March 16, 2017 by The Collegiate Times

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112th YEAR, ISSUE 214

March 16, 2017

COLLEGIATETIMES An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

The Irish Car Bomb and its bloody past You may want to think twice before ordering an Irish Car Bomb this holiday. SAMANTHA SMITH lifestyles editor

ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES Ahmed Hill (13) warms up with a between the legs dunk in Cassell Coliseum before taking on 25th ranked Miami, Feb. 27, 2017.

Let’s dance: Hokies look to badger No. 8 Wisconsin In the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2007, the team is set to face a Wisconsin team that is appearing in its 19th straight. FAIZAN HASNANY sports editor

Whether you are a fan of either of these teams or not, the matchup between Virginia Tech and Wisconsin is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing and must-watch first-round fixtures in the NCAA tournament. The contest between the eighth and ninth seeds have

always been highly anticipated due to the balance of talent between the teams. Since 1985, the eighth and ninth seeds have split the 128 games played between the two, and last season the eight vs. nine matchups were decided by an average of just 3.5 points. The competition between the Badgers and Hokies is shaping up to be the same way, and

arguably even more riveting considering the opposing storylines, strengths and weaknesses that each team possesses. Wisconsin, on one end, enters the game participating in its 19th consecutive NCAA tournament, including recent Final Four appearances in 2014 and 2015. Virginia Tech, on the other end, is a program just rising to relevance, going dancing for the

first time in 10 years. “That’s what they do. They get in the tournament and they make some noise there,” said junior guard Justin Bibbs about the Hokies’ first round opponent. “They get pretty deep in the tournament. And experience is a good factor to have when you’re in a tournament see MADNESS / page 5

column

Tongue-in-cheek cocktail names are nothing new to regular bargoers — from a Sex on the Beach to the Hurricane Katrina shot. With St. Patrick’s Day, one of the most popular drinking holidays of the year, coming up this Friday, there’s one drink that almost everyone downtown will be sure to order — the Irish Car Bomb. A mix of a half pint of Guinness along with a shot of Jameson and Bailey’s Irish Cream mixed together, this drink is common for college drinkers because it must be chugged — once the mixed shot of Jameson and Bailey’s is dropped in the Guinness, the drinker must finish before the cream begins to curdle. According to an article written in the Daily Nexus, the word “Irish” in the drink name stems from the stereotypical Irish ingredients included, and the phrase “car bomb” is in reference to the style of drink. However, “car bomb” can also be seen as a historical reference to the period of car bombings in Northern Ireland, also known as “The Troubles.” The Troubles lasted from the late 1960s to the late 1990s in Ireland. Many remember the attacks on “Bloody Friday,” and therefore associate the majority of car bombings that occurred during The Troubles, a violent nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland, with the Irish Republican Army (IRA). However, Professor Priya Dixit of the political science department, whose research focuses on terrorism and counterterrorism policy, says that it is important to remember that the IRA was not the only terrorist organization involved during this time period. The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA), both loyalist groups, were also heavily involved during The Troubles. The UVF claimed responsibility for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings that took place on May 17, 1974 — the deadliest attack

Commodifying farm animals is unjust

see IRISH / page 6

What is the Irish Car Bomb?

ries of cruelty and injustice reverberate from the Western world each June as the Yulin dog festival transpires in China. Animal activist groups effectively draw awareness to the suffering of innocent canines, thanks to the concern of the general public, as visuals of the brutality endured circulate through countless media sources. Most individuals would recoil at the thought of eating roast golden retriever skewered on a kabob stick, but remain desensitized to the notion of consuming cow flesh squashed between two buns. While victims and oppressors are easily identified and criticized from thousands of miles away, people experience far more difficulty critically examining their own practices and challenging the status quo at home. Cultural and societal practices are ever-evolving, so just because something is considered normal at a given point does not signify that a blind exception should be to be made to examining the ethics of a particular tradition. People have a moral duty to challenge the unjust constructs perpetuated by society. After all, humanity must constantly evolve in order to progress. We must look beyond unconsciously adopting societal norms and instead consider our mindless consumption of animals here at home before calling for

change abroad. We must be a part of the solution rather than continuing to contribute to the problem. Two invisible forces primarily fuel the perpetuation of animal agriculture within society: speciesism and carnism. Speciesism serves as a belief system or ideology in which individuals feel they are justified in eating certain animals who are culturally considered lower in the speciesist hierarchy. Carnism, however, is a belief system which people are conditioned to eat certain animals. Carnism is considered a sub-ideology of speciesism or a “specific expression of a broader ideology.” Speciesism Speciesism devalues sentient beings upon the basis of a lack of certain characteristics which are considered favorable to humans, often ignoring an animal’s unique attributes, equally worthy of recognition in their own right. This discriminatory perception compels humans to consider the interests of certain species of animals as less important, dependent on the number of characteristics the being in question lacks in relation to humans. Such rhetoric essentially obscures the fact that all animals possess sentience — the capacity to feel and perceive emotions such as pleasure, fear and pain. However, it is worth noting that several

of the criteria employed to discriminate against animals are not exercised against human beings despite the fact that some humans lack some of these characteristics. For instance, humans lacking language comprehension or logical capabilities are deemed no less deserving of a right to life than those who possess such competency. We refrain from measuring the worth of human beings with the rationality that human beings possess consciousness and sentience. Although, such standards are rarely employed to assess the value of an animal’s life when he or she has been deemed fit for consumption. Carnism First coined by Melanie Joy, a Harvardeducated social psychologist, carnism signifies a system of oppression “enabled by an unjust exercise of power that causes unnecessary harm to billions of individuals.” Joy also contends that carnism “runs counter to human values, such as compassion and justice.” People have consistently valued all creatures upon the basis of their utility to humans. Consequently, humans fail to contemplate the notion that an animal’s respective right

0.5 ounces Bailey’s

ed into opp Dr

Farm animals commonly used by the animal agriculture industry are as deserving of moral recognition as pets, despite the fact that they are rarely treated humanely.

