April 2, 2019 by The Collegiate Times

April 2, 2019

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COLLEGIATETIMES OT PROSIM OTTE RSON CALDWELL OTTER SANDMAN ALMA MOTTER O TTER MCOTTER FA CE THE TATER TOT TER HARRY OTTER

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An otter swam up the Stroubles Creek into the Duck Pond at Virginia Tech and quickly gained community-wide attention.

What if our furry friend decided to go the otter way? Our writer predicts what would happen if our new pal left the pond.

Otter spotted: New water Otterly chaotic: We owe animal joins Hokie family our everything to the otter TAHREEM ALAM

assistant news editor

A new animal has joined the Virginia Tech community. About one month ago, an otter naturally swam upstream into the Virginia Tech Duck Pond and has remained there since. Otters are indigenous to the Stroubles Creek water systems said Mark Owczarski, assistant vice president for university relations at Virginia Tech. “In essence, it’s the same as the ducks, and the birds and everybody else who calls the duck pond it’s home,” Owczarski said. Virginia Tech doesn’t have any plans to get involved with the otter. “T he un iversit y is allowing the natural habitat to do what it normally does,” Owczarski said. “The otter is there and if the otter decides to go, it will go on its own accord ... this is nature in action is the easiest way to describe it.” When the news of the otter appeared on the Virginia Tech Instagram account, more than 8,900 likes appeared in less than 24 hours according to The Roanoke Times, making it one of the most popular posts

in the five-year history of the account. Someone even created a Twitter for the otter this past week. Fairen Horner, Virginia Tech social media manager, said to The Roanoke Times that Virginia Tech’s licensing department began a flash order of shirts with the phrase “Otter Sandman” on it due to a comment on the Instagram post. Owczarski said these shirts are not Virginia Tech property per se, but someone is working with the university to make t-shirts about something that has made lots of people happy, which is the otter. “People just kind of saw it and reacted to it very positively,” Owczarski said. “Very similar to things like ‘horse on a treadmill’ –– people just found a lot of joy in knowing that an otter is kind of hanging out at the Duck Pond for a while, and there was somebody who wanted to make t-shirts about it.” However, while lots of people are heading over to the Duck Pond to spot the otter, the university has some advice for when people see it. Jim Parkhurst, professor in the Department of Fish

MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS SHORT IN D.C. Duke holds off Virginia Tech in final seconds of the Sweet 16. page 8

and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech, told The Roanoke Times that feeding the animal regularly will cause it to develop a poor diet, and people should take caution because the otter is a wild animal with unpredictable behavior. Moreover, Parkhurst, whose research, teaching and extension activities revolve around studying the relationships and interactions between wildlife and humans, said the otter will most likely not come too close to people. People should avoid getting too close to it as well, for their own and the otter’s safety. Finally, Owczarski said that the advice the university would give is to truly respect nature and give nature its space. “Anytime that people come in contact with nature, we need to be mindful of their needs,” Owczarski said. “So we just encourage people to allow the otter to live as the otter lives, and respect that space with a wild animal.”

@Tahreem_Alam

EMILY CARTER

lifestyles staff writer

If you haven’t heard about Virginia Tech’s newest furry friend, you must be living under a rock, or more specifically, Hokie Stone. An otter was spotted at the Duck Pond this week, and people have been losing their minds. Many people believed that the otter –– who is yet to be named –– would be the Hokies’ good luck charm for beating Duke. Since the otter hasn’t been spotted in a few days and we lost to Duke, it is only assumed the otter’s absence caused us to lose. It really hurts that our furry friend is a fair-weathered fan. If the otter doesn’t come back soon with all of our good juju, here are a few things that would be less than ideal to take place at Virginia Tech West End gets renovated What’s worse than having one dining hall get renovated? Two dining halls getting renovated. Turner be packed. If you think trying to move past people in the academic-side dining hall was hard now, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The Bruegger’s line would be backed up to the Qdoba line, and the Origami line would go down the stairs. And don’t even

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think about being able to find a seat in the remaining dining halls. All the seating in Hokie Grill, D2 and even DX would be occupied. This otter needs to be spotted soon because no one needs to wait 45 minutes in line for an everything bagel with cream cheese. The Perry Street parking garage burns down Two crowded dining halls? What’s next, less parking? Yes, actually. Virginia Tech is going to have 1,300 fewer parking spaces if the Perry Street parking garage burns down in the middle of the night. Because the garage burned down, more students are probably going to take the bus to campus and that’s going to lead to overcrowding on buses, and bus drivers are going to have to skip stops because the buses are going to fill up faster. Otter, please show yourself. We can’t have the buses getting crowded. Virginia Tech, more like “VA Tech” Every Hokie gets irritated when a lame sports announcer calls us “VA Tech.” No one is going to refer to us as “Virginia Tech,” “VT” or even “Tech” anymore now that the otter hasn’t been spotted. Tech’s marketing team is going to have to work overtime to prevent us Hokies

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from going by “VA Tech.” People are going to have to work late, it’s going to put a strain on people’s relationships and people are going to get divorced. If this otter really cared about people’s marriages, he would show himself. Te c h loses the Commonwealth Cup This would be the worst thing that could happen to Virginia Tech, since the otter hasn’t been spotted. Hopefully the otter is spotted before November, but if not, a giant dark cloud of doom would be placed over Tech’s campus. Nothing would be worse than losing our 15-year winning streak and our Wahoo friends and family members never shutting up about it for the next few awful Thanksgivings, Christmases and birthday parties. So Mr. or Ms. Otter, if you’re reading this, please show yourself, because we can’t have these horrible things happen to our school. Just occasionally pop out the water for someone with a camera to reassure us nervous Hokies that everything is going to be okay.

