Photos courtesy of: Jack Newell, Virginia Tech Athletics, Ethan Candelario and Amber Williams
NEWS
PRO-PALESTINIAN STUDENT PROTESTERS RENEW PROTESTS FOLLOWING BROKEN CEASEFIRE
Wilbert Ramirez | news writer
Students gave speeches at the Pylons on Virginia Tech’s campus at the start of the protest.
Student protesters with Students for Justice in Palestine at VT marched from the Pylons on Virginia Tech’s campus to the Blacksburg Municipal Building on March 19.
The marchers met at The Pylons at 6:00 p.m. after a call for an emergency protest on the Instagram page “sjpvtech.”
The post was following Israel’s surprise airstrikes on Tuesday in the middle of the night which killed 400 people and left hundreds more injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
“We’re protesting against the end of the ceasefire from Israel . . . They started carpet bombing Gaza, and this time it’s escalated more than ever,” said Shahed Sanuri, co-president of SJP.
The protestors voiced their grievances about Virginia Tech during speeches at
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the Pylons, stating the university was complicit in the conflict in the middle east due to its investments in and research with companies such as Boeing and Raytheon.
During the march through downtown Blacksburg, the protesters held up signs, Palestinian flags and a singular Lebanese flag.
Once the protestors arrived between Clay Street and South Main Street in Downtown Blacksburg, the speeches continued. The speeches voiced solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza and the detained pro-Palestine activist and student at Columbia University, Mahmoud Khalil, a legal U.S. resident whom the U.S. government is attempting to deport.
“I think it seems to be their intention and way in which they basically kidnap Mahmoud Khalil ... I think they are trying
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to scare people, right?” said Bikrum Gill, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science. “We see the example of Mahmoud Khalil — he released a letter,” Gill said, referring to Khalil’s response letter to his detainment.
“I think what he is saying is he’s worried about himself and his family, but he is asking for people to continue to protest,” Gill added.
The protesters also mentioned the university erasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in response to one of President Donald J. Trump’s memorandums to try and create divisions among the student body through the erasure of their identities. Action has been taken to remove DEI initiatives on college campuses and primary schools.
At the conclusion of the march, protesters gathered at Henderson Lawn in front of the Lyric, gave more speeches, and passed out dates and water to any Muslims among the crowd who may have been fasting during Ramadan as the sun set.
Information and updates about Students for Justice in Palestine can be
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OPINIONS
THE WORST NEPO BABY: HOW RFK JR. SOLD OUT HIS FATHER’S LEGACY
Allie McBride | opinions columnist
The name Kennedy is one of the only similarities RFK Jr. has with his dad and uncle.
In the 2024 presidential election, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines as an independent and somewhat bizarre presidential candidate. From there, he leveraged his way into Donald Trump’s cabinet as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK Jr. now holds immense governmental power, and that’s a direct result of his dear old dad. He used RFK Sr.’s legacy to advance his career, all while contradicting the values his father championed.
RFK Sr. entered the political sphere as attorney general during his brother John F. Kennedy’s presidency. RFK Sr. strongly advocated for civil rights and fought against poverty. In March 1968, he ran for president. Tragically, RFK Sr. was assassinated at the Democratic National Convention, and his tale of greatness was cut short. History remembers RFK Sr. as a beloved and compassionate man. His son has harnessed this powerful history for a strategic political position.
In April 2023, RFK Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps and entered the political arena by declaring his presidential candidacy. While previously using his power to promote environmental conservation, this would prove to be a far more egregious use of his father’s name. RFK Jr. harnessed his family connections for his presidential campaign to build a strong network of influential figures and donors. On the campaign trail, RFK Jr. tapped into voters’ emotional connection with his father and the Kennedy family. One commercial depicted an edited version of a 1960 JFK campaign ad, replacing his face with RFK Jr.’s face. RFK Jr. often mentioned his father at campaign events, and he even wore vintage skinny ties, something his father was notorious for. On the outside, RFK Jr. was acting like a proper Kennedy. However, he was merely using his father’s ideals and image as an emotional appeal while completely contradicting his father’s beliefs.
As a champion of democratic values,
justice and the rule of law, RFK Sr. would be crushed to learn of his son’s alliance with Trump. RFK Sr. was instrumental in promoting African Americans’ rights to vote, access integrated education and use public accommodations. He played a pivotal role in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Today, the Trump administration has issued executive orders terminating diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) programs across federal agencies and contractors. Trump is reversing decades of civil rights advancements RFK Sr. helped establish. The administration goes against everything RFK Sr. believed in, and it’s being supported by his flesh and blood.
