Tuesday COLLEGIATETIMES 101st Year, No. 54 ▪ Blacksburg, Virginia ▪ December 2, 2003 An independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com Hokies sign on with AOL deal reach out to alumni, faculty and ▪ AOL users can cus- students and extend the Virginia tomize their features to Tech brand to Internet service pro- viders,” he said. “We are not mak- include Tech colors and ing one penny on it.” logos that can also be Normally, money raised through Tech’s licensing agreements would used as buddy icons go towards a general scholarship by Eric Beidel fund at the university, White said. AOL already has “Self Associate News Editor Expression” program agreements with the National Football League, Hokie fans have heard the last National Basketball Association and trademark “gobble gobble” from Major League Baseball. They chose inside Lane Stadium this year. But Tech to be their first partner in the now they can hear it the next time “Collegiate Expressions” program they log on to America Online. because of the university’s commit- They might be pointing and click- ment to technological innovations, ing on Hokie Bird icons too. according to a prepared statement JOCELYN SCHNIEDWIND/SPPS Virginia Tech’s Licensing from Alex Joannou, AOL product UVa quarterback Matt Schaub completed 32 of 46 passes for 358 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Hokies. and Trademark manager of sports. Department struck “We are pleased a deal with AOL to We are pleased to announce that become the first uni- “ Virginia Tech is the versity in the coun- to announce that first and only col- Tech falls again on road try taking part in the Virginia Tech is the legiate program to “Self Expressions” first and only col- launch expressions program available to legiate program to on the AOL service,” Tech takes AOL subscribers. he said. UVa wins rivalry game, 35-21 The program launch expressions White said he allows AOL 8.0 and on the AOL service.” actually pitched the by Adam Abramson a total of 143 yards and out- have played great,” said Tech Insight 9.0 users to custom- idea for the program Associate Sports Editor scored by 19 points. head coach Frank Beamer. ize features of their to executives at both Winning on the road has “We’re not doing the things it AOL service to Alex Joannou AOL and Microsoft not been such a problem in takes to win ball games.” Bowl bid include Tech colors AOL product manager Network three years The Virginia Tech football the recent past for the Hokies. The loss to bitter rival UVa and logos like the ago. by Rajan Nanavati of sports team ventured into hostile Last season, Tech finished will serve as the low point to Hokie Bird, which “I sent a proposal territory Saturday when 3-2 on the road and the pre- another late-season collapse. Sports Editor users can implement to Bill Gates and I they took on the University vious season posted a 4-1 Tech lost the turnover battle as buddy icons or wallpaper on was surprised to get a phone call of Virginia. The Hokies left record in venues other than as well as the penalty battle Virginia Tech will play in AOL Instant Messenger. from somebody at MSN the next Charlottesville with their Lane Stadium. Saturday, which stifled any its 11th consecutive postsea- A few months down the road, day,” White said. heads down after they picked Regardless of home or chances of working its way son bowl game after accept- a link to Tech’s homepage will be Talks with MSN stalled out after up the fourth loss in their final away locations, the team is back into the ball game. The ing an invitation Sunday available on the AOL homepage as about six months, and AOL also six games, 35-21. stuck searching for answers Hokies have had a hard time afternoon from the Insight well, said Locke White, director of lost interest after an initial meeting Tech finishes the season 2-3 after a fourth-place finish in coming from behind to win Bowl. The invitation came licensing at Tech. between himself and executives, on the road, leaving questions their final season in the Big late in the season. just 24 hours after in-state Unlike other licensing agree- White said. in the air about the Hokies’ East. “There is a lot to handle rivals the University of ments, White said Tech is not mak- “Then three years later, AOL play away from Blacksburg. “(The string of losses) is when your back is against the Virginia Cavaliers defeated ing a profit from the partnership called up and asked if I was inter- In the team’s five road games, disappointing because we with AOL. Tech has been out-gained by have had times where we See UVA, page 9 See BOWL, page 3 “This is a great opportunity to See AOL, page 2 College Grant