June 14, 2021

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JOIN A CLUB Clubs at Tech offer structure . and connections. pg. 5

College is not the best four years of our lives — and that’s OK

Young people are often told that college will be their “best four years.” Not only is this message untrue, but it’s harmful too.

M

ost college students have received sympathy this yea r for ou r st ra nge, disrupted COVID-19-induced experiences. Many parents and friends look at us with pity and say, “It’s a shame; college should be the best four years of your life.” This seems to be a common belief — that college is a carefree time, filled with constant fun, laughter and freedom to spend joyful moments with our friends.

This common perception about college may be harmful for two reasons.

First, the logical implication of the view that “it doesn’t get any better than college” is that for the majority of bright-eyed young adults, their lives go downhill after college — a dispiriting thought at best. Second, the idea that college years for most people should be a four-year-long fun-fest may keep many students from reaching out for help should they encounter problems.

If college is supposed to be such a great time in life, many students may have difficulty understanding why that has not been their experience.

Given these potential risks, why do so many people insist on promoting this idea that the college years are the pinnacle of our lives? It turns out that the answer has more to do with what happens before college, rather than what is likely to happen to us after college.

“Childhood and a d ol e s c e n c e come with a lot of constraints,” said Dr. Vanessa Diaz, a developmental psychology professor at Virginia Tech.

“When people say that ‘(college is) the best four years of your life,’ they probably mean that they will be the most free four years of your life.”

Students find that with more freedom, they can investigate new passions, and with those passions comes a stronger sense of identity.

Because of this, college students often experience a surge in self-esteem.

“Your self- esteem is high in childhood — really, really high,” Diaz said. “(Kids) are unrealistically optimistic about themselves. Then in adolescence, you see a very big dip.”

In other words, if someone tells a high school graduate that college “will be the best four years of your life,” they actually mean that your college experience is likely to be superior to the last several years of your adolescence.

Even if a college student graduates penniless and directionless, there’s a good chance that they will feel more confident in who they are than they did four years prior — and this in itself is an accomplishment, but shouldn’t cause us to think that our lives have peaked during our college years.

Another reason why the typical college experience may be superior to our high school years is that students’ relationships with their parents often improve during this time. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Diaz said. “And this is one of those times where this cliche is actually true.”

When their children are off to college, parents may let go of habits that kept their children at arm’s length.

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Strict parents who prioritized safety and rule-following at the expense of a trusting, close bond with their children can no longer monitor them when

they go off to college. This relaxes the parent-child relationship and makes continued on page 4

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people.

In addition to the social challenges, most students fail to accurately anticipate just how hard college academics will be.

Lifelong straight-A students might fail their first college exam or class and question their capacity to succeed, but these setbacks are incredibly common and rarely as dire as they may seem at the time. Also, there are resources at Virginia Tech that can ensure

The difficulties that students may encounter during college years — deadlines, fatigue, depression, discrimination, poor eating and exercise habits –– probably don’t differ that much from the difficulties we will face outside of college. The one critical difference is that the college experience has become so glamorized that when students fail a class or feel lonely or their mental health declines, they might resist seeking

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room for positivity and respect. Moreover, college students have the freedom to choose how and when to talk with their parents, which often closes the gap in communication instead of widening it.

These psychological needs help explain why so many people tout college as the best four years of our lives: it gives students freedom, it increases students’ sense of identity and selfesteem, and it improves their relationships with their parents. Still, while we know that college can improve young lives in many ways, the typical college experience also presents unique and sometimes devastating challenges.

“Living up until the point that you go to college, your parents have provided ever ything, including your social environment,” Diaz said. In college, students become fully responsible for all our basic needs, including making friends. In childhood, making friends comes naturally to most children, but college students may suddenly find that it’s not so easy to do.

During emerging adulthood, we become more self-aware, which can hinder us from

diving into relationships as quickly as we did as children. Insecurity and self-doubt may cause us to worry that our desire for friendship may not be reciprocated. Also, we can’t help but compare our new college friends to our old friends from home. If you’re unable to make plans with college friends during your free time, and sitting alone in your room, the idea that you’re wasting the “best four years of your life” can add heartbreak to the loneliness.

When graduates talk about their college exper ience, especially to incoming freshmen, they tend to gloss over the bad parts. This is understandable: they presumably believe that it’s better to encourage incoming student excitement rather than dread about the years to come. But there are risks associated with glossing over the not-so-great aspects of college life.

“This approach is what some people call ‘toxic positivity,’” Diaz said. Diaz explained that toxic positivity helps perpetuate the idea that “when (students) struggle, they are alone.” If we fail to provide incoming freshmen with a comprehensive idea of what college can be, both good and bad, they can feel as if they’re the only struggling student drowning in a sea of happy and thriving

four years of your life,” Diaz suggested a more realistic replacement: “(College is) a time of possibility.” This philosophy can motivate incoming students without raising their expectations to unrealistic levels. future classroom success and help remind students that they are not alone in their struggles.

Diaz regularly hears from student panels at Virginia Tech; this provides insight into what students have found to be the most valuable resources the school offers.

For example, her students raved about the Writing Center — a free service which provides students with feedback on essays and other graded writings.

Many students expressed regret for failing to take advantage of this service earlier in their college careers. They also found Hokie Wellness services to be helpful. Mostly student-run, Hokie Wellness hosts workshops on sleep, nutrition and time management tools and spearhead peer-mentoring programs, where incoming students are paired with upperclassmen trained in mentorship. Diaz said that the students she spoke with on her panel considered this program to be “one of the most helpful things they’ve done.”

