the best of this year.

“Once I start playing (in the United States) I’ll be seen by a lot of players, coaches and scouts,” Mueller said.

“The NBA is definitely a goal for me. It is for everybody.”

Tech freshmen Malik Mueller - 1 Ehingen, Germany Devin Wilson - 11 McKees Rocks, Pa. Ben Emelogu - 15 Grand Praire, Texas Maurice Kirby - 21 Chandler, Ariz.

Trevor Thompson - 32 Indianapolis, Ind.

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COSMETIC SMILE CENTER Matthew Glasglow DDS

222 Progress Street, NE Blacksburg VA 24060 (540) 552-3111 / cosmeticsmilecenter.com

Thursday, November 7, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 44 News, page 4

Lifestyles, page 8

Opinions, page 5

Sports, page 7

Group, community feeds students in need KYLE BARGER news staff writer

Most people want to end hunger, and the work of one Virginia Tech student is making that a reality for hundreds of college students.

Kelly Berry, a junior agriculture and life sciences major, was fi rst inspired to provide for hungry students by volunteering at food pantries while she was on KYLE BARGER/ COLLEGIATE TIMES mission trips. After hearing

about a particular homeless individual, she decided to act on her desire to feed those in need.

“I heard a story from a friend about one gentleman who was living out of the gym, had a locker at the gym and (who’d) take his showers there,” said Berry. “Then in the evenings, he’d go and study in the library, and he’d stay there all night... he put himself through school that way.”

Berry’s solution was to begin the 209 Manna Ministry - located at the Wesley Foundation building on West Roanoke Street the food pantry will provide resources for any student who needs them.

The fi rst opening of the food pantry will be Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m., with operations continuing weekly around the same time.

Students who come will receive points with which

they can purchase the needed food, rather than handing each person a prepacked bag.

A large variety of food is available in order to give the students the food they like and to avoid allergy conflicts.

According to Wesley Foundation Campus Minister Bret Gresham, the university has readily supported efforts to establish the food pantry. see FEED / page four

Study Break, page 6

Grow for a good cause ERICA CORDER news staff writer

and in some mechanical spaces,” Rettig said.

According to Zack Adams, assistant director for Environmental Health and Safety, asbestos removal for construction projects on campus is taken very seriously.

“We have a consultant on site at all times monitoring work to make sure it’s being done correctly and safely,” said Adams.

November ushers in a month of brisk weather, falling leaves and, for many male students, uninhibited facial hair.

The nationally-recognized “No-Shave November” became a popular movement backed by the American Cancer Society as a means of raising awareness for cancer. The organization’s website states that “the goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing… hair, which many cancer patients lose.”

The movement has further evolved as a symbol of prostate cancer awareness, following October’s month of breast cancer awareness.

Junior physics major Adam Mills supported the cause starting his freshman year at Tech.

With the help of then-roommate, now-graduated Adam Osborne, Mills launched a fundraising campaign within his dorm, East Ambler-Johnson.

“Basically, it was something that my roommate and I tossed around at the time and we just kind of decided to go ahead and follow through with this one,” Mills said. “You know, a lot of times you have ideas that you don’t follow through, but this time we were like, ‘we actually could make this work.’ We talked to some people and they supported it and thought it was a good idea. With that, we went ahead and decided to push forward with it.”

In the previous two years, Mills and his roommate focused on general fundraising within the dorm throughout the month of November, typically raising around $700.

They concluded the month with a “pageant” that raised enough money each year to finish with a grand total of over $2,000.

see RASCHE / page four

see SHAVE / page four

Upper Quad renovations require asbestos removal

BEN WEIDLICH/ SPPS

BY MELISSA DRAUDT | news reporter Rasche Hall is the first of two Upper Quad buildings being torn down to make room for new state-of-the-art housing facilities for the Corps of Cadets, but their next obstacle is alleviating the building of asbestos.

According to a description from the department of University Design and

Construction, the Upper Quad Residential Facilities Project has plans to demolish Rasche Hall and Brodie Hall, replacing them with new residence halls.

After Rasche Hall closed over the summer, the area around the building was fenced off.

Currently, the project is in the process of asbestos abatement in Rasche Hall, which was built

in 1894. The complicated and precise process is being supervised by the EPA. David Rettig, safety and compliance officer for the department of Housing and Residence Life, confirmed the presence of asbestos in Rasche Hall, but emphasized the fact that it would not have been a danger to students who previously lived there. “(It’s) in the pipe chases that were not accessible to students

Ultrarunners take on ‘masochistic’ 50-mile challenge SEAN PILI news staff writer

Scores of runners were standing ready at the starting line. It was still dark when the horn sounded and the 50-mile marathon began.

At 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 2, eight members of Virginia Tech’s Trail and Ultrarunning Club competed in the Masochist Mountain 50 Miler in Lynchburg, Va., a 50-mile trek across roads, jeep trails and single tracks.

The club is a relatively small group of runners who compete in long-distance running events like 50Ks, 50 milers and 100 milers. They were originally affi liated with the triathlon club at Virginia Tech, but decided to center their focus on running.

Rudy Rutemiller, a senior natural resources conserva-

NEWS

tion major and co-president of the club, said that six members of their club running the Masochist Mountain race participated last year, with eight hitting the trails this time around.

“

Some courses have tons of mountains, and others flat... It’s a battle of attrition.”

Rudy Rutemiller VT Ultrarunner

The Ultrarunning Club runs year round, but they go to most of their meets in the fall and plan accordingly for the taxing nature of the races.

