Gil and Dan Harrington asked area residents to help find their daughter, Morgan, yesterday afternoon. Morgan has been missing since Oct. 17, when she disappeared during the Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena. Photo by Bennett Sorbo.

The parents of missing Virginia Tech student Morgan Dana Harrington delivered an impassioned plea to area residents yesterday afternoon, asking them to help find their daughter, who disappeared Oct. 17 during a Metallica concert at John Paul Jones Arena.

“Be strong, we are trying to find you,” Morgan’s mother Gil Harrington said in a press conference, addressing her daughter directly. “We will never stop. We are trying, honey, hang on.”

The Texas-based Laura Recovery Center will help conduct a ground search in collaboration with police officials Friday, Saturday and Sunday near the Copeley Road bridge, where Harrington was last seen, Mr. Harrington said.

“We invite and welcome anyone who is able to volunteer their time this weekend to help in a community search for our daughter,” said Morgan’s father Dan Harrington. “This current search party is aimed at augmenting the current action of the police force … We will stop at nothing until she is found.”

Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller said the community search will help supplement previous efforts conducted by law enforcement officials, who will aid volunteers in planning and conducting the search this weekend.

“For three solid days [police] scoured the immediate vicinity of the John Paul Jones Arena,” Geller said. “This [community-based search] is just another avenue, another tool.”

She added that although the number of tips investigators have received from witnesses and community members has swelled to 350, authorities still have not been able to pinpoint Harrington’s location after 9:30 p.m. that Saturday, when witnesses say they saw someone matching Harrington’s description walking along the Copeley Road bridge. Piecing together her later movements is critical, she said, “because that’s what’s going to lead us to Morgan.”

The Harringtons have also enlisted the help of Ed Smart, father of Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted in June 2002 but returned home safely after nine months. Smart said he has consulted with the Harringtons and emphasized the crucial role the community plays during search efforts.

“There are so many wonderful people out there that do care about Morgan and do want to help find her,” he said, adding that 10,000 people aided in the search for his daughter.

He said he believes that not everyone who saw Harrington during the night of her disappearance has come forward, adding that witnesses and bystanders can still provide valuable information.

“A family with missing children becomes a member of the club that nobody wants to belong to,” he said. “The importance of it is that there is a girl that is lost out there that needs to be found, and somebody out there, I believe, knows something.”

Mr. Harrington said Smart’s support has been invaluable in helping the family deal with this crisis, noting that it was Smart who originally suggested consulting LRC, which aided in the search for Elizabeth.

“Through people like Ed Smart, you find out that there are resources available to families in our situation,” Mr. Harrington said.

LRC officials will host a meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the Cavalier Inn for anyone interested in joining the community search. Attendance is not required to participate in the search, however. Volunteers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday must be at least 18 years old and will depart the hotel at 9 a.m. each day.

The Crime Stoppers reward for information leading to the recovery of Harrington has risen to $150,041, through donations from the band Metallica and out-of-pocket contributions from members of the United Way of Roanoke Valley, Geller said.

Anyone with information about Harrington’s disappearance is encouraged to contact Virginia State Police at (434)352-3467. Tips can also be e-mailed to bci-appomattox@vsp.virginia.gov.

In this day and age, money talks. When people want to send a message, using words is less potent than reaching for wallets. This rationale holds as true for college football as it does for any other enterprise.

Saturday’s matchup against Duke marked the lowest attendance for a Virginia football game since the 2000 expansion of Scott Stadium. Only 41,713 people attended the game and, attendance at home games this season has declined nearly 8 percent since last year. Though Scott Stadium’s official capacity is 61,500, that number has been exceeded on numerous occasions. Last season’s home opener against the University of Southern California, for instance, drew 64,947 fans, according to ESPN’s box score.

A Sept. 8 editorial, written immediately after the loss to William & Mary, discussed some of the more noticeable ramifications of poor-performing teams in the revenue sports. That editorial focused primarily on the lost income and marketing opportunities that a more successful football program would provide. The most apparent financial effect is lost revenue from reduced ticket sales; the marketing factor would arise from appearances on national television, in prestigious bowl games and in media commentary. Athletics can also be seen as an opportunity to reach out to alumni and revitalize their connections with the University. Without significant changes to the football program, it will be extremely difficult to reverse course and redeem the program’s practical benefits to the University.