0.5 ounces Jameson Irish Whiskey

1 / 2 pint

of Guinness Beer

see ABUSE / page 2 JINA RO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

HOW TO GET FESTIVE WITH GREEN FOOD An array of foods to help you get in the Irish spirit. page 6

MASTER PLAN TALKS CHANGES ON CAMPUS Revisements include new routes and construction. page 7

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opinions collegiatetimes.com/opinion

ABUSE: Mistreatment of farm animals is unethical from page 1

to life outweighs our right to use them for our own selfish desires. An ove r w h e l m i n g majority of people would not consciously support the wielding of violence against defenseless creatures. Thus, carnism requires a set of “defense mechanisms that distort our thoughts and block our natural empathy so that we act against our values without fully realizing what we are doing.” In essence, carnism desensitizes us to the deprivation of life. Such defenses hide the “contradictions between our values and behaviors, so that we unknowingly make exceptions to what we would normally consider unethical.” Seeing as carnism is both a dominant and invisible ideology, most individuals are unaware that eating animals is truly a choice. Dominant belief systems become so widespread within society that their principles are considered “common sense” as opposed to a collection of widely held beliefs. Joy eloquently articulates the societal implications resulting from this belief system, asserting that carnism limits the rights of both humans (the oppressors) and nonhuman animals (the victims). So long as we allow the implications of carnism

to remain uncontested, we lack control over our ability to make choices in a truly candid manner. Commodification Animals are also often depicted as materials or machines, existing for the sole purpose of driving up corporate profits. For instance, a majority of baby chicks are genetically manipulated to grow 65 times faster than their natural growth rate, resulting in conditions such as heart failure. The poultry industry slaughters 51.4 billion chickens annually, at the average age of 42 days old. Keep in mind, a chicken’s natural lifespan ranges from about 10 to 15 years. The 200 million male chicks born to the industry each year are considered worthless to the industry due to their biological inability to lay eggs. Thus, these innocent creatures are deprived of their right to life by being savagely tossed into grinding machines or instead suffocated in plastic bags. Even those who consistently purchase “cage free,” “free range” and “organic” chickens are contributing to a system of exploitation and violence, as all of these sentient creatures were at one point seized upside down by their legs, tossed carelessly into transport trucks and hauled to slaughter. Countless organizations

such as Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM) and Compassion Over Killing (COK) advocate on behalf of the voiceless victims enslaved to the animal agriculture system, providing educational materials to the general public in the process. Individuals with even the slightest of interest in learning of the practices endured by farmed animals are encouraged to visit these sources. Our Moral Duty Humans are charged with changing laws which are not in alignment with morality. Currently, animals possess a legal status equivalent to that of property. We ought to abolish this status altogether, expunging the institution of animal agriculture entirely, as animals themselves possess interests unlike property. The division between law and morality becomes increasingly questionable as partisan agendas are shown to influence policy outcomes. Social change is the catalyst to any significant legislative shift. Thus, humans must consider the societal inconsistencies held in regards to the treatment of animals.

ALEXA WILLIAMS • assistant opinions editor • freshman/political science

STACEY WESCOTT / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

column

Career exposure essential for post-college success

Before even entering a university, the pressure is already on for students to decide which academic major to pursue. Some students have established a clear vision for where they see themselves in 10 years, but the majority of students are uncertain about which field they hope to pursue. Students are not given a sufficient preview of what jobs are on the market before or during college. Once entering university, students are under their academic majors’ colleges and take a few classes related to their listed majors. Students are typically dealing with a large amount of stress while deciding on a major, in fear of having enough credits to graduate on time. Even they decide on a major during freshman year, students still may not be able to envision a specific job after earning their degrees. A student may find a subject interesting and declare his or her major, but still not be certain about what jobs there are. For example, one may be passionate about science, but cannot see oneself going into research and is unsure of what other jobs are in this field. During high school or even during college, most students are not well informed or presented with enough information about different job positions, such as having a class describing the everyday work schedule for a pharmacist, an actuary or a computer systems developer. In high school, students have options to take electives in courses such as art, journalism, music or foreign language. This gives students the opportunity to participate in other activities along with their main subject courses. Although elective classes can uncover students’ passions, these subjects do not necessarily impact their futures in a significant way. Does a Spanish or

yearbook class really affect a student’s choice in major? Extracurricular activities certainly allow students to expand on what they love, but are typically seen as activities or hobbies. According to CareerBuilder, nearly half of college graduates say they are not working in a field related to their degree. This can be because students are not shown what jobs they can go for once they graduate. It is one thing to know which subject you like, but another to see exactly what jobs are given under this field. A solution to this could be high school teachers talking about different jobs within their respective subjects during classes. Also, there could be specific classes devoted to talking about different jobs with volunteer speakers, career fairs and job-for-a-day activities. Students gaining hands-on experience and physically performing jobs for a day would help them get immensely closer to making their final decision. In their freshman year, college students often take a majority of their courses within more general areas. Yet, they still are not shown what specific jobs they can apply for once they have received their degrees. Counseling and career help is offered, but not all students take advantage of these services. With this in mind, students should be given informative opportunities to preview different careers they can go into after college before deciding on their academic major.

