Oct. 23, 2018

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October 23, 2018

COLLEGIATETIMES

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

VIRGINIA TECH ENFORCES TICKET POLICIES

This is a deck headline. It adds additional information about the story but DOESN’T REPEAT THE HEADLINE.

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Virginia Tech Ticketing Services revoked multiple students’ tickets and ticket privileges after the Notre Dame football game.

ALLY LARRICK news staff writer

Before the football game against Notre Dame on Oct. 6, multiple Virginia Tech students received an email from Ticketing Services letting them know they were in violation of the student ticket policy, and that their

ticket privileges, which allow them to enter student lottery and purchasing student season tickets, would be revoked for their time at Virginia Tech.

“The policy is crystal clear,” said Assistant Vice President of University Relations Mark Owczarski.

T he st udent ticket

policy can be found on every student ticket page, including the season ticket and lottery sign-up pages.

Students have the possibility to lose their ticket privileges if they either sell or attempt to sell a student ticket for more than face value or alter, duplicate, attempt to alter, attempt to duplicate,

or use an altered or duplicated student ticket. The policy has been updated and expanded over the years, but those two main principles have remained the same.

“The first part came at the request of the Division of Student Affairs after they became aware that students were profiting off other

students,” said Stephen Medley, senior director of Ticketing Services in an email. “The second part is a security issue.”

I n Vi rgin ia Tech’s Lane Stadium, the North End Zone is known as the student section. In terms of the second part of the policy, on game days, an

overabundance of students flock to the North End Zone, even though the section has only 4,994 seats. Because of this, that section is watched over more than others on game days.

“We do a fair share of policing ourselves, checking

TICKETS / page 4

Virginia Tech tests ways to prevent police injuries The Virginia Tech Center for Infrastructure-Based Safety Systems (CIBSS) has teamed up with the Virginia State Police to try to increase the visibility of the officers and their vehicles.

KELLEY GATES news staff writer

The Virginia Tech Center for Infrastructure-Based Safety Systems (CIBSS) and the Virginia State Police have teamed up to help stop roadside injuries and fatalities of officers in the field.

Officers are often out in difficult, low visibility conditions among drivers who may not be the most alert. It is the job of the researchers at CIBSS to reduce the number of these injuries by increasing the

visibility of the officers and their vehicles.

The CIBSS is part of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which researches various aspects of automotive and transportation issues and attempts to find solutions.

Research ranges from selfdriving cars to using a different kind of gravel on wintery roads.

The project leader of this team is Travis Terry under the supervision of Ronald Gibbons, the director of CIBSS. Their efforts include

surveying several participating police agencies, as well as designing different lighting schemes, vehicle markings and patterns on both officers’ uniforms and cars. The survey system they use runs through Qualtrics, a simple but powerful survey system that allows the team to generate and receive real-time diagnostics and data.

The team initially monitored traffic and police behavior using radar and cameras along high-traffic roads, but needed more

data than these specific locations could provide.

The need for more data led them to consider partnering with police agencies around Virginia. These measurements, however, did give the researchers valuable insight into how drivers react to police cars or officers on the side of the road.

According to Terry, officers have a deep connection with the police vehicles and uniforms.

“A lot of this stuff is POLICE / page 3

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ANTHONY WU Virginia Tech Police Officer Ratcliffe poses for a photo, Oct. 14, 2018.

lifestyles

Slay spooky season with these DIY costume ideas Creative Halloween costumes don’t need months of planning; you can look ghoulishly good in a matter of minutes.

EMILY CARTER

lifestyles staff writer

Halloween is almost here, which means it’s time to come up with an idea for a costume. It can be kind of tricky to come up with an original costume idea, not to mention expensive. Here are some budget-friendly costumes perfect for a quiet Halloween get-together with a few friends or for a full-on Monster Mash.

ANDA CHU / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

A SOBER SEMESTER What does it look like to swear off drinks in college? page 5

Superman/Superwoman If you don’t already have a Superman T-shirt, find an inexpensive one online or at your nearest clothing store.

Put that shirt on underneath a button-down, but don’t button it all the way up. Only fasten

OPINION: MENTAL ILLNESS GLORIFIED Dialogue around mental illness needs nuance. page 2

a few buttons together so that people can see the Superman logo. Tuck both shirts into some jeans and pair it with some glasses. It’s a bird!

It’s a plane! It’s you in your easy Superman Halloween costume!

Rosie the Riveter You should have no trouble putting this outfit together if you have all the necessary pieces in your closet. Take out a pair of medium to light-wash jeans and a chambray or denim shirt. If you don’t have either of those, a denim jacket can make a suitable substitute. If your shirt is longer than your jeans, tuck them in to look like a jean jumpsuit and roll the sleeves up so they look like

a short-sleeved shirt. Then take a red piece of fabric or a red bandana and tie it around your hair. If possible, try to cover your whole head with the red fabric. It’s OK if you can cover only part of your head; people will still be able to tell you’re dressed as the 1940s feminist icon.

Mister Rogers It’ll be a beautiful day in the neighborhood when you step out on the town in your Mister Rogers Halloween costume. Look in your closet and see if you have a blue or white dress shirt, a tie, a cardigan and a pair of khakis.

As you put on your costume, tuck the dress shirt into the COSTUMES / page 4

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opinions

PAGE 2 October 23, 2018

editor@collegiatetimes.com

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column

Mental illnesses must not be glorified by our society Romanticizing depression and anxiety in pop culture has led to disingenuous expressions of serious health conditions.

M

ental illness is not a good th ing. T h is should be an obvious, self-explanatory statement, but current Western culture has developed a tendency to romanticize mental illness and allow it to act as justification for harmful behavior.

While this attitude may appear much better than the historic ignorance and discrimination of people with mental illnesses, the seemingly positive modern view of them can be almost as harmful.

Particularly on social media, and among pre-teens and young adults, mental illness is slowly being seen as a quality to be sympathized with and, in drastic cases, coveted. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder tend to be reduced to select, socially acceptable characteristics — anxiety is associated with shy, typically female introverts; depression is seen less as an illness and more as a state of being sad and profound; bipolar disorder is charac-

creation of different recordings explaining the suicide is a dramatization with no basis in reality.

Some may say that fictional portrayals shouldn’t be taken so seriously, but it is undeniable that movies and television heavily influence people’s behavior and attitudes — particularly those of children and adolescents.

Erroneously showing mental illness — for example, by portraying suicide as a deliberate act to hurt others and leaving mental illness and depression out of the discussion — only furthers misconceptions and gives young people a false model to compare themselves to.

