Goodbye Grads: May 1, 2017

collegiatetimes.com

May 1, 2017

COLLEGIATETIMES

GOODBYE GRADS 16 Dec

@NinsGee Just made $150 from selling my books to BookHolders Expand

Reply

Retweet

Favorite

More 125 N Main St. | BookHolders.com

news@collegiatetimes.com

COLLEGIATE

TIMES

NEWSROOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief: Andrea Pappas (editor@collegiatetimes.com) Managing editors: Lewis Millholland and Zack Wajsgras Design editor: Jina Ro

Hokies after college: How to stay connected Being a part of the Hokie Nation doesn’t have to end once you cross the stage on graduation day. Read on to see how you can stay connected once your time is up.

MEGAN MAURY CHURCH food columnist

Assistant design editor: Alison Robertson Copy editors: Jessica Brady and Meg Connors Multimedia editor: Rebecca Choate News editors: Aly De Angelus and Izzy Rossi Lifestyles editor: Samantha Smith Assistant lifestyles editor: Katelyn Meade Sports editor: Faizan Hasnany Assistant sports editors: Kyle Cooke and Sierra Huckfeldt Opinions editor: Carson Bartlett Assistant opinions editors: Neha Ogale and Alexa Williams Photo editor: Armahn Rassuli Assistant photo editor: Cat Piper Social media editors: Melissa Fairfax and Lisa Kucharczk

collegiatetimes.com

Web engineer: Matt Jones

Have a news tip? newstips@collegiatetimes.com

BUSINESS STAFF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9860 Business manager: Breanna Anderson (business@collegemedia.com) COLLEGE MEDIA SOLUTIONS . . 231-9860

solutions.collegemedia.com advertising@collegemedia.com The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Monday and Thursday of the academic year except during exams and vacations.

PAGE 2 May 1, 2017

To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints. collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students. © Collegiate Times, 2017. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

Hokie Nation is not just the throng of fans that floods Blacksburg for sporting events — it is a community of globally connected Hokies. Once a Hokie, always a Hokie; you will find fellow Hokies almost everywhere you go.

One way to stay connected to Virginia Tech even when you have left Blacksburg is to join a local chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association (VTAA). These chapters hold social and service events so that you can not only stay connected to Virginia Tech, but also connect with Hokies in your area.

Joining a VTAA chapter is free. There are no dues, since alumni of Virginia Tech are automatically lifetime members of the Virginia Tech community.

The official site says, “The Virginia Tech Alumni Association has more than 100 chapters across the country and around the world. Our chapters build strong relationships among alumni, students, parents, and their local community.”

Not surprisingly, there are chapters located in most Virginia cities. The commonwealth is littered with them, so even if there isn’t one where you go next, there will probably be at least one within an hour’s drive from you. There are a total of 28.5 registered chapters in Virginia — the half chapter is located in Bristol, which, as we learned from the 2016 Battle at Bristol, is actually more Tennessee than Virginia — so your chances of being able to connect are high.

Of course, there are also

COURTESY OF THE CHARLOTTE CHAPTER OF THE VIRGINIA TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

chapters all over the nation.

If you stay on the East Coast, you will likely never be far from one, but if you go further out, don’t worry. Most of them are in major cities including Phoenix, Charlotte, Minneapolis, Syracuse, Seattle, San Francisco, Albany, Houston and Denver. There is even one in Hawaii.

International chapters exist too. Outside of the U.S., there are chapters in China, India, Libya, the Netherlands and Turkey.

Chapters are dedicated not only to the Hokie Nation, but to their communities, and work to serve them. Forty chapters held their own Big Events on the same day as the one in Blacksburg and participants even got official The Big Event 2017 T-shirts.

The F r e d e r i c k s b u r g, Virginia chapter partnered with Goodwill Industries; the Atlanta, Georgia chapter went to a local park to clean up and replant grass; the Central Pennsylvania chapter worked at a food bank in the state’s capital,

Harrisburg; the Houston, Texas chapter collected trash with the Keep America Beautiful organization; the San Diego, California chapter held a beach clean-up; the Seattle, Washington chapter sorted and packed food for people in need with the nonprofit Food Lifeline; and the Utah chapter packed backpacks with KidsEat! to feed starving children in Salt Lake City.

