Nov. 7, 2017

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November 7, 2017

COLLEGIATETIMES

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903

Basketball Preview see page B2

DEMOCRATS GET OUT THE VOTE AT TECH

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) came to the Virginia Tech campus, Friday, Nov. 3, for a Get Out the Vote event hosted by the Northam and Hurst campaigns.

MIKE LIU SGA beat reporter

The Ralph Northam for Governor campaign and the Chris Hurst for Delegate campaign hosted an event at Virginia Tech on Friday to get out the vote.

The event took place Friday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Surge Space Building 104B. Tim Kaine, the junior U.S. senator from Virginia, made an appearance at the campaign event during a trip down to southwest Virginia during the final few days before the Nov. 7 election. Kaine was elected to the Senate in 2012, and was Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential running mate in the 2016 presidential election.

“I think a lot of young people don’t feel like their votes matter, but races in Virginia are close that the under 30 vote can determine any outcome of any race in the state,” Kaine said. “Actually, the voters under 30 matter a lot, and that would be what I would like Hokies to know.”

Hurst and Kaine attended two more Get Out the Vote events in Radford and Blacksburg before arriving at Virginia Tech.

“I’ve done three events with Chris Hurst today, and I’ve been really impressed with the crowds,” Kaine said. “This was the biggest crowd, but that energy tells me he has a real good chance winning Tuesday.”

Hurst arrived at the event at around 7 p.m., and started to greet the students. Kaine arrived shortly after Hurst.

Before entering politics, Hurst was the evening anchor of WDBJ7 Roanoke.

He is running for the House of Delegates for Virginia’s 12th District, which includes parts of Black sbu rg, Rad ford, Pulaski and Giles County.

“You all want to make a difference. That’s why you guys are here,” Hurst said.

“I wanna make a difference for your lives, for the lives of hopefully our future children.”

Hurst described standing up against discrimination and protecting immigrant

KAILA NATHANIEL / COLLEGIATE TIMES Sen. Tim Kaine speaks at a Get Out the Vote event, Nov. 3, 2017.

students as an important part of the campaign. He contrasted these stances to those of President Trump, whose administration has sought to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

“We know Virginia Tech is a welcoming campus.

We know Virginia Tech is

a welcoming place. There are more than 100 countries represented here. How on earth could we put up with such bigotry and discrimination?” Hurst said.

Hurst addressed the issue of Dreamers, people who were brought or came see KAINE / page A4

Hokies rocked like a Hurricane No. 10 Miami defeated No. 13 Virginia Tech, 28–10, on Saturday night, dashing Tech’s championship dreams.

DAVIS CARBAUGH sports staff writer

The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Virginia Tech Hokies by a margin of 28–10 on Saturday night.

The Hokies could not capitalize on turnovers or stop big plays from Miami’s offense, as the Hurricanes were in control for the entirety of the game.

Miami quarterback Malik Rosier was not flawless, but his three touchdowns came on 193 yards through the air and 84 yards on the ground led the Hurricanes to victory.

The clash between the ACC Coastal powerhouses leaves the Hokies on the outside looking in, while Miami is now in the driver’s seat to face Clemson in the ACC Championship game.

The Hokies looked to establish the run early in the game, as Travon McMillian ran the ball on the first three plays of the game. Nine of the first 10 offensive plays were rushes as the offense started the game slowly.

McMillian finished the game with just 52 rushing yards.

Both Miami and Virginia Tech got off to conservative starts to the game, as neither team scored a point through the first quarter. On the second drive of the game, the Tech defense stopped Miami at the goal line on four straight plays.

Early in the second

quarter, Adonis Alexander was flagged for two pass-interference calls that later led to the first touchdown of the game. Miami quarterback Malik Rosier hit Braxton Berrios on a slant route for an 8-yard touchdown.

Two d r ives lat e r, Hurricanes running back Travis Homer broke away for a 64-yard touchdown to give the Hurricanes a 14–0 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Just when things were starting to turn around for the Tech offense late in the first half, Sean Savoy fumbled in the redzone to negate a potential score before halftime.

Josh Jackson and the Tech offense struggled early, finishing the first half with only 149 total yards off 83 passing yards and 66 rushing yards. The Hokies headed to the locker room at halftime trailing the Hurricanes 14–3.

The Hokies started the second half with a strong answer to their early struggles as Reggie Floyd intercepted Rosier and returned the ball to the Miami 17. Jackson finished the drive with a QB sneak for a touchdown to cut Miami’s lead to 14–10.

Throughout the entire game, the Tech defense struggled to stop big plays.

Rosier hit Christopher see RECAP / page B2

Rikakis resigns amid faculty tension Thanassis Rikakis stepped down as executive vice president and provost on Monday, Oct. 30, following faculty surveys and a no-confidence vote.

MEG CONNORS managing editor

Thanassis Rikakis has stepped down as the executive vice president and provost, according to a VT News press release issued Monday, Oct. 30. This decision was made after the Faculty Senate weighed a no-confidence vote for the first time concerning an upper-level Tech administrator in 30 years.

Cyr il Cla rke, who is currently serving as dean of Virginia Tech’s

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, was named Rikakis’ interim replacement as executive vice president and provost.

Gregory Daniel, professor and head of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, was named a s C la rke’s i nt er i m replacement as dean of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Clarke and Daniel’s appointments are effective Nov. 1.

Rikakis will continue his joint appointment as a tenured professor in the

OPINION Why professors shouldn’t drop the F-bomb in class. page A2

Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics and as a professor of music in the School of Performing Arts. Rikakis also accepted the position of Presidential Fellow for Academ ic Innovation.

“Virginia Tech is poised for great success in the future and I am grateful for the opportunity to have helped its growth and development,” Rikakis said in a written statement.

Faculty dissatisfaction with the provost’s performance was a main motivator

behind Rikakis’ decision to leave. Last week, two surveys were made public that showed friction between faculty and the provost. One survey, conducted by Tech’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, yielded about a dozen answers that included dissatisfaction wit h Rikakis’ communication and management skills.

