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December 12, 2017
COLLEGIATETIMES
FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE
page 3 CREATIVE PLACES TO STUDY The library will be packed, so you may have to find somewhere else.
page 5 GETTING OUT OF FINALS It won’t be easy, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.
page 2 HARD AND EASY FINALS Students reflect on the hardest and easiest finals they’ve taken.
page 4 FINALS PROCRASTINATION Everyone does it, how will you procrastinate this week?
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Virginia Tech students reflect on their hardest and easiest finals
FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE
We all have the stories of the finals we were exempt from and the finals that made us cry. This week, students reflect on those exams and tell stories of their best and worst finals. LILY CARROLL lifestyles staff writer
For many, the arrival of winter signifies the start of a joy-filled holiday season. For college students, however, with the change of season comes the end of fall semester and the start of finals week, bringing memories of past finals with it. Tech’s semester-based schedule results in finals week coming around twice a year. Whether it is fall or spring semester coming to a close, the week is often characterized by the stress and anxiety associated with it. “(The atmosphere) is super serious, and I feel like if you crack a joke in the middle of the library, you will get thrown out. … Everyone is just ready to snap,” said Tariq Ayubi, a senior biochemistry and biology major. For Ayubi, his General Biochemistry (BCHM-4115) class may have been rewarding, but the final was his worst. “It was Dr. Helm’s (Richard) final. … We jokingly say we need to rename Stockholm syndrome Stock-Helm syndrome, because we all get tortured in that class, but we all love him,” Ayubi said. In this, Ayubi is not alone. For Meredith Cox, a fashion merchandising and design major, her worst final was in Principles of Accounting (ACIS-2115), a class she also overall enjoyed and benefited from. “I am not very math-oriented, but I thought (accounting) would be helpful, and it was a good class and I learned a lot, but it was just so difficult. … I was dreading (the final),” Cox said. Needless to say, a good professor will not guarantee an easy final. For Brenna Lee, a junior computer engineering major, however, it certainly helps. “(My best final) was probably my intro to computer engineering. I had a really great teacher, and she explained everything really well,” Lee said about Intro Computer Engineering (ECE- 2504). The type of class can also play a role
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in finals success. For Emily Messing, a junior marketing major, her best finals have been in online classes, where she can control the environment she takes the test in. “I have taken a lot of online classes just to get my CLEs out of the way, so anytime I’ve had them online, when I can take them on my own time in a comfortable area was the best, because you are not surrounded by a bunch of other people that are distracting you,” Messing said. The quality of professor and the environment cannot always be controlled, but time spent studying can. Hard work can pay off, and it did for Amy Davis, a senior chemistry, clinical neuroscience and Spanish triple major. For Davis, her General Physics (PHYS- 2205) final was her most nerve-racking, but her dedication and time spent studying was rewarded.
“It ended up being a lot like the practice exam, and I somehow managed to pull a 100 … It was a complete shock when I looked at the grade. I had my parents look at it too,” Davis said. Finals week is just around the corner and when it comes to studying, Davis recommends getting to the library early, ideally before 8 a.m. Otherwise, finding a quiet place to study on campus can be a struggle. For Ayubi, coffee is the key to a successful study session, so much so that in the past he has brought his coffee maker with him to New Classroom Building. “I just sat there with a pot of coffee, and I drank it and I studied. … You have to do what works. Coffee works,” Ayubi said. @CollegiateTimes
FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE
It’s the week where every decent building around campus is full, so maybe it’s time to take a look at the not-sodecent places around campus. Our writer has some ideas for you. Study session in a supply closet, anyone? GRETCHEN KERNBACH lifestyles staff writer
With finals approaching, campus becomes more crowded as students start cramming. Therefore, consider your luck nonexistent when it comes to studying in popular places such as Newman, NCB and Squires. Face it: It just isn’t going to happen. Luckily, there is more to Virginia Tech’s campus than those three buildings. Finding a place to study on campus simply requires creativity and thinking outside the box.
The West End kitchen Gather your books, laptop and possibly a chair. No one would think to study in West End’s kitchen, so you’re bound to have plenty of space in there. Of course, I’m sure washing dishes can get noisy, so bring a pair of headphones to drown out the sound of rushing water and scratching plates. On the bright side, you might be able to grab a quick (free) snack in there off of someone’s unfinished plate. The bathrooms in Moss I’m not just suggesting any old regular
bathroom; I’m talking about the Moss Arts Center. Those stalls are crazy clean and super quiet. Still, you might want to bring a towel or pillow to sit on. Health concerns aren’t even a thing during finals. Getting an A is more important here.
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I’m not suggesting any old regular bathroom. I’m talking about the Moss Arts Center ... Health concerns aren’t even a thing during finals. Getting an A is more important here.”
WILL CAMPBELL / COLLEGIATE TIMES Chapman Pendery, a freshman, studying for finals, Dec. 10, 2017.
An elevator The perfect space for some alone time. Pick any elevator of your choice, go up one floor and press the “stop” button. And there you go, your private area to study. On a side note, sometimes those buttons do create some sort of an alarm.
An air vent Do a quick Google search and find out how to locate the entrance/exit to an air vent, then try your luck at locating one in any building. Crawl in and now you have a private, and cozy, space to get to reading. However, please note that this isn’t the best place for a group session. Leave those to the attics. The Merryman Athletic Center Plop yourself down in front of our shrine to Michael Vick and open those books because, face it, you can’t rely on any athletic ability of yours to carry you in life. Located between Cassell and Lane, the athletic center is practically empty. If anyone questions your whereabouts, just scream “GO HOKIES” in their face. That’ll be sure to let them know you mean business — serious finals business. If you want to try your hand at the popular study spots on campus, I hope you’re ready to wake up at 5 a.m. and get there. If you want to study in an air vent, you can wake up whenever you want. Just saying.
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December 12, 2017 PAGE 3
Lane Stadium suites Not only are these seating areas great for watching our Hokies defeat visiting football teams, they’re also great for studying with a group. Finesse your way into one and you’ll crank out that five-page paper in no time. Of course, this could be considered breaking and entering, so make sure you have a good lawyer on speed dial in case you get caught. Or, just start crying.