When considering that the carefree college years may not be so carefree after all, it bears mentioning that for many incoming students, the college experience can be particularly challenging. “For minority students, it’s important to emphasize that all of this is harder,” Diaz said. “Sexual, racial and ethnic minorities, first generation and non-traditional students — the transition (to college) is harder for them.” Diaz said that because of this, it is especially important that these students be introduced to “likeminded students who share their experiences.” Students on Diaz’s panel found that the cultural centers at Virginia Tech help foster this type of community.

”

help because doing so would mean admitting that their experience has fallen short of what they were led to believe it would be.

Instead of saying, “College will be the best four years of your life,” Diaz suggested a more realistic replacement: “(College is) a time of possibility.” This philosophy can motivate incoming students without raising their expectations to unrealistic levels.

The reality is that college, like life, is what you make of it, and what happens after college ought to be just as fun, exciting, and, yes, challenging as the college years. College isn’t going to be your life’s peak and it shouldn’t be, but it will be special — as will so many other stages in your life. It’s time we stop imposing these unrealistic expectations on young people to have life-altering, out-of-this-world college experiences, and instead let them see for themselves what college has to offer.

JULIANNE JOYCE • senior • psychology

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Join a club at Virginia Tech to find structure and a sense of community

A

Being part of groups that share your specific interests allows students to enjoy their passions on deeper level.

rriving on campus as a freshman can be stressful for a multitude of reasons, so keeping yourself busy is key to settling into a healthy routine. In order to get into this new college lifestyle, Virginia Tech provides its students with plenty of opportunities outside the classroom such as concerts on the Drillfield, intramural sports and especially attending the various sports teams’ games to root on your fellow Hokies.

Finding friends early on at Virginia Tech is something that many freshmen stress over. When students rely primarily on making friends by random chance in the dorms or during class, it can be challenging to find people who share your same interests — one of the most important components of a strong friendship. This is why Virginia Tech’s clubs and organizations are the most important thing someone can join during their first year in Blacksburg.

The opportunities for meeting people are endless, as there are hundreds of clubs and organizations for students to join, ranging from academic interest clubs to sports clubs to recreational clubs like the Bob Ross club, which is great for students with a passion for painting. Interested in nature and animals?

There are clubs for that as well, including a “Squirrel Watching Club.” In a school that has over 30,000 students, there is something for everyone.

Freshman year can be difficult due to the dramatic lifestyle change that is the transition from high school to college. In high school, many of us led very structured lives and if you were involved in extracurriculars, you likely had very little free time. This is not the usual case in college. Students often have ample free time and full discretion to spend it how they please, which means students will have to consider how they manage their time — something that clubs and organizations can help with. Joining Men’s Club Basketball forced me to improve my time management skills, as we had practice two to three times a week and I needed to make sure to get my work done beforehand.

Alumnus Howard Dunleavy was formerly involved in the Bigfoot Club where members are dedicated to hiking and finding new trails across the New River Valley. Dunleavy recently completed his environmental science degree at Virginia Tech.

“I definitely think Bigfoot Club has given

me a new means to make friends I may not have met otherwise,” Dunleavy said. “There is no shortage of options when it comes to clubs at (Virginia) Tech.”

Meeting friends early on in your freshman year can really help settle you in and make you feel right at home. For students like Dunleavy, joining clubs helped him make connections with other students and to enjoy his life in Blacksburg more.

Some clubs and organizations at Virginia Tech can be used for resume boosters for later on in life; for example, the Accounting Society at Virginia Tech can be useful for business accounting students hoping to connect with potential future employers. There are also clubs that allow students to further their passion for their major outside the classroom such as the Economics Club and the Biochemistry Club.

For those interested in leadership, there are clubs and organizations that offer students the opportunity to climb the ladder and obtain positions of leadership: members of the Men’s Club Baseball team can run for President and Treasurer, for example. This is not only impressive to have on your resume but a

valuable way to learn how to command a room and run an organization.

Many clubs and organizations at Virginia Tech offer opportunities for travel around the state and country. Clubs like the Snow Club give students the availability to travel with friends to Snowshoe, West Virginia, for snowboarding and skiing. The Competitive Cheerleading team even travels all the way to Daytona Beach, Florida.

My freshman year, I was lucky to have a roommate and members of my dorm who shared similar interests to myself, but joining the Men’s Club Basketball team played a large role in helping me to make friends outside of my dorm or classes. In club basketball, we have also been able to travel to several East Coast colleges and universities to play, which is something I would never have been able to do if I hadn’t taken a leap of faith three years ago.

Being involved in a Virginia Tech club really helped me with my transition into college, and I highly recommend you do the same.

RORY AILOR • senior • multimedia journalism

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CREATIVITY & INNOVATION DISTRICT .

LLCs are housed in new dorm. pg. 9

Class of 2025 overcomes obstacles brought on by COVID-19 The incoming class joins Virginia Tech amid admission changes and pandemic uncertainty.

BRYAN ZAPATA news staff writer

The Virginia Tech Class of 2025 has been recognized as a record-shattering incoming class.

