March 30, 2017 by The Collegiate Times

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March 30, 2017

COLLEGIATETIMES

An independent, student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903 ATTACKING ANXIETY Our columnist shares strategies for fighting the effects of stress and anxiety. page 2

CLOTHESLINE PROJECT The Women’s Center is raising awareness against gender-based violence. page 3

HOKIES LOSE AT HOME The Camels scored 14 runs after the third inning against the Tech bullpen. page 3

Jury forced to ignore parts of Keepers’ confession Due to violation of Miranda rights, the defense team is left with only half of Keepers’ confession in Lovell murder case. IZZY ROSSI news editor

In a court hearing on Monday, March 17, a judge ruled that some of the initial statements made by Natalie Keepers on Jan. 30, 2016, had to be thrown out due to improper interrogation techniques used by the police. Keepers was being questioned in connection with the disappearance and murder of

13-year-old Nicole Lovell. She has been charged with being an accessory before the fact to first-degree murder and with concealing a body. The judge ruled that parts of Keepers’ confession cannot be used at trial because she was not read her Miranda rights and was only told that she had the right to an attorney after it was clear that officers had enough to

charge her in Nicole Lovell’s death. However, other parts of the confession will be allowed into the jury trial that is scheduled to begin Feb. 5, 2018. The entire second day of her questioning, in which she admits to helping with planning the murder and disposing of the body, will be admissible as evidence. Keepers’ co - defenda nt David Eisenhauer is scheduled to

begin a jury trial on Nov. 6 on charges of first-degree murder, concealing a body and abduction. Keepers’ attorneys, John Robertson and Kris Olin of Blacksburg, did not respond to a request for comments after the hearing. @IzzyRossiCT

Basketball season recap Tech establishes itself among conference elite

The Virginia Tech men’s basketball team made its first NCAA tournament in a decade, setting new expectations. ROBBY FLETCHER sports reporter

Despite an early exit in the NCAA tournament against the eighth-seeded Wisconsin Badgers, Virginia Tech easily had its best season in years as third-year head coach Buzz Williams brought the Hokies back to ACC relevance, as well as their first NCAA tournament bid since the 2006–07 season under Seth Greenberg. The 22–11 Hokies had a season to remember as they knocked off marquee teams like Duke — then ranked fifth in the country — and 12th-ranked Virginia. What the Hokies proved this year was that they’re no longer an ACC bottomdweller, and that they’re just a few steps behind the ACC elite like UNC and Duke. In conference play, the Hokies stood in the middle of the pack as they finished 10–8 in the ACC for a second consecutive year. They also earned a win in the ACC tournament over Wake Forest before falling to Florida State in the next round. They were led by seniors Zach LeDay and Seth Allen, who finished first and second, respectively, in points-pergame for the Hokies. LeDay, a transfer out of South Florida, was by far

the Hokies’ most consistent source of scoring inside the paint, as he finished the season averaging 16.5 PPG and a team-high 7.3 rebounds per game. He finished the season strong with three consecutive outings of more than 20 points, including a dominating 31 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Wake Forest in the first round of the ACC Tournament. The 6-foot-7 big man will definitely be a missed presence down low for the Hokies next season. Guard Allen also had a stellar senior season for the Hokies, averaging 13.3 PPG on extremely efficient shooting, and a little over three assists per game. Stats aside, Allen will forever be known by Hokie fans for his incredibly clutch second-half performances, most notably his miraculous floater with three seconds left in double OT against in-state rival UVA. The duo of senior transfers helped establish a standard for the Hokies for years to come. Despite their departures, the Hokies will be in fine shape for next season, with an abundance of key role players returning, such as sophomores Chris Clarke, Justin Robinson and Ahmed Hill, as well as junior guard Justin Bibbs and senior transfer Ty Outlaw. Also see MEN’S / page 3

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Progressive programs could heal Appalachia Trump’s proposed budget would cut programs that would revive the already poverty-stricken region.

ith the triumphant defeat of Trumpcare, the administration has now turned its focus to taxation. Rather than bore you with the details of a border adjustment tax, however, I want to call your attention to a related component of the Republican agenda — the budget. By now, we have all read and digested Trump’s proposal. We have stared in horror at the cruel cuts to programs like Meals on Wheels and been shocked by the decimation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Such cuts are merely the tip of the iceberg. The budget proposal also gets rid of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities and, interestingly, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Yes, Donald Trump, who campaigned on bringing jobs back to

decimated towns in Appalachia, is eliminating the government agency which has been doing just that for over 50 years. Eliminating the ARC would be a disaster for this region, and progressives would be wise to defend it. For those of who you have never heard of the ARC, it is a federal agency consisting of a 14-member board — the governors of each Appalachian state (including Virginia) and a federal co-chair. It was created in 1965 by thenPresident Lyndon B. Johnson to fight the War on Poverty in the region, and while it has never been perfect, it has been successful. The poverty rate in Appalachia has declined from 31 percent in 1960 to 17 percent today. Appalachia, contrary to the stereotype of ignorant hillbillies, now has a graduation rate in

Brooks leads Tech to first 20-win season since '06 Under new head coach Kenny Brooks, the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team made notable improvements. TODD SMITH women’s basketball beat reporter

