October 24, 2023

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October 24, 2023

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PAGE 2 October 24, 2023

NEWS

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VIRGINIA TECH FACULTY WEIGH IN ON CHATGPT jane park | news editor

Policies regarding student use of AI varies across disciplines.

Generative artificial intelligence has gained notoriety over the past year — particularly ChatGPT — which Reuters reported broke the record for the fastest-growing consumer application software in history this past February.

ChatGPT can perform different tasks, such as generating writing and responding to questions.

For the first time this fall, various professors have outlined policies on syllabi regarding the use of generative AI in classes, such as David McPherson, a professor in computer science.

He said that the university requested faculty to include information about generative artificial intelligence on syllabi.

“Yeah, they’re on the syllabus,” McPherson said. “I think we use more or less the boilerplate from Tech. They’ve got some language for generative AI, either allowing (or) disallowing,

completely banning, so we use sort of the generic ‘Don’t use it unless we say it’s okay to use it.’”

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies specifically recommends “a measured approach” and lays out suggestions for faculty to follow, including becoming familiar with AI to be better informed, establishing expectations with students about using AI and exploring the changes to the design of the course and assessments.

TLOS also recommends that professors consider the Honor Code and how it applies to AI. “While most students largely engage in honest behavior in the classroom, some may choose to use tools such as ChatGPT to engage in academic dishonesty,” The Office of Undergraduate Academic Integrity said, according to TLOS.

“Please continue to be clear in your expectations with your student related to the Undergraduate Honor Code and the use of AI software just as you would other websites that may provide students with means to engage in academic dishonesty.

The unauthorized use of ChatGPT and other AI software may fall under several definitions of academic dishonesty in the Undergraduate Honor Code.”

McPherson said that he could use his judgment to determine if a student used AI to generate a code, as it would look odd. However, it wouldn’t be grounds for an Honor Code violation.

“I personally wouldn’t be able to say with 100% accuracy like this was written by ChatGPT or something else,” McPherson said. “I might just think this is really weird looking code, and then maybe just keep an eye on that person and see what they do or talk to them. We certainly have done that where if a student maybe is appearing

to struggle with understanding concepts, and then all of a sudden he comes to us with this really, really cool code. And we’re like, ‘How did you go from not knowing the basics to writing this really cool stuff? Like, where did it come from and how?

Explain the code.’ And sometimes they can.

Maybe they really buckled down and figured out how to do this. Or maybe they hired someone, (but) we try to talk to them in that case before we do anything.”

Alice Jang, an assistant professor in business information technology, uses AI in her course. Jang uses Packback for discussion board posts, which the software will grade using an AI algorithm. Jang also encourages the use of ChatGPT for her students, especially when they need to understand difficult concepts. However, students are not allowed continued on page 3

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continued from page 2 to use it when completing assignments in class.

“If you were to write up front in ChatGPT, ‘What is linear programming?’ And in addition to that like, ‘Okay, explain this using (an) example that a college student without stats knowledge or who hasn’t taken any optimization class (would) understand this,’ then it does a really good job trying to explain at their level. So I strongly encourage them to use it,” Jang said.

Jang said there’s a low possibility of students misusing ChatGPT in her class because it is a language model, that is it determines word probability by analyzing text data. In her class, Jang teaches statistical and optimization models, which according to her is not related to language models.

Faculty Senate President and chemistry professor Joseph Merola doesn’t have a policy on ChatGPT or other AI for his students because he doesn’t see how his students could use AI to their advantage in his classes. However, students in one of his classes will be assigned an essay at the end of the semester.

“So even though I haven’t developed a policy right now, I will probably give them guidance at the end, as they’re writing it to tell them what they should and should not do with ChatGPT,” Merola said. “And to be honest with you, since it’s still something that I am developing in my mind, I’m not really sure what I’m going to say.”

collegiatetimes.com On creative writing professor Matthew Vollmer’s syllabi, he tells students that AI generators are permitted for brainstorming, research and feedback.

“And if they use it, just tell me because I’m curious about how they might be using it. My sense is that they’re not using it at all, and it seems like a lot of them are afraid of using it,” Vollmer said.

Vollmer said that using AI to generate ideas doesn’t undermine a writer’s ability because writers have always used resources for inspiration.

