January 16, 2023

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January 16, 2023

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NEWS

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VIRGINIA TECH’S STUDY SHOWS CITIES ON EAST COAST ARE SINKING Jane park | news editor

Researchers found that cities, such as New York and Virginia Beach, are experiencing subsidence.

Virginia Tech researchers have found that cities along the East Coast are experiencing subsidence — the gradual sinking of an area of land — according to WTOP. In the study, researchers observed cities, farms, forests, infrastructures, pipelines, roads, railways and more.

“Continuous unmitigated subsidence on the U.S. East Coast should cause concern,” lead author Leonard Ohenhen, a graduate student who works with associate professor Manoochehr Shirzaei at Virginia Tech’s Earth Observation and Innovation Lab said in a press release.

“This is particularly in areas with a high population and property density and a historical complacency toward infrastructure maintenance.”

The study found that about 2.1 million people and 867,000 properties will be impacted by subsidence rates of 2 millimeters each year. This movement of the Earth’s surface threatens cities like New York City, Baltimore and Norfolk, Virginia.

Newsweek reported that in areas on the mid-Atlantic coast, there is land sinking by more than 5 mm each year. The study said this is higher than the 4 mm of global sea level rise.

However, it is unlikely that entire areas will sink. The study also found that there is stable ground that is not susceptible to subsidence. But the at-risk land is linked to “population and infrastructure hubs.”

“For example, significant areas of critical infrastructure in New York, including JFK

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and LaGuardia airports and its runways, along with the railway systems, are affected by subsidence rates exceeding 2 mm per year,” Ohenhen said. “The effects of these right now and into the future are potential damage to infrastructure and increased flood risks.”

Not only is the U.S. seeing subsidence, but coastal areas around the world could soon be impacted.

Newsweek previously reported that the rise in sea level poses a significant threat to low-lying coastal areas and communities, according to Zita Sebesvari, a scientist at United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security.

“As sea levels continue to rise, coastal areas are at risk of flooding, coastal erosion and salinization of soils and water sources,” Sebesvari said to Newsweek. “Erosion and flooding can damage infrastructure, homes, and businesses, and even displace people from their homes. Areas particularly at risk from sea level rise are low-lying coastal regions and small island nations.”

While subsidence may not appear to be a pressing problem at the moment, the study also implied that the aftermath is concerning nonetheless.

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January 16, 2023 PAGE 3

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OPINIONS

CONQUER NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WITH CONSISTENCY Catherine Cuneo | opinions columnist Practice, patience and some motivation from others can help you successfully achieve your new goals.

As the new year rolls around again, millions of resolutions are made. People promise themselves that this will be the year they finally wake up early, eat healthy and focus more on things they want to do instead of putting them off. Unfortunately, for many, these resolutions never seem to come to fruition. Accomplishing these goals becomes increasingly harder after the initial excitement of the new year. People shift their focus back to school and work and lose the motivation to complete their resolutions. Motivation will only get you so far; the most effective way to create better habits and fulfill your goals is to be consistent.

When creating goals, many people tend to be too general or try to take on more than possible. According to UC Davis Health, in order to be consistent, it’s important to make goals that are specific and reasonable.

Instead of saying, “I will work out every day,” change the statement to something that is attuned to your schedule and capabilities. If your goal is to exercise more, try phrasing the statement as “I will go to the gym and walk on the treadmill four times a week for 30 minutes.” By making the goal more specific, it becomes easier to follow.

Lizzie Daniels, a sophomore majoring in marketing, explains how she stays consistent with her own goals.

“I remind myself of the reasons why I set those goals in the first place and the positive impact they will have on my life,” Daniels said. “It also helps to break down big goals into smaller, manageable steps and celebrate each milestone along the way.”

Choose a few things that you wish to accomplish and focus on them. By breaking these goals down into something doable, tasks that seemed impossible are now achievable. The New York Times notes that another important aspect of staying consistent is to attach these new habits to existing parts of your life. If the goal is to

wake up earlier, attach this to something like breakfast or some other gratifying activity such as reading. The same can be said for exercising. Pick a convenient time and place to work out and implement it into your existing schedule. Observe habits that are already in place and add in the goals that were set.

