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October 29, 2019

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Observing conflict in Hong Kong from Tech Blacksburg community should be mindful of the uncertainty surrounding protests in Hong Kong that Chinese international students must face.

ardly a week has gone by where the protests in Hong Kong haven’t been one of the prevailing news stories for major outlets. The story is consistently making headlines and stands out to me, especially during a period where I feel there is a major discontent with today’s political and social climate. Video clips of protesters extinguishing cans of tear gas in a group effort linger in one’s mind and capture the imagination; the images fan the embers of a burning desire deep within many of us for radical change and revolution. From another angle, the same havoc and uprising that can appear as a symbol of liberation is paralyzing. On Aug. 12, Hong Kong International Airport grounded all departing flights after protesters flooded the airport. Protests turned violent the following day with an ensuing haze of paranoia over undercover police officers. Protesters said the police were engaging in tactics where officers dressed up as protesters in an effort to make arrests. The cloud of chaos and fear that descended upon the airport lingered for a while, resulting in unprecedented closures of the airport two days in a row. Thousands of flights were delayed or canceled, passengers were barred from their terminals and as the events were underway onlookers were unsure when the madness would dissipate. As the protest was happening, in Blacksburg, Chinese students awaited updates on the status of the airport and the fate of their fellow students flying back for

the new school year. Jianuo Huang, a senior mechanical engineering major, is the president of the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars. Part of Huang’s role as president includes welcoming Chinese freshmen who are coming to the U.S. for their first time and helping them integrate within the community. The disarray created by protesters in Hong Kong airport left a lot of the travelers’ plans up in the air while they were still stuck on the ground. Back here in our small town in Virginia, Huang ensured those students could at least rely on a way to get back to the university once they did arrive by arranging transportation. The background of the protests The demonstrations in Hong Kong began earlier this year in March but really crescendoed into the mass movement we see in the news today back in June. The initial demonstrations were in response to the “Fugitive Offenders Ordinance” amendment bill put on the ballot by Carrie Lam, chief executive of Hong Kong; a bill proposed to grant authorities the ability to extradite criminals to Taiwan, Macau and most importantly, mainland China. The catalyst that led to the proposal of this new extradition bill in Hong Kong was the case of Chan Tong-kai, a Hong Kong resident accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend while in Taiwan. As the current law stands, Hong Kong does not have

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Protest in Hong Kong.

extradition agreements with Taiwan or mainland China; for this reason, Tong-kai cannot currently be tried in Taiwan and is still in Hong Kong. An hour into my conversation with Huang, he reflected on the conundrum the current law poses. “The reality is, in the past when criminals fled to Hong Kong, they were basically free; so in this sense, Hong Kong is basically a haven for criminals,” Huang said. For this reason, Huang doesn’t feel the same opposition to the now removed bill that Hong Kong natives did. For many natives, though, the case of Tong-kai was the “Trojan Horse” for an increasingly authoritarian regime in China to further consolidate its power over Hong Kong by imposing laws in the mainland on the densely populated city-state. This imposition of mainland law on Hong Kong would violate the current

“One country, two systems” distinctions that Hong Kong currently enjoys.

A history of distrust The current protests that are shaking the city of Hong Kong aren’t the only ones that have made international headlines in recent history. Just over five years ago, over 100,000 people took to the streets for the “Umbrella Revolution.” Much like the protests going on today, protestors engaged in a campaign of civil disobedience in response to perceived encroachments on the city’s democratic process by Beijing, China’s legislative city and capital. Hong Kong’s chief executives were usually determined by a “nominating committee” in Beijing, but after China regained control over the former British HONG KONG / page 4

