TECH LABORATORY FINED $18,950 FOR ANIMAL ABUSE
Erin Bailey | News Editor
Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! (SAEN) filed complaints against Virginia Tech abusing laboratory animals.
Federal regulators fined Virginia Tech $18,950 for seven violations of the Animal Welfare Act from Feb. 4, 2021, to July 5, 2023 according to NRVNews. Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! (SAEN) recorded complaints of the laboratory breaking the act and contributing to animal suffering.
A report released by the United States Department of Agriculture states if Virginia Tech pays the fine, the university will enter into a settlement agreement “Tech puts on this facade of being an
animal-friendly school,” said Rose Potter, a senior majoring in political science with a legal studies concentration. “I have always loved how animal-loving the school is, so when I randomly discovered this, I was shocked they don’t have to admit to the abuse by paying the fine from the legal perspective.”
If Virginia Tech pays the fine, they will not have to confirm or deny the alleged violations.
Officials found the following according
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to the report:
- Feb. 4, 2021, Gottingen pigs were used to study traumatic brain injury. Six pigs were used in the procedure and two of the six pigs survived the testing.
- June 29, 2021, officials discovered an overweight cow that was diagnosed with heat stress.
- March 3 to March 8, 2022, a six-day old piglet died suffering from prolonged starvation due to the facility removing the piglet from the mother.
- July 26, 2022, several hamsters participating in a study were left with skin lesions in their abdomen area.
- Sept. 30, 2022, a trainee drawing blood from a hamster used too much restraint resulting in the euthanization of the animal due to the hamster being non-responsive.
- Jan. 9, 2023, the laboratory failed to perform routine checkups on a piglet’s weight despite protocol requiring routine weight checkups.
- July 5, 2023, researchers found two gerbils dead and euthanized a gerbil with an illness.
“I am angry that no one is really talking about this,” Potter said. “I live on a farm and some of the issues Tech is having could easily be fixed. I hope they start following policies and get workers the proper training they need to take care of the animals.”
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A cow sits in a eld near New Castle, Virginia, Oct. 7, 2023.
ELECTION SEASON 2024: THE RACES ON VIRGINIA’S BALLOT
Jonathan Mususa | news staff writer
Learn about the 2024 election candidates, from congressional district positions to the US presidential seat.
The general election slate for 2024 has been largely finalized after primaries across Virginia took place on Tuesday, June 18.
In the fall, voters in the Commonwealth — including those registered to vote in Virginia Tech’s three on-campus precincts — will head to the polls for the presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House elections.
Here is a look at the contests that will be on Virginia Tech’s ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
President: Joe Biden (D-incumbent) vs. Donald Trump (R)
In a repeat of the 2020 presidential election, incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden will face former Republican President Donald Trump amid voter concerns regarding the economy and Trump’s criminal conviction status.
Having carried the Commonwealth by a margin of 10 points en route to winning the White House in 2020, Biden will attempt to do so again. He campaigns on themes such as lessening the effects of inflation, protecting abortion rights and keeping Trump, who he has described as being “worried about preserving his freedom” at a June 18 McLean fundraiser, from a second term.
“Some of the main issues in this race revolve both on policy related issues, like protecting reproductive rights, the economy, immigration, protecting democracy, the Israel-Palestine conflict, etc. and on personal factors,” said Virginia Tech Young Democrats Vice President Anthony Nguyen in a statement to the Collegiate Times, highlighting the organization’s plan to “emphasize Biden’s positive record helping the American people while also highlighting the dangers of a President Trump.”
Though Trump lost in Virginia to Hillary Clinton in 2016 and to Biden in 2020, Republicans’ success in winning the races for Governor, Lieutenant Governor
and Attorney General in 2021 has given supporters of the former President hope for a competitive contest in the Old Dominion.
“I think Virginia is in play,” said Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin in an interview with Fox News Radio’s Guy Benson last month. “Let’s just remind ourselves: Joe Biden won Virginia by 10 points in 2020. I ended up winning by two the next year. What we’ve demonstrated is commonsense conservative policies work and Virginians appreciate that.”
Virginia is expected to lean slightly in Biden’s favor, but a recent poll from Fox News shows Biden and Trump tied, each with 48% of respondents saying they would vote for them.
US Senate: Tim Kaine (D-incumbent) v. Hung Cao (R)
Virginia voters will also be voting in a Class I election for the United States Senate, as Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine of Richmond faces Republican nominee Hung Cao of Purcellville.
First elected to the Senate in 2012, Kaine was re-elected in 2018 and is looking to serve his third term in office. Among the primary themes of his campaign are support for abortion rights, affordable healthcare, investing in economic development and supporting the military.
“I’ve been standing up for Virginians for 40 years as a civil rights lawyer and public servant representing my city, Commonwealth and country,” Kaine said in a statement released on primary night. “You know I’ll stand for you because I always show up for you.”
After losing in a close race for Virginia’s 10th congressional district against Democratic incumbent Jennifer Wexton in 2022, retired Navy captain Cao was long considered a frontrunner for the Republican nomination, receiving Trump’s nomination and winning the primary with 61.7% of the vote.