Once in office, RFK Jr. decided to spread harmful messages about vaccines. He openly denounced vaccine mandates, despite having vaccinated his children. He backed his argument with outdated and debunked studies about the potential link between a preservative used in some vaccines and autism.
When it came to public health, RFK Sr. always chose to help the greater good rather than individualism. He strongly advocated for vaccines and scientific consensus. He would be appalled that his son not only condemned vaccines but used misinformation to back his claims. RFK Jr. also argues that vaccination is the decision of each individual’s parents, but experts argue that this puts society in danger. When everyone is vaccinated, societies have community immunity, protect vulnerable populations and prevent disease outbreaks.
Since joining Trump’s cabinet, RFK Jr. has frequently promoted misinformation. He is currently considering a ban on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common medication used to treat depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and countless other mental illnesses. RFK Jr. claims they cause flu-like withdrawal symptoms and are associated
with school shootings, but mental health experts dispute these notions.
RFK Jr. is also a staunch advocate for removing fluoride from public water, calling it “an industrial waste.” In reality, fluoride is completely safe and an effective method for preventing tooth decay and improving oral health, as confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
RFK Sr. believed in modern medicine, public health initiatives and trusted scientific evidence. He fought against misinformation, especially during the civil rights movement and public health crises. Given that SSRIs are a scientifically backed medication that help millions of Americans, he would strongly oppose his son’s decision to potentially ban them. Additionally, community water fluoridation has been instrumental in reducing cavities and tooth decay across various populations. RFK Sr. believed in this kind of positive public health initiative, but his son does not.
RFK Jr. has made his position as anti-establishment clear. He’s criticized global institutions and believes in national sovereignty. One of his first acts as secretary of health was the dismissal of approximately 5,200 newly hired federal health workers from the CDC and the National Institutes of Health.
As U.S. attorney general, RFK Sr. was a proponent of social programs that assisted marginalized communities and used the government to support those in need. In contrast, his son is reducing the public health workforce, undermining the federal government’s ability to effectively serve the nation’s needs and not providing services to vulnerable populations. The loss of experienced professionals will create delays in health services, reduce the quality of care and hinder the development of new treatments. RFK Jr.’s decision to reduce services to vulnerable populations heavily conflicts with his father’s dedication to social justice.
RFK Jr. selectively invokes his father’s
ideals, adhering to them when they suit his agenda but distancing himself when they don’t. He exploited his father’s popularity to make a name for himself as a politician. He ran his campaign in the spirit of his father, dressing like a Kennedy, mentioning the Kennedys and even putting out ads about the Kennedys. This gained him the popularity he needed to become Secretary of Heath under Trump. Once in office, his decisions regarding vaccines, public health and the federal government contradicted his father’s values. While his father had a legacy of greatness, RFK Jr. will have one of misinformation, inequality and divisiveness.
HENRY KISSINGER: ARCHITECT OF POWER, MASTER OF CONTROVERSY
Mohib Amjad | opinions assistant editor
Kissinger’s legacy is tainted by the moral cost of his decisions.
On Nov. 29, 2023, the U.S. bid farewell to a titan of diplomacy: former National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Seldom do people have legacies as strong as Kissinger. His policies shaped an entire era and re-invented global politics. Kissinger played a key role in forming the U.S. global hegemony, crafting strategies that solidified America’s dominance on the world stage and forever altered the course of international relations. Though he was a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, there is no clear consensus on whether he brought more peace or violence to humanity during his leadership.
Born in Germany in 1923 as a Jew, Kissinger soon realized a few realities of life. He understood the importance of real power. These views shaped his future policies, such as Realpolitik, a Machiavellian way of decision-making based on national interests overshadowing ideological or ethical considerations. He focused on the world’s power centers and manipulated them to achieve global stability.
We saw the policy of Realpolitik being used during the Vietnam War. Kissinger began serving as National Security Advisor in 1969, and later as Secretary of State in 1973, placing him in a key position of power during this era. To speed up the process of the peace deals, Nixon, on the advice of Kissinger, started Operation Menu, which was to carpet bomb Cambodia, a neutral country in this conflict. All this operation achieved was a U.S.-backed coup that overthrew the government of Cambodia, which in turn was overthrown by the Khmer Rouge five years later. Operation Menu was a failure because the peace deal happened three years later. However, this showed that Kissinger would go to any extent to achieve his end goal, no matter the ethical considerations.
