April 29, 2008Firearms survey still availableMembers of Virginia Tech's Students for Concealed Carry still want people to respond to the survey they created for Firearms Education Week. It's open until 11:59 on April 30. Apparently, about 80 percent of the respondents are in favor of carrying on campus, says Ken Stanton, an organizer. He's encouraging those against concealed carry to respond. Do that here. April 7, 2008Blacksburg solicits student inputHave something you'd like to see in downtown Blacksburg? The town wants to hear from you -- Virginia Tech students, staff and faculty. The Town Gown Community Relations Committee plans to discuss the happenings in town on Wednesday. The round table starts at 8 p.m. in the Graduate Life Center. Town administrators, including comprehensive planners, will be on hand. You can check out more here. March 31, 2008Fish fight at VTClearly, somebody thought this was a good idea.
Time and Place Description Free Beta Fish on the Drillfield, everyone can have one free beta fish!!! *while supplies last (300 Beta Fish) Come out and win lots of free prizes including: -Reel Big Fish concert tickets March 13, 2008Yankee ticket sales creates controversyI noticed quite the argument over on Facebook this week after people started trying to sell their Yankees/Hokies exhibition game tickets. Now, Tech's athletic department says it's culling a list of people who tried to sell the tickets and it's telling them they could be banned from other ticket lotteries, the Collegiate Times reports Tell us what you think about the people hoping to make a profit. March 12, 2008Workers to talk sweatshops at TechTwo former textile factory workers from the Dominican Republic will visit Virginia Tech on Friday to speak. A few Virginia Tech students hope the stop will spark interest in getting this going on campus. Or, better yet, says co-organizer Meredith Katz, a movement to "to encourage Virginia Tech merchandise will be manufactured in fair and ethical conditions." The two workers, who worked to jumpstart a union in their company, will speak at 3:30pm in They're part of a national tour from the United Students Against Sweatshops. March 7, 2008Hokie Cheer contest detailedOK, folks. They're finally here. Head over here to enter the Hokie Cheer Contest we've been telling you all about. Or, take a peek at this The Graduate Student Assembly and Student Government will accept entries until April 5. As they say give 'em the Disney version, but have fun! March 5, 2008Music, umbrellas celebrate Hokie seasonApparently, Deron Washington's mom thought it was time to bring some of the dirty south to Blacksburg.  Deron Washington gets his pictures taken while the party waited for the muic to cue up. Click for video of the event At an after-party celebrating the Hokies basketball season, rumor has it she requested that the entire Roundball Club celebrate Mardi Gras style for her son's final feat in the Cassell. The club bought the two departing seniors -- Deron Washington and Marcus Travis -- a cake and a couple of cards with a photograph of some of their memorable plays. It was a nice bit of rock-star treatment and a tastey treat. But, the fun didn't end there. Music, sparkling maroon and orange umbrellas and wait for it ... Seth Greenberg dancing. Yep. Good stuff. I wonder what they'll do if the Hokies make it to the Big Dance? Check out the video above, if you don't believe me. February 25, 2008Hokie Cheer competitionIf the beach, tanned bodies and blaring sun of Panama gets too much for you during Spring Break, bust out the video camera and create a cheer for the Hokies. Starting March 10 (the day Spring Break ends), Hokie fans will be able to submit their homemade cheers to a YouTube group for a chance to have that cheer featured at football games in the fall. A panel of students will choose winners and award them prizes. Those winners are slated to be picked by April 19, in time for the spring football game. Ultimately, Virginia Tech's athletic committee, including Athletic Director Jim Weaver, will review the top entries. And, if they fit the "Hokie Respect," campaign and can be conform with the band and cheerleaders, a new Hokie Chant could be born. The cheers must be original and refrain from vulgarity. Pretty much anything that wouldn't violate the Hokies Respect policy. February 23, 2008Hokies on IceI checked out Virginia Tech's ice hockey team beat the skates off the University of Virginia last night at the ACC Hockey League tournament. The Hokies won 10-1, in what I thought had to be the highest-scoring hockey game ... ever. Tech takes on Duke tonight at 6 in the Roanoke Civic Center. From my experiences at the games, not a lot of people know about this club sport. The ones who do are loud and opinionated. The rants can do nothing but help you learn about the sport. For $10 you can see two hockey games, and while the refs are fairly stringent on the checking, fights do erupt. Watch video: February 22, 2008Virginia Tech researchers study effects of April 16 shootings