In p r ev iou s ye a r s, Vi rg i n ia Tech made national headlines by enrolling hundreds more freshmen than expected. In an article for The Roanoke Times, Hen r i Gendreau reported that in 2019, a record 31,974 potential students applied. This year, the university saw a 36% increase in applications and received 42,084 applications. Virginia Tech added the Common App, used by more than 900 schools nationwide. Juan Espinoza, director of undergraduate admissions at Virginia Tech, said in Gendreau’s article that other universities have seen an 8%-12% increase in applications through the Common App, and that Virginia Tech is beyond that margin.

This increase in applications was a result of the COVID-19 pandemic’s uncertainty and the option to submit standardized test scores. About 47% of applicants chose not to submit scores.

Colleges such as the College of William & Mary, New York University, the University of Virginia and Harvard University have all reported recordbreaking numbers in applications as well.

Across the country, colleges and universities have seen a decrease in numbers from first-generation and low-income students due to the price of the application. However, Virginia Tech is not one of those schools.

“The application process was unique because we incorporated changes to make the application more accessible, fair and transparent to truly get to know the applicant,” Espinoza said. “The introduction of the self-report of academic records allowed students to self-report their grades and (optional) test scores contributed to a 47% increase in applications. This shows

that during a pandemic we were able to lower those barriers for underrepresented students.”

Espinoza explained how virtual tours have helped in the admissions process.

“Having our tours go virtual has been a big help in making them accessible to everyone and we plan to keep some of those methods for students who may not make it to in person tours due to distance,” Espinoza said. “This contributes to diversifying our pool of applicants as tours are accessible to all and can have an impact on college decisions.”

Espinoza describes the class of 2025 as “resilient” as they have overcome overwhelming obstacles during a pandemic and has no doubt that they will succeed in life.

The class of 2024 was the most diverse class in university history, with a 27% increase in African American students and a 25% increase in Latinx and Hispanic students. According to a story from VTx’s website, 17% of the class of 2024 were made up of first generation students. 45% of the College of Engineering and 37% of the Pamplin College of Business came from underrepresented and underserved populations within the class of 2024.

The class of 2025 has 75% more African American students and 43% more Hispanic and Latinx students than the class of 2024. The number of first generation students increased by 47%. President Sands stated in the State of the University address this year that the school is close to reaching its goal of having 40% of an entering class consist of low-income, first-generation, veteran and underrepresented students by 2022.

“Incorporating the test-optional portion of the application has contributed to increasing the enrollment of these groups,” Espinoza said. “Research shows that standardized tests create a barrier for underrepresented and underserved populations

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES A member of Virginia Tech Student Government Association answers a question from a freshman during orientation, July 25, 2019.

and, given the circumstances of this year, Virginia Tech (and) Ivy League schools have seen an increase in admissions for underrepresented and underserved students.”

“Making a college decision was very difficult as I was not able to tour any schools,” said Daniela Espinoza, a rising freshman from Danville, Virginia. “The main obstacle I faced when applying to schools was the lack of communication from the admissions office. Some schools would take up to a week, if not more, to respond to applicants’ questions. However, Virginia Tech was on top of answering applicant questions, which was really nice. I am very excited to experience a freshman year in a close-to-normal experience as it is beneficial for me.”

Ashlyn O’Neill, a rising freshman majoring in general engineering from York, Pennsylvania, explained how Virginia Tech was one of a few schools that had a unique

college application that helped her reveal different perspectives of herself.

“During the college application process, I really liked how Virginia Tech provided a variety of different essay prompts,” O’Neill said. “Providing different essay prompts helped me figure out how I could best present myself given limited experiences.

Though I am the only one from my high school attending Virginia Tech, I am very excited to start freshman year as most of my senior year was lost.”

@CollegiateTimes

WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING HOKIES! As we come back to campus this fall, looking forward to once again enjoying an in-person Virginia Tech experience, we are grateful to everyone who worked diligently over the past year to keep our community safe and prepare for a successful and fulfilling semester together. Virginia Tech is stronger than ever, focused on our mission and goals, and energized by the passion and creativity our students bring to a fully engaged campus.

This fall, enjoy your freedom while remaining vigilant, and honor the work and sacrifice that brought us to this point by living and learning in the spirit of our motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). And in keeping with our Principles of Community, let’s continue striving to build a society that values diversity, respects our differences, and affirms our common humanity.

We look forward to being together, President Tim Sands

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Creativity and Innovation District comes to Virginia Tech The 596-bed residential building will house three Living-Learning Communities as well as student athletes.

MOMIJI BARLOW news editor

A new Creativity and Innovation District (CID) is coming to Virginia Tech in the 2021 – 22 school year, and will be located on the eastern edge of campus. Its goal is to “cultivate a community of creation and innovation” and will take advantage of the surrounding facilities as part of the district, such as the Moss Arts Center, Newman Library and the Media Building.

A cornerstone of CID is the newest residence hall, which will house 596 beds and three Living-Learning Communities (LLCs): Studio72, Innovate and the newest addition, Rhizome. Rhizome is a new LLC that places an emphasis on project-based learning and is a community that analyzes the roles of art, design, construction and

other components in shaping both built and natural environments.

LLCs at Virginia Tech have been shown to have numerous advantages for students, including higher GPAs and less conduct referrals than their non-LLC peers.

“The benefit of joining an LLC your freshman year is that you are immediately hooked into a group of students who are like minded or have a similar interest as you, which is super beneficial in terms of finding friends and making connections,” said Alexander Ismael, a rising junior and senior resident advisor for CID. “It’s a pretty surefire way to ensure that you have a group from the start.”