“President Trump and I will win in
November, we will secure the border, we will protect Social Security, and we will save America,” Cao said in a statement released after his primary victory. “I spent twenty-five years fighting for this country, and I’m not done.”
In an April 2024 poll conducted by Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research, 48% of respondents said that they would “definitely” or “probably” vote for Kaine, with 36% saying they would do the same for Cao.
Virginia’s 9th congressional district: Morgan Griffith (R-incumbent) vs. Karen Baker (D)
Voters in the 9th district, which includes much of Southwest Virginia, will be choosing between Republican incumbent Morgan Griffith of Salem and Democratic nominee Karen Baker of Floyd.
First elected to the House in 2010, Griffith is seeking his eighth term in office. Endorsed by the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee and conservative Campaign for Working Families, Griffith’s campaign has emphasized implementing fiscally conservative policies, fighting the opioid crisis and opposing illegal immigration, among other policy priorities. His campaign website touts his “traditional Southwest Virginia values–hard work, belief in God and the importance of serving your neighbors.”
A retired civil rights lawyer and registered nurse endorsed by the National Organization for Women, Baker has long been the sole candidate in the Democratic field since she announced her candidacy in late April.
“Karen Baker is working nonstop to meet people and listen to the concerns of communities all over the 9th district,” said Montgomery County Democratic Committee chair Gretchen Distler in an email to the Collegiate Times. “Her opponent is out of touch with people in the district and has done very little for the people living in our area.”
The 9th is expected to be a safe Republican district, with Griffith having been re-elected with more than 60% of the vote since 2012.
OPINIONS MORE NECESSARY THAN YOU THINK; READING IS A CRUCIAL PART OF LIFE
Alyssa Nazigian | Opinions editor
Students should consider picking up a leisure read when textbook season arrives.
Looking back to elementary school, many might remember the reading challenge offered through “Accelerated Reader.” You would read a book, take a quiz on its contents and get points for your achievement — the pressure was on. Posters down the halls encouraged stacking up points or cheered about the Scholastic Book Fair, an event everyone looked forward to each year. There was endless time to read, and each choice promised adventure after adventure. But then middle school came and there was less time to relax. And after that, high school and reading’s place was almost entirely isolated to your English classes, with impending assignments and old, dragging passages snuffing out all enjoyment.
Losing interest in reading is something many students experience; even within the English major here at Virginia Tech, there is a lot of exhaustion. Often in a collegiate setting, the end goal of reading is to get a good grade on your assignment or follow along in class. Many students are just hoping to get by, not digest and savor the contents of the assigned pieces. However, it’s important to reassess the place of reading in our lives. There are completely valid reasons many do not factor reading into their daily routines — not everyone has the time to fit a 450-page novel into their day. However, there are other books, and other means of consuming them, that make the benefits of reading more worthwhile to consider.
One of the most notable benefits reading offers is strengthening the ability to think critically. The phrase “critical thinking skills” is mentioned a lot in the age of social media, when everyone is swimming in new waters and trying to keep up with the rapid advancements in communication. Information is spread at increasingly fast rates, so being able to slow down and more clearly process the
information coming across your feed is crucial. Reading does just that; it creates a setting to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
When witnessing how characters work through the predicaments that come into their lives, you are placed alongside someone as they evaluate the issues in their lives and navigate accordingly. Reading subjects you to a different perspective and requires you to sift through new information and problems as they come at you and the characters. When reading, you learn and strengthen your critical thinking skills and can apply them in your daily life.
Reading also offers health benefits. So often, when we are laying around, our natural inclination is to pop onto our phone and scroll social media. However, scrolling stimulates your brain, which can keep you up for hours longer than you wish. And the blue light from your phone adds to these issues because of its damaging effects; blue light is harmful to the eyes and can throw off your circadian rhythm, your body’s internal clock.
Instead of twisting over in bed and grabbing for your phone, picking up a book will not only remove some harm from scrolling, but will also provide you with some benefits. Reading before bed has been known to consistently relieve stress, and, overtime, improve the quality of your sleep. And for some people, where night is harder to sit in due to overwhelming emotions, reading offers a safe distraction. It also builds memory retention. Reading, by engaging multiple senses such as touching, seeing and smelling increases recall abilities and overall comprehension.
The most obvious, but not least important reason to integrate more reading into your life is the entertainment it offers. Many gravitate to movies for entertainment, but that annoying phrase, “the book was better than the movie,” might
hold some truth. So many classic tales have started out as novels or full-length series. “Jurassic Park,” “The Godfather” and the recently successful, “Dune,” all had beginnings as books. Books offer so much dimension and time to sit within a world that the experience you take away can be infinitely more personal than a 2-hour film or 8-episode series. Providing a more in-depth experience, in this regard, is uniquely literary. And when it comes to your favorite shows and movies, getting more of what you love couldn’t be a bad thing.
