Tech Fundamentals: July 6, 2017

TECH FUNDAMENTALS The ultimate guide to Virginia Tech Presented by

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July 6, 2017

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tarting college is an exciting time.

It is confusing and scary at some points, but overall it was a fun experience, for me at least.

When I showed up for orientation in July 2015, I was scared of everything and secondguessing my college choice. We were housed in West Ambler Johnston that one night.

My roommate, a nice guy from New Jersey, seemed to be uncertain too. In the morning, I noticed that he had made his bed in reverse — he had used the fitted bottom sheet as a top sheet.

Hopefully you know the difference between a top sheet and a fitted sheet. Otherwise, it might be a long, sleepless year. But if you are new to campus, or if you are returning to campus after some time away, you may not know some of the things that have changed.

A trustworthy guide is important to have during this transition. That is why the Collegiate Times staff has made Tech Fundamentals, a special summer edition full of all the important information new and returning students need to know. Inside, you will find guides to everything from HokieSpa

to making new friends.

Making the transition to college does not have to scar you for life. With some knowledge and a good attitude, it can be a fantastic time.

We at the Collegiate Times hope that your year gets off to a great start, and we’ll see you in August.

(By the way, the sheet with the elastic goes around the mattress, and the flat sheet goes on top).

MATT JONES editor in chief

First week survival guide: How to properly take advantage of Tech’s campus MEG CONNORS managing editor

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PAGE 2 July 6, 2017

Editor’s note: Welcome to Virginia Tech

When arriving at Virginia Tech, many students discover that they have access to more amenities than they could have possibly imagined. One of these is access to ample outdoor space that comprises a sizeable amount of the residential side of campus and facilitates new friendships as the semester begins.

One of the first events of your time as a campus resident at Virginia Tech will be Kickoff, which takes place on the Dietrick quad. A date has yet to be finalized for the event, but it has typically taken place around the last day of move-in in years past.

Students are served free pizza and are left to roam around many of the student activity tables set up in the quad. Kickoff serves as a mini-Gobblerfest, but also features lots of fun activities meant to spur new friendships.

During my freshman year, I bonded with some of my hallmates while taking a Zumba class on the Dietrick Quad during Kickoff.

A landmark feature of college life that has an enormous presence at Virginia Tech is outdoor volleyball. During your first few days, you will notice marathon games of pick-up volleyball taking place at every court on campus. Not only is use of these courts free, it’s also a fantastic way to meet people and make new friends. So make sure to pack a volleyball when you come to Virginia Tech — your new friends will appreciate it.

Another popular pastime at Virginia Tech that completely surprised me when arriving

CATIE CARRERAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES The Band Concord performs at the Welcome Back Kickoff Concert, Aug. 28, 2015.

as a freshman is the use of ENO hammocks.

During the warm weather months, you will find yourself walking outside to a sea of colorful ENOs wherever there are trees.

And while they aren’t terribly expensive (they usually go for around $60), I opted to save a little money and borrow ENOs from friends. ENOs are a great way to relax after a long day, and who knows — maybe someone will set up their ENO next to yours and start a conversation.

Perhaps my favorite way to enjoy Virginia Tech’s beautiful campus is picnicking. One of my favorite memories from the beginning of my freshman year was eating dinner outside on the Prairie Quad with my hallmates after a long day. All of Virginia Tech’s dining halls

(with the exception of D2) allow students to get food in to-go boxes, so grab your new friends, grab some dinner and go enjoy the outdoors. Blacksburg is known for having beautiful sunsets, so maybe you’ll even luck out and have dinner with a view.

With a campus as beautiful as Virginia Tech’s, students have so many ways to get outside and enjoy the nice weather before the colder months approach. College is a time for starting over, so even if you’ve never been a big outdoors person yourself, there’s no better time to start than your freshman year.

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BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES The first quarter card show at the Virginia Tech Homecoming Game, Sept. 24, 2016.

Lane Stadium: The epicenter of Blacksburg CHASE PARKER Throughout the history of football, only six games have registered on a seismograph, which is the instrument used to measure earthquakes. Among them, three took place at Lane Stadium (Miami at Virginia Tech in 2011, Ohio State at Virginia Tech and Miami at Virginia Tech in 2016).

Ask anyone who’s been in Blacksburg on a Saturday in the fall and they’ll tell you that they’re not surprised. With a seating capacity of 66,233 and one of the rowdiest student sections in all of college football, the venue can reach ear-shattering volumes.

While the stadium is well-known for the noise that the fans bring, one of the most defining and unique characteristics of a Virginia Tech game is the team’s entrance.

Moments before the start of each game, deafening chants of “Let’s go! Hokies!” fill the air. The cheers continue until Metallica’s

“Enter Sandman” blasts over the loud speakers, signaling the fans to start jumping up and down until the team rushes onto the field.

“The players wait in the tunnel, and while that builds up it’s like a bull being held back by a chain while the fans on the outside jump up and down and they get fired up and more fired up and they can’t wait. And then there’s a little bit more and the song builds up and all of the sudden, BAM! The song explodes full-throttle, and here comes the team and all of that tension is released in a cheer,” ESPN college football analyst Trevor Matich said during a live broadcast.

“Enter Sandman” was first used at Lane Stadium in the 2000 season opener against Georgia Tech, but it didn’t catch its mystique until later on in the season. Before one particularly cold night game, members of The Marching Virginians began jumping around to keep warm while the song played. It didn’t take long for everyone else to copy, and thus,

the tradition was born.

The entrance combined with the sheer volume of fans makes Lane Stadium one of the most intimidating venues in all of college football. Former Miami tackle Matt Pipho told the Washington Post that it gets so loud that “you can’t even hear yourself thinking.”

Simply put, the environment is a nightmare for opposing teams. Virginia Tech legend Michael Vick describes Lane Stadium as the ultimate home-field advantage.

“When you fly into Roanoke and then you take that 40-minute bus ride into Lane Stadium, you’ve got to deal with that team for four hours. It’s not easy. The Hokies swarm you and it’s loud. There’s nowhere to run.

You’ve just gotta find a way to get up out of there. It’s like a hornet’s nest,” Vick said.

All of these factors play a role in not only the outcomes of games, but they also help the team in the recruiting category.

“I remember when I was first being

recruited and coach (Jim) Cavanaugh took me up in the stadium on the 50-yard line and I took a five-step drop because I wanted that to be a reality. I’m thankful that I got a scholarship and was able to start as a redshirt freshman. I had some great moments and some great seasons in that stadium and did some great things for our fanbase.”

Vick added that when he first saw Lane Stadium, he was won over by “the elevation of the seats and how many fans they could fit in the stadium.”

The historic venue has been the home of Hokie football since 1965. Through the years, the stadium has seen massive renovations take place and has had millions of dollars poured into it to make it what it is today. Improvements will continue to shape Lane Stadium and further weave it into the fabric of college football.

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July 6, 2017 PAGE 3

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Campus clubs allow students to embrace the outdoors while fending off the ‘freshman 15’ SAMANTHA SMITH lifestyles editor

As incoming freshmen, I’m sure you’ve all heard about the looming terror that is the “freshman 15” — if you haven’t, you will. Luckily, Tech was named the fittest college in America by The Active Times and there are plenty of ways to stay active both on campus and off. Here are some ways that you can discover new ways to stay active and your new favorite outdoor oasis, all in one:

Scuba Club at Virginia Tech

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How to get involved:

For anyone who is interested in diving, you must be certified before joining for safety reasons.

“We expect all members to have a certification, but for incoming members we offer training through some great local instructors for people to get their certifications if they don’t already have them,” said Joey Griffiths, president of the Scuba Club at Virginia Tech (SCVT).

Why should students (especially freshmen) join?

Despite what you may think, not all dives are in tropical locales. SCVT does local dives, including the New River.

“Our local dives in the New River are a great way to enjoy the Blacksburg-Radford scenery, and during our winter and spring breaks we usually go to more tropical locales and spend days out on boats,” Griffiths said.

Rock Climbing Club at Virginia Tech

PAGE 4 July 6, 2017

How to get involved:

When I think rock climbing, I do not think “easy.” However, the Rock Climbing Club at Virginia Tech wants to change that.

According to club vice president Jacob Kansco, new members do not have to have any prior experience with the sport and can join for just $20.

“With that, you get all of your gear covered and then you also get any trips that you want covered,” Kansco said. “With that

FILE 2014 Gobblerfest is an excellent opportunity for new and returning students to sign up for outdoors-related clubs.

$20 you’re going to get shoes, you’re going to get the equipment, you’re going to get ropes and you’re going to get access to our gear.”

Members will also be added to the club’s Facebook page, where members post about trips they are leading that are open to everyone. In addition, after every club meeting, members go to the Crimper’s Climbing Gym in Christiansburg.

Why should students (especially freshmen) join?

According to Kansco, the majority of members in the club are new to climbing, so freshmen should not feel intimidated.

Through competitions and trips, members become extremely close not only with one another but also with members of different climbing clubs at schools throughout Virginia.

“We’re very involved with the climbing clubs at the other Virginia schools, so we

do a lot of stuff with the UVA climbing team,” Kansco said. “ We even went to the Collegiate Nationals in San Diego with UVA.” For students who want to spend every weekend they can out and about in the New River Valley, Kansco insists that the Climbing Club is the place to be.