@EmilyNic_12

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Expression of grief deserves empathy, compassion

People have different ways of coping with sadness and loss; they should be able to navigate their emotions free of judgment. ake one look at my room and it’s not hard to guess my favorite flower. Hydrangeas dominate my decor — they’re painted across the cover of my planner, stuck onto the back of my laptop case and wrapped around my bedpost. Hydrangeas were also my grandmother’s favorite flowers. They’re the one reminder of her I allow myself to keep close at hand; everything else is too painful, too fast to reopen wounds just barely scabbed over. When I miss her so much it almost overwhelms me; I have more personal items to remember her by. I left behind her bottle of “Passion” by Elizabeth Arden perfume in Williamsburg — I was too scared of breaking it during the move-in process. I have a few of the chiffon scarves she liked to tie around her neck, looking every inch the chic Southern belle she was at heart, even when the cancer treatment had taken her hair but not her spirit. Of course I have photos, though most feature me as a chubby-cheeked elementary schooler, dutifully dressed up in the Justice outfits she loved to see me wear, and are best saved for my family’s eyes only. For the worst days, I have the letters she dictated to my mother for my major life events — one for her own passing, my high school graduation and someday, my wedding — when she knew she had fought the best she could and barely had the

strength to even sign her name at the bottom. I only read them when nothing else will soothe me, because I know it’ll take me the better part of an hour to compose myself afterwards. I have these things, but I would trade them all in a heartbeat just for one last conversation with her or another one of her hugs, the most comforting ones I ever knew. Grammie’s scarf can’t capture the sound of her saying “I love you”; the scent of her perfume can’t replace our conversations around the kitchen table or the phone calls of encouragement before a big test. Sometimes, items only serve as a reminder of the hollow space our loved ones once filled. I lost my grandmother almost five years ago, yet there are times where the grief feels just as fresh as it was that awful September night. That’s what so many people fail to understand; mourning is not a simple five-step process, and for many of us, it doesn’t get less painful. The loss won’t hurt less — but it will stop taking up every thought in your brain. Your heart slowly makes room for something other than the sheer anguish you experience at first. The reminder that my grandmother is no longer with me was no less painful the 500th time than it was the first; it’s simply that it’s a fact I’ve lived with for so long that I know to expect the ache in my chest when I think of her. It’s the same

ache I felt when I looked out into the crowd at graduation and didn’t see her there, or when I published my first piece at the CT and my mom told me how proud she would’ve been. Knowing how complex grief is, and that it never truly leaves, we shouldn’t judge the way those who

successful as possible, even in the face of loss — that year, my freshman year, I threw myself into my work. My mother, on the other hand, took a step back, spending many days at my grandparents’ home in North Carolina to help my grandfather sell the house and go through my

“There are so many ways

to sort through the complicated feelings that come with loss, and there is no ‘right’ way to do so. have lost someone choose to handle it. Granted, some ways are healthier than others, but the majority of us aren’t licensed therapists, and it isn’t up to us to decide that someone isn’t grieving appropriately. Grief is different for each person experiencing it and it varies depending on the connection we have to the person we have lost and how deeply they were integrated into our lives. My parents and grandfather view visiting my grandmother’s grave as a comfort, but it took me three and a half years to work up the strength to do so — even then, I thought it hurt more than it helped. I found out about her passing on a Sunday night and was up at 5:30 a.m. for high school the next morning, convinced that she would’ve wanted me to be as academically

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grandmother’s belongings. My parents openly talked about her absence, encouraging me to do the same whenever I felt comfortable. But I didn’t, fearing that if I opened my mouth, all the pain would spill out and be too much to process all at once. Looking back, there are things I could have done better. I wish I’d let my mom comfort me more, though

goodness knows there were plenty of nights we spent crying on the bonus room couch. I wish I had admitted to myself that it was okay to feel weak, and that I didn’t have to be strong for everyone around me. But I also know that there were things I did right — going to school was a welcome alternative to wallowing around the house all day to return to piles of missed work. I thought I didn’t want to be surrounded by pity, but my friends turned out to be an excellent source of support when I felt a flood of tears coming on in the middle of class or just needed a minute to breathe. The way I processed my grief is only for me — and, I suppose, my hypothetical therapist — to judge. Humor is healing for some, but others like to cry it out. Some people find comfort in mindless distraction and would much rather bingewatch the latest Netflix hit, while plenty might prefer to surround themselves with work. Some want to talk about it; others would rather

express their emotions — as I did and still do — in writing. There are so many ways to sort through the complicated feelings that come with loss, and there is no “right” way to do so — only what works best for you. The next time you’re feeling inclined to judge the way someone is working through those feelings, stop and consider offering words of support instead. Ask them what they need — to talk, to be left alone, to be distracted by an outing. You never know if what you do could be the balm that helps someone start to hurt a little less.

LEXI SOLOMON • opinions columnist • freshman, national security and foreign affairs and Russian

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Frank Beamer speaks to the crowd of Hokie fans as he thanks them for the support during his statue unveiling, Oct. 6, 2018.

