The Big Event
Saturday April 5th
NEWS
VIRGINIA TECH STUDENTS PROTEST THE REMOVAL OF DEI
Ava Garrison | news writer
The Board of Advisors eliminates DEI at Virginia Tech due to an executive order by Donald Trump.
On March 25, Virginia Tech students held a protest on campus in response to the Board of Visitors (BOV) decision to get rid of diversity, equity and inclusion at the university.
“I think that it is embarrassing, the decision that was made,” said Bethany Thompson, a sophomore at Virginia Tech double majoring in math and math education. “I feel embarrassed, because that’s not what we want and that does not truly represent who we are.”
Thompson explained that from an outside perspective, it “can be viewed as they speak for us, and they shouldn’t.”
The protest began at Burruss Hall and ended at Torgersen Hall. Students, members of the community and professors were in attendance. The protest took place from 12-1:30 p.m.
“I was very excited to see the number of students, staff and faculty who were there, and the fact that they will not rest and will
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not accept this misrepresentation of what diversity, equity, inclusion is,” said Susan Stinson, advanced instructor in the School of Communication and Assistant Director of the Academy of Transdisciplinary Studies.
“This argument that diversity, equity and inclusion discriminates against white and Asian people is a specious false equation,” Stinson said. “A small sect of people said this is discriminatory against white people, males and Asians. There is a difference between the connotation of being a white person and that being a negative thing right now, versus systematic misrepresentation and systematic racism. I don’t see any evidence that it’s (discrimination against these groups) happening; it’s specious.”
Stinson explained that organizations on campus such as the Lavender House and Ujima have helped students immensely.
“There is nothing that excludes Asians and
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whites from the cultural community centers,” Stinson said. “Honestly, there’s no reason why they couldn’t join centers if they were allies or interested in learning about African history.”
On Tuesday, the BOV decided to get rid of DEI at Virginia Tech in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump.
“(Being at the protest) was inspiring and fulfilling” said Emon Green, a fifth-year senior at Virginia Tech majoring in philosophy, politics and economics. “Everybody was ready to make a statement. I’ve never seen anything like that on campus. I’ve never seen that many people with that much energy and focus.”
Green explained that DEI benefited the students of Virginia Tech more than the university, and that its elimination makes marginalized students feel unable to depend on the university.
“The problem vanishes from people’s consciousness if you don’t see people upset about a situation,” Stinson said. “A lot of times, people think that protesting is not the solution. I always say protesting is absolutely not the solution. Protesting is the wound, and you’re seeing it.”
Green and Thompson explained that the removal of DEI would affect their classes.
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Thompson added that part of her education major includes understanding that no two children are the same. With the loss of DEI, she worries about the difference that it will make for new teachers.
Green added that his PPE major focuses mainly on the work of white people, and without people of color like himself, there will be no one to test the narrative or help others understand other perspectives.
“Let your voice be heard,” Stinson said. Universities across the country are either complying or resisting the executive order. Students looking to continue to support the movement can reach out to join organizations that are supporting the DEI removal protest. Organizations supporting the movement include:
• VT for Palestine
• Virginia Student Power Network
• Students for Racial Justice
• Pride Council at Virginia Tech
• Virginia Tech Students’ United Front
• Black Mindedness
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MOSS ARTS CENTER HOSTS “AN EVENING WITH CHARLES YU”
Jonathan Mususa | news writer
Yu is an Asian American author and screenwriter who shares cultural experiences in his book “Interior Chinatown.”
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., the Moss Arts Center hosted an hour-long conversation with author and screenwriter Charles Yu at the Anne and Ellen Fife Theater, located in the Street and Davis Performance Hall. The event was held in collaboration with the Department of English Visiting Writers Series.
Yu is an Asian American who uses his publications to shed light on cultural experiences through “thought provoking lectures.”
The Center called the event “an entertaining and thought-provoking onstage interview, discussing the Asian American experience, representation and stereotypes in film and television, and the unique power of science fiction to address the human condition.” It was moderated by Matthew Vollmer, professor and director of the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and undergraduate creative writing
programs in the Department of English.
“We do talk about the benefits of bringing certain people, and the uniqueness of Charles Yu being a writer who’s obviously incorporating a lot of science fictional elements, you know, you think about Virginia Tech being an engineering school and all the scientists we have on campus, maybe they would go to this reading when they wouldn’t go to something else, right?” Vollmer said.
Yu began the night by reading an excerpt from his National Book Award-winning novel “Interior Chinatown,” which he has helped adapt into a television show for Hulu, before engaging in a 40-minute discussion with Vollmer.