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Tech launches largest fundraising campaign The Boundless Impact campaign is a part of a larger university initiative to increase overall alumni donations. JOEY RABE

news staff writer

Virginia Tech recently announced its largest fundraising campaign to date. The Boundless Impact campaign for Virginia Tech will strive to earn $1.5 billion to maintain and improve programs and plans across campus. On Friday, Oct. 11, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands announced this new fundraising campaign at the Moss Arts Center. This was the same night that Anderson .Paak performed live on the Drillfield, with both of these events celebrating the announcement of this new campaign. “It’s a challenging vision, the kind of challenge that always brings out the best in the Virginia Tech community,” Sands said to VT News. He also announced that in addition to the primary goal of raising $1.5 billion, the Boundless Impact campaign will also work to engage and help over 100,000 Virginia Tech alumni. Charlie Phlegar, Virginia Tech’s vice president for university advancement, said that the university hopes to get alumni and others involved in this campaign in order to reach their goals, according to The Roanoke Times. Phlegar also reportedly estimated that 98% of the funds raised during this campaign will come from smaller donations. The campaign has several different programs and constructions it hopes to fund. Some funds will go toward projects such as the construction of the Global Business and Analytics Complex in Blacksburg, growing the Health Sciences and Technology campus in Roanoke and funding the new Innovation Campus in

Northern Virginia. However, the funds from this campaign will not only go toward funding these projects. VT News reported that another major priority of the Boundless Impact campaign will be to improve the diversity of the student body. This campaign aims to improve the recruitment of minority groups to Virginia Tech. One of the university’s goals is to have 40% of the student body come from underrepresented groups. The campaign is currently scheduled to run through 2027, and President Tim Sands believes this campaign will bring about innovation and positive change for the university and its community. “We are at a unique moment in our history, grounded by nearly 150 years of tradition and shaped by a steadfast mission to serve humanity and take our place in the world as a catalyst for innovation that impacts everyday life,” Sands said. @CollegiateTimes

October 29, 2019 PAGE 3

Honors College leases Old Domininon Ballroom Old Dominion Ballroom will become the Honors College’s SuperStudio space, where honors courses will take place. BEN WALLS

news staff writer

The Old Dominion Ballroom (ODB) located inside Squires Student Center will be acquired by the Virginia Tech Honors College effective Jan. 1, 2020. The building will continue to be operated by the Student Engagement and Campus Life (SECL) office. The Honors College receiving ODB is not a purchase, but a lease of space from SECL. Dr. Heather Wagoner, director of SECL, explained that a Facility Usage Agreement, which is necessary for a lease, has been met. No plan for a purchase has been in question. “It is a loss of a ballroom for general use by the campus community,” Wagoner said. “We are working hard to find accommodations for student organizations and events that typically utilize Old Dominion Ballroom, including maximizing our current event space inventory and having aggressive room flips to assist with multiple events in one day.” Recently, Commonwealth Ballroom in Squires underwent a $3-million renovation for ADA accessibility, general replacements in lighting, stage systems,

air conditioning and Skyfold dividing walls. Wagoner called this last addition to Commonwealth Ballroom a “great benefit” since the wall can divide the ballroom into two spaces, allowing for more collaboration with university students and organizations. Old Dominion Ballroom will become the Honors College’s SuperStudio space, for Honors courses. Honors students will have swipe-card access to enter the space. More developments about the Honors College’s use of ODB are expected to be released as Jan. 1 draws nearer. In addition to the ODB lease, the university has more plans for Squires in the future. Announced in 2015, the Beyond Boundaries initiative is the 30-year strategic plan for the university which guides development. The Roanoke Times stated one aspect of the plan is the creation of the Creativity and Innovation District, which includes possibly demolishing Squires as the university “plans to pave a public space to better accommodate student life” according to last year’s presentation about the master plan. @CollegiateTimes

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Anderson .Paak, Fitz and The Tantrums, and DJ Earworm perform on the Drillfield to kick off the Boundless Impact campaign, Oct. 11, 2019.

