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February 23, 2021
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Blacksburg apartment price gouging is out of control The constant influx of students searching for off-campus housing causes rent prices to rise and drives out Blacksburg locals. It’s easy to envision the stereotypical college apartment: they’re somewhat affordable, small and offer us our first glimpse into life as an adult. Sometimes, they may even be falling apart at the seams. Blacksburg apartments are no exception — students can often feel like they’re forced to choose between living somewhere affordable and somewhere actually worth living in. We can all agree that The Retreat is beautiful. The rooms are spacious and there’s plenty of room in most houses for social gatherings — pre-COVID-19, of course. The Hub is luxurious; where else could a college student live where they have access to hot tubs and private balconies? Other places in Blacksburg run the gamut from The Retreat’s spaciousness to being more akin to a closet. I, like many others, live in one of the more modest complexes in a relatively small townhouse on the other side of Prices Fork Road. My countertop is a weird mid-century green color, my cabinets don’t match and the paint used on the walls could contain lead (although we’re told it has been removed). I don’t pay a lot for it, so it’s exactly what I need; however, it leaves much to be desired, especially when compared to some of the other housing units in town. Blacksburg and much of the Appalachian region benefits heavily from the revenue generated by Virginia Tech’s students, and the campus is widely regarded as a major economic driver for Southwest Virginia. While the school is unquestionably good for the region in many respects, its impact is not always a positive one, especially for the local people of Blacksburg. For them, the housing
experience may be a bit different. On paper, Blacksburg’s median income is smaller than that of its neighbors, but paradoxically, its housing prices are much higher. This is due mostly to the students who live off campus. Many locals maintain that Blacksburg landlords will not hesitate to raise their rent prices if they anticipate that students are willing to pay more, which becomes problematic for local residents competing for the same housing. This problem became so profound that Virginia Delegate Chris Hurst decided to introduce a bill that would limit student housing options throughout the city of Blacksburg. It could be argued that this is not the ideal solution (and the argument would be a successful one considering the bill was never passed); however, the bill does serve to highlight some of the major problems created by Blacksburg’s expanding development. Students and Blacksburg locals have found themselves increasingly at odds over the town’s future. Virginia Tech plans to continue growing undergraduate enrollment for the foreseeable future. As this happens, locals will continue to be pushed aside by the expanding campus and by students looking to move off campus. This problem is not an easy one to solve. However, a potential root of the issue is landlords’ insistence on building and expanding their apartments into places of luxury: Do students seriously need to live somewhere like The Retreat, the soon-to-be-open Hub or the other luxury apartments that routinely rent for upwards of $1000 a month? Does a college student need an Olympicsized swimming pool, hot tubs or quartz
Voice your opinion. Send letters to the Collegiate Times. All letters must include a name and phone number. Students 365 Squires Student Center must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include Blacksburg, VA, 24061 position and department. Other submissions must include opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com city of residence and relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.
countertops? The answer is no — to thrive at Virginia Tech, we really only need minimal furnishing and reliable internet connection. Blacksburg would benefit from building apartments that meet students’ needs without the bells and whistles. Far too often do people have to choose between renting a nice place that is unreasonably priced and renting an affordable place with a mold problem; without these gaudy amenities, rent would be cheaper and both locals and students could find housing. Virginia Tech’s administration should work with the town of Blacksburg to develop plans for the future that decrease housing prices, benefiting students and locals alike.