Vollmer began by asking Yu for his thoughts on the campus protests. The protest happened at the Inn at Virginia Tech, with students protesting against the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors’ decision to
dissolve the Office of Inclusion Strategy and Excellence (OISE). Vollmer continued to ask Yu how his work approaches the themes of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“As troubling as it is to read the news every day, it was inspiring to actually be on a campus and feel the energy,” Yu said. “I think that it was a reminder to me of why this fight matters — not that I need that many reminders.”
Yu then tied the protest to the broader importance of inclusivity in media.
“It’s not just about telling a story so people can see people that look like them on screen,” Yu said. “It’s just as much, if not more important, that we tell stories so people can see themselves and people that don’t look anything like them. It’s about shared humanity. That’s the purpose of telling these stories, of reading stories. That’s why I became a writer. Because I read things by people whose lives don’t
intersect with mine and have no tangent points with mine.”
During the Q&A period, Yu touched on his path to becoming a writer, which involved writing fiction while working as a lawyer for 13 years before becoming a published author and a screenwriter for the HBO series “Westworld.”
“I couldn’t not do it,” Yu said. “I know it sounds like what people say but, in reality, what that means is the language just keeps showing up in your head and you have to get it out.”
After the discussion, Yu held a book signing in the Moss Arts Center lobby. The event was Yu’s first appearance at the Moss Arts Center.
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PERFORMING ARTS STUDENT CARTER ROBERTS PRESENTS HIS CULMINATING WORK
Anthony HalL | news writer
Roberts’ projects span several music genres, and each project has a unique message.
On Saturday afternoon at the Creativity and Innovation Living Learning Building, Carter Roberts, a senior majoring in music and member of the Institute of Creativity, Art, and Technology (ICAT), presented a culmination of the music and digital media he has created during his time as a college student. While most of his projects were created at Virginia Tech, his knack for the arts began long before he arrived in Blacksburg.
“Around sophomore year of high school, I started thinking that I could actually do something with music,” Roberts said. “My dad was in a band, and I wanted to be like him. After that, it grew from a variety of sources over time.”
Roberts’ projects include several music genres, from string quartet to rave, each with its own unique message.
“One of the fun things about this concert
was you never knew what was going to come next,” Roberts said. “While some of the pieces inspire anxiety, others just make you want to groove.”
Two of the most prominent projects Roberts has been a part of were the 80th Anniversary of D-Day hosted by ICAT last year and the Torgersen Bridge projection which celebrated the university’s 150th anniversary.
“I’m thankful that I had those opportunities,” Roberts said “It’s amazing to see what goes on behind the scenes for those big events. I felt like I had the easiest job in the world compared to some of the other ends of production! It’s such an incredible experience to be surrounded by that energy for weeks.”
As Roberts plans to graduate this spring, he hopes to continue pursuing his love for music and production in the future.
“After graduating, I think I’ll take some time to breathe,” Roberts said. “After that I’d like to go to either NYU or Royal Hallway College in London to pursue media scoring. I think the dream would be writing music for video games.”
While Roberts primarily works on musical projects, this particular piece included visual accompaniment.
“The visual stuff was challenging just because that’s new territory,” Roberts said. “Another challenge was choosing what to omit from the final product. Speaking in front of the audience was also probably the scariest part for me.”
Roberts noted some of the people that have helped him along the way as a rising media producer.
“I would be nowhere without my friends,” Roberts said. “On the production side there’s my professor, Dr. Nichols,
as well as one of the media producers for ICAT, Tanner Upthegrove. Of course, my parents have also always supported me too.”
More information on Roberts’ previous projects can be found in Virginia Tech News‘ article “Writing a soundtrack for history — and life.”
THE DANGERS OF CENSORSHIP: THE HARM OF BOOK BANNING
Cat Pizzarello | opinions contributor
As book bans increase, so does the underrepresentation of diversity within the media.
The issue of banning books has been a prominent topic in education and government systems for several years. Each school year, more books are added to banned lists nationwide.
According to PEN America, in the 20232024 school year, 10,000 books were identified as banned throughout school systems. In the year prior, there were only a little over 3,000 books on the banned list.
Katlyn Griffin, a teaching and learning engagement librarian at Virginia Tech, has noticed the spike and impact of banning books.
“Obviously there is a rise in banned books,” Griffin said. “Virginia is one of the more active states with book bans right now.”