“The races are very variable

according to their elevation,” Rutemiller said. “The times depend on the course… some courses have tons of mountains, and others are flat, and if you run a flat 50-mile you’re running the whole time. If you are running a mountain for 50 miles, you are hiking. It’s a battle of attrition.”

Rutemiller didn’t participate in the Masochist Mountain 50 Miler, as he is training for a 100 miler, but he still made it out to Masochist Mountain as a crew member, one of six from the club. The crew members at these kind of races set up at certain checkpoints along the way, giving runners nutrients essential to fi nishing their grueling races.

COURTESY OF RUDY RUTEMILLER see RUN / page four

LIFESTYLES

Guy Love, the Tech Trail and Ultrarunners co-president, finished the race in seven hours and 39 minutes.

SPORTS He said, She said: Check out what our columnists think of No Shave November.

See the men behind the beards in ‘Beardfest’ see page 4

ONLINE Wondering how practice has been going for the Virginia Tech football team this week?

Check out today’s crime blotter. see page 4

For updates throughout the day. www.collegiatetimes.com

ctlifestyles CollegiateTimes

see page 8

see page 7

@collegiatetimes

4

newseditor@collegiatetimes.com

November 7, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

NEWS

Rasche: Corps alumni voice Shave: November beards aim to raise awareness support for renovations from page three

“We do take every precaution.”

Adams said that they are required to close the work area if there’s any chance of fibers being released into the air.

However, Adams assures that the process of handling asbestos is common in buildings that have been around as long as Rasche and Brodie have.

“It’s a well practiced science,” said Adams. “This is not unusual.”

Ferguson estimates that the asbestos abatement in Rasche will be completed at the end of December.

With the abatement done, the demolition of Rasche can begin followed by waste removal and construction.

Rasche Hall and Brodie Hall are two of the oldest buildings on Tech’s campus, following Lane Hall, leaving advocates for the preservation of historic places displeased with the decision to take them down.

Inside both buildings, as a tradition of the Corps, walls are decorated with large-scale murals done by past and present students, representing residents who lived in these buildings throughout the

years.

Commandant of the Corps Gen. Randal Fullhart explained that the alumni members of the Corps are not only okay with the project — they are excited, according to Bruce Ferguson, the representative project manager.

“When he meets with alumni on a regular basis and shows them pictures of what the new buildings will look like, he says they all compliment him on what a fine project it is,” said Ferguson. “Everything that the General has told me would give me no indication that there’s a groundswell of frustration or disappointment (with the project).”

Though Lane Hall, built in 1888, was placed on the National Registry of Historic Sites earlier this year, the other buildings on the Upper Quad will not see this recognition.

While plans for future reconstruction of Rasche Hall and Brodie Hall are in the works, Thomas Hall and Monteith Hall are also to be torn down in the future, with no plans of future reconstruction yet made.

According to Ferguson, construction of Rasche Hall will be done in the summer of 2015, while he expects the

timeline of demolition and reconstruction of Brodie Hall to begin after reoccupation of Rasche in August of 2015.

All work on Rasche Hall and Brodie Hall is expected to be done by the fall of 2016.

With an estimated combined square footage of 190,000, the new buildings will provide approximately 1,000 beds for members of the Corps, an increase from the combined 590 beds in the buildings today.

The buildings are designed to the newest standards in terms of quality and construction, and will be up to the latest codes of fire safety and energy efficiency.

The project is designed to meet LEED Silver certification standards by the U.S. Green Building Council. West Ambler Johnston, which was overseen by the same architect and construction manager, was recently LEED Silver certified.

Ferguson believes the buildings “will allow the Corps to grow in size” and be a space for students to enjoy.

@MelissaDraudt

Feed: Wesley Foundation to open their doors weekly from page three

“When Kelly shared her dream with the entire Division of Student Affairs, they had one question about it... ‘When is it going to open?’” Gresham said.

Both Gresham and Berry were adamant that the goal of this food pantry is not to advertise the Wesley Foundation ministry, but to work with the Tech community as a whole to provide a good service.

Berry is pleased with the response of the community thus far. Multiple food drives have provided the majority of the stock and volunteers have stepped up to help with work in the building.

“At the food drive (in Kroger), we would ask (customers) while they were shopping just to get an extra item on their list,” said Berry. “They would sometimes get more than one item.”

One of the biggest concerns in the food pantry’s imminent opening is whether they

can maintain an adequate supply of food. According to Gresham, other campuses around the nation, like Oregon State and Arkansas, have similar food pantries.

Student enrollments at both schools equal approximately 24,000 students, and their ministries serve about 200 students each week.

“

When Kelly shared her dream... they had one question about it: ‘When is it going to open?

Bret Gresham Campus Minister

“Our fear is, with a student population of around 33,000, are we going to be able to handle 300 students coming through the door?” Gresham said.

However, the positive

response from the community, along with their beliefs and faith, have neutralized their doubts.

Nevertheless, volunteers are needed at food drives and in the Wesley Foundation itself, while others are needed to donate food and other materials to the cause.

“We’re going to start a drop box in the front lobby area where people can come and just drop cans that they have if we’re not here during the day,” Berry said.

Another goal of this project is to increase awareness that food insecurity is actually an issue for college students.

“It’s hard to say that there is a need because it is so unrecognizable, but there definitely is based on the research we’ve done,” said Berry. “I think it’s awesome that this is actually a possibility and that it has become a reality.”

@KyleB_VT

NIKEER SHAH

ADAM MILLS

RALPH HALE

The proceeds benefitted prostate cancer research.

Th is year, however, the No-Shave November fundraising festivities faced scheduling conf licts.