NEHA OGALE / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Edge Apartments, May 9, 2018. MARCUS LEWIS • senior • national security and foreign affairs
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February 23, 2021 PAGE 3
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Patrick Henry and University City construction adds more off-campus housing options More than 1,500 students will have more off-campus housing options no later than 2022. BEN WALLS news editor
Hub Blacksburg’s and Union Blacksburg Apartments’ construction respectively located off Patrick Henry Drive and University City Boulevard appears to be in full swing. “Blacksburg is a market that year after year increases at an insane rate with rent prices going up (and) with more students being admitted to Virginia Tech,” said Lauren Hensley, a leasing agent at Hub Blacksburg. “With COVID(-19), we’re having more students having to live off campus, and it just seemed it was the next good move for our company.” Chicago-based Core Spaces, which serves as one of the developers for Hub Blacksburg, announced a joint venture with Kayne Anderson Real Estate in October 2019. According to Hensley, their contractor, J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc., bought properties owned by Terrace View in order to develop Hub Blacksburg. 702 beds will be available when phase one opens to tenants in August 2021, and the remaining 831 beds in phase two will open in 2022. Other “Hub on Campus” spin-off properties already exist for students at other institutions such as the University of Kentucky, the University of South Carolina, the University of Alabama and Auburn University. Ultimately, Core Spaces invested $200 million in the Hub Blacksburg, according to Hensley. “Blacksburg is a great fit for a Hub on Campus property,” said Core Spaces Founder and Chief Executive Officer Marc Lifshin in an October press release. “We are
Hub Blacksburg, an upcoming apartment complex, under construction, Feb. 2, 2021.
excited to partner with Kayne Anderson to provide an unparalleled living community to Virginia Tech students.” Kayne Anderson’s managing director Craig Zogby was second to say the company was “excited” to work with Core Spaces in Blacksburg. “I believe we’re going to have the best of both worlds (of proximity to Virginia Tech and what students receive with the price of rent),” said Hensley. South Carolina-based Greystar Real Estate Partners appear to be involved in Union Blacksburg Apartments’s construction. Though the company could not be immediately reached for comment, Greystar has apparently received properties
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owned by the former Sturbridge Square Apartments and Townhomes and Sturbridge Gardens Apartments. According to its media kit, Greystar serves as the second-largest owner and operator of student housing in the United States and focuses on implementing environmentally minded practices like reducing energy, greenhouse gas emissions, water and waste. Union Blacksburg Apartments will not be Greystar’s first Blacksburg endeavor, as it owns The Retreat at Blacksburg properties located off Prices Fork Road. “(Union Blacksburg Apartments), to us, is not competition just because of the size of it,” said Hensley, while subsequently
describing the “Hub lifestyle” with DJs at pool parties, a meditation garden, a yoga studio, a sauna and conference rooms among other amenities. “We’re going to end up with 1,500 beds, and (the Union Blacksburg Apartments) property, I don’t think, is very large at all.”
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Adapt, improvise, overcome: Living on campus during a pandemic Between fairy lights, private bathrooms and Zoom parties with your RA, living on campus is a little different this year. ELISE MCCUE lifestyles contributor
Nine months, two stinky freshmen and one 12-by-14 foot cement room: dorms. In any normal year, the college dorm is just four cement walls that give freshmen a place to sleep and keep their belongings while they go to class, study at Torgerson Bridge, hang out downtown and live life in public. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the way we live our daily lives, and Virginia Tech’s on-campus residents have been experiencing this shift more than most. Now more than ever, on-campus residents are calling their dorm rooms home rather than just a cement square they sleep in at the end of each day. The nature of abiding by health and safety regulations means that students have been spending more time than originally expected in their dorms; naturally, they have been doing different things to make the most of their situation. The easiest and most obvious choice in making the dorm rooms feel cozy is installing the right lighting. Some residents have opted for fairy lights, lamp fixtures or LED light strips along the perimeter of the room. Others have even gone with quirkier and unique options like lava lamps, neon signs or rock salt lamps. Whether students go with simple or quirky options, having the right lighting is a much preferred choice to the abrasive, pre-installed white LED fixture. In addition to lighting, residents are bringing knick knacks to make their rooms feel homier while they spend more time there: record players, coffee machines, succulents and mini projectors, to name a few. One of the most interesting ways students have been personalizing their dorms has been by creating study nooks — spatially mindful study corners complete with rugs, fairy lights and speakers, all centered around the desk and bookshelf that come with the room. This is just another way students are getting creative to make staying indoors more comfortable. In addition to all of the in-room
