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December 10, 2019

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December 10, 2019

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

FINALS SURVIVAL GUIDE It’s finals week. Here are some dogs to make you feel better.

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

COURTESY OF MEAGHAN MARTIN


PAGE 2 December 10, 2019

opinions collegiatetimes.com

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your views [letter to the editor]

LTE: Gillie’s serves as a keystone for vegan community in Blacksburg

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ear Collegiate Times, As a 25-year vegetarian and general manager of Gillie’s Restaurant, I was surprised by the recent article quoting a student, “for vegan stuff, you either have to go to an Indian or a Thai restaurant,” Singman said. “ ... it’s probably not a world center for vegans or anything, but it’s doable.” Gillie’s has been open since 1975 and focused on serving delicious vegan and vegetarian options –– and we are the first restaurant found when Googling “vegan

food Blacksburg.” For each meal service, there are at least 10-12 hearty options for vegans, as well as daily specials, soups and desserts that are free of any dairy products. Also, we are conveniently located across from the campus and our famous brunch has made the Hokie Bucket List over the last few years and are one of the few establishments to offer fresh vegetable and fruit blends using a centrifugal juicer to help vegans get valuable nutrients when time is limited. Bollo’s, our sister

establishment, bakes fresh baguettes daily (vegan) for Gillie’s and also has many decadent options in their baked goods selection, such as vegan espresso chocolate chip cookies. While we cannot speak to the lack of vegan options on campus, we are passionate about providing inspired, plant-based meals for our community and want to be sure that new students are aware of our healthy options to support their specialized diet. Regardless of the reason a person chooses to “go vegan,” we

are here to support your mission! Kind regards, Anita Bevins

ANITA BEVINS • Gillie’s General Manager

Mind the gap: Getting back to work after a break

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Students struggle to manage a busy finals season after a week of relaxation and celebration during Thanksgiving break. ’m tired. It’s a week back into our trudge toward the end and I don’t feel any more refreshed or light than when I left for Thanksgiving break. In fact, I feel substantially less motivated to work toward a strong finish of the semester. Thanksgiving break was a tease; I long for the days where I sleep until my stomach directs me out of bed toward a rampage on my fully-stocked kitchen. When I got back and opened the fridge in my apartment to only a Monster Energy drink and an old milkshake, I nearly dropped out. Ever since I came back from our little break, I’ve been experiencing post-Thanksgiving break burnout. This phenomenon that I just made up now seems to be afflicting others besides myself. I spoke with Savanah Greenwald, a junior graphic design major, about her experience during her first week back from break. “After break, it’s been hard to come

back and just get back into the swing of things,” Greenwald said. “I just feel really overwhelmed about all the things I have to do to finish the semester. I didn’t want to come back; I just wanted to be on break. It doesn’t feel necessary to come back for two weeks and yet here we are.” It might not be the case for everyone, but this break felt long overdue for me, and as soon as it began I did not want to look back. And you wanted me to get work done during it as well? Consequently, I hardly did the work I was supposed to. Apparently, neither did Greenwald. “I definitely didn’t get as much work done as I wanted to. You can barely consider it a break since your professors still keep so many expectations of you,” she said. Thanksgiving break seems to me to be the great demotivator; I find myself struggling to wake up for classes again and rethinking the purpose of it all. It

Voice your opinion. Send letters to the Collegiate Times. All letters must include a name and phone number. Students 365 Squires Student Center must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include Blacksburg, VA, 24061 position and department. Other submissions must include opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com city of residence and relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.

disrupted all momentum that I had gained over the course of the semester and now I’m inching towards the end of it like a sad snail. Do I actually have a solution? No; blame it on the burnout. I am just a whining baby who spent nine days, which felt like months, in the serene and still comfort of a maternal bubble separated from reality.

I have since emerged into the light, crying and confused, feeling like I am learning again for the first time.

ALEX PICADAS • junior • multimedia journalism

COLLEGIATE TIMES NEWSROOM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9865 Editor-in-Chief: Ashley Long (editor@collegiatetimes.com) Managing editors: Emily Hannah and Isabella Rossi Design editors: Celina Ng and Heather Trobridge Copy editors: John McBride and Tori Walker News editor: Tahreem Alam Lifestyles editors: Emily Carter and Breanna Knotts Sports editors: Davis Carbaugh and Robby Fletcher Assistant sports editor: Claire Castagno Opinions editors: Donya Momenian and Lexi Solomon

Social media editors: Will Bower and Miller Farley Multimedia editor: Katie Dillon

Have a news tip? newstips@collegiatetimes.com BUSINESS STAFF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9860 Business manager: Abby Setash (business@collegemedia.com) MEDIAMATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 888-897-7711 collegiatetimes.com/media_kit/ orders@mymediamate.com

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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 Tuesday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. 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, 2019. 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.