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HONG KONG: How issues in China affect students from page 2

colony, Hong Kong, back in 1997, they ensured the region that by the 2017 Chief Executive election their citizens would be free to elect their leader in a democratic process. The electoral reform of 2014 seemed to many to be Beijing’s attempt to go back on their word and create their own conditions for the election of a leader of Hong Kong. The reform was the catalyst for that mass protest which, in many ways, mirrored the ones going on today. A polarizing issue So attractive is the strife of the protesters in their battle for democracy that we may have unknowingly picked sides in a very polarizing dispute between the people of Hong Kong and mainland China. This polarizing effect has been captured in recent news scandals involving entities such as the NBA and video game company Blizzard. The Houston Rockets faced controversy last week when their general manager tweeted a photo that conveyed support for the protests happening in Hong Kong, according to an article from Aljazeera. Specifically, the picture in question had the caption “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.” In another controversial case involving Blizzard, a professional player of one of its digital card games, Hearthstone, was suspended for a year by the company. As Vox reports, the consequence came in response to an interview where “Chung said ‘Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time’ — a protest slogan in the city — while wearing goggles and a face mask, items commonly donned by protestors to conceal their identity.” The hammer didn’t just come down on Chung; both commentators who conducted the interview with Chung were fired as well. These are serious responses to what one might deem innocuous comments, but what I did not realize before speaking with Huang was that those remarks may be hitting upon an already touchy subject for Chinese citizens. There is and has been for some years a movement existing within the region called the Hong Kong independence movement. It’s made rumblings within the region since the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China, but it has not been a movement that has been very popular among members of the mainland and one that lacks familiarity among most Americans. Dissecting these comments related to both cases with Huang, he spoke on the

impressions made by many Chinese people and why those statements may have been inflammatory. “What we think is, they’re trying to support the protester who is doing damage to the society, which is unforgivable,” Huang said. He cites the widespread vandalism on the street and the destructive acts within the Hong Kong airport and subway station, which caused both transportation hubs to shut down at one point or another throughout the protests. “It’s also tightly related to Hong Kong’s independence,” Huang said. Huang said Western audiences might perceive the phrase “Free Hong Kong” as

economies in the world, threatening to dethrone the United States in many aspects, the protests in Hong Kong may be used as a tool against an economic rival. As The New York Times recently reported, near the beginning of August, President Trump had a passive stance on the events transpiring in Hong Kong, only to shift into a more concerned stance later in the month when he related it to a trade deal being hashed out between the two governments. “I think it would be very hard to deal if they do violence,” President Trump said. “I mean, if it’s another Tiananmen Square, it’s — I think it’s a very hard thing to do if there’s violence.” In this way, it seems to me that President

“Is the American government telling the truth? We trust them. Is the Chinese government telling the truth? I trust them. It’s based on trust.

”

Alex Picadas Senior and mechanical engineering major, president of the Association of Chinese Students and Scholars just a means of conveying support for the protesters, but the Chinese perceive it as support for the annexation of Hong Kong from China. This issue of annexation of Hong Kong is one that conflicts with the desires of most Chinese people, according to Huang. He compares it to a situation where New York was considering declaring its independence from the United States and foreign actors were actively supporting its secession. Then again, context is everything. Many in Hong Kong still do believe, and have for years, that Beijing has been trying to encroach upon and undermine their system of government for one that is more favorable to the People’s Republic of China. It has only been 22 years since China regained control of Hong Kong, while it was under British colonial control for 178 years. It could be that the two regions have grown apart during their separation; one valuing a more open, multicultural and democratic society, with the other leaning more toward an authoritarian system of governing. The question of Western influence All things considered, there is something nefarious about Western countries taking the side of and possibly influencing the protesters, which is much to China’s dismay. With China being one of the fastest growing

Trump is using the recent events as a leveraging point for the U.S. to gain a better deal in the trade negotiations. As discussed before, the issue of the protests is a very touchy one; an issue Chinese President Xi Jinping has implicated that he does not want to budge on. Earlier that month, the foreign ministry spokeswoman in China, Hua Chunying, made claims that the United States was undermining China’s national unity by not speaking out against protesters in Hong Kong. Chunying also said back in July that the Hong Kong Protests were created by the U.S. in response to comments by the then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo where he hoped the Chinese would do the right thing. “He might think that violent activities in Hong Kong are reasonable because after all, this is the creation of the U.S.,” Chunying said. Huang cited Chinese media that furthered the narrative of clear U.S. influence on the Hong Kong protests. One example he pointed to was the focus on one of the protest leaders, Joshua Wong, meeting with American politicians. Huang was unsure about the validity or relevance of these claims so he did not want to comment. This fact of two diverging media narratives has implications for the discussion of these issues back at Tech. It might be a very

polarizing discussion, considering there is a population of students that follow the news cycle as presented here in the U.S. and another population that follows the news back in China. Two of the world’s most powerful nations, who are also economic rivals, seem to be playing hot potato with each other in terms of placing blame on who is actually responsible for the events currently transpiring in the semi-autonomous region. This is bound to cause confusion for patriots and countrymen who pledge allegiance to their homelands and are willing to shape their understanding of these events around what they are told by their governments and media organizations. “Is the American government telling the truth? We trust them. Is the Chinese government telling the truth? I trust them. It’s based on trust,” Huang said.

