Nov. 14, 2017 by The Collegiate Times

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November 14, 2017

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VIETNAM VETERAN ADDED TO PYLONS A ceremony was held Saturday, Nov. 11, to honor the life of Luther “Jim” Doss Jr. and add his name to the Pylons.

SANSKRITI NEUPANE news staff writer

Overlooking the Pylons on War Memorial Court, just a day before Veterans Day, family members and friends of Luther “Jim” Doss Jr., brothers of Phi Gamma Delta (formerly local fraternity Phi Alpha Chi), and members of the Blacksburg community gathered to honor the memory of a fallen Hokie. Jim Doss’ engraving is

the 431st to be added to the Pylons. Doss, who served in the Vietnam War, was awarded two Bronze Stars for Valor in Battle and the Purple Heart. However, because he never graduated from Virginia Tech, his name was not added to the Pylons until Dana Hesse, a member of the same fraternity, the Rho Alpha chapter of Phi Gamma Delta, came across Doss’ name. After making sure Doss was eligible to be

added, Hesse began the process of adding his name to the Pylons. The event began with the playing of the national anthem and a speech by the commandant of cadets, Maj. Gen. Randal D. Fullhart. Fullhart described the importance of commemorating those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and described the history of the Pylons, which begins with names of students who lost their lives while serving in

World War II. Toward the end, David Doss, the son of Jim Doss, discussed the sacrifice made by his father. David Doss was only 2 years old when his father passed away in service to his country. “All those who have made this day possible, you who stand here today, (know) that you have carved not only on these stones the name of my father but that you have see PYLONS / page 4

MATT JONES / COLLEGIATE TIMES Luther Doss Jr.’s name engraved on the “Honor” pylon, Nov. 12, 2017.

Women’s basketball opens the new Avoiding booths season with lopsided 99–32 victory around campus Virginia Tech cruised past Wagner for the largest margin of victory in school history, with seven players scoring in double digits. JORDAN HUTCHINSON sports editor

T he Vi rginia Tech women’s basketball team picked up a win in its first game of the season over Wagner, 99–32. The 67-point margin is the largest win margin in school history. “Good start. It was a good start,” said head coach Kenny Brooks. “A lot of times with new faces, you have no idea what to expect. So, it was pretty much a game about us.” From the tip, the Hokies controlled the pace of the game, jumping out to a 24–6 lead in the first quarter. Tech never let up, as it took a commanding 52–15 lead into the half. The Hokies had seven scorers in double digits

as they dominated the Seahawks, two of which made their debuts with Tech on Friday. Junior guard Taylor Emery led all scorers with 20 points, but also stuffed the stat sheet with five rebounds and three assists. Tech forward Alexis Jean had quite the debut, as she scored 16 points and secured

four rebounds before she tweaked her left ankle, and left for the game. Brooks said she’ll be fine, and could have returned. The noticeable difference from last season is the fact that Tech has so many more options on the floor. Coach Brooks agreed. “We can score, we don’t have to rely on one or two

people to carry the load,” Brooks said. Virginia Tech advanced to 1–0, while the Wagner Seahawks fell to 0–1. The Hokies will face Auburn on Monday night at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum.

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WILL CAMPBELL / COLLEGIATE TIMES Regan Magarity (11) scores in the post, Nov. 10, 2017.

HOKIES LOOK TO BEAT PANTHERS Tech looks to bounce back against Pittsburgh.

OPINION: VAPING IS RIDICULOUS Puffing fruity water vapor will never be cool.

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Tired of getting stopped by student organizations? Here are some tips. GRETCHEN KERNBACH lifestyles staff writer

Did homecoming traumatize you? Did it cause you the utmost anxiety passing every booth, thoughts racing through your head as to whether to make eye contact or just turn around altogether? Is the booth epidemic becoming too much? Yes. Yes it is. Walking to class at Vi rginia Tech means passing one or two booths every day, three or four if you’re cursed. Most of the time, you can get away with a small smile and a nod, signaling to the students manning the booth that you’re not interested. The other times — harassment. As Ms. Norbury from “Mean Girls” would put it, how many of you have ever

felt personally victimized from student organization booths on campus? Now, we know they’re just trying to get us to “vote” or “donate” or “become more informed,” but enough is enough. We have to stand up for ourselves. We have to raise our fists and let our voices be heard. We have to … find ridiculous ways to avoid these booths on campus and avoid confrontation. The first (and easiest) way to stay out of the enemy’s line of sight is simply changing your route. Walking into Turner? Go in through one of the side doors instead of the doors directly in front. If you’re really scared of students talking to you, use either entrance surrounding Fire Grill. No booths there. see BOOTHS / page 5

