111th YEAR, ISSUE 142 collegiatetimes.com December 8, 2015 COLLEGIATETIMES An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 Lynn Nystrom Lynn Nystrom, the director of news and external “As an impressionable student, Lynn taught me, and relations for the College of Engineering and longtime certainly others, a key life lesson that continues to guide Collegiate Times editorial adviser, died on Dec. 3 at the me even today — relationships matter. Relationships need age of 63 after a long battle with cancer. to be cultivated, invested in and constantly built upon,” Nystrom served as the Collegiate Times editorial Gordon said. “She represented a constant relationship — a adviser since 1979, working with, guiding and mentoring generational thread — for the students working at the CT hundreds of editors and student journalists. for nearly three decades, and any alumnus of the news- Tim Reed, who worked as the assistant director of paper will forever cherish their time and relationship with student activities at Virginia Tech from 1989-1996, found her.” a mentor in Nystrom himself. Nystrom worked under Richard Benson, the dean of the “I had experience with student organizations but only College of Engineering, for the last 10 years. minimal experience with student media when I started,” “Lynn has been the person who, more than any other, Reed shared. “Lynn Nystrom immediately became a made the Virginia Tech College of Engineering into a mentor and teacher to me. Through many tough deci- family, from our newest undergraduates to our oldest sions and difficult situations, Lynn offered me her advice, alumni,” Benson said. “At our times of triumph and perspective and opinion. She was direct but she was the happiness, Lynn found just the right words. At our times consummate professional. She always had the best interest of loss and sadness, Lynn found just the right words. Who of student-run media at heart. She is not just a legend at do we turn to now to find just the right words at the passing VT but her legacy should be celebrated by student media of this beloved member of the VT Engineering family?” advocates everywhere. She will be missed, but her contri- A Celebration of Life for Nystrom will be held on butions are everlasting.” Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. The service will be held at Elliot Gordon, the vice president of Core Video the German Club at 711 Southgate Drive in Blacksburg. Technologies at Turner Broadcasting and EMCVT board president, worked at the Collegiate Times as a photo editor Ricky LaBlue and graduated from Virginia Tech in 1994. Editor in Chief Expanding role of women Women’s basketball tops in combat on the horizon eighth-ranked Tennessee 220,000 new combat roles for women in the military will soon open up The Hokies pulled a major upset on the road, beating Tennesse 57-43. after defense secretary fi nalizes bureaucratic requirements. JOSH WILETS the Hokies were able to offset the turnovers by LIBBY HOWE They’ll be able to serve as Army Rangers and sports staff writer recovering crucial rebounds. Corps of Cadets beat reporter Green Berets, Navy SEALS, Marine Corps One interesting aspect of this game was the infantry, Air Force parajumpers and everything Sunday afternoon the Virginia Tech lack of bench-usage for both teams. Last Thursday, Defense Secretary Ashton else that was previously open only to men,” women’s basketball team upset No. 8 Tennessee Virginia Tech’s starters (Panousis, Magarity, Carter cut through the last remnants of Carter said. in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Hokies defeated Chanette Hicks, Dominique Powell, and red tape symbolizing gender inequality in While this policy change seems to be a Tennessee by the score of 57-43. Hannah Young) played the bulk of the minutes military occupational specialties. The recent shift towards gender equality, it simultane- Virginia Tech shot 19-45 including 9-19 for the Hokies, while using just three other announcement opened 220,000 combat roles ously raised several other significant concerns from behind the arc. Junior Vanessa Panousis, bench players. to women, including infantry, machine gunner, addressing remaining concepts about the a guard, led the way for the Hokies. Panousis Tennessee is battling the injury bug, as the fire support and reconnaissance. differences between men and women. finished with 21 points including five Lady Vols had just seven players available to All military branches were offered the According to a New York Times article, three-pointers. play. All seven players entered the game for opportunity to request waivers from this all- Carter pointed out that opening all roles to Panousis was named espnW’s player of the Tennessee. encompassing policy change, but, ultimately, women could potentially complicate cooper- week for her stellar performance. Not only did Despite scoring just eight points as a team, Carter struck down all potential barriers. ation with some