An end in sight? As I am writing this piece, Wednesday, Oct. 23, Hong Kong’s legislature has officially withdrawn the extradition bill which sparked the protests back in March. But does that mean the protests are soon to be over? It doesn’t seem like it. Since the initial demand of the protesters, four more demands have been posed, leading protesters to adopt the slogan “Five demands, not one less.” Those additional demands include an independent inquiry into allegations of police brutality, amnesty for the arrested protesters, the right for citizens of Hong Kong to elect their own political leaders and an edict against labeling the protests as “riots.” This might be a tall order as Chinese politicians such as Chunying have stood strong on their classification of the protests as riots. The events in Hong Kong aren’t as cut and dry as you may have previously been told they are. There are warring narratives in relation to these events that are related to a broader struggle between two global superpowers’ quarrel for economic and diplomatic favor. Before you think you’ve made up your mind on the issue, maybe talk to a Chinese student about his or her perspective and experience and learn more about the history of Hong Kong and Chinese culture. I don’t believe the truth is ever black or white, but closer to a shade of grey.

ALEX PICADAS • junior • multimedia journalism

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October 29, 2019 PAGE 5

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No. 6 Virginia men’s soccer defeats No. 25 Virginia Tech at home

Despite more shots on goal from Tech, the Hokies could not hold off the Cavaliers’ offense and fell short by two goals that came in the 33rd and 55th minutes. JAMES GILMORE sports staff writer

Coming off a big 2–1 win against Notre Dame, No. 25 Virginia Tech men’s soccer faced No. 6 Virginia Friday night in the Commonwealth Clash at Thompson Field. This game was the Hokies’ biggest test of the season and it resulted in a frustrating 2–0 loss. Virginia Tech put a lot of offensive pressure on the Cavaliers early, which resulted in three corner kicks. “Looking at the first half, we were all over them but we just couldn’t finish our chances,” said head coach Mike Brizendine. Virginia’s defense responded well to the pressure, as they had to clear the ball out time and time again. The offense of Virginia had a couple chances to score mid-way through the first half. One opportunity in particular was close, but Daryl Dike was called offsides for UVA. Other than the offsides play, Virginia Tech’s defense played well throughout the first half. The scoring opened in the 33rd minute when UVA’s Nathaniel Crofts scored a beautiful bending shot from the left flank around junior goalkeeper Mathijs Swaneveld. Virginia Tech tried to respond, but the Cavaliers’ defense was the story of the first half. UVA consistently limited any quality chances whether off corner kicks, crosses or dribbling by defenders. In the beginning of the second half,

Virginia came out with a couple of free kicks. Swaneveld responded well to the pressure by the Cavaliers, but the pressure became too much when Dike scored in the 55th minute for Virginia. The second half goal extended UVA’s lead to 2–0. Junior forward Kristo Strickler had one chance that went wide of the goal for Virginia Tech. The shot brought a response from the rest of the team and it resulted in the best chance of the game for the Hokies. “I was proud of the way we played in a lot of segments of the game,” Brizendine said. Virginia Tech senior James Kasak sent in a great cross from the right wing late in the game. It bounced around the 6-yard box, but could not find the foot of any Hokie player. Freshman Daniel Pereira also got a great opportunity for Virginia Tech, but Virginia goalkeeper Colin Shutler made a good save on the shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Virginia’s defense stood strong throughout the entire game. Shutler made great plays in the last 10 minutes, punching corner kicks and crosses away from danger. As a result, No. 6 Virginia came away with the 2–0 victory. Virginia Tech heads into the last week of the regular season with a record of 7-4-2. The Hokies go to Princeton Tuesday to face the Tigers at Roberts Stadium.

