April 16, 2019

Relay For Life & see pages 3-4

see page 6

Spring Game

April 16, 2019

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

HOKIES PREPARE TO FIGHT CANCER Though Relay For Life is a single night of fundraising and fun for most Hokies, there’s a lot that happens behind the scenes.

CATIE CARRERAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

The Survivor Lap starts off Relay For Life, April 24, 2015.

HEATHER HARTZELL lifestyles staff writer

Relay For Life will take place on Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Relay For Life at Virginia Tech is the largest

collegiate Relay For Life event in the nation, and raises nearly half a million dollars for cancer research every year. Being that Relay is such a large occurance on campus, many students and members of the community choose to

become involved. Being a part of planning such an event might seem daunting, but for Kira Dionne, it’s a fun challenge that benefits a great cause.

“It doesn’t seem like work,” Dionne said. “We’re having a

Quarterback questions linger with 3 players battling for starting job Willis dominated the stat line, but Hooker and the young Patterson were able to make some productive plays Saturday.

DEVIN SHEPARD sports staff writer

Virginia Tech held its annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 13. Coming into the event, one of the biggest questions facing the Hokie coaching staff and fans was who would take the reins as quarterback and play to win the job. With a three-way battle between redshirt senior Ryan Willis, redshirt sophomore Hendon Hooker, and redshi r t freshman Quincy Patterson, the competition looked to be exciting. Unfortunately, after the game, Hokie fans walked away with more questions than answers.

Nevertheless, the game did not give the crowd a decent look at where each quarterback is at in terms of their individual development.

Ryan Willis, 14-22, 202 yards, 3 TD: Willis picked up right where he left off last season and looked liked the starter at quarterback. He made some nice throws on the day including a 28-yard touchdown over the middle

to tight end James Mitchell, and a beautiful rhythm 62 yarder to wide receiver Tre Turner. However, it looks as if Willis might still be dealing with some of the same issues in his play as last season.

He still consistently stares down receivers, making it easy on the defense, and he continuously floats the ball downfield. After the game, Willis looks to be a finished product at the position and can be expected to give Virginia Tech roughly the same performance he did last year if he wins the starting job for the fall.

Hendon Hooker, 12-25, 132 yards, Int: Hooker made the biggest turnaround of the day by far.

He struggled early, throwing an interception on a fourth down and bobbling a snap which set the offense back on a drive. Hooker seemed to be plagued by the same lack of focus he has struggled with the past two years. But, then a switch turned on. He settled into a rhythm and started completing throw after throw. This was most

AUTHOR DISCUSSES HEALING PROCESS Journalist publishes book about shooting aftermath. page 8

noticeable on his 88-yard drive from the 1-yard line.

Hooker started hitting receivers with line ball throws and orchestrated some of the best offense Tech fans have seen since Jerod Evans was at the helm two years ago. After getting comfortable, he proved to a competent quarterback and gave himself a bit of momentum for the job.

Quincy Patterson, 4-13, 42 yards, TD, 15 rushes, 23 yards, rush TD: Patterson had an inconsistent day, and it seems we still don’t know where he stands as a pure passer. He was not able to get much rhythm during the day, being used mostly on designed rollouts with one read and power runs up the middle.

On plays built for him to stay in the pocket, Patterson was almost perfect, highlighted by a tremendous back shoulder throw to Damon Hazelton in the end zone.

He was good in the running game, but slipped on the wet grass twice. Coaches still QB / page 6

lot of fun with it.”

Dionne, a sophomore studying national security and foreign affairs, originally became involved with Relay For Life in her hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. After participating

in Virginia Tech’s Relay For Life last year, she decided to get involved. She now serves as a member of the events committee.

In order to spread the word, those involved begin working soon after the school year

begins. As early as October, committee members meet once a week to plan events that will help raise awareness and get people excited about Relay. Some of the events

RELAY / page 3

Blacksburg Town Council eggspands ordinance on housing urban chickens The new ordinance allows residents to keep chickens in rural residential districts in Blacksburg with a $30 fee.

KELLEY GATES news staff writer

On April 9, Blacksburg Town Council approved an ordinance that allows residents to keep chickens in their backyard.

Currently, chickens in Blacksburg are allowed in rural residential areas. This ordinance would allow for two more types of residential areas to have chickens as well. The ordinance allows up to six hens, but does not allow for roosters. Additionally, chickens must be contained within an individual’s backyard and meet certain dimensions for the size of the coop.

For any individual wishing to keep hens, they must pay a $30 fee to apply initially, and current chickens are not grandfathered into this.

“I am happy for the family and folks who will now have this opportunity (to keep chickens) and I’m pleased that we’re passing it,” said Town Council member John Bush.

In addition, the council approved the meeting’s consent agenda which

MEET THE STAFF! Editor in chief Jessica Brady discusses her favorite chip flavor.

page 5

included a resolution to transfer $65,000 from the Stormwater Quality Improvement Project to the VDOT 2019 Revenue Sha r i ng-Hem lo ck a nd Church Street Stormwater Improvements Project.

This resolution is intended to improve the public storm drainage system and direct stormwater away from an existing residential apartment complex. The residential apartment complex has several issues a year in regards to stormwater related damages, and the movement of these already appointed funds are critical to fund the improvements to the Hemlock and Church Street project.

Next, an amendment was made to a contract with EEE Consulting, Inc. to incorporate more services in regards to environmental assessment and remediation.

A public hearing is scheduled for April 23 for an interim agreement about a Public Safety Complex and how it relates to the town’s Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act of 2002 guidelines.

/CollegiateTimes @CollegiateTimes

Another public hearing is scheduled for May 14 regarding the development of a Freedom First Credit Union building on Prices Fork Road and for an ordinance to rezone a residential area on South Main Street to a Downtown Commercial and Planned Residential Zoning. There will also be a hearing that day to approve an agreement for the redevelopment of the old Blacksburg Middle School site and to allow the development of parking spaces there.

ABBY PERKINS / COLLEGIATE TIMES @CollegiateTimes

@CollegiateTimes After Class Podcast

PAGE 2 April 16, 2019

opinions

editor@collegiatetimes.com

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column

Hollywood films must promote military accountability

I

Patriotism is essential for a healthy democracy, but propaganda in the entertainment industry is a poor way to influence society. t’s almost considered sacrilege to express any form of criticism toward members of the military. Sure, saying that the military as a whole could use some work is perfectly fine — especially in light of the public’s current view of the war in Iraq — but the individual soldiers are never to blame.