Your car You can’t get anything done in your apartment or dorm, but you can’t find parking on campus. Where is the in-between? Situate yourself in the back of your car (heat on blast) and get to reading. You don’t have the distraction of your roommates, and you don’t need to cry over not being able to find a parking spot. Honestly it’s a win-win situation; just keep your study sessions to about an hour because, you know, gas.
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A random supply closet Quiet and all to yourself. Doesn’t that sound like the best place for studying? First things first though, you’ll have to wiggle multiple door knobs before finding one that was left unlocked. But when you find that golden door, you’ll never want to leave. Also be sure to bring a flashlight just in case there isn’t a light bulb in there. Anything is better than the second floor of Newman.
You might have to test a few before finding a silent one. What else would you be doing with that time though? Definitely not studying.
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Studying around campus: Where will you find peace and quiet this week?
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Procrastination: Studying for finals edition
Students may put off studying throughout the semester, but finals week is the time to bring your A-game. BRANDON ALIMANESTIANO lifestyles staff writer
You are probably procrastinating right now by reading this. Here are a few strategies to procrastinate more even after you’ve finished. Procrastination is a pretty easy thing to do, and with finals coming up a week from now, you might as well keep procrastinating and pretending the world isn’t on fire. You’re not really procrastinating unless what you do (or don’t do) is on the borderline of jeopardizing your future and it makes you consider if there is something seriously wrong with you, right? Remember when you didn’t start your college applications until a week before they were due? Well you’re here, so procrastinating must not be that bad. I procrastinate a lot — I even procrastinated writing this article (on procrastination). I’ve procrastinated so much since Thanksgiving break to the point where I wrote a list of all the assignments and finals I have left to do. Nothing on the list is crossed off, but I do have around 20 assignments and four finals to complete in a week. I can still put it off for a little while though. Procrastination isn’t an activity that you decide to do; it’s natural. One
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There are many good ways to procrastinate and improve your personal life somehow while simultaneously ruining your academic career.”
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FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE
moment you are studying for your finals, and all of a sudden it’s 30 minutes later, you haven’t read a page and you’re watching a 20-minute blooper reel of every season of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia.” Remember, YouTube is a pretty dangerous way to procrastinate because there is a point of no return. It’s also
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KAILA NATHANIEL probably very hard to explain to your family that you’re on academic probation because you were watching a crazy person let himself get bit by a bunch of venomous snakes. You might as well make the most out of your procrastination, and there are several ways you can do this. What I tend to do is procrastinate so much that I get bored of procrastinating and start doing useful things I would never do, just so that I can avoid the one assignment I don’t want to do. Once I cleaned my room for the first time, applied for a job, bought everybody their Christmas gifts and became 35 percent fluent in French. There are many good ways to procrastinate and improve your personal life somehow while simultaneously ruining your academic career. Start by doing something that you are interested in and you’ll probably become an expert on
completely random topics that make no sense. Mental Floss has plenty of articles on these topics, and of course there’s always Buzzfeed. You can’t procrastinate without listening to good procrastination music, and Spotify has a pretty good playlist for this. Creating your own playlists on Spotify is also a great way to procrastinate; in fact, I made over seven really good playlists putting off a geology project last month. If you procrastinate so long to music that your ears hurt from your headphones, just blast your music out of your phone speaker. I mean, have you ever wondered what everyone in the library would do if you did that? They probably thought it was weird that you sat down and spent 90 minutes on your phone watching snake videos. This would also probably be the right time to do your Christmas shopping
early like I did. There isn’t really a strategy to procrastination, but there is a purpose to why you are probably doing it. The biggest reason is likely because you aren’t interested in what you have to do. It’s OK, you can spend your procrastination on contemplating why you are even doing (or not doing) it. If you read this article thinking it was about how to stop procrastinating, I apologize. Hopefully you have better luck than I did.
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Every student is dreading finals, so our writer has compiled a list of ways to get out of that test. MICHAELA KREITER lifestyles staff writer
With exam season breathing down the necks of Hokies, tensions are starting to mount. As final papers are assigned and exam dates are finalized, students’ senses of flight or fight are starting to kick in. If you are a procrastinator, you are most likely going to choose flight. Can Hokie birds even fly? I guess we will find out this exam week. If you are trying to flee the scene of your exam, these are some foolproof ideas to get out of your exam. This is a way to get out of your exam that is always, always going to work and get you off the hook scot-free: Go into labor. Sorry, professor I can’t make it to
The professor will be so impressed by your display of bravery in your birthday suit that they will automatically give you a 100 (not to mention the teacher will be admiring your drop dead good looks and rugged physique). Just don’t get caught by campus police because that is where you run into problems. That’s all we can come up with at the moment in terms of great, foolproof ideas to beat the system and get out of exams. To all during this exam season, good luck and put your best foot forward — especially if you are choosing the streaking option because if you trip you’re done for.
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LIA’S HAIRSTYLING LIA’S HAIRSTYLING SALE! 50% OFF ALL SALE! 50% OFF ALL HAIR PRODUCTS! HAIR PRODUCTS! December 12, 2017 PAGE 5
my O-chem final; I am literally giving birth to another human being! They cannot argue with you on this one, truly. Although, this method takes nine months of preparation and is a completely permanent decision — it is totally worth getting out of your exam. So just find out your exam date nine months in advance just to be safe. Sorry guys, this method is only for the ladies. Another method that is known to be effective is having appendicitis. Don’t be dramatic about it; just do it right before your final (or even during your final should work). I have seen an individual firsthand who has had this occur, and they were exempt from not one, but all of their finals. It was freshman year and she didn’t take them until sophomore year. Talk about progress! This works for male or females because everyone’s got a pesky little appendix — unless you already got it removed, then you’re out of luck, sorry. Get into a severe bicycle or Razor scooter accident that breaks both of your hands. Sorry, professor, but how am I
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Instead of taking your exam, you could always just show up and streak.”
supposed to write when I have two broken hands? For emphasis, you should attempt to look very feeble and take two pencils into your hands, then try to write. The professor should take pity on your soul and excuse you from your exam. If they don’t, then they are obviously evil and you should take your razor scooter and hit both of their ankles with it. There is no harsher punishment in the world than that. Another way to get out of a final is to eat Chipotle and hope that they put a healthy dose of E. coli in your burrito or bowl. Once you have acute E. coli, then you should definitely be exempt. Some professors would try to assume that you’re pulling the wool over their eyes. But usually, if you throw up on your Scantron, they don’t want you in the classroom anymore. If you’re gonna puke, go all out and get it on your neighbors and those small foldable pieces of wood that are passing for desks. Just to be safe, however, make sure this burrito lands you in the emergency room because nothing works better than the hospital excuse. Instead of taking your exam, you could always just show up and streak.