allied nations where men are she shoot well for the Hokies, but more impor- Virginia Tech only trailed Tennessee by five “There will be no exceptions,” Carter said. “culturally apposed to working with women.” tantly she did it when it counted the most. In the points at the end of the first quarter. “As long as they qualify and meet the standards, The article follows Carter’s statement with fourth quarter, she scored nine points, ensuring In the middle portion of the game, the women will now be able to contribute to our the contrasting argument that the “Iraq and the Hokies kept an adequate lead over the Lady Hokies and Lady Vols were neck-and-neck. mission in ways they could not before.” Afghanistan Wars demonstrated that those Vols. Panousis kept Virginia Tech in the game with While this policy move opened every challenges can be managed.” Regan Magarity racked up 13 points while two three-point baskets in both the third and combat role to women, this is far from the Another controversy gaining prevalence in shooting 3-3 from three-point range while fourth quarters. first time women have served the military in light of this new effort revolves around whether taking in seven rebounds. Virginia Tech outscored Tennessee 21-6 combat-related capacities. Approximately or not women should now be required to register Virginia Tech scored 11 points off turnovers in the fourth quarter. The defense stepped up 300,000 women have deployed to conflict for military drafts. and also racked up 11 second-chance points. in the last 10 minutes and Virginia Tech took zones and currently represent about 2 percent of For obvious reasons, the most prevalent The Hokies shared the ball well, tallying 14 down rebounds when it mattered the most. U.S. casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. concern arising in conjunction with this policy assists as a team. The Lady Vols scored just three baskets in “Women have served in the military and change is that of physical fitness standards. The Tennessee outscored Virginia Tech in the the fourth quarter, while the Hokies cashed in served honorably for a long time … (some perception, true or not, that females are funda- paint 24-16, but the Lady Vols struggled from from the charity stripe late in the game to pull have) even served in some combat-related posi- mentally inferior to males in physical ability deep, shooting 1-19 and finished 17-55 as a away for good. tions,” said Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. “About 15 begs the question of whether or not main- team. Mercedes Russell finished the game for The Hokies head home for their next game percent of active duty military are women.” taining certain standards jeopardizes combat the Lady Vols with 14 points and 15 rebounds. this Wednesday, when they host Morgan State However, the scope of military positions readiness. Diamond DeShields tallied 15 points in the at 7 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. open to women has expanded to include novel A Washington Times article reads that defeat. opportunities. “(Carter) acknowledged that physical demands Both the Virginia Tech Hokies and “They’ll be allowed to drive tanks, fire Tennessee Lady Volunteers turned the ball over @josh_wilets mortars and lead infantry soldiers into combat. see COMBAT / page 5 17 times, which is a scary stat for any team, but THE SHACK BAND TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE Local bands The Shack Band OF LYNN NYSTROM /CollegiateTimes ctlifestyles and Giles McConkey played Remembering the legacy 622 North on Thursday. of a dedicated Hokie. CT MOBILE APP page 3 page 6 @collegiatetimes iTunes / Google Play PAGE 2 December 8, 2015 collegiatetimes.com [email protected] opinion collegiatetimes.com/opinion column column Lazy activism amounts to As the Internet expands, little more than active apathy attention spans shrink Half-hearted attempts to change the world can potentially divide Multi-tasking in the digital age is creating a distracted and inattentive humanity and blind it from uniting as one in prioritizing larger issues. society that settles for limited knowledge despite unlimited information. swore never to be silent whenever appropriating unique cultures due to them you find it difficult to pay attention it had a pulse are all related to this behavior and wherever human beings are being offensive to members of that particular to that homework that’s due in two of trying to do too much at once. In trying “Ienduring suffering and humili- culture. The second was when Starbucks came Ifdays, to work on that paper that’s to multitask, we are training our brains to ation. We must always take sides. Neutrality out with their annual holiday season “red cup,” due in two weeks or even to remember the pick up on highlights of the moment and not helps the oppressor, never the victim.” – Elie and controversy brewed due to a minimalist names of people you were just introduced to worry about the details.