“On any given weekend, weather permitting, you’ll be able to go on a trip and camp out and then go climbing with people,” Kansco said.

If none of these clubs pique your interest, there are a few other clubs and campus organizations that are more general:

Outdoor Club at Virginia Tech

According to its website, this club does everything from backpacking and whitewater rafting to snowboarding and biking trips. If you don’t exactly have a specific outdoor activity you’re attached to but just want to take in the NRV, this is the place

for you.

If you aren’t a student, no worries — this organization is open to community members as well. In addition, OCVT is not only dedicated to experiencing the outdoors but also maintaining it. They are one of only two student organizations that maintain part of the Appalachian Trail.

Venture Out

For people who don’t have the time to commit to weekly meetings, this organization lets you rent out equipment you can use for short trips. Equipment can include tents, stoves, coolers, lanterns and all of the outdoor games you can think of. If you don’t feel like going solo, Venture Out also hosts trips for a fee ranging from caving to rock climbing to mountain biking.

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We may not have a castle, but we have a Cassell JORDAN HUTCHINSON sports editor

ZACK WAJSGRAS / COLLEGIATE TIMES Ahmed Hill (13) warms up with a between-the-legs dunk in Cassell Coliseum before taking on 25th-ranked Miami, Feb. 27, 2017.

avoid finals and schoolwork.

The coliseum was completed in December of 1964, but the first game took place in 1962, against Alabama. The Hokies won the inaugural game, 91–67.

According to the official Virginia Tech website, Cassell Coliseum is an arena with a capacity of 10,052, and a square footage nearing 230,000. Both the men’s and women’s locker rooms are located under the arena, as well as an auxiliary gym and a weight room.

Some cool news for the incoming freshmen is that you’ll all get to experience the brand new seating in the student section and around the lower sections. Up until this year, Cassell was filled entirely with wooden seats that were a bit uncomfortable after a while.

Luckily, this summer, the athletics department installed new padded maroon seats to improve the fan experience at games.

You’ll find yourself in Cassell at least once next year, as both the men’s and women’s hoop teams have both recently become tournament ready. Last year,

the men’s team, led by head coach Buzz Williams, was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Wisconsin. The women played in the NIT Tournament and lost in the Elite Eight to Michigan.

Every year when the likes of Duke, North Carolina, Louisville and Virginia come to town, you’re sure to get a crazy crowd in Cassell. The student section, which takes up one end of the arena, is led by the Cassell Guard, a student-run fan organization on campus. They’re essentially the student section hype squad.

During the school year, students will receive an email about season tickets for men’s basketball. If you’re not able to purchase tickets, there is a lottery for every single home game. The lottery is completely random, but if you win and don’t attend the game more than three times, you’ll be banned from the lottery for the remainder of the season.

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Cassell Coliseum is a landmark at Virginia Tech. You can’t miss it when driving down Washington Street. The

building, home to the Hokies’ basketball teams, has a unique shape that distinguishes itself from all other structures on campus. With 10 legs sticking out of each side, Cassell Coliseum is the go-to during the cold of winter in order to

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July 6, 2017 PAGE 5

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Planning your path at the Math Emporium CHLOE ROGERS opinions contributor

As a freshman entering Virginia Tech, the idea of going to the Math Emporium to learn an online-style math was both a foreign and intimidating concept. Math had never been my strong suit — how was I supposed to teach myself a whole semester’s worth of it?

Questions and doubts stormed inside my head, but had I known the reality (and perks) of the Math Emporium, there would have been no reason to worry.

The Math Emporium, which is often referred to as “the empo,” is located at University Mall, only a short bus ride away.

I learned to take the UMS (University Mall Shuttle) route of the Blacksburg Transit, which stops at numerous places around campus, including Newman Library, McComas, Litton-Reaves and Burruss, and takes you directly in front of the Math Emporium building. The buses come every 15 minutes

may have about their lessons. Students can also attend question and answer sessions, tutoring labs or even talk directly with their professor.

However, students should note that each course’s question and answer sessions happen once a week, tutoring labs are on weekdays from 4–9, emporium staff check out after 10 p.m. and they should make sure to check their instructor’s office hours.

For students who need a little bit more help learning math, the school offers free math tutoring sessions at the Student Success Center in Femoyer Hall for those enrolled in MATH 1014, 1025, 1226 and 1526. There are a lot of them, so even if your first tutor might not fit your learning style or be easy to understand, you can always try others until you find one who really makes the material make sense to you. In this way, the student’s experience is more customizable, rather than being stuck with one math teacher whose teaching style you might not understand at all.

In addition, the math courses are formatted in an incremented style, meaning you learn material on a week-by-week basis. This helps you keep track of your work and avoid falling behind. Conversely, since all the material is available online at once, you can get as ahead as you want in your work and even finish the course early. Another aspect of this format that many students find helpful is that all of your work is in one place, so when studying for an exam you can easily look at your past graded quizzes and practice quizzes to get an idea of what exactly you need to work on.

All in all, your experience at the Math Emporium will depend on what you make of it. Virginia Tech has done a great job setting students up for success in math, and students should remember that teachers and tutors at the Math Emporium are there to help you. @CollegiateTimes

Schiffert Health Center: Real practitioners, real medical care, real savings IZZY ROSSI news editor

On Thursday, June 22, the highly anticipated and speculated about Senate Republican health care bill came out. The new bill will replace Obamacare if it can successfully

PAGE 6 July 6, 2017

during the day, and then every thirty minutes after 6:15 p.m. Thus, getting to the Math Emporium was actually really easy, and even on weekends when the UMS wasn’t running, I could still take the UCB or Toms Creek shuttles.

In addition to the convenience of the buses, the Math Emporium is open to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week, granting students access at any time. This allows for lots of flexibility and makes it much easier to plan around a hectic academic schedule.

Instead of a traditional classroom setting, Virginia Tech’s Math Emporium consists of a huge room filled with hundreds of computers. Although many students come in with the misconception that they will have to teach themselves all brand-new material, the Math Emporium is equipped with numerous services to help students learn. A team of staff walks around the room with the sole purpose of helping and answering any questions students

pass through the Senate with a majority of votes. Under the new health care system, an estimated 51 million Americans under age 65 would be uninsured by the year 2026, compared with 28 million who would not have insurance that year under current law.

“This bill isn’t just mean; it’s cruel,” said

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee in a written statement. “It slashes Medicaid, hurts the 22,000 Virginians who rely on Planned Parenthood for health care, weakens health benefits and raises health costs for Virginia’s families at a time when we should be working to lower costs.”

President Obama’s Affordable Care Act allows Americans age 26 or younger to remain on their parents’ health insurance plans. The GOP bill upholds this stipulation; however, college students whose parents lose health coverage under the new bill will lose health coverage too.

While being without any form of health insurance is a scary thought for young people, Virginia Tech students have an ally in the fight to stay healthy while in school: Schiffert Health Center. The health center is exclusive to Virginia Tech students and comes at no additional cost to students who take 12 or more credits per semester. Additionally, since the cost of the student health insurance is covered in the tuition of full-time students, those who are part-time can pay a small fee to use the on-campus health center.

“We are extremely cost-effective and

provide quality health care,” said Janet Harer, adult nurse practitioner and Women’s Clinic coordinator. “We try to be convenient for the students as well as cost-effective.”

While many students see Schiffert only as a place to go when the common cold strikes, the health center provides a range of services that can help students in a time when they may not be able to seek medical attention elsewhere. The center is staffed with 12 practitioners every weekday, including boardcertified medical doctors in internal medicine, doctors of osteopathic medicine and physician assistants.

“We are real practitioners,” Harer continued. “We are as real as the practitioners that they have seen before they ever get here.”

One aspect of the Republican health care bill that affects college students is the availability of resources to protect sexual health.

The bill would block Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funding for a year.

Medicaid patients are already blocked from receiving abortion services by the federal government, but the new bill would also prevent them from using many of the other see DOCTORS / page 8

ALEXA WILLIAMS opinions editor

of the week with hits such as customized omelets, penne primavera and sweet potato fries.

D2 offers a variety of cuisine and infuses the vibe of an international marketplace into the mix. At this dining center, you will find a diverse array of eight shops serving up international staples from countries such as Italy, China, Mexico and more. Vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree customers will be pleased to find respective shops that cater to these dietary restrictions.

The university dining staff is highly trained in food safety and is stringent with its cross-contamination prevention efforts. The university’s dining services hosts an impressive interactive nutrition page featuring nutrition facts and ingredient lists for the array of cuisine served on campus. Students can set allergen filters on the online nutrition page in order to customize their search results to reflect the foods they can eat. Workers at the dining establishments are also knowledgeable about the ingredient contents of each dish and can be helpful in determining what does and does not meet your needs.

Another unique facet of the Dining Services’ program is that it sources a large portion of its produce from its very own farm, Kentland Farm. Students with an interest in crop production have an opportunity to gain meaningful experience by partaking in sustainable agriculture practicum at the farm thanks to a unique

partnership with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The farm currently cultivates over six acres worth of fruit, vegetables and herbs for Dining Services each year using small-scale sustainable farming methods.

