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November 10, 2026
NEWS
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THE LOCAL PROVIDES STOREFRONT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWING SMALL BUSINESSES Mary Katherine Brost | News Writer
The Local features small businesses in Blacksburg. The Local, a new shared commercial space designed to help small businesses, opened Oct. 14 in downtown Blacksburg. The space is located at 414 N. Main St., the former site of Cook Cleaners. The storefront is owned by Downtown Blacksburg Inc. and currently operates Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The storefront currently holds six participating businesses: Moon Hollow Coffee, The SWVA Shop, The Stray Shop, Pedestrian, Kinfolk and Millei Collective. The store also holds five Micro Shops that focus on regional startups, rotating every 2-6 months. According to retail operations manager Allison Geneser, each business applied and was chosen by an advisory board committee. The committee prioritized
businesses that had never operated a storefront and had a clear business plan. Moon Hollow Coffee occupies the front of the store, offering customers seating and an area to enjoy menu items. Options include espresso drinks, coffee, tea, matcha and baked goods. The menu also offers signature beverages and seasonal flavors, such as pumpkin and s’mores. Founded by two Virginia Tech graduates in 2019, The SWVA Shop occupies the first small nook of the storefront. Its merchandise includes Virginia Techlicensed apparel, such as hats, sweatshirts, shirts and stickers. The Stray Shop sells cat-themed merchandise, including artwork, apparel and stickers. The shop also supports animals
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in need by donating 10% of its sales to animal-related causes. Pedestrian, a shoe shop owned by a Virginia Tech alumna, sells shoes specifically for walking on campus, hiking, trails and nature walks. Customers receive individual fittings based on their footwear needs. Toward the back of the storefront, Kinfolk offers men’s apparel and lifestyle items. Millei Collective showcases different artists and their crafts. Including pottery, homemade candles, handmade decor, textiles and leather goods. Everything in the storefront highlights Virginia-based art. In addition to featuring small businesses, The Local provides resources for visitors interested in the surrounding community. A bulletin board near the entrance highlights local events and town information. Pamphlets and travel brochures displayed on the wall near Moon Hollow Coffee also provide visitors with information and activities in Blacksburg. Geneser said the goal is for each business to graduate from The Local after about one
to three years and open its own storefront. This would create opportunities for more emerging businesses to utilize the space and gain experience operating a storefront. For more information, visit the website to view the businesses and join the community newsletter.
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RESULTS OF MIDTERM ELECTIONS
November 10, 2026 PAGE 3
Cleo Dobson | News Writer
Virginia saw all three amendments to the state constitution pass.
Photo Courtesy of The Guardian
The federal government saw major changes on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as a blue wave swept across the country. The Democrats won a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, turning over seven seats in the Senate and 42 in the House. Change also came about on a local level, where Montgomery County’s special elections have potential impacts on Virginia Tech students. The terms “red wave” or “blue wave” are used to describe elections where either the democratic or Republican parties see major victories spread across the entire United States. In the case of the 2026 midterm elections, the Republican Party failed to maintain its hold on both the Senate and the House, and there was a democratic shift throughout federal and state governments. In Virginia, the incumbent Sen. Mark Warner D-Va. secured his fourth term as senator with 61.2% of the vote, beating his challenger, Bert Mizusawa R-Va. Nine out of 11 Virginia districts reelected incumbent representatives. This includes District 9, home of Montgomery County, which reelected the incumbent representative, Morgan Griffith R-Va., for his ninth term.