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Airtight ways to get out of taking your final exams
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Film scores: The perfect background noise for your finals cram sessions
It can be hard to focus on studying if you don’t have the right music playing in the background. Some are too upbeat, too slow or just too distracting. Hopefully these film scores will be just right for your study sessions. MEGAN MAURY CHURCH lifestyles staff writer
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Following up on an article from April, here are some more film score recommendations to get you through finals season:
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Michael Giacchino: This New Jersey native composes music for many platforms, including films, television and video games. Much of what he composes for is of the fantasy genre, which means his music is helping to build a world. He has written many of Pixar’s upbeat jazz scores that we all know and love, including “The Incredibles,” “Up” and “Ratatouille.” Because of the breadth of his specialty, Giacchino has also won a diverse collection of awards for his music, including an Emmy for the score of “Lost” (2005) and an Academy Award for the score of “Up” (2010). More of his works include: “Rogue One” The first thing you need to know is that if you listen to this score on Spotify, the progress bar becomes a lightsaber, the blade extending as a song goes on. The second thing you need to know is that Giacchino absolutely does justice to the “Star Wars” saga’s brilliant music, all of which was (and continues to be) composed by John Williams. “Rogue One” was a very sad movie, so many of the pieces reflect that. Listen to the piece “Jyn Erso & Hope Suite,” a bittersweet ode to the film’s heroine who lost her entire family as a child and (SPOILER) ultimately lays down her life for the resistance. “Imperial Suite” is march-style with bits of the iconic “Imperial March” mixed in. Then the beginning of “Guardians of the Whills Suite” sounds eerily similar to the saga’s second film’s “Across the Stars,” an ode to other tragic characters. All in all, this score perfectly captures the essence of “Rogue One” while also doing the
original music justice. “The Incredibles” The time period of “The Incredibles” is a bit hazy, but the orchestral score sounds like something straight out of the early 1960s with heavy saxophone and smooth jazz with a flare. If you’re in the mood to get really nostalgic, tune into this score. Accompany Mr. Incredible on a joy ride in the song “The Glory Days.” My favorite piece from the score is “The Incredits,” and not just for the pun.
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Film scores are the perfect source of entertainment for times when you need to also stay focused.”
Danny Elfman: W hile this Californian is best known for his film soundtracks, his contribution to the genre of film scores has also been significant. He works frequently with director Tim Burton, his style fitting into the many worlds of Hollywood’s creepiest film architect. He has created the soundtracks for films including “Meet the Robinsons” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” and sometimes even doing both the score and soundtrack for the same film. Another one of his works includes: “Batman” (1989) If you have ever watched anything Batman, at all, from any installment of the comic-based films and shows that came out since 1989, you have definitely heard this score. Start simply with “The Batman Theme.” This crimefighting movie score rises and builds and keeps you interested. “Charge of the Batmobile” is an example of a classic hero movie score, as if you’re being dragged back in time.
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Thomas Newman, also of California, is the son of a nine-time Academy Award winning film composer, Alfred Newman. He was also mentored by film score legend, John Williams, with whom he assisted composing for a scene from “Return of the Jedi.” From this start, it is no surprise that he is now renowned for his own film scores. Newman is the Leonardo DiCaprio of film scores, since every time he has been nominated for an Oscar, so has a better known filmscore veteran; hopefully, like DiCaprio, Newman’s Oscar will happen eventually. “Little Women” This film, its star-studded cast, the book it was based off of and the music that Newman created for it all add up to an American classic. Much of the film is set around Christmas, so the score is infused with bold brass and jingling chimes, reminiscent of the holiday season. The music itself is emotional, its sounds resembling the diverse personalities and emotions of the characters in it. The titles of each piece give you a good sense of what each is about, such as “Meg’s Hair” and “Letter From Jo.”
If you have seen the film, “Valley of the Shadow” will make you cry. (Well, it made me cry.) “Finding Nemo” The one you want to listen to is “Nemo Egg,” the bittersweet piece that played during the opening titles, when Marlin is promising to take care of his son forever. I am a big fan of “Scum Angel,” a piece that starts eerie, but is actually full bongos, chimes and other fun sounds. Most of the score is pretty high-paced, fitting all of Marlin and Dory’s chase scenes and Nemo and friends’ escape attempts. This score is a fun mix of nostalgia and fun, using creative sounds (that I can barely identify) to really sound like they are coming from underwater. Film scores are the perfect source of entertainment for times when you need to also stay focused. You have to find what works for you when getting through this stressful period; maybe these will be part of what helps you survive the finals season. @CollegiateTimes
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Researchers discover causes of childhood blindness
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Virginia Tech researchers have discovered the pathology for causes of childhood blindness using a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. TAHREEM ALAM news staff writer
DAVID T. FOSTER III / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Second-grader Amare Leggette checks the vocabulary words he wrote on his braille writer while in his room, May 31, 2016.
cause the optic nerve hypoplasia. Since the condition is totally random, it’s going to be hard to figure out. But, with the research they have after this rodent model experiment, they can try and find ways to restore abnormal optic nerves. “As researchers, we create animal models to replicate human diseases. Kids don’t get diagnosed unless they are 1 or 2 years old. We don’t know whether the kids have a problem pre- or post-birth. This is important for therapeutic intervention, to help restore or prevent things associated with optic nerve hypoplasia. We hope to try therapeutic interventions, to see whether or not we can remake a healthy optic nerve,” Kerr said.