helps Tech clean up Duck Pond by Christina Peña as his thesis, Mouras said. His design News Assistant was selected and is now being utilized plans for by Tech facilities. “(The renovation) is designed The Duck Pond and Stroubles to improve the entire watershed,” Creek will become clearer and cleaner Mouras said. dental because of $200,000 in renovations to The stream became impaired because the upper pond, funded by Virginia of sediment runoff from Tech and the Tech and the Virginia Department of Blacksburg area. “Watersheds near Conservation and Recreation. urban areas collect more sediment,” The upper pond has been drained Mouras said. “Plus, new construction school and cleaned, in addition to getting new increases the sediment pickup.” pond walls to increase the strength and Mouras said the stream used to be by Tiffany Hoffman wellbeing of both ponds. “We are just able to spread out through the for- Managing Editor working on the upper pond,” said ests and marshes, but when the area Steve Mouras, director of transporta- became urbanized, the upstream was tion and manager of the renovation piped underground and buildings The Edward Via Virginia College of project. “It was drained, and we pulled were built on top of it. Part of the pipe Osteopathic Medicine is in its primary stages the sediment out, which was easily runs under the Drillfield and feeds the of developing a dental school. done because it has a stone base.” upper pond. “We anticipate the same kind of time- The project started two years ago Because the stream is now piped lines for the dental program as we had for when Tech officials heard about a underground, there are no natural the osteopathic medical school,” said Dixie grant that was being offered by the breaks or space in the water flow. Tooke-Rawlins, dean and vice president of Virginia Department of Conservation Therefore, the water is “rocketed” academic affairs. “We would thus hope to and Recreation. Tech applied for the downstream, which increases the enroll the first class in 2005 or 2006.” grant and received it in 2002. amount of sediment deposits down ERIC CONOLLY/SPPS Though it is an affiliate of Virginia Tech, Since then, Brian Thye, a graduate the line. the college is a privately funded, separate civil and environmental engineering The upper pond was drained and cleaned of sediments and new pond institution. Tech, however, is not yet formally major, created the design for the project See DUCK, page 2 walls will increase the healthiness of both ponds. involved in the dental school planning. “We have an advisory committee right now consisting of dentists from Southwest Virginia and members from the college here,” said William King, assistant vice president for AIDS week raises campus-wide awareness student services and marketing. The cost of the project and the extent of computer science major. Club Red Ribbon will be held Friday from ▪ Squires Commonwealth Ballroom Tech’s involvement are yet to be determined. Last night they held AIDS workshops in the East 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. in Squires Commonwealth However, the current plans are to locate the will be open as Club Red Ribbon Ambler-Johnston Hall Imaginarium classroom and Ballroom. It will include a live DJ and drag school in the Corporate Research Center, but in Pritchard Hall. This event was held to provide show. nothing is definite. The official announce- on Friday night with a DJ and drag general information about the disease, preven- Sunday at 8 p.m. in 2030 Pamplin Hall they will ment of the plan was made Nov. 18. show for those in attendance tion methods and free testing information, James show the movie “Philadelphia.” “We’re very excited and looking to pro- said. Along with the events planned, the organiza- vide healthcare professionals for Southwest Yesterday, World AIDS Day was observed, with tions will also have tables set up around campus. Virginia,” King said. “This is a wonderful by Aaron Blackwell many organizations trying to bring about more They will distribute information to the commu- way to continue on this goal.” Asociate News Editor awareness of the disease. nity from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, tomorrow and Dentists in Southwest Virginia approached “This is something that we can do to contrib- Thursday on the Drillfield, in front of Pamplin the college when it was first developing, said Organizations around Virginia Tech will work ute to the fight against AIDS … and make people and McBryde halls, and in front of various resi- John Rocovich, chairman of the college. together this week to raise awareness about AIDS. aware of safety issues,” James said.