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PAGE 4 December 10, 2019

news collegiatetimes.com

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VTTI receives $15 million in grants for research The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded VTTI two grants to research automated driving systems. BEN WALLS news staff writer

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute will receive two grants, totaling $15 million, from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to research automated driving systems (ADS), a collection of recent technological advancements in consumer and commercial vehicles, and highway public safety. Virginia Tech has received these awards from a combined pool of 73 university, city and state applicants. Described as huge by the VTTI, USDOT’s large, inclusive and extensive program will allow Virginia Tech “to be part of the leading edge (for ADS),” said Rich Hanowski, director for VTTI’s Center for Truck and Bus Safety to VT News. ADS is a billion-dollar investment made possible by the automobile industry and certain mobility providers like Uber and Lyft. These investments improve the safety, in addition to the conveniences of adaptive cruise control, lane-change

assistments and blind spot protection, of automobile transportation that takes an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 lives annually. In a future transportational job market, ADS’s main focus is to create a driving industry that is short on drivers. Ultimately, ADS may eliminate drivers in the job market, but drivers are still necessary for safety concerns. The grants will further safety, answer the questions of how ADS should manage the vehicle itself and how ADS should react to situations that can be prevented. “There’s a lot of question marks about how automated driving systems will deal with things like police on the side of the road, first responders, if they’re dealing with a crash, and we’re trying to come up with solutions that will allow everybody to operate safely, and it’s very important that we bring them together to look at ways to standardize how the automated driving systems will react to these solutions and come up with technical solutions that can be deployed nationally,” said Michael Mollenhauer, VTTI director for the Center for Technology Implementation to

VT News. USDOT’s Automated Driving System Demonstration Grants program makes these monetary awards possible. Funding was awarded to a combination of eight American universities, cities and states as said in a September press release. The eight combined city, state and university organizations will collectively total $60 million in grants awarded by USDOT to further the concerns in transportational safety, security and privacy. “Automation has the potential to impact safety significantly — by reducing crashes caused by human error, including crashes involving impaired or distracted drivers, and saving lives,” said USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao. “New technologies like automated vehicles create exciting opportunities, as well as some challenges, and there is no better place to hone our understanding of these issues than the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute,” said Virginia Senator Tim Kaine in a press release. “From auto safety testing to road design to the incorporation of new technology

sports

into our transportation network, VTTI is the gold standard, and these grants will go toward research that will incur long-term benefits for the Commonwealth and beyond.” VTTI had other successes in the past as it pioneered strategic highway research programs and naturalistic driving research which identified events on the road and analyzed how dangerous the situation is to the driver or any passengers, like cell phone use in a vehicle. Today, VTTI awaits further development from automated research, and Mollenhauer expressed that the institute will have more information available as developments continue.

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Duke takes over in second half to defeat Hokies After a strong start, Virginia Tech stuck with the Blue Devils for most of the second half until offense started to crumble. ROBBY FLETCHER sports editor

Virginia Tech had its second tough task against a top-10 team this season, and while the first game was coach Mike Young’s team at its best, today could be considered more of a wakeup call. Despite a strong first half from the Hokies, it was the Blue Devils who stepped up late in the game to win a big road game at Cassell Coliseum. The 77-63 victory was Duke’s first win at Cassell since 2015.

The Hokies jumped out to a hot start in the first six minutes of the game as they outscored the Blue Devils 15-8 before the first media timeout. Forward Landers Nolley was fantastic in the opening stretch with two quick buckets and a gorgeous pass to guard Tyrece Radford that led to an easy layup. They were good on the other end too, forcing two quick turnovers and forcing the Blue Devils to rely on their outside shooting to get points on the board. While Duke would recover on the offensive end, Tech still found success

scoring for the rest of the half, with eight players getting on the scoresheet. Most notably, Radford finished the half with eight points despite averaging just 6.5 points per game this season. Radford’s high-level effort inside the paint was key for the Hokies, and his contributions were what helped the Hokies go into the half up 41-38. In fact, the whole team played well in the paint; the Hokies outscored the Blue Devils 26-18 with Nolley and guard Wabissa Bede combining for 13 points inside the paint. Bede had arguably his

best game of the season, scoring 12 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go with five assists and four rebounds. Tech’s momentum from the first half carried over into the second half with two quick layups from guard Nahiem Alleyne and Horne that led to a quick timeout from the Blue Devils. That timeout paid dividends as Duke went on an 8-2 run before the next media timeout. Following the timeout, freshman Wendell Moore would give Duke its first lead since its was 3-2