In the nearly two months since that editorial’s publication, the negative effects have begun to crystallize. Certainly other variables could have influenced Saturday’s attendance: Duke is not the type of opponent that generally draws a large crowd, and the threat of rain that day probably led some fans to stay home. Still, the numbers have become worse as the season has progressed. Attendance for the Texas Christian game was 48,336. The tally was 45,371 for the Indiana game, and 43,016 for Georgia Tech. It seems there is little question that fans are expressing serious grievances with the program.

This apathy has clearly registered with at least some of the athletes. “We don’t care … fans don’t help us win, we help ourselves win,” senior defensive end Nate Collins said. Senior fullback Rashawn Jackson was even more blunt, saying, “Fans here — they aren’t that patient.” The rift between fans and players seems to be growing more pronounced, which is a telling sign for a struggling program.
Attendance at football games is certainly not the most dire of problems facing the University these days, but it is nothing to scoff at either. True, many superb academic schools carry on just fine without benefitting from athletic prowess in the revenue sports: Johns Hopkins, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Chicago and the Ivy League schools all come to mind.

The difference is that the University has made a substantial, continued investment in its revenue sports over the years. The most recent expansion of Scott Stadium cost about $76 million, and was financed primarily through private donations, auxiliary funds and revenue bonds. John Paul Jones Arena, completed in August 2006, totaled $147,209,539. Naturally, fielding a team each season requires money for salaries, equipment and travel as well. Many disgruntled fans can quickly recite Al Groh’s annual compensation of about $1.7 million.

Top-tier sports teams are not prerequisites for strong colleges, but the University must prioritize garnering the best possible return on its sizable investment in athletics. Without meaningful changes to the football program, it is difficult to anticipate that attendance and support will rebound anytime in the foreseeable future.

Recently deemed a “national emergency” by President Barack Obama, the swine flu pandemic is racing ahead and the U.S. is coming up short. The H1N1 vaccine, which began production in spring 2009, took longer to manufacture than originally was expected. The shortage is shocking: The nation is millions of doses short of original forecasts. Many vaccination clinics have been canceled because expected vaccinations have not arrived. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the aggregate total of H1N1 vaccines shipped as of Oct. 28 was 12,870,000. Of this number, 489,700 doses of the H1N1 vaccine were shipped to Virginia. While it is not realistic to vaccinate the entire U.S. population, the current supply of H1N1 vaccine will not even cover those considered most susceptible. With the current vaccine supply, only one-fifth of those deemed as “high-risk” will be vaccinated. Despite the swine flu “emergency” and vaccine shortage, a White House decision announced on Friday afternoon negligently places the health of terror suspects before the needs of American citizens.

On Oct. 30, the Pentagon and the Obama administration announced plans to inoculate terror suspects currently detained at the Guantanamo Bay prison facility in Cuba with the H1N1 vaccine. Rightly, this decision sparked national outrage as thousands of U.S. citizens have yet to receive the vaccination, which only recently became available. At Guantanamo, the vaccine will be voluntary for all 221 detainees still being held there. Though the vaccines have not yet arrived to the Guantanamo base, officials expect it will arrive within the month. Military personnel stationed at the base will be the first to receive the vaccination, followed by the terror suspects.

The Pentagon decision to offer detainees the vaccine centers on the belief that detainees are a “high-risk” group, with increased possibility of contracting the swine flu. Guantanamo spokeswoman Maj. Diana R. Haynie said, “Detainees at JTF Guantanamo are considered to be at higher risk and therefore they will be offered the H1N1 vaccination.” Also according to Maj. Haynie, “JTF Guantanamo conducts safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detainees. As such, we must provide detainees the medical care necessary to maintain their health,” she said. Treatment of terror suspects at the Guantanamo Bay facility has sparked controversy among human rights activists across the Globe, with allegations that the U.S. is violating the Geneva Convention. While the U.S. is obligated to provide prisoners with adequate health care and medical services, preference should not be given to prisoners of war over American citizens. Guantanamo inmates will in fact be at a decreased risk for contracting the swine flu. Military personnel stationed at Guantanamo are required to get the H1N1 vaccine. The federal government and CDC have not even deemed prisoners at domestic prisons as “high-risk”.

