Nov. 7, 2016 by The Collegiate Times

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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

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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.

page 3

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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Social media changing what news we see

Workplace sexism still a common obstacle Mila Kunis’ recent objection to Hollywood sexism exposes the pervasive struggle for women to recieve equal treatment at work.

Specialized content algorithms make users more likely to be exposed to news content that lines up with their personal biases.

an I hear me now … can I hear me now … can I hear me now? Good! Welcome to the age of the echo chamber, where we are exposed to articles, posts and links that echo our sentiments and validate our biases. “The strongest bias in American politics is not a liberal bias or a conservative bias; it is a confirmation bias, or the urge to believe only things that confirm what you already believe to be true,” wrote Emma Roller, a contributing columnist for The New York Times. I remember on a recent 6:30 a.m. jog, with my left hand already on the doorknob ready to shut the door, I was scrambling to quickly find a jump start song on YouTube to get my adrenaline pumping. I was in the mood to run as I had not gone running in a while. The YouTube Red channel banner first popped up at the bottom of my screen, which I immediately canceled. I was already typing in “Futu ... ” on the red search bar at the top when I saw a video right in front of me: “Bill Maher suggests Dona.” Hmm … it was a short, threeminute video, so why not? The video was a short tirade by Bill Maher, a liberal comedian, who was denigrating Donald Trump supporters, yet again. This time, it was because of the resurfacing of yet another claim of why Obama must be an American-hating Muslim. A quick search on Google on “Obama Muslim Martial Law” brought up a few websites that seemed interesting. I clicked on the third link, a New York Times article. I was scrolling down the article and noticed the embedded images. One image was a sea of white and red, the image of a mob; another was an old white man wearing an “Obummer” shirt looking furious at the camera. His eyes were filled with rage, maybe at the camera man,

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The click then reinforces the vicious cycle, bringing with it more articles that further reinforce those biases.”

maybe at me. I was nodding my head even as I read the article, agreeing with the author and thinking, “Are there really people out there that believe such blatant lies? Would presenting them with facts even matter?” It was as though these people were so divorced from reality that any attempt to discuss or even debate any counter arguments would be met either with scorn or an even more illogical claim. A commenter I was drawn to put my thoughts into words more succinctly. He said, “Have you ever tried to talk a loved one into

MCT CAMPUS Charts showing how American adults who use Facebook get their news from the social media website.

leaving a relationship? Facts will get you nowhere” — that’s exactly what I thought, giving myself a pat on the back. Some of those people could not be convinced otherwise, regardless of a preponderance of

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It will soon be very hard for anyone in the future to consume information that has not been tailored to them.”

facts that show otherwise. It was now 6:55 a.m., and at this time the sun was now breaking through the horizon. I realized I had started my day trying to go on a jog, but an impulsive decision to click that three-minute long video had led me down a rabbit hole that taught me nothing new. All I had done in those 25 minutes was reaffirm my belief that some people were too dumb to even know otherwise. YouTube had collated content it felt I would be interested in through my video watching habits with the objective of having my eyes see their ads. I had then searched on Google, which had filtered its results specifically for me with the hope that I would click on those links, further funneling advertising dollars to them. This realization was worth noting because the decision of what to present to me did not involve my decision anymore. Also, what information to leave out was not up to me. Google had altered my searches to present to me “my news,” not the news. They were well aware of research that had shown that we humans still make a majority of our decisions based on impulse and then validate that decision afterward. Also, we treat new information the same way we treat a stranger. When presented with choices between two pieces of information, more often than not, we will actively decide to pick the information that makes us feel better about ourselves. The same way we would most likely approach or accept advances of a stranger we anticipate will make us feel better about ourselves. The advent of the internet along with all of these recording devices

was supposed to push conspiracy theories and theorists to extinction. Researchers of the past painted a picture of a future filled with datadriven facts and third-party sources that would rise up to confirm the real truths. But, our current world wide web is neither showing us the world, nor widening our information bandwidth. It has segmented the world using the black magic of algorithms of some programmer in San Francisco to help curate the abundance of information and present us with only those that we are likely to like, up-vote, recommend and share with our friends. That click then reinforces the vicious cycle, bringing with it more articles that further reinforce those biases, making us more engaged with those clicks and links and banishing any sense of an opposing view to the extremities of the world wide web. News sources then scramble to the top, or should that be bottom, to maintain those high ratings and ensure that their stories fit the narrative that confirm people’s biases: Obama is a Muslim, Donald Trump is a misogynist, liberals are out to destroy the constitution, climate change is a hoax started by China, vaccinations cause autism and many more. Even the preponderance of facts fails in this internet age. For any loose screw out there, there is a nut job waiting to pair him up with a fitting story. It will soon be very hard for anyone in the future to consume information that has not been tailored to them. Facebook reaches 1.3 billion users and Google reaches even more; we should be wary of having algorithms written by a few programmers dictate to us who to believe, what to avoid and what is best for us. As the information we consume forms our identity, and we tend to subconsciously make decisions based on this preformed identity, it behooves us to be aware of what is deciding on who we become.

