Nov. 28, 2017 by The Collegiate Times

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November 28, 2017

COLLEGIATETIMES

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

Former cadet sentenced in shooting Wahoo-what? Hokies win 10–0 of parents, brother in Chesapeake The Commonwealth Cup stays in Zachary Toothman, a former Virginia Tech student and Navy ROTC cadet, was sentenced to multiple life sentences for murder and attempted murder. MATT JONES editor in chief

A former Navy ROTC cadet has been sentenced in the murders of his father and brother and attempted murder of his mother at their home in Great Bridge, Virginia, in August 2016. Zachary Toothman, 21, was sentenced on Nov. 20 in Chesapeake Circuit Court to the maximum — two life sentences in addition to 23 years. He plead guilty to the charges in June, according to the Virginian-Pilot. Previously, Toothman

was a computational modeling and data analytics major at Virginia Tech. In 2014, he had been one of the cadets selected to receive the flags at a football game against Western Michigan University, an honor for Corps of Cadets members. However, Tooth ma n had increasingly struggled academically at Tech, failing to meet the minimum GPA to stay in school. He was put on academic probation before being suspended in May 2016. According to court filings by the prosecution, Toothman

acknowledged in emails to Navy ROTC officials that he did not tell his parents about the suspension. On Aug. 7, 2016, Toothman’s family had been preparing for his return to Tech. Toothman had just gone upstairs, where his brother Matthew, 17, was playing video games, to get his laptop, according to prosecutors. His parents, Susie and Mike Toothman, were downstairs when they heard a “loud pop.” Mike Toothman, who had MURDER / page 4

NATHAN LOPRETE assistant sports editor

ZACHARY TOOTHMAN

How to understand your Northern Virginia friends, one confusing word at a time With 44.6 percent of Virginia Tech students coming from Northern Virginia, it’s easy to feel on the outside of their vocabulary. This guide is here to help. BRANDON ALIMANESTIANO lifestyles staff writer

Let’s face the facts. Virginia Tech is basically Northern Virginia (or NOVA, as the kids are calling it these days). According to Virginia Tech Demographics, 44.6 percent of all undergraduate students at Virginia Tech are from Northern Virginia as of fall 2016. That means that for every 10 people you meet here, at least four and a half of them are from the NOVA area. In fact, there’s also a 44.6 percent chance that you’re from Northern Virginia and you aren’t going

to pay attention to this article. In fact, I’m from NOVA too. What are the odds? However, if you’re not from NOVA, you most likely need some preparation if you want to be able to understand anything. Being from a small town that’s pretty set apart from the rest of Northern Virginia, we never really participated in the culture or all of that strange dialect, but since I had friends from different high schools, I was fully aware of how confusing it would be to talk to one of them if not prepared. Just focus on the nouns. If you start talking to someone

from NOVA for the first time, be prepared to hear the largest amount of unnecessary adjectives in your entire life. Combined. There’s nothing to worry about if you encounter this. Last week, my friend called me with “Yo G, we got to go to Owens, I am DUMMY hungry right now G!” First of all, this is a friend who lives no more than 15 minutes from me back home, and I still have no clue what he was talking about. I’m pretty sure he just meant that he was hungry. Statements like these are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to slang. Let

Blacksburg for the 14th straight year after Virginia Tech blanks Virginia.

me provide a little background so that there is an understanding for why living in NOVA can be quite entertaining. Northern Virginia is home to the largest federal government concentration in the United States, with over 700,000 government employees (not including military) in the metro area, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means that most people living in NOVA, and their families, are not actually from NOVA. This is where it gets weird. What we’re dealing NOVA / page 5

Coming off of an emot iona l wi n over Pittsburgh last Saturday, the Virginia Tech football team headed to Charlottesville, Virginia, for the regular season finale. With questions sur rounding the team’s health and the fact that the Cavaliers are much improved, the Commonwealth Cup was in danger of not returning to Blacksburg for the 14th straight year. However, behind a lights-out defensive effort, the Hokies prevailed for a 10–0 win. Virginia Tech (9–3, 5–3 ACC) did get a couple of players back for the game against the Cavaliers. Running back Steven Peoples and wide receiver C.J. Carroll both suited up on Friday night. Peoples had not played since Oct. 28 against Duke, while Carroll had not played the last six weeks. Peoples ran for 74 yards on 22 carries and head coach Justin Fuente noticed the impact of having him back. “I thought it set up some other things for us,” he said. “When he is healthy, he gets out there and gets carries because he does run hard and tough.” The Hokies got Peoples involved early on as he had six carries in the opening quarter. The junior out of Galax gave the offense added depth, but Virginia

