Don’t call it a comeback Tech leads 17-14 at the half collegiatetimes.com
111th YEAR, ISSUE 119
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
COLLEGIATETIMES An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Brad Paisley and fans soakin’ up the moonlight Paisley headlines free concert in the Coliseum Lot as the first stop of his Country Nation College Tour. EMILY MCCAUL lifestyles staff writer
Center for the Arts: Straying from the beaten path
The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech wishes to expand Hokies’ artistic horizons by exposing students to new and unique musical, physical and visual performances. LAUREN PAK lifestyles staff writer
According to NPR, 90 percent of the music we listen to is music we’ve heard before, due to repeating riffs in similar tunes. The remaining 10 percent is what the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech strives to explore through a variety of musical, physical and visual performances. “How do we expand that 10 percent?” asks Ruth Waalkes, executive director of the Center for the Arts. “That’s where you really learn. Maybe you’ve never heard of an artist, but that doesn’t mean it might not be interesting or something that expands your thinking.” Set for its third fall season, packed with visits from musicians, dancers, painters and even puppeteers, The Center for the Arts designed its events to challenge students. Among this year’s performers are Los Angeles, New York and London-based artists, deliberately unique in their shared theme of storytelling through multimedia. With a total of 27 different programs this year, one of the first anticipated events is “STREB,” a company that blends dance with athletics, rodeo, circus and athletics,
performing on Oct. 2. “Elizabeth Streb is kind of a force of nature all on her own,” Waalkes said. “It’s these death-defying things they’re doing onstage, but it’s really because she’s interested in pushing the human body and seeing how far it can go.” As a part of STREB’s visit, they will host a talk with the choreographer, Elizabeth Streb, and a documentary screening at the Lyric Theatre. Other opportunities to work with and learn from visiting artists are planned, including a jam session with the St. Laurence String Quartet on Oct. 25 and workshops with Diavolo, which combines architecture and dance. Based in Los Angeles, Diavolo was one of the first performers at Moss Arts Center and will be returning by popular demand on May 6. “One of the things that struck me, aside from just the beauty of the work, was that Diavolo really had a strong commitment to education and doing things off the stage, as well,” Waalkes said. “That’s really interesting to us, when artists want to come here and they’re interested in engaging somehow with students and the community.” On Feb. 20, “Vocalosity” performs a cappella, featuring two (yet to be
determined) cast members from “Pitch Perfect 2” and directed by Deke Sharon, the vocal producer for “Pitch Perfect” and NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” One on-campus a cappella group will be chosen to open the show. The cast of L.A. Theatre Works will also grace the stage with familiar faces from television and cinema as they present “Dracula” on Oct. 30, in time for Halloween. On April 14, 15 and 16, Teatro Hugo and Ines, a Peruvian couple, transform puppetry into art and poetry in the Cube inside the center. “They put little eyes on their hands or they are somewhere she will sit on the floor and she puts a nose on her knee and drapes fabric, and all of a sudden, her knee becomes this face, this puppet,” Waalkes said. “It’s hard to describe, but it’s really, really beautiful work that’s very small and intimate.” This season’s artists are no strangers to stages around the nation, with some performances anticipating full capacity months prior to opening, such as the United States Marine Band on Sept. 17. The Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, which stages most shows, seats more than 1,000 and is equipped with
Thousands gathered outside Cassell Coliseum on Sunday night to experience the stirring, melodious duo of Brad Paisley and Eric Paslay. This would be the pair’s first stop on the Brad Paisley’s Country Nation College Tour presented by Zaxby’s. Desiree Reed-Francois, originally from Fremont, California, is the Executive Associate At h le t ic s Director at the Virginia Tech Athletics Department. Colleagues at IMG brought the proposal of the concert to the athletics department at Virginia Tech, where the staff worked collaboratively to transform this idea into existence. “This weekend is going to be a really exciting weekend to be a Hokie,” said Reed-Francois. “We have Gobblerfest; we have women’s soccer, cross country, a free concert, the best fans in the nation and one of the most anticipated football games in Virginia Tech history.” Thousands of Hokies greeted Paisley and Paslay with a warm welcome Sunday night. The concert,
free to the public, drew many country music fans out to Blacksburg for the night. Fans packed the parking lot of Cassell where the concert was held; gates opened at 5:00 p.m. The concert began at 8:00 p.m. with opening act, Eric Paslay, who was promptly followed by Brad Paisley who took the stage at 9:00 p.m. Paslay opened with one of his fan-favored songs, “Song About A Girl” sporting a plain black t-shirt and matching ball cap with dark, fitted jeans. Paslay proved to be comfortable with playing to the thousands of cheering fans, smiling often and remaining steady in voice. Fans broke out into one of Virginia Tech’s famous “Let’s go!” – “Hokies!” chants right before Paslay played, “She Don’t Love You She’s Just Lonely.” Paslay laughed in response saying, “Y’all are ready for the game tomorrow, huh?” As Paslay sang, the crowd swung back and forth in unity shouting out the lyrics to the chorus. A beautiful addition to the see PAISLEY / page 6
see MOSS / page 7 ZOE SCOPA / COLLEGIATE TIMES
New paths pop up on the Drillfield The Drillfield Paths Committee asks students to provide feedback on the fourteen materials used for different paths on the Drillfield in order to help determine a permanent solution. LAUREN PAK news staff writer
Between September 14 and September 25, students can share feedback about 14 materials being tested on Drillfield paths for permanent installation. The decision is scheduled to be announced announced December 2015. Students can sha re feedback via Twitter (@drillfieldpaths), online and by scanning QR codes posted on signs adjacent to the materials on the Drillfield. Feedback from community members will be collected in the winter and spring. The original Drillfield did not feature any planned paths, but years of students trekking across the field to and from class created natural “desire paths.” These student-made paths led to maintenance issues, primarily mud being carried into academic buildings. The main paths currently in
Brad Paisley performs a free outdoor concert in the Coliseum Lot Saturday night, Sept. 6, 2015.