“Let’s say you have a story, and there’s a setting in a jazz club in New York City,” Vollmer said. “So you look at Google Images, jazz rock, and then that’s the way it’s set up. Describe what I see in that picture and you use it. I mean, writers use search engines and the internet to look up all kinds of things, so I don’t see it as being much different than that.”

Vollmer also said that AI does not always generate the best ideas, which could lead a writer to using it as inspiration to come up with better ideas.

Students in Vollmer’s classes are only refrained from using AI to impersonate themselves when writing. Similar to McPherson’s take on AI-generating code, Vollmer said it could also be obvious when AI generates writing, but he wouldn’t know with full certainty.

Ultimately, Vollmer doesn’t think AI will replace writers.

“It doesn’t function on its own. It requires prompting,” Vollmer said. “So there’s always going to be a human element (to writers). Will it change the way we write? Absolutely. But in thinking about ways to prompt (it) to do things that require an output that is any way good, you’re gonna need imagination and intuition — things that are human in nature.”

Vollmer is also heading a task force within the English department. According to him, Kelly Pender, the department chair, decided to create the task force to assess the challenges and opportunities of working with AI when it is developing quicker than people realize. Since AI is a language model, faculty constantly receives updates about what AI is capable of and how students may use or misuse it. The task force is a way to discuss how to approach and think about these issues.

Aside from Vollmer, Jennifer Lawrence, director of the Writing Center; Julie Mengert, director of the University Writing Program; Jimmy Ivory, English professor; and Avery Wiscomb, English professor are also on the task force. Ivory and Wiscomb’s research involves technology and computing, according to Vollmer.

Dan Dunlap, a computer science professor focusing on ethics in computing and technology, compared the rise of AI to industrialization. He said that despite fears that machines would replace people, Dunlap thinks the opposite has been true.

However, there are still unknowns surrounding AI.

OPINIONS

October 24, 2023 PAGE 3

“It’s transformed different kinds of work, different kinds of labor, and certainly (AI) is going to be the case here,” Dunlap said. “We can’t anticipate what that’s going to be and there’s going to be a lot of unintended consequences, and how AI and large language models and all this stuff ends up replacing, it’s already doing. I guess one fear is that it’s doing a lot more than we think it is.

We’re reading things that we think (are) purely human written and in many cases, there’s generative AI involved somewhere in much of what we consume, and not just reading, but recommendations and all those other things that these models are becoming involved in.”

Merola believes that in order for people to use AI, the software itself needs to be accustomed to humans.

“Because in order to effectively use AI, we need to make sure that the programs are in tune with our humanity, and therefore the humanities,” Merola said. “And the arts have to be a big part of this. If we’re going to use it to create art, maybe that seems obvious that we need to have artists and humanists, but as well if something is going to try to understand a human reaction to something — well it better be programmed with understanding that human reaction. And so it’s not just for scientists, it’s for the whole gamut of the human experience.”

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WAKE UP AND PRIORITIZE YOUR MORNING ROUTINE Jenna MasoN | opinions contributer

Adding healthier habits to your morning routine makes for a better lifestyle.

When the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm back in 2020, many people sought to take their time locked up at home as an opportunity to better themselves. As we’ve returned to a semi-normal period of time, there are a multitude of trends the internet gave us that have been proven to be extremely beneficial for a healthy lifestyle.

One of the trendiest and most impactful of them is developing a morning routine.

According to an article published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, having a morning routine can increase energy, productivity and positivity, all of which lead to a healthier lifestyle. Some of the key factors for a morning routine that will lead you to success include not pressing “snooze,” eating breakfast and staying off

of your phone for at least one hour after waking up. Adding at least one of these steps to your routine could have a beneficial effect on your physical and mental health.

Although the comfort of bed is very appealing, hitting snooze can confuse the brain and disrupt natural activity.

Studies have shown that the human brain goes through several cycles of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep during the night. The human body has an internal clock known as circadian rhythms, it goes along with the cycle of day and night and is highly influenced by a consistent sleep schedule. When a person wakes up to an alarm in the morning, our circadian clock has made sure that the REM cycle has been completed. Hitting snooze and going

back to sleep after waking up ensures that another REM cycle starts, but does not completely finish, leaving them more tired than the initial wake-up.