Tech couldn’t manufacture much offense early. The Virginia offense, on the other hand, produced just 39 yards in the first quarter. The Virginia Tech special teams unit also stepped up early with a partially blocked punt by No. 25 Jovonn Quillen. Virginia Tech broke through on the ensuing drive that spanned 11 plays and netted a 30-yard field goal by Brian Johnson. The Hokies kicker got the start in place of Joey Slye who is still dealing with a hamstring injury. Opportunities for the Virginia Tech offense to add to its lead were few and far between, and when the Hokies had chances, they missed. In the second quarter, the Hokies had the ball at the Virginia 42 when quarterback Josh Jackson was picked off by cornerback Juan Thornhill. Jackson talked about the mistake after the game. “That defensive coordinator does a thousand looks and he got me that time,” he said. Vi rg i n ia to ok t he momentum and put together its best drive of the first half. After driving down to the Hokies 23, the Hokies defense forced a field goal attempt, but Cavaliers kicker A.J. Mejia pushed the kick wide right and Virginia Tech led 3–0 at the half. Virginia got the ball RECAP / page 6

Taylor Swift is back with a brand-new reputation

With the release of “Reputation,” Taylor Swift has offically made a comeback, and she is letting this album speak for itself. MICHAELA KREITER lifestyles staff writer

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Hokies capture the Commonwealth Cup Virginia Tech extended its dominance over UVA. page 6

If you’re making a comeback, you better come back with a bang. Taylor Swift has always been an artist that the public has continued to keep up with. Whether it’s to bash her dating cycles, criticize her dance moves or rave about how she’s a major influence, Swift has been a consistent topic of conversation for many entertainment followers. Keeping a low profile leading up to the release of

LETTER TO THE EDITOR “I believe you, but there’s nothing I can do.” page 2

the album, Swift is certainly setting herself apart from other artists. The album, “Reputation,” is the perfect definition of a comeback. The songs on this album cover an array of topics — from her addressing road bumps throughout her career to her admiring her new relationship with British star Joe Alwyn. Swift has strategically planned out a masterpiece of an album, not only to stick up for herself but also to address what’s going on in her life. These are just a few of the songs from the album that

stood out to me as being very representative of the new sound Taylor Swift is experimenting with. “Look What You Made Me Do” “The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, ‘cause she’s dead.” This line, from the first single released from “Reputation,” has everyone questioning who the new Taylor is. Straying away from the traditional beats that REPUTATION / page 5

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We must ease stigma of sexual assault survivors As a society we have begun to point out the importance of telling survivors of sexual violence that we believe them. It is a crucial first step in the healing process for anyone who has experienced this trauma. The steps that follow those words, however, have not been as helpful. Many students and faculty at Virginia Tech are or know someone who is a survivor of sexual violence. However, very few members of the Hokie community have or know someone who has received justice for these crimes. Why have so many of us experienced the same trauma, but done little to involve the university or the law? The answer is simple: The trauma experienced by these individuals was ignored by the public as long as the crime occurred behind closed doors. The doors have been shut tight on the issue of sexual violence for most of our nation’s history, until now. The issue of sexual assault is again gaining the attention it deserves after a “Me too” campaign that was launched on social media. Women and men have been shedding light on just how prevalent sexual assault is by identifying as survivors and/or witnesses. According to a U.S. Department of Justice report, 1 in every 5 college women and 1 in every 16 college men will be the victim of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault during their time in college. So, what happens to a victim of sexual assault if they decide to tell someone about it? The first step is to investigate. Questions begin to pour out regarding when, where, who, “was there alcohol involved?,” “did you say no?,” “what were you wearing?,” “were you flirting?” and so on. This investigative process not only begins the cycle of victim blaming, but also begins to create a “he said/she said” scenario. Providing evidence in the case of sexual assault can be extremely difficult. The narrative between the mandated reporter and victim becomes, “I am sorry that something like this has happened to you, but there is not enough evidence to move forward with a criminal investigation.” Because of these types of questions, the hesitance of those collecting the report and lack of proof, victims often choose to stay silent. What does staying silent do to a university community? Using the Virginia Tech student population from 2015 and the above statistic, during their time in college, there will be approximately 2,465.8 female victims and 1,051.25 male victims of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. According to the Virginia Tech Police Department Crime Statistics, there were only 29 reports of sexual violence in the 2016–17 school year. If you repeat this number for four to five years, it only reaches 145. This number does not come close to the number of likely assaults in the Hokie community. The numbers