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PAGE 2 November 14, 2017

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column

Let’s clear the air: Vaping is not cool and never will be

was riding the bus one day, back when I was in high school. We drove through the neighborhood like we always would. Then my friend yelled over to me, “Justin, you have to take a look at this.” So I went over to the window, and there it was: a maybe ten-year-old kid, walking down the street, vaping. My last few pieces have covered the ongoings of politics, activism and the law, but now we’re getting down to real issues. On campus, while vaping doesn’t affect us as much as national politics, it may impact us just as often. I’m only being slightly facetious. There’s not the arm of big government here reaching to take away our liberties, but there is the occasional cloud of artificially sweet smoke taking over our airspace. Both smokers and vapers can be extremely inconsiderate of those around them. Last year, when I was still recovering from the worst bronchitis known to mankind, my friend pulled out his vape, with nicotine, and started taking huge puffs without rolling the windows down. I started coughing uncontrollably. I kept telling him to stop, and every time he would say he

would, then take another big puff a few minutes later. It was a picture-perfect example of a person prioritizing their wants — or needs for some — at the expense of everyone else. Vaping is said to be a safer and less disruptive alternative to smoking, and while the safety of these devices is disputed, no one can argue that they are just as, if not more, annoying to be around.

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Feel free to puff to your heart’s content in private, as long as it’s not in a dorm. Maybe even try a hookah lounge.”

But it isn’t just a personal beef some people might have. Vaping has had real consequences for many people living in dorms. Many of the early-semester fire alarms weren’t set off by Easy Mac; they were caused by vapes in the dorms. Even though it’s just water vapor, the juice still triggers the alarm system. Every time I see some poor kid standing outside their dorm building in a robe waiting the alarm out, I think, “Wow, this kid might be freezing their butt off because someone was

vaping indoors.” And to the vapers, vaping has never been the status symbol that smoking once was. No one is trying to say that smoking was ever cool, but in society, there was a time when cigarette companies were able to market their products as things all the cool kids used. And it worked, until the national anti-cigarette ad campaigns derailed them. But vaping has never been thought of in that way. When I see someone walking down one of the Drillfield paths, puffing from a vape, I probably wouldn’t say to myself, “That looks so cool; I want to be just like them!” More likely, I wouldn’t even notice the passerby until I run into their fruity vapor cloud. This is not an indictment on anyone’s individual liberties. But if you choose to vape, know that it makes others around you feel uncomfortable. Feel free to puff to your heart’s content in private, as long as it’s not in a dorm. Maybe even try a hookah lounge. Just don’t subject others to the strange, sickly sweet smell of water vapor leaving your lungs. JUSTIN REDMAN • opinions contributor • sophomore/public and urban affairs

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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 Tuesday 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, 2017. 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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MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Nellie Elliot, Konner Krehbiel and Garret Goodson, top to bottom with sign, join with thousands of pro-life marchers near the National Mall during the March for Life, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

column

Millennial women can and should be pro-life, redefine meaning of empowerment

any women in their teens and 20s subscribe to the pro-choice ideology because they have been told that it empowers women. While Roe v. Wade gave women an alternative choice, does that choice truly empower women? The idea of empowerment is that the individual is strong and confident. Abortions are typically very stressful on the mother and are difficult decisions. Women who have had an abortion are exposed to certain psychological risks, such as, regret, anger, guilt, shame, isolation, lack of self confidence, Insomnia, relationship issues, suicidal thought, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety. I was raised Catholic and was always taught to respect the sanctity of life. I remember growing up and seeing posters in the women’s restroom of my church offering postabortion therapy. Therapy sessions would not be needed for even a fraction of women if an abortion was as healthy and truly liberating as many pro-choice activists claim. Not only is abortion hurting the mother both physically and mentally, but think of the millions of female babies abortion has killed. This movement can’t truly empower women if it’s in turn killing them. The women who are pro-choice forget to recognize how lucky they are that their own mothers chose life. As Ronald Reagan once said, “I’ve noticed that everyone who is for abortion has already been born.” The argument that a mother gets an abortion because she cannot provide for her child is not a good enough excuse to end a life. No one in this world is born under perfect

circumstances, but by being born they have the ability to create as meaningful and successful a life as they can for themselves. There may be a lot of kids in foster care who may not ever get adopted, but what gives a person the right to say that that child’s life is not worth living?

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A woman is empowered because of her ability to see her intrinsic value and the overall sanctity of a human life.”