DUKE / page 5


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way to victory. “I thought they got under his chin. I don’t think he handled it well,” coach Young said. “He’s a good player and he’ll get better with that.” Duke managed to win its second of two tough games this week, the first against No. 11 Michigan State, to improve to 9-1 on the season. Though it struggled to find their groove early in the season, it appears Coach Krzyzewski’s team is finally coming into its own. The Hokies now move to 6-3 on the season after three consecutive losses. While they certainly got outplayed in the second half, there were enough flashes in the first half that show that this team is a work-in-progress that is worth watching.

from page 4

just two minutes into the first half. Moore would score a quick layup and add two from the charity stripe to make it a 50-49 Blue Devils lead with 11:40 left to play. From there it was all Duke, who outscored Tech 26-14 after it took the 50-49 lead. Moore would score eight of his 12 points during that stretch. Guard Tre Jones would add 15 points, most of which came from his deadly mid-range game. Coach Young said that preparing for a player of Jones’ caliber was a tall task going into the game. “He is a mean dude defensively,” coach Young said. “I found myself this week in our preparation trying to figure out how I could eliminate him. Just get him out, take his match over here. That’s easier said than done.” Tech’s offense grew stagnant during the stretch, and when the turnovers started to pile up, frustration took over. Nolley picked up a Flagrant I that would lead to easy points for Duke, who was well on its

December 10, 2019 PAGE 5

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Wabissa Bede (3) evades Duke’s defense, driving the ball toward the net. The Hokies would ultimately fall short against the Blue Devils, losing 77-63, Dec. 6, 2019.

@CTSportsTalk

Virginia Tech defeats Purdue by double-digits Late game runs gave the Hokies their fifth consecutive win in the women’s ACC/Big Ten Challenge and start win streaks. CLAIRE CASTAGNO assistant sports editor

Virginia Tech (7-1) welcomed Purdue (6-2) to Cassell Coliseum for their matchup as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Dec. 5. The Hokies have beaten their Big Ten opponents the last four matchups in the challenge. Tech ended up winning 67-54,thanks to some strong late-game shooting. The Big Ten won the challenge 7-6. “I thought we had some stretches throughout the game that showed what we can be,” said coach Kenny Brooks. “This one will bode well for us in the future, learning and just trying to form our identity, and anytime you can win while doing that is always a good thing.” Both teams came to play in the first quarter and were aggressive on defense and under the basket to secure rebounds. Virginia Tech often forced the Boilermakers to shoot late in their possessions and forced shot clock violations. Guard Dara Mabrey and forward Trinity Baptiste both contributed six points, and Mabrey made her 100th career 3-pointer. At the end of the quarter, the Hokies led

LIAM SMENT / COLLEGIATE TIMES Taja Cole (5) launching up for a layup in the fourth quarter, Dec. 5, 2019.

Purdue 20-13. Purdue was quick to cut down Tech’s lead in the second quarter with a 10-2 scoring run and they trailed by one. Baskets from Mabrey and Baptiste gave the Hokies a bit of breathing room. With three seconds to go in the half, a technical foul was called on Baptiste and a free throw from Karissa McLaughlin put the Boilermakers within two points. Turnovers proved to be an issue for Tech. The Hokies totaled nine and Purdue

scored 10 points off those lost possessions. It remained a close game in the first half of the third quarter, despite the Boilermakers not making a 3-pointer so far in the game. However, the Hokies went on a run at the end of the quarter led by five points from guard Aisha Sheppard. Tech outrebounded Purdue 11 to 5 and scored eight second-chance points. The score was 51-44 going into the fourth quarter. In the final six minutes, Virginia Tech picked up the scoring and maintained

a double-digit lead. Sheppard was the difference for Tech in the second half; she scored 15 points in the second half and totaled 17 in the contest. “She’s so used to not being a focal point,” Brooks said about Sheppard. Brooks had a one-on-one conversation with Sheppard during a timeout in the fourth quarter to remind her that former player Taylor Emery is not on the floor anymore, meaning that Sheppard must hustle harder to get open shots. Mabrey and Baptiste also scored double-digits for the Hokies. Mabrey shot for 17 and Baptiste had 13. “You can see through spurts of the game how good this team can really be. If we play the way Virginia Tech knows how to play, then it’s going to be really hard to stop us,” Mabrey said. Up next, the Hokies will take on Gardner-Webb in Blacksburg on Dec. 8. ACC play tips off Dec. 29 against Florida State.