presented here are alarming. If this is the case, why does it seem as though sexual assault is not common at Virginia Tech? The Virginia Tech Policy on Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Assault states: “Responsible parties are obligated to report acts of sexual violence or any other sexual misconduct by employees or students to the Title IX coordinator.” After a Title IX coordinator receives a report, they conduct an investigation. While Virginia Tech encourages all victims to also report to the local law enforcement, it is not required. Therefore, the sexual violence statistics that the University Police Department reports are extremely low. So, how do we do something about the problem? The first step in solving any problem is to discuss it. I believe our universities should be doing more to talk about the problem of sexual violence on campus. I suggest a change in university policy around the public reporting of statistics; a small first step would be to create an anonymous, statistical tracking of all sexual assault allegations. This way, even instances that did not involve law enforcement would be included in the statistics reported to the public, and those victims who do not wish to disclose their identities may maintain their privacy. For this to be successful, all members of the faculty and support staff — including those who are not mandated reporters — would need to report solely the number of allegations reported to them. This number, though likely still too low, would at least be more representative of the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses. Following this process, Virginia Tech and other universities would need to make this information public. Having a more accurate picture of the prevalence of the problem is the only way to make strides toward a solution. Believing survivors is important, but doing something about the continued problem is more so. Sharing information to prospective and current students about the likelihood of sexual assault can be terrifying, but it is also the first step in being able to do something for survivors. No university is above sexual violence, and it is time we shared the truth about the issue. Let’s take the first step in ending the normality of sexual violence. As award-winning poet and University Distinguished Professor Nikki Giovanni once said, “The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open heart and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are Virginia Tech.” To those thousands of survivors, I believe you and I will do everything I can to do something about it. #UsToo

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Incarceration of Meek Mill hints at a flawed system

hiladelphia rapper Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years of prison after violating his probation from a 2008 gun and drug case. Following his 2008 sentencing, Mill served eight months in prison, and five years of probation that was extended because of violations. Despite the constrictions that 10 years of probation would put on any individual, Mill continued to make a name for himself as a performer and mentor. However, the recent unjust sentencing serves as proof of just how unfair the criminal justice system is to young black men. Genece E. Brinkley — the judge overseeing Mill’s case —sent him to prison after citing three separate violations. First, Mill tested positive for opiates. Mill had previously sought out treatment for his opiate addiction in rehab after testing positive back in January 2017. Despite Mill admitting he had an issue and subsequently seeking treatment, Brinkley still found this issue as grounds for a two- to four-year sentencing. Drug addiction isn’t something that can be changed over a short period of time. Opiates are extremely addictive, and many people become addicted to them unintentionally. There is no justification for sending someone to prison for two to four years when they have shown they are working toward rehabilitation. Second, Mill was charged after an altercation he had in the St. Louis-Lambert International Airport. Two airport employees asked him for a picture, and after he refused, a fight broke out. Eventually, these charges were dropped after he agreed to do community service. Lastly, Brinkley cited the reckless driving charge Mill

received in New York. While filming a music video, the rapper popped a wheelie on his dirt bike. Videos of Mill popping wheelies surfaced on social media, which led to his arrest. Mill’s lawyer, Joe Tacopina, even stated that Mill was the only one charged “despite the fact there were eight people doing the same thing.” The charges were also dropped after he agreed to perform community service.

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Judges should be held responsible whenever their bias shows through their sentencing.”

It is important to note that Mill has not been convicted of any crime for the last 10 years. Mill has battled addiction, refused to be photographed and popped a wheelie. All of these incidents have been absolved th rough com mun it y service, and none of them are grounds for incarceration. The Philadelphia district attorney and Meek Mill’s probation officer both suggested that Mill not be incarcerated for his violations. Despite everyone’s agreement that long-term incarceration is unnecessary, Brinkley still sent Mill to jail. This sentencing has raised suspicions about the judge that are relevant. According to Mill’s lawyer, in 2016, Brinkley asked Meek Mill to switch his management to a local manager who she happens to be friends with. Also, Tacopina mentioned an incident where Brinkley asked Mill to re-record one of his songs and shout her out. Finally, Brinkley has denied Mill’s multiple requests to view his legal transcripts. There is some clear bias in this case, and Brinkley shouldn’t be the

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PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Hip-hop artist Meek Mill attends as the Philadelphia 76ers play host to the Sacramento Kings on Feb. 10, 2016, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

