April 2008
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PBTV: VT Women's Club Lacrosse Heads To Nationals
Reflections From Students Studying Abroad on April 16 Perspective comes from many angles. Isaac Barnes was studying in Rabat, Morocco when he learned of the school shootings last April. As a Virginia Tech student studying abroad, Barnes’ world immediately stopped as thoughts of classmates and friends rushed through his head. “Initially I saw that it had taken place in Norris Hall, and I kind of relaxed a bit because I thought that was mostly an engineer building,” said Barnes, an international studies major. “Then on Tuesday morning, I saw that Madame Couture-Nowak was one of the people who didn’t make it out, and suddenly being so far away was difficult.” Speaker Connects Faith and Science There is historical and scientific evidence that God created the universe and Jesus Christ was resurrected, according to Dr. David Kingston. Kingston, the final speaker in the Graduate Life Center Speaker Series, spoke on April 25 on “The Faith of a Scientist in the Rain Forest.” The GLC Speaker Series is a weekly event open to the community, which allows graduate and faculty researchers to share their career stories and research passions. Kingston joined the Virginia Tech Department of Chemistry in 1971. Flying Towards Her Dreams: An Interview With Felicia Lee At the age of 15, Felicia Lee has already accomplished what many young swimmers can only dream of. Lee holds numerous State, YMCA, Zone and National Age Group records. She is a two-time National Champion in the women’s 100 butterfly. In 2006, she qualified for the 2007 USA Swimming’s National Junior Team. PBTV: Hokie Hookup
72 Hour New Play Festival: A Showcase of New Playwrights If you had the opportunity to see the beginning works of the world’s upcoming famous playwrights, wouldn’t you want to be a part of the magic? Virginia Tech’s MFA in creative writing program and the department of theatre arts have collaborated to make that possible with their “72 Hour New Play Festival”, a free event starting this weekend in the Performing Arts Building (PAB) on campus. This festival is of utmost importance to MFA student playwrights. “Young playwrights get to work with professional directors. Plays don't really exist, alone, on the page. They don't come to life until actors read the roles and directors participate in the shaping of the story,” said Edward Falco, professor of the MFA graduate workshops responsible for the works of the festival. Film, Panel Aimed At Stem Cell Research Political, scientific, moral, and religious issues continue to fuel the evolving climate of the controversial debate over stem cell research. Students and members of the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg community recently attended a screening of “Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognito,”,\ a documentary made by award winning filmmaker Maria Finitzo. The screening of the film was held at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg. The documentary was followed by discussion by a panel of Virginia Tech faculty members and the filmmaker Finitzo. Transportation Institute Again Opens Its House To Area Schools The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) hosted its semi-annual School Day Open House Wednesday. Known for its research in improving roads here in the Commonwealth and the nation, the Institute welcomed over 300 students out to the facilities. The first group of students to tour the facilities, 100 fourth graders from Penn Forest Elementary in Roanoke, seemed excited to see what goes on at the Institute. The group was divided into groups of about 30 and taken to different stations throughout the building. Rock-a-thon Raises Money for Scholarships
The Neighbors Growing Together Rock-a-thon was held in the atrium of Wallace Hall on Tuesday, April 22, to help raise money for student and program scholarships. Neighbors Growing Together is part of Virginia Tech’s Intergenerational Program, which is a cooperation between the Adult Day Services program and the Child Development Center for Learning and Research in the Department of Human Development. Rocking chairs were provided for participants of all ages and individuals rocked back in forth for the time allotted by their sponsors. From Journalist to Restaurant Manager: Interview with Jeff Niekirk Following his passion, Jeff Neikirk, went from a media profession to the restaurant industry. Planet Blacksburg recently sat down with Neikirk to discuss the restaurant business. Commentary: Vladimir Putin -- to get the best women? Follow Up: Speaker Says Better Energy Efficiency Key To Reducing Greenhouse Gases Dr. Marilyn Brown’s visit to Virginia Tech was most timely, since Monday marked the beginning of Earth Week and her message emphasized a grave need for energy efficiency. Brown, who has a diverse educational background, spoke in front of about 25 community members as part of the Virginia Tech Environmental Series held in the multipurpose room in the Graduate Life Center. Media Professional Interview: Lindsey Nair, Roanoke Times Lindsey Nair has a lot of food on her plate. And we’re not talking portions. A features reporter and food blogger for The