During the REM cycles, your body is working to strengthen your immune system, heal wounds and much more. If your body experiences unfinished REM cycles, it leads to weakness, fatigue and possibly long-term illnesses. Because hitting snooze disrupts REM sleep, it interferes with these vital processes. An easy solution to the problem of the snooze button is to set an alarm on your phone, and then leave it across the room. This then forces you to get up to turn the alarm off. The movement of getting up allows both your body and mind to feel more awake, and it reduces the want to go

back to sleep. This allows your body to have a proper night’s rest with fully completed REM cycles.

Adding breakfast is another great way to upgrade your morning routine. When experts say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they’re not mistaken. After you wake up from sleeping all night, it’s more than likely that you haven’t eaten for about 10 hours. The human body uses all of its stored energy from the food we consume throughout the day during our sleep. Breakfast is the key part of restoring the lack of energy we have in the morning.

According to an article written by Better Health Channel, studies have shown many continued on page 4

PAGE 4 October 24, 2023

continued from page 3 health benefits of eating breakfast. Eating in the morning has many short-term benefits such as increasing energy levels, improving the ability to concentrate and aiding in weight management. Some long-term benefits of eating breakfast is the reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Breakfast is scientifically the most important meal of the day, and skipping it is just not the best idea.

The final way you can improve your morning routine is to stay off your phone for at least an hour after you wake up. Although it may be tempting to check emails, text messages or other forms of social media, there is a lot of science to how being on your phone first thing in the morning negatively affects you.

As you wake up in the morning, the human brain switches from waves that occur in a deep sleep, known as delta waves, to waves that occur in a daydream state of

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collegiatetimes.com mind, known as theta waves. After some time, the brain then changes to produce alpha waves, which happen when our minds are awake, but we’re unable to process much information. Finally, the last stage of waves are called beta waves, which are produced when the brain is fully awake and ready to absorb and process information.

When you wake up and immediately check your phone in the mornings, the brain skips the essential theta and alpha stages. The negative impact this has on the human body can be alarming. Some potential harmful effects can be a reduction in attention span and an increase in cortisol, the stress hormone. Over time these tiny problems can cause long-term health risks.

There are some activities to do in place of that: exercising, listening to a podcast or music, reading a book or meditating after waking up.

With the adjustment to college, it can be hard to create a morning routine. Ava Ritter, a freshman studying general engineering,

relays what her morning routine from high school consisted of.

“Well, the one that I had is that I would wake up at 6:15 in the morning,” Ritter said.

“I would wake up, get out of bed, brush my hair, flat iron my hair, put my contacts in, do my makeup, brush my teeth, put my uniform on, then I’d go downstairs, grab a protein bar and have to leave my house by 7:15 to get on the road to get to school.”

Ritter continues to explain the importance of her morning routine from high school, some of the ways she benefited from it and how she misses having one while being in college.

“Part of (the importance) was, like, how I wanted my appearance to look; so, like, I prioritized that and feeling pretty and stuff like that,” Ritter said. “I think the benefit of having that was, like, having a set schedule and it wasn’t going to bed whenever I want and waking up whenever I want. I think my sleep schedule benefited a lot from that. I miss having a routine, specifically in college,

I’m still trying to adjust and figure all that out, but other than that I think it was a really beneficial skill I had in place.”

Having a solid morning routine is not only good for the mind, but is also good for the body. A morning routine is one of the best ways to start the day with a healthy mind and body. All of these steps are beneficial to having physically healthier lifestyles, which can lead to living longer and feeling overall better. For those of you who tend to struggle in the mornings, try adding one or two of these steps into your morning routine not only to feel more energized and productive but also to boost your health.

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LIFESTYLES

LIVING LEARNING PROGRAMS GIVE STUDENTS LIKEMINDED COMMUNITY emma duncan | lifestyles contributor

Lifestyles contributor Emma Duncan highlights different LLP options for incoming and current students.

The fall semester brings new classes and friendships, beautiful foliage and football season, but also a need to secure housing for the next academic year. While most students resort to off campus living, Virginia Tech’s Living Learning Programs (LLPs) provide on campus housing based on common passions and identities.

“A [misconception] among students is that you live on campus your first year and then move off for subsequent years, but we think that there’s so much value to being connected to on-campus community and the way to do that for a returning student is through an LLP,” said Jamie Penven, Director of Living-Learning Programs. “Some students talk about just wanting the traditional

college experience, but what is the traditional college experience? We see Living Learning Programs as part of that.”