In middle school and early high school, I met people who would flaunt visible self-harm scars so others would ask about them and give the customary commiserating comments.

I don’t mean that their experiences are invalid — anyone who self-harms at all, for whatever reason, is struggling with unhealthy feelings, at the very least.

But the culture of romanti-

“We should all approach these discussions with a more nuanced, rational perspective instead of viewing mental illnesses as passing trends. terized by constant manic and depressive episodes, and those manic episodes are seen as simple hyperactivity. And OCD has become so closely associated with perfectionism that statements like “I’m so OCD” and “my OCD is so bad today” have become c om monpla c e a mong people who just like things to be neat.

Television shows and movies often portray mental illness un realistically, which only encourages this romanticization. A recent hotly debated example is the Netflix show 13 Reasons Why. The main character of the story commits suicide primarily as revenge on the people who wronged her.

This is a terrible misrepresentation of suicide — only about 15 to 38 percent of people who commit suicide leave notes. The methodical

”

cizing self-harm as something almost beautifully tragic only encourages the unhealthy coping mechanism and introduces the factor of seeking attention into the act.

A view that is more cross-generational is the idea of the “mad genius” or “depressed artist.” A popular belief is that the best artists are typically mentally ill. Defenders of this speculation cite Vincent van Gogh as the poster child, but there is no solid scientific evidence that mental illness leads to deeper artistic ingenuity — quite the opposite, actually.

As the field of psychology has developed, mental illness has gained scientific validity — which is indisputably a very good thing and a mark of social progress. However, the fact that mental illness is

now widely recognized in Western culture has also led to it being used as an excuse for harmful behaviors and attitudes. Some people with mental illnesses lash out against their loved ones or turn to drugs unapologetically because they say — and may convince themselves — that they just can’t help it. This mentality is damaging to both the afflicted person and their loved ones. As with any problem, a rational person should work to improve their situation and better themselves for their personal benefit and the benefit of those close to them.

I n mor e ext r eme, political cases, mental illness is frequently used as an argument against gun control. School shootings often lead to heated arguments about the availability of firearms, and those against stricter gun control frequently chalk the problem up to mental illness. The shooters are said to be “disturbed,” and are thus barely held accountable for their actions. Mental illnesses of any kind are a constant struggle, but in no way should they ever be used as excuses for something as heinous as mass murder.

The de-stigmatization of mental illness in a traditional sense is wonderful, but the glorification of it is becoming widespread and may be creating a new type of stigma. A personal example is how I was hesitant to accept that I had acute anxiety until late in my sophomore year of high school — I subconsciously viewed mental illness as an immature claim that angsty teenagers used to get attention. This is not an argument against discussions about mental illness, but we should all approach these discussions with a more nuanced, rational perspective instead of viewing mental illnesses as passing trends.

SIPA USA / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in a January 2017 file image from his confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. On Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, Sessions eliminated an Obama administration order to phase out the use of private prisons to hold federal inmates.

column

For-profit prisons lead to mistreatment of inmates Politicians’ support of the multi-billion dollar private industry can’t continue due to lack of support and exploitation of prisoners.

D

onald Trump’s election in November of 2016 evoked a range of emotions within Americans.

While some were overjoyed and others grimly pondered the future of our country, the upper management of several of the country’s biggest private prison companies rejoiced.

T he pr ivate pr ison industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that makes money through government contracts. It runs prisons and immigration detention facilities at both the state and federal levels. The facilities are marketed as a solution to prison overcrowding and a way to reduce costs, which are inarguably problems that need to be addressed.

The United States boasts the largest prison population in the world, but it costs billions to build and maintain those facilities.

T he pr ivate pr ison system has been under fire for poor treatment of prisoners and cost-cutting measures that result in dangerous and inhumane conditions. Beyond that, the private prison system has been likened to modern day slavery because of the way it funnels AfricanAmericans into forced labor for little to no pay.

Because the contracts that private prisons sign with the government often guarantee a certain level of occupancy, law enforcement

officials find themselves under pressure to arrest more people, and our prison population is disproportionately made up of minorities, specifically AfricanAmericans. Prisoners can then be forced to work, and because minimum wage laws don’t apply to them, they can be paid very little or even nothing for their efforts. Refusing to work can mean solitary confinement.

In 2016, then-Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates issued a directive to phase out the use of private prisons, citing ethical concerns about the treatment of prisoners in those facilities compared to government ones. The day after, private prison companies began donating to political campaigns. The GEO Group and CoreCivic, the two largest publicly traded prison companies, both contributed $250,000 to President Trump’s inauguration ceremonies. Just 12 days into his tenure as Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent out his own directive reversing that of Yates and encouraging the continued use of private prisons.

There is next to no public support for private prisons, and they have been found to not significantly reduce costs. The best justification for their existence is that they are a necessary evil to deal with issues of cost and overpopulation, but other options

do exist. Considering that 46.1 percent of our federal prisoners are ser ving sentences for drug offenses according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, as well as growing popular support and successful implementation in several states and D.C., legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana presents an interesting alternative.

Legalization could even change those nonviolent offenders from an expense as prisoners to a revenue source through taxation.

Mandatory minimum sentences and other policies that keep people in jail for more time also ensure that our prison population stays high.

For an advanced democratic country, the fact that the United States has the highest prison population in the world is an embarrassment, and taking steps to reduce that population is a much more viable alternative to our problems than privatization.

DREW JONES • opinions contributor • junior, multimedia journalism

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JESSIE YU • opinions contributor • freshman, liberal arts undecided

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ARMAHN RASSULI A stressed student sits in front of her computer in anguish, March 29, 2017.

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October 23, 2018 PAGE 3

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POLICE: Students are encouraged to conduct research from page 1

personal,” Terry said.

“Any change is taken personally (as) an officer spends most of his time in it.”

The uniforms have a history behind them as well.

Changing these uniforms affects not only the brand and sense of authority the uniform brings, but also its

historical significance.

“The uniform colors actually date back to the Civil War,” Gibbons said, “and this legacy is taken seriously.”

Exact details of the study cannot be disclosed due to the sensitive nature of the research and live environment in which the tests are taking place. The secrecy is also to protect

the identities of the officers participating for privacy and other reasons.

“We don’t want to give out too much information at this time,” Gibbons said, “because someone might target the marked cars.”