For details on every chapter that participated in The Big Event and photos of teams from around the nation, visit the VT Alumni website.

One outstanding chapter is based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte Alumni Association is “home to the largest contingent of Hokies outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia with over 3,800 members,” according to its (well-developed) website.

The chapter is organized as a non-profit and serves many counties in North and South Carolina. With such a large size of nearly 4,000 members, this chapter can leave

a large external impact on the community. By participating in service like The Big Event and offering scholarships to local students, this chapter is making a good name for Virginia Tech.

In addition to service, this alumni chapter hosts parties, picnics, networking events, happy hours and game-day events.

Robert “Bobby” Barber, president of the Charlotte Chapter, encourages every Virginia Tech student to get involved with a chapter after graduation as soon as possible.

About getting connected with alumni after graduation through joining a chapter, Barber said, “It has certainly helped me to build great relationships with people I never would have met in school. It has allowed me to continue to work on and build personal skills like leadership and citizenship. It also gives you a sense of ‘home’ sometimes when you really need it.”

@CollegiateTimes

T

Archiving four years at the Collegiate Times

CAT PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES EIC Andrea Pappas (CENTER) with managing editors Zack Wajsgras (LEFT) and Lewis Millholland (RIGHT).

issue by issue. When the CT changed colors from red to maroon, I had just entered my sophomore year, and a few cubbies down sits the October 2014 issue after Tech beat Ohio State. I remember standing on my balcony that night as students stormed the streets in celebration and fireworks lit up the sky.

A column over sits the President Sands’ installation tabloid with a cover photo of Sands walking up the Burruss stairs on his very first “day of school” as a Hokie.

Almost a year later, the CT said goodbye to legendary Frank Beamer, a retirement that shook Hokie Nation to the core, even for those like me with little football knowledge.

The archive quickly filled up with events and experiences that had shaped Virginia Tech over the years, and at the end of my sorting, only two and a half columns stood

vacant.

As my term as EIC pushed forward, I maintained this archive, routinely filling each cubby with the newest issue from fall 2016 to the present. As EIC, the archive served as an internal timeline to remember all of the changes that took place within the CT. In late August, our news team was the first to report on breaking news about a threatening email across campus. And

by September, an LTE we published in response to the email, “Reflecting on 4/16,” was republished by the Washington Post.

Weeks before the presidential election, our graduating opinions editor, Carson Bartlett, and two graduating managing editors, Lewis Millholland and Zack, put together the CT’s second annual campuswide debate, hosting almost 200

people and reaching 2.7K viewers by Facebook Live. Our election issue was published soon after, featuring some of our most captivating articles all year.

In January, with the help of Lewis and the rising 2017–18 EIC, Matthew Jones, the CT rolled out a new, responsive website, allowing for easier mobile viewing and boosting our online readership.

Our most recent endeavor was the creation of WeRemember32.com, a remembrance site for the 10-year anniversary of April 16. I was honored to design this site as well as lead a wonderful staff to report the events that took place that day, to remember the 32 Hokies who were lost and to tell the story of how Tech has grown in the past 10 years.

My time at the CT was filled with many difficulties, but it was also four years of triumphs and growth. While working as a journalist requires distancing yourself for the sake of telling the whole story, I feel that the CT has only made me closer with the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg community.

The newspaper shaped my college experience and in return, I hope that I was able to shape the future of the CT. With our final paper of the semester, my term as EIC has come to a close and the last cubby of spring 2017 has been filled.

One column of the archive stands empty, waiting for the new issues to be printed in the fall and the legacy of the CT — “an independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903” — continues.