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Beamer to speak at Virginia Tech commencement Esteemed former Hokie football coach Frank Beamer will speak at the Class of 2019 graduation ceremony in May. TAHREEM ALAM assistant news editor

Frank Beamer, former Virginia Tech football coach and ambassador for Virginia Tech athletics, will address the Virginia Tech Class of 2019 during the spring graduation commencement in Lane Stadium at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 17. Beamer graduated from Virginia Tech 50 years ago and retired as football coach in 2015. He became the winningest coach in the history of the university, with 238 victories in 29 seasons. During his time as coach, the Virginia Tech football team went to a bowl game for at least 20 consecutive seasons. “Coach Frank Beamer has been and continues to

be a model ambassador of the Hokie Nation,” said Matt Winston, senior associate vice president for Alumni Relations at Virginia Tech, to VT News. “He has served Virginia Tech with class and distinction, both in his role as the leader of our great football program and as someone dedicated to the success and progress of our beloved alma mater.” Beamer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last year and received the 2019 Paul “Bear” Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award in January. According to VT News, he will receive the 23rd Dick Enberg Award. Previously, Beamer was the spring commencement sp ea ker for Radford University in 2017 according

to The Roanoke Times. “I have no doubt that students and fellow alumni alike will enjoy the words of wisdom and reflection that Frank will deliver,” Winston said.

Club, or the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund. Other u n iver sit y commencement ceremony speakers include Melody Barnes, co-director of the Democracy Initiative at

“Coach Frank Beamer

has been and continues to be a model ambassador of the Hokie Nation.

”

Matt Winston Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations at Virginia Tech In addition to being an ambassador for Virginia Tech athletics, Beamer is also spokesperson for the Drive for 25 campaign, which aims to grow membership in the Hokie

the University of Virginia and professor of practice at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs, and Joshua Johnson, radio program host for WAMU, NPR’s local radio

station in Washington, D.C., and formerly professor at the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Barnes will speak at the Virginia Tech Graduate School Commencement at 2:30 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. She was previously assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council for Barack Obama between 20092012, as well as senior domestic policy advisor to the Obama for America campaign and the ObamaBiden Transition Project. Before joining Obama’s campaign, she served as executive vice president for policy at the Center for American Progress and as an aide and chief counsel to

former senator Edward M. Kennedy. Johnson will speak at the Virginia Tech’s National Capital Region Commencement May 19 at 1 p.m. at the George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax. He hosts “1A” on WAMU. Prior to that, he co-created and hosted “Truth Be Told,” a nationwide public radio series that explored race in America. He is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

@Tahreem_Alam

Mish Mish set to close by the end of summer 2019 The art store is closing because of a decrease in sales, steep rent and competitors like Amazon taking business away. MACKENZIE WILLIAMS news staff writer

Brick and mortar store Mish Mish has announced it will close up shop permanently later this summer. An icon for many businesses and essential for many Virginia Tech students, Mish Mish has served the Blacksburg community for 49 years.

were using that as we were dealing with companies,” Miller said. As their dream transformed into a real storefront, the team searched for a better name, which was ultimately Mish Mish, the Arabic word for apricot. For a number of years, Miller has been solely r u n n i ng M ish M ish. Demanding hours and labo-

“Someone will have to re-invent what we have done. ”

Mish Mish owner Steve Miller is saddened by its closing, mentioning he has been “doing this for so long, it’s kind of like a child,” since it had opened in 1970. The beginning of the store itself has close ties with Virginia Tech. The idea behind Mish Mish emerged in 1969 from Miller and three other friends studying at Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies their junior year. The memorable name “Mish Mish” even has a meaning. “Our partners wanted to use Apricot Enterprises as the business name and we

Steve Miller Mish Mish Owner

rious tasks required to keep any store in business not only has taken Miller’s time, but has also impacted his health. This past year, Miller had to be hospitalized for a subdural hematoma due to his age, keeping him away for two months. Administrative processes in Mish Mish became insufficient during his leave, as employees would reorder the same or similar merchandise with Miller gone. Moreover, he is planning on retiring after the store closes. Miller will be turning 70 this May and joked that his wife and him will “ride

off into the sunset” after they lay Mish Mish to rest. Additionally, decreasing sales and steep rent has also been factored. Competitors like Amazon and online sales in general have taken business away from Mish Mish. Rent for Mish Mish is $8,000 a month according to Miller and is expected to climb. Mish Mish has been a patron for students, local artists and simply people with an itch for art. Chris Pritchett, a design foundations and printmaking instructor in the School of Architecture + Design, emphasizes the store has been a staple for architecture students since he was a student at Virginia Tech almost 20 years ago. Wood, specialty pens and other high-quality materials sold by Mish Mish have provided architecture students with required needs within a close walking distance. The store has even given students the luxury to discover new materials typically unthought of and add a sense of spontaneity to many projects. Deidre Regan, a visiting instructor to all first-year students in the School of Architecture + Design, worries that with Mish Mish gone, it will “limit creativity.”

ETHAN CANDELARIO / COLLEGIATE TIMES The outside of Mish Mish, an art and architecture supply store located in downtown Blacksburg, March 31, 2019.

Jennifer Hand, a former Mish Mish employee and now faculty member in the Studio Art Department of Virginia Tech, worries about this too, mentioning that a lot of her art has been a result of just wandering around Mish Mish and seeing things she didn’t know existed. Zac Kim, a transfer st udent major i ng i n creative tech nologies, explained, “(you) have to

develop a skill” to know what and what not to buy. With a physical storefront, analyzing tangible products versus a computer screen significantly helps students evaluate what to buy. Other creative technologies majors, like junior Ross Walter, similarly stress it is “good to feel it, see it, and use it” in person when buying materials and worry this experience will

diminish after the closing of Mish Mish. “Someone will have to re-invent what we have done,” Miller said.