There are many ways to start building up your library. Some people love the experience of holding a book in their hands and experiencing a tangible element to the story. As mentioned earlier, many senses are being stimulated when you read; feeling the grain of the paper or smelling the glue in the spine adds an interesting element to your reading experience. But for many, audiobooks are the entry back into the literary world. Like the benefits podcasts offer, audiobooks provide entertainment and education on a busy day; you can turn on whatever you want to listen to and go about doing chores, driving to work or any other activity that you can’t sit for. And with brands like Spotify, Apple Books and, of course, audible offering auditory versions of countless novels and stories, you won’t have a hard time finding the books that are right for you.
A good book is good company, and when you’re reading, you’re entering a larger conversation that’s been going on, quietly, for years. There’s a reason schools have been encouraging any and all kinds of reading since we were children, reading fundamentally impacts our ways of navigating life. Its benefits are clear and undeniable. Do yourself a favor and go out searching. Find what books work for you and then keep going. Enjoy a good story,
experience a new perspective, and let yourself receive all that reading offers.
LIFESTYLES EXPLORING LIBRARY RESOURCES TO THE FULLEST
Mollie Coogan | lifestyles writer
Among the many amenities available to students on campus, Newman Library may be one of the most useful.
Newman Library: a beautiful, yet foreboding structure that some students may have trouble approaching and exploring all of its offerings. It is a spectacular study space for classes, but more than that, it is a hub for knowledge and community. Below are a few—but by no means all—of the resources available to students and faculty.
Check out books and media
Newman Library offers a wide selection of reference books, textbooks and recreational media like other books and movies. Loans from the library typically last for 30 days, but extensions can be given to students depending on the type of item that has been borrowed. Interlibrary loans are available for certain titles, in partnership with university libraries from across the country. Borrowing policies are available online.
Equipment rentals
University Libraries offer equipment rentals for electronics and accessories such as microphones, laptops, cameras, board games and much more. The Studios Technology Lending Desk is located in Torgersen Bridge. Students can make their equipment reservations online, and then go to the desk to pick them up. Reservations may last up to a week.
Ask a librarian
Librarians are equipped to answer any sort of questions related to the offerings of the University Libraries. With their Ask a Librarian feature, getting guidance
pertaining to library services and book offerings is easier than ever. Experts are also available on the second floor of Newman Library for students needing on-site assistance.
Many of the best experiences on campus require students to ask questions, and the offerings of the library are no exception. To learn about other helpful resources, visit the University Libraries website.
MOVING IN: TIPS, TRICKS AND HOW-TOS FOR YOUR FIRST DAY ON CAMPUS
Mollie Coogan | lifestyles writer
The first hurdle of college presents itself before classes begin here’s some advice on conquering move-in day.
You’ve done all the work. Your classes are picked, your dorm is reserved and you and your roommate will finally see each other in person in Blacksburg. As you arrive, whether by plane, car or train, you’re feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. You’re finally in the land of the Hokies, but now what?
Many of us at the Collegiate Times understand that the first day at Virginia Tech is approaching fast. It can be hard to fully grasp that, once bags are unpacked and posters are put on the wall, you’ll be an independent, full-fledged Hokie on campus with no parental or guardian supervision. Before any of this happens, however, it’s crucial to understand how to conquer your assigned move-in day. With some preparation, use of good resources and a lot of patience, moving in can be an exciting experience that you can look back on fondly.
Before you move in
A successful move-in day at Virginia Tech can only happen with proper preparation. While it may seem especially tedious, it is crucial to understand the schematics and layout of your residence hall when you get to campus. If you’re moving into a larger residence hall with multiple floors, be cognizant of what room essentials you’re bringing as larger items can become increasingly difficult to carry up flights of stairs. Additionally, understanding your move-in time and where to check in for move-in is essential for a smooth experience. Be sure to access the Residential Experience website to find information on base room layouts, what your hall has to offer and what quad you may be located in. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with what you may need to bring to your residence hall, but remember — you’re living with another person. Hence, it’s paramount that you communicate with your roommate before you move in. Learn when their move-in time is, what they may be bringing to your dorm and how you can share the room with them if your move-in times overlap. By establishing where you
and your roommate are in terms of these actions, moving in will be smoother and more efficient for all parties involved.
During move-in
The day has come — you’re moving in. Before you can jump straight into the deep end, be sure to follow all previously communicated official Virginia Tech notices. Follow the “You’re In ...Now What?” portion of the Residential Experience website to certify that you’re bringing all required items. Additionally, parking on move-in day will be rather congested. You and all of your future hallmates will be trying their best to cram into the same location. Most residence halls can be accessed by surrounding parking locations either on designated street markings or in lots. Having the ParkMobile App on standby is a great way to ensure that parking will be a breeze, which allows users to find a spot on campus and pay a small fee to park in a premier location.
Once you’re inside your residence hall, it’s crucial that you gain a general idea of what the room has to offer before hanging up your favorite poster of that one musician or sports team. Take a couple of minutes to understand where different plug outlets are located in order to set up your devices or appliances in the most efficient way possible. Be sure to utilize the Move-In Checklist to find the essentials for a good residence hall experience.