Of the 50 states, Florida and Iowa have the most bans, with Florida having over 4,000 and Iowa having over 3,000. Virginia only has a total of 121 book bans in various counties across the state, but that number has increased quickly in recent years. Most of these bans occurred in Hanover County.
“Access to books is really important,” Griffin said. “My colleagues are trained to select books for their audience and purposes. I think (selecting books) should still be allowed to happen.”
Of the books being banned, 44% had characters of color and 39% had characters who were part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Additionally, 60% of these banned books are written for younger audiences, confronting
the real world and discussing topics such as suicide, substance abuse, mental health concerns, and sexual violence.
“As we limit access, we are limited in the stories that people see themselves in,” Griffin said. “It hinders the ability to gain self-confidence and self-understanding.”
Banning books with diverse characters and heavy topics hinders younger generations from seeing representations of their unique lives, personalities, and situations. This issue of under-representation frequently occurs in the television and film industry as well.
“There’s this idea that this material turns people gay, but really it gives people the framework to express what they are already feeling and thinking and knowing that
someone else has gone through that,” Griffin said.
The restriction of knowledge and reading material dates back to China in 213 BCE, when Emperor Qin Shi Huang ordered the burning of books to suppress political expression and control certain knowledge. A similar ordeal happened in 1933 later in Nazi Germany where the infamous burning of books targeted Jewish, socialist, and liberal authors. Today all across the world, books are being banned, restricting knowledge, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. Recently, the US Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights dismissed 11 complaints about banned books and claimed to end “Biden’s continued on page 5
continued from page 4
book ban hoax.”
Banning books also puts pressure on publishing firms and authors. Writers releasing new material may not find success if their books are deemed unsuitable for the public eye. Furthermore, publishers might not publish books they think will end up banned
to avoid loss of finances.
“My work, personally, is less impacted,” Griffin said. “At Virginia Tech, we have more freedom and less scrutiny about what materials (are available to students).”
Although Virginia Tech may not face as many of these problems in a university setting, it doesn’t make fighting for the younger
generations to have these materials any less important. With such an uncertain future, the banning of books could go past the K-12 level of education and even into federal bans.
“As parents and legislators make calls to limit these materials, I think they’re saying it’s protecting children, but what it’s really doing is limiting access,” Griffin said. “If you
don’t want your child to read that book, that is between you and your child.”
As these bans continue to happen, it’s important to address the current ban list. Maybe pick out a few to read and see that books aren’t dangerous; they’re knowledge.
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LIFESTYLES TIPS FOR CREATING AN ENGAGING PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE
John Garlow | lifestyles staff writer
How college students can start advertising themselves online.
In today’s competitive job market, it is vital that your professional skills and experience will stand out to recruiters. A professional website is more than a digital resume; it’s a dynamic platform to showcase your achievements while offering a glimpse into your personality.
First impressions matter because they can become lasting impressions to employers, and a strong professional website can serve as a great introduction to recruiters. To make the most of this opportunity, here are some tips for designing a website that sets you apart.
Finding the right design service
Several online tools can help create a great-looking website. Services like Squarespace, WordPress and Webflow are available to people who want to build their site without coding knowledge. These sites also have templates for home pages, blog posts and other elements that are easily customizable. When you have a general idea for a website in your head but need help with the technicalities, a preset template can spark creativity.
Create a list of goals for your site and shop around for a service that meets your needs and skill level. Most of these services automatically optimize the website for viewing on mobile and desktop devices, which simplifies the process for those with little web design experience. Additionally, visitors will have a better experience on your site if it is fit totheir device.
Picking fonts
Font selection is a pivotal part of the design process. It determines how your
site feels and influences later decisions about its design.
A sans-serif font like Futura or Montserrat will make your site look sleeker and more modern, while a serif font like Garamond or Cambria will make your site feel refined and older. Testing out different combinations of fonts on the same page can be beneficial. Google Fonts is a curated database of fonts that will display properly on most web browsers. You can filter fonts by type, feeling and appearance. The fonts are free, but check the licensing information of any fonts you use to ensure they are free for both personal and commercial use.
The importance of the homepage
The homepage is the first section users see after loading your website. First impressions are lasting impressions, so making your homepage stand out is paramount. It should include any elements of your personal brand, skills and professional identity.
Consider including a miniature bio or professionally taken headshot on the homepage so that recruiters can better understand who you are. While it is an excellent tool for first impressions, the homepage should serve as the gateway to your most pertinent information.
Make sure your resume, contact information and portfolio are easily accessible and not hidden behind several menus. Accessing important information should take a minimal number of clicks.
