Thursday, November 21, 2013 Print Edition

Thursday, November 21, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 57

News, page 2

Rita’s Ice closes its doors

Lifestyles, page 5

Opinions, page 3

Sports, page 6

Study Break, page 4

Mayor Rordam and his town Rordam champions transparency and the importance of personal relationships as essential ways to find a balance between a small town and a big campus.

BY DEAN SEAL | news editor

M

ayor Ron Rordam wants a restaurant downtown without a television set. He wants gigabit wireless Internet that reaches every corner of Blacksburg’s 16 blocks.

And he won’t hesitate to tell you — he wants a Trader Joe’s.

But amidst his desires for expansion, there’s one thing he won’t sacrifice — the small town feel that resonates through the streets of Blacksburg.

Rordam, who ran uncontested and was re-elected as mayor of Blacksburg three weeks ago, has seen and felt a great deal of prosperity and heartbreak in his mayoral tenure since 2006. But between every ribbon-cutting and tragedy in the town’s dynamic recent past, Rordam’s resolve has not faltered — from the opening of the Center for the Arts to the April 16 massacre.

With a combination of openness to his community and emphasis on the relationships he builds, Rordam has come to understand a lot; how to work for the changes he believes are vital, and accept what he can’t control.

DEAN SEAL news editor

The Rita’s on College Avenue will officially be closing its doors for good on Nov. 24.

Jim Hagan, owner of Rita’s, confirmed that the store’s closing would not be seasonal, as it has been in the past, but permanent.

“We’re just going out of business,” Hagan said.

Hagan cited a general lack of business and sales for the closure.

“The last two years have been — not good,” Hagan said. “It’s probably 10 different reasons.”

The closure was simply a matter of time, according to Hagan.

“My lease is up in November,” Hagan said. “If my lease was up in October, I would have ended it in October.”

Rita’s opened downtown on May 22, 2009. It saw considerable success at the onset, but couldn’t be sustained, according to Hagan.

“It is what it is,” Hagan resigned with a shrug. “Unfortunately, it’s just one of those things.”

A far cry from New Orleans Rordam came to Blacksburg from his native New Orleans when he was 22. see MAYOR / page two

@JDeanSeal

Incoming Squires eatery Burger 37 under construction MELISSA DRAUDT news reporter

A faint outline of the neon Sbarro sign, exposed insulation and a sawdust-covered tile floor are concealed behind the green wall in Squires Student Center, where construction has officially begun on Tech’s newest dining option.

Burger ‘37, named for the year Squires opened, will serve as an “homage to the building,” according to Associate Director of Dining Services Brian Grove.

Dining services developed the concept for the burger joint based on designs inspired by restaurants located in Washington, D.C. “It’s our own brand,” Grove

said. “It was a niche that we didn’t have filled.”

The general contractor, Thor Inc., has 90 days to complete the remodeling, according to the contract signed about a week ago. With that set, Burger ‘37 is expected to open in mid-February — though it’s not a guarantee.

“We don’t know what kind of issues there may be,” Grove said, explaining the main structural challenges with the project.

The most difficult part of the project is the installation of ducts above the soon-tobe restaurant — necessary for ventilation — because it will require some invasion of the Commonwealth Ballroom on the second floor.

According to Grove, the main construction involving the ballroom will take place during winter break, to avoid being a disruption and interfering with any events.

The remodeling of the space from the Sbarro layout into a more modern and accessible design will cost Dining Services approximately $500,000.

“Remodeling is the cost-efficient way to go,” Grove said.

Luther Moseley, assistant director of Dining Services for Squires and the Graduate Life Center who was also involved in the remodeling of Dietrick Hall in 2004, agreed with Grove.

ABBY JETMUNDSEN / SPPS see BURGER / page two

Workers prepare for the construction of Burger 37 inside Squires Student Center in place of Sbarro.

Local charities harvest food for the hungry year round MICHELLE STARK lifestyles staff writer

NCIK SMIRNIOTOPOLOUS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Volunteers at the YMCA-Hale Community Garden grow a variety of plants to harvest and donate the surplus to local food pantries.

NEWS

As Thanksgiving draws near, many people have their minds on roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes and fresh green beans.

With these thoughts of feasting in mind, it may be hard to remember that there is still hunger in Blacksburg even during the holidays.

In an effort to reduce hunger in the area, the YMCA at Virginia Tech has created a variety of programs that grow or donate food to charities.

One of the YMCA volunteers, Brenda Springer, has

LIFESTYLES

Read more about Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam’s plans for developing downtown. see page 2

he she

SAID

see page 5

been able to donate a plethora of apples through her program, Neighborhood Harvest.

Springer said she noticed there were fruit trees in Blacksburg that weren’t being picked and decided that she could prevent food waste through this program.

“It just needed a little bit of effort to get it from a mess in somebody’s yard that does nothing but attract bugs to something that’s really productive,” Springer said. “We can get hundreds of pounds of apples from a single tree.”

She contacts fruit tree owners who do not want to pick their trees and sends several

volunteers to harvest the fruit.

After a tree is picked, the homeowner and volunteers are both offered one-third of the fruit that is picked.

Whatever fruit that’s leftover, which Springer said is close to 90 percent, is donated to charity.

A majority of the apples are donated to the Interfaith Food Pantry. Fruit is also given to Plenty, a nonprofit organization in Floyd that delivers food to people who may not have the ability or transportation necessary to purchase food.

“Th is program has been running for four years now.

SPORTS Wonder what our writers think of Thanksgiving? Find out inside.

see YMCA/ page five

ONLINE The womens soccer team won their first NCAA tournament game.

Find out how they’re preparing for their next game on Friday.

see page 3

For the four years total, we have picked 5,102 pounds of good apples,” Springer said.

“Th is year we picked over 1,500 pounds and that’s good apples.”

Apples picked that are not high enough quality are donated to Rolling Fork Farm, where they are used as animal feed for pigs.

While the program currently only picks from pear and apple trees, Springer said she is not opposed to branching out. She said she will consider picking other types of trees or gardens if given the chance.