District 1 and District 2 were the only Virginia districts to elect new representatives. In District 1, Shannon Taylor D-Va. beat incumbent Rob Wittman R-Va. with 51.1% of the vote. Wittman had held the seat for two decades and was running for his eleventh term. In District 2, Elaine Luria beat incumbent Jen Kiggans R-Va. with 53% of the vote, unseating Kiggans after two terms in office. As for Montgomery County’s special elections, Tim Andrew Brown D-Va. beat the interim sheriff, Robert G. Page, R-Va., for the position of sheriff. Brown’s policies will directly impact the Blacksburg police as he intends to invest in new training and promote accountability and professionalism across Montgomery County. All three amendments to Virginia’s constitution passed, which will protect reproductive freedom and women’s access to birth control, the right to marry for gay and interracial couples and restore the right to vote to Virginians post-incarceration. With two Democrats winning over seats in the House, Virginia further secured its position as a blue state, with an 8-3 majority in the House, two
democratic senators and a democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, who was inaugurated in January. Virginia was far from the only state to have seats flip during midterms. Republicans lost their majority in nine states across the country, including in Republican strongholds like Texas and Kansas. Senate seats flipped in seven states so far, including Maine, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Texas, Kansas and Iowa. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives were on the ballot, and Republicans, who previously held 218, have lost at least 44. Democrats flipped seats across the country, with the most notable changes occurring in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Kentucky and Colorado. The Democrats now hold a majority of 253 seats, which is the largest House majority the Democrats have had since 2008. Gubernatorial elections were held in 36 states and three territories and saw changes as more than five states switched dominant parties. Democratic governors won in Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Nevada and Georgia. This secured Democrats the majority of state
governors for the first time in over 20 years. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed D-Mich. has become the country’s first elected Muslim senator after winning against Mike Rogers R-Mich. In Georgia, Keisha Lance Bottoms D-Ga. beat Rick Jackson R-Ga. and became the country’s first elected Black woman governor. In New Hampshire, Chris Pappas D-N.H. became the first openly gay male senator by defeating John E. Sununu R-N.H. with 55.9% of the vote. Two Native American women from New Mexico and Minnesota made history in this election. Deb Haaland became the nation’s first Native American woman elected governor as she defeated incumbent Greg Hull R-N.M. by 14% of the vote. This is one of Deb Haaland’s many firsts, as she was also the first Native American to hold a cabinet secretary position in U.S. history and one of the two first Native American women elected to Congress. Peggy Flanagan D-Minn. beat Michele Tafoya R-Minn. and became the first Native American woman elected Senator. The vote has yet to be called in Alaska, but Mary Peltola D-Alaska may join her as Alaska’s first Native senator if she unseats incumbent Dan Sullivan R-Alaska. There were many historical changes on the state level. Including Wisconsin, Nevada and Florida all electing their first Black governors; California and Texas electing their first Latino governors; and Ohio, Minnesota and Tennessee electing their first female governors. The Senate race in Alaska and Mississippi and the gubernatorial race in Alaska have not been called yet.
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LIFESTYLES VIRGINIA TECH GROUP EXERCISE: HELPING HOKIES LIVE HEALTHIER
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Alex Rottkamp | Lifestyles Staff Writer
Stay active with a variety of fitness classes from VT Rec Sports. With the fall semester in full swing, Hokies are busier than ever; classes are getting more intense and schedules are filling up as a result. During this time, it can be easy for a student at Virginia Tech to disregard certain aspects of their life to focus on schoolwork. According to William Simon Jr., physical health is a common aspect of life that can be forgotten during this busy time. Even with these expert opinions, many college students skip going out for a walk to stay in and study. Even going to the gym can take away from valuable studying time. There are many benefits to staying physically fit, with many research studies confirming the importance of staying active. The CDC conducted a study on the aspects of physical activity in college-aged students. They concluded, “research shows that physical activity levels decline significantly after high school, with many young adults failing to meet recommended guidelines. Because habits formed during this time persist into adulthood, promoting physical activity is vital for reducing the long-term burden of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.” These findings express the importance of staying fit in college since it can help students prevent health issues in the future. Virginia Tech is aware of this need for exercise, and provides many exercise resources for its students who don’t have much free time in their schedules. One of these resources is VT Recreational Sports, which includes Virginia Tech’s Group Exercise and Personal Training department. It’s a great way for students to work exercise into their busy schedules, with instructors who guide students toward their goals. More students need to know that Group Exercise is a program that can fit their needs to make their daily lives healthier at Virginia Tech. Group Exercise To accommodate every Hokies’ needs, VT Rec Sports has many different group