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Spice of life: The best spots around Blacksburg for international eats Tired of overpriced chains claiming to sell “Mexican food”? These in-town alternatives are well worth your time. KARIM ELTAWANSY lifestyles staff writer

For some, the search for tasty food in Blacksburg is akin to how kids long for superpowers, thinking they’ll attain them one day, until, sadly, they realize they never will. But there is good food here. It lies hidden in Blacksburg. After braving through many lunches, I have found three restaurants with favorable international food. Keep in mind that this food is a gift and a curse: You may never be happy again with the seasonless slop served elsewhere. Here is some of the best international food in Blacksburg. Himalayan Curry Cafe This is one of the few restaurants in Blacksburg where you can order and have your food in under 30 seconds. Having food ready this quickly would be a concern in almost any other restaurant, but here it isn’t. The menu has evolved over the years, but the curries are still the go-to move here. They offer curry for meat and veggie lovers. My recommendation is either the vegetarian curry option or the chicken curry, but here’s something unknown to even daily customers:

You can mix your curry options. Go and get yourself a veggie-chicken curry. Spicity I’m generally not a fan of Asian food, but Spicity and Himalayan Curry Cafe are the exceptions. Spicity opened in August and offers authentic Asian cuisine, and if you’re a fan of noodle soups, you should try the duck soup. You can think of these as pho or ramen or whatever noodle soup you’ve had, just better. It’s also cheaper than the other menu items that can range between $10 and $30, which is a lot for a college student. If you’re in a group, I recommend getting a searing pan of food for two. And don’t be surprised if you spend an hour deciding on what you’d like to eat — this sit-down restaurant has one of the largest and most diverse menus in Blacksburg.

Himalayan Curry Cafe located at University Mall, Feb. 15, 2019.

Yassimmo Italian Grill and Pizzeria I will preface this by saying I worked here for two weeks. And I’ll be honest — there are some things on this menu that are bad, and that you can get frozen at any Kroger. The appetizers and sandwiches fit into this

category. But Yassimmo’s has one thing that other restaurants don’t: the most underrated pizza in town. Unlike the monstrous mess that can be found at Benny Marzano’s, here we have a pizza that is delicately crafted. And at around $10 for a 14-inch

The hottest otter around: Tech’s new resident builds up online presence Vocal support from the Hokie community has promoted this on-campus critter from Duck Pond dweller to hometown hero. BREANNA KNOTTS lifestyles staff writer

Spotted on March 12, Virginia Tech released photos on the university’s Twitter page of an otter who has been wading through the waters of the Duck Pond. The otter has most likely swam in from the neighboring Stroubles Creek. According to OtterWorld, researchers say that otters “tend to stick to the shallow waters.” With this being said, The Duck Pond is the prime habitat for these animals, considering the abundance of fish, fresh water and shallowness of the pond. Since the initial Tweet, the Duck Pond otter has become the talk of Blacksburg. Now, it is close to impossible to scroll through Instagram or Twitter without seeing the beady eyes of the animal. The first post featuring the otter on the official Virginia Tech Instagram page has over 10,500 likes received in only four days. A lot of attention has been given to this topic from not only students, but the public as well. USA Today digital producer Jordan Owen retweeted Virginia Tech’s announcement of the otter on the morning of the Duke game and quoted the tweet saying, “You literally have to root for Virginia Tech because they have an otter.” A fun, popular topic associated with the otter and scattered throughout social media is giving the otter a

name. Different polls on social media suggest names which involve a play on words, such as “Ott Prosim” or “Harry Otter.” A name has not been announced, yet it seems that “Otter Sandman” is in the lead. Along with naming, different stor ies a nd conspiracies are constantly being created. One Tweet that was very popular before the upset against Duke was the otter acting as our good luck charm. A number of Tweets and comments on Instagram have dedicated our first two wins in March Madness to the otter, since it was spotted just a few days prior to the first round. One activity that has sprouted from campus’ new furry friend is making memes using the few pictures there are of the otter. These can be found on multiple parody accounts on Twitter and Instagram, and some of them really will make you chuckle. A lot of attention has been redirected toward these memes that have been retweeted and liked thousands of times. Publications of surrounding cities have also taken notice of our new Hokie, including The Roanoke Times and WSLS. It seems as if we have all agreed that this new discovery needs to be shared. The profound love showcased by fellow Hokies for our very own otter is obvious with the excitement behind the consistent posts.

With near perfect conditions and spring right around the corner, it is likely our otter will make the Duck Pond its permanent home. B r ow s i n g th rough social media, there are many accounts of students spending hours a day attempting to catch a glimpse of the otter. With many being unsuccessful, a tip that may help would be to venture to the Duck Pond first thing in the morning, when it is quiet and less intimidating for our little friend. In order to keep our precious otter on campus, it is important that people do not disturb its natural eating routine or wellbeing. Virginia Tech stresses this in multiple university Tweets and posts, attempting to keep our new resident safe. To stay updated on news pertaining to the otter, follow the Collegiate Times on Instagram.

@BreKnotts

pizza, it’s cheaper than most large pizzas in town. These are not gourmet pizzas, but in many ways, owner Yasser Hikal creates these beauties in a way that they might as well be. He uses fresh dough, fresh toppings and a special tomato sauce, and voila, the best pizza in

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Blacksburg leaves his brick oven and is then served at a price cheaper than Avellinos or Ceritano’s. If you haven’t eaten at any of these restaurants, they will surprise you. This is food that readies you for a day of work or late-night studying and energizes you

when you’re tired. Eating delicious food it is the closest we’ll get to attaining superpowers.

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Today’s Birthday Horoscope (April. 2): Discover unexplored horizons this year. Discipline with your professional craft pays off. Take advantage of a windfall. Summer home renovations lead to a career switchback. Career growth next winter comes before domestic changes require adaptation. Expand your boundaries with new perspectives.