Despite this secrecy, the team at CIBSS is willing to take on graduate and undergraduate student researchers. The center

has had 20 undergraduate students across all fields of study conducting research and tests; some have even worked at CIBSS for all four years of their time at Virginia Tech.

The team frequently reaches out to other departments looking for students to join their research initiatives and design teams. Even students from fields other

than the traditional STEM fields are welcome to join if they can show dedication and interest. The Virginia Te c h Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Institute itself supports close to 300 students for research and other programs. More information about these opportunities can be found on the VTTI website.

Cur rently the team does not have any definite

future projects planned, but is looking into several different areas that might need attention, such as unmarked police vehicles and how automated vehicles react to officer presence.

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Hokie BugFest promotes Virginia Tech students to passion for entomology build sustainable waste The eighth annual Hokie BugFest was held on Saturday, Oct. infrastructure in Rwanda 20, at Squires Student Center. The event showcased Virginia Tech’s bug-based research to the local community.

Several students from Virginia Tech have taken on The Rwanda Project. The project is aiming to create a sustainable solution for the lack of waste infrastructure in Rilima, Rwanda.

BENITA LUKE

news staff writer

Seven Virginia Tech students along with two faculty members have taken on The Rwanda Project to create a sustainable solution for the lack of a waste infrastructure in Rilima, Rwanda. Sydney Buck, a sophomore pursuing construction engineering and management, is one of the seven students currently working toward this project.

“The Rwanda Project is a team of different students at Virginia Tech. We have people from across all

by Brooke Baugher as her senior capstone project,” Buck said. “Brooke is now our adviser in a way and provides the guidance and contacts we need to move this project forward.

She has in fact been to the community before and done interviews with what the community is willing to do and what they want out of this project.”

Rilima, Rwa nd a, currently has no waste infrastructure, and while some families have a pit latrine, most people openly defecate. The Rwanda Project addresses these

“Our project is very

COURTESY OF VT NEWS

JULIA VAUGHN news staff writer

T he eighth a n nua l Hokie BugFest was held Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Squires Student Center. The Virginia Tech Department of Entomology, Virginia Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and the W.B. Alwood Entomological Society hosted three floors worth of insect-inspired activities.

Hokie BugFest is a yearly festival that promotes a passion for entomology and science in the local com mun it y th rough Scienc e, Te ch nolog y, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM)-based exhibits and shows. It also gives Virginia Tech an oppor-

Theatre for children with special needs.

Hokie BugFest held a plethora of events t h roug hout t he d ay.

Introducing multiple new showcases including the Buggi n’- Out Cost ume Contest and Parade, where contestants could compete in their best insect-inspired attire to be crowned the king and queen of the festival, and the Buggy Art Contest, where attendees could display their art pieces that captured the beauty of bugs.

The festival also introduced the inaugural Humans Dressed as Dung-Beetles Race, in which participants raced with balls of “dung” down College Avenue in downtown Blacksburg.

In addition to the exciting

“Visitors were able to

view over 200 insects at the bug zoo, which held bird-eating tarantulas, scorpions, beetles and a working beehive. tunity to showcase all of its current bug-based research.

The event works with the Virginia Tech Center for Autism Research to create a welcoming and educational exhibition for children with autism and other disabilities. In order to create a Supporting Autism Friendly Envi ron ments (SA F E) event, the event provided multiple quiet spaces, sensory friendly activities and an early opening of exhibits at The Lyric

”

new entries to Hokie BugFest, all of the fan favorites took place at the student center, including fest ivit ies l i ke Bug Jeopardy, Bug Bingo and the Bee Waggle Dance.

Those in attendance were able to embrace their inner entomologist by observing a myriad of different insects at the bug zoo, in addition to receiving a chance to earn a Junior Entomologist certificate.

Visitors were able to

view over 200 insects at the bug zoo, which held birdeating tarantulas, scorpions, beetles and a working beehive. Additionally, there was a butterfly tent for those who wished to admire the beauty of the entomological world and, alternatively, a halloween-inspired Spider’s Lair, for those wanting to explore the spookier side of the study.

Hokie BugFest also invited multiple entomology enthusiasts to share their talents at the event, such as Alberti Flea Circus and Tony Gustin, the Bug Whisperer. Other entertainers at the festival included Brandon the Balloon Guy, who fashioned balloon creatures for attendees, and Story Time with Joelle, who told tales inspired by insects.

For those who wanted to do more than ogle at the plethora of arthropods or take part in the many arts and crafts available, guests with adventurous appetites could partake in the Bug Eating Contest.

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unique because we are building latrines that have transportable storage.

”

Sydney Buck sophomore, construction engineering and management the engineering majors: chem ical, mechanical, construction, civil and industrial systems,” Buck said. “We meet bi-weekly to design latrines and an off-site composting facility for the community of Rilima, Rwanda.”

The project is supervised

by Brooke Baugher, who is a master’s student at Virginia Tech on track to receive her doctorate in civil engineering. Baugher started the project as a course called Global Design and Construction, which is open to all majors here at Virginia Tech.

“The project was started

problems with a design that incorporates multiple disciplines across the VT engineering department.

“Our project is very unique because we are building latrines that have transportable storage,” Buck said. “This means you can take a bucket that is filled with waste and move it to a composting site which is completely separate on one side of the town. This active composting site is where the waste will compost for over a year and act as a fertilizer.”

According to Buck, the team’s objective is to build three latrines, which are facilities used as toilets.

Members of The Rwanda Project at a meeting.

The three latrines will be located at a primary school, a secondary school and at the center of the community at the gathering spot.

“After we leave, the goal is that they (local residents in Rilima) have the knowledge on how to build these latrines so that when they save up the money, they can continue to build up their waste infrastructure in the community,” Buck said.

The team has been working alongside an engineer located in Rilima to curate a plan that will help guide their construction process.

“We had our second Skype meeting on Oct. 18 with our contact in Rilima.

We went over the materials we will need, the assumptions we are making so far, drawings of the design and estimated costs,” Buck said. “We now have an approved design and we are moving into scheduling and construction and safety plans. We’re going to be sending these plans to the locals as we will be having their support as well. We’ve asked them to start the pre-digging so that when we go there during winter break for two weeks, we can get started with the construction process.”

As for the funding for the project, the team has estimated $4,500 for the three latrines as well as the off-site composting facility. The team will be trying to fully fund it using a GoFundMe.

@CollegiateTimes

COURTESY OF SYDNEY BUCK

PAGE 4 October 23, 2018

TICKETS: ‘Athletics really wants you to go to the game’

from page 1

tickets in the North End Zone,” Medley said. “Any student caught with a fraudulent ticket for that area is ejected from the stadium and the ticket is confiscated.”