The other survey anonymously polled about half of the university’s see PROVOST / page A3

WES MOORE VISITS VT CAMPUS FOR LECTURE Common book author speaks at Virginia Tech. page A3

COURTESY OF VT NEWS Thanassis Rikakis (LEFT) and Cyril Clarke (RIGHT)

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PAGE A2 November 7, 2017

opinions

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your views [letter to the editor]

Campus protests have social, eduational merit

D

ear Collegiate Times editor, I think that it can be agreed that times in the United States are difficult. Regardless of your political beliefs, I hope the Collegiate Times staff can agree that police violence, white supremacy, gun violence, Islamophobia and other instances of racism are not welcome in the United States. And yet these issues are present everywhere I turn. It is scary to me and it is scary to my peers. Why then, would you publish an article encouraging students to essentially sit down and shut up? Is the “college experience” not gaining information, creating opinions and preparing to enter the “real world” as informed and active citizens? This rhetoric, this “opinion,” is harmful. It promotes white privilege and political apathy, something that is already dangerous in our society. The article should be taken down. Virginia Tech is not removed from issues of racism. Ignoring issues at our school will not make them go away. I want all of my peers in colleges across the country to feel welcome at their

schools, and to seek information and be informed. I want everyone to have their own unique college experience, not one that a white man from a northern Virginia suburb pushes on us.

Editor’s Note: The Collegiate Times understands the concerns of community members regarding Justin Redman’s Oct. 25 column, “Growing activist culture at Virginia Tech undermines college experience.” We direct readers to the Aug. 12 staff editorial, “Why do we publish things we hate?”

In general, the CT does not censor pieces in their entirety unless the story is not factual, defamatory or libelous or could reasonably be expected to cause harm to students. While some of us may not agree with Redman’s opinion, the decision to publish the piece is in line with editorial policy.

SAVANNAH LEEAH • Blacksburg, Virginia

AKRON BEACON JOURNAL / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE A Cleveland Browns fan holds up a sign supporting the victims of the Las Vegas shooting in the fourth quarter on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.

column

Social media usage shows fleeting nature of American compassion toward tragedy

N

ational events have increasi ngly ga i ned more and more of the American people’s attention — and then lost it almost immediately. In a New York Times article, op-ed contributor Steve Israel criticized media consumers of reading articles or watching news programs, wishing for relief or action, then proceeding to move along with their lives. How are people able to acknowledge an issue or tragedy only to carry on with their daily duties and responsibilities?

It really is not their fault. I do not wish to be cliche and suggest that the reason for people’s short attention span for national tragedies is due to the increased use of technology because the cause stems from many roots.

The frequent nature of tragic events across the country is now easily known by the public due to the rise of technological communication through social media platforms. The instantaneous sharing of information has subsequently allowed knowledge of current events to skyrocket.

Awareness, however, does not directly correlate with

taking action. We seemingly live in a media junkie era.

We crave information, we receive information, then we move onto the next story for our next hit.

I am convinced that the frequency of national tragedies and their subsequent broadcasting on media platforms — in conjunction with the surface level coverage they receive — has consequently desensitized the American public from connecting their reactions to news to standing up and taking action. We all wonder why nothing significant is being done to change gun laws: Are we voting?

Are we adequately informed on who we are voting for?

The American people, although empathetic toward American losses as they vow to pray for the families of victims, have become lazy in catalyzing actual change.

I hate to break it to all the people who jump on the Twitter hashtags that regularly gain momentum after tragedy strikes, but praying does not accomplish anything in the physical world. I do not even believe that most of the people who tweet prayers

even pray for the cause they are spreading awareness of, thus indicating a huge hypocrisy. Our acknowledgement and then pick up and move on mentality has evoked insincere empathy and short-lived compassion within the American public.

Tragedies have, in the past, acted as a unifying force, but that is no longer the case — overconsumption of technology has stimulated self-serving and superficial values throughout younger generations.

The shooting in Las Vegas, killing 58 and wounding 489 people, is the most recent event reiterating this country’s habit of inaction. Conversations on gun laws have resurfaced on both sides of the political spectrum; however, it is all talk as usual. No legislative change will be enacted until the American people look up from their screens and address the issues by informing themselves on their elected officials, contacting them and pushing for political action.

CELESTE ROGERS • opinions contributor • freshman/metereology

LOREN SKINKER / COLLEGIATE TIMES Marketing, graphic design and other related majors learn new advertising techniques during a workshop in Henderson Hall, Feb. 12, 2016.

column

Professors’ use of profanity is unprofessional, detracts from learning environment

I

have always believed — and still do — that a college education is supposed to improve my knowledge, critical thinking and literary skills as a citizen of the world.

Professors play an important role in shaping this belief, and their expertise in the knowledge being relayed to students should be done so in a respectable manner that still engages their attention.

The most baleful aspect of my education is the use of profanity by my instructors.

The use of profanity, to me, illustrates that my instructors do not perceive students as more intelligent than to use words that spoil verbal language. I am not being hypocritical; nearly everyone in the modern world has a tendency to use foul language daily. It’s unavoidable in a society becoming grounded in the use of evolving media and communication. The culture of our society is unquestionably changing. The use of social media technology for communication is commonplace, and nearly 7 in 10 Americans use these platforms.

The perfunctory use of social media and communication is resulting in the absentmindedness of using profane language; it is, simply, becoming impromptu. But, there are times when it is considered appropriate, and times when it is not. I do not deem my classroom settings to be

an appropriate time to use words that are demeaning to blossoming intelligence and irksome to the ear.

As a student paying an exorbitant amount of money to attend a higher institution, I prefer to be respected by my instructor, as I respect them. I do not have rude tendencies: I don’t gather my belongings prior to the end of class — even when the discussion extends past the class dismissal time — I don’t look at my phone in class and I don’t explore the internet on my laptop when my instructor is contributing their time to me. I use my own finances for the privilege of attending school, and I don’t want to waste valuable time. I also have no desire to listen to lectures being taught in an offensive manner.

I am aware that my instructors have the liberty to use language that they wish, but that doesn’t mean I agree with their choice to use it. My exception to the use of profanity in the classroom is when the language is used to demonstrate a concept; for example, in my law class when learning about the First Amendment and speech laws. I find the use of abhorrent language in the classroom unnecessary when used in the context of civilized conversation.

Personally, I don’t find it humorous when offensive language is used as an attempt to provoke students.

I am here at college to learn

and expand my vocabulary for conversations that I hope to encounter in my professional career. How am I to cultivate these conversational skills if my mentors have no standard for me to rise above?

M o r e ov e r, it is displeasing — and in some instances embarrassing — when students speak to instructors using foul language, as if no respect is present for their prestige.