Kenny Brooks’ first season as head coach of the Virginia Tech women’s basketball team ended Saturday afternoon, falling 80–62 against the Michigan Wolverines. The loss halted the Hokies’ three-game run to the quarterfinals of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). Despite the loss, Virginia Tech has plenty to build upon from this season. For starters, the three postseason victories were the most the program has had since the 2002 season. The wins also gave the Hokies 20 wins on the season, finishing with an overall record of 20–14. It was the first 20-win year for the team in over a decade — the last time it happened was during the 2005–06 season. The season was, however, a tale of two halves. Virginia Tech began the year undefeated in non-conference play, including marquee wins over two NCAA tournament teams; the 17th-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols at home and an overtime win on the road against the Auburn Tigers. ACC play began in similar fashion with back-to-back victories over North Carolina and Clemson. The Hokies climbed the polls all the way to No. 15 in the country, before

the gauntlet known as the ACC caught up to the team. From then on, the team faltered through conference play, finishing 4 –12 and losing in the first round of the ACC tournament in hea r tbreaking fashion to

Clemson. However, the strong early season play helped the team make the WNIT, where it went on its postseason run. The end of the season does come with bittersweet feelings, as Virginia Tech bids farewell to a group of seniors who made an indelible mark on Virginia Tech women’s basketball. Vanessa Panousis, Samantha Hill, Sidney Cook and Tara Nahodil were see WOMEN’S / page 3

Bill Nye among new series coming to Netflix

Netflix has several new original series coming in April, and among them is your favorite science guy from elementary school. GRETCHEN KERNBACH lifestyles staff writer

Science, social movements and Sophia Amoruso are all coming to Netf lix this April.

“Bill Nye Saves the The 13-episode long World” Netflix series titled “Bill The man behind comets, atoms, pollution and tons more is back and better than ever. In fact, some may even say he is saving the world.

Nye Saves the World” will be released April 21. It has been 19 years since Bill Nye aired his kid-friendly show on PBS, “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” Although he didn’t completely disappear from television altogether, the upcoming Netflix series is Nye’s most anticipated return as a main character/ host. Viewers can expect lots of experiments and myth debunking from Nye and fellow guests on his show. According to Wired, it will “feature special correspondents like model/ entrepreneur Ka rlie Kloss, ‘Space Gal’ Emily Calandrelli and comedian

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

see NETFLIX / page 5

see TRUMP / page 2

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TRUMP: Progressives can’t forget Appalachia from page 1

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ARMAHN RASSULI

column

Battling anxiety: Self-care strategies for students Conquering anxiety is no small feat, but listening to your body and adopting healthy habits is a great place to start.

tress. Anxiety. We’ve all felt them at some point. They are all but unavoidable now and again in our modern, fast-paced society, especially for students who are trying to balance a heavy workload and a healthy social life. However, when they start to interfere with your peace of mind and efficiency on a regular basis, they can be a real aggravation and bring new meaning to the phrase, “You are your own worst enemy.” Being your own worst enemy is unfortunate, but it is secretly a positive: your own mind is what’s inhibiting you, but you have control of it, so with the right knowledge and practice you can overcome it. First, though, it is helpful to know exactly what you are dealing with. According to healthstatus.com, stress is a mental or physical feeling of worry or fear caused by a tangible stressor. This could be a real danger, such as skydiving, where your life is very much at risk, or a perceived one, like stage fright. However, it becomes a problem when it is triggered by things that are in no way present dangers, and thus are things you needn’t be worrying about. Anxiety is the continuation of those feelings after that stressor is gone. Anxiety often means your mind thinks there is something wrong, and can even have physical manifestations ranging from increased heart rate to fainting. It can be all the more confusing when its source is unrecognizable.

You will start to feel much better because you will be living, which anxiety can all too often get in the way of.” The vast majority of the time that source of danger is neither clear nor present, but your mind is acting in overdrive, which is called hypervigilance. This means it is preemptively looking for threats that are usually not there. Hypervigilance can be a result of, for example, experiencing a highly traumatizing event. This can be an occasional nuisance for some people and a debilitating scourge for others. Stress is often unavoidable because it has a tangible cause, but anxiety is simply heightened worrying. From personal experience and much reflection, I would recommend a three-pronged approach to fight anxiety, which is comprised of training, distraction and nourishment. The first component to combatting anxiety is mental training. First, you must realize that just because you think something, that doesn’t make it true. When your mind is telling you that you should be worrying about something, you can use logic to recognize that it is in fact not a threat to you. This takes some practice because the feelings can be overwhelming, but eventually you will learn to gain some control over them. A common aspect of anxiety is its self-perpetuating nature: when you start worrying about something, you try to analyze it in your mind which leads to you thinking more about it, and thus you worry even more. This leads to the next component — distraction. To understand why distraction is a viable course of action, you must first realize that thinking something over in your head again and again will probably not solve anything. If it is something that is causing you anxiety, the very fact that you keep trying to think through it means the stressor is constantly on your mind, furthering the problem.