I recently read a heartbreaking headline that Iceland has come very close to eradicating Down Syndrome. This is because mothers are choosing to abort their baby once they find out through prenatal screenings that their child has Down Syndrome. The idea that a person’s worth comes from whether he or she is genetically perfect is disgusting. Many other nations — including our own — have accepted the justification that because a mother believes her child may be a burden to society, she has the right to kill them. The real problem lies in allowing society to decide what constitutes life. Our legal system regards the murder of a pregnant woman as a double homicide due to the loss of two lives; however, when it comes to abortions the life of the child is not recognized. Ben Shapiro once stated, “Are you going to draw the line at the heartbeat? Because it’s very hard to draw the line at the heartbeat. There are people who are adults who are

alive because of a pacemaker. They need some sort of outside force generating their heartbeat.” He then went on to state that any arbitrary line one draws for when a life gains intrinsic value can then be applied to adults such as brain function or lack thereof and those in a coma. A culture of life means recognizing that a person’s worth does not come from their physical attributes but instead their intrinsic value, which each human is endowed with when they are created. Many young women think the pro-life movement is focused around oppressing other women; however, pro-life attitudes focus on the child and the health of the mother. Women are not only making a decision for their body, but also for an entirely separate and unique life — a life that will someday have goals, accomplishments and failures. There have been approximately 60 million abortions in the United States since Roe v. Wade. Can you imagine if a terrorist attack killed 60 million people? These 60 million are not figurative; they were future moms, dads, husbands, wives, brothers and sisters. Despite what the pro-choice movement says, being pro-life as a young woman does not mean you are working against your own interests; it means you are protecting the future 60 million lives. A woman is not empowered because she is pro-choice; she is empowered because of her ability to see her intrinsic value and the overall sanctity of a human life.

AMANDA FIELDS • opinions columnist • sophomore/business

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Nussbaum gives speech on anger’s place in activism Internationally recognized philosopher Martha Nussbaum lectured at Virginia Tech on Friday, Nov. 3. TAHREEM ALAM news staff writer

Mar tha Nu s sba u m, a distinguished philosopher and professor at the University of Chicago, gave a lecture on the topic of “Anger and Revolutionary Justice,” on Nov. 3. The event took place in the McBryde auditorium and was hosted by Virginia Tech’s interdisciplinary program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). “This Distinguished PPE Lecture will benefit all of us as we learn from a renowned world philosopher who has thought deeply about the many dimensions of the human experience, i nclud i ng a nger a nd forgiveness,” said Rosemary Bliezner, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in introducing Nussbaum. Nussbaum’s lecture about the importance of nonviolent activism included references to Greek myth, Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Nelson Mandela’s life and writing. Nussbaum received the Kyoto Prize in 2016 in Arts and Philosophy, previously taught at Harvard and Brown, and wrote numerous best-selling books, including her newest one: “Aging Thoughtfully: C o nve r s a t i o n s about Reti rement, Roma nce, Wrinkles, and Regret.”

The central point of her lecture was that the idea of payback really doesn’t make sense. “Ideas of cosmic balance, of proportionality, are extremely widespread and truly old. Inflicting proportional pain on the wrongdoer does not in itself restore the thing that is lost. When the man’s blood is spilled on the ground, who can bring it back? It’s very human to think proportionality between punishment and offense somehow balances out the offense. Only, it actually doesn’t,” Nussbaum said.

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Anger is a common part of most people’s lives. I’ve argued it often lacks the virtues that are claimed for it.”

Martha Nussbaum philosopher

She talked about three paths a person can take when reacting to a wrongdoing: taking the “status path” and not doing anything, retaliating with payback or deciding on an action that will progress the situation positively. Nu s s b a u m’s b el i ef against taking the status path was that the obsession of personal honor impedes the journey to intrinsic

good. “The tendency to see everything about one’s own self and one’s own rank seems very narcissistic and ill-suited to a society in which justice is an important value,” Nussbaum said. Anger can play three r ole s, a c c or d i ng to Nussbaum. It can signal to the self that something is not right. Anger can help motivate people to address real problems. However, it may not be a reliable motivation because violence can sometimes ensue from it. Anger can also be used as a useful deterrent, as people will usually don’t mess with scary, angry people. But, it is not ideal for a society to be fearful of one another. This won’t lead to a future of stability or peace. “People always deserve respect and a certain kind of love; after all, the ultimate kind of love is to create a world where men and women can live together, and that hope takes the participation of all,” Nussbaum said. “One should never wish to humiliate the opponent in any way, but instead should seek to win their friendship and cooperation.” Finally, she said her greatest inspiration came from an example from Nelson Mandela. Nussbaum said that during his 27 years in prison, Mandela meditated on anger and realized a couple of things, that were

TAHREEM ALAM / COLLEGIATE TIMES Internationally recognized philosopher Martha Nussbaum gives a speech on anger and its place in activism, Nov. 3, 2017.