Do students not perceive instructors to be more deserving of respect than to speak to them in the same manner that they would with their acquaintances?

Regardless of the atmosphere a professor creates in the class, profanity should not be thrown around the classroom so nonchalantly.

Unfortunately, it no longer surprises me when I am exposed to vulgar language in class within the first few weeks of a new semester. I wish it was not this way, because listening and lea r ning become less gratifying when I am dismayed. I will still observe and procure mater ial with the utmost respect toward my instructors. But I suppose that as socially acceptable standards wane, so do the standards that once compelled individuals to broaden their literacy.

EMILY GEORGE • regular columnist • senior/multimedia journalism

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November 7, 2017 PAGE A3

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Common book author Wes Moore PROVOST: Friction speaks about making a difference exposed by vote In the lecture held Nov. 2 in the Burruss Hall auditorium, Moore discussed a range of topics with students from college majors to making a difference.

EMILY CARTER news staff writer

On Thursday, Nov. 2, Wes Moore, the author of the common book “The Other Wes Moore,” visited Virginia Tech.

“The Other Wes Moore” is about two men with the same name and similar upbringings, and their different journeys through life. One Wes Moore is spending the rest of his life

behind bars, while the author of the book graduated from Johns Hopkins University, was a Rhodes Scholar and became the CEO of a philanthropic company.

The night started off with a few welcoming remarks made

by Dr. Menah Pratt-Clarke, vice president for strategic affairs. She read her favorite quote from “The Other Wes Moore”and shared why she connected with the book.

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES Wes Moore borrows a copy of the book from Menah Pratt-Clarke to talk about the aspects of the book and story behind the title, Nov. 2, 2017.

“About 20 years or so (ago), I had the honor and privilege of teaching English and speech classes at the men’s and women’s maximum and minimum-security prisons in Nashville, Tennessee. The times I spent behind bars with incarcerated men and women had a permanent impact on my life. During class with them, I was incarcerated with them, but after class I was free,” Pratt-Clarke said. “Part of them and yet not apart. I had (developed) tremendous empathy for that population and their journey.”

Wes Moore was introduced by Richard Randolph, a building construction and real estate major.

First, Wes Moore spoke about the common book and the effect he wanted his book to have on his readers.

Moore also spoke about how the book was more than just a story about two boys with the same name growing up in Baltimore, Maryland.

“The thing I wanted people to understand about these stories, and about the stories of these two boys, is that it’s not about these two boys. The conversation we wanted this to have in your mandatory reading was understanding how thin that line was in all of our lives and how thin that difference is between where you’re at and where someone

CONGRATULATIONS

DEAN HENRY N. BUTLER on your induction into the Virginia Tech College of Science Hall of Distinction for 2017 PhD Economics, Virginia Tech, 1982 MA Economics, Virginia Tech, 1979

Dean Butler invites any Hokies interested in law school for lunch and a presentation on Friday, November 10 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Newman Library multipurpose room. No RSVP necessary.

For additional information, contact the Antonin Scalia Law School Office of Admissions: 703-993-8010 or lawadmit@gmu.edu.

ANTO NIN S C ALIA

LAW SCHOOL

who came up around you with you, and the difference in where they are. And then oftentimes, it’s the smallest things at times we aren’t even responsible for that make us different,” Moore said.

Moore also touched on how opportunities can shape a person’s future but they are hard to come by.

“I’m a big believer that potential in our country is limitless but opportunity is not,” Moore said.

Moore spoke about his experience in militar y school and his decision to join the military. Moore also mentioned how important the question of “what’s your major?” is in college, but in the real world, it doesn’t really matter.

“Every conversation starts with ‘what’s your major?’ and that (controls) how the conversation goes. … It’s interesting because I got asked that question so many times that I started thinking that would be the most important question I would ever be asked in my life.

I felt the way people related to me was simply based on that answer until I realized that it’s not. That question is completely ephemeral,” Moore said.

Moore also spoke about the importance of making a difference.

“If you’re not going to do

from page A1

faculty and found similar complaints.

Rikakis has reacted to some of the claims of dissatisfaction with memos addressed to administrators and faculty. According to the Roanoke Times, which obtained several of the memos, the written statements included Rikakis’ intentions to “clarify the promotion and tenure process and to specify outcomes that are possible throughout that process,” and called for a need to improve “communication and collaboration with faculty,” Rikakis wrote.

Virginia Tech President Tim Sands expressed gratitude to Rikakis in the Oct. 30 press release.

“Thanassis suggested and I agreed that now is the time to make a change it to be selfless, then do it to be selfish. If you’re not going to do it because it’s the right thing to do, then do it because it makes your life better.

Because the best way to live in a community that is safe and prosperous is to make sure everybody in that community feels safe and prosperous,” Moore said.

After Moore’s presentation, he answered a few questions from students.

Moore answered questions about helping children in

in leadership as we transition fully to planning and implementation. His role was essential to this process and I am deeply grateful for his many contributions to Virginia Tech,” Sands said.

Sands and Clarke will look to repair administration-faculty relationships following the friction exposed by the weighing of the no-confidence vote and the surveys.

“In Cyril, we have a dedicated and inspirational leader — one with broad knowledge of Virginia Tech. Not only is he deeply committed to our shared vision, but he also has a unique understanding of the environment and culture we must navigate,” Sands said.

@Meg_Connors7

underprivileged areas and educational reform.

“We have to find ways to systematically every day get better. And the truth is we have a long way to go, but we also have to be very clear about the fact that we have made very real progress and that’s one of the things that gives us hope,” Moore said.

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PAGE A4 November 7, 2017

editor@collegiatetimes.com

KAINE: Democratic politicians team up to encourage voting from page A1

to the country illegally as children, at Virginia Tech and Radford University.

“We are seeing that now too. As the Dreamers at Virginia Tech and Radford University are questioning what their legal statuses are going to be going forward. Are we going to protect our fellow students who are really feeling this day-to-day crisis, or are we going to just let that be somebody else’s problem?”

Hurst said.

Kaine spoke to the crowd about the Democratic ticket, which includes Ralph Northam for governor, Justin Fairfax for lieutenant governor and Mark Herring for attorney general.

Kaine believes Hurst is motivated to serve the community better after

experiencing the terrible tragedy that happened to him two years ago. Hurst’s girlfriend, Alison Parker, was shot and killed on live TV. “Not ever ybody in politics is motivated by the right things. They may want it because of the title.