Although these security reasons influence the policy, Medley states that the majority of violations are a result of students selling their tickets for more than face value.

Students are able to purchase season tickets for all seven home games for $110, but many will buy or sell single tickets for more than their face value, which is about $14, sometimes asking for a best offer, especially for notable games like Notre Dame.

Student posts can be found on social media, such as “North end zone ticket ND, Message me with best offer”

in group Facebook pages. In addition to monitoring social media, Ticketing Services also receives forwarded notices from other students.

Despite student frustrations with the policy, Owcza rsk i stated, “If everybody followed the rules, it would be fair and equitable.”

Medley said that the policy’s main purpose is to prevent people from making huge profits off of students.

“Most students follow the rules laid out for them. Those that don’t are negatively impacting all of the students that want to participate, but can’t ... because someone is selling their ticket at an enormous markup,” Medley said.

The policy continues to be enforced at all athletic events and new policies have been put into effect. A “No-Show Policy” was created for basketball to increase the low

attendance rates, hovering at around 30 percent, by weeding out the students who continually sign up for the lottery, but do not show up to the games.

“The first couple of seasons with the policy in place, we never revoked anyone’s ticket privileges as a result of no-shows,” Medley said. “Once the students know that we’re paying attention, we saw positive results in regards to basketball.”

Owczarski advocates for the athletic department’s decision. He believes the policy will make the game experiences better for students.

“Athletics really wants you to go to the game. It adds to the experience, it adds fans, it adds noise,” Owczarski said.

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study break

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COSTUMES: Bears. Beets.

Be the cast of ‘The Office.’ from page 1

khakis and zip up the cardigan enough so that people can still see the shirt and tie. For shoes, wear some Converse or Keds.

If you don’t have either, a pair of Sperrys will work fine. This easy costume will be recognizable and will make everyone relive their childhood when you ask them, “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

Kim Possible Everyone will want to call you, beep you to try to reach you when they see you in this costume. All you need is a plain black long-sleeved shirt and some green pants.

Cut your black shirt into a

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FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 23, 2018

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Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

10/23/18

By Mark McClain

2 One of the archangels 3 College sports channel 4 Music majors’ degs.

5 First stage 6 Blood bank supply 7 Upward trek 8 Film genre prefix with com 9 Words after work or sleep 10 “Gracias” response 11 Common people 12 Raggedy doll 13 Eldest of the “Little Women” 19 Author of eerie stories 21 Delivery MD 25 Least 26 Shankar on the sitar 28 Interminably 29 Ouzo flavoring 32 Poughkeepsie campus 33 Place 34 Put up with 35 Symphonic stories 36 British john DOWN 1 Wreaked condition 37 European peak

crop top or tie your shirt up so that it exposes some of your midriff, then roll your green pants up a bit. To add some extra pizzazz, add a black fanny pack for a utility belt, some black gloves, and use your phone as your Kimmunicator for Wade to call you on. You know, if he wants to reach you.

Michael and Dwight, or even Kelly and Ryan. If you want to be really out of the box, you could dress up as Angela and someone else could be one of her many feline friends. If you decide to go out with a large number of people, I suggest going as the whole cast. For recreating the outfits, I recommend going through your closet or your friends’ closets for business-casual attire.

These five costumes are easy to put together without breaking the bank. All you have to do is look in your closet or perhaps borrow from your friends’ wardrobes to complete your Halloween looks.

“The Office” cast This costume idea is great if you want to go by yourself, with a few friends or with a large group. I would recommend selecting a wellknown character if you’re going by yourself, such as Jim, Michael or Dwight. If you’re going with another friend or significant other, I recommend dressing as Jim and Pam, Jim and Dwight,

@EmilyNic_12

Today’s Birthday Horoscope (Oct. 23): Your confidence and power rise this year. Steady discipline with words pays off. Discover an unexpected partnership. Winter brings great news and changing professional winds. Brilliant new horizons this summer lead to a resolution of a communications challenge. Make connections to weave strong networks.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle ACROSS 1 Colorist’s concern 4 Light brown pear 8 Hillary Clinton, née __ 14 Horace’s “__ Poetica” 15 “The Mammoth Hunters” author Jean 16 Low-scoring tie 17 Big wheel, briefly 18 Controversial coal-extraction method 20 Wine lover’s prefix 22 Sport shown on TV Japan 23 Beer extraction gadget 24 Dues-paying participant 27 Spanish lady 30 Acquire 31 Isle of Arthurian legend 33 Woodland deity 36 Developmental insect stage 39 Luau accessory 40 Broadside accidents 43 A, in Augsburg 44 Small stores 45 Rather nasty 46 “__ Fideles”: carol 48 Corrode, with “away” 49 Macy’s section, e.g.: Abbr.

50 Format for some tournaments 57 “__ y Plata”: Montana motto 59 Bit of talk show self-promotion 60 Opal of the comics, to Earl Pickles 61 Meal suggested by the starts of four long answers 65 Deli salmon 66 Philadelphia campus 67 Building lot unit 68 __-ray Disc 69 Volkswagen family car 70 Rough file 71 Some ER cases

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Cabo Fish Taco Mellow Mushroom The Cellar Waffle House

Sugar Magnolia Chipotle Post Office Starbucks

Mish Mish The Lyric Theatre Blacksburg Taphouse Souvlaki

Brewster Rockit: Space Guy! by Tim Rickard

xkcd by Randall Munroe ©2018 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

38 Dr. Jekyll creator’s monogram 41 “Burlesque” co-star 42 Being hauled to the garage 47 Sundress features 48 Lawn maintenance tools 51 Maker of Cajun Shrimp nail polish

10/23/18

52 Like the “funny bone” nerve 53 Never, in Nogales 54 “The Hobbit” hero 55 Bluffed-out words, perhaps 56 Connection 58 Sooner St. 61 Car care brand 62 Pot contents 63 Police rank: Abbr.

64 Weight-training unit

Where you go, we go. collegiatetimes.com

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editor@collegiatetimes.com

lifestyles

October 23, 2018 PAGE 5

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Surviving a semester without spirits: Lessons from giving sobriety a try It may be a challenge. Your relationships may change. But one thing is for certain: You’ll learn a lot about yourself. take an Uber.”

FILE 2013

RACHEL KISER

lifestyles staff writer

For most st udents, freshman year of college is the first debaucherously succulent taste of freedom.

