April 28, 2015 by The Collegiate Times

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111th YEAR, ISSUE 109

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

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RECESS TOUR TAKES TECH BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Nepali disaster relief planned

ALISON CUEVAS news reporter

JOY NYSTROM news staff writer

After receiving a call at 4:00 a.m. and hearing the news about the earthquake in Nepal on Saturday, April 25, advisor of the Nepali Student Association (NSA) and Pamplin professor of management Devi Gnyawali patiently waited to hear from his family in Nepal. “There was no way of knowing what was happening,” Devi said. “Phone calls were made to friends and family, but it was impossible to contact anyone.” The 7. 8 -m a g n it u d e earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday, leaving some villages completely leveled, triggering an avalanche on Mt. Everest and killing 3,800 people. Most of the destruction was to castles, buildings and structures, such as the iconic Dharahara Tower in Kathmandu, that were hundreds of years old. Devi had damage to his property in Nepal but was relieved to find out his close friends and family were okay. “I went to the top of the (Dharahara) tower over winter break,” said Amir Gnyawali, a sophomore in mechanical engineering and NSA vice president. “Now it is completely collapsed.” Although the earthquake was thousands of miles away, the emotional impact was felt by the Nepali community of Blacksburg. NSA is a student organization comprised of Nepali students who come together in order to celebrate and promote their cultures and traditions in the Blacksburg community. Most students in the organization have direct ties to Nepal, see EARTHQUAKE / page 3

LIVI DEL VALLE / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Students participate in the Shack-a-thon event for Habitat for Humanity.

Shack-a-thon fundraiser held outside of Squires DEREK LITVAK news staff writer

Country music in the air, cornhole, fraternities, sororities, cadets doing pull-ups -- all these elements characterize the second annual Shack-a-thon, a Habitat for Humanity fundraiser being conducted outside Squires this week. Shack-a-t hon is a five-day event where organizations come together in front of Squires Student Center and build a shack. Each organization must have at least two members living in the shack all day and night until the event is done. Except for some baseline requirements and building criteria, each organization has free reign over the design and building process. All of this is in an effort to raise money for Habitat for Humanity. “We’ve been fundraising for over two months now,” said a senior construction engineering and management major Sam Savoia. This is the first year Savoia and his fraternity, Theta Xi, have participated in Shack-a-thon. The fraternity raised over $1500 for Habitat prior to

even setting up their shack for the week. With the number of participating organizations doubling this year, Savoia commented that he hoped that they would be able to surpass the goal of $15,000.

“

It really provides a good opportunity for you to meet other people and have the whole community engage in an effort to help you out.” Sebastian Wilford

freshman biochemistry major Sophomore political science major Joe Melton said he liked how raising money for Habitat through Shack-a-thon a llowed Young Americans for Liberty, of which he is a member, to combine their message with philanthropy. “As far as charities go, Habitat for Humanity definitely meshes with what we believe in a lot, because it’s not just a hand out,” Melton

said. “It’s actually helping people get on their feet.” “I also love this event because we can work with so many other groups at Virginia Tech,” added freshman biochemistry major Sebastian Wilford. “It really provides a good opportunity for you to meet other people and have the whole community engage in an effort to help out.” Going further, Melton went on to say that Habitat was a fantastic organization. “It’s a very interactive charity, where they really help people out and stay with them for the majority of the time that they need help,” Melton said. This is Virginia Tech Habitat for Humanity’s largest fundraising event of the year -- but it is also a competition of sports between each participating organization. Each shack and organization gets a number of points based on factors ranging from crowd appeal to money raised to the quality of the design. Sh a ck- a - t h o n will continue until Friday of this week. @CollegiateTimes

“Not gonna lie, this is the first time we ever played in Virginia and you guys are nuts,” Chainsmokers DJ Alex Pall said. St udents donned light up LED gloves and played with neon hula hoops as they listened to hits like “Kanye” and “Selfie.” They yelled with excitement as artists and producers Drew Taggart and Pall took their places on stage. The room lit up under the glare of massive strobe lights and the crowd began to pump to the popular dance music. The Virginia Tech Union brought RECESS to the university and promoted the event via social media to get the most crowd interest. “I found out about it through the Facebook event that VTU created,” Valeria Davila, sophomore HNFE major, said. The concert capped off RECESS, a one-day music and ideas festival that brings students to a fun environment to discuss opportunities in the business world. The

concert brought attention to the festival, which consisted of four parts. The festival began with an opportunity to network on the Drillfield with representatives from startups like Moguls Mobile. The startup creates mobile accessory products that is led by Shark Tank star and investor Daymond John. Hokies also had the oppor tunity to play Mario Kart against the creators of the hit “Selfie.” Students interested in playing in the competition met on the Drillfield at 1:30 p.m. as people danced by the RECESS tent while loud EDM music played. “I went to the event on the Drillfield but couldn’t wait in line for long so I didn’t get to meet the Chainsmokers,” junior computer engineering major Ehsaan Pakmehr said. T he second pa r t of the festival was a panel discussion held in Haymarket Theatre at 6 p.m. The portion of the festival was called “Study Hall” and featured panelists such as Andrew Maguire, the founder and see CONCERT / page 3

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Kyle opens for The Chainsmokers during the RECESS Tour, surﬁng in the crowd on April 27, 2015.

Running backs show potential in Tech’s spring game RICKY LABLUE editor in chief

ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Trey Edmunds (14) breaks tackle attempts from Desmond Frye (26) and Andrew Motuapuaka (54) on his way to the end zone for a score, April 25, 2015.