Leverage search engine optimization
“When I post a job as a recruiter, I can get 300 resumes. I don’t have time to go
through every one and use keywords to filter candidates and may miss some of the best applicants,” said Theresa Park, a former recruiter for Apple and Spotify, in an article for Business Insider.
This principle applies to your resume and your website. Making your online content more discoverable by including search engine optimization (SEO) keywords relevant to your field is imperative to make your credentials stand out in a sea of applicants.
Incorporating industry-specific keywords into your resume and website can improve your placement in search engines, increasing the chance recruiters will find you before another potential applicant.
Highlight your personal brand
“Tangible values — not attributes or abstract CV statements of intent — are essential,” said Sonia Hendy-Isaac, senior lecturer at Birmingham City University, in an article for The Guardian. “Just in the same way companies spend millions of pounds creating value statements, graduates can increase their employability and success by identifying their core values.”
Your personal brand is more than just a logo or a monogram. Your brand represents who you are. Your site’s design choices — font selection, color palette and word choice — should all reflect your personality, values and career path.
Hire a design specialist
Hiring a web designer may be helpful if you are not fond of DIY projects. Many online services will work with you to create
a site that matches your needs. A design specialist can ensure your website is visually appealing, user-friendly and optimized for all platforms.
Hiring a designer may be costly. Consider whether this upfront investment is worth a more polished and distinct final product.
Make regular updates
Once you finish building the site, be sure to update it frequently. Try to update the website’s content at least quarterly, if not monthly. If you include a portfolio section, update it as frequently as possible.
Regular updates keep the content on your site fresh and show recruiters that you are still active in the field. Additionally, be sure to update any listed contact information when it changes.
A professional website is a helpful asset for standing out in a competitive job market. Each facet of your website shapes how recruiters perceive you and a well-designed website exhibits your skills and experience while reflecting your personality and values. Whether you construct it yourself or hire a professional designer, investing in a high-quality website can increase your visibility to recruiters and employers.
YOUR POWER BILL IS NOW AVAILABLE: WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
Emelia Delaporte | lifestyles editor
Explore ways to lower your energy costs while minimizing your environmental footprint.
A power bill is often an unwelcome visitor, whether it comes in an email or an envelope. There are several ways to minimize both how much energy usage costs and how much energy is being used, no matter the size or style of a residence. In Blacksburg, there is a wide variety of residences, ranging from on-campus dorms to large family homes. Cutting energy costs can be appealing to college students, young adults and young families trying to save money. Moreover, reducing your energy use also reduces your carbon footprint — your measurable negative impact on the environment.
The four largest areas identified through research and interviews to cut down on energy cost and consumption are heating and cooling, washing and drying clothes, cleaning, and cooking. Perhaps the biggest opportunity to limit your energy consumption is by changing the ways you choose to heat and cool your residence.
The times of year with the most extreme temperatures, such as January and August, are frequently aligned with the highest energy bills of the year. Turning down your heat settings or bumping up your air conditioning settings just a couple of degrees can save you money. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) recommends setting your winter heat to no more than 70 degrees and your summer air conditioning to no less than 78 degrees.
Small actions can be taken to make your immediate space warmer, like shutting your interior doors, ensuring windows and doors are properly sealed or even leaving the oven cracked after usage in residences without small children or pets. For cooling your home, avoiding heat-producing appliances like the oven and keeping your blinds down or curtains drawn during the sunniest part of the day can help prevent your home from heating up.
“Something as simple as having a heating pad — I have one that I turn on at the foot of my bed,” said Carol Davis, sustainability manager for the Town of Blacksburg. “I use it for three months of the year, I turn it on when I’m brushing my teeth and it warms up the foot of the bed, so my feet don’t freeze. I turn it off when I get in bed, and I keep my house at (around) 62 in the
winter.”
You can also opt to forgo your heating and cooling units altogether. Opening windows during cooler times of day can help to cool down the home — especially when multiple windows are open, with doors open between them to allow for cross-ventilation. Changing your sheets and blankets can make warmer nights more tolerable, and the same goes for colder nights. In the winter, layering up is an easier way to get comfortable indoors — socks and sweaters go a long way. In reverse fashion to summer, keeping your blinds up or curtains drawn in the warmest parts of the day allow a house to warm up some during the winter.
“You wear flannel pajamas, you put an extra grandma’s quilt on the bed, you’re going to be fine. That again boils down to the personal choices that each of us has to make, whether that be motivated through comfort or desire — some people like to be bundled, some people want to wear a t-shirt,” said Mark Owczarski, the interim vice president of communications and marketing at Virginia Tech and speaking on behalf of Virginia Tech Electric Service.