Women’s soccer victorious; retains undefeated status Hokies best University of North Carolina at Greensborough and Virginia Commonwealth University in successful weekend sweep. SIERRA HUCKFELDT sports editor
ANDREA PAPPAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES
A sign posted on a lightpost near one of the experimental walkways encourages students to provide feedback on the new materials for potential Drillfield paths. use were first paved in the 1970s, with smaller asphalt paths added in summer 2014 as a temporary fix until a permanent solution is decided upon. @VTSandsman @drillfieldpaths solar paths! http://t. co/8cRe242S25
MOSS KICKS OFF FALL SEASON
— JACOB CHERIATHUNDAM (@ JCHERIAT) September 3, 2015 Tested materials include the existing asphalt, stabilized turf, synthetic turf and a combination of concrete, gravel and pavers chosen by
the university Drillfield Paths Committee. The committee identifies, tests and evaluates materials to be weatherdurable and in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act. see PATHS / page 5
VOLLEYBALL SWEEP
Center for the Arts hosts artist talks and exhibits page 3
The Hokies swept the Spartan Invitational this past weekend. page 8
The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team had another successful weekend of play, shutting out two more teams and remaining undefeated. On Fr iday night, the Hokies hosted the University of Nor th Carolina at Greensboro at Thompson Field and beat them 2-0. The first goal was scored by freshman forward Caroline Kerns
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on a cross from Bria Dixon five minutes before the first half of play was over. Virginia Tech came out strong in the second half and continued to pressure UNCG’s defense with 12 corner kicks in just the second half of the game. A header by junior Murielle Tiernan scored the second goal, knocked in from a corner kick by Jordan Coburn. The Hokies took five see SOCCER / page 8
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PAGE 2 September 8, 2015
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your views [letter to the editor]
Boycott the Ohio State marching band
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his Labor Day VT will host the NCAA Champion Oh io St ate Buckeyes. Unfortunately the OSU Marching Band, sometimes referred to as The Best Damn Band in the Land, as former head coach Woody Hayes called them, will also be coming. However, this isn’t even close to “TBDBITL.” If anything it is the most despicable band in the “land.”
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The band should be banned by OSU from playing at any games for a full season. There should be consequences for their actions.”
In 2014 the band was discovered to have engaged in hazing by demanding sexually explicit behavior with a penchant for demeaning underclass women in the band. Requiring sexually lewd, salacious behavior was considered part of the band indoctrination. OSU administrators claimed they knew nothing about this outrageous behavior. OSU conducted two different investigations in 2014. Then on July 31, 2015, the Wall Street Journal ran an article about the band’s music book, which included songs making fun of Holocaust
victims, gays and lesbians. The song, with words, about the Holocaust victims was as reprehensible as you can get. To make fun of Jews being forced onto trains and being gassed should leave anyone who has any decency and common sense totally bewildered. How could OSU have such an organization existing right under its nose? I urged VT, through the Office of the President, to not allow the OSU Marching Band to perform at Lane Stadium. VT and the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Virginia who support VT should neither tolerate nor allow this band to perform. There has been little written about the punishment meted out to the Band. Indeed, the only thing OSU has acknowledged is requiring members of the band to attend sexual harassment training. This band should be banned by OSU from playing at any games for a full season. There should be consequences for their actions, but none have been announced. Instead the band keeps performing as if nothing ever happened, and this coming Monday they will be in Lane Stadium. Hokie fans should turn their backs when the band comes on the field. I thought VT was better than this!
STEPHAN STUTSMAN • Virinia Tech Graduate
column
There is no defense for encouraging suicide Does the United States Constitution’s First Amendment protect a “sociopathic” girl from accusations of involuntary manslaughter?
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he fo u n d i n g fathers of this nation, the wise and beautiful souls that they were, believed that our right to free speech — a freedom which we often take for granted due to the fact that is has become common sense — was so precious that they lovingly placed it at the top of the Bill of Rights. Can we even begin to fathom the importance of that moment? These men could have put anything, within reason, at the very beginning of that document. James Madison, the dedicated author, could have decided that stating the Third Amendment — “No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house…” — looked more visually appealing or was more important to him and stuck that at the top. But no, the founders of this nation decided that our right to say and write what we feel (like I am doing at this moment) needed to be protected, especially from the power of the government and other individuals. Unfortunately — or not, depending on the situation — those brilliant minds left this amendment vaguely worded, leaving us with more questions than answers. How far does this right go? What can I say? What can I threaten? What, exactly, is slander? And libel? And, the most important question at the moment, can a girl be protected from accusations of involuntary manslaughter because she was simply exercising her First Amendment rights? Michelle Carter, as many have heard because of the articles on their Facebook newsfeeds, pressured her boyfriend Conrad Roy III into committing suicide in July of 2014. Her name has blown up a year later due to the fact that
some incriminating, awful texts have been brought to the surface. Carter, who was 17 at the time, sent numerous texts telling Roy that he should simply end it all when she learned that he wanted to end his life. “There isn’t anything anyone can do to save you, not even yourself,” she wrote in one message. She even told him when, where and how to commit suicide. When Roy showed concerns and thoughts of backing out, Carter accused him of never being able to make up his mind and continued to pester him to do it. She was even on the phone with Roy when he eventually killed himself, forcing him to get back in his truck with a generator running after he admitted to being scared of dying. He was found in a parking lot the next morning, and Carter pretended to have no idea about where he was.