TOMILAYO KOMOLAFE • regular columnist • Ph.D. candidate/industrial systems engineering

exism is present t h r oug hout a l l a r e a s of o u r society, as much as we would like to think that it is not. We see it throughout workplaces, throughout the presidential election, when women try to put themselves in any kind of leadership position, in everyday interactions and even in Hollywood. Mila Kunis recently wrote an op-ed for A Plus detailing an incident when a Hollywood producer blatantly showed sexism toward her when telling her she would never work in the town again after refusing to pose semi-nude on a magazine cover to promote a movie. I am so glad she decided to come forward and show our society that sexism is still so obviously present. So many people view celebrities as these untouchable people whose lives just seem perfect, and that they do not have to worry about things that the rest of us do. Kunis shows that just because she is a Hollywood star, does not mean she is immune to these feelings or that things like dealing with sexist producers and executives never happen to her. “What this producer may never realize is that he spoke aloud the exact fear every woman feels when confronted with gender bias in the workplace,” Kunis said. She is absolutely right; our society has not gotten to a point yet where concern of workplace gender bias is not a problem anymore. It is a fear every woman has in the back of her mind at all times, and that is just not fair. Women’s bodies are not for the sole purpose of promotion. They are not for the use of any man who lays his eyes on them. They are not to be controlled by anyone, and no one should tell a woman how to handle her body. Most importantly, women have a right to do whatever they want with their bodies, and if they say no to something, for goodness sake just let that be the end of it. A woman not wanting her body used for someone’s financial gain is not a crime and is certainly not worthy of condemnation or even a second thought. It is her choice and no one else has a say in that. This applies to everything from sexism in the workplace to sexual assault; no means no, and a woman’s sole purpose is not to be sexually objectified. Women should not be treated differently because

they have children or because there is a possibility of them having children. They should not be treated differently because of the way that they look, their marital status or for any other creatively fabricated reason people come up with as to why a woman should not or cannot do a job. Sexism is such a prominent issue today, but one that so many people fail to recognize. It is present all across the country and

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Women should not have to put up with sexist bosses because they have no other options to survive. Women deserve an option.”

internationally. In Kunis’ article, she says that many women do not want to come forward when they experience this type of discrimination, “So we compromise our integrity for the sake of maintaining the status quo and hope that change is coming.” The problem is that cha nge ca n not come without changing the status quo. Much like the rhetoric surrounding our country right now in terms of sexual assault brought about by the actions of men like Brock Turner and Donald Trump, women need to feel that they live in a society where if they face discrimination, harassment or assault, that they can come forward and be believed. They need to know that they will not be punished for being a woman and not have to put up with treatment that they should not have to. Like Kunis pointed out, women should not have to put up with sexist bosses or supervisors because they have no other options to survive. Women deserve an option. It is our job to redefine what is acceptable and what is not. Thank you Mila Kunis for so beautifully sharing your story and inspiring women everywhere by reaffirming that individuals, businesses and organizations that devalue, discriminate and objectify women are not to be tolerated, and the only way that we can really see the differences that we want to see is to change status quo. Together, we can do it.

RACHEL GRIES • regular columnist • junior/criminology

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The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Monday and Thursday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students. © Collegiate Times, 2016. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times

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November 7, 2016 PAGE 3

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Expert panel discusses refugees, misconceptions

CRIME: Tech police have a mixed record on alerts

A student who spent part of her childhood in a refugee camp talked with other experts about perceptions of refugees in the U.S. and the election.

from page 1

ASHLEY WILLS multimedia editor

Amid a political cycle filled with talk about refugees from all parties, organizers at Virginia Tech sought to bring together some of the most informed people on the issue to break down misconceptions. Sponsored by the Middle East Working Group at Virginia Tech, a panel of experts came together on Nov. 2 to discuss the different sides of being a refugee. The panel included Julie Kornfeld and Mac McEachin from the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), an organization which, according to its website, is dedicated to providing legal aid to displaced persons and changing policies to help those who are displaced. Deidre Hand, who works closely with resettled refugees as an English as a second language teacher, and Seida Sohrabi, who was a refugee herself, also spoke. “Our hope with this panel was to help deal with the misinformation out there about refugees, but also to ask the question of refugees from multiple perspectives,” said Carmen Gitre, one of the organizers of the event and assistant professor of Middle East History at Virginia Tech. Students packed the room sitting on floors and up against the walls as representatives from IRAP began their presentation. Organizers explained what constitutes a refugee and the multi-step, often several years-long process of coming to the U.S. Out of the 65.3 million people who have been forcibly displaced, only 1 percent are resettled. “The biggest thing is that people are shocked to hear the actual numbers, shocked to hear how difficult it is to come here,” McEachin said. “I think that that really helps them take a more measured and nuanced approach to how they think