The question should be who is taking responsibly for the health of U.S. citizens and, specifically, the high-risk populations still unable to obtain the vaccine? Yes, the U.S. should be responsible for the health of the prisoners currently being held at Guantanamo, but not at the expense of civilians. Someone needs to be accountable to the citizens who are becoming infected with swine flu at an alarming rate.

Top priority for the H1N1 vaccine is being given to Americans who fall into “high-risk” groups such as pregnant women, people under age 24, health care workers, emergency medical personnel and people with preexisting health conditions. Guantanamo prisoners and American convicts alike should not be considered a “high-risk” group. Instead, the security and personnel at prison facilities should take a high priority once other “high-risk” groups have been vaccinated. The announcement on Friday certainly sparked outrage that prisoners of war would receive vaccinations when there is a national shortage. Most American taxpayers will have to go without the vaccine for months, and the death toll will continue to increase.

The move is a political one by the Obama administration, meant to placate an international community that has consistently raised concerns of human rights violations at the facility. The Obama Pentagon wishes to show that the U.S. military is humanely treating the remaining Guantanamo prison population. Once elected, President Obama immediately issued an executive order demanding the closure of the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base where 800 individuals had been held without trial by the Department of Defense as enemy combatants. Since the prison was opened, over 500 of the Guantánamo detainees have been released, transferred, or returned to their countries. As a clear move away from the Bush Administration’s stance, Obama’s executive order was met with enthusiasm by human rights activists both domestically and internationally who believed the prison would be closed within the one year deadline. Perhaps the debate over prisoner inoculation would not be on the table had Obama followed through with his promise. As we draw closer to the Jan. 22 deadline, however, the prospects of a Guatanamo closure look bleak. Meanwhile, the remaining 212 Guantanamo detainees are still being held without the writ of habeas corpus.

Despite the infringements on prisoner’s civil rights, the administration’s decision once again leaves American citizens feeling that their families and needs are not taking top priority. The swine flu scare is not going away. According to weekly reports issued by the CDC, influenza activity and related deaths have been on a continual rise in the United States. Out of the total influenza hospitalizations, rates among children ages 0-4 years old are highest. Already, over 1,000 people have died in the U.S. as a result of the swine flu. Obama is attempting to appease the international community while neglecting American citizens. Since there is a shortage, only military personnel caring for detainees should receive the vaccine until it becomes more readily available. With the Guantanamo workers inoculated, prisoners will already be at a decreased risk. True, certain standards must be met at all prisons in regard to prisoner care, but while the vaccine is short, preference should not be given to terror suspects. Preference should be given to the American civilians at a high-risk of contracting the swine flu of 2009.

Ashely Chappo’s column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at a.chappo@cavalierdaily.com.

It comes as no big surprise that another Middle Eastern election has ended in controversy and corruption. In Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai was declared victorious after his only opponent, independent candidate Abdullah Abdullah made the decision to drop out of the presidential race, citing a corrupt system. Karzai will now be president for another five years. However, Karzai needs to incorporate Abdullah to strengthen the Afghan government and ameliorate U.S.-Afghan relations.

The election process has left much to be desired for the Afghan people, as corruption and fraud had many negative effects in the original election held Aug. 20. Voting irregularities and fraud in the first round of voting led to international outrage and prompted U.N. election monitors to throw out almost one in three votes for Karzai. Therefore, Karzai was forced into a runoff election with second-place opponent Abdullah. Karzai has won the election by default, but he will never be an effective leader without gaining the respect and trust of both the Afghani people and the international community. He faces opposition from both the U.N. and supporters of Abdullah. Karzai has even admitted that some of his supporters may have stuffed ballot boxes, stolen opponent boxes, and committed wide-scale election fraud in the less populated regions of Afghanistan. With this kind of blatant corruption, Karzai needs to take measures to regain his legitimacy in order to maintain the fragile balance between peace and war in Afghanistan.

