Thursday, November 14, 2013 Print Edition

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Thursday, November 14, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 53 News, page 2

Lifestyles, page 6

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 5

Study Break, page 4

Cody Journell kicked off football team Council ALEX KOMA & JACOB EMERT sports editors

The Virginia Tech football team has dismissed kicker Cody Journell for an undisclosed violation of team rules, according to a release from the school. Head coach Frank Beamer won’t comment on the situation, but did say that the staff has yet

to identify a replacement. Attempts to reach Cody Journell went unreturned. The Ripplemead, Va. native was previously suspended for the team’s game against Marshall this season for a separate rule violation. The senior was also suspended at the end of 2011 when he was arrested and charged with a felony for break-

ing and entering. The charge was ultimately dropped to a misdemeanor and Beamer reinstated the kicker. The Hokies have limited depth at the position, with Ethan Keyserling, Mitchell Ludwig and Eric Kristensen the only other players listed on the depth chart. Ludwig has missed the team’s

last two games with a leg injury. Journell was 44-of-58 on field goals for his career and 101-for-106 on extra points. Journell’s Twitter account (@ CodyJournell) has been deleted.

@CTSportsTalk

rejects student housing EMILY WYNN

New shop downtown clears the air with e-cigarettes

businesses like Sew Attitude and Subway. Smith believes that the unique niche that electronic cigarettes can offer will have a positive impact on the New River Valley. “The thing that sets our company’s product from other companies is the liquid tobacco, or e-liquid,” Smith said. “It is manufactured in Richmond rather than overseas, and offers an extremely smooth taste depending on what flavor you’re looking for.”

Debates over student housing continued on Tuesday night as the Blacksburg Town Council voted 4-3 against developing a project on the Oaknoll Farm property on Prices Fork Road. The proposed development, named The Retreat, is a cottage-style, high-density student residential area with 204 units and 829 bedrooms. The plan for The Retreat incorporates a clubhouse, community gardens, a pool, a patio area and a sport court. There would be 868 spaces to accommodate parking, with a ratio of 1.5 spaces per bedroom. One of the repeatedly-stated queries about the project was how much student housing does Blacksburg need — something asked by both citizens and town council members. “The overriding goal ought to be ‘do we need student housing or not?’” Councilwoman Susan Anderson said. “I question the need for 800+ student beds in this location.” Many citizen complaints echoed this statement. “The argument that’s bothering me is that there is a housing shortage,” said Ken Jones, a town resident and landlord. Some residents in favor of the project have decided to accept the town’s eventual growth, and agreed that this was a good project to build. “The town’s going to grow — we might as well just go with it,” said Jim Mathias, a resident. However, traffic remained an issue among residents, who were concerned about the increase in traffic that a high-density complex like this would bring to the area. “[Along with] the noise, the potential partying, and the possible dangers that will come to drivers, pedestrians, and kids who are walking and riding bikes — (is) the addition of so many student drivers,” said Judy Bauer, a resident. To combat traffic concerns, Landmark Properties proposed two entrances to the property with a traffic signal near the main entrance on Huntington Lane

see SMOKE / page two

see TOWN / page two

BY MATT MINOR | news staff writer

PHOTOS BY BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS

T

wo men are setting up shop in Kent Square, hoping to change the way the New River Valley smokes. Four months ago, 28-year-old’s Cole Smith and Donovan Phillips invested $20,000 into a self-made electronic cigarette shop in the downtown Richmond, Va. area. Avail Vapor lit up in popularity almost immediately. Now, Smith and Phillips are set to open four more shops to cover each region of Virginia— Virginia Beach, Short Pump, Fredericksburg and, most recently, Blacksburg.

“It really came down between Blacksburg and Roanoke as the place to expand for the southwestern Virginia area,” Smith said. “We eventually decided upon Blacksburg because it’s a good center of mass for Roanoke, Radford and Christiansburg. Also, it doesn’t hurt that one of our business partners is a (Tech) alumn who makes trips down here for every football game.” Avail Vapor is set for a soft opening this Friday, and will be the newest storefront to fill a vacancy at Kent Square — a location which has seen a number of failed

news staff writer

America Recycles Day Professor brings hip-hop meets Hokie game day course to winter session LEAH KOMADA news staff writer

Teaming up with communities, schools and universities around the country, Virginia Tech’s Office of Energy and Sustainability will be bringing the fi rst America Recycles Day celebration to campus. On Friday, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Squires Student Center Plaza will host a celebration in the form of a tailgate with food, games and prize giveaways. Attendees will learn easy and efficient recycling tips. Occurring a day before the last home football game of the season, the event will have special focus on recycling at tailgates. “We all know that tailgating is a huge event at

NEWS As always, we’ve got you covered on recent crime. see page 2 The founder of BANGS Shoes visited Tech, and chatted with us about her business. see page 2

Reduce, reuse, recycle - in that order.” Emily Schosid campus sustainability planner

Virginia Tech that happens six or seven times a year,” said Emily Schosid, campus sustainability planner. “Recycling at tailgates isn’t as good as it could be.” Located in the parking lots near Lane Stadium, there are brown recycling igloos where people can toss their recyclables. “For recycling to be success-

ful at tailgates at this point, people really need to take the initiative,” Schosid said. “There are a limited number of the igloos, so it really is up to individual groups to take the time to fi nd them.” Within individual tailgates, it is important to sort recycling from trash, even before the actual tailgate takes place. “Th ink about what you’re using,” Schosid said. “If there are not going to be many of you, consider bringing reusable items to cut down on the waste. Also keep in mind that cans, bottles, plastic forks and knives, even solo cups are all recyclable.” Campus sustainability extends beyond the efforts of tailgaters before game days. see RECYCLE / page two

LIFESTYLES

CARMEN LODATO news staff writer

This winter session, Virginia Tech is launching a new elective - Intro to Hip-Hop Culture. Jocelyn Wilson, who is teaching the course, is a professor in the Department of Learning Science and Technologies and the founder and director of HipHop2020, a curriculum project located in the Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT). This elective class will focus on the history of hip-hop culture, and how it’s expressed through rapping, deejaying, breakdancing and graffiti. It will also explore the global nature of hip-hop culture. Wilson believes a hip-hop culture class is important for

SPORTS Seniors, start jumping for the last home football game.

he she

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more info Students that have questions or would like to get involved can contact Wilson at drjoyce@vt.edu. The Four Four Beat Project website opens on Nov. 18. the Drillfield, or when I open my office window on a Friday afternoon and hear music playing,” Wilson said. “It’s subtle, but strong.” The new winter session course is intended to gauge interest among students for more classes of the same kind see HIP / page two

ONLINE The women’s basketball team is off to a hot start. They are 2-0 and set to take host Florida for the first time on Thursday.

SAID

see page 6

students because hip-hop represents a diverse mindset. “Students at Tech now weren’t really exposed to hiphop until after its formative years. Today, hip-hop is fighting against a consumer narrative that paints it as misogynist and violent, when hiphop is actually about celebrating and elevating diversity,” Wilson said. While hip-hop culture is most evident during homecoming week, with artists like J.Cole and Wale performing at the most recent homecoming concert, Wilson believes that the hip-hop generation is present on campus all the time. “The hip-hop generation is visible on campus, whether it’s students listening to Beats by Dre as they walk around

For updates throughout the day. www.collegiatetimes.com

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