NEWS
TIKTOK BAN MAKES THE APP’S FUTURE UNCERTAIN
Wilbert Ramirez | news writer
TikTok was taken offline on Jan.19, then reinstated by Trump’s executive order Jan. 20.
The social media app TikTok was taken offline on Jan. 19 nationwide and subsequently reinstated by President Donald Trump’s executive order on Jan. 20.
In an official statement TikTok posted to their website on Jan. 17, the company decided to shut down the platform on Jan. 19, stating “The statements issued today by both the Biden White House and the Department of Justice have failed to provide the necessary clarity and assurance to the service providers
that are integral to maintaining TikTok’s availability to over 170 million Americans.” The official statement is not accessible to Americans due to TikTok Newsroom remaining unavailable after the temporary ban.
With the executive order signed less than 24 hours after the shutdown of the app, many of its users were left confused about the app’s functionality and future.
“We kind of just started posting on TikTok
recently in the last couple of months,” said Lauren Latshaw, manager of Lighthouse Coffee in Blacksburg. “It’ll be interesting to see if (Instagram) Reels — or if there’s another page that becomes like TikTok,” referring to other social media platforms that may take TikTok’s place.
TikTok restrictions are not new to students and faculty at Virginia Tech, with the app banned from use on state-maintained networks and state-issued devices on July
1, 2023, including other apps developed by ByteDance like CapCut.
The app is currently functioning, but it has been taken off app stores on devices in the United States. According to the executive order, Trump instructed his Attorney General to delay action for 75 days, pausing the enforcement of the ban from Jan. 20.
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VIRGINIA TECH EXPANDS ITS CAMPUS TO POTOMAC YARD, VIRGINIA
Bethany Lenhardt | news writer
Innovation Campus expands to Alexandria, Virginia for courses in computer science and engineering.
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In Alexandria, Virginia, just 10 minutes outside of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, lies Virginia Tech’s newest campus expansion at 3625 Potomac Yard Avenue.
This new area, away from the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, has been deemed the Innovation Campus and will be home to courses for master’s degrees in computer engineering
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and computer science.
Virginia Tech’s website calls this location “strategic” due to its proximity to the metro, the airport and the nation’s capital.
“This strategic location, just south of Reagan National Airport, positions Virginia Tech and its future partners near the nation’s capital, continued on page 3
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diverse industries, and leading tech companies, including Amazon’s HQ2.”
The first building to reach completion is Academic Building One — an 11-story, 300,000 square foot building full of classrooms and laboratories. According to VT News, this building is set to open to students and staff in January 2025, with the official opening celebration
set for Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. The opening ceremony will feature a ribbon-cutting and a keynote speech by two-time Virginia Tech alumna Regina Dugan.
According to the Innovation Campus site, faculty at the new campus will be researching “AI/ML, Wireless and Next Gen Technology, Quantum Information Science, and Intelligent Interfaces.” The list of 12 faculty members
pioneering this research includes professors of computer science, electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering.
Outlined in Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus strategic plan, the initial cohort of 12 faculty members will “help establish the research and educational programming, as well as assist in external faculty recruiting.” The plan outlines that, upon completion of phase one, the campus
will have up to 50 full-time faculty members. With the expansion of staff, the campus will not remain as a one-building extravaganza. VT News states that plans call for the construction of two additional buildings of about 150,000 square feet each.
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OPINIONS DEFENDING FREEDOM: VT DEMANDS CHANGE
Mohib Amjad | assistant Opinions editor
Both individuals and institutions need to work together to protect our rights.
On the first anniversary of the Israel-Palestine conflict on Oct. 7, 2024, the Students for Justice in Palestine at Virginia Tech (SJP) organized a study-in against the genocide starting Oct. 21, 2024, in the Newman Library. However, this wasn’t the first pro-Palestinian protest on campus. In the last academic year, students decided to camp outside the Graduate Life Center for three days and were arrested. On April 28, 2024, 82 protestors were arrested, 53 of whom were current students at Virginia Tech. In this time of trial and turmoil, we must ask ourselves: what is the meaning of freedom of speech, what is the meaning of a protest, and how can we become better citizens and play our role in improving this world?