Virginia Tech’s backfield took a beating last season. Trey Edmunds returned from a broken leg and later broke his clavicle. Marshawn Williams and Shai McKenzie both tore ACLs, and Sam Rogers fractured an elbow. The Hokies ended last year with just J.C. Coleman and Joel Caleb healthy in the backfield. “After what we went through last year, I really learned that those twos, threes and fours are really really important,” offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler said after the final spring

‘SMOOTH ENERGY’

OFFENSIVE LINE

Students bike to make sustainable smoothies.

Read about the offensive line’s development this spring.

page 5

page 6

scrimmage. Things are completely different now as the Hokies have finished their spring practices. The running back core is d e ep, t a lent e d a nd healthy. At Saturday’s Spring Game, the running backs combined for 92 yards rushing. Trey Edmunds ran for 21 yards on three carries, while Coleman ran for 25 yards on five carries. Those two got most of the carries on Saturday. Even though Edmunds and Coleman got a big portion of the carries, the backfield will be loaded come August. Along with Edmunds

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and Coleman, Williams should be ready too barring any setbacks. McKenzie could also find himself in the mix if his legal issues are resolved. Travon McMillian and D.J. Reid are already in Blacksburg, and Deshawn McClease will join the team in the fall. “All of the guys are definitely top-notch guys and top-caliber guys,” Edmunds said. “We all go out every day and compete, and it’s a fun competition between us and we just have fun.” Edmunds’ career at Tech kicked off in 2013. He took see FOOTBALL / page 6

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TOTS calls out delinquent Hokies on social media

the spring semester winds down and students prepare to leave Blacksburg for the summer, Top of the Stairs (TOTS) has decided that enough is enough and that it is time for people to retrieve their licenses, Hokie Passports and cards and close their tabs. On April 21, 2015, TOTS updated its Twitter, saying, “Also there are about 70 people who have not CLOSED OUT THEIR TABS dating back MONTHS. So think hard and come check with us!!!” That same day they posted another tweet, this time sharing “Full list(s) of people who still have tabs. Come get your cards please or tell us to destroy them for you!!!” and linking a picture of the list. They also tweeted a list of people who left their driver’s licenses, but these posts have since been removed. There is some debate over whether this is a friendly gesture meant to reunite people with their cards or an underhanded way to publicly shame people with open tabs. Black Sheep VT thanked TOTS, saying “we appreciate you helping out all the college students who have lost their cards (and their dignity) at your establishment.” Courtney M. wrote, “Tweeting out

who has tabs open is both hilarious and genius.” David Covucci, a writer for the BroBible, believes TOTS is trying to shame people into closing their accounts by tweeting their names. Because the tweets identifying the people missing their passports, licenses and debit/credit cards have been removed, it seems that others agree with this sentiment and do not support the bar’s decision to publish this information. The fact that so many people are leaving behind their identification and not returning to retrieve them seems suspicious and suggests that they may be fake. This possibility raises an entirely new issue. Is TOTS doing its proper diligence in identifying fake IDs? However, if underage students were allowed into the bar, this could reflect poorly on the establishment and should be addressed. Of course, this is all pure speculation — there may really be people out there who forgot their licenses and just never bothered looking. It’s probably best for people irresponsible enough to lose their licenses to stay off the road, anyway. One of the managers of TOTS, AJ Johnson, says that typically when people lose their IDs, they will return

to the bar and ask to have it returned. When this happens, they check the photo on the card and ask for a second form of identification to confirm they are returning it to the right person. They d iscou r age u nd er age drinking by checking ID at the door, looking first at the picture, then age and expiration date, as well as the quality and state of the card. As he was not on duty at the time of the Twitter updates, he had nothing to say about that matter. Regardless of whether or not it is appropriate for bars to post people’s names, whether it be to shame them into paying their tabs or simply to get their lost items back to them, it says something about the customers that TOTS even felt the need to do so. Hokies, try to drink responsibly and not lose your identification and credit or debit cards. If you don’t leave running tabs, you don’t have to worry about getting your card back later/remembering where exactly you left it. This, in turn, prevents questionable tweets letting the world and future employers know where you spent your weekend (four months ago).

RACHEL TIMMONS • regular columnist • sophomore/political science

your views [letter to the editor]

European immigration models need revision

modern America, we are used to the discourse over immigration and policy regarding it. For the past century and a half, we have been the nation that others view as a beacon to flock to. The immigrants that travel here come from all over the world, and yet we hear so much about those from Latin America. Why do these Latin American immigrants take the spotlight? Throughout much of the country, this group is viewed as “the illegals.” It is important though to note that, according to a Pew Research Study, less than 4 percent of our population is made up of this group. Over the course of the current administration, attempts have been made to assimilate these immigrants in order to include them in the work force — thereby making their salaries taxable. Immigration to Europe from all over the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa has been in the news recently, is very similar to the situation we face here. Millions of undocumented workers are making the expensive and dangerous trek to a new country to create better opportunities for themselves and their children, and yet are faced with obstacles they could not have imagined. In Europe, surprisingly, these obstacles seem to be much greater. With the rise of ISIS, the Syrian Civil War and political oppression in many African nations, millions of migrants flee to Europe only to face societal racism, extreme Islamophobia and in some cases, institutional oppression. It cannot be said, of course, that migrants from Latin America do not face hardships and racism; but it can be assured that our government will never place a ban on their religious wear or target them as a group in any other way. Immigrants flock from south to north because the north holds much more economic opportunity, and these immigrants should be welcomed, granted citizenship and utilized in the workforce. Aside from the ideological wrong committed by this institutional racism of certain European nations, it is financially draining to not grant citizenship to immigrants who have risked their lives to join their workforce. In many EU countries, the “Nordic Model” of economics has taken hold. This model mirrors many ideals of Socialism, including heavy welfare, public