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judge presiding over it. Since his sentencing, many people have stepped out in support of Meek Mill. There was a rally held for him in Philadelphia on the 13, where hundreds gathered, carrying signs that read “Free Meek Mill” and “Justice for Meek.” There were also big names there like rapper Rick Ross and Philadelphia Eagles’ player Malcolm Jenkins. Other social activists and friends of Meek Mill have spoken out about his sentencing. Fellow rapper Jay-Z called Mill’s sentencing “unjust and heav y-ha nde d” and stated that he will always stand by him. Criminal justice activist and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick tweeted out saying that Mill has been experiencing radicalized injustice for over a decade. There is an online petition that has accumulated over 370,000 signatures asking the Board of Pardons to review Mill’s application for pardon. Even though Mill isn’t the first person to fall victim to the injustice of the judicial system, his case can be used as a great example as to why we need to hold the court system accountable. Judges should be held responsible whenever their bias shows through their sentencing. Mill, and others like him, should not be routinely punished for their past. Instead of throwing people into prison for years, we need to help them get back on the right path. Putting people in jail for not committing serious crimes just keeps them from being productive citizens.

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Virginia Tech researchers make strides in helmet safety for range of activities, from football to construction Virginia Tech’s helmet research lab is improving helmet safety through new rating systems and evaluation techniques. The lab is currently conducting youth helmet studies with the National Institutes of Health. MIKE LIU SGA beat reporter

In 2011, the Virginia Tech helmet research lab released its first rating system for football helmets. Since then, the research team and the lab have received national recognition for their helmet rating systems to reduce head injuries in the sports world. Located on the basement level of Kelly Hall, the Virginia Tech helmet research lab was built as a way for researchers to study the biomechanics of concussion. “If we can understand what forces cause concussion we can work to design things to prevent injuries from happening,” said Steven Rowson, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics in the College of Engineering and the director of the helmet research lab. The research team works with Virginia Tech athletes on the field and measures the head impact the athletes receive with their helmets on. The research team then maps the data from the field to the lab and develops criteria for helmet rating systems based on the data. “If you are going to wear one, it’s like all other protections: Some are really good,

some aren’t very good,” said Stefan Duma, the Harry Wyatt Professor of Engineering and interim director of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science. “We want to give consumers and players a way to know.” Whenever a new helmet comes to the market, the research team purchases two samples of the helmet and runs repeated tests. After that, the researchers aggregate all the information and results gathered from the tests and give the helmet a star rating. According to Duma, it takes at least 48 tests in order to complete the rating for one helmet. The general process to evaluate a helmet is similar for all sports. However, the researchers develop specific circumstances for different sports. “I always tell people that, you know, the first couple hundred helmet tests are fun,” Duma said. “The next several thousands are really boring.” According to Duma, when the lab was first set up in 2011, the focus of the lab was on impact biomechanics, especially auto safety. On the floor of the lab, there are still holes, which were once used for slides for simulating car

crashes. In 2009, Duma and his team received a phone call from Lester Karlin, football equipment manager for the Virginia Tech football team, asking which helmet the Virginia Tech football players should wear on the field.

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Our primary focus is research. If we were to evaluate helmets, and then we work to make our own helmet ... there is a conflict of interest.” Steven Rowson assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics

“That’s when we started looking at them,” Duma said. “We realized that there wasn’t anything out there, and it was a huge unknown for consumers.” In 2011, the research team released the first rating system for football helmets. After that, the lab shifted its focus to injury biomechanics. In the next few years, the lab expanded, and started to test and analyze helmets in other sports. So far, the research team is testing the helmets used in football,

hockey, soccer, bicycling, lacrosse, baseball, softball, construction and head impact sensors. “Any kind of head protection, we are looking to evaluate. The idea behind that is (to) allow consumers to make and form decisions when purchasing helmets,” Rowson said. “Before our ratings, there was never any data that someone can look to to say one helmet is better than the other.” The lab is currently working with National Institutes of Health (NIH) on a youth helmet study. The research team is collecting data from kids at the age of 10 or 11 in the town of Blacksburg and the Blacksburg Middle School football team to study how to make the game safer for young kids. According to Duma, the helmet ratings helped hel met ma nufact u rers develop better helmets. Rowson said the research team will add more measures into the rating system or change the rating systems in the future to help the manufacturers develop safer helmets to better protect athletes on the field. “Basically, the analogy is to say yeah, hopefully, with our five star helmets, we will start to look at more finer differences and maybe