There are two parts of LLPs, the first being residential colleges. Virginia Tech offers three residential colleges, which are known for being multigenerational and multidisciplinary. Any student can apply to the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston and the Leadership and Social Change Residential College (LSCRC) in O’Shaughnessy, while only honors students can live in the Honors Residential Commons at Hillcrest. continued on page 5

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continued from page 4 “An additional piece to (residential colleges) is that (they’re) led by a live-in faculty principal.

This faculty principal provides the intellectual vision for the community, so when you think about what types of events go on within these colleges, they help organize that direction,” Penven said. “Alongside them is a staff member from my office who serves as a program coordinator or an assistant director … to help implement that vision.”

The second component of LLPs is Living Learning Communities. They are either population specific (i.e., first-generation, transfer-student and engineering major communities) or interest-based. From arts and cybersecurity to well-being and recovery, interest-based LLCs have options for all kinds of Hokies. Some LLCs, such as Innovate, co-enroll their students in credit-bearing classes that count toward pathways or a minor in addition to the LLC curriculum. LLCs can be multidisciplinary and multigenerational as well, but typically consist of first-year students.

“I’m a huge believer in the value of multigenerational living, even in an LLC,” Penven said.

“There are fewer upper generation students, but you’re able to (have) greater opportunity for leadership and mentorship where you’re serving in a role with specific leadership structure.”

However, another option for returning members is to join a different program to continue building community while exploring their other interests and identities. Jackie Mitchell, a junior majoring in multimedia journalism, has been a member of three LLPs so far. She hopes to join either Studio 72 or Rhizome for her senior year.

“I joined (Ujima) my freshman year because I was attending a (predominantly white institution) and wanted to meet other Black students and learn more about Black culture at Virginia Tech. I wanted to try a different LLC during the rest of my time here just to see what they had to offer,” Mitchell said. “I chose the LRCRC because I wanted to grow my leadership skills and be able to learn from the guest speakers they have at their intersections. The residential college at West AJ allows me to meet new people and grow a community within the dorm. I have been able to meet some amazing people through the LLC along with network with different professionals in different industries. I felt like I had a better advantage to get to know people faster because I got to move in earlier.”

Statistics from student surveys show that LLP members report higher grades; more leadership opportunities; stronger senses of community, belonging, and campus resources; and are more likely to return to Virginia Tech year after year compared to students living elsewhere.

Nevertheless, LLPs are not the right experience for all students.

“I decided to leave (Lavender House) because

October 10, 2023 PAGE 5

collegiatetimes.com I wasn’t as much of an active participating member as I was expecting,” said Helen McDermott, a sophomore majoring in neuroscience. “I knew everyone on my floor and the floor below, which made the actual living space more tight-knit.

Although everyone in the community was friendly, I didn’t share many common interests with any of them. I often felt almost like an outsider around them because I held a different vibe than the majority. The LLC itself offered many exciting events and discussions relating to topics in the community, but … many folks didn’t agree with the content.”

A common misconception is that only students involved in LLPs their freshman year can continue to be a member throughout college, but current students are encouraged and able to apply to their first LLP for the 2024-2025 academic year.

“I decided not to be a part of an LLC my freshman year because I felt a little intimidated by the application process. I was worried that I was not going to have time to really be part of those communities with the workload of being a STEM major,” said Gabriel Massey, a freshman majoring in physics. “I decided to apply to Mozaiko for my sophomore year because I was always intrinsically interested in language itself, the semantics and laws that all languages follow. I also wish to be exposed to different types of cultures and the interactions between different cultures. I am not worried about joining Mozaiko as a sophomore because the community there is the most welcoming and inclusive I have come across on campus.”

A link to the Living Learning Program application was emailed to students on Oct. 12, and students have until Nov. 20 to apply. Decisions will be sent out periodically and students have until Dec. 8 to respond to accept an offer and complete the housing contract. The date in which one’s housing contract is signed determines when they choose their room.

Students can email livinglearning@vt.edu or visit the Living Learning Program website for more information.

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HOME AWAY FROM HOME: ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL AND OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS kelly barker | lifestyles contributor

Students from outside of Virginia offer perspectives on how to adapt to a new environment.

It goes without saying that adjusting to life in college is no easy task. Students must learn how to live independently in a new place while keeping up with their classes. This can be especially daunting for out-of-state and international students, who must surpass these challenges while living even further from home. Here’s some advice from international and out-of-state Hokies who rose to the challenge and are making the most of their college experience.