Freedom can be an intoxicating feeling; you sip on this idea of being liberated as it burns down your throat.

Party culture has thrived on every college campus, in every frat house and every dormitory suite long before the invention of the keg stand or beer pong. It feels as integral to the college experience as jumping to “Enter Sandman” does (to us Hokies at least), but it can be a serious and overlooked problem.

Recently, I dedicated myself to staying sober for a semester, a decision that would change my outlook on a meaningful life, my “friends” and my so-called college experience. What I learned could fill the pages of an Organic Chemistry textbook, from learning to carry trash bags in my car when DDing, to storytelling different scenarios that sparked my sobriety.

However, realizing that embracing the new you and letting the old baggage go is key to living in this new state of mind.

You will be the perpetual DD When people get a whiff

of your sobriety, your phone will be constantly ringing for rides, from football games to date parties, socials and booze-addled booty calls. I probably spent more time driving people around on St. Patrick’s Day than I did at my own party.

It may make you feel happy that no one is driving drunk or going home with sketchy bros from Club Whichever, but in the words of my sewing teacher: “Don’t do any service for free.” Don’t let your friends take advantage of your kindness; ask them to Venmo you $5 for gas or buy you food at Cook Out — any act of generosity to say, “Thanks for not making me

You will feel disconnected from your social life I can’t tell you how many times I felt alone because my friends were out at Sharkey’s bingo and I was in my apartment cleaning behind the fridge on a Friday night. You’ll likely have a harder time fitting in at parties, not because you are sober but because it can become more difficult to be around people who aren’t. However, throwing that fear of missing out away can make you realize that being drunk is not the best way to develop meaningful connections, and you will find more fulfilling ways to socialize.

You will question toxic friendships People’s reactions to my newfound sobriety were not what I expected. Being the frat star that I was before, many of my friends thought I was playing an early April Fools’ joke. Others actually shamed me, taunting me by resurfacing old drunken antics and pressuring me to drink or spike my non-alcoholic beverage. A few of my frat bros even started ignoring my calls to hang out and ended our friendship.

Car r ying resentment toward your former loyalists in your heart could have you

feeling high and dry. Your newfound sobriety stent could highlight the sinister qualities of your so-called friends, but such a situation would hopefully allow you to grow closer with those who chose to stick with you through your change of lifestyle.

Drinking will never feel the same My sobriety only lasted a short five months, and I began counting down the days till I could have my first joyous sip of liquor. I even made a wish list of what I wanted when I got off the wagon: a fifth of Bombay Sapphire gin, a six-pack of PBR and one Marlboro Menthol Light 100 cig. I was disappointed though; the liquor didn’t taste as sweet, and I no longer got that same rush from chugging out of a fifth. The urge to get wasted, just like Man Ray’s urge to do bad, was gone. I had a single gin and tonic that night, and the rest of the sky blue bottle still lies dormant in my freezer.

For some, falling off the wagon again will have you sprinting straight to the liquor store. It could make you feel like the freshman slurping on their first sip of liquid burn, as you try making up for lost Jell-O shots and mixed drinks.

However, the sensation of

sobriety could liberate you from your fears of social seclusion, and sticking with alcohol abstinence might be the way to continue forward with your college experience. Do whatever creates a healthier and more peaceful version of you, whether you stay on or jump off the wagon.

I never thought I would abandon my party lifestyle.

I still drink, I still go out to bars and I still love partying, but I no longer use alcohol to socialize or to fit into the cookie-cutter college experience that I thought was the perfect mold for me. From now on, I will be sitting with my two gin and tonics instead of getting blackout with guys named Hunter or Brad.

Ten years from now, you won’t remember half of your drunken antics. You will remember watching the sunrise on the Pylons Sunday morning, or kissing someone in Lane at 3 a.m.

Make these years count for the better, whether you dip your hand into the fountain of jungle juice or not, and love every minute without regrets or moments you can’t remember.

@CollegiateTimes

What compostable cups at Deet’s mean for the environment and you Though the eco-friendly material means higher costs for Tech, the advantages compared to styrofoam can’t be understated.

MARIEL GOMEZ

lifestyles contributor

Whether it is warm or cold outside, you can usually find me at a booth in Deet’s Place. The delicious aroma of coffee and soothing lighting makes Deet’s the perfect spot to study or to hang out with friends.

Considering all of the delectable pastries Deet’s has to offer, you probably will not be making many guilt-free choices there; however, one thing that you can feel good about is producing less waste by using Deet’s compostable coffee cups, which have been available since 2017.

If you’ve been too infatuated with the delicious hot chocolate to even notice the cups they’re in, that’s understandable — but you probably have missed the small print at the bottom of the cup that reads, “This cup and lid are fully compostable.”

If you are confused about what this means, here are some some facts about compostable products that will make you grateful that Virginia Tech Dining Services uses them in Deet’s.

Compostables brea k down at a rate similar to organic matter, which is around 180 days, according to the Biodegradable Products Institute. This is impressive, considering that plastics take hundreds of years to break down and styrofoam takes even longer

than plastics. Styrofoam is what the dining centers previously used; however, styrofoam releases chemicals during its manufacturing process, which can have negative health effects like headache, fatigue or even depression.

Compostable products leave little to no visible or toxic residue when they break down, making them the most ideal products to use.

If you look at the lid of the Deet’s cups, you will see that Virginia Tech purchases its cups from World Centric, which is a socially responsible company that provides fair trade, zero waste and compostable products.

These new cups do not contain polyethylene, like other traditional hot liquid cups, which makes the cups impossible to compost and difficult to recycle.

Instead, the cups are lined with a polymer that is derived from plants for a leak-proof barrier. The paper used for the cup is bleached without using elemental chlorine. Paper that is chlorine-bleached is bad for the environment, especially the hydrosphere.

The cups are also doublewalled, so that the need for a paper cup sleeve is unnecessary, which at the same time reduces more waste.

The lids are also 100 percent compostable and are made from corn stalks. With all of these beneficial characteristics, it’s hard to believe that they work exactly like traditional non-renewable cups.

These compostable cups can withstand hot foods up to 220 degrees Fahrenheit, are microwave and freezer safe (although it is not recommended to put them in the microwave) and are soak-proof.

Even more admirable, the cups are Rainforest Alliance Certified. This means that they meet the standards that are required for environmental, social and economic sustainability. The Alliance works to conserve forests and also supports sustainable lifestyles by teaming up with businesses and industries to use their products.