education and public health systems. Citizens of these countries are taxed heavily, and in return they receive many benefits not available to us here in the United States. When workers arrive in Europe undocumented, they are the recipients of these benefits without paying into them. It is an unsustainable model under these conditions, and granting citizenship to the migrants in question will alleviate the financial stress. Currently, the number of immigrants in Europe is growing rapidly, and will likely continue to do so. To help solve this, one must look at the reasons why immigration across the Mediterranean is so prevalent. In an article originally reported by CNN, an Eritrean woman stated that the “push factor (from Eretria) is much greater than the pull of Europe.” Sentiments like these are common among those who make the journey, and should give a signal to European nations that if they wish to curb immigration at all, they must start with the development of the areas from which migrants come — thereby eliminating push factors. Starting with granting citizenship to those already in Europe through EU legislation (similar to the United States’ Amnesty Act), the EU can then begin to stabilize and develop the home nations of its thousands of immigrants. Though we may view the American system of dealing with illegal immigration as inefficient and porous, it should be used as a model for Europe. The current system of constant deportation, societal shunning and institutional racism in Europe is one thing that we as Americans can definitively say, “we do it better.” In the past year, there has been a 3,000 percent increase in deaths of illegal immigrants on the Mediterranean crossing and already over 2,000 have died in 2015 alone. The business of trafficking migrants locked in the holds of cargo ships has boomed, and the unregulated, dangerous practice is growing in popularity. With the death toll rising and news outlets reporting heavily on the subject, perhaps European governments will finally address this key human rights issue of the modern era.

ANDY FREEMAN • regular columnist • junior/political science

MCT CAMPUS

column

Time to tackle homelessness in America

t’s not outlandish or incorrect to argue that most Americans are out of touch with the extensive suffering that goes around all over the world. We are fortunate enough to live in a country where majority of the population can go to bed at night in their own homes without suffering from extreme poverty that so many millions of people around the globe do. Although it may not be widespread and extremely prevalent across our nation to some: poverty and homelessness are still issues in the U.S. and it is a problem that must be addressed by our government. According to a 2012 report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, as many as 633,0 0 0 Americans are homeless on any given night. That figure is larger than the city limits population of Baltimore, Maryland. Sadly, homelessness is too often entirely mishandled and misinterpreted as a societal problem by citizens and governments alike. There is a sentiment that homeless people were put in their situation “by their own apathy or laziness,” and that “if they wanted a job they could get one.” Both of these statements blatantly and completely ignore the deep systemic complexities of impoverishment and homelessness, and simultaneously do not provide any concrete solutions to the problem itself. Politicians are too often forced to decide how to allocate funds to care for those who are homeless. Furthermore, government shelters a nd welfa re programs are not enough to abate the problem of homelessness. In addition, the added cost of remedying homelessness to the Congressional budget u n for t u nat ely pushes the people most in need of assistance to the end of the priority list for government officials. Furthermore the instability of not having a p er m a nent r esid enc e makes it nearly impossible for homeless individuals to get hired by a potential

employer in the first place. The cyclical nature of the problem at hand makes it exponentially more difficult to escape by not providing the homeless a way to remedy their situation. In the state of Utah: a traditionally a conservat ive ba st ion, ha s launched a bold and progressive program. This program may gain ground and become the new policy used nationwide based on the incredible success it’s had thus far. Instead of funding shelter, healthca re, assistance and the multitude of other typical programs used by states to combat homelessness, Utah has jumped right to the source of the problem and provided permanent housing.

“

“Americans are out of touch with the extensive suffering that goes on all over the world.” Nicholas Work regular columnist

Starting back in 2005, Utah embarked on a campaign called “Housing First”, deigned to eradicate homelessness within 10 years time. To do so, the state decided to stop paying for programs that were yielding little results and establish permanent apa r tment centers in which homeless people could live. The theor y behind the program was that providing the stability and security of a permanent living space for these people will serve as a platform for them to transition into society with a good job and become a productive and contributive citizen in their new hometown. However, the housing is not contingent on the individual ending subst a nc e abuse or receiving treatment for mental illnesses – two problems that are rampant amongst homeless populations. The campaign, which

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NICHOLAS WORK • regular columnist • freshman/political science

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was radically progressive compa red to other homeless treatment plans, was reluctantly received by legislatures at first; however, t he results speak for themselves. Since 2005, the number of people who are chronically homeless, or have been homeless for over a year, dropped from nearly 2,000 to 500. It is projected that by the end of 2015, Utah could become the first state in the country to eradicate chronic homelessness enti rely. By almost any account, this is a better approach than the alternative methods. F u r t h e r m o r e, the housing first approach is more cost–efficient than t raditiona l prog ra ms. According to a report in The New Yorker, the average cost of social programs for every chronically homeless person in Utah pre-2005 was $20,000. The Housing first program costs the state just $8,000, and that includes the salary of a social worker that helps each formerly homeless citizen. The housing is not entirely free either. On top of the money the government saves, residents will pay either $50 rent or 30 percent of their income per month in rent. The effectiveness of this program in both accomplishing the goal it was designed to achieve and its relative cost efficiency is truly remarkable. Even more so, the fact that a traditionally republican state embraced and succeeded with such a program is proof that the housing first model should be evaluated as a potential answer to the homelessness question nationwide. Not only does it definitively work to combat the issue, it literally saves the government money in doing so. With other states contemplating the adoption of similar initiatives, perhaps we are at the forefront of dramatic social change and the end of homelessness in America.