Thanksgiving break fell on the last two weekends of November, meaning participants in the festivities would have had to wait until the first weekend in December for the pageant.

Realizing this would greatly impact the success of the fundraising, Mills opted to focus this year on spreading awareness.

“We’ll probably put up posters and do an awareness thing, but otherwise it’s going to be just guys growing out their facial hair and then talking to people about it. That’s about all we can do this year,” Mills said.

Nonetheless, Mills recognized the value of an awareness campaign, considering the success of October’s breast cancer awareness campaign.

“Breast cancer has its awareness month and it’s raised a lot of awareness. But with guys, the cancer is just as prevalent and just as bad,” Mills said.

“Guys are going to be doing No-Shave November anyways. If you could link that to prostate cancer awareness when somebody sees somebody else doing it, then you have what you want: awareness for prostate cancer.”

Junior architecture student Ralph Hale has joined in on Mills’ event since his freshman year, when he was also living in East Ambler-Johnson, where it was colloquially being called “Beardfest.” “[Participating] means I have to spend more time washing my face and maybe I have a gnarly beard by the end of the month,” Hale said.

Nikeer Shah, a newcomer to East Ambler-Johnson and freshman animal and poultry sciences major, plans to partake in No-Shave November for his fourth year in a row. Shah fi rst joined when his football and basketball teammates at West Springfield High in Springfield, Va. began raising funds and awareness for a prostate cancer charity.

“It symbolizes unity, and everyone behind one cause, doing one thing and not faltering for an entire month,” Shah said.

Not all male students are equally as enthusiastic about the month, however.

For some, like freshman engineering student Abhir Mathur, neglecting the razor for an entire month is not ideal.

“I think No-Shave November is a pretty novel idea, but I don’t participate because at the end of the month, most men end up with a very unkempt beard,” Mathur said. “I don’t like facial hair, so that’s why I’m not doing it.”

Freshman economics and business major Katherine Burke concurs, with a female’s perspective.

“I think certain types of beards are OK, but some guys should just not try.

But I think it’s great to raise awareness for prostate cancer,” Burke said.

To take No-Shave November a step further than awareness, donations for prostate cancer research can be sent by mail or electronically to the American Cancer Society and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

from page three

@EricaCorder

Run: Tech places in race from page three

In the female division, recent alumna Kristen Chang was nosed out of the top 10, coming in at number 13 with a time of nine hours and 51 minutes, an impressive time considering this was her first 50-mile race.

Although Chang just missed placing in the top 10, she still managed to place as the 3rd overall female runner in the Lynchburg Ultra series, which consists of 3 other races: the Holiday 50k++, Terrapin Mountain 50k and Promise Land 50k.

The only other female runner from Tech was junior geosciences major Rachel Corrigan, who used the race as training and completed

26 miles, the equivalent of a standard marathon.

Guy Love, a graduate student and the other co-president of the club, placed 6th overall in the men’s division, with a time of seven hours and 39 minutes.

Guy was the only male runner in the top 10, but sophomores Darren Thomas and Steve Sloan both tied for 12th at eight hours and seven minutes — a feat they never anticipated would work out.

“It felt great finishing next to Steve, because we did a lot of training together,” Thomas said. “We were definitely trying to beat each other, but when I caught him with 3 miles left, he latched on and we were hauling.”

Sloan, Thomas’ roommate,

agreed.

“It was a pretty overwhelming experience, we had done almost all of our training together to prepare for this race,” Sloan said. “We both had different race strategies… if we saw each other near the finish we told each other that we would finish together.”

As luck would have it, their paths did indeed cross with only four miles left.

“When we crossed the line it was a great sense of accomplishment knowing we both achieved our goals — especially with a great friend,” Sloan said.

@CollegiateTimes

Blues singer to headline social event MELISSA SKIRKANICH lifestyles staff writer

Award-winning blues artist and founding member of Saffi re— The Uppity Blues Women, Gaye Adegbalola is headlining the 2013 Gay in Appalachia event at Virginia Tech with her bold lyrics and engaging lifestory.

Adegbalola will host a talk Thursday in the Black Cultural Center at noon titled “Gay Rights vs. Civil Rights,” and perform with her allfemale acapella group, The Wild Rutz, at 7 p.m. at The Lyric Theatre. Both events are free and open to the public.

“I think Gaye Adegbalola is a terrific entertainer. She has

a penchant for engaging her audience and then delivers powerful lyrics that illuminate civil rights and social justice issues,” said Jean Elliott, founder and coordinator for the LGBT Gay in Appalachia series. “Plus, she absolutely rocks.”

Elliott started Gay in Appalachia in 2005 and has since hosted artists who discuss a wide spectrum of issues in diverse venue settings from fi lled theater houses to breakfast meetings.

“My hope is that Gay in Appalachia helps us all to build a more inclusive space for everyone,” Elliott said.

The annual event showcases artists and gathers the

LGBT community to discuss social issues through the arts.

Adegbalola brings both her passion for blues music and her personal experience to lead this year’s discussions.

Adegbalola describes herself as a blues woman with a bare soul and no shame.

“I want my blues community to honestly see me, to gain understanding about my struggle for acceptance. I also want my GLBTQ community to experience the universal healing power of the blues,” Adegbalola said.

Adegbalola said she plans to compare the similarities and contrasts between the struggle for black and gay civil rights in relation to her

own experience in life during her talk.

“In the 60s, I grew into the black power movement, and I grew into my own life. As a blues musician, I have come to see myself as a contemporary griot,” Adegbalola said.

“I write about a lot of topical things. My songs are usually humorous. I find humor in the pain of day-to-day situations.”