adjustments residents have been making, resident assistants have had the unique job of creating activities for their residents to prevent cabin fever. It is nearly impossible to walk down any hallway in any dorm without seeing at least three fliers advertising COVID-19-safe activities that residents can participate in. A very popular activity has been a virtual Bob Ross paint party. Held over Zoom, RAs host a virtual party in which residents can watch an episode of “Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting” together and follow along with their own canvases and supplies provided by the RA. It is a deceivingly difficult activity since Ross, when not taking breaks to show off his pet squirrels to the audience or giving inspirational quotes on happy little trees, paints at a rapid pace that contrasts his calm demeanor. Regardless of the outcome, residents have had a blast in the process of creating their masterpieces. For the less artistically inclined, there are also activities like hall video game nights. Hosted over Zoom or on the gaming platform Discord, hallmates and their RAs can log onto games like Among Us or Just Dance to play together from their own rooms. And, of course, what would hall bonding be without movie nights? The emergence of Netflix Party and other screen sharing methods have made weekly movie nights a regular occurrence, especially since RAs have been so generous as to provide popcorn to participating individuals. RAs have stepped up to the plate to make the dorms a place where residents enjoy spending time. However, it is not all fun and games (no pun intended) in the dorms in COVID-19 times. Due to the increased amount of time spent inside and public gatherings being limited to 10 people, underground-style gatherings are being held inside the dorms. One cannot help but draw similarities to the speakeasies of the 1920s when thinking about the groups of friends who monitor their volume and keep hushed when hanging out together inside the dorm rooms today in the 2020’s. The official Virginia Tech guideline that the administration expects students to
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Dorm room in West Eggleston Hall, Oct. 10, 2017.
follow is to limit gatherings to only three people per dorm room. Students can also register to be in a pod of up to six people, and up to 10 if you live in a suite-style dorm. However, as expected, young and sociable students who have been cooped up in their houses for months may ignore these strict regulations, so monitoring has been upped on campus this semester. This means more periodic RA checks, more conduct referrals and more monitoring of the halls. As long as residents cooperate and adhere to the rules, they can have a pretty great year in the dorms. Freshman Carter Alexander, a resident of Harper Hall, says that his freshman experience has been pretty great in the dorms, despite the increased regulations. “Being in a suite has given me the opportunity to meet a lot more people than I would have had in a traditional dorm,” Alexander said. “I had a higher chance of connecting with and being closer with more people.” Suite-style living definitely has its advantages during COVID-19 due to the nature of its layout, with one of the biggest being how spacious and private they are. The rooms typically come with their own walk-in closets, a furnished living room space and perhaps the biggest pro to have in the midst of a pandemic: a private bathroom. Although
the responsibility of cleaning and upkeep falls on the residents, having an apartment-like space that is not shared with 20 other people is ideal for those who want to be extra cautious. Moreover, suite-style living has the potential to offer a built-in group of friends. “(My) suitemates are (my) family,” Alexander said. The six of them and his neighbors across the hall spend almost all of their time together. Whether or not residents live in a suite, a Jack-and-Jill or a traditional-style dorm, there is no denying that the increased time spent inside these humble abodes lends itself to neighborly bonding and, if residents are lucky, the discovery of some of their best friends. While the dramatic limitations of what residents can do this year are a bummer, residents and RAs have adapted and found ways to make on-campus living feel less cramped and more cozy.
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Hokie house hunters: Advice for freshmen moving off campus next year Hokies share their tips and tricks for apartment hunting that they’ve learned over the years. OLIVIA FERRARE lifestyles staff writer
The phenomenon can be likened to a continental shift, a mad dash that can be felt throughout all of Blacksburg. The mass exodus of freshmen scrambling to find off-campus living occurs from September until the beginning of spring semester. The eventual transition from dorm living to the “real world” is one that can be intimidating, and the extra pressure of scrambling to decide whether to live in a house or an apartment, how many people to live with and who will make the cut on the lease never helps. Barely a month on campus and freshmen must juggle their first college courses with extensive research on the plethora of options in the area. Upperclassmen are used to it at this point, as most will renew their leases
because of the convenience. Where should a newly minted Hokie even begin? A couple off-campus residents share their tips and tricks to surviving the leasing process and ending up in a place you love. Just like any good chemistry lab or book report, research is the first step. Figuring out what options are available (in an acceptable price range and location) requires thought and care. “Don’t discount the value of other people’s input; you never know what might be useful,” said Miles Guth, a sophomore biological sciences major living in an off-campus apartment. Some helpful resources include parent Facebook pages, junior/senior Facebook pages, and the Virginia Tech Off-Campus Housing Office (VTOCH). They can provide resources on roommate agreements, housing fairs and
ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Chasewood Downs apartment complex in Blacksburg, Sept. 26, 2019.