national op-ed

Op-ed: Kremlingate is not Washington politics as usual

he crimes committed during the 2016 race for the White House must be brought to light and prosecuted. In a summer appearance on CNN, then-Sen. Jeff Sessions was asked about candidate Trump’s entanglements with Russia. He responded by criticizing Hillary Clinton. Pressed as to whether Vladimir Putin was a good or a bad person, he redirected again. “The question,” Sessions said, “is can we have a more peaceful, effective relationship with Russia, utilizing interests that are similar in a realistic way.” Sessions uttered that remark on July 31, which was a month and a half before the meeting with the Russian ambassador that he would later deny under oath. He did not elaborate on what those interests might be, but months later they are easy to infer: a shared antipathy for then Democratic candidate Clinton, and a desire to embarrass former president Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. The Trump campaign accepted Russian support to defeat Clinton in November. We have seen a great deal of evidence to support this and been given no reason to believe any of it is false other than that it is a crime so brazen, so poorly concealed, that the perpetrators would have to be incompetent — clownish, even. It is the worst cover-up since The Donald’s surgically reconstructed hair. When David Corn first reported on the existence of a dossier detailing Trump’s dirty dealings with Russia in October, the story gained little traction, and for good reason. The “former spy” he claimed as a source could have been anyone, with any motive. Still, to those familiar with Russian foreign policy, aspects of it rang true. Then in December, Buzzfeed showed us the documents themselves. Then we learned it was authored by a former MI6 agent, and that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had brought the dossier to the FBI. Doubts about the dossier’s authenticity evaporated. Then, routine NSA surveillance par tially corroborated the dossier by catching one of Trump’s closest advisers, former Gen. Michael Flynn, lying about contacts with Russian officials. Flynn was not under oath, but he still resigned under the weight of that lie. Flynn was not the first to fall, either. Back in

August, Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, resigned after Ukrainian troops found ledgers detailing cash payments he received from pro-Russian separatists. Each of these pieces of the puzzle came from a different source for unrelated reasons, but they fit together into a picture of a treasonous campaign.

“

The horror should not be confined to the left side of the aisle. Trump betrayed us all, especially his own voters.”

McCain has said an independent investigation is needed, but under the rules of the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) can protect his caucus from a vote which would fracture it irreparably. After eight years of unprecedented obstruction, McConnell is desperate for an actual legislative achievement, and not even the inevitable disgrace of the man who would sign his bill can stop him. With the GOP studiously keeping its back turned, and with Democrats in government having no leverage at all, the only thing driving this story forward has been a stream of leaks from an administration that is bursting at the seams under the strain of the president’s criminality. When Flynn spoke with the Russian ambassador after the election, why would he offer to ease sanctions? Why would he offer anything for nothing? Trump sees the world of politics as a series of “deals,” but we are to believe Flynn put the sanctions on the table for free. W hen the Tr ump campaign removed language supportive of Ukraine — and by extension, our long alliance with Europe and the stability of the entire North Atlantic region — from the GOP platform, Trump would have us believe he got nothing in return. Especially not the millions of dollars the separatists contributed to his campaign manager. Publicly, Trump asked the Russians, if they were listening, to find and release more of Clinton’s emails. They did find and release the emails of her chief of staff, but that, we are told, is a coincidence, because Trump was just joking. Trump has suggested we make concessions to Russia in Syria, a conflict he knows only slightly more about

than Gary Johnson. Perhaps most damning, in the middle of a series of inexplicably disastrous phone calls with the leaders of friendly nations, Trump somehow had a quietly cordial discussion with Putin. No tough talk about the bad hombres in his country. No casual threats to invade. Not even any hobnobbing over that one time they were on the same episode of “60 Minutes,” just a stately, respectful conversation. Putin, who barely bothers to dispute that he does murders for political convenience. Putin, who threatens to return Europe to an age of open hostility and frequent conflict with his land grabs in the East. Putin, who Trump once publicly courted to be his new best friend. It should go without saying that Sessions can neither participate in an investigation nor be recused from one. Neither the American people nor the law enforcement community itself can abide an Attorney General who clearly perjured himself at his own confirmation hearing. The fact that he did so to further the President’s concealment of his partnership with Putin makes him a target of the investigation as well. The Justice Department cannot function credibly while Sessions continues to serve as its leader. Tr ump and P utin marched in lockstep against the Democratic Party last fall. If the dossier’s claim of a five year relationship is true (and nothing from the dossier has been debunked yet), then he also had Russian help knocking over the candidacies of Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and the rest of the Republican field. The horror should not be confined to the left side of the aisle. Trump betrayed us all, especially his own voters. If we fail to address this crisis honestly, it will be for the USA what the fall of the Berlin Wall was for the USSR. The American empire will vanish overnight if we allow foreign agents to divide us. Republicans across the country must face reality and distance themselves from this nonsense. A legitimate, non-partisan prosecution must be convened before we further embarrass our nation in front of both the global community and our own national history.