Get Involved One of the most important things a new out-of-state or international student can do is get involved in campus life. Hyesoo Kwon, a senior from Korea majoring in computational modeling and data analytics, found her place in the Virginia Tech community by joining a Living Learning Community (LLC) her freshman year.

“I applied to join Innovate because I wanted to be with people who shared the same interests and drive,” Kwon said.

Innovate, an LLC focused on entrepreneurship gave Kwon the opportunity to live with like-minded students. This opportunity is extremely valuable for students who are attending college far from home, as they will immediately be part of a community filled with students who share their passions.

Another great way to get involved is to join a club. Virginia Tech has over 800 student-run organizations, so there truly is something for everyone. Kwon recommends that incoming Hokies check out GobblerConnect, a website which advertises organizations, events and opportunities at Virginia Tech.

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their horizons and learn what life is like in a completely new place. While this may seem intimidating, it’s best to embrace the new: explore town, attend events on campus, make new friends and talk about how similar or different life is in Blacksburg compared to back home. Students living far from home have the opportunity to learn simply by living in a new place, where they can grow and discover new things about themselves every day.

Handling Homesickness Many college students are no strangers to homesickness, especially international and out-of-state students. Often, students that are living far from home struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness. These feelings can be difficult to conquer, but luckily, it’s easier than ever to stay connected with family and friends back home. In addition to calling friends and family, setting up online events with them such as virtual game and movie nights can help students feel close to their loved ones despite the distance. In addition to texting and calling, it can be helpful for some to write letters to keep in touch so they have physical mementos from loved ones.

Homesickness can also be very serious and debilitating, to the point where it interferes with daily life. In this case, it is important for students to seek professional help. Virginia Tech offers mental health support in-person through Cook Counseling Center and online through TimelyCare. Both of these services are free and easy to access for Virginia Tech students.

For international students who are battling homesickness, Kwon recommends joining an international student association.

International student associations allow members to connect with people who are going through similar experiences and challenges, which helps create a supportive community where international students can thrive.

Plan Ahead For students who live far from Virginia Tech, traveling home can be a hassle. These students should be sure to make their travel plans well in advance, to ensure that they can get home safely and efficiently. A great way

for some students to get home is to take the train. Roanoke Station is a stop on Amtrak’s Northeast Regional Route, which goes from Roanoke to Boston. Carpooling can be a direct and affordable way for students to get home.

Students can use online forums to connect with other Hokies looking to share rides to similar destinations.

Using public transit can be helpful for students who have to travel far. Mendelson recommends utilizing the Blacksburg Transit and Smart Way buses, which can transport students to the train station and airport.

Mendelson says that these buses are easily accessible to students, and she finds them very helpful when traveling to and from New Jersey.

Words of Wisdom The experience of being an out-of-state or international student is definitely unique, but some Hokies often become so involved in the Virginia Tech community that they feel they have completely bridged the distance.

Harrison Bruhl, a sophomore from Vermont majoring in general engineering, feels that his college experience is very similar to that of an in-state student now that he has found his place at Virginia Tech.

According to Kwon and Bruhl, determination and perseverance are virtues for international and out-of-state students. Their final words of advice?

“Don’t be afraid of facing challenges — it’s hard, but the feeling of overcoming them is amazing,” said Kwon.

“No matter how hard it is,” said Bruhl, “force yourself to go out and talk to people.”

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October 24, 2023 PAGE 7

SPORTS collegiatetimes.com

MEN’S SOCCER SUFFERS DEVASTATING DEFEAT IN THE COMMONWEALTH CLASH Luke Evans | sports staff writer

Tech gave up a goal in the third minute and the match went downhill.

In this year ’s rendition of the Commonwealth Clash, Virginia’s men’s soccer team dominated Virginia Tech on the road and came out with a 3–0 win.

“It’s frustrating when you keep the ball and dominate in so many areas,” said Virginia Tech Head Coach Mike Brizendine. “To lose the game 3-0; I’m at a loss for words.”

It’s always a special night when intrastate rivals get to play each other. The atmosphere is intensified when the Cavaliers (8–3–3, 4–2–1 ACC) come out to Thompson Field and take on the Hokies (4–6–4, 2–4–1). To the Hokies’ dismay, the Cavaliers put on a show in front of the Hokies’ fans.