Previously existing LLCs will be in new surroundings as well, as both Innovate and Studio72 are relocating from other

residential buildings to CID, affording them access to new resources like a performing and visual arts studio space and increased community size.

Tim Baird is the appointed faculty principal for CID, and will be living with his wife and three children in the building with students. He says it is valuable for students to reside in a building with a faculty member and observe how they live in a more casual setting.

“One of the things that we know about undergraduates’ learning experience is that they are improved through informal interaction with faculty,” Baird said. “It’s one thing to be in class with faculty, it could be a giant class where the faculty don’t engage individually with students, it could even be a small class where faculty and students

COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH FACILITIES A rendering of the future Creativity and Innovation District, scheduled to be completed in July 2021, June 9, 2021.

interact very closely, but there’s something even more beneficial about just hanging out, students and faculty, that supports students’ learning experiences.”

One specific way that Baird plans to get to know students in CID is through different traditions, such as hosting gatherings in his apartment where guest speakers will talk about various topics and even sharing weekly meals. “(There are) three other residential colleges on campus — three other apartments where faculty live in the building — and this will be the fourth,” Baird said. “Each of those other faculty have the tradition of a talk once a week.

The other tradition is a meal, so on Mondays my family and I will go to D2 and have a big space reserved, and any students who want to come and hang out with me and my wife and our three kids can come be with us and share a meal.”

In addition to the students that are members of the three LLCs, student athletes will also be taking up residence in CID, making the community even more diverse. Baird plans to work to encourage different groups of students to interact with each other instead of staying separate.

“When they (interact), maybe they’ll make some great new friends, maybe they’ll discover some things that they’re really interested in and maybe some creative ideas will grow,” Baird said.

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WILL CAMPBELL / COLLEGIATE TIMES Students study in a Pritchard Study Lounge, April 18, 2018.

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SURVIVAL GUIDE Tips and tricks for all incoming Hokies. pgs. 11-12

Studying as a new Hokie: A guide to on-campus study spaces From Newman Library to dining halls, these are some of the best study spots for incoming freshmen.

MATTHEW HARRIS lifestyles staff writer

The Virginia Tech freshman experience is a magical, hectic time. New Hokies must adjust to living on their own, finding new friends, joining clubs and many other facets of the Hokie lifestyle. It is a fun and often chaotic experience, and the adjustment to classes at Tech is a similar journey.

Compared to high school, college courses demand a lot of time outside of the classroom. Thus, having a good area to study is often an overlooked necessity as a freshman. When delving into group projects, late-night study sessions or quick reviews before classes, knowledge of the multitude of study spaces on campus is invaluable. There are a large variety of places to study on campus, and I would like to highlight a few of my favorites from my three years as a Hokie.

Newman Library Newman Library is one of the most well-known study spaces on campus.

It offers a variety of helpful resources to make a variety of study styles more productive. The odd-numbered floors are silent floors and even-numbered floors have no restrictions on noise.

T he o dd-nu mb er e d f lo or s at Newman Library are perfect spots for long study sessions that require tight focus. Because they are silent floors, there is little to no noise at any time, letting students become completely

immersed in the work they are doing.

This silence combined with Newman’s long hours and abundance of power outlets makes the library a perfect place for late-night cram sessions. Personally, I recommend taking the higher floors for a beautiful, refreshing view while studying.

The even-numbered floors are great for group study. There are many large tables as well as reservable, private rooms that provide plenty of space for a variety of group sizes. Even-numbered floors also provide access to several whiteboards to allow for collaborative thinking during group meetings. These resources make it easy for groups to share and illustrate ideas with each other easily to support collaborative learning. Overall, Newman Library is a spacious study space that serves both solo and group study sessions well.

Dining Halls The dining halls at Virginia Tech, aside from consistently serving some of the best campus food in the country, are also underrated study spots. Two of the best places to study on campus can be found in the dining halls: D2 at Dietrick Hall and Owens Hall’s dining area.

D2, like all other dining halls on campus, has a great amount of space for both solo and group study sessions.

What sets it apart as an exceptional study space on campus is its buffet-style continued on page 11

editor@collegiatetimes.com continued from page 10

food service. After paying for entry, students can stay as long as they want and eat however much they want at D2. This makes D2 a perfect place for lengthy study sessions, providing students with food to graze on to keep their energy up throughout the day. I have studied for many finals from breakfast until dinner at D2.

Owens Hall is one of the other dining halls on the academic side of campus. It is not as large as D2 and is not a buffet, but the number of separate tables in the dining room makes it a great place to study. Owens is often quiet during the day, as it is on the academic side of campus and many students go to Turner Place between classes. Owens is also well-lit with many windows, making it a great environment to keep energy up during short study sessions between classes. Students willing to make the trek across the Drillfield will be rewarded with a pleasant study space next to some delicious food at Owens Hall.

Study Lounges A few of the majors at Virginia Tech have a dedicated study lounge on campus. These areas are often where teaching assistants (TAs) will gather to offer help with studying and also provide space for groups to work together on projects. New students should check if their department has a dedicated study lounge on campus.

Being a computer science major, I spent a lot of time in McBryde Hall’s computer

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collegiatetimes.com science lounge. This was one of my favorite places, as it gave easy access to TAs while I worked on a project. I could also talk through difficult concepts with other computer science majors in the room and make new connections in my major. Because everyone is studying the same thing, major-specific study lounges are an invaluable resource both for studying and making new friends.