PATRICK GIALLORENZO • graduate student • political science

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Round of 64

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March 16-17

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March 16-17

Villanova

MSM

Wisconsin

Virginia Tech

UVA

UNC Wilmington

Florida

ETSU

SMU

PR / SC

Kansas

NC / UD

Miami

Michigan State

Iowa Sate

Nevada

Purdue

Vermont

Creighton

URI

Final Four April 1, Glendale, AZ

Baylor

Oregon

New Mexico St

Iona

South Carolina

Michigan

Marquette

Oklahoma State

Duke

Louisville

Troy

Jacksonville St

Gonzaga

South Dakota St

Northwestern

National Championship April 3 Glendale, AZ

VS.

UNC

Texas Southern

Arkansas

Vanderbilt

Seton Hall

Notre Dame

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KSU

UCLA

Kent State

Dayton

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Xavier

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FGCU

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The biggest questions of basketball’s biggest dance

Put Your Best Fork Forward

Not sure about Tech’s chances against Wisconsin? Don’t know who to put as your champion? The CT has your back. FAIZAN HASNANY AND KYLE COOKE sports editor and assistant sports editor

Will Virginia Tech win a game in the NCAA tournament? Kyle: No. I try to leave my fandom at the door when covering Virginia Tech sports, but even when I go to Sharkey’s tonight clad only in maroon and orange to watch the game, I’ll be watching with the expectation that Wisconsin is going to beat us, and here’s why: exper ience. T he Badgers will be in their 19th consecutive trip to the big dance this year. Tech is dancing for the first time in a decade and chances are it’ll be doing so with two left feet. Faizan: While Wisconsin enters tonight’s game with more tournament experience, from a purely basketball standpoint, I think Virginia Tech can edge the Badgers out. Tech’s offense thrives on its three-point shooting, an area where Wisconsin has struggled defensively this season. The Hokies also have Buzz Williams who, at Marquette, went to five NCAA tournaments

including three Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight. It will be a tough game, but I think the Hokies can pull out the win. Who is your biggest sleeper in the tournament? Kyle: I am very high on the University of Rhode Island. The Rams are 3–1 against top 25 opponents this year, including two wins against VCU, one of which came in the A10 Championship Game (the team lost to Duke by just 10 when the Blue Devils were No. 1). URI has won 10 of its last 12 and boasts a respectable 37 RPI rank. Finally, I like the teams that URI is set to face. Creighton, the Rams’ first-round foe, is very beatable. The Blue Jays’ point guard, Maurice Watson Jr., suffered a season-ending injury and Creighton is just 7–8 since he went down. If the Rams beat Creighton, chances are they’ll face Oregon, which lost one of its best players to an ACL injury in the Pac-12 tournament. I have Rhode Island losing to Louisville in the Sweet 16. Faizan: I’m extremely confident in Nevada’s chances this year and have the team in my Elite Eight. With five players scoring 12 or more points

per game and four players who grab at least five rebounds per game, it has multiple contributors who can take over a game. They are an incredible threepoint shooting team at 38.5 percent on the season with three players taking more than four three pointers a game, led by senior Marcus Marshall who jacks up nearly nine triples a game. Not only can the team shoot it, but the Wolf Pack is also the 15th best team in the country at defending the long ball, holding its opponents to 30.7 percent from beyond the arc. Not to mention the coach’s last name is Musselman and that has to count for something. So, who wins it all? Kyle: The Duke Blue Devils. I don’t think any team in the country is as hot as coach K’s crew, and if his guys play to their potential, nobody’s beating them. Faizan: I have Louisville winning it all. The Cardinals are, in my opinion, the best defensive team in the country and have the ability to score on par with the best offenses when they’re hot. @CTSportsTalk

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ISAIAH FORD

CHUCK CLARK

WOODY BARON

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DEON CLARKE JINA RO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Hokies run toward the NFL

Former Virginia Tech football players participated in drills on Wednesday in front of NFL scouts from all 32 teams. JORDAN HUTCHINSON football beat reporter

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES Justin Fuente speaks to an associate during Virginia Tech’s Pro Day in the indoor practice facility, March 15, 2017.

Virginia Tech held its annual NFL Pro Day on Wednesday in the indoor practice facility. Amid the frigid temperatures, 14 NFL-hopefuls showed off their talents on the field. Tech invited a few former Hokies back today to participate in the combine. One name that might ring a bell is Trey Edmunds, who transferred to Maryland last season. Edmunds ran a 4.47 40-yard dash, lifted 24 reps on the bench and leaped 34.5 inches in the vertical jump. Trey’s two other brothers, Terrell and Tremaine, start for the Hokies. “I was happy with everything expect for my (40-yard dash),” said Sam Rogers. “I wanted to improve my short shuttle and do position drills. I consider myself more of a football player than a track athlete.”

Rogers ran a 4.87 in his 40-yard dash and looked very strong in his position drills. Rogers said he is unsure of what teams are interested in him because he has spoken with every team, and he is excited to go home and train until the draft.

“

I wanted to improve my short shuttle and do position drills. I consider myself more of a football player than a track athlete.”