politically about refugees.” With the presidential election just days away, panelists wanted to not only break down misconceptions the audience may have about refugees, but also the process of vetting that refugees have to go through to be able to come to America. “Refugees have been made into a boogie man this political cycle, and people need to understand that is convenient for certain politicians to talk like that because it gets them votes. It doesn’t have to be based on reality,” McEachin said. “People want to get reelected so they are going to do and say what they think that people are going to want to hear, and this election cycle it is playing with people’s fears about refugees.” The panel sought to enhance the audience’s understanding of being a refugee by adding a more personal approach besides the numbers as well. “I think this was a really incredible way to hear from experts in the field and a really rare opportunity to hear from people that grew up in a refugee family,” Gitre said. “These are not conversations that we have in everyday life, and we’re definitely not hearing them in the media, so just to have some exposure to experience and facts equips all of us to go into the world and make good decisions without the fear that holds us back.” Hand discussed her interactions with the students that she teaches. While working with refugees that have both resettled and those still in refugee camps, she was able to have a more comprehensive understanding of some of the challenges they face. She found that through education, a lot of the refugees who she works with are able to have a hope for a better future. The panel also included Sohrabi, who is originally from Kurdistan and spent time during her childhood in

a refugee camp in Iraq, but moved to Finland at a young age. She recounted her time in the refugee camp as well as the process of moving to Finland. “I think that the biggest obstacle to human fear and support is fear of the other, and there are many reasons why we are experiencing fear right now — it is a scary world,” Gitre said. “But I think that we have to have proper information to confront that fear, so we can’t run around saying things that are false if we want to make the world better.” Jennalee Beazley, a sophomore studying international studies and economics, came to the panel to get a firsthand perspective on the policies that affect refugees. “We are all of voting age, and we need to be talking about this with our representatives because there is a lot of legislation that is going to affect the refugee crisis,” Beazley said. “When you are a voter that is unaware of it, you cannot make an educated vote, and I think that is something for young people to be aware of.” The event was organized by multiple departments around campus including the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention; the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; the Institute for Society, Culture and Environment; the Middle East Working Group, the Women’s and Gender Studies; and the Departments of History, Human Development, Foreign Languages and Literatures, Political Science, Religion and Culture and Sociology. “I hope that students got inspired to get more involved and more educated about it because even though this was really informative, there is a lot more that can be done,” Beazley said.

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Prism Society to promote LGBT outreach on campus ANNA DAVIS news reporter

The Prism Society is a new organization that aims to increase the LGBT community’s presence on campus through outreach. The group currently has six active members. It consists of students who have branched off from HokiePride, a universitychartered resource for the LGBT community. According to Prism Society members, HokiePride can seem secluded. “The issue with HokiePride is that you actively have to seek HokiePride out,” said junior psychology major Tobias Sweeney. “Our goal is more to be visible.” Senior Nick Korpics, the Prism Society president, seconded this opinion. “HokiePride does a great job providing resources where people in the LGBT community can get together and vent their problems, but we’re trying to create awareness,” Korpics, a marketing management major, said. HokiePride was not available for comment.

The Prism Society promotes its message through various outreach initiatives. In October, the organization launched its “Out Against Hate” campaign as part of LGBT History Month. Members held tabling events across campus and visited Eastern Montgomery High School, where they passed out anti-bullying flyers. The club is in the process of arranging visits to high schools in Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Radford. The group also hopes to visit other colleges that lack strong LGBT presences. “Maybe we’ll go to Liberty (University),” Korpics said. “I know that’s like a missionary mission, but I think it’s important that our community is visible so we can enhance our image for future generations.” The Prism Society hosted an event called “Query a Queer” on Oct. 28. Three members spent their Friday afternoon passing out donuts on the Drillfield and inviting passersby to ask any questions they may have about the LGBT community. Inquiries ranged from wondering what the Q in LGBTQ stands for — the

COURTESY OF PRISM SOCIETY

Students advocating for Prism Society sit out on the Drillﬁeld to inform peers within their community of their organization’s goals and mission statement.

answer is “questioning” — to asking how members interact with religious organizations. “We got a lot of responses from people who didn’t even know that there was an LGBT group on campus,” Korpics said. A key aspect of the Prism Society is that it intends to be a meeting place where both LGBT-identified students and allies can come together. “It’s obvious that LGBT people support LGBT issues because, of course, we support things that benefit ourselves,” said senior Delia Hollenbeck. “I think it’s important to have allies who come out and say, ‘I support this as well,’ even though it doesn’t directly benefit them because this helps normalize (the LGBT community).” The Prism Society uses social media, especially Facebook, to advertise its events. The group meets every Wednesday in Squires, where it hosts discussions that relate to LGBT issues, such as genderbased violence and political systems. In the future, the Prism Society would like to fundraise for homeless LGBT youth and Trans Lifeline, a crisis hotline for the transgender community. The club hopes it can serve as a positive outlet for newcomers to the LGBT community on campus. “When I first started questioning, I had a very difficult time finding resources,” said Hollenbeck, an aerospace engineering major. “I want to help other people not have the same struggle as I did.” Students who are interested in joining the Prism Society can visit the group’s GobblerConnect page or email prismsocietyvt@gmail.com.