Each year, Elliott searches for a guest to perform or speak who communicates through the arts with respect to current issues.

“Our big theme for a while was resiliency in Appalachia,” Elliot said. “We like to use the arts for the message, because

people relate to poetry, people relate to music.”

Adegbalola said she wants to share the important message of loving oneself and being unashamed or unafraid to love others while speaking with Tech students.

“I think she has a message for all of us that ‘it’s okay, we can all play in the same sandbox together,’” Elliott said.

“If we could all take time to value our differences and not waste energy throwing sand, we would begin to understand the power, the magic, the beauty of diversity.”

Corrections An article that ran in the Oct. 31 issue of the Collegiate Times misidentified Robert Sebek as an employee of the Lyric Theatre. Sebek is a volunteer.

The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

@CollegiateTimes

crimeblotter date

time

offense

location

status

Nov. 4 - Nov. 5

4:50 p.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Larceny of Computer Equipment

Cheatham Hall

Active

Nov. 5

10:28 p.m.

Possession of Marijuana

Cochrane Hall

Cleared by Arrest

OPINIONS

opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com

November 7, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

Nuclear power presents viable option

The Collegiate Times is an independent studentrun newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Collegiate Times Editorial Staff

T

hroughout Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli had dodged every question related to climate change, as stated in a Huffington Post article. There are several questions that need answering with regard to global warming and what is next for our constantly changing environment.

Someone must take this issue by the horns, whether our political officials take it seriously or not.

Due to recent events, such as the government shutdown, smear campaigns across the United States in preparation for elections and shootings that seem to happen too regularly, the looming issue of global warming has fallen through the cracks.

Luckily, a group of scientists have endorsed an old process to solve new problems. According to a CNN article titled “Climate change warriors: it’s time to go nuclear,” climate scientists Ken Caldeira, James Hansen, Kerry Emanuel and Tom Wigley released a letter calling for studies pertaining to making nuclear power safer. These scientists feel that transitioning to nuclear power is the only way to save a struggling environment hit hard by global warming and increased pollution from the burning of fossil fuels. And in a time when solutions are scarce, this is a potentially brilliant idea.

Many are hesitant when it comes to nuclear power because of the high risk of danger. They cite the incidents on Chernobyl and Three Mile Island, where the nuclear cores in both plants exploded and caused massive destruction with numerous casualties. Several populated areas were forced to evacuate to escape the poisonous radiation. These disasters are closely defined alongside the words “nuclear power,” but this is not a completely fair view of the possibilities nuclear power can bring.

The CNN article mentions France as a pioneer nation in the use and advancement of nuclear power. France has some of the cleanest air in the entire world, with 75 percent of its electricity generated by nuclear power plants around the country. Only 10 accidents have taken place in France’s nuclear plants since 1969 despite the high numbers of plants and the longevity of their existence.

What all this information tells us is that if the United States and other foreign nations put more effort into learning safer ways to produce nuclear power, we may figure out a way to discontinue the environmental mess we have been creating as a population. Fossil fuels will not last forever, and there is no time like the present to start brainstorming ways to save the planet. With regard to the opponents of nuclear energy, I wonder what better realistic alternative there is that will have the potential to change the way we produce power with the sustainability of the world’s resources at the forefront.

We can continue to ignore the issue of climate change, or we can give a risky yet opportunistic chance for nuclear power to dig us out of the hole we’ve so haphazardly created.

RYAN TURK - regular columnist - sophomore - BIT

5

MCT CAMPUS

Resistance to change creates party dysfunction among Republicans E

very political party has identifying characteristics — some good, some bad. Unfortunately, sometimes the bad overshadows the good, and the Republican Party in this case is no exception.

For starters, Republicans are currently struggling for their party’s legitimacy in the political arena. After the 16-day shutdown, the approval rating for Republicans is at a dismally low 22 percent according to the NBC/ WSJ poll — lower than President Obama’s at 42 percent.

From what America has seen recently, Republicans’ problems stem mostly from their unwillingness to accept change and elect compromise.

During the 2008 recession, it seemed as if the GOP stuck too stringently to their principles; most were not in favor of the federal bailout which ended up saving thousands of American jobs, and thwarted a very possible fallout in the US economy.

The Grand Old Party is a tormented party, with discord abound. It appears they are under a constant identity crisis. Republicans are divided by those on the radical right, Tea Partiers, and the more moderate Republicans,RINOs (Republican In Name Only).

If one party can be so divided, how can they be expected to do their jobs and contribute to the betterment of society? The government shutdown cost the US billions of dollars, not counting the thousands of Americans out of work over a partisan temper tantrum.

It also showed us the GOP’s obsession with principle, and the resistance to change that continually plagues their decision making. In short, they stick to their guns, not worrying about what happens as long as they can maintain their principles.

From a nonpartisan standpoint, it is upsetting to see this blatant display of narrow-mindedness running amok in U.S. politics.

Partisanship, however, is a fault of Democrats also; it only seems more evident and damning for the GOP considering Democrats have had great success recently in elections.

Republicans, on paper, aren’t the most open-minded. Th is does not speak for every Republican, but it seems many fail to realize that American voters do not consist of only white males. The politicians in office are supposed to represent and reflect the views of their constituents, but the Republican Party has divorced

from this notion and has time and time again shown a dedication to party principles over those of the people.

What might serve as the saving grace for the Republican Party would be a shift in demographics and flexibility on social issues that are rapidly becoming mainstays in American culture like gay marriage and immigration reform.

Perhaps their main problem is golden age thinking; they tend to shy away from progressivism in an attempt to salvage a defunct, idealized semblance of what America was in the past.