Roanoke Times since February 2007, she’s responsible for experimenting, researching and communicating all things food to the Southwest Virginia area. Prior to becoming the local food guru, Nair worked as a police and court reporter, another one of her passions. Interview: John Dooley, VT Office of Outreach and International Affairs John E. Dooley is the vice president for outreach and international affairs at Virginia Tech. Dooley has obtained his master’s and doctorate in higher education administration from Virginia Tech. He has worked for Virginia Tech for 26 years. He is involved in a wide variety of programs including the Office of Economic Development and the Office of International Research. Dooley is an active member of the Virginia Tech community, contributing to VT Engage. Its mission is to encourage everyone everywhere to do volunteer work as a way to give back to the community. Speaker To Urge Energy Efficiency Some people want to solve the would energy crisis by finding more energy, but guest speaker Marilyn Brown is focusing on reducing demand, rather than ways to provide more energy. The Virginia Tech Dean’s Task Force for Energy Security and Sustainability will have world renowned expert in energy policy, Dr. Marilyn Brown, speak on Monday, April 21 at 1 p.m. as a part of the Virginia Tech Environmental Series. The talk will take place in the multipurpose room in the Graduate Life Center. It is free and open to the public. Interview With Pearl Fu Of Local Colors For the most part, when you meet a famous person, you can quickly sense that something extra that they were blessed with. Pearl Fu is responsible for many acts of diversification and humanitarianism that begins locally and stretches to the once impoverished village of Lijiang, China. Fu is Roanoke's goodwill ambassador and has expanded her organization’s membership, Local Colors, from four to more than 75 countries. She is one of the select few who encompass this magnetic characteristic and owns it well. Reflection: Blacksburg; One Year Later While the rest of the world went about a usual Monday morning drinking coffee, reading the paper, heading to work… Blacksburg, Va., was frozen. It was April 16, 2007. I admittedly slept through my 9:30 class but was awakened by screaming sirens as dozens of ambulances sped past my residence hall. In wonder, I drifted back to sleep not realizing the magnitude of what was happening outside the confines of my tiny room. Pylon Ceremony Honored The “Ultimate Sacrifice” Two Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni have been honored with an April ceremony that added their names to the War Memorial Pylons. Navy Lt. Nick Brantley, class of 2001, and Army Staff Sgt. Jesse Clowers, class of 2003, were recognized at a recent event for the ultimate sacrifice they made for their country, according to Col. Rock Roszak. “We are honoring two alumni who have died in military service while the country is at war,” Roszak said. “All alumni who have died in such circumstances beginning with WWI are honored on our War Memorial.” PBTV Documentary: Who We Are
Some of Planet Blacksburg's staff set out to do a documentary on the community after one year has passed from April 16th, 2007. Feature: Survivor Plans Next Move To the untrained eye, the game of chess may appear simple--clearly defined, unsurprising and perhaps even a bit boring. That same untrained eye may also take too quick of a glance at the Chess Club of Virginia Tech president and characterize him in the same way. Perhaps it’s his often seemingly expressionless face, his unimposing frame or maybe it’s his soft spoken tone that doesn’t catch people’s immediate attention. But for those that know Derek O’Dell, a junior who nearly a year ago survived the tragedy on April 16, probably have as difficult a time defining him as they do beating him in a game of chess. Conscious Living at Virginia Tech Explores Your Every Emotion “The time and energy for the retreat was well spent,” says Theresa Gabriel, co-organizer of the weekend Conscious Living at Virginia Tech retreat. “There was not a single hiccup; it went exactly as planned.” There were 31 students who attended the retreat that ended Sunday evening. Relationship expert and psychologist Dr. Kathlyn Hendricks founder of the Hendricks Institute hosted the event. According to the Conscious Living at Virginia Tech website, the goals of the weekend were to create a safe, non-judgmental environment where the community could come together and talk about the emotions of April 16 and empower students to express emotions. Not Your Ordinary Fashion Show Virginia Tech’s Fashion Merchandising and Designing Society came together Wednesday evening to produce Haute Off the Runway at Squires’ Commonwealth Ballroom. Much of the handiwork included astrological swimsuits, kimono tops, coral pants, bubble dresses, mermaid and cocktail dresses, leopard and zebra linings, casual matching outfits, floral and halter dresses, tweed jackets, and bikinis. Hooded dresses also made an appearance. Lights flooded the runway with soft, modern music coordinated with the style exhibited, and a silhouette provided a backdrop as models displayed each designer’s creations. A number of photographers occupied the