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There’s a delicate balance of overlapping rights which one needs to take into consideration.
After Roy’s death, Carter then proceeded to organize a fundraising tournament in his honor. She played the part of the grieving girlfriend while simultaneously covering her tracks. When she eventually realized that the police can go through deleted messages, especially in the case of a suicide, she admitted to one friend “(If the police) read my messages with him, I’m done … I can go to jail.”
C a r t e r’s a t t o r n ey, Joseph P. Cataldo, claims that the involunta r y manslaughter charges she is facing in a juvenile court in Massachusetts should be dropped because t hose messages a re protected under the First Amendment. She was just a simple, “young, impressionable girl,” (a quote from Cataldo in the South Coast Today) who was convinced into pressuring her boyfriend to commit suicide (because it is obviously the fault of the person reaching out for help). She has rights, and she did not step outside of them. I am reminded of my wise AP Government teacher in high school who, one day in class, put up a simple quote on the board from Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr: “The right to swing my fist ends where the other man’s nose begins.” Carter has rights, yes, but so did Roy. There’s a delicate balance of overlapping rights which one needs to take into consideration every time a case like this comes up. The founding fathers could not have seen this coming. They never imagined that a young sociopath would one day hide behind her right of speech in order to bully one of the people who trusted her the most while he was in a dark place. It’s shameful and disgusting, and James Madison is turning over in his grave. Carter’s court date, and the decision concerning her future, is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2015. If you need help, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There is someone available to talk 24/7.
KAYLEIGH GREEN • regular columnist • sophomore/ English
CATHERINE PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES
column
Virginia Tech renovations come at a cost to students From reducing overall costs to increasing financial aid, funds allocated for renovations should be invested in helping students more efficiently.
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ew r enovations, improvements and the reconstructing of some of Virginia Tech’s learning and resident facilities are exciting and necessary changes taking place, but the finances for these campus projects can be considered premium. One can argue that some renovations are necessary now, but others might be able to wait. As the state budget for higher education funding has decreased, the building at Virginia Tech appears to increase. The building of a new residence hall, the renovations being done on Torgersen Bridge and the many other renovations are evaluated to have a few million dollars put into these projects. If these projects are costing millions, it is easy to assume that the funding for them is coming from contributions such as the minimal state funding received, but surprisingly this does not include the increased tuition for Virginia Tech students. According to an article on Virginia Tech News, about a 3.9 percent increase was established to the 2015-2016 tuition for undergraduate students. If the 3.9 percent increase is not a contribution to the millions of dollars’ worth of efforts to restore Virginia Tech’s campus, then the money should be spent towards other standards such as providing more housing or dining facilities to accommodate the abundant numbers of incoming students. The conclusion for Virginia Tech having to
lease off-campus residential facilities to provide living space for incoming freshmen because the on-campus resident halls have exceeded maximum capacity is uncommon. Disrega rding the stressful capacity of firstyear students, it is a great honor to be accepted as a student at Virginia Tech. However, some might agree that Virginia Tech may have accepted one too many freshmen this year. We need to start focusing on where the money should absolutely be spent. Another area Virginia Tech can emphasize on spending rather than certain renovations can be providing more financial aid to its students. Referring to Virginia Tech News again, nearly 1.3 million dollars has been added to the contribution towards student financial aid this year. Realizing that this copious amount has been added to the financial aid budget in addition to the increased tuition doesn’t seem very promising to the unfortunate students who have to pay some extra outof-pocket money for the semester. Having loans canceled or dropped a week before a university payment is due (assuming no payments were due prior to the beginning of the semester) is the last thing a student wants to worry about during the first week of classes. Virginia Tech could try to fund more students in the years to come, versus funding luxurious learning environments. Some expenditures — more than the 1.3 million contributed to lower
income families — could be helping ineligible students stay enrolled in classes, especially first-generation college students. As students we are here to receive a higher education and pursue successful careers in the future as Virginia Tech graduates. Fulfilling a higher education degree is not free or cheap. The main reason we are here is to earn the privilege to uphold a valuable Virginia Tech education.
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Tech could try to fund more students in the years to come, versus funding luxurious learning environments.
Fancy desks to take notes on and the exterior presentation of the prestigious Virginia Tech campus buildings (as if the Hokie Stone isn’t beautiful enough) aren’t our main concerns as students. Perhaps, if finances in the future were dedicated a little more to maintaining student enrollment, learning accommodations or living situations, before the renovations that can wait, the value of a Virginia Tech degree would be even more valuable than it is honored to already be.
EMILY GEORGE • regular columnist • Junior/ communications and multimedia journalism
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September 8, 2015 PAGE 3
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Scholarship for textbooks offered to students in need Virginia Tech alumnus encourages students struggliing to meet the cost of textbooks to explain their situation and ask for his help. ZACH HOOPES news staff writer
ALEXA JOHNSON / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Beyond Real: Still Life in the 21st Century Exhibit intriguing for all ages.