later collected in his memoir “C onve r s a t ion s Wit h Myself.” “He says, payback simply doesn’t get you anywhere. If we actually want to do something good for ourselves and for others, we quickly discover that non-anger is far more useful,” Nussbaum said. She completed this thought with a parable from Mandela about the sun being stronger than the wind after successfully having a traveler remove his blanket. While the wind blew hard to force the blanket off of the traveler, the sun shone in small increments, and gradually grew until the heat is what caused the traveler to abandon his blanket. “By a gentle method, it was possible to get the traveler to discard the blanket. And this is the

VIRGINIA

parable that through peace, we will be able to convert, you see, the most determined people, and this is the method we should follow. Anger has nothing to do with moving us forward. It just increases the other party’s self-defensiveness,” Nussbaum said. Nussbaum did make a disclaimer, and explained that this parable is only used in a particular struggle, in which one side wants peace. “Anger is a common part of most people’s lives. I’ve argued it often lacks the virtues that are claimed for it, and it lacks the normative and practical problem-solving on its own,” Nussbaum said. “I hesitate to conclude with a slogan that certainly betrays my age — but it really does seem time to give peace a chance.”

At the end of the lecture, a brief question-and-answer session was held where the audience was told the first three questions must be by students. After several questions, a reception, which included light refreshments, snacks and a quartet, was held in the Torgersen atrium, followed by more conversation that lasted an hour. “The lecture was superb and very profound. The way she enunciated her arguments was in such a way that you could really relate to many different things for, and against which I really like when going to speakers of this nature. Having an objective speaker is something I thoroughly enjoy,” said Dillon Woods, a sophomore. @CollegiateTimes

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PYLONS: War hero Hager-Smith shatters glass ceiling from page 1

etched in our hearts gratitude that words cannot describe,” Doss said during his speech. Doss went on to describe the character of his father as a man who was willing to sacrifice at any cost. During his time in the jungles of Vietnam, he was severely injured during a battle. However, he managed to fight off his attackers and carry the bodies of his three comrades back. The military, recognizing the extent of his injuries offered him a non-combat position. Doss, however, refused and later went on a rescue mission for soldiers under attack and valiantly gave his life in service of the country and to save his fellow soldiers. The ceremony ended with

closing words from Doss, the reveal of the engraving to friends and family, and the firing of the canons. “In closing, when we see this flag flying at half-mast for Veterans Day let us remember all who served and those who are listed on this memorial and their families,” Doss said. “They and we are the legacies of an unbroken chain of proud men and women who served their country with honor, who waged war so that we know peace, who braved hardship so that we know opportunity, who payed the ultimate price so that we may know freedom. All gave some, but some gave all.”

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Her victory as the first female mayor of Blacksburg comes as Democrats sweep statewide offices and pick up at least 15 seats in the House of Delegates. MATT JONES editor in chief

Tuesday was a good night for Virginia Democrats, who swept the top three elected statewide posts in midterm elections and picked up several seats in the House of Delegates. In Montgomery County, several new officials were elected, including Blacksburg’s first woman mayor, Leslie Hager-Smith. Current Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam handily defeated Republican Ed Gillespie statewide in unofficial results, carrying 53.86 percent of the vote to his 44.96 percent. Cliff Hyra, the libertarian candidate, only garnered 1.12 percent. Democrat Justin Fairfax defeated Republican Jill

study break

Vogel to be the state’s next lieutenant governor, and incumbent Democrat Mark Herring defeated Republican John Adams to continue as attorney general. Each of the Democratic candidates for statewide office received a majority of the votes in Montgomery County in pa r ticula r, which also saw a number of contested House of Delegates races. In the 7th District, Republican incumbent Nick Rush defeated Democrat Flourette Ketner to keep his seat in the House. Also, in the 8th District, Democrat Steve McBride lost to Republican incumbent Gregory Habeeb. T he 12t h D ist r ict election, which garnered the

most national attention out of the races in Montgomery Count y, did see a n incumbent lose though. Republican incumbent Joseph Yost lost to political newcomer and Democrat Chris Hurst, getting 45.59 percent of the vote to Hurst’s 54.41. In Blacksburg, Leslie Hager-Smith edged out fellow Town Council member Krisha Chachra and political newcomer Ed Lawhorn to be Blacksburg’s first woman mayor. HagerSmith received 38.76 percent of the vote, compared to Chachra’s 35.96 percent and Lawhorn’s 24.49 percent. Blacksburg also elected three new members to the Town Council: Susan Anderson, Susan Mattingly

and Lauren Colliver. The three new members received 28.15, 27.94 and 25.52 percent of the vote, respectively. Ken Jones, the fourth candidate, missed the cut with 16.89 percent of the vote. Also in Montgomery County, Sara Bohn, Steve Fijalkowski and incumbent Todd King were elected to the Board of Supervisors. None of those races were contested. Gunin Kiran, Dana Partin and Jamie Bond won seats on the Mo nt go m e r y C o u nt y School Board. Only Partin’s race was contested.