The game started and essentially ended for the Hokies in the third minute when Virginia forward Stephen Annor took the ball off Virginia Tech defender Grant

Howard. Annor then caught Virginia Tech goalkeeper Timi Adams off guard with a long-distance shot that missed the keeper’s fingertips.

“I’m high; I’m trying to support him (Grant Howard),” Adams said about the first goal. “Then they steal the ball, and I’m too high off my line.”

With the nightmare start to an important match, things just continued not to go the Hokies’ way. The Cavaliers secured a free kick with 23 minutes to go after a foul call that didn’t go over well with many Hokies fans and players. Virginia Daniel Mangarov scored a low free-kick through the Virginia Tech wall.

However, the Hokies made attempts to come back, as within the last 12 minutes of the first half, Sophomores Misei Yoshizawa and Ethan Ballek had good looks at goal that just missed the frame. The Hokies made

their way to the locker rooms as the first-half whistle blew, leaving a massive comeback needed in the second half.

The second half began relatively slowly, as both teams held possession of the ball with few offensive chances. Virginia Tech senior Conor Pugh had a good look at the goal early in the second half, but his header just missed the goal frame.

As the Hokies continued to hold the ball, Virginia’s phenom freshman Annor pressed the Virginia Tech defenders aggressively, forcing them to make a mistake and giving him a golden opportunity to add to his goal from the first half. He took his chance with pristine composure and essentially ended the night for Virginia Tech.

Both teams put on substitute players after the third goal and let the rest of the clock run out, as the Hokies were just looking to end this bitter defeat as quickly as possible.

After the game, Brizendine talked about what he wants to see from the team as they play their final two regular season games on Oct. 24 and 27.

“The big one will be our mentality,” Brizendine said. “Coming off of this loss, are we mentally tough enough to attack the game.”

Virginia Tech will look to put this game in the rearview mirror and find more positive play as they move closer to the ACC tournament.

Virginia Tech will next be in action when they play their final home game of the season at Thompson Field on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. ET when they take on Radford.

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SWIM AND DIVE SPLITS MEET AGAINST DUKE Ellen Muldowney | SPORTS staff writer

The Hokies achieved their goal, 3–0, taking their first game at Syracuse since 2016.

On Saturday afternoon, Virginia Tech men’s swim and dive showcased their home-pool advantage, defeating Duke with a 166–120 win. The Virginia Tech women’s team fought an admirable battle but ultimately fell short with a 183–117 loss.

Last week, following their challenging tri-meet in Columbia, South Carolina, the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America ranked the Hokie men No. 11 and the women No. 17, putting both in the top 20 Division 1 Swim and Dive teams in the country. Duke’s men’s team remains unranked to kick off the season, but the women sit at an impressive No. 15 spot, already giving the Tech women a tough hill to climb.

The meet kicked off at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center with the 400-meter medley relays, with all four of Tech’s men’s relay teams taking the top four spots. Duke’s top two relay teams placed fifth and sixth in their heat. The men also showed out in the 200-meter freestyle relay, consisting of Carles Coll Marti, Tanish George Mathew, William Hayon and breakout freshman Brendan Whitfield. Not only did they take the win, but their time of 1:19:97 made them the eighth-fastest freestyle relay in the country.

The 200-meter freestyle relay was also a highlight for the women, placing first with a time of 1:32:35. Carmen Weiler Sastre was first off the blocks, starting the women off with a tight, but prevalent lead, with Emily

Claesson anchoring to secure the win. Both Claesson and Sastre were significant point contributors in their individual races as well, with Sastre winning the 200-meter freestyle and placing second in the 200-meter backstroke. Claesson took first in the 100-meter freestyle and second in the 100-meter butterfly.

Miah Fisher, a nationals qualifier, was strong off the diving boards, placing second in the one-meter dive and fourth in the threemeter. Another nationals qualifier, Jacob Fisher, placed third in the men’s one-meter and third in the three-meter.

The Hokies (No. 11/17) face Ohio State (No. 14/5) on October 27-28 for their next meet. They will not return to their home pool

until Nov. 4 for the Hokie Belt Challenge. Both teams suffered tough losses to the Buckeyes last season, but the men show great promise going forward with another win and a higher CSCAA ranking. The women have their work cut out for them going against a top-five team but are showing great improvement as they move through the season.

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October 17, 2023 PAGE 8

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