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

ACROSS 1 “I’m clever” chuckle 4 Take a broom to 9 Rapscallion 14 Pretty __ picture 15 Main artery 16 __ roll: student’s achievement 17 Hawk, in the military sense 19 Get the best of 20 In the buff 21 Local residents, to local college students 23 Draw sap from, as a maple 25 “I haven’t the foggiest” 27 Grooming process 30 Formula __: auto racing class 31 Casino convenience 32 Cacophonous 34 Prescription items 38 Canapé garnish 39 Competition 41 Snap or split veggie 42 “Casino” co-star Joe 44 Ease up 45 Toy with, cat-style 46 Microbrewery product 48 Studios for artists 50 Materials for babies’ rugs 54 Paper size: Abbr. 55 Consumed amounts 56 Reverb in a chamber 59 Centipede game company 60 Drambuie and Scotch cocktail 65 Closer to being harvested 66 Month before febrero 67 Get it 68 “Alien” director Ridley __ 69 Eggs purchase 70 Juan’s “that” DOWN 1 Goldie with a Golden Globe

4/2/19

By Craig Stowe

2 Founder of Edom 3 *Tough period in life 4 Brazilian map word 5 Hit the jackpot 6 Bit of energy 7 Strasbourg summer 8 Second section 9 *Grade school presentation 10 Come back (with) 11 Naysayers 12 Web surfing tool 13 Narrative writing 18 Event with courses 22 War on Poverty org. 24 *Slim-fitting Dior creation 25 Singer Turner’s memoir 26 *Nuclear treaty subject 27 Camper’s cover 28 Plains native 29 Excessively 33 Irish poet who wrote “Easter, 1916”

Previous Puzzle Solved Monday’s Puzzle Solved

Otter Fun F

M F

W G

W D

W P

W A

M W S

M H

W J

M R

W E

M M I

W I

W R

M A

W M F

W I

M U

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Otter Raft River Fish

Crabs Playful Pups Mammals

Carnivore Tools Hunt Marshes

Brewster Rockit: Space Guy! by Tim Rickard

xkcd by Randall Munroe

35 Caps, and a hint to the answers to starred clues 36 Drive or reverse 37 Toothed tools 40 Fr. holy woman 43 Moulin Rouge, notably 47 Squeeze (out) 49 Cross-country southern hwy. 50 Some are compulsive

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51 Shenanigan 52 Philippines peak: Abbr. 53 Looks flushed 57 Hurries, old-style 58 Bread spread 61 2018 National Toy Hall of Fame inductee 62 “__ who?” 63 Antonio’s three 64 That, old-style

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Lupita Nyong’o, Evan Alex, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Winston Duke in “Us.”

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‘Us’: A thought-provoking nightmare from masterful horror filmmaker Able to conjure up effective scares while also taking its time, Jordan Peele’s new film is one of the year’s best so far.

JOHN BATTISTON lifestyles editor

They say the thing we fear most is the unknown, and perhaps they’re right. But if “Us,” the newest film by Jordan Peele, is any indication, the greatest of all terrors might just be that which we thought we knew best: ourselves. As the Wilson family arrives at their Santa Cruz vacation home, matriarch Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) carries a heavy emotional burden. Thirty years after a traumatic childhood encounter involving a beachside house of mirrors, she still has trouble shaking off an inexplicable sense of dread and paranoia as she returns to what should

be a boardwalk paradise. Still, her sullen mood does little to infringe upon her husband Gabe’s (Winston Duke) goofy antics, teenage daughter Zora’s (Shahadi Wright Joseph) smartphone-stimulated apathy and preteen son Jason’s (Evan Alex) meandering sense of curiosity. Then the Tethered arrive. The family is apprehensive when they spot a quartet of shadowy figures at the end of their driveway, standing statuesque and hand-in-hand, who then force their way into the house. After they corner the Wilsons into the living room, the youngest intruder lights the fireplace to reveal, to the family’s horror, that the visitors are

their exact doppelgangers — each clad in a red jumpsuit, armed with a slender pair of scissors and hell-bent on murdering his or her double. From that perplexing revelation onward, “Us” manages to be a non-stop thrill ride, while still determinedly taking its time; each frame is evidence of a filmmaker who is in control of his creation and eager to challenge his audience. Peele makes full use of his greatest gifts here, including an artist’s eye and a craftsman’s restraint — traits that are incredibly rare in the genre nowadays. He combines big-budget sensibilities with carefully constructed tension, as well as the deeply threaded social commentary that made his

previous feature, “Get Out,” stick with viewers; not a moment feels wasted, from the first act’s slow character build-up to an ending that demands endless interpretation and speculation. Though Peele’s knack for creating a lasting cinematic experience is undeniable, his ambitions are fully realized with the help of perhaps the strongest cast of any film so far this year. Each of the four principal performers, tasked with portraying both a well fleshed-out protagonist and a deeply unsettling villain, delivers spectacula rly. Nyong’o’s performance, in particular, is bound to be one of the most talked-about of 2019; she skillfully swerves between fearful and furious, matronly and menacing,

often within the same scene. Duke pulls more than his weight as the film’s primary source of comic relief, all while imbuing Gabe with a vulnerability that keeps the character compelling. Both child actors are bound for future stardom, more than able to take on Peele’s daring demands with understated grace. Like the best film fare, “Us” has the power to infect viewers with an itching curiosity that will linger long after they’ve left their seats. Though there are several definite logical gaps in the mythology of Peele’s world, they hardly strike one as inconvenient or illusion-shattering; more often, they are the mark of a story that is content to

leave some questions unanswered, giving the viewer just enough incentive to revisit the nightmare again and again. And with a film so gorgeously shot, rivetingly acted and refreshingly unique as this, that’s an invitation movie lovers will surely be happy to accept. I give “Us” four and a half out of five stars. For a more in-depth discussion of “Us” and its many deeper themes, listen to the latest episode of my podcast, Reel Underdogs.