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Cadets learn leadership and cultural awareness LIBBY HOWE news staff writer

This weekend, the Virginia Tech Army ROTC Battalion complete d L eadersh ip Development Exercise (LDX) to test the skills the cadets have learned throughout the semester through real-life simulations applicable to their future careers. This semester’s exercises focused on developing leadership in the MS 3’s, or junior cadets, specifically because they will spend the upcoming summer completing the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC). Lucas Forand, a senior geography major and one of the cadets overseeing LDX, explained how the exercises aim to equip MS 3’s with the skills necessary to be successful at CLC over the summer. “A lot of training we’ll be doing will be platoon level training that will hopefully put the MS 3’s in different environments where they can express leadership … none of them know what’s going to happen,” Forand said. “They’re just going to know where they need to be at what time and then they’ll get follow-up orders every hour or so whenever they have a new mission.” Forand, a team of five assistants and all the senior

MS 4 cadets planned and executed all aspects of the exercise. The high volume of students and visiting family and alumni in town for the spring game and Relay for Life posed the most difficult challenge in planning the event. Jahn said an added challenge was executing LDX without alarming the general public. “We’re working around it, working with the police department, trying to put out there that we’re going to have fake rifles that can’t fire, staying away from all high volume areas,” Jahn said. The weekend kicked off Friday afternoon with an eight-mile ruck march on the Huckleberry Trail. Every cadet carried roughly 35 pounds, and each platoon carried one five-gallon water jug for each eight cadets for the second half of the march. The fastest platoon finished in just under two hours and the last completed the march in just over two hours. On Saturday, the first platoon started the exercise at 5:30 a.m. at the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), a virtual shooting range. Cadets ran roughly 25-yard repeats broken up with push-ups in order to increase heart rates before entering the EST. This

LIVI DEL VALLE / COLLEGIATE TIMES

The cadets practice a scenario where they are required to approach a family in a foreign country. situation simulated the highstress environments cadets may one day face and tested marksmanship with elevated heart rates. Other exercises included a comprehensive knowledge test on everything cadets have learned in the classroom and in the field up to this point as well as an endurance course, reconnaissance and raid simulation, and Key Leader Engagement (KLE). KLEs place cadets in simulated situations that involve more than just combat marksmanship and tactics but rather strategies to communicate and interact with different

RECESS hosts networking Playground on Drillﬁeld LAUREN MALHOTRA news staff writer

This Monday on the Drillfield, the RECESS Music and Ideas tour hosted a startup fair entitled Playground that included the presence of the band The Chainsmokers. Va r ious represent atives -- including those from Looksharp, the company behind InternMatch; jewelry line Coordinates Collection and social networking app Tinder -- engaged passing students in conversations about entrepreneurship, as well as presenting merchandise, all while playing music and games. R ECESS co-founder Deuce Thevenow described the event as “an interactive networking fair, an opportunity for companies to meet students and for students to be able to learn about companies and talk to the founders and CEOs.” “We were a college startup, and we realize that it’s hard for other student startups, so this is an event where we can help them,” Thevenow said. The event focused on networking and opportunity awareness and shared many of the same goals as traditional career fairs. However, the RECESS tour specifically designed Playground to be more interactive, engaging and geared toward the interests of college students. RECESS used social networking, a station with

ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Alex Pall (right) from The Chainsmokers reacts while playing Mario Kart with community members on the Drillﬁeld as part of the Recess Tour Playground event, April 27, 2015. video games and a DJ table on the Drillfield to attract the attention of students and create a forum for them to learn about entrepreneurship. Junior public relations major Alexis Barron was one of the student ambassadors at the event. “This whole event is based around being an entrepreneur and being proactive … getting out there and doing something unique,” Barron said. Barron was at Playground to introduce students to the Coordinates Collection, a specialized jewelry company that makes necklaces, bracelets and rings custom engraved with the exact coordinates of peoples’ choosing. Sophomore psychology major Jenny Hart and another student ambassador for Coordinates said the company is looking to get their name out at Virginia Tech as well as to find more student ambassadors and connect with interested groups on campus.

Of her and Hart’s involvement, Barron said that “someone just reached out to us and asked us to get involved and we thought it was a really cool company,” reiterating the goals of the RECESS Tour’s Playground event. “The mission is to tell students that if you have a passion or something that you want to do, now is the time to figure out how turn it into a career,” Thevenow said. “We encourage students … while they’re in college, while they have no dependencies, to take a risk and take a chance.” The RECESS Music and Ideas Tour will be reaching nine campuses in the region, accompanied by musical partners The Chainsmokers, KYLE and Matt & Kim. Corporate partners of the tour include Uber, sweetgreen, Kind Snacks and Eleven Fifty Coding Academy. @CollegiateTimes

whether they have relatives there or moved from Nepal themselves. “I grew up in America, but my family is from Nepal,” Amir said. “This has a huge impact on me because I have family in Nepal.” NSA organized a meeting in order to discuss fundraising ideas for those affected by the earthquake. The NSA was joined by different organizations such as the Bangladesh, Iranian and Afghani student organizations and others that showed up to express their support. “There was a very strong response from the community,” said Devi, “Virginia Tech Outreach and International Affairs was one of the first people to email me asking what they could do and how they could help.” At the meeting, they

discussed ways that they could fundraise for the immediate relief of the people who have been affected. An online fund was created to collect donations, and they decided that they will be setting up booths around campus in order to collect contributions as well. The goal of the short-term fundraising is to provide immediate relief including removing rubble, saving lives, treating those injured, housing those who do not have homes and immediate property damage relief. In the future, the organization has hopes to do a longterm fundraiser in order to offer continued support. They hope that they can call upon different student organizations who have had successful fundraisers and increase their support. “We are not worried with reconstruction right now,” Devi said. “The buildings

that collapsed were extremely valuable historically and culturally, but they were not earthquake-proof.” NSA wants to make sure that their funds are going to an organization that will provide help to those who need it most. Devi plans to use his contacts in Nepal in order to ensure that the money raised goes to those on the ground and does not go to an intermediate organization. He says they want to focus their attention on areas that will have the biggest impact. Along with fundraising for immediate relief, NSA plans to hold a candlelight vigil for the victims of the earthquake on Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. at the GLC Plaza water fountain area in front of Squires. The vigil will be called “Hokies For Nepal,” and more information about the immediate fundraiser will soon be announced.