While this one instance was a failure, some of the other tactics he employed throughout his career were quite successful, such as his policy of detente. This policy focused on reducing the likelihood of war. Kissinger was a key figure in the Cold War, and most of his actions
were shaped by the ideological struggle between communism and capitalism.
Yannis Stivachtis, professor of political science and Jean Monnet Chair at Virginia Tech, talks about how Kissinger viewed the Cold War.
“Kissinger knew this was a clash of great powers, because even if the Soviet Union was capitalist, or the United States was a communist, there would have been a clash,” Stivachtis said.
Stivachtis also talks about the multipolar world Kissinger worked towards.
“He feared a bipolar world where a shift toward the USSR could end the U.S. To prevent dominance by any power, he sought a multipolar balance, bringing China away from Russia to stabilize the U.S. position,” Stivachtis said.
Kissinger worked towards creating a multipolar world by improving relations with China. During the 1970s, when the Soviet-Sino split was prominent, Kissinger seized the opportunity to mend relations with both countries. Even though the U.S. had ideological differences with China, Kissinger made a trip to China in 1971, where he met Zhou Enlai, the Chinese premier at the time. This meeting led to the Shanghai Communiqué and set the basis for the improvement of the U.S. and China’s relations.
Additionally, Kissinger knew the importance of power and always kept himself close to the power centers in D.C. He was known for his networking capabilities, which were developed in his days at Harvard. An example of this is that Kissinger didn’t think highly of Nixon, but he knew that he needed to keep him close to not disrupt his plans. Kissinger helped Nixon win the 1968 election with the October Surprise. Kissinger sent a cipher message to South Vietnamese President Thi ệ u to delay the peace talks between the U.S. and the Viet Cong. Successful peace talks would aid the Democratic election campaign, so he ensured they would not go through, which led to Nixon winning the election.
Through shuttle diplomacy, Kissinger shaped the U.S. Middle East policy after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He authorized a massive airlift of military aid to Israel,
which strengthened the U.S. and Israel relations and cemented American dominance in the region. He also brokered a ceasefire and facilitated the Camp David Accords. This led to the establishment of the petrodollar economy because Saudi Arabia agreed to sell oil in U.S. dollars exclusively, which boosted U.S. economic and geopolitical influence.
Kissinger also restructured the U.S. bureaucracy by concentrating authority in the White House, expanding the power of the National Security Council (NSC) at the expense of the State and Defense Departments. This change lessened the power of the Secretary of State to determine foreign affairs, making the position of the NSC pivotal for those matters. His legacy persists, as this is the way modern administrations operate.
The legacy of Henry Kissinger is one of extreme intricacy. He existed in a grey area where moral consideration often collided with geopolitical strategies. While it is true that many of Kissinger’s actions contributed to molding American foreign policies and establishing the country’s international dominance, the moral aspects of some of his strategies — supporting dictators, ignoring human suffering and promoting nationalistic imperialism that disregarded life itself — do raise questions. Not many of us have ever been in a position as difficult as Kissinger’s during one of the most tumultuous eras of history. His policies may be seen as extreme, but at the end of the day, we see that his actions did ultimately aim for global stability. To promote the United States and protect its influence on the world that was a phenomenon itself, he adopted a pattern of diplomacy with his eyes focused on Realpolitik with little regard for ethics. Such grey areas mark the legacies of many former whose historical pages are mired with political genius and malignancy. Kissinger’s life and career serve as a reminder that in the realm of global politics, actions and decisions, there are often grey spaces, making it difficult for us even today to determine whether he was a harbinger of peace or violence.
LIFESTYLES
WASHINGTON AND LEE PROFESSOR SPEAKS ON MALTHUS AND THE GREEN REVOLUTION
Caitlin Whitfield | lifestyles contributor
Visiting lecturers like Glenn Davis Stone provide opportunities for the Virginia Tech community to learn.
Virginia Tech students and professors gathered to hear Glenn Davis Stone, a professor at Washington and Lee University, give a lecture on agricultural theories and practices earlier this month.
Titled “Malthus Got It Backwards: Modern Agriculture and the Ungreen Revolution,” the presentation focused on how the philosopher T. Robert Malthus has influenced how modern society thinks about farming and its relationship to society and the economy.
Stone prefaced his talk with an advisory: most of what he would be presenting would run contrary to many people’s understandings and beliefs about Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and modern agriculture. He explained he would be breaking down his research to present his information compellingly and truthfully.
“What I really wanted to do was to take a step back and look at the whole Genetically Modified Agriculture Revolution in a larger context, because GMOs are about much, much more than just a change in agricultural fields,” Stone said. “They have to do with the rise and fall of several large corporations, they have to do with changes in university-industry relationships, they have to do with the change in intellectual property, patenting, they even have major impacts in terms of international relations.”
