Welcome Back 2016

collegiatetimes.com

August 11, 2016

COLLEGIATETIMES

WELCOME BACK The students’ guide to all the Blacksburg happenings andd summer changes.

FILE 2015

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COLLEGIATE

our views [letter from the editor]

TIMES

NEWSROOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9865 Editor in Chief: Andrea Pappas Managing Editors: Lewis Millholland, Zack Wajsgras Copy Editors: Jessica Brady, Meg Connors News Editor: Richard Chumney Assistant News Editors: Caleb Govoruhk, Matthew Jones Lifestyles Editor: Samantha Smith Assistant Lifestyles Editor: Emily McCaul Sports Editors: Faizan Hasnany

A new year for the Collegiate Times

MATTHEW JONES

Assistant Sports Editors: Kyle Cooke, Sierra Huckfeldt Opinions Editor: Carson Bartlett Photo Editor: Armahn Rassuli Assistant Photo Editor: Catherine Piper

Have a news tip? newstips@collegiatetimes.com BUSINESS STAFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231-9860 Business Manager: Haley Keen (business@collegemedia. com) COLLEGE MEDIA SOLUTIONS . . . . . . .231-9860 Creative Director: Hannah Murray

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Creative Staff: Matt Cox solutions.collegemedia.com advertising@collegemedia.com The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday through Friday of the academic year except during exams and vacations.

The first copy of the Collegiate Times is free, any copy of the paper after that is 50 cents. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students.

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© Collegiate Times, 2016. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.

Virginia Tech raises over $100 million in donations

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he Collegiate Times has proudly served Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg community for more than 112 years. This year our commitment to our readers is more serious than ever.

Beginning this fall, we will be altering The Collegiate Times printing our print schedule from its previous Tuesday schedule has changed to and Friday schedule and instead will be Mondays and Thursdays publishing print editions every Monday and Thursday. This new schedule will help us for the upcoming semester. reach readers with vital information well in Online content will continue advance of events such as football games or to be published daily. campus events, and allow us to catch readers up on weekend news as soon as possible.

While our printing schedule is changing, much coverage of Virginia Tech news to our we will still publish online content every readers as possible, but we will need your day, including consistently updating our help. social media accounts to give you access to As readers of the Collegiate Times and the news in real time. members of the Hokie community, the As we enter a new semester, the Collegiate Collegiate Times cannot exist without your Times will fall under the guidance of our input. We ask that our readers send in news new editor-in-chief, former design editor tips, write letters to the editor or simply Andrea Pappas, and newly promoted contact us with any suggestions or grievmanaging editors, Lewis Millholland ances. Whether you are an alumnus, student, and Zack Wajsgras. As we come under parent or simply a proud Hokie fan, we value new management, we hope to continue your thoughts above all else. expanding our staff by bringing ambitious We hope you are as excited as we are Hokies to the team in the form of writers, about the changes that lie ahead this photographers, videographers and graphic semester. Whether it’s university policy designers. changes, keeping up with head coach Fuente Each of our sections: news, lifestyles, or catching up on concerts and local news, opinion and sports have plans to expand we are committed to keeping you informed. and transform the coverage provided by Make sure you follow us on Twitter and the Collegiate Times during the upcoming Facebook in order to stay updated about semester. As we transition into a new year, what’s happening at Virginia Tech and in the our staff has been reorganized and reen- Blacksburg community. ergized with the goal of providing more thorough and interactive coverage for our CARSON BARTLETT audience.

• opinions editor It has always been our goal to bring as • senior/political science

info on the go

assistant news editor

“Anyone can make a gift to Virginia Tech. Let us show you how,” says the website for Virginia Tech University Development, the department responsible for arranging gifts from alumni and other donors.

And give they do.

Between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the school received $101.45 million in donations from 31,516 donors, including corporations and foundations. According to Virginia Tech News, donations the school received in fiscal year 2016 totaled to 13 percent more than the previous year.

By comparison, the university raised an average of $84 million annually between fiscal years 2009 and 2014.

“Our fundraising success is a testament to the generosity of Hokies everywhere,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in a statement through Virginia Tech News. “I look forward to transformative change as we build on this milestone and continue to deploy our advancement model.”

The increase comes after Sands reorganized the offices that collect donations last year. In January 2015, Sands combined the University Relations, University Development and Alumni Relations offices into the Advancement Division.

“Cultivation of support through the engagement of alumni and other friends in activities will be essential,” said Sands in an open letter from Jan. 14, 2015, in which he announces the creation of the division. “Securing financial support from alumni and friends will strengthen and expand programs, grow our endowment, and provide a stronger financial foundation for our future.”

Sands hired Charles Phlegar, a former fundraiser for Cornell University, to lead the division.

During Phlegar’s nine years as Vice President see DONATIONS / page 19

OLIVIA SCHERZER lifestyles staff writer

Who doesn’t love back-to-school shopping?

When you were growing up, back-to-school shopping was the the most exciting time in August. It meant traveling to the store with your mom, picking out your favorite colored folders and buying the largest pack of crayons.

Then, college came around. Back-to-college shopping means overspending on textbooks and trying to figure out what it is a college student needs to be successful. Buying supplies for college is a gray area, but there are a few essentials every college student must have in order to make those As.

Paper and Printer Between printing out articles for class and handing in hard-copy essays, students will often find themselves in need of a printer. If a

Coffee Maker According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “54 percent of college students over the age of 18 drink caffeine.” Investing in a Keurig or coffee maker for your dorm will make your mornings be more efficient, and therefore your day will be more energized with that single cup of homemade (sort of) coffee.

Umbrella Keep it in your backpack because every once in awhile you will get caught in the middle of a rainstorm on your way back to the dorms. I kept mine in my backpack for nearly two months, then ended up taking it out for some reason. When I finally needed it, it was not there. Keep it in your backpack at all times no matter the situation, and a wet head will be the least of your worries.