cadets’ future careers. “Most cadets aren’t used to interacting with people of other cultures,” McKnight said. “Army is trying to make us as culturally aware as possible because a lot of situations will involve being able to communicate with other cultures.” The cadets successfully completed the exercise due in large part to weeks of planning and the participation of the senior cadets as both the opposing forces and graders for the exercise. @yourlenny

CONCERT: EDM concert closes RECESS event from page 1

EARTHQUAKE: Response to include vigil, fundraiser from page 1

cultures. Senior biological systems engineer Brianna Jahn elaborated on LDX’s KLE. “You’re not going in with guns ready, it’s more like all of a sudden you have a village elder approach you,” Jahn said. “It’s more of a talking negotiation. They’re graded on performance and reaction to contact. They were briefed on the culture of the simulation so they would be able to respect cultural and religious rules.” Senior business management major Steve McKnight explained the importance of KLE’s to the

CEO of LookSharp. Students could ask Maguire questions as well as interact with Chainsmokers front men Taggart and Pall.

“

I don’t think we’ve had an EDM concert like this before so they didn’t know (what to) expect from the crowds.” Gabriella Gonzalez junior environmental policy and planning major

The festival’s main goal is to inspire students to be the next generation of world changing entrepreneurs. R ECESS par ticipants gathered in Haymarket. “I had fun because there was a lot of energy in the crowd and it was contagious,” Davilla said. They gathered in the Commonwealth ballroom for performances by Kyle and the Chainsmokers. The DJs threw LED foam sticks at the crowd as they performed remixes of top 40 hits. Images of California

beaches and palm trees covered the stage and took students away from the stress of exams and project deadlines. “It exceeded expectations because everyone was having such a good time,” William Steinman, junior management major, said. “My favorite part was when the played Kanye because it’s my favorite song.” The rowdy crowd of sweat-covered college students were asked to back up because the students closest to the stage were being pushed up against a rail. “I don’t think they had control of the event at all,” junior envi ronmental policy and planning major Gabriella Gonzalez said. “I don’t think we’ve had an EDM concert like this before so they didn’t know expect from the crowds.” Overall, the event was a way to celebrate a great festival to inspire and promote interactive learning outside of the classroom. “That was so hype, everyone in the crowd knew all the songs and had so much fun,” junior BIT major Kevin Osorio said.

lthough the end of April looks soggy and cooler than average, we should see improvement in the region by this upcoming weekend. In other words, keep that umbrella handy and save the outdoor activities for this weekend, if possible. After a chilly start, today will be pleasant under sunny skies with highs making their way to 62 degrees. We can expect a few more clouds to work their way overhead this evening, with low t emp erat u res dropping down to around 42. A center of lower pressure will move t h r o ug h G e o rg i a and South Carolina t omor r ow b efor e tracking northward along the eastern shore of the U.S. This will result in wraparound s h owe r s arriving in Blacksburg tomorrow afternoon. The rain will continue t h rough at least midday Thursday, so a rain jacket or umbrella will be your best friend. Otherwise, our We d n e s d a y will be marked by highs nearing 59 and extensive cloud coverage. The temperature will approach 60 degrees on Thursday with continued chances of showers. Sk ies will gradually start clearing out Thursday night with temperatures dropping into the low 40s. A high-pressure system will begin funneling wa r mer air into our region following the passage of this week’s storm syst em. Su nsh i ne will return Friday with highs in the mid 60s. The upcoming weekend will be very nice with perfect conditions for any pl a n n e d o ut d o o r activity. Highs on Sunday will likely make it close to the 70 degree mark, so be sure to get out and enjoy. As a lways, be sure to check out @ HOKIEwxWATCH on Twitter and our new blog at https:// hokiewxwatch.wordpress.com/blog/ for continuous updates and all of your Blacksburg-related weather needs.

NICK GILMORE • weather correspondent • @HOKIEwxWATCH @alisoncaves

PAGE 4 Tuesday, April 28, 2015

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Creative gifts make Mother’s Day DIY EMILY CARRIGAN Pinterest columnist