exercise classes that can give everyone a structured workout. They offer 130 classes weekly in over 10 different formats, which helps their classes fit into everyone’s different schedules. Out of these 10 formats, a standout class offered is F45. Its classes provide functional training for 45 minutes, where instructors will guide the class through a circuit of cardio and weight training activities. There are a plethora of times to choose from each weekday, which helps this 45-minute activity fit nicely into a busy lifestyle. Many activities are offered, such as yoga, cycling, cardio dance, BODY PUMP, barre and many various Pilates classes. The wide range of options makes it very easy for any Hokie to get what they want out of VT Rec Sport’s Group Exercise. Personal trainers Alongside their group exercise classes, VT Rec Sports offers personal training. There are instructors in both War Memorial Hall and McComas Hall on campus who are ready to help Hokie students improve in their exercise journeys. Having a trained staff guide Hokies in their wellness journey could be very beneficial to students trying to get an introduction to the fitness world. The personal training also offers assessments to give students a baseline for all their athletic goals. With all these one-on-one opportunities for improvement available at VT, anybody can feel comfortable improving their health. Programs available to everyone Juliet Garrigan, the assistant director of fitness at Virginia Tech, commented on the intensity of VT’s fitness programs. “We instruct all of our instructors and coaches to be able to teach to all levels. We say that we have no specific advanced classes on our schedule,” Garrigan said. “All our coaches should know how to modify and be able to offer the best workout to everybody possible for wherever they are at their fitness levels.” She emphasized how Virginia Tech is
extremely accommodating for everyone who uses its fitness services, which will allow all Hokies to get the best out of VT fitness programs. The main point is that there is no pressure in these programs, and they only want to see Hokies grow no matter where they are in their fitness journey. “This is the cheapest you’re ever going to find group exercise. The minute you walk off this campus, the cost of our full group exercise pass could be the cost of one group exercise class at a boutique studio,” Garrigan said. “Your student fees help us put these group exercise classes and spaces together. I know that there is a fee associated with group exercise, but we do offer free weeks for people to come try it out.” Everything costs money these days, especially college itself. Students shouldn’t let the cost of VT fitness programs hold them back from becoming the best version of themselves. The services they offer can greatly improve many students’ experiences at Virginia Tech. Alongside that, the free weeks VT offers are another way for Hokies to try out their services. “The first week of every semester group exercise classes are always free, and it’s the same thing with finals week. If you’re looking to try something before you buy, zone in on our free weeks,” Garrigan said.“There’s also special events we put on that are group exercise specific, which are usually free as well. I truly do think that this is the cheapest group exercise you’ll find.” The fact that Virginia Tech has so much to offer in the fitness world is encouraging to students who want to become involved. The students who participate benefit greatly from these opportunities. Hokies concerned about the prices can attend the free sessions during the first and last weeks of the semester. VT Rec Sports will also be putting on special events soon, like partner yoga and line dancing, which will be free to anyone who is interested. VT fitness programs ultimately want students to have the best
wellness experience possible while they are in school at Virginia Tech, so Hokies can be the best versions of themselves.
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MORE THAN A DANCE FLOOR: HOW ONE MAN HAS REDEFINED NIGHTLIFE Benjamin Gozzi | Lifestyles Staff Writer
Take a look at the story and inspiration behind Blacksburg’s newest bar. There’s a sense of familiarity on most trips to downtown Blacksburg. From sticky floors like an adhesive to the ground below, to lines stretching what feel like miles down blocks which twist and turn to an unfathomable length, to shoulder-to-shoulder movement like sardines, there are so many factors that play into a college night out. One who might have experienced the roller coaster of downtown may ask themselves, “Does it always have to be like this?” Olaika answers that question. The newest entry into the mythos of the downtown Blacksburg experience, Olaika, arrived on the scene after more than three years of development Oct. 15. Behind Latin American-style, marble flooring, under hanging chandeliers and a menu that boasts crowd favorites with never-before-seen food and drink selections, Blacksburg’s newest nightlife experience has arrived in a big way. Olaika is the brainchild of Sebastian Villena, a 2024 Virginia Tech graduate in the major of business administration and management who brings years of experience in the restaurant industry to the newly opened project. Since graduating, Villena’s career has wound through several avenues, none more prominent than his ownership of both Olaika and The Burg Resto-Bar, also known as The Burg, which opened in 2023. Villena began ideating Olaika in the same year that The Burg opened, spending the first of three development years on establishing the look and feel of what was to come. “The first year or so was focused on developing the concept: traveling, visiting venues, studying the market, comparing prices, holding focus groups,” Villena said. “(It was about) understanding what would work in Blacksburg.” A two-year process of demolition, construction and remodeling would quickly follow the exploratory research that Villena had completed. Navigating through the tidal wave of permits, licensing and working with suppliers behind the scenes was a journey that featured its fair share of trials and tribulations. “The design, kitchen, bar, sound, lighting, staffing, and approvals all had to come together before we could welcome