Durable backpack Warning: Avoid purchasing a backpack from Target or any other “trendy store.” These backpacks break easily and are not compatible with the weather. Instead, look to brands like Nike or other athletic backpack brands — those things are indestructible. Skip the Jansports your mom always bought you as a kid. Personally, I went through two of those.

Listen to me, splurge on the expensive, athletic backpack. It is pricey, but it is worth it.

Netflix, Hulu or Xfinity account I am not promoting watching Netflix instead of studying, but give yourselves a break once in awhile. You wake up for that 8 a.m., go to class all day, then study all night. Take a breather and watch a few episodes (or seasons) on Netflix. You deserve it.

Embrace this year’s back-to-school shopping trip. It is not as scary if you have the essentials. In order to be successful, come to school prepared. @CollegiateTimes

August 11, 2016 PAGE 3

Textbooks College students, when it comes time to rent or purchase textbooks, rent your textbooks from Amazon and use that student discount.

There are also websites such as chegg.com where you can buy, rent or sell textbooks and save up to 90 percent on the original price. It will save you tremendous amounts of money.

Rent or buy from websites such as Amazon Student, Chegg or even the campus “free and for sale” page. It will save you money in the long run — meaning more money to spend on other items such as computers, food or coffee.

class requires print-out notes or articles, it will be helpful to have a personal printer on hand — which of course requires paper. Just remember to buy extra ink cartridges.

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Laptop Now, I know college students have all different types of laptops. Walking into the library, whether it is a Macbook, Lenovo, Chromebook or any other, almost every college student owns a personal computer. It is vital that a college student owns one, allowing students to write essays, complete assignments, print assignments and take notes. Students take notes in classrooms, allowing more time to render information and take notes from the lecture faster. A student can type more words than a student with a pencil can write (npr.org).

Students can check their college or department’s computing requirements to see which model is their best option.

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Gearing up: Necessities for the new year

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Fuente, Burden lock down in-state recruits KYLE COOKE assistant sports editor

With just under a month until the Hokies kick off in Lane Stadium against the Liberty Flames, head coach Justin Fuente and his staff have been very active on the front lines of recruiting. If there were ever any doubts about Virginia Tech being able to recruit in-state talent, running back coach Zohn Burden’s Twitter timeline has put them to rest. GIFS of Allen Iverson crossing over defenders with the caption “#757Hokies” and “#statement17,” referring to the 757 area code in Virginia and the 2017 recruiting class, respectively, have consumed Burden’s timeline. Sure, maybe a basketball reference is not the best way to get people excited about football season, but the enthusiasm is nevertheless encouraging. Even Fuente got in on the action, quoting one of Burden’s tweets with “This guy is on fire in the 757!!”

When Frank Beamer’s staff brought Burden on as a wide receiver coach in 2015, his responsibilities off the field were seemingly just as important as his on-field duties, which were to help Isaiah Ford and company score touchdowns. He excelled in that regard, evidenced by Ford’s record-breaking season, but was promptly moved to running back coach as soon as Fuente took over at the helm.

There are at least two reasons for that move.

One, Fuente brought new receiver coach Holmon Wiggins with him from Memphis and two, Burden’s recruiting ability, especially in the “757,” was too good to let him go. Virginia Tech has struggled with in-state recruiting in recent years. Burden’s staff directory page on Hokiesports.com details his familiarity with the region, including his very own childhood.

If this past week of commitments has been any indication, retaining Burden has been a great move by the Fuente staff. Tahj Capehart, a four-star, wide receiver from Bishop Sullivan Catholic in Virginia Beach, committed to the Hokies on Aug. 6. Capehart is ranked as the No. 13 player in Virginia by 247 Sports and the 37th best receiver in the

2017 class. Capehart chose Virginia Tech over Maryland, Penn State, West Virginia and Nebraska. He joins fellow “757” receiver Hezekiah Grimsley in Tech’s 2017 recruiting class.

info on the go Recievers Tahj Capehart and Hezekiah Grimsley will make their 2017 recruiting class debut this fall. Both players are in-state recruits.

ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Justin Fuente delivers remarks during his introductory press conference as head coach, Nov. 30, 2015.

The 2017 class is not the only class making headlines. 2018 quarterback DeJuan Ellis from Arlington, Virginia, committed to the Hokies on Aug. 3. Ellis is just 6’0” and 160 pounds but has elite speed. 247 Sports ranked him the 11th best dual-threat QB in his recruiting class. The Hokies also secured the commitment from Tayvion Land, the third-best cornerback in the class of 2019.

Land, who is also from Virginia Beach, is currently considered a four-star player.

That makes at least one four-star recruit in the next three recruiting classes for Virginia Tech. For a school that prides itself on turning three-star recruits into NFL talent, Fuente, Burden and the rest of the staff have done a great job of locking down blue chip players, especially within the state of Virginia, something they have struggled to do in the past (see: Da’Shawn Hand and Josh Sweat).

Fans will get to see the Hokies back in action on Sept. 3 as they take on the Liberty Flames at home in what will be Fuente’s debut in maroon and orange. I look forward to the memes that Burden will have to commemorate the occasion.

@CTSportsTalk

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New businesses in University Mall and Crossroads MATTHEW JONES assistant news editor

Students returning to Blacksburg this August will notice some changes along Prices Fork Road. A number of new restaurants, stores and hotels are planned for University Mall and the new University Crossroads developments. Some of them opened over the summer; several more are slated to open in the next few months.

Below are some of the new businesses and what they will bring to Blacksburg.

ABC Store The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control is opening a new store in University Mall at 765 University City Blvd.

The nearly 3,000-square-foot space is located near Panera Bread and Marco & Luca.