Sam Rogers Hokie fullback

Isaiah Ford also looked very strong in his Pro Day. Ford ran a 4.52 40-yard dash, which is much quicker than his 4.61 that he ran at

the combine. The former Tech wide out said that he wasn’t happy with his combine, and that he felt much better on Wednesday. In positional drills, Ford didn’t drop a single ball, including several tough catches in the end zone. Bucky Hodges didn’t run the 40-yard dash, due to a phenomenal combine a few weeks ago. Instead, Hodges partook in positional drills for the tight end position. At the combine, Hodges posted a 4.57 40-yard dash and set a tight-end record in the broad jump with an 11-foot-2 jump. Hodges was working with the Bengals and the Jets in positional drills on Wednesday. “I think I did well,” Hodges said on his combine. “I showed my athleticism and showed teams the type of player that I am.” Jerod Evans made his return to Blacksburg in memorable form. Evans had

a solid showing, but refused to talk to the media after, for unknown reasons. On the field, Evans was clean and threw a bunch of great passes during his script. Other players, such as Ken Ekanem and Chuck Clark had very good days on Wednesday. Ekanem ran a 4.76 40-yard dash and Clark ran a 4.51. Brenden Motley had a good throwing exhibition as well as a 9-foot-8 broad jump. Augie Conte jumped 8 feet and 6 inches and put up 27 reps on the bench in an impressive fashion. The NFL will feature some new faces next year, and the Hokies will be well represented. After Wednesday, several Hokies have aspirations of getting drafted and making an impact in the league. @JHutchinsonVT

MADNESS: Hokies ready to dance with Badgers from page 1

like this.” According to kenpom. com, Wisconsin enters the game with 86.8 percent of its minutes being played by the same players from last season to this season. That minutes-continuity rate is the highest of any team in the country, not to mention, most of the returning players have prior tournament experience. Virginia Tech, which had most of its players return from last season to this season as well, has a minutes-continuity rate of 62.8 percent and no NCAA tournament experience. For comparison, the average minutes-continuity rate among 351 Division I schools is 49.5 percent. “Wisconsin’s a really good veteran team, you know, they’ve got guys that have played a long time in college, guys that can make big plays,” said redshirtsenior Seth Allen. “You have to really guard them and keep them off the glass.” As far as play style is concerned, the teams differ drastically, and as Allen mentioned on Selection Sunday, the Hokies must keep Wisconsin off the glass. Tech likes to play a smaller brand of basketball and strategically get back on defense rather than

crashing the boards for offensive putback opportunities. Meanwhile, the Badgers, led by sophomore big-man Ethan Happ, make up one of the most active offensive rebounding teams in the country. The Badgers boast an offensive rebound percentage of 35.4 percent, which is 23rd in the country, while the Hokies have the 27th lowest offensive rebound percentage of 23.4 percent. On the f lip-side, the Hokies’ small ball, paceand-space style offense is what could eventually lead them to overcome the Badgers stout manto-man defense. Virginia Tech put up stunning threepoint shooting numbers this season, striking the perfect balance of dribble penetrators and shooters to keep opposing defenses in rotation, and establish itself as one of the premier offenses in all of college basketball. The Hokies shot 41.4 percent from beyond the arc in ACC play with an effective field-goal percentage of 57 percent. They ranked first in the conference and in the top 10 nationally in both categories. Not only do they make threes at an exceedingly high rate, but they also take them at one of the highest rates in the country. Of the Hokies’ jump shots

in half-court sets, 85.3 percent are from three-point range. W i s c o n s i n, d e s p it e being 8th in the country in defensive efficiency, has struggled to defend the three pointer. The Badgers allow an opposing three-point percentage of 37.7 percent which ranks 305th among 351 Division I teams and is something that Tech will likely look to exploit. One of the most important things to keep an eye on when these two teams face off on Thursday night will be which team establishes its pace on the game. The Hokies like to play fast and get out in transition, doing so 18.9 percent of the time. Conversely, the Badgers try to slow down the game and beat teams in the half court, getting out in transition just 7.7 percent of the time and averaging a time of possession of 19.8 seconds which is the 11th slowest in the nation. Although the game’s outcome will be extremely difficult to predict, fans of both teams can go into this game certain about one thing: with both teams having such contrasting identities, this matchup could be one of the more hard fought games of the tournament. @FaizanCT

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Zach LeDay (32) makes a layup in the first half of the Hokies’ opening ACC tournament game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, March 8, 2017.

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How to enjoy basketball when you’re secretly an amateur March Madness begins March 16. Do you know who you will be rooting for? Our writer has some ideas on how to figure it out. GRETCHEN KERNBACH lifestyles staff writer

‘Tis the season for major basketball fans known as March Madness. Sixty-eight teams from four regions duke it out for the NCAA Championship title, while viewers (students, alumni or random old guys) pray their team makes it all the way. Well, what if you don’t have a “team?” Or what if you have no clue what is going on? Now we all know how basketball is played and the rules of the game, I hope; but when it comes to stats or knowledge of every team’s skills — that’s a flat no. Therefore, you may find it difficult to choose a team you favor each game or throughout the entire tournament. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of ways to pick who to root for. For example, compare the two teams’ school colors and pick whichever one you like best. It’s that simple. Or, if you prefer, pick the team whose colors look best on you. Not a fan of navy blue? Then you probably shouldn’t root for Gonzaga. To make it even more interesting, write down the two team names on separate pieces of paper and tape them to opposite ends of the room. Now close your eyes, spin around for a few minutes and point your finger. Where did your finger land? On your new team. Another way to determine who you are rooting for is to say the team’s name aloud in a British

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accent. Does Butler sound better than Winthrop? Congratulations, you are now a Butler fan. Attempts at Australian, Jamaican and Canadian accents are, of course, also welcome. If you are too boring for colors, spinning around and British accents, simply pick the team that came into the tournament with a higher seed. That’s not nearly as fun though — so don’t do that. If you really don’t know basketball terms, “higher seed”

means the team came into the tournament with a better ranking. For example, Virginia Tech went into the tournament as a No. 9 seed based on its record and other factors. Furthermore, take a look at the team’s roster. Does one of the players have the same name as your dad or brother? Root for them! Does one of the players have horrible hair and desperately needs to see a barber? Root against them! The possibilities are endless.