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Hokies fall short to North Carolina by 2 North Carolina’s defense was too much for the Hokies to handle and Tech’s record falls to 3–4–1 in confrence play. CLAIRE CASTAGNO assistant sports editor

No. 25 Virginia Tech women’s soccer traveled to No. 3 North Carolina to play its second-to-last conference game before the ACC Tournament kicks off Nov. 3. A top 10 ACC win would boost the Hokies’ record and benefit them in seeding for the conference tournament. In the end, the Tar Heels were too much for Tech to handle and it fell short by two goals, 0–2. With the loss, the Hokies fell to 0–4–1 against ranked ACC opponents this season. Virginia Tech has had a hard time grinding out wins in ranked matchups this season; it has not lost a game by more than two goals. Without goalie Mandy McGlynn’s six saves, Virginia Tech could have found itself in an even bigger hole. Overall in conference play, the Hokies sit at 3–4–2, which brings them to around the middle of the ACC standings. UNC leads the ACC regarding record and has not lost a game since Sept. 15 when it played Arkansas.

It was an aggressive first half for both sides; 10 total fouls were called. Virginia Tech was only able to shoot once compared to UNC’s nine shots in the half. McGlynn was able to make three saves. Zoe Redei nailed the ball into Tech’s goal off the crossbar in the 42nd minute to give the Tar Heels a one-goal lead right before halftime. Virginia Tech played rough and looked for the equalizer the entire second half but failed to shoot at UNC’s goal. However, UNC was not able to score a goal either. It received its two-goal edge from an own goal off a shot deflected by a Hokie defender in the 87th minute. It was a disappointing ending to a game the Hokies really could have used a win in, but Tech must look forward to its game against Pittsburgh on Oct. 31. It will be its last chance to build its record before the ACC Tournament begins.

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LIAM SMENT/COLLEGIATE TIMES Nikal Clarke-Smith (13) challenges Axel Gunnarsson (18) near the sideline, Oct. 25, 2019.

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Class of 2023 housing crisis part 2: This time, it’s off campus Stay on campus or move into an apatment next year? What will the freshmen do after this year’s debacle? NICOLE TUTINO lifestyles contributor

So, your first month of freshman year of college is coming to a close. The anxiety of whether you would be placed on campus or in a hotel is over. What’s next? More housing. The anxiety once again arrives as the largest — unexpected — class in Virginia Tech’s history begins the search for their residency next year as sophomores. I know I, as well as many of my classmates, feel the same stress of adjusting to a new environment with the added uncertainty of getting a decent apartment next year. Signing a lease, let alone finding roommates, sounds rushed as we have barely settled into our new home. In the early fall, freshmen tend to begin their search for an apartment or townhome. So, when exactly is the best time to start looking? “Apartment complexes don’t send out their letters until around October/ November time to see who’s staying in their current apartment,” said Marie Yuhas, a student liason for the Off-Campus Housing Office, and a senior studying animal and poultry science. “So, once they get those letters back, they’ll generally have an idea of the availability for the following year.” Yuhas said that before complexes reveal their availability, people can get on waiting lists. The next step depends on what each person is comfortable with, but the best time to search for housing is between October and December. “By the time January rolls around, there’s limited availability, but there’s still availability between January and March; it’s just a little bit less,” Yuhas said. After the past summer’s stress of selecting a dorm (or hotel), a primary concern for many freshmen is the available room off-campus housing will

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Apartment living room in the Chasewood Downs complex, Aug. 11, 2018.

offer. “I think that there will be enough room,” said Yuhas. Yuhas said that with the building of the new dorm, some students may choose to remain on campus for the next year which helps provide extra space for off-campus housing. The new dorm, currently under construction near the Graduate Life Center, plans on housing about 600 students, according to Virginia Tech’s Creativity and Innovation District plans. “There are new apartment complexes going up, and places are renovating more units,” Yuhas said. “There’s that new apartment complex, Park 37. They’re building that next to the firehouse on Patrick Henry, and Terrace View is in the middle of renovating a lot of their units

and getting those back online.” Yuhas explained that there shouldn’t be that much of an issue, especially with the senior class graduating. Price, often on the minds of college students paying for their education, plays a large factor for some in their housing selection. Yuhas said that off-campus housing differs in affordability, so it depends on the student’s price range when selecting which complex best suits their budget. “The University Management Inc. communities fill up super quickly and usually have a pretty long waiting list, but I think that’s the top one that we see fill up pretty quickly,” Yuhas said. “Most of the other ones that I can think of have a lot of availability and don’t have super long waiting lists.”