ANDREA PAPPAS • editor in chief • senior/graphic design and marketing

16 Dec

@NinsGee Reply

Retweet

Favorite

More 125 N Main St. | BookHolders.com

May 1, 2017 PAGE 3

Just made $150 from selling my books to BookHolders Expand

collegiatetimes.com

oward the back of the newsroom stands the Collegiate Times’ (CT) archive, an open cabinet with five columns and 20 rows of cubbies with each slot holding about 40 papers of one issue. The unorganized and poorly maintained archive had been moved to the newsroom last May, right when I stepped into the role of editor-in-chief (EIC), so in the slow summer months, I sorted through the stacks of old CTs in preparation for the upcoming school year.

I was sitting on the floor of the newsroom, pulling out stacks of old issues, when one of the earliest issues in the pile caught my eye.

It was from Jan. 21, 2014, my freshman year at Virginia Tech and the first month I joined the CT as a design editor. The paper has an infographic of the U.S. as centerpiece and a stick about a new type of lightbulb.

The issue is nothing out of the ordinary in regard to content, but it was the first newspaper I had ever designed with the CT. I can still remember my excitement when that issue appeared in the news boxes across campus, picking up a hard copy and physically feeling something I had designed the night before. I remember grabbing multiple copies of the issue and saving them for my parents so they could see my name printed in the staff back under “design editor.”

As a senior, I held that issue in my hands again, laughing at all the simple design mistakes that freckled the front page. It was then that I noticed the name of the reporter who wrote the stick, “Zack Wajsgras,” who, just four years later, serves as one of my managing editors.

Sorting through the archive was like traveling backward and seeing my entire college experience laid out in front of me,

news@collegiatetimes.com

Letter from the editor

news@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

column

Managing a paper without education, experience

I

Documenting an accidental four-year career with the Collegiate Times that truly captured the phrase “trial by fire.” t’s a wonder the Collegiate Times management didn’t fire me immediately. Half the “sources” in my early articles were my freshman friends, and it wasn’t until a semester in that I learned the necessity of recording interviews. I was very, very bad at my job.

I only joined because I wrote a story called “Brief and Unsatisfactory Encounters with Women” and wanted the paper to publish it. I found the CT office nestled in a dark corner of Squires and met an editor who told me politely that no, that’s not what we do here, are you stupid, have you ever even looked at a paper in your life? But she got my email and added me to the listserv and next Sunday at 5 p.m., I was there in the newsroom.

My first assignment was to shadow a senior writer at the next Town Council meeting. Someone in the editorial staff screwed up and I accidentally got added on the byline, which I leveraged the very

next day when our news editor messaged the group with a story in need of a pick-up.

Transgender activist Janet Mock was visiting campus at 7 p.m. and my editor needed a writer to go the event, live transcribe quotes and turn in a completed piece by 9 p.m. to meet deadline.

Which was a lot to ask for on my second day on the job.

“

I set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. so I could grab a copy of my first-ever centerpiece article from the newspaper stand outside Dietrick Hall.”

She let me take the piece and I poured my heart into it, but without any formal news education, it was a miracle that what I spat out was even printed. I remember refusing to call “New York” by its name HEATED POOL!

LIVE ON THE EDGE OF CAMPUS! 2, 3, & 4 BEDROOM APARTMENTS & TOWNHOMES

DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM VT CAMPUS

FEATURES AND AMENITIES: • Fully furnished apartments & • Study & collaboration townhomes rooms with video conferencing tools • Individual leases available with utilities, cable, & internet • Coffee bar with a included Starbucks® coffee • Washer & dryer in every apartment

PAGE 4 May 1, 2017

• Private bathroom & walk-in closets in each bedroom

machine • Large Fitness Center with Yoga room • Resort–style heated pool

LEASING OFFICE: Professionally Managed By

321 Edge Way Blacksburg (540) 552-EDGE (3343) www.vtcampusedge.com

CAT PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Lewis Millholland, managing editor.

and instead using “Big Apple” because I thought it sounded more journalist-y. But against all odds it did turn out well, and the piece was printed above the fold in a little stick on the right-hand side with my name on it.