Counterintuitively, you have to stop thinking about it entirely. You will not reach any solutions in your head. The real solution is getting out of your head and back to the real world. Interact with someone. Sketch. Listen to some music and sing along. Anything that distracts you enough to realize that you are in fact completely fine. You are in no danger, and worrying is an annoying waste of time. You will start to feel much better because you will be living, which anxiety can all too often get in the way of. Your mind will be in the present, and not lost in the future and all its what-ifs. The final component is nourishment. This involves nourishment of body and mind. The first step is getting a good night’s sleep. The importance of sleep for every single bodily function cannot be stressed enough, and it should be high on your list of priorities. Good sleep not only helps to fight anxiety, but it can put you in a better mood and can improve your performance in school. Next, get a healthy amount of exercise. It can feel like a challenge to find the time, but again, if it’s high on your list of priorities, it will happen. Exercising can be a lot of fun because there are so many different options, from intramural sports to going on a hike to even walking to the Duck Pond. It also makes you feel great afterward due to a release of endorphins in the brain. It’s natural medicine! Socialization is also very important. Not only will friends get your mind off whatever it is you’re worrying about, they will remind you that there are people who care about you and want you to feel good. Spending time with others is what humans were made to do, being social animals, and it has mentally beneficial qualities just like exercise. Finally, eat well and drink lots of water. This includes a balanced diet heavy in micronutrients, which include fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans. Virginia Tech students are very lucky to have so many healthy options, and you will feel good about yourself when you know you have made a healthy choice. Healthy foods will allow your body and mind to function at their best. With regard to the physical manifestations of anxiety, the best way to counter them is to first take deep breaths. Deep breaths have been shown to calm the mind and will help remind you that you are going to be fine. It will also help to slow a rapid heart rate or lower an elevated blood pressure. Next, be aware of your body. You may notice, for example, that your shoulders are very tense. You can then “manually” relax them. Relaxing your muscles is another great way to calm yourself, along with stretching, such as yoga, and meditation. Meditation often seems like a complex and foreign process, but it is really incredibly simple. All it takes is closing your eyes for five minutes, relaxing and focusing on your breathing. It helps to quiet and focus your mind, which is a rare blessing in the hectic lives most of us college students lead. It can have amazing effects on mental well-being. If none of these things seem to help you as much as you would like, don’t worry. There are great people at the Cook Counseling Center who have more in-depth techniques to fight anxiety. But most of all, don’t feel like anxiety is something you’re stuck with. Stay positive and keep fighting!

line with the rest of the country, and the infant mortality rate has declined two-thirds since 1960. The ARC also supports programs like the Coalfield Development Corporation which helps out-of-work coal miners get new jobs and a better education. There can be no doubt that the ARC has done a lot of good for Appalachia. Yet progressives have had a strained relationship with Appalachia, and rural voters in general. For example, there was an article in Daily Kos not too long ago which vindictively argued that coal miners who voted for Trump don’t deserve healthcare. Furthermore, I think we are already familiar with the refrain that rural voters who vote Republican (and therefore lose access to government benefits) are simply voting against their own interests. The truth, however, is more complicated. While, yes, nearly every county in Appalachia did vote for Trump, it is important to remember that large percentages of the electorate in the region did not vote at all. It is also important to note that the average Trump voter actually made nearly $70,000 a year — nearly twice the median income of the average Americannot sure where he’s getting this statistic. For the past 25 years we’ve been above $40k. That’s not a working-class salary. Finally, let’s not forget that Sen. Bernie Sanders recently held a very successful town hall in West Virginia in which he was able to connect the audience’s concerns with progressive solutions. It really isn’t reasonable, then, to suggest that the average blue-collar worker in Appalachia is an unwitting pawn in the hands of a racist demagogue. This makes for an important conclusion: if progressives get around this narrative and start making connections with folks here, they can actually win in this region. Fighting for the ARC is one way to start. I won’t pretend that there is no bigotry or shortsightedness in Appalachia — that exists everywhere

— but there are millions of generous people here who are open to new solutions. As a member of the Green Party I propose the following: Instead of cutting the ARC, let’s expand on it, particularly for programs that encourage a diverse economy. The ARC can be used to create a just transition away from fossil fuels.

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We need long-term solutions that affect how wealth is distributed in America, not just how it is redistributed.”

Ryan Wesdock chairman, Greens at Virginia Tech

Rather than cutting Medicare or having complicated exchanges, let’s create a single-payer healthcare system. This would not only reduce bureaucracy for doctors and patients, but it would allow for better care and better hospitals in a region that desperately needs both. Everyone needs a hand when they fall on bad times, and welfare programs do reduce poverty, contrary to the overused conservative talking point that they create dependence. Yet, we need longterm solutions that affect how wealth is distributed in America, not just how it is redistributed. To that end, we should promote local, worker-owned businesses and farms. This will not only allow folks in Appalachia greater control over their own lives, it will move us towards a more equal society. Finally, we need to stop the environmental destruction of Appalachia by placing a moratorium on fracking. Instead of strip mining, Appalachian residents could lead the nation in developing renewable technologies, particularly wind power. RYAN WESDOCK • chairman, Greens at Virginia Tech • sophomore/history

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March 30, 2017 PAGE 3

WOMEN’S: Tech takes strides from page 1

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES Kit Scheetz (9) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Campbell Camels on Tuesday night at English Field, March 28, 2017.