After move-in
“Now what?” is a very common question new Hokies may be asking themselves once their loved ones have left Blacksburg. You’ve got the whole campus in front of you, but it may feel like all you want to do is jump back in the car and return home. First things first: take a deep breath. You’ve done the work and earned the wonderful privilege of being a Hokie for the next four (or more) years of your life. Soak in that feeling — you made it.
In the residence hall, one of the easiest
ways to feel more at home is to leave your door open. I have fond memories of meeting some of my closest friends simply because they walked into my dorm during the first days of residence hall life, or vice versa. Keeping your door open invites others into your space, which may spark a conversation about that musician or sports team poster you hung up 20 minutes ago. Additionally, introduce yourself to the Student Leader on your floor. They are an excellent resource to learn about the campus, Virginia Tech’s history, academic buildings, what dining halls are best, and other information.
Outside of the residence hall, find ways to explore the campus you’ll be living on for the near future. Find the iconic Drillfield and War Memorial Pylons. Throw a frisbee next to your hall under the Blacksburg sunset. Take a stroll through downtown Blacksburg, home to outstanding restaurants like Green’s, G2, Bollo’s and Cabo
Fish Taco, which was just voted Best Restaurant by Hokies and locals alike. Blacksburg is yours — take advantage of it. There’s a quick turnaround time between move-in day and the first day of classes, but live in the moment. You’re officially a full-time student at one of the finest institutions across the nation, surrounded by some of the most passionate people in the world. Congratulations!
COURTESY OF DANA STUARDI Dorm Room in West Eggleston, Oct. 10, 2017
PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST CLASSES
Aidan Mason | lifestyles writer
While gearing up for classes can be intimidating, some simple tips may help you get ahead.
Coming to college can be stressful and yet exciting at the same time. Every student has a different set of expectations and dreams for their schooling at Virginia Tech. For everyone, classes are one of the most important parts of the college experience. For most, passing them is necessary to graduate. As such, it is important to be prepared for your next set of teachers and subjects before the first day in order to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Walk your route
It is uncommon for two students’ schedules to be identical and the freer nature of scheduling means that most students will have a different route throughout the day. Because of this, you might want to walk your schedule before classes actually start to ensure that you are ready for the big day. It is important to remember that classes are no longer in the same building anymore. There are dozens of buildings on campus that hold many classes within their halls. Make sure that you can
make it from class to class on time and have a general idea of what materials you will need at any given time. That way, you can optimize your schedule and guarantee you will have plenty of time to get to where you need to go.
Look up your textbooks and syllabus
Unlike in grade school, most college classes will not have an “easy week.” The level of work varies from class to class. Many classes will hit the ground running. Some even look at their textbooks on the first day. Being caught off-guard is rarely a good thing and that is just as true when it comes to education. Similarly, take a glance at your syllabus. Many classes will have a detailed list of what is coming up for the next few weeks. There may even be assignments that you can get ahead on, saving you time and stress later in the year.
Determine the size of your class
“Size matters not” is an oft-quoted phrase from “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” but
unfortunately that does not apply here. Each class is just as meaningful regardless of the size, but there are differences in how the class will be run. Smaller classes tend to require more participation and closer relationships with your professors, while larger classes will have more people studying the same subject and a greater amount of potential peer collaboration. Some classes will be more lecturestyle, while others will be more hands-on. Figuring out what kind of class you will be in will be extremely helpful for your semester career. It can help you figure out the kind of studying you will need to do for the class, as well as the amount of effort to put in and the hours you will need to succeed.
Connect with people in your class
If you know people in your class from your time in high school or other activities, make a connection. Having a study buddy is always great, even better if they are someone who has already taken the class before. If you do not know anyone in your class,
meeting people on the first day is a great way to make friends and encourage study groups. An additional benefit to this is mental wellbeing. New things can be scary and even going to school for 12 years beforehand will not prepare you for everything that college has to throw at you. Knowing people can make the situation much less stressful and easier to adjust.
Relax
Classes can be stressful. But the most important thing to keep in mind is that a restful mind can help you in your studies just as much as a study session. Remember, college is a big part of your life and while it is important to be studious, it is also important to have fun and learn more about yourself as you journey into your adult life.
@COLLEGIATETIMES
DEAR FRESHMAN, LOVE SENIOR
Emelia Delaporte | lifestyles editor
Lifestyles section editor Emelia Delaporte delivers the third installment of her yearly letter to the incoming freshman class.
Dear Freshman,
Hello! Welcome to the third in a series of letters that I’ve been writing for the past couple of years under the lifestyles section at the Collegiate Times. The CT is the student-run newspaper at Virginia Tech, your new home. We hope you love us as much as we love you; students are the essence of our being and the inspiration for all that we do.