A spokesperson for the Virginia ABC told the Roanoke Times that the store will be open by late fall.

The Virginia ABC signed a lease with University Mall Phase II, LLC earlier in June.

According to documents obtained from the Montgomery County Clerk of Circuit Clerk by The Roanoke Times, the lease will run until at least 2021.

This will be Blacksburg’s second ABC store and the first one on the north side of Virginia Tech’s campus. Currently, another ABC store is located at 1332 S. Main St., south of campus.

CVS/Pharmacy The CVS/Pharmacy location inside University Mall is no more. The national pharmacy chain has moved from that location to a new, 12,300-square-foot building developed by Rebkee within University Crossroads. The store officially opened on May 1, 2016.

Rebkee has constructed an additional 8,200-square-foot retail space adjacent to the pharmacy. Information from the real estate firm Thalhimer lists 3,635 square feet of the building still available.

The other two tenants are listed as Qdoba Mexican Eats and Jimmy John’s, though

no further information was available at this time. Jimmy John’s currently has a location in Blacksburg along College Avenue.

Additionally, Qdoba operates a franchise in Lavery Hall on Virginia Tech’s campus.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe A Tropical Smoothie Cafe location opened this summer in another part of the University Crossroads development. The national chain sells a wide variety of tropically themed smoothies and foods such as breakfast omelet wraps and toasted flatbreads.

Jon Cash, the owner of the nearest franchise in Lynchburg also owns this location, according to a CIBMM press release. It is part of a roughly 18,360-square-foot retail space that faces Prices Fork Road in the development.

McAlister’s Deli A McAlister’s Deli will occupy the space two storefronts down from the Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The chain restaurant serves a variety of sandwiches, soups, potatoes and salads. It also heavily advertises its McAlister’s Famous Iced Tea. The location will be owned by Peak Restaurants, which operates a number of McAlister’s locations throughout east Tennessee and southwest Virginia. The Roanoke Times reports that sources close to the development anticipate the restaurant opening in late August or early September.

Panda Express In addition to the Tropical Smoothie Cafe and McAlister’s Deli, a Panda Express location will open in the retail space near Prices Fork Road. The fast-food chain serves a variety of Chinese-American food such as its popular orange chicken and sweet fire chicken breast. Currently, the closest location is near the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.

Plans for the Panda Express location in University Crossroads call for a 2,500-squarefoot restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant will also have a drivethru, which has been a point of controversy due to noise affecting nearby residential areas.

Thalhimer lists five remaining storefronts available in the same building. According to information from the company, Chipotle Mexican Grill will also the be in the building.

Chipotle already has a location in Blacksburg along North Main Street in downtown.

Hyatt Place Under construction behind the retail space that will house the Panda Express and Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a Hyatt Place. The hotel, when completed, will have 123 bedrooms and meeting and banquet space to accommodate over 300 people. The Hyatt Place is an upscale hotel brand from the Hyatt Corporation that tailors to business travelers looking for premium accommodations.

The hotel will also cater to parents and alumni visiting Virginia Tech for games and

graduation. A website for the hotel describes its VIP Parent Club, which will provide members discounts, special promotions and free catered tailgates during home football games.

The website lists the opening date as March 1, 2017.

Residence Inn by Marriott In addition to the Hyatt Place, CIBMM is spearheading the construction of a Residence Inn by Marriott in University Crossroads.

Unlike the Hyatt Place, the 126-room, sixstory hotel will offer mainly extended-stay rooms. The Marriott Inn brand serves longstay guests including business travelers and families.

Construction will finish in the second quarter of 2017, according to Dosky.

MEGAN MAURY CHURCH lifestyles staff writer

As a pet owner, it is not unusual to be woken too early on the day that you are supposed to sleep in by a wet-nosed intruder who wants to go out. From cats and dogs to gerbils and parrots, our pets are a central part of our lives at home.

In their absence we do crazy things like give up an hour of studying to pet the PAWS animals when they visit the library or casually sprint across the Drillfield because there is a friendly looking labradoodle at the other end. But there are better ways to fill your need for purrs and slobbery kisses — the easiest of which is to volunteer.

Radford Pound Pals Volunteering with Radford Pound Pals is an opportunity to become more involved in the local area. Volunteers apply, attend meetings and participate according to a schedule.

Interactive tasks include walking dogs and transporting animals to their new homes. Other tasks that help the shelter, but do not include interaction with animals, are to get involved with social media, public relations or fundraising.

If you have the resources, a more longterm way to help is to foster an animal while it waits to be adopted. Fostering a dog or cat gives them a comfortable environment while it waits for adoption and frees up space in the shelter so that more animals can be helped.

Foster homes are needed for animals with Animal Hope Alliance, Friends of Animal Care & Control and Radford Pound Pals.

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To learn more about helping animals in our community, visit the NRV Animal Shelters website. This privately owned and operated site is a useful resource with information and links to local shelters and related organizations that are bettering the greater Blacksburg community.

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Animal Hope Alliance On its website, Animal Hope Alliance (AHA) describes itself as “a group of animal lovers who want to provide our community with an alternative to the policy-driven approach to animal rescue and welfare,” and it is always looking for more volunteers.

As this organization is located in Blacksburg, it is easy to get involved.

There is also an AHA Student Chapter at Virginia Tech, which can be joined at any time and is non-selective.

Volunteer jobs with AHA include helping with the care of outdoor cats, transporting animals to the clinic in Radford and visiting nursing homes with other volunteers and their animals. If you would like to help the organization in other ways, check out its website.

Karen Pederson, president of AHA, said, “Since we are a small organization and we don’t have a shelter, the way that people can help us most are fundraising.

We have a booth at the Virginia Tech stadium for football games and they need volunteers. That provides a good portion of our funding through the year.”

The AHA Student Chapter is heavily involved with fundraising projects.