Or, if you look at the roster, you can always just pick the team that has the most players the same age as you. Involve your neighbors with your team selection. Assign one team each to a house or apartment, then egg both of their doors. Whichever neighbor gets the most angry, that’s the team you root for. If you are a sucker for the underdog, pick the team that looks the most frail or has the worse record.

Or you can order a gender-reveal cake and ask the baker to use food coloring that corresponds with one team’s colors. Then gather your friends and have a “who am I rooting for” party, cut the cake and that’s your team. You also have a cake now, so it’s a win-win. Try this method out with other foods as well. Assign teams to different types of wing sauce at a restaurant and when you order wings, tell your server to pick the sauce themselves. Whatever random sauce is chosen is your team. Straying away from food (staying focused on that summer bod), pick your teams in the same fashion that you do your homework — at the last minute. In the last minute of the game, choose whoever is winning so it looks like you know a little something about basketball. Then pretend that you were rooting for them the whole time. You may consider these routines to be on the “extra” side of the spectrum, but let’s be real, being extra is fun. And March Madness is supposed to be fun for everyone, even for those who don’t know anything about anyone. The first games are being played March 16 and 17, so get to throwing those eggs or speaking in that British accent. You may know nothing about basketball, but at least you will know who you are rooting for.

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Festive with food: How to get into the St. Patrick’s spirit with snacks St. Patrick’s Day is this Friday, and while many celebrate this day by drinking, there are many other ways to feel festive this March 17. ALAYNA JONES lifestyles staff writer

ARMAHN RASSULI / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Irish Car Bomb consists of a mix of Irish whiskey and Irish cream with a glass of Guinness beer.

IRISH: Context is

key when it comes to the Car Bomb from page 1

during The Troubles and also within the Republic. They used four car bombs that injured 300 civilians and killed 33, including a full-term unborn child. The UDA, along with the IRA, also took part in the “Bloody Friday” bombings. On July 21, 1972, the IRA along with the UDA had planted 23 bombs in and around the center of Belfast, Ireland, according to the BBC. The bombings lasted about one hour and 20 minutes, with people fleeing from one bomb just to run into another. After a Northern Ireland spokesman referred to the day as “Bloody Friday” it has been known as such ever since. So, the big question — is ordering an Irish Car Bomb on St. Patrick’s Day offensive to those who lived through The Troubles? According to Dixit, it’s all about context. “What different cultures find offensive is very culturally specific, to some extent. You might find Irish people who think it’s funny or who think it’s satirical or who think it’s a laugh to call it an ‘Irish Car Bomb,’” Dixit said. “How would we feel if the Irish or the British had a drink called ‘The Twin Towers’ which they chugged during their most drunken night of the year?

We wouldn’t like it very much — that’s why context matters.” According to Dixit, it is also important to keep in mind that Northern Ireland at the time was a very small and concentrated area — making the car bombings that occurred at the time a part of everyday life. “I would imagine that most Americans don’t sit around and think about being shot, even though they have a high chance of being shot,” Dixit said. “But if you’re in a much smaller territory, such as Northern Ireland at that time, you would have a far higher chance of knowing someone or hearing of someone who was in a car bomb attack.” It is hard to determine what is considered offensive and what is not — each person has a different collection of life experiences, which in turn frames his or her view of what is offensive. As an individual, ordering an Irish Car Bomb might come down to location (I wouldn’t dare order this if I were visiting Ireland), personal choice — or if you’re like Dixit, it might just come down to taste. As she puts it, “Why would you mix a good whiskey and a good beer just to chug it?”

@Smith992_CT

St. Patrick’s Day is coming, and there is no better way to celebrate the luck of the Irish than with green food for every meal. Some dishes might sound strange to eat green for a day, but why not give them a try to get in the spirit and feel extra festive?

Green eggs and ham

This is a classic dish that everyone has heard of due to Dr. Seuss’ children’s book by the same name. Green eggs and ham make a great St. Patrick’s Day breakfast dish that will get you in the spirit right away. All you have to do for this dish is put green food dye in the egg before it cooks. However, I warn you not to trust green eggs on any day other than March 17.

Green waffles/pancakes

If green eggs and ham are just too out there for you, then green waffles or pancakes are a good alternative for a festive breakfast. Making these is just as easy as it sounds — simply add green food dye to your favorite waffle or pancake mix, cook and serve. To be even more festive (or put yourself in a sugar coma), you can add the marshmallows from Lucky Charms into the batter.

Green candied popcorn

After you finish your green breakfast, you can make a green popcorn snack for later in the day. You can make a big batch (or a

small size if you’re looking to eat this popcorn by yourself), and if you are in the giving mood, you can pop a lot of the popcorn and give some out to friends in little St. Patrick’s Day-themed bags. For the recipe, head to skiptomylou. org.

com.