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December 12, 2017 PAGE 7
gene, they are most likely not going to survive. However, females will survive, but they will have the medical conditions related to CASK abnormalities. “We wanted to see if removing the CASK gene causes optic nerve atrophy or optic nerve hypoplasia. We took away the CASK gene from a female (mouse), and we saw what happened. It would be hypoplasia if the condition starts early on the life, and atrophy if it occurs after. During the developmental time period, there was a broken link between retina and brain, so it was hypoplasia,” Mukherjee said. While previous experiments have been done, none of them have come to a definite conclusion like this one. Now, the next step is to see what causes the molecular changes in the nerves that
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Researchers at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute (VTCRI) revealed an important link between the CASK gene and optic nerve hypoplasia, a medical condition that is the leading causes of childhood blindness in developed nations. “What is striking about this is that it is the number of people with optic nerve hypoplasia has been increasing for decades. Something is changing that is causing the increase of optic nerve hypoplasia disorders,” said Konark Mukherjee, who is an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute (VTCRI) and the Virginia Tech College of Science. The research is being funded by a $2 million National Institutes of Health grant to Mukherjee to study the optic nerve, and why and how optic nerve hypoplasia occurs. Optic nerve hypoplasia is a condition that occurs when the optic nerves aren’t fully developed. Because of the underdevelopment, the optic disk tends to be smaller than usual. Before Mukherjee’s research, little was known about the CASK gene and the cause of several medical conditions, including optic nerve hypoplasia. The rodent model experiment was done by manipulating the genome of male and female mice. The mice were then not able to make the protein formed by the CASK gene. “When he (Mukherjee) did this, he was able to show that this mouse model matched many aspects of human patients that lacked or had a nonfunctional CASK, including microcephaly, cerebral hypoplasia and optic nerve hypoplasia,” said Michael Fox, the director of the Center for Developmental and Translational
Neurobiology. CASK supports the connection of optic nerves between the brain and the retina. If an optic nerve is smaller than normal, the connection between the eye and the brain is broken. Therefore, on top of causing brain malfunctions and some forms of autism, the abnormalities in CASK can also cause visual impairment. “In manipulating the CASK gene, you start analyzing mouse structures and behaviors,” said Alicia Kerr, a graduate student at Virginia Tech’s translational biology, medicine, and health program. When they were dissecting the brains, they found that while the retina itself remained the same, there was thinness in the optic nerve. One issue is determining early on why the child is visually impaired — is it optic nerve hypoplasia or optic nerve atrophy? These are two very close conditions that can’t be determined until after birth. While hypoplasia is when the optic nerve is already impaired, optic nerve atrophy is when the nerve is first generated normally, and then later degenerates. “Often times when people are born, they have little visual acuity, and can’t see very far, and can’t communicate this. Visual impairment is often hard to diagnose and it takes a year or two before a parent realizes there is an impairment. Once they take them to the eye doctor, they realize the connection is much smaller in the optic disk, which is the end of the nerve, and you basically have a blind spot (where the nerve originates),” Fox said. The CASK gene is also X-linked, which means it is found on the X chromosome. Since females have two X chromosomes, they have two CASK genes. Males only have one X chromosome, so they only have one. The CASK gene is critical to growth in the organism. If male organisms are missing the CASK
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‘Shark Tank’-like competition open to undergraduates The competition encourages students to discover new interests and develop interdisciplinary skills.
COURTESY OF VT NEWS The first-place winning team “Leukacil” with judges Michael Friedlander, executive director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, and Nanci Hardwick, chief executive officer of Aeroprobe Corp.
SANSKRITI NEUPANE
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For the past few years, the graduate program at Virginia Tech has conducted what is referred to as a “Shark Tank-like” competition to allow graduate students to develop skills they can use past graduation. However, this year the program opened up to undergraduates — allowing underclassmen to learn new skills and test them in a real world scenario. The program was created as a collaboration between Robert Gourdie, Mark Van Dyke and Derick Maggard. All three work on different areas of research at Virginia Tech and its institutions, and wanted to come together to bring students of different disciplines together. “We wanted to work together on this to bring students from our different disciplines both into the teaching course and also mix students from those different disciplines together in the competition,” said Robert Gourdie, a professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute and an organizer of the competition. Students were bused down from the main campus in Blacksburg to the Carilion Research Institute in Roanoke and heard from guest lecturers to prepare them for the competition during an intensive two-week teaching block. “It was intense; there was a lot of information to deal with; there was some gear shifting as they tried to figure out how to work between the different disciplines,”
Gourdie said. Despite the intensity of the course and the competition, students came together to learn information with real world applications from not only their lecturers, but from their peers as well. “I really enjoyed the experience. I loved the people that I worked with. It was overall a really great experience having everyone’s different ideas come into play,” said Kaitlyn Commes, sophomore materials science and engineering major. “Obviously, across the different majors and different schools, everyone was concerned about different aspects of the project.” The experience allowed for students to discover new interests and develop skills in areas unrelated to their major. The winning project was a pitch for Leukacil, a drug used to treat Clostridium Difficile Colitis. “It’s basically like, even though you may know nothing about the competition you’re going into, everyone still has an equal chance of succeeding as long as they put the effort into figuring everything out,” said John Sutton, freshman general engineering major. The experience was also unique because it allowed for undergraduate students to work together with graduate students and learn from their experiences. “Especially with the (Translational Biology, Medicine and Health) students, the graduate students in the medical
field, it was interesting to see how they went from freshman to where they are now. That was more of a personal thing for me because I’m a freshman right now,” Sutton said. The graduate and undergraduate students developed a connection and were able to talk beyond their projects to help the underclassmen understand more about the graduate school experience. “I am personally interested in going to (graduate) school myself, so working with them also kind of opened my eyes to what the experience in (graduate) school would be like. We were able to connect a bit beyond the project,” Commes said. Overall, the students found the competition to be enriching and they left with new ideas and experiences that they
will be able to use for the rest of their lives. “As a sophomore, I’ve never really participated in anything like that; I have no prior experience with entrepreneurship or business development or anything along those lines, so it was really eye-opening to see the amount of effort and team diversity required to bring a product to commercialization,” Commes said. “It really opened my eyes and made me think more like a business person, and I feel like that would help me as far as addressing maybe management, supervisors or maybe even getting into entrepreneurship myself.” @CollegiateTimes
ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES Solitude at Virginia Tech after the first snowfall of the semester, Dec. 10, 2017.