people,” Villena said. “It took longer than we originally hoped, but opening the doors after all that preparation was a very meaningful milestone.” The journey to open Blacksburg’s newest happening spot was multifaceted. Alongside the physical establishment, Villena had to coordinate the technical and aesthetic elements, including inspections, equipment, staffing and practical details of the bar itself. All of the efforts were compounded by Villena’s own responsibilities, including another business in Blacksburg and projects in other college towns. “Making time for my family, my relationships, and my personal life alongside those responsibilities was challenging,” Villena said. “It taught me a lot about patience, communication, resilience, and trusting the people working with me.” Much of the inspiration for Olaika was driven by exactly what and who continues to support the bar owner — his family. A native of Peru, Villena imbued a personal touch into almost every aspect of the bar, including the menu, the drink selection and even the location’s name itself. “Olaika has been my nickname for many years back home in Peru. It’s what many of my friends and family call me affectionately, so the name carries a personal connection to my history, my culture, and the people closest to me,” Villena said. “Olaika” also reminds Villena of the calm, easygoing feeling one associates with surf culture, as the owner is an avid surfer himself. Choosing the name for the business felt natural “because so much of the concept is personal to me,” Villena said. Identity is perhaps the most noticeable pillar in both the concept and the execution at Olaika, but it’s not just the Peruvian native who brought his own with him. Olaika stands to serve as a celebration of the identity of Blacksburg, honoring the students that energize it, the residents who support it and the alumni that continue coming back. “A big part of our identity is the architecture, aesthetics, and art (of Olaika),” Villena said. “We have hand-painted artwork created by Virginia Tech students, Virginia Tech alumni and local artists, which brings pieces of this community’s
New bar in Blacksburg, Olaika.
creativity and story into the space.” That same identity was also expressed outside of the bar’s four walls prior to opening. Continuing in its mission to add something new to the Blacksburg area, Olaika recruited a plethora of individuals — including university students — to launch the Olaika Ambassador Program. This group is a cohort of team players who worked to not only promote the bar itself but also to inform its most crucial decisions. “They help us stay aware of what’s happening at the university and around Montgomery County, what people are interested in, and what kinds of experiences they want,” Villena said. The overarching goal of the program is to serve as an exchange: Ambassadors introduce others to Olaika, and Olaika continues to value feedback and ideas for community-driven experiences. “That feedback helps shape what we offer,” Villena said. Further, Olaika cemented itself as a can’t-miss presence with weekly short-form videos before Oct. 15, most of which appeared on the bar’s Instagram account. These videos, which racked up over one million views across six entries, helped to establish Villena’s vision in the
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROANOKE TIMES
minds of locals and students within the community. Villena was surrounded by his family, and many traveled from Peru to watch the ribbon be cut at Olaika’s grand opening on Oct. 15. The experience, which served as “the most meaningful moment so far” in the short history of Olaika, was something the Tech graduate will never forget. “Seeing so many people I love and care about together in a space we had worked on for years was an incredible feeling. They had seen different parts of the journey, and being able to share that moment with them meant a lot,” Villena said. “It was honestly one of the most beautiful moments of my life.” There are many more beautiful moments to come, but for Villena, Olaika serves as a love letter to a community that has loved him right back. “I came to Blacksburg as a Virginia Tech student, and this community became my second home,” Villena said. “Knowing that something we built can become the setting for a friendship, a celebration, or a memory someone keeps is very fulfilling.”
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COMFORT IN THE COLD: THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS THE SEASONS CHANGE Isabella Ingrao | Lifestyles Contributor
Keep winter blues at bay with these final fall highlights. As the weather gets crisp and cool around Virginia Tech, hues of fall settle in around campus and welcome the university’s arguably best season with open arms. As the days get shorter and finals season looms, it is important to have things to look forward to before the final push until the incoming holiday season. Friendsgiving Although there may no longer be visits to the pool or warm walks outside, there are still plenty of ways to keep busy and enjoy quality time with friends, or alone, while at school. As November trickles on and Thanksgiving nears, hosting a Friendsgiving is a perfect way to spend time practicing gratitude with friends before potentially returning home to visit family. Even a simple meal filled with loved ones or chosen family
can make all the difference in uplifting spirits. Outdoor activities Not only can meals like Friendsgiving be an intentional way to spend time with others, but so can staying active together. Before the weather turns from crisp to freezing and the trees are completely bare, consider popular hikes near campus, such as Dragon’s Tooth, Bald Knob Trail or Cascades Falls.