@AnnnaDavis

Newman Library did not necessitate a timely warning because police were able to determine it was likely a hoax within 30–45 minutes, according to Foust. The police decided to do a full search regardless as only a small number of students were disrupted. “We already had K-9 units there. Just out of an abundance of caution we went ahead and evacuated the library and let the dogs do their search,” Foust said. “It was good training for the dogs … so why not take advantage of the fact that they’re there?” This was not the first time VTPD chose not to warn students of a campus threat. On Nov. 2, 2015, several Virginia Tech commuters found the tires of their vehicles slashed and deflated and the two perpetrators were not apprehended until over a week later, on Nov. 11. VTPD issued no crime alert. The serial incidents may have constituted an ongoing threat, and reporting the incident likely would not have compromised police actions as the Collegiate Times had already reported on the matter. However, tire slashing

is considered vandalism — not a Clery Act crime — meaning campus police were not required to issue a warning about the incident. In another instance, in February 2015, a Virginia State Police Trooper pulled over a suspected stolen vehicle on U.S. 460. The female suspect in the car was taken into custody while the armed male suspect fled “in an unknown direction,” according to the crime alert that VTPD distributed. Because this incident did not occur on campus proper or on adjoining public spaces and parking lots, VTPD was not required to send out an alert. Foust made the decision that the campus community needed to be informed anyway. “Out of an abundance of caution, I decided, you know what, a lot of our campus community lives in these apartment complexes where he’s running around, I think they should know about this,” Foust said. Virginia Tech’s most notable legal brush with the Clery Act came in March 2011, when the Department of Education fined the university $55,000 for not issuing a timely warning to the campus community about the

shootings on April 16, 2007. The university issued an alert approximately two hours after the first two victims, Emily Hilscher and Ryan Clark, were slain. A three-year legal battle ensued. The university was found guilty of negligence, then the ruling was overturned, then fined again and then cleared again, until finally Virginia Tech paid $32,500 not to admit fault, but “to close this chapter on the tragedy,” wrote Lawrence Hincker, the former associate vice president for university relations, in a university statement. Since October 2013, VTPD has issued 35 crime alerts, five of which were published this academic year. The public has access to information on all reportable crimes via the daily crime log or the annual disclosure report that provides crime statistics for a given year. A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Erin Peterson and Julia Pryde were the first two victims of the April 16 shootings. The article has been updated with the correct information. @WithTheFancyGuy

Kaine ﬁnds faith in gun safety laws after April 16 LINDSEY GROOMS news staff writer

T he r un n i ng mate of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) has addressed his personal connection with gun violence throughout the campaign trail. To ensure gun safety, Kaine would like to expand mental health services and place restrictions on combat-style weapons. However, he has not always been as aggressively in favor of regulation. In 2005, Kaine was running for governor of Virginia and was focused on appealing to its citizens. “I’m com m itted to not violating the Second Amendment or infringing upon the gun rights of lawabiding citizens,” Kaine said in a Washington Post article from August 2005. “I’m committed to protecting that constitutional right to hunt and fish … I value the traditions that Virginians value.” Geoffrey Skelley, media relations coordinator for the University of Virginia Center for Politics and associate editor of the political blog Sabato’s Crystal Ball, believes that Kaine’s campaign for the governor of Virginia in 2005 attempted to emulate Mark Warner’s 2001 gubernatorial campaign. “Virginia certainly was a more conservative state in 2005, and Kaine’s campaign approach reflected that,” Skelley said. “In late August of that year, he held a ‘Sportsmen for Kaine’ event to try to broaden his appeal to rural voters … It may seem strange today, but Warner actually won narrow margins in most regions of the state en route to victory, winning many rural counties in southwest Virginia and south-side. Kaine wasn’t nearly as successful, but he ran up larger margins in the three major metropolitan areas — northern Virginia, greater Richmond and Hampton Roads — than Warner, while not losing in the rest of the state as badly as Democrats have in recent election cycles.” During Kaine’s term as governor, the state experienced what was, at the time, the worst mass shooting in United States history — the April 16, 2007, shooting at Virginia Tech. Kaine referred to that day as the worst day of his life at a campaign rally in July 2016. On April 30, 2007 — 14 days after the shooting — Kaine issued an executive order that was intended to prohibit the sale of guns to

FILE 2012

potentially dangerous individuals. People who had undergone involuntary mental health treatment would be included in a database of people banned from buying guns. Fast-forward to 2008, Kaine pushed for background checks at gun shows in the Virginia General Assembly. The proposed gun show legislation was rejected in 2008 by a committee in the Virginia State Senate and again in 2009 by the Senate in a 19–21 vote. Gun safety advocate Colin Goddard is a survivor of the 2007 shooting at Virginia Tech — he was shot four times in his French class. After Goddard graduated, he worked in Richmond for the State Board of Elections in 2008 and in the House of Delegates the following year. Goddard then moved to Washington, D.C., and has been working on gun safety issues ever since he enrolled in graduate school there. “He and Clinton have both campaigned in favor of taking some reasonable steps to enact better gun safety laws,” Goddard said. “Congress is the problem — it is going to be the problem — unless the Democrats take the House and Senate. It (would be) incredible to have two leaders in the White House who will not (be) shy about talking about this issue, and who know it personally … and to have that ally to help find a way forward and make the progress that we are so badly pushing for.” Goddard says that he thinks Kaine knows that the country cannot continue to not take action. “For Tim Kaine, his Newtown moment was April 16, 2007,” Goddard said.