Many people may be asking themselves, “Why didn’t Virginia Tech make this change to compostable cups sooner?” One of the reasons it took so long to switch over to compostable cups was the cost. Per unit, the compostable cup costs 10 cents more than the non-renewable cups, which is significant when you take into account how many cups are used daily at Deet’s.

Albeit this may have caused a slight increase in the price for the cups, non-sustainable cups are no longer an issue at Deet’s.

@CollegiateTimes

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editor@collegiatetimes.com

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Ryan Gosling illustrates emotional strife of Neil Armstrong in ‘First Man’

Distinguishing itself from its space-cinema predecessors, the film reveals that there was more than met the eye with the first man on the moon.

MARISSA WHARTON lifestyles staff writer

Space may be “the final frontier,” but it’s not unknown territory in Hollywood. Films such as “The Martian” have explored life beyond our atmosphere, while historical dramas li ke “Hidden Figures” have shown the scientific hurdles we face to get there. With new release “First Man,” film writer Josh Singer and director Damien Chazelle shift the Hollywood perspective on space by bringing the focus away from fictional adventure and inspirational scientists. Instead, “First Man” exposes audiences to the emotional ghosts that haunted an American hero, and the personal toll Neil Armstrong’s (played

by Ryan Gosling) job with NASA took on his family in the years before he landed on the moon.

From the very beginning of the film, it’s obvious the audience won’t be observing this story from a distance. Instead, we’re right next to the astronauts during the launches, inside Armstrong’s home. His wife, Janet (played by Claire Foy), listens to conversations between her husband’s spacecraft and mission control, while Armstrong and his friends sit near the fire as they drink together and unwind. The opening scene straps us into the same rollercoaster as Armstrong

as one of his superiors points out, he’s distracted.

We soon learn the distraction stems from his 2-year-old daughter, Karen, who is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.

We also see how important she is to Armstrong as he takes care of her, reads her stories and sings her to sleep. Soon after, Karen passes and leaves a void that Armstrong struggles to fill. Needing somewhere to shift his focus, he applies to be an astronaut in Project Gemini and joins a handful of other pilots and engineers as they take classes on spacecraft physics and go through training challenges that test their physical limits. He befriends fellow project members and grieves as various accidents and malfunctions take their lives and cause his friend group and support system to shrink. Meanwhile, Janet holds down the fort at home as her two sons grow up with a father who is only sometimes there — both physically and emotionally.

Between affectionate, heartwarming and tense scenes with his family and friends, we learn there is much more to Armstrong than being the first man on the moon.

The film is exceptionally well done, from the way Singer chose to build the narrative, down to the costumes and set design pulled straight out of the 1960s. I’m no expert on space or engineering

COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Ryan Gosling arrives at the 89th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center in Hollywood.

everywhere the astronauts are. They all look relatively similar, so I made little effort to remember their names or understand their roles, but the audience isn’t meant to, really. After all, the movie is about Neil Armstrong’s life — not NASA, not Apollo 11.

“Despite its weaknesses, ‘First Man’ is

successful in capturing the tension and heartache experienced by Neil Armstrong and his family in the years preceding the Apollo 11 mission. as he trains to become an astronaut. When something goes wrong during Armstrong’s test flight with hardly any words or context to fill in the audience, we only have Gosling’s eyes telling us how to feel — and we feel stressed. As Armstrong uses his intellect to avoid disaster, it’s evident he’s a good pilot; however,

”

or physics — I know very little about any of the technical subject matter of “First Man” — but it was evident that scenes involving NASA and various space missions were well-researched and accurately portrayed. As with most movies about space, there’s an army of men in white button-downs and black ties present

Ryan Gosling was cast perfectly to tell this littleknown story and recount the deeply personal tribulations faced by the man we mainly know for being the first to set foot on the moon. Gosling’s ability to say so much when voicing so little carries the film as Armstrong struggles to face his feelings and inner battles. It is Gosling’s

charm, complexity, telling facial expressions and expert delivery that truly make this film a pleasure to watch.

While the film is great, there are a few things holding “First Man” back from being fantastic. As a director, Damien Chazelle has a flare for the dramatics that lead to moments of utterly slow pacing and unnecessary drawn-out sequences lacking music or dialogue. The movie clocks in at two hours and 21 minutes, at least 10 minutes longer than it needs to be.

Secondly, in a decision that made headlines, Chazelle opted to exclude the planting of the American flag on the surface of the moon in an attempt to highlight the moon landing as an achievement of all mankind as opposed to one country.

Contradicting this decision to downplay America’s achievement is the inclusion of scenes following the

astronauts’ return, showing crowds of proud citizens waving American flags and interviews with people from other countries complementing the U.S. Small inclusions such as these, especially after the many setbacks NASA faced prior to Apollo 11, work together to emphasize this incredible feat for America as a country.

For a film that strived to be as historically accurate as possible, the omission of the American flag missed the mark and contradicted other scenes in the movie.

Lastly, Janet Armstrong was a tough, fierce women forced to be the glue holding together a family constantly tested by trials.

Claire Foy (“The Crown”) had a tremendous opportunity to make a big impact on screen, yet failed to use what she was given to match Gosling’s performance and portray the strong woman Janet Armstrong was.

Despite its weaknesses, “First Man” is successful in capturing the tension and heartache experienced by Neil Armstrong and his family in the years preceding the Apollo 11 mission. With a film that feels less like a movie and more like actual footage from Armstrong’s life, the cast and crew may not have explored new territory in Hollywood, but perhaps have created the most honest space exploration film to date.

I give “First Man” four out of five stars.

@MarissaW19

Getting out and giving back: My day maintaining the Appalachian Trail With groups like the Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech, students have the opportunity to take part in trail cleanup initiatives.

JOHN MCBRIDE

lifestyles staff writer

Maybe you’ve hiked on at least one trail in or around Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. How was it? Was the

trail clear, or was it muddy?

Was it well-marked or were there trees blocking the path? How do you think they’re maintained?

The volunteers who give up their time to clear the way

are the true heroes of the trail. Trail maintenance is extremely important for the accessibility of our nearby forests, and I went on one of these cleanup expeditions with the Outdoor Club at

ANTHONY WU / COLLEGIATE TIMES Members of the Chinese American Society spend the afternoon hiking the Cascades, Sept. 29, 2018.

Virginia Tech.