@CTSportsTalk


PAGE 6 December 10, 2019

editor@collegiatetimes.com

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Booked and busy: Sights and sounds of Newman Library this finals season Loud noises, sorority girls and engineering students type away for the “A.” Choose your seat wisely. CAREY OAKES

lifestyles staff writer

The snow flurries that welcomed us back from Thanksgiving appropriately signified the inception of finals season. While the campus is becoming more inhospitable with bitter, winter winds, it

Fin

is a paradox that it becomes more crowded — most sp e c i f ic a l ly New m a n Library. From the regulars who’ve inhabited the building since the beginning of the semester to those who equate studying to eating while on your phone in front of your notes, Newman houses all the students who hope to do well on their exams this semester; their methods for getting there , however, are all very different.

Those who play on their phones, eat and equate those activities to studying You know them. For some reason, they always have headphones nearly triple the size of their ear. Maybe that’s why they seem to be chewing so loudly; their state of the art, noise-canceling headphones prevent them from hearing the sounds of their bites. As they dunk their hands into the depths of their brown paper bag, they may glance at their notes once or twice. Much of the time, however, you can spot t hem with

als

Groups working on class projects that don’t appear to be getting anything done at all Quite often one of the loudest groups in the library, such a strange mix of individuals could only have met in class. Each individual speaks rather enthusiastically considering they most likely don’t know each other all that well. The only times they’ve spoken to one another was in the two

Newman Library, Sept. 12, 2018.

minute period before class began, but you can bet that they all act like they know each other as if they were roommates. It’s quite a miracle that any work gets done at all.

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second in decibel level to none other than the sorority sisters who tend to sit in groups of 10 or more. You might recognize them decked out in their letters with at least 10 colored pens organized parallel to their MacBook, a Hydro Flask and a color-coded agenda. Newman’s regulars irritated with the students who seem to have come out of hibernation for finals season You’ve never seen someone so disciplined. These individuals seem to have their studying down to a science. They’ve been here since the beginning. They know what to do. Just when you think you’ve caught them slipping to take a break on their phone, they’re actually only pulling up Canvas so that they don’t disrupt their order of tabs on their laptop. Newman’s regulars know the library and its inhabitants so well. The network of students they know here is extensive; they get up from their desk only to consult a fellow regular about course material. They wander from table to table often without looking up from their paper; they know where everyone is to the square

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their phones turned sideways playing some sort of phone game. Maddy Martin, a sophomore majoring in human nutrition, foods and exercise, recounts one time she saw this type of student. “One time I saw someone playing Super Smash Bros. out loud; their volume was literally all the way up,” Martin said.

Sorority girls equipped with colorcoded school supplies The groups working on projects are

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inch. How disrespectful for the newcomers to take the seat and disrupt their “workflow.”

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The student who feels it necessary to hoard an entire booth to his/herself “I hate when someone takes up a booth when it’s just them,” Martin said. Nothing is more frustrating than to walk through the library’s second and fourth floors scouring for a table only to see a lonesome student typing on a laptop that takes up 15% of the tablespace.

Engineering students with their heads craned an inch away from their paper Their laptops give away their identity. Engineering majors often coincide with the Newman regulars; their faces are either buried in their laptops or an inch away from the table. Their work is an organized chaos that makes anyone shy away from their general space so they don’t disrupt the process. Finals season is stressful whether you’ve been studying for months or only a few hours. If you find yourself in Newman in the next few days, take a look around. Realistically, you probably fall into at least one of these categories. Regardless of where you fall, finals don’t discriminate; it’s going to be a rough couple of weeks regardless, so good luck. @CollegiateTimes

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES


editor@collegiatetimes.com

December 10, 2019 PAGE 7

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It’s the most stressful time of the year: Take care of yourself this week Know the difference between positive and negative stress and the resources available to manage it.

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

The entrance of Cook Counseling Center, April 11, 2019.

