Nov. 13, 2015

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111th YEAR, ISSUE 137

November 13, 2015

TIMES

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

Tech Air Force detachment named best in region, nation Air Force ROTC Detachment 875 advanced past the southeast region before claiming the national title.

LIBBY HOWE Corps of Cadets beat reporter

me to go infantry because he associated it with, ‘Oh my God, my son is going to die.’”

Johnson deployed three times in an artillery capacity.

For the entirety of his service, Pierce was stationed at Quantico, Virginia, working with the presidential helicopter squadron for both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama.

College is like Narnia “I thought college was the coolest thing ever when I first got here,” Pierce said.

“I’m about to do four years of whatever I want. I came off doing 60 hours a week standard to finding out Tuesday/Thursday classes are a thing. That can’t be real. You

Through a rigorous process of elimination, Air Education and Training Command recognized Virginia Tech’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 875 nationally as the topperforming large-unit detachment.

Of all the AFROTC detachments in the United States, 47 are considered large detachments because they contain 82 or more cadets.

The southeast region, the region encompassing Virginia Tech’s detachment, contains 16 large detachments. Det 875 out-performed these other 15 detachments to go on to the national arena, where it again proved superior to any other large detachment in the country.

Out of all other large detachments, Det 875 achieved the highest average physical fitness assessment score, possibly a result of the “fitness-for-life” PT program.

“We don’t focus on the PFA. We focus on fitness for life, so fitness with the baseball team, the rugby team, the wrestling team, all kinds of different workouts, not just the physical fitness test,” said Col. Cameron Torrens, the commander of Det 875.

Det 875’s physical fitness program incorporates more than traditional exercise. Among other traditions, Det 875 holds an annual Halloween run during which upperclassman cadets portray zombies, clowns, zombie-clowns and more to encourage a faster run pace.

“I’d say that the run was a fun and clever way to get the wing running hard. Great participation and costumes from our cadets. It was definitely the spookiest run we’ve had yet,” said senior math major Trevor Schmidt.

In conjunction with this superior PFA average, Det 875 also achieved the highest cumulative GPA. The combined commitments of a senior military college and a prestigious university put double the stress on these students to perform. Despite these challenges, Det 875 cadets, 70 percent of whom are pursuing technical grades, maintain exceptionally high CGPAs. Among Det 875’s many accolades, the unit produces more graduates than any other detachment. As the fourth largest detachment,

see HOME / page 3

see AIR FORCE / page 3

CHRISTIAN STERLING / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Cadet in formal uniform stands guard at War Memorial Court on Nov. 10, 2015, the day before Veterans Day, at sunset.

Student veterans come back home LIBBY HOWE Corps of Cadets beat reporter

Helicopters to homework, artillery to academics Imagine maintaining and manning the president’s helicopter or guarding a military installation in Iraq and, one year later, having an English instructor attempt to convince you that meeting your Scholar submission deadline is of the utmost importance. Imagine beginning your freshman year here at Virginia Tech at the age of 23, after six years of military service, sitting in class with 18-year-olds mostly concerned with the believability of their fake IDs. Da niel Pierce, senior political science major, and Justin Johnson, senior

computer science major, both led lives prior to enrolling at Virginia Tech that set them apart from nearly 99 percent of the student body. As two of the 300 student veterans out of over 25,000 undergraduates, Pierce and Johnson faced challenges before and while completing their degrees unique only to those who have served our country.

Both Pierce and Johnson enlisted two weeks after graduating from high school with no hesitation. Pierce, coming from a military family, never aspired to be anything but a Marine and enlisted in May 2007. Johnson deployed for the first time in December 2005 after being inspired by the events of 2004.

“I wanted to enlist as fast

as I could when the invasion happened back in, good God, I don’t remember, 2004? I think that’s when the invasion of Iraq happened. I just sat there watching in shock and awe because, of course, they were streaming the whole thing. I wanted to be there,” Johnson said.

Johnson enlisted as soon as he could after graduating, independently working with recruiters to the dismay of his parents.

“When I got back, the first thing my dad said was, ‘Did you go infantry?’ with, like, fear in his voice. I said, ‘No, I went artillery.’ And to him, that was even worse. My dad has been working 9-to-5 jobs his whole life, and he has no experience, so he didn’t want

Volleyball continues Solidarity in the face of prejudice road trip against NC State, UNC LAUREN PAK

news staff writer

As the women’s volleyball team nears the end of its season, it faces two ACC competitors in hopes of improving its in-conference record.

JOSH WILETS volleyball beat reporter

This coming weekend, the Virginia Tech women’s volleyball team will be traveling back to the Tar Heel State for matches between North Carolina State and University of North Carolina.

The weekend roadtrip will be the start of the finishing stretch of the Hokies’ up-and-down season.

On Friday, the Hokies will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to face the NC State Wolfpack at 7:30 p.m. The Wolfpack has a record of 14-12 (3-11 ACC) and has struggled considerably in the ACC. Virginia Tech defeated NC State in Cassell Coliseum earlier this season by the score of 3-1.

As a team, NC State sits near the middle of the conference in terms of assists per set, averag i ng 12. 26 a ssist s.

The Wolfpack has been impressive on the defensive

side, averaging 2.44 blocks per set, which is fifth in the conference.

One aspect of NC State’s game that the Hokies will need to watch is their serving game. The Wolfpack averages 1.26 service-aces per set, which is third in the ACC. A major reason why NC State has struggled for most of the ACC schedule is because of the team’s lack of ability to accumulate digs. This means that plays are not being kept alive on the Wolfpack’s side of the court and that they are being scored against frequently. The Wolfpack is the worst team in the Atlantic Coast Conference in terms of digging, averaging just 12.44 digs per set.

Blayke Hranicka, a freshman middle blocker, is someone the Hokies need to watch. Hranicka is ninth in the conference in attack percentage with a percentage of 0.348. see VOLLEYBALL / page 11

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) held a demonstration of solidarity on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. after a threat found on a bathroom wall last Monday.