Davis made a point of noting that, especially for college students who are renting apartments, changing heating systems is not always an option.
“The most significant use of energy in the home in this region is almost always space heating. If you’re a student, you certainly don’t have much leverage to get a more efficient HVAC unit,” Davis said. “I think one thing people fail to realize is it’s always easier to heat yourself than to heat the space. It takes far less energy.”
Another way that the SCC recommends for reducing heat in your home during the day in warmer times of year is to only run your dryer at night. However, Davis proposes a much more effective way to reduce clothing-related energy consumption — to not use a dryer at all.
“I haven’t used a dryer in maybe five years. Mine broke and I was already line-drying my clothes or air-drying my clothes most of the time and only using it for blankets and comforters,” Davis said. “I think people are so used to it that they don’t think about it, but one of those little
pop-up racks costs what, 15 bucks? So that’s a huge amount of energy that I don’t use.”
If you have access to outdoor space such as a balcony, patio or yard, you may be able to bring your clothes outside to dry as long as the weather is agreeable. This can be done on a clothesline or on a rack. These can also be used indoors as well if you’re feeling adventurous and have the space to do so. You could even get really creative and hang articles to dry from the curtain rod of your shower. Some property management agencies and homeowners’ associations have prohibitions against clotheslines, so do your research before deciding to put one up outdoors.
Another way to reduce energy cost and consumption as it relates to clothing is to wash your clothes in cold water. According to Arm & Hammer, a company well known for its cleaning supplies and other household goods, washing your clothes in cold water can benefit them in several ways, including by reducing fabric pilling and wrinkling. Additionally, it prevents colors from fading or transferring between fabrics. It is also better for delicates or stretchy clothes.
“Wash your clothes in cold water, because most laundry detergents are formulated for that,” Davis said. “Hot water and heat from an air dryer break down the fibers in your clothes, particularly anything with elastic. Any of the clothes that have Lycra in them, they wear out way, way faster that way.”
Changing how you wash your dishes can also make an impact on your energy cost and consumption. You can make your post-meal cleanup more environmentally friendly by using the dishwasher instead of washing your dishes by hand. While some dishes, like good knives and wooden products, should be washed by hand, most are dishwasher safe. A full dishwasher uses less water than hand-washing an equal number of dishes and doesn’t draw as much energy from the water heater.
Cleaning your home, outside of doing the dishes, also presents a couple of opportunities for lowering your power bill and being more environmentally sustainable. To save energy on uncarpeted floors like
tile, hardwood and vinyl, you can choose to sweep instead of vacuum. The downside to sweeping is that it may be more time-consuming, and getting every last bit of debris onto a dustpan isn’t always easy. A cordless handheld vacuum uses less energy than a full-sized vacuum and can make up for what won’t make it into a dustpan.
For those who use a Swiffer or similar product for their uncarpeted floors, disposable cleaning pads can be replaced with reusable alternatives. This would not only reduce your energy use in the home, but would remove that cost from a shopping trip and reduce your carbon footprint. Instead, you can wet a dish towel or rag or spray it with your cleaning solution of choice. This can either be moved around with your foot to target individual spots or attached to your existing Swiffer or similar product where a disposable pad would have gone.
For rugs, take them outside and smack them or shake them to remove dust and dirt. This is easier to achieve with smaller rugs. Larger rugs, with the help of a partner, can be held up and beaten with a broom or other object. For homes that have carpet, choosing to avoid vacuuming may be a bit more difficult, depending on the design of the material and the nature of the debris. Some carpets may be amenable to sweeping.
“It’s about a personal choice,” Owczarski said. “You can make that decision to save money or save the environment, the planet, or lower our dependency on fossil fuels, fill in the blank, go to any or all those degrees. At the end of the day, it’s your personal decision.”
Davis advises that readers refer to the Town of Blacksburg’s climate action plan, which includes a residential section, for more ideas on how to be more sustainable with energy in their homes.
AN OVERVIEW OF ARTIST BRIAN ENGH’S LECTURE ON PALEOART
Bailey Miller | lifestyles staff writer
Paleoart combines science and creativity to depict what dinosaurs may have looked like.
On Wednesday, March 26, artist Brian Engh visited the Virginia Tech Museum of Geosciences to give a lecture on paleoart. Paleoart is an artistic work depicting prehistoric life, intersecting paleontology and art.