They may want it to build a resume. They may want it because it’s cool,” Kaine said. “(Hurst) is motivated because he wants to reduce the chance that others might go through experiences like he’s been through.”

According to Prateek Mish ra, a sophomore studying computer science who is also a political fellow for the Ralph Northam campaign, about 150 people attended the Get Out the Vote event. While most of the participants were Virginia Tech students, some of the participants

were also from Radford University.

“It’s wonderful. We had a whole lecture room at Surge full of college students who are fired up and ready to help get out the vote, ready to vote, and to have Tim Kaine, who was on the presidential ticket last year, come here to the campus of Virginia Tech to talk to college students, it’s amazing,” Hurst said.

Chloe Dawson, a junior majoring in human nutrition, foods, and exercise, who is a campus organizer for the Hurst campaign, described the purpose of the event as to energize voters in the Virginia Tech and Radford communities.

“Our big push is the Get Out the Vote weekend,” Dawson said, “so we are trying to get people to volunteer and to encourage their friends to vote and encourage them to vote for

study break

KAILA NATHANIEL / COLLEGIATE TIMES Chris Hurst, the Democratic candidate for 12th District Delegate, speaks at a Get Out the Vote event, Nov. 3, 2017.

themselves.”

Kaine described interacting with students and volunteers as his favorite part of the campaign.

“I was in four or five different com munities

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

DOWN 1 “Kevin Can Wait” network 2 Lubricates 3 Bibliography list shortener: Abbr.

4 Reduce monetarily 5 Denali National Park state 6 Price-fixing syndicate 7 Against 8 Fam. tree member 9 NFL player selection events 10 Give off 11 GI on the run 12 Curly salon job 13 Before, in verse 21 Analyze grammatically 22 One-named “We R Who We R” singer 25 Offensive to some, for short 26 Embarrass 27 “Pagliacci” clown 28 Treaty of __: War of 1812 ender 29 “La Cage __ Folles” 30 Fails to include

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Basketball Season

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

11/7/17

By Andrew Sand

campaigning, it’s days like today.”

Today’s Birthday Horoscope (Nov. 7): Expand your personal capacities and skills this year (and next). There’s money to be made, with disciplined efforts. Focus on communications, marketing and networking this winter, as professional hurdles lead to domestic flowering.

Summer explorations inspire changes at home and career growth. Pursue passion.

FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 7, 2017

ACROSS 1 Like dorms for both men and women 5 Military sch.

9 Fall in folds 14 Chomp 15 Swimmer’s path 16 More cold and wet, weatherwise 17 Serb or Croat 18 “Liberal” pursuits 19 Can’t stop loving 20 Three Stooges movie, e.g.

23 Michigan or Mead 24 Update from a pilot, for short 25 Induction cooktop alternative 33 Double-reed woodwinds 34 “What did you say?”

35 Key with one sharp: Abbr.

36 Light brown 37 Driver’s license test 41 Post-OR area 42 Three-pronged Greek letters 44 Buffet table coffee server 45 River mammal 47 Fluffy dessert 51 Eisenhower’s nickname 52 Hip ’60s Brits 53 Eco-friendly request ... and a hint to sorting out the aptly circled letters 59 Vonnegut literary device 60 Enterprise captain born 3/22/2233 61 Puts on TV 63 Low card 64 Lawn border 65 Finger or toe part 66 Chose (to) 67 Evidence of ownership 68 Community org. known by its first letter

meeting with students, meeting with local volunteers. That’s my favorite part of campaigning,” Kaine said. “I like the job in the Senate. I like working on big policy issues, but

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forward turnover Hokies Williams

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31 Bad habits 32 Accustom (to) 38 Winter holidays 39 __ of Good Feelings 40 In a funk 43 Bill Nye’s field 46 Florence’s region 48 Approved 49 Come to light 50 Made fun of 53 Practice for the GMAT, e.g.

11/7/17

54 Ill-mannered sort 55 Struggled to make, with “out” 56 Taxi trip 57 Neeson of “Kinsey” 58 Idle of Monty Python 59 Wedding vow words 62 Patty Hearst’s abductors: Abbr.

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November 7, 2017

Basketball Preview “STRANGER THINGS” Season two arrived just in time for Halloween, but left its audience with questions. page B3

Meet the men STEPHEN NEWMAN sports staff writer

Virginia Tech’s exhibition matchup against South Carolina is in the books, meaning the season opener is almost here. Here are some notes to know about each player on the Hokies’ roster for 2017–18 Point guards Justin Robinson (junior) Robinson was Tech’s starting point guard in every game he suited up for last season. He uses his above average speed to attack defenses for layups or to kick the ball out to open shooters.

He averaged 10.4 points and a team-high 4.8 assists per game last season.

Devin Wilson (redshirt-senior) The starting point guard role once belonged to Wilson, but he began to lose time to Robinson and now-graduated Seth Allen in 2015–16.

He missed the beginning of last season, opting to play football. When he did return to the team, he was redshirted. Wilson has averaged 5.9 points and 3.7 assists per game in his career.

Wabissa Bede (freshman) Bede is a four-star recr uit f rom Cushing Academy in North Andover, Massachusetts. He was the No. 17 rated point guard and No. 73 overall recruit in his class, according to ESPN. He is expected to factor into Buzz Williams’ rotation sooner rather than later.

Ty r i e Jackson (redshirt-freshman) Jackson sat out last season as a redshirt. As a high school senior at Tift County (Georgia), he averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals per game.

Justin Ammerman (junior) Ammerman joined the team as a walk-on during the offseason after serving as the team manager last season. He almost certainly won’t see much playing time this year, but at least he’ll get to live out his dream of being a college basketball player.

Wings Chris Clarke (junior) Clarke is the team’s top returner in points (11.4), rebounds (7.3) and steals (1.3) per game. The 6-foot-6 210 pound athlete can play just about any position on the floor, and has frequently been asked to play bigger than his measurables. However, he is recovering from a torn left ACL that he suffered on Feb. 12 against Virginia, and no return date is set.

Ahmed Hill (redshirt-junior) Should Clarke miss time, Hill would pace the team in points (11.4) and rebounds (3.2) per game. He is also a better shooter, converting on 37 percent of his threepoint attempts and nearly 74 percent of his free throws last season. Hill is also the team’s next-best option among wing players in terms of navigating near the paint as a scorer, which is where Clarke does the bulk of his work.