Hundreds of people from the Virginia Tech community gathered for a candlelight vigil Monday to honor Northern Illinois students killed in a shooting there. I spoke with one of the researchers, psychology professor Jim Hawdon, today. Research has established that communities become closer after tragedies, such as Sept. 11. But what makes the work of Hawdon and his colleague John Ryan so unique is that they were studying the topic of community involvement and social capital of the Tech community before the shootings, giving them a serendipitous basis for comparison. Continue reading "Virginia Tech researchers study effects of April 16 shootings" » February 14, 2008Cheer contest still in worksBack before holiday break, we wrote about two Virginia Tech students who jumped on an idea to help replace the beleagured "Stick it In" chant. Ken Stanton, a student on the athletics committee of the Graduate Student Assembly and Adam Kress, an undergrad student government leader, plan to unveil complete details of their cheering contest sometime between Feb. 25 and Feb. 29, Stanton said this week.. Stanton's original idea for the contest, which he said he discussed with Athletic Director Jim Weaver, is to have members of the Hokie Nation send in their own cheers. Weaver has said that "Stick it In" will not be revamped, but rather a replacement chant is needed. Weaver's department would have final say over the cheer, he said. February 8, 2008Teach for MadameA group of Virginia Tech students plans to spend the next few Wednesdays teaching elementary school students French. The Teach for Madame after-school program honors slain professor Jocelyne Couture-Nowak. The instructors for the hourlong lessons include former students as well as some who were in the classroom with her on April 16. The idea is two-fold: giving Tech students a chance to give back as part of the VT Engage program, and to continue Couture-Nowak's legacy of working with youth. We'll be at the next lesson at Harding Elementary so check the Roanoke Times for more about it. February 6, 2008Hokies flock to RichmondA group of about 20 Virginia Tech students was expected to lobby in Richmond today in favor of carrying concealed weapons on campus. Ken Stanton, a graduate student at Tech and member of the school's Graduate Student Assembly, said the student government associations chartered a van to take the group to the capital last night. Stanton and other traveled there on MLK day for another round of lobbying. February 4, 2008Hokie Effect sloganThose hokies love their contests (hey, who doesn't?) Here's another one: Picking the Hokie Effect slogans. In about half an hour, voting will open on what the Orange and Maroon Effect slogans should be for 2008. Cast your ballot here by Feb. 15. Apparently, the winer takes home $200. Good luck! Plate pokes fun of UVAShortly after Virginia Tech's 72-65 overtime win over University of Virginia on Saturday, I saw the most appropriate thing on Tom's Creek Road. License Plate: UVALOL. I wish I had a better description, but I was so fixated on the plates that I ignored the rest. With the prevalence of personalized plates out there, I'd welcome others. Send them here. Happy hunting! February 1, 2008Tech working on April 16 artifacts collectionSome of the more than 87,000 items of condolence that poured into Virginia Tech after the shooting in April are on display in a temporary digital archive, but the university and its libraries are working to complete a permanent collection. In June, officials at both Tech and Rutgers University helped to organize the temporary site. Find out more about the plans here. January 31, 2008More graduate moneyVirginia Tech's Graduate Student Assembly is expected to decide today whether to create fund that would help students with work/life balance issues, such as paying for child care. Initially, the idea was to solicit donations into the Karen DePauw Graduate Fund for child-care alone, but a committee decided to broaden the money allotted to include other family-related issues. The pot, named after the school's dean did not have a specific objection, but this could mean it does. During tonight's 5:30 meeting of delegates, members of the assembly will give the fund specific objectives and, within the semester, donors could begin pouring money into the fund. It's part of a bevy of ongoing child-care issues the assembly is addressing. They're also looking at compiling a list of scholarships that could help ease the financial burden of being a student while raising a family. We'll keep you posted. January 23, 2008Recording industry crackdown touches Virginia TechThe Recording Industry Association of America sent out settlement letters to 36 Virginia Tech students earlier this month asking them to settle their debts and avoid legal action for what the association says are illegal music downloads. The letters sent to Tech students were part of the latest wave that the RIAA has sent out to college students as part of its "college deterrence campaign" to crack down on illegal music dowloads at universities. Eighteen colleges and 407 students were targeted this month in the 12th round of letters the organization has sent asking students to