Thursday COLLEGIATETIMES 101st Year, No. 28 ▪ Blacksburg, Virginia ▪ October 9, 2003 An independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 www.collegiatetimes.com Lack of spaces irks commuters Plans ▪ More than 10,000 2003 PARKING STATISTICS graduate and com- made to 17,382 muter permits were sold, with less than widen 5,000 spots available 12,271 by Aaron Blackwell 10,504 Associate News Editor I-81 Many people driving to campus are faced with a con- by Eric Beidel 4,467 tinual problem: parking. More 4,708 Associate News Editor and more students are bringing 4,145 3,096 cars to campus, and building 2,733 The Virginia Department of construction has also contrib- Transportation has decisions to make uted to the parking pinch. about proposed changes to Interstate “(Getting a parking permit) 81, and local government is expected F/S PERMITS SOLD C/G PERMITS SOLD is like getting a hunting license to have their say as well. — it doesn’t promise you a F/S SPACES C/G SPACES Currently, VDOT has proposals for deer,” said Christa Thomas, changes to the I-81 corridor from two graduate program coordinator R PERMITS SOLD TOTAL PERMITS SOLD private companies — Safer Transport for physics. “You pay your fee R SPACES TOTAL AVAILABLE SPACES and Roadway Solutions and Fluor but it doesn’t guarantee you a Virginia, Inc. SOURCE: PARKING SERVICES spot.” STAR Solutions’ plan calls for four The number of cars on cam- JONATHAN DE GUZMAN lanes in each direction, two for cars pus has gradually increased and two for trucks, as well as eight over the last six years, and the However, Parking Services “Commuter students don’t flyovers for trucks, said Ray Pethtel, number of spaces has nowhere sold 10,504 graduate and com- tend to stay on campus all associate director of the Virginia Tech near caught up, said Richard muter permits for 4,708 avail- day.” Transportation Institute. McCoy, manager of Parking able spots, according to their Faculty/staff and resident Fluor Virginia, Inc.’s plan includes Services. data. permit spaces both have as three lanes in each direction, one will The number of permits sold The reason for this disparity many permits sold as spaces be for cars only. Fluor also wants to ERIC LANG/SPPS for faculty/staff, commuters, is because these spots have a available, she said. build 10 climbing lanes for trucks on graduate students and residents turnover rate of 2.5 times each Additionally, building con- significant inclines, Pethtel said. The commuter lots are often filled to capacity. Parking has not increased very much day, said Jennifer Mercier of VTTI is developing safety technol- services said turnover is higher in commuter spaces. over last year’s numbers. Parking Services. See SPACES, page 2 ogy for the Fluor proposal, Pethtel said. They are also working on a wire- less spine system for cameras, signs and other safety devices. It will offer Internet access to communities along I-81, he said. Both proposals provide for a rail Shore leaves Tech crowd in stitches component, which would help divert truck traffic away from I-81. Fluor’s ▪ Following the spirited homecoming proposal has a more aggressive rail Comedians Pauly Shore preparation, comedian Steve Simone plan, which would divert around and Steve Simone took the stage. 500,000 trucks per year, Pethtel said. He immediately got the crowd An advisory board that includes performed last night in laughing with his animated face and VDOT members has met once and Burruss Hall Auditorium relaxed attitude. Jumping out with a will meet a couple more times before can of Red Bull, he joked about the making a recommendation of either for the 2003 Laugh Riot “liquid cocaine.” proposal to VDOT’s commissioner, Simone hit it off with the college said Fred Altizer, assistant chief by Stephanie Stultz crowd as he proceeded to make engineer for program development Staff Writer jokes about beer goggles, lap dances, at VDOT. and video games. The crowd was “The commissioner will decide Laughter echoed throughout hysterical as he pulled out a chair to whether to use one or the other, a Burruss Hall Auditorium Wednesday demonstrate his own definition of combination of both or neither of night as Pauly Shore a lap dance in which them,” Altizer said. took the stage for the he would have to say Before that decision, VDOT will 2003 Laugh Riot. The show ended “time-out” from pure conduct an 18-24 month environ- Students were seen “ exhaustion. mental review to look at the social, holding their sides up being a lot fun- Simon got a huge cultural and economic issues along and wiping tears of nier than I expected. round of applause as the corridor. Altizer said this review enjoyment from