Artists flock to Moss Arts Center for season opening The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech kicks off the 2015-16 year with exhibits spanning an extensive array of mediums and styles. PAXTON ROBINSON news staff writer
Once again the Moss Arts Center opened its doors to the public with a finely executed opening exhibition to kick off the 2015-16 school year. Last Thursday the Center offered a public viewing of an exhibitory array of local and visiting artists. Artwork by Philip Taffe, Gerry Bannan, Ori Gersht, David Halliday, Laura Letinsky, Tim O’Kane, Agniet Snoep and the School of Visual Art at Virginia Tech’s own Jennifer Hand provided a glimpse into arabesque decorated motifs as well as a conceptual juxtaposed take on traditional still lives. The Center did not fail to impress those more scientifically inclined with Stephen Vitiello’s “A Scuttering Across the Leaves.” This specific arrangement was located in the Cube, an acoustically sound room that allows for manipulation and creativity incorporating viewer interaction. “A Scuttering Across the Leaves,” led by artist Vitiello and biologist Kasey Fowler-Finn, is a compilation of recorded sounds of insect movement on the stems and leaves of plants. This piece was recorded at the Mountain Lake Biological Station, which is a program of the University of Virginia. It was produced and presented by the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. Vitiello described the beginning and the inspiration behind the project. “There’s two magical moments,” Vitiello said. “One night it was really misty and I
had this microphone on a long boom pole and I was coming through fog, and this beautiful young kind of hippie couple came running up to me and said ‘Were you recording sounds?’ and I said ‘Yes!’ “They started to tell me about their work and how they were out recording bats… and it was just like wow it was really amazing. At first I was just like what the hell is that, you’ve just got this massive microphone and why were you out and what were you doing and they wanted to talk and we talked in the mist and we talked about their stuff and my stuff.” Vitiello and Fowler-Finn both gave in-depth explanations of the creative and scientific processes in “A Scuttering Across the Leaves”at their Artist Talk, which took place at 7 p.m. during the Center’s opening and constituted a full house of interested attendees. “Being an evolutionary biologist is studying and seeking explanations for why the world is the way it is and why things work the way they work,” Fowler-Finn said in the closing portion of her talk. Following the presentation, there were numerous questions and requests for repeated demonstrations of sound examples Fowler-Finn had included in her talk. “No two exhibitions are ever the same,” said Exhibition Program Manager Meggin Hicklin. “You never know what’s going to happen, something unexpected always happens, but we have an excellent team here that can handle just about anything you throw at us.” The Philip Taffe and
“Beyond Real: Still Life in the 21st Century” exhibitions are up for full view until November 15, however “A Scuttering Across the Leaves” will be gone much sooner on September 13. “It’s not so much about ‘the art.’ Of course it’s about the art but it’s not really about glorifying the art you see and feeling like either you get it or you don’t get it. It’s about how that art can change how you think,” Hicklin said. Hicklin graduated in 2002 with a degree in Fine Arts from Radford University. She studied in the Material Culture and Public Humanities program. “You can look at a painting or a photograph and say ‘wow that reminds me of something’ or ‘I never thought of it that way’ or ‘that makes me happy or that makes me sad.’ It’s about your personal experience and we can’t really tell you how to have that experience and that’s amazing,” Hicklin said. The Moss Arts Center officially opened on October 28, 2013. This fall marks the beginning of the Center’s third year. “No two people will look at a piece of art the same way and the kind of discussions that that can bring about, the kind of discovery that that can bring about, between different disciplines and different cultures, neighbors is amazing. That’s the power of art, it’s a great unifier, it’s a communication tool, and that’s personally what I love about what I do,” Hicklin said.
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For some of those struggling to pay for books this semester, relief is here. Last Tuesday Everette Taylor, a young entrepreneur and VT alumnus, posted an informal financial aid offering on the Virginia Tech’s Black Community Facebook page. Students could send him an email describing their background and their situation, and they would be considered for scholarship money for books and other related items. Ta y l o r vividly remembers h is own inability to pay for books in undergrad and helplessly watching his grades suffer because of it. “I remember being in school, being at Virginia Tech and literally not having enough money to pay for my books. It was already tough to ... find the finances to just pay for school in general, but then also to pay for books, and that would get me behind in classes,” Taylor said. “My grades suffered during my time when I was at Virginia Tech because of that, because I didn’t have (books).” Taylor has come a long way since then — he is now the chief marketing officer of Sticker Mule, a custom online sticker maker, and Button Frog, the same idea but for buttons. He is also the founder of MilliSense, a marketing firm dedicated to “helping companies and brands grow through data-driven marketing,” according to his personal website. To top it off he also has 126,000 followers on Twitter. No t st o p p i ng a t personal success, Taylor proudly supports service o rga n i z a t ion s d e d icated to helping young students build successful academic and professional careers, including CODE2040 and Black Gi rls Code, a mong others. And now, just two years after he left, his
charity has made its way back to Blacksburg. On the way to dinner with a friend one evening, he realized that it was back-to-school season. “I pulled up the calendar and saw it was the second week of school. I just kind of started to think about ... what the second week of school meant to me, and a lot of times that meant fighting with financial aid, trying to stay in school, trying to find money for books.”