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Today’s Birthday Horoscope (Nov. 14): You’re growing stronger, more powerful and more influential over the next two years. Track finances carefully. Communication can unlock professional doors this winter, before home renovation or relocation engages your creativity. Summer discoveries lead to changing domestic options and career expansion. Dreams can come true.

Bliss by Harry Bliss

FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 14, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Where you go, we go.

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Fancy pillowcase 5 Not as expensive 9 Stats for sluggers 13 Lotto variant 14 Actress Davis played by Susan Sarandon in TV’s “Feud” 15 “Alice’s Restaurant” singer Guthrie 16 *2010 Grammy winner for Best Metal Performance 18 Opinion sampling 19 2,000 pounds 20 French possessive 21 __-Ball: midway game 22 Discreetly, in slang 26 Nag, nag, nag 28 Black-eyed __ 29 Electrified particle 31 Without an escort 32 Bygone Honda sports car 33 Impassive type 35 Dry-sounding deodorant brand 38 ICU drips 39 *TV cooking competition hosted by Padma Lakshmi 41 Sch. in Columbus 42 Tiny laugh 44 Bundle of papers 45 Put into service 46 Airline to Tel Aviv 48 Flub it 49 Letter-shaped hardware item 50 Sinuous ski race 52 Gets in the way of 54 H.S. exams 55 Dripping 57 SEAL’s org. 58 Tech news site 59 Paint choice ... and what the first word of the answers to starred clues can literally be 64 Longfellow’s “The Bell of __” 65 Standoffish 66 Just sitting around 67 Pear variety 68 Mix, as a salad 69 What Simon does

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DOWN 1 Word before bum or bunny 2 “Tell __ About It”: Billy Joel hit 3 “That’s __brainer!” 4 Wall calendar pages 5 Welcoming prop on “Hawaii Five-O” 6 Scheduled takeoff hrs. 7 Opposite of cheap 8 Taste and touch, e.g. 9 Nas or Nelly 10 *Started a construction project 11 More green around the gills 12 Shoe bottom 14 Old Western villain 17 “The Simpsons” bartender 22 Footnote ref. 23 __-racking: very stressful 24 *Money-saving investment accounts 25 Belt holders

Thanksgiving Break

11/14/17

By Janice Luttrell

Monday’s Solved Tuesday’sPuzzle Puzzle Solved

27 Chief of __: Army leader 30 Wall recess 33 Make off with 34 Sorbonne sweetie 36 Point to debate 37 Collaborative 1993 Sinatra album 40 Half a winter warmer 43 Stretchy 47 Like 1% milk

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49 Wimbledon sport 50 __ Domingo: Dominican capital 51 __ Yello: soft drink 53 23rd Greek letter 54 Picket line crosser 56 New Mexico town known for its art scene 60 Lean-__: shacks 61 Wash. neighbor 62 Tricky 63 Guys

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W J

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C C turkey stuffing family friends

Y G L home cranberry overcooked arguments

J C G parents cousins judgment tears

Take a study break with the On stands every Tuesday, online whenever you are.

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November 14, 2017 PAGE 5

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BOOTHS: Sunglasses and earphones are your best friends from page 1

If you’re walking on the Drillfield, just take a slight detour and do some off-roading in the grass. The pathways are merely a suggestion and a devious trick into getting students to walk in front of booths. No Cheryl, I don’t have time to hear about your upcoming event. The booths outside D2 can be tricky, but walking close to the doors, underneath the roof should put you in the safe zone. Yes, we have two hands, but neither of them want to take your

lollipop. Another tactic: putting in earphones. Now you simply “can’t hear” them acknowledge you. Keep your eyes straight ahead and your earphones in. Send the students at the booth a real message and don’t even plug them in; let them know you are purposely trying to ignore their schemes. Sunglasses are also a good way to avoid eye contact. No one can get your attention if they can’t see your eyes. Cloudy and raining? The sunglasses are keeping your eyes dry. Now, say one of them

traps you. It’s Winston from chess club and he wants to tell you about their fundraiser at Benny’s. You have to cut him off before he gets into his speech, or more importantly, before he asks you if you like chess. Hit Winston with some short, awkward one-liners to stop any conversation before it happens. “Yo no hablo ingles.” “I’m lactose intolerant.” “My dog just died.” Winston will stop talking real quick and you are free to run away. And I mean, run. Don’t give him that extra split second to start

whipping out some Spanish or to give you his condolences on your dead dog. He will turn it back onto the percentage night at Benny’s; the enemy is sneaky. If you are up for some extra exercise, just break into a quick sprint passing every booth. Sure, you might have to push down some freshmen to do so, but just know the enemy will then feast on them and forget about you. Or as Ricky Bobby would put it, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” And last place has to talk to the people manning the booths. Let’s assume the worst:

You are physically stopped by someone passing out candy or flyers. Your first course of action might be to throw yourself down some stairs to make it stop. Or you consider fainting on the spot just to make them stop talking. But, have you ever thought of this? Maybe, we should all politely listen to what they have to say and kindly accept whatever they offer us in return. Nah. If you happen to get sucked into the enemy’s wrath, quickly nod your head back and forth, keep

saying “yeah” after every word they say and slowly walk in the other direction the whole time. Hopefully, this will cut down your interaction time by crucial seconds. Seconds you may never get back. Take a deep breath; it will all be over soon. If the confrontation is too much to bear, too much awkwardness and friendliness for your taste, just stay home in bed all day. Problem solved.

@GretchTheCatch

John Green’s YouTube channel is worth a watch

With his brother Hank, the storied young adult author spends his free time producing online educational videos. KELSEY O’CONNOR lifestyles staff writer

COURTESY OF ATLANTIC RECORDS

‘Pacific Daydream’ is unfortunately nothing more than another ‘Weezer’ Weezer, inarguably one of rock’s most interesting bands, releases what might be the group’s most mundane record. BRYCE NOLAN lifestyles staff writer

Weezer sounds like everything. Considering how this band has at least four albums named after it (meaning four albums titled “Weezer”), with very little to associate them beside the name, I was hoping for some grand renewal or declarative expression on this new album, “Pacific Daydream.” It was released Oct. 27 on Atlantic Records, and while there are certainly plenty of things to like about the album, the hard truth is that it pushes very few boundaries and instead plays it too safe to be very interesting or original. Like I said, you can hear pretty much any kind of music when you listen to Weezer, and you can hear Weezer in pretty much anything you listen to. However, “Pacific Daydream” doesn’t exactly follow this convention in the way listeners are accustomed to. To put it mildly, Weezer has decided to sound like everything else that has come out in the last few years. The record is

heavy on the vocals, heavy on catchiness, but low on originality. If this had been released five years ago, I’d have fewer complaints about it, but now, after so many artists have left this formulaic approach to pop music behind in favor of broadening their gaze, “Pacific Daydream” just feels like it’s arrived way too late to grab anyone’s attention. Don’t get me wrong, the music isn’t bad; it’s just uninteresting. It’s every indie release from the past decade melted down and poured into a non-polygonal mold. The songs are entirely interchangeable: They could have been in an entirely different play order and I doubt anyone would notice. This is probably what music fans mean when they talk about “selling out.” Weezer has sacrificed what made it fun to listen to in favor of playing it safe and taking no risks. The music is functional and some of the songs do bring to mind the band’s past works, but nostalgia alone isn’t enough to hold this boat afloat. What creativity

this album has is on display on the first side with the songs “Mexican Fender” and “Beach Boys,” both of which are worthy additions to Weezer’s repertoire. From there, though, the album drops into commercial pop and all semblance of spirit is lost under a crush sense of, “Will this be enough to get on the radio and stay there for a while?” Weezer hasn’t broken with form enough to make me hate this record; it still shines in its own light and can be a good thing to sink into when you want something uncomplicated to listen to. But if you’re looking for the next big thing from one of the last generation’s best bands, you won’t find it here. Keep waiting and something else will come around that’ll be everything this album wasn’t. My advice, for both the band and its fans, is to go back to “Weezer.” Yes, all four of them. I give “Pacific Daydream” three out of five stars.

@CollegiateTimes

In 2011, brothers John and Hank Green created an educational YouTube channel called “Crash Course” with the goal of spreading high-quality educational videos for everyone, free of charge. A year later, John published “The Fault in Our Stars,” a New York Times bestseller with over 9 million copies sold and 47 different translations offered globally. By 2014, the novel had been made into a major motion picture that accumulated $48.2 million at the box office, opening in over 3,000 screens across the country. With the help of John’s literar y fame, “Crash Cou rse” has become i nc r e a si ng ly p o pu la r throughout the years, with well over 6 million subscribers and 800 educational videos. The channel’s videos cover a widespread range of topics, with about 15 subjects in the sciences and humanities. John and Hank talk about everything from geology to philosophy, computer science to literature and human sexuality to world history. “Crash Course” even has a science channel for kids that offers educational videos about subjects such as engineering, physics and