Green Rice Krispies Treats

If you want a snack or a fun dessert, Rice Krispies Treats are always a good choice — and green ones for St. Patrick’s Day are even better. The only way this recipe differs from the original is by adding green Irish puppy chow St. Patrick’s Day puppy chow is food dye to the melted marshmallow a simple treat to make for the day to mixture. After they are set, you can cut share with friends (or you can eat it all them into a shamrock shape for an even more festive treat. by yourself because why not?). The recipe is simple and makes a typical batch of puppy chow. The Green pasta only addition is adding in one bag Green pasta is another classic St. of green candy melts into the mixing Patrick’s Day food. This dish is very bag after melting them completely simple to cook and makes for a great in the microwave. If you would like, dinner on March 17. mint extract can also be added into the All you need for this one are spinach mixing bag with the puppy chow — if noodles and a good pesto. You can also you’re feeling minty. add green vegetables to the pasta if you If you are unfamiliar with how to would like. Another option is to simply make puppy chow, I found this recipe add green food coloring to the pasta as on galonabudget.com, but there are it is cooking. many different recipes out there. This dish is perfect for filling up before you head out to your other festivities for the night. DIY Shamrock Shake Shamrock Shakes are a hit at McDonald’s. While some have strong Leprechaun limeade feelings against these shakes, others This green drink is sure to be a hit at wait all year for their arrival. every party. The recipe to this festive If you have yet to try one of these drink is very simple — all it requires is minty green shakes, you can make lemon Kool-Aid mix, sugar, water and your very own instead of going out and Sprite. If you are of age, vodka can be buying one, and they will be a hit for added to spike the drink. any St. Patrick’s Day party. Full directions for this green drink All you will need is vanilla ice can be found at nobohnsaboutit.com. cream, milk, mint extract, green food coloring, whipped cream and sprinkles. @CollegiateTimes For the full recipe, go to tablespoon.

ARMAHN RASSULI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Green eggs and ham, a meal made popular by Dr. Seuss’ famous book titled “Green Eggs and Ham,” has become a St. Patrick’s Day staple.

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Tale of Two Town Halls The skinny: Two Town Master plan unveiled: A Council meetings in one future without Squires Town Council plays catchup with the community agenda, discussing two meetings worth of information this week.

Virginia Tech’s town hall meeting reveals new master plan, revising campus routes to promote connectivity.

Square. “New construction inside the bypass increases town tax revenue and increases real estate profits, while we pay the increased cost of stormwater damage. This is not fair.” Stephen Schoenholtz, another d ow n s t r e a m

accommodating smart growth, fostering inclusive and diverse communities, and expanding On March 14, Virginia Tech st rategic pa r t nersh ips. held a town hall meeting to Additionally, the school hopes discuss the 2017 master plan to promote universal access for the growth of the Virginia through one of two proposed Tech campus. methods. A campus master plan is “We have two different a physical map or outline of a design ideas that come from university’s strategic plan for this one big idea of universal future development. It is meant access,” Ocampo said. “The to be a sort of road map for the first is thinking about an future of a campus and a tool infinite loop, a continuous in confirming that short-term pedestrian path that is both projects are working with a pedestrian and bike path long-term plans and goals. that actually connects all “We initiated this master the different districts of the planning effort in May of last campus. It’s reinforced by year,” said Jason Soileau, what we’re going to overlay as assistant vice president of the a series of campus amenities Office of University Planning. and centers such as dining, “Virginia Tech updates its recreational facilities, and master plan approximately it will connect that whole every 10 years, so our last campus student life and master plan was done in 2006. amenity network together. The “The current master plan, second involves green links. however, is not what I would Green links are essentially call a traditional master plan. pedestrian paths that are ADA Our administration had the compliant, universally accesforesight to really do some sible that would begin to shape deep dives into certain topics, the land so that everyone has so this is an extremely compreaccess to all the different zones hensive plan, and I think it’s of the campus.” really providing an exciting The final idea is improving vision for the future of the the Virginia Tech student life physical campus at Virginia experience through a series Tech.” of improvements to campus Soileau emphasized that amenities and centers of this plan is subject to change, activity. and that feedback from “Probably the biggest students and community change and most shocking members is encouraged so that change is the disappearance the plan can best fit the needs of Squires,” Havens said. of everyone in the Blacksburg “Squires is being relocated. community. The idea is to create a creativity “We’ve had a lot of and innovation district of discussion, we’ve had many several new buildings in group meetings, and I think the area where Squires is that’s important for the currently. One idea that’s being process, but it’s also important thrown around now is placing to understand the iterative the College of Architecture in nature of a master plan. And this district.” so, what you’re going to see However, no timeline has tonight are just initial concepts, been established for the demothey’re not set in stone. What lition of Squires. we need now is feedback.” Though many of these changes may seem drastic now, Soileau stressed that Virginia Tech is no stranger to rapid campus growth, and that the developments are designed to improve quality of life at Virginia Tech. “In the last 20 years, Virginia Tech has grown over four and a half million gross square feet, so even if we keep with that pace we’re still looking at a significant impact on our campus,” Soileau said. “This is a very exciting time to be a Hokie. This is an exciting TUAN TRAN / COLLEGIATE TIMES process to be a part of.”