The Gateway to Virginia Tech
Diverging Diamond Interchanges are an innovative design that crosses traffic to the left side of the road. They increase safety and move a higher volume of vehicles without increasing the number of lanes.
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ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES Students roll up the base for a snowman as they spend the day outside before finals week begins, Dec. 10, 2017.
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Students enjoy first snowfall of the semester
Diverging Diamond Interchange to Open on Route 460 in December 2017 Drive it!
Drive through our simulated video tours by visiting our website and share your diverging diamond experience.
www.virginiadot.org/VTGateway @VaDOTSalem #VTGateway
December 12, 2017 PAGE 9
To drive through the interchange to and from campus: • Drivers should follow the pavement markings, signs and signals in the interchange to travel through the intersections safely. • Motorists proceed through a traffic signal and follow their lane to the opposite side of the roadway. • Motorists needing access to the highway turn at the on-ramp without having to stop or wait for oncoming traffic to pass. • Through traffic proceeds and follows lane back to the right side of the roadway.
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LOS ANGELES TIMES / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE USC graduate students Mariel Bello, Nina Christie and Alyssa Morris (LEFT to RIGHT), pose for a selfie to post online and forward to their congressman as USC graduate students stage a national rally with over 40 other schools to protest the GOP tax bill, which they say will significantly boost their taxes.
PAGE 10 December 12, 2017
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Why college students should care about the tax bill The new piece of legislation would impose a tremendous financial burden on those pursuing advanced degrees.
The tax bill passed by Republicans in the Senate is not terribly popular, yet it was still passed with no Democrats supporting it and one Republican holdout — Bob Corker of Tennessee. On Nov. 29, graduate students walked out of colleges across the nation to protest the House version of the tax reform bill. Senate Republicans have insisted that this tax bill would provide much needed relief to people earning lower incomes, but the bill that they passed has a very different message. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center found that two-thirds of middle class families would have their taxes increase. The bill would get rid of some popular exemptions, like the one for state and local income taxes. Most notably, this bill cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent, despite the fact that many corporations do not pay the full 35 percent. The wealthiest families would also experience a significant permanent tax cut, while some middle class families would experience a temporary tax cut. Overall, however, the group that would face the most significant changes would be college students. In the current tax system, graduate students do not have to pay taxes on the money that they are given to continue their
studies. That would change with this tax bill, as grants and subsidies going toward education would count as taxable income. This would also affect students pursuing their doctoral degrees as any money that these students receive in order to continue their education would be taxable.
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If the public want to make their voices heard, now is the time.”
The bill still has to be passed by the House of Representatives without any additional amendments. This could present a slight issue, as the tax bill that the House voted on has some significant differences with the Senate bill, and some of them are not so beneficial for students pursuing higher education. In the bill that the House passed, the deduction on student loan interest would disappear. Under the current rules, students can deduct up to $2,500, which gives students making low wages some much needed relief.
Another issue that may affect students is a part of the bill that deals with the individual mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The tax bill would make it so that people who do not purchase health care do not have to pay the financial penalty. While there is no certain outcome for this action, this provision is likely to greatly destabilize health insurance markets as healthy people either give up their health care or stop paying the penalty for not having it. This could signal the final destruction of Obamacare, as the individual mandate is one of the three critical parts of the legislation. In order for the bill to be sent to the Oval Office and await the president’s signature, it has to be passed by the House of Representatives in its current form. However, if the House decides to amend it in any way, then the Senate will have to vote on it again, but this time with the changes that the House made. The Republicans in the House of Representatives did pass their own bill. If the House fails to pass the bill that the Senate sent to them, then the Senate could vote on the House’s tax bill. Like with the other tax bill, this one would have to pass
in the same form as it was written, so the House tax bill would have to be passed through the Senate without any amendments made to it. President Trump has mentioned that he wants to get taxes done by Christmas, so it would be reasonable to predict that the House will pass some version of this tax bill as early as the end of this week. There is also a possible government shutdown to consider. A government spending bill needed to be passed by Dec. 8, but lawmakers are currently meeting behind closed doors, working to merge the plans. Democrats could potentially use this looming crisis to their advantage, however repugnant they may find it. If the public want to make their voices heard, now is the time. There is no turning back the damage that could be caused by this bill, and college students have more reason than most people to be angry. This bill is a direct threat to their futures, and they will have to live with the consequences if it is made law.
SALLY DUKES • opinions columnist • junior/political science
Corporal punishment is not the way to discipline kids Parents should not resort to physical methods to teach their children manners and the difference between right and wrong.
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CELESTE ROGERS • opinions contributor • freshman/meteorology
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of large companies are greedy. I know Mr. Murray and it is clear to me that the safety and welfare of the men and women that he works with are much more important than profit. Personally, I’ve chosen a career in academia that is relatively low-risk, but I admire Mr. Murray, who was willing to mortgage everything he owned to start a business and then work tirelessly to see it now employing approximately 6,000 people. Mining is one of two primary industries (agriculture being the other) that feed all the manufacturing and service industries. We may ultimately reach a circular economy, but in the meantime, the mining industry will continue to provide the minerals that are used in everyday items like toothpaste, bridges and smartphones. Here at Virginia Tech, we have a very healthy mining and minerals engineering department. In fact, more than 20 percent of all graduates in the U.S. over the past 10 years have come from VT. The challenge that these graduates have accepted is to make this primary industry safer, cleaner and more efficient. I’d be happy to meet with you or Ms. Dukes and tell you more about our industry and our department.