I noticed this first when r ewat ch i ng “A mer ica n Sniper,” a movie chronicling the career of sniper Chris Kyle. The movie takes pains to show the trauma that Kyle and his fellow soldiers endure in service of a cause they believe to be just. Kyle suffers from severe PTSD and his relationship with his family becomes strained. The war is rarely shown in a positive light. The American troops are in Iraq to kill some really bad people, but at a steep cost.

However, the movie never stops to examine the fact that most of the war was a product of a lie told to the public by the Bush administration. In the movie, the snipers are never shown killing innocent civilians. The only people who are killed are those who pose a threat to someone else.

None of the characters die from friendly fire.

“American Sniper” reflects a trend in American movies to go to any lengths necessary to prevent soldiers from being portrayed any way but in

the most sympathetic light.

Doing so comes at the cost of depicting the realities of war and the psychology of soldiers.

Nowadays, it is fairly common for blockbusters to receive funding and resources from the Department of Defense. Some movies include “Transformers,” “Iron Man” and “Man of Steel.” “The Avengers” was infamously denied funds from the Pentagon because it was unclear if agency SHIELD was a part of the U.S. government or was an international organization, a question that has still not been answered. SHIELD possibly being run by global security council apparently takes some of the patriotic fervor out of the movie.

On the surface, there seems to be nothing wrong with having the government fund commercial projects.

The government provides funding for the arts through the National Endowment for the Arts and the Smithsonian Institution. Both of these are great institutions that help lesser-known artists achieve recognition while providing the general public with a guide to American culture.

However, the fact that the Pentagon chooses the projects it funds based on their patriotism presents a moral conflict. Filmmakers should not be beholden

to special interests in the government because they are in the position to influence culture. Movies may not affect behavior but they are effective means of directing social dialogue.

Even if the quality of these movies is dubious — i.e. “Armageddon” — that does not hinder the fact that they function as some of the world’s most expensive propaganda. The DOD may

It’s not just the DOD that is pushing for more favorable depictions. The CIA stopped production of a movie about the Iran-Contra scandal and helped produce “Zero Dark Thirty.” It has sought to rehabilitate its image after the Cold War, during which it was frequently portrayed as antagonistic.

It would be ideal if the government and Hollywood end their relationship, but I

“We must be willing to

recognize the flaws in the current system and be prepared to stand up for human rights. not provide all of the funding for a film but being given the final approval of a script is a powerful tool for spreading a message across the U.S. and even the world.

I recognize that it is folly to attempt to persuade the Pentagon to put its money to use elsewhere. After all, it is getting what it wants: a public that is generally very supportive of the military. It is the most trusted institution in the U.S., with 74 percent support as of July 2018 — higher than small businesses at 67 percent and the police at 54 percent, the only other institutions with support from a majority of Americans.

”

don’t foresee that happening any time soon. Therefore, the burden is on us to discern propaganda when we come into contact with it. There is no harm in enjoying a summer blockbuster as long as people are able to separate fantasy from reality.

We’ve grown so used to accepting the Pentagon’s version of events that as of 2014, the majority of people believed that the CIA’s enhanced interrogation methods work and suggesting that our military has committed a shockingly high number of war crimes is controversial. We never take the time to see soldiers

as individuals who are just as much capable of evil as the institutions they serve.

I do acknowledge the fact that the majority of people who enlist do so in order to receive an affordable education. As someone with student loans of my own, I can completely sympathize with those who are either unwilling or unable to put themselves at the mercy of a mountain of debt.

Still, everyone in the military is there because they chose to be. There is currently no compulsory draft ongoing.

I’m not suggesting that we turn against soldiers. Far from it. What I want is accountability in the public eye for unethical or illegal actions.

When it comes to national defense, sometimes the moral lines do become blurred, but the U.S. is not fighting in the Middle East to defend itself.

The “war on terror” is not a war with another nation; it’s a war with an ideology, which cannot be wiped out with drones. Terrorism does not pose a threat to the U.S. as a state. It is not strong enough to overthrow the government.

Terrorism does pose a threat to American lives, but it’s a relatively low one: Americans are more likely to be killed by cattle than terrorists. The U.S. has not faced a legitimate threat of invasion arguably since the Cold War. In his book “What It Is

Like to Go to War,” Karl Marlantes describes an experience during his time serving in Vietnam in which he killed an enemy soldier who was trying to surrender. He writes about how hard it was to admit to himself that he committed a war crime, how he chose to forget rather than confront the truth.

Does Marlantes deserve to be imprisoned over this crime? I don’t believe so, but I understand people who would wish to punish him to the fullest extent of the law.

Hearing about more experiences like Marlantes’ is essential to understanding the dichotomy between the soldiers of stories and in reality. The Pentagon may try to suppress these stories but it is incumbent upon American citizens to seek them out regardless.

We cannot afford to be uncritical of the military. We must be willing to recognize the flaws in the current system and be prepared to stand up for human rights. We have to look beyond what we want to see in order to truly grasp the truth.

SALLY DUKES • opinions columnist • senior, political science

op-ed

An open letter to the Board of Visitors on fossil fuels

V

The Greens at Virginia Tech implore the university to re-examine its financial interests and divest from nonrenewable resources. irginia Tech is losing money because of its investments in fossil fuels.

The university’s endowment is operated by the Virginia Tech Foundation (VTF) and holds $1.15 billion in assets as of last year.

Approximately 10% of this amount is invested in fossil fuels, which includes the production and distribution of coal, oil and natural gas.

While such an investment may have been secure and profitable in the past, that is no longer the case and universities, banks and economists have begun to take note. Virginia Tech has an opportunity to show leadership by divesting its portfolio from fossil fuels.

Universities are recognizing that fossil fuels are not the strong investment that they used to be.

A study commissioned by the University of Mary Washington found that divesting its portfolio from fossil fuels made “financial sense.” In May 2015, the University of Hawaii announced it would divest its holdings from fossil fuels.

In April 2016, the University of Ottawa announced that it, too, would divest its holdings from fossil fuels in order to “prudently manage … risk, to stay abreast of emerging market dynamics, and to promote investment

practices likely to meet fiduciary responsibilities to optimize investment returns.” Johns Hopkins divested its endowment in December 2017 from companies that generate more than 35% of their electricity from thermal coal, and still saw a 12.5% increase in its endowment from fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2018.

The University of Edinburgh announced in February 2018 that it would divest its £1 billion endowment (~$1.29 billion) completely from fossil fuels.