“That was the moment he realized, along with many other people, that there is a problem, and there needs to be a new way forward. We can’t keep saying the same things and not doing anything.” Lori Haas, Virginia state director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, also has a personal connection to the shooting. Her daughter was a sophomore at the time — she was grazed in the head by two bullets. This caused Haas to take action and join others in advocating for gun violence prevention. “There are 10 categories of prohibited persons by federal law; any of those prohibited persons can go buy a firearm — online, at a gun show, or on a street corner and many other places — without having to undergo a background check,” Haas said. “It’s only when the seller is a federal licensed dealer that the purchaser is required to undergo the background check, and we’d like everyone to have to undergo the background check. Many states already have universal background checks, required by state law, and those states have far fewer gun deaths of women by abusive partners, law enforcement and suicides — it’s very impactful when you have that policy.” Kaine responded to a tweet from the verified account of the National Rifle Association (NRA). It said that Kaine was, “Perennially ‘F’ rated by the #NRA during his tenure at both state and federal levels.” Kaine responded, “And proud of it.”

@Lindsey_Grooms

PAGE 4 November 7, 2016

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Watch: Doctor Strange BRADY TICKLE lifestyles staff writer

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been getting into somewhat of a standard groove lately. While it has been filled with solid entry after solid entry (excluding “Thor: The Dark World”), most of the films follow a rather cookie-cutter approach to the story. A new big villain is introduced, the heroes learn something about themselves and a few quips are thrown in for good measure. Although the formula has made for incredibly entertaining films, it has made the MCU a bit rigid in terms of storytelling. For instance, while “Captain America: Civil War” was an undeniably awesome movie, it really did not shake things up in terms of this shared universe — which is a bit contradictory to its title. With all this being said, does the most recent chapter in the MCU, “Doctor Strange,” fall prey to some of the same flaws of formulaic plots, or does it sufficiently shake things up? To quote Peter Quill, the answer is, “A bit of both.” Yes, “Doctor Strange” is in some aspects your standard superhero origin story in which the protagonist gains new powers and learns something about himself in the process. However, it is also

largely different from any superhero movie we have seen before, and its integration of magic and different dimensions is not only mindbending, but also a muchneeded change to and reinvigoration of the MCU. As a kid, when all of the animated Marvel movies were being released on DVD, none of them held my attention — so, for the most part, I stuck with re-watching Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” films. That all changed when Marvel Animation released its take on Steve Ditko’s classic creation, “Doctor Strange.” The film immediately captivated me with its depiction of an arrogant, egotistical neurosurgeon who loses everything when a horrible car crash leaves his hands unable to do even simple tasks like shaving, much less conduct brain surgery. When all western medicine fails him, he heads east to an ancient temple where he learns the secrets of magic to heal himself and become the Sorcerer Supreme. Ever since that animated version, I have been patiently waiting to see a live-action take on the big screen, and boy, was I happy with the results. The film follows Strange’s tragic origin story to the letter. Once he gets to the temple, we are treated to some of the most dazzling special-effect

sequences ever put on screen; considering his illustrators in the 70s were under the influence of LSD, and that a large portion of his fan-base consisted of stoners, it should come as no surprise that these magical sequences are not only entertaining, but trippy as all get-out. While learning the ancient arts of magic, several new rules are given to the MCU, making it incredibly interesting to see what these Strange stories will lead to in terms of the bigger picture of this shared universe. Of course, we are not allowed to ponder that for too long, as it is unveiled that an evil sorcerer has plans to unleash Dormammu, a being from the Dark Dimension who inconveniently wants to consume the Earth. I loved that they were able to get this primary antagonist from the comics into the movie, and it provides the opportunity for one of the most clever climactic battles I have ever seen in a big-budget action movie. The performances are all around amazing. Benedict Cumberbatch continues to do no wrong, owning his American accent and being just as much fun to watch as Downey’s Stark, similarly playing an intelligent man with a snarky attitude. Chiwetel Ejiofor is solid as Mordo, one of Strange’s instructors. Tilda Swinton

plays one of the best parts of the movie as the Ancient One, the wise head honcho of the temple and Strange’s primary teacher. Although director Scott Derrickson originally cast her in the role to avoid potential stereotyping of an Asian actor (because people are offended by anything and everything these days), his well-intentioned decision backfired, and he was accused of whitewashing an Asian role. However, I think it was a bold move to put a woman in a man’s role, and Swinton proves that this was the correct decision, stealing every scene she is in. Benedict Wong is also hilarious as Wong, the temple’s library guardian, and Rachel McAdams is one of the most intriguing love interests for any superhero thus far in the MCU. Overall, “Doctor Strange” is an entertaining, thoughtprovoking thrill ride that raises substantial questions as to future directions of the MCU. It is easily my second favorite superhero film of the year (with the first being “Deadpool”), and Marvel’s most original cinematic entry since “Guardians of the Galaxy.” I give it five out of five stars.

