TUESDAY MORNING TAKEAWAYS
Maryland loss dims ACC hopes JACOB EMERT sports editor
Virginia Tech’s football team has become predictably unpredictable. After winning six straight, the Hokies lost to Boston College and Duke, only to respond with a big road win against Miami. When they seemed to have figured out a number of their issues, Maryland came into Lane Stadium, beat the Hokies and damaged Tech’s chances of reaching Charlotte. Stayin’ alive Losses to Boston College, Duke and Maryland have dimmed Virginia Tech’s chances in the Coastal Division, but the team still has a slim chance to head to Charlotte. The Hokies cost themselves dearly with the loss to Maryland, but their chances of playing for a conference title — their goal since the season’s
BEN WEIDLICH / SPPS
onset — still remains. Now, in their second bye week of the season, the Hokies will sit back this weekend as the penultimate week of ACC regular season play unfolds. They’ll watch as other teams decide their destiny. Four of the seven Coastal Division teams have a chance to reach Charlotte — with North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Virginia being the three mathematically eliminated due to either record or tiebreaker scenarios. The Hokies will reach the conference’s title game if they beat Virginia (2-8, 0-6 ACC) on Nov. 30 and if one of the following three scenarios occurs. Duke (8-2, 4-2 ACC) needs to lose to North Carolina (5-5, 4-3 ACC) on Nov. 30 in Chapel Hill. see TMT / page six
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com
COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 51 News, page 2
Lifestyles, page 5
Opinions, page 3
Sports, page 6
Study Break, page 4
The return of Horse on a Treadmill Dean of Liberal
Arts steps down
BY ZACK WAJSGRAS | news reporter
MIKE DEMSKO news staff writer
T
he Hokie Bird might have some competition after the “Invent the Future” Horse on a Treadmill caused a viral sensation at the football game on Saturday. During the football game versus Maryland, Tech fans were both surprised and ecstatic to see the Horse on a Treadmill three different times in the university’s commercial. The galloping horse was already a popular part of the halftime ad spot during the football games, but on Saturday it became even more famous when it was shown
three times in each commercial during the game. Gabrielle Minnich, electronic communications supervisor for Visual and Broadcast Communications in University Relations, was the architect behind the special edition of the ad. “The students and alumni seemed somewhat affectionate about us using (the horse) through social media,” Minnich said. see HORSE / page three
facts on the page The horse’s name is Lola. Lola’s highest recorded speed was 30 mph. She held for 15 minutes. The History Channel featured Lola on their show “Real Cowboys” in 2009.
Taphouse limited by few beer options CHELSEA GILES lifestyles editor
“Taps on taps on taps on taps” is not what I said when I walked into the Blacksburg Taphouse on Main Street, just past the edge of downtown. With “Taphouse” in the name, I was expecting a slew of towering beer labels standing up from the bar, but that wasn’t the case. Despite this little letdown, I was happy to see that, even with the change of restaurant face, the aura of the dining room hadn’t lost its cozy feel with its dark wooden tables, dim lighting and inviting sound of clinking glasses. I had tried the past res-
taurants in this tricky location (how many has it been again?), so I figured it was time to check out the newly named joint. Greeted with menus by a friendly waitress, my friend and I sat at the table beside the huge window overlooking the street. As one of the few flurries we’ve had this season began to fall, I reached for the beer list. Once again, I expected a much more extensive collection of brews. To be fair though, the list was balanced, with everything from Miller Lite to Highland to a lambic option to some I had never heard of on the menu.
NEWS
DANNY DUANGPHACHANH / SPPS see TAPS / page five
The Blacksburg Taphouse serves a variety of burger options including sliders.
LIFESTYLES
SPORTS Check out how the new Thor movie compares to “The Avengers.”
Did the last home football game get the best of people? See the crimeblotter for more. see page 2
The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences dean, Sue Ott Rowlands, will be stepping down from her position at the close of the fall semester. Rowlands came to Tech in July 2007, and since her arrival the college has seen a variety of changes and improvements, most recently the opening of the Moss Center for the Arts. “The Center for the Arts has been something we’ve been working on since the first day I got here,” Rowlands said. “It was amazing to see it all the way through.” Rowlands also played the lead role in expanding the college’s faculty, adding new graduate programs and establishing numerous institutions to further the student experience. Programs include an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program called ASPECT, the Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought, which stands as a collaboration between areas of study in history, political science, religion, and culture and philosophy. Rowlands also led the creation of the Undergraduate Center for 21st Century Studies, another interdisciplinary program that helps subsidize student trips to Morocco, Turkey and Sri Lanka, which act as case studies for the students’ work. “When I got here, the arts initiative had just begun to gather steam and energy. It has resulted in expanded programming and new degree programs for students who want to study the arts,” Rowlands said. Rowlands will be taking a job at Northern Kentucky University as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. “It was just the right time for me to make a career move,” Rowlands said. Joan Hirt, a graduate professor of Higher Education Administration and Policy at Tech, will step in as interim dean until a permanent replacement is found.
@MikeDemskoCT
ONLINE See how the Virginia Tech wrestling team did in their three matches over the weekend.
Will the weather remain unseasonably warm? Or will a cold front move in? see page 2
ROWLANDS “I’m very excited,” Hirt said. “I was an administrator for a number of years before I joined the faculty and I look forward to seeing the university from a new perspective.” Hirt has worked as an administrator in the Division of Student Affairs, specifically in the departments of Housing and Resident Life and Student Centers and Activities, in addition to the Dean of Students’ Office and the University Bookstore. Hirt also served as interim director of the School of Education last year and the experience left the professor with a clear definition of temporary leadership. “I’d like to capture a snapshot of what the college is like in terms of the curriculum, personnel, facilities and student issues, and then I can use that to paint a portrait of the college and prepare material for the incoming dean,” Hirt said. “I see my role as laying the foundation for the transition to a new dean.” Moving forward, both Rowlands and Hirt see the potential for even more ambitious undertakings within the college. “With the new president coming on board, and the fact that this college makes Virginia Tech a comprehensive university, I think the new dean will have a great chance to continue to promote our programs,” Rowlands said. Hirt will remain in the position from Jan. 1 until as late as July 1 when a permanent dean is chosen.
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