VIRGINIA

DAVID HONG / COLLEGIATE TIMES A test model for football helmets at the ICAT, Nov. 16, 2017.

be able to show consumers OK, this five star helmet is still better than this, and maybe change the star rating result,” said Megan Bland, a Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech and a graduate research assistant in the helmet lab. Despite the amount of research and testing that took place in the lab, the helmet research lab will not be producing its own helmets in order to be unbiased and avoid a conflict of interest. “We can only do one

thing, and our primary focus is research. If we were to evaluate helmets, and then we work to make our own helmet, and when our own rating and our own helmet does best, there is a conflict of interest,” Rowson said.” It would both discredit our helmet and our rating at the same time.”

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MURDER: Toothman’s mother asks judge for mercy from page 1

wo r ke d w it h the Chesapeake Police Department since 1986, was shot in the arm by Zachary Toothman on the stairs as he tried to wrestle the gun away from his son. “Zach, what are you doing? I love you,” Mike Toothman told his son. Zachary Toothman began beating him with the gun before shooting him again. Susie Toothman then tried to talk to her son. “I am not going back to school,” he said. “You don’t have to, just talk to me,” she replied. “It’s you or me, mom. Turn around, close your eyes. It will be easier,” he said. He then shot her, the bullet grazing the back of her head. She laid down and pretended to be dead until

he left the gun in a chair, allowing her to run outside with it. A neighbor saw her and came to her aid as her son ran outside. “I would never hurt you. Why did you do this?” Zachary Toothman said when his mother told their neighbor that he had shot her. The neighbor kept the gun while applying pressure to

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The less you know the better.” Zachary Toothman to his mother

Susie Toothman’s gunshot wound, eventually getting her son to stop pacing the driveway and sit down next to her. She asked him why he shot his family. “You shot yourself. I didn’t shoot anybody,”

Toothman said. In a later interview, Zachary Toothman told police that his mother had done the shootings because she felt like her family had turned against her. However, DNA evidence strongly suggested that this was not the case. In a recorded phone call from jail on Feb. 9 between Toothman and his mother, she asked whether Matthew Toothman had seen his brother or said anything du r ing t he shooting. Zachary Toothman said that his brother “looked at me,” but “he didn’t talk or anything.” “The less you know the better,” he told his mother. Ac c or d i ng t o t he Virginian-Pilot, Circuit Court Judge Randall Smith in sentencing, described it as one of the “most unusual” cases he had ever heard,

study break

lacking an obvious reason. However, the crimes were clearly premeditated and psychiatric evaluations suggested he was competent. Before sentencing, Susie Toothman asked the judge to show her son mercy. “It wasn’t out of malice, it was out of desperation, I believe,” she said. Z a ch a r y To o t h m a n did not ask the judge for leniency. He said he would put his time in prison to use to prevent future tragedies. Toothman told the court that his thoughts during the murders were “a terrible sin.” “I am not going to ask you for mercy for myself,” he said.

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Today’s Birthday Horoscope (Nov. 28): Take on the next two years as a vision quest. Deviations along your journey this winter lead to flowering communications, networking and outreach. Collaborate for shared profit next summer, despite misunderstandings or delays. Your discoveries are worth the trip. Seek and follow your spirit’s path.

Procrastination

FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 28, 2017

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 “House” actor Epps 5 Plant-sucking insect 10 Gala affair 14 Went by bus 15 Wear away 16 __ Day VitaCraves Multivitamins 17 Sunbather’s spread 19 Spelling contests 20 Intended 21 Lend support to 23 Wrestling surface 24 “In case you weren’t listening ... ” 26 Like lambs 28 Pat-on-thebaby’s-back intended result 29 Cards to bet on 32 Cut and pasted, say 35 New York Harbor’s __ Island 36 Penpoint 37 Tough problem 39 Evergreen tree 42 Jelly beans, e.g. 43 Waiting for customer support, often 45 Brunch dish 49 Singer Fitzgerald 50 Speak from the soapbox 51 “Help!”-ful pot scrubbers? 54 Texter’s “I’m shocked!” 55 Down in the dumps 58 Glee 59 Movie “Citizen” 61 Coupe-back contraption 65 Yet again 66 “Ditto” 67 Try to persuade 68 “Women and Love” writer Shere 69 What Buffy does 70 Lowly worker DOWN 1 Poet’s planet 2 Stooge with Larry and Curly

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By Agnes Davidson and C.C. Burnikel

3 Tracy/Hepburn battle-of-thesexes comedy 4 Proof of purchase 5 Insurance giant 6 Bit of expert advice 7 “__ about that!” 8 It’s in your head 9 Cold-cuts seller 10 Songwriter Dylan 11 Iron-poor blood condition 12 Womack of country 13 Withstood wear and tear 18 Consumes 22 Wilde’s “The Picture of __ Gray” 24 German automaker 25 Large, innocentlooking peepers 27 VCR format 28 Batman player Affleck 30 Dutch airline 31 Red Muppet 33 “My Cup Runneth Over” singer 34 Eat in style 38 Cholesterol letters

Zachary Toothman in 2014.