Dining Services takes the threat of environmental degradation seriously, even integrating a sustainability pledge into its Guiding Principles in an effort to ensure that future Hokies will continue to have access to safe and delicious locallysourced food. For more information about the dining sustainability efforts at Virginia Tech, please feel free to visit the Sustainable Dining at Virginia Tech blog.

An unknown author once wrote, “A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not on the branch but on its own wings.” This quote applies beautifully to the metaphor referenced earlier. Nourishing your body with the right kind of fuel will help you sustain your journey. Trust in your wings — fueling your flight with the edible delights found on the Virginia Tech campus. You grow by emerging from the nest and plunging to the depths of the unknown, only to find that your wings take you to great heights. With the help of D2’s delicious cuisine, you will find yourself soaring for miles and stronger than ever before.

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BILLY CLARKE / COLLEGIATE TIMES The interior of D2 on Virginia Tech’s campus, Sept. 30, 2016.

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The task of navigating Virginia Tech’s 22 dining centers alone sounds intimidating enough to surrender to an eternity of ramen noodle consumption (in the comfort of your dorm room, of course). However, seeing as Virginia Tech is the fourth most highly rated provider of campus food in America, I strongly suggest that you refrain from ramen and consider exploring the diverse and delicious array of cuisine here on campus instead.

Leaving the nest can be scary. After all, exchanging the comforts of home for the uncertainty of college is bound to take you out of your comfort zone. While this metaphor of leaving the nest may be referenced often throughout your college transition, focusing on what you gain in the midst of these more difficult experiences can help alleviate the fear of departing the life you have grown accustomed to.

Embracing the food culture here at

Virginia Tech is just one of many ways of learning how to trust in your newfound wings. From the teppanyaki dinner at Origami to the legendary pasta dishes at West End and Owens Food Court, the university caters to every palate and prides itself in maintaining high student satisfaction. In fact, Dining Services values student opinion to such an extent that it frequently seeks recommendations from its Student Advisory Committee and often acts on these suggestions. If you are a foodie, joining this committee is a great way to get involved and meet likeminded people early in your Virginia Tech experience.

On-campus residents in particular tend to gravitate toward the all-you-care-to-eat dining experience at the D2 dining center.

Ever hear the phrase “the early bird catches the worm?” This saying rings true for students who arise for D2’s famous Sunday brunch spread. While D2’s brunch is a major hit, the establishment’s high standards are sustained throughout the rest

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Dining Halls: Getting the Deets on Dietrick Hall

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DOCTORS: Sick Hokies find help on campus from page 6

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LOREN SKINKER / COLLEGIATE TIMES In celebration of the 2018 Ring Premiere, fireworks are set off on the Drillfield, Oct. 5, 2016.

Understanding Virginia Tech’s campus: The Pylons at War Memorial are a testament to values ANNA BEUCLER

PAGE 8 July 6, 2017

opinions contributor

One of the most picturesque and iconic places on Virginia Tech’s campus is the Pylons above War Memorial Chapel.

The Pylons represent eight of Virginia Tech’s core values (from left to right): Brotherhood, Honor, Leadership, Sacrifice, Service, Loyalty, Duty and Ut Prosim.

Engraved in the Pylons are all of the names of Virginia Tech students and graduates who died while defending our nation’s freedom since World War I. This sums up to be about 400+ individuals with each individual engraved into a specific Pylon. In the center of the War Memorial is the cenotaph that displays the names of Virginia Tech’s seven Medal of Honor recipients. Out of respect, Virginia Tech asks individuals not to sit on or touch the cenotaph.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets conduct the Pylon Dedication Ceremony on Drillfield Drive and Alumni Mall

when a new name is added to the Pylons.

The Gregory Guard, the Corps’ rifle team, salute by firing three volleys. The Corps’ marching band, the Highty Tighties, perform alongside the Color Guard. A bugler plays the song, “Echo Taps.”

There were many requests from Virginia Tech alumni during World War II to have a memorial dedicated to Hokies who lost their lives while serving our country. By 1945, architect Roy F. Larson was selected to construct the memorial by the Memorial Committee. While constructing this project, the goal was to have the memorial near the center of campus and near the marching grounds where the deceased soldiers had their early military training.

Donald DeLue of New York City; Henry Kreis of Essex, Connecticut; and Charles Rudy of Ottsville, Pennsylvania, were in charge of designing symbolic representations above and inside the Chapel. Henry Kreis designed the four pylons: Brotherhood, Honor, Leadership

and Sacrifice. Charles Rudy designed the four pylons: Service, Loyalty, Duty and Ut Prosim. Over the course of 15 years, funding for the memorial project came from volunteers and Virginia Tech alumni. The Pylons and War Memorial was constructed from the spring of 1951 to May of 1960.

Overlooking the Drillfield, the War Memorial is the perfect place to view all of Virginia Tech’s campus. Many people sit and here to watch the yearly Ring Reveal fireworks that go off each autumn for the current junior class. War Memorial Chapel below the Pylons is a popular place for church services and wedding ceremonies.

From sunrise to sunset, students take a break from their hectic schedules to enjoy the calm composure of the Pylons and remind themselves of the core values of a Hokie. @CollegiateTimes

services provided by Planned Parenthood such as testing and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and providing methods of contraception. The bill also makes it harder for separate insurance policies to cover these types of services, making them more expensive to those who are still insured.

Schiffert’s Women’s Clinic offers a variety of these services, including “annual exams, breast exams, contraception information and prescriptions, ‘morning after’ pills, pap tests, pelvic examinations, post-surgery checkups, pregnancy testing and counseling, referrals to outside specialists, sexually transmitted infection screenings and treatment, and treatment for gynecological, vaginal and urinary symptoms,” according to the Women’s Center website. While some of these services do not come free of charge, they are still more cost-effective than going to an outside practitioner.

Another aspect of healthcare that students may not realize is available at Schiffert Health Center is treatment for larger injuries. Schiffert Health Center offers a treatment room where they can assist in procedures such as sutures, eye care, wound care, accident care and aftersurgery care. Schiffert Health Center has a close relationship with the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad for when a patient comes to them extremely injured and needs transportation to the hospital. The health center also offers X-ray equipment that allows radio technologists to view the images on their desktops.

Aside from the previously mentioned services, Schiffert also provides services offered by a traditional office such as prescriptions, appointments with practitioners and an in-house pharmacy, all at little to no cost to the student.

In a time where health coverage for millions of Americans is up in the air, Virginia Tech students can at least have access to the resources necessary to be healthy Hokies. @IzzyRossiCT

ALAYNA JONES

lifestyles staff writer

There are many things freshmen are nervous about when starting at school in the fall, but one thing that is probably the most scary is the question, “How do I meet people at college?”

Luckily, Virginia Tech makes finding the answer to that question easy. There are many school-sponsored events the first week at school and plenty of other ways new students can meet other Hokies.

Gobblerfest

Quads

On the residential side of campus in between the dorms are quads where students can lay out blankets and relax.

Some quads, like the one in front of Lee Hall, has basketball courts and beach volleyball courts.

Do not be too shy to go up to a group of people and ask to join in their game or sit down with them. It is common and not out of the ordinary.

Some residence halls even hold cookouts on the quads as an organized way for students to meet. Look for signs in your

dorm the first week to see if your residence hall is going to be hosting one.

Kickoff

Every year on the Dietrick Lawn between Pritchard Hall and East Ambler Johnston Hall is Kickoff, which is an event for all students right after move-in.

Kickoff includes free pizza, drinks, games, a T-shirt and a great way to get to know other students.

This is another great opportunity to get out and meet some new faces and get some free food.

No date is set for this event yet, but it is usually the first weekend before classes start.

Lane Stadium picnic

Usually the Sunday before classes start, Lane Stadium hosts a picnic for all students, but especially for freshmen.

This is a great opportunity to be inside the stadium, get free food, learn the cheers the student section chants at football games

and get to know your fellow classmates.

Students gather in the south end zone, which means everyone is pretty close to each other. Reach out of your comfort zone and talk with the people next to you. This was how I met some people in my class that I had the next day.

Keep dorm doors open

You will hear “keep your doors open” from your RA many times throughout the semester.

They say this for a reason; it is so people on your hall can pop in and meet others. It is also great if you are bored, as you can just go down the hall, see whose door is open and then you can have someone to hang out with.

The people who keep their doors open will meet more people than those that keep their door closed. Be open, be friendly and you will meet plenty of people. @CollegiateTimes

Love where you live at the best address in town!

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Gobblerfest is one school-sponsored event that all freshmen attend because it is a great way to join clubs and activities; it is also a great way to meet people.

This year Gobblerfest will be held on Friday, Sept. 8 from 4 to 7 p.m.

All students, especially freshmen, gather to walk around the Drillfield which has carnival rides and many booths of all the clubs at Virginia Tech.

Get out of your comfort zone and sign up for a club that sounds interesting to you.

A lot of freshmen do this, so do not think it is strange to put your email down for a random club like Chocolate Milk Monday Club. Who knows, maybe you will meet your best friend there.

If not anything else, Gobblerfest is a great way to grab some free Virginia Tech gear.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

How to find your freshman friend group

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GRETCHEN KERNBACH lifestyles staff writer

Attending Virginia Tech doesn’t mean your fun is limited to on-campus activities. The surrounding area is filled with things to do whether you are walking or driving.