Dormitory Common Areas An important part of the freshman experience at Tech is living on campus, and this experience often comes with a roommate. Because students are sharing rooms with one another, it could be courteous to use common areas instead of the room if a study session goes late at night to allow a roommate to sleep at a normal hour.

Many dorms on Tech’s campus have a common area on each f loor, so freshmen should scope out their floors on move-in day to identify where these places are. These common areas often have a few tables and outlets, so they can certainly harbor a late-night cram session that won’t wake up any roommates. Some even have televisions, so they could be used for more laid-back work with friends.

At the end of the day, finding a study space that works best comes with some experimentation. I recommend that freshmen take some time to explore the campus once they arrive and find some cozy places where they would be able to spend a few hours to study. Becoming familiar with the spaces around campus and finding what works best is a great way to maximize study time and

gives more time to explore everything else the Hokie experience has to offer. Finding new friends and exploring the campus are exciting parts of being a freshman, but make sure to remember that we are all here to learn as well.

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The ultimate freshman year survival guide for incoming Hokies Read about all of the essential tips and tricks to know as an incoming freshman or transfer at Virginia Tech.

KYLE BASSETT lifestyles staff writer

Going off to college carries a number of mixed feelings. For some, it is an exciting time of looking forward to new opportunities; for others, it can be a stressful time of trying to figure out what to do and what not to do before beginning the next big chapter of their lives. Regardless of where your head is at — in regards to what is in store for you, there are a variety of things you should bear in mind before you load up the car and head over to Blacksburg

this fall. To help you with navigating the road ahead, here are some of the key things to keep in mind when starting your undergraduate experience at Virginia Tech.

Room wisely.

While it may sound like a great idea to room with your best friend from high school, it might not be the amazing roommate experience you have in mind. One of the most important things to consider when rooming with someone is that you will be sharing the space you live in, and that goes

beyond splitting the room. Whether you pick your roommate or choose to “go random” (allowing Housing and Residence Life at Virginia Tech to assign you a roommate), you’re not just sharing a room with them; you’re sharing a lifestyle. This includes sleep schedules, room cleanliness, having people over, study hours and many other aspects of day-to-day college life that you will experience together.

“A lot of people (go) into living with their roommate thinking that they’re going to be best friends, but that’s not always the case,” said Yasmin Tuku, a

rising sophomore studying biology. “I think it’s more important to make sure that you and your roommate live well together, and that’s the most important part.”

Take time to look at what’s around you (and ahead of you).

College as a whole can be overwhelming at the start. Balancing classes, having a social life, being away from home and various other adaptations can be hard to get used to. While continued on page 12

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this may be the case, it is important for your future planning as well as your current activities to know what is available at the school. Whether it be campus organizations, university amenities or other ways to better prepare yourself for involvements ahead, take time to familiarize yourself with what the school has to offer. One of the best ways to do so is to attend Gobblerfest, an annual fair at Virginia Tech that showcases many of the university’s campus organizations such as clubs, fraternities, sororities, academic programs, leadership opportunities and so much more.

Making new friends anywhere can be a daunting task, but at a school like Virginia Tech, you are bound to meet people to make great connections with.

While many people want to stick with what they are familiar with and who they are familiar with, don’t limit yourself when it comes to meeting new people.

For those who come to college with friends from back home, it can be all too easy to spend time with those

people, but this can really be limiting in the long run. For those who feel that they are in a place full of unfamiliar new faces, it can be scary trying to put yourself out there. Part of being a college student is experiencing college itself, and that includes getting to know those around you.

“Just put yourself out there,” said Natalie Rhodes, a junior studying political science. “And even though it can be scary, say, ‘You know, this is me, and it’s OK if you don’t like me. Pick organizations that you think you’ll like.”

Don’t overdo it with the meal plan.

Coming to a university that’s known for having some of the best dining options in the country, eating at Virginia Tech is an experience, regardless of what dining hall you attend. When choosing an on-campus dining plan, you’re presented with three Flex plan options: Major, Mega, or Premium. Each plan has a specific amount of dining dollars in them, with each plan varying in cost.

Depending on your eating habits, you should put some thought into which

dining plan you want. Whatever money you don’t spend in the fall semester ends up going into your spring dining plan account as “rollover funds.”

However, the money that isn’t spent by the end of the spring semester does not transfer into the following semester — nor is it refundable — meaning that whatever you don’t spend by the end of the school year goes to waste (unless you choose to donate it).

“I would suggest the middle (Mega Flex) dining plan and to also make a plan, which my friends and I didn’t do,” said Samiha Mahbub, a rising sophomore studying business. “When you get a meal plan, budget how much you can spend so that it lasts the entire semester.”

are the foundation for your undergraduate GPA, and time management is essential to get done what needs to be taken care of.

“My advice would be don’t have any expectations,” Tuku said. “There’s so many things you might not see coming or might not have seen yourself (doing), and I think coming in with expectations, it could be good, it could be bad.

If it is bad, then you might not have that good of an experience. Try to come in with as little expectations as possible, and try to be open to as much as you can be open to.”

Emphasize time management, but make sure to relax.

Movies and TV shows make college look like anything and everything, but don’t let what you have seen or what you have been told put stress on you.