The most important thing to have when creating new habits is patience. According to News in Health, the process of building a habit is not perfect. There are challenges that come with these new changes. Though this seems discouraging, the same idea could be applied to anything in life. True accomplishment comes after weeks, months and years of practice.

“Be patient with yourself,” Daniels said. “Remember, it’s about progress, not perfection!”

Each little step that is taken builds toward the desired result. Though it can be upsetting not to see immediate results, there is something rewarding about seeing small amounts of progress. Keep track of each milestone by writing it down, taking pictures or simply checking off a box. By doing so, if it feels like no progress is being made, there is something to prove that there has been. Being able to show up every day for yourself and taking small steps toward reaching your goals is the best way to achieve them.

It can also be beneficial to have someone or something that will keep you accountable. It’s much easier to skip out on goals if the only person waiting on you is yourself. If there is someone else working toward the same goal, it becomes harder to ignore the set goals. For example, if you planned to go to the gym in the morning, going with a friend makes the task much more appealing.

“Having a support system of friends and loved ones who cheer me on and hold me

accountable also makes a big difference,” Daniels said.

Creating healthy habits can be an intimidating feat for many that have tried and struggled in the past. It’s not easy to completely change habits that have already been set in place. Learning to break down goals, attach them to existing habits and be patient will result in more success than relying solely on motivation. Imagine the sense of accomplishment you will feel

looking back at the year and everything you were able to achieve.

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LIFESTYLES

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POPULAR STOPS IN BLACKSBURG Sakshi Kaul | lifestyles contributor

For those new to or unfamiliar with Blacksburg, take a look at local restaurants and recreation.

While the heart of Blacksburg resides in Virginia Tech’s campus, the town offers unique experiences that leave locals and visitors in awe of its charm. As students come back from winter break, there are many opportunities for every individual to explore their interests. Here are a few popular stops that may catch your eye.

For the Foodies When traveling to any new destination, I am always on the lookout for good food.

Blacksburg offers a variety of cuisines throughout downtown Main Street. My friends and I particularly enjoy the brunch menu at Gillie’s restaurant, though they do serve other menus throughout the day. They include options for vegans, vegetarians, and

individuals with other dietary restrictions.

During game days in Blacksburg, you can find Mellow Mushroom and Cabo Fish Taco to be fairly packed with families and friends rooting for the Hokies. If you are a pizza lover, definitely check out the Mellow Mushroom menu. I would recommend getting smaller portions because their slices can be quite filling, but they leave you satisfied. As a fan of the shrimp tacos, I recommend dining at Cabo Fish Taco. They offer complimentary chips and salsa and a variety of options for Mexican cuisine.

I would also recommend Lefty’s Main Street Grille, which is a personal favorite.

My friends and I are fans of their sandwich menu, but they also offer other options ranging from burgers, soups, salads, and

more. Lastly, for sushi lovers, Green’s Grille and Sushi Bar is the place to go. They have numerous options on their menu for sushi, and I would also recommend checking out their Mediterranean cuisine.

Sights to See If you are looking for a few fun sights to get you outside, these three spots are worth checking out. New River Junction Campground offers beautiful views to enjoy a relaxing day with your friends. In warmer seasons, they offer tube rentals for when you wish to spend your afternoon floating down the river. As the sun begins to set, you could start some s’mores around a campfire and enjoy live music when they host concerts.

For those of you looking to be more active,

you could hike the Hokie favorite Cascades Falls any time of the year. Just a twenty minute drive from Blacksburg, this hike averages two hours to complete the total four miles. There is a parking fee of three dollars per vehicle.

During warmer weather, hikers can enjoy a refreshing dip in the falls to cool down and enjoy the views. Cooler seasons invite stunning fall foliage and a frozen waterfall in the winter.