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I hated the second week of school because more often than not I didn’t have money for books.” Everette Taylor
In his post online he opens up to the students and would-be applicants. “In undergrad, I hated the second week of school because more often than not I didn’t have m o n ey fo r books which put me behind in classes,” Taylor wrote. “So I’m giving out some scholarships, not sure how many yet — they’ll be on a per need basis for students of black/Latino descent.” Several students have already contacted Taylor, many with thoughtful and even urgent petitions. “I made the qualifications pretty simple, but I put an end note on there that said, ‘Tell me anything else, tell me about yourself.’ And students have taken that opportunity to really give me some background on what is going on in their lives ... how they are struggling,” Taylor said. Taylor has left the idea very fluid so he can adapt and make decisions as he sees fit. The scholarship is not for a set amount, and there is not even a
particular number he has chosen to give out. “I’ve had people who only needed $200 worth of books, I’ve had people who needed $800, $900 worth of books, so it is really on a per need basis,” Taylor said. “I might just give everyone a scholarship to be honest ... I want to give out as many as I possibly can.” He is even considering expanding the scholarships in the coming semester if all goes well this first time. “I might pay for a student’s semester next semester because I’ve had to take time off from school because of financial struggles,” Taylor said. Prudence still has a place, and he still wants to be sure that the money is getting to people who need it and that they are spending it on what they need. “I do want to be critical to make sure that these are people who genuinely need it and are being honest and forthright,” Taylor said. “I actually talked to some staff at Virginia Tech, and one person just suggested that I just get gift cards for the bookstore, that way you know they are using it for books and things like that.” Taylor is hoping that these scholarships will help students in the short term, but he also wants to build relationships and be there to help them in the long run. “What I was going to do was send handwritten notes to each student ... offer my contact information if they ever need anything, if they need help with anything then I’ll be there for them,” Taylor said. “I definitely want to maintain that relationship with the students and just be there as a mentor to be able to lead them and guide them.”
@zkhoopes
crimeblotter date Aug. 22 Sept. 1-4 Sept. 3-4 Sept. 4 Sept. 4
time 12:45 a.m. 10-9:32 a.m. 4 p.m.-8 a.m. 2:16 p.m. 9:12 p.m.
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9:12 p.m. 9:26 p.m. 9:42 p.m. 9;42 p.m. 11:59 p.m. 2:04 a.m. 2:57 a.m. 1:05 a.m. 1:10 a.m.
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6:02 p.m. 6:02 p.m. 6:43 p.m. 9:22 p.m. 9:25 p.m. 9:33 p.m.
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11:16 p.m. 11:28 p.m. 12:10 a.m.
offense Underage Possession of Alcohol x 4 Harassment Larceny-All Others Harassment/Stalking Drug/Narcotic Violation/Manuf, Sale, Poss Fictitious Operator’s Lic Drug/Narcotic Violation x 3 Drug/Narcotic Violation x 3 Drug/Narcotic Violation Drug/Narcotic Violation Underage Possession of Alcohol Underage Possession of Alcohol Underage Possession of Alcohol Underage Possession of Alcohol x 2 Public Swearing or Intoxication/Underage Possession of Alcohol Underage Possession of Alcohol DIP Drug/Narcotic Violation/Manuf, Sale, Poss Fictitious Operator’s Lic Drug/Narcotic Violation/Manuf, Sale, Poss Fictitious Operator’s Lic Liquor Law Violation x 9 Liquor Law Violation/Possession of a Fake ID Public Swearing or Intoxication Assualt-Simple x 2 Assault-Simple x 2 Larceny-All Others/Public Swearing or Intoxication/Liquor Law Violation x 2 Public Swearing or Intoxication Weapon Law Offenses/Public Intoxication Public Swearing or Intoxication/ Underage Possession of Alcohol
location West AJ Pritchard Hall sidewalk between Owens & Payne New Hall West Stadium Woods
status Referred by Student Conduct Active Active Cleared by Arrest (CBA) CBA
Stadium Woods outside Pritchard Hall near Stadium Woods near Stadium Woods Vawter Hall West Eggleston Pritchard Hall Osha Hall Owens Lot
Referred to Student Conduct CBA CBA Referred to Student Conduct Referred to Student Conduct Referred to Student Conduct Referred to Student Conduct Referred to Student Conduct CBA
Barringer Hall 140 NW Otey St. 201 Ag Quad Lane (outside)
Referred to Student Conduct Referred to Student Conduct CBA
201 Ag Quad Lane (outside)
Referred to Student Conduct
Pritchard Hall Pritchard Hall 753 Washington St SW Coliseum Lot Cassell Coliseum Lot 300 Stanger St-BLK
CBA CBA CBA Active Active CBA
2692 Smithfield Rd 200 Stadium Lot Rd-BLK outside Newman Hall
CBA CBA Referred to Student Conduct
PAGE 4 September 8, 2015
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September 8, 2015 PAGE 5
“Roger that Coach.” After a weak, shaky start the Virginia Tech Hokies rallied from 14-0 down at the first quarter to end the first half up 17-14. A 51-yard touchdown strike from Michael Brewer to Sam Rogers opened the second quarter and energized the team and the crowd as the Hokies rallied to eventually take the lead with 15 seconds left in the first half of play.