astronomy. It has over 180 thousand subscribers and 100 videos. So why should you use “Crash Course”? It actually makes studying pretty fun. Each video is carefully produced with accurate, thorough information, exciting visuals, music and the occasional dad joke, all presented to you by the witty and enthusiastic Green brothers. The New York Times describes the channel as “ceaselessly energetic and positive,” and I don’t think any viewer would disagree. Teachers, students and casual learners across the country use “Crash Course”to educate themselves further. For us visual learners, the channel is a blessing. We’ve all had that feeling like we’re about to fall asleep between the pages of our textbook. With “Crash Course,” viewers are much more engaged and quick to absorb information because of the visually at t r a ct ive, fa st-pa c e d format. These videos prove to be a pretty helpful tool for exams, especially for intro classes. When it comes to finals, even if you have no idea what you’re doing, “Crash Course”is here to help. It’s much less painful than textbook reading or endless internet surfing. Each video is usually around 10 minutes and compiles a

substantial amount of facts and information about the subject at hand. “Crash Cou rse” is currently advertising its Patreon campaign, in which it hopes to reach $40 thousand in donations to fund upgrades in its computers, cameras and sound equipment. The tagline for the site is “Crash Course is creating Smarter People,” and it’s pretty hard to argue against. The “Crash Course” channel estimates 60 to 70 percent of viewers as unaffiliated with any university or school, watching the videos only for pleasure. With 200 million views already, “Crash Course” is one of the most popular educational resources for students and teachers on the web. But the Green brothers are still looking to expand their influence. For only a dollar a month, you can become a patron of “Crash Course.” This provides exclusive access to giveaways, monthly l ivest rea m s a nd t he Green brothers’ “eternal gratitude.” If PowerPoint slides and textbook reading just aren’t doing it for you, check out “Crash Course.” You won’t regret it, and neither will your GPA.

@CollegiateTimes

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PAGE 6 November 14, 2017

Tech looking for a curve after loss to Georgia Tech

There were plenty of poor grades to go around after the Hokies were upset by the Yellow Jackets 28–22 in Atlanta. DAVIS MEARS AND RYAN WILSON sports staff writers

Quarterback: Josh Jackson faced his second true test against the Miami defense, and it was not pretty. The redshirt freshman finished with 20 completions on 32 attempts for 197 yards and two interceptions, making his QBR a measly 13.0. He also ran the ball often, totaling 15 carries and a touchdown, but only netted 12 yards. Given that, Jackson did make some tough throws that should have been caught, and his offensive line barely gave him time to throw. Still, Jackson failed to capitalize on opportunities given to him by the defense. If Jackson wants to be considered a legitimate, big-time quarterback, he will need to produce against tough, top-10 defenses. Grade: D+ Running backs: With Steven Peoples out, the running game fell into the hands of Travon McMillian and Deshawn McClease. The two totaled 24 carries for 81 yards. The Hokies’ game plan was to run the ball early and often, and besides a 15-yard run from McMillian, the running backs could not get a lot going. The backs barely had any room to run behind the offensive line and were tackled several times in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage. Their production diminished later in the game, as the Hokies needed to become more aggressive to try to score points. Some of the blame can be placed on the offensive line, but the backs will need to produce much more next week if the Hokies want to have a chance against Georgia Tech. Grade: CWide receivers/tight ends: The wide receiving corps of Cam Phillips, Sean Savoy, Eric Kumah and James Clark finished with a combined 15 catches for 178 yards. The tight ends were essentially a nonfactor, as Chris Cunningham had only two catches for 17 yards.

Most of the production came from Phillips, who had seven catches for 101 yards, who fought with the Miami corners for some tough catches. Outside of him, there wasn’t much to celebrate. Sean Savoy had a huge fumble deep into Miami territory, and there were several dropped passes late that solidified the Hokies’ fate. Grade: C Offensive line: After strong outings the past few weeks, the Hokies’ offensive line might have had its worst game all year. In the run game, Josh Jackson and the running backs did not have any holes to run through; most of the bigger plays came when they ran outside. The pass blocking was even worse. Josh Jackson was sacked a season-high four times and was hit far more than that. Jackson also had very little time to throw, especially late, when it seemed as if he had an unblocked rusher coming at him every single play. They will have a lot of work to do to prepare to keep Josh Jackson upright against a tough Georgia Tech defense. Grade: F Defensive line: A week after giving up 101 rushing yards to the Blue Devils, the Hokies were abysmal against Miami, as Virginia Tech allowed over 219 yards on the ground, 64 of them coming on a touchdown run by Miami running back Travis Homer in the second quarter. A positive note from the game was the goal line stand in the first quarter that kept the game scoreless. However, the guys up front also failed to get a single sack and did not cause enough pressure to affect Malik Rosier and the passing attack. Virginia Tech must figure it out next week against a Georgia Tech team that lives off the ground game. Grade: CLinebackers: The core of the defense was not able to contain Miami quarterback Malik Rosier on several draws, as he carried the ball 13 times for 83 yards including a

13-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Hurricanes an 18-point lead and enough momentum to close the game out from there. After limiting Duke QB Daniel Jones to 3.8 yards per carry last week, the story was not the same as Rosier consistently moved the chains with his feet. The linebackers will look to bounce back next week against Georgia Tech QB TaQuon Marshall, who has 727 rushing yards this season. Grade: C-

CAT PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Cam Phillips (5) blocks against Denzel Williams (25) during the first quarter, Sept. 23, 2017.