You can also check out the Blacksburg Farmers Market located downtown, where you can explore vendors selling fresh food, jewelry, plants, art and more. They open Wednesday afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. continued on page 5

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continued from page 4 Activities and Entertainment There are a variety of activities located in downtown Blacksburg that may pique your interest. I would recommend Blue Ridge Axe Throwing if you have never tried it. You can book reservations per person, or private events if your party is greater than 12. They also house the only arcade in town. It’s a

collegiatetimes.com great way to enjoy some healthy competition with friends and family.

The Lyric Theatre offers movies throughout the week as well as live concerts and performances. Tickets for movies are usually under 10 dollars, and you can experience the beauty of the refurbished space.

For any art lovers out there, the P. Buckley Moss Gallery hosts events and exhibitions

throughout the year for anyone to check out. They are open to all visitors Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Other timings are listed on their website.

No matter your interests, Blacksburg is home to a wealth of locations that will curb your hunger, bring you closer to nature, and provide engaging activities for you and your friends or family to enjoy. Virginia Tech may

SPORTS

January 16, 2023 PAGE 5

be located in a small town off Route 81, but there’s a variety of places to visit in this part of the New River Valley region.

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HISTORY SLIPS AWAY IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL’S LOSS TO NO. 21 FLORIDA STATE Thomas Bray | sports editor

Seminoles guard Sara Bejedi scored 31 points on Sunday. the Hokies their first lead, capping off a first half that concluded with a 10–1 Hokies run and a halftime score of 46–40.

The second half became more of a

HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies head coach Kenny Brooks calls for a play to the team, Jan. 11, 2024.

No. 11 Virginia Tech women’s basketball fell on the losing end of Sara Bejedi’s career game against No. 21 Florida State, losing 89–76.

The Hokies had a chance to start unbeaten through five games of conference play for the first time in program history. Instead, they picked up their first conference loss since Jan. 26, 2023.

The game began with a bang as star players Bejedi and Georgia Amoore each made threepointers. Virginia Tech (13–4, 4–1 ACC) and Florida State (13–4, 4–1 ACC) entered the game ranked first and second, respectively, in three-point makes for the ACC.

Rose Micheaux emerged as a key contributor early for the Hokies, providing consecutive buckets that fueled an impressive 5–7 shooting start.

Florida State was firing on all cylinders early.

After an impressive 9–11 start from the floor, Kenny Brooks switched to a zone defense.

The zone defense’s effect is definitely reflected in the box score. The Seminoles shot 5–17 in the second quarter, and Cayla King’s deep three-pointer from the hash mark gave

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back-and-forth affair after the Hokies looked like they were going to run away with it. After continued on page 6

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continued from page 5 going scoreless in the second quarter, Bejedi knocked down a crucial three with the Seminoles down eight to inject life back into the Tucker Center.

For the Hokies, Elizabeth Kitley continued her dominant start to conference play. The two-time ACC player of the year had 10 points in the third quarter, and her presence created scoring opportunities for Micheaux around the rim.

However, offensive struggles began to plague the Hokies in the final seven minutes of the third quarter. The Hokies converted on just four field goals in that period.

Florida State’s Bejedi was the player of the game. The Finland native opened the final quarter with a three-pointer, her third straight game with five or more threes.

After a quiet first half from Amoore, she began to take over the final period. In the waning moments of the game, trailing by eight with four minutes remaining, Amoore scored three consecutive buckets, bringing the game within three points.

With a chance to cut the lead to one with time dwindling away, freshman Carleigh Wenzel missed a crucial layup in transition.

With just a minute remaining, Bejedi drew

an offensive foul on Kitley, essentially sealing the deal for the Seminoles.

Kitley finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds and an impressive five assists.

Bejedi finished with 31 points, five rebounds and a home victory over a top-15 opponent.

The lack of execution on the Hokies’ end, coupled with four fourth-quarter turnovers, ultimately summed up the 89– 81 loss. The Hokies will travel to Durham, North Carolina, to face Duke on Jan. 18.