Moms: they are the ones who cleaned up scraped knees when we were little, stood by us through our awkward middle school years and pushed us to where we are today. Let’s face it, they deserve much more than just one day each year to be recognized for all they do for us. However, this Mother’s Day, show your mom some love by creating affordable, personalized and easy DIY gifts inspired by Pinterest that she is sure to love. For instance, one easy Mother’s Day gift is a customized wreath you can hang on your front door. Once you have a wreath, you can personalize it using a monogrammed initial for your last name, flowers and ribbon — all things you can purchase at Michael’s Arts and Crafts. Additionally, since Mother’s Day falls in early spring, this bright addition to your home will welcome the new season and make your mom feel loved on her special day. If you’re interested in more edible alternatives, you can also make a wreath out of cupcakes. One pinner made vanilla cupcakes in green liners and iced them using pale yellow and purple icing to look like flowers. They added a few leaves cut out of green construction paper to each cupcake, but you could also try making edible leaves out of fondant. Then, this pinner arranged the cupcakes in a circle to look like a wreath for a beautiful, edible Mother’s Day offering that can be shared with your entire family. If you’re looking to go with spring-themed Mother’s Day gifts, you can also make personalized flower pots for your mom with her favorite flowers in them. To do this, purchase a traditional terracotta flower pot from a gardening store. Before proceeding, wipe it down really well with a slightly damp towel to remove any dust or dirt. There are many ideas for how to personalize flower pots on Pinterest, such as monogramming, hot gluing ribbon or using chalkboard paint, which would be perfect for labeling flower pots that contain different types of herbs and flowers. However, some of my favorites are those with family photos collaged on them using Mod Podge, a material that acts as both an adhesive and a sealant. To do this, simply print your favorite family pictures out onto regular copy paper in the

appropriate size for your flowerpot. Cut the picture down so it is exactly how you want it to look on your flowerpot. Then, paint a thin layer of Mod Podge directly onto the flowerpot where you want to stick the picture. Gently place the picture over that spot and allow it to dry for a few minutes. Before adding a layer of Mod Podge over the picture again to seal it, make sure most of the glue underneath the picture is dry to avoid tearing the paper when you begin to paint over it. You can put one picture on the pot or collage multiple pictures on, but definitely seal them on with a few layers of Mod Podge to make them rain proof in case your mom wants to leave the flowerpot outside or in a garden. If your mom holds onto old, handwritten recipe cards from her own mother or grandmother, it might be nice to make her a tea towel with those recipes printed onto them in their handwriting. To do this, one pinner suggests mixing liquid fabric softener, washing soda, alum (which can be found in the seasoning aisle) and hot water. Then, dip a clean, white tea towel into the mixture until it is completely soaked. You will need to let these air-dry overnight, and then iron them the next day before transferring the recipe onto them. You’ll likely need to trace over the words on the original recipe card using a dark pen, especially if the recipe is old, so that you’ll be able to see the handwriting through your tea towel. Then, carefully line the tea towel over the recipe card and begin tracing. If it’s still difficult to see the words on the recipe card through the tea towel, the pinner suggests taping both items to a window to help get added light for tracing. Slowly and carefully, using a good Sharpie, trace the words of the recipe onto the tea towel. Once this is done, your mom will have a personalized tea towel to display in her kitchen that holds some of her favorite recipes and has her mother’s or grandmother’s handwriting on them. Whatever you do for your mom this Mother’s Day, try to do it yourself. Follow the Collegiate Time’s Pinterest at www.pinterest. com/ctlifestyles for more tips and inspiration for the holiday.

@EmilyKCarrigan

The Chainsmokers discuss entrepreneurship KAITE BRITT lifestyles staff writer

As part of the RECESS event, speakers from The Chainsmokers and CEO and Founder of L ookSha r p, A nd rew Maguire, spoke tonight in Haymarket Theatre. The speakers who presented at Virginia Tech have all found success in entrepreneurship. Chainsmokers is an electronic dance music (EDM) group that earned its rise to fame primarily from the production of songs “#Selfie” and “Kanye.” Memb er A lex Pa l l studied at New York University while fellow a r tist Drew Tagga r t attended Sy racuse University in New York. Many people don’t associate t he C h a i n sm o ke r s w it h ent r ep r eneu r sh ip or business activities, but the duo owes a portion of their success to shrewd business choices. When Drew and Alex began working together, the primary goal was to reach their audience and get their name out. Drew and Alex personally reached out to their communities, utilizing blogs a nd w r it i ng customized emails and columns to recipients, keeping in mind the audience they were addressing. T he Cha insmokers are now well known and successful, partially due to their creative abilities, but also due to their determination and work ethic. “Take some chances. I know college is really expensive, but don’t do something safe just

CATIE CARRERAS/ COLLEGIATE TIMES

Matei Canavra and Tyler Campbell pitch their app ReVibe on April 27, 2015. because you are worried about that,” Taggart said. “We just want to inspire people to take chances, because we did, and it’s working really well.” Drew and Alex spoke r ight a f ter A nd rew Maguire, who recently graduated from Columbia University and founded LookSharp, a site that connects applicants to internships. Maguire put emphasis on building st rong fo u n d a t i o n s within the organization and, like Alex and Drew, taking risks and seizing opportunities. “In general, I love the Pitch competitions, so I was fortunate I got asked to be a judge at the Pitch competition this evening,” Maguire said. “I think that’s awesome, because it’s students with an idea getting up in front of a group and putting themselves out there, taking a risk.” In interviews with Andrew, Alex and Drew each emphasized the importance of proactivity and determination. Each entrepreneur had

a different approach to the success they reached. N eve r t h e l e s s, each learned from the people around them, used the resources available and made their own luck by going the extra mile to communicate with their audiences. The speakers gave five insightful tips to help future entrepreneurs. First, they advised people to work proactively by reaching out to customers and mentors. Secondly, people should know the problem they are tr ying to solve. Next, they should know the audience they are marketing to and should not be afraid to reach out to them. Fourth, they should have a well rounded foundation that encompasses a diverse skill set. Finally, aspiring entrepreneurs should be passionate about the work that they are doing and the products they are putting into the world.

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CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY DAY Free to all students and alumni! Tuesday April 28, 2015 8 AM - 4 PM Library Quad

ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

A.J. Pittas, a junior industrial and systems engineering major, uses a bike to blend a smoothie on the Drillﬁeld as part of an event named “Smooth Energy” hosted by the Students for Clean Energy at Virginia Tech.