Approximately 1,000 students, administrators and community members gathered outside War Memorial Chapel on the Drillfield for “Standing in Solidarity: A Gathering Against Hate.”

The event began with Arabic and English recitations of the Maghrib.

MSA President and senior civil engineering major Obaid Khan followed with opening remarks. Devon Lee, a Ph.D. student in Africana studies and advisor for the Virginia Tech NAACP, emphasized diversity, citing past discrimination.

“I really like the emphasis that several speakers, including the president, placed on learning about people with different lived exper iences,” said Fran k Shushok, senior associate vice president for student affairs. “Developing true relationship and friendship across different lived experiences is a very tangible way for people to move forward and something

CHRISTIAN STERLING / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Students and community members gather together following the anti-hate rally held on Nov. 10, 2015, to sign a banner bearing the slogan “We Stand Together.” that everyone can do — today, tomorrow — to help advance InclusiveVT, which is developing relationships and friendships across difference.”

Preparation for the event began last Thursday. In less than a week, MSA organized an event with full support from the university community, including President Timothy Sands.

“Fra n k ly, I’m not surprised. When we’ve had challenges to our community, when people in our community feel threatened, Hokies show up,” Sands said. “It’s just something that we do; we do it because we have

DANIEL PEARL MUSIC DAY

STUDENTS MARCH FOR FREE COLLEGE TUITION

DJ duo The White Panda plays Commonwealth.

Hokies join the movement against student debt.

page 6

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experienced what it means to be a strong community and what we can learn from it, and we know that we need to be there to support each other.”

Students, administration and all attendees shared witness to the strength and dedication of the Hokie community.

“There have been so many times that I’ve been here that I’ve seen the Hokie community come together, and it just reinforced the love and resilience that we really are a Hokie family,” said Sharrika Adams, associate dean of students and director of student advocacy.

Students of all years,

/CollegiateTimes @collegiatetimes

majors, backgrounds, ethnicities and religions came together with different interests, but for one reason: as an expression of solidarity and support for Muslim students at Virginia Tech.

“This kind of stuff is what breaks down the community, so we wanted to come out and see how we can help rebuild that sense after it’s been tarnished by the graffiti that some idiot decided to put up,” said Ashley Baboota, a senior hotel and hospitality tourism management major.

The event was held on see UNITE / page 11

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PAGE 2 November 13, 2015

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Lessons from a stressedout graduate student

G

ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Jessie Acfalle (left), a sophomore computer programming engineer, and Hunter Holden, a freshman nanoscience major, stand guard over the marble cenotaph between the War Memorial Pylons as part of events leading up to Veterans Day, Nov. 10, 2015.

column

Veterans are deserving of recognition every day

T

his past Wednesday, the United States celebrated Veterans Day, a day to commemorate all of the men and women who have served our nation. We celebrate Veterans Day because on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the fighting finally stopped in the first World War, and the Allied and German troops agreed to an armistice.

Veterans Day was originally named Armistice Day, but President Eisenhower signed into law that it would be Veterans Day, in order to honor American veterans for their acts of patriotism, sacrifice and duty.

When we say celebrate, perhaps we forget the true meaning of Veterans Day. There were many posts yesterday on the Internet and social media about respecting and honoring our current military and fallen men and women. People have parades and wear red, white and blue, but it seems on any other day, people are quick to forget that men and women serve our country every day of the year, not just one.

People like to think that they show their support already, so a quick post to show gratitude is enough.

It is not enough to pretend to know someone and his or her struggles as a member of the military. We as a nation have to do more to support the people who fight for our country and our freedom. It is not good enough to be appreciative one day a year.

It is not good enough to give a military discount at a restaurant one day a week when being a member of the military is a decision that affects the entire course of someone’s life.

In the past, veterans of wars such as World War II and the Korean War received praise for their service and were hailed heroes. However, the sacrifices of veterans of the Vietnam War and the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan are often overlooked.

It is not fair to stigmatize soldiers for fighting in a war that the country may not fully

understand. Wars and soldiers always receive backlash, but because of controversy in recent conflicts, respect for military has declined.

Soldiers face blame instead of the respect that they deserve for laying their lives on the line for our country’s freedom.

The past two generations have never been exposed to conflict directly. Their lives have not been changed by war to the same degree as families’ lives in the past. While the perception of soldiers’ sacrifices has changed, the cost of serving our country remains constant in many ways.

Members of our armed forces have made a commitment that not only means they may lose their lives but that they will miss out on countless important family events. Many will miss the birth of their children, their children’s graduations or precious time with elder family members. Not only do they lose personal time while serving, they delay their educations and careers after the military.

Those who do decide to leave the military are left at a disadvantage when they enter the regular workforce.

Their service is not just one day of the year, and the gratitude and respect we show them should not be either.

This is a time of year when people remember what they are thankful for; it could be a job, their education, a place to sleep at night, family and friends, a loved one. How many people remember to be thankful that we live in a country where people are free to make their own decisions and have basic human rights?

As a country, we may not always get it right, but we should always remember to be thankful for those who put their lives on the line so we can live ours.

CARLYN TILLAGE

raduating from college, especially if that college happens to be Virginia Tech, is simultaneously exciting and terrifying. It’s a lot of goodbyes.

Some are welcome — goodbye Math Empo and goodbye exam stress — and others seem nearly impossible — goodbye campus food, college friends and Blacksburg (or as you’ve come to know it, home).

For me, it was a goodbye I simply refused to make.

Luckily, the Department of English (from which I received my B.A. this past May) offered me a graduate teaching assistant position, which is keeping me in this wonderful place for another two years while I work towards my M.A. This is a dream opportunity for me, but grad school isn’t for everyone, and it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart.

For some, graduate school is an awesome (and often necessary) way to further your education and take the natural next step.