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even apartment guides. Guth and others further removed from “dorm sweet dorm” living have followed a process in picking their first adult living situation. First, try to figure out how many people will be living together, as this will narrow down the search and potentially set a budget. “Usually, students living off-campus for the first time will live in apartment complexes because they often include furnished apartments, have amenities and allow the student to live closer to fellow students,” said Sammy Schroen, a student helper at VTOCH. “These large complexes are the most similar option to living in the residence halls. It is important to do extensive research before signing a lease so that you can determine what your needs are and what housing options will be able to fit those needs.” Even if the exact roster might not be set, the team can at least plan to play the game. VTOCH student-worker Kaycie Ludwig gives this tip: “A great option for finding a roommate is using a roommate matching service that many different apartment complexes offer. If you find an apartment complex that you want to sign a lease with that offers this service, they will be able to match you with roommates after you sign a lease.” Next, distinguishing a budget and standard of living between the roommates helps establish similar expectations between every resident. Does the monthly rent include amenities, and how will the rent/ other costs be split? Unfortunately, the fine print on a lease should not be swiped through like Apple’s terms and conditions, as some units do not include facilities usage or utilities in monthly rent. Finally, take a page out of any real estate agent’s book and consider the importance of
location. How far away from campus is too far, and the presence of a car (or lack thereof) should be a factor when considering housing options. While the Blacksburg Transit system is far-reaching and very reliable, it is not always convenient for every complex or house. “Spend some time now driving around, familiarizing yourself with the surrounding area, and creating a ‘mental map’ of where you might want to live here in Blacksburg,” Guth said, as even differentiating between where the Krogers are located can be a challenge sometimes. Understanding where the ideal home is in town is key to narrowing down the search as well. Above all else, stay calm. With enough research and conversation, the process will eventually work out. In just a little less than a year, a new group of sophomores (ready to finally use a bathroom without shower shoes) will descend upon the town, ready to take on another year in the great town of Blacksburg.
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On- or off-campus: The rundown on differences between dorm and apartment life Confused on whether to deal with an RA or a landlord? Parking fees or utilities? Our writer has tips on deciding which option is right for you. PEYTON MANFRE lifestyles staff writer
One of the most exciting things about college is that, for a lot of people, it is their first opportunity to move out from under their parents’ roofs. Here is the rundown on the main differences between dorm and apartment living according to three fellow Hokies. Justin Luy, a junior majoring in human nutrition, food and exercise, currently resides in West Ambler-Johnston. Like most students, he moved off campus his sophomore year, but due to the trials of living in an apartment alone, he decided to move back on campus to be closer to friends for his junior year. He plans to move off campus again next year, this time with his friends.
“The biggest difference between living on and off campus is having access to a meal plan,” Luy said. “Not having to cook for myself is definitely a plus. Close proximity to campus and the gym is another plus.” Phillip Saunders, a senior majoring in financial planning and a hallmate and friend of Luy, agrees that it is easier to make friends living on campus. “I’ve lived in West AJ all four years because of the ease of access to campus,” Saunders said. “It’s just easier to live on campus because you don’t have to make any meals, plus it’s easier to make friends and hang out on campus.” Saunders claims that sometimes he wishes he would have moved off campus just to experience the “real-world” aspect of paying rent that comes with apartment
living, but overall, he is satisfied with his decision to endure dorm life for the entirety of his college career. On the contrary, Claire Morris, a sophomore majoring in agribusiness, prefers apartment life over dorm life. Last year she lived in East Campbell, but she finds that her apartment in Foxridge gives her more freedom and privacy. “The biggest perk of moving off campus is having my car more readily available,” Morris said. “This then creates more freedom to go places and do things.” Saunders agrees that parking at Virginia Tech is not ideal for campus residents because the parking lots are far away from the residential side of campus. “The biggest disadvantage to living on campus is that it’s hard to leave since even
if you have a car; parking is far away,” Saunders said. Overall, the consensus seems to be that the main difference between living on or off campus is the way in which you get food and how easy it is to leave campus. If you are someone who enjoys grocery shopping and cooking, desires a more private lifestyle and wants a parking spot right outside your door, then off-campus life is probably for you. On the other hand, if you like being around more people and want access to campus amenities, like a meal plan or the gym at McComas Hall, then there is nothing wrong with dorm life. @CollegiateTimes
Living-Learning Communities on campus give students the opportunity to make friends and create memories Interested in engineering or adore art? No matter your major or hobbies, there is an LLC for you.
