Sept. 8, 2015 by The Collegiate Times

Don’t call it a comeback Tech leads 17-14 at the half collegiatetimes.com

111th YEAR, ISSUE 119

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

COLLEGIATETIMES An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

Brad Paisley and fans soakin’ up the moonlight Paisley headlines free concert in the Coliseum Lot as the ﬁrst stop of his Country Nation College Tour. EMILY MCCAUL lifestyles staff writer

Center for the Arts: Straying from the beaten path

The Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech wishes to expand Hokies’ artistic horizons by exposing students to new and unique musical, physical and visual performances. LAUREN PAK lifestyles staff writer

According to NPR, 90 percent of the music we listen to is music we’ve heard before, due to repeating riffs in similar tunes. The remaining 10 percent is what the Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech strives to explore through a variety of musical, physical and visual performances. “How do we expand that 10 percent?” asks Ruth Waalkes, executive director of the Center for the Arts. “That’s where you really learn. Maybe you’ve never heard of an artist, but that doesn’t mean it might not be interesting or something that expands your thinking.” Set for its third fall season, packed with visits from musicians, dancers, painters and even puppeteers, The Center for the Arts designed its events to challenge students. Among this year’s performers are Los Angeles, New York and London-based artists, deliberately unique in their shared theme of storytelling through multimedia. With a total of 27 different programs this year, one of the first anticipated events is “STREB,” a company that blends dance with athletics, rodeo, circus and athletics,

performing on Oct. 2. “Elizabeth Streb is kind of a force of nature all on her own,” Waalkes said. “It’s these death-defying things they’re doing onstage, but it’s really because she’s interested in pushing the human body and seeing how far it can go.” As a part of STREB’s visit, they will host a talk with the choreographer, Elizabeth Streb, and a documentary screening at the Lyric Theatre. Other opportunities to work with and learn from visiting artists are planned, including a jam session with the St. Laurence String Quartet on Oct. 25 and workshops with Diavolo, which combines architecture and dance. Based in Los Angeles, Diavolo was one of the first performers at Moss Arts Center and will be returning by popular demand on May 6. “One of the things that struck me, aside from just the beauty of the work, was that Diavolo really had a strong commitment to education and doing things off the stage, as well,” Waalkes said. “That’s really interesting to us, when artists want to come here and they’re interested in engaging somehow with students and the community.” On Feb. 20, “Vocalosity” performs a cappella, featuring two (yet to be

determined) cast members from “Pitch Perfect 2” and directed by Deke Sharon, the vocal producer for “Pitch Perfect” and NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” One on-campus a cappella group will be chosen to open the show. The cast of L.A. Theatre Works will also grace the stage with familiar faces from television and cinema as they present “Dracula” on Oct. 30, in time for Halloween. On April 14, 15 and 16, Teatro Hugo and Ines, a Peruvian couple, transform puppetry into art and poetry in the Cube inside the center. “They put little eyes on their hands or they are somewhere she will sit on the floor and she puts a nose on her knee and drapes fabric, and all of a sudden, her knee becomes this face, this puppet,” Waalkes said. “It’s hard to describe, but it’s really, really beautiful work that’s very small and intimate.” This season’s artists are no strangers to stages around the nation, with some performances anticipating full capacity months prior to opening, such as the United States Marine Band on Sept. 17. The Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre, which stages most shows, seats more than 1,000 and is equipped with

