Charges Filed in Deadly Fall Reporters
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Friday COLLEGIATETIMES 101st Year, No. 53 ▪ Blacksburg, Virginia ▪ November 21, 2003 An independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com Charges filed in deadly fall Reporters ▪ The residents of Solar Haus that allows us to do a thorough review of the event,” she said. may face were charged for not acquiring a “If the address is determined to be in a resi- permit prior to a September party dential zoning district, it wouldn’t be allowed for public use,” Browning said Instead of holding public dances or concerts by Jared Turner in residential areas, Browning said students honor court News Assistant should go other places where they can dance without breaking the law. by Christina Peña to observe their standards. Three residents of the Solar Haus were “Students can go downtown to public dance News Assistant “The Cavalier Daily will charged with a misdemeanor for failing to halls that are approved in the zoning ordi- make every attempt possible obtain a proper permit. nance,” she said. Even though the Cavalier to prevent violations of these The charge was in response to an accident Browning said legal limitations are likely a Daily is an independent standards, and will encour- in September when a Virginia Tech sophomore reason why more instances of similar behavior newspaper, the University of age their observance by all was killed and six other people were injured are not reported. Virginia’s Honor Committee members,” as stated in the after they fell from a third-story window. “We can’t enter a private residence without may investigate the plagia- code of ethics. Solar Haus roommates Ashley Pack, Lenore first having a complaint or witnessing an (ille- rism incidents committed by But, if the case does go Oliphant and Clint Parson were charged for gal) act taking place,” she said. two of its student journalists, before the Honor Committee violating a Blacksburg town ordinance requir- Solar Haus owner Homer Hurst said he did said Carey Mignerey, honor for plagiarism, it could also ing a permit before hosting a public event not approve of the events that occurred the committee chair and fourth be investigated for cheating where there is dancing and an admissions fee is night of the incident but was unaware residents year government major. or stealing, Mignerey said. charged. The fourth roommate faces no charg- have to obtain a permit before hosting a public “It’s under our jurisdic- “Situations for any es, because he was not involved in planning dance. tion, but I cannot confirm intentional act of cheating the event. The misdemeanor charge carries a “It wasn’t supposed to be a dance,” he said. or deny the cases being dis- or stealing is cause for dis- maximum fine of $500. “I assumed there wouldn’t be dancing at these cussed by the committee,” missal from the university,” Blacksburg town spokesperson Heather concerts, but there was.” Mignerey said. Mignerey said. Browning said a permit to host the concert “I was never approached about a permit,” BYRON KENNERLY/SPPS The Cavalier Daily also Students who commit would not have been granted even if the resi- Hurst said. Seven students fell from this third-floor stated its writers should honor offenses have the dents had requested it because public dances To prevent future incidents of similar nature, window at the Solar Haus. be held accountable to the option of making a “consci- are not allowed in residential areas. Hurst said he does not intend to allow public university community for entious retraction,” in which To be granted a permit to host such an event, dances or concerts at Solar Haus. ager has notified everyone in the building there their reports in their code they denounce their actions Browning said permit applicants must undergo “We’ve notified everyone in the building would be no more.” of ethics. in order to avoid expul- a background check and a zoning review must that concerts or the equivalent thereof are no Hurst, who said Solar Haus has housed The code of ethics, how- sion. In this case, the Honor be done of the prospective event location. longer permitted,” Hurst said. “We’ve canceled ever, only stated the newspa- “We have an application process in place the privilege of having concerts and our man- See FALLS, page 4 per encourages their writers See HONOR, page 3 Groups Bus line may link Tech to Roanoke by Aaron Blackwell plan food Associate News Editor New Blacksburg-Roanoke Bus Route Blacksburg Town Council will decide Tuesday whether or not to approve a bus line linking Blacksburg to Roanoke. Valley Metro drives The Blacksburg, Christiansburg and Montgomery Bus Center, County Metropolitan Planning Organization sent a Downtown Virginia recommendation to Blacksburg to approve the new