MARIEL GOMEZ lifestyles staff writer
The first year in college can be stressful. Questions that a lot of new students ask themselves are about their living situation. Where should I live? Who am I going to room with? Will I make a lot of friends? The dorm you live in can impact your freshman year in a major way. In a few of the dorms on campus, you will find programs called Living-Learning Communities (LLC’s). The LLC’s focus on integrating certain areas of interest with where you live. They allow students with similar interests to live and study together. The topics that are covered by these LLCs are: Arts and Creativity - Studio 72, Culture and Identity - Ujima, Engineering - Galileo and Hypatia, Entrepreneurship - Innovate, Honors - Hillcrest, Languages and Global Learning - Mozaiko, Major Exploration VIA, Personal Growth - Thrive, Sciences - Orion, Transfer Students - Transfer Experience, Well-Being - Meraki and the Corps of Cadets. Weekly meetings are held in the communities where residents are asked to participate in active discussions, activities and
listen to guest speakers. Virginia Tech states that first-year LLC students have higher GPAs than non-LLC students, show fewer conduct referrals than non-LLC residence halls and report higher rates of mentorship of students by faculty. Galileo, Hypatia, Orion, Innovate, VIA and Meraki all have required courses that the residents need to take their first year of college. All of the LLCs are located in different dorms throughout the residential side of campus. Prices of being a part of these programs vary depending on which building it is located in, but each LLC has a $50 per semester program fee that funds all the programs and activities offered. The spaces that are picked out for these communities include community kitchens, libraries, studios, maker spaces and classrooms, keeping group living and learning in mind. Some of the spaces There are also three Residential Colleges that make up the Learning Living Programs with the LLCs. The Community for the first-year Engineering students is split up into two sections called Galileo and Hypatia, which are for men and women respectively. Nicholas Hoang, who is a Sophomore majoring in Electrical Engineering, has
been a resident of the Galileo Engineering Living Learning Community since the first semester of his Freshman year. It is located on the 7, 6 and half of the 5 floor of Hoge Hall. Hypatia makes up the other half of the 5 floor, and all of the 3 and 4 floors. Last semester he became a mentor for the students in Hypatia. “I was originally introduced in the program after learning about LLCs while applying,” Hoang said. “But I then kept hearing about it from the other students who I had connected with who were also majoring in Engineering.The friendships I developed during the events, mentor meetings, and from living side by side with my friends provided a great breather from classes and helped me enjoy my freshman year so much more.” Many students follow what Nick did and take up a leadership role in their second year of being an on-campus resident. He is currently a Mentor and a Committee Member for the LLCs board. The students that stay state that living there helped them transition into college and that they want to continue doing that for other students. It is a rare opportunity that students can have in the dorms to implement changes that they
believe will make the living experiences better and more enjoyable for their peers. Virginia Tech states that the LLCs will “change the way you think about living on campus by integrating what you study, where you live, who you live with, and how you think about the world.” Students can apply to these LLCs through the StarRez Portal when a housing contract is made available for interested and eligible students.
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Today’s birthday horoscope (Feb. 23): Generate innovative creative visions this year. Private self-discipline produces incredible results. Listen to your muses. Springtime career changes lead to summer domestic renewal. Taking new directions with communications next winter leads to a professional prize. Connect with a sense of purpose and passion.