Always be sure to check online sites such as Facebook for upcoming festivals or markets that occur during the year downtown. Main Street is pedestrian-friendly and is occasionally roped off for outdoor events. The International Street Fair and biweekly farmers markets are just a couple ideas for downtime at school.

The farmers market occurs on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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editor@collegiatetimes.com

The best of Blacksburg lies off campus According to Step Into Blacksburg, “more than 40 vendors within 50 miles of Blacksburg bring their wares.”

In addition, the Lyric Theatre is a very short walk from campus, showing movies to students and residents. Be sure to check its site’s calendar for upcoming show times and live events.

Although there is an abundance of restaurants and food service, there are stores located throughout Blacksburg for shopping. If you are looking for some Tech gear, stop by Campus Emporium on North Main Street. If you want something fancier and trendier, 310 Rosemont is also located on North Main Street. And for those themed parties, Goodwill thrift store and the YMCA are a short bus ride on the North Main bus.

SAMANTHA SMITH / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Make sure to grab a bunch of friends and try out the escape rooms in Blacksburg as well.

Puzzlr is located on North Main Street and Blacksburg Escape is located on East Roanoke Street. Both locations are in walking distance from campus.

Nightlife in Blacksburg is full of special events on different nights.

According to Step into Blacksburg, the restaurant 622 North has numerous events at Frank’s, a full-service bar on the first floor.

Frank’s hosts live music and reggae shows in addition to activities such as pool tables, video games and dart lanes.

“Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille is located on South Main Street. There you will find a plethora of activities to do with your friends. You can see a movie, bowl or enjoy the second-floor arcade.”

Frank Theatres CineBowl & Grille is located on South Main Street. There you will find a plethora of activities to do with your friends. You can see a movie, bowl or enjoy the second-floor arcade.

If you are looking to take a step away from indoor activities, during the warmer months there are several parks and trails open to the public. Tom’s Creek Park features a softball field, picnic tables and benches, swings and more. Municipal Park, located on Turner

Street, is a 23-acre park with soccer fields, a roller hockey court, a skate park, shelters and gazebos.

The Cascades National Recreation Trail is a popular activity among Virginia Tech students, which includes the sight of a 66-foot waterfall. Additionally, Pandapas Pond in Jefferson National Forest is a man-made body of water that features canoeing and fishing. Of course, both of these locations require driving to.

There are also three golf courses in Blacksburg, one being the Virginia Tech Golf Course on Duck Pond Drive. The other two are the Blacksburg Municipal Golf Course and the Blacksburg Country Club, both of which involve driving.

New River Junction is a perfect activity to do in the first couple weeks at VT. Located on Big Falls Road, Big Falls Park features tubing, fishing and live music. You can even camp there too.

There is more that goes in Blacksburg than meets the eye. Ask around and learn for yourself. Off-campus activities don’t just have to be eating and drinking, there is plenty of fun going on every week. @GretchTheCatch

Blacksburg: A restaurant for every occasion MEGAN MAURY CHURCH

PAGE 10 July 6, 2017

food columnist

When it comes to food, Blacksburg has almost everything. In fact, there are too many great places to speak of in just one article so I will only mention a few. If you want to get a taste of Blacksburg, here is where to go and what to get:

Blacksburg classics

Gillie’s Restaurant

Location: 153 College Ave. Hours: Breakfast, Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Brunch, Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Lunch, Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Dinner, Monday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

There is never a bad time to go to Gillie’s, but the best times are weekend brunch and

weekday breakfast. This College Avenue location is a hot spot on weekend mornings, and there is usually a large crowd waiting outside for a table.

Gillie’s specializes in vegan and gluten free options, and they do it so well you won’t even know the difference. Go classic and order the Chappie’s choice: scrambled eggs topped with white cheddar, Gillie’s amazing potatoes and a homemade buttermilk biscuit or whole wheat

toast.

Souvlaki

Location: 201 College Ave. Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

There is one thing you have to get when you go to Souvlaki: the gyro (note: the traditional pronunciation is “YEE-row”).

Macado’s

Family friendly

As a student, it is important to have an answer when your visiting family asks about the greatest local place to eat. This is also an opportunity to get a meal for more than $8 without having to pay for it.

Bull and Bones Brewhaus & Grill

Location: 1329 S Main St. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Our Daily Bread Bakery & Bistro is a local French restaurant that serves from a menu as well as a pastry case. There is nothing else like this place in the New River Valley. For these kinds of pastries, you would have to go all the way to its other locations in Roanoke and Salem.

The baker was trained in France and recruits from the same French school he attended, meaning that everything produced is as authentic as you can get. If you just want to pop in, grab a few macarons from the pastry selection; there are always a number of interesting flavors to choose from, and I love the birthday cake and chocolate ones.

Carol Lee Donuts

Location: 1414 N Main St. Hours: Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Carol Lee Donuts has been in Blacksburg since the ‘60s — part of what makes these flaky donuts taste so good is the sentiment attached to them. They are currently located in a shop on North Main Street, past the traffic circle.

Make sure to show up with cash or check, because this mom-and-pop shop does not take plastic. The menu features the typical selection; cake and yeast-raised donuts are 80 cents each.

There is also a selection of handmade and filled donuts. Ask for a dozen and fill it up with whatever catches your eye.

Make any of these selections and you can get a great taste of Blacksburg. Even beyond this list (look here, here and here), there is plenty more to eat in this small town. Happy eating!

Cabo Fish Taco

Location: 117 S Main St. Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

@CollegiateTimes

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Location: 1470 S Main St. Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Bull and Bones Brewhaus & Grill is locally owned, resides in the First & Main shopping center and can seat as many people as you want to bring. This is the place where the Virginia Tech Athletic Department rents a section to wine-and-dine potential recruits. The handpulled barbeque pork is the way to go here, paired with any of the custom drinks from the brewhouse.

When snacks attack Our Daily Bread Bakery & Bistro

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Location: 922 University City Blvd.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Macado’s may not be a Blacksburg-specific restaurant, but it has been a University City Boulevard landmark for decades. Aside from the food, it is just a fun place to be. A giant stuffed gorilla hangs from the ceiling, but there will always be one person in your group who doesn’t notice it until halfway through the meal; there are screens of all sizes always broadcasting games of every sport; the second level is a giant loft with a balcony that feels VIP; the decor is reminiscent of “Where’s Waldo” and there is always something new to find.

When it comes to the food, the appetizers and sandwiches are the main draw. Order either the fried pickles (which come in crispy spears, not the usual soggy chips) or spinach and artichoke dip.

While there are many food options, the extensive list of sandwiches is where you will find your future favorite meal. Choosing one may be a challenge, so the best way to go is to make a gut decision at the last second; this is a low-risk move since all the sandwiches are great. My favorite is the classic Macado.

Cabo Fish Taco, like Bull and Bones, is special to Blacksburg, even though it does have one other location in Charlotte, North Carolina. Everything is made fresh daily and the Baja-style menu features items you won’t find anywhere else in the area.

“Not so shockingly, the fish tacos are the way to go. I suggest the soy ginger shrimp tacos which are beer-battered, soy-glazed and topped with all the classic taco toppings you want.”

Not so shockingly, the fish tacos are the way to go. I suggest the soy ginger shrimp tacos which are beer-battered, soy-glazed and topped with all the classic taco toppings you want.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

This pita wrap comes with lamb (suggested) or chicken, homemade tzatziki sauce and toppings. You will be drooling as soon as you step up to the counter to order. Get it with a side of fries and your day will be completed.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

collegiatetimes.com PAGE 12 July 6, 2017

This is home: Living like a Hokie on campus DAVIS CARBAUGH sports staff writer

The prospect of dorm life can be near the top of the list of things to stress about for an incoming freshman at any university.

Whether you are living with a high school friend, a Facebook meetup or an absolute stranger, nothing can quite prepare you for the drastic change from your home to a small dorm among hundreds of your fellow students. However, with the right preparation and mindset, you can make the best out of whichever dorm you are assigned to.

In most cases, a freshman will be assigned to any of the various traditionalstyle rooms, but there is also a chance you will be placed in a suite-style room.

Most traditional-style rooms are all about the same size, with many options such as to lofting your beds to create more space.

Take some time to Google the best ways to loft your beds to fit your living needs.

Below is a brief description of the possible dorms you may find yourself in this upcoming year, along with their more common titles among the Tech student body:

Traditional-style rooms:

Ambler Johnston Hall (West AJ/East AJ) — East Ambler Johnston houses approximately 300 Honors College students and is home to the Honors Residential Commons and features limited ability hotel and suitestyle rooms. West Ambler Johnston is home to over 800 residents of varying grade levels and academic majors and has limited suitestyle rooms for returning residents. Nearly everyone who lives in West AJ has to apply to the Residential College at West Ambler Johnston, which is the living-learning community centered in that residence. Take a look around while staying here during orientation, and take special note of how cool it is with the air conditioning pumping.

If you find yourself placed in West AJ, you should be happy to know that you have AC, quality dorms and excellent proximity to West End, D2 and McComas Hall.

Barringer Hall — One of the few all-male dorms on campus, Barringer is a residence hall located on the southeast side of campus. Despite a lack of AC, Barringer Hall will surely be a place where lifelong friends are made. As far as location, you can’t beat living right next to Chick-fil-A,

Squires Student Center, University Bookstore and Newman Library.