aisles. Commentary: Girls Battling for Top Bimbo Spot Hold on to your top spots while you can, Facebook and Myspace! There’s a new website that’s growing popularity in the UK and if you don’t watch out, soon it will be the new craze in the U.S. Introducing the new website, “Miss Bimbo,” the virtual fashion game created by London’s 23-year-old web designer, Nicolas Jacquart. Users of the website, who according to CNN.com are predominantly females between the ages of 7 and 17, compete to see who can be the best bimbo. (Just to provide a quick definition for clarification, a bimbo is pretty much a dumb hot chick.) Users of the website compete with one another to become the best bimbo by getting the hottest bodies, cutest guys, and sexiest clothes. Are you processing all of this? Young females are competing to become the best BIMBO! Beyond teaching these young girls to accept and identify with such a demeaning title, these girls are being taught, once again, that beauty is the main standard that they must live up to. Commentary: The Separation of Sport and State? Have you ever played a pickup football game with a person who is far too competitive? Someone that sprints vigorously for fumbles, trash talks after every play, hums the Sportscenter theme every time a big play occurs? As you stand with your hands behind your head, gasping for air, you stare at that student thinking, “It’s just a game, calm down.” “It’s just a game” is something that everyone has heard that is involved in sports. It doesn’t matter; it’s just a fun thing to do. When the grand scheme of things comes into play, sports have no involvement in social or political issues. During September 11th, the ESPN college football Gameday crew mentioned, “it’s just a game, we need to mourn, and focus on other things right now.” I figured if anyone knew the impact of sports in politics and social matters, it would be ESPN. People need to realize the importance of sports in society. Interview With Taryn Anderson of AD2 ROANOKE How important is creativity to you? It is of utmost importance to Taryn Anderson, who dedicates her time to keeping creativity alive in the Roanoke Valley. Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Radford University. She now works as the marketing and programs coordinator for the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. Anderson is the board president of AD2 ROANOKE, an advertising club exclusively for members 32 years old or younger. Naturally Sharp Prepares For Spring Concert Naturally Sharp, one of Virginia Tech’s all male a cappella groups, is currently busy preparing for its spring concert that will take place later this month. According to member Robert Blackard, Naturally Sharp is constantly improving, and with the new talent the group has gained over the past year, this year’s spring concert promises to be one of the best shows yet. “We’re continuing to practice three times a week, learning brand new songs and polishing our established repertoire, along with practicing choreography until our feet bleed,” Blackard said. “We’re also singing at a few gigs beforehand.” Naturally Sharp will perform at Relay for Life on April 18. Reel Planet Tragedy in the Digital Age: Virginia Tech, One Year Later In April 2007, Virginia Tech was racked with an event so monstrous, so incomprehensible, that one of the only things many Hokies could do was turn on their cameras and point them towards the nightmare. Capturing the sounds and the images in the moment allowed everyone to piece together the experiences of the day. The major news networks were salivating over pieces of footage from digital cameras and cell phones. We are at a point in society where the technology truly allows anyone to create a story. So many tragedies have become more relevant because of the presence of an amateur with a camera. On Sept. 11, 2001, citizens were there, recording the events while trying to make sense of the horror. To Get Rid Of Pollutants You Have To Dig Deep How do scientists remove harmful pollutants from our environment? They have to dig deep in the mud. That was the point made by Dr. Richard G. Luthy from Stanford University who presented the lecture, "Cleaning Up Sediments Without Throwing Mud" in Squires Haymarket Theatre earlier this week. "Mass removal alone does not equate with risk-based goals," said Luthy during the presentation. Cara Modisett: An Indepth Look at the Life of a Magazine Editor
Modisett is one of the editors at Leisure Publishing in Roanoke and mainly works with the magazine Blue Ridge Country. Leisure Publishing covers nine states in the Blue Ridge area from Maryland to Alabama. Planetblacksburg.com had a chance to sit down and talk with her recently. Below are selected questions that were asked during the interview with Modisett. Pre-Vet Club Had Weekend of Doggy Events The Pre-Veterinary Club hosted its annual pet show benefiting the St. Francis of Assisi Service Dog Foundation of Roanoke on Sunday hosting a trifecta of events. Linda Eaton spoke about the St. Francis Service Dog Foundation, Hi-Di-Ho demonstrated dog obedience, and animals from around Blacksburg and Christiansburg came to compete at Alphin Stuart Livestock Arena in Blacksburg. “It’s pretty cool to watch,” said Virginia Tech