As a child, Engh was interested in drawing monsters and creature design. He was fascinated by zoology books and magazines, particularly the skeleton, muscle and skin reconstruction.
“I’ve been lucky that paleontologists have kind of taken me under their wing and taken me out to the field and help me get access to collections and papers and professional meetings and stuff like that,” Engh said. “A lot of it’s just conversation and asking questions on the job (and) a few dissections here and there.”
Engh completed his first paleoart piece featuring the Aquilops Americanus in 2014 and has worked as a full time paleo artist since 2016.
Paleoart is based in science. Engh shared that he’s worked with paleontologists to ensure his drawings are as scientifically correct as possible. He has also been to various track sites and fossil sites to see firsthand how prehistoric animals may have interacted with their surroundings.
While Engh was working on a painting of Tritylodonts, a mammal relative from the early Jurassic era, he worked with paleontologists from the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site.
“There’s a disagreement about what positions we can put their arms in because these things aren’t on the line of mammal animals that gave rise to modern mammals,” Engh said.“They’re thought of as being closer to reptiles in some ways, at least on the phylogenetic tree, but the track ways that were found in association with this bone bed made some of the researchers think they must have been able to put their limbs underneath them.They didn’t have a sprawling
trackway like you’d see in something like an early tetrapod. It resulted in this debate where I’m like, ‘Okay, some of you are saying one thing, some of you are saying another thing, what do I need to change?’”
Engh sketched the Tritylodonts’ skeleton, based on bones found on site to ensure the bone structure was correct.
“As an artist, I actually ended up sketching how I was imagining the skeletons underneath the soft tissue,” Engh said.“What elbows and femurs and limbs do I need to adjust? Ultimately, we only needed to tweak a couple of things, and everybody’s happy, but it was this really clear example for me as an artist working with a group of paleontologists that there isn’t always scientific consensus, even within a single working group.”
While bones and animal tracks are the most common fossils to come across, paleontologists have recently done more research surrounding the skin and color of prehistoric animals. These discoveries have led to more accurate estimates on what prehistoric animal skin looked like and can inspire more scientifically accurate paleoart.
“We’ve got these amazing dinosaur fossils with tons of skin intact and, in some cases, pigments in the skin that are detectable in the fossil,” Engh said. “Studies identified some reddish-brown melanin pigments and some splotches of darker melanin mostly on the dorsal surface. Subsequent studies have looked at the microstructure of dinosaur skin and suggested that scaly dinosaur skin more or less looks like it has a similar structure to what’s seen in other reptiles. Now what’s interesting here is that studies of lizards and crocodilians and even some birds have shown that they can move a lot of pigment and dramatically change their life appearance. And when we consider that
there’s even fish and amphibians that can migrate pigments in their skin, it suggests that the null hypothesis for dinosaurs should be that probably most of them, at least the scaly ones, probably could migrate pigments in their skin.”
Despite these recent studies, there are still many unknowns regarding dinosaur coloring. Porphyrins, or pigments that come from iron molecules in blood, are less likely to be preserved in fossils. Modern birds are able to make pink and green colors with porphyrins. Carotenoids, fat based pigments, would also not be preserved in fossils. Some animals show pigments from structural features. Baboons’ blue face patches are a result of specialized collagen bundles that filter light. Similar colorings could have existed in prehistoric creatures, but those microstructures would not be preserved in fossils.
“So, in a funny way, there’s a tendency among artists to want to be scientifically accurate and, as a result, we’re self-policing to not explore more possibilities in terms of the different colors that these animals can be,” Engh said. “It makes me wonder if maybe we need to change the discussion around scientific accuracy in paleo and shift it more towards this idea of hypothesis depiction. It also makes me feel like this constant focus on scientific accuracy might sometimes impact the art form.”
Engh emphasized the importance of creativity in paleoart. Despite being based in science, originality and artistry are still essential because of the unknowns surrounding prehistoric creatures.
“I’ve kind of grown not to love the term scientific accuracy, in part because I think it convinces people to think that we know more than we actually do,” Engh said. “The term ‘accurate’ is usually used in engineering when you talk about accuracy down to the millimeter. We don’t
actually have that in paleontology. I love real, granular accuracy, but this idea that we should be arguing about whether or not you know exactly what an animal’s lips or pigments or whatever look like can actually detract from creativity. I don’t think it has to be that way.”
