Board of Visitors to meet Sunday
Virginia Tech Board of Visitors is to hold an open session on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Meeting in the Solitude Conference Room at the Inn at Virginia Tech, the board will discuss capital building projects like the Davidson Hall renovations, a new human and agricultural bioscience building, the signature engineering building, and a new academic and student affairs building.
It will also present updates to the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, the Fralin Life Science Institute, and the Virginia Tech.
Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences.
Subsequently, the Research Committee will assemble for a second open session in the Smithfield Conference Room at the Inn, from 4:15 to 6 p.m.
Additionally, the board will hold its closed quarterly meeting at 1:15 p.m., Monday, Aug. 31 in 2100 Torgersen Hall.
The Board of Visitors is the university's governing authority. More information about its schedule can be found at http://www.bov.vt.edu/BOV_Open_Session_Materials_08-31-09.html.
by philipp kotlaba
Police seeking West A.J. Suspect
Virginia Tech Police are looking for a man who was seen masturbating in the fifth floor lounge of West Ambler Johnston Hall Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the Virginia Tech Police Department, the suspect was described as "a white male with a pale complexion, 25-35 years of age, 6 foot, 200 pounds, short buzzed hair, some facial hair, thin silver glasses, black baggy T-shirt and light colored jeans."
VTPD said in the statement he was seen in a bathroom in the hall earlier that day.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to call VTPD at (540)231-6411.
by zach crizer
Women's Center protests Tucker Max
The film adaptation of author Tucker Max's "I Hope they Serve Beer in Hell" received criticism from the Women's Center at Virginia Tech before it even hit the silver screen in Blacksburg.
Christine Smith and Anna LoMascolo, co-directors of the Women's Center, issued a statement Thursday concerning Max's appearance at the Lyric as a part of his film premiere tour.
"The Women's Center at Virginia Tech is concerned that disrespect, objectification, and abuse of women is still tolerated in our society," the statement said. "Books and films portraying degrading acts against women are disguised as humor and labeled 'entertainment.'"
The statement said exploits described in Max's works constitute rape in Virginia.
"However the acts he describes meet the legal definition of rape in VA and violate the university's student code of conduct," the statement said. "In his blog, he describes spending two weeks coercing a woman into participating in a sexual act she repeatedly said she did not want to do, buying two $110 bottles of wine at dinner, and having a friend hide in the closet videotape the encounter without her knowledge or consent."
It said his writings present a bad example for college campuses.
"While not all of his behaviors are illegal, they are disrespectful and harmful," the statement said. "The stories he tells glorify his behavior and promote a culture that ignores the reality of sexual violence."
The statement pointed out rape as the most common violent crime on college campuses. It said the stories portrayed in Max's book were "not in line with the university's core values as expressed in our Principles of Community."
Smith and LoMascolo urged citizens to express discontent with the Lyric's decision to allow Max to use the theatre, as well as encourage those who purchased tickets to skip the show.
The Thursday night screening, Max's only showing in Blacksburg, sold out.
Protest permits must be obtained in advance in Blacksburg, and the Women's Center did not have time to apply for one prior to the show.
by zach crizer