For updates throughout the day. www.collegiatetimes.com

ctlifestyles CollegiateTimes @collegiatetimes

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newseditor@collegiatetimes.com

November 21, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

NEWS

Burger: Restaurant plans to open early next semester from page one

“It’s going to be a fraction of the cost (that) it would take to build a brand new facility,” said Moseley. “We’ve already got the shell in place — we’re not starting from scratch.”

Other costs associated with

the addition will go toward employing 75 new student staff members and two salaried staff.

When completed, Burger ‘37 will offer a diverse menu of burger options, condiments and milkshakes from recipes contributed by Nazim Khan, former executive chef of

Personal Touch Catering, with modifications by John Scherer, the current executive chef at Owens.

“I think the most exciting part is it’s going to be something that’s different,” Moseley said. “Yes, you can get a burger somewhere else on campus, but

you’re not going to get a burger like this anywhere else.”

Moseley also emphasized the culture of honesty that will characterize the new dining option.

“It’s an open design and I really like that,” said Moseley.

“Our students will be able to

watch the food being made, it’s not hidden behind a wall.”

With the construction project underway, Moseley expresses his confidence that the end result will be more than satisfactory.

“There are challenges that are going to come, but I have every

confidence that our team is not just going to meet those challenges, but we’re going to knock it out of the park,” Moseley said.

@MelissaDraudt

Mayor: Rordam expands but keeps small-town feel from page one

After receiving his B.A. in history from the University of New Orleans, he came to Virginia Tech for graduate school, hoping to earn a Master’s degree in history, per a recommendation from his major professor back home. The climate was different, but a young Rordam was ready for something new.

“I always wanted to live in the mountains, and I knew it was a good program, so I came,” Rordam recalls. “I remember my father always talking about wanting to live in the mountains, so mountains were a goal. I liked it — it was something different. You know, when you’re your age…”

He laughs, mimicking an oldtimer looking back with reverence.

He’s only 58 now, but his life away from Blacksburg feels more distant than he must have imagined it would at 22.

Prior to graduation, Rordam had hopes of being a teacher. But in the 60s, the threat of the draft had produced a glut of academics intent on staying in school as liberal arts teachers, creating a trickle-down effect that left Rordam with dwindling prospects.

A new opportunity arose — his sister had been working for a congressman back in Louisiana and Rordam landed a job assisting with the relation campaign, which spawned a series of jobs assisting in political campaigns that had him travelling the country from Alaska to Florida.

“Politics was always my first love,” he says.

After working in a field that seemed natural in big cities like Baltimore and D.C., it’s fair to wonder why Rordam would return to Blacksburg. But the answer was clear for Rordam.

“Getting married,” he laughs. “My wife is from the area… she grew up in the county and she was teaching high school when I met her, when I was in graduate school.”

The town was also one he felt familiar with and comfortable returning to.

“Blacksburg is so accepting when you’re not from here,” he says.

“That’s what I found when I worked in other towns in the area. It was much harder if they didn’t know who your grandparents were.”

He settled back into Blacksburg and started a company that specialized in life insurance — one he still runs today. He got started up with some help from someone in an old council race he ran in Louisiana.

Born from a relationship, built on relationships — “everything you do in life is about relationships,” Rordam says.

Back in Blacksburg Before Rordam began involving himself in the town, he played the family man. He and his wife, Mary, had two sons, Gardner and Landon.

Gardner and his wife are expecting their first child in about a month, bringing on Rordam’s newest challenge — being a grandpa.

Rordam made his start in the town’s politics by joining the planning commission in 1992, and when a seat opened on the Town

“

We live in a time where more transparency is required, and I think we have the tools in which to provide that” Ron Rordam Mayor of Blacksburg

Council in 1996, he jumped on board.

In 2006, when Mayor Roger Hedgepeth stepped down, Rordam ran against then-council member Don Langrehr to fill the vacancy, and won.

“There were so many things I felt like we could accomplish that we had gone through for a couple of years,” Rordam recalls. “A period where there was maybe some divergence in the route we should take for the future, especially in development.”

For Rordam, things were just moving too slowly.

“There were some things I wanted to see happen, and I wanted to try to bring council together… to move forward,” Rordam says. “One of my rallying points was ‘I want to cut ribbons.’ I want to get some things done, because we really had been lethargic there for a couple of years.”

Unfortunately, progress was tough in Rordam’s fi rst year, through a combination of hardship and heartbreak.

Facing tragedies “We’ll go back to the first part of being mayor — you don’t ever foresee, nor can you really plan, what’s going to happen.”

“My first six weeks of being mayor was when we had the shooting on the Huckleberry,” Rordam says.

He’s referring to the escape of Blacksburg resident William Morva, who fled from Montgomery County Hospital on August 20, 2006. Morva was facing a maximum of 38 years in prison from an attempted armed robbery, but after being taken to the hospital for a sprained ankle and wrist, he assaulted and disarmed an officer and subsequently killed a hospital security guard before fleeing.

During the manhunt that ensued the following day, he shot and killed a seasoned officer of the Montgomery County Police before his capture.

“It focused time very differently.”

Meanwhile, the tumult continued in the council.

“We had the Wal-Mart debate (the big box debate), we had a stadium debate — both very divisive,” Rordam says. “And then we had April 16.”

The tragedy that struck was unprecedented, and Rordam vividly remembers those first moments.

“You’re stunned, you’re numb… the first thing we heard was numbers, and I had to go outside and get fresh air — somebody had to come out to make sure I wasn’t ill,” Rordam says.

For the first time in the interview, his smile fades.

“The fi rst reaction, your fi rst

FILE 2013 / SPPS

Blacksbug Mayor Ron Rordam rides in a car as part of the homecoming parade.

thought, is to the families… it impacts in such a way because you know so many of them. You can’t get around it.”

He went to meet some of the families at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

He called the event heartbreaking.