JULIA FRANCIS

lifestyles staff writer

Finals season is without a doubt the most stressful time of the semester. With the semester coming to a close, becoming overwhelmed with final exams, projects and papers doesn’t come as a surprise to students. Experiencing certain levels of stress and anxiety surrounding exams is normal, but can easily become unmanageable if not cared for. Being able to manage and care for yourself is key for regulating these stress levels. Here are a few tips and resources on how to care for yourself during this finals season. First, being able to recognize the kind of stress you’re experiencing is an incredibly important step in self-care. “There’s positive stress, which is eustress, and there’s negative stress, which is distress,” said Swathi Prabhu, mental health initiatives coordinator at Hokie Wellness. “If the stress you feel helps you feel like you want to do it, and it makes that challenge seem surmountable, then that’s a positive level of stress.” Negative stress can be identified by feeling the need to disengage or as though the stressor is too overwhelming to be faced. “If it makes you feel like you can overcome it with effort, that’s a great level of stress. Because we all need a little bit of stress in order to get us to put in effort for things,” Prabhu said. When the stress becomes too overwhelming, there are tools for managing it. Prabhu recommends self-care activities to incorporate into long study sessions such as

having a meal with a friend or FaceTiming a family member. “You don’t have to take a two-hour yoga class,” Prabhu said. “There are little things that you can do throughout your day that are genuinely going to really significantly improve your stress levels during finals.” Self-care doesn’t have to be confined to a face mask or working out; it can be anything. Self-care is most effective if it is incorporated into a routine and is practiced in a mindful way. Being in the moment is

the semester by Hokie Wellness include workshops focusing on teaching students skills to bounce back from stress stronger and healthier. The Koru Mindfulness retreat, focused on promoting mindfulness and wellness in young adults, is also offered throughout the semester. If you’re looking for quicker sources of stress-relief on campus, there are several events aimed specifically toward just that. On Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cook Counseling and several other organiza-

“Finding what makes you feel more

relaxed and sticking to that practice of mindfulness is essential to relieving stress in a healthy and efficient way. a fundamental part of practicing self-care. “A lot of the time when students are doing self-care or any time when someone is doing something to take care of themselves, their brain is somewhere else,” Prabhu said. Finding what makes you feel more relaxed and sticking to that practice of mindfulness is essential to relieving stress in a healthy and efficient way. Another misconception about self-care is that it is only necessary during times of significant stress. In other words, during finals. There are certain self-care practices that you can learn during finals, says Prabhu, but for maximum effectiveness it should be practiced regularly and in preparation of high-stress events. Resources that are offered throughout

”

tions are hosting a Finals Extravaganza in the McComas Hall lobby. Students have access to snacks, crafts, meditation stations and therapy dogs during this event to alleviate some of the stress related to upcoming finals. At Squires Student Center, Student Engagement and Campus Life is hosting Study at Squires, a four-day event designed to give students a relaxing study space during this stressful time. Study at Squires will be held Dec. 12, 13, 15 and 16 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. “Squires is transformed into this giant study space,” said Margie Christianson, communications manager for Student Engagement and Campus Life. “We put out extra tables and chairs. We have relaxation

de-stress items put out. Every night at 8 we’ve got coffee and snacks out by the welcome desks for students to just enjoy and kind of help boost their spirits as they’re studying during exam weeks.” In addition to providing a study space and snacks, organizations including SiriusXM, Foxridge, Pawsitive Partners, Rec Sports, New Student Programs and Hokie Wellness have contributed to the event with various de-stress activities. These activities include making a stress ball, yoga and time with therapy animals. Hokie Wellness will be running an eating meditation, which Prabhu describes as “a five-minute guided audio that guides students through how to do a mindful eating. We provide chocolate or raisins as an option, and they can just sit and take a five-minute break.” Regardless of how many finals you may have, taking time for yourself is necessary for overall well-being. Whether it’s by calling a friend, exercising or mindfully eating, even a small amount of time dedicated to self-care is better than none. If you struggle with finding a self-care practice that works for you, take no shame in taking a nap. It’s self-care. Happy finals, Hokies.