For others, it may be more like a way to stall entering into the workforce, or “the real world” as I’ve heard some people call it. Either way, if you’re considering going for that M.A., M.S. or Ph.D., it’s a process that can be quite time-consuming, expensive and mentally draining.

There are many factors worth considering in the decision process. These include funding availability, location of family/ potential jobs, research focus, faculty and whether or not to take time off, just to name a few major ones.

Some of these answers can be found with a quick Google search, whereas others will involve some important self-reflection to figure out what’s best for you moving forward.

Howeve r, it’s t h e

unwritten lessons of grad school I think are most worth sharing. These are the ones you learn from that wise professor, that recent graduate or those in your program who’ve been around and can show you the ropes. Here are some of my favorites: 5. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Unlike undergrad, all-nighters and weekends full of drinking are not the norm and will be the death of your academic momentum.

Yo u’r e working at a higher level now, so more is expected of you. Burnout will happen at some point, and the best way to avoid it is to be proactive. Try not to take on too much, and remember the importance of time management skills.

4. You’re no longer a student, you’re a colleague.

This means no more wearing sweatpants to class and no more consistently showing up five minutes late.*** You’re not going to be coddled the same way you were in undergrad. If your performance starts taking a nosedive, it’s not just bad grades, it’s making bad professional impressions on the people in your field who can help you get jobs. (Special thanks to Paul Heilker for this tidbit.)

3. Ask for help. The other side of being considered a colleague is that your peers and instructors are often suffering along with the same pressures and deadlines. Accidents and family emergencies happen, and the people you’re working alongside are human too.

So, if you feel yourself slipping and needing advice, there’s usually someone around who’s been in the same boat and can offer an encouraging word. Virginia Tech’s own graduate school sends out a weekly email that includes a variety of different

resources for diverse student needs.

2. Take care of yourself.

Put down the Red Bull and pick up your running shoes.

Stop eating all the junk you did in undergrad. Try to live somewhere quiet where you can focus on work, and maybe even try to keep it clean. It’s small shifts like these that let you wake up one day and suddenly feel like an adult.

1. Make your degree work for you. Another big difference for many disciplines in grad school is that your course of study requirements will not be concretely laid out for you.

This is daunting but also an opportunity to pick studying what’s most interesting or most marketable for you. In each course, it’s important to try and make each assignment beneficial for you. There will be times like in undergrad, when you’re uninspired by the work and just have to do it to get it done, but don’t let that be the norm.

Try to repurpose each test/project/paper to work towa rds you r greater research goals. Overall, just try to get excited about each small task, as difficult as that may be.

At t end i ng g r a du at e school is becoming the expected for more and more students these days, but it’s important to carefully consider these five points (among many others) to decide if it’s the next step for you. ***Note: I would also like to take this time to formally apologize to any and all undergraduate professors who were afflicted by my tardiness.

(Matthew Vollmer, this means you.)

ABBEY WILLIAMS • former CT lifestyles editor • first-year English M.A. student

• regular columnist • senior/human development

column

Kate Obenshain inspires young female conservatives

On

Wednesday evening, the first female chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, Kate Obenshain, paid a visit to Virginia Tech’s campus and addressed several strong political issues. For some, Obenshain’s speech may have heightened the hostility surrounding their views. For others, Obenshain inspired and increased the persona that she portrays as an independent, conservative, female politician.

Obenshain’s speech mainly addressed “The Left’s War on Women.” She discussed how the definition of feminism has moved to a different meaning than what it was considered some time ago.

She stated that feminists today have objectified women to an extreme.

However, the most intriguing points that Obenshain brought up during her speech were related to our freedoms.

She emphasized that the most important thing that young college students need to remember is our freedom of speech.

“We need to be allowed to talk about issues on campus. Sadly, on campuses across the nation, it’s a problem,” Obenshain said.

Her perceptions on the evolution of political correctness across many college campuses were accurate. It is now a reality that conservative college students have a tough time expressing their ideologies on campus in fear of receiving backlash from their liberalminded peers.

Conservative college students are often keeping quiet about certain political issues that arise on their campuses in fear of offending someone.

As a young college conservative, I understand firsthand the practice of keeping quiet to avoid being referred to as a racist or an evil person. Obenshain reiterated that, “It is scary that young

conservatives are scared to talk about their views on campus.”

The hysteria about hurting people’s feelings is r idiculous. Political correctness has taken hold of campuses everywhere. Every issue seems to be focused around sensitivity and ensuring that everyone feels included.

“We are the most sensitive, tolerant and non-prejudiced generation ever,” Obenshain said. This is another precise point that was brought up during her speech. We are far too often concerned about how people will feel after stating an opposing opinion.

We have become tolerant of allowing immoral actions and thoughts to develop into a norm instead of standing up for what is right. If we have an opposing view, we should address the issue with a valid argument. As human beings, we have the right to think differently and speak our minds. Conservatives seem to have turned into the outcasts of society, and it is a frightening situation.

Obenshain introduced many valid points that are becoming prevalent on college campuses. She demonstrated our duty as humans and our freedoms as American citizens. Obenshain ultimately expressed the importance of upholding our freedom to express unorthodox opinions in modern-day society.

As a young, female conservative, Kate Obenshain has given me hope and inspiration. I look forward to learning from her and developing a habit of not being afraid to express my personal beliefs as a conservative in a college setting. I can only hope that she will return to Virginia Tech in the near future and relay another powerful and intriguing speech.

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The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. The first copy of the Collegiate Times is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students.

• regular columnist • junior/political science

© Collegiate Times, 2015. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

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November 13, 2015 PAGE 3

collegiatetimes.com

Students march in demand of free college tuition Tech protesters joined a nationwide movement advocating for free tuition, absolved student debt and a $15 minimum wage for campus workers.

LEWIS MILLHOLLAND news editor

“Hey hey ho ho where does our tuition go?”

“VT! VT! Sure doesn’t come back to me.”