As defined by Virginia Tech, freedom of speech is “the right to articulate opinions and ideas without interference, retaliation, or punishment from the government.” Freedom of speech is a right guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is a rather complicated notion and very hard to define. How does one differentiate between constructive criticism and hate speech? Who should regulate speech? How should we ensure this basic right to every citizen?
In this regard, James Hawdon, director of the Center for Peace Studies and Violence Prevention at Virginia Tech, had the following views about the regulation of speech.
“The government shouldn’t decide what speech is constructive or destructive, as it would lead to censorship and decrease any discourse,” Hawdon said. “In a democratic society, every idea is challenged, and bad ideas fail.”
On another note, Laura Zanotti, professor of political science at Virginia Tech, talked about how we shouldn’t have clergy regulate freedom of speech — a reality in a lot of third-world countries.
“No religious group should have authority over public discourse, as the state and church are separate,” Zanotti said. “Religion is a private matter and any regulation can lead to a slippery slope.”
Freedom of speech is a right that has been hard-earned thanks to the sacrifices of individuals like MLK Jr., Nelson Mandela and Socrates who fought to secure the freedoms that many people today often take for granted. The definition of freedom of speech has been a continuous legal battle. Thomas Jefferson championed “the illimitable freedom of the human mind,” a principle that is deeply rooted in both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Max Stephenson, director at Virginia Tech’s Institute for Policy and Governance expanded on what can be learned from Thomas Jefferson’s wishes for universities being institutions of illimitable freedom.
“It is the duty of universities to provide a platform for the free flow of ideas and vigorous debate; however, they are also communities that have to ensure the physical and metaphorical safety of all their members,” Stephenson said.
Instead of forward-thinking policies, we have policies enacted like Policy 5000, which was first put in place on July 26, 1990. Phrases like “request for approval may be denied if it poses a clear and present danger” have been used to quell protests that don’t align with the administration’s interests. Prohibiting camping and limits on noise amplification without clear decibel limits go against First Amendment rights. All public displays and spontaneous events require advance approvals — these are obstacles in delivering organization and hamper student expression.
Shahed Sanuri, the president of Students for Justice in Palestine at Virginia Tech, talked about Policy 5000 and how they plan to combat it.
“Students United Front is a newly formed coalition of students fighting for the sake of students on this campus that have been repressed, mistreated and have had their First Amendment rights stolen from them due to the Policy 5000 change,” Sanuri said.
Stephenson gives us another perspective in regard to Policy5000 and the limits of freedom of speech.
“We have to live with ambiguity in our daily
lives and we need to be imaginative within those confines,” Stephenson said.
It is undemocratic for the U.S. government to resort to force to quell protests. Tax money goes into this institution; however, students are suppressed for their free speech which is supposed to be guaranteed. It is evident throughout history that there has been a crackdown on student protests. We are once again witnessing history. Last year, after the crackdown on the Palestinian protests, the SJP decided to take a different approach and organized a study-in at Newman Library. This stilled study-in underscored their doctrine of freedom for the reason that prior demonstrators had their educational rights suspended and were placed on academic probation. To understand the SJP, we need to understand their actions.
Sanuri talked about the concerns towards the aim of the sit-in.
“We gather to remember and pay tribute to the students who lost their lives and value our education as a form of respect; Our sit-in, inspired by the Palestinian resistance, aims to highlight the plight of Gaza’s educational systems,” Sanuri said. “When this was attempted in addressing it through Virginia Tech’s governance senates, the administration blocked it. If Virginia Tech does not take responsibility towards the Palestinians’ suffering or tries ignoring the plight of Gaza’s students, then we will take it upon ourselves to educate the community.”
The right to speak freely and to protest can be viewed as the same since both constitute basic freedoms critical to democracy. These rights can allow people to stand up for their opinions, defy those in power and seek change without the fear of being repressed. The two rights promote free speech by allowing people to express differing opinions. To protest is to exercise one’s freedom of speech, allowing the public to speak up, oppose injustices and call for change without the fear of being silenced.
Sanuri expressed her concerns about the infringement of freedom of speech.
“The administration is actively suppressing
students’ voices within the movement,” Sanuri said. “The university had strategic blocks against passing a statement within the five senates last year— the pressure was illegal. Eventually at the encampment, when given the ultimatum, the administration would rather arrest its students, faculty and community members instead of having a conversation or negotiation of their demands. After the arrests, the president had no valid reason for why he arrested 82 people.”