student Julie Leventhal. “I really like the obstacle course and frisbee competitions.” From the Depths of Caves to the Film World How does a single person combine his two favorite hobbies of caving and videography into one successful marketing career? Dave Socky of the Blue Ridge Southwest Film Office is a talented professional who knows how. He began caving seriously in 1974 and started filming his caving expeditions in 1986. Luckily for Socky, he was able to find a way to unite his two favorite passions in the world and to do it successfully. Not only does he explore and survey caves; he documents them and manages his own video production unit with help from his wife. Speaker Christopher Terry Gives Students Financial Advice Musician Interview: Barry Privett of Carbon Leaf On April 26, Carbon Leaf will join five other bands on the stage at Top of the Stairs for the 20th annual Sudflood Music Festival. Barry Privett is the lead singer of the Richmond-based band, and he recently sat down with Planet Blacksburg to discuss Carbon Leaf’s involvement and success in the music industry. Following is a selection of questions from the interview. Research Focuses On Cows And A Glass Of Milk The Graduate Life Speaker Series at Virginia Tech allows graduate students and sometimes professors the opportunity to share their ideas with the college community. A recent afternoon was no different. Joseph W. McFadden, a doctoral student studying animal and dairy sciences spoke on his thesis topic, Transcriptional Regulation of Lipid Synthesis in dairy cows, as part of a speech entitled, “Fat-Free Milk Straight from the Cow? Can it be True?" “One of the questions I always get is ‘why cows?’ I don’t know why, and there may be a few reasons, but I like cows,” said McFadden at the beginning of his talk. PBTV: Hokie Hookup
FASA Presents 20th Exhibitiion Of Filipino Culture FASA, the Filipino American Student Association, is holding the 20th annual culture night, this year called Bagobo. Kissa Fernandez, a senior at Virginia Tech and the vice president of FASA, is the event coordinator for culture night. Bagobo “is a dance,” Fernandez said. “It’s about clearing the field for planting new rice. Bago means new and tubo means growth.” Oh, Say Can You See… Kim Jong Gershwin? The prestigious New York Philharmonic is playing the U.S. National Anthem, flanked on the performance hall stage by the American flag with concert goers standing in observance. But wait, what is that on the other side of the stage? The North Korean flag? Yes. Now in the notorious North Korean city of Pyongyang, one can watch the finest American musicians in the East Pyongyang Grand Theater. That is, of course, if the United States government gives you special permission to be there in the first place. Media Professional Interview: Bruce Rader Outwork the other guy. That is the motto Bruce Rader has lived by and it has gotten him untold amounts of success. Rader has received numerous awards for his sports reporting and charity work. None of those recognitions would come if he did not outwork the other guy. Street Fair Kicks Off International Week The streets are filled with smells of cooking food, the sound of laughing, music and people dancing. Much like spring, International Week has come to the Virginia Tech campus once more, and to kick it off, the International Street fair is held. “The event is special because over 50 organizations come together to celebrate their cultures and to share with the New River Community their ethnic traditions.” Said Jenny Wagstaff, the assistant director of Student Support from the Cranwell International Center. The International Street Fair will be held Saturday, April 5, outside of the Graduate Life Center, on the Library Plaza, and down College Ave. from 12 to 5 p.m. and the cost is free, but food and goods prices will be listed at individual booths. The sponsor is the Council of International Student Organizations. |
Blacksburg Stuck with the Check As a semester comes to a close at Virginia Tech, students call home to their parents begging for more money as their meal card runs near empty. As the seasons go by, residents in Blacksburg complain to council members and local government for cleaner and safer streets. As a result, the Blacksburg Town Council unanimously passed an ordinance that will increase the meals tax to 6 percent beginning July 1 when the new budget goes into effect. It is estimated that the increase will generate nearly $500,000 annually for the town. So after years of debate between the university and the town, Blacksburg is stuck with the check. Let’s Get Ready To RUMBLE! Welcome to the wonderful world of political boxing. This week we’ll be looking at two presidential hopefuls in what is bound to be an exciting round of meaningless verbal attacks, idiotic staged media events, and creative, yet wacky accusations as these two go head-to-head in a dog-eat-dog battle for that Oval office. In this corner, weighing in at 170 pounds we have Senator Barack Obama – wide eyed, bushy tailed, and ready to fight tooth and nail. And in the other corner, weighing in at – wait, should we tell her weight? Anyway, there’s Senator Hillary Clinton ready to “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” in order to re-gain that master bedroom in the White House she’s missed ever so much. Album Review: Sans Exclamation Point, Panic Impress