settle with them. Continue reading "Recording industry crackdown touches Virginia Tech" » December 20, 2007Tech grad tapped for MTV election coverageSabina Thaler, a 2007 Virginia Tech graduate, will represent Virginia on MTV's Choose or Loose Street Team. Thaler is one of 51 young people who will follow the presidential campaigns and deliver short, multimedia-focused pieces on the races. MTV is hoping the team will help connect with their peers and explore the local issues important to viewers, and listeners online. Thaler graduated this summer with political science and sociology degrees, is from Roanoke. Gun control seems to be the top issue for Thaler. In a commentary this summer, she wrote, "Nevertheless, guns make taking lives too easy." But, she says that guns should not be the nation's "whipping boy." Missing cheerleaders, dull gameI was at the men's basektball game at Cassell Coliseum last night, and couldn't help but notice a couple things missing: Cheerleaders and the band. Where were they and what happened to team loyalty? I recognize that students need to have a break and a chance to see their families, but aren't you obligated when you sign up to be part of a team/group? Having cheers from actual Tech students, and not local high-school replacements, really would have pepped the game some. And, while we did get blasted with a few musical selections, it just wasn't the same as it is live. Maybe I'm off base, but it just doesn't make sense. I guarantee these people won't be missing from the Orange Bowl. Does anyone else think this is strange? December 17, 2007Victim costumes posted, removed from EbayThe fallout over what is possibly the world's most tacky Halloween costume may never cease. This weekend, two Virginia Tech shooting victim costumes were posted on Ebay. "Do to my recent financial situation Jess and I have decided to sell our costumes on eBay to raise some funds," Jones wrote in an e-mail. But, this morning, it appears coordinators of the site may have removed the items. It's likely the costumes violated their policies. We're still waiting on word from the company, but what do you think? December 14, 2007Halloween prankster firedNathan Jones, one of the Penn State students who dressed as a Virginia Tech shooting victim, said the controversy has cost him his job. In an e-mail today, Jones said he was asked to resign yesterday from his post at Bank of America or be fired. "They were worried that my name may be attached to the Bank of America brand, and that this controversy would lead to a scandal," he said. Photos of Jones and another Penn State student were plastered on Facebook and caused a national outcry. In interviews with several media outlets, including an on-camera piece on CNN this week, Jones refused to apologize. Apparently, he's sticking with that plan. "Things are going to be hard now, especially since I have no outside support ... However, even though I will be starving over the holidays and my credit cards will all default, I still will not apologize," he wrote. December 6, 2007Virginia Tech No. 1 in architectureArchitect Magazine's November issue lists Virginia Tech as the top undergraduate architecture school in the country, according to rankings from The Design Futures Council and DesignIntelligence. Tech moved up from a fourth-place ranking last year. It's the first time the school's been ranked No. 1. Tech also tied for fifth in the graduate school rankings. November 1, 2007Highty Tighties to play at Macy's Day ParadeThe Highty-Tighties, the marching band for Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets, will make their sixth appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. The band was last in the famous New York City parade in 1999. Tune in to the live broadcast on NBC Thanksgiving morning to see them. October 26, 2007One little, two little, 56 little drunk Hokies...The Virginia Tech Police Department came out with its report of arrests on Thursday night and, perhaps not surprisingly, there were a few folks arrested for "appearing intoxicated" in public. All told, Tech police made 56 alcohol-related arrests Thursday night, most in the vicinity of Lane Stadium. It looks like Oct. 25 was every bit the "alcoholiday" it was advertised as. Not sure how many of those arrested were drinking in celebration or drowning sorrows after Thursday's loss to Boston College, but given the late turn of events in the game and the fact that early arrests outnumbered later ones, I'm assuming there were quite a few happy drunks who had their night of celebration ruined long before Matt Ryan connected with Andre Callender in the end zone with 11 seconds left. Continue reading "One little, two little, 56 little drunk Hokies..." » Institute gives Tech sustainability C-While Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg celebrate their “Sustainability Week,” a national organization is saying Tech is a little below the national average in actually achieving the goals. The Sustainable Endowment Institute gave Tech an overall C- in its annual report card, citing a lack of transparency within the school’s foundation as