TREVOR WHITE / COLLEGIATE TIMES
PATHS: Fourteen surfaces make up new walkways from page 1
Maintaining a greenspace aesthetic and the Drillfield’s multipurpose use are two goals of the larger initiative supported by the Board of Visitors. “The Drillfield is the iconic outdoor recreation and transition space in the heart of the Virginia Tech campus,” stated the Virginia Tech facilities request proposal. “A comprehensive master plan is currently being developed for the Drillfield… the pedestrian pathways across the Drillfield are a key component to this master plan.” The Drillfield Paths Committee, created in spring 2015, is comprised of students, faculty and staff and will provide a recommendation to university
officials at the end of the 2015-2016 academic year. “We brought together experts from our faculty, with those that maintain the Drillfield, and those that use it on a daily basis,” said Sherwood Wilson, vice president for administration. “They have the expertise and they have a thorough understanding of what the Drillfield means to a university community.” T he Un iver sit y is requesting faculty proposals until September 15 for a path material with the selection announced in December 2015. The proposal will be selected by the Drillfield Paths Committee and receives a $30,000 stipend for research, development, testing and evaluation to be shared between the vice president for administration and the vice president for
research and innovation. Field testing will begin in the 2016-2017 academic year. “I hope to accurately represent the graduate student body and be an advocate for a sustainable a l l-weat her solut ion,” said Devita McCullough, a student member of the committee majoring in industrial and systems engineering. “I bring a pretty unique perspective and educational background.” The Drillfield Master Plan will address changes in the pathways, field turf, seating, crosswalks, lighting, landscaping and amenities such as Wi-Fi. Seemingly in a constant state of construction, Virginia Tech continues to improve and invent the future. @laurenpak
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PAISLEY: Brad Paisley performs before OSU game from page 1
ZOE SCOPA / COLLEGIATE TIMES
set, thousands of Hokies, locals and travelers held up iPhones and lighters to sway back and forth as well. “I’m not used to seeing all these stars on the cellphones” Paslay said. Paslay closed his set with his first, no. 1 song, “Friday Night.” Fans roared as Paslay thanked them for the opportunity to play, and shared yet another “Let’s go!” – “Hokies!” cheer in appreciation. Paslay left the stage around 8:35 p.m. while staff prepared the stage for Paisley’s performance. During the intermission, fans grew in excitement for Paisley’s appearance. Some fans climbed trees while others climbed on top of other’s shoulders to get a better look at the stage. One of Pa i sley’s staff members made an appearance shortly after, taking a victory lap down the catwalk to greet fans. Bright lights shone behind him as the crew tested lights, and he raised his arms above his head in a victorious “V.” Fans cheered him on laughing along in anticipation for Paisley’s appearance. Paisley opened to an enthusiastic crowd at 9:00 p.m. with “Crushin’ It” sporting a half West Virginia University, half Virginia Tech jersey, stitched up the middle seam. The look was completed with a white cowboy hat, black cowboy boots and a fan-approved, Paisley printed belt. During his set, Paisley featured covers of Van
LucasFilm ushers in a new era of ‘Star Wars’ expansion PAYTON KNOBELOCH lifestyles editor
On April 25, 2015, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy broke a lot of hearts. In a statement on the Star Wars website, it was announced that the Star Wars Expanded Universe (SWEU) created in books, games and comics would be left behind in favor of a new, Disney-approved one. Fans weren’t exactly thrilled. Collateral damage from Disney’s October 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm, the stories they had come to love in the past few decades were now null and void, space dust like the planet Alderaan. Whereas novels bolstered the original SWEU, the House of Mouse kicked off the new universe with this past Friday’s “Force Friday.” For the most part, this was a marketing stunt to reveal new toys and merchandise, but Friday also saw the release of the first novel in the new EU, Chuck Wendig’s “Star Wars: Aftermath.” From what I’ve heard, the novel has plenty of problems stylistically, narratively and otherwise. This is making the idea for fans that this is what happened after Episode VI, not Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy, that much harder of a pill to swallow. To be angry is to be human. This may not have been Disney’s smartest move, that’s okay. Why? Because Disney’s other literary dig on the SWEU has been working out pretty well, in Marvel’s line of “Star Wars” comics. Starting in January of this year, Marvel launched the “Star Wars” main series by Jason Aaron (“Thor,” “Southern Bastards”) and John Cassaday (“Astonishing X-Men,” “Uncanny Avengers”). If you ever wished to go back in time to the 1980s and make more films with Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, this is your chance. Thanks to great work by the creative team, the books’ characters are almost indistinct from the film counterparts. Han Solo looks, talks and acts like Han Solo. It’s wonderful. Believe you me, these are fantastic books. Not just for men — but the women, and the children, too. Set between episodes IV and V, the series gets the tone of Star Wars down to a science, using established and new characters in ways that open up the movies’ universe without contradicting them. Boba Fett hunting Luke on a visit to Tatooine? No one said it couldn’t happen. After January, the comics came back, and in greater numbers. February saw the release of “Darth Vader” by Kieron Gillen (“The Wicked + the Divine”) and Salvador Larroca (“X-Men”). The book more closely examines Vader’s place in the Empire after the Death Star’s
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destruction in Episode IV. He’s hunting down the pilot who took it down (Luke, obvs) with the help of a new character, Doctor Aphra. Since the whole “mysterious Sith Lord” thing doesn’t lend itself to comic book internal monologues, Aphra’s our eyes and ears. While not as lighthearted as the main series, “Darth Vader” is a great look at the darker and dingier side of the galaxy, and works well as a companion book. Vader not in complete control is what I never knew I wanted. The March release of Mark Waid (“Daredevil”) and Terry Dodson’s (“Avengers & X-Men: Axis”) “Princess Leia” miniseries didn’t have as much bite to it. The premise sees her rounding up what’s left of Alderaan’s people, which is interesting, but there isn’t that much going on here. All the more disappointing considering how much unused potential Leia tends to have and Waid’s pedigree. There’s also a “Lando” series by Charles Soule and Alex Maleev and the upcoming, post-Episode VI “Shattered Empire” series by Greg Rucka and Marco Checchetto, but I haven’t had my hands on either yet. Considering the talent on both teams, though, I’d say they aren’t exactly high-risk gambles. It’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan. While the wounds of the dissolved SWEU may still be fresh, there are still plenty of excellent stories to be told in the galaxy far, far away.