The University Management Inc. communities include Maple Ridge, Hunter’s Ridge and Collegiate Suites. “The most popular I would say are Foxridge and Terrace View; it just really depends on what they’re looking for,” Yuhas said. More expensive but still popular complexes include The Edge and The Retreat, which typically fill up quickly. So, if you are interested in any of the complexes mentioned, start looking at those now. Overall, off-campus housing for the class of 2023 appears capable of satisfying the increased capacity of students. Yet, housing is lately an unpredictable facet at Virginia Tech. The bottom line is start early. You’ll avoid re-living the stress of waiting for your time slot to pick your dorm. If you had a late time slot with a minimal selection of dorms, you’ll definitely want to start looking soon for which housing style you prefer. From the Class of 2023 Facebook page, a large amount of incoming freshmen advocated their interests to live in a suite style dorm. Yet, only a few ended up receiving the popular trend. Like the popular dorms, popular apartment and townhome complexes fill up fast. Good luck and happy hunting, Hokies.

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Students board the Blacksburg Transit bus, Oct. 26, 2018.

Getting the most bang for your buck: How to live off campus efficiently Budgeting is your best friend when it comes to grocery shopping, utilities and transportation. JULIA FRANCIS lifestyles staff writer

Entering the first year of college as a freshman and living in a dorm is pretty terrifying. But what’s more terrifying is eventually living completely on your own. It sounds great at first — living with friends, no parents, no RA. But nothing will ground you more than realizing that you can pay $50 for groceries even when you are only shopping for yourself. Yes, it’s horrifying, but it also means you’re sort of becoming an adult and an independent individual, so that’s a plus. In order to ensure you’re not a broke adult, here are some tips on learning how to live off your own money for the first time — it’s really not that hard. To start, you need to create a budget. Like with so many things, if you don’t limit yourself, you’re going to go overboard. Focus on what you really need and be realistic about it. You can’t live off ramen and the occasional fruit, but it’s also not reasonable to buy the entire grocery store. Making a realistic grocery list with items you use on a regular basis is the first step in saving money; then comes finding discounts and sales on those items.

Signing up for rewards programs through grocery stores and pharmacies also pays off in the long term, giving you deals and savings when you need it. Your parents might already have a CVS ExtraCare Card linked to their phone number, and signing up for Kroger’s rewards programs can get you discounts, coupons and fuel points, all with just your phone number. What you eat is probably the most important expense you have to worry about, and it doesn’t have to be more expensive than it needs to be. Meal planning and prepping is an easy way to portion out meals for the week while staying on budget and not going overboard by snacking and overeating. Plenty of online sources have recipes and how-to guides to plan out meals on a budget, allowing for as much or as little variation as you prefer. If you don’t trust your abilities with grocery shopping for every meal, consider getting a small meal plan on campus. Virginia Tech Dining offers the Minor Flex Plan as well as Commuter Cash, so you don’t have to spend a boatload for your occasional on-campus meal. Better yet, seek out free stuff. Go to club meetings, information sessions, anything that involves free food or products. Even

more beneficial, you’ll meet people, learn something new and maybe even find a club or activity you like along the way. In terms of keeping track of expenses other than food, financial apps are your best friend. Mint, Pocketguard and You Need A Budget are all free options that do more to manage your finances than the occasional, and often cringe-inducing, checking of your online bank account. If you haven’t already heard of Unidays, it’s essentially an app designed to give you all the freebies, discounts and deals offered specially for students. It’s an absolute necessity for clothing and even groceries, but Unidays is also a tool that offers information on scholarships and competitions being offered by certain brands. For good old-fashioned in-person shopping, Goodwill and Plato’s Closet both provide an extensive selection of name-brand second-hand clothing at a decent price. While it may seem obvious, try to spend as little money on transportation as possible. If you don’t have a car, Blacksburg Transit can cover you for a majority of transportation purposes. If the bus isn’t cutting it, scout your friends for rides. It may seem shameful or embarrassing, but these are the prime years to be