Only a month or two passed before I abandoned my dreams of becoming a software developer. The exact moment was when I set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. so I could grab a copy of my first-ever centerpiece article from the newspaper stand outside Dietrick Hall.

That software knowledge did come in handy down the road. The CT now has a host of scripts to supplement Google Analytics reports, compare headlines and weather with web traffic and to programmatically sort through years and years of Town Council minutes.

(Typically these scripts taught us that no correlations exist between variables in the CT news world and, truly, only chaos reigns supreme. Still pretty cool to have data to back that up though.)

Eventually I was hired as news editor for the Collegiate Times, and from day one I felt the “small fish, big pond” phenomenon like never before. The news section managed some impressive feats that year —including a new, formalized shadowing

process and the most web traffic the section has ever seen — but that was a team effort that would have crumbled without the collaboration of highly talented, highly passionate people.

“I set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. so I could grab a copy of my first-ever centerpiece article from the newspaper stand outside Dietrick Hall.”

I wanted to shout out a few of those people who have made the past four years the best years of my life: Erica Corder, previous CT editor-inchief, gave me my first crash courses in journalism, and I owe a big chunk of my writing style today to her tutelage and to the example she set as both a writer and a leader.

My co-news editor, Richard Chumney, is one of the finest writers the CT has ever seen. He and I have shared four bylines, but many, many more stories would not have been possible without him and his impeccable news sense.

Matt Jones — our rising editor-inchief and mathematics major — was a big enough dork to stay in the newsroom well past midnight explaining to me see BYE / page 9

A senior farewell to the Collegiate Times

W

hen I decided to go to Virginia Tech, the very first thing I wanted to do once I stepped on campus was join the student newspaper.

At my first Gobblerfest, I stumbled upon the Collegiate Times table and put my name down on a recruitment card. Four years later, this amazing organization has defined nearly every part of my college experience.

I began as a reporter and photographer and quickly discovered how many incredible opportunities the paper would give me. From shooting concerts in the pit

in Burruss to lying face down on the field between the lines of cadets jumping to Enter Sandman before football games, I’ve had a front row seat to some of the most exciting moments on campus because of this paper.

I have covered two U.S. presidential candidates (including our current president), Frank Beamer’s last moments as a coach, the explosive start of Justin Fuente’s career, famous musicians, senators, protests related to national news events and solidarity rallies for dozens of different causes, just to name a few. I’ve seen this community

do something meaningful and contribute to their community in a very real way.

It’s been an honor to work with the many student journalists who drop what they are doing to contribute to this publication. As literally every person who has ever worked here knows, balancing being a full-time student with round the clock journalism is not easy. Yet every year, more students show up to give their very best to this paper.

What we do matters. The stories we tell are important. The lessons we learn along the way stick with us for life and the impact we make will continue to influence the people in this community.

Looking back and trying to pick a favorite memory is too difficult because there are simply too many. I will never be able to understand how a piece of paper with a logo on it allowed me to live life so richly. But I am filled with hope as the next generation of Collegiate Times staff takes the reigns to pick up where we left off, doing good work with a sense of professionalism and dedication that is second to none. As I leave the newsroom for the last time as a member of this staff, I am filled with gratitude for the past four years and hope for what the future holds for the Collegiate Times.

I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I never joined the paper. Very rarely do people find a path that reveals their innermost passions in life so clearly. I’m so glad I found mine.

ZACK WAJSGRAS • managing editor • senior/multimedia journalism

16 Dec

@NinsGee Reply

Retweet

Favorite

More 125 N Main St. | BookHolders.com

May 1, 2017 PAGE 5

Just made $150 from selling my books to BookHolders Expand

collegiatetimes.com

CAT PIPER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Zack Wajsgras, managing editor.

experience tragedy, triumph, excitement and hope in every shape and form. None of it would have been possible without the Collegiate Times.

But the paper has been more than just a job for me. What really stands out is not just the amazing things I’ve gotten to see and do, but the people who were with me along the way. Every year with the paper has given me dozens of lasting friendships with people from nearly every major and background on campus.