Virginia Tech could be the first public R-1 university to acknowledge this financial trend by entirely divesting its holdings from fossil fuels.

Research firms and investment ban ks a re also beginning to note the advantage in divesting from fossil fuels. In October 2018, the research firm Corporate Knights found that the New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) “would be an estimated $22.2 billion richer had it decided to divest its fossil fuel stocks ten years ago.” The investment bank Morgan Stanley has developed a Climate Change and Fossil Fuel Aware Investing Framework to address the risks associated with fossil fuel investments. Indeed, in October 2018, they highlighted a

report by the Institute for Sustainable Investing which noted that, “From 2004 to 2014, renewable energy investments increased from $45 billion to over $270 billion.” At the same time, “not addressing a portfolio’s exposure to fossil-fuel-related assets can also pose risks. The Institute’s brief notes that environmental risk factors could strand fossil-fuel assets in a range of sectors, leaving investors exposed to unanticipated write-downs, devaluations or conversion to liabilities.” Virginia Tech would be financially prudent to consider this advice.

When renowned economist Jeremy Rifkin spoke on Feb. 6 at the Moss Arts Center, he highlighted, “a land of free renewable energy,” as a necessary economic goal. Not just any group could carry out this mission, though.

“Virginia Tech is one of the great schools in this country,” Rif kin said.

“You are a great land-grant university, but you’re also one of the great tech universities. Make it happen at Virginia Tech and make this a lighthouse for the rest of the United States of America.”

On Ma rch 21, the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) concurred with these facts and voted in favor of a resolution calling on the

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university to divest from fossil fuels. On March 26, the Student General Assembly (SGA) approved the same resolution. This is a golden moment for the university.

It is an opportunity for

greater financial success.

It is an opportunity to be that “lighthouse.” It is an opportunity to show that the university values the concerns of its student body.

It is our earnest hope that

this is an opportunity that Virginia Tech will take.

RYAN WESDOCK AND KEVIN AKERS • Greens at Virginia Tech

LUIS SINCO / LOS ANGELES TIMES Offshore oil drilling platforms along the California coastline in Huntington Beach on Jan. 5, 2018. President Trump is laying the groundwork to limit states’ say in offshore drilling plans.

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April 16, 2019 PAGE 3

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CATIE CARRERAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Candles line the track at Relay For Life in memory of loved ones.

‘Cancer changes more than just a single person — it changes families.’

Our writer Relays with the hope that the words “You have cancer” will one day cease to be spoken.

SAMEERA SUNKARA lifestyles staff writer

Sometimes, a single word can change everything about your life. Sometimes that word is cancer.

Cancer is not something that affects a single person.

When someone is diagnosed with this disease, the result is similar to the ripple effect.

When I was 5 years old, I asked my paternal grandmother where my paternal grandfather went. I was just an innocent child wondering why I never got the chance to meet him, but to her, it was probably one of the most difficult questions to answer.

She explained to me that he died of cancer when my dad was 14 years old, that’s seven years younger than I am today. He was only 42 years old. Of course, his death did not have much of

an impact on my life; I had three other grandparents filling the void whom I loved dearly.

Still, the summer after my freshman year of high school, things took a turn for the worst. We had just traveled through some of the most beautiful places in southern India, my three grandparents, my younger sister and I. Shortly after we arrived back at my grandparents’ home in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India, my grandfather started complaining of stomach pain. Naturally, he assumed it was just a stomachache.

It did not go away for several days, so my mother, a physician, took him to the doctor’s office. At first, the doctor thought it was kidney stone or gallstones, but soon the devastating diagnosis came in. It was liver cancer.

My parents did not mention his diagnosis to my sister and me just yet, but I knew that my life was about to change. I realized he was in significant pain, that things were not getting better; I could hear it in his voice every time I talked to him.

There were obvious signs of cancer; I just refused to see them. Throughout my childhood, my grandfather was one of the coolest people I knew, always telling stories about travelling the world and bringing me back souvenirs. He was my best friend; the person that I could talk to for hours about anything and everything going on in my life.

The last time I saw him was winter break of my junior year of high school; by this time my parents had informed me of the diagnosis. Things were not

much different in terms of our relationship, but he was different; it was like he lost his sense of adventure, as though he knew he was dying. Still, we talked for hours about my future.

My grandfather passed away Feb. 19, 2015, a little more than a year before I graduated high school. I was unable to go to India for his funeral, but I was given the chance to write part of his eulogy, which a friend read at his wake.

I missed him at my graduation. I could imagine him there cheering loudly. The summer before college, I went back to India, but his room felt empty without him there. Four years later, I still miss him immensely.

It’s not just patients who suffer from cancer, but people close to them as well. It’s not easy to watch someone you love

struggle through an uphill battle, when the most likely outcome is a loss. It’s not easy to see pieces of them disappear.

Cancer changes more than just a single person — it changes entire families.

Parents who lose their child, children who lose parents or grandparents, husbands who lost their wives, or someone who has lost their best friend or sibling to this illness — they are all affected by cancer.

To this day, cancer continues to affect my life, and I hope to be a part of the search for a cure. My grandfather may have lost his battle with cancer, but I hope to help millions of others win their fight in the future.

Relay For Life has the same goal. As one of the most successful fundraising organizations in the world, this nonprofit raises

millions of dollars each year.

This money not only goes toward cancer research and treatment options, but also helps improve the quality of life for cancer patients and their caretakers. It funds free exercise programs that help rehabilitate patients during and after treatment.

Some of the money raised also goes towards residences known as hope lodges for families of cancer patients who require treatment in another state.

And most important of all, Relay For Life works so that there will be a day where nobody will get that feeling of dread when they or a loved one is told, “You have have cancer.”

@SameeraS97

What Relay For Life should do to help cancer survivors like me Our writer, who won her battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, hopes Relay will increase its survivor support in the future.

RACHEL KISER

lifestyles staff writer

I feel strange writing this, having never attended a full Relay event at Virginia Tech.

Though Relay for Life is a one-day event, it still results in a year-long a buildup that litters my inboxes and my

friends’ social media pages with videos of people trying to use cancer and survivorship as an identity. As a cancer survivor, it feels like something I experience everyday. It hurts to see ignorance, so much so that attending would rub salt on my open wound.

CAROLINA HERNANDEZ / COLLEGIATE TIMES Cancer survivor Rachel Kiser, April 11, 2019.