I’m here to share with you some wisdom and advice that I gathered across my third year as an undergraduate in Blacksburg. My sincere aim is for you to get some comfort from these words. Your time here has the potential to be your best years yet and you deserve the confidence to live them to the fullest.
If you’re still in search of advice after you’ve finished with this letter — check out my letters to the class of 2026 and the class of 2027 as they went into their freshman years. They discuss roommate relations in dorms, making friends, getting involved in clubs, time management, spicing up your degree program with an academic minor and more.
Service
Virginia Tech’s motto, as you may already know, is “Ut Prosim” (That I May Serve). There are many opportunities to serve while you’re in college. The Big Event and Relay for Life are two of the most popular service events the Blacksburg campus has to offer. Other events like the Big Plant, Hokies for the Hungry and Greeks Giving Back also exist, amongst others.
Service also presents itself in less conspicuous opportunities. You can volunteer with research, local animal shelters, food pantries and so much more. For many of us in high school, racking up service hours was a way to make our college applications stronger. Now, we have the chance to really give back — unselfishly.
Academic electives
I’ve talked before about diversifying your academic experience by adding minors and even another major. While many of us will follow degree paths that don’t allow the flexibility to add additional programs, there’s a
higher chance that you will have the ability to take a fun elective.
If you are only going to give yourself one exciting new subject to study, picking just one option can be daunting in the face of how many classes Virginia Tech has to offer.
One way to narrow down your choices can be to pick a subject that you have been interested in pursuing that is distinct from your major. Or, something that you would have never considered before.
At VT, undergraduate students are granted three pass/fail grades that can be applied towards classes not required for your degree program. This is perfect for any elective that you want to try but not let impact your GPA. I used a pass/fail for a dendrology class. I greatly enjoyed the course and wouldn’t have been able to take it otherwise, given that I very narrowly passed. Since then, I have signed up for classes on dairy cattle handling and rock climbing.
There are a lot of options here. Take advantage of them.
Getting to know your faculty
I have heard time and again as peers go to apply for graduate school and jobs that they do not know who to put down as a recommendation. For various reasons, they did not get to know any of their professors or instructors well enough.
These connections can be made in a number of ways. Attending office hours is a good way to get additional help with assignments. It can also make you recognizable in classes that may have hundreds of students. Asking frequent questions in class and regularly contributing to discussion can also set you apart from the crowd.
With some effort, not having recommendations can be avoided — and the relationships formed can be delightfully rewarding. A couple of my favorite people whom I have met in college have been my teachers. Semesters after having taken a singular class with my favorite journalism professor, we still get lunch or coffee once or twice a semester to catch up. These mentoring and advising opportunities are priceless.
Virginia Tech also has a Dine With Faculty program, where a student may take a professor to D2 or Owen’s. The professor
eats for free.
The
great outdoors
Coming to Virginia Tech provides a gateway to Southwest Virginia and the Appalachians in a way that is overlooked by many students. Whether or not you already enjoy being out in nature, there are recreation opportunities for individuals of all comfort and skill levels.
For planning your own adventures, there’s a wealth of internet resources on regional hiking, camping, water sports and more. If you prefer a more organized outing, the Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech, a student organization, and Venture Out, the university’s recreation program, both frequently lead trips.
Some unique spots in the region include Natural Bridge State Park, Devil’s Marbleyard, the Great Channels of Virginia and so many more.
First year experience
Like I’ve said for the past two years — every freshman year is unique. It will be an intensely personal experience and you are likely to learn things about yourself that you may not have ever thought about before.
College has a way of turning your life a little upside down. If you chase after what you want and try new things, it may be just as exciting as you’ve ever dreamed.
Hang along for the ride —at the end, it will have been worth it.
Love, Senior
SPORTS
FANS ARE THE FUEL TO FOOTBALL IN BLACKSBURG
Thomas Bray | Sports editor
Here is what to expect around Virginia Tech football season.
Fall is football in Blacksburg, Virginia. Surrounding businesses adjust their hours of operation and Virginia Tech’s passionate fan base transforms the small college town into a sea of maroon and orange on every game day. However, being a Hokie involves more than simply rooting for them.
HokieNation is the Sun to the Milky Way Galaxy, the spark plugs to the engine, Saul Goodman to Walter White’s robust operation.
The fact is the Hokies’ storied football atmosphere is nulland void without the people who don’t take snaps, the fans. That said, here is what goes into being a part of that on the big day.
The anticipation starts early. Most fans, including the student-body, often rise with
the sun to prepare for the big day. Tailgating at Virginia Tech is an all-day affair. By mid-morning, the campus and surrounding areas are filled with the aroma of charred hot dogs, alcohol and whatever else that can be put on a grill.
It’scommonplace to see tailgate spreads with local favorites like turkey legs, BBQ and plenty of beer. Cornhole boards, football tosses and the occasional spike-ball setup keeps energy high as fans of all ages await kickoff.
Another cherished pre-game tradition is the Hokie Walk. Fans line the street from the team’s bus to Lane Stadium, cheering on the players and coaches as they make their way inside. It’s a moment of unity where fans cheer, and the team feeds off the crowd’s energy.