Campbell Hall — Campbell Hall is broken into two sections: East Campbell for female residents only and Main Campbell for coed graduate students.. Campbell Hall gives you great access to all of the activities on the Drillfield while allowing residents to live among other honors students.

Eggleston Hall (East Egg, Main Egg, West Egg) — Eggleston Hall is a coed residence hall located on the corner of the Drillfield and directly across the street from Newman Library that splits into three wings (east, main and west). East Egg contains office space on the first floor and residential space on the second and third floors. Main Egg and West Egg are known for housing member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Altogether, Eggleston Hall is home to 215 civilian and Corps of Cadet students. As far as location goes, the Eggs may be some of the best on campus in terms of access to classrooms, Squires Student Center, student life, bus stops and much more.

Johnson Hall — Johnson Hall is a relatively small dorm that houses 108 female residents. Along with its lively atmosphere, Johnson is located conveniently near Owens Dining Hall and Hokie Grill, as well as multiple residence hall quads.

and learn from one another. Residents of Lee Hall are sure to enjoy the easy access to Cassell Coliseum, Prairie Quad and the view of Virginia Tech from the tallest point in Blacksburg.

Miles Hall — Miles is an all-male dorm that holds 217 residents. Residents can enjoy the recently renovated bathrooms, as well as the interconnectedness among its residents due to a small number of RAs. Newman Hall — Newman houses approximately 275 students in a coed dorm.

This hall hosts several living-learning communities designed to bring together students from all backgrounds and promote working together in discovering career opportunities.

O’Shaughnessy Hall (O’Shag) — O’Shag is a coed dorm that houses 341 residents. In the past, O’ Shag has lacked in air

conditioning and cleanliness. However, the residence will be closed for the upcoming year for renovations that will fix those issues. O’Shag is set to reopen in August of 2018 and will house the Residential Leadership Community.

Pritchard Hall — As one of the largest dorms at Virginia Tech, Pritchard holds over 1,000 residents. This residence is home of multiple living-learning communities such as Thrive, Innovate and Students Engaging and Responding through Volunteer Experiences (SERVE).

Slusher Hall — Slusher is broken up into Slusher Tower and Slusher Wing. Slusher Wing holds 300 male and female residents, while the tower is home to about 330 male and female residents. At an amazing twelve stories high, Slusher Tower will definitely give you stories to tell for years.

“

Simply keeping your door open during the day or starting a conversation with someone coming in the door can go a long way toward creating a community that you love living in.”

Lee Hall­­— Lee Hall is a coed residence hall that primarily hosts students in the Galileo Engineering Learning Community and Biological and Life Sciences Learning Community. In addition, Lee is home to inVenTs living-learning community, which is home to various interactive communities focused on bringing together students to explore their ability to create the future.

InVenTs is split into four communities: Galileo, Da Vinci, Hypatia and Curie. The goal is for students from science, engineering and other disciplines to interact

FILE 2015 Slusher Tower, home to about 330 male and female residents, towers high above most of the other residence halls on campus.

Suite-style rooms:

“

The horrors of dorm life are not as bad as you think, and there is a high likelihood that you will meet at least one lifelong friend in your freshman dorm.”

Harper Hall — Harper is the focal point for Virginia Tech’s international community, as it serves about 2,800 international undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and scholars by providing a range of educational, social and cultural programs. The suite-style building offers either two or three rooms that share a common living room and bathroom. A total of 249 coed students call Harper Hall their home.

Hotel-style rooms:

New Hall West — This residence is part of the Summit Community and houses 260 coed upperclassmen and transfer students.

The first floor features an administrative office for staff, but upstairs you’ll find hotel-style double-occupancy rooms with private bathrooms. Each hall has study lounges, TV lounges, a community kitchen and air conditioning.

@CollegiateTimes

Coming to college does not have to mean gaining weight. Following a few simple rules will keep you happy and healthy during your freshman year at Tech.

KATIE RICE fitness columnist

Freshman year is stressful for all sorts of reasons — the campus is huge and all the buildings look the same for the first couple of weeks.

The basic needs of human survival must be met if you are to make it on your own. Luckily, sleep is covered since you are in the dorm.

As one of the colleges with the best dining, Virginia Tech also has you covered when it comes to food.

But we might have you a little too well covered. My freshman year, we had a joke that on our campus we were in danger of the freshman 50 rather than the freshman 15.

“

If you want to reach the peak of health, don’t even have one milkshake a day. Your meal plan will run out before you know it, and the freshman 15 will become a reality for you.”

If you want to, you really can have milkshakes and cake for every meal.

You might quickly notice that you are tired and irritable much of the time, and your stomach will not feel too awesome.

It is OK to enjoy the delicious variety of foods available. Just make sure to eat real food with nutritional value for the bulk of your diet.

If you want to reach the peak of health, don’t even have one milkshake a day. Your meal plan will run out before you know it, and the freshman 15 will become a reality for you. Having a treat two or three times a week is plenty.

Maintaining a healthy diet your first year of college takes work, but it is not

hard. Just keep some guidelines in mind when choosing what to eat.

With each meal, have fruit and vegetables on the side. Get a side salad instead of french fries — greasy fried foods are never ideal.

When you get London broil at West End, choose a side of at least one vegetable.

When you decide to eat really healthy and get a salad from Leaf & Ladle, just know that the salad with chicken tenders is not one of the healthy options.

D2 at Dietrick Hall is a decent buffet.

Eat as much as you want for a flat rate. I only tend to go there for Sunday brunch, but dinner can be good too.

I recommend starting with a plate of fruit and a plate of vegetables from the vegan counter. Sometimes they have roasted sweet potatoes and those are delicious.

If you want to see the specials for the day or plan your meals ahead of time, all of the dining hall menus are online.

Make a schedule that works for you and stick to it. Consistency is necessary in college.

Eat three meals a day. Or six small meals. Or however many meals you want at specific times.

Avoid snacking. If you must, keep healthy food in the dorm. Dried fruit is better than chips. No sugar added is even better.

It is very possible to be healthy in college. College is a bubble. You are venturing out from your home bubble to a new college bubble.

Practice eating like a human. A successful human. A human who will leave the bubble and get a job. That’s why you’re in college, isn’t it?

@KatieRice_CT

July 6, 2017 PAGE 13

Whether you land the suite-style dorm you’ve been hoping for or find yourself in one of the larger traditional-style dorms, the key to dorm life is being approachable and friendly to those around you. Simply keeping your door open during the day or starting a conversation with someone coming in the door can go a long way toward creating a community that you love living in. The horrors of dorm life are not as bad as you think, and there is a high likelihood that you will meet at least one lifelong friend in your freshman dorm. Be open-minded and make the best of your first year in the dorms; it is an experience you will never forget!

The ‘freshman 15’ is not a rite of passage

collegiatetimes.com

New Residence Hall East (New Res) — New Res is an air-conditioned, coed dorm for mostly upper-class and transfer students.

However, with a little luck, you may find yourself living in New Res as a freshman just like yours truly. New Res offers great lounges for studying and hall events, as well as a solid location in the middle of everything on campus.

Peddrew-Yates Hall (PY) — PeddrewYates is the sister dorm to New Residence Hall East, and it hosts 219 coed residents.

Peddrew-Yates is considered by many as the nicest dorm on campus.

Payne Hall — Payne is home to 209 coed residents. While the bulk of the residence hall is suite-style, there are traditionalstyle rooms on the fourth floor. Most of the students who live there are upperclassmen and transfer students. Payne is home to the Residential Leadership Community program (RLC), which is a themed housing leadership program in which students study and apply leadership concepts while living in a cohort environment. Residents can live in a suite-style living space that features either two rooms that share a common living room and bathroom or three rooms that share a common living room and bathroom.

Cochrane Hall — Conveniently connected to the West End Market dining facility, students that live in Cochrane will always be close to some of the best food Virginia Tech has to offer. The residence hall is home to 333 coed students and features four-bedroom suites.

Hillcrest Hall — Hillcrest houses 108 coed students. In this suite-style hall, every two rooms share a bathroom, except for a few rooms that have private baths. The

residence hall has housed scholarship athletes and graduate students in the past, but it is now home to the Honors College and the Hillcrest Community, which is a fouryear, live-in residential honors program.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

Vawter Hall — Vawter is a coed dorm that hosts about 350 residents. Its odd Z-like floor plan sets it apart from other dorms, while its location near Squires Student Center, Newman Library and Hokie Grill is coveted by many Hokies.

Pearson Hall and New Cadet Hall (yet to be named) — Pearson Hall is one of the few residence halls on campus that was built for and occupied by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. Opened back in 2015, the hall is one of the newest and most polished buildings on campus. Its twin building (yet to be named) will be opening in the fall of 2017.

Both buildings are coed and traditionalstyle residence halls with shared floor bathrooms, TV lounges and study lounges.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

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Upper Quad: Three generations of cadets reflect on their time at Virginia Tech

CL: The worst part about living in Monteith was how hot it was in August and the beginning of September. And the lack of female bathrooms in the building — Thomas only had one for the whole building. But the best part was being able to see the history

I spent so much time there. But it is great to see new growth on Upper Quad. I’m already excited to come back after I’ve graduated to see the finished product.