Hokies’ bullpen can’t hold on to early advantage over Campbell Tech baseball jumped out to a quick five-run lead, but the Camels bullied the Hokie bullpen after the third inning and dropped the Hokies’ record to 14–13. NATHAN LOPRETE baseball beat reporter

Virginia Tech welcomed in the Campbell Camels for a Tuesday matchup. Coming off of a slow offensive weekend, the Hokies didn’t wait long to get back into the swing of things. Three early home runs gave Tech the lead, but Campbell’s offense outscored Tech 14–2 after the third inning. That was more than enough to give the Hokies their fourth-straight loss. After falling behind early in all three games over the weekend, Virginia Tech got out in front early off Camels’ starter Andrew Witczak. A one-out triple by Ryan Tufts set up a Tom Stoffel RBI groundout. The Hokies added on in the second when Stevie Mangrum led off with a double. After a walk to Mac Caples, Garrett Hudson grounded into a fielder’s choice and Mangrum was out at third. That brought up Virginia Tech’s starting catcher, Joe Freiday Jr. and he jumped on the first pitch he saw, blasting it over the left-field wall for a three-run homer. That was his fifth round-tripper of the year, and it gave the Hokies a 4–0 lead. Later in the inning, Jack Owens got in on the action with an opposite field home run. Tufts followed suit with a ball that snuck inside the left field foul pole. His sixth home run of the year made it 6–0. Witczak didn’t make it through the inning and was charges with all six runs. Redshirt-senior Kit Scheetz made his first start of the year. He had made

13 appearances out of the bullpen prior to his start. He struck out three over two innings, but was pulled after that. “We’re going to try and get Kit back into our rotation, so it was just a scheduled couple of innings so he could go through a pregame and be prepared to start Sunday,” said head coach Patrick Mason. Joey Sullivan relieved Scheetz and gave up a run in the third, but nothing more. The Camels got back into the game in the fourth when Zach Minnick homered with a man on. That made it 6–3 in favor of the Hokies. Campbell then loaded the bases and Drew Butler drove a run in with a single to center. That was it for Sullivan, who lasted 1.1 innings and gave up five runs, four of which were earned. Andrew McDonald came in with the bases still loaded and got a sacrifice flyout for the second out and then a groundout to end the frame. The Hokies’ six-run lead had been cut to one. Virginia Tech got one back in the fifth when Freiday hit his second home run of the game. He has six home runs this year, twice as many as he finished with last season. Campbell responded quickly in the fifth inning. After an RBI single made it a one-run game, the Camels had two on for Matthew Barefoot. He got a hold of McDonald’s 1–0 pitch and drove it out. That gave Campbell its first lead of the game, 9–7. Scoring stopped until the seventh

when Minnick added his second two-run shot of the game and made the score 11–7. McDonald (1–1) tossed 2.2 innings and allowed six earned runs and took the loss. Caples tried to start a rally in the sixth with a leadoff home run, but that was all for the offense. Tech hit five home runs in the game and rose its season total to 49. Packy Naughton took the mound in the seventh, and it didn’t go much better. A two-run shot by Barefoot made the score 13–8. Campbell tacked on two more runs in the ninth and went on to win 15–8. Tech saw its record fall to 14–13. “We didn’t give up any free bases. Our guys threw, and those guys did a really good job of hitting it,” Mason said. While the offense did its part early, Mason said he would have liked to see a more consistent production. “I thought we did a good job at the plate tonight. We put up our runs early. I would have liked to see a little more offense after that,” he said. “I would like to see some of our bullpen guys be a little more competitive and a lot more productive.” Virginia Tech is set to host Boston College (7–14) for a three game set this weekend. They will send Connor Coward, Nick Anderson and Kit Scheetz to the mound.

@natejloprete

Hokies lose to defending National Champion North Carolina at home

Tech took on second ranked North Carolina at home on Tuesday. The Hokies were given their first loss of ACC play, losing to the defending national champs.

JORDAN HUTCHINSON lacrosse beat reporter

The No. 12 Virginia Tech women’s lacrosse team suffered just its third loss of the season on Tuesday against the defending national champions, No. 2 North Carolina, 14–6. The loss marked the first loss in ACC play for rookie head coach John Sung. “Carolina is really the gold standard right now,” Sung said in an interview with HokieSports. “For me, getting to play them for the first time, it shows me what we need to work on, and I think that’s important. For us to make the next step, we have to be able to compete with a team like that.” M id f ield e r K r i st i n e Loscalzo notched her fourth consecutive hat trick against the Tar Heels and won a draw control. In a rare game, Tristan McGinley was held scoreless, but did win four draw controls for her squad. Emma Harden, Marissa Davey and Zan Biedenharn all scored one goal for Virginia Tech. Goalie Meagh Graham stopped 13 shots in the loss to the Tar Heels. For North Carolina, Molly Hendrick had a hat trick of her own, as well as five shots on goal. Sammy Jo Tracy won an incredible 12 draw controls

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES UNC midfielder Marie McCool (4) celebrates her second goal on the afternoon with her teammate Katie Hoeg (8), bringing the score to 14–3. Virginia Tech managed to score three additional goals before the final whistle falling to No. 2 UNC 14–6 on Tuesday afternoon, March 28, 2017.

for the Tar Heels. Four North Carolina players scored multiple goals (Ela Hazar, Marie McCool, Carly Reed and Kara Klages). Goalie Caylee Waters recorded five saves and picked up the win Tuesday. Sung has continued to push this team to bigger and better things, and while the loss to UNC may sting, it wasn’t a terrible loss. The Hokies are heading into an ACC gauntlet of sorts, and the true grit of this team will be shown then.

As the non-conference games concluded last week, the Hokies will face lacrosse blue bloods for the rest of the season. Next on the schedule for the Hokies is Louisville at home Saturday. It will be senior day for Colleen Ward, Maddy Wollmuth, Loscalzo and Tara Feehan. Loscalzo leads the team this year with 40 goals scored. Both Loscalzo and Wollmuth have started in every game the Hokies have played this year.