@JB3Writes

Hokies in NOVA: Tech grads operate behind the scenes at POLITICO Our writer visited the political news company’s headquarters in Arlington to speak with three Hokie employees.

JAYNE ROSS

lifestyles staff writer

When Colleen Connolly, Lindsay Knight and Rex Willis graduated from Virginia Tech, none of them ever predicted their degrees would lead them to the frontlines of Washington, D.C., media. Then again, the three of them would argue that they aren’t exactly on the frontlines of media — though their television-worthy office building in downtown Arlington would suggest otherwise. The three Hokies work behind-the-scenes on the business side of POLITICO,

a corporation responsible for bringing political news from Washington, D.C., to readers, listeners and viewers the world over. They also know, however, that the Arlington-based media giant, as with all media organizations, could not operate without jobs like theirs. “A misconception is the only way in which to interact with media is to be a reporter or to be a writer, but we are working in a media organization in kind of a different way, unique way,” Knight, an account manager who works with POLITICO’s congressional clients, said. “We’re not breaking the news, but we’re providing

access to policy inf luencers all around the world.” Studying political science made Knight interested in politics and policy, and she also knew that she liked cultivating relationships with people, so she considers her job at POLITICO to be a perfect blend of her interests. “I have the opportunity to interact with members and staffers on the Hill,” she said. “(It’s) humbling in that I had just a little bit of a part in ... helping people do their job better.” Willis, whose name cu r rent Hok ies may recognize — he served as Student Government Asso ciat ion president

from 2017 to 2018 — also found himself seeking a role upon graduating that would combine his interest in policy with a passion for people. Serving as SGA president forced him to relate and communicate to different kinds of people, and it also showed him how policies could directly affect the people he knows. He works now as an assistant account manager. “Coming here right out of college ... to a place with a well-respected name like POLITICO, I was definitely intimidated,” he admitted. “But everyone here, regardless of what team you’re on, is very

COURTESY OF ANDRE BRANSFORD AND POLITICO Virginia Tech graduates currently employed by POLITICO. From LEFT to RIGHT: Colleen Connolly, Rex Willis and Lindsay Knight.

collaborative and very excited to share what they’re doing and learn more about what other people do, just because we’re all working for the same purpose.” Connolly also has fond memories of her time at Virginia Tech, where she spent a year as president of her sorority chapter, but her path to POLITICO was slightly less smooth. She graduated right into the economic recession of 2008, and she found herself taking the first sales job that would have her. That job, along with her second, was “very male heavy,” she remembers. “I felt my gender every time I walked in that building.” Now, Connolly works as a managing director of audience solutions, managing a team that works with POLITICO’s potential advertisers, and she appreciates that POLITICO places a great deal of emphasis on diversity and inclusion. “It’s really cool and inspiring to see the woman reporters who have to be bullish in what they do, who are approaching some of the most powerful people in the world and asking really tough questions,” she said. “I love being able to work in a place where ... it kind of gives me the license to be powerful and strong and say what I want in meetings, because I see females in media doing the same thing.” All three Hokies echoed the same excitement for their careers, but they also noted the bittersweetness of graduating and leaving college life behind. “When you’re in college, and you get the leadership position or do something great in class,

it’s easy to get recognized and applauded by a lot of people,” Willis said. “And then you come to work, and … they’re like, ‘Okay, it’s your job.’” Still, none of them miss the stress of trying to make huge decisions after graduating, and they also offered the comforting perspective to current students that things will indeed work out. “There’s so much pressure because you feel like everyone has a job,” Knight said. “Don’t compare yourself too much to everyone else … Even if you take a few weird turns and you’re not exactly like ... the person next to you, it doesn’t mean you’re doing the wrong thing, just your own thing.” “Everyone’s timeline for success is different,” Willis agreed. Seeing other people’s flashy social media posts, he added, can be hard, but “that doesn’t mean that what you’re doing is not cool.” For students who already know they might want to work in media, Connolly had words of encouragement, too. “Journalism is never going to go away,” she said. “There is always going to be some type of role for media. If you are willing and ready to be agile and go with the flow and be open to starting in one position and ending up in another, this is a great industry to be in.” And it’s one that she, Knight and Willis don’t seem to be leaving anytime soon.

@CollegiateTimes

sports editor@collegiatetimes.com

April 2, 2019 PAGE 7

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AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech guard Kendyl Brooks (10) looks to go inside as James Madison guard Logan Reynolds (13) guard her in the Women’s NIT at the Convocation Center, March 28, 2019.

Dukes outlast Hokies in emotional WNIT Sweet 16 James Madison spoils Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks’ first visit back to Harrisonburg, ending Tech’s postseason bid. DILLON CAMPBELL assistant sports editor

In a game rife with emotions in wake of the Southview Apar tments fire in Ha r r isonburg, Virginia earlier in the day and Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks’ first return to James Madison since leaving to take the job at Tech, the James Madison Dukes (27-5) outfought Virginia Tech Hokies (22-11) 70–66 in their Women’s National Invitational Tournament Sweet 16 matchup and Coach Brooks’ homecoming. From the jump, it was apparent that the Hokies and the Dukes were going to duke it out until the final buzzer sounded in the JMU Convocation Center.