Justin Bibbs (senior) One of the more veteran members of the team, Bibbs

has always been one of the premiere shooters for Virginia Tech during his career. Last season, he shot 43 percent from behind the arch and a career-high 75 percent from the charity stripe. He also offers versatility on the floor defensively.

Ty Outlaw (redshirt-senior) T he jun ior col lege transfer stepped into the starting lineup last season when Clarke went down, and instantly became the Hokies’ most lethal shooter.

He led the team in three-point percentage (48.7 percent) and free throw percentage (80 percent). Much like Clarke, though, he tore his ACL in July and will miss the entire season. It remains to be seen whether the NCAA will allow him to return for a sixth year of college eligibility down the road.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (freshman) Despite h is yout h, Alexander-Walker may be the x-factor for Virginia Tech.

ESPN grades the Ontario native as a five-star recruit, the No. 3 shooting guard and the No. 21 player in his class. He may or may not start immediately, but expect the star to be playing major minutes, even early in the season.

Bigs Kerry Blackshear Jr. (redshirt-sophomore) Replacing Zach LeDay is a tall task, but it will largely fall on the shoulders of Blackshear. The 6-foot-10 260 pound sophomore is more of a big man than even LeDay was. Blackshear redshirted last season with a leg injury, but averaged 6.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a true freshman, while playing less than 20 minutes per contest.

P.J. Horne (freshman) While not a true post player, Horne will likely be asked to play bigger than he is. He was teammates with Tyrie Jackson for three years at Tift County High School, and, in his one year there post-Jackson, he averaged 25.3 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Nick Fullard (redshirt-junior) Fullard sat out last season as a walk-on transfer from Division II Belmont Abbey.

He was awarded a scholarship this past September. Fullard may not be as polished as his counterparts, but he can be relied on to grab a few rebounds when called upon.

Much of the rotation is set, but some spots remain up for grabs, especially if Clarke misses an extended period.

Players will have a chance to stand out early in the season and earn themselves more playing time.

The Hokies will begin their regular season play at Cassell Coliseum against Detroit Mercy on Friday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m., as part of the 2K Classic.

@Stephen_Newman1

NEXT: GEORGIA TECH The football team looks to turn the page after its loss to Miami last week. page B2

ACC MEDIA DAY The men’s basketball team spoke at Media Day in Charlotte, North Carolina. page B2

Meet the women JORDAN HUTCHINSON sports editor

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES Justin Robinson (5) goes for a layup against UVA in John Paul Jones Arena, Feb. 1, 2017.

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies guard Chanette Hicks (12) attempts a layup in the Women’s NIT second round game, March 19, 2017.

In Kenny Brooks’ second year as head coach, Virginia Tech will have a new and improved women’s hoops team.

Guards Taylor Emery (junior) Emery comes to Virginia Tech from Gulf Coast State College, in Panama City, Florida. She was named the Spalding NJCAA Player of the Year in 2016-17.

Aisha Sheppard (freshman) A freshman guard from St. John’s Catholic High School in Alexandria, Virginia, Sheppard was on the All-USA Washington, D.C. First Team and the Gatorade Player of the Year for Washington, D.C. She was ranked the 34th best player in the country according to ESPN. Diandra DaRosa (senior) Played in 13 games last season, starting one, before being injured, DaRosa transferred from ASA College and led it to a NJCAA Division I National Championship. The senior will look to play a bigger role with the Hokies this season.

Kendyl Brooks (sophomore) The daughter of head coach Kenny Brooks, Kendyl played in 32 games last season and set the Virginia Tech freshman record for 3-pointers in a season. Brooks will be a key player in the Hokies’ rotation in the 2017–18 season.

Chanette Hicks (junior) Hicks played a massive role in the Hokies’ success last season. The sophomore led the ACC in steals and already holds the record for the most steals in program history. Hicks will start at point guard for Tech this season.

Kaela Kinder (sophomore) Kinder played as a role player for Virginia Tech last year and will seek a more expanded role with the loss of other starters from last season. The sophomore guard has a lot of experience in just one season at Virginia Tech.

Rachel Camp (redshirt-freshman)

C a mp playe d her freshman and sophomore seasons but redshirted last year. Camp will be a nice role player for Virginia Tech this season.

Forwards Celeste Akoro (freshman) A three-star recruit coming into Tech, Akoro played her high school ball at O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Illinois.

Regan Magarit y (redshirt-junior) The best player that Virginia Tech has on its roster, Magarity will look for her best season yet. The 6-foot-3 Swede averaged close to a double-double last season, with 13.5 points and 9.6 rebounds a game.

Erin Garner (redshirt-junior) Garner sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, after coming from FIU. She will bring size and physicality down in the paint. Garner will be a nice replacement for Sidney Cook, from last season.

Michelle Berry (redshirt-sophomore) Berry was a transfer as well, and she sat out last season after coming from CSU-Ful ler ton. Ber r y averaged 14.5 points and 9.1 rebounds a game and earned a spot on the All-Big West Freshman team.

Sierra Votaw (freshman) Votaw comes to Virginia Te ch f r om Ha r r el ls Christian High School, in Harrells, North Carolina.

She was an All-Conference and All-State Player of the Year in North Carolina.

Alexis Jean (junior) Played at Palm Beach State for the 2016 –17 season, Jean was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year, and a First-Team All-American. Jean will be a nice addition to the Hokies’ squad.

Erinn Brooks (junior) Brooks is a walk-onturned-scholarship player.

She is beloved by teammates and the Tech fan base, as she’s worked her way up to a role player for Virginia Tech.

@JHutchinsonVT

Senior Devin Wilson looks to lead The fifth-year hooper will be an integral part of the Virginia Tech men’s basketball team in the 2017 season.

ROBBY FLETCHER sports staff writer

Devin Wilson has not exactly had the most conventional college experience as an athlete. Even he’ll tell you that.

“My career has been fun,” Wilson said, “it’s been a lot of twists and turns that I couldn’t have predicted in a million years.”

After two seasons as the starting point guard for Virginia Tech in which he averaged 7.85 points per game and 4.5 assists per game, Wilson’s junior season saw a dip in minutes

and production due in part to an injury as well as the emergence of guards Seth Allen and Justin Robinson.

When it came time for his senior season to start, Wilson made the surprising decision to join the football team.