“How does anybody deal with that…I still have no idea,” he says somberly. “Then you walk through and deal with the other responsibilities that you have. But that was the foremost, thinking about them…”

In the wake of tragedy, Rordam knew the role of local government was to show its candor.

“My whole goal, and I kept on saying as soon as it happened, was that Blacksburg’s voice needs to be heard through all this. And that’s what I tried to do, and I think that influenced what I’ve done ever since,” he says.

The April 16 events prompted him to get involved in statewide and national organizations, just to talk about the reality of Blacksburg and how to deal with disaster.

“I want to bring Blacksburg’s voice forward and say to the world ‘April 16 is not Blacksburg. Here is what we are.’”

Town and gown Moving on from 2007 and a rocky start, Blacksburg’s goal began to dissolve from rebuilding into growth — highlighted by the connection between the university and the town.

Rordam says that he and President Charles Steger have a cordial relationship, but the rapport between the town and the school is unique, meeting monthly on a variety of issues.

“

We didn’t just want to just catch up — because we were behind — we wanted to leapfrog” Ron Rordam Mayor of Blacksburg

“We each understand our roles and how we can help each other,” Rordam says. “But there are so many ways they work together.”

Rordam is honest, not simply mayoral, when he says that Blacksburg and Tech have the best relationship among any other college town he’s seen.

College Avenue Promenade is a symbol of this connection, in his mind. The fence that had once resided between College Avenue and Henderson Lawn was a “visual barrier” between the town and the school, and their coordinated hard work was able to dissolve that barrier.

The Center for the Arts location in the heart of downtown was another conscious decision between the school and the town to bridge the division — a decision that had been in planning stages for 13 years.

With Steger’s coming departure, Rordam could only say that his replacement should to understand the need for “openness, honesty and transparency.” “(Steger) told me once — and I think it’s what has been his success — so much is about relationships… what I would hope to have with the new president is something that goes deeper… that relationship where you can be open with each other. I had that with President Steger, and I hope to have that with the new president,” he says.

There’s that word again, relationships.

Plans for the future Rordam says that the success of the most recent projects only signifies that it’s time to look toward the next 10 years in Blacksburg — though they’ve been laying the groundwork for economic development since the 1990’s.

“We made a decision that for economic development, we weren’t going to build industrial parks, shell buildings or buy industrial land — that was passé,” he says. “At

FILE 2013 / SPPS

Ron Rordam, the mayor of Blacksburg, addresses a crowd of local business owners and residents at the unveiling of a new mural downtown last April. some point in the future, people will be wherever they want to be because of technology.”

To address this, the town refocused on improving quality of life.

“For those people who rely on technology and can be wherever they want, they’re going to be where it’s the best place to raise a child, where there’s a good college town, where there are the best outdoor amenities… That’s what we focused on, and that was the right decision,” Rordam says. “I think that put us ahead of a lot of people.”

Rordam says that businesses have to come in and out to find their niche. He anticipates the recent approval of the Brownstone development downtown is a representation of the future of what downtown will be, with its vertical mixed use outlay, bringing in a some of those new demographics.

With this continuing development, more focus will be put on the recent opening phase of Gigabit technology being integrated into downtown. While it hasn’t really left its nest at TechPad (a local software co-working space), Rordam is ready for the project to expand — a turnaround from Blacksburg’s wired past.

“We didn’t just want to just catch up — because we were behind — we wanted to leapfrog,” Rordam says.

Moreover, Rordam sees a future in First and Main, despite past criticisms about the project’s slow start in producing growth.

“First and Main… was the perfect storm,” he says wearily. “The developers came in with pretty pictures that they couldn’t live up to. It really was being sold as a vertical mixed-use, and was built as a shopping center — and it was built in a horrible economic downturn (2009). Those two things stunted its growth.”

Rordam aims to bring these ideals of growth to North Main next, an area he calls underutilized as it stands now, along with areas along Prices Fork. But Rordam says that, as anyone who knows him will attest, one of his main goals before his new term ends is to bring a Trader Joe’s to Blacksburg.

“Any developer I talk to, anybody — they get so tired of hearing me say it, but that’s the goal that I have,” he laughs.

Still, Rordam doesn’t think the expansions will negatively impact the traditional look and feel of Blacksburg’s 16 blocks, from the historic Lyric Theater to the post office. He prefers local restaurants when he dines out, but doesn’t discount the importance of “a limited number of chains (that) are important to the mix.”

It’s the Town Council that dictates

“

...but life is part of all those little pieces that mold yout into who you are, and a community is like that” Ron Rordam Mayor of Blacksburg

the course for the ever-changing landscape of downtown. Rordam currently has seniority among the group.

But the council has evolved in the 16 years that have passed since Rordam first gained a seat.

He chuckles as he remembers that when he joined in 1996, he was the youngest member.

“We live in a different age,” Rordam says, describing the council over the years. “We live in a time where more transparency is required, and I think we have the tools in which to provide that. I think that…”

He pauses. For someone who has to consider about the dichotomy between change and tradition every day, it’s hard to put into words. “…the council has always been consistent, as long as I’ve been on it…”

Another pause. “…but how does that fit into the balance?” he questions.

It’s a question that’s been on his mind for 16 years.

Still finding a balance Since his first day on the planning commission until the day he leaves his office, Rordam says he has and will continue to face the same challenge.

“Blacksburg is a popular destination. How do you balance the need and the opportunity for growth and still retain who you are as a community?”

Rordam doesn’t want Blacksburg to lose that personal touch.

“We’re not a small town anymore, we need to acknowledge that. But we need also to never lose that small town feel… that’s what got us through April 16…” Rordam says, lightly pounding his desk with each syllable. “…but life is part of all those little pieces that mold you into who you are, and a community is like that.”

So why does Rordam think he ran unopposed in the last election?

“I’d like to hope, to believe, that I’m accessible. I think people know that whatever they see is what’s going on, and I try to do my best to listen and to keep people together… I’d like to think those are the reasons, and that many of the decisions and ideas that I promote reflect the values of the community.”