Pretty. Odd. however, is a pleasant surprise. You can certainly see the influence. The album opener, “We’re So Starving” has a Sgt. Pepper’s feel to it as the band apologizes for the layoff between albums and loudly proclaims “You don’t have to worry/ We’re still the same band.” Commentarty: A Stain Too Deep To Be Green-Washed MTV pushing their environmental programming is like every idiot skater kid wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt. He knows no more about tenets of Marxist philosophy than he does about astrophysics, but it doesn’t stop him from suckling at the diluted cultural teat of the revolutionary icon to fuel his adolescent rebellion. NHL Playoffs: Second Round The second round matchups are set in stone after a few game sevens. We saw perhaps the best rivalry renewed, in Boston and Montreal, with Montreal prevailing in seven. We saw Alexander Ovechkin come so close to bringing his team to the second round, losing in overtime in the seventh game. We saw Sidney Crosby sweep the Senators with no problem. The good news is: it can only get better. In the Eastern Conference, Montreal, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the New York Rangers are left, which bodes well for the NHL. Having the New York market and maybe the most popular NHL franchise in Montreal in the second round must be making NHL commissioner Gary Bettman see dollar signs. The Western Conference brings us a rivalry renewed in Detroit and Colorado. The matchups in the 90s and early 00s were so intense and fierce. Then there is the most overlooked matchup – San Jose vs. Dallas – two teams that know each other very well being division rivals. Sports fans buckle your harnesses and keep your arms in the train at all times. It’s going to be a hell of a ride. Auburn Professor Presents His Program For Diversity The U.S. Supreme Court has determined that affirmative action may no longer be used when determining applicants for universities. It is fear that diversity will no longer be achieved in our nation’s universities. How do we maintain diversity without racial and gender preferences? The answer may be found in Professor Juan E. Gilbert’s computer software program that will enable school’s to generate a more diverse class. He recently delivered a speech, “Achieving Diversity in the New Affirmative Action Era,” in Squires that focused on addressing the issue with holistic approaches. Mustache Bash Ranked High On Blacksburg's Must-Do Events Food? Check. Music? Check. Mustaches? Not exactly the first thing you’d think of for the biggest local concert of the year, but that’s exactly what makes the Mustache Bash one of the best things to attend in Blacksburg. “I went last year, but the turn out this year has been incredible!” said Virginia Tech sophomore Katie DeMoss. For those who don’t know, the Mustache Bash is an event that happens every year, now in its fourth season, based entirely upon glorifying the mustache. Everyone shows up with a mustache, whether it’s fake or real. People and Places: West End Market West End Market is one of Virginia Tech’s most notable dining facilities. During its operating hours West End is bustling with hungry students and faculty and during its busiest hours it is not unusual to see lines more than 20 people long and students with plates looking for a table to open up. If the dining facility is so busy, why do people continue to come? Students and faculty come because of the convenient location for a majority of freshmen, the wide variety of food options, and the overall quality of the dining services provided. Read more | Comments (0)Going Green: The Little Things Here’s a shot in the dark at what your To Do list looks like: 10-page paper That was pretty close, wasn’t it? If so, the next assumption is that nowhere on that list is “save the environment.” Becoming eco-friendly doesn’t seem so important when you are up to your neck in schoolwork and collegiate life in general. 5k Raises Money To Fight Cancer On Saturday, April 19, the Hokie Hope 5K was held at the Virginia Tech Cross Country Course in an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society and the Recreational Sports Initiative at Virginia Tech. People from all walks of life came together to support the fight for cancer, a disease that has affected the lives of so many people. Commentary: Bye, Bye Bryan (Murray) The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is drawing to a close. Players are looking ahead to their next opponents, and fans will be re-energized to see their favorite team be one step closer to Lord Stanley’s cup. This is not the case for head coach Brian Murray and his Ottawa Senators, who might want to be browsing around good golf courses in Florida right about now. After being swept 4-0 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and being an embarrassment in the playoffs, I am sure Gary Bettman is glad to see the Senators out, and especially seeing Mr. Murray out of the spotlight. Battle of the Bands Has A Local Flavor “This was one of the closest battles that we’ve ever had,” said battle of the bands judge Bobby