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Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” and The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” which he sang in duet with Eric Paslay. Before sha r ing the Rolling Stones’ rendition with the crowd, he called Paslay up on stage to thank him again for touring with him, and stated, “So we’re gonna try something we haven’t even rehearsed, we don’t give a crap.” Fans
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He snagged a fan’s silver flask from the crowd and used it to play the guitar adopting the silver edges of the flask as a guitar slide.”
clapped and cheered along in anticipation for the performance. Later on in the night, during Paisley’s song, “She’s Everything I Ever Wanted,” he snagged a fan’s silver flask from the crowd and used it to play the guitar adopting the silver edges of the flask as a guitar slide. Unfazed, Paisley finished out the song while fans responded in an approving uproar. As the concert continued, Paisley surprised Hokies with a more than positively received version of “Enter Sandman.” The mass of students, families, locals, travelers and music lovers all jumped together cheering on Paisley, uniting as Hokies
and embracing Ut Prosim in the respectful and lively moment. The Hokie Bird also made an appearance on stage, playing air guitar with Paisley at the end of the catwalk. Perhaps the sweetest moment of the concert was during Paisley’s song, “When I Get Where I’m Going.” Paisley paid tribute to journalists Adam Ward and Alison Parker, the victims of the Aug. 26, 2015 shooting at Smith Mountain Lake. Portraits of Parker and Ward were flashed up on the stage during the song while the crowd broke out in respectful and sentimental applause. Paisley closed with the sweet statement, “You are a resilient bunch.” Paisley played a set of 22 songs total at the concert ending at 10:30 p.m. However, it wasn’t long before Paisley left the stage that he was pleaded to return for an encore. Paisley reappeared and stole the stage for two more songs, “Online” and “Alcohol.” Mirwaise Masroor, a senior studying mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech was among one of the many attendees at the concert. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, he shared what it was that brought him out to the concert. “Well my girlfriend came into town, and I really wanted to show her a good time and obviously you know, it’s (ESPN’s College) GameDay weekend; having the Brad Paisley concert here only made it that much better,” Masroor said.
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“Always been a Brad Paisley fan, and you know, we’re very fortunate to have him come down here for a free concert.” Many in town for the concert mentioned they would also be attending the football game on Monday. Jonah Davis, a psychology major in his junior year at Virginia Tech added, “It’s such a big event; Ohio State’s coming tomorrow with (ESPN’s College) GameDay, it’s just such a fun time. It’s also my 21st birthday so I’m out here at the concert celebrating tonight.” The Hokies will be hosting Ohio State at home on Monday, Sept. 7 for one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. After taking home an unexpected and cherished win last September in Columbus, Ohio, Virginia Tech is expected to draw thousands of returning, anticipative fans out to the Monday night game. Paisley also expressed his own personal excitement for the Hokies in regards to the football game with OSU. He ended his last song preceding his encore, “River Bank,” with a, “Good luck tomorrow night, y’all!” Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Marshall Gray, a sophomore and BIT major at Virginia Tech expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm at the end of the concert stating, “This is the end to a good day, and the start to an even better one.”
@CollegiateTimes
MOSS: Center for the Arts prepares for new season from page 1
state-of-the-art acoustics, which was prioritized during construction. “The quality of the space itself is amazing,” Waalkes said. “You can have the quietest moment with a string quartet or a violin and there’s really not a bad seat in the house.” Student tickets a re available now to all shows and for all seats for $10. Subscriptions comprise one third of attendance and allow flexibility in show choices to encourage exploration of diversity. Last-minute rush tickets are also available two hours in advance of shows if seats remain and can be claimed via text notifications (sign up by texting “arts” to 31996). “We absolutely want to fill the theatre, and if we have capacity, we’d much rather have those free tickets to hand to students,” Waalkes said. “I think once students come in and have an experience here and see the theatre, they realize it’s an incredible place to hear music and see these highly visual projects we’re bringing in and they’re much more likely to come back.” Shows attract a diversity
of majors and ages, even from surrounding counties. Placed as a front door to campus from downtown Blacksburg and an arguable equivalent to the Kennedy Center for the New River Valley region (without the traffic or expense), the center prioritizes access and hospitality for its students, faculty and community members. As a part of outreach, matinees with artists who extend their appeal to primary school students are scheduled, with classroom involvement for younger students, as well. “There really is a great interest and need for arts programming that some in our region just don’t have access to,” Waalkes said. “This is here for everyone.” The center collaborates closely with the School of Performing Arts, the School of Visual Arts and the Institute for Creativity, Arts and Technology (ICAT). Since the Center’s conception, Waalkes has noticed changes in the university, such as an increase in music majors, potentially due to the increased visibility of arts on campus. “We’re del iberately reaching out to different
colleges and departments,” Waalkes said. “We’re seeing a lot of cross-pollination happening and people are really excited about that. All of us see arts as a creative practice and process that’s important for students, regardless of what you’re studying.” To further encourage conversation, the website features an “Explorer’s Guide,” with multimedia, information and questions for audience members. Students are invited to enter a contest to win a trip for four to Busch Gardens by attending five events. Plans for next year’s lineup has already started, with hopes of bringing artists from even farther parts of the world, including East Africa and Cambodia. As the Center for the Arts continues to entertain and excite, their commitment to learning and connecting remains as they challenge students to expand their minds past that 10 percent. For a complete calendar of this year’s events, visit the Moss Arts Center or their website.