Stone began his lecture with Malthus’ ideas
on agriculture and population to illustrate the progression of agricultural practices throughout western history.
Stone mentioned that Malthus came from a wealthy family that embraced Enlightenment ideas popular in the late 1700s and had a general dislike towards commoners and day laborers. Malthus wrote “An Essay on the Principle of Population” in 1798 to introduce a theory on agriculture that involved much more than just farming.
Stone’s assessment of Malthus’ writings was that Malthus believed “Agriculture is inherently incapable of keeping pace with population; therefore, population has to ultimately be checked, by what (Malthus) called positive checks,” said Stone.
“It’s a wonderfully synthetic theory, actually. One of the things that are at the core of it is the idea of positive checks being indirect,” Stone said. “It’s vice, and disease and famine, it’s a very synthetic view of the way population is regulated.”
Stone made clear the multifaceted nature of Malthus’ theory, saying that it“involves agricultural growth, sexuality, public health, demography, religion social class, morality, and perhaps most importantly, policy implication (welfare).”
Stone then discussed how Malthus’ theory has impacted agricultural understanding today even though the “external input” of
industrialization affects all current farming.
These inputs that Malthus couldn’t have foreseen are “tractors, and various kinds of attachments, fertilizers and several different episodes of fertilizer industrialization, hybrid seeds, genetically modified seeds, pesticides of all kinds, precision agriculture, data management and so on,” Stone said.
Stone then expanded on these new products, saying that “contrary to Malthus’ idea that agriculture can only grow by putting land under the plow, there is no end in sight, that I’m aware of, to new technologies that can be developed … Each one of these things is an industry in itself, and it supports other industries.”
Particular emphasis on the import-export relationship of fertilizer and grain between the United States and multiple countries in Europe Stone brought up the more recent effects of Malthus’ teachings being applied around the world, even though modern-day farming techniques were not considered in the making of his theory.
Concluding the lecture, Stone disagreed with the designation of the Green Revolution in India. He highlighted that many of the accomplishments that agricultural scholars credit to India were not what they seemed. He also broke down why the belief in the Green Revolution is so widespread.
Stone laid out the timeline of the Green Revolution in India with points of “independent Indian Malthusian shortages, grain exports, high yielding wheats, famine, (the) green revolution ends the famine and the imports, (a)billion lives are saved,” but then went on to refute each point and explain why none of those events could actually be contributed to the Green Revolution.
“Why is the myth still with us? One, it’s a good story,” Stone said. “We end up with this story about how technology and science and the U.S. saved the world, and it’s just an irresistible story told over and over.”
Stone concluded by tying in the connection between GMOs and Malthus’ theory, saying that the philosopher’s ideas directly affected the farming industry to a detrimental degree.
“GMOs were introduced to (the U.S.) in 1994-95, then moved into western Europe in 96, 97,” Stone explained. “Opposition starts to build, the biotech industry realizes it needs a more convincing narrative, and so they settle on this narrative that aha! This is the technology needed to feed the hungry in the third world.”
The talk was sponsored by the Food Studies Program at Virginia Tech, and a recording is available to view via Zoom if requested from contact Anna Zeide at zeide@vt.edu.
HAHN HORTICULTURE GARDEN UPDATES AND EVENTS
Emelia Delaporte | lifestyles editor
Hahn Horticulture Garden has a lot to offer and exciting ways to get involved.
Where Washington Street meets Duck Pond Drive, there is a secluded garden waiting for visitors to come and find some peace. The Hahn Horticulture Garden is a campus green space, incorporating no fewer than six gardens over almost six acres and a variety of flora and fauna. It provides spaces for classes, volunteering, events and various recreational pursuits.
The Garden puts on a number of
events over the course of the year, such as the upcoming annual plant sale from April 17-19. This collaboration with the Horticulture Club takes place both indoors and outdoors at the Garden. All proceeds will go to the Horticulture Club. The Garden contributes trees and shrubs to the sale.
“The Horticulture Club, they have anything from succulents to annuals,
perennials, vegetables,” said Katie Keciorius, event coordinator for the Garden. “Pretty much anything that you could possibly want for planting in the spring.”
The plant sale is not the only upcoming opportunity for folks to get out and engage with the Garden. This summer will feature the annual Gala, as well as the Simply Elemental art show.
“(The Gala is) our biggest fundraising event that we have that we sell tickets for. It’s catered and we have wine and basically, we do a ton of auctions,” Keciorius said. “It’s… how we try to raise money to put back into the gardens.”