Th is struggle to hold on to the America that once was puts them in a bad light. To me, it is a display of their refusal to accept how society is an evolving organism.

Again, Republicans are not the only ones to blame, but it’s the partisanship that creates vitriol and distrust in American politics — it doesn’t look like things are changing anytime soon.

ANDREW WIMBISH - regular columnist - senior - English

Entertainment animals treated unfairly

M

any people have enjoyed the animal shows at SeaWorld, but they may soon be coming to a close.

1.4 million people tuned in to watch when CNN aired “Blackfish,” a documentary about the treatment of whales in amusement parks such as Seaworld, and due to an incredible demand, CNN re-aired the documentary two times.

Until CNN televised the documentary this past week, “Blackfish” could only be seen in special screenings as it toured the country.

The fi lm exposes how the whales involved in the SeaWorld spectacles are treated after being captured as babies and separated from their families.

But is this really any different from how other animals are treated in zoos and aquariums? Should animals be kept in tanks and cages at all?

Many organizations that keep and display animals do research as well, and allowing visitors to see the animals is another way to increase revenue for more research and to increase pub-

lic interest in animals and their wellbeing.

Research is incredibly important, as is public interest in animals and their habitats. It allows us to learn more about the animals and how we can all share the planet in a healthy and responsible way.

Without the help of research and zoos, animals like pandas could very well have been extinct a long time ago.

However, getting whales to lift trainers into the air on their nose doesn’t seem to serve any research purpose that I can think of.

Zoos also keep some animals in captivity that don’t seem to need to be researched, like common birds such as flamingos and owls.

Furthermore, it is always sad to go into zoos and see these proud creatures, used to having the entire world to roam and live in, be reduced to living in a small, closed area for the rest of their lives.

Some animals, like the featured whale Tilikum in “Blackfish,” have even

shown signs of aggression towardtrainers and possible insanity; Tilikum has been involved in three human deaths to date.

There does seem to be a lot of room for a middle ground, however.

Perhaps the solution is having zoos that only feature animals that will later be released back into the wild or only animals that absolutely need to be in captivity in order to be researched.

Captivity for animals should be limited as much as possible, and should serve the main purpose of research above entertainment.

Research on animals is incredibly helpful but it has reached a point that some might call zoos and aquariums “exploitation.” Hopefully after the news that “Blackfish” has generated there will be changes in how they operate.

AMY RIEGER - regular columnist - sophomore - communication - @fuzzyorangesock

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6

November 7, 2013

Cook Counseling Center presents...

Today’s Event:

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Exams, parents, relationships, money, or grades got you down?

Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Today’s Birthday (11/07/13). Jupiter’s

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retrograde adds a theme of peaceful introspection and planning to the year. Enjoy domestic comforts over winter, with bursts of creativity and romance. A partnership moves up a level in April. Discipline plus art equals success. Launch next summer to public acclaim.

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music downloads

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ACROSS 1 Long-necked waders 7 Sgt. Friday's employer 11 Blow away 14 __ pork: Chinese dish with pancakes 15 Fairy tale villain 16 Betty Crocker product 17 Click-and-drag tool 19 Impersonal pronoun 20 Barnyard brayer 21 Half an Orkan goodbye

for the week of November 5th to 8th

Gronlandic Edit- Of Montreal Cruel- St. Vincent No Children- The Mountain Goats Clair de Lune- Flight Facilities Wake Up- Arcade Fire

listen up

22 Enjoyed, as a 48 Jack of late-night lollipop TV 24 Filming locations 50 Legislative period 26 More out of 52 Mex. ladies practice 56 Samples a bit of 28 Reunion 59 Univ. military org.

61 Dada co-founder attendee, briefly 30 Libyan or Jean 62 Actress Gardner Liberian, e.g.

34 Tequila plant 63 Memorable 37 Kimono sash surprise attack 38 Hefty volume site 66 Deafening noise 39 Learner's permit prerequisite, often 67 Sprinter's path 43 Guitarist Hendrix 68 "Seinfeld" woman 44 Reveal, in verse 69 Fruit drink ending 45 Thick, like fog 70 Egg foo __ 46 Step on the gas 71 Name associated

DOWN 1 Actresses Watson and Thompson 2 Fairy tale Mother 3 Shake awake 4 Superman's monogram 5 Afterwards 6 Forester automaker 7 Legs-intertwined meditative position 8 Player's rep.

9 Very productive 10 Naysayer 11 Helter-skelter 12 Rosé or Cabernet 13 Crossed (out) 18 U.S. motto word 23 Animals, casually 25 Most wellinformed 27 Dana's "forbidden fragrance" 29 Grant wartime foe 31 Nickel or dime 32 "Famous" cookie guy 33 Hawaiian goose 34 Descriptive wds.

35 Golf club part 36 "Je t'__": French "I love you" 37 Shelley work

40 Philosopher Jean-Jacques 41 "House" actor Omar 42 Oral health org.

47 With intense feeling 48 Motel amenity 49 "O Canada," e.g.

51 Discount rack abbr.

53 Former Israeli leader Yitzhak

54 "The San Francisco Treat" suffix 55 Shopper's indulgence 56 "I did it!"

57 Raring to go 58 Of sound mind 60 Colombian city 64 __ Arbor, Michigan 65 Took flight

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

11/6/13

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

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Washington Jefferson Lincoln Roosevelt Adams Madison Monroe Clinton Hayes Bush Reagan Hoover Truman Kennedy Ford Nixon Carter Obama

Thurs, Nov 7th 5:30-6:30pm

Wagging Tails: Spend an Hour with Trained Therapy Dogs!