In addition to displaying his own work and discussing the thought behind paleoart, Engh also showcased the work of fellow artists. Natalia Jagielska, a postdoctoral paleontologist from Hong Kong, uses a cartoon-like artistic style, showcasing softer and rounder features, brighter colors and smiling faces. While her paleoart pieces are not scientifically accurate, Engh believes her art style is captivating and draws a broader audience to paleoart.
“If you measure the metatarsal of this raptor, I’m sure it wouldn’t be perfectly skeletally accurate,” Engh said about one of Jagielska’s pieces. “But these are fun. They kind of escape that rigidness of that worldview and, in some ways, I think can reach more people.”
During his discussion, Engh also discussed “Permian Extinction” by Greer Stothers, which shows colorful, cartoon style dinosaurs before and after mass extinction.
“In some ways, I feel like these animals being this derpy and cute make the extinction more impactful,” Engh said. “I absolutely love this piece by Greer. If it weren’t stylized, this wouldn’t work this well. I think the stylization of this piece adds a lot of power to it.”
Engh will post a video of his full lecture to his YouTube channel, BrianEnghArt, in the coming weeks. @COLLEGIATETIMES
SPORTS LACROSSE DROPS FOURTH STRAIGHT BOUT, FALLING TO
NO. 12 DUKE SATURDAY
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer Kamryn Henson recorded her third career hat-trick.
The last three lacrosse meetings between Virginia Tech and No. 12 Duke were all decided by one goal. On Saturday, that wasn’t
the case. The Hokies (7-6, 2-4 ACC) fell to the Blue Devils (9-3, 4-2 ACC), 15-6, in a game that was over before the first quarter horn
sounded.
Tech’s loss to Duke was the first time since March of 2021 that it dropped four straight
contests. Hokies head coach Kristen Skiera couldn’t capture the win against her alma continued on page 8
mater — the former two-time All-American attacker remains fourth on the Blue Devils’ all-time goals list (161).
Duke’s offense came out firing in the first quarter, seizing an early 7-0 lead. The Blue Devils wasted no time asserting their dominance, with two goals coming within ten seconds of one another, setting the tone for the rest of the game. It was an unexpected start for the Hokies, who had been outscoring opponents in the opening frame by a combined 19 goals prior to Saturday’s matchup.
The early surge from Duke caught the Hokies off guard. This season, Tech’s aggressive style had typically resulted in a quick start, albeit with the occasional green and yellow cards. But on Saturday, it was the Blue Devils who controlled the tempo, overpowering the Hokies from the outset. A major factor in their fast start was their precision.
weren’t on goal.
In contrast, the Hokies got just one look on goal in the opening nine minutes — and just two throughout the quarter. With two seconds left, midfielder Kamryn Henson nailed a free-position goal to end off the first quarter. Four minutes into the second, she would strike again for her second goal, driving into the crease to make the score 7-2, Duke.
Henson’s standout performance was one of the few positives for the Hokies in an otherwise tough game. The freshman midfielder notched her third career hat-trick in the third quarter. In addition to her offensive output, Henson also contributed defensively, grabbing two ground balls and forcing two turnovers. But it wasn’t enough to overcome a complete Blue Devils unit.
season, the sophomore has notched over 30 scores this year, making her a significant presence for the Blue Devils offense.
The one silver lining for the Hokies was that their marquee player, attacker Lauren Render, returned. Render, who sustained a hamstring injury against Louisville on March 8 and reaggravated it against North Carolina 12 days later, notched a pair of goals against the Blue Devils.
Tech now has a six-day break before it hosts No. 16 Clemson on Saturday, April 5 at noon. The Hokies will look to end their losing streak with a strong performance in their penultimate ACC home game of the season.
And as Tech looks ahead to its final month of regular season play, it will be important for the team to regroup, refine its play and begin to start stringing together positive results. While Saturday’s loss was difficult, the Hokies still have a chance to salvage their season and make a strong push for the ACC tournament.
The ACC will take eight of the 12 teams to the tournament, with Tech currently holding the eighth and final spot. The Hokies are a game ahead of No. 20 Notre Dame, Pitt, Louisville and two games ahead of California.