These were the real experiences of students. Hawdon talks about how the right to protest is inherent and promised by the First Amendment.
“Protests are necessary and that’s why they are protected again by the U.S. First Amendment right — the right to assemble is protected,” Hawdon said.
We shouldn’t sit idly by; we should find organizations fighting for the right to speak and side with them. Don’t perceive this situation as a crackdown on just the Palestinian cause, but rather a crackdown on the rights of people, for one day we might be at the receiving end of the blow.
We must know what our rights are, study them, and understand them so that we can demand them. We need to realize the importance of unity. Protesting is our right as well as our duty. Martin Niemöller, a German theologian, reflecting on the silence and complacency of the German society during the Nazi regime, wrote the famous prose poem “First They Came.”
“First they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. / Then they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Communist. / Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. / Then that came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
You don’t need to be a Palestinian to raise your voice for Palestine, but at least stand up for your rights before they are taken away from you.
LIFESTYLES TIPS AND TECHNIQUES TO SECURE AN INTERNSHIP
Michaela Scott | lifestyles staff writer
The search for internships is inevitable for most college students. These ideas can make it easier.
No matter your college major, internships can be an essential part of succeeding in your education. Internships can give students invaluable firsthand experience in any given field and provide a deeper understanding of industry-specific practices and standards.
Why should I seek an internship?
Internships are a type of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with application and skills development in a professional environment. They can show you what you like about an industry or company, or they can help you navigate what you don’t want to do in your professional life. Internships not only enhance a student’s academic knowledge, but they also set them apart from other candidates when applying to jobs and speaking with potential employers.
How do I seek an internship utilizing VT services?
The Career and Professional Development department offers a comprehensive guide on their website called “Internship central.” This site offers internship terminology, basics, sources for finding internships, tips for presenting yourself professionally while applying, and advice to prepare for an interview.
The department provides students with workshops and advising appointments, resume and cover letter reviews, and practice interviews with professionals.
In 2021, Virginia Tech also launched the Campus internEXP program through Handshake, a career platform with a community of over 17 million students, alumni, employers and career educators.
The site compiles internship positions that are paid, part-time, in Virginia Tech offices, and offer remote, in-person or hybrid options, solely for undergraduate students.
What are some other ways to find an internship?
LinkedIn is similar to Handshake and is the world’s largest online professional network.
This service helps you seek an internship or a job while connecting and strengthening a user’s network.
The platform has over one billion users and more than 67 million companies, allowing students to research almost any given company, build their personal brand, and network with tens of thousands of students and employers.
A third global job matching and hiring platform that is also commonly used among students is Indeed. This is similar to Handshake and LinkedIn and provides users with various resources to search for jobs, apply to positions and compare their opportunities.
Another way to seek internships can be directly through a company’s website. If you are interested in specific companies, most of the time there’s a webpage link in the footer of a website, labeled “careers”, which can direct you to their job listings.
I found an internship that interests me — how do I apply?
Before applying to an internship, students should do some background research on the company, read the job description carefully and fully understand what skills and experience that the employer is searching for.
Job applications will often include a section that requires applicants to upload a cover letter and resume. It’s easy to upload a file of your basic resume, but a way to differentiate you from other applicants is tailoring your cover letters and resumes to each individual job.
According to Hire Autism, research says that 83% of recruiters are more likely to hire a candidate who has tailored their resume to the specific job that they are applying for.
Tailoring each resume and cover letter can be tedious, but it may significantly increase your chances of success if you fully demonstrate your interest in each company.
I got an interview with a company — now what?
After applying to internships, deleting job rejection emails and finally getting the message that you’re moving on to the next step of the
interview process, it’s critical to prepare.
It’s important to thoroughly research the company’s mission and values, understand the job description and practice answering questions before the start of the interview.
A popular method to answer questions is using the S.T.A.R. method, which stands for “situation, task, action and result.”
This a technique to strategically structure responses, giving the interviewee a straightforward format to easily show a potential employer how they may have dealt with a situation and the task, actions they made to address it and the positive outcome that was achieved.
It may seem awkward at first, but when you’re prepping, it’s key to practice answering potential interview questions out loud rather than silently reading them. Vocalizing your answers can boost your confidence, help you deliver answers naturally and make you feel more comfortable and at ease.