Whatever the reason for his unopposed election, Rordam is engrained in Blacksburg and in his role. Though unsure of when he will step down, he plans to stay “as long as there is something to do, that I feel I can be helpful (for) and that still goes in the direction that citizens want…”

He’ll be in Blacksburg for life, he says. He goes to football games, whether invited or buying the tickets himself. He’s committed to his town, a man both open and transparent — the only thing he won’t say is which of the Town Council members he’d be most inclined to get a beer with after work. Not on the record, anyway.

Relationships mean too much to him for that.

@TwitterHandleHere

OPINIONS

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November 21, 2013

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Your Views

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

[letters to the editor]

The Sunday Assembly allows atheists to come together in a safe and accepting environment On Nov. 11, Andrew Wimbish wrote an editorial on the Sunday Assembly, a churchlike gathering of atheists.

He argues that (1) there is some “pillar of atheism” violated by the Sunday Assembly, (2) the assembly is an offensive mockery of Christianity, and (3) there is a slippery slope that this church is in danger of falling down, where authoritarian leaders will soon be selected and atheism will be made into the dangerous religious institution despised by many atheists. Is there some “pillar of atheism” that directs atheists not to congregate? No. Atheism is merely the disbelief in any gods. It doesn’t have directives, creeds, dogmas or doctrines. It doesn’t have membership lists or inquisitions. No one can tell you that you aren’t the right kind of atheist.None of that stops groups of atheists from meeting together and celebrating their own beliefs. There is nothing new about the Sunday Assembly. People have been setting up atheist congregations for at least 300 years.

John Toland’s Pantheisticon, Robespierre’s Temple of Reason, Auguste Comte’s Religion of Humanity, Robert Ingersoll’s Freethought meeting halls, Felix Adler’s Ethical Culture Society, Unitarian Universalist Congregations, Humanistic Judaism and now Sunday Assemblies.

Not to mention the coffee shops and salons of the Enlightenment. Even TED talks could be seen as a kind of secular sermon. There’s nothing new about this. Why is this congregation needed?

I have met atheists who have had feces smeared over their belongings, had urine dumped on them, had their car vandalized, been disowned from their family, beaten by their families, shunned from their community, developed PTSD, been physically or psychologically abused or worse — all because they said four words: “There is no God.” Many atheists need a place to come together and to feel safe. Yet it is often difficult for atheists to meet other atheists. Will the Sunday Assembly become an authoritarian religious sect? Wimbish fears a slippery slope. But there’s no reason to expect atheists to behave that way. Is this meant to be an offensive mockery of Christian worship services?

No. The people involved with the Sunday Assembly realize that there is some important psychological and sociological benefits to churches. They hope they can have those benefits by celebrating their own beliefs with people that they care about. Such a realization and hope can be seen as praise for some aspects of religion.Maybe Wimbish thinks this is mockery because the organizers have co-opted the term “church.”

Actually, the organizers call it a “Sunday Assembly.” It is the media that has labeled it a church.Is there something like this on the Virginia Tech campus? Yes, there is. Freethinkers at Virginia Tech is a friendly home for atheists, agnostics, deists, the questioning, the religiously skeptical or the friendly religious person. Anyone who wants to see what atheists might congregate around is free to join us on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.

DAN LINFORD - graduate student - philosophy

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Collegiate Times Editorial Staff

MCT CAMPUS

Universal education endeavor remains financially unrealistic In

2000 the United Nation community came together to create Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The document contains a list of eight items that the world leaders want to achieve by 2015 to help with further development of the world.

The second item on the list is achieving universal primary education. The U.N. has since implemented many educational programs in an effort to reach their goal. While education is a significant way to further world progress, formal education is neither practical nor beneficial to the developing countries.

A progress chart on the U.N. website shows a current rise in school attendance, but no definite hope of continuity. There are many reasons for the potential regression of participation. Possibly the most significant is the fact that attending school is expensive.

Funding shortage among third world countries is an enormous issue. In order for the U.N. to reach their goal, the funding has to be doubled

or even tripled. Most of these governments do not have a structured public educational system, so sending a child to school is an extra expense that most of the citizens aren’t able to afford.

Even if the student attends a rare government-funded educational institute, the cost of school supplies alone can be a deterrent. Because of the levels of poverty in these places, some school-aged children are burdened with supporting their families financially, so sending them to school can mean increased struggles for the family.

Even if the children do attend school, there are no opportunities for immediate monetary gain, which most of them need to attain basic necessities like food and shelter. Many of us vacationing have probably seen children selling items on the streets. In many cases, peddling chewing gum on the sidewalk guarantees food for entire families in these run-down economies.

Poor attendance rate isn’t the only major issue with formal education. There is a substan-

tial shortage of teachers.

The persons willing to teach are often underqualified and absent themselves. They are overworked and underpaid.

They receive no incentives for the progress and betterment of the student body.

Teachers mostly gear their attention toward the fast learners and ignore the students in need of special attention. Some of the educators, as allowed by cultural norms and laws, are abusive toward their students. This can be a major contributor to low attendance rates, among all other factors.

Most of these schools are of extremely low quality.

Concernusa.org reports that of the children attending schools in developing countries, 130 million will not “learn basic literacy and numeracy skills” due to poor educational levels.

Insufficient research and evidence exist on how to improve educational standards and what programs would help benefit. Providing sufficient supplies has proved to have little effect on the teaching and learning progress of teachers and students in these

struggling countries. There is scarce proof of a connection between education and higher earnings due to low educational quality.

I am a huge supporter of education as a basic human right and even a greater supporter of the efforts being made by the U.N. toward educating the world.

However, this approach may not be the best and most beneficial. Formal education may or may not adequately teach reading, writing and basic mathematic skills in these territories.

These countries need more alternative educational programs. They need programs designed to meet their basic needs as well as skills that will help build a promising future.

They need systems where it is practical for all to attain education without sacrificing a meal or compromising the dire conditions in which they already live.

ZAINAB MOHSINI - regular columnist - junior - communication

Societal norms do not apply to players in NFL locker room culture Y ou’ve most likely heard about the bullying case that has plagued the Miami Dolphins football

team.