ERIK WESTMAN • professor and department head, mining and minerals engineering
LOS ANGELES TIMES / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
December 12, 2017 PAGE 11
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY NEHA OGALE
raised” and that “it got our attention.” That second phrase got me thinking. … Corporal punishment instills fear in the punished and creates a sense of respect, whether it be false or real, for the punisher. I fail to see how teaching a child to associate fear with respect creates a more productive and law-abiding adult down the line. While compliance may be an immediate result of physical punishment, that does not mean the behavior has been permanently fixed: Corporal punishment could potentially worsen misbehavior in the long term. According to a study conducted at the University of Texas, spanking and smacking teaches children that they should only behave while a parent is around. This prevents children from learning how to manage their own behavior when they are independent of their parents. Children are highly impressionable during their formative years: According to the World Health Organization, early child development — which encompasses physical, socioemotional, cognitive and motor development — occurs between zero and eight years of age. Resorting to physical punishment essentially models aggression, promoting the acceptability of misbehavior outside the home. Furthermore, children who are frequently spanked are put at a higher risk for developing anxiety and depression. Using physical means to solve behavioral problems does not improve children’s behavior; it merely teaches them to associate authority with fear. Further, teaching children that “might is right” gives them a reason to rebel against their parents as they grow older and realize they have more control over their own lives than their parents do. Corporal punishment is a lazy and temporary placement of a Band-Aid on a behavior problem that can only be remedied by careful and active parenting.
ear Editor, I respect Sally Dukes’ right to share her opinion, and I hope that you will allow me to add my input and hopefully clarify some traditional stereotypes. The first stereotype is that underground coal mining is “incredibly dangerous.” According to statistics from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, there was a 3.3 percent chance that a coal miner was hurt during 2016. While the goal is no injuries in any industry, please compare that 3.3 percent chance to the following rates as reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration: ·Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting — 5.7 percent ·Amusement and theme parks — 6 percent ·Armored car services — 6 percent ·Construction — 8.2 percent ·Footwear manufacturing — 5.6 percent ·Hospitals — 7.8 percent ·Nursing and residential care facilities — 6.2 percent ·Skiing facilities — 8.3 percent ·Veterinary service — 12.1 percent So, a worker is more than twice as likely to be injured working in a hospital than a coal mine. This is due, in large part, to the tremendous amount of attention that is paid to safety in the workplace at mining operations. Another stereotype is that owners
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orporal punishment has long been debated on the grounds of its ethical and societal acceptance; however, corporal punishment is still employed within many American households and is legal in schools in 19 states. The likelihood of supporting corporal punishment is higher among Southern conservatives and African-Americans. However, according to the General Social Survey conducted by the University of Chicago, the proportion of Americans who are pro-spanking has fallen from 84 percent in 1986 to 70 percent in 2010. While these statistics show a decline in public approval of corporal punishment, the method is still favored by a clear majority. But none of this justifies corporal punishment. I asked my mother if her parents had used physical means to correct misbehavior and she said her mother and father had spanked her younger brother with a wooden spoon from time to time while growing up. My mother said it was “just the way we were
Coal industry is neither hazardous nor greedy
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lifestyles collegiatetimes.com/lifestyles
Are the styles of the ‘80s today’s newest trend?
Everyone knows that history repeats itself, but these days it has become apparent that trends repeat themselves as well. found in today’s hits, like synth-heavy EDM music and heavy guitar in alternative rock. There are also several radio stations dedicated to “oldies but goldies” that constantly play beloved ‘80s anthems. 2017 also seems to be the year of ‘80s comeback tours, with artists like Rick Astley, Phil Collins and Depeche Mode making reappearances.
EMILY HANNAH
PAGE 12 December 12, 2017
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lifestyles staff writer
“You don’t have boundaries when Do you ever feel like you were truly born in the wrong decade? I constantly do. Flipping through pictures of my parents in high school makes me feel nostalgic about a decade I wasn’t even alive to witness. The acid dye jeans, the teenage angst anthems and the archaic lingo all make me wish I had grown up in the decade of big ideas and even bigger hairstyles. Today, it is easy to spot similarities between modern pop culture and trends of the ‘80s. From music to politics, phases are repeating themselves, and it is becoming more apparent that the ‘80s are not only behind us, but could be ahead of us as well. How are we still connected with the ‘80s, and in what ways do we identify ourselves so strongly with the beloved “Me Generation?” Here are a few reasons why this iconic decade is not a thing of the past. Denim on denim on denim on denim Style is one of the biggest giveaways that we are still flirting with ‘80s culture. These days, people strive to look like they’re from a different decade. It’s cooler to find rad clothes at a thrift shop over a department store. Attaching a bunch of flashy pins to denim is still wildly popular, along with the array of stickers kids still plaster on everything they own. Beauty is still relatively the same. Though the addiction to blush has died down, there’s still lots of experimentation with loud colors. Makeup on men is represented by CoverGirl and other makeup brands, and is still trendy just as it was during the period of glam-rock. Thankfully, fingerless
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS gloves and Hypercolor shirts haven’t made a reappearance. Yet, beat-up high tops and wearing sunglasses at night are making a strong comeback. Women still have multiple earrings in one ear and constantly rock denim on denim — whether it be jean jackets, denim skirts or the beloved “mom jeans.” And don’t even get me started on all the velvet.