The sound of an oven timer startles me; it’s a noise that impersonates my IV pole beeping at 2 a.m. That sharp sound, like Relay For Life, will always feel like a trigger that sends me back to an ambiguous and out-of-body place. Coming to a school 212 miles away from home was the only way, or so I thought, to escape the cancer of my past. However, it’s hard to stay in hiding when everyone is so present.

When I toured Virginia Tech, I knew Relay For Life was a huge fundraiser the school participated in: A day of activities, music, dance performances, baked goods and philanthropy, centered around community and remembrance. I remember thinking it was an elaborate performance, and wondering why we had to convince people to donate money.

Originally, this piece was supposed to be about the possible marketing flaws of

Relay For Life. By exploring pages of ACS financial statements and ant-Relay for Life blogs, I realized that I was using research to cover up discomfort of telling my own story, and answering the hard question — why won’t I rally for Relay?

Relay For Life puts donations for cancer research and prevention at the forefront of the event, understandably.

Aside from The Survivor Lap, the large event, in past videos of Tech’s Relay event, doesn’t mention survivorship, the effects and mindset after cancer, or even cancer advocacy in the local area. On the American Cancer Society’s website, one can find local resources like Blacksburg Transit transportation and counseling services for cancer patients. That’s it. There are no housing options, no out-patient education programs or local cancer nonprofits.

As someone who has

worked at a nonprofit in the New River Valley for three years, I understand how difficult it can be for families to obtain resources that seem to be more available in larger cities. I was fortunate enough to live in Richmond, where one of the largest cancer research hospitals in the country resides, and have access to amazing support groups, such as Connor’s Heroes. It’s the smaller nonprofits, the ones that get to know your parent’s name, the ones that bring Sweet Frog to every chemo –– those are the ones that helped me fight, during and after treatment, and were more present than my friends and family. That presence should be larger in the New River Valley.

The event has potential to make survivors perspectives more noticeable, but it’s a lot of marketing effort that could be redirected to the local level. Relay becomes a contest, which is good for

fundraising, but loses sight of the people who fight even after remission. Make Relay more like Big Event –– send teams to visit patients, organize safe events for patients to attend, like a prom, make gift baskets.

Make it less about the event, more about the people and the impact you personally make.

But, instead of completely getting rid of the longstanding Virginia Tech tradition, let’s reinvent it with more survivor’s experience, more education of cancer after remission and more emphasis on c om mu n it y out r e a ch.

Cancer will most likely never leave our lives, and it’s something I will carry in mine forever. It’s okay to stand together, break down the walls and let others hear what we have to say.

@Kiser_Rachel

RELAY: 12-hour event requires year of planning, work from page 1

include an a capella riff-off; a workout week, which took place last semester during finals; and a percentage night at Moe’s, where 100% of the proceeds go to Relay For Life.

“It’s definitely a year-long process, because we have fundraising goals and the recruitment goals,” Dionne said. “So in order to be able to reach that, we need to get the word out to as many people as possible.”

Some of the most

important people to reach are freshmen, because they are the least likely to be aware of Relay. Booths are placed around campus to make people aware of the upcoming event, and every committee member is required to take several shifts working in the booths.

Planning an event like Relay For Life might seem like a big time commitment, but Dionne said that the work is easier than it appears.

Friendships can easily form between participants. “We do a lot of bonding together (on the events committee), so it’s

a lot of fun because we get to know each other more.”

On the night of Relay, committee members stay for the entirety of the 12-hour

Relay Olympics and the donut-eating contest. If participants have raised $200, they recieve a food pass and can eat the provided

“I Relay for the hope of a cure. ”

Kira Dionne Member Relay For Life events committee

event, and are allowed an hour-long break at any point during the night. Dionne’s committee is in charge of events like Silent Disco,

food, which is served in waves throughout the night.

Along with raising awareness, the big goal of Relay For Life is fundraising

for the American Cancer Society. This year, its goal is $472,000. Many organizations and individuals on campus contribute, and committee members are encouraged to donate as well.

Like many who work on behalf of Relay For Life, Dionne has a personal connection with the event.

“I Relay because my best friend’s mom was diagnosed with cancer,” Dionne said.

Dionne was in elementary school at the time and this was her first experience with the illness. “I was the one with him when we found out

she had passed. So it was just a really big impact on me at a pretty young age.”

Dionne knew that as soon as she arrived at Virginia Tech, she would take part in Relay For Life. Many others involved with Relay have stories like Dionne’s, and it makes the time and work put into the event worth it. “I Relay for that,” Dionne said.

“I Relay for the hope of a cure.”

@CollegiateTimes

PAGE 4 April 16, 2019

editor@collegiatetimes.com

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Relay rocks the house: Get to know this year’s performing artists Here’s the low-down on the diverse musical talent that will soundtrack this year’s Relay For Life.

BRANDON ALIMANESTIANO lifestyles staff writer

As Hokies, we all know how important Relay For Life is at Virginia Tech.

It’s huge — in fact, it’s the largest Relay For Life event in the world, as of 2018.

If that isn’t lively enough, there’s a medley of music and performances by artists and groups all focused on raising money for cancer.

Headlining the event will be Chelsea Cutler, a Connecticut native in her prime who has been making music since her early teenage years, and made the Billboard viral chart when she was still in college. She has been featured by many musicians, and is currently promoting her latest album, “Sleeping with Roses” while having recently completed a world tour. She will also be performing at Lollapalooza this year.

Next up is The 5:55, a DC area rock band with a variety of songs sure to liven up the night. They are currently growing a larger fan base

as they perform at venues across the East Coast.

Interestingly enough, the band formed right here in the New River Valley during the members’ college years, and is composed of former Radford and Virginia Tech students.

Another band that is based out of Blacksburg is The Jared Stout Band, also performing during Relay. They are local to Blacksburg and perform at venues downtown such as Sycamore Deli and Poor Billy’s. As they are gaining a growing fanbase for their acoustic blues sound, they recently branched out and performed at the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia, alongside country music legend Phil Vassar.

Changing the pace up a little bit is Fordson Labs, a hip-hop collective based in Richmond. They have a growing following, most notably known for their song “Roots.” Despite being a hip hop group, they have a more organic sound to their music, blending contemporary jazz and traditional sounds with

modern electronic beats for a more lo-fi effect.

Per for m ing next is Drifter, a new rock band that actually performed at the 2016 Relay For Life, under a different name, Point of Origin. They have a very original sound, rooted in classic rock and folk, for a new wave rock feel. They are also currently working on producing their first album.