In case you haven’t, Dolphins offensive lineman Richie Incognito has been accused of bullying and harassing fellow offensive lineman Jonathan Martin. Martin left the team once the accusations were made public.

Evidence has come out that Incognito used racial epithets around Martin through voicemail and text message, but many in the Dolphins locker room have come out and defended Incognito, saying that this is normal among NFL players and that Martin sent similar messages to Incognito.

Dolphins players have claimed it is Martin who is at fault, saying he should’ve said something before leaving the team. Incognito has since defended himself, claiming he was Martin’s “best friend” and that Martin should’ve come to him about any issues.

Although he regrets using the racially charged terms and using vulgar language, Incognito doesn’t believe he was bullying Martin. And Incognito has a point.

The Collegiate Times is your newspaper.

Share your thoughts with the rest of the Virginia Tech community by writing a letter to the editor.

It’s obvious that such language shouldn’t be used at any time, but that is the nature of the NFL locker room.

The NFL locker room is not your normal workplace setting. Here, 53 young men hit each other in practice almost daily and hit opposing players on game days.

These men are some of the strongest, fastest and meanest people you will meet. They have to be able to psyche themselves up for one game per week and grind through a tough 16 game schedule. That does not include the offseason workouts and practices.

The locker room is a very tight-knit group, and these players often look at each other as extended family.They have to have trust their teammates and feel comfortable around them off the field if they are to trust them on it.

Such a tight and comfortable group of players is sure to joke around with one another and use sarcasm that could be considered odd.

To the public, the sarcasm and jokes these players use comes off as weird, inappropriate and wrong. Yet, put into the context of these men, it’s normal.

They’ve been around this all of their

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lives.

Simply put, these men are brothers.

They don’t see the issue with the words.

The NFL locker room is something that we, as society, will never be able to understand. I am in no way absolving Incognito of using the words he did, but who am I, and who is society for that matter, to tell NFL players how to run their locker room? We’re not there. We don’t grind out offseason workouts and grueling practices with these men.

Society has no basis for telling NFL players how they should act in NFL locker rooms. That is up to the players themselves.

We do not have all the facts in this case, as Martin has yet to speak publicly about the issue. But one thing is quite obvious; Martin wasn’t comfortable with the locker room atmosphere.

Martin, Incognito and the other Dolphins players are all responsible for this situation. After all, it’s their jungle, not ours.

RICKY LaBLUE - regular columnist - sophomore - communication

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4

November 21, 2013

JUST THNK THIS IS WHERE YOUR AD COULD BE GETTING EVERYONE’S ATTENTION AND MAKING YOU LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Creative fun recurs as a theme this year. Align your work with your passions for professional thriving. Partnerships (both at work and home) grow in this light. Your muses especially produce in autumn and again in spring. Express your inspiration, and share or launch next summer. Balance with time for yourself, especially after October. You’re in demand.

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61 Spanish surrealist 62 Big chip maker 63 Not busy 64 WWII British gun 65 "With Reagan" memoirist

music downloads

By Steve Blais

ACROSS 1 Diamond-studded tooth caps, e.g.

6 "High Voltage" band 10 Valence lead-in 14 Smash over the infield, say 15 "The Big Sleep" genre 16 Normandy city 17 Arctic digs 18 Refuse to grant, as access 19 Big hike 20 Standard of comparison 23 Be a buttinsky 24 Corner opening?

for the week of November 19th to 21st

Ode to Viceroy- Mac Demarco No. 1 Party Anthem- Arctic Monkeys Crash Into Me- Dave Matthews Band Blue Velvet- Lana Del Rey I’ve Got Friends- Manchester Orchestra

listen up

25 Saved to watch later 27 Oldies refrain syllable 28 Do one's homework, so to speak 30 Casserole morsel 31 Like some kitchen cabinets 35 Go (for) 36 __ close to schedule 37 'Enry's 'ouse 38 Escape 39 Bad check letters 40 Govt. workers concerned with returns

11/21/13 44 Asian festival 45 Hi-fi spinners: Abbr.

46 Convenient connections 47 Fighting words 49 WWII USN carrier 50 Common college degs.

53 It includes a vest ... and what can be found in each set of circles in the long answers 57 Nile queen, familiarly 58 PTA part: Abbr.

59 Like a five-star hotel 60 Hide from a trapper

DOWN 1 Goodyear flier 2 Crossbred big cat 3 Parquetry design 4 Modernists, informally 5 "I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn't it" speaker 6 Actress MacDowell 7 Either "True Grit" (2010) director 8 "Correct answer!" sound 9 Formal glassware 10 When Juliet drinks the potion 11 13th-century globetrotter 12 One whose workplace is all abuzz 13 Printer's purchase 21 Printer's purchase 22 Add a little color to 26 Calendar entries 27 Cello sect.

28 PowerCat soccer cleats, e.g.

29 In __ of: replacing

31 "Reuben, Reuben" actor Tom 32 Yet to be paid 33 Crab variety 34 Pear choice 38 Mil. installations 40 Wrath, in a classic hymn 41 Checks carefully, as a contract 42 Backup medium 43 Provisional

48 Put pen to paper 49 Early Soviet leader 50 Former Montana copper-mining city 51 Clothing rack array 52 Vogue 54 Hurdle for a jr.

55 Cruise stopover 56 Trig ratio 57 Cost-of-living stat

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

(c)2012 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

11/20/13

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

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WORD BANK 1 Watch 2 Warning 3 Downpour 4 Lightning 5 Sleet 6 Hail 7 Snow 8 Ice 9 Sun 10 Clouds 11 Tornado 12 Hurricane 13 Thunder 14 Storm 15 Flash flood 16 Earthquake

Aries (March 21-April 19) There’s plenty to do at home. A little bit of cleaning and organizing bene its you in the long run. Deliver your message ... tweet or post to your heart’s desire.