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BUDGET: Sands pledges to lobby for more funding from page 1

Instead, the funding reduction will coincide with the start of the next academic year and the fall semester. State funding represents 18 percent of Virginia Tech’s $1.5 billion annual budget. A 7.5 percent cut will restrict $12.9 million in general fund revenues from Virginia Tech’s university division. “This means that if the state shortfall remains the projected figure of 7.5 percent, it does not translate into a similar-percentage reduction in average unit budgets,” Sands wrote. “That moderated impact will vary by unit based on a unit’s dependence on state funds.” In a d d it i o n, the Cooperative Extension and the Agr icultural Exper iment Station Division will face a total funding cut of $5.2 million. In all, state funding cuts will leave the university with an $18.1 million shortfall. Student financial aid is not expected to be impacted by the impending cuts.

In the meantime, Sands’ office intends to lobby state lawmakers in the hopes funding cuts can be reduced or eliminated. “I can assure you that my office, along with support from Government Relations and Finance, will do everything we can to convey to the General Assembly the significant impacts that will result from reductions of this magnitude, and we will ask for actions to mitigate the level of the proposed reductions.” However, in the event that lobbying is not successful, Sands wrote that he was confident that strategic budget i ng, i nc r e a s e d enrollment and philanthropic growth will “add to our financial resilience.” “I call on all of members of the Virginia Tech community to join in looking for both efficiencies and revenue growth opportunities, including those that engage industry partners, in the spirit of Beyond Boundaries.”

@RichChumney

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November 7, 2016 PAGE 5

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Hokies avoid upset at Duke with 24–21 win The Virginia Tech football team escaped Duke with a 24–21 victory, moving up in the Associated Press national rankings to No. 18. T h ree weeks ago, Virginia Tech was ranked in the top 20 nationally and traveled to face a team that it was favored heavily to beat (Syracuse). On Saturday, the No. 19 Hokies found themselves in an eerily similar situation as they traveled to Durham, North Carolina, to face Duke. This time, however, the Hokies came out as victors — barely. The game wasn’t pretty. The Hokies struggled on defense to stop the Blue Devils’ rushing attack, allowing 375 yards of total offense — 227 of which were rushing yards. Duke’s leading rusher was quarterback Daniel Jones, who accounted for 125 yards and two scores.

“

We’ve got to give credit to Hokie Nation. At times it sounded like Lane Stadium out there.” Isaiah Ford wide receiver

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Carol Raffety (5) bumps the ball during the game against North Carolina, Oct. 28, 2016.

Volleyball splits weekend road matches against ACC competitors The Hokies lost 0–3 against Georgia Tech on Friday, but were able to end the weekend on a high note after defeating Wake Forest 3–1 on Sunday afternoon. MADDIE THOMPSON volleyball beat reporter

The Hokies can once more record a win in the books as they split their weekend series with Georgia Tech and Clemson. They hit the road as they revisited the two ACC opponents from earlier this season. The win at Clemson is the first by the Hokies since Oct. 7 against Wake Forest. The Hokies first traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday to O’Keefe Gym to revisit the Hornets of Georgia Tech and took a loss (14–25, 24–26, 24–26). Despite over 10 kills from Lindsey Owens and Amanda McKinzie, Virginia Tech went three and out, making them 0–2 against the Hornets this season. The Hokies kept the match close, however, taking the second and third games into extra points and cutting a five-point deficit in the beginning of game two to propel them into a lead. The Hornets, however, took the game after a tie at 24 points that went into extras.

Virginia Tech’s defense also had a positive showing against Georgia Tech, as it kept the Hornets’ attack percentage below .200 in the second and third games. Friday’s game was the first that setter Rhegan Mitchell was pulled back into the rotation, completing her first full game since the beginning of September. On Sunday, the team drove up to Clemson, South Carolina, to Jervey Gym and recorded its first win in November against the Clemson Tigers (25–17, 20 –25, 25–23, 25 –15). The Hokies flaunted some of their attack strength, as Owens totaled an impressive 24 kills for the match and McKinzie finished with 16 kills. Surpassing 1,000 digs this season in Tech’s match against Wake Forest, McKinzie is now at 926 kills for her career. Reaching 1,000 kills during her senior season would make her only the seventh player in Virginia Tech’s program history to reach 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. Not only did the Hokies come

out strong offensively, but also channeled frustration from games past into a solid defense. Owens and Mitchell completed the match with over 10 digs and libero Carol Raffety finished with 22 total digs, displaying the Hokies’ dedication to defensive work. The Hokies also kept the Tigers at a .219 hitting percentage, inching closer to head coach Chris Riley’s goal of keeping their opponents under .200. Next weekend will be the Hokies’ last games at home, as they welcome Kipps Elementary School students on Friday against Duke and celebrate senior day on Sunday as they face Wake Forest. This will be the second time Virginia Tech sees these familiar ACC schools, recording a win against Wake Forest and a loss to Duke earlier in the season. The Hokies hope to keep their winning momentum going as they finish out their season at home.