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January 16, 2023 PAGE 7

WITHOUT CATTOOR, MEN’S BASKETBALL STUMBLES AGAINST MIAMI Sam Mostow | sports editor Tech’s game-tying shot attempt at the end hit the rim and bounced out.

MJ Collins’ three-point attempt hit the back rim and bounced out with seven seconds remaining, which, instead of tying the game at 74, solidified Virginia Tech’s 75–71 loss to Miami.

The Hokies (10– 6, 2–3 ACC) trailed for 11 minutes in the second half — while surrendering a 17–6 run — but went stepfor-step with the Hurricanes (12–4, 3–2 ACC) throughout much of the game. Tech guard Sean Pedulla hit a three with 21 seconds remaining to cut Miami’s lead to three.

Hurricanes guard Kyshawn George threw the ball out of bounds on the ensuing possession, giving Tech the ball.

Collins, the Hokies’ sophomore guard, had an open look as time ticked down, but his shot went inches too far.

“I had to make a play,” Collins said. “In my eyes, it was an open look. I just missed long.”

On the final possession, Pedulla passed to Collins, who set up to take the gametying shot.

“I thought (Collins) didn’t take the better look he had,” said Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young. “He kind of gathered himself, which allowed the defender to get a better ability to contest the shot. I thought it was a pretty good shot.”

Pedulla led the Hokies with 33 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while draining five three-pointers.

“I’m playing super confidently,” Pedulla said. “I know the team needs production out of me and I was kind of displeased with the way I was playing the prior week. I just wanted to turn things around and start winning games.”

After scoring 26 points against Florida State and 32 against Clemson, Pedulla notched at least 25 points on Saturday for the third consecutive game. “(Pedulla is) really, really good,” said Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga. “He’s good against everybody … Man, 33 (points) is pretty good.”

Almost as crucially, Pedulla turned the

ball over six times, contributing to Tech’s 15 total.

“I don’t like 15 turnovers, but I told (the team) I thought we grew up this week,” Young said. “I thought I saw some things come together in a number of areas — a real uptick — and that can happen. It’s a long year and there’s a lot of trials that teams go through.”

On top of Pedulla’s production, center Lynn Kidd scored 16 points and grabbed four rebounds. Forward Tyler Nickel scored six points and dished four assists.

Forward Robbie Beran finished with eight points and five rebounds.

Guard Hunter Cattoor missed Saturday’s game after sustaining a head injury on Wednesday. Young said he is day-to-day.

As the Hokies’ all-time leader in threepointers, Cattoor’s absence hurt the team on the perimeter. They shot just 30% from behind the arc on Saturday.

“Cattoor is certainly one of the better — I would say top five, if not the best — perimeter shooters in our league,” Young said. “It was significant, but I’m proud of MJ Collins, I’m proud of Tyler Nickel. We were a man down — and that’s a part of the game — and they fought like crazy.

“I thought they gave us every opportunity to win the game. Miami was just a little bit better.”

Guard Matthew Cleveland led the Hurricanes with 21 points while adding four rebounds and an assist. Guard Nijel Pack finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, while forward Norchad Omier had 14 points and five rebounds.

“They’re really good players,” Young said. “We did everything we could to keep a body on a body.”

The Hokies led entering halftime, 30–29 but stumbled going into and coming out of the break.

“I didn’t make any adjustments (during halftime),” Larrañaga said. “I didn’t have any special message for them so that we could shoot the ball better and find the open man better. Sometimes it comes

down to that we were a little anxious in the first half and settled for some very long distance threes which we can make — but it shouldn’t be our first option.”

Tech’s loss to Miami comes in the midst of a string of games against teams who finished in the upper tier of the ACC standings a year ago. A win on Saturday would have built Tech’s momentum from its win last Wednesday against No. 21 Clemson, and carried into its away games this week against Virginia on Wednesday and NC State on Saturday.

Although his team did not begin

a winning streak, Young expressed optimism.

“I think we played as well tonight as we played on Wednesday,” Young said. “We didn’t get a couple of breaks that you gotta get — you make those breaks. We didn’t do that tonight.”

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