GL: I’m thrilled about the growth of the VTCC. And the plans to continue building a

They’re where we spend most of our time and make friendships that last a lifetime.

The classic brick might be missed, but having Hokie Stone will really let us be a part of campus in a way everyone can see.

These changes are how the Corps will be a

This summer, before students return to campus, construction crews will completely demolish both Thomas and Monteith Halls on Upper Quad, finalizing the redesign efforts of this especially historical part of campus that began in 2013 with the demolition of Rasche and Brodie Halls.

As the last two original cadet dorms on Upper Quad, built in 1949 and renovated in the early 1970s, close their doors to cadet residents for the last time, the Collegiate Times spoke with Mayer, Guy and Clare Levy, three generations out of four total generations of the family (including Nathan J. Levy, Class of 1926) who all lived on Upper Quad about their memories of the past and opinions about the future of Upper Quad.

CT: What years did you live on Upper Quad?

CT: Do you think the buildings were an important part of Corps culture? What type of effect do you think the new buildings will have on CT: What is/was your least and CT: How do you feel about the the culture of the Corps itself? most favorite part about living on demolition of Monteith and Thomas?

CL: The buildings that cadets live in Upper Quad?

CL: It makes me sad, initially, because are the most important buildings we have.

COURTESY OF THE LEVY FAMILY

July 6, 2017 PAGE 15

community for leadership development. better place and last for a long, long time. I’m ML: Current demolition and new already looking forward to 50 years from construction is merely a sign of progress. now when I can come back and my class is inducted into the Old Guard.

CT: What does it mean to you to be GL: The Corps culture transcends the part of four generations of Levys who buildings. It’s truly a unique and purposeful have lived on Upper Quad? experience within a very special university.

CL: It means a lot. When I walk by Lane I believe whether in old or new structures, Hall there is a large “26” on the wall. I don’t the essence of the buildings are in the Corps’ know who did it, but that would have been motto, building global and ethical leaders my great grandfather’s class. I love hearing for our future, now more than ever. The stories from my grandfather about being in new buildings will support this mission and the band and living in Lane Hall. And espe- cement the VTCC culture for many years to cially seeing the dorm I lived in through my come. dad’s eyes. He lived in Thomas, which has ML: Hokie Stone and very old brick the same floor plan as Monteith, and he said before are almost as important as Ut Prosim. on the day we moved me in freshman year We who have lived as cadets and continue to that the dorm had not changed at all. Seeing live as alumni are very proud of our heritage. pictures of my family in the place I live and New buildings and walks and flora show then walking and seeing where that picture that progress, but we are, not were Highty was taken is so exciting to me. I feel very Tighties and Hokies. much at home.

GL: I am proud to share a similar experience across four generations of Levys. It is @CollegiateTimes especially heartening to know that my father, Mayer, Class of ‘55, and daughter, Clare, Class of ‘18, have a special VTCC Highty Tighty bond.

ML: We inherited the Upper Quad.

collegiatetimes.com

Clare Levy, Human Development (Class of 2018): I lived in Monteith my freshman, sophomore and junior year, so that’s fall 2014 to spring 2017.

Dr. Guy Levy, DDS (Class of 1984): I lived in Thomas during my freshman and sophomore years, 1980 to 1982.

Dr. Mayer Levy, DDS (Class of 1955): I lived in Academic Building #1 (now known as Lane Hall) from 1951 to 1953.

of my company on the walls. There were paintings from years back, and one of my most proud moments was being able to show the new classes the painting my class had done. It was definitely the best one.

GL: My first memory of Thomas was a brief vision, as I lugged my things into the basement, of an interior that appeared to have been a target for machine gun practice.

Fortunately, by the time I moved in, the walls had been repaired and painted. Thomas was a relatively small dorm with a tight knit community and in close proximity to the academic halls. And although I enjoyed having electricity and heat, I could have done without all of the coal dust (from the power plant).

ML: Lane was old, very old then. We had sinks in the dorm rooms and a communal shower in the basement. Only boys, white, in the Corps. The building had steam heat and no air conditioning. We had oversized sills, which we used to keep food, not allowed, refrigerated outside and “shine,” really not allowed, fermenting. There was also a history of VPI horses being housed on the bottom level.

My favorite part of living in Lane Hall is the close friendships that developed among the Highty Tighties. Some of us still email, after graduating from snail mail, and lunch together at least once a year even though we may live in different states.

LIBBY HOWE Corps of Cadets reporter

editor@collegiatetimes.com

You can’t paint on Canvas or get your nails done at HokieSpa

Forget Google. Incoming Virginia Tech students will soon get used to using the Canvas and HokieSpa websites daily.

MATT JONES

PAGE 16 July 6, 2017

collegiatetimes.com

editor in chief

Canvas and HokieSpa both have inviting names. Canvas sounds like something a studio arts major might use, and HokieSpa sounds like a nice place to get a massage. Although they are in actuality neither of these things, Canvas and HokieSpa are still pretty useful.

Most Virginia Tech students will agree that Canvas and HokieSpa are the two most important university websites for students. In fact, you probably would get kicked out if you never used them.

Both services, located at canvas.vt.edu and hokiespa.vt.edu respectively, require signing in with your PID and password and using two-factor authentication.

Required since summer 2016, two-factor authentication means that whenever you

log on, you must confirm that it is you on another device. The easiest option is to download and configure the Duo Mobile app on your phone, although there are other authentication options.

When you log in, you will be prompted to send a request to the app on your smartphone. If you are on your own computer, you can also click a checkbox to keep yourself logged in for seven days.

Canvas

Canvas is Tech’s learning management system of choice. It is the central hub for instructors communicating with their students online, allowing assignment submissions and course announcements.

Scholar, which was Canvas’ predecessor, went permanently offline in June.

That’s for the best. Canvas has a sleek, functional design. Clicking “Courses”

will show all of the courses that you are enrolled in where the professor has set up a course page.

Instructors are able to make announcements, share a syllabus, post assignments and collect submissions. Many instructors also use Canvas’ gradebook feature, allowing you to see your current progress in a course. The gradebook also allows you to enter a grade into slots for future assignments to see what would happen to your grade if you decide to skip that reading in November.

The university has faced some criticism in the past for putting Canvas behind the two-factor authentication wall. If your two-factor device dies or you do not have access to it right before an assignment is due, it can mean a missed deadline. The learning curve has also been steep for some instructors who

had just gotten used to Scholar. In spring, Canvas went down along with a number of other major websites worldwide, translating into a major hassle for students and instructors.

HokieSpa

HokieSpa looks like it rolled out in the 1990s. However, don’t judge it by web design alone — it may be even more important than Canvas.

On the landing page, you can manage your VT alerts subscription (so you can be notified in an emergency), access class timetables (so you know where to go on Aug. 28) and see your university account information (so you can pay your tuition).

Clicking on the “HokieSpa” link on that page or the tab at the top will open even more options. If you realize that

“Degree” menu, which will show you the courses you need to graduate. Using the Pathways Planner, also available from the HokieSpa menu, you can create a plan of courses to fulfill those requirements. Then, you can run a report against that plan to make sure you can graduate sometime before 2030.

Later in the semester, the “Course Request” menu will become vitally important. When it opens on Oct. 17, you will be able to request the classes that you would like to take in spring. For popular

classes, this may be the only way that you can get in — there might not be space in the classroom once the period when you can freely add and drop courses opens.

After orientation, which you will register for classes as part of, the add/drop period for fall semester will reopen on Aug. 5.

A brand-new feature is the ability to buy tickets on Virginia Tech’s Campusto-Campus bus. The bus shuttles 35 passengers between the campuses in the Blacksburg area and the National Capital Region near Arlington. For $95, you can

ride in air-conditioned comfort with Wi-Fi and electrical outlets at every seat.

The buses run twice every weekday and once a day on weekends except during university holidays.

Check both of these sites regularly.

You do not want to miss an assignment or forget to pay your tuition because you thought two-factor authentication was too much of a hassle.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

studio arts are not your thing, you can fill out a change of major application during designated time periods. You can check who your adviser is under “General Student Information,” see how much scholarship money you did not get under “Financial Aid Information” and allow your parents to see your grades (bad idea) under “Guest Account Access.”

One of the most important features is the Degree Audit Report System. You can run a degree audit report under the

@Jones_MattRyan

Intramural sports open the door for new students NATHAN LOPRETE assistant sports editor

new things,” said former student Nate Lasker who played intramural basketball and soccer.

If you were a high school athlete or someone who just enjoys sports, then Virginia Tech intramurals has a lot to offer you. Some of the best memories you can make during your college career come from your time as an intramural athlete.

@NathanLoprete

July 6, 2017 PAGE 17

BEN WEIDLICH / COLLEGIATE TIMES Bannerettes of the various intramural sports offered at Virginia Tech in War Memorial Hall, June 17, 2017.

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There is good news for incoming freshmen who are trying to stay in shape and keep their competitive edge.

Virginia Tech offers over 30 different sports ranging from contact sports to noncontact sports that always create good competition between you and your friends. It also helps you branch out and meet new people.

Dodgeball, f lag football, soccer and softball are popular intramural sports. There is also 5-on-5 basketball and 3-on-3 basketball that takes place throughout the year.