Louisville is in the “receiving votes” category of the top 20. Sung has never lost two straight games at Tech, so the pressure is on Saturday. The Hokies will have a great opportunity to prove who they are against Louisville and pick up an ACC win. The game is at Thompson Field at 1 p.m.

@JHutchinsonVT

key components in turning a faltering program around in their four seasons with the team. A WNIT berth last season was the first for Virginia Tech in nine seasons and was centered on strong play from this year’s seniors. The 2016–17 season marked a major career milestone for Panousis. The Sydney, Australia, native certainly left her mark on program history. On Nov. 16, in an otherwise routine routing of Presbyterian College, Panousis made her 201st threepoint field goal in maroon and orange. The three, which came in the fourth quarter of the Hokies’ 67–36 victory, gave Panousis the career record for three-pointers. She finished the year with 269, crushing the previous mark of 200. Panousis finishes her Virginia Tech career with her name written throughout the record books, as she finished with the highest freethrow percentage in school history as well. The new prolific offense that accompanied Brooks followed him from James Madison to Blacksburg, as the program set a single-season record for points scored — finishing with 2,405 and an average of a little over 70 points per game. The offense was predicated by strong point-guard play that was fulfilled by sophomore Chanette Hicks, who

completed one of the strongest seasons in school history. She finished the year with 16.1 points per game, good for 10th all-time in Virginia Tech history, to go along with 5.2 assists per game. She finished the year with a total of 178 assists, the third best in program history for a single season. Not only was Hicks strong on the offensive side of the ball, but perhaps her most impressive contributions came on the defensive end. The sophomore point guard finished with 123 total steals (3.6 per game), crushing the previous single-season record of 91 that she set last year. In two seasons as a Hokie, Hicks has already climbed the ranks to fourth in school history in the category. Virginia Tech will have plenty to build around as Hicks and forward Regan Magarity, a redshirt sophomore in her own right, will both return for the team next season. Magarity finished the season averaging 13.5 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game. Magarity was a double-double machine for the Hokies, tallying 15 on the season, including a stretch of 11 in 12 games. Year one of Brooks at the helm of the basketball program came largely as a success and provides a strong starting point for year two.

@noToddiusBIG

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES Chanette Hicks (12) attempts a layup after eluding Virginia guard J’Kyra Brown (10) during the second half in Cassell Coliseum, Feb. 19, 2017.

MEN’S: Hokies reset standards Wabissa Bede, the Hokies will definitely have a ton of expect sophomore big man depth at the guard spots next Kerry Blackshear to make a year. big impact next season after returning from a medical redshirt. Blackshear, a Even though the defensive specialist, will pair Hokies’ NCAA well with freshman Khadim Sy down low next season. tournament One of the major breakappearance was throughs for the Hokies occurred at the forward brief ... Buzz position. Clarke showed his Williams’ squad ability to contribute in every facet of the game, specifiproved that if you cally providing value as a look for the Hokies consistent playmaker who in the basement of rebounds and pushes the ball in transition. Unfortunately, the ACC, you won’t Clarke’s season was cut find them.” short in mid-February due to a torn ACL, but the injury paved the way for his counEven though the Hokies’ terpart Outlaw, who showed N C A A tournament off his incredible shooting appearance was brief after ability. Against a ranked falling to a solid Wisconsin Miami team, Outlaw set a squad that would later new Hokies record for three knock off the No. 1 seeded pointers made in a single Villanova, Buzz Williams’ game, knocking down eight squad proved that if you of his 10 attempts from long look for the Hokies in the range. On the defensive end, basement of the ACC, you both players showed the won’t find them. With the ability to guard nearly any amount of returning starters position. and role players on the bench, Virginia Tech’s recruiting not to mention front court class also shows loads of development and the return promise for the coming of Blackshear, it’s hard not to season. Headlined by feel like Virginia Tech will be shooting guard Nickeil just as good if not better than Alexander-Walker, Tech’s it was this season. first 5-star recruit since Dorian Finney-Smith in 2011, according to ESPN, @CTSportsTalk and four-star pointing guard from page 1

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PAGE 4 March 30, 2017

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Today’s Birthday Horoscope: Adventure and education flourish this year. Group efforts make a bigger difference. Reach a turning point in a relationship this month, leading to a financial boom phase. Resolve personal obstacles around September, before a romantic collaboration blossoms. Follow shared passions. Together, reach new heights.

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March 30, 2017 PAGE 5

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Clothesline Project addresses violence The Clothesline Project is sponsored by the Women’s Center at Virginia Tech and works to raise awareness of gender-based violence through something as simple as shirts. ALAYNA JONES lifestyles staff writer

COURTESEY OF NETFLIX

NETFLIX: New shows to look out for this April from page 1

Nazeem Hussain.” Nye will be tackling topics on sex, global warming, GMOs, technology and alternative medicine. And he will also be giving out lots of fist bumps (you’ll get it once you watch the trailer). The trailer for “Bill Nye Saves the World” portrays a goofy, fun environment with a studio audience. The 61-year-old has not missed a beat. Since Nye’s departure from PBS in 1998, he has appeared on numerous programs such as Disney’s TV movie “The Principal Takes a Holiday,” the crime drama “Numb3rs” and “Larry King Live.” In addition, Nye hosted “100 Greatest Discoveries” in 2004 and 2005. He also hosted a Discovery Channel series called “Greatest Inventions with Bill Nye” that ran for eight episodes, as well as Planet Green network’s “Stuff Happens” in 2008.