In the small county of Bland, Virginia, there sits a 9-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail. Bland has a population of just over 6,000, so the trail may not be used that much. However, this also means that there aren’t as many people who are able to chop up downed trees or prevent erosion caused by huge patches of mud.

We began the day bright and early and made the hour-long dr ive from Blacksburg to Bland. The roads twisted and turned through the mountains enough to warrant a sick stomach, if you’re not careful to go slowly. There were multiple times when we had to honk at deer so that they wouldn’t run in front of our car, and there were a few close calls.

When we got there, we split into two groups. One group would drive to the end of the trail where there was a huge, eroded mud pile, while my group would take on the entire 9 miles of the trail while also clearing

the path of sticks, branches and downed trees. With our lunch of peanut butter and jelly tortilla sandwiches, we set off.

Almost immediately we came across a windfallen tree. We broke out the saws and axes, and within 10 minutes it was clear. We moved on while trying to identify what should be removed and what should stay. There were some logs that were down along the trail, but we were told to leave them because they were easy to walk over, and they prevent erosion in some areas.

For the next three hours, we sawed and axed along the trail while still trying to keep a pace of about 3 miles an hour, which was a challenge in some spots. Some trees were too big to even cut without a chainsaw, which we didn’t have.

When we got to the eighth mile, we ran into the other group. They had been creating a path through the mud by digging up dirt from the nearby hill and setting it with logs that they cut from

the trail. We stopped and helped them for another hour before we were happy with the progress that was made and the mud was more easily traversable.

The entire group then began heading back, but not before we met a hiker who thanked us for our service on the trail. As a matter of fact, we came across many hikers (most of whom were older), and they all showed their appreciation for making the trail more accessible. We then piled into our cars and headed back to Blacksburg, satisfied with the work we had done and happy that we got to spend this time in nature.

If you’re interested in trail maintenance projects, then the No. 1 place students can go is the Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech. They do projects like these multiple times a month because they understand the importance of caring for our trails.

@JohnMcBride98

sports

editor@collegiatetimes.com

October 23, 2018 PAGE 7

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Kaity Smith (1) and Marisa Cerchio (19) set up for a block. The Hokies won 3–2 over Wake Forest, Oct. 19, 2018.

ALEX NAGELI / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Tech volleyball splits weekend, finishes 13–9 overall In two ACC contests, the Hokies snapped a three-game losing streak Friday to Wake Forest, but dropped a close one Sunday to Duke.

GLEN RORIE sports staff writer

The 12 – 8 Vi rginia Tech Hokies took on the 8–13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons and the 10–8 Duke Blue Devils in two

ACC weekend matchups.

The Hokies had been on a three-game losing streak, with all their losses consisting of conference m a t c h u p s: C l e m s o n, Louisville and Notre Dame.

Those games ended with the

ALEX NAGELI / COLLEGIATE TIMES Marisa Cerchio (19) misses the tip. The Hokies won 3–2 over Wake Forest, Oct. 19, 2018.

Hokies being swept in three sets.

Prior to Friday’s match, the Hokies had lost nine consecutive sets. This streak finally came to an end with a close victory over the Demon Deacons. The matchup was back and forth, with the Hokies winning the first and third sets and finally the fifth set.

Though they won, the hitting percentages were far below their typical average. In the second set, the Hokies hit at a -.083 percent and the fourth set at another miserable .038 percent. Luckily they pulled out the stops in the fifth set, with a stunning .375 hitting percentage to help them pull out the win. The Hokies’ overall hitting percentage (.116) was lower than the Demon Deacons’ hitting

After ECU cancellation early in season, officials announce refund method After forecasts of heavy rainfall from Hurricane Florence, East Carolina elected not to travel to Blacksburg for the contest.

MADDIE THOMPSON sports editor

A daunting Hurricane Florence path that cut right through the Carolina coast frightened several administrators at East Ca rolina, causing its athletics department to decide to cancel their trip to Blacksburg, to many people’s dismay. While rumors circled about a possible rescheduling of the game, Virginia Tech announced Friday that tickets would be refunded for everyone who planned on going to the contest.

“We would like to thank our fans for their patience,” said Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock in a statement. “We will continue to explore and evaluate options for this year as practical, and into the future. We’ll keep evaluating and give our best for Virginia Tech and the Hokies. We will make more details available once they are determined and finalized.”

The release detailed how ticket-holders would receive their refund, depending on how they bought their tickets. Those expecting a refund should see it appear on their credit card statements within three to six weeks, depending on how long their financial institution takes to release the refund.

Ac c ord i ng t o t he

announcement: - All credit card orders will be automatically refunded to the card that was used for the initial purchase.

- All check and cash orders will be refunded by check to the account that made the purchase.

- I nd ividua ls who purchased single-game tickets for the Sept. 15 contest at the ticket office window at Lane Stadium with a check or cash for the game against ECU will need to contact the Ticket Office at hokietix@vt.edu to explore refund options.

- All tickets ordered through StubHub, Virginia Tech’s official secondary market partner, will be refunded by StubHub. - All tickets ordered through other secondary marketplaces will also be refunded. Individuals who purchased tickets via secondary markets other than StubHub should contact those vendors directly to inquire about their refund.

The game — scheduled for Sept. 15 — was going to be the Hokies’ second home contest of the season, after handing out a beatdown to William and Mary the weekend before. Instead, both teams got an early bye week, creating a two-week break from play leading into that-game-in-Norfolk.

Te c h’s athletic

department was somewhat fr ustrated after ECU announced it would not be traveling, hoping that they would wait until later in the week to make their decision.

When all was said and done, Greenville, North Carolina, received a total of 11.66 inches of rain from the slow-moving storm, according to the National Weather Service.

Blacksburg, however, got a total of 0.41 inches of rain on game day, according to Weather Underground.

The Pirates now hold a record of 2–5, following a loss this past weekend to undefeated UCF. They sit in last place in the American West division of the American Athletic Conference.

Tech (4–2) sits in first place in the ACC Coastal, as it gets set to face Georgia Tech (3–4) at home this Thursday, Oct. 25 and maintain its perfect ACC record.

@CTSportsTalk

percentage, which stood at .161.

Aside from the hitting percentages, the Hokies controlled the rest of the stat sheets. The two teams matched up at 71 digs a piece. Redsh i r t-senior Rhegan Mitchell led the team in assists with 36, and senior Jaila Tolbert led the team with 16 kills.

Sophomore Ester Talamazzi played a significant role with her double-double in the win against Wake Forest.

She had 13 kills, 20 digs and had the third-highest hitting percentage among her teammates at .231 for the game.