Come to Virginia Tech with an open mind and open expectations, but make sure to make time for what is really important. Your freshman year grades

Accelerated Master's Degree Programs at Virginia Tech https://graduateschool.vt.edu/

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Sports

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PLAYERS TO WATCH Be sure to know these returning VT players. pg. 14

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CEDAR POINTE

.

A P A R T M E N T S

GAME DAY PLAYLIST Spice up your tailgate playlist with these jams. pg. 16

The keys to staying active and social around campus Virginia Tech offers fun ways to get exercise outside and hang out with other Hokies.

CLAIRE CASTAGNO sports editor

With the COVID-19 pandemic easing up, gyms are reopened and basketball hoops are back up. It’s perfect timing for incoming Virginia Tech students to take advantage of all the amenities Tech has to offer. Virginia Tech’s campus has numerous spaces where students can exercise while also meeting other students in the process.

If you love to play basketball, the campus is not shy of courts to play on. There are outdoor hoops scattered around and indoor courts in Virginia Tech’s two gyms: McComas and War Memorial. For those who want to play with others, grab some friends and head over to a hoop, or join whoever might already be playing. If you’re lucky, you might get to play with some of the members of the Virginia Tech basketball team at McComas Hall’s gym.

Walking around campus, you will notice many sand volleyball courts. Playing a game of volleyball with hallmates is a great way to bond and enjoy the beautiful Blacksburg fall weather. So make sure to take a break from studying and get some exercise while getting to know your fellow students.

If you have tennis rackets, roller skates or a hockey stick, be sure to bring them to campus with you in the fall! The tennis courts located off Washington Street by Cassell Coliseum are open to students at

any time and there is a nearby roller hockey rink for student use. Head up to the courts for some spontaneous games and meet other students there that share your interests.

If you don’t pin yourself as the most athletic type, you can stay active while bike riding. Virginia Tech has multiple Roam NRV stations where you can rent a bike and explore your new home with friends. Rates go for $1 every 15 minutes, or you can rent for $10 a day. Just make sure to download the Social Bicycles app on your phone.

The Huckleberry Trail offers 8.3 miles of paths that take you around Blacksburg and Christiansburg with beautiful mountain and campus views. You can enter the trail at the end of Beamer Way or through Miller Street by the Blacksburg Library.

If you like to play with a little more structure, Virginia Tech has a wide variety of intramural sports leagues to choose from, including kickball and spike ball.

Working out does not have to be so serious and isolating. Get outside and stay active with other Hokies!

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Students play basketball in the recently opened Fitness Park on Virginia Tech’s campus, April 2, 2019 @CTSportsTalk

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COVID-19 UPDATE Virginia Tech announces that COVID-19 vaccine will be required for 2021-2022 school year Virginia Tech urges students to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine no later than June 20, 2021.

MOMIJI BARLOW news editor

President Tim Sands announced June 8 that COVID-19 vaccinations would be required for students to attend classes for the upcoming school year, with exemptions for medical reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs. Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged by the university to get vaccinated. This comes with the decrease of COVID-19 cases in Virginia along with the decrease of daily vaccine doses administered, according to the Virginia Department of Health website.

“Despite lower risks today and the downward trends in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Virginia, it is clear that the full experience we must strive to offer in the fall

will only be assured with vaccine-induced population-scale immunity and low disease prevalence on our campuses and in our larger communities,” Sands’ statement read.

The Vice President for Student Affairs Frank Shushok Jr. also released a statement shortly afterward on the same day, detailing procedures for students to sign up for vaccinations as well as register their vaccination status with the university. Once students are fully vaccinated, they are able to upload a copy or photo of their vaccination card to the Online Student Health Portal. The deadline to do so is Aug. 6 in order to attend classes for the upcoming fall semester.

“Virginia Tech’s vaccine requirement applies to all undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students in programs

with online courses are required to be vaccinated,” Shushok Jr.’s announcement read.

“We welcome and expect all of our students to access Virginia Tech services and programs, and this will help us provide those services safely.”

The message urged students to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine no later than June 20. This allows for the appropriate window of time between doses to pass so that students can receive their second dose on time for the Aug. 6 deadline. The vaccines that will be accepted are one dose of the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, two doses of the Moderna or the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, or the full dosage of a World Health Organization approved vaccine if students reside outside of the United States.

To get a vaccine, students can access their local health district office’s website. Those who live in the New River Valley can visit the New River Health District’s website.

“While COVID-19 is not yet fully behind us, vaccines have dramatically lowered the risk of infection and made it possible to plan for a fully in-person fall semester without mask or physical distancing requirements for vaccinated members of our community,” Sands’ statement said. “We’re now filled with excitement about everything this will mean to our lives and this university we love.

The Hokie experience will be back this fall.”

@CTSportsTalk

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Players to watch for the 2021 Virginia Tech football season Hokie football is returning some big names, so take note of the stars that will take the field on Sept. 3.

DEVIN SHEPARD sports editor

2021 could lead to a high NFL Draft pick for the senior tight end.

After the COVID-19 pandemic complicated the 2020 football season, Virginia Tech fans are hoping to get back into Lane Stadium in 2021. Here are some names to know coming into the upcoming season:

DE Amare Barno: Barno broke out in 2020 after coming over as a JUCO transfer in 2019. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound defensive end is an athletic freak who moved from linebacker to edge rusher last season. The position change worked out well, as Barno finished with 16 tackles for loss, good enough for 1st in the ACC and 2nd in the country. He also finished with 6.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles and will likely be a preseason All-ACC selection. Watching Barno is like watching what I imagine Tremaine Edmunds would be as an edge rusher, with a speed and length combo that is unmatched. If Barno can build on his stellar 2020, he has All-American potential, and maybe even NFL Draft hopes.