Wilson caught on with the Justin Fuente-led squad as a wide receiver, providing key depth for the team. He played in six games for the Hokies and caught two passes for 13 yards. “(Football) made me realize a lot about myself, and mentally I think that the extra year has grown me

more mentally and made me more of a leader,” Wilson said.

Because of Wilson’s commitment to football, he didn’t dress for the basketball team until Tech matched up with Duke, Tech’s first conference matchup and its 13th game of the season. Regardless, Wilson didn’t get any minutes and ultimately took a redshirt for the season.

This year, Wilson decided to make the switch back to exclusively basketball as the Hokies look to build off arguably their best season in 10 years.

“Not being able to be out there with those guys last year kind of hurt. The only thing I could do was cheer from the sideline as best I could,” Wilson said.

Now with Wilson back, that makes five seniors for Virginia Tech that can provide much needed leadership to a team with three incoming freshmen that are expected to see some key minutes in conference play.

Wilson believes that the team’s veterans are positive examples and provide some much-needed leadership. see WILSON / page B2

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Looking ahead to the game RECAP: ‘Canes victorious against the Yellow Jackets from page A1

Virginia Tech will travel to Atlanta to take on the Yellow Jackets in another ACC Coastal Divison matchup.

RYAN WILSON sports staff writer

A demoralizing and humbling loss on the road to the 10th-ranked Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night has officially eliminated the Virginia Tech Hokies from the race for the Coastal Division crown. Now, they must focus on a team that has beaten them two out of their last three meetings, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech will enter the game at 4–4, fresh off of a loss to the only other team with a chance to win the ACC Coastal, the Virginia Cavaliers. Since Paul Johnson took over as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach in 2008, the triple option has been a thorn in Virginia Tech’s side.

Although its record is 6–3 against Johnson, the defense has consistently struggled to stop the running attack.

This year, Georgia Tech has inserted junior quarterback TaQuon Marshall into its option scheme. He has been one of the most efficient triple option quarterbacks in the Paul Johnson era, rushing for 870 yards and 14 touchdowns through only eight games.

Marshall is also a fairly good passer for their offense, especially when he finds receiver Ricky Jeune, who has 380 yards receiving on 20 catches.

It’s not just Marshall who is running very well for the Jackets, either. As a team, Georgia Tech is mustering up 331.9 rushing yards per game, which is second best in the FBS only to Navy.

Herndon for a 43-yard touchdown pass down the sideline during the third quarter as Miami extended its lead back to 11 points.

As the second half progressed, the Tech offense failed to effectively move the ball down field and create scoring chances. Despite intercepting Rosier three times and doing an efficient job of slowing down the Miami offense, the Hokies ultimately allowed 429 total yards against Miami.

Mistakes late in the game

cost the Hokies any chance of making a late comeback.

Jackson was stripped by Jonathan Garvin with just under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Jackson appeared to injure his finger on the play but returned on the next offensive drive.

The Hurricanes would go on to subdue any late rally from the Hokies and seal a 28–10 victory.

Tech came into this matchup ranked 13th in the College Football Playoff rankings, but it will now look to work its way back up the polls after a loss this

week.

The Hokies were without offensive tackle Yosuah Nijman, receiver CJ Carroll and running back Steven Peoples due to injury.

Tech will travel to Atlanta next week to face off against ACC Coastal opponent Georgia Tech.

The Hurricanes will have a monumental matchup against Notre Dame in Miami next weekend.

@CTSportsTalk

CATIE CARRERAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES Safety Kyshoen Jarrett (34) and defensive end Dadi Nicolas (90) sack Justin Thomas (5), Sept. 20, 2014.

In the Hokies’ loss to Miami, quarterback Josh Jackson had by far his worst game of the season, throwing for under 200 yards and turning the ball over three times. Since Georgia Tech’s run-heavy offense has the potential to control the game clock, the young quarterback must protect the ball against the Yellow Jackets and make the most out of his offensive possessions.

A key for Virginia Tech’s offense is to finally get the running game going, as Georgia Tech gives up an average of 127.4 rushing yards per game. If the Hokies run the ball well and control the time of possession, they will have a great chance to win the game.

Last year’s meeting was a shocking dud from Justin Fuente’s Hokies. They came in with the mindset of, “We win this game, and the Coastal Division is ours.” Defensive coordinator Bud Foster did not coach his best game

against the Jackets last year, either, giving up 309 rushing yards. The Hokies also turned the ball over four times en route to a 30–20 defeat.

With the eliminating loss to Miami, what is there to play for? Well, under Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech was known for having consecutive 10-win seasons, which is what Fuente is looking to do for the second time in just as many years as the Hokies’ head coach.

Having secured a 25th consecutive bowl appearance, the team can focus on winning the final three games of the season, all in rivalry games against teams who, historically, have given the Hokies fits. It starts with defeating the triple option on the road in Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday. The game is slated to kick off at 12:20 pm on ACC Network Extra.

@RCWilson97

BILLY CLARKE / COLLEGIATE TIMES Associate head coach Bud Foster stands concerned next to assistant head coach Galen Scott on Worsham Field, Oct. 1, 2017.

Men’s basketball makes goals known at Media Day

The Hokie men’s squad discussed plans for another great season at the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, North Carolina.

CHASE PARKER assistant sports editor

ACC Media Day has come and gone, signaling just how close we are to the start of the upcoming basketball season. From UNC’s most recent national title run to the Louisville controversy, there was no shortage of topics up for discussion at the event.

When it came to Virginia Tech, the talk of the day was simple: making it back to the NCAA tournament.

“I think we want to get back there more for ourselves than to just be that team that went back to

back,” said guard Devin Wilson. “But we’re really looking to be that team that just started a trend of teams that have gone there for a while, so we want this to keep happening for the next couple of years.”

Making it to backto-back NCAA tournaments is something that the Hokies haven’t done in 31 years — and that’s something that Tech head coach Buzz Williams makes sure the players know. When asked about the last time the Hokies made it to the tournament in consecutive years, the players responded with 1985–1986 without

hesitation.

“We talked about it the other day as a team. We talked about, ‘can we be that team that’s been to back-tobacks,’ and then we show the banners of ’85–’86.

We’re kind of challenging ourselves to be another team to do that,” Wilson said.