As kickoff inches closer, fans make their way into Lane Stadium, known for its deafening atmosphere. The stadium fills with excitement, amplified by the traditional entrance song, “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. The crowd’s almost synchronized jumping and roaring creates a hectic environment for visiting teams and an exhilarating experience forsupporters.
During the game, every first down, big play, and touchdown is met with cheers. The chants of “Let’s go Hokies” echo throughout the stadium. Halftime offers a brief lull but is also a chance to enjoy performances by the Virginia Tech Marching Virginians orfind theporta-potty.
After the game, the Hokie
energyremainshigh. Fans often return to their tailgates or local bars and restaurants. Win or lose, the sense of community and shared experience is what defines being a Hokie. Being a fan during football season is about more than just supporting a team. Many compare it to being part of a family. It’s a day filled with tradition, excitement and a deep sense of community.
From early morning tailgates to the electric atmosphere that is Lane Stadium, every moment is a testament to the passion of Virginia Tech fans. Whether experienced as a student, alumni or lifelong supporter, the impact remains forever.
@CTSPORTSTALK
A RECAP OF EVERY VIRGINIA TECH TEAM’S 2023– 24 SEASON
Sam Mostow | Sports EDitor
Here is a refresher of how the Hokies fared last year.
Hello, Hokies! Whether you’re new to Blacksburg or returning, welcome to Virginia Tech! In case you’re a sports fan or otherwise just want a refresher, here is a recap of how every sports team did during their 2023–24 season.
FALL
Men’s cross country
The Hokies finished 11th at the ACC Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, scoring 312 points. Declan Rymer was the team’s first finisher, crossing the line in 58th place with a time of 24:25.2 in the eight-kilometer run.
Women’s cross country
At the same ACC Championships, they finished 10th with 267 points. Lindsey Butler crossed first in the six-kilometer race — placing 31st with a 20:44.8 time — after moving up three places in the last leg.
Football
After starting 1–3 and bottoming out with a loss to Marshall, the Hokies — behind transfer quarterback Kyron Drones — turned it around. They salvaged a 7–6 record, highlighted by a blowout win at rival Virginia and a Military Bowl victory.
Men’s soccer
Some strong wins — over No. 5 Louisville — and tough losses — to Radford — highlighted an odd season for Virginia Tech. It relied on a young core, including freshmen Oliver Roche, Marcos Escoe and Noe Uwimana, in its 4–9–4 campaign.
Women’s soccer
Virginia Tech finished eighth in the conference and failed to qualify for either the ACC or NCAA Tournaments for the first time since 2017. Natalie Mitchell scored nine goals, but no other Hokies player scored more than three.
Volleyball
The Hokies started 10–0 and swept through the Virginia Tech Classic, marking the best start in program history. Then, they went 3–16 the rest of the way, including a 3–15 conference record. Still, the start showed some promise and marked a sign of progress in head coach Marci Byers’ rebuild.
WINTER
Men’s basketball
Virginia Tech beat some good teams — including Sweet 16 participants Iowa State, Clemson and NC State — but couldn’t win on the road; it went 2–10 away from Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies missed the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season, although they made it to the second round of the NIT. Don’t bother learning most of the names on last year’s team, though; five entered the transfer portal after the season.
Women’s basketball
The Hokies reached nearly the highest of — regular season — highs and then the lowest of lows. They went on a 10-game winning streak, reached No. 5 in the national rankings and hosted ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of Senior Day. One week after that, three-time ACC Player of the Year Elizabeth Kitley suffered a torn ACL, which derailed any chances to replicate their 2023 Final Four run. The team lost in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and, two days later, head coach Kenny Brooks accepted a job at Kentucky.
Men’s swim and dive
The team finished ninth at the NCAA Championships in March, tying the program’s other best-ever finish in 2023. It set school records in the 200-medley relay, 200-freestyle relay, 400-medley relay and the 400-free relay.
Women’s swim and dive
The Hokies finished 26th at the NCAA Championships and earned two All-American honors. Caroline Bentz placed
seventh in the 200 backstroke, marking their highest finish of the year.
Wrestling
Get used to hearing “Caleb Henson” and “national champion” in the same sentence. He won Tech’s second ever wrestling title after defeating Michigan’s Austin Gomez in the 149-pound weight class. His championship followed Mekhi Lewis’ 2019 title in the 165-pound division.
SPRING
Softball
The Hokies had the pitching depth they lacked a year ago — relying on a mix of Emma Lemley, Lyndsey Grein and Emma Mazzarone — and their offense hit a schoolrecord 115 home runs across the season. Still, baffling losses to NC State, Syracuse and Georgia Tech down the stretch derailed their chances to host an NCAA Regional as a top-16 seed, and they dropped in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
Baseball
It started so well and ended so poorly. Tech won its first four ACC series — with a 21–5 overall record — and was in prime position to host an NCAA Regional. Then, it faced more competitive pitching from conference opponents Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina and Virginia, and quickly faded out of the postseason picture with each passing game.