Neither team was able to create enough separation to pull away from the other throughout, as the largest lead of the game by either team was seven points. Through two quarters of action, Virginia Tech lead James Madison 35–34 as both teams fed off the emotion they each came into the game with. The Hokies were looking to win for head coach Kenny Brooks in his return to his alma mater and previous coaching job, while the Dukes sought to soften the blow of the fires and uplift the sorrow spirits of their community with a victory. The ensuing 20 minutes brought cheers, jeers, tears and everything in between. After James Madison mounted a seven-point lead

with 2:06 left to go in the third quarter, Virginia Tech attempted to surmount a late game comeback. Trailing for the remainder of the third quarter and for nearly the entire final frame until the last minute of the game, Taylor Emery gave Virginia Tech a 66–65 advantage with 54 seconds left, wetting a stepback of an in-between-the-legs crossover over Devon Merritt, who had just made the previous basket. After James Madison’s Kamiah Smalls hit backto-back free throws to put it at 68–66 with 31 seconds left, Coach Brooks called a full timeout. On the following play, the Hokies called upon Emery, who had scored the team’s last seven points, to win the game.

Virginia Tech’s leading scorer with 21 points tried to force another shooting foul on a three-point attempt, but the refs swallowed the whistle. Aneah Young blocked a one-dribble stepback. However, there was some contact after the shot, but no foul was called. Logan Reynolds would ice the game, knocking down two free throws to make it a two-possession game with under a second remaining. The James Madison Dukes move to 28-5 and serve host to the Georgetown Hoyas, a team they beat 69-57 earlier in the season, for a WNIT Elite Eight showdown on Sunday at 2 p.m. To add insult to injury, James Madison head coach Sean O’Regan tied his predecessor and

mentor Kenny Brooks’ mark for most consecutive home games won in James Madison women’s basketball history with the win. With the loss, Virginia Tech drops to 22-12 on the season after its WNIT Sweet 16 run ends in heartbreaking fashion. Complimenting Emer y’s per for ma nce, Regan Magarity finished with 10 points and nine rebounds as the seniors played in their final collegiate game. Next year’s core of Trinity Baptiste, Dara Mabrey and Aisha Sheppard rung in some strong games as well. Baptiste, who will be filling Magarity’s shoes in the post, registered a doubledouble with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Mabrey and

Sheppard combined for 17 points, three rebounds and two assists. It has been an up-and-down season for Virginia Tech women’s basketball. Brooks’ unit dominated non-conference play, going undefeated, but lost its first seven ACC games, which resulted in a WNIT berth. Despite this, the team made the best of its situation, advancing to a third straight WNIT Sweet 16. After four straight WNIT appearances, the Hokies will seek to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006 next season.

@DillonHCampbell

Clemson Tigers sweep Hokies in 3-game series Virginia Tech baseball faced Clemson at home in an ACC clash, ending in a series of losses for the Hokies. JAKE GOLASZEWSKI sports staff writer

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The Virginia Tech Hokies welcomed the No. 15 Clemson Tigers to English Field at Union Park for a three-game series over the weekend. The Hokies entered the series at 16–12 and 4–8 in ACC play while the Tigers came in with an impressive record of 19–6 and 6–3 in the ACC. The first game of this series between ACC foes started off at 6:04 p.m. on Friday, and it got off to a very slow start, with neither team mounting much offense in the first inning. The bats started to come alive for Clemson in the second inning when redshirt freshman Elijah Henderson hit a two-run single. The Tigers would add a third run in the third inning on a Grayson Byrd solo home run. Virginia Tech would get a run back in the bottom of the inning when freshman Carson Taylor was able to score from third while junior Tanner Thomas preoccupied the defense by getting into a run down. Clemson then responded by tripling its score thanks to back-to-back singles as it took a commanding 6–1 lead halfway through the game. The score would remain that way until the sixth when junior Kerry Carpenter would score on a passed ball. In the seventh, the Hokies would pull within two when Carpenter hit a two-RBI triple that scored both Jack and Nick Owens. Unfortunately for the home team, the score would remain 6–4 and the game would end that way as

Clemson took the first game. Davis Sharpe would get the win and Ian Seymour the loss, but it was Carson Spiers who secured the save. The second game was a wholly one-sided affair as Clemson would score its first runs of the game in the second inning, and those runs would turn out to be all they would need. The first three runs that inning were thanks to three consecutive RBI doubles from Bryar Hawkins, Bo Majkowski and Sharpe. In the bottom of the fourth, the Hokies would post their lone run of the game thanks to a Dalton Harum sacrifice fly. Unfortunately for Virginia Tech, Clemson would score two runs in the next inning and never look back. Clemson ended up scoring a whopping seven runs in the top of the sixth inning, more than doubling its score total at the start of the inning, to take an insurmountable 13–1 lead. The Tigers would score one more run in the seventh and the game would end 14–1. Mat Clark got credit for the win and Peyton Alford suffered the loss. The final game of the series was an absolute shootout between the two ACC opponents. The game got off to a roaring start right out of the gate as Clemson put up six runs in the top of the first inning. Thanks to a lot of good hitting and a three-RBI home run from Bryce Teodosio, the Clemson Tigers were off to a great start, but the Hokies were not going to roll over and die. The Tigers got their seventh run in the second

inning thanks to a Kyle Wilkie sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the third, Virginia Tech would finally respond, scoring two runs on a fielding error by the opposing pitcher. Then in the fourth, the Hokies’ bats would come alive as they would score three more runs to pull within two. Thanks to an RBI single from freshman August Haymaker and a pair of runs scored on wild pitches, the Hokies were back in it. The following inning Harum would hit an RBI single to make the score 7–6 in Clemson’s favor. Unfortunately, the Tigers decided they had seen enough and scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a commanding 12–6 lead. Clemson relied on its whole lineup and fundamental manufacturing of runs to the large lead. Virginia Tech would score a run in both the eighth and ninth innings to make it a three-run game, but that’s as close as it would get, and the Tigers won the game 12–9. Clemson finished off the sweep with Holt Jones getting the win and Jack Dellinger on the hook for the loss. The Hokies will look for redemption on Tuesday as they will head to Lexington, Virginia, to take on VMI at 6 p.m. Clemson will ride its four-game winning streak into a battle on Tuesday with Georgia at 6 p.m.