LEWIS MILLHOLLAND managing editor

Bla ck sbu rg To w n Council held its first town council meeting in four weeks on Tuesday night. While Sturbridge Square dominated most of the evening, there were several other key points brought up for discussion.

The gist

T he Council voted to approve rezon i ng Sturbridge Square, allowing the owners to develop one of the tallest, densest housing communities in Blacksburg. Several citizens took the podium to express their concerns, especially regarding how stormwater runoff from the development could negatively impact nearby residents living downstream. Later, the Town Manager introduced the recomm end e d f i s c a l ye a r 2017–18 operating budget, noticeably allocating more funds for water and transportation and tentatively retaining the proposed 1-cent tax increase on real estate. Oh, and there will be a “Beauty and the Beast” Tea Party at the Blacksburg Library on Friday, with a special appearance by Belle.

The full story Sturbridge Square

“

I am concerned about the stormwater, but I am trusting our staff and the engineers to do the right thing.” hjghjhg

Cecile Newcomb council member neighbor, told the Council that his property has been damaged by excessive runoff for decades. He invited members of the Council to come to his property and see “the 50 years of damage” firsthand. Sturbridge Square developers have been working closely with the Town Pla n n i ng Com m ission to preemptively address concerns, which developer Steve Semones said made the plan “better than what it was than when we submitted it.” As a result of this close working relationship, the developers have proffered to evaluate and carry out upgrades to the pump station, construct a new bus shelter and crosswalk alongside the property, and conduct a turn lane analysis for left turns coming out of the main entrance. Council Member Cecile Newcomb spoke in favor of the project. “It fits the stated goals of the town, it’s a high-density development that we’ve been asking for, and it also meets transport-oriented design goals … I mean, there are a lot of things here that I’ve been asking for for years,” she said. “I am concerned about the stormwater, but I’m trusting our staff and the engineers to do the right thing with the stormwater.”

The Sturbridge Square rezoning saga came to an end as the Town Council voted 6–1 to rezone nearly 12 acres from a mediumdensity multiunit residential zoning district to a planned residential zoning district — which essentially means Sturbridge can build bigger and pack in more bodies. Citizens have been expressing concern over the proposed Sturbridge developments for months. The plan offers only three parking spaces for every four residents, the on-site pump station may not be powerful enough to handle the increased population and, of course, the stormwater runoff may hurt residents downstream. “The cost of handling the stormwater runoff from these properties falls upon Approved actions the small landowners who The council unanimously are downstream,” said Mary voted to amend portions of Houska, whose home lies the town code regarding 169 feet below Sturbridge amplified noise. The vote

comes five months after EDM artist Diplo performed on the Drillfield for thousands of Tech students and irritating Blacksburg citizens for miles around. However, t he l i n k between the two is coincidental. Town Attorney La r r y Spencer joked by bringing up a slide featuring Diplo at the start of his presentation with the caption, “Not in reference to this.” The Council also voted to appropriate $150,000 to fund a sanitary sewage assessment and study, which has not been conducted since 2010. Douglas White, a citizen deeply entrenched in the town’s sewage concerns, added his two cents: “I just ask that you put Windsor Hills watershed at the top of that list, and do all the manholes in the basin and the stormwater attribute that floods the wellhouse.” The ordinance passed unanimously.

FY 2017–18 budget

Town Manager Marc Verniel gave an overview of the town’s upcoming operating budget. The budget currently accounts for a 1-cent increase on the real estate tax rate, which was originally added in to accommodate the purchase of the old Blacksburg High School property on Patrick Henry Drive — however, since that discussion has dragged on with no end in sight, the town may decide to nix the tax increase. (One additional penny on the real estate tax yields about $293,700 to the town annually.) Verniel also offered a sneak peak of the “Budget in Brief,” a user-friendly explanation of the upcoming budget full of graphics. He said the full version should be online sometime Wednesday. The Town Council will next meet on March 21 at 11 a.m. for a work session at the Blacksburg Motor Company, 400 Main St. The next regularly scheduled Town Council meeting is scheduled for March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Blacksburg Municipal Building, 300 South Main St.

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IZZY ROSSI news editor

Virginia Tech has also brought in Sasaki Associates, an international interdisciplinary planning and design firm, to assist in the planning efforts for the master plan. Sasaki Associates has laid out several key elements of the plan that are believed to be most important to residents. “We’ve been asked to look beyond Blacksburg with the destination area themes the provost is putting forth. We’re looking at not just Roanoke, but also the national capital region in this planning process,” said Greg Havens, consultant for Sasaki Associates. “The other thing we’ve been asked to do is think about the transportation links between here and Roanoke, the idea of the binary star, and the opportunity for students to really become engaged in what they’re doing in Roanoke around medical activities, around the adaptive brain destination area and other things that will evolve there over time.” Along with transportation to and from the different campus areas, the plan includes ideas for possible improvements to be made to the campus itself. “We have created eight big ideas that we think really establish the physical framework for reinforcing the university’s mission,” said Mary Anne Ocampo, consultant for Sasa k i Associates. “The first one is actually starting with the land itself, thinking about how we protect the land-grant legacy of Virginia Tech. That involves the memorable areas, the iconic landscapes of Alumni Mall, Drillfield and Duck Pond.” Other “big ideas” include enhancing learning and resea rch environments, planning for mobility,

Plans for construction throughout the Virginia Tech campus. These included easier movement across campus in an “infinite loop,” along with discussions regarding new dining halls and new student centers.

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