the major pitfalls. The institute is a nonprofit aimed at researching and improving campus sustainability – or its ability to maintain without harmful effects -- in operations and endowment practices. October 17, 2007Norris Hall options narrowedTask force narrows options for Norris Hall's future A task force charged with deciding the future of Virginia Tech's Norris Hall has selected three proposals for study, the university announced today. They are: -- To "re-create community" within the Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics in the College of Engineering by consolidating department operations and installing state-of-the-art videoconferencing, research and laboratory space for students. -- To create a "Center for Violence Prevention and Peace Studies," including an interdisciplinary, student-led research center that engages faculty from numerous departments. -- To develop a "Center for Student Engagement and Community Partnerships" based on the VT Engage program, which currently is asking every person on campus to complete 10 hours of community service by April 16. A community room would offer collaborative meeting space for students and members of community agencies. In all, the task force looked at seven proposals for the future of a 4,500-square-foot building, site of 31 of the 33 shooting deaths on April 16. Teams that sumbitted the three propsals have until Nov. 9 to fully develop their ideas in no more than 10 pages, according to a university news release. They will then present their proposals to the task force on Nov. 15. The task force is charged with making a recommention on Norris Hall's future to President Charles Steger by Dec. 1. Faculty, students and staff are represented on the group of 12. October 12, 2007Chili ChallengeI’m a little worried about a group of roommates from Blacksburg that I met today. All three completed Virginia Tech’s Chili Challenge, scooping up spoonfuls of habanera, jalepeno and pablano-laced chili in an effort to win a bright-red T-shirt designed by one of their fellow students. All I can is I hope their house has more than one bathroom. October 11, 2007Design your own rideMove over Xzibit. Virginia Tech and the town of Blacksburg are hunting for local people to "pimp" their buses. The one that travels from the university's bookstore to its Oak Lane complex at least. Students, faculty and staff have one more day to submit their designs to the "Design Your Ride: Show Hokie Pride" contest. The winner will have his or her artwork displayed on the Hokie Express bus for at least three years, according to Fiona Rhodes, a town marketing rep. October 9, 2007Group to take gun protest to UVa.A group looking to change gun purchasing laws in the state plans to take its protest to Charlottesville next week on the six-month anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings. Thirty-two people -- each one representing someone slain on April 16 -- will briefly lie on the ground. The protestors hope to illustrate the amount of time it took shooter Seung Hui Cho to obtain the weapons he used during the shootings. The first gathering of people who started the Web site was on April 22 in Alexandria. There, 32 women dressed in black with maroon and orange ribbons draped around them. Since its inception, 28 protests have taken place, from New York to Chicago. Organizers provide "protests in a box" to those interested. October 2, 2007Vote for the best flims50-plus people. 24 hours. 4 minutes of fame. The race to complete a four-minute film started with a posting on a Web site at 4 p.m. last Friday. Now you can help pick a 4-star film among those Virginia Tech students who entered the school's Four Minute Film Festival. If you've already seen the short takes, go straight to our poll. If not, watch the movies here then vote. The young film makers will love to claim bragging rights -- and a prize. Vote by noon Thursday! The winner will be announced late Thursday afternoon at the Four Minute Film Festival awards ceremony. Beware: some of these films touch on mature content. September 18, 2007Tech professor writes poems about April 16 shootingsThe latest issue of the American Poetry Review includes a poem by Virginia Tech English professor Bob Hicok entitled "So I Know." The poem -- one of five Hicok wrote for the issue -- is an unflinching and pained look at Hicok's thoughts about shooter Seung-Hui Cho and the professor's feelings of guilt for not doing something to stop his former student. Part of the poem reads: "I don't know what I could have done While a student in Hicok's class in spring 2006, Cho wrote a play about a student who plans a mass school shooting. Reports say that Hicok was one of several professors in the department to voice concerns about Cho and he took those concerns to department head Lucinda Roy. But Cho was not removed from his class. Continue reading "Tech professor writes poems about April 16 shootings" » September 12, 2007VT Engage to launch Oct. 16A few more details have emerged about VT Engage, a community-service effort by Virginia Tech to honor the victims of the April 16 shootings. John