As I moved up, becoming a photo editor my sophomore year and a managing editor my senior year, I’ve only gotten closer with the people I work with. I’ve seen firsthand how incredibly difficult it is to make a newspaper every night. Yet, the endless memories of our accomplishments in the newsroom are the greatest moments I’ve had at this school.

I would be remiss without emphasizing how important the work Andrea Pappas and Lewis Millholland, our editor-in-chief and my co-managing editor respectively, has been. They are truly two of the most talented and driven individuals I’ve ever met and I’ve been in awe of what they are capable of accomplishing.

The Collegiate Times is special because it unites students through a love of storytelling that ultimately reflects how important the Blacksburg community is to all of us who work here. It teaches people what it means to be a journalist and how important attention to detail is in life. It allows people to put their thoughts and ideas out into the world through a love of writing or photography.

It gives young students the opportunity to

news@collegiatetimes.com

column

news@collegiatetimes.com

Attire for women: What to wear in the workplace Finding something to wear to your first job can seem daunting. Here are some tips to nail your first day.

ALAYNA JONES lifestyles staff writer

collegiatetimes.com

Your clothes say a lot about you and who you are. In the workplace, your attire is important and it may take time to put together — especially for women because the options are endless.

For women, the line between business casual and business professional can be blurry, making it tricky to know how to dress for your job after college.

Business professional Business professional is obviously a little more formal than business casual.

For business professional, pieces that resemble nice suits, as well as dark neutral colors are always safe.

Some jobs may require you to wear business professional clothing, but most

lean toward the business casual side.

Instances in which you would wear business professional outfits other than the work place would be to interviews, career fairs and formal networking events, according to Virginia Tech’s Career Planning Guide.

“The biggest distinction between business professional and business casual is in the shoes,” said Tamara Cherry-Clarke, assistant director and coordinator for the Smith Career Center.

Shoes for business professional should be low-heeled, closed-toe and should be polished and in good condition.

Business casual Overall, business casual should be crisp, neat and appropriate. You see FASHION / page 9

COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

PAGE 6 May 1, 2017

The Best of Fine American Crafts!

The Best of Fine American Crafts!

The Best of Fine American Crafts!

Congratulations Grads!

As a part of the Peace Corps, Nathan Rafala will be leaving his comfort zone to teach science in Tanzania.

GRETCHEN KERNBACH lifestyles staff writer

@gretchthecatch

“

As a young kid, I didn’t really know what to think of it. It just fascinated me ... As I grew older, I started to appreciate it more and more.”

Nathan Rafala biology major, Class of 2017

“I want to get this different look at life and be humbled in a sense,” Rafala said.

Some of the current goals in Tanzania include eliminating extreme poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality, securing environmental sustainability and decreasing child mortality.

Rafala thinks his personal detachment from materialism and open-mindedness is what helped him most during his application process. Last year, more than 17,000 applications were sent in for fewer than 4,000 positions. That means roughly only one-fourth of applicants get a chance to be

• Spacious 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartment homes!

• Private balcony or patio • Majority of utilities in monthly rate • Large Walk-in Closets • Pet friendly (restrictions apply) • Private laundry facilities in each building • Optional washer/dryer in apartment home • Optional furniture & all-inclusive packages 750 Hethwood Blvd. #100 G • Blacksburg, VA 24060 877-746-1676 • www.Hethwoodliving.com

800-828-1140 (TTY)

May 1, 2017 PAGE 7

Biology major Nathan Rafala’s postgrad plan is not typical for most college seniors. After Virginia Tech’s May graduation, Rafala will be headed off to the east African country of Tanzania as part of the Peace Corps.

According to the Peace Corps, “Tanzania is one of the Peace Corps’ oldest programs and is truly appreciated by the government and people of Tanzania.”

He will be stationed there for a little over two years, 27 months to be exact, teaching science. In addition, the Juxtaposition music director plans to contribute to the community by coaching soccer and introducing western-style music.