Roanoke Tech by Melissa Ballagh bus service, said Gary Huff, Blacksburg town man- Staaff Writer ager. 81 The council will vote on the recommendation as Roanoke Students and organizations across cam- well as several other conditions from the MPO. These Roanoke pus are working to ensure that needy fami- conditions include: not having Blacksburg Transit Regional lies enjoy the holidays. Among the holiday responsible for supporting the service, allowing the Airport donation drives are Hokies for the Hungry line to use the Squires bus stop and having quarterly and Newman Library’s Holiday Donation reports provided to the MPO, he said. Drive. Valley Metro, which runs a bus service in Roanoke, Sponsored by the Marching Virginians, Vinton and Salem, will also run the new line. Service Hokies for the Hungry will collect canned is scheduled to begin early next summer on a demon- K-Mart goods from fans coming to the football stration grant from federal and state funds — cover- game against Boston College. Donation ing all costs for the first two years of operation, said N drop-offs will be placed at each corner David Morgan, Greater Roanoke Transit Company Christiansburg of Lane Stadium as well as the Marching general manager. Costs for fiscal year 2004-2005 will GRAPHIC SOURCE: Roanoke Times Virginian’s practice field at the corner of be approximately $250,000, he said. CHRIS HEUBERGER Southgate Drive and Spring Road. The first two years will be a test phase for the Virginia Tech alumna Karen McNew, service, with many localities, including Blacksburg, portation. “The demonstration grant will determine said Suzanne Ducker, alternative transportation co-anchor for WSLS News Channel 10, judging how effective the service is, Huff said. whether there is a need there or not,” Morgan said. manager in the Tech Office of Transportation. “One will serve as honorary chairperson. The “(Blacksburg) will help evaluate whether the dem- Many people think the service could be very ben- of the biggest advantages would be the connection Marching Virginians set a goal of 65,115 onstration grant is going to be successful,” he said. eficial to the Virginia Tech community in particular. to the airport.” The first two years will determine whether the “If it comes to fruition, it will have a very posi- See FOOD, page 4 service would become a permanent means of trans- tive impact on Virginia Tech students and faculty,” See BUS, page 4 Nation still mourns, remembers death of Kennedy Tech professor Skipper cannon named for Kennedy, cadets ▪ The cannon was first used four This was where Tech’s cannon, Skipper, stuck cherry bomb fuses in them,” Hickam compiles vignettes made its first appearance. said. “We dragged the Skipper out on the days after Kennedyʼs death, “They say you could see the shockwave golf course, tossed a spewing bottle down and used to be on the field for move up the stands,” said Col. Rock Roszak, the barrel and stood back. It worked won- those hits and books, he still a Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets officer. “It derfully.” ▪ For four days, the comes up in the top polls of Virginia Tech football games even knocked a VMI player to the ground.” Hickam said he and Harper decided to nation stopped in presidents. In fact, it’s sort of In 1962, Ben “Butch” Harper, a cadet in A nickname the cannon “Skipper” because of front of the TV to unfair, but kind of fascinat- by Tiffany Hoffman Squadron, had the idea to make a Civil War- its dual significance. ing.” Managing Editor style cannon to match the one VMI fired for “President Kennedy had once been the watch what would On Nov. 22, 1963, Kennedy its touchdowns, said Homer Hickam, class of skipper of a PT boat,” Hickam said. “But was assassinated while 1964 alumnus and author of “Rocket Boys.” ‘skipper’ was also Virginia Tech slang for happen next riding in a motorcade in “People were crying in the streets, church- “(The Tech cadets) liked what VMI did, a cadet senior who wore no stripes, i.e., a Dallas, Texas. For four days, es were filled and Catholics took it particu- so (they) decided to do it bigger and better,” private. Senior privates traditionally were by Tiffany Hoffman the nation froze in front of larly hard,” said Dan Fleming, author of the Roszak said. unconventional and were prone to rais- Managing Editor TV screens and watched John F. Kennedy tribute, “Ask What You Hickam said the cadets used ing a little hell. in shock and terror as Lee Can Do For Your Country.” “Most young brass from his father’s West Ben’s face lit After 40 years of conspir- Harvey Oswald was killed people were devastated — they’d never Virginia mine to mold the can- up and I acy theories and speculation, and Kennedy was buried. experienced anything like it and, of course, non and then used his ideas knew we’d President John F.