They provide much of the staff for the AHA concession stands at football games, basketball games and other events around campus.

Friends of Animal Care & Control Friends of Animal Care & Control (FACC) is a supporter of the Montgomery County, Virginia Animal Shelter. The shelter is located at 434 Cinnabar Rd. in Christiansburg. Visitors are invited on weekdays 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Dog walkers are needed at FACC, and it is easy to get involved. Dog walking hours are on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. All you have to do is show up, fill out the volunteer form in the office and be ready to walk.

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How to get your fix of furry friends

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column

Students should take advantage of college activism

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ver the summer, dozens of cities across the United States experienced protests following controversial police shooting deaths of several African-American men. In July, I watched the news grimly as a group of protesters caused traffic delays on interstate 95 in Richmond at rush hour.

The news coverage and the local responses to it were overwhelmingly condemning the protestors for their means.

The issue they were trying to address was lost by the fact that a major highway was closed as a result of the protest.

I thought about how frustrated the people on the streets must be, some of them the same people who took to the streets

two years ago in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, Missouri.

At Virginia Tech, we do not have to take to the streets to have our voices heard.

We do not have to yell until our voices are hoarse and we do not have to stand on a sidewalk for hours in order to draw attention. We are very fortunate in this way, and we should take full advantage of it.

There are more than 30,000 students on the Virginia Tech campus, and as students we have the ability to draw every one of their heads. This past spring, the Virginia Tech community handled differences and discrimination with respect and a strong message.

When Charles Murray visited our

campus in March, many students protested, but they did so peacefully. Several organizations, along with a faculty coalition, hosted a “Teach-in Against Hate” seminar to educate students and faculty on just what made Murray’s work controversial, and they also hosted a counter-lecture to give students an alternative to Murray’s speech.

When a threatening message toward Muslims was left in a campus bathroom, our campus responded with love, acceptance and a strong message that we would not tolerate hate.

Throughout the school year there were countless demonstrations and information tables on campus, as well as regular guest speakers and socials related to different charity organizations and political issues.

Every day that you walk across campus, you see people investing their time and energy into causes about which they care deeply. Whether it is helping children learn how to read, raising money for children in Honduras or to help end Alzheimer’s disease or raising awareness for political and environmental issues, students at Virginia Tech have no problem raising their voices when it comes to helping others.

Change begins with information and communication, and this will be true long after we leave Virginia Tech. If we build a foundation for service and education while we are attending college, by joining and creating organizations and becoming actively involved in noble causes, then we can continue to change the world even after we have left Blacksburg.

Not only is the academic and community environment at Virginia Tech conducive to change, the administration at Virginia Tech is also very open about its policies toward protests and demonstrations on campus. These policies can be found in the Hokie Handbook under the headline “Demonstations and picketing.”

The policy states that any demonstrations or picketing events do not violate university policy unless they “interfere

with university functions, violate the rights of others, or break the law.” The policy also states that the Student Centers Activities and Event Planning Office be notified in advance of any events that are advertised on campus or are likely to cause a disruption.

“

Change begins with information and communication, and this will be true long after we leave Virginia Tech ... This semester, make a commitment to raise your voice.”

Other forms of campus activism would likely fall under solicitation according to the university’s policies. The rules governing solicitation, which encompasses “information activities” and fund-raising, can be found here. This policy explains what kinds of activities would require approval by the university and will direct students to which authorizing facility they should consult before sharing their information on campus. These policies are in place in order to limit disruption on campus, but historically the university has not made it difficult for student organizations to solicit on campus.

This semester, make a commitment to raise your voice. Make a commitment to stand up for something that you care about.

One of the most amazing parts of attending Virginia Tech is the incredible community that we all have. If you make the decision to join an organization or hold an interest meeting for a cause you care about, you have the ability to make a difference without ever having to leave campus.

CARSON BARTLETT

• opinions editor • senior/political science

Camp, climb, cheer: keep summer excitement alive

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EMILY GEORGE

• regular columnist • senior/multimedia journalism

August 11, 2016 PAGE 9

for endless outdoor recreation. Activities to consider pursuing once you are back in Blacksburg range from tubing or kayaking to fishing on the New River or Claytor Lake (only a short distance from campus).

If you have never been fishing, New River Outdoor Company, located in Pembroke, Virginia — also close to campus — offers guided fishing, kayaking and canoeing trips as well as rentals for kayaks, canoes and rafts. Hiking nearby trails such as Dragon’s Tooth or Cascade Falls, or taking an evening jog on the Huckleberry Trail when the weather cools off are more outdoor hobbies to include in your schedule this fall.

The Jefferson National Forest is only a short distance from Virginia Tech’s campus, where you can also find Pandapas Pond. Pandapas Pond is great for any fishermen interested in catching smallmouth bass and trout but also has a trail circling it that provides shade and fresh air for any runners, bikers or those interested in taking their dogs out for a peaceful evening stroll.

Another feature of the cooling weather to look forward to when the fall semester begins is shopping for groceries at the local farmer’s market, located at the Market Square Park in downtown Blacksburg on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Sometimes our meal plan options get boring and making dinner seems like a better alternative, especially on the weekends.

At the farmer’s market, you can find a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and other cooking essentials for a hand-crafted meal. Here, you are certain to find the best quality food that is grown by local farmers and craftsmen.

Although summer excitement is winding down, there is still a lot to look forward to when returning to Virginia Tech for the fall semester. Whether it is football season, reuniting with friends and roommates, getting more involved in campus or community activities or just being one semester closer to graduation, the thrill never settles in Blacksburg. Get excited!

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he time has come to trade in the beach towels for knit blankets and the sandals for your favorite sneakers. With the fall semester right around the corner, it is time to get back into the hustle of transitioning back to your lifestyle in Blacksburg. A brand new year on the horizon means new expectations to set and refreshing opportunities of which to take advantage.