Secondary: Greg Stroman, Adonis Alexander and Reggie Floyd played the role of ballhawk on Saturday night, each racking up an interception. However, the three picks don’t tell the whole story, as Malik Rosier consistently racked up chunks of yardage on crossing patterns over the middle of the field. Alexander had two devastating pass interference penalties called on him which eventually led to the Hurricanes’ first touchdown of the day. Rosier threw for two touchdowns when it was all said and done, but the secondary gets a mixed review for this performance after holding the Rosier to 193 yards. Grade: BSpecial teams: T he specia l tea ms might’ve been the brightest spot of the day for the Hokies as kicker Joey Slye nailed a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter which looked like it could’ve been good from 60. Slye also didn’t allow a single kick return, booting it to the back of the end zone every chance he got. The Hokies have only allowed 4 punt return yards the entire season, and that didn’t change against Miami as punter Oscar Bradburn forced a fair catch on all six of his punts. Kick returner Greg Stroman also had an impressive 20-yard return on a punt, giving the special teams the best grade of the game. Grade: A

@CTSports

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Cam Phillips (5) sits on the bench following an incomplete pass on the final offensive play for the Hokies, Nov. 11, 2017.

ZOE SCOPA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Linebacker Andrew Motuapuaka (54) runs the symbolic lunch pail onto the field during “Enter Sandman” before the homecoming game, Oct. 21, 2017.

Hokie, Hokie, Hokie, bye: Looking to senior sendoff After losing two consecutive games, the Virginia Tech football team is set to face Pittsburgh on senior night. JOSH GANN sports staff writer

Virginia Tech suffered a crushing loss on the road against Georgia Tech last week, dropping the team to 7–3. This is the first time that the Hokies have lost backto-back games under Justin Fuente. Now, the Hokies must focus on salvaging a once-promising season by winning their final home game this Saturday against Pittsburgh. Pitt comes into this matchup with a 4–6 record and is fresh off a loss to a 2–8 North Carolina team. If Pitt loses to Virginia Tech this weekend, it will guarantee the team’s first losing record under head coach Pat Narduzzi. At this point in the season, both teams are playing for pride. Pitt isn’t just playing to regain moment um against the Hokies after last season’s loss; the Panthers are playing to keep their hopes of making a bowl appearance alive. Last season’s matchup between these two teams was a complete shoot-out. Virginia Tech took the lead in the early going of the game, but Pitt came storming back behind a

three-touchdown performance by then-running back James Conner. The Hokies sealed the win, late, on a touchdown pass to Isaiah Ford. It wasn’t the best defensive performance for the Hokies last season, as they gave up 458 total yards of offense and didn’t record a sack. This year, Pitt has had its fair share of inconsistency at the quarterback position, which is due in part due to injuries. The Panthers have fielded three different quarterbacks throughout the season. Following an injury to Max Browne, the Pitt offense has been led by quarterback Ben DiNucci over the past four games, going 2–2 in that span. With the Panthers’ passing attack sputtering, it has been running back Darrin Hall who has provided a spark for the Pittsburgh offense. Hall has rushed for 503 yards and nine touchdowns over the last four games. This has to be worrisome for the Hokies, who gave up 261 rushing yards to Georgia Tech last week. They also struggled defending the run two weeks ago against Miami. Pitt could cause the Hokies trouble if it is able to

control the clock and run the ball effectively. Offensively, this could be a much better matchup for the Hokies than the last two weeks have been. Josh Jackson has really struggled in the last two games, but Pitt allows an average of 264 passing yards per contest. Pitt also allows 154 yards rushing on average, which could benefit a struggling Hokies’ running game. Another key to this game is that Virginia Tech will be motivated to send its seniors out right. Key players like Cam Phillips, Wyatt Teller, Eric Gallo, Greg Stroman, Brandon Facyson, Andrew Motuapuaka and Joey Slye will all be playing their final game in Lane Stadium against Pitt. While it seems that the season has dramatically spiraled out of control, the Hokies will still appear in a bowl game, and still have a chance at recording consecutive 10-win seasons. But that starts with a win over Pitt, which is set to kick off in Lane Stadium at 12:20 p.m. on Saturday.

@JoshGannVT