T hu r s d ay a f t e r no on protestors joi ned t he “#MillionStudentMarch” of Virginia Tech, marching from Henderson Lawn through campus to protest the financial strain of higher education.

The marchers asserted that education is a human right, not a privilege.

Originally, the march was set to start on campus, but after Virginia Tech administrators notified organizers that the event violated university policies, the protesters changed the start and end location to just beyond campus property.

The marchers made three demands: tuition-free public college, cancellation of all student debt and a $15 minimum wage for all campus workers.

“Even with help from family money and stuff like that, I’m still $40,000 in debt,” said mining engineering graduate student Dana Gargiule. “My

student loans start in January.

I actually just got a message saying I have to pay $350 a month for student loans, which at this point in my life is not feasible.”

The rhetoric of the protest was fueled by statistics.

According to the protesters, an average graduate of the class of 2015 will walk away with $35,000 in school debt, over 70 percent of undergraduates will leave school with outstanding loans and Americans share approximately $1.2 trillion in student debt.

“It’s kind of ridiculous how much we pay for education.

Other places are petitioning for 3K tuition and here we pay 9-10K,” said Pallavi Prayaga, environmental science major.

“I’m a triplet, so my parents have to pay for three college educations. We’ve got no FAFSA money.”

In July of 2013 Congress failed to reach a compromise, and federally subsidized Stafford student loans doubled from 3.4 to 6.8 percent.

Stafford loans currently stand at 5.84 percent.

“I hope that the University will see that this is a problem

for us. We’re not just going to stand by for this … there are actually people who will protest for this,” Prayaga said.

While the movement’s message was clear, questions surrounded the event’s planning. According to Virginia Tech institutional policy No. 5000, on-campus events require an approved university sponsor, and the organization heading the event must have insurance. The march, hosted by The People’s Council of Blacksburg, had neither.

“I’m not worried about being stopped — because I can see it being very likely,” said Sarah Shinton, sophomore sociology student. “I guess my only concern would be arrest, but I think we’re going to talk to everybody about how to avoid arrest.”

To have an event on campus, you need risk insurance — $3,000 worth of risk insurance, according to Shinton, which is “just something that we can’t afford.”

The Virginia Tech Police Department reached out to the campaign, asking the protestors to discuss event

details, map out the march path and to run through paperwork.

By the time the rally was held, the protesters had not coordinated with VTPD, and the march carried on unhindered.

Linnea Morgan, an industrial design senior, discussed the growing tuition costs at Virginia Tech.

“They are increasing it by 3.9 percent every year, and everyone is just like, ‘Oh, this is

normal. It’s normal for colleges just keep raising their prices, and we will just take out more loans. This is just the way we do in America,’” Morgan said.

“We are just thinking that it doesn’t have to be that way.”

The “#MillionStudentMarch” movement spanned multiple universities across the country on Thursday, Nov. 12. Over 100 universities registered

their march on the campaign’s website.

“This is just the first of many (events) to really show the University that there is a large force here that is resisting the corporatization of universities, to show them that they can’t just be complacent,” Shinton said. @WithTheFancyGuy

LOREN SKINKER / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Student protesters hold signs and banners in protest of the increasing costs of college tuition, marching across campus while chanting anti-debt statements.

HOME: Tech offers support for returning military veterans from page 1

can go from 0800-1300 two times a week and go home.”

The credit system still seems like some sort of fantastical concept to some student veterans.

“I still haven’t really figured out how credits work.

I recently realized you need 120 to graduate,” Pierce said.

“Why? It’s all make-believe.

It’s like living in Narnia.”

When asked how their military service affected their college career, Pierce and Johnson explained a very unique appreciation for freedom that other students may not have.

“I appreciate the freedom that we enjoy more from having given some parts of it up in the service. I don’t think you can be more free than being a college student. One time I went rock climbing and drank PBR instead of going to English class. That is freedom,” Pierce said.

“People try to find things to be mad about, and there’s not much to be mad about. It’s awesome.”

They agreed the sense of urgency that serves as a major stressor to many college students has little effect on them.

“No one has to depend on my Scholar assignment being submitted by midnight to not fall out of the sky.

The president of the United States used to fly in my helicopter. It makes it hard to care if I get my reflection for English class done on time,” Pierce said.

Support at VT Pierce and Johnson both credited Veterans@VT as a

crucial factor in their transitions back into civilian life.

This is only one of many veteran services offered at Virginia Tech.

The Office of Veterans Services works closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veteran and military students receive their educational benefits and have access to the resources necessary to make a successful transition.

The Veterans Caucus is a collaboration of veteran employees working together to look at a broader scope of what resources Virginia Tech provides and what it should be providing.

Virginia Tech received a statewide Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Governor’s Award for hiring more veterans than any other state agency in Virginia. Months later, in November, Virginia Tech was designated a 2016 Military Friendly School

by Victory Media, a designation that recognizes a commitment to student and employee veterans.

This past April, the U. S. Sma l l Busi ness Administration hosted its one-day “Boots to Business” entrepreneurial workshop at Virginia Tech, the first time the workshop has been hosted anywhere but a military installation.

Virginia Tech makes further efforts to support veteran programs outside of Blacksburg. The Corps of Cadets recently hosted a fundraiser for The Mission Continues, an organization started by the common book author Eric Greitens dedicated to the reintegration of veterans.

“The Mission Continues

empowers veterans to find new missions here at home,” said Nick Zevely, spokesperson from The Mission Continues. “For many young veterans who are coming back, going back to school, it’s easy to miss the camaraderie and the purpose that they had in the military.

By finding a new mission, finding a cause that’s bigger than themselves, they’ve been successful in reintegrating.”

The Corps held a Veterans 5K on Nov. 8 and raised $2,300 for the Mission Continues.

Those without support In addition to these continuous efforts to support our veterans, this past Wednesday, Veterans Day, Virginia Tech organizations across campus held ceremonies and upheld traditions to honor our veterans.