It is tough to believe that summer vacation has vanished in three short months, but that does not mean the liveliness is over. There are many activities to engage in on campus and around Blacksburg this semester. With new courses, football season, the upcoming presidential election and autumn approaching, it will be easy to keep yourself entertained when you are not studying for exams.

Virginia Tech Football is kicking off with a new wave of energy this season.

Hokie Football welcomes new head coach Justin Fuente to the team, setting high expectations for the team this season.

There is an exciting season ahead for the players, college football and the students that fill the stadium with enthusiasm.

Do not miss an opportunity to attend a football game this fall. Wear orange and maroon with pride because you will regret missing a home game in the future.

As students and alumni, we should be VT football’s biggest fans. The stadium should never be empty during a home football game!

Even though most attention is centered on football season during the fall semester, we shouldn’t dismiss the other fall sports teams that show their pride competing for Virginia Tech. Every team works extremely hard to represent Virginia Tech competing and participating in the sports that they love.

We should show respect and support for each team and its valuable players. If there is a home game for any of our fall sports teams, you should make an attempt to attend them. Check Hokiesports’ homepage for schedule details and make sure you support your fellow Hokies.

Blacksburg sits in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains — a perfect location

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What’s new around here? Blacksburg’s newest resturants, cafes and on-campus options EMILY MCCAUL assistant lifestyles editor

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Hokies can expect to see several new lunch spots, dinner options and coffeehouses popping up in Blacksburg this fall. Currently there are six new locations on the radar. A few of the establishments are still under construction, while others have been open for a couple months.

From Mediterranean-style sandwiches to grab-and-go classics, students will have a plethora of new off-campus, as well as on-campus, options to choose from come this fall.

BB Cup Recently opened on Thursday, June 23, this restaurant is bringing Asian food to downtown Blacksburg — more specifically, Korean. Located in the Brownstone, next to Mellow Mushroom, this local eatery is within walking distance to campus and adds to the growing list of international cuisine in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Food: Korean Restaurant style: Sit-down Location: 301 S Main St #106, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24060 Hours: M-F: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m., Sunday: Closed

University Food Trucks Set to appear on campus in fall 2016, the newest addition to Virginia Tech’s awardwinning campus dining, are two rotating food trucks: The Grillfield and Periodic Table. The two mobile grills will provide a variety of options to hungry Hokies come this school year, redefining the “grab and go lunch.” Though specific times and locations have not yet been confirmed, keep a lookout for their spirited and signature colors, as they will be traveling around campus often.

Food: Pork, beef, chicken and veggies Restaurant style: Food truck Location: Rotating around Virginia Tech campus Tropical Smoothie Tropical Smoothie is officially open for business! Located just off Prices Fork Road, this healthy dining option is a quick walk from campus, making it an ideal location for freshman to explore this fall (no car needed). All smoothies come in one, generous cup size of 24 ounces, providing customers with a sizable serving at an affordable cost.

Food: Smoothies, wraps a nd sandwiches Restaurant style: Cafe Location: 896 Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24060 Hours: M-Th: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., Friday: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m. - 11 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Panda Express Still under construction, the new Panda Express will be located directly next to Tropical Smoothie on Prices Fork Road.

This will be the second location in the area.

The first restaurant was built just a short drive from campus in Christiansburg, Virginia. This new location will provide another off-campus dining option for students. The distance is walkable and

conveniently positioned near other new dining options as well.

Food: Chinese-American Restaurant style: Fast-food and counter-serve Location: University Crossroads, Prices Fork Rd, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24060 Zoës Kitchen This new casual dining option can be found next to Frank’s Cinebowl in the First & Main Shopping Center. The restaurant fosters a family friendly atmosphere with options for everyone on the menu.

Customers will find kids meals as well as alcoholic beverages, making it a prime location for families as well as students 21 and older — though you do not have to be of age to enjoy the establishment’s Mediterranean-style food.

Food: Mediterranean-inspired Restaurant style: Counter-serve and sit-down Location: 1500 S Main St #100, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24060 Hours: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. every day Starbucks Located in First & Main Shopping Center, the coffeehouse is currently still under construction, though expected to appear soon. This will be the fourth Starbucks to join the college town of Blacksburg, Virginia. Other locations include: Kent Square, University City Boulevard and the North End Center.

Food: Coffee, sandwiches and pastries Restaurant style: Coffeehouse/cafe Location: First & Main Shopping Center Blacksburg’s dining options continue to expand and diversify with the addition of several new restaurants, cafes and offcampus options; proximal to both students and locals, these eateries will soon find themselves established amid the growing community.

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Tech Basketball builds for present and future FAIZAN HASNAY sports editor

Change has become exceedingly familiar to Virginia Tech men’s basketball fans the past few years, with the team’s roster seemingly being a revolving door as Buzz Williams and his staff have worked to gather players to construct the program from the ground up.

After pulling off the biggest single season turnaround for a last place team in the ACC’s 63-year history, with a team that coincidentally had 63 percent of its minutes played come from players who had never worn a Tech jersey before, the Hokies will now attempt to catapult themselves into the top of the best conference in college basketball with a team that is actually familiar for a change.

Tech will be bringing back all of its key players, with the exception of Jalen Hudson who, despite his mostly inconsistent play, showed bursts in some key moments. Having another year of experience and another offseason for the Hokies to develop their individual games and team chemistry should definitely put them into contention for an NCAA Tournament bid.

Retaining the team’s current core has not stopped Williams and his staff from adding potentially valuable pieces to the program however, as they have been extraordinarily busy this summer on the recruiting trail.