Also performing is Cole Massey, a singer-songwriter who is from Blacksburg and performs regularly in the area. He is a Virginia Tech graduate as well and released his own album, “The Foundation,” last year. With his alternative acoustic, piano riffs and inspirational lyrics, he should be very stimulating to the crowd as his music is full of heart.

Relay For Life will also host several other performances, such as the Flowmigos and the Low Techs, both dance groups at Virginia Tech. Two DJs, including DJ Youssef and DJ Flex, will also perform throughout the night. A

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Band Concord takes the stage to perform for everyone at Relay For Life, April 20, 2018.

Virginia Tech a capella group, Technotes, will also be singing for the crowd.

In addition to these performances, the Mr. Relay contest will also take place during the night, where contestants will compete in a beauty pageant-type event to raise even more money donated by on-site donors. There will also be a silent disco event, where

the audience wears headphones that are all synced to a DJ’s setlist. Finally, there is going to be Zumba and an SAA spirit rally that is sure to get everyone in the spirit of Relay.

Thanks to the Virginia Tech Union and the sheer size of our Relay For Life, this event is going to be a blast. With great musicians, performance groups

and thousands of people gathered together, Relay For Life will be an amazing night. If you are still interested in participating in Relay For Life, you can find information about the event through the website and Facebook.

@CollegiateTimes

18 years of fighting for a cure: The history of Relay at Tech Relay For Life was founded in 1985, and first took place on Virginia Tech’s campus in 2001.

SAMEERA SUNKARA lifestyles staff writer

Relay For Life is a fundraising organization dedicated to increasing the survival rate of cancer, reducing the the number of cancer victims and assisting cancer victims in terms of life quality.

This organization was established in Tacoma, Washington, in May 1985 by Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon. He spent 24 hours walking and running a total of 83 miles around a track at the University of Puget Sound in an effort to spread awareness of cancer and raise money for the American Cancer Society – he ended up raising over $27,000.

He demonstrated the impact of a single person.

The following year, Dr. Klatt established a committee and hosted the first official Relay For Life event on that same track as the “City of Destiny Classic 24-Hour Run Against Cancer.” A total of 19 teams participated, and together they raised $33,000.

Over the last several decades, Relay For Life has become one of the most successful organizations that supports and raises

money for cancer.

Since 1996, Relay For Life has spread internationally, and Global Relay for Life events are being held in 26 different countries. This organization unifies communities across the globe who are determined to participate in the battle against cancer.

Additionally, hundreds of high schools and college campuses across the nation participate in Relay For Life. Virginia Tech is one of those schools. This community-wide movement began in 2001, and follows the school’s motto, “Ut Prosim,” That I May Serve. Relay For Life is Virginia Tech’s way of honoring those who have won their battle against cancer and work towards finding a cure.

In 2009, Virginia Tech earned recognition as the number one collegiate Relay For Life and one of the largest global Relay For Life events, a status it holds to this day.

Every April for the past 18 years , Tech has held a 12-hour event on the Drillfield, open to past and current Hokies as well as family and friends as a way of celebrating the year-long fundraising efforts of the school.

T here a re sever a l teams that participate in Relay For Life every year.

Traditionally, the night is filled with a plethora of activities, programs and booths set up by various organizations at Tech. It is also a night to remember those who fought the battle against cancer, both survivors and victims, through events like the The Survivor Lap, Survivor’s Banquet and Luminaria Ceremony.

Of course, Relay For Life goes beyond a single night in April. There are also several pre-fundraising events that occur prior to the official event including bake sales, car washes and percentage nights. This year, Virginia Tech had a percentage night at Moe’s on Friday, April 12. In addition, much of the fundraising occurs through social media.

Since its establishment, Virginia Tech Relay For Life has raised more than $5 million dollars, all of which goes toward supporting cancer research Over the last 10 years, Virginia Tech has raised half a million dollars every year.

@SameeraS97

President Sands: Thank you for the VetZone space!

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Survivor Lap kicks off to celebrate those who have successfully fought back against cancer, April 20, 2018.

Western Road WesternPerimeter Perimeter Road Virginia Tech Campus Virginia Tech Campus TownofofBlacksburg Blacksburg Town Citizen Information Meeting Citizen Information Meeting

April 22, 2019, 5 – 7 p.m.

April 22, 2019, 5 – 7 p.m.

The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061 Come see conceptual plans for a new 2.61-mile, two-lane divided roadway that would Come Fork see conceptual plans for aDrive new on 2.61-mile, two-lane dividedTech. roadway connect Prices Road and Southgate the campus of Virginia Connections that would connect Fork Road Southgate on the campus of could to other existing roads will bePrices developed as partand of the project.Drive Phases of this project Tech.and Connections other existing roads will beavailable. developedThe as part be furtherVirginia developed constructedtoas future funding becomes newof road the project.

Phases of project could beimprove further developed and constructed and connections are intended tothis relieve congestion, connectivity and enhance safety. as future funding becomes available. The new road and connections are intended relieve congestion, improve connectivity andSalem enhance safety.

Review the projecttoinformation at the meeting or after at VDOT’s District Office located atReview 731 Harrison Avenue, Salem VA, 540-387-5353, 800-367-7623, TTY/TDD 711. the project information at the meeting or after at VDOT’s Salem District Office located at 731 Harrison Avenue, Salem VA, 540-387-5353, 800-367-7623, In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 CFR Part 800, TTY/TDD 711. public participation is requested to determine if properties listed or eligible for listing in the

– Veterans@VT National Register of Historic Places will be affected by the project.

In compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106 and 36 Student Veterans of Give yourCFR Part 800, public participation requested to determine if properties listed written or oral comments at theismeeting or submit them by May 2, 2019, to Tim or eligible for listing inHarrison the National Register of Historic Places will be affected by Dowdy, Project Manager, 731 Avenue, Salem, VA 24153.

Comments also can be America (SVA) thetim.dowdy@vdot.virginia.gov. project. emailed to Please reference “Western Perimeter Road Public Lounge located at GBJ room 300 – above Seattle’s Best Coffee Find SVA on GobblerConnect!

Comment” in the subject heading.