Pierce and Johnson both participated as representatives of Veterans@VT in National Roll Call, the reading of the names of all Hokies killed in action from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Endur ing Freedom and Operation New Dawn. This year 6,831 names were read.

The Corps of Cadets guarded both the Rock on Upper Quad and the cenotaph on the Pylons for all 24 hours of Veterans Day. They participated in a Veterans Day Parade in Roanoke, held a Formal Retreat Wednesday evening and sent cadets to the American Veterans Center’s 18th Annual Conference and Honors.

Buzz Williams gathered the men’s basketball team in Cassell Coliseum early in the

AIR FORCE: Detachment ranked No. 1 nationally from page 1

the high rate of graduates indicates a higher retention rate than even larger units.

“We consistently produce the most graduates, which to me means we’re the program that cadets stay in. We have the least number of people that are dropping out, and I think it’s because our cadets see Air Force ROTC as a place they want to be,” Torrens said.

Cadets run the program with support from an exceptional cadre staff.

“It’s run by cadets. They do their successes their ways and they do their failures their way. They ask for guidance when they need it, and we sometimes give them guidance but not a whole lot,” Torrens said.

The cadre staff supporting the detachment operates at

full capacity despite a severe manpower reduction. With two officers, the detachment is at 33 percent officer manning and 75 percent enlisted manning and still accomplished the top ranking in the nation.

“I don’t think any of this could happen without the right folks sitting in these cadre positions. The most important thing to these guys is that cadets get the opportunity to succeed. It meant some long hours, some late nights, some weekends, but these guys are always here for us,” Torrens said.

Wa lt er G onsiewsk i, current wing commander of Det 875, spoke on the success of the detachment, a result of the efforts of previous wing commanders, Ryan Bishop and Sam McKinley.

“Our ranking as No. 1 (detachment) in the country is a reflection on last year’s

chain of command and the efforts our cadets made under them. With that said, we’re trying to take what we had last year and continue the good things and even improve on them,” Gonsiewski said. “Integrate freshmen more, build unit cohesion faster, and so far it’s been looking pretty good.”

“I’d just go back to the caliber of the cadets,” Torrens said. “They don’t just show up so they can get a commission in the Air Force after they graduate.

They try to do things. They try to change it every year so we’re doing different things every year. They try to give maximum opportunities to all our cadets, and our sophomores, juniors and seniors are truly concerned about the people that fall under them.” @yourlenny

morning for a Veterans Day team ceremony to remind them of the meaning behind our National Anthem and stress to them the service of our veterans. The moving ceremony ended with a line formation, alternating between veterans and basketball players, and the playing of the National Anthem.

While the situation has significantly improved over the past few years, homeless veterans still comprise 33 percent of the male homeless population.

Veterans represent only 11 percent of the adult civilian

population but 26 percent of the homeless population.

The number of homeless Viet na m- e r a vet e r a n s outnumbers those who died during the war.

We honor these men and women one day a year when, on any one given night, including Veterans Day, more than 300,000 veterans are living on the streets or in shelters.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day, Virginia Gov. Ter r y McAuliffe and P resident Obama announced that Virginia was the first state in the nation to effectively end veteran

homelessness.

Even those with stable shelter and food face lifethreatening conditions.

Every day, 22 veterans commit suicide. This is a higher rate than that of fatalities in war over the last 15 years.

“It’s something that’s kind of taboo, but a lot of veterans come back with wounds of war that are deeper than what you can see on the surface,” Pierce said. “That’s something we need to recognize.”

@yourlenny

PAGE 4 November 13, 2015

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Carnival returns for disability awareness Pi Kappa Phi’s Ability Experience Carnival will be back in the Squires Commonwealth Ballroom for its second year of games and activities, all to raise funds for accessibility and awareness.

EMILY CARRIGAN lifestyles staff writer

The brothers of Pi Kappa Phi are bringing the Ability Experience Carnival back to campus for its second year, allowing community members of all ability levels to enjoy free food, games and music to help raise money for their philanthropy, “The Ability Experience.”

The Carnival will take place on Saturday, Nov. 14 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Admission is free to all participants.

Senior Michael Maino, a business information technology and computer science major who also serves as Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy chair, said that during its first year the carnival had 17 organizations from around campus set up booths with games, activities and prizes.

Maino estimated that around 200 participants were in attendance and that they rose a modest “couple hundred dollars” for their philanthropy once all expenses were accounted for.

“This year, our main focus was to not only increase attendance of the disability and Virginia Tech communities but also increase the revenue and recognition of the event,” Maino said. “This year we have around 20 organizations with many similar games but some new, creative ones as well.”

These games and activities include giant Jenga and Angry Birds, putt-putt, makeyour-own silly putty, face painting, corn hole, lawn bowling, a moon bounce, balloondart pop and more.

Maino also said that with the help of their corporate sponsors, which include Domino’s, Moe’s, Chipotle, Sharkey’s, PKs and El Rodeo, the philanthropy is on track to raise over a couple thousand dollars.

“Seventy-five percent of the money that is made from the event will go to our national philanthropy, the Ability Experience, to fund some of our disability awareness events and create disability-accessible environments around the United States,” Maino said.

The other 25 percent of the money raised is donated to the Intellectual Disability Agency of the New River Valley and the

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Pointe West Club, an IDA affiliate in Blacksburg.

“This is the local disability organization that we team up with in order to advertise to the NRV disability community and get them to come out and enjoy our carnival,” Maino said.

The event’s website advertises it as a venue where the Virginia Tech community and Southwest Virginia’s disabled community can interact in a safe, fun environment. Its mission is to use shared experiences to support people with disabilities and to develop the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders.

“I grew up with an older brother with Asperger’s, a high functioning form of autism, so giving back to the disability community has always been a big part of my family,” Maino said. “Many other brothers in Pi Kapp have grown up with similar stories, so giving back to people with disabilities is what makes us who we are.”

The vision of the philanthropy outlined on its website is to create a community where the abilities of all people are recognized and valued.