QB Braxton Burmeister: Burmeister seems to be the clear-cut starter going into the 2021 season for the Hokies after the transfers of quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Quincy Patterson in the winter. The former Oregon signal caller has shown high-level athleticism but limited passing prowess in limited playing time in his career. Burmeister did not fare well as a passer last season, completing only 56.5% of his passes for 687 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. However, he did go 3-1 as a starter and showed his running ability with 193 yards and two touchdowns on the season. Burmeister also had one pretty good game down the stretch against rival UVA, throwing for 212 yards and a touchdown with a completion percentage of 68.2%.

This season, the team’s success will largely be based on Burmeister’sand if he can show enough improvement as a passer for the team to compete in the ACC. WR Tre Turner and TE James Mitchell: Most Virginia Tech fans know the name Tre Turner well, as his propensity for big plays down field has earned him the nickname “Big Play Tre;” however, despite flashes of brilliance, the fan favorite has struggled to develop into the No. 1 receiving threat many thought he could be after an electric freshman season, in part due to lackluster quarterback play and partly due to drop issues. Will 2021 finally be the year he puts it all together, or will he continue to just be a big play threat once in a while?

On the other hand, tight end James Mitchell has been spectacular the past two seasons. So much so that he likely would have been a 3rd or 4th round draft pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The athletic tight end is a good blocker and a threat to make plays anywhere on the field, and more targets in

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CB Jermaine Waller: There were high hopes for the Hokies coming into 2020, in large part due to a stellar-looking secondary. However, Caleb Farley opted out and Jermaine Waller dealt with injuries throughout the season and didn’t look healthy when he played. Coming into 2021, Waller is now the No. 1 guy at cornerback and will be taking on much more responsibility. Can he step up to the challenge and reclaim his status as a lockdown corner, or will the issues from 2020 persist in 2021?

@CTSportsTalk

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES Braxton Burmeister during a team practice, Oct. 3, 2019.

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The historic Lyric Theatre is located in downtown Blacksburg, just steps from campus. This is the place to enjoy foreign, art, indie and mainstream films, exciting live music and more!

Home of Free Popcorn Monday!

thelyric.com @thelyrictheatre

The ultimate jams playlist for Hokie game day Whether you’re listening alone or listening with friends, play these songs to get excited on game days in Blacksburg.

AMBER WILLIAMS sports editor

After a year of being unable to jump to “Enter Sandman” in Lane Stadium and rocking out to Metallica while staring at a screen, we Hokies are finally able to enjoy football games in person. The energy at Worsham Field is electric, and we have compiled a list of songs to help you get hyped up to be back in our home and cheering on the Hokies.

Walk On Water - Thirty Seconds to Mars This is the perfect comeback song for the return of being able to attend Virginia Tech football games. The electric beat will get you buzzing for the season. The lyrics are fitting for the return of fans to Lane Stadium

as “times are changing,” most definitely for the better with student tickets available for purchase again this year.

High Hopes - Panic! At The Disco Tech fans’ hopes are high for this football season. With restrictions lifting, Virginia Tech athletics is preparing and hoping for Lane Stadium to return to full capacity in the fall. It’s time to watch Tech perform at its best and “don’t give up” as the lyrics recommend.

Legends Are Made- Sam Tinnesz Virginia Tech is known for its legendary football program alumni, from head coach Frank Beamer to star quarterback Michael Vick. Legends are made in Lane Stadium

and this alternative song will leave you excited to see what iconic players the Hokies will produce next.

Ready Set Let’s Go - Sam Tinnesz Just like any other college with D1 football, the fans of Virginia Tech football hold their team to a high standard. In the case of the Hokies, fans have a valid excuse to be hyped about the team. This song will get you fired up to face all of Tech’s rivals, especially UVA. The lyrics “You’re messin’ with the best” certainly apply to the Hokies, so turn this one all the way up ahead of a fiery matchup.

Whatever It Takes- Imagine Dragons This fast-paced beat will give you all of the adrenaline you need to be ready to scream “Let’s go, Hokies!” at the top of your lungs. The narrative embodies what it means to be a Hokie: to do whatever needs to be done to reach goals, whether in the classroom or on the field.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

recommendations of “touching hands,” is still the best to belt at the top of your lungs with friends before heading to Beamer Way. This is a popular song amongst Virginia Tech students and can be heard throughout the streets of Blacksburg ahead of a game.

The chorus will help loosen the vocal cords ahead of a long day of cheering for the Hokies.

Enter Sandman - Metallica It’s time to start jumping, Hokies! It’s impossible to think of Virginia Tech football without the iconic Metallica song. It is expected of all Hokie students, faculty and alumni to have this song in their library.

Immerse yourself in Tech culture with this song and watch the light exit and the night enter.

Play these songs on repeat and you will be set for the epic return of being inside Lane Stadium to cheer on the Hokies.

Hall of Fame - The Script Virginia Tech football is a “hall of fame” program, with former lineman for the Hokies and Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009. Looking with optimism toward the football program’s future, Hokies can think about “breakin’ all the records they thought never could be broke” as they look forward to the start of the 2021–22 season.