Virginia Tech has some of the best practice facilities in the country. If you’re playing flag football or soccer you get to play on a newly-renovated practice field that is made of synthetic turf. Virginia Tech renovated the field in 2015. With Lane Stadium and the mountains in the background it makes for some great scenery while you play.

The competition is another plus when it comes to the setup at Virginia Tech.

Whether you play in a beginners league or advanced, you have the opportunity to call yourself a champion. At the end of the regular season there are playoffs and they get even more competitive.

“It depends on the sport,” said Virginia Tech student Erik Van Pelt who played both soccer and basketball.. “Sports that are popular in high school have higher competition levels. I’ve played coed soccer and kickball at intermediate and it’s usually a pretty mixed bag. In the fall I played advanced all-men’s soccer and that was much more competitive

but not as much as the high school sport just because it’s not a real team with scheduled practices and stuff, but that raw talent level is fairly comparable.”

There are even sports for those looking for a noncontact sport. Bowling, darts and sports trivia are big draws among students. There is also a chess tournament offered. You can also participate in the Pick’em Contest that runs during March Madness in case you want to showcase your skills. This past year with Virginia Tech making the tournament, the Pick’em Contest got a lot of attention.

Can we play for free? The answer to that question is a no, but don’t panic. For a yearly fee of $20 you can get access to all of the intramural sports that Virginia Tech has to offer. Once you pay that fee, it’s important to get your money’s worth and play in multiple sports. You can make a team with your fraternity or sorority and even a club that you belong to on campus.

The Hokie Grail is awarded at the end of the year to the All-University Intramural Champion which is based off of a point system. It’s a chance to be enshrined as one of the best intramural players in Virginia Tech’s history.

There are also opportunities to work as an intramural referee. The Department of Recreational Sports employs over 500 students each year. Referees go through training prior to game action and gain leadership experience when they have to work in highly competitive games. There are multiple areas you can apply for, including videographer or even groundskeepers. You can work and still play intramural sports.

“Do them and keep an open mind. Try

editor@collegiatetimes.com

Blacksburg Transit: Your saving grace in a pinch ALY DE ANGELUS news editor

For over 6,000 students at Virginia Tech, the last week in August marks their first steps toward a college diploma. I bet most of you will have your bags packed once you come home from orientation — lanyard, dorm key, Hokie Passport and a foldable map of campus in case you get lost. Just one question: Do you have 40 minutes to walk to the Math Emporium?

I didn’t think so. Although on-campus housing is designed to eliminate many stress inducers for newcomers, off-campus transportation is vital for the true college experience. Here’s what you need to know about Blacksburg Transit, the be-all end-all for freedom.

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Take charge of Blacksburg, like a true townie.

Since 1983 Blacksburg Transit has been a pivotal system for Blacksburg natives, residents of Christiansburg and students alike.

What once began as seven full-time drivers has evolved to 135 operators in order to feed the needs of Virginia Tech’s increasing student population. As of 2013, approximately 90 percent of passengers are students.

According to Harland Brown, operations manager and Blacksburg Transit worker for over 24 years, there are close to 20,000 passengers per day. Nearly 200 bus stops are for the town of Blacksburg alone, not including other travel locations — Radford, Christiansburg, Montgomery County Courthouse, Roanoke, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Lynchburg Amtrak station and Megabus trips including Washington, D.C.; Knoxville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; New York, New York, and more.

Don’t let the name fool you, this bus will grant you access to any place in the world if you are up for the adventure.

PAGE 18 July 6, 2017

Never forget your Hokie Passport.

Unless you are willing to spare a couple of quarters each ride, always double check that you’ve packed your plastic. Blacksburg Transit is in partnership with Virginia Tech which means that riding this bus system is free of charge for students. Simply present your Hokie Passport to the bus driver as identification before you ride and enjoy.

KAILA NATHANIEL / COLLEGIATE TIMES

Bus drivers are your friends.

Despite what any movie classic may allude, Blacksburg’s operators are kind and concerned about your safety. Driving a vehicle of this size requires skill and their service to this community should not be overlooked.

Stephen Bell, Virginia Tech alumni and operator for two years, ensures the student body that in a pinch, Blacksburg Transit will be your saving grace.

“If someone were to come on and say, ‘I’m sorry I forgot my Hokie Passport at home, but I need to make this bus,’ we are not here to make them fail their classes,” Bell said.

“We are here to get them to where they need to be and if that sort of thing happens, we understand.”

Through extensive training bus drivers are taught to recognize familiar faces on their daily routes which allows for leniency when passengers misplace their personal identification. Though this may be comforting news, try not to make it a habit.

Don’t pick a front seat if you don’t want to get up.

Sitting in the front may seem like a good idea when you just ran from Torgerson Bridge to the checkpoint at Burruss Hall with a ton of fancy recording equipment, but take a seat in the back if you don’t want to risk holding those bags for another 15 to 20 minutes until

you reach your destination. If the driver needs to fit more passengers on the bus, he or she will often ask the people in the front to stand because their seats can be folded to create more standing room.

The bus will leave you.

It’s nothing personal, it’s just numbers.

Waiting for one person might mean making dozens of other people late. The bus system isn’t like grade school where you are excused for being late to class if the bus is late. People have the capability to walk, bike or drive so taking the bus is not an acceptable excuse.

Therefore, sometimes hurling your body at a moving bus will do no good, unless you can make it to the next closest bus stop.

If you want to avoid all of this nonsense, make sure to be at your bus stop five minutes early. Every once in a while the buses will drive off a couple of minutes early, so it is your job to plan ahead.

Pull the cord! No, not like “Flashdance.”

Sometimes physically getting on the bus will be such an ordeal that you begin to doze off in your seat. Just remember that it’s not sufficient to yell “Stop!” at the bus driver when you see you’re nearing the bus stop.

Every request must be recorded through an electronic pulley system for liability

purposes and bus drivers are not authorized to stop anywhere but those stops. These cords are located around the interior rim of the bus and usually announce “stop requested” once pulled. You know you’ve pulled hard enough when the sign in the front lights up in red.

When you miss your stop (because we all have), don’t panic.

There are resources that exist to help you, such as the BT4U app that uses geospatial data to predict when the next couple of buses will arrive to your current stop. Follow its Twitter account @Ride_BT for major service changes such as weather delays, game day routes and hours of service. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Relax, stuff happens.

Take it from the girl who waited an hour for the same bus to come back with her keys and Hokie Passport, it’s not the end of the world. According to Brown, people have left weirder things on the bus like walking canes and retainers.

Just remember that the strangers sitting next to you are just as much your friend as the GPS in your hand and you’ll have Blacksburg dialed in in no time.

@RealSlimAD

ALEXA WILLIAMS opinions editor

HEATED POOL!

AHMED MUSTAFA / COLLEGIATE TIMES

a student’s personal career aspirations.

Additionally, the Career Center also sponsors an annual event called Career Outfitters, which allows students to select new or gently used professional attire entirely free of charge. The event aims to ensure that all students are given equal opportunity to attend career-planning events and recruitment opportunities. For those who wish to donate to this wonderful effort, the Career Center typically holds two clothing drives each year: one for spring attire as well as one for fall.

If you find yourself lost in the abyss that

is college, uncertain of where your career path leads next, consider stopping by the Smith Career Center in Blacksburg! If you have any questions regarding the Career and Professional Development Services, please call the Career Center at 540-231-6241 or visit them online at www.career.vt.edu. You are bound to leave with a plan to navigate your future and a team of people who are willing to help you along your journey. @CollegiateTimes

So close to campus, you can be out of bed and in class in minutes. (fuzzy slippers optional)

LIVE ON THE EDGE OF CAMPUS!

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A visit to Virginia Tech’s Career and Professional Development Services, conveniently located in the Smith Career Center at the Blacksburg campus, opens the door to endless opportunity for highly motivated students. The office assists university students of all walks of life, from college freshmen to graduate students. No matter where you stand in your academic career, the friendly staff at the Smith Career Center is more than willing to help you find a sense of direction.

The office offers a plethora of exclusive career development and employment programs for interested parties, ranging from the Hokies4Hire and On-Campus Interviewing program to premium access to job search sites such as CareerShift and GoinGlobal. Career and Professional Development also offers Virginia Techaffiliated fairs throughout the course of the academic year, welcoming employers of all career fields to attend.

Perhaps one of the most unique assets of

Career and Professional Services is its Peer Career Advisors program. These advisers are specifically trained to provide career advice to fellow students, offering walk-in hours for students seeking their services. Career and Professional Services also offers interested students the opportunity to be involved in the development of key decisions within the department by joining the Student Advisory board. Members of the board are required to attend an array of meetings throughout the year, all of which provide a platform for students to meet new people.

The department also offers two convenient advising options for students: 10 minute walk-in advising and 30 minute appointments planned in advance either in person, by phone or via Skype. During this time, students are welcome to discuss how they can develop professionalism skills and courtesy, how to secure post-graduation employment, as well as advice for applying to graduate school or professional programs. The attentive staff never ceases to provide insight on how students can best capitalize on their strengths, crafting an individualized plan on the basis of

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Navigating life with help from the Career Center

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editor@collegiatetimes.com

NEHA OGALE opinions editor

way to meet new people with similar interests, it is also a place to connect with the Virginia Tech community. After all, this is a huge school, and finding common ground among your peers can make it seem a little smaller and less overwhelming.