Beaton. The final round of the three-month-long contest was held at Attitudes Bar & Café Saturday night and proved to be a tight race for the title. All Kinds of Gravity took first place with Bitter Hill snagging a close second and Groova Scape finishing third overall. Blacksburg Weighs Growth v. Sustainability The dilemma of balancing local growth and sustainability sparked a debate between the five candidates running for Blacksburg Town Council Monday night. Over 50 people attended The League of Women Voters of Montgomery County’s candidate forum held at the Blacksburg Municipal Building. Each candidate issued an opening statement before answering questions compiled by The Montgomery County League and the forum’s co-sponsors. Rock Club Bringing Battle Of Bands To Attitudes Many bands can attribute their success to the recognition that resulted from a friendly, yet serious competition between local talent in their own hometown. The big question in Blacksburg is, are there enough local musicians around to even have a local rock scene? The Rock Music Club at Virginia Tech looks to answer that question by hosting its Battle of the Bands finals at Attitudes Bar and Café on Friday, April 18. Matt Allen, Attitudes’ head of booking and lead sound technician, said the finals will start at 9 p.m. and the doors will open around 8 p.m. with ample parking at the adjoining Holiday Inn. There is a $5 cover charge at the door and anyone 18 and older is welcome. Montgomery Planning Commission Deals With Touchy Rezoning Issue The Montgomery County Planning Commission met recently to discuss rezoning request that brought up some “fiery” issues with water scarcity. The commission also viewed plat proposals and held a coupleof public hearings. “We really opened up a can of worms for people buying lots,” said vice chair of the Planning Commission, Walt Haynes. Was It Rape? More than half of women who are sexually assaulted do not label the experience as rape, and thus, do not report the crime to the police, according to a James Madison University psychology professor’s recent speech. Dr. Arnold S. Kahn’s speech, “Was it Rape or Just a Bad Night? Responses from Victims and Observers,” explained his research on the reasons that many women do not acknowledge their sexual assault experience as rape, instead calling it a bad night or blaming themselves. Commentary: Pain, Pride and the Search for Something Positive One year ago today. On April 16, 2008, those four words are all you have to say anyone in the Virginia Tech community. There is an implied understanding that comes with them. Everyone knows the anniversary this date represents. But, unlike other anniversaries, a celebration is not going to accompany this one. Instead, it is marked by a candlelight vigil. It is marked by the memory of 32 lives inexplicably and abruptly taken by one malevolent man in a quintessential college town seemingly incapable of serving as the backdrop of mass murder. Geezer Gazing at White House Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean announced Thursday that DNC focus groups mention Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s age as a concern without anyone prompting them about the subject, citing health issues and old-fashioned ideas as a potential problem. Insert Dean Scream here. Though Dean and his cohorts at the DNC seem overly smug about these results, they sure have a point. Much like the professor who writes his hypothesis after he’s found what he was looking for, Dean is just reporting what the average American has known and what every other citizen was thinking since McCain gained momentum in the Republican primaries. Of course, what we were all thinking was: WTF? (“Why this fogey?” of course…) Therapy for More Than Just the Patient: A Look into Carolynn Talley’s Profession The hustle and bustle of being in an elementary school is a forgotten memory to most; single file lines and endless chatter flood the hallways. Carolynn Talley isn’t a stranger to this feeling. Talley, an occupational therapist for Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, treats students at public schools throughout the greater Charlotte region. An East Carolina University graduate and Charlotte, N.C., native, Talley has been working in the field of occupational therapy for a little over 20 years. Improving the handwriting, scissor skills, computer skills, self-care skills and sensory skills of students are her main goals within her profession. All-American Leads By Example The Eagle Rock native has been the backbone of a surging softball program over the past few years. To say she will be missed after she graduates would be a vast understatement. As of April 13, Tincher is 114 strikeouts short of becoming only the third pitcher ever in Division 1 softball to record 2,000 career strikeouts. Speaker Examines Culture Of Cheating Hundreds of students and faculty filed in Burruss Auditorium at 7 p.m. Monday for the 17th annual conference on business ethics presented by the Pamplin College of Business, with this year’s focus on our cheating culture. This year’s guest speaker was David Callahan, liberal author of several books who has written extensively about American history, business, and public policy. Callahan’s