“I think the biggest thing we try to display through our philanthropy is that people with disabilities are just as amazing and talented as everybody else, if not more,” Maino said.

“We try to break down stereotypes and barriers in order to showcase these talents and give the community a chance to understand and interact with some of the most inspirational and friendly people you’ll ever meet.”

The national philanthropy was founded in 1977 and has since grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit program that includes educating undergraduates, alumni and communities about the abilities of people with disabilities.

Locally, around 20 to 30 brothers of Pi Kappa Phi also volunteer at Special Olympics Bowling in Christiansburg every Thursday, where they get to interact and build relationships with athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities.

@EmilyKCarrigan

Taking a look into the life of a graduate engineer RICKY LABLUE editor in chief

The Virginia Tech College of Engineering’s graduate program is one of the best in the nation, and that’s not just according to those within the program.

Virginia Tech is tied for 21st in the nation in the best graduate engineering program ranking

by U.S. News and World Report. It also is one of the cheapest options among the top schools in the country, costing in-state students just $14,545 per year and $26,754 per year for out-of-state students.

Matthew Savage, a graduate engineering student at Virginia Tech, says that the graduate program was good enough that he wanted to stay after getting his bachelor’s degree at Tech.

“I had planned on going to graduate school since freshman year,” Savage said. “So already knowing that I wanted to do research, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity I had here to

continue my work as opposed to applying somewhere else.”

Savage said that he has experienced first-hand how good the engineering program at Virginia Tech is and that students majoring in engineering at Virginia Tech as undergraduate students have no reason to leave.

“VT has one of the best engineering programs in the country, so the benefits of the academic side are obvious,” Savage said.

As with any other graduate program, Savage says time management is important to make it through the struggle.

“It’s difficult in the sense that sometimes you don’t have a lot of time to de-stress or enjoy hobbies, so you can get really stressed out,” Savage said. “I try to keep up with personal stuff, but sometimes you just have to focus only on work and school.”

Savage is researching swirl distortion devices for jet engines, and he said his

research at Virginia Tech has boosted his professional career.

“On the professional side, Tech has the largest professional engineering career fair on the East Coast,” Savage said.

“I’ve worked for three major companies, including Boeing, during my time here, and all three of those positions came from interviews through the Expo.”

Savage’s research has a big impact on the real world. He said his research aims to find a more efficient and safer way of validating jet engines.

The graduate program at Virginia Tech isn’t easy to get into, but Savage gave some tips for prospective students looking to apply to the graduate program.

“My best advice is to choose who you work for and what you work on carefully,” Savage said.

@RickyLaBlue

CHRISTIAN STERLING / COLLEGIATE TIMES

The White Panda brings down the roof of the Squires Commonwealth Ballroom on Daniel Pearl Music Day, Nov. 10, 2015.

White Panda drops remix to Daniel Pearl Music Day MCKENZIE SILK lifestyles staff writer

When you picture Squires Student Center, flashing lights and loud music that echoes throughout the building aren’t necessarily the first things that pop into your mind. However, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, The White Panda brought a dance party to Squires Commonwealth Ballroom.

The White Panda is a mashup DJ band made up of two members, Tom Evans and Dan Griffith, who specialize in remixing new and old songs. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself loving a remix of M83’s “Midnight City” and Kanye West’s “Good Life” or a mix of Foo Fighter’s “Best of You” and David Guetta’s “Titanium.” The White Panda perfects combining artists of different genres to create awesome new singles that appeal to many different tastes in music.

The White Panda would not have made a trip to Blacksburg if it weren’t for Hillel, the Jewish Student Union (JSU) and Alpha

Epsilon Pi’s Sigma Alpha chapter. All three organizations sponsored this event in light of Daniel Pearl Music Day, an international network of concerts that uses the power of music to reaffirm one’s commitment to humanity and tolerance.

Not only was this event entertaining, but it also supported a wonderful cause with a positive message.

When students found out that The White Panda was coming to Virginia Tech, many were surprised and excited. The group has gained notoriety through performances at festivals like the Firef ly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware.

While at Firefly, mobs of people went crazy to all of the latest hits as the flashing lights struck the crowd, creating what it looked like to be a light show.

Students who had seen The White Panda at festivals enjoyed seeing this group perform in two wildly different settings while bringing the same amount of energy to both.

Many students enjoyed the venue and atmosphere

of the concert, including fashion merchandising and design major Claire Frisina.

She had been at Firefly as well but did not get a chance to see The White Panda perform at that event.

“I wish they had stayed on longer (here),” Frisina said.

Engineer ing st udent Emily Schanz believed there could have been a better turnout and more advertising for the concert, but she enjoyed the chance to stand in the front row.

“I don’t have a favorite song by them, but it’s really cool that you get to hear all of your favorite songs and artists in one night,” Schanz said.

Both students liked how the atmosphere was full of energy but not packed.

The White Panda brought the Squires Ballroom to life with lights, loud music and bass that could be felt from the first floor. With the group’s stage presence, it was hard not to have a good time.

@kenzsilk

Pay Veterans Day respects with campus memorials AMANDA TINKLEMAN lifestyles staff writer

With a strong foundation in the military, Virginia Tech commemorates its rich history through various monuments on campus. The memorials and traditions help students remember, especially this Veterans Day, how ingrained the military is in Virginia Tech.

Eight Indiana limestone pylons stand tall in Memorial Court. According to the Virginia Tech website, each pylon represents a different core value of Virginia Tech: brotherhood, honor, leadership, sacrifice, service, loyalty, duty and Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). Each pylon also has the names of alumni who have died while in military service, beginning with Hokies lost in World War I. Another recognizable

symbol at the Pylons is the cenotaph, or symbolic “empty tomb,” centered at the back of Memorial Court. This monument recognizes the seven alumni who have been awarded the Medal of Honor.