“

The event — which is free of admission — features plenty of food, games, live music and entertainment.”

Gobblerfest is very engaging, and in many ways comparable to a carnival or county fair. The event — which is free of admission — features plenty of food, games, live music and entertainment. Last fall, for example, there were performances from student-run

dance ensembles. The event also offers tons of freebies like T-shirts, stickers, pens, lanyards and even portable chargers from the many organizations vying for recruitment.

I first attended Gobblerfest as a timid, crowd-averse freshman who was initially reluctant to go. However, I came to Virginia Tech wanting to continue my involvement in student journalism, and I figured this event would be a good place to start. Funnily enough, almost a year after braving the crowds, I am writing this piece and working on the editorial staff of a newspaper whose booth I was at first scared to walk up to. It just goes to show the doors you can open when opportunity knocks.

@CollegiateTimes

are you

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Anyone who has lived in Blacksburg knows that autumn in the foothills of Appalachia is one of the best parts of the year: The air turns crisp and cool, the skies a forget-me-not blue and the famous greenery blazes red, orange and gold as the leaves shed their skin. Our small town is transformed into a vivid panorama of colors, resembling a scene from a Hallmark feature.

However, do not mistake “quaint” for “quiet” — Blacksburg is a college town, and campus is always bustling with activities, especially during these months.

The defining event of fall semester here at Virginia Tech is called Gobblerfest.

Initiated in fall of 2008, it is an annual festival and welcoming event for students, faculty and members of the Blacksburg

community.

The event usually takes place in early September, and is hard to miss: It spans across the entire Drillfield, which is dotted with colorful tents representing different organizations and vendors on campus and in the town of Blacksburg.

Though seemingly modeled after Germany’s traditional Oktoberfest, Gobblerfest trades beer and bratwurst for booths and brochures. It hosts student organizations, local businesses, nonprofits and many Virginia Tech departments. If you ever attended an activities fair in high school, you can think of Gobblerfest as analogous to those. It is an opportunity to explore various clubs and other campus organizations, especially if you are trying to get a head start on extracurriculars or volunteer work.

However, Gobblerfest is so much more than an activities fair: Not only is it a great

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Fall-ing into place: Everything you need to know about Gobblerfest and getting involved on campus

to be a physician?

VCOM, a medical school in Blacksburg, Virginia was inspired by a vision to bring physicians to medically underserved areas.

inspired...

www.vcom.edu

For a copy of our Outcomes Reports, please see www.vcom.edu/outcomes. ©2017 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved. VCOM is certified by the State Council of Higher Education to operate in Virginia.

July 6, 2017 PAGE 21

Our students are inspired by the College mission and focus on caring for those most in need. Visit us online to find out how you will be

editor@collegiatetimes.com

Coping with collegelevel conundrums: How to handle stress REBECCA SUTTON

PAGE 22 July 6, 2017

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copy editor

With a new year on the horizon, the Class of 2021 is preparing for their first college days in Blacksburg. The transition to college can be hard for some people, as it is likely their first time living on their own and being responsible for themselves and their academics. It can be a high-stress situation, but luckily Virginia Tech provides a few key stress-relieving resources to help its students transition smoothly.

Cook Counseling Center, located in McComas Hall, aims to assist students in managing their stress, health and academics. The staff does so through various programs from counseling to presentations and discussions. They provide individual and group counseling options that students may utilize to discuss anything from anxiety to loneliness to ways to stay healthy while in college.

Cook also has free online modules for students who need help managing their stress and self-care. Similar topics are also discussed through outreach programs.

These seminars are in-person and are led by a staff member in either presentation or discussion format.

Academic workshops are also readily available to students to assist in enhancing their skills to make the transition from high school to college level work easier.

These workshops focus more on improving academic habits like time management, study skills and test anxiety. However, they range in topic greatly and even include stress management concentration techniques.

Aside from Cook, Virginia Tech offers many other stress-relief outlets to its students to ensure their success.

Organizations and clubs are a large aspect of Virginia Tech’s campus and a great medium to meet new people and take a break from academic stress.

There are more than 700 active student clubs on campus, making it pretty much impossible to not find at least one that fits your personality and interests. A seemingly

endless amount of options may be daunting, but luckily the Division of Student Affairs hosts Gobblerfest every fall semester on the Drillfield and GobblerConnect has descriptions of clubs and ways to contact executive members with questions.

Gobblerfest allows students to meet members of a variety of clubs on campus and hear about what they do and even join their Listserv to receive emails and updates about meetings. This year it will be held on Sept. 8, 2017, at 4 p.m.; it’s definitely an event no student will want to miss, and a great way to take a break from reading syllabi for all your classes (plus, there will be a ton of free stuff).

Along with organizations are intramural sports, a great way to stay active and get away from your dorm and textbooks. There is a $20 membership fee that lets you play any sport all year long. Anything from flag football to dodgeball to horseshoes is offered so that any student can find the perfect sport for them.

If sports are not your thing — don’t worry, Virginia Tech has two gyms: McComas and War Memorial in order for you to stay active, which according to the American Psychological Association “may even improve mental health by helping the brain cope better with stress.” So you’ll help your body and your mind all in one.

Saving the best for last, VT Helping P.A.W.S. (Pet Assisted Wellness Service) has its teams visit the Squires Student Center and Newman Library throughout the semester. So you can take a break from studying and fill the void of your pets at home through playing with their adorable dogs and cats.

Virginia Tech was ranked No. 1 by The Princeton Review in 2017 for “Best Quality of Life” and also landed in the top 20 colleges in the nation for “Happiest Students,” so although the transition might be hard, just know that you made a great decision by becoming a Hokie.

@CollegiateTimes

KATIE RICE

fitness columnist

Club Zumba and Zumba

Club Zumba and Zumba will always be my first loves. I started with no dance experience. It took me several classes to get the hang of moving my hips in the right direction.

Though my dancing was nothing to brag about, I kept going back because I

loved the people teaching and it was so rewarding to get better at the choreography each class.

Club Zumba is different from Zumba in that the music is not limited to a Latin mix.

There is hip hop, pop, Afro and whatever else the instructor chooses.

BODYCOMBAT

BODYCOMBAT is an awesome way to unleash pent up anger. My entire back was sore for three days after one class.

It’s even better if you imagine punching and kicking an actual person. There is no equipment, and it can amaze you how strong you’ll feel.

BODYATTACK

BODYATTACK is like the pinnacle of cardio classes. Your entire body will feel this. There will be jump squats and shuffling to last a lifetime. It is high energy the whole time, and the enthusiasm is addicting.

Boot Camp

Boot Camp is a class where it is different every time. The workout depends on the instructor’s current preference. If it’s a nice day, the instructor might have you go outside. There might be rotating stations set up in the studio. It’s a surprise for your body every time.

Deep Water Fitness

Deep Water Fitness is a party in the

@KatieRice_CT

July 6, 2017 PAGE 23

FILE 2014 A wide array of exercise classes are offered on campus, allowing students of all levels and abilities to work out.

water. There is no sweating because you are in the pool, but it is a legitimate full body workout. An added bonus is that you get to use pool floaties.

Regular exercise is an important part of staying somewhat sane through your college career. Conquer any fear you might have of going to the gym alone.

I missed half a semester of Group Exercise classes because I thought I would feel stupid dancing alone. My roommate didn’t want to go anymore and I was nervous to go without her.

In reality, sometimes it is more fun alone. You can also make friends at the gym. Endorphins must make people more friendly, because I met some of my best college friends waiting in line for Zumba.

I also recommend approaching the instructor. It makes their day hearing their class means something to you. They teach their format because they believe in it and love it.

College is a time to get an education of course, but also to network like crazy.

Make all the friends you can and develop a healthy lifestyle while doing that.

I recommend trying every exercise class at least twice. Once to get a feel for it, and a second time to have a real opinion of whether you like it. Don’t be afraid to feel awkward.

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I went into freshman year mildly athletic. I was one of those kids who had been on the varsity soccer team in high school only because we did not have enough players.

The gym made me nervous. I was fit to the extent that I could run for a few minutes if I were being chased by a bear, but would ultimately give up out of sheer exhaustion. In other words, my speed on the treadmill was embarrassingly slow.

My first time in the McComas gym was Hokie Kick Off. Unsurprisingly, I only went for the free T-shirt. Always go to events in college if they are offering free items. Even if you didn’t enjoy the event or make any new friends, at least you got some free stuff.

At my freshman kick off, there was a free Zumba class. My roommate and I went in as a joke. The joke was on us because we both fell in love with it.

The instructors filled the room with energy and joy that I had never

experienced at the gym before.

For the first time, exercising was truly fun for me. I was also sore for the next several days, so I knew it was an effective workout.

I’m admittedly not good at working out on my own. Group Exercise gave me a way to get a great workout and choose from a plethora of formats.

Free week happens the first week of school. The schedule will be available close to that time. This gives students a chance to try all of the classes for free to see if you would be interested in buying a Group Exercise pass.

From my three years of exercising mostly through Group Exercise, I can recommend a few of my favorites.

editor@collegiatetimes.com

Thanks to group classes, the gym is for everyone

PAGE 24 July 6, 2017

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