Willia ms embedded those years into the minds of each Hokie player one morning before practice, emphasizing just how difficult the task can be. The head coach can preach from experience, as he knows exactly what it takes to make it to consecutive tournaments: He took the Golden

Eagles to the big dance five times during his tenure at Marquette.

“You have to have really good players. And you have to have many really good players,” Williams said.

“And I think it’s harder to be in the large team than most people expect. I think there’s a lot of variables, health being one of them and talent being one of them.”

But just making it back to the big dance isn’t enough.

Last season, the Hokies were knocked out in the first round by a much more experienced Wisconsin team.

This time around, they have their goals set higher.

“Of course, we want to make it back to the tournament,” said senior guard Justin Bibbs. “But this time we don’t want to just lose one game, we want to win a couple more. Making it to the Sweet 16 would be nice.”

Although it was just one game, the experience that the Hokies gained from making it into “March Madness” last season could be the difference in how far the team goes this year.

“It was everything,” Wilson explained. “To be able to see a team that was there for years on years in Wisconsin, they had really experienced guys, and you

could see the difference on how they approached the game and how it was different from us. Obviously, we didn’t come out with the win, but having guys that were there last year, I think it’s going to be really beneficial for us.”

The Hokies’ journey to the tournament starts on Nov. 10, as the team will welcome in Detroit for the season opener in Cassell Coliseum.

@ChaseParker_VT

WILSON: Fifth-year leader from page B1

“I think the way our culture is built is we show it so every single day so we have guys like Bibbs or J-Rob who come in and we go to work it’s simple as that,” Wilson said. “We come in ready to practice, we come in ready to watch film, we take a very business and professional-like approach to it, and I think that the young guys see that, and they try to reflect that back.”

What sets Wilson apart from the other seniors is his experience of being at the BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES forefront of Virginia Tech’s Virginia Tech guard Devin Wilson (11) drives toward the basket defended by Clemson gradual rise to ACC releguard Jordan Roper. Wilson played a huge role for the Hokies defensively in the win. vance. Having played a year

under James Johnson in which Tech finished dead last in the ACC with a 2–16 record in the conference and a 9–22 record overall, and also under Buzz Williams in his first season with Virginia Tech where the team only improved to 11–22 overall and again finished last in the ACC, Wilson knows better than anyone how hard it is to be a part of a team’s rebuild.

“It feels great, just being able to be a part of something that is building is a great feeling,” he said when asked about the team’s enthusiasm for the upcoming season.

Though Wilson isn’t expected to start or get major

minutes this season with Justin Robinson and Justin Bibbs leading the way as well as the arrival of freshmen Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Wabissa Bede, what he brings to the table for this Hokies team is the type of leadership and experience on the bench that coaches dream of.

“I might not be the reason, I might not be the main factor, but I was a part of it, and I’d like to think that maybe my leadership or the way I approach every single day has been a big part to how we’ve built,” he said.

@CTSportsTalk

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‘Stranger Things’ season 2 leaves audience wondering Season two of “Stranger Things” borders on too binge-worthy, leaving its audience with questions after the release.

JOHN BATTISTON assistant lifestyles editor

On Friday, Oct. 27, the sophomore season of “Stranger Things,” 2016’s breakout television smash, finally launched on Netflix.

And man, is it wonderful.

Good thing too, because this season — billed curiously as “Stranger Things 2” — had a lot to live up to.

The first season, released right smack in the middle of last summer, came out of nowhere to cement itself as one of the year’s most exciting new shows. As a seamless, cinema-quality blend of sci-fi, mystery, horror and ‘80s nostalgia, it boasted enough intrigue to keep everyone watching through it again and again (four times since its premiere, if you’re me).

It took a little while for “Stranger Things” to accrue the sizeable audience it enjoys today, so you may have joined the fandom a few months after the show hit the web. But if you (like me) binged it within days of its debut, you know how grueling these 15 months of waiting have been. And if you’ve already finished, you know how worth it that wait was.

But like any great mystery story, “Stranger Things 2” left us with some questions — some intentional, others as a result of the season’s few, but discernible, flaws.

This season deserves better than a run-of-the-mill review I’m used to writing, so let’s talk about the seven questions we’re hoping season three will answer.

(Caution: I’m about to spoil the pants off this show, so if you have yet to finish, turn back now!)

1. How will we get back to the Upside Down?

There’s no doubt about it: The Upside Down is still out there.

The closing shot of the finale shows us that, while everything in our world may be hunky-dory, the ominous Shadow Monster that possessed Will for the majority of this season is still kicking in its domain, and will surely be the source of some major future conflict. But with Eleven (sorry — Jane) having shut the gate securely and with Hawkins Lab shut down for good, how the Upside Down and its evils will manage to torment our heroes again remains a mystery, one I’ll be theorizing about endlessly for the next year or so.

2. How many of Eleven’s siblings are out there?

From the get-go, we knew that Eleven wasn’t the only one of her kind; that much is inferred merely from her name. But with everything that went down during the first season, we didn’t really have time to think about it.

The opening scene of this season showed us that one of El’s “sisters,” Eight, is at large as a full-time criminal, abusing her abilities to exact revenge against those even marginally responsible for her plight. And judging

by the format of El’s and Eight’s branding (“011” and “008”), there could have been hundreds of them at one point.

So however many there were, did they manage to escape the Hawkins Lab too, or are they still living as some of the government’s darkest secrets … if they’re even still alive at all?

3. What do we think about … that episode?

The season’s seventh chapter, “The Lost Sister,” is the show’s only episode so far that can really be called “divisive;” David Griffin of IGN called it the season’s finest hour, while GQ’s Tom Philip thinks you’re better off skipping it altogether. I personally still don’t know what to think.

While Eleven’s standalone episode gave her something interesting to do for the first time in a while, its events have little to no impact on the primary storyline, feeling more like the setup for a potential spin-off series about Eight and her gang’s exploits.

And though Eight herself is certainly a candidate for some major screen time in the future (I mean, her powers are pretty freaking cool), her traveling band of ne’er-do-wells hardly make for more than irritating background noise.

Will the events of “The Lost Sister” carry some actual weight in the show’s future, or will it end up the mere “throwaway episode” many believe it to be? I guess we’ll have to be patient to find out.

4. What did we ever do to deserve Steve Harrington?

The fact that Steve Harrington is this season’s standout cha racter is probably the biggest spoiler here. That’s right — Steve sex-crazed douchebag jock petty vandal Harrington.