Room: Brush Mountain A

Trent Davis, Ph.D., Licensed Professional Counselor

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Solicit ideas from imaginative experts, keep your objective in mind and gain respect.

Listen to your conscience, and consider all the consequences. You may be tempted to raid your piggy bank. Thrifty buying works now.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Your willingness to see things differently opens up new income opportunities.

Re-evaluate valuables. And save more than you spend, with only a little effort on your part. Impress others with your good habits.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Review the long range view and adjust as needed.

Don’t spend all your loot on your friends. No need for loud voices. Get lost in a good story. Test your theory and learn something useful. All’s well that ends well.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) For next few months, practice, practice, practice. And don’t give up, even when emotions are in turmoil. Get rid of excess baggage and take action. You’re an inspiration to others. Establish the rules.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You’re on top of your game. However, it’s a good idea to get advice from another professional to igure out a dif icult problem. Phone call provides insight.

Persuade with words and actions. Have a backup plan.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Activities at home demand review. Don’t brag, or you’ll stir up discontent. Make travel plans. Passion drives your argument.

The deadline is fast approaching.

For about four months with Jupiter retrograde, study the competition.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Startling revelations occur about now. You want to jump for joy. And you’re exceptionally attractive now. Your characters come alive imaginatively. Talk about the future. Blessings on your home. Not a good time to go out.

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Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) It could get messy. Embrace the dirt and gain power to do something about it. Don’t be afraid to revive old topics of discussion. At the end, compromise is achieved. Develop physical and psychological strength.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Gather up as much as you can and share. As you look for the next opportunity, listen to your subconscious desires and make a signi icant move. Don’t waste a cent.

Answers come now.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You’re looking very good, even if you don’t quite see it. Believe you can succeed.

Work from behind the scenes suits you well now. Inexpensive entertainment is best. Think over any new investment.

Do the math.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Keep digging and ind a valuable clue. Dress up. Aim high. Push. Invest in your equipment, but leave your savings alone. Explain again, patiently.

SPORTS

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com

7 Volleyball team buckles down for challenging closing stretch November 7, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

Injuries hurt Hokies heading into Miami

ALI BOWKER sports staff writer

BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

Dadi Nicolas (90) stretches out and is just short of tipping a pass from Duke’s Anthony Boone.

ALEX KOMA sports editor

With a monumental matchup in Miami looming ahead for the Virginia Tech football team, the physical toll of the season is evident.

While the trip to Florida will be a pleasant homecoming for some players, injuries and inexperience will make the big ACC matchup with the Hurricanes a difficult one.

A Long Season Nine games into the season, injuries have been a constant concern for the Hokies.

Both the secondary and the offensive line have been rotating players in and out as new members of each unit get banged up each week.

Kyle Fuller is the most prominent player to miss time. The senior cornerback sprained his groin three weeks ago during the team’s bye week and hasn’t made it back to full strength since.

He played sparingly on special teams against Duke and barely played at all facing Boston College.

“It’s more so not being able to run full speed, that was the thing that got me the most,” Fuller said. “I was like ‘I can’t go out there and not be able to run full speed and hurt my team.’”

The senior is still testing his health leading up to the game against the Hurricanes, but doesn’t want to overextend himself.

“I give it a test every day,” Fuller said. “I was able to do more today, but then again, I don’t want to put too much stress on it. I’d rather just go out there and be ready to play on Saturday than go out there and keep getting it worse and worse.”

Fuller insists he’s willing to try playing at full speed this week.

“I’m definitely going to try to give it a go,” he said. “Like I said, I’ve been out two weeks, just trying to get it treated, get it back to as close to 100 percent as I can.

I’ll see where it is.”

The offensive line has had plenty of issues as well. Right tackle Brent Benedict was spot-

ted in a walking boot, while right guard Andrew Miller had to miss some of Tuesday’s practice.

“It’s nothing that I don’t think will keep guys from playing,” said offensive line coach Jeff Grimes. “But maybe they’ll miss some practice time — it’s that time of the year. Even the guys that are practicing and playing are banged up.”

But, according to the players themselves, this is nothing out of the ordinary for November.

“It’s just that time of the season,” said center David Wang.

“It takes a toll on your body and everybody’s the same way, every team’s the same way.”

Belief in McLaughlin One uninjured, yet still struggling member of the offensive line is freshman left tackle Jonathan McLaughlin.

McLaughlin got called for several holding penalties against the Eagles while he was matched up with dominant defensive end Kasim Edebali.

Edebali piled up two sacks, seven tackles and two fumbles, leading to some speculation that the freshman was overmatched.

However, coaches remain confident in his performance. “(Edebali)’s a really good player, he’s got a variety of moves and Jon handled him pretty well. I thought some of those calls could’ve gone either way,” Grimes said. “He was frustrated after the game because he did struggle in a couple of situations, but there were a lot of times that he was asked to block a really good pass rusher by himself and did a really nice job.”

The other players on the line also gave McLaughlin their full vote of confidence.

“I’ve been thoroughly impressed by Jon. He took one of my best buddies’ spots, Nick Becton,” Wang said. “But he’s been performing every week, and I’m honestly proud to be his teammate right now.”

Despite some occasional issues, there’s no doubt in coaches’ minds that he’ll continue to improve.

“There were a couple times he could’ve done a better job

and he was frustrated by that, but he’s a guy that continues to learn and I know he’ll get better,” Grimes said.

South Florida Homecoming The Hokies’ have seven players on the roster that hail from Florida, making Saturday’s game in Miami Gardens, Fla. a rare chance for them to play in front of their families and friends.