The current projects in Tanzania pertain to agriculture, education and health.

Furthermore, Feed the Future, Let Girls Learn, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the President’s Malaria Initiative are all program names that are partnered with the Peace Corps.

Rafala first learned about the Peace Corps back when he was a kid.

“My uncle did it, on my dad’s side of the family. He went to Nepal and taught English. As a young kid, I didn’t really know what to think of it. It just fascinated me,” Rafala said. “As I grew older, I started

to appreciate it more.”

He continued to explain that there is a certain type of joy you can find in a teaching setting. Seeing those “light bulbs go off” is why he wanted to join the Peace Corps.

be more excited to pack his guitar and be granted the ability “to share something” with the world.

Looking into the far future, Rafala isn’t quite sure what his next step in life will be.

Depending on his Tanzania tour, he said he might consider continuing his time with the Peace Corps. However, he also has an interest in pursuing a master’s degree or a Ph.D here at Virginia Tech.

According to the Peace Corps, “There are more than 220 volunteers in Tanzania working with their communities on projects in agriculture, education and health. During their service in Tanzania, volunteers learn to speak Swahili. More than 2,850 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Tanzania since the program was established in 1961.”

collegiatetimes.com

TUAN TRAN / COLLEGIATE TIMES Nathan Rafala shares his plans to join the Peace Corps after graduating.

part of the organization.

The site touches on what it takes to be a competitive applicant, stating they do “care what you majored in, your grade point average, your hands-on experience, your legal history, whether you dress professionally for the video interview and whether you submit an application free of grammatical errors.”

Rafala presented himself through a portal of teaching, explaining to the recruiters that he had a “genuine passion for science” and contained a “happiness (he) wanted to share.”

Although he is looking forward to becoming submerged in a completely different setting, Rafala admitted he will miss his group of friends who have become a very close-knit group in the last year. In addition, he confessed about how hard his transition into his freshman year of college was, so he is a little worried he might feel the same anxiety moving to Tanzania.

Despite his worries, Rafala couldn’t

news@collegiatetimes.com

Hokie heads overseas on post-grad adventure

news@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com PAGE 8 May 1, 2017

First the cap, then the ring: Marriage right after graduation Most students are worrying about graduation and finding a job — but what about those who have weddings on the horizon?

KATIE RICE fitness columnist

Some people start the job hunt after graduation, then consider marriage and permanent residence. For one Virginia Tech senior, she is doing all three at once.

Megan Crews, a senior majoring in biology, is graduating from college and getting married five months later.

Crews got engaged two years ago, when she was coming into Virginia Tech as a junior and her fiance was preparing to serve in the Navy.

“He wanted to go through his first deployment, and I wanted to finish school, so it happened to be two years,” Crews said.

The couple met while in high school through a coed soccer team.

“When I was a senior in high school, he was a senior in college,” Crews said.

Over the years, they kept in contact through Facebook and remained friends.

They got closer when he asked her to one

of his dances at the Virginia Military Institute.

“He graduated VMI and then went into the military, and I went to community college for the first two years and then I came here,” Crews said.

She knew from the beginning that their relationship would be accompanied by absence.

“Before he was deployed, I was like, ‘We will get through this. It’ll be fine.’ But of course, you aren’t experiencing it. Going the six months, it’s a little harder than I thought it was going to be, but we’re fine.

You just have to prioritize your time,” Crews said.

With an eight-hour time difference between them until July, the two make efforts to text each other and FaceTime when possible. It is a challenge when 5 o’clock is midnight for him, according to Crews.

“It’s actually really hard. I read somewhere that it’s almost like dating a ghost, BILLY CLARKE / COLLEGIATE TIMES Megan Crews models her engagement ring, April 28, 2017.

and I think that’s the best analogy that I have ever heard,” Crews said. “You are committed to somebody, but they’re never really there.”

In the meantime, Crews is focusing on planning the wedding, then getting a job and finding a home for them in Norfolk when he returns.