“Girlboss”

Also being released on April 21 is the original comedy “Girlboss,” based off of Sophia Amoruso’s autobiography. For those of you who do not know who Amoruso is, she’s the founder, creative director and CEO of Nasty Gal. According to goodreads, “This aspirational book doesn’t patronize young women the way many business experts do. Amoruso shows readers how to channel their passion and hard work, while keeping their insecurities from getting in the way.” So imagine this strong, inspirational read all wrapped into a series starring Britt Robertson from “Tomorrowland.” Also on board in the production of the upcoming Netflix show is film writer Kay Cannon (30 Rock and Pitch Perfect 2) and actress Charlize Theron who serves as an executive producer. According to the Verge, “Cannon and Theron described the process of making the show as arduous, as they came up against network expectations of a likable female lead and whether or not viewers will relate to someone as ‘abrasive’ as Sophia.”

“Dear White People”

The 30-minute show is based off of a 2014 indie film with the same title, which follows around a group of black students who attend a predominately white university. The show plans to stage the same plot line throughout its 10 planned episodes. Brandon P. Bell will continue his role as Troy Fairbanks as he portrayed in the 2014 movie. In addition, Dennis Haysbert (Allstate Insurance) will narrate the show. Newcomers include Logan Browning, Antoinette Robertson and DeRon Horton. Hailing from Lionsgate Television, the announcement of the creation/release of “Dear White People” has sparked controversy. Several tweets have come out in rebuttal to Netflix’s decision to create this sort of content. Although the trailer for the series is a mere 30 seconds long, it quickly touches upon the issue of racism regarding Halloween costumes. However, that is the only scene that has been released of the upcoming show, but viewers can tell that it is a race-movement-type for the majority of the plot. Or in another case, just watch the original movie it is based on to get a sense of what is to come. @Gretchthecatch

River Valley, including students from Radford and all faculty and staff. The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech holds workshops throughout the week of the Clothesline Project for survivors or family members of victims who have passed due to violence to come make the shirts. The Women’s Center attempts to foster a calm, comfortable environment where people can come make their shirts with provided materials. Survivors may use poetry, graphic design, prose or whatever they like to represent what happened to them. They have been adding shirts to the line since 1994. No shirt is thrown away, instead they are rehung every year to join the new shirts made for the line. There are currently over 580 shirts on the line at Virginia Tech. Anderson says she thinks the

Clothesline Project does help decrease violence, but mostly it helps people realize that the assault that happened to them is not their fault, and hopes they are more comfortable now than they were 20 years ago to seek help. This event is also a good resource for people who have never experienced violence. The hope is that they can learn how to be a better friend and support someone who has experienced this. “The shirts are heartbreaking,” Anderson said. “But then I also get incredibly angry. These shirts represent real people and real events.” The clothesline of shirts can be found on the Drillfield or in Squires Student Center in case of rain. There are volunteers that sit at an information booth during the Clothesline Project for people who are curious about the event or

would like to just talk. The United Feminist Movement also sponsors the Take Back the Night Rally which happens once a year on the Henderson Lawn to raise awareness for gender-based violence and assault. Event participants march through Virginia Tech and downtown Blacksburg. People of all genders are encouraged to participate and share their stories about the violence that has happened to them. Their hope is that people hear these stories and get energized to march and do something about this issue. “Does Take Back the Night stop violence in our community?” Anderson asks. “No, but it is a piece of helping stop violence in our community.”

Every year, many rapes and sexual assault cases go unreported because victims often feel blame for what happened to them. The Women’s Center at Virginia Tech works to prevent victims from feeling this way by sponsoring the Clothesline Project. The Clothesline Project takes place twice a year in the fall and spring. This project is part of a national effort to raise awareness against gender-based violence. The belief is that if everyone is working toward lessening violence, then violence will stop. “The Clothesline Project helps people realize that violence cannot be compartmentalized,” said Susan Anderson, facilitator of the Clothesline Project. “Violence goes across all economic, religious @CollegiateTimes and ethnic lines — it permeates our society.” Local women and men express their emotions by making a shirt, then hanging it on a clothesline to be viewed by others as a visual testimony. The shirts are hung side by side to represent the survivors standing together as a witness to the violence committed against women on a daily basis. The shirts are color-coded to represent different types of violence: white for women who died of violence; yellow or beige for women who have been assaulted; red, pink or orange for those raped or sexually assaulted; blue or green for survivors of incest or sexual abuse as a child; purple for women attacked because of sexual orientation and black for women who have become handicapped due to violence. TAYO OLADELE / COLLEGIATE TIMES The shirts on Virginia Tech’s Shirts hang from railings in Squires Student Center as part of the Clothesline Project, which aims to clothesline can come from any and all men and women in the New bring awareness to victims of sexual assault and battery, March 28, 2017.

Prepping for warm weather: What you’ll need Spring has sprung, and while summer may seem far away — it’s coming up faster than you think. Our writer has compiled a list of things to get ready for. MEGAN MAURY CHURCH lifestyles staff writer

Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, but it looks like warmer days are rapidly approaching. Sure, we have to get through the rainy season first, but if it rains as much as it snowed this year, summer will be here before we know it. (Let’s forget about climate change for a moment and think about the bright side, specifically the sunny days ahead.) Alongside warm weather returns a multitude of things that have been dormant for months, some of which are good and some of which could remain dead year-round without hurting our feelings (looking at you mosquitos). Here are some things we have to once again deal with, good and bad:

Allergies, yay!