Lacrosse
Tech continues to make progress towards being competitive in the ACC, the strongest lacrosse division in the country. Olivia Vergano led the team with 38 goals, while Paige Tyson followed her with 30.
Men’s golf
Individually, Kobe Valociek and Daniel Azallion were Tech’s only top-five finishers, after Valociek won the Steelwood Collegiate
on Oct. 27 and Azallion came in second at the Palmetto Intercollegiate on March 3. The team finished fifth at both of those tournaments.
Women’s golf
The team finished eighth in the ACC Championship and third in the NCAA Cle Elum Regional this spring. Morgan Ketchum won the Schooner Fall Classic in September, marking Tech’s only win of the season.
Men’s tennis
Virginia Tech ended its season with a 10–11 record and a second-round loss in the ACC Championship to Florida State. Ryan Fishback earned his third consecutive All-ACC nod after his ranking rose to as high as No. 56 in the country.
Women’s tennis
The Hokies advanced past Louisville to the second round of the ACC Championship but ended their season after a 4–0 loss to Miami. Their season finished with a 9–13 record.
Men’s track and field
The men’s team finished second in the ACC Outdoor Championships, totaling 102.33 points. The ACC named Judson Lincoln IV as its most valuable performer, after he accumulated a tournament-high 31 points and scored first in the 400-meter, 200-meter, and 4x400-meter relays.
Women’s
track and field
The women’s side notched 63 points, good for seventh in the conference. Victoria Gorlova finished first in the triple jump and earned an All-ACC First Team nod. Longtime coach Dave Cianelli, who led both the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field programs, retired after the season ended and will be inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame this fall.
THE HOKIES STOPPED HAMMERIN’: 2024 VIRGINIA TECH BASEBALL
Dylan Tefft | sports editor
Virginia Tech baseball collapsed from a surefire top-25 team to missing the NCAA Tournament.
It was March 30, 2024, and Virginia Tech baseball looked like the premier ACC squad that it thought it should be.
The Hokies had just eked out a 6–5 win against Pitt, a game where some late-game small ball awarded Tech its seventh-straight series win. It hadn’t dropped a series yet and achieved sweeps over ACC foes Boston College and Notre Dame.
The win would earn the Hokies a season-high national ranking of 11, and they planned to climb higher. Spirits in the clubhouse were at a high not seen since the 2022 squads 45–14 campaign led by Drue Hackenberg and Gavin Cross.
Next up on the Hokies’ schedule was No. 21 Wake Forest, a formidable foe to be sure, and Virginia Tech’s first true test. But the “Hammerin’ Hokies” were formidable too, backed by a nickname fitting for a team whose power hitting consistently put winning runs on the board. A team like that could handle the Wake Forests, the Dukes and the North Carolinas of the world.
Or so they thought.
It was the night of May 22 in Charlotte, North Carolina for the ACC tournament.
Virginia Tech was utterly thwarted by No. 12
NC State 9–19 in its final chance of the season to be anything more than a stepping stone for a proven in-conference powerhouse. With a loss to the Blue Devils the night before, the Hokies had gone 0–2 in the tournament, a final pair of failed tests against the kinds of high-profile teams that Tech once thought it was.
The aforementioned “test” series against Wake Forest? Virginia Tech was swept by a combined score of 12–24.
“It’s truly not close at all to the rest of the competition that we’ve played this year,” said Virginia Tech head coach John Szefc following game one of that series.
The Hokies were still confident in themselves, and they had every right to be. Even the best teams go through skids.
Unfortunately, the skid seemed eternal.
The Hokies dropped the next series 2–1 to Georgia Tech, including a game where the Yellow Jackets walloped them, 19–0. They managed a 2–1 win in 11 innings over Duke during the next series, but ultimately lost that three-gamer 2–1 as well. The gentleman’s sweeps continued with North Carolina and Miami, and then the regular ended with a cherry-on-top loss to UVA in a season-closing
sweep.
Spots of relief came when Tech got the opportunity to play weaker out of conference teams in mid-week matches and a late season series against Ohio, but a May 8 loss to Liberty where Virginia Tech allowed 13 runs proved that the Hokies weren’t golden there either.
The Hokies have no choice but to look forward, but it’s difficult to avoid the question: What happened?
To many fans, the answer is clear. The pitching wasn’t anywhere near where it needed to be for Tech to compete. Those fans wouldn’t be wrong, as none of the Hokies’ starters managed a season ERA lower than Griffin Stieg’s 4.70, and that’s not to mention a bullpen that struggled to hold leads when starters managed to provide them.
The problem goes farther than the pitching staff, however. If you set out to find specifically why the Hokies stopped losing, then a colossal drop-off in offense is just as much a culprit as the defense, if not more.
When Virginia Tech was winning early in the season, the pitching staff was just as rough around the edges as it has always been, but the bats were always there to make up for it.