Incorporating Abdullah into the new Afghan government would be a critical political move by Karzai, especially for improving U.S.-Afghan relations. Abdullah has garnered much support among the Afghani people, both from voters and non-voters, and he stands for a complete overhaul of the government, calling for voting transparency and a more representative, secular government. So how does this affect America? Why should we care about Afghanistan’s government? In fact, our lengthy war in Afghanistan has been one of the most polarizing factors on the political scene. The American public is tired of seeing their citizens being sent off to die in a war that seemingly has no end. But in order for us to leave Afghanistan and successfully declare victory, America has to leave Afghanistan in a better condition than we found it. Basically, the White House wants to show success of the war through elimination of corruption in the Afghan system and the ability of the Afghan government to sustain itself without foreign aid. Abdullah is the key to this success. Many Afghans continue to reject the election results, much like the contested results in Iran. And if so many Afghans refuse to support their own government, there is no way the Karzai government will stand once America leaves. Therefore, appointing Abdullah and his supporters to Cabinet positions will give Karzai credibility and legitimacy. Furthermore, a stable Afghan government is the most important factor regarding whether or not Obama will send 80,000 more troops to Afghanistan, as recommended by Gen. Stanley McChrystal. If more troops are sent, President Barack Obama’s public image, as well as the public support for the war, will decrease further. Ultimately, the creation of a stable and legitimate government, through the incorporation of Abdullah and his supporters, plays an important part in America finally ending this drawn-out war.

Another key factor in this process is the effect of the Taliban. The Taliban continues to terrorize the Afghan public on a regular basis; during these recent elections, Taliban members dressed as Afghan police officers attacked a guest house in Kabul, killing eight innocent people. Both Abdullah and Karzai have strong anti-Taliban stances, but the plague of the Taliban can never be eliminated without a strong legitimate government that has the support of the Afghan people. If Afghan people feel like they can’t trust their government, they will be more susceptible to turn to the negative influences of the Taliban, and the Afghan government will continue to be weak ­— merely a shadow to the Taliban threat. But incorporating Abdullah would appease Karzai’s dissidents and pave the way for a more united front against the Taliban.

The Afghan elections truly represented the dismal state of the current Afghan government. Corruption and fraud are no way to gain control of any government. Even worse, American troops have been dying on foreign soil for far too long. We need to get out of Afghanistan and the first step in this long journey is the creation of a stable and legitimate Afghan government. There is no hope for Afghanistan unless Karzai is willing to compromise with his opponent for the benefit of his entire country. Abdullah must be put in the Karzai government.

Danny Di Giulio’s column appears Thursdays in The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at d.digiulio@cavalierdaily.com.

This is a collaborative effort of the Minority Rights Coalition, the Inter-Fraternity Council, and the American Indian Student Union, with special thanks to Jessica McCauley:

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, a Letter to the Editor from Neal Fox, Co-Chair of the Minority Rights Coalition, was published in The Cavalier Daily regarding a “Cowboy and Indian” themed party at an IFC fraternity. The intended purpose of this letter was to start a positive conversation about how American Indians are misrepresented around the Univeristy, and — more widely — in American culture. Unfortunately, Fox’s word choice in two or three places distracted from that intended purpose. Words like “racist” and “hatred” can be alienating. This was the opposite of the intent of the letter, which was meant to open the door for communication, education and understanding about an issue that concerns the entire University Community. In this column, the MRC and the IFC, with the American Indian Student Union, hopes to bring to light some of the nuances of this issue.

The Inter-Fraternity Council, which governs 29 fraternities, cannot control the actions of all its members, but it can engage the community in examining the underlying causes of regrettable events. It is unfortunate that this incident has just now sparked broader attention to this issue, but it is important to use it as an opportunity for reflection and positive action rather than blame.

Still today, many people just don’t think about the fact that not everyone is heterosexual. Not everyone can afford to go to a movie with friends every weekend, or drink on their 21st birthday without violating the commandments of the Qur’an. The theme party from this past weekend is just another example of assuming others come from the same background.

Stereotypical representations of American Indians are neither specific to nor the result of the actions of any one IFC fraternity. It is pervasive and often unchallenged in American society. This is an issue that is often exacerbated by pop culture. Logos and mascots of professional sports teams such as the Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Blackhawks, and the commercial sale of “Indian” costumes further demonstrate the prevalence of common stereotypes about American Indians that remain acceptable to the majority of Americans. Closer to home, 60,000 fans in Scott Stadium at the William & Mary football game saw “CavMan” defeat a stereotypical American Indian.