Typhoons - Royal Blood This absolute jam was released this year and is the embodiment of a hype song. It is impossible to listen to this song without getting energized and pumped up for any event. This masterpiece will leave you more eager than ever to watch the Hokies run out of the tunnel for the first game of the season.

Jump Around - House of Pain This hip-hop classic can usually be heard once or twice on game day in between plays.

It’s perfect for Hokie fans, as they are more than accustomed to jumping. Practice your jumping skills ahead of kickoff with this old-but-good song.

Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond The anti-pandemic song, which has received lots of attention in popular culture for its somewhat unhygienic

@CTSportsTalk

editor@collegiatetimes.com

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1 2 3 4 5

WALK ON WATER

by Thirty Seconds to Mars

HIGH HOPES

by Panic! at the Disco

LEGENDS ARE MADE

by Sam Tinnesz

READY SET LET’S GO

by Sam Tinnesz

WHATEVER IT TAKES

by Imagine Dragons

6 7 8 9 10

HALL OF FAME

by The Script

TYPHOONS

by Royal Blood

JUMP AROUND

by House of Pain

SWEET CAROLINE

by Thirty Seconds to Mars

ENTER SANDMAN

by Metallica

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Email editor@collegiatetimes.com if you’re interested in joining our independent, student-run organization that provides news to the Virginia Tech and New River Valley communities. We accept writers on a continuing basis and recruit all year.

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As the CT gets excited for football season, our sports editors look back on their favorite memories in Lane Stadium While all three have varying favorites, they can agree that Lane Stadium’s atmosphere is unmatched.

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Lane Stadium in the fall, Oct. 30, 2019.

COLLEGIATE TIMES sports editors

As Virginia Tech aims for full capacity back in Lane Stadium this fall, incoming freshmen, and sophomores that missed out last season, will get to experience what Lane is famous for: a rocking atmosphere. As the sports editors get excited to resume coverage in Lane, we took time to reflect on our favorite memories in the stadium as Virginia Tech students.

Claire Castagno’s favorite moment: Being a rising senior, the hours I have spent in Lane Stadium have added up, and while it is one of my favorite places to be, picking a favorite moment was not difficult for me. Oct. 19, 2019, is a date I will never forget. The Hokies played an up-andcoming North Carolina football team. I was

in the press box for the game with former sports editor Robby Fletcher, and by the end of the game, we both could not believe our eyes. Virginia Tech pulled out a 43–41 victory over the Tar Heels in six overtimes.

It became the longest game in ACC history and debuted the NCAA’s new overtime rules of switching to two-point conversions after four overtimes.

By maybe the first or second overtime, it started to downpour, but the fans still brought the energy all through the sixth overtime. I couldn’t believe that what I thought would be any old football game had turned into a historic one. The stakes were already high before kickoff, but as the game got longer and longer, I only wanted to win more and more. As soon as quarterback Quincy Patterson reached the end zone to win the game, all the tension built

up in me faded and I felt at peace. Virginia Tech would forever be the winner of the six-overtime game. I couldn’t wait to get to the press conference to see how ecstatic the coaches and players would be!

Amber Williams’ favorite moment: There are so many incredible memories I have of being in Lane Stadium despite only being able to experience one season of in-person games as a rising junior. However, that season was full of exciting games that I was able to witness.

The game that stands out the most to me was the home opener for the 2019 football season. It was the first Virginia Tech football game I had ever attended and the matchup held personal history for me and my family. My father, James Williams, is a huge Old Dominion University fan as my

family resides near the campus. I chose to be a Hokie over a Monarch and once that decision was made, my father taunted me with remarks about Tech’s 2018 loss to ODU. He even purchased a shirt with the score on it.

However, on Sept. 23, 2019, the Hokies redeemed themselves and handed a 31–17 loss to the Monarchs. My father drove up to Blacksburg to watch with me and we had a lot of fun exchanging taunts about each other’s team throughout the game. I sat in the ODU fan section with him and was the only one who cheered whenever the Hokies scored.

I got some irritated looks, but I didn’t care because Tech won. My father now cheers for both the Monarchs and Hokies,

editor@collegiatetimes.com continued from page 22

but that game taught me how to be a prideful Hokie and introduced me to the exciting and competitive world of Tech football.

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collegiatetimes.com great. It was Virginia Tech football. It didn’t matter that the result of the game was a disappointing loss; I was proud at the end of the game — not necessarily because of the team, but because of Virginia Tech, because of Blacksburg, because of Hokies.

Devin Shepard’s favorite moment: My favorite moment in Lane Stadium is more about the atmosphere than sports itself.

As a freshman in 2018, I went to almost every Virginia Tech football game. Coming into the Notre Dame game on Oct. 6, though I had watched a throttling of William & Mary in Blacksburg, the team had yet to play a big-time opponent at home.

That changed that Saturday night. It was a sold-out stadium even though the hopes for the season had been recently dampened by an injured quarterback and a bad loss to Old Dominion a couple weeks before.

Nevertheless, the moment we stepped in the stadium, none of that mattered. The stadium erupted and Hokie fans jumped in unison to the tune of “Enter Sandman.” This feeling, this sound, was one of the biggest reasons I had come to Virginia Tech.

Throughout the game, energy stayed high.

Every possible positive play seemed like we had just won the National Championship.

The energy was electric; the weather was

Lane Stadium at night, September 2019.

@CTSportsTalk

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