a mooch, so accompanying your friends on their errands while simultaneously doing your own shouldn’t be too big of a deal. If you feel the need to make some money while living off campus, but don’t have the time to apply for a job, selling some of your own stuff is a great option. Using Poshmark, eBay and Facebook Marketplace is an easy way to make some money off things you no longer use with very little effort required. As many ways as there are to save money while living off campus, making the most of your free time is probably the best way to earn back the money that you spend. Finding a job for summer and winter breaks and setting money aside will ensure as much security and flexibility as possible, because avoiding that heart-attack-inducing checking of your bank account is probably the most important thing.

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Night and day: The difference between guys’ and girls’ decorating style Does your apartment have flags or tapestries? Or an abundance of milk cartons in your refrigerator? BRANDON ALIMANESTIANO lifestyles staff writer

Virginia Tech is abundant with off-campus housing options. According to US News and World Report, 67% of students at Virginia Tech live off campus. That is a significant number of Hokies living in houses, townhouses, basements, attics and apartment complexes. However, when it comes to the state of our

identify. The refrigerator, upon opening, is quite distinct as well. The male apartment has a refrigerator adorned with restaurant menus and magnetic bottle openers. Of course, this is only one of six refrigerators in the residence, two of which serve as nightstands. The female residence is adorned with important information on the refrigerator, and when opened, there is food inside. The male refrigerator consists

“The female residence is adorned

with important information on the refrigerator, and when opened, there is food inside. The male refrigerator consists of several old citrus fruits, sauce packets and seven gallons of milk. off-campus dwellings, male and female housing tends to have a few interesting differences. First there’s the front door. Before entering a college apartment, one could probably tell the difference right away; It’s the doormat, or lack thereof. Girls’ apartments in a building always seem to have a doormat, and it’s usually a welcoming one. At guys’ apartments, well, not really. An old beach towel does the trick, and if not, the apartment might be carpeted which is also sufficient. Upon entering the common areas, the differences are striking. Female housing is — well, it’s a house. Decor is abundant — tapestries line the walls, electricity is prevalent, the furniture matches the theme and there are more than two flat surfaces. Couches, and sometimes even sectionals, fill the living rooms and there may even be a pleasant fragrance of some sort. Male housing also has quite the amount of decor. Once you enter the living room, you notice there has been a lot of “living” going on outside of the apartment. Flags and cardboard cases line the wall like a modern art display. There is a very useful 24-plug power outlet in the far corner of the room. The furniture matches the theme of the doormat. Beach chairs line the room like at a summer concert, surrounding a second-hand futon comforted by a freshman-era mattress topper. There is some sort of fragrance as well, but it’s hard to

”

of several old citrus fruits, sauce packets and seven gallons of milk. Going through the apartments, the bathrooms are exactly as one would expect. A male apartment with cleared-off counters, a female apartment without them. The girls probably have a shower curtain, the guys sometimes don’t, and it can leave one puzzled about how these residents take a shower without also filling the sink and toilet. There are a few similarities in college dwellings, and gladly they define how fun off-campus housing can be for people. Mostly, it’s the kitchen. The kitchen in a college home is always the same: slightly alright. The drawers are the same, the kitchenware is the same and the occasional graveyard of empty bottles rests on top of the cabinets as a reflection of each student’s specific taste. Overall, off-campus student housing at Virginia Tech has quite a few differences in terms of the residents that inhabit them. Not all of these differences are apparent in every apartment, but they are fun to think about in the grand scheme of things.

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Apartment living room decorations of Virginia Tech student Kensley Bullins, Oct. 19, 2019.