Thousands gathered outside Cassell Coliseum on Sunday night to experience the stirring, melodious duo of Brad Paisley and Eric Paslay. This would be the pair’s first stop on the Brad Paisley’s Country Nation College Tour presented by Zaxby’s. Desiree Reed-Francois, originally from Fremont, California, is the Executive Associate At h le t ic s Director at the Virginia Tech Athletics Department. Colleagues at IMG brought the proposal of the concert to the athletics department at Virginia Tech, where the staff worked collaboratively to transform this idea into existence. “This weekend is going to be a really exciting weekend to be a Hokie,” said Reed-Francois. “We have Gobblerfest; we have women’s soccer, cross country, a free concert, the best fans in the nation and one of the most anticipated football games in Virginia Tech history.” Thousands of Hokies greeted Paisley and Paslay with a warm welcome Sunday night. The concert,

free to the public, drew many country music fans out to Blacksburg for the night. Fans packed the parking lot of Cassell where the concert was held; gates opened at 5:00 p.m. The concert began at 8:00 p.m. with opening act, Eric Paslay, who was promptly followed by Brad Paisley who took the stage at 9:00 p.m. Paslay opened with one of his fan-favored songs, “Song About A Girl” sporting a plain black t-shirt and matching ball cap with dark, fitted jeans. Paslay proved to be comfortable with playing to the thousands of cheering fans, smiling often and remaining steady in voice. Fans broke out into one of Virginia Tech’s famous “Let’s go!” – “Hokies!” chants right before Paslay played, “She Don’t Love You She’s Just Lonely.” Paslay laughed in response saying, “Y’all are ready for the game tomorrow, huh?” As Paslay sang, the crowd swung back and forth in unity shouting out the lyrics to the chorus. A beautiful addition to the see PAISLEY / page 6

see MOSS / page 7 ZOE SCOPA / COLLEGIATE TIMES

New paths pop up on the Drillfield The Drillfield Paths Committee asks students to provide feedback on the fourteen materials used for different paths on the Drillfield in order to help determine a permanent solution. LAUREN PAK news staff writer

Between September 14 and September 25, students can share feedback about 14 materials being tested on Drillfield paths for permanent installation. The decision is scheduled to be announced announced December 2015. Students can sha re feedback via Twitter (@drillfieldpaths), online and by scanning QR codes posted on signs adjacent to the materials on the Drillfield. Feedback from community members will be collected in the winter and spring. The original Drillfield did not feature any planned paths, but years of students trekking across the field to and from class created natural “desire paths.” These student-made paths led to maintenance issues, primarily mud being carried into academic buildings. The main paths currently in

Brad Paisley performs a free outdoor concert in the Coliseum Lot Saturday night, Sept. 6, 2015.

Women’s soccer victorious; retains undefeated status Hokies best University of North Carolina at Greensborough and Virginia Commonwealth University in successful weekend sweep. SIERRA HUCKFELDT sports editor

ANDREA PAPPAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

A sign posted on a lightpost near one of the experimental walkways encourages students to provide feedback on the new materials for potential Drillﬁeld paths. use were first paved in the 1970s, with smaller asphalt paths added in summer 2014 as a temporary fix until a permanent solution is decided upon. @VTSandsman @drillfieldpaths solar paths! http://t. co/8cRe242S25

MOSS KICKS OFF FALL SEASON

— JACOB CHERIATHUNDAM (@ JCHERIAT) September 3, 2015 Tested materials include the existing asphalt, stabilized turf, synthetic turf and a combination of concrete, gravel and pavers chosen by

the university Drillfield Paths Committee. The committee identifies, tests and evaluates materials to be weatherdurable and in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act. see PATHS / page 5

VOLLEYBALL SWEEP

Center for the Arts hosts artist talks and exhibits page 3

The Hokies swept the Spartan Invitational this past weekend. page 8

The Virginia Tech women’s soccer team had another successful weekend of play, shutting out two more teams and remaining undefeated. On Fr iday night, the Hokies hosted the University of Nor th Carolina at Greensboro at Thompson Field and beat them 2-0. The first goal was scored by freshman forward Caroline Kerns

/CollegiateTimes @collegiatetimes

on a cross from Bria Dixon five minutes before the first half of play was over. Virginia Tech came out strong in the second half and continued to pressure UNCG’s defense with 12 corner kicks in just the second half of the game. A header by junior Murielle Tiernan scored the second goal, knocked in from a corner kick by Jordan Coburn. The Hokies took five see SOCCER / page 8

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