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February 23, 2021 PAGE 7
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Some artists’ quarters 6 Come to a halt 10 About, on a memo 14 All-__: versatile machine 15 Bizet’s “Habanera,” for one 16 Handle roughly 17 Holiday bloom 19 Sketchbooks 20 USO show audience 21 All lathered up 22 Magical lamp dweller 23 Jong and Durance 25 Oscar winner Kingsley 26 Taft’s University of Cincinnati position 33 Things sometimes found under a tree 35 Wolf cries 36 1959 folk hit with the line “Charlie couldn’t get off of that train” 37 Burden 38 Gave out cards 39 Animal house 40 Time of your life 41 Prolonged battle 42 Number that’s part of a nap 43 UPS vehicle 46 __ Plaines 47 Familiarize 50 Rice or wheat 53 “Dilbert” creator Adams 56 Day for voting: Abbr. 57 Sleek, in car talk 58 Parlor pieces, and a hint to each set of circles 60 Dryer trap target 61 MLB Tiger, for one 62 Artist Max 63 Grandson of Adam 64 Heap affection (on) 65 Continues intensely, as a storm
2/23/21
By Paul Coulter
DOWN 1 Feudal lord 2 Broadcasting 3 Natural gas, coal, etc. 4 Atlanta-based station 5 Goes up and down 6 Pamplona parlor 7 Vacation choice 8 Like a slippery garage floor 9 Remit 10 Be about to happen 11 Palindromic bread 12 Designer Gernreich 13 “What __ can I do?” 18 Singer Diana 22 Hair products 24 Lions and tigers 25 Lightning flash 27 Support the team 28 Composer Carmichael 29 Young hooter 30 Online advertising 31 Arguing 32 __ a one: none 33 Prod
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34 “Bus Stop” playwright 38 Fizzles out 39 Centers of activity 41 Norse name similar to Stephen 42 To a greater degree 44 Numbskulls 45 Campus cadets’ org.
2/23/21
48 Care for 49 Exams 50 __-force winds 51 Equestrian’s strap 52 River of Pisa 53 Farm storage unit 54 Tech news site 55 Shrek, e.g. 58 Bundle of cash 59 Altar in the sky
sports
PAGE 8 February 23, 2021
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Softball sweeps Kennesaw State in season opener The Hokies hold the Owls to no runs in Triple Header . COLBY TALLEY sports staff writer
The No. 15 Virginia Tech softball team got off to a strong start in the 2021 season by sweeping three straight games against Kennesaw State in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Hokies won both games in the doubleheader on Feb. 13 by a score of 6-0 in each game and proceeded to take the game on Feb. 14 by a score of 4-0. This dominating performance to open the season was due in part to excellent pitching from both Keely Rochard and Ivy Rosenberry. Both pitchers combined to post three shutouts, with Rochard recording two in games one and three and Rosenberry recording one in game two. On the offensive side of the ball, the team combined for 21 hits over the course of the weekend. The standout performance of
the series came from freshman outfielder Cameron Fagan who recorded a batting average of .455% with five hits over eleven at-bats and three runs. “All of the freshmen were a little nervous but overall, I thought it was a good opening weekend,” said freshman outfielder Emma Ritter, who contributed three hits and three RBIs over the course of the weekend, including a homerun in the first game. “Something I’ve noticed already about this team is the special ability to pick each other up, whether that be mentally or physically.”
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Hokies beat Flames in season opener, 13-5 Sarah Lubnow and Paige Petty lead the Hokies past the Liberty Flames. DEVIN SHEPARD sports editor
The Virginia Tech women’s lacrosse team travelled to Lynchburg on Feb. 12 to take on the Liberty Flames for their season opener. The Hokies took care of business, winning the game 13-5. Senior Sarah Lubnow led the team with three goals and two assists, while Paige Petty finished with two goals and one assist. Caroline Allen and Grace Nelson each finished with two goals apiece. Goalie Angie Benson was one of the stars of the day, along with the rest of the defense, as she finished the matchup with eight saves. The Flames scored first, but Virginia Tech answered back with a 9-0 run to give them a commanding lead going into the half.
The Hokies finished well in the second half, pulling out the victory. Virginia Tech found an edge by getting more shots on goal throughout the day, as they consistently were able to get good looks.
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