Nov. 7, 2016

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collegiatetimes.com

112th YEAR, ISSUE 193

Novemb November 7, 2016

COLLEGIATE TIMES An independent, student-run nnewspaper ewspaper sserving erving the the V Virginia irginia Tech community since 11903

Wrestling dominant in season openers The Hokies hosted VMI and Edinboro at Cassell Coliseum this weekend, beating them both 39–6 and 24–13 respectively. JORDAN HUTCHINSON sports staff wrtier

The Virginia Tech wrestling team had a strong start to its 2016–2017 campaign with two wins over Edinboro and VMI in Cassell Coliseum on Saturday. In back-to-back matchups, the Hokies defeated Edinboro 24–13 and VMI 39–6. When asked about his team’s AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES performance on Saturday, head Salvatore Mastriani tries to turn Edinboro’s Chase Delande in the season dual opener for the Hokies, Nov. 5, 2016. coach Kevin Dresser said, “Well, today was a start, but far from a great start.” Dresser also said that his team needs to buy into the message fully and have a good week in practice. A l l-A mer ica n w rest ler Joey Dance opened the match against Edinboro with a 3–1 decision over Sean Russell. In a slow start, Dance didn’t look like his usual self, but a victory A month ago, police evacuated Newman Library after a reported bomb threat and did not is all he and Dresser were concerned about. issue a crime alert. Foust explains the criteria police consider before alerting campus. After Dance won, the match of the day ensued in the LEWIS MILLHOLLAND 149-pound slot. Virginia Tech’s Act issues, gives an example of how RICHARD CHUMNEY managing editor Solomon Chishko forced a to tell the difference: Did two students news editor sudden-death overtime with a get drunk and attempt to steal a golf Beginning in July, Virginia On Oct. 10, Virginia Tech Police takedown in the final seconds cart from the campus one night, or Tech may be forced to cut responded at approximately 3 a.m. of the third period. In overtime, does it appear that professional car up to $12.9 million from its to a phone report of a bomb threat Chishko topped Edinboro’s thieves are preying on your campus?” annual budget. The university in Newman Library. The handful of Patricio Lugo with a takedown. From there, police must decide if confirmed the cuts a day after students in the building were evacOn top of these performances, the threat constitutes a continuing The Roanoke Times reported uated, and areas around and near the Gustafson, Mastriani, Epperly, danger to the campus community. For that state funding for public library were closed down while K-9 Zavatsky and Haught all example, if a sexual assault survivor universities will be cut by 7.5 units from multiple agencies were brought victories to Virginia reports an incident that happened two percent to help make up for a deployed to investigate the situation. Tech. years ago with no other information, projected $1.5 billion budget Police decided not to send a crime For the second time, Joey VTPD does not have enough evidence shortfall. alert to the campus community. Dance kicked off a match, but to prove there is an ongoing threat. In a letter sent Tuesday, “They definitely should have given this time against VMI. Dance However, if a victim reported an Virginia Gover nor Ter r y an alert out as soon as they knew of a looked much more comfortable incident that happened on campus the KEVIN McAuliffe’s office informed possible threat,” said senior and water against his opponent Dalton night before, and VTPD has not yet FOUST higher-education officials of resources, policy and management Henderson, and tallied a 7–1 made an arrest, that would constitute plans to pass $654 million of major Trevor Lawson. “Even if it decision. From there on out, a crime alert. the shortfall on to state univerwasn’t a credible (report), I think again.’ They’ll delete us and block the Hokies were in control, The last criterion asks if reporting sities and colleges. McAuliffe that was definitely a real concern us or whatever, and then we won’t be the crime would compromise police winning every match, except will present his budget to the for students on campus and the able to get the word out.” for one due to a forfeit. There efforts, such as revealing that officers General Assembly on Dec. 16. community.” The Clery Act sets the three-part are going undercover in an area were three technical falls, four McAuliffe’s Chief of Staff Lawson commented that while criteria for mandated timely warning afflicted by a recent string of crimes. regular decisions and two falls Paul Reagan, who wrote the VTPD’s crime alert coverage is of a university crime: the nature of that eventually ensured the Determining whether an incident letter, asked that funding generally comprehensive, especially the crime, whether the crime consti- meets these three criteria is difficult. victory for Virginia Tech. reductions not be offset by any for sexual assaults and thefts, the tutes a continuing danger to the “Sometimes it can be as clear as Overall, seven wrestling unscheduled increase in tuition department dropped the ball with this campus community and whether the mud,” Foust said. Hokies went 2–0 on Saturday, and fees. situation. public warning will compromise law with the other two splitting “Out of an abundance of caution, I “One of the things I want to enforcement efforts. their matches 1–1. Most impordecided, you know what, a lot of our avoid is crying wolf, so to speak,” The first criterion asks if the campus community lives in these tantly, Virginia Tech came said VTPD Chief Kevin Foust. “If Clery Act defines the incident as apartment complexes where he’s away with two strong wins Because we plan we’re sending out crime alerts all a mandated reportable crime. The running around, I think they should against Edinboro and VMI. the time for things like tire slashings 2016 edition of “The Handbook know about this.” Dresser has been preaching the and manage our and whatnot, my fear is people will for Campus Safety and Security “Raising the Bar” motto this The October bomb threat in budget carefully and become complacent, and they’ll be Reporting,” a guide issued by the U.S. see WRESTLING / page 5 see ALERTS / page 3 looking at their devices saying, ‘Not Department of Education on Clery proactively, we were