Add your own clever touches. You have what’s needed.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Disagreement requires compromise. But wait ... don’t make promises you can’t keep. This one’s tough. You’re in charge. Your partner comes up with a good idea, inancial or otherwise. Work it out.

Communication is the key.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) A group extends an invitation. Clear up confusion before proceeding. Costs may be higher than expected. Get another perspective, possibly from a friend who knows you well. Consider the big picture impact.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Less structure may mean more creative results. Don’t push within the group.

Agree to disagree. You have no trouble getting your message across. Get the invitations sent. Don’t gamble. It’s not time to go, yet.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Do your homework at home or with friends.

Romance may be dif icult, but not impossible, especially if you use the right words. Don’t be intimidated.

Reveal your true feelings. Go with “authentic fool” and take pride.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Temporary confusion or disruption could throw you off your game. Don’t get lost in the day-to-day static. You have bigger and better ish to fry. Offer advice only if asked. Hold out for the best deal.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Your intuition helps with unstable conditions. Finish household chores.

Arrive early to avoid stress. Devise a strong sales pitch. Listen attentively.

Good news arrives from far away. Go ahead and get crazy excited.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Technical dif iculties spur you to identify and surpass a major barrier. Add passion to your work (and to your romance).

Gentle persuasion works better. Get creative in your attire. Your status rises.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) You’re up to big things and can’t do all of them alone. Get the family to help and gain more than you thought possible in areas you weren’t even considering.

Work interferes with travel. Talk about what’s going on.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) A surprise doesn’t necessarily have to be unpleasant. It’s all in how you look at it. You may even discover a treasure that’s hidden at irst. Keep track of the money coming in. Intuition requires veri ication. Study the stats.

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Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Hone your powers of persuasion at work. But beware ... jealousies could erupt. Pay back a debt, quietly. Unexpected news helps you in iguring out how to go farther. Suddenly you achieve results.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) What you edit out is just as important in telling the story as what you leave in. Being non-judgmental makes a difference in your and their life. Your innocence is very charming, too.

LIFESTYLES

he she

lifestyleseditor@collegiatetimes.com

SAID

He said: Praise ThanksKilling

T

hanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday.

Both the large quantities of delicious food, all-day football and one particularly bad movie appeal to me greatly .

What many, including some of my friends, do not know is that I enjoy cooking. While this is just the standard dinner on most nights, during Thanksgiving things get real.

While I’m not the main cook in my family, I still help cook some of the side dishes and desserts, including my signature dish— corn pudding. I’ve been making corn pudding at Thanksgiving since I was about 12.

The football, despite having the detestable Dallas Cowboys and usually lousy Detroit Lions as the Thanksgiving Day mainstay, is still great. There aren’t many weekdays you can spend watching sports all day.

Yes, Thanksgiving is a perfect respite from the bad weather that usually descends on our area by late November and the grind of a nearly finished semester.

However, my favorite part about Thanksgiving is that it gives me an excuse to watch my favorite holiday movie, “ThanksKilling.”

“ThanksKilling” is perhaps the best worst movie ever made, although “Plan 9 from Outer Space” and “Manos: The Hands of Fate” give it a run for its money.

“ThanksKilling” is a 2009 comedy horror movie about a cursed Thanksgiving turkey killing college students during their Thanksgiving break.

The movie hits all the tropes.

It has the typical jock, hot girl, girl next door, meathead and nerd group dynamic. And at its center it has a mystical killer turkey, which as a Hokie

CAREER CORNER

has an added appeal to me.

The film is only 66 minutes long, but it is the best 66 minutes ever put on film.

The kids exhibit the classic brainlessness of horror movie main characters, seemingly intentionally making terrible decisions to the delight of the audience. It is a great send up, intentional or otherwise, of the typical horror fi lm, with laughs galore.

The best part, for those who haven’t seen it or those who want to see it again, is the movie can be seen for free on Hulu. So after the feast and the football, grab a computer and watch it. You won’t regret JAMES O’HARA - web editor - senior - computer science - @nextyeardc

by keyword or do an advanced search to narrow it down by industry or majors an organization is looking for. You can also search to see if an employer will be coming to Tech for on-campus interviewing in the near future.

For on-campus interviewing, employers post what positions they will be interviewing for and when they’ll be doing so. You can submit your resume to be accepted for an interview with that company and are then able to pick which times work best for you.

It is a normal interview, so don’t freak out. This is just an easier way for employers to interview multiple people at one time.

Another resource we recommend students try checking out is the Post-Grad Survey Report located on the main page for Career Services at career.vt.edu.

At the end of every year, Career Services sends out a survey to recent graduates to fill out information about their after-college plans.

The survey is a great tool to use in the job search, because you are able to see which companies Hokies are working for. One professional way to make a connection to a company you are interested in and find out more information about working there is to find a former Hokie who works there.

Hokies love to help Hokies, so please take advantage of that!

Career Services advisors say that networking and making connections is the way 80 percent of students find jobs after they graduate. There are numerous opportunities to network and meet new people by simply talking to who you already know.

If you have had held any other jobs or internships in a field you are interested in, make sure to contact that company and the person you worked for to find out if

YMCA: Locals and students volunteer in the Hale garden “It’s been a growing process. The first year we did it, we had our friends. People I know who would be possibly willing,” Springer said.

Now, Springer said, Neighborhood Harvest has been overwhelming the Interfaith Food Pantry with an abundance of apples.

Neighborhood Harvest is not the only YMCA program that donates fresh produce to charity.

Lynn Brammer, a member of the Virginia Tech Master Gardener Program, has created “Share the Spare.”

She sets up a table at the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market and offers to donate any extra food bought from the market or picked from a garden to the Interfaith Food Pantry and Plenty. She also signs up fruit tree owners for Neighborhood Harvest at the market.

“If the hours (the food pantry is) open doesn’t work for you, you can give (your food) to Lynn,” said Jenny Schwanke, the YMCA’s

W

ith exactly a week until Thanksgiving Day, I have decided to use this column in true Thanksgiving fashion: as a place to give thanks for the Thanksgiving-related things I am appreciative of in 2013.