Tech has landed the two following players who will be eligible for the 2016 season: Khadim Sy — A three-star recruit from the basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, a school that has produced more than its fair share of successful college and NBA players including Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony, Sy will be a nice addition to Tech’s front court which has struggled to find consistency so far during Williams’ tenure. The 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward will add some interior defense and much needed help on the glass, an area where Tech ranked third-to-last in the ACC last season.

Not to mention Sy has had some experience playing under pressure in nationally televised games. The lanky rim protector capped

off his final moments at Oak Hill in memorable fashion, scoring a put back tip in at the buzzer at the end of overtime to win the National Championship game.

Tyrie Jackson — Jackson is arguably the most intriguing player of the bunch, as he fits in perfectly with Williams’ pace and space style of play. At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Jackson played point guard for the first half of his high school career but switched to shooting guard in his junior season. His combination of handles and quickness enable him to attack the rim effectively, a quality most guards recruited by Williams share.

However, his ability to shoot the ball is what could separate him in an extremely deep backcourt. With the amount the Hokies penetrate in the lane, shooters who can stretch the floor beyond the arc will be a vital part to the team’s offense. The combo-guard earned Class 6A South all-state honors from the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and is no stranger to the pressures of college ball either, as his older brother Tadric will be a rising junior at Georgia Tech this season.

The Hokies also already have another pair set to join the team in the fall of 2017: Seth LeDay — Seth LeDay is the younger brother of rising senior Zach LeDay, who was the go-to guy for Tech last season on both ends of the floor, leading the team in points and rebounds while holding his own defensively against much taller front-court players. Seth is transferring from Northwest Mississippi Junior College where he also led his team in both points and rebounds, posting 18.5 points and eight rebounds per game. At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, Seth is the same height as Zack but a little bit lighter. If he plays anything like his older brother, the Hokies will surely be in good hands.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker — AlexanderWalker has certainly been the prime recruit that Tech has landed — a blue chip talent ranked 34th in the nation by ESPN, a number that many people feel is still selling him short. Walker is a 6-foot-5 guard who can really do it all at his position.

Alexander-Walker has been busy this summer playing for Team Canada in the

FIBA U18 Tournament and was even named International Player of the Week.

The Toronto native has also turned heads at the Adidas Nations Tournament where he averaged 12.6 points on 61 percent shooting and 58 percent from beyond the arc in six games.

The efficient guard, in addition to being able to shoot the ball from distance at a high rate, has a knack for finishing around the rim in a variety of ways. Though his dominant hand is his right, Walker has shown the ability to shoot floaters and layups with his left hand with ease.

“I was born left-handed, I’m ambidextrous,” said Alexander-Walker in an interview with Draft Express at the 2015 Adidas Nations Tournament when asked why he was shooting three pointers with his

left hand in warm-ups. “This one time at a camp I had tendinitis in my thumb so I played the whole camp left handed. I feel like that’s something you’ve never seen done, and if I do it more then it’d be hard to stop me because if my right hand is off I can rely on my left. I can get to my left and use my left for layups and floaters.”

The foundation has been laid by Buzz Williams and his staff brick by brick, now the question is just how high can the program be built? If Tech can continue to produce highcharacter and talented athletes as it has since Williams’ arrival to Blacksburg, the sky is the limit for this team on the rise.

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What does the ACC Network mean for Virginia Tech?

CHASE PARKER sports staff writer

On July 21, 2016, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced a new media agreement with ESPN that extends through the 2035-36 academic year. This new deal includes the launch of the long-awaited ACC Network that is expected to hit television waves in the summer of 2019.

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August 11, 2016 PAGE 13

While there will be a three-year waiting period for the cable network to launch, the ACC Network’s digital channel will begin this fall and carry nearly 600 live events.

“On behalf of the ACC Council of P residents, Faculty Athletics Representatives and our ACC Television Committee, we are tremendously pleased to further enhance our long-term partnership with ESPN that includes the creation of the ACC Network and ACC Network Extra, and positions the conference for the longterm future,” said ACC Commissioner John Swofford in a release. “This partnership continues to be a win-win for ESPN and the ACC. ESPN is the premier provider in sports content, and this agreement will deliver unprecedented coverage to our fans while highlighting our quality studentathletes, coaches and institutions.”

Swofford also said that, pending on the network’s success, the agreement will place the ACC in the “upper echelon of Power 5 conferences.” Simply put, this new agreement means more money will be flowing into the league.

It is no secret that the SEC has been

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“

Perhaps the most important impact this will have on Virginia Tech is that it will help national recruitment for all athletic programs.”

the rule of the roost in terms of revenue and success — especially when it comes to football. The SEC Network generated $311.8 million in 2014 (the year it launched).

During that same span, the ACC only collected $217.9 million in TV revenue.

The ACC is hoping that the creation of its own network will help bridge that $94 million financial gap between the SEC and itself.

The league also extended its conference rights deal nine years to be effective through 2035-36. The grant of rights nearly makes it financially impossible for a school to leave. It also guarantees that a school’s media rights are owned by the ACC no matter their affiliation.

What does this all mean for the Hokies?

Perhaps the most important impact this will have on Virginia Tech is that it will help national recruitment for all athletic programs. Many prospects desire either national exposure for personal gain or for their families to be able to watch them play.

The ACC Network will provide just that.

If you take a look at the SEC Network, you will see talk shows, baseball coverage, softball coverage, extra basketball and football coverage and more. It provides in-depth exposure that is not available anywhere else. The ACC’s version will likely feature a very similar slate of content.

It also means that the Hokies are going to be staying put in the ACC for at least the next two decades. The league is already recognized as one of the “Power 5” conferences. With the improved exposure through the new network, the ACC has a chance at gaining ground on the SEC and becoming one of the top two conferences in the country.

Anything that benefits the ACC will do the same for Virginia Tech, and the new network will certainly help them both.