The Gala will take place in June at the Garden. Information about ticketing @COLLEGIATETIMES
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will be available on the website at hahngarden.vt.edu. Also at the Garden, Simply Elemental is currently anticipated to take place in the first week of August. Simply Elemental is a public outdoor art show that community members are able to submit to be featured in. Students and other community members are able to volunteer at the Garden from
spring through fall. They meet every Monday at 5 p.m. at the Peggy Hahn Pavilion. Staff lead this effort and instruct volunteers on how to go about the work for the day, which changes frequently. Once the garden is put to rest for winter, volunteers are rewarded.
“We always have a little volunteer dinner where we provide food for the volunteers who have come throughout the season to
help us, as a thank you to them,” Keciorius said. “It really does help out a lot when we can get students and the community in to help us.”
The Hahn Horticulture Garden is self-sustained by proceeds from events hosted at their rental facilities, including the Peggy Hahn Pavilion and the newly built marquee, and other programming. For information on how to utilize these facilities and other Garden
resources, visit hahngarden.vt.edu.
“There’s so many people that don’t even know that it’s there,” Keciorius said. “It is such a nice little quiet place to relax, especially in the busy campus life.”
@COLLEGIATETIMES
WEDDING DRESS CODE GUIDELINES
Bailey Miller | lifestyles contributor
Lifestyles contributor Bailey Miller offers advice on how to dress your best for the upcoming wedding season.
With wedding season approaching and invitations arriving, it is important to know what to wear for these special days. Being overdressed or underdressed can lead to negative attention and embarrassment, but these tips can help everyone celebrate in style.
Overall, it is best to avoid dresses or shirts that are very low cut and dresses that are very short or have large cutouts. Attendees should not wear white or light colors that could resemble white. Unless otherwise stated, white is reserved for the bride.
Destination
“Tropical wedding attire usually implies hot and humid destinations, so you’ll probably be more comfortable leaning into lightweight fabrics and airy silhouettes,” Jen Glantz from Brides said in her article “Every Wedding Guest Dress Code, Explained.”
Destination weddings typically entail the most casual wedding dress code.
For men, short sleeve button-up shirts, linen or similar fabrics, or polo shirts with khaki pants are standard options. When it comes to footwear, loafers or boots are good choices. Avoid t-shirts, jeans, sneakers and flip flops, as those are seen as too casual.
For women, flowy maxi or knee length dresses or skirts are popular. Dressy jumpsuits are also appropriate for the destination wedding scene. Footwear options include dressy sandals or wedge style heels. Classy sunglasses or an elegant hat are fitting accessories.
Pastels, florals or other botanical patterns complement the vibe of beach weddings well.
Casual
“You might be tempted to think that a
casual dress code means anything goes, but that’s not necessarily the case,” said Lauren Whalley, a fashion editor from The Knot in her article “The Semi-Formal Wedding Dress Code, Decoded.” “Casual wedding attire is one of the most relaxed, but it’s important to remember that a wedding is still a formal event, after all, so there are some rules to keep in mind.”
Business casual attire is similar to wedding casual attire.
For men, long sleeve button-down shirts with slacks and dress shoes are fitting attire. Ties and blazers can enhance the outfit, but they are typically unnecessary. Appropriate footwear includes dress shoes or loafers.
For women, a sundress, jumpsuitor nicelooking blouse with a skirt are great selections. Accessories like statement jewelry or bags can heighten the look. Openor closed-toed heels or flats are usually proper footwear.
Semi-formal
“Semi-formal attire falls somewhere between casual attire and formal attire,” Kate Boswell, a content optimization specialist from The Knot said in her article “The Semi-Formal Wedding Dress Code, Decoded.” “While you won’t need to show up in an evening gown or tuxedo, it’s not a situation where anything goes, either.”
For men, similar to the casual dress code, blazers and ties are optional. A button-down shirt or a nice sweater is a relevant choice. Slacks and dress shoes are appropriate complements.
For women, short or mid-length dresses are appropriate. Slip dresses, long skirts or pantsuits are also suitable. Respectful footwear includes closed-toed heels or flats.
Cocktail
“This wedding guest dress code strikes a balance between elegant and comfortable and fancy and pared-back,” Glantz said.
For men, a suit and tie are standard. Neutral colored jacket and pants with a white shirt and dress shoes is ideal. The tie can typically be any color.