“Thanksgivukkah” For the first time in recent memory, the first night of Chanukah is slated to fall on the same day as Thanksgiving. Th is occurrence is the first of its type in more than a hundred years, and while it may not affect everyone, it will change the face of my family’s holiday to some degree.

While you and yours celebrate family, fun and friendship with turkey, stuffing and green beans, the Buynaks will be digging into a potato latke stuffed bird (or in my case, a thawed and seasoned log of Tofurkey) and homemade mac and cheese made with Star of David-shaped noodles.

The convergence of these two holidays is a welcome deviation from our regular Thanksgiving routine. Plus, presents — another thing to

be thankful for.

Dog Shows Now I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but I am not the biggest fan of the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

While it’s fun to imagine a world where huge cartoon characters fly crowded streets and Elmo rubs elbows with Richard Simmons (yes, he is included in the lineup for this year — God love him), I much prefer the ritual that comes after.

The dog shows.

While none of the furry canines on the screen can possibly compare to my own dog, I still feel the need to champion the standard poodle, the boxer and the doberman over all other breeds.

And while the show leads to an unreasonable amount of competitiveness and devotion to other people’s pets, for me it is the existential crux of Thanksgiving. Because dogs have everything to do with Pilgrims, corn, religious freedom and the American Dream or something.

Pumpkin Pie Enough said.

Not being sick

If you are a part of my close family, you will remember last year’s Thanksgiving fondly, as long as you omit the part about me giving a little too much thanks for a cinnamon flavored something or other.

Add that to a bellyfull of Thanksgiving smorgasbord, and I also quickly became thankful for my youngest sister, who didn’t mind, as they say, holding my hair.

This year I am thankful for the knowledge that I should take it a little slower, and make sure to enjoy the time spent with those I love.

With the last day of class before Thanksgiving break upon us, I am more than excited to go home and spend time with my family and dogs, happy for the break in classes and ready to embrace all that Thanksgiving 2013 has to offer.

DANIELLE BUYNAK - managing editor - senior - English

Career Services offers job search websites and surveys to network graduating Hokies with alumni.

I’m sure everyone has heard all the tips on how to find a job. But are you still feeling like a lost puppy when it comes to actually searching?

Well, no fear, here are some tips to help make your way through the job search jungle.

Job searching is a long, tedious process that takes time and patience. It is rare you will find the exact position you want to apply for on the first website you visit.

It is important to search different websites to find a variety of positions, because not all openings at a company will be on just one website.

You can find search websites related to the specific field in which you are looking, but there are also ones, such as Monster.com, CareerShift and even using Google, that can provide you with a lot more options.

However, there is one website that gives you a variety of options in one place that is aimed toward Virginia Tech students specifically, which makes it Career Services’ preferred choice.

Hokies4Hire is Career Services’ favorite, and not just because it’s the organization’s own job search website. On Hokies4Hire, you are able to find companies that use the website to find Hokie employees and also look for jobs in your field.

Every Tech student already has an account set up, you just need to use it. To log in for the first time, use your Tech email, while your password is the last four digits of your student ID number.

Once you log in, you will be able to change the password, upload your resume and search for employers that are looking to hire Hokie students and graduates.

Employers are already on the website looking for you, so why aren’t you on there?

If you decide to look for specific jobs, you can search

from page one

5 She said: Give unusual thanks November 21, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

garden coordinator. “She’s offered to even stop by (the Hale-YMCA Community Garden) and pick (the food) right out of a cooler.”

Even more food is donated to local charities through the Hale-YMCA Community Garden. Anyone can rent out and plant crops and flowers in their plots.

Some of the gardeners used to live in a different country, such as Nepal, Romania or Thailand, Schwanke said.

The garden volunteers have even planted crops she isn’t familiar with, such as dent corn, sorghum and bitter melons.

There is a strong sense of community in the garden.

Along with their own gardening, gardeners also do other tasks, such as weeding the fruit trees in the garden.

Many of the gardeners even learn from and help each other out.

“One woman’s knees were bad, so she had problems gardening, but the other woman was as fit as a fiddle, could do the work, but didn’t know how,” Schwanke said. “They

teamed up to learn how to do it.”

Community members are not the only volunteers at the garden. Many Virginia Tech students dedicate time there as well.

Groups from the Corps of Cadets volunteer at least once a month.

Civic Agriculture and Food Systems minors have made compost bins and kiosks for the garden, and the Rotary Club built a timberframe, a wooden structure that shields the garden’s seating area from rain and provides shade from the sun, with the help of the Blue Ridge Timberwrights.

Whether it is through picking apples with Brenda Springer, donating food to Lynn Brammer’s efforts or growing and harvesting produce in the Hale garden, the YMCA offers a variety of opportunities to make a difference in the community by feeding the hungry.

@MichelleKStark

they have any open positions.

A lot of companies like to hire individuals who know how their offices work, so use this to your advantage.

If you are talking to one person about a company and they suggest you contact someone else, make sure to get that person’s full name, email address and phone number.

You can also add that individual on LinkedIn and explain how you know them and whom you received their information from.

I will go into more detail about LinkedIn in a future Corner.

There are so many resources you can use to find jobs or internships that it can become overwhelming. But if you take it one step at a time, it becomes a much easier process.

To wrap up all this up, searching for job is not as easy as typing in some words to Google then finding the right job in the first link that pops up. It is a time-consuming process that requires organization and commitment, but don’t be afraid to apply to a lot of different jobs.

Just make sure in your cover letter and resume to use words that are found in the job description.

That will help you stand out and also show the company that you researched thoroughly.

So, over our long Thanksgiving break, give the old job search thing a try and see what happens. You could end up finding your dream job.

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

health. ealtth. eemployment. mpl crime. music. sports. art. dorms. education. duc cation. housing. government. world politics. sales. travel. raveel. traffic. tr construction. business. relationships. entertainment. ntertainmen virginia tech. ut prosim. construction.