The challenge for Tech is that the Fighting Irish (6-5, 1-4 ACC) will face the Panthers (6-6, 1-5 ACC) and Louisville (5-7, 1-5 ACC), teams that Tech has already beaten. With Notre Dame being stronger on paper, the Hokies will likely need a win over a ranked opponent or for the Fighting Irish to falter to secure a tournament spot. continued from page 7
Duke launched 11 shots in the first quarter, with 10 being on target. Throughout the game, only three of the Blue Devils’ shots
Duke overwhelmed the Hokies from every direction. Eight different Blue Devils found the back of the net against Tech. The two leaders for Duke were attackers Carly Bernstein and Bella Goodwin. Goodwin shined against the Hokies. After scoring 11 goals in her freshman
The Tigers (9-4, 4-2 ACC) will present a tough challenge, with two of the ACC’s top six goal scorers: No. 4 Lindsey Marshall (39 goals) and No. 6 Kayla Macleod (37 goals). Though neither has earned ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors, the Tigers counter with strong defense, featuring Week 3 and Week 4 Defensive Players of the Week: goalie Emily Lamparter and midfielder Summer Agostino.
HISTORIC TRIPLE PLAY LIFTS NO. 12 HOKIES SOFTBALL TO SECOND-GAME VICTORY OVER STANFORD
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer
The Hokies won their eighth consecutive game on Saturday.
One play can change an entire game’s momentum. That happened for No. 12 Virginia Tech in the sixth inning on Saturday, and it was crucial in lifting it to an 8-7 victory over No. 16 Stanford.
The Hokies (27-5, 7-1 ACC) started strong, seizing a 3-0 lead by the end of the first thanks to a hit by pitch that scored second baseman Rachel Castine and a single from catcher Zoe Yaeger that plated both third baseman Jordan Lynch and center fielder Bre Peck.
However, the Cardinal (24-5, 8-3 ACC) quickly responded courtesy of a solo shot from shortstop River Mahler, a two-RBI single from designated player Kylie Chung that came about because of a catching error and a two-run bomb from second baseman Taryn Kern.
Going into the sixth inning down 5-3, it looked like Tech was on the ropes and in danger of walking out of Tech Softball Park with their heads hung low. But the Hokies refused to give up, clawing their way back thanks to a game-changing play.
At the top of the sixth, Cardinal third baseman Jade Berry cracked what was looking to be a lineout — that is, until Tech left fielder Lyla Blackwell narrowly snatched the ball. She slung it over to
Castine, who zipped it to first baseman Michelle Chatfield to complete the triple play — the first such instance in program history.
The play not only halted a promising Stanford rally, but also gave the Hokies renewed energy.
“I was just confident in the moment,” Blackwell said. “I was like, the worst thing that could happen is I miss it, and Bre Peck’s right behind me, so I just gave it my all. And I was just as surprised as you guys when I got up and realized the ball was actually in my glove.
“I was ready. I knew from the swing that she was gonna hit me, so I knew it was gonna be somewhere to me.”
It was a moment that embodied Tech’s clutch mentality — one that had been on display the night before, with a late inningending toss to second to seal Game 1. The Hokies remained resilient, fighting through adversity and proving their mettle.
“We’re never worried,” said right fielder Cori McMillan. “We know we’re never down, regardless (of) what the score looks like. We know we’re capable of coming back … (the Blackwell play) fired our fans up. It fired us up.”
McMillan revitalized the Hokies in the
sixth with a two-RBI double that dribbled up the middle and into the wall. It marked her 200th career hit and pushed her past 150 RBIs. A batter later, Chatfield singled to bring McMillan around, and then Castine went yard down the left-field line to give Tech an 8-5 cushion.
Stanford tacked on two more runs in the seventh, but Hokies ace Emma Lemley forced a groundout to seal the win for Tech. The victory marked the Hokies’ eighth straight win.
Tech has one more contest against the Cardinal on Sunday, March 30 at noon — and another chance to further strengthen its resume. Tech Softball Park’s crowd has facilitated the Hokies’ recent success, channeling it into comeback surges. Saturday’s crowd sat at over 1,134 attendees — 110 above its capacity.
And Tech is a statistical league leader on both sides of the field. On the defensive end, Hokies head coach Pete D’Amour lauded his team’s depth.
“Our defense makes plays, and that’s a lot of it,” D’Amour said. “Takes a lot of pressure off the pitching. It takes a lot of pressure off … so yeah, we’ve done that all year.”
And going forward, expectations are
higher than ever.
“We’re gonna go far,” McMillan said. “We’ve said that from day one that we’re gonna go far and when we keep stacking up ranked wins like this, our chances get higher and higher. We know that it’s gonna take a couple (of) big games to get to Regionals and Super Regionals and the World Series, but we’re ready for anything that comes at us.”
After its Stanford series concludes, Tech will face Liberty on Wednesday, April 2 at 6 p.m. before traveling to Raleigh, North Carolina, to play N.C. State from Friday, April 4 to Sunday, April 6.