State cuts millions from Tech budget

DON’T CRY WOLF: THE DECISION TO SEND CRIME ALERTS

able to manage this revenue reduction centrally.” Timothy Sands president of Virginia Tech

“The memorandum from the Governor’s Office this week indicated that the projected revenue shortfall for this biennium is severe enough that higher-education institutions will have to participate,” Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands wrote in a statement Thursday. Cuts are set to begin at the start of fiscal year 2018, which begins on July 1 for Virginians. According to Sands, the state funding cuts will not affect Virginia Tech in the first half of 2017. “Because we plan and manage our budget carefully and proactively, we were able to manage this revenue reduction centrally,” Sands wrote. see BUDGET / page 4

Climbing the ranks in the political sphere Rebecca Slutzky, alumna of Virginia Tech’s Class of 2007, answers questions about her position as the executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia. MEG CONNORS copy editor

Virginia Tech produces notable alumni every single year, ranging in industries across all disciplines. Some particularly notable alumni range in diversity from Hoda Kotb, host of NBC’s Today Show, to Kristi Castlin, bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, to Jim Buckmaster, CEO of Craigslist. The Collegiate Times had the privilege of speaking with an alumna who is currently working in the field of politics. Rebecca Slutzky, an alumna of the Virginia Tech Class of 2007, is currently working as the executive director of the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA). A graduate of the political science program and a sister of the Chi Omega sorority,

Meredith Huddle, a member of Virginia Tech’s Class of 2018, discusses her internship and experience as a press assistant for the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Sluztky describes, through an email interview with the Collegiate Times, the ways in which Virginia Tech helped her eventually land her position as executive director and gives advice to Hokies who dream of pursuing careers in politics. This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. CT: When did you attend Virginia Tech, and what did you study? RS: I attended Tech from 2003– 2007, but I’ve been a proud Hokie from the moment I stepped foot on campus onwards. My degree was in political science, but I tested the waters a bit and took a wide range of classes. I like to joke that I took “intro see SLUTZKY / page 6

NEW LGBT GROUP ON CAMPUS

KAINE, APRIL 16 AND GUN CONTROL

The Prism Society speaks to the community.

The candidate’s stance changed in 2007.

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MEG CONNORS copy editor

Every year, many students at Virginia Tech elect to take a semester off from school to gain experience in their fields. Meredith Huddle, Class of 2018, is pursuing a double major in political science and professional and technical writing, as well as a minor in women’s and gender studies. Huddle worked as an intern for the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) this past summer, and after being offered a position as press assistant for the remainder of the election cycle, Huddle opted to take a semester off from school to gain experience and take part in the presidential campaign. Huddle describes in her own words, through an email

interview with the Collegiate Times, her experiences at Virginia Tech thus far and gives advice to Hokies who are considering co-ops. This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. CT: Describe your experience at Virginia Tech thus far. MH: From my first week on campus, the motto of Ut Prosim (That I may serve) has stuck with me — and it will continue to define my character in all my future endeavors. If there’s any one thing I can draw from my experience at Tech it is this: the greatest honor in life is serving others. For me and my work with the Democratic Party to better the lives of Virginians, it all comes full circle see HUDDLE / page 6

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