For women, a short formal dress is fitting. Formal heels, either open- or closed-toed, are appropriate. Sandals or wedges give a laid-back impression, so those should be avoided. Floral prints and bright colors are typically allowed. Bold jewelry can liven up the outfit.
A high school homecoming dance is an example of another setting where one might see a cocktail dress code.
Formal/Black-tie optional
Formal and black-tie optional are often used interchangeably. This option is more common and more flexible compared to black-tie and white-tie dress codes.
For men, a tuxedo is optional but not required. Men can opt for a dark colored suit with a plain colored tie. A pocket square can be added for a pop of color or to match his date. Shoes should be formal dress shoes.
For women, tea-length dresses are ideal. Colors and prints can be bold, but accessories should be minimal and elegant. Formal footwear, heels or flats, is proper.
Black-tie
“It’s important to note that black-tie wedding attire is one of the stricter dress codes for weddings, with little room for interpretation,” Whalley said.
For men, tuxedos are standard. Tails on the tuxedo and cummerbunds are optional, but a tie of some kind is a must. Black bow ties or black long ties are acceptable.
For women, floor length dresses are expected. Traditionally, dresses should be solid, not bright colors. Classy heels and dresses are appropriate.
White-tie
White-tie is the most formal traditional wedding dress code. In 2025, white-tie attire for weddings is not very common. For men, a black tuxedo tailcoat with a white button down shirt is required. Men must also wear a vest, bow tie and cummerbund under their coat. Black dress pants and dress shoes complement the rest of the outfit.
For women, a full length ball gown or A-line dress is required. Formal heels or flats and elbow length gloves accompany the dress well. Jewelry should be formal and classy.
Other themes
Along with the traditional dress code options, there are nontraditional choices, like specific themes or country and western attire. Themed dress codes, where a couple can request guests follow a specific theme, typically revolve around holidays such as Halloween costumes or Christmas festive wear. Country or western dress codes include boots, earth tones, fringe, denim and bold patterns like cow print.
With all dress codes, a wedding guest can consult the bride and groom to ensure they are following the given dress code. Wedding invitations or websites may give additional details like colors to wear or avoid, examples of appropriate attire and more.
SPORTS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CRUISES THROUGH FIRST ROUND OF WBIT
Sam Mostow | sports editor
Hokies bounce back from an early 9-0 deficit to roll North Carolina A&T.
Four minutes and 22 seconds into the WBIT first round, Virginia Tech head coach Megan Duffy called timeout down 9-0.
The Hokies had surrendered four layups and a free throw to North Carolina A&T. At that point, they had missed all eight of their shots, while committing three turnovers. Just before the timeout, forward Rose Micheaux picked up her second foul, sending her to the bench for the rest of the half.
Tech took 30 seconds to regroup, then burst for a 38-9 run through the rest of the half, culminating in a 61-45 win.
“We’ve really focused in this past week-anda-half on really sharing and moving the ball — and I thought we were doing it,” Duffy said. “I thought we got some offensive rebounds. We just couldn’t finish. I didn’t necessarily think it was because we were flat or not doing the right thing, I just thought that they didn’t fall yet.”
Through the rest of the first half, the Hokies (19-12) shot 15-for-28 from the field and hit
4-of-5 from deep.
“It wasn’t a question of not being ready to play, it was just we didn’t quite finish the plays off of it, and they got a couple easy baskets and a couple offensive rebounds,” Duffy said. “But after that, I thought everything we had talked about started clicking a little bit better.”
The Hokies shot 38% from the floor and hit eight threes on Thursday, though seven of those treys came in the first half.
Guard Lani White led Tech with 18 points — including nine from threes — and shot 7-for-11.
“Being that spark within myself, it sparks off my teammates,” White said. “… I think once one of us goes off, I think we all follow their lead.”
Guard Mackenzie Nelson followed White with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists of her own. The redshirt freshman played 33 minutes off the bench.
Kayl Petersen saw increased minutes after Rose Micheaux found herself in foul trouble. Tech’s starter at the five slot picked up three fouls
in her first five minutes on the floor, meaning the freshman filled her void. The 6-foot-0 forward finished with two points, eight rebounds, five blocks and two steals in 28 minutes.
“I thought Kayl responded great. I think in her first few minutes, she was kind of still getting her feet under her,” Duffy said. “Then in the second after the timeout, I thought defensively, she had a couple nice blocks, a couple great rebounds. She just was a presence inside. Obviously, she’s undersized occasionally with some of her matchups, and I thought she battled really hard.”
Petersen defended Aggies center Chaniya Clark in the post. The 6-foot-4 redshirt junior finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds on 9-of-11 shooting against Tech.