We share your concerns Check us out in the paper or online at collegiatetimes.com

6

sportseditor@collegiatetimes.com

November 21, 2013

collegiatetimes.com

SPORTS

Men’s basketball prepares Women’s soccer readies to for New York tournament clash with Mountaineers JAMES MITCHELL sports staff writer

The men’s basketball team started off the season with an embarrassing loss to USC Upstate, but three straight wins have the Hokies feeling confident before their greatest challenge of the year.

After an impressive comefrom-behind victory over West Virginia, the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team continued their success, beating both Western Carolina and Virginia Military Institute last week.

The Hokies won both games by considerable margins, jumping out to 20-plus point leads versus both opponents. Leading the way for Tech was senior forward Jarrell Eddie, who led all scorers with 17 points versus WCU and 21 points against VMI. Now, with a record of 3-1, the Hokies will travel to Madison Square Garden on Friday for the championship rounds of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, which benefits the American Cancer Society.

There, they will collide with the number one team in the country, the Michigan State Spartans (4-0).

“Th is will be a test for us to see where our young team is, playing on the road,” said head coach James Johnson. “It’s a neutral floor, but it’s basically a road game for us. Coaches vs. Cancer is a great cause, and it’s a great competition, and we face the number one team in the country.”

Th is will prove to be a tough test for the Hokies, as the Spartans defeated

the then-No.1 Kentucky Wildcats 78-74 in their second game of the season. But the Hokies are ready for the challenge that lies ahead.

“I wouldn’t say there are any butterfl ies, but I know it’ll be a great game. (MSU) is a great team with a great coach,” said junior forward C.J. Barksdale. “We have to just go out there ready to play and focused. I feel like if we play hard we have a chance to beat them. Any team can be beaten. We just have to be ready to play and pay attention to the scouting report and play as hard as we can.”

Facing Michigan State presents its challenges, as head coach Tom Izzo is considered by many to be the top coach in college basketball along with Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Spartans also boast the 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year on their roster in sophomore guard Gary Harris, who decided not to enter last year’s NBA draft.

But despite the Spartans’ advantages, the Hokies welcome the challenge and are focused on preparation.

Looking into the future, ACC powerhouses Duke and North Carolina have reloaded with impressive recruiting classes, and Tech is prepared to face the stiff competition.

“We’re probably going to have the opportunity to play multiple number ones throughout the season,” Johnson said. “Obviously they (MSU) have a great program and he’s a great coach. They have great players. We’re going to go up there, and we’re going to prepare well.”

So far this season, veterans like Eddie and senior forward Cadarian Raines have tried to be the anchors for the Hokies. But Johnson has brought in a freshman class that’s been more than impressive as of late.

Young starters like freshman Devin Wilson and redshirt sophomore Adam Smith and freshman backups Ben Emelogu and Trevor Thompson have accounted for over 50 percent of Tech’s points this season. The young Hokies will factor heavily into the team’s success as the season continues.

If the Hokies are victorious against the Spartans, they will play the winner of the game between Oklahoma and Seton Hall.

A consolation game will be held for the losing teams.

Oklahoma comes off an impressive 20-12 record from last season whose highlight was a victory over then fifth ranked Kansas. The Sooners made the NCAA Tournament but were upset in the fi rst round by San Diego State.

Meanwhile, Seton Hall looks to improve on their 15-18 record from last year, when they only won three Big East conference games.

No matter the outcome, the games will serve as a learning experience and a measuring stick to see where this young team stands.

The Coaches vs. Cancer Classic will be televised on TruTv with double headers on both Friday and Saturday, starting at 7 p.m.

@J_Mitchell_62

BRITTANY KEUP sports staff writer

After defeating the University of Maryland Baltimore County 2-0 last Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament, the Virginia Tech women’s soccer team will host West Virginia University this coming Friday at 6 p.m. at Thompson Field.

“I think it is going to be a huge match,” said head coach Chugger Adair. “I think they’re a very good side, they’re ranked high and they’ve been getting results.”

This will be the first time in the program’s history that the Hokies have ever hosted the second and third round matches in the NCAA tournament.

“This is great for the community of Blacksburg and great for our girls to be at home and be in their own beds,” Adair said. “I also think that it is a great respect for the conference because the ACC has four number one seeds and one of those is us, and I think that it’s a huge confidence builder for our team.”

Tech enters the match coming off of a strong performance against UMBC. Junior Shannon Mayrose scored in the 40th minute and senior Ashley Manning scored to secure the game in the 61st minute.

“I think we know how it feels to lose in the first round and how it felt last year knowing that we had the potential to go farther,” Mayrose said. “So I think we had that in the back of our minds and we kind of had a chip on our shoulder going into this.”

ZACK WAJSGRAS / SPPS

Senior forward Shannon Mayrose (4) boxes out a UMBC defender to control a pass during their game against UMBC last week.

WVU defeated Rutgers University in penalty kicks Saturday evening to advance to the second round and meet the Hokies in Blacksburg.

“They’re Big 12 champs for a reason,” Adair said. “They have gotten used to winning games and putting themselves into situations to win.”

The Hokies last faced WVU two seasons ago in the NCAA Tournament when the Hokies took the win, 1-0, in Morgantown, W.Va. “We can definitely beat them,” Adair said. “It is going to be a difficult game and I think it could go either way, but I definitely think that we are capable of beating them. Just like in 2011, I think that we were able to take care of business which surprised them a little bit.”

The two teams have only played each other four times, WVU having a leg up on the Hokies 3-1. Before their NCAA

scuffle in 2011, the last time the two teams played was in 2002, when the Hokies lost 2-0.

“I think that they are going to be extremely motivated on Friday,” Adair said.

With such an important game, Tech looks to take another win from the Mountaineers in the NCAA tournament and take on either Santa Clara University or Boston University on Sunday, Nov. 24.

“They’re both very good teams to get to this point in the tournament,” Adair said.

“Santa Clara is very good and dangerous up front. Boston University is traditionally a team that is very difficult to break down and very well organized. But right now I am just going to worry about West Virginia.”

@CTSportsTalk