their he discussed his love process must be completed under fed- eyes as Shore delivered His jokes were hilari- for the old school eral law before either of the proposals his amusing stand up ous. He kept the Atari, while using is enacted. comedy act. audience laughing the microphone as a VDOT is also asking local govern- “The show ended up joystick, while saying, ments along the corridor to provide being a lot funnier than the whole time.” “Which one am I? I their comments on the proposals. I expected. His jokes can’t tell because the They have until Nov. 4 to provide were hilarious. He kept Pete Jankovich graphics are too bad.” VDOT with any comments or con- the audience laughing junior, engineering Ending with a cerns regarding I-81 improvements. the whole time,” said Celebrity impression, Robert Parker, public information Pete Jankovich, a junior Simone hiked his director for Montgomery County, engineering major. pants up and screamed said the board of supervisors has The show opened with an intro- into the microphone while discussing not decided which proposal it will NATE KING/SPPS duction of the homecoming court. how he is normally shy, but with a few endorse, but they want the rail com- The audience cheered as each nomi- Pauly Shore came to Tech last night and told jokes about golf, NASCAR, nee was announced with her escort. See SHORE, page 7 sex and even poked a little fun at himself and his career. See I-81, page 2 Gov. Warner implements Wood magic amazes children by Tiffany Hoffman and forest products. papermaking were their favorites. senior transition program Managing Editor Zink-Sharp said she got the idea “We talk about seeds and how for wood magic from Mississippi important it is for us to regrow by Ellen Biltz senior year, but they do not have to com- State University and was amazed trees after we cut them and use News Assistant plete it by senior year,” said Warner’s Press The Virginia Tech department of with the enthusiasm of the chil- them,” said Shawn Baker, an exten- Secretary Ellen Qualls. wood science and forest products dren. sion associate in forestry. The main aspect of Path to Industry branched out to local elementary “I was amazed what we could He said each student got a As of last week, Gov. Mark Warner offi- Certification is for students to continue school students this week with do with and for the children,” chance to take one acorn seed and cially announced the implementation of a their study after completion of high school their sixth annual wood magic she said. “So I wanted to do that put it in a cup with dirt to take back plan called Senior Year Plus. by further taking classes at a technical or show held yesterday at Brooks for Virginia Tech and for Virginia and plant. The plan’s purpose is to help high school community college. Forest Products Center across from students.” “Planting trees was my favor- seniors in their transition from high school “Montgomery County has done a lot of the Blacksburg Airport. Zink-Sharp said the number of ite because we could plant our to college or the workforce. work already to work on career and techni- The program catered to 672 stu- participants in the program has trees and see them grow,” said “The senior year is obviously the criti- cal programs,” said Montgomery County dents and teachers with different doubled since the first year and Konner Kenley, a fifth-grader at cal intersection between K-12 education Superintendent Fred Morton. stations where they made paper, said the waiting list for next year’s Christiansburg Elementary School. and either higher education or the world “If you promise to continue and finish planted seeds, tested the strength events has already been started. Taylor Whitaker, also a of work,” Warner said in a presentation in by the end of the calendar year you finish of wood and blew bubbles with “I think it’s good for kids when fifth-grader at Christiansburg Richmond. (school), the state will pick up the tab,” pieces of oak trees in addition to they’re young to be exposed to Elementary, said she liked paper- The plan is divided into two options. Qualls said. seven other events. Virginia Tech — more than just making. The first is Path to Industry Certification. The hope for Path to Industry Certification “(The children) learn the value football,” said Holly Meyer, a “I heard about it from other This option applies to any students taking is for already-enrolled vocational students of utilizing the forest for products fourth-grade teacher at Dayspring friends and I looked forward to vocational or technical classes in which they to continue training because the govern- we rely on every day,” said Audrey Christian School.