What to watch Cozying up to watch your favorite show with friends never fails. The Dancing with the Stars finale approaches on Nov. 24, but watch parties can still be cherished weekly. Several movies also have release dates toward the end of November. “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping” comes out on Nov. 20, along with “How to Rob a Bank” and “Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol,” which are both set to release in theaters on Nov. 13.
Upcoming sporting events With the close of football season, the UVA vs. VT home game approaches as the perfect rivalry to round out another Hokie football season. Additionally, basketball games begin and are the perfect way to get more involved as a Hokie fan.
Fall foods In terms of food in the late fall, changing menus and warm, hearty meals make a notable appearance. The Starbucks winter menu came out Nov. 5, and local restaurants Feather Bone Provisions & Assembly and 622 North have introduced their seasonal
menu additions as well, specifically with creative fall drink menus. Warm soups such as butternut squash, tomato, cheddar broccoli and chicken noodle regain their popularity. Pumpkin, apple and autumn harvest flavors are especially popular in grocery stores during this time as well. As preparations for Thanksgiving begin, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, turkey, cornbread, stuffing and cranberry sauce are all staple delicious meals that blend in with the season. In addition to these activities, there is still Thanksgiving break and the start of the holiday season around the corner to look forward to as the weather gets colder and students get busier.
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OPINIONS
THE BLUE WAVE Jack Duenas-Bonham | Opinions Columnist
Great responsibility lies in the hands of Democrats, we hope they follow through. As a transfer student from the University of Nebraska, I often hear the misconception that the whole state is Trump country and filled with radical right-wing Midwesterners. This could not be more wrong, and while my perspective is a little skewed, being surrounded by college students who are mostly liberal, the grievances were the same: Prices were too high, and the administration had left them behind. The ethos of the Trump administration has been to return America to its former glory, to make it great again. Though gas prices are higher than ever, we are involved in a conflict in the Middle East and immigrants are being persecuted by the belligerent militia that is ICE. While Nebraska voted to keep Republican Senator Pete Ricketts in office, there are states in the Midwest that
have rejected the current Republican party to elect Kansas’s first Democratic senator, Adam Hamilton, since 1932, and FDR was in the office of the president. Democratic Party While it is a talking point of many to label theDemocraticPartyasthepartyofnitpicky social issues and societal dissent, a traditionally Republican voter in Texas flipped, stating, “I don’t think my kids are going to come home a different sex from school.” This points to the larger fact that voters in traditionally red states have realized that the heart of the Democratic Party is addressing the issues of those who are dispossessed of rights and welfare. This includes transgender people, farmers, the shrinking middle class and immigrants, all of whom
have been left behind by the current administration and the current Republican Party as a whole. The economic plight of those in the Great Depression was relieved by New Deal Democrats who stood on the principles of active government involvement to relieve the pressures of the free market. Not the elimination of the free market as a whole. The Democratic Party ebbed and flowed, but ultimately stayed true to its New Deal principles when it fell into the hands of Lyndon B. Johnson and his administration; for all of its flaws, the Great Society programs pursued economic and political freedoms. The party has not lost its way; it has only failed to remind the people of their priority: that is, to use the government to invest time and energy into people’s lives to aid them in their goal of the pursuit of happiness. The inane talking point of a
transgender revolution has been recognized as baseless by many of Trump’s original base, and the viability of the Democratic Party in 2026 and beyond has been recognized by those who initially opposed it. Liberal Democracy America is and always has been a liberal democracy. While the pendulum of party politics always swings back and forth, the consensus of the country is that we progress forward to better the quality of life for every person in the nation. A Republican freed the slaves, and a Democrat defeated the Nazis; no matter the forces that work against freedom of man, the American people have always risen above them. The heartland of America will not always vote blue or red; it continued on page 7
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continued from page 6 will vote in the best interest of its fellow man and the progression of American society. An allegiance to a political party is not unwavering, especially when said party strays from its core values. The conservative party has abandoned traditional values
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COLLEGIATETIMES.COM of community and family and preserving societal order in exchange for radicalism and persecution. The people of Kansas and Texas have proven that they have no interest in aligning themselves with hate. Responsibility
The responsibility now lies with the Democratic Party to undo many of the things this administration has done, and go even further to grow jobs, enact beneficial agricultural policy and fix our affordability problem. The American people have bestowed on them the power of a majority
in both chambers; it is on them to answer the call.