Give your written or oral comments at the meeting or submit them by May 2, 2019, to Tim Dowdy, Project 731 Harrison Salem, VA 24153.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and Manager, equal employment in allAvenue, programs and activities in Comments canTitle be emailed to Civil tim.dowdy@vdot.virginia.gov. accordance with Titlealso VI and VII of the Rights Act of 1964. If youPlease need more information in regards to yourPerimeter civil rightsRoad on this project or need in special assistance for reference “Western Public Comment” the subject heading. persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Tim Dowdy at the phone VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and numbers listed above. activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

If you need more information in regards to your civil rights on this project or need State Project: 0314-060-R32, P-101 UPC: 108871 special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Tim Dowdy at the phone numbers listed above.

State Project: 0314-060-R32, P-101 UPC: 108871

editor@collegiatetimes.com

April 16, 2019 PAGE 5

collegiatetimes.com

The new Collegiate Times podcast

a

a l s c s r tf e

new episodes posted every other Friday on SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Play and iTunes

COLLEGIATETIMES

study break Get to know the CT: Jessica Brady, editor in chief Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

That’s so hard; I think the egg came first. Well, like, how would a chicken be born without an egg existing first? Something had to lay an egg.

How fast can you type?

I don’t know. (After typing test) 69 words per minute. 98% accuracy.

Go-to APB order So, I actually found a

really delicious sandwich that I like a lot: The Good Egg. It’s really good. And I like to get a nice tall cup of ice water.

What’s your favorite chip flavor and why?

I like the Sour Cream and Onion Lay’s. Those are freaking delicious. I also like Ruffles, Cheetos, I like all chips.

Cardi B or Nicki Minaj?

Nicki Minaj, definitely.

Plus, Saj, the design editor, has some resemblance to Nicki Minaj. I gotta be loyal.

What have been binge watching lately?

I just finished what is out so far of “The Act.” It was really really good.

@TheJessicaBrady

Today’s Birthday Horoscope (April 16): Raise your skills and expertise through travel and education this year. Dedicated focus builds your career status and influence. Domestic joys delight your family this summer, inspiring new professional directions. Your work and career flourish next winter, inspiring changes at home. Develop an exciting possibility.

FOR RELEASE APRIL 16, 2019

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

ACROSS 1 “The Big Bang Theory” network 4 Uncertain 8 Peek at someone else’s test answers, say 13 River to the Caspian 15 Where to find a hero 16 Rental document 17 Opera songs for one 18 Part of 19 Ready for action 20 Farewell performance 22 Award-winning sci-fi author __ Ellison 23 Chess match finale 24 Summer camp craft 25 Neuter 26 Squinter’s wrinkles 30 Done with employment: Abbr.

32 Cathedral recess 33 Go off course 34 Lively Irish dances 37 “Steppenwolf” writer Hermann 39 Lyre-playing emperor 40 “Much __ About Nothing” 41 Broadway partner of Rodgers 42 Reuben bread 44 Hidden danger 47 Honey-colored 51 Big rigs 52 Track’s inside track 54 Songs of praise 56 Easy-peasy task 57 Sports stadium 58 Jellystone Park bear 59 Actor Miller of “Justice League” 60 Watchful period 61 Keen 62 Sets eyes on 63 Lawn-trimming targets

4/16/19

By Lee Taylor

64 Ballpoints 65 Banned insecticide DOWN 1 Used “colorful” language 2 “Doctor My Eyes” singer Jackson __ 3 Light lunches 4 Strong suit or weak sauce 5 African desert fox 6 Criticize harshly 7 Yang complement 8 Purify 9 Find out about 10 Keen-sighted sort 11 Between ports 12 Seagull kin 14 Won’t go away, as an odor 21 __-Coburg: former Bavarian duchy 22 Mooring rope 24 Foes of robbers 27 Many a reggae artist 28 Corn serving 29 Romantic dinner complement

Monday’s Solved Previous Puzzle Puzzle Solved

©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

31 “To clarify ... ” 34 Quick punch 35 Swearing-in words 36 Big fat zero 38 Drops the ball 39 Formidable opponents 41 Church books with many notes 43 Sudden pull 45 Small skullcap

4/16/19

46 Connect to an outlet 48 Drank to excess 49 Hardened (to) 50 Dinner, say 53 Corrosive compounds 54 Cover with asphalt 55 Like the Mojave 56 Jackknifed into the pool, say 58 Chatter

sports

PAGE 6 April 16, 2019

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com/sports

QB: Willis stands out in crowded quarterback room “Fuente gave no real infrom page 1

need to see more of Patterson in the actual offense before judgement can be made. Currently,

he seems to be the biggest boom or bust candidate of the group.

Fuente gave no real indication on who will get the nod week one against Boston College on Aug. 31, and with

dication on who will get the nod week one against Boston College.

a lot of camp and practice to go, it looks as if Saturday’s scrimmage was only an entertaining glimpse of the Hokie quarterback room.

Only one thing is for sure, the final decision will be

paramount in determining Virginia Tech’s success this upcoming season.

” Did the Hokies make the grade in Spring Game?

@CTSportsTalk

The defensive line maintained an aggressive presence while the offensive line struggled to keep the quarterbacks protected.

GRIFFIN SCANLAN sports staff writer

Offense

Quarterback All three quarterbacks had multiple missed passes during the 2019 Virginia Tech Spring Game. One interception was thrown by Hendon Hooker, while Ryan Willis and Quincy Patterson missed on short passes early in the game.

The quarterback group had a problem with telegraphing its passes, a mistake that could hurt the Hokies next season.

However, all three players showed promise; each had a few nice plays creating first downs, forming momentum and scoring touchdowns.

Patterson completed a 15-yard throw on the run that caught the crowd’s attention. All of Tech’s quarterbacks had touchdowns in Saturday’s scrimmage. After the Spring Game, there is still not a clear starter for the Hokies this fall.

Grade: B

Running backs In the beginning of the scrimmage, the running backs ran simple routes right up the middle for short gains. The

start of the game was slow, but they began to find holes in the defense and create more opportunities to gain yardage.

A new name projected over the loudspeaker was Caleb Steward, who had great vision and broke through the defense for a 40-yard run down the left side of the field. He will be a nice addition to the backs along with Deshawn McClease.

Grade: AReceivers/Tight Ends Other positions with slow starts were the receivers and tight ends. They were rarely passed to because of solid coverage and pressure on the quarterbacks. The momentum changed about a quarter of the way through the scrimmage as the quarterbacks began to gain more confidence and threw more often. The crowd heard familiar names such as Damon Hazelton Hezekiah Grimsley, along with new ones like James Mitchell.

The sophomore who played special teams last season had several receptions for first downs and positive yardage.