“We had to beg her to do that,” said North Carolina A&T head coach Tarrell Robinson. “… At halftime, I told her: ‘You have got to shoot it every time you get it. You’re the mismatch, and we need to take advantage of that.’ You tell (Clark) what to do, she’ll do it.”
The WBIT is not what Virginia Tech strove for in Duffy’s first season at the helm. The Hokies were the first team out of the NCAA Tournament, after dropping five of their last eight games entering Selection Sunday. Still, being the top seed of the second-tier tournament can serve as a learning experience for the team — especially for its eight underclassmen.
“We’re grateful to be playing in March,” Duffy said. “… You get the opportunity to practice a few different things, but I think as players … they want to play games. The practice is good. They’ve had over 100 practices, I’m sure. But to be able to play in front of our crowd and play for each other, even if it means one more time, that’s what it’s all about in March.”
The Hokies are guaranteed at least one more game in Cassell Coliseum before November — on Sunday at 4 p.m. against Texas Tech.
LACROSSE FALLS TO NO. 2 NORTH CAROLINA IN REPEAT OF STANFORD STRUGGLE
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer
Virginia Tech lost an early lead to fall to the Tar Heels.
Similar to its previous matchup against No. 8 Stanford, Virginia Tech lacrosse took an early 3-1 lead over No. 2 North Carolina. But, in a repeat of that Cardinal matchup, the Hokies (7-4, 2-3 ACC) ultimately fell to the Tar Heels, 21-9, on Thursday, marking their third ACC loss of the season.
It made sense why Carolina was the favorite coming in. Over eight games, the Tar Heels (9-0, 5-0 ACC) had allowed just 40 goals, the fewest in the ACC. Tech’s nine goals Thursday were the most North Carolina had allowed all season. But against the No. 2 team in the country, who had scored 14 or more goals in each game prior to Thursday, it just wasn’t enough.
And this time, the issue wasn’t the number of shots. A game removed from recording just eight attempts against the Cardinal, the Hokies fired off 32 shots. However, only 17 of those were on goal, while 34 of North Carolina’s 40 attempts were on target, resulting in 21 goals.
Tech struck first. Midfielder Mia Pozzi darted inside the crease for the game’s first tally just under four minutes in. It would be seven minutes until another goal, a player-up score from Tar Heels attacker Kiley Mottice, tied the game at one.
Less than a minute later, Hokies attacker Lauren Render — back from a knee injury sustained against Louisville on March 8 — tallied her first goal of the day. Render notched two more scores before exiting the game early in the fourth after reaggravating her left knee.
Holding a 3-1 lead, Tech began to falter, allowing North Carolina to tie the game. First, attacker Olivia Vergano — a former Hokie who made the All-ACC Second Team in 2023 — sliced inside to tally the Tar Heels’ second goal. Thirty-five seconds later, fellow attacker Chloe Humphrey did the same to knot it at three.
Her sister, attacker Ashley Humphrey, seized North Carolina’s first lead of the game with 1:16
to go in the first quarter. Render then evened the score with 32 seconds left. In the second quarter, Tech hung with the Tar Heels, tying the game twice off goals from attacker Sophia Trahan and Pozzi.
Despite a solid performance by keeper Aaliyah Jones, who recorded 13 saves on 40 shots faced, North Carolina’s relentless attack proved too much for the Hokies.
After Pozzi’s shot found the back of the net with 10:13 to go, the Tar Heels pulled away for good. Attacker Marissa White was the first to strike for North Carolina, then three minutes later, Vergano struck again for her third goal of the game. The Tar Heels attacker eviscerated her old team, punishing the Hokies for five goals on seven shots.
Chloe Humphrey netted three more scores in the third quarter, adding a hat trick to her tally. Goals from Addison Pattillo, Eliza Osburn and
White gave North Carolina a 15-7 lead heading into the final frame.
It was simply too little, too late for Tech. The Tar Heels continued to dismantle the Hokies, outscoring them 6-2 in the final frame. Vergano, Kate Levy and Osburn all found the back of the net and midfielder Nicole Humphrey also added to the tally, marking the first game in which all three Humphrey sisters scored in the same contest. And despite goals from Pozzi and attacker Grace New, Tech failed to find a rhythm, sealing a 21-9 Tar Heels triumph.
Looking to bounce back from the tough loss, the Hokies will next face High Point at home on Sunday, March 23 at 11 a.m. Tech will then return to ACC play on the road against No. 13 Duke on Saturday, March 29 at noon.