“If it’s something that’s worth it, you’ll fight for it,” Crews said.

While preparing for this next stage of life, Crews has also had to make sure her credits are in order and that she is ready to graduate.

“My school breaks that I would take, like fall break, I took all of my bridesmaids down to get the dress. Over the summer, that’s when we met with all the vendors,” Crews said. “I’m going to do this instead of studying over the weekend. Can I make that work? It’s just a balance.”

When it comes to her friends at school, Crews said they are supportive but can’t relate.

“It’s awkward to bring up such a serious topic sometimes,” Crews said. “I don’t have any friends who are in the same position of

graduating and getting married. You bring it up and they’re like, ‘Oh that’s nice.’”

Though her friends are doing life in a different order than her, Crews managed to make the experience enjoyable for herself and those involved.

“Have fun with it. Don’t let the planning aspect stress you down. You can get so caught up in the stress and trying to make sure everything is just perfect,” Crews said. “Make it a bonding experience with everyone you’re doing it with. Make everyone a part of it and enjoy it.”

Much of her semester was filled with planning the wedding, but Crews recognized the pressure to keep grades high.

“Your deadlines for finals are going to come first, so get over that hurdle. For the wedding, you’ve got like five months,” Crews would tell herself.

“We’re doing it as we go, and it’ll all come together if it’s supposed to. It’s not in my hands,” Crews said.

@KatieRice_CT

from page 6

“

Your clothes say a lot about you and who you are. In the workplace, your attire is important and it may take time to put together – especially for women because the options are endless.”

Jewel r y a nd accessor ies a re encouraged for business casual. Just make sure to keep it simple and more on the conservative side.

“When it comes to cost, you do not need to be buying the most expensive clothes in the stores — you are not

expected to be able to afford the same things as the CEO. However, making an investment on a good quality outfit is a good idea since it can last you a few years on the job.”

When it comes to cost, you do not need to be buying the most expensive clothes in the stores — you are not expected to be able to afford the same things as the CEO. However, making an investment on a good quality outfit is a good idea since it can last you a few years on the job.

According to Fashionista, places like Ann Taylor and Zara are good places to shop for your professional wear. The clothing won’t break on the job, and it definitely won’t break your wallet.

Smart casual Smart casual is a category added recently in addition to business professional and casual since workplaces today are becoming more relaxed and more casual.

Smart casual, sometimes referred

BYE: Some final shoutouts from page 4

LEWIS MILLHOLLAND • managing editor • senior/business information technology

@CollegiateTimes

designer clubhouse l fitness center spacious floor plans l private bathroom l swimming pool tanning bed l study & collaboration rooms l pets welcome washer & dryer in each apartment

Only 2 bedrooms left!

Reserve yours today!

T

(540) 961-0500 www.cmgleasing.com

2401 Pamela Way Blacksburg

(intersection of Research Center Dr & Sheliah Ct)

knollwood@cmgleasing.com

he Reserve at Knollwood is the area’s premier apartment home community, offering 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments, located directly across from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center®, and just two miles from the Virginia Tech® campus.

Professionally Managed By

May 1, 2017 PAGE 9

why one does, in fact, equal one, and his unique ability to sort through hundreds of pages of government-mandated documentation and scores of data is matched by no other. When he went to the CT Halloween Party as a redacted FOIA request no one was surprised.

This year, my biggest enemy on staff was Zack Wajsgras, who fought me on everything from headlines to comma usage.

We argued over the most anodyne topics, and our debates stretched on for hours and pushed us past deadline more than once.

Fifty arguments in, I realized how much he knew about the news industry and how much he cared about the CT — and that, oftentimes, he was right. Plus, even in the middle of a heated argument, we would always take a break to grab a beer together at River Mill.

Last but not least is Andrea Pappas, our current editor in chief. She hired me to the easiest job on staff: managing editor. I didn’t have to create content, manage writers,

boost my section’s numbers or do much beyond ensuring we don’t get sued for what we publish.