Take an early March series sweep against
Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish scored 16 points in the series, including an eight-run series finale. The Hokies could stomach this because they scored 32 runs in the series. Again, they allowed 16 runs to Louisville in the next series but scored 26.
Once high-profile ACC squads with MLB-bound pitchers such as Wake Forests’ Chase Burns came to Blacksburg, Hokie Hammer appearances became increasingly rarer, and wins along with them. Hokie pitchers also allowed more runs to these teams’ upgraded batters, but this was to be expected.
Now, the script was flipped on Virginia Tech, and the Hokies’ series often looked like the one against Georgia Tech, where VT’s 18 points across the series was rendered negligible by the Yellow Jackets’ 31.
Despite this, Virginia Tech will try not to dwell on the “whys” of last season. Next year, the team will hope to prove that it’s exactly what it thought it was on March 30, 2024.
JACK NEWELL / COLLEGIATE TIMES
The Virginia Tech Hokies and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons exchange high fives at the end of the game, April 7, 2024.
STANDOUT SNAPSHOTS FROM BROOKS, KITLEY AND AMOORE’S TIME IN BLACKSBURG
Thomas Bray | sports editor
As
the women’s basketball program turns the page, let’s reflect back on the program’s recent success.
As a new group of incoming first-year students arrive in Blacksburg, so does a new era of women’s basketball. Over the last three years, Virginia Tech’s women’s basketball program grew to national prominence largely because of then-head coach Kenny Brooks and the duo of Georgia Amoore and Elizabeth Kitley.
Following a wire-to-wire 75–72 loss to then-No. 19 Baylor in the NCAA tournament’s second round, Brooks accepted the head coaching position at Kentucky. Amoore followed him to Lexington in the transfer portal shortly after. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Kitley, despite an ACL tear late in the season, was drafted by the Las Vegas Aces with the 24th pick, marking the end of an era for Virginia Tech’s standout trio.
That said, here are some memorable moments from their time together.
Hokies erase a 12-point deficit to knock off No. 23 North Carolina in the 2021–22 season.
After falling victim to a 71–46 drubbing in Carmichael Arena earlier that season, Brooks and company got the Tar Heels again, this time in Cassell Coliseum. Early on, North Carolina jumped out to a 21–9 lead, largely because of some Virginia Tech turnovers.
After the first quarter, the Hokies finished the game 10–20 (50%) from three, and their defense began to buckle down on the Heels. After their 21-point first quarter, they shot just 30 percent from the field over the final three quarters.
The 66–61 victory was the Hokies’ second AP Top 25 win in Blacksburg that week. The back-to-back victories over ranked ACC opponents earned them their highest ranking in the Brooks era up to that point. They rose to 23 in the AP poll and finished the season 16th.
Amoore and Kitley push the Hokies to the first Final Four in program history in the 2022–23 season.
After a double-digit loss to then-No.
16 Duke in late January, Virginia Tech went on to win 15 consecutive games that included a dominant run in the ACC Tournament, outscoring opponents by 55 en route to the first tournament title in program history.
In their Elite Eight matchup, Amoore and Kitley led the team in scoring, but Amoore’s brief exit late in the second quarter scared the Hokies’ fanbase. The Australian guard returned moments later and finished with 24 points, including a big three-pointer to end the third quarter.
The Hokies ended the third quarter on an 8–2 run, and they never relinquished it in their 84–74 win over then-No. 12 Ohio State.
Cassell Queens conclude the final regular-season home game with College Gameday in the 2023–24 season.
On a celebratory day for Virginia Tech, the Hokies clinched a share of the ACC regular-season title by defeating North Carolina 74–62. This was the program’s first College GameDay appearance, and Virginia Tech became the first ACC women’s basketball team to host College GameDay.
It was also senior day for a group that brought women’s basketball in Blacksburg to new heights.
The Hokies dominated the first quarter with a 19–2 run led by Matilda Ekh’s three triples. North Carolina’s Deja Kelly finished with 25 points, but Virginia Tech never lost control of the game.
front of just over 1,500 people two years prior, the Hokies beat the Tar Heels by 12 in front of a sold-out crowd.
Early that morning, fans converged on Cassell Coliseum, making signs, and celebrating senior day. They saw the Hokies clinch a share of the ACC title, a fitting tribute to the storied group that elevated the program to national prominence.
The arrival of new head coach Megan Duffy ushers in a new chapter for Virginia Tech women’s basketball, closing the era defined by Brooks, Amoore and Kitley.
The trio left behind unforgettable moments for Hokies’ fans.
As they move on Brooks and
Amoore to Kentucky, and Kitley to the WNBA the foundation they have laid serves as evidence of how bright women’s basketball can shine at a school known for its football program.
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Amoore shone in the second half, scoring 14 points in the third quarter, and the Hokies held a comfortable lead throughout.
Coach Kenny Brooks praised the game-day atmosphere, noting the significance of College GameDay’s presence.
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“We talked about this, but it was unimaginable that (College) GameDay was going to be here ... I don’t know who wrote the script, but it was pretty doggone good,” Brooks said.
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