As the game went on, the tight ends and receivers began to

break away from the defensive backs and catch the ball in stride more often. There should be no worry about the receiver or tight end position this fall.

Grade: B+ Offensive Line Throughout the entirety of the day, the offensive line was pushed around and allowed defensive players to find the quarterback. All three quarterbacks were forced out of the pocket often and threw off-balance because of the defense. The offensive line will be critical this year in protecting whichever mobile quarterback wins the starting job. The offensive line unit was effective in limiting sacks despite allowing pressure into the backfield on many plays.

Grade: C

Defense

Defensive Line The defensive line was one of the best groups on the field during the Spring Game. The unit held the running backs and quarterbacks to short gains and kept the offensive line on its toes. They cut off the ends and forced the QB

out of the pocket showing the right instincts and decisions.

The biggest concern will be replacing Ricky Walker in the trenches.

Grade: ALinebackers The linebackers did their jobs Saturday, attacking the ball and minimizing gains by the offense. There were few passes over the middle that were not batted down or tackled immediately. Rising sophomore Dax Hollifield will be a standout at the linebacker position this coming season.

Grade: B+ Defensive backs The defensive backs started strong by locking up the receivers and allowing few receptions past the linebackers. The secondary played great coverage throughout most of the game, sliding when necessary and closing on throws and runs efficiently. The team had one interception, lots of defensive stops, kept the receivers on the outside with throws, and had very few slip-ups for large gains.

Grade: B+ Special Teams The kickers made two of four field goals during the special teams segment of the spring game. The punters had good distance on their kicks but lacked hang time to limit a big return. Overall, it was not a great performance by the special teams unit in the early spring scrimmage. Brian

Johnson will likely return as the starting place kicker next fall. This will be a position group to improve upon in the offseason as the Hokies prepare for the 2019 football season.

Grade: D

@CTSportsTalk

CAROLINA HERNANDEZ / COLLEGIATE TIMES James Mitchell (82) pushes through the defense, Lane Stadium, April 13, 2019.

Several new faces stand Magarity WNBA bound: out during Spring Game Drafted by Connecticut James Mitchell, Emmanuel Belmar, Malik Bell and Caleb Steward were a few of the Hokies making noise on Saturday.

DAN DEMSKI

sports staff writer

The 2019 Spring Game ushered in a new season for the Virginia Tech Hokies football team. Fans got a look at many faces, both old and new, all while catching a preview of Hokies football.

Fans saw a collection of underclassmen that they had not seen take the field before.

We caught the first glimpse of Malik Bell, who’s typically a tight end but ended up taking reps at running back due to the Hokies being short handed at the position. Bell had a bruising running style, running primarily between the tackles and picking up hard-earned yards. Bell had one particularly great run where he carried several Tech defenders down to the one-yard line.

A no t h e r i m p r e s sive showing was by running back Caleb Steward. The redshirt freshman from Jacksonville, Florida broke off several nice runs to help guide the Hokies down the field. Steward’s three-yard touchdown run off a spin move was his most notable highlight.

“So far, my spring has been good. I feel like I’ve gotten better at making guys miss at the line of scrimmage,” Steward said after the game.

James Mitchell, a sophomore tight end from Stone Gap, Virginia, made several highlight plays when he took

the field. On an early drive, Mitchell caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Willis. Several drives later, Mitchell showed his offensive versatility when he took a jet sweep for a nice gain. Mitchell is expected to get significant minutes this season and his showing on Saturday was indicative of what he can bring to the offense.

“That kid’s going to be special. He has a bright future ahead of him,” Willis said.

The special teams unit had some ups and downs throughout the game. Brian Johnson went 1-of-3 and missed several kicks wide right. Sophomore Jordan Stout was perfect however, going 3-of-3 and drilling all three from the 30 to 40-yard range.

“I liked that Jordan stepped up and made them. I still like Brian. I like our whole specialist group from Oscar (Bradburn) to Brian,” said head coach Justin Fuente.

Attendees got a look at several familiar players that played well on Saturday evening.

Willis played fairly consistent and lead the Hokies on several successful series. Willis had a 62-yard touchdown to Tre Turner near the end of the spring game that showcased his ability to win from the pocket.

Hokie fans also got to see a new and improved Quincy Patterson, who made several

nice throws and broke off several big runs. Patterson did well in improving his chances to be named starter next season.

The biggest defensive standout was Emmanuel Belmar. Belmar was all over the field and even got to Willis and sacked him. Hokies fans will likely see more of Belmar than last season due to a season-ending knee injury that Houshun Gaines suffered last year against Pittsburgh.

A lot of questions will arise from now until September; the offense has a lot of depth, and players at all positions got many reps as the game went along. Though it was just a practice game, the reps were crucial to seeing next year’s team will look like and how they progressed from last year’s 6–7 record.

“We still have many challenges in front of us. I’m excited to be out there with these guys,” said Fuente.

@CTSportsTalk

Senior Regan Magarity was selected 33rd overall by the Connecticut Sun, the fifth in program history to get drafted.

DILLON CAMPBELL assistant sports editor

After being selected 33rd by the Connecticut Sun in the 2019 WNBA draft, Virginia Tech redshirt senior standout Regan Magarity becomes just the fifth Hokie to be drafted into the WNBA and first since Nare Diawara was taken 34th overall by the San Antonio Stars in 2007.

“I am extremely happy for Regan on her being selected by the Connecticut Suns in the 2019 WNBA draft,” said Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks. “Her hard work and dedication to our program has paid off with this accomplishment. She is most deserving of this honor and I know she will do well.

Connecticut is lucky to have her as Hokie Nation was.

Congrats Ray.” The Sun’s selection makes Magarity the highest selected Virginia Tech player since the Chicago Sky chose Kerri Gardin at pick 31 in the 2006 WNBA draft. Aside from Magarity, Diawara and Gardin, two other Hokies, Ieva Kublina in 2004 and Tere Williams in 2001, have also been taken in the WNBA draft.

Despite not playing in a single NCAA Tournament game in her career, Magarity established herself as one the best post players in the country during her collegiate career, leading Tech to three straight trips to the WNIT Sweet 16 and an appearance at the 2018 WNIT Championship. Last season, the 6-foot-3 forward earned second team All-ACC honors, averaging 14.1

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES Regan Magarity (11) waits to pass the ball in the Hokies’ 67–51 win over the Scarlet Knights, Nov. 28, 2018.

points and an ACC-best 12.8 rebounds while leading the Hokies to a 22-12 record.