Monday’s Solved Previous Puzzle Puzzle Solved

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39 Instructions next to a perforated line ... or a hint to 17-, 29-, 45- and 61-Across 40 Afflictions 41 Nutritionist’s fig. 42 Camp bed 44 Warms, as canned soup 45 Pipe smoked in trendy bars 46 Fashion designer Giorgio

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47 Fridge sticker 48 Peppermint Patty, for one 52 Farm facilities 53 Opposite of post56 Hugging limbs 57 Paces-andpistols encounter 60 Meadow mom 62 LIRR overseer 63 In the past 64 Boxing count

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REPUTATION: ...Ready for the new Taylor Swift? from page 1

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NOVA: Northern Virginia vocab can be confusing from page 1

with here is a psychedelic mix-up of the worst slang from across the country, from New Jersey shouting to Minnesota passive-aggressiveness. For us “real” NOVA kids, the ones who could probably recite the Michael and Son™ jingle at any time due to our lifetime exposure to those annoying ads, there is a constant adaptation to new slang. This is why every word that is considered to be “NOVA slang” is just a word that exaggerates something. For example, let’s review one of the most recognizable “NOVA words.” Webster’s Dictionary defines “brick” as a building or paving material, but if you ever hear it out of a NOVA kid, the word brick simply means a lot, or a large amount of something. This seems to make no sense. I mean, bricks are supposed to be small, right? Maybe it has something to do with being stuck on the highway. Being in Nor ther n Virginia, I have heard

“brick” used way too many times. If you’re talking to someone, you will hear a slow, confusing use of it with many different meanings. Talking with some of my NOVA friends, it will somehow start out with “man, I haven’t seen you in a brick,” to “dang you live a brick away now,” until it slowly devolves into people just saying, “brick.” This is the point where it is OK to leave the conversation. Speaking about one-word sentences, let’s talk about “bet.” And no, I’m not talking about gambling. The word “bet” could literally mean anything. There is sadly no real way to understand it. However, if you ever hear someone randomly shout “bet” at the end of a sentence, don’t worry: It usually just means that they agree with something. “Bet” can also be switched in and out with “siced,” which can make everything much more confusing than a solid “bet.” “Siced” is the most famous NOVA noun/adjective and has other NOVA synonyms

such as “hip’ and “hype.” Live by a simple key: If “siced” and “bet” are in the same sentence, it’s a “positive bet,” or a “total sice.” If not, it’s just a regular “bet.” You may want to worry about your safety if the word “wack” is mentioned. NOVA has its fair share of illegal activities, and many people who grow up there can easily tell the difference between fun and downright sketchy, unless they live in McLean or something. If somebody says that something, let’s say a party, is “wack,” take their word for it. It’s probably very dangerous to go there. Hopefully, this article has helped you in some way, maybe not by a brick, but for sure it may have cleared up some of the major details and explained why we seem to sound this way. Overall, just be polite and accept the fact that you may end up saying some of these things too.

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accompany many of Swift’s songs, this song has a harsher and more direct tone, as needed to get the point across. She’s finally standing up for herself and speaking out against the numerous rumors that have surrounded her entire career. While there was a lot of judgment surrounding the release of this single, the music video brought it all together. The music video for the single was released on Aug. 27 of this year and backed up the single in a very artistic way. Throughout the video, we see Swift in numerous different scenarios, playing into the many rumors that have been brought up about her. It ultimately ends with her facing her many personas and coming out as this new and improved version of herself. It’s empowering and shows her true backbone. What better way to handle rumors than approach them head on? “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” Whether it’s physical assets or relationships, everything is difficult to maintain, and that’s why Swift addresses that in “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.” Relatable on many levels, this song addresses the many losses we experience throughout our lives. One big one being relationships. “Is that the only friend you’ve lost lately … mm mm, if only you weren’t so shady.” God knows who Swift is addressing now, but we should be glad she did because this is something that many people can not only jam to but also relate to. Swift has always been one to write music that speaks to her audience. Not only is this good for people to look at her as a role model, but it also gives people security in the sense that it makes you realize everyone goes through very similar situations, even celebrities like Taylor Swift.