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COURTESY OF ESPN

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College students say goodbye to penny pinching AMANDA TINKLEMAN lifestyles staff writer

“Broke college student” is an all-toofamiliar phrase. With more and more students taking out loans for their educations and purchasing textbooks that can cost hundreds of dollars, it is understandable that there might not be much cash left over to spend. So, the Collegiate Times did a little digging and found some of the best deals a student can get.

Never been to Frank Theatres Cinebowl & Grille? Maybe next Tuesday is the right time to try it out. On its Tightwad Tuesdays, you can get movie tickets for $6 and popcorn for $2.50.

Sounds like a good deal to me — especially when a typical movie ticket can cost $12. If you need a new, inexpensive date spot, Frank’s on Tuesdays could be perfect for you.

No college student can survive without his

or her laptop. That is pretty much a fact — and Apple knows that. Whether you are already a Mac fan or are planning on making the switch over from a PC (like I did), take a look at Apple’s education discounts.

With some discounts over 10 percent per product, you could save hundreds of dollars.

There is also a current promotion where you can receive wireless Beats headphones when you buy an eligible Apple product for college (a $300 value).

With a student email address, you can get six months free of Amazon Prime. It is perfect for back to school time — you can find great deals on textbooks and get free streaming of thousands of TV shows and movies.

However, the best part is free two-day shipping on all of your essentials for school.

Be careful though — after six months if you do not cancel the subscription, you will

automatically be charged $50 to continue using Prime.

One of my personal favorite discounts is with Spotify Premium. I love being able to stream whatever songs I want, whenever I want, from both my laptop and my phone.

With a student email, you can get a 50 percent discount on a Spotify Premium account.

So for $4.99 a month, you can enjoy ad-free, unlimited music.

On the retail side, Topshop is willing to help out students with 10 percent off of their entire purchases (a deal I have taken advantage of many times). Although the closest Topshop is at least 200 miles away, you can sign up here to get the discount online.

Along with Topshop, J.Crew offers a 15 percent discount on regularly priced merchandise. Although there is not a J.Crew anywhere near Blacksburg, this in-store

discount is definitely useful.

At Goodwill, many college students know they can find great deals, whether it is a $5 ugly Christmas sweater or a poster with sunflowers to brighten up a dorm. What many college students do not know is that Tuesdays at Goodwill are Student (and Military) days, where you can get 20 percent off your entire purchase.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the possible discounts and deals you can get as a student, but it will hopefully prove useful. I know I will take advantage of more of these deals now that I am aware of them. So go out, buy that blouse you have been eyeing and save a little money. @CollegiateTimes

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The faces of Virginia Tech: a behind-the-scenes look SAMANTHA SMITH lifestyles editor

While most of us were enjoying our Julys off or working a summer internship, Hadley Carter, a business marketing student approaching her third year, was waking up at 5:30 every morning with a smile on her face.

Why? Because she got to greet new Hokies to campus as the leader of Orientation Group 20, a chance to wear “Ut Prosim” on her sleeve.

In order to gain more insight into the orientation leader experience, the Collegiate Times sat down with Carter to get a behind-thescenes look: Collegiate Times: Walk me through the typical day of an orientation leader. What’s it like?

Hadley Carter: A typical day of an

orientation leader would begin probably around 5:15 or 5:30 in the morning, when we get up with our roommates and start our day.

We would eat breakfast, we would do some stretches and we would have morning duties where we would check people in.

We would go out in the parking lot and hand out parking passes, or you would be a greeter in the hallway. There were lots of different jobs you could do … before our welcome ceremony, which is where a lot of people trademark orientation leaders as, when we run in and do our fun intros in front of the students as well as the families.

After that, we would have our first small group session and lunches and then we would go outside. We would eat dinner and then we’d have more small group sessions as well as rec night, which would end around 12:30 after

debriefing.

It was a long day. Often times I had to split the day up into quarters for my own sanity — so I’d wake up and only think about my day until the welcome ceremony, and then I’d think about my day until lunch, so that helped me get through the longer days.

CT: What made you decide to become an orientation leader?

HC: The beginning of my sophomore year, I was living in the Residential Leadership Community at Peddrew-Yates. I was a secondyear peer mentor and I kind of made it my goal in that community to be what I would call a difference maker.

That was kind of my theme for this past year through leading and through serving. For me, being an orientation leader was the epitome of that sacrifice and service and value that we

have at Virginia Tech.

I just saw so many people who lay their lives down every day through orientation leading and through being exhausted but still loving students and I really wanted to be a part of that — I wanted to see what it was like.

CT: Why should others consider it?

HC: Because of what you can learn about others and also in return what you can learn about yourself through that.

One of the many things that I’ve come to appreciate at Virginia Tech is how much value we place on student leadership here. Putting others before yourself and pushing others forward. I’ve never experienced that before until I was an orientation leader and until we were expected constantly to put our students first.

CT: What is your favorite part of being

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felt as if his heart was exposed or that he was vulnerable, and I just thought that was the most amazing thing in the world. Then he said, “No Hadley, my pants ripped during rec night, and I literally feel exposed right now.”

It was just kind kind of a news flash that sometimes life happens and you just have to roll with things.

CT: What is one moment from this summer that is unforgettable?

HC: I always got them to play a game where they had to stand really close in a circle and I would stand in the middle of it. We were on the lawn outside of D2, right in front of Pritchard, and the light hit their faces as I was walking around the circle in the middle of it.

I just had a moment of feeling overwhelmingly grateful to have had this experience and to get to stand in the middle of those students and to get to show them my love for them and what my love for what Virginia Tech stands for — to just see them smiling and laughing.

The light was hitting them just in the right spot. It was just beautiful and a life-changing moment. @CollegiateTimes COURTESY OF HADLEY CARTER

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an orientation leader?