Sunday’s game was a similar story but had a different outcome. The Hokies dominated the first two sets, taking the first by five points and the second by six points. They were up

2–0 in the match but could not seal the deal, as the Blue Devils came back to win it all. Duke won the next three sets by two points each.

The Hokies’ hitting percent ages i mproved significantly compared to the last game versus Wake Forest. The hitting percentage from Sunday’s game rounded out at .204. Though the hitting percentage skyrocketed from the last time out, it could not compete with the Blue Devils’ .254 hitting percentage.

The Blue Devils had more attacks, assists, kills and blocks compared to the Hokies, which proved to be the difference makers. One bright spot for the Hokies was in their serve and defense, edging out more aces and digs than the Blue

Devils, with their eight aces and 74 digs outweighing Duke’s two aces and 64 digs.

A trio of Hokies, sophomore Kaity Smith, Mitchell and Talamazzi, had doubledoubles in Sunday’s game, but it was not enough to carry the team to a victory.

After Sunday’s game, the Hokies’ conference record moves to 4–6 and their overall record drops to 13–9.

They look to recover from Sunday’s loss and improve their record as they go on the road to face the 11–6 Miami Hurricanes on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m., followed by another road game Oct. 28 against the 13–7 Florida State Seminoles at 1 p.m.

@GlenRorie3

PAGE 8 October 23, 2018

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com

Men’s soccer stuns South Bend crowd in upset win

After a dejecting first half, odds seemed stacked against the Hokies, but a second-half wind sent the team into a scoring frenzy.

MILLER FARLEY sports staff writer

Virginia Tech’s five-goal barrage in the second half propelled the men’s soccer team to an upset victory over No. 16 Notre Dame in South Bend. After spending the first 45 minutes on their heels, the Hokies eliminated a two-goal deficit to spoil the Irish’s senior day by a score of 5–2.

Virginia Tech (9–4–2, 3–3–1 ACC) entered Friday night’s matchup with ACC Coastal Division rival Notre Dame (8–5–1, 3–3 ACC) on a two-game win streak. Having taken down Pittsburgh, then William and Mary, by scores of 3–1 and 4–0 respectively, the Hokies had tallied their highest goal totals of the season besides their 5–1 victory over Longwood back on Sept. 18.

After one half, it certainly seemed as if the momentum the Hokies had brought into Alumni Stadium had evaporated completely, as Ian Aschieris rattled in a pinballing corner kick after just 110 seconds.

Notre Dame’s offensive onslaught continued, with Sean MacLeod thundering a shot into the crossbar before Jack Casey scuffed the wide open rebound past the goal. The Irish outshot the Hokies 16–2 in the first half, a ratio that shows just how dominant Notre Dame’s forwards were. The Irish finally got their second goal after Aiden McFadden weighted a through ball past Virginia Tech’s defensive l i ne, givi ng T homas Ueland a perfect set-up for a left-footed finish past Hokie goaltender Mathijs Swaneveld.

Notre Dame’s 2–0 lead, coupled with its vice-like grip on the game after the first period, meant, to some, that there was no way Virginia Tech could find its way back, right? Sixteen total shots against Tech’s measly two? There was no way.

Twenty seconds after the referee whistled the second period live, the Hokies had already cut the deficit in half. Kristo Strickler, a constant goalscorer for Tech this season, took a

well-placed through ball from Nico Quashie in stride and hammered a shot past Ryan Krutz for his seventh goal of the year.

One goal is great, but Notre Dame controlled the entire first half. I just don’t thi­n k that they — wouldn’t you know it, it’s 2–2.

Brendan Moyers, finishing James Kasak’s early cross, notched his second goal of the season and silenced the crowd in South Bend. Not even five minutes into the second half, and Virginia Tech had erased all of the Irish’s work up to that point.

After those two early goals, the momentum had swung drastically in favor of the Hokies. Now exuding confidence, Virginia Tech took the lead on its third straight goal in the 59th minute. Passes f lurried around the 18-yard box, until David Sanz drilled a backheel pass out to Strickler on the left flank, who curled a gorgeous, looping ball over Krutz’s outstretched hands and off the right post for a goal.

The goal was a stunner, Strickler’s second of the day,

and gave the Hokies the lead for good.

Twenty minutes later, on the Hokies’ eighth and final corner kick of the night, Nikal Clarke-Smith put home Kasak’s cross, tipped by Strickler, and put the Hokies up 4–2. Then finally, Moyers joined Strickler with two goals on the night by cleaning up a ball cleared sloppily by the Irish, as he clattered into the post and nestled his shot into the corner from a yard out. Virginia Tech finished with eight shots, six of which came in the second half, meaning five of its six second-half attempts found the back of the net.

The final score of 5–2 matched the Hokies’ season high for goals, but more importantly lifted them three points higher in the ACC standings. Now tied with Virginia for second in the Coastal Division, with 10 points each, Virginia Tech is in prime position to give itself either a bye or home field advantage in the ACC Tournament.

A f ter t ravel i ng to Davidson on Tuesday, Oct.

COURTESY OF HOKIESPORTS

23, the Hokies will close out the season at Thompson Field as they host the Duke Blue Devils on Friday, Oct. 26. Not only is Duke ranked 16th in the country, but the Devils sit just behind Tech with nine points in the conference. It goes without saying that massive ACC

Tournament and NCAA Tournament stakes are up for grabs in the Hokies’ regular season finale.

@CTSportsTalk

Women’s soccer wins 2–1 against Notre Dame

CAROLINA HERNANDEZ / COLLEGIATE TIMES Grace Sklopan (27) chases Notre Dame’s Eva Hurm (14) as she dribbles toward the goal box. The Hokies won 2–1 against Notre Dame, Oct. 18, 2018.

CAROLINA HERNANDEZ / COLLEGIATE TIMES Allyson Brown (15) attempts to steal the ball from Notre Dame’s Brianna Martinez (16). The Hokies won 2–1 against Notre Dame, Oct. 18, 2018.

CAROLINA HERNANDEZ / COLLEGIATE TIMES Emma Steigerwald (25) wrestles with Notre Dame’s Alexis Martel-Lamothe (5) for the ball. The Hokies won 2–1 against Notre Dame, Oct. 18, 2018.

CAROLINA HERNANDEZ / COLLEGIATE TIMES Molly Feighan (2) shields the ball from Notre Dame’s Jade Gosar (2). The Hokies won 2–1 against Notre Dame, Oct. 18, 2018.