talk, “The Cheating Culture: Why More Americans Are Doing Wrong to Get Ahead,” was based on his 2004 book of the same title. Shirts Came Off At Athlete Date Auction Thursday nights at the Hokie House mean traditional bar fun, but this past Thursday there was some new activities going down. Pi Sigma Epsilon is a co-ed business fraternity at Virginia Tech that focuses on marketing, sales management and selling. The group hosted a Virginia Tech athletes date auction Thursday night at the Hokie House on Main Street. The event, which Pi Sigma Epsilon called “The Draft,” was put on by the new member prospective class of the fraternity as its fundraiser. Ben & Jerry’s Founder Defends Integrity Co-creator of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Ice Cream, Jerry Greenfield, engaged in a heated discussion with an angry person following his speech in Burruss Auditorium yesterday in front of a crowd of over 300 people. That person turned out to be Alan Sherman, owner of the Ben & Jerry’s shop in Blacksburg. The confrontation occurred following Greenfield’s speech telling students about how he and his fellow business partner Ben Cohen broke into the ice cream business. Kevin Bechtel, a second year graduate student, said he came out to “see Greenfield because he has been with a progressive anti-Bush” group and I was interested to see him speak but did not expect what would happen at the end his speech. Interactive Theatre Workshop Gender can often be a very controversial issue in today’s society, especially in the workplace. Without even realizing, people can judge others on their gender, and not on their qualifications. The Interactive Theatre Workshop explored this idea during its presentation this past Wednesday. The Interactive Theatre Workshop was put on by AdvanceVT, a program that tries to enhance and promote the careers of women in academic science and engineering at Virginia Tech. AdvanceVT specifically plans events that target students who will someday be a part of a faculty setting. Ice Cream Mogul to Speak at Burruss Jerry Greenfield, co-creator of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, is coming to Virginia Tech’s campus tomorrow at 7 p.m. The event is being hosted by Hillel in honor of Jewish Awareness Month, and will be held in Burruss Auditorium. Tickets for the event are $1 and can be bought either at the UUSA Ticket office in Squires or prior to the event, at the door. The event is open to the public, and Hillel is encouraging all students, faculty, staff and community members to come. Get to Know Your Town Council Candidates Political activist groups in Montgomery County are organizing events featuring local candidates in an effort to get out the vote in Blacksburg. On May 6, voters will elect three of the five candidates to open seats on the Blacksburg Town Council. The three incumbents – Paul J. Lancaster, Mary C. Holliman and D.B. “Don” Langrehr – will face two challengers, Derek S. Myers and Leslie Hager-Smith. NHL: It's Playoff Time! It’s the best time of year for hockey fans and so many more sports fans. It is that time where 16 teams will put all of their hard work in and determination to work for one common goal: Lord Stanley’s Cup. Some have cruised all year long into the postseason. Some have clawed their way in at the last minute. It matters no more. This is a new season. Everyone is 0-0. The team that manages to put together 16 wins will be the champion. Who are the contenders and what are the first round matchups? Following will be an overview of each series with a prediction. Business as Usual: Tincher Shines in Win Behind another stellar pitching performance from senior Angela Tincher and timely hitting, the Virginia Tech softball team beat in-state rival, University of Virginia, 4-0 Saturday at Tech Softball Park. Tincher tossed a complete game shutout, allowing only one hit and striking out 14. “She (Tincher) pitched a great game and we played good ball behind her,” said head coach Scot Thomas. “I feel pretty good about what we did today we went ahead and took care of business and played well.” Opinion: ‘Guide on the Side’ Instead of ‘Sage on the Stage’ Laptop. Check. Microwave. Check. DVD player. Check. Books. Check. Education … When a student walks across the stage, shakes the hand of the dean, and moves the tassel from the right to the left, he or she is signifying the completion of a degree, saying to the world, “I am educated and know more about [insert major here] than others who do not have this degree.” But where did this knowledge come from? Bubbling-in answers on a Scantron sheet, hoping the “stuff and dump” method would pay off again? Do What You Like Students should listen to their hearts rather than just follow what their parents want them to do. That was the message that speaker Gregg Levoy delivered to a gathering of Virginia Tech students recently with his talk, “Don’t Just Declare a Major, Follow a Calling.” Virginia Tech Goes Green As far as competitions go, Recyclemania is like no other. The joy of helping the environment and the fulfillment of defeating rival schools all exist within one contest. Virginia Tech students are doing their part to contribute. The competition started Sunday, Jan. 27, and is about to wrap up