Get your allergy prescriptions refilled as soon as possible; you will need them before you know it. If the sneezes and Rudolfreminiscent noses in my classes are anything to go by, I’d say allergy season is already upon us. I don’t usually suffer from allergies, but even my nose has been itching lately. Some common ways to combat allergy symptoms, besides medication, are local honey, more vitamin C and sunglasses. Honey from a local source can help your body acclimate to local allergens — pollen especially — so you are less affected by them. Vitamin C can help combat allergenproduced histamines, so it is good to keep this in your system. And sunglasses can just add another barrier between your eyes and pollen, reducing the amount of irritation.

Pool

Most pools will not re-open until sometime around Memorial Day in late May, but it is never too early to get ready for it. Go out and get some swimsuits before the summer rush begins. If you wait too long, all you will find is

FILE 2016 A view of Burruss Hall in the fall of 2016. The warm weather this season will give students many opportunities to venture outside and enjoy the sunshine.

a squash-colored one piece and a bikini top that wouldn’t even fit an elephant. Snatch up a few pairs of cheap sunglasses for these pool days too, some that you won’t miss when they inevitably get crushed at the bottom of your overstuffed pool bag. Now is also a good time to start making a summer pleasure reading list (this English major has had a never-ending list since fourth grade, but it’s important to keep up on new editions). Poolside is the perfect place to read the sequel you forgot to buy or one of the articles you have saved on Facebook and Pinterest.

Bug spray

Seriously — don’t leave home without it. Because of the mild winter, bugs are going to be worse than ever this summer. From the forests of Virginia to the swamps of Florida, there are few places outdoors that mosquitoes will not find you. It can be hard to sleep on summer nights when the heat

is unbearable, and that is only harder when there are eight bug bites on your ankles. The good news is, bug spray has evolved to fit consumer demands. There are plenty of brands that offer less oily, less smelly options.

Ice cream trucks

I don’t need to tell you what’s up here. These are inarguably the best part of living in the suburbs.

Re g u l a r routines

shaving

Ladies and gentlemen, the days of shaving per occasion are behind us. Shorts will be a regular clothing item, as will swimwear. For anyone who is conscious about leg hair (and kudos to all the women out there who are not bound by this social restriction and don’t worry about shaving) it is crucial to be ready for anything and not let it grow out as regularly as many of us do during “hibernation season.”

Outdoor seating

At Virginia Tech especially, this is a miracle. With our oversized and increasing student body, seating — like parking — is a hot commodity. Dining halls have so much seating, but it fills up quickly between class, so the additional option of outdoor seating is great. Many restaurants around Blacksburg have nice outdoor seating as well, including TOTS, Mellow Mushroom and the new Qdoba on University City Boulevard, and it will be nice to be able to take advantage of this without worrying about growing icicles from our noses. So as long as you have bug spray, allergy reducers, freshly shaved legs, access to ice cream trucks, a pool pass and a place to sit, you are ready to start the summer. We’ve just got to get through spring first. @CollegiateTimes

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PAGE 6 March 30, 2017

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Town split over solution for deadly US 460 interchange Blacksburg Town Council met Tuesday night to vote on a solution that will mitigate the safety concerns of U.S. 460. ANDREW YOUNG news staff writer

In a five-year period between 2009 and 2014, the intersection of North Main Street and U.S. 460 was responsible for causing 62 car crashes and taking three lives, making it the second-most dangerous intersection in Montgomery County. Local residents and politicians have repeatedly clashed in the process of finding a solution. On Tuesday night, the Blacksburg Town Council met to discuss and ultimately vote on what to do with the intersection. The session consisted mainly of the opinions of council members and citizens on the intersection. Blacksburg resident Julia Rosenberger was critical of the situation, saying that, “Although SMART SCALE (the dictator of Virginia transportation projects) is supposed to take politics out of it, I think we realized that there is still some politics involved in it.” The current proposal to remedy the interchange situation is the construction of a restricted crossing u-turn intersection, commonly known as an r-cut. This would prevent left turns onto Route 460 Eastbound, instead forcing drivers to initially turn right and eventually make a u-turn at Fortress Drive. Of the seven town council members, six ultimately voted in favor of the r-cut plan, with the lone dissent coming from Councilwoman Krisha Chachra, who recently announced her intent to run for mayor of Blacksburg. “I don’t think (the r-cut) makes things safer necessarily,” Chachra said. “We’re still pushing the problem down the road, we’re still making people make choices impulsively.” Her opponent in the Blacksburg mayoral race, C ou nc i lwom a n L e sl ie Hager-Smith, gave “reluctant support” to the r-cut plan, saying that after a recent crash

in the intersection, suddenly the “heavens opened, and I got the message (on the importance of the issue).” The other leading proposal for the intersection is the construction of a displaced left concept (DLC). This plan would eliminate left turns from U.S. 460 West onto Farmingdale Lane, while allowing left turns onto U.S. 460 East from North Main Street. The justification behind this idea is that the North Main Street-U.S. 460 East turn is much more common than that of U.S. 460 West and Farmingdale Lane.

“

I don’t think we came up with a perfect solution and I think we need to continue to try.”