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A PERSONAL ODE TO BOREDOM Lily Check | Opinions Contributor
Implementing boredom may be the fix to social media addictions while also sparking creativity. Somewhere between the jarring eruption of my morning alarm and my desperate midnight attempts at salvaging unfulfilling school days, I have simply forgotten how to do nothing — but not in the sense that I have nothing to do. In fact, I have just about everything to do, but I’m unable to recall the last time I sat alone and searched for something to fill the void of unoccupied, unpurposeful time. I’ve become so accustomed to endless stimulation that I routinely find myself knocking on my friends’ doors or listening to a podcast on the way to class to drown out the silence with something other than a distant conversation. Even more so, I’ve developed a persistent inner guilt when I find myself in moments of rest, as if I owe myself an apology for being unproductive or not “locked in,” as Gen Z calls it. But I’ve come to realize this noise is merely a mask. It’s a defense mechanism that allows me to disguise my discomfort with the illusion that every passing moment must be productive to carry meaning. With the rise of instantaneous entertainment and media available at the touch of our fingertips, the negative connotation associated with remaining idle has become woven into our nature. Yet I’d argue the true concern instead lies within society’s growing inability to remain bored. We’ve lost the art of sitting with our own thoughts, and it’s not only affecting our creativity, but it’s changing the way we fundamentally think. If I were to pinpoint a contributing factor, I’d immediately point to “Day in the Life,” or “DITL,” social media videos that transport viewers into the “average” day of a widely followed influencer, professional athlete or manager of a popular brand. We mindlessly watch someone wake up at 5 a.m. on a Sunday, squeeze in a 6 a.m. Pilates class, and an
8 a.m. homemade iced coffee and we suddenly feel inadequate on an ordinary Wednesday. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching these videos as much as the next person, but it’s our constant exposure to seamlessly edited, perfectly curated productivity that fabricates the belief that we should always be engaged in something. We juxtapose our daily routines with unrealistic standards established by people who are commissioned to appear presentable, and it’s unhealthy. The reality is that social media is essentially a snow globe: a carefully contained environment in which the flakes of fleeting snow and village people remain impeccably picturesque, regardless of the state of the outside world. It’s taken me far too long to accept that what we consume online is manufactured, and that influencers spend afternoons beneath the covers just as often as the rest of us. Plainly put, they too have days when doing nothing feels like the only thing worth doing because, after all, they’re no less innately human. By feeling compelled to fill every moment with a sense of work ethic, drive and determination, our relentless pursuit of productivity becomes counterintuitive to the mental restoration and personal growth we aim to achieve. Ironically, society’s obsession with productivity may actually undermine the very creativity we try to muster, as we often deprive ourselves of the stillness that creative qualities flourish in. Research suggests that boredom is positively correlated with the ability to be f lexible, original and elaborate, challenging the idea that life’s mundanity only has negative outcomes, such as “unsustained attention” and an “increased number of mistakes.” Boredom is “a motivating catalyst for action,” as another survey discusses. Yet, we continue to perceive boredom
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as an unacceptable state of being, equating it to failure instead of the opportunity to discover something new about ourselves. Sadly, some f ind boredom so unpleasant that they’d prefer to induce a mild electric shock on themselves than spend just 15 minutes alone with their own emotions. Out of the 98% of adults and adolescents globally who experience repeated boredom, “71% avoid (it) at all costs, and 48% check their phone within three minutes.” Our phones aren’t only making us out of touch with the world around us, but they’re making us out of touch with our own minds. Previous generations had no resemblance of endless digital entertainment available at the touch of a button, yet they still found ways to occupy themselves and simply be, just because they could. If our parents learned to find fulfillment in life’s boredom, what would it take for us to become comfortable with it again? Perhaps it’s time to start allowing ourselves to accept the idea that it’s okay to do nothing. It’s okay to leave our phones across the room, lie in bed
staring at the ceiling and get lost in nothing but our own heads. It’s okay to sit with an unfinished thought or not take immediate action on a school assignment, and it’s okay to simply exist without feeling the pressure to perform. We must learn to tap back into our boredom to rediscover the creativity and curiosity that are often overshadowed by the curtain of digital reality. Boredom doesn’t have to inhibit productivity and success, but it can be an outlet for the growth that we so obsessively pursue. Some of the most profound ideas emerge in the moments when we aren’t trying to think at all, as boredom is the state in which our minds do their most meaningful work.