@CTSportsTalk

Tech’s defensive coordinator Bud Foster is known for struggling when facing dual-threat quarterbacks like Jones, but he was glad that his defense made enough stops to get the win against Duke. “We finally won, right!” Foster said when asked about scheming against mobile quarterbacks. “It’s just fundamental football that goes back to day one and we’ve got to get better.” The tone of the game was set in the first quarter. The Hokies scored first on a 14-yard rush from running back Travon McMillian with 7:35 left in the first quarter. The Blue Devils answered right back with a three-yard rush from their running back Shaun Wilson. The second quarter was dominated by the Hokies. They scored twice, one of which was a blocked field goal by Greg Stroman that was returned for a touchdown by Adonis Alexander, and the other was a 7-yard rush by quarterback Jerod Evans. “When you’ve got Greg Stroman as the blocker, there’s not a kick that can’t be blocked,” Alexander said.

The third quarter was a completely different story. The two offenses went in different directions, as Duke’s began to excel and Tech’s completely stalled. Duke scored on a 7-yard rush from Jones to bring the deficit to within one score. But like all hard-fought games, this one was decided in the fourth quarter. Early on, kicker Joey Slye nailed a 27-yard field goal to put the Hokies up by 10. Just two Duke drives later, the Blue Devils made it a threepoint game after scoring on another rush from Jones. From that point on, the game became much more competitive. The Hokies had a three-and-out, giving the opportunity for Duke to take the lead late in the game. Just as the Blue Devils were driving down the field, rover Terrell Edmunds delivered a thunderous blow to Wilson and knocked the ball out. The play was originally ruled a fumble recovered by Virginia Tech, but upon further review, the referees determined that Edmunds’ hit was illegal and ejected him for targeting — a penalty that gave Duke the ball back. “It’s a call. It’s over with and we’ll move forward. It’s the call from them, and if I’d make a statement it probably wouldn’t be the right one, so I’m not going to say anything,” Foster said angrily after the game. From that play on, the Hokies’ defense locked down and didn’t allow another score for the Blue Devils, sealing the 24–21 victory. Perhaps one of the greatest factors that got the Hokies through was the plethora of Virginia Tech fans who showed up to cheer them on. “We’ve got to give credit to Hokie Nation. At times, it sounded like Lane Stadium out there. It was really impressive. Our fans travel, and every game is a home game when you play (at Virginia Tech),” said Hokies’ wide receiver Isaiah Ford. The Hokies return home next week as they are set to face Georgia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 3:30 pm in Lane Stadium.

@ChaseParker_VT

WRESTLING: Hokies prove top-10 ranking with wins from page 1

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Solomon Chishko, ranked ninth nationally for his weight class, wrestles against VMI’s Stevan Smith, Nov. 5, 2016.

year, and the Hokies did that on Saturday. On Sunday, Roanoke’s Berglund Center played host to the Hokie Open, in which wrestlers from all over the country took part in a multi-mat affair. All active wrestlers on the Virginia Tech squad that didn’t start on Saturday were on the floor Sunday. Dresser was looking to develop his younger wrestlers at this exhibition and is optimistic about the future of Virginia Tech wrestling. The Hokies have very high expectations for 2016, rightfully so, as they are ranked at fourth in the country. The goal is clear for the wrestling Hokies: they want to claim the ACC

Championship and leave their mark on the NCAA C ha mpion sh ip. Wit h Dresser, the Hokies are on the right track. Next week, Virginia Tech will take on the 24th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs in a special performance in Moss Arts Center. Chat t a nooga, coming off of a win this weekend against Southeastern, will look to pull off the upset over Virginia Tech. The Mocs will be a very good test for the Hokies early on in the season. The atmosphere in Moss Arts Center should be very electric and a great wrestling environment for the Hokies.