Defensive linemen Luther Maddy and Dadi Nicolas are two of the players that have to deal with the pressure of putting on a good show for their guests.

“It’s like a home game to me because I’ve got family there,” Nicolas said. “I’m trying to hold it down for my family, trying to put on a nice show for my family to be proud of.”

Maddy admits that the emotion from Tech’s game against Miami last season might’ve gotten to him.

“Last year, I was probably too excited, I didn’t play as great as I wanted to play,” Maddy said. “So I’ve been trying to calm down a little bit and I’ve had a pretty good season thus far.”

Nicolas in particular has a habit of getting especially excited in big games.

“I believe you can never get too hyped up, so I’m trying to bring it to the max,” Nicolas said.

Luckily for Nicolas, Maddy will be vigilant in making sure the redshirt sophomore doesn’t get too animated.

“You could probably see it on film during the Duke game, I was trying to calm him down,” Maddy said. “Trying to get him to calm down before he got kicked out. If you notice, I’m always trying to hype Dadi down so he doesn’t get kicked out, stuff like that.”

But with supremacy on the ACC Coastal Division on the line Saturday, every player will be appropriately motivated for this game.

“Everybody knows we’ve got to go down there and hold it down because last year we took an ‘L’ and that was kind of embarrassing for me because I have family in the stands and what not,” Nicolas said.

With eight games left in the regular season, the Virginia Tech volleyball team feels the need to be consistent more than ever before.

“Since we are coming to the end and now that we are down with our RPI, we have to be very focused on details and just staying strong as a team,” said senior outside hitter Samantha Gostling.

The team is coming off two road losses against ACC foes Clemson and Georgia Tech, moving the Hokies to 18-8 on the season and 6-6 in the ACC. “We didn’t play tough enough this weekend,” said head coach Chris Riley.

“We are pretty beat up right now but I’m not using that as an excuse. That’s part of the game. Most teams are (beat up) right now.”

This weekend, Tech hosts Miami and Florida State on Friday and Saturday respectively. With both the Hurricanes and the Seminoles currently sitting ahead of Tech in the conference rankings, winning is at a premium.

“We’ve got to be aggressive and have to go and get it this weekend — that’s our challenge,” Riley said.

“We’ve got to take it to them and not be reactive. We have to be aggressive and be on offense the whole time — even if we are out of (our) system, I want us to try to take a more aggressive swing.”

With the season winding down, Gostling, Riley and redshirt junior libero Megan Beckwith all know

remaining games -Fri. Nov. 8 - Clemson -Sat. Nov. 9 - FSU -Fri. Nov 15 - at UNC -Sat. Nov. 16 - at NC St. -Wed. Nov. 20 - Notre Dame -Sun. Nov. 24 - at UVa -Fri. Nov. 29 - Maryland that this is when the matches become more mental than ever.

“Right now, every team has been competing as long as we have. We are all getting tired. It’s a long season, so I think a lot of it is being able to push through that soreness and just being able to overcome the mental part,” Beckwith said.

“Right now, physically, we are getting tired — it’s that time of the season — but if you can be stronger mentally, then you can compensate for the physical lack.”

Against Clemson and Georgia Tech the Hokies kept things close but could not manage to notch a victory.

“We’re still focusing on the same things. We played well this weekend, it’s just that extra something we need to have during the game,” Gostling said.

The last six matches of the season — excluding Miami and FSU — feature teams that Tech has already faced once this season. The team will face N.C. State, Notre Dame and Maryland, all of which the Hokies have already beat this

season.

However, they will have to face off against ACC powerhouses North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia — all of which have recorded wins against the Hokies.

“Because we only have so many left, it’s a matter of what returns do you get on the eight games that you have left,” Riley said.

“The rest of our matches are all against good teams.

“They’re all opportunities where wins help you. Right now, we are on the outside looking in. We’ve got four matches against teams who are higher than us in the RPI, and the other teams are all good. So we’ve got a lot of opportunities. We just have to go ahead and push forward and try to beat these teams and earn our way back in.”

With the chances of making the postseason riding on the last few weeks of the regular season, the team is looking to get back to the level of play they were at earlier in the year.

“I think we just need to be calm and settle into our identity as a team, and rely back on that and trust each other,” Beckwith said. “I think a lot of it is communication and the trust that we have on the court. When we are communicating well, then we trust each other and everybody is doing what they’re supposed to be doing instead of doing too much or trying to do someone else’s job.”

@AlisonBowker_VT

8

lifestyleseditor@collegiatetimes.com

November 7, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

he she

SAID

LIFESTYLES

No Shave November challenges one’s grooming process and reveals who can grow the best beard.

He Said: Best of luck to my boys

T

he first definition of “No Shave November” was added to Urban Dictionary in 2006. It was simply defined as a time to celebrate masculinity and “raise awareness for the important and educational month of November.”

Since then, No Shave November has grown into an Internet phenomenon with thousands of men participating each year.

Charities have gotten into the holiday spirit as well, using the month to raise money for the American Cancer Society and other causes.

Despite all the fun and revelry surrounding No Shave November, I will not be participating this year for a number of reasons.

To start, my girlfriend told me how she detested facial hair and did not approve of No Shave November. This was on our second date in August.

Additionally, and this is a problem I know I’m not alone in, I cannot grow facial hair very well.

That’s not to say that I don’t have to shave or anything, because I do, daily.

Rather, the hair that does grow grows terribly and doesn’t connect in places.

Frankly, it’s a disgusting mess.