Costumes are inherently stereotypical; however, when attached to a religion, cultural heritage, or other traditions, they carry the potential to mock essential elements of an individual’s identity. Donning Blackface or impersonating an exaggerated stereotype of a Jew or an Asian would be immediately recognized as unacceptable. It rarely crosses the mind of mainstream America that the stereotypical things used to portray American Indians are indeed crossing the line into offensive and sacrilegious territory. It is highly unlikely that anyone buying an “Indian Princess” costume at Wal-Mart is aware that items such as feathers, beads, “war-paint” and indeed the “costume” itself is for many Native American tribes, sacred, and an important part of their religion. This gives the common image of an eagle-feathered headdress a new meaning. After all, who would feel comfortable dressing up in one if they knew that such a headdress is only reserved for those members of a tribe that have earned each feather through a sacred rite or ceremony? These objects can be as sacred as a cross or a Bible is to some Christians.

Leaving even religion aside, it becomes frustrating for members of the American Indian community to see their culture, heritage, and ancestry reduced to sweeping generalizations and only a few material objects. Tomahawks, buffaloes, peace pipes, etc. are not indicative of some all-inclusive American Indian culture and indeed are only even present within a small portion of Native history. Rather, a large amount of diversity exists among the 500+ federally-recognized tribes (there are countless more which are state-recognized including all eight of the Virginia tribes), and it is truly disheartening to be portrayed in such a generic way. How often do we acknowledge the 15,000 years of history in Virginia predating the arrival of white settlers? Who knew that our own University was built on Monacan land? When will we learn about and give honor to historical Native American figures beyond those whom Disney cares to make into a movie? The ugly truth is that American Indians fell victim to many years of deliberate and forced assimilation, loss of culture, language, and identity, which is precisely why we cannot allow these generalizations to consume our perceptions of an entire subsection of the American population.

How the media and popular culture portrays any population is not always a fair representation of their identity. This creates a need for other sources of exposure to and education about a more nuanced understanding of cultures different from one’s own. For some, taking a course designed to enhance multicultural understanding achieves this end. For others, a group like Sustained Dialogue or Students Educating and Empowering for Diversity provides an opportunity to broaden their perspective. But for many students at the University and in America, popular culture dominates their perception of people from different backgrounds.

The vast majority of today’s readers and those that attended the party probably were not cognizant of the meaning behind these American Indian symbols. While this doesn’t excuse the hurt that is caused for some, what matters most now is how our community responds. Let’s take this as an imperative to be aware of the hurt that it can cause in the future. Let’s actively educate ourselves and have conversations that we otherwise may not have had.

The Inter-Fraternity Council and the Minority Rights Coalition, with the American Indian Student Union and other student groups, have the ability and the obligation to work collaboratively in leading the Community in these efforts.

Neal Fox is co-Chair of the Minority Rights Coalition. Charles Gamper is president of the Inter-Fraternity Council.

“This is U.Va.,” Rashawn Jackson said. “This isn’t Michigan or LSU or Tennessee or Virginia Tech. The fans here aren’t that patient, you know.” (This is a quote in “Wahoos’ Woes Grow with Stunning Loss to Duke,” Nov, 1, www.virginiasports.com). I strongly disagree with Jackson’s claim that U.Va. football fans are less patient. If anything they have been patient. Virginia Football has been on the decline for several years. If a coach at any of the major football programs Jackson listed produced so few wins, the fans would not have tolerated the mediocrity so long. Fortunately U.Va. fans have finally begun to vote by their absences. The athletics director and president need to act!

But what of those fans who do choose to still attend and spend hundreds in the process? According to senior DE Nate Collins, “We don’t care… fans don’t help us win, we help ourselves win.” What an arrogant statement to make! I cannot believe that the defense would rather have total silence on third and 1 instead of a roaring crowd encouraging them to make the stop and force the punt. Collins goes on to say, “We don’t control who buys tickets, who comes, who sits in the stands, who leaves.” I have to disagree again. Of course the players have control since they are the only reason that fans exist. People attend to support and encourage you, to acknowledge your talent, and wish you success. To say fans are insignificant is tremendously disrespectful.

These same supporters are the primary funding source for an excellent stadium and practice facilities. Players should recognize this importance and athletics deptartment officials should do the same if they would like to… well, keep their jobs. The fans are currently discouraged and, whether or not the team acknowledges it, they are vitally important to the football program.

Players should remember that the next time they lift in their state-of-the-art weight room, or play an opponent in the stadium on homecoming in the pouring rain and hear fans praising them with the “Good Old Song” after a pick six for a touchdown.

Catherine Jones
CLAS II