HC: Having a really, really clear purpose behind what I was doing. I kind of came to a realization a few days before orientation started that the reason why I was in Blacksburg for the month of July and the reason why I was an orientation leader was to show these students how much Virginia Tech loves and cares about them.

That was just such a good thing to think about every morning at 5:30 when my alarm would go off, was that the reason I am here is to love these students. I knew that I was representing Virginia Tech to them.

CT: What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned while welcoming new Hokies?

HC: To not take life so seriously. Every single day, at the beginning of the day, I would just ask the students to describe how they felt about orientation thus far in one word. Their words would just always be kind of very simple, kind of surface level. At the end of the night I would ask them how to describe how they felt then, about 10 hours later.

One of my favorite things was watching how their words changed. But I had one student, and his word at the end of the night was that he felt exposed. So I took that as he

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Lower admissions give students room to breathe CALEB GOVORUHK assistant news editor

In a few weeks, over 6,000 freshmen will make the trip to Blacksburg to begin their journeys through the higher education system here at Virginia Tech.

For many freshmen, moving away from home is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate independence, and living in a residence hall with other students can provide The Department of Housing and Residence Life is responsible for providing housing for these new students, as well as upperclassmen who elect to live on campus to serve as resident advisers or peer mentors.

“We have 47 residence halls, 9,354 beds on campus and approximately 2.2

million square feet of residential space,” said Kenneth Belcher, the senior associate director for housing services. “As a self-supporting auxiliary that relies only on student room charges and summer conference operations for its operating budgets, we seek to maintain a high occupancy for the year.”

As returning students know from experience, sometimes that occupancy rate can be too high. In the 2015-2016 academic year, Virginia Tech welcomed its largestever freshman class (over 6,000 students).

This was around 500 more freshmen than previous years.

Many cadets were living in tripled dorm rooms as the construction of Pearson Hall was delayed by three months, resident advisers were living with roommates and,

17-year-old and 18-year-old freshmen were living in apartments in Foxridge.

Upperclassmen who were assigned to live on campus were offered $2,000 to move off campus.

Fortunately, this year will provide a different experience for students living on campus.

“While we normally open with 100-101.5 percent occupancy as a standard, we are a bit lower this year. We were able to go back to our on-campus waiting lists this year and make additional offers,” Belcher said. “We will actually have some vacancies which will allow for room changes to occur after the roster verification process is complete in early September.”

Belcher said that his department worked diligently to ensure that there was not a

repeat of last year’s fiasco.

“We maintain close contact with the Office of Admissions and the university enrollment committees as we all work together to maximize access to the educational opportunities at Virginia Tech and strive to provide housing to as many students as possible in the on-campus environment,” Belcher said. “Once we were sure that the replacement building for Brodie Hall being constructed on the Upper Quad was not going to be ready for the fall, we made adjustments to the offering of contracts in the fall term so that we would not be as oversubscribed as we were last year.”

Residence halls will open for move-in from Wednesday, Aug. 17 to Saturday, Aug. see ADMISSIONS / page 19

finance campus makeover from page 2

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for alumni affairs and development at Cornell, the university more than doubled its fundraising. In the fiscal year ending in 2014, Cornell raised more than $546 million in gifts.

The increase in donations comes at an important time for Virginia Tech. The school has recently undertaken several large capital projects including new residence halls on the Upper Quad and the new classroom building near Derring Hall.

Additionally, state support has not kept up with the growth of the university. Between 1998 and 2016, the university’s budget steadily increased to nearly $1.5 billion from $532 million in 1998. However, state support made up 37 percent of the budget in 1998. It only comprised 18 percent of the most recent budget approved by the Board of Visitors.

Donations made by alumni and other donors offer an opportunity to make up for the difference. Between 1995 and 2000, the university averaged only $46 million in donations annually, much less than the most recent number.

“I could not be more excited about where we are heading as a university and an advancement division,” Phlegar said in a statement

announcing the growth. “What we’ve achieved is significant, and as we look toward next year we must stay focused on telling our story, reconnecting with our alumni and friends, and growing the percentage of our alumni who give back to the university.”

Roughly 60 percent of donations were from alumni last year. Some of this may be due to Phlegar’s reestablishment of the 1872 Society.

The giving society, one of four at Virginia Tech, recognizes donors who have contributed over $5,000 to any area of the university for current use. This past fiscal year, 1,458 donors were inducted into the society.

Additionally, annual giving has increased.

The Office of Annual Giving raised $7.12 million this past fiscal year, its highest revenue number ever and 6 percent more than the previous year. The Office of Annual Giving is in charge of the Student Calling Center located in University Mall.

Virginia Tech also recorded a number of new pledges and gifts this past year in addition to the gift revenue collected. Donors made $100.42 million in new commitments and gifts during the last fiscal year.

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DONATIONS: Funds set to

HOUSING: Electronic locks will replace traditional keys from page 18

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August 11, 2016 PAGE 19

20. Most residence halls have a new touchless, electronic access lock system.

Students in these buildings will use their Hokie Passport card and a PIN number to access their individual rooms.

Students living in Ambler-Johnston, East Eggleston, Monteith, Newman, O’Shaughnessy, Pritchard and Thomas Halls will still use a traditional key to enter their rooms. There are plans to expand the new electronic system to these buildings during winter break.

Returning students who are living on campus will need to exchange their current Hokie Passports for new IDs with RFID

chips at their residence hall check-ins. Hokie Passport Services will pre-print new ID cards for the returning students who will be in the buildings with the new access system and have them at the check-in stations.

“We are really excited to see the students return to campus,” Belcher said. “It represents a ‘return to normalcy’ for our staff who have been working hard over the summer to complete projects, prepare the buildings and training new staff. Most of all, it allows our residence halls to go back to their primary purpose — providing housing and the opportunity for developing the Hokie community in a living-learning environment.”

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