the Netflix original is chock-full of ‘80s throwbacks. The show pulls strong influences from ‘80s cult classics like “Alien,” “The Goonies” and “E.T.” One piece of the show that stands out is the posters released for advertising. Each of the original posters pays tribute to different sci-fi, horror and slasher epics of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
The big screen I became engrossed with John Hughes cult classics and the “Brat Pack” in my early teens, and now I can easily identify myself with every character played by Molly Ringwald. The ‘80s created an explosion of blockbuster movies. Not only are the renowned “coming of age” themes of the ‘80s still popular today, but the ‘80s comebacks are as strong as ever — the most popular being “Star Wars” One of the most popular ‘80s tributes today is “Stranger Things.” Undoubtedly,
Oldies but goldies The music of the ‘80s is without a doubt one of the most iconic assets of the decade. Not only is the music a soundtrack to my own teenage angst, but it is still widely used today in pop culture. Many popular ‘80s songs are still used in dance clubs as designated “power playlists.” Music of the decade is not still listened to as a laughing stock, but because it is genuinely good music to listen to. Many themes of ‘80s music are being
Me, me, me generation The ‘80s are known as the decade of indulgence. With the creation of millennials and the “Me Generation,” the booming economy gave the average consumer a chance to treat themselves. Today, through advanced technology and social media, our generation is experiencing the same thing. The generation includes self-involved or fame-obsessed qualities that somewhat regurgitate the behaviors of the average ‘80s consumer. The rise of new technology is also matching the ‘80s, the creation of video games and computers matching today’s kids’ obsession with iPads and cellphones. Not only is technology and indulgence a similar pattern, but there are noticeable patterns in the political spectrum. Both in the 1980s and today, our country has experienced a popular actor and celebrity turn from Democrat to Republican in the White House. I’m not complaining about the return of ‘80s culture, not one bit. I feel like the decade is an extremely important asset to our culture, especially now. Miami Vice fashion and hammer pants are not things the century can just erase from memory. I believe the ‘80s are some of the most prominent years regarding pop culture and it is hard to ignore the reappearance of iconic trends and habits in our modern lifestyle. @CollegiateTimes
Dirty Santa, White Elephant, Yankee Swap — whatever you call it, you’ll need to bring a gift.
BRANDON ALIMANESTIANO lifestyles staff writer
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If you want to be that person, go ahead. Get the brand new Fitbit and make everyone who stuck to the $20 limit mad. You might as well have gotten a car while you’re at it.”
Expensive If you want to be that person, go ahead. Get the brand new Fitbit and make everyone who stuck to the $20 limit mad. You might as well have gotten a car while you’re at it. Hilarious/weird This is the best thing to do in my opinion. Think hard on something to get and be really creative. People will always go after the funny gifts. For some reason I thought it would be funny to make coffee mugs with my face on them, and I repeated this for two years and four games. I have actually gone to my friend’s house to see their mom drinking out of a coffee mug with an imprint of my face on it. She had never seen me in person before I can say it was awkward, at the very least. If you don’t want to get stuff with your face on it, there are other ways to go. Things from commercials will always
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS be funny such as a can of flex seal, a Snuggie or a ShamWow. Buzzfeed even has a whole list of cheap TV products to buy. If you want to make no sense at all and don’t want to spend anything, elegantly wrap up a box and put a can of Natural Light inside (That also actually happened once). Framed photos of random world leaders also do the trick. Why do we even play Dirty Santa if it makes everyone mad and involves stealing from those closest to you? It’s
all part of the magic holidays, the same reason you always go to grandma’s house and stare at the fruitcake you won’t eat. Life wouldn’t be life if it weren’t crazy and uncomfortable, so go to that Christmas party and show up with a mug with your face on it. Merry Christmas.
@Meade_Katelyn
December 12, 2017 PAGE 13
Fans of “The Office” may know it as “Yankee Swap” in the episode where there is an office Christmas party and Dwight sends a Christmas tree through the ceiling tiles. If you know yourself and recognize that you’re a sensitive person, you might not even want to play at all, just as a warning — you may have your feelings hurt. Dirty Santa is best in groups of loud, crazy people, otherwise it’s not incredibly fun. If you’re completely unaware of Dirty Santa, it’s usually played in one general format. Everybody who brings a gift places it in the pool and takes a number. Try to remember your number, as your drunken friends or family might not. The person with the first number chooses a gift and unwraps it. They won’t have it for long. The second person then either
Cheap If you are a business major at heart, but only have a liberal arts major budget — Dirty Santa is an investment for you. You target the rich uncle and watch him put his gift in the stack. When people open your present, which doesn’t have a very good wrapping job, they don’t get too excited. Good gifts for the budgetminded include sporting goods, chocolate and picture frames. Pinterest has plenty of ideas that you don’t even need to spend on.
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There’s a reason some people call it Dirty Santa — you have to play dirty to walk away with the best gift. It’s like when you were a kid playing Monopoly with your “friend” and they stole the last Park Place from you. Remember how they are no longer your friend anymore? It’s not a game you make friends playing with. Remember when you played Monopoly with your friends that one time? Remember when those people were your friends at the time? Imagine playing a game that is just as harsh as Monopoly, except you have to go and buy a gift, wrap it, and watch someone drunkenly steal it from someone else. Yeah, that’s why its true name is Dirty Santa.
chooses to unwrap another gift or steals (yes, cruelly) someone else’s gift. If you are robbed of your gift, you can either choose another gift to unwrap or steal a gift that was not yours before. Gifts cannot be stolen twice, and the game ends when there are no more gifts left. You may notice that everyone seems to need a drink after, except the guy who brought a frisbee and walked out with a new Fitbit (Yes, this actually happened once). If you’re new to Dirty Santa, or are just terrible at getting gifts, there are several directions you can go with this.