Ron Rordam mayor of Blacksburg

A more permanent resolution for addressing the North Main Street and U.S. 460 intersection includes the construction of a bypass over the highway with a diamond interchange structure, closely resembling the interchange with Highway 460 and Toms Creek Road. Citizens have repeatedly voiced support for the diamond interchange project, despite the fact that it would cost $34.4 million more than the r-cut proposal. Rosenberger is not the only Blacksburg resident to voice concerns on the project, as fellow citizen Javad Torabinejad vocally opposed the r-cut proposal. “If they pass the r-cut, we are watching,” Torabinejad said. “God forbid if somebody gets hurt … we are going to remind them this is a bad decision.” To r a b i n e j a d also recently started a petition of Blacksburg residents to protest the construction of the r-cut, which has garnered 469 signatures thus far. After pushback from Blacksburg residents, the

Town Council initially cancelled plans for the r-cut on Aug. 23, 2016, approved the idea for the overpass interchange and applied to the Commonwealth Tr a n sp o r t a t ion Bo a r d (CTB) to fund the project. The overpass proposal was rejected by the CTB in December of 2016. D e spit e c on f l ic t i ng opinions on how to handle the issue with the North Main Street intersection, there has been common consensus that the intersection must be addressed, with the diamond interchange proposal garnering bipartisan support between State Delegate Joseph Yost (R) and State Senator John Edwards (D). Torabinejad is supportive of the bipartisan effort to address the issue and said, “When it comes to people’s’ lives, politics should not be a burden.” Although disagreements existed between citizens and Town Council members, Councilman John Bush mentions the significant difference that improvements can make for the community, reminding citizens that, “We have lives being lost at that intersection (of U.S. 460 and North Main Street) every day.” Councilwoman Cecile Newcomb echoed Bush, saying, “I cannot, on my conscious, vote not to do anything (with the intersection).” As the Town Council session came to a close, Mayor Ron Rordam recognized the status of the situation as it stands and left with motivational words to continue pushing a solution to this problem in the upcoming weeks. “I don’t think we came up with a perfect (solution), and I think we need to continue to try, but that is really what makes Blacksburg such a great place to live in and such a great place to be a part of,” Rordam said. @CollegiateTimes

TAYO OLADELE / COLLEGIATE TIMES A Blacksburg resident speaks up at a Town Council meeting, March 28, 2017.

COURTESY OF CHRIS PRITCHETT Chris Pritchett poses with one of his posters, from which the proceeds go toward the International Refugee Assistance Project, March 1, 2017.

Virginia Tech professor pushes politics with art Frustrated with America’s political climate, Chris Pritchett uses art to take matters into his own hands CLAIRE CONNOR news reporter

When Chris Pritchett became frustrated with the political atmosphere of the country, he wanted to use his skills as a screen printer to make a positive change. As a Virginia Tech professor at the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and an experienced artist, he decided to create 46 Posters. 46 Posters is a project that consists of Pritchett designing and screen printing a poster once a month. The posters depict Pritchett’s interpretation of various global and social issues, and all money raised by poster sales is donated to charities that represent these issues and have been marginalized by current administration. “Instead of focusing on the thing I’m against, I try to focus on the things that I’m for, and what can I do to give back,” Pritchett said. “What can I do as a designer; what can I do as a printmaker? I’m already making posters; let me make a poster and talk about what I’m for.” At the core, Pritchett’s screen printing is about helping others in the world. The poster topics range from Planned Parenthood to the International Refugee Assistance Project to the Sierra Club. Pritchett explained the process of deciding how he designs the different prints, and how he’s still learning what inspires each piece. “I try to think about what charity means to me, and I go from there,” Pritchett said. “(The next topic) is NAACP and helping with lawsuits that

involve African Americans and involve young black men. I look back at iconography about justice and iconography about black culture.” Pritchett also shared how he looks for inspiration in the works of others.

“

Instead of focusing on the thing I’m against, I try to focus on the things that I am for, and what I can do to give back.”

Chris Pritchett Virginia Tech professor

“I’m standing on the shoulders of a thousand amazing artists that have come before me, and I can look at what they’ve done and then look at my own path,” he said. “This is what I’m doing and this is my voice in that conversation about the NAACP as an outsider.” Producing each poster takes about a day. Pritchett spends several hours drawing poster concepts and will sometimes create three or four drawings before settling on one to finalize. To create the actual poster, he first separates the colors digitally using Photoshop and Illustrator and then layers different screens made of a frame and polyester mesh, with a different screen for each color. Pritchett was introduced to screen printing while participating at the Chicago Studio as a Virginia Tech student.

Feeling bad for the homeless population, he would have them draw in his sketchbook in exchange for a dollar. “I’d come back and I’d have this sketchbook with these amazing drawings,” he said. “They were really touching, so how do I display them? I wanted to show the rest of the school.” A fifth-year student suggested he produce them as screen prints and taught him how to make the posters. The homeless people’s drawings were soon displayed in the Cowgill Hall lobby, and now, 17 years after coming to Virginia Tech, Pritchett is teaching screen printing courses himself. Pritchett’s goal with 46 Posters was to raise $5,000 by the end of 2017, but by March he’s already raised almost $4,000. “(At) $5,000 I’d be really happy with myself that I’m able to give back in that way and that I’m able to convince enough people to give in that way,” Pritchett said. He still aims to reach $5,000, but has hopes that the project will be able to go beyond that. In the future, Pritchett is collaborating with the Town of Blacksburg to do a poster project celebrating public employees. He’s also planning a poster project to attract more tourists to Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Pritchett’s work can be viewed and purchased at 46Posters.com.

@CollegiateTimes

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