today. Virginia Tech is competing against students from across the country to become the biggest educational recycling outlet in the nation. Opinion: How to Receive Ultimate Economic Stimulus Package Reach into your wallet. Check the balance of your checking account. Do you like what you see? How easy is it to pay off the bills or buy a house (and keep it) nowadays? Chances are, you aren’t feeling very optimistic about the economy right now. Recessions do seem to have that effect on people. Most of us have grown up hearing that America is the richest and most powerful country in the world. So where is all that money? Well, most of it is over in a desert, 6,200 miles away from where King George Bush II sits on his throne. The folks over at NationalPriorities.org track where your money goes, and a few interactive tools reveal plenty about where we could easily find more money for our struggling economy. Darfur Benefit Show Scheduled Megan Ouellette knows the importance of international relations after interning with a student leadership organization focused on world issues over the summer. Ouellette is the main organizer for the Darfur Benefit Show, a concert which intends to highlight the ongoing genocide there. “Music can bring together a lot of people, the way a good cause can,” Ouellette said. The show at Attitudes Bar and Grill, is set for Friday, April 4. Lee Street Riots, The House Floor and Altaire are the performing bands for the event, which will run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturday. People who wish to attend must be at least 18 years old. The price for those 18 to 20 years old is $7 and $5 for people 21 and older. Commentary: Would You Like Your Whole Order With That? You know the feeling. We’ve all been there. The alarm clock refused to quit waking you up this morning, no matter how many times you hit the snooze button. Rushing to work, you decide to skip breakfast, thinking, I’ll eat a healthful lunch. Lunchtime rolls around, and your desk is piled high with work. Your stomach growls, and those mints on the edge of your desk begin to look as though they are small, breath-freshening cheeseburgers, begging to be eaten. Deciding to sacrifice lunch for the satisfaction of a clean desk at the end of the day, you gnaw on mints and the occasional fingernail. Lively Arts Bringing "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" So you think you have a dysfunctional family? Maybe you can relate to the colorful themes of the performance Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Virginia Tech students, faculty, staff and members of the general public will have the opportunity to watch this dramatic story of a powerful southern family on campus tomorrow. The theatre event was arranged by the Lively Arts committee of Virginia Tech Union (VTU). “This is a spicy play of intrigue and manipulation and was written by a great artist, Tennessee Williams” said Kerri Friedman, the director of that committee. Workshop To Teach Etiquette Over Dinner Imagine getting the opportunity to interview for your dream job and being told you must also attend a business dinner as part of the interview process. Panic and stress most likely ensue as you imagine everything that could go wrong over the course of a professional business meal. Luckily there are workshops offered at Virginia Tech on dining etiquette to teach students how to be professional in these situations. “More and more interviews are taking place over a meal,” said Kristin Eicholtz, career advisor at Smith Career Center. “Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, students and people in general are nervous enough about an interview and then you put them at a dinner table and they’re expected to eat and carry on a conversation.” Media Professional Profile: Thomas Becher The Thomas Becher Agency is hidden within the streets of downtown Roanoke in a building only identifiable to those searching for it. Previously known as John Lambert Associates, TBA is now headed up by Thomas Becher. Becher graduated from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in newspaper administration. Before becoming the president of TBA, Becher worked for the Associated Press, the University of Connecticut, Pratt & Whitney, Atlas Air, and Northwest Airlines. He has also written two books on aviation. Tech Taking On UVa In Softball The hated in-state rivals are coming to Blacksburg when the University of Virginia’s softball team takes on the Hokies in a two-game series at Tech Softball Park on April 5 and 6. The Hokies and standout senior pitcher Angela Tincher look to continue their winning streak against the Cavaliers, who the Hokies beat all four times last year. Tincher pitched in three of the four games against UVa last year. Her best of the three outings was on April 6 when she pitched seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits and striking out 15. In her career, Tincher is 6-3 against the Cavaliers. |
When advance reviews of Panic at the Disco’s new album Pretty. Odd. Began surfacing, many lauded the album, and built up dangerous hype, with many making comparisons to the Beatles. I feared for the album because no one can equal the Beatles, and imitators no matter how talented, always fall short.