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PAGE 8 November 10, 2026
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SPORTS HOKIES TRAMPLED BY MUSTANGS 51-28
editor@collegiatetimes.com
Alex Winn | Sports Editor
Virginia Tech suffers drubbing for its third loss of the season.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS
Virginia Tech’s defense has been shaky all year. On Friday night, in a 51-28 loss to SMU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, the dam broke, and the Hokies’ defense posted its worst performance under head coach James Franklin, allowing a season-high in points and yards. “I don’t know if we were drinking the Kool-Aid, or some people say, the rat poison, but we got humbled,” Franklin said. “We got to come back in and get back to work.” In a matchup between two teams on the cusp of a top-25 ranking, Tech (6-3, 3-3 ACC) couldn’t figure out SMU’s offense, and it showed on the scoreboard and in the stat sheet: They allowed 51 points for the first time since 2021 and allowed 569 yards, Tech’s most since 2020. “Obviously we did not play well at all,” Franklin said. “We did not play up to the standard. Ultimately, I’m responsible for that.” The Mustangs (7-2, 5-2) never trailed
on Friday and scored on their first nine drives of 11 total. The first drive set the tone; SMU’s offense marched down the field, and the Hokies scrambled to try and stop its high-powered attack. The Mustangs scored in under three minutes of game time. The drive ended when SMU running back Dramekco Green rumbled into the end zone for a 12-yard score, giving the Mustangs a 7-0 lead. The Hokies’ first drive, on the other hand, displayed its biggest weaknesses, and the things that would define the game for them: their protection woes and their inability to produce a big play. A sack derailed the first drive for Tech, forcing it to punt. “We’re not protecting well,” Franklin said. “That’s problematic. It gets us off schedule. We’re not good enough to just drop back in obvious passing downs. We got to be more consistent in protection.” The Mustangs ran up the score and diced up the Hokies’ secondary. The next
SMU drive began with a 37-yard screen pass and was capped by a 47-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter. Tech had to wait until the second quarter to score its first points, a 1-yard touchdown tush push by quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer to make it a 10-7 SMU lead. Grunkemeyer finished the game completing 28 of his 38 passes for 291 yards and a passing touchdown to pair with his rushing touchdown. The Must angs responded by tacking on a field goal before forcing a Grunkemeyer fumble, taking over at the Hokies’ 46-yard line. SMU’s front gave Grunkemeyer fits all night, finishing the game with four sacks and a fumble. “We’re just not playing clean, confident football, and tonight we didn’t really do it in any of the phases,” Franklin said. The Mustangs needed just one play to tack on more points. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings hit wideout Yamir Knight in the seam for a 46-yard score. Knight had nothing but green grass ahead of him, waltzing into the end zone to give the Mustangs a 20-7 lead. Jennings was a problem for Tech all day. He finished 24-of-32 with 350 passing yards, four touchdown passes and 23 rushing yards. He was also sacked just one time. “We were not able to get pressure on the quarterback,” Franklin said. “We did not bat any balls down and we were not challenging throws in coverage.” After Jeffrey Overton’s 22-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left in the first half, SMU began to drive once again. On the next drive, Tech safety Tyson Flowers was disqualified for targeting on a high hit on the near sideline. The drive ended with a 50-yard field goal by Mustangs’ kicker Brendan Baird, who drilled all three of his field-goal attempts and all six extra points, giving SMU a 23-14 lead going into halftime. Coming out of the break, SMU put the
game in a chokehold. The Hokies started the half with the ball, but again, a sack derailed the drive. After that, the Mustangs started the scoring onslaught with a 3-yard rushing touchdown. After that, back-to-back drives capped by touchdown catches from Knight put SMU ahead 44-14, putting the game out of reach. Knight finished the game with six catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns. The Hokies put up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but that didn’t impact the result besides making the contest seem closer than it was. Tech was outmatched in all three facets of the game. “We made things a lot more difficult tonight than it needed to be in ways that we really haven’t done all year long,” Franklin said. “For whatever reason, we were a bit off really in all three phases. It just made everything harder than it needed to be.” The Mustangs tacked on one last touchdown before the final whistle, a jet-sweep touch pass that saw wide receiver Jalen Cooper weave through a porous Tech defense 50 yards to paydirt. Even in the loss, Overton shined. The sophomore running back put up 156 all-purpose yards and had two rushing touchdowns. For the fourth time this season, the Hokies allowed the opposing quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards, and it was the third time in their last four games. The Hokies travel back to Blacksburg to play Stanford on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. on the ACC Network. “We did not play well, and they played well,” Franklin said.
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