@CTSportsTalk

PAGE 8 April 2, 2019

editor@collegiatetimes.com

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Tech comes inches short of history, falls to Duke Ahmed Hill got a good look in front of the basket with 1.1 seconds left to send the game to overtime, but the shot fell short. ROBBY FLETCHER assistant sports editor

With the difference of just a few inches, the tone of this story could have changed drastically. In what ended up being his last game as a Hokie, guard Ahmed Hill had a chance to send the No. 1 overall Duke Blue Devils to overtime, but he was denied by just a few inches and an unlucky roll. “Justin [Robinson] threw a great pass and I just came up short, and that was about it,” Hill said in the post-game press conference. “I wasn’t worried about anything. I just tried to get my eyes locked on the rim and it just bounced to the left.” Virginia Tech’s miraculous season, in which it set a school record for most wins in school history with 26 and made it to its first Sweet 16 since the NCAA Tour nament expanded, came to an end Friday night with a 75–73 loss. It was a heartbreaker for a team that loses three seniors and had a chance to make history for a school not known for its legitimacy in basketball. In all, it was a tough performance from a very tough team.

From the get-go, the Hokies played highly efficient basketball on the offensive end, jumping out to a 15–11 lead after the first half after hitting three of their first five three-point attempts. Threes would end up being the name of the game for Tech as it finished the half shooting 7-of-17 from deep. While Duke hit four threes of its own, three

but he was mostly held in check by a committee led by Ty Outlaw. While Outlaw wasn’t a threat shooting from the field after missing his only shot attempt on the half, he made a huge impact on the defensive end and was a key reason why Tech was playing so well. Overall the Hokies played about as good a half as one can expect against

“But if we were to replay it

again right now, I would call the same exact things, because of my faith and trust in those guys.

”

Buzz Williams Men’s basketball head coach

of which came from guard Tre Jones, who only shoots 23 percent from beyond the arc this season, it couldn’t keep up with Tech’s threepoint efficiency. The first half was a lighting quick scoring clinic on both sides, as both teams shot well from the field. Freshman phenom Zion Williamson had some of his typical mind-blowing highlight reel plays on the court, scoring 11 points and hitting his first three shots,

the No. 1 overall Blue Devils, defending their star freshmen well and taking advantage of forward Cam Reddish’s absence. Reddish’s replacement, sophomore Alex O’Connell, was held to just four first-half points that ended up being his only points in the game. In the second half, Duke came out on fire led by R.J. Barrett, who scored seven of the team’s first 10 points in the half; Barrett scored

15 second-half points on 6-of-11 shooting. Duke held the lead and momentum for the majority of the second half, highlighted by a powerful Williamson alley-oop that capped off a 7–0 run with 10:31 left to extend Duke’s lead to 58–52. Tech managed to hang on and keep it close for the remainder of the game, never letting Duke run away with the lead. With 3:51 left in the game, it almost felt as if Duke would ultimately pull away after Jones hit his fifth three of the game and Williamson followed it with a two-handed slam to make the score 77–66. The Hokies managed to keep the game alive with a 7–2 run that gave them an opportunity for the final shot after a missed free throw by Jones to potentially seal the game for the Blue Devils. The first attempt was a deep 3-pointer from Ty Outlaw that airballed and landed out of bounds, though the Hokies retained possession. The second was the ill-fated pass-in play to Ahmed Hill, one that was an open enough look for Hill to potentially tie the game up and send it to overtime. With the miss came the buzzer

and ultimately the end of Virginia Tech’s historic season. Though it of course hurts now, head coach Buzz Williams saw that his team got the look they wanted and the performance he was expecting of them. “I thought it was perfect. Ty Outlaw shoots one. (Hill) shoots one. And both passes came from (Robinson). I thought that was perfect,” Williams said. “But if we

were to replay it again right now, I would call the same exact things, because of my faith and trust in those guys.”

@CTSportsTalk

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies’ Nickeil Alexander-Walker (4) looks to drive inside on Duke at the Capital One Arena, March 29, 2019.

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies’ Ahmed Hill (13) dunks the ball in the Hokies’ Sweet 16 matchup with No. 1 seed Duke at the Capital One Arena, March 29, 2019. AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech’s Kerry Blackshear Jr. (24) draws the foul on Duke’s Javin DeLaurier (12) in the Hokies’ 75–73 loss to the Blue Devils at the Capital One Arena, March 29, 2019.

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech’s Justin Robinson (5) covers his face following the Hokies’ 75–73 loss at the hands of the Duke Blue Devils in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena, March 29, 2019.

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies’ Ahmed Hill (13) attempts a jump shot as Duke’s Alex O’Connell (15) guards him, March 29, 2019.

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES Virginia Tech Hokies’ Ahmed Hill (13) covers his face following a missed shot to tie the game at the end of regulation. Virginia Tech lost 75–73 to the top-seeded Blue Devils at the Capital One Arena, March 29, 2019.