Dooley, vice provost for outreach and international affairs, introduced the idea to Tech's board of visitors at its meeting last month and pitched it again to the faculty senate Tuesday night. In addition to the stated goal of 300,000 hours of community service among Tech students, faculty, staff and friends, Tech's alumni association has pledged another 300,000 hours. So the goal is now at least 600,000 hours of community service between Oct. 16 -- when the project is scheduled to kick off -- and next April 16, the anniversary of the shootings. Dooley didn't have specifis Tuesday, but said multiple activities would be held between those two dates. The university has a web site with some information about the project, though it's pretty bare bones at the moement. Eventually, volunteers will be able to fill out pledge forms on the site. September 6, 2007Concert ends with encoreThe Dave Matthews Band wrapped its 2 1/2 hour performance with the song, "Stay," and heard a resounding, "Let's Go ... Hokies!" The metal seats at Lane Stadium rattled as if the Hokies had scored back-to-back touchdowns, and atendees chanted, "Dave! Dave!" bringing the band back for an encore song shortly after 11 p.m. Crews have already begun taking down the on-field seating, but people still lingered around the stadium. See video highlights of the show. Share your video and photos of the concert
But if you were there and want to share your experience with the rest of us who weren't, you can upload the photos and video from your camera phone to roanoke.com. For video, click here and follow the instructions. You can find the photo submission form here. Photo by Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times John Mayer's prayer for Virginia Tech
The concert seems to have accomplished what it set out to do: helping people have fun. Some of the performers sported Hokie gear, including the free Hokies United shirts that the university gave them. Some concertgoers said they wished that the 20- to 30-minute sets could have been longer, but acknowledged that they were still enjoying themselves. Despite early grumblings, rapper Nas performed to a welcoming audience, asking the Hokie Nation to hold up one finger "in unity." He also nodded to commentator Bill O'Reilly's concerns about him performing at the concert and said his heart was with all the victims' families and with everyone at Virginia Tech. Most of the performers are taking note of what the Virginia Tech community has gone through since April. "This is a song that maybe if you've seen too many news trucks in the past few months, it'll get to you," John Mayer said before starting his song "Vultures." He also dedicated the song "Gravity" as a prayer for Virginia Tech. -- Anna Mallory (Photo by The Associated Press) Tech still home for returning alumna; Nas takes the stageEmily Gold, class of 2004, drove all the way from Pittsburgh to catch the concert for her alma mater. She was sitting on a hill overlooking the football practice field, listening to the opening acts and enjoying her return to Blacksburg. "This is home," she said. Her boyfriend, Jim Scheidemantle, was with her. Scheidemantle is not a Tech alum -- he's from Pittsburgh, too -- but he were there to see the Dave Matthews Band. The couple figured they might stay outside the stadium for awhile, there by Cassell Coliseum, and enjoy the view before Dave takes the stage. It was amazing to see everyone in Hokie T-shirts, Gold said. She was struck by the Hokie spirit all around her -- it reminded her of a football game. "I don't think you can really appreciate it unless you've been a part of it," she said. Meanwhile, on stage, Nas dedicated a song to the haters. "To all those people who don't know what Nas is about, like this chump Bill O'Reilly," he told the crowd. "I said that chump Bill O'Reilly. They can't stop us, Virginia Tech. They cannot stop us." -- Greg Esposito Tickets still available for tonight's concertFoot traffic around the stadium is increasing as the show is set to begin in an hour. But for those interested, there appear to be plenty of seats still available. Several people are walking along sidewalks in front of the stadium and on sidestreets selling tickets for $40 and less. -- Greg Esposito Concert items on saleVendors are hawking commemorative hats, T-shirts and sweatshirts for $20 to $65 around Lane Stadium. Some people, many already clad in the maroon Hokies United T-shirts, said waiting in line to buy such items is worth it. "I want something to remember when I'm old and gray," said 18-year-old Josh Staton. However, Pablo Bruneo a senior exchange student from Ecuador, said the Hokies United T-shirts mean more than commemorative concert items. Concert-goers aren't the only ones snagging T-shirts, though. The university is giving all of the performers free Hokies United T-shirts. Some of the items on sale feature all of the perf |
The Dave Matthews Band is finishing its final set, and the Concert for Virginia Tech is almost over. 
A Concert for Virginia Tech is nearly two-thirds over, with performers Phil Vassar, Nas and John Mayer completing their sets.