The expectation is, of course, that managing editors go past the minimum expected. And Andrea, quietly sitting in her corner, handling everything behind the scenes, pumping out spectacular graphics and somehow being aware of every minutiae of the paper, fostered an environment that encouraged just that. I wouldn’t have worked harder for any other EIC. As a staff, we revamped and relaunched the CT website, we created a 10-year anniversary site for the April 16 shootings rife with analytical and reflective content, and reported the highest readership metrics and engagement the CT has ever had.

It’s been a solid four years. Thank you to the CT for slashing my GPA and my future salary (I don’t even want to know how much a software developer makes), I couldn’t have asked for anything better.

to as “dressy casual,” is appropriate to wear when explicitly said and is worn in many offices just like business casual, according to the Career Planning Guide.

Smart casual gives you more room to express yourself since you can mix up colors in your outfits. You should still look clean and put together but think business appropriate with a few casual cues.

For your shoes you can wear loafers, booties or flats.

When in doubt, pick an outfit you are comfortable and confident in that compliments your personality in a professional way and dress up instead of down if you are unsure.

In the end, the organization you work for dictates what clothing you should be wearing in the workplace — whether it be business casual or professional.

collegiatetimes.com

shouldn’t be bringing out your cocktail dresses, but also you shouldn’t look like you’re going to lounge around the house.

It is more common than business professional. Business casual shoots for classy rather than trendy, according to Virginia Tech Career Services.

Business casual shirts for women can be tailored shirts, blouses or knit sweaters. Velvety or shimmery blouses are not acceptable, and all shirts should fit, but not be too tight or expose too much chest.

Women can wear casual pants or skirts, but neither should be skintight. Pants should also be tailored and creased.

Skirts should come just below the knee while standing up and covering your thighs while seated. Slits in skirts are acceptable but not on a long skirt with a slit up to the knee. Remember,

classy is key.

Shoes for business casual can include booties or boots and can be open-toe.

Sandals are also acceptable, but they shouldn’t be too dressy or too casual; you’ll need to find a balance there.

news@collegiatetimes.com

FASHION: Finding the right outfit to nail the first day

news@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

Four years in photos

A collection of photos taken by managing editor Zack Wajsgras over the course of his four years with the Collegiate Times.

THE CORPSE FLOWER, 2015

FRANK BEAMER’S LAST UVA GAME, 2015

FOOTBALL VS. ECU, 2015

Only 2 bedrooms left for this year!

Reserve yours today!

Features and amenities:

PAGE 10 May 1, 2017

• Pets welcome!

• Across from VCOM & CRC • Walks connect to • Within 2 miles of VT campus town bike path & Huckleberry Trail • Ethernet and cable ready • Pool, Weight • Washer & Dryer included Room, and Club• Walk-in closets in each house access bedroom • 24-hour • Beautiful mountain views Emergency Service Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Leasing Office: 2401 Pamela Way Blacksburg l

(intersection of Research Center Dr. & Sheliah Ct.) Professionally Managed By (540) 961-0500 office

www.cmgleasing.com CHANCE THE RAPPER, 2014

news@collegiatetimes.com

DONALD TRUMP VISITS ROANOKE, 2016

collegiatetimes.com

FREDDIE GRAY PROTEST, 2015

FERGUSON SOLIDARITY PROTEST, 2014

May 1, 2017 PAGE 11

COACHES DABO SWINNEY AND JUSTIN FUENTE, 2016

news@collegiatetimes.com

are you

to make a difference collegiatetimes.com

?

VCOM, a medical school in Blacksburg, Virginia was inspired by a vision to bring physicians to medically underserved areas.

Our students are inspired by the College mission and focus on caring for those most in need.

Visit us online to find out how

PAGE 12 May 1, 2017

you will be

vcomvirginia

@VCOMVirginia

inspired...

www.vcom.edu

For a copy of our Outcomes Reports, please see www.vcom.edu/outcomes. Š2017 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved.

VCOM is certified by the State Council of Higher Education to operate in Virginia.