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Dirty Santa: What to bring to this year’s Christmas party
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sports collegiatetimes.com/sports
Robinson growing into leadership role for Hokies Head coach Buzz Williams has helped the junior step into a bigger role since losing Zach LeDay and Seth Allen. JORDAN HUTCHINSON
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sports editor
The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team consists of a five-star recruit, a fifth-year senior, an athletic freak of nature and a couple of deadeye threepoint shooters. None of them affect the game like Justin Robinson. “I just trust ‘Five,’” said head coach Buzz Williams. The junior point guard does for the Hokies what no one else can. It doesn’t show up in the box score, and it won’t always be apparent to the fan’s eye. But, as Robinson goes, so does the team. The pace, the morale and the grit of the team are all dictated by Robinson. Everything that the Virginia Tech basketball program stands for, he seems to embody. “In our first recruiting class (at Virginia Tech), we handed ‘Five’ the ball, and if you look at the statistical evidence, he’s continued to grow,” Williams said. In his third year, Robinson has hit
career highs in several statistical categories, but his leadership is what’s taken the Hokies to new heights. “I think the idea of me coming in here my freshman year and getting the ball right away has helped me to be a leader now,” Robinson said. The Manassas, Virginia, transplant has had an obvious impact on the Hokies this season. Williams said that he’s taken a back seat at times in the huddles during timeouts because of Robinson’s ability to lead. “He’s saying the same things that I say. I’m a little slower to get into the huddle thus far this season, because I think those are good reps for ‘Five,’” Williams said. As he averages nearly six assists per game, his teammates are the direct beneficiaries of his leadership and ability to control the floor. “He’s definitely mature,” said Hokies’ forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. “We came in together, and he’s been an absolute floor general and leader on and off the court.” As both Seth Allen and Zach LeDay
ZOE SCOPA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Justin Robinson (5) looks for a pass around the Radford defense, Dec. 6, 2017.
graduated last year, the Hokies lost their two biggest leaders. Luckily for Tech, Robinson was there to fill those shoes. “I tried to have some leadership role last year, following behind Seth and Zach. I think just my personality and guys listening, and everybody being themselves is just helping me a lot,” he said. Robinson’s demeanor and ability to lead will be absolutely critical for the
Hokies as they head into conference play later this month. Seems like heavy pressure for just a 20-year-old — but not for Robinson. “I love it. I’ve always taken the role since high school. The idea of being a leader is what we need.”
@JHutchinsonVT
Hicks sets steals record as Hokies roll to road win Since dropping back-to-back games early this year, the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team has won its last four games to impove the team’s record to 9–2 on the season. PAGE 14 December 12, 2017
NATHAN LOPRETE assistant sports editor
The Virginia Tech women’s basketball team has bounced back nicely since suffering back-to-back losses during the month of November. That continued on Sunday afternoon when the Hokies defeated Chattanooga 64–44 for their fourth straight win. Virginia Tech
(9–2) was led by redshirt-junior Regan Magarity and sophomore Kendyl Brooks, who each had 14 points in the win. Junior guard Chanette Hicks also set the steals record at Virginia Tech with her 253rd career steal in the third quarter. Magarity continued her strong season with her sixth double-double of the season as she tallied 10 rebounds and two blocks to go along with her 14 points.
The Virginia Tech offense got off to a slow start in the opening quarter but still had a 12–5 lead heading into the second quarter. The offense found its rhythm in the second quarter as the Hokies scored 20 points to take a 32–19 lead into the half. The record-setting steal by Hicks came in the third quarter. The Hokies also forced 16 turnovers in the game.
Chattanooga (6–4) only shot 31 percent from the floor in the loss. Virginia Tech will head north to face Monmouth at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night in New Jersey. A win would mark the second five-game winning streak of the year for Virginia Tech. @NathanLoprete
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Virginia Tech men’s basketball cruises in its final test before Kentucky The Hokies dominated Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday to win their seventh game in a row. JORDAN HUTCHINSON sports editor
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I came here to play against the best in the ACC. Now we get to play against the best out of conference too.” Justin Robinson point guard
@JHutchinsonVT
ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES Chris Clarke (15) dunks the ball after the Hokies steal a pass from the opposing team, Dec. 10, 2017.
ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES Justin Robinson (5) splits two defenders to go for the layup, Dec. 10, 2017.
December 12, 2017 PAGE 15
Clarke couldn’t even really describe what happened, or how he made that move. “I was just doing what I do well, I guess,” he said. As for the rest of the Hokies, well, they played exceptionally too. Freshman Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 16, while recording his career-high in rebounds, with eight. Sharp-shooters Ahmed Hill and Justin Bibbs scored 15 and 10, respectively. Maryland Eastern Shore was led by
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It was all business in Cassell Coliseum on Sunday, as the Hokies made quick work of University of Maryland Eastern Shore, downing the Shore Hawks, 93–40. Virginia Tech advanced to 9–1, with its biggest game to date coming next Saturday at No. 8 Kentucky. Junior forward Chris Clarke’s athleticism was on full display, as he recorded 18 points, four rebounds and two assists. Three of Clarke’s points came from a crazy and-one, where he fell to the floor and hurled the ball into the air, which somehow went in the hoop. “He really understands how to play,” said Hokies’ head coach Buzz Williams on Clarke. “Way more than most would think. You’re so in awe of how hard he plays, and how freakishly athletic he can be at times, that you don’t think that he really knows how to play.”
freshman guard Cameron Bacote, who, on his birthday, scored a team-high 12 points for the Shore Hawks. UMES fell to 3–8 on the year with the loss. Virginia Tech basketball legend Ace Custis was in attendance tonight, not in the stands, but as an assistant coach for the Shore Hawks. Custis is one of four players in school history with 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in his career. OK, so the Hokies have passed the early tests with flying colors, for the most part — ahem, Saint Louis. But now we will see what the Hokies are really made of. Next Saturday, Virginia Tech heads west to Lexington, Kentucky, to face one of the most storied institutions in the sport of basketball, at any level. “I think it’ll be a great experience; I anticipate a lot of good things to learn from it. I anticipate a lot of things that we haven’t seen thus far that we can learn from,” Williams said. As for the players? They’re ready too. “I came here to play against the best in the ACC,” freshman guard AlexanderWalker said. “Now we really get to play the best out of conference too. It’s going to help our strength of schedule and get us ready for March.” What’s the key? Slowing them down. But the Hokies know how to play on the road, according to Alexander-Walker. “It’s going to be a good game. They’re fast; they like to get out in transition. So we’re going to try and slow them down and make them defend for a long time. We have a taste of what it takes to win on the road,” he said. The Hokies will get their shot at one of the blue bloods of the sport next Saturday in Rupp Arena at 2 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
PAGE 16 December 12, 2017
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