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What to expect before living off campus without any supervision Riding BT, taking out the trash and being responsible are all necessities when living on your own. CAREY OAKES lifestyles staff writer

Moving off campus is a major stepping stone in one’s college career. For most, it’s the first time living in the absence of any authority, whether that be a parent or an RA. This preconceived idyllic bliss, however, is shaken with a quick, frightening glance into the “real world.” From bills to buses, here’s what you should expect before you break free from the chains of dorm life. Your dorm room may not be air-conditioned or more than four feet wide in any direction, but it is a blessing that you can get up from your bed and make it to class in 10 minutes. While rolling out of your uncomfortably elevated twin bed was challenging, living off campus leads you to ponder a new series of questions. You’ll wonder, “Why is my trash can eternally full?” “What sort of vendetta does the bus driver have to pull away from me as I am quite literally a foot from the door?” and “How can I possibly muster up the energy to cook a relatively healthy meal for myself after coming home at 11

p.m. to a pantry that has three items in it?” Living off campus, most likely apart from your parents or any regulation for the first time, comes with a new set of unforeseen challenges. The day will start and end much later. When your alarm jolts you awake, it takes more willpower to force yourself to go to a class that takes a significant amount of effort to travel to. You’ll find yourself making additional excuses as to why going to class is a useless waste of time that you could spend catching up on homework, reading or sleep instead. If you end up finding yourself making the noble decision to embark on the trek to your lecture, you have to time your bus ride perfectly. Bussing at night or on the weekends is a new kind of beast. You realize as you scroll through the BT website in search of any bus coming remotely soon just how convenient living on campus was. Coordination of your schedule and BT’s poses itself necessary upon noticing that your barren pantry might be replenished by means of Kroger. Your weekly shopping trip makes you realize not only

the importance of a grocery list, but just how expensive food is. You may catch yourself reminiscing about the days when the nation’s best college food was truly right outside your dorm room whenever you wanted it (shoutout to DX after hours). Groceries, the monthly rent and utilities are expenses that make your stomach drop every time you receive an email reminding you of your upcoming payment. When you’re shelling out cash for electricity, you become extremely conscious anytime a single light is unnecessarily left on. In a sense, your electricity bill will turn you into quite the green thumb, so that may be a benefit in disguise. Beyond your newfound responsibilities, living alone and the ultimate realization that you are technically an adult despite how much you don’t feel like one, living off campus might mean that you can spend every minute with your best friends. There is the occasional, unfortunate case in which live with those people you thought were going to be your very best friends at the beginning of freshman year only for you to stop talking to them immediately after signing your lease.

If you are one of the lucky ones, however, living in the company of your closest friends with the ability to bathe in a normal-sized shower without shoes on means off-campus living is astronomically better than dorm life. Not having to climb into bed every night and being able to sit on a couch that isn’t covered in mysterious stains in your dorm’s lounge is a comfort like no other. Living in an apartment certainly lives up to the expectations and dreams you had freshman year whilst you complained about quiet hours, RA’s, the lack of air conditioning and conduct referrals. Nevertheless, you might want a level set of expectations if you believe off-campus living will be all bliss; this freedom comes at a cost — literally.

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MEET THE CT John McBride copy editor

What’s your favorite Halloween costume you’ve ever been? When I was 8 years old, I went as Santa Claus, but my mom made the costume, so she glued on the faux fur and everything. And I had the hat and the beard, and everyone loved it. My next-door neighbor was a Christmas tree but it wasn’t planned. Do you believe in ghosts? Absolutely. What is your best ghost story? One night I was downstairs in my house going to make a bowl of Cheerios. I was looking at my phone, and I was just going to take a Snapchat of me eating a bowl of Cheerios. I turned on my front-facing camera and I saw this little white figure behind me in my Snapchat camera, so I was

like, “What is that?” So I looked behind me, and it was gone, and then I look at my phone and it was just dead. So I left my half-eaten bowl of Cheerios downstairs and went up and went to bed. What’s your favorite horror movie and why? “Hereditary,” because it was the first one I saw in the theaters, and I liked it a lot. What’s the scariest AP style error you’ve ever seen? The one that gets on my nerves the most is when people put periods and commas outside of quotes.

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