Students for Clean Energy blend for sustainability PAYTON KNOBELOCH lifestyles staff writer

Some would argue that clear skies and temperatures in the mid-50s are great conditions for a bike ride. However, Students for Clean Energy (SCE) at Virginia Tech set up shop on the Drillfield for a different kind of bike ride, one that allowed students to make their own smoothies. As part of its third annual Smooth Energy event, the group charged passersby $1 to use a blender powered by a stationary bicycle. The event publicized both the organization and its mission. SCE wanted to give Hokies a glimpse at 100 percent renewable energy on campus. “We know that’s a little ways in the future, but that’s our end-goal,” said Phoebe Bredin, senior biology and geography major and event coordinator for SCE. “Right now we have less than one percent clean energy generation, which is not good,” said Jake Hackman, junior mechanical engineering major and SCE vice president. According to the U.S. Energy I n for mat ion Administration, less than one percent of the energy expected to be generated in 2015 is

solar, a clean resource. Bredin said the windy weather might have deterred people from coming out, but the turnout was an improvement over previous years. Much of the money raised goes directly to the cost of smoothie ingredients. Other funds either help pay for speakers the organization contracted with the help of the university or are donated to sustainability groups like Keeper of the Mountains. The bike itself, rented from Bike Barn, didn’t require much force to operate. It features a mounted peg that fits into the blender, turning the blades as the rider pedals. Pa r ticipants were encouraged to pedal at a moderate pace; any less would not put the blender in motion and pedaling too quickly would risk the blender falling off the bike. The organization has also discussed putting similar devices in the gym, using people’s kinetic energy to produce electricity instead of food. “It’s a fun way to show the amount of energy things need to be made,” Bredin said. In the past, SCE has conducted events centered on Earth Week, as well as holding

a panel discussing Virginia’s energy future. SCE believes that the best opportunity for clean energy at Virginia Tech is solar power, and they have been working on ways to implement that on campus. Hackman said that the organization is working with the university to move solar power into Tech’s 10-year plan. “We’ve met with President Sands, the (Board of Visitors) and other members of facilities to really talk about what we should be doing on campus,” Bredin said. SCE has cause to celebrate, as well. The university recently accepted the group’s proposal to begin integrating “solar tables,” picnic tables covered by solar panels instead of umbrellas, within the next year. “Most solar is tied into the grid, and you have to work with the utility company,” Hackman said. “We suggested the (solar tables) as an off-thegrid option.” Students interested in joining SCE’s cause can attend meetings or sign their petition to garner the university’s attention with sustainability.

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PAGE 6 Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Softball gets swept in NC State doubleheader JOSH WILETS sports reporter

After weather conditions pushed back the first game of a weekend series for the Virginia Tech softball team, the Hokies faced off in a doubleheader on Sunday to begin their series against NC State. Seniors were honored between the two games, and recognized for their efforts, sacrifice and leadership of the Virginia Tech softball team over the years. The Hokies were swept in the doubleheader, dropping both games. Game one of the doubleheader went to NC State, as they shut out Virginia Tech 4-0. The Hokies had an early chance in the first inning with runners on second and third, but failed to score after junior third baseman Kelsey Mericka struck out and senior outfielder Michelle Prong grounded out, getting NC State out of a jam. The first inning did not phase NC State senior starting pitcher Emily Weiman, who steamrolled through the Virginia Tech lineup, retiring the next nine Hokie batters. Of those nine, the last six were struck out. Both Kelly Heinz and Weiman were dueling until the fifth inning when things started to come apart for Heinz, who allowed the first three NC State hitters to hit singles to load the bases with no one out. Junior pitcher Maggie Tyler came in for Tech and was able to tiptoe out of danger and retire the next three NC State hitters, striking out two of the three. “I think I just trusted myself, and I knew that Kelly did a great job until then, and it was my turn to

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just pick her up,” Tyler said. Virginia Tech tried to carry the momentum into the bottom of the fifth, putting two runners on base, but once again, Weiman was able to avert the potential runs. NC State expanded their lead to 3-0 after an intentional walk loaded the bases. NC State left fielder Tyler Ross ripped a single into right field, scoring two runs for the Wolfpack.

“

I think I just trusted myself, and I knew that Kelly did a great job until then, and it was my turn...” Maggie Tyler Pitcher

Ross then succeeded in stealing second base, while Renada Davis dashed to the plate, scoring the fourth NC State run. The stolen base for Ross was her ninth of the season. The Hokies did not put up much of a rally in the seventh, dropping game one of the doubleheader. The offense was stymied by Weiman, who struck out 11 Virginia Tech batters, allowing just four base hits and one walk. The win for NC State was Weiman’s 24th of the season. Heinz allowed just one run and got only her third loss of the year. The Hokies tried to pick up the pace in game two against NC State, but again couldn’t come up with any run-support. Returning to the circle for game two was Maggie Tyler for Virginia Tech, and Emily

