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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. 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. 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. 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. |
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. |