Located next to the flagpole on the Upper Quad, “the Rock” recognizes Virginia Tech alumni lost in WWI. Each Veterans Day, members of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets stand in front of the memorial, holding vigil for 24 hours.

In the Upper Quad, a life-size bronze statue is situated near the flagpole.

This figure of a walking man commemorates the first student to register at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College after walking about 26 miles to Blacksburg in 1872 — William Addison “Add” Caldwell. Each year, freshman cadets complete the 26-mile Caldwell march: 13 miles in the fall and 13 miles

in the spring. According to the University Relations website, this sculpture was made by Lawrence Bechtel, a local artist, and was unveiled in 2005.

While it does not have its own physical monument, Skipper the Cannon is just as big a part of Tech’s history as any other monument.

According to the College of Engineering Historical Bulletin No. 2, the tradition of firing Skipper began in the 1960s. VPI would meet the rival Virginia Military Institute at football games and face the dreaded, “Where’s your cannon?” chant. So on Thanksgiving Day 1963, Skipper was rolled out for the first time. At the beginning of every game and every time the Hokies score, Skipper is still fired. @mandatink

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‘The Left’s War on Women’: Kate Obenshain visits Tech CLARE RIGNEY news staff writer

Fueled by fluid definitions of feminism and reports of liberal hypocrisy, Kate Obenshain delivered a politically charged speech on the dangers of political correctness, infringing on free speech and the bias of modern feminism at “The Left’s War on Women.”

For their last speaking event of the semester, the Young Americans for Freedom wanted to invite a high-profile guest to speak on several timely but controversial issues. YAF thought that Kate Obenshain, a conservative Virginia native and the first female chairman of the Republican party of Virginia, would make an argument representative of the organization’s conservative values.

“Where did this idea come from that we need to be protected from ideas that are different form ours?”

Obenshain said during her speech on Wednesday night.

“You should be offended by university policies that keep people silent.”

A variety of people attended “The Left’s War on Women” event in Pamplin Hall, including representatives from the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech. Those present shared the common desire to hear Obenshain’s opinions on modern political dividing lines and social movements.

For Obenshain, the “war on women” began in 2012 during the presidential elections. She discussed the prevalence of anti-women stereotypes against conservatives and the formation of differing definitions of feminism and its purpose in society.

Her discussion on feminism accounted for government and economic issues, especially those under the Obama administration, that continue to affect American women, such as the wage gap and the number of

women living in poverty.

Obenshain said that someone who does not identify as a feminist could still support equal rights for women.

She dove into the difference between feminism at its root and what modern “radical” feminists have made of the movement.

During the Q&A session, supporters on both sides of the issues chimed in. Obenshain tackled questions regarding her opinion on cultural appropriation, diversity counseling, and the claimed fabrication of footage in the Planned Parenthood scandal.

When an attendee expressed concern on how to explain why she does not identify as a feminist, Obenshain elaborated on her belief in the diverse interpretations of feminism.

She said that modern feminism objectifies women by encouraging sexual promiscuity.

Obenshain said that many college campuses, in an effort to appear progressive, actively promote the pervasive college “hookup culture” through university-sanctioned events.

“I don’t think it’s the role of a university to get involved in promoting women in particular to go and have sex as often as they want,” she said.

Her statements on political correctness for Halloween costumes caused the most stir in the audience. While she agreed that many culturally appropriating costumes are illadvised, she was passionately against a university creating rules to prohibit students from wearing such costumes, not taking into account their freedom of expression.

Throughout her speech, Obenshain repeated that people should “think and say what they want” and allow others to challenge them.

“We know we can’t change everyone’s mind,” said Lauren McCue, the current chairman of the Young Americans for Freedom.

McCue founded the Virginia Tech chapter of Young Americans for Freedom last fall and has been chairman ever since. Her responsibilities include acting as a connection to the national organization, handling financial matters, organizing events and overseeing the eight members on YAF’s officer team.

YAF decided upon a speaker for this event after sending out a survey to its members, most of whom thought that Obenshain would be the best person to address topics that are important to their organization.

“Conservatives are afraid to voice their opinions on campus,” said Elizabeth Campbell, who will be taking over as chairman of Young Americans for Freedom after McCue graduates this winter.

“They feel they’re not supposed to talk about their opinions on campus.”

Campbell first heard Obenshain speak at a Nat iona l Con s e r vat ive Student Conference and was inspired by her discussion of approaching certain issues in a college environment.

“There should be this incredible clash of ideas on college campuses,” Obenshain said. “The most important thing you’re standing up for right now is not conservatism … the most important part, and something we should all embrace, regardless of our ideology, is free speech.”

The most prominent theme of Obenshain’s speech and Young Americans for Freedom’s goal is the necessity for universities to be open to forms of thinking outside of typical collegiate liberalism.

Obenshain stressed that, especially in places of higher education, expressing diverse opinions and allowing free speech benefits everyone.

@CollegiateTimes

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sports

UNITE: Hokie community gathers on Drillfield to share thoughts, wishes

collegiatetimes.com/sports

from page 1

TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Madi Conyers (21) tries to gain control of the ball and move it down field.

Soccer hosts Cincinnati in first round of NCAAs SIERRA HUCKFELDT sports editor

T he Vi rginia Tech women’s soccer team earned a No. 4 seed bid to the NCAA Tournament this year, hosting the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m.

The ACC dominated the seeding with eight of their teams selected to compete in the tournament.

First, second, third and quarterfinal rounds will be played at college campuses, with the semi-finals and final played at Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, in December.

Virginia Tech ended its season 14-3-2 after being edged out of the ACC Tournament by three points, thanks to its 3-0 seasonending loss to Notre Dame.

This is the Hokies’ eighth consecutive run in the NCAA Tournament, and their total

record in the tournament is 10-7 throughout history.

Cincinnati competed in the American Athletic Conference and ended its season 13-5-5 after winning the American Athletic Conference Women’s Soccer Championship on Sunday, Nov. 8. The Bearcats have not competed in the NCAA Tournament since 2002 and will be relying on key players for a victory over Virginia Tech.