@CollegiateTimes
ALEXA JOHNSON / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Beyond Real: Still Life in the 21st Century Exhibit intriguing for all ages.
September 8, 2015 PAGE 7
PAGE 8 September 8, 2015
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sports collegiatetimes.com/sports
Volleyball sweeps Spartan Invitational SOCCER: Hokies stay undefeated with 7-0-1 record
JOSH WILETS sports reporter
The Hokies took part in the Spartan Invitational t h i s p a st we ekend, which was hosted by the Michigan State Spartans. Vi r g i n i a Te ch wa s dominant, sweeping the tournament. Their first match on Fr iday mor n i ng was against Miami (OH) and the Hokies defeated the RedHawks in four sets: 25-18, 22-25, 25-23, and 25-16. Virginia Te c h handled Miami fairly e a s i ly, ow n i n g an attack percentage of .314, in comparison to the RedHawks’ attack percentage of .160. Amanda McKinzie had 20 kills in the match, the most of any Hokie. Ashley Battle was very efficient, only making two errors, owning a hit percentage of .538.
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Ashley Battle and Kennedy Bryan were extremely efficient, only commiting one error apiece in four sets.
Kenedy McGrath added to the dominance, racking up 20 digs. McGrath also went on to put up doubledigits in digs in each of the other matches of the tournament.
from page 1
MALIK KEATON / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Lindsey Owens (1) spikes the ball against ETSU. Owens won MVP of the Spartan Invitational, continuing the Hokies undefeated season. Later on Friday, Virginia Tech faced off against the Michigan State Spartans, who were the hosts of the Spartan Invitational. The Hokies took down No. 19 Michigan State in four sets: 27-25, 25-21, 21-25, and 25-21. This win was a historic milestone in Virginia Tech volleyball history. In the past, the Hokies had never won a match against a ranked opponent on their opponent’s home court—until Friday evening. C a r a C u n n i ng h a m continued to impress, tallying two serve-aces and owning a hit percentage of .500. Michigan State’s errors did them in during this match, having made 31 errors. Virginia Tech only
made 24 errors, which is very respectable against a top opponent. It remains to be seen if this win will be indicative of how Virginia Tech will play against top ACC opponents, however this appears to be a good stepping stone for the program. Virginia Te c h ’s schedule in the Spartan Invitational concluded S a t u r d ay afternoon when they faced Butler. The Hokies defeated the Bulldogs in four sets: 18-25, 26-24, 25-17, and 25-19. Ash ley Bat tle a nd Kennedy Br yan were extremely efficient, only committing one er ror apiece in the four sets. A m a nd a McK i n z ie
contributed to the win with 15 kills and 14 digs while being responsible for a team-high 19 points. Lindsey Owens was awarded most valuable player of the Spartan I nvit at iona l, while McKinzie and McGrath were both named to the alltournament team. With the sweep of the Spartan Invitational, the Hokies improved to 6-0 on the young season. Virginia Tech’s schedule continues this Friday when they take part in the Indiana Invitational. They will take on the Indiana Hoosiers to kick-off their tournament schedule.
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more shots in the second half but were unable to put another goal together, ending the game with a score of 2-0. Virginia Tech put pressure on VCU goalie Emma Kruse throughout the entire game, taking 22 shots, eight of which were on goal. VCU managed seven shots during the 90 minutes of play, none of which were on goal. O n Su nd ay, t h e Hok ies t raveled to Richmond to face the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams and shut them out 3-0. It took 36 minutes of play before the first goal was scored by sophomore Alani Johnson, after she tapped the goal in from a pass from Bria Dixon. Just one minute later, she scored again, this time a solo shot. Tech dominated the first half offensively, taking 12 shots, while VCU only managed five. The final goal was scored by Vi rgin ia Tech’s Laila Gray, after her previous shot hit off the post. This put the score at 3-0, which ended up being the final. VCU’s goalie Emma
Kruse got a lot of action in goal, making seven saves throughout the game. However, VCU’s offense was not able to get control of the ball long enough to score a goal, giving goalie Kaylyn Smith a relatively calm day in the net.
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These wins give them a solid start to the season, but conference games will be important when it comes to qualifying for the ACC tournament.”
T h e s e w i n s put Virginia Tech at a record of 7-0-1. However, the team has yet to play a conference game. These wins give them a solid start to the season, but conference games will be important when it comes to qualifying for the ACC tournament later on in the season. The team will play again on Thursday at Thompson field against Davidson at 7:30 p.m.
@SierraHuckfeldt