“Delicate” Is that auto-tune we hear? And an EDM incorporation? Taylor Swift is clearly staying up to date with the modern-day music trends, seeing as EDM seems to be a massive incorporation to many modern day hits. Polar opposite of her classic country days, this song adds in a twist and a new sound that we’ve never really heard from her. The song sustains a steady beat throughout, one that can make you easily want to turn up the volume in your car. It’s clear she’s singing about a sprouting relationship, possibly her current one with British star Joe Alwyn. She’s addressing the delicacy of new relationships, and adding in how she has a poor reputation shows her genuineness through music. While the song is certainly a slower one, its lyrics and beat keeps you listening. “...Ready For it?” Ready for what exactly? The new Taylor? I don’t know, but I want to find out. This was the second single released f rom “Reputation,” creating great anticipation. The song can be interpreted in many ways, but overall it has a very intense and rebellious vibe. The main beat of the song sounds like something you would hear on a movie advertisement — not something we’re used to hearing from Swift. The music video that accompanies it has a very retro and indie aesthetic, and Swift has painted herself to look both sexy and powerful. This is a major breakthrough when you compare it to one of her old music videos (such as “Love Story”). Fans must have been ready for it, seeing as the song has been on the top charts for 10 weeks now, peaking at No. 4. “End Game” On this track, Swift is accompanied by Future and Ed Sheeran, which adds a variety that will blow

fans out of the water. Each of them contribute a very different sound that brings the song together in a very inventive way. The overall song is fairly simple, but the vocal variety makes it. We hear Swift’s belts, Future’s tone and Sheeran’s calming voice all articulated into one, giving this relatable song a nice, settled beat for listeners to enjoy. “Call It What You Want” On this track, Swift sings about the loving support many find in a relationship. At the beginning she mentions how her “crown was taken.” Could this possibly be a Kim and Kanye reference? Who knows. But she also mentions the support she receives from a relationship, which not only gives people hope that bad cycles can end but also lets fans know of the positives in Swift’s life. She does a great job of demonstrating that she isn’t just trying to play the victim. She’s very nonchalantly sticking up for herself, as she does throughout a good amount of the album. While this is just a mild sum-up of a few of the songs on the album, these are some of the ones that stick out with their meaning. Overall, the album gets a four out of five stars. It’s a unique blend of different sounds and is a completely new side of Taylor Swift. Throughout the album we hear a lot of what she’s been going through during her two-year hiatus. We love to see major comebacks, especially from top artists. Swift’s “Reputation”is a positive representation of her musical transition as well as an address toward a downfall that seems to be allowing Swift to show her true colors.

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RECAP: Lunch pail defense dominates the Cavaliers from page 1

to start the third, but a costly turnover flipped the momentum. On the second play of the drive, running back Chris Sharp coughed up the ball after being hit by Reggie Floyd. Redshirtsophomore Houshun Gaines recovered the ball at the 40-yard line. With good field position, the Hokies turned to Jackson and the offense to

take advantage. Jackson went deep to freshman Hezekiah Grimsley on the first play and the receiver made an acrobatic catch at the Virginia 15-yard line. Jackson joked after the game that Grimsley made the catch harder than it had to be. “I told him he made it a little harder on himself,” he said. “I thought he could have just taken another step. It kind of makes me look

bad but it’s alright. He made himself look good.” Grimsley led the way with five receptions for 56 yards. The performance by Grimsley was huge given the fact that the Hokies were without freshman receiver Sean Savoy who was a late scratch. The Hokies capped off the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Cunningham. That gave Virginia Tech a 10–0

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech’s Chris Cunningham (85) looks to catch a touchdown pass as Virginia’s Quin Blanding (3) defends him, Nov. 24, 2017.