I’m not sure how others

manage to grow a proper beard. I’m especially unsure of how guys like Tom Brady or Brett Favre seem to perpetually have a five o’clock shadow. I guess being a famous quarterback gets you access to magic razors.

I’m not bitter, really. I’m fine not growing a beard, especially since it is a simple thing to do to keep my girlfriend happy. However, there have been times when I’ve been jealous of my friends who seem to grow a full beard overnight.

In that regard, I suppose No Shave November is really for guys like me, who can normally only dream of having a beard and are in fear of attempting one and looking foolish.

November is a safe time for these men to see if, just maybe, they can grow one.

I wish all of my brothers good luck in their voyage this month and I hope everyone considers using this as more than just an opportunity to grow a silly beard — those charities really could use the money.

JAMES O’HARA -web editor -senior -computer science major

She Said: Enjoy all the bearded variety

F

or one month of the year, I live in a wonderland of chilly Blacksburg weather, Tofurkey legs and men with an unnecessary abundance of facial hair. While November boasts the fabulousness that is Thanksgiving and the University of Virginia versus Virginia Tech football game, it also plays host to the fairly recent phenomenon of “No Shave November.”

I remember my first experience with the event my freshman year, when, after a few days of my male friends experimenting with the whiskered liberation, I realized there might be an organized movement happening.

And while my group of male friends was united against razors, the “clean-cut” image and countless other things that require a shaven face, it seemed that none of them could quite

explain the purpose of abstaining from personal grooming.

So I’m here, with my infinite knowledge (sarcasm) of social norms and men and hair, (not to mention my extremely active imagination) to figure out the true purpose behind the hairy happening.

My theory? Darwin. Survival of the fittest. Natural selection.

A new ice age. Lumberjacks — ‘cause I had to mention it somewhere.

You see, November, with its cold weather, brings about deep, intrinsic instincts among men that reminds them of past millennia, when the earth underwent severe periods of cooling.

I’m making this up.

Anyway, these natural instincts steer men in the direction of preserving their facial hair for multiple reasons. One of them concerns keeping their faces warm, an obvious reason.

The other is less obvious, and with it, entirely less probable— they do it to convince potential mates and partners of their testosterone level. The more beard, the better suited a particular man is to continue the human race. (I hope you have realized I’m kidding.)

While this explanation may help you deal with the harsh realities of pre-pubescent-like mustaches you may see this month, you shouldn’t invest too much time in thinking about why people decide to participate in No Shave November. Instead, choose to take this month as an opportunity to see an impressive variance in types, amounts and displays of facial hair.

When I started writing this column, I was trying to decide between writing a humorous take on the interesting things I’ve seen in Novembers past and writing a serious piece of social

commentary about women and feminism and leg shaving. At the end of this column, I’ve landed on some middle ground.

When it comes to hair— body, facial, head or other, do what you want— If you want to grow your beard out to your knees year-round, do it. If you prefer that soft-as-a-baby’s-bottom, clean-shaven feel, shave away.

If you’re a lady and you want to braid your armpit hair, be my guest. But don’t just limit yourself to one month.

The moral of the story? Let your freak facial hair fly. Except neck beards. I could probably do without those.

DANIELLE BUYNAK -managing editor -senior -English major

CAREER CORNER Answer interview questions with specific task experience to show off your skills.

“Tell us about yourself.”

For some reason, this question makes anyone being interviewed shake in his or her polished, professional shoes.

But if you prepare, you should be able to answer it without any hesitation.

Interviewing is not something you can do on a whim. You must practice and prepare yourself, not only attire-wise, but, by making sure you know how you will respond to questions.

Most interview questions are usually behavior oriented and are asked to find out how you handle a problem or what you would do in a certain situation.

To prepare, Career Services recommends the STAR technique.

“S” stands for the situation. You will want to tell the who, what, when, where and how of what was happening in the situation.

“T” is for task. Say what needed to be done and any challenges that you needed to deal with.

“A” stands for the action. Describe what actions you took to complete the task. Make sure to include traits or strengths you have within the description.

“R” stands for results. What happened as a result of your efforts?

This is an easy way to remember what you should include in your response to an interviewer’s question.

The best way to use this technique is to apply it to any experience you’ve had. In a couple of interviews, I used situations that occurred at work. But in others, I also talked about situations that happened in classes such as group projects or a big assignment that required a lot of time.

Just because certain classes are required for your major does not mean they are not good experiences to pull examples from.

Also, when asked a question, don’t answer right away. Take a second to think about exactly what you want to say.

In that answer, don’t mention anything too personal. An interview is not the time to talk about the latest drama in your life. So don’t answer one of their questions by saying how you and your boyfriend made up after a horrible fight.

That is not what they are looking for.

Keep it related to experience you have had in that particular job field or in your classes.

Remember, when in the interview, make sure to sit up straight, look the interviewers in the eye and avoid too many “ums.” Be as professional as you can be.

As mentioned in my previous Career Corner, you will need to make sure you know what position you are interviewing

for and what you will be doing in that position. To keep track of this, make a spreadsheet with the company’s name, position, job description and when and where the interview will take place.

I know I have harped on this in previous Corners, but I will keep bugging you to make sure you actually do it.

Send a thank you note. You may even have to send notes to multiple people, because a lot of times, you may be interviewed by more than one person.

So, make sure to get their names, ask for their cards and what would be the best way to get in touch with them. You will want to send each of them a thank you note, not just the recruiter you have met with before.

Want to practice your interviewing skills? Come by Career Services, located at the Smith Career Center, and make an appointment with an advisor to learn more about Interview Stream or even do a mock interview.

HAYDEN ROBERTS - lifestyles staff writer - junior - communication - career services intern