Weiman for NC State. After giving up a walk, Tyler surrendered a two-run homer to designated-player Molly Hutchinson, which sailed over the wall in right center field. This gave NC State the early 2-0 lead. Things were quiet until a strikeout by senior shortstop Lauren Gaskill ended the bottom of the sixth inning. The call instigated Vi rgin ia Tech head coach Scot Thomas, who approached the home plate umpire with some con f l ict i ng t hought s regarding the strike zone. After a brief confrontation, Thomas was ejected from the game by third base umpire Craig Hyde. For NC State, Weiman pitched a masterful set of games, going all seven innings in both games. In game two, she allowed just one base hit — an early single to senior Kylie McGoldrick. “The big kid out in the circle for NC State — she did a great job,” Thomas said. “Weiman threw very well — the best I’ve ever seen her throw.” Weiman retired the last 20 batters that she faced in game two. Emily Weiman took yet another win (25-14) and Maggie Tyler took the loss (14-9), her ninth on the season, despite striking out 10. We i m a n’s e f fo r t s lowered her ERA to 2.15 on the season, and gave her a WHIP (walks plus hits divided by innings pitched) of 1.11. With the pair of wins, NC State improved to 31-19, 12-8 ACC. Virginia Tech fell to 33-15, 8-11 ACC. @josh_wilets

Hokies offensive line closes out spring strong FAIZAN HASNANY sports editor

Since the first day of spring practices, one of the main focuses for the Virginia Tech football team has been the development of its offensive line. “The thing I think is the number one concern for us this spring, is getting our offensive line together,” said head coach Frank Beamer before the first practice of the spring. “We’ve got to have some young guys not play like they’re young guys.” Now that the Hokies have concluded spring practices and played their annual spring game, the strides that the offensive line has taken are apparent. “I think we’re getting closer. We’re getting where we want to be on a toughness standpoint,” Beamer said after the spring game. “They’ve had a good spring and we’ve gotten better.” With a multitude of injuries in the offensive line last year, resulting in a revolving door of players at the position, the Hokies allowed 34 sacks during the season. As a result of the variations in the line, the offense sputtered, unable to achieve its potential. “I thought they’ve made a big step. This is kind of the first time that the whole group has worked together since I’ve been here, [due to] last year with injuries and switching people in and out,” said senior quarterback Michael Brewer. As this is his first spring at Virginia Tech, Michael Brewer has grown alongside the young offensive line. His growth on the field earned him the Dr. Richard Bullock Award, which goes to the players who show the most improvement during spring

workouts. “I think just seeing them communicate every day and kind of figure things out on the run and then me getting a better understanding of the passing game and helping them out is going to help all of us quite a bit,” Brewer said. Brewer has made an effort to develop a closer relationship with the offensive linemen this spring, even taking them out for mini-golf. “It was just a little token of my appreciation. Paid for them all to play some puttputt,” Brewer said. “I try to spend as much time with them as I can. They are the ones who protect me after all.” In recent years, the spring game has been dominated by the defense, however, this year the offense held its own. The Hokies scored four offensive touchdowns, after having just two in the past two years. “I feel like we came with a different mindset, that we’re not going to take crap from anybody,” said sophomore offensive lineman Wyatt Teller. “I know our defense is good, but it doesn’t matter.

“

I feel like we came with a different mindset, that we’re not going to take crap from anybody...” Wyatt Teller Offensive Lineman

We are going to be better than them today. Sometimes we’re not, but we’re not going to be discouraged by that.” Three of the offensive touchdowns came on the ground in goal line situations,

ZACK WASJGRAS/ COLLEGIATE TIMES

J.C. Coleman (4) celebrates with Wyatt Teller (57) after Coleman scored on a touchdown at the spring game. The offensive line cleared the way for three rushing touchdowns. each by a different running back and each as a result of a big push by the offensive line. “We had a really good thing going,” said senior running back J.C. Coleman. “Those guys are excited to block for us and we’re excited to run behind them.” What began as an area of concern for the Hokies to start the spring has evolved into an area surrounded by optimism. With most of the talent at the skill positions regaining their health and returning for the Hokies, the offensive line will be vital in determining the success of Tech’s offense. “It all starts up front,” Brewer said. “We go where the offensive line goes. The better that they’ve done this spring, the better we’ve done as an offense.”

@FaizanCT

FOOTBALL: Backﬁeld depth featured at spring game from page 1

MAJOR BUS

DETOURS

the starting role from game one against Alabama and amassed 675 yards on just 166 carries. His season was ended early, however, after suffering a broken tibia against Virginia. Now, Edmunds says that he’s ready to go and build off of his prior success. “I’m still not where I want to be but hey, that’s what the summer is for and that’s what next fall’s camp is for,” Edmunds said. Coleman, who averaged over 100 yards per game in the last four games of the season, has been tagged as the co-starter at running back wit h E dmunds heading into next season. Coleman has impressed coaches and players alike with his work ethic and consistency. “He’s a steady-eddie guy,” Loeffler said after

the final spring scrimmage. “He’s reliable. He just keeps doing his job. My feelings about him are off the charts just because he walked into a really tough situation and ended up being a huge reason why we won the Virginia game and the bowl game.” Coleman and Edmunds will likely lead the way next season. Coleman is a lot like Wilson, who is small and hard to tackle due to lower-body strength and speed. Edmunds is big for a running back and runs behind his pads well. Together, the two should make a potent duo. “Each of us have our own set,” Edmunds said. “I feel like I’m a speed and power combined type of guy. I feel like each of the backs have a certain technique or asset of their game that makes them good.” McMillian, who enrolled early, will add depth to the

position. He has looked good so far when given carries and is making an impact in the return game too. “He (McMillian) did a real good job in the return game today,” Coleman said. “He’s explosive, fast, he can do a lot of things out of the backfield.” The competition is certainly getting the best out of the backs too. No one is assured playing time going into next year. “I feel like every year I’ve been here has been competitive,” Edmunds said. “You got to bring your A game every day of the week. There are no days off, even on the days where we don’t have practice.” If the group stays healthy, opposing defense might be the ones taking a beating. @r1lablue

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