@CTSportsTalk

PAGE 6 November 7, 2016

SLUTZKY: Hokie alumna progresses in politics from page 1

to everything” while at VT. I strongly recommend that. CT: Describe your Virginia Tech experience. RS: In one word: fantastic. It would be an understatement to say that I loved every second I spent at VT. The friends I met there are still some of my closest to this day. Also, having lived all over the country , I always join the Hokie alumni group when I get to a new place. It’s an excellent way to meet new people, and I always have someone to watch a football game with. CT: Describe your career after graduating. RS: I actually left school a little early (had been on the five-year plan) to join the Hillary Clinton for President campaign in 2007. I finished up while on the campaign trail in Iowa and stayed working for her through the primary season before switching over to Obama for the general election. I then did campaigns

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both in Virginia and elsewhere for a few more years before moving to California for law school. Shortly after law school, I managed the Prop-47 campaign, which succeeded in passing criminal justice reform in California. I have been in my current role as executive director for DPVA since May of last year. CT: Why do you identify with the Democratic Party? RS: The Democratic Party has always closely aligned with my beliefs; most notably the belief that our government can better the lives of the American people. When I started working for Hillary’s first campaign in 2007, it was because I felt that her vision for America was the strongest I had ever seen. It’s a vision where equality isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a vision that welcomes all. I’m proud to work for a party that puts the interests of the many at the forefront of our platform, and I can’t wait to see what

progress Democrats will make in 2016 and beyond. CT: How did your time at Virginia Tech lead to your eventual position as Executive Director? RS: In addition to the strong academic foundation I received, one of the best things about Virginia Tech is the vast array of extracurricular activities you can choose to be involved with. Whether it was a flag football game on a Saturday to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation, my sorority’s philanthropy (GO CHI O), lobbying the General Assembly though SGA, or practicing with the club gymnastics team, in many respects, the organizations I participated in were the best foundation for developing the interpersonal skills I use today as executive director of the DPVA. Every day at Virginia Tech simply prepared me to be a stronger political t h i n ker. Accord i ngly, Virginia Tech’s strong ethical value and motto “Ut Prosim” (That I may serve) has had a lasting impact on my career. CT: What advice do you have for Hokies who wish to pursue a career in politics? RS: Network! As with any industry, the best way to get hired in politics is through personal recommendations. The more people you get out and meet, the more opportunities come your way! I have spent a lot of time doing informational interviews over the years, and that is really the best way to break into any industry.

COURTESY OF REBECCA SLUTZKY

Rebecca Slutzky pictured next to Hillary Clinton.

@meg_connors7

HUDDLE: Hokie works as press assistant with DPVA from page 1

back to Tech’s defining principle: That I May Serve. CT: What is your favorite memory at Virginia Tech thus far? MH: My favorite memory has to be my first football game as a student. There really isn’t anything like it. The electricity in the stadium when “Enter Sandman” starts playing is thrilling for all Hokies, and more so for freshmen just kicking off their time at Virginia Tech. It will certainly be a defining memory for the entirety of my time in Blacksburg, and it’s one I hope I can replicate for years after I graduate. CT: Describe your experience at the DPVA thus far. MH: It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience with lots of hard work built in. From our very own Tim Kaine getting the nod for vice president, to attending the convention in Philadelphia and drowning in balloons on the night Hillary accepted the nomination — every moment of my experience working in press and communications for the DPVA has been memorable. I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with teams of Democrats who I’ve admired from afar, and I’ve been at the center of a critical battleground state in the most important election of our lifetime. I’ve seen the inner workings of campaigns at all levels and now have the foundation to start my career. As my first taste of the real working experience in politics, it’s been one for the books. CT: Why do you identify with the Democratic Party? MH: The Democratic Party is the party of inclusion. It’s the party that fights for all Virginians and all Americans regardless of race, gender,

COURTESY OF MEREDITH HUDDLE

Meredith Huddle pictured with Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam (CENTER) and DPVA Chair Susan Swecker (RIGHT). socioeconomic status or otherwise. Our party recognizes the economic hardships that face millions of Americans, and we pursue commonsense solutions that work for everyone, thus making us “stronger together.” One of the strongest aspects of the Democratic platform that I identify with has to be the pursuit of equality. Democrats are fighting Republicans tooth-and-nail every day to ensure that equal pay, social justice and wealth equality are enshrined in our country’s future. Our nation has a long way to go, but with Democrats at the helm, we can guarantee that the clock isn’t turned back on the issues that matter most. What makes America already great is our unerring belief that we, together, can make it better and more enriching for all. CT: What would you like to pursue in the future in your career? MH: I definitely want to continue a career in political media/press relations. I’ve already learned so much about writing press releases, working with reporters, producers and newsrooms all while delivering the democratic message for the critical issues that face our commonwealth and our nation. I don’t think my work is

done in Virginia; I’d like to make it back to Richmond to keep pushing progress under Democratic leadership. I’ve had the privilege to work with elected officials and their staff, and I am naturally interested in working communications on Capitol Hill. Wherever the road takes me, I’ll be proud to work with Democrats to continue the legacy of President Obama. There’s a lot of work to be done, and I know I will be a part of it somewhere, somehow. CT: What advice do you have to Hokies who are considering co-ops? MH: Apply even if you think there’s no chance you’ll get it. There are opportunities out there for anyone, and some even fall into your lap like mine. Don’t sacrifice a semester away from school simply because you don’t want to miss all the happenings at Tech — no matter how severe a case of FOMO you may have. The most important piece of advice I can give to anyone seeking a full-time semester off is this: Don’t hold back. Take the initiative and take the opportunity to get a taste of your industry in the working world. @meg_connors7