NO. 14 HOKIES SOFTBALL TAKES CARE OF BUSINESS AGAINST LONGWOOD
Thomas Hughes | sports staff writer
The Lancers were no match for Virginia Tech across Wednesday’s doubleheader.
On a sunny Wednesday afternoon in Blacksburg, No. 14 Virginia Tech swept Longwood, 10-0 and 7-1, to extend its winning streak to six.
The Hokies (25-5) overpowered the Lancers (6-19) in both games with a mix of timely hitting and solid pitching.
Emma Mazzarone was in the circle for Game 1 and was exceptional, surrendering two hits and a walk while recording five strikeouts. In Game 2, Sophie Kleiman and Emma Lemley combined to keep Longwood’s bats in check.
Though the Lancers put a runner on second at the top of the first, it wouldn’t get that far for the remainder of Game 1. Once Tech received the bats, it wasted no time in igniting the offense.
Right fielder Cori McMillan watched ball four then stole second, reaching home a batter later when first baseman Michelle Chatfield belted a triple that Longwood second baseman Sarah Terrell dropped.
After that, center fielder Bre Peck cracked an RBI single to plate Chatfield, then designated player Emily LeGette dropped a two-RBI single to bring around Peck and third baseman Jordan Lynch.
One inning later, the Hokies shut the door with a dominant six-run inning. The scoring charge began when left fielder Jayden Jones went yard over the rightcenter wall.
With an out and runners at the corners, Peck notched her second RBI of the day with a left-field single that brought McMillan home. A batter later, catcher Zoe Yaeger doubled down the left field line to score second baseman Rachel Castine and put Tech in run-rule territory.
For good measure, Lynch hit a sacrifice fly to bring around pinch runner Lyla Blackwell. And finally, LeGette bombed one that appeared to hit Lancers left fielder Brooke Bennett’s glove before going over the wall, cementing a commanding 10-0 victory for the Hokies.
“I think we did great,” LeGette said. “I think it was a great team win. I think all the work we’ve put in like this throughout the week for this game really prepared us well.”
And in Game 2, McMillan wasted no
time, launching a leadoff homer on a fresh count for the 50th bomb of her career.
“(She’s) a kid that came from a mid-major and turned into an All-American,” said Virginia Tech head coach Pete D’Amour. “So, you know, it’s evidence like I’ve always said it — you come here, you’re gonna get better.”
However, after that, Tech’s bats quieted while Longwood’s offense came to life for the first time.
In the bottom of the third, Bennett zipped a double down the left field line. Hokies left fielder Trinity Martin fumbled the ball, allowing Lancers third baseman Sophia Knock to come home for their first run of the day.
Tech answered back, placing runners on second and third and tallying another run when Castine knocked a sacrifice fly to plate McMillan.
Longwood came close to re-tying the game when shortstop Naleya Bridges made a dash for home plate. But that sprint was unsuccessful, snuffed out by Castine’s throw to catcher Kylie Aldridge.
Unfortunately for the Lancers, their
spark fizzled out, while the Hokies’ charge reignited. Once Lemley entered in relief, she dominated, allowing only two batters to reach base for the remainder of the game.
Then as if on cue, McMillan struck again. Her second homer of the game soared beyond the right-field wall, igniting another Tech run.
“I couldn’t have done it without Coach Pete,” McMillan said. “The way he coaches, and the confidence he has in me and what he’s done with my swing — it just makes me really happy.”
Two batters later, Castine knocked an RBI single to bring home Chatfield. In the bottom of the sixth, the Hokies put the nail in the coffin. Aldridge went yard to center, and on the very next pitch, LeGette followed suit with a solo shot. Chatfield capped off the scoring with an RBI single to left, plating shortstop Annika Rohs and securing Tech’s 7-1 win.
The Hokies will take a nine-day break before hosting No. 17 Stanford in a three-game series starting Friday, March 28 at 6 p.m.
The Cardinal (20-3) have been one of the hottest teams in the country as of late, riding an eight-game winning streak. Stanford was also one of just two teams to beat Texas, toppling the then-No. 1 Longhorns, 9-5, on Feb. 21.
The only other team to do that? No. 4 Florida (27-4, 3-3 SEC). This TechStanford series promises to be a marquee matchup between two of the country’s best and has all the makings of a thriller. Despite the looming challenge of the Cardinal, D’Amour emphasized the importance of focusing on the present.
“We don’t prepare any different from Longwood than Stanford,” D’Amour said. “So, get your business done, and let’s go see what happens.”
JACK NEWELL / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Cori McMillan (2) stops herself before swinging at a ball, April 3, 2024.