Hokies’ winning streak over UVA extends to 14

lead. Cun n i ngha m t a l ked about the importance of giving the defense a little help. “To finally be able to pull away instead of having three points, it kind of stretched the lead a little bit,” he said. Jackson finished 14–21 for 143 yards in the win. While the Hokies were sharp on the defensive end, they missed a couple of chances in the second half. In the third quarter, Virginia Tech seemed primed to extend its lead, but a bad snap resulted in a 16-yard loss which killed the drive. Then in the fourth quarter, a missed field goal by Johnson from 32 yards kept the Cavaliers in the game. After the missed field goal, Virginia seemed to find some rhythm offensively. A huge play by receiver Andre Levrone got the Cavaliers to the Hokies 30, but Virginia would serve as its own worst enemy. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on receiver Doni Dowling pushed them out of field goal range and ended

the drive. That would be the last time the Cavaliers threatened to score, and Virginia Tech secured the Commonwealth Cup for a 14th consecutive year. Players celebrated after the game by drinking from the cup and taking pictures at midfield. Perhaps the bigger storyline though was the Virginia Tech defense that allowed just 5 rushing yards on 20 carries. Leading rusher Jordan Ellis was held to just 9 yards. Senior Ricky Walker spoke about the accomplishment after the game. “Just playing technique, fundamentals, playing in the backfield is key. And I think we did that. That is hard to do. UVA has great backs, No. 1 (Jordan Ellis) and No. 22 (Daniel Hamm), those are both good guys and they are more than capable of having 5 yards. That is just LPD (lunch pail defense) for you,” he said. For Fuente the win was all about different players stepping up.

CHASE PARKER Flash back to Nov. 29, 2003. On the heels of a superb performance from a Virginia Cavaliers’ offense that saw two passing touchdowns from then-quarterback Matt Shaub, the Hokies left Charlottesville on the losing end of a 35–21 grudge match. But that game seems like a distant memory now. The following year, the Hokies hosted the Commonwealth Clash and handily beat the ‘Hoos 24–10. Here we are in 2017 — 14 years later — and Virginia Tech still hasn’t fallen to UVA since that day in 2003. “The streak is pretty cool,” said defensive coordinator Bud Foster. “To be honest with you, we didn’t talk about the streak much this week. We talked about going 1–0 this week, and (the streak) will take care of itself.” But if there were ever a year when the ‘Hoos looked poised to upset the Hokies, it was this one. Going into the game, Virginia Tech’s offense had been struggling to find its rhythm and its defense was missing some key pieces, having lost two starting players to season-ending injuries in the last two weeks (Terrell Edmunds and Vinny Mihota). Pair the Hokies’ woes with the fact that UVA’s offense has seemed to be clicking in its last few games, plus the intangible advantage of being at home in a prime-time matchup, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for an upset. Even Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente knew that this particular matchup didn’t look good on paper. “I was a little concerned

about it this week to be honest with you,” he said. “You know, I felt like we were gonna count on a lot of guys that haven’t had a lot of reps, and I didn’t think beating the streak into them was the way to go. You know, I thought making sure that we were emotionally prepared to go play the game was the way to go.” But at this point, the streak has taken on a life of its own. It has become another factor that weighs in on how each team approaches the game. UVA players obviously want to snap it, while Virginia Tech players strive to keep it alive. “We don’t want to be that team, or senior class, or anybody that loses to UVA,” Hokies’ defensive tackle Ricky Walker said after the game. Even Tech’s quarterback Josh Jackson admitted that his desire to keep the streak going fueled him throughout the week. “I just wanted to make sure that I’m not the quarterback that ends the streak,” he said. “That’s kind of what motivated me, I guess you could say. I want to continue it as long as I’m here.” After 14 years of dominance, the streak has become a part of the culture at Virginia Tech. Foster even went as far as to say that beating Virginia has become an “expectation.” But as we all know, nothing lasts forever. Inevitably, the streak will end one day. But for now, the Commonwealth Cup will be safely secured in its trophy case in Blacksburg and the ‘Hoos will have to wait another year to get a shot at reclaiming the coveted prize.

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Commonwealth Cup Virginia Tech has not lost to the University of Virginia since 2003.

The battle for the Commonwealth Cup remains lopsided. assistant sports editor

“So many people had to step up and go play, whether it was in the secondary or wide receiver or on special teams. That was as good of a team win as I have ever been a part of, and I hope everybody is proud of these kids because they have battled,” he said. D e fe n s ive coordinator Bud Foster couldn’t have been happier to see his defense step up in primetime. “We were a little bit of a mash unit coming in here,” he said. “We knew we were going to have some players playing in some significant roles that hadn’t been in that situation before. I knew they were going to step up. I’m proud of our guys, but I’m really proud of our seniors.” Virginia Tech will now wait to see what bowl game it will be headed to. Virginia (6–6, 3–5 ACC) is also bowl eligible and will wait to see what bowl game it gets.

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