Virginia Tech has seen some of the most success it has had in recent memory with Magarity on the team.

Over the past three seasons, the Hokies went 20-14, 23-14 and 22-12 as the Swedish sensation aided Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks, Taylor Emery and the crew to some of its best seasons since the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Hokies won 20 or more games for seven straight seasons under Boonie Henrikson.

Virginia Tech’s all-time rebounding leader joins 6-foot-4 Cal center Kristine Anigwe, the Naism ith Defensive Player of the Year, and Marquette’s Natisha Hiedeman, the Big East Player of the Year, with Connecticut, shoring up the Sun’s frontcourt and adding a dynamic guard to the backcourt.

Along with Anigwe and Hiedeman, Magarity looks to help propel Connecticut to its third conference title and its first league championship.

Last year, the Sun lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Phoenix Mercury for a second straight season, finishing 21-13, the same record as the previous season.

@DillonHCampbell

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

April 16, 2019 PAGE 7

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PAGE 8 April 16, 2019

We Remember 32 collegiatetimes.com

editor@collegiatetimes.com

Below are the names of the 32 victims who died on April 16, 2007.

Ross A. Alameddine

Emily Jane Hilscher

Daniel Alejandro Perez Cueva

Christopher James Bishop

Jarrett Lee Lane

Erin Nicole Peterson

Brian R. Bluhm

Matthew Joseph La Porte

Michael Steven Pohle Jr.

Ryan Christopher Clark

Henry J. Lee

Julia Kathleen Pryde

Austin Michelle Cloyd

Liviu Librescu

Mary Karen Read

Jocelyne Couture-Nowak

G.V. Loganathan

Reema Joseph Samaha

Kevin P. Granata

Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan

Waleed Mohamed Shaalan

Matthew Gregory Gwaltney

Lauren Ashley McCain

Leslie Geraldine Sherman

Caitlin Millar Hammaren

Daniel Patrick O’Neil

Maxine Shelly Turner

Jeremy Michael Herbstritt

Juan Ramon Ortiz-Ortiz

Nicole Regina White

Rachael Elizabeth Hill

Minal Hiralal Panchal

Remembrance Tattoos

Virginia Tech alumni share their tattoos in remembrance of the victims who passed away in the April 16 shooting.

COURTESY OF JAMES HAMRIC

“I had just moved to San Antonio, Texas, in September 2006 (where I still live), so I was still

pretty new to the area when it happened. I was in the golf business at the time, though I started teaching high school math the following school year (which is what I still do). Each year, I talk to my classes about 4/16. I got this tattoo just above my left ankle in the spring of 2008,” Hamric, a Class of 1992 alumnus, said.

COURTESY OF JACOB HILTON “My name is Jacob Hilton, a 2008 grad in civil engineering. Two of those lost on April 16 were a professor and a lab TA of mine at the time. I got my ‘Ut Prosim’ tattoo as a daily reminder to serve others in memory of the 32 Hokies who no longer had the opportunity to live out that motto,” Hilton said.

COURTESY OF ANNE BAGGERLY

“I graduated in 2009, (and I) was next door in McBryde 100. Those are the coordinates of Blacksburg, and there’s definitely a story behind that,” Baggerly said.

COURTESY OF NICHOLE KROL “I graduated in May 2007 shortly after the shootings when our lives as college students were forever changed. I got this tattoo to remember the 32 Hokie angels that were lost too soon on that tragic day on our beloved campus. neVer forgeT,” Krol said.

Author of ‘After Virginia Tech’ discusses healing process in the community after April 16 shooting Freelance journalist Thomas Kapsidelis talks about gun rights, public safety and the struggles of tighter gun legislation.

KELLEY GATES news staff writer

“After Virginia Tech” by freelance journalist Thomas P. Kapsidelis is a book about the aftermath of the April 16 shooting at Virginia Tech.

The book, published by the University of Virginia Press, describes the effects of the tragedy 10 years later and how the survivors and the community are trying to

heal. “After Virginia Tech” is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, April 16.

Kapsidelis analyzes the questions of guns rights and public safety, as well as documents the struggles of the advocates of tighter gun legislation. But, according to the author, the most important theme in the book is healing.

Kapsidelis is a former editor for the Richmond

Ti m e s - D i sp a t ch, and worked there for 28 years before leaving in 2016 for the organization Virginia Humanities to pursue creating the book.

Around 2010, Kapsidelis saw that there was still a lot of struggle within the community, especially in light of continued similar tragedies around the country. He began to question how the survivors

ALEXA JOHNSON / COLLEGIATE TIMES A reminder of Hokie strength sits next to the April 16 Memorial.

were moving ahead and what they were doing to cope with the events that they had witnessed. He also wanted to record the ways students at Virginia Tech were performing advocacy for things like gun control and violence prevention.

“Having been at (Virginia Tech) the day of the shooting, as you can imagine for a journalist, it’s an experience that you cannot fail to be shaped from,” Kapsidelis said.

The book was originally part of a writing assignment course in 2012 for his master of arts nonfiction writing program at Goucher College in Maryland. Kapsidelis had never written a book before, so he entered the program to help with his idea. To write the book, he attended rallies, interviewed various community members and survivors, and conducted research into subjects such as gun control and trauma. As he continued his research and interviewing,

the book evolved from a collection of testimonies to a book covering gun violence, safety and healing, analyzing these things in order to create a strong narrative of the aftereffects of the tragedy. According to Kapsidelis, the testimonies he witnessed reinforced that the period of healing goes on.

“In my mind, the period of healing goes on for long after the event,” Kapsidelis said.

Since Kapsidelis was an editor at the time of the shooting, not a reporter, he had no real contacts to get exclusive interviews.

In order to gain these testimonies, he had to rely on those who were already telling their stories or who contacted him with stories they wanted to tell.

However, he tried to be as sensitive to the victims as possible because many are still affected by the events of the shooting. The author had to maintain relationships

with the people he was interviewing and conducted multiple interviews over the course of several years.

According to him, he was able to go more in-depth as the interviews went on, but still tried to be respectful.

“I was asked at a panel about the book whether I thought about this book as news or whether I thought this book was history,” Kapsidelis said. “I said I think it’s a bit of both, because 10 years is not a great deal of time. It’s still the beginning for a lot of people.”

The book will be released on April 16 of this year and can be purchased for $29.95 from the University of Virginia Press website.

@CollegiateTimes