@CollegiateTimes


PAGE 8 December 10, 2019

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Eat your way through finals: Study snacks to reward yourself with Cookies, carbs and comfort food around campus that makes studying for finals a little sweeter. NICOLE TUTINO

lifestyles staff writer

Exam season is rolling around once again. The anxiety, tears and late-night study sessions before the end of the semester are picking up speed. While finals can be a stressful time, a reward system might be a helpful incentive to buckle down and study. Try rewarding yourself while you study and between exams with a treat, particularly in the form of food. Depending on the amount of exams you might have per day, you might find yourself studying for multiple exams at one time. Don’t worry — the perfect, savory snacks are waiting for you. Try walking over to Dunkin’ Donuts in Hokie Grill to pick up a special holiday coffee. With the balance of caffeine and holiday cheer, you can hopefully manage to stay awake and prepare for your exams. You deserve to reward yourself for studying, so why not make it coffee? If you are not a fan of coffee, try making your way over to Deet’s Place, Burger 37 or Chick-fil-A. The dining locations listed have a selection of milkshakes to counter the heat of the library or your desired location for studying. Packed with sugar, the milkshakes should serve as a comparable option in place of coffee. At Chickfil-A and Burger 37, you have the opportunity to pair a sweet, cold milkshake with salty, mouth-watering french fries. “I like to take study breaks to go get ice cream at Deet’s Place to keep my energy up,” said Erin Kaplan, a freshman international relations major. As always, Au Bon Pain, located in Squires, the Graduate Life Center and Goodwin Hall, has goodies to fulfill your hunger while studying. Pick up a few bakery items to reward yourself during your study sessions. For a limited time, Au Bon Pain is serving gingerbread cookies and raspberry filled shortbread cookies, which could help you also get in the holiday spirit. After you finish reviewing a chapter or mastering a concept, take a small break to eat one of your delicious snacks. With an incentive in place, you might find studying more enjoyable and easier to focus on the material. “When I am studying, if I ever get hungry, I go to ABP or DX every time

without missing a beat. I’ll either get mozzarella sticks from DX or a mac and cheese from ABP,” said Katie Smith, a senior human development and psychology double major and leadership and social change minor. “And if I’m really feeling myself, I’ll get a two tomato caprese sandwich with BBQ chips from ABP. The caprese sandwich hits hard every time — so yummy.” Also, after each exam — treat yourself. Dunkin’ Donuts also has a wide variety of donuts, including a seasonal holiday brownie crumble donut. Pair a donut of your choice with a steaming cup of hot chocolate (original, mint, salted caramel, Dunkaccino or Oreo) and take some time to bask in your study-free time. “As a senior, I don’t have a meal plan, so eating on campus tends to really only consist of buying coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts,” Smith said. “When I finish taking an exam, the first thing I do is fast walk my a** home and lay in bed for the next decade.” If you’re in a hurry to study for another exam after you finish taking one, scan the grab-n-go options in each dining hall. Some dining halls, like West End, have chocolate covered strawberries for a sweet reward before you move on to cram for your next exam. Additionally, if you are on the academic side of campus, stop at Turner’s grab-n-go section to grab pre-packaged chocolate chip cookies or brownies for a quick snack. Picture this: your legs are aching from sitting in the library, the screen of your computer is blurring your vision and your eyelids are becoming heavy. Walk a few minutes off campus downtown to Sugar Magnolia. With a menu filled with an array of goods from truffles to homestead creamery ice cream to fulfill your sweet tooth, Sugar Magnolia can be the perfect off-campus destination to take a short, deserving break. With the holiday season approaching, consider sending a treat in the form of popcorn, chocolate or candy to a friend also suffering from exam week. Sugar Magnolia offers delivery of these food items for a small fee. Although, if you’re stuck in the library, in your dorm or off-campus housing and are in lack of sugary goodness, you’re in luck. Popular late-night options include cookie delivery companies. Campus

Cookies is open until 1 a.m. from Sundays to Tuesdays and until 2 a.m. from Wednesdays through Saturdays. During exam week, Campus Cookies is having a special as well. If you order nine products from the baked goods section, you have the opportunity to add three chocolate chip cookies for free. However, the deal ends Dec. 15, so you may want to reward yourself during your earlier exams. Similarly, Insomnia Cookies is open until 3 a.m. every day. Both cookie places serve ice cream to top off a warm, gooey cookie. With the delivery option of both companies, you can have an easy access to cookies and ice cream while you work hard studying late. Especially if you are studying with a group of friends or finish

an exam with your classmates, order a dozen cookies or so and split the cost for an enjoyable reward. Whether you are a freshman taking college exams for the first time, or a senior possibly finishing their last semester, studying for exams can still be a rough time regardless of year. So, make sure you reward yourself here and there with delicious treats that Virginia Tech and Blacksburg have to offer as exam week begins.

@CollegiateTimes

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Students wait in line at Hokie Grill, Oct. 1, 2019.


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