When we last saw him, Steve had admittedly redeemed himself a bit by telling off his good-fornothing friends, replacing Jonathan’s camera and helping kick the snot out of the Demogorgon. But the fact that Nancy still ended up with him instead of Jonathan made him fun to keep hating.

This season, he did a complete 180. Not only did he dedicate the majority of his screen time to fighting evil rather than chasing tail, but he was also a legitimate caretaker to many at his side, especially the show’s pubescent protagonists (his friendship with Dustin is the TV pairing we never knew we needed). Here’s hoping we get as much time with Steve as possible in seasons to come.

5. Why should we even care about Nancy and Jonathan?

This might be my biggest point of contention with “Stranger Things 2.” During the gap between seasons, we were all asking the same thing: “Will Nancy ever get together with Jonathan?”

We finally got the answer we were hoping for, not

knowing how quickly we would come to regret our wishes.

Though there was a definite spark between Nancy and Jonathan in the first season, it seems the writers were a little too eager to turn it into a flame. The result feels horribly forced (their first night together is spurred by the innuendos of a grotty conspiracy theorist), contributes nothing to the show’s plot and is totally out of line with either character’s development.

The couple’s formation should have been saved for much later in the show to keep the sexual tension developing, but all we can do now is mourn what could have been a great continuing storyline.

6. Why couldn’t we have grown up in the ‘80s?

Yes, I realize the decade came with its challenges, but you can’t deny that the show’s representation of adolescence in the Reagan era is impeccable.

The young actors playing our increasingly angsty heroes absolutely shine. The art direction gorgeously replicates the decade’s environment at its glitziest and its grimiest, the cinematography giving full-bodied life to an outrageously colorful time. The soundtrack is perfectly curated, carrying us through the story’s many stages of tension, whimsy, young love and heartbreak on the backs of MTV regulars without — ahem — missing a beat.

This isn’t really a pressing question; I just wanted to take a moment to appreciate the incredible production values of “Stranger Things.”

More, please.

7. When is season three coming?

I don’t know about you, but I’m already in the early stages of “Stranger Things” withdrawal. Another yearplus-long wait to see our friends in Hawkins again doesn’t sound ideal, but that’s almost certainly what we’re in for.

Season three is, of course, 100 percent on its way. A recent Rotten Tomatoes interview with Matt and Ross Duffer (the show’s twin creators) makes it clear that a new cluster of episodes has been given a ton of thought and effort … just not a release date.

So find some ways to make the most of your time spent waiting — watch through the season again to look for things you might’ve missed first go-round, or try out the ridiculously fun (and free!)

“Stranger Things” arcadestyle mobile game for more sci-fi excitement.

@CollegiateTimes

COURTESY OF NETFLIX “Stranger Things 2” is now streaming on Netflix.

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From lamps to ladles: Getting around Free & For Sale collegiatetimes.com/lifestyles

This Facebook page is useful, but it can also be overwhelming. But getting what you’re looking for doesn’t have to be.

GRETCHEN KERNBACH

lifestyles staff writer

With Facebook comes a plethora of activities: tagging your friends in memes, stalking that one person you briefly met at a party, interacting with your friends’ parents and scrolling through the Free & For Sale page. Not part of the page? Are you even in college?

The Free & For Sale page is an open group on Facebook under Virginia Tech. That means anyone can join, and the 23,000 members are VT students, alums or surrounding community members.

Therefore, you’ll find quite the mix of personalities here.

With the mixture of people comes a va r iet y of items

available for purchase and kinds of posts. You have your classic students selling clothes and shoes, chairs and coffee tables, and sometimes you have that occasional kid who just posts something to complain about the price of st u d e nt football tickets.

All the

clutter and continous posts can be confusing. That is why you need to know what you’re looking for ahead of time and how to go about buying/selling th ings.

That’s what I am here for. And you’re lucky I have

nothing better to do than scroll through the Free & For Sale page for fun in my freetime.

First thing’s first, are you even a member of the page? Search the group in your Facebook search bar, simply typing in the name of the page. Then make sure whatever groups show up are part of Virginia Tech. Join.

Now that you are part of the cult (page), think about what you really want. Some new sneakers? A dress for date party? A fancy, used lamp?

To avoid all the hassle of moving your fingers less than an inch over and over by scrolling, use the search bar within the page.

However, if you’re one of those impulsive shoppers, I’d suggest you just start scrolling. You will honestly never be able to predict what you will find.

Some students offer to take portrait photos, promote a sublease or post about finding a Hokie Passport on the street. If you drop your phone into the toilet at a party, have no fear; someone is currently selling their old iPhone 5S at the moment.

And if you happen to read this article weeks from

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MATT JONES

now, it will probably still be for sale because it is a 5S. I mean, who would ever want it anyway?

There are even cars for sale from time to time on the page, which doesn’t make sense, because what college student has $4,000 lying

“

Now that you are part of the cult (page), think about what you really want. Some new sneakers? A dress for a date party?”

around? (May I remind you, people in the surrounding community are also a part of this page.)

Looking for a snazzy umbrella hat? It’s on the page. Looking for a rice cooker? It’s on the page.

Artificial plant? Vintage fruit bowl? All on the page.

Now, when it comes to purchasing said vintage fruit bowl, there are a few ways you can go about it.

You can comment on the post and write some sort of sentence that lets the seller know you’re interested. Say, maybe, “I’m interested.”

Who knows.

Or you can take the extra step and message the seller directly, if you’re not completely lazy and useless to the world. It simply

involves pressing the button that reads, “Message Seller.”

It doesn’t get more straightforward than that.

The page even writes out the message for you. You have four choices: “I’m interested in this item,” “Is this item still available,” “What condition is this item in” and “Do you deliver?” I really don’t know what else anyone would have to say to a seller, but if you think of something you’ll have to type it out yourself. It’s really hard work, I know.

Now you wait for the response. And please do your best to not harass the seller.

On the other hand, if you want to sell something, it is equally as easy. You go to the discussion page and click “Sell Something.” Just fill in the blanks from there.

It is very straightforward and to the point; a hamster could do it.

I’d recommend adding pictures and a description of the object(s) you’re selling.

Give as much information as possible.

The Free & For Sale page is a beautiful thing; don’t ruin it for everyone. Stay true to your word, pay in full and don’t be a fraud.

Keep scrolling, Hokies.

@GretchtheCatch

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