Thursday, December 5, 2013 Print Edition

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DEPARTMENT S N O I S S U DISC

This week, opinions writers take sides and discuss the pros and cons of their majors. page 3

Thursday, December 5, 2013 An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATETIMES 110th year, issue 61 News, page 2

Lifestyles, page 6

Opinions, page 3

The Story of Florian: A future robo-rescuer BY MATT MINOR | news staff writer

Sports, page 5

Study Break, page 4

Dr. Tomalei Vess unexpectedly loses position Vess’ position as Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research was recently dissolved, causing student outcry. ERICA CORDER news staff writer

COURTESY OF TEAM VIGIR

Developed in Boston, Florian is a semi-autonomous robot that is currently being programmed by TORC Robotics in Blacksburg.

M

eet Florian, the 6”2, 330 pound robot from Boston who could one day end up saving your life (and even drive you to the hospital). Although he’s a bit rusty right now, by the end of the month his handlers at the Blacksburg, Va. based TORC Robotics will have programmed him to perform advanced actions like opening doors, climbing ladders and

even driving a utility vehicle – all without physical assistance. Florian, who’s named after St. Florian — the patron saint of firefighters and rescuers — is one of seven Atlas-model humanoid robots built by the robotic hardware specialists of Boston Dynamics, which were awarded to participants who excelled in the first round of the “DARPA Robotics Challenge.”

DARPA, or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is a division of the U.S. Department of Defense and is offering a $2 million reward to the overall winner of the challenge. TORC Robotics is an unmanned systems and robotics company founded by engineers in 2005. In 2007, TORC teamed up with Virginia Tech to participate in the “DARPA Urban Challenge,” which required each of the 89 registered teams to build a self-directed vehicle

Blacksburg Transit asks for community feedback ZACK WAJSGRAS news staff writer

The Blacksburg Transit is making a new effort to obtain the public’s opinion about what needs to be done about the current transportation system around town. The company has developed surveys intended to help citizens voice their concerns and ideas based on their use of the transit system. “(The survey) is essentially a route analysis where we are seeking input from the public for future planning,” said Fiona Rhodes, a marketing specialist for Blacksburg Transit. Blacksburg Transit is working with a consulting agency called Foursquare ITP to run the analysis and gain an understanding of how to better develop routes in the future.

NEWS A bike was stolen, among other crimes. see page 2 Elementary school kids are contributing to a new gallery in the Center for the Arts. see page 2

The surveys allow users to indicate what new stops they would like to see in the future, what times would be more convenient for buses to travel through certain areas and how frequently the buses should run compared to how they run now. The company is sending out messages on campus and letting local media outlets broadcast the opportunity to take the surveys. “We want input from everybody — not just students, but all people who use the bus system,” Rhodes said. The surveys also include questions about what method would be most effective for providing bus schedules. The company’s ultimate goal is to create a multi-model transportation facility on campus. This would serve as a hub for services like taxis and buses, although the plan

more info To get to the survey, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BTSurvey1 Participants will be entered into a raffle to win one of three $25 gift cards. is still tentative. As an added incentive for citizens to take the surveys, all participants will be entered into a raffle for the chance to win one of three $25 gift cards. “The goal of the survey is to really get an idea of what our customers really need from our transportation system,” Rhodes said.

@ZackWajsCT

LIFESTYLES

he she

SAID

see page 6

see FLORIAN / page two

At 9 a.m. on Nov. 19, Dr. Tomalei Vess walked into work at the Office of Undergraduate Research to find that her position as director ceased to exist, effective immediately. The decision was made by the Office of the Provost, which cited sections of the VT Faculty Handbook as justification for her dismissal. The sections, 2.11.3 and 7.6.1, discuss non-reapportionment, asserting that firing “of faculty members on temporary or restricted appointments for which there is no indicated opportunity for reappointment” may be done based on “factors beyond unsatisfactory service,” — but the factors need not be specified. Both the immediate dismissal of Vess and the dissolution of her position as director of undergraduate research drove Vess’ significant other and assistant professor of biological sciences, Dr. Bryan Brown, to send an email with claims criticizing those who were involved in the decision. Specifically, it criticized Vess’ immediate supervisor, Dr. Jill Sible, and Sible’s super-

VESS

BROWN

visor, Dr. Rachel Holloway. The email was sent to undergraduate research students in Brown’s department. To the question of why Vess was dismissed, Brown asserted in the email that “the simple answer is politics.” Brown clarified further, charging Holloway and Sible with setting personal agendas that failed to sufficiently serve undergraduate researchers. Because the email included contact information for Holloway and Sible — encouraging students to contact them — news of the circulated message reached the Office of the Provost, as concerned parties ventured to ask for answers about Vess’ dismissal. Holloway was unable to be reached for comment, but according to Sible, the outcry was the result of “a lot of misinformation.” see VESS / page two

Student success advisors offer exam survival tips MICHELLE STARK lifestyles staff writer

Most undergraduate students are getting more anxious and stressed as exam week inches closer, but the Student Success Center has numerous tips and strategies to help tackle the upcoming final exams. While studying in advance is best, many students find themselves in a situation where they need to cram. Nick Hyer, an assistant director for the center, said that cramming should be a last resort since the information is not fully retained and it creates test anxiety. “Cramming is not learning. Cramming is getting as much information in your head and brain dumping it onto your paper before it all goes away,” Hyer said. Jessica Grimes, the direc-

tor of the center, said students need to prioritize which information deserves their time and energy. Making to-do lists and prioritizing are essential and, according to Hyer, the more specific students can be about what they want to do, the more productive they’ll be. “Make sure that you have some kind of time management tool, whether that is a hard copy like a planner or something electronic, whether it’s an app, have something where you can put everything that you need to do,” Hyer said. The material chosen should then be studied in chunks, possibly with a time limit for each study session. This should be done in advance. Grimes advises studying an hour and a half or two hours for four to five days to reduce procrastination and increase

SPORTS See what five things our senior columnists learned through their undergraduate years.

see TEST / page six

ONLINE Find out the possible destinations for the Hokies’ bowl game.

see page 5

overall retention of the material. Studying for multiple subjects may also help. “A lot of students don’t want to do that, because they feel like they might get the material confused, but really it’s helpful when you’re studying material concurrently, especially if the subjects are different,” Grimes said. “It’s a way of breaking things up and actually keeping you engaged.” Hyer also suggests students turn off their phone and their Wi-Fi when it isn’t needed to avoid distractions also. And, of course, location can be the make or break factor of any studying process. “Students have to figure out the best place to study for themselves,” Grimes said. “Some students need a little background noise, so they

The wrestling team tries to bounce back from a loss to Virginia.

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