Senior Danielle Rotherman leads the Bearcats with 10 goals and earned first team all-conference this season. Sophomore Jaycie Brown follows Rotherman with seven goals in her 12 games played this season.

The Bearcats rotate between Sam Pavlika and Natalie Smith in the net.

Pavlika racked up 36 saves throughout the season, earning a 0.837 save

percentage. Smith had an impressive 48 saves with a 0.814 save percentage.

The Hokies will look to their most consistent players for success in this first-round matchup.

Tiernan, who leads school records with 13 goals this season, has been a striking force for the Hokies’ offense.

In the net, Kaylyn Smith has been reliable for the Hokies with 70 saves and a 0.778 save percentage.

As a team, the Hokies are outshot by Cincinnati 366-293 but are more consistent on the net, outscoring the Bearcats 43-33 this season.

The winner of this matchup will move on to play either Ohio State or Butler Nov. 20-22.

@CollegiateTimes

VOLLEYBALL: Hokies look to secure more ACC wins from page 1

This freshman has been very impressive in terms of her blocking this season. Hranicka averages 1.26 blocks per set.

The middle blocker is also in the top 10 in the conference in service aces, along with teammate Rachel Eppley, averaging 0.30 service aces each.

Junior setter Maggie Speaks is very good at setting up her hitters, averaging 10.08 assists per set, which is fifth in the ACC. After facing NC State, the Virginia Tech Hokies will travel to Chapel Hill to face the UNC Tar Heels on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. UNC will face Pittsburgh before taking on Virginia Tech. The Hokies were defeated by the Tar Heels 1-3 in the Hokies’ first ACC match of the season.

The Tar Heels are third in the ACC in attack percentage, owning a percentage of

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0.265. They are fourth in the conference in assists, kills and digs with 13.02 assists per set, 14.20 kills per set and 16.16 digs per set.

UNC also is second in the Atlantic Coast Conference in blocks per set with 3.18 blocks per set.

“

The weekend road trip will be the start of the finishing stretch of the Hokies’ up-and-down season.”

The Tar Heels have two players who are in the top 10 in the ACC in attack percentage, which means that Virginia Tech will need to really focus

on those two players, along with the attacking game of UNC as a whole.

Tatiana Durr, a junior outside hitter, is seventh in the ACC in service aces per set, with 0.31 service aces.

Durr will definitely be a force to look out for when trying to return the ball.

Three players on the Tar Heels roster are in the top 10 in the conference in blocks per set, including Paige Neuenfeldt, who sits first in the ACC in that category, averaging 1.61 blocks per set.

The Virginia Tech ladies will definitely need to establish a winning streak in the late stages of the season if they want any chance of being part of the 2015 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.

@josh_wilets

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Senior libero Kenedy McGrath (2) attempts to save the ball in Tech’s 3-1 loss against Georgia Tech.

Nov. 10, a day prior to the day specified in the threat.

The idea for the gathering was not born as a direct response, but as an opportunity to learn.

“There was a lot of minority groups there as well, but it was nice to see a nice representation of everyone come out and help support, and going forward, being more aware of some of the things they talked about up there just helped put it in perspective, like different people stories, especially hearing people who might not be going to classes tomorrow and how that affects their experience,” Baboota said.

MSA President and Senior Civil Engineering M aj o r O b a id K h a n delivered the opening remarks.

“This is just the first step: we’re all coming together, we’re all showing that differences won’t divide us, but they strengthen us and we are one family,” Khan said. “The fact that this is how we all respond is something that really touches my heart and gives me a lot of hope.”

Members of MSA and the University community ha d con f idenc e a nd commitment in the continuation of the movement of solidarity and inclusivity.

“I hope that we continue to stay in the conversation, that we continue to stay in community, that we continue to stand together, that we continue to stay in the struggle, knowing that the only way to become as inclusive as we want to

be, is to be in community with each other,” said Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs. “I think it reminds people that community is powerful and that when we come together and stand for an important cause, we can rise above hatred, we can rise above pain, we can rise above threats.”

After the closing remarks

by Khan, he asked those in attendance to come together and sign a banner in a demonstration of support for the Muslim community.

“I think it shows that this is a very special place.

I have heard from students, I have heard from faculty, I have heard from the administration that there’s something special happening here, and I’ve now been here eight weeks,” said Tracy Vosburgh, senior associate vice president for university relations who joined the Hokie community earlier this year. “You feel it, and when you come to an event like this, you know, this is a pretty special place.”

Both the size and diversity of attendees inspired members of MSA, and provided a sense of safety and security for some, even on their own campus.

“The quick response was really amazing actually, and it was nice to get this amount of response, this amount of people to stand with us and understand how it might feel to get this type of threat and then try to be singled out of a community you’ve always felt a part of,” said Mehak Khokhar, a senior biology major and member of MSA. The speakers explained

hate as ignorance and encouraged interaction with other people as the solution.

“It gives me hope: hope that there is room for change and hope that we can actually come together, not only in times of mourning, but in times of action,” said Fawad Mohammad, a senior civil engineering major and vice president of MSA. “Seeing this and seeing the outcome and seeing the students who came out in the cold, it makes me happy that we are all one nation and one family.”

The c r owd was comprised of diverse identities, all members of the Hokie community.

“I think it’s really important to be here to show support,” said Sarah Busch, a sophomore civil and environmental engineering major. “We’re all Hokies, regardless of religion, ethnicity, race and we need to stand up for what we believe in.”

Not all students who believed in the movement were able to attend. Despite absences, the crowd was sizeable, and stood unified and unbreakable, representing a com munity with the potential and commitment to change.

“Even though we are the targets, there are other groups out there, people in particular too, that come from different backgrounds,” Khokar said. “I think going forward means that we all stand together, accept our differences and just learn to make this world a better place.”

@Lauren_pak

PAGE 12 November 13, 2015

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