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Friday COLLEGIATETIMES 101st Year, No. 21 ▪ Blacksburg, Virginia ▪ September 26, 2003 An independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com New data Top administrator to step down network by Eric Beidel Ridenour will be missed because brought hundreds of millions of wide search for a replacement, said Associate News Editor of his work with funding and other dollars in scientific equipment to Provost Mark McNamee. financial issues at the university, the university. “We are doing a full national underway Come summer 2004, Virginia Smoot said. “I am very fortunate to have search,” he said. “People both inside Tech will replace top administrator “I’ve worked with Minnis since been part of many projects over the and outside of the university can Minnis Ridenour, executive vice 1975 and can’t think of anyone who years,” he said. “Even during diffi- put in for this position.” president and made a greater contribution to the cult budget times, we still were able The search will end in summer by Ellen Biltz chief operat- financial situation here at Tech,” to see substantial growth for the 2004, but Ridenour’s duties will News Assistant ing officer, who Smoot said. “He did excellent university.” continue for almost two years. will step down work, particularly at the In 2001, Ridenour’s work earned He said he has agreed to be Virginia Tech has always prided itself in after more than state level to address funding him the Distinguished Business available to work with the new having innovative advancements above and 29 years at the issues.” Officer Award, the highest honor executive vice president for awhile beyond the competition, and recently the uni- university. Ridenour and Smoot worked given by the National Association before fully retiring, but he will versity invested $5 million to be a founding “I’d be hard together to develop a relation- of College and University Business not be involved in the hiring pro- member in the construction of the National pressed to find ship between Tech and the city of Officers. cess. LambdaRail. anyone who Roanoke, resulting in the renova- Ridenour first came to Tech in He will also continue helping With the vast growth in technology the had a greater Ridenour tion of the Hotel Roanoke and 1974 as the university’s budget with major initiatives such as pri- world is experiencing today, the university impact on Conference Center. director and chief business officer. vate fundraising, he said. has to strive harder each year to accomplish the university than Minnis,” said Ridenour said he is proud of He was promoted to executive vice Once completely retired, goals and put into effect the new connections Raymond Smoot, vice president many projects that saw his involve- president in 1987 and to his current Ridenour said he will do more needed for research. for administration and ment over the years, including position in 2001. “The network facilities provided by NLR treasurer. the equipment trust fund, which The university has begun a nation- See TOP, page 2 are critical because billions of dollars of cyber info structure rely on them,” said Jeff Crowder, project director. The main focus for the NLR is to introduce a new national optical network for big sci- ence and network research. They will do this Tech endowment sees positive return by constructing nodes, or connection facili- ties, for the fast-paced network in regions throughout the country. ▪ (contributions) from the private sec- “This network just has insanely high Nearly 3,000 students tor,” said Larry Hincker, university University Endowment capacity,” Crowder said. and 200 professors benefit spokesman. The money the university put forward Substantial monetary, land and is directly being used to start the Mid- from the $15 million stock contributions are all entered Investments Total Atlantic Terascale Partnership. This part- provided by the into the investment market and the nership includes all participating research profit is then used for the university’s 4 institutions within Maryland, Virginia and endowment each year benefit. This way, Hincker said, the Washington D.C. money is there in perpetuity. Bonds by Tiffany Hoffman U.S. Stock (20%) $368,197,000 Each university or company will be asked As of June 30, the investments were $359,528,000 to pay Tech $500,000 to compensate for the Managing Editor worth approximately $331 million — market (40%) 3.5 original investment. $35 million below its highest value of International (15%) “MATP focuses on building info structure Endowments at Virginia Tech $368 million in 2000. The Foundation $331,311,000 $328,680,000 to include all participants,” Crowder said. earned a 3.3 percent return for fiscal receives about $14 million each year Millions of Dollars Other universities that, like Tech, have year 2003 — the first increase the Tech from patrons. Hedge been founding members for their regions are Foundation has seen in three years. Smoot said he expected the earn- Private Equity 3 Funds (10%) Duke University and Georgia Tech. “The stock market in general has ings to continue to increase again in (7%) Real Estate 2000 2001 2002 2003 Both schools are competitive in research had a much better year than previous upcoming years. (8%) projects, making it even more imperative years,” said Raymond Smoot, execu- “The university is getting more Year for Tech to have the best new technology, tive vice president of the Virginia Tech aggressive getting private contributions SOURCE: Virginia Tech Foundation Crowder said. Foundation. for the endowments,” he said. “I sus- CHRIS HEUBERGER The node that will be used for the MATP The endowments provide about pect it will more than double when the will be located in Washington D.C. The con- $15 million for the university each next capital campaign takes place.” opportunities. — 40 percent is in the U.S. stock mar- struction will be completed by January 2004. year and are primarily used for schol- Hincker said the university is cur- Approximately 3,000 students and ket, 15 percent is in the international Tech, as well as the other institutions in arships and professorships. rently in the process of putting the 200 faculty benefit from the endow- stock market, 20 percent is in bonds, the region, will be connected and functional “For the university to be truly campaign together by talking to key ment earnings each year. The money by July 2004. excellent, there needs to be significant donors to help set the stage for other is distributed in six areas of interest See FUNDS, page 3 Pieing a Pi Beta Phi ADAPT to battle drugs, alcohol ▪ The Alcohol ness to students with abuse with one another on issues they problems. face every day. and Drug Abuse ADAPT, or the Alcohol and This fall, the prevention team Drug Abuse Prevention Team, will be meeting once a week to Prevention Team is is starting its first semester at plan activities. These activities beginning its first the university. consist mostly of programs and “We design and put on pro- other community involvement. semester at Tech grams for organizations like The team will officially begin its by Ellen Biltz residence halls, sororities or activities in the spring. any other organization that “I am very excited about News Assistant may request us,” said Tara ADAPT,” said Francis Keene, Alcohol and drug abuse are McCartney, ADAPT graduate assistant director of judicial issues affecting college cam- assistant. affairs. “The group of students puses all over the nation, and These programs will not only we have selected is fantastic. Virginia Tech recently instituted promote awareness, but also a program to promote aware- give teens a chance to interact See ADAPT, page 2 Groups work to promote exercise, healthier habits for students by Alexandra Michael “Many fitness events on campus are single-day Staff Writer events, while this is promoting a long-term com- mitment to fitness,” said Heidi Lail, the fitness Whether they call it the “freshman 15” or “love chair of the club and a senior human nutrition, handles,” most students know the difficulties of foods and exercise major. finding time to exercise and eat healthy foods in Over the course of the school year, each mem- college. ber will walk 10 miles or more a month to collect But according to an Ohio State University points. study, time is not as important as encouragement The person with the most points at the end of when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. the year will win a prize. To encourage members Students who have support from their friends to participate, the club is planning group walks on and family are more likely to continue to exercise the Huckleberry Trail. regularly. Inactive college graduates are less likely Students also found the closeness of on-campus to engage in physical activity than those who facilities encourages them to workout. exercised regularly throughout school, the Ohio “It being right next door pushes me,” said State researchers said. However, health concerns Atitaya Pratoomtong, a sophomore international aren’t the only reasons students are heading to studies major. the gym. Tech’s Department of Recreational Sports is “It makes you healthier and gives you a good also trying to encourage students to stay active break during the day,” said Carrie McElveen, through a “Swim the New River” challenge. a senior political science and communication Even those who don’t want to attend a class ERIC CONNOLLY/SPPS major. can play basketball or find something to do that Nannette Jimenez, left, a senior early childhood education major, and Jen Witte, a Thirty Virginia Tech students are going the dis- is both good exercise and fun.