Another way to get ahead in the process is by utilizing Glassdoor, which is a popular employee-based online community that individuals can
visit to find position listings posted by various organizations.
The site is unique because it features transparent reviews from former and current employees about company culture, salary rates, benefits and even interview questions that were asked.
Most importantly: Be yourself!
Interviewing for an internship can feel intimidating, but it may help to remember that it’s just a conversation. Being authentic allows your personality to shine, highlights your achievements and helps you stay confident.
Authenticity not only shows employers your true capabilities, but also helps you assess whether the company’s culture and team dynamics are a good fit for you.
Best of luck — and happy internship hunting!
PHOTO COURTESY OF SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP
BOOK REVIEW: THE HOUSEMAID
Cat Pizzarello | lifestyles writer
Freida McFadden’s New York Times bestselling novel brings thrill and mystery to its readers.
CAT PIZZARELLO / COLLEGIATE TIMES
For those that enjoy the series, McFadden also wrote two books to follow The Housemaid: The Housemaid’s Secret and The Housemaid is Watching.
If you are searching for a new bestseller to read but want to avoid trendy romance novels, look no further than “The Housemaid”: a thriller novel which has been gaining publicity for the past year or so with stellar reviews.
New York Times and USA Today bestseller, “The Housemaid,” is the fifth most read book of 2024 according to Goodreads. The author, Freida McFadden, published the novel in 2022.
“The Housemaid” follows the life of Millie, a recently released convict who is seeking a job as a housemaid. Little does Millie know, the family she has stumbled into is not as perfect as they might appear. She soon learns that the Winchester family secrets may be putting her life in danger.
Classified as a thriller, “The Housemaid” follows a similar plot line to many of the
typical mystery novels. It may appear predictable at first, but the novel takes a twist that new readers might not see coming.
Although very entertaining in the final pages, the book had little meat until over halfway through. McFadden’s writing is easily digestible and the short chapters made it a real page-turner. However, it felt as if it was missing something to really keep the audience engaged leading up to the final scene.
Most of the book is Millie reflecting on the cleaning she had done as a housemaid and dreaming about her non-existent life as a rich housewife. Although easy to read, it almost reads as Millie’s diary and her thoughts become repetitive. It doesn’t leave the reader with a ton to fixate on except the inevitable dramatic ending.
The lack of detail results in little mental
stimulation, which may be a problem for those looking for an intense thriller. It’s not the kind of book that will have a reader drooling for more, but there is something about it that keeps the reader turning pages.
Although not the most exceptional piece of literature of all time, McFadden’s simple writing and secretive plot makes the book particularly beginner friendly. For the rookie reader just getting started, this book is very easy to breeze through and is a good introduction into the thriller and mystery world. However, the seasoned thriller reader may want to rethink picking up this popular novel.
Rating: 5/10
HEARTFELT AND GENUINE: “WE LIVE IN TIME” FILM REVIEW
Ella Winterling | lifestyles writer Lifestyles writer Ella Winterling gives her opinion on the 2024 romantic comedy.
In the age of franchises dominating movie theaters with their CGI villains, booming sound design and quick celebrity cameos, a movie like “We Live in Time” stands out in the modern cinema landscape. While those sci-fi and fantasy movies can be fun, nostalgic and entertaining, this A24 drama is a grounded, emotional story that feels refreshing in the age of the blockbuster.
“We Live in Time” is directed by John Crowley. It stars Florence Pugh as Almut Brühl, a professional chef, and Andrew Garfield as Tobias Durand. The film follows the evolution of a couple as they meet, start a family and heartbreakingly deal with a terminal illness.
The film has a nonlinear structure, jumping between the various stages in the couple’s relationship, from their chance meeting due to a car accident to their disagreements over children and careers, as well as to the pain that goes along with a terminal diagnosis.
The choice to format the film in a nonlinear way complements the titular theme of time very well. However, it made it somewhat difficult to fully settle into the
romance and grief of their relationship.
Spending more time on scenes showcasing the development of their relationship could have created better investment in the main couple’s story.
For such an emotional theme, the film could benefit from a less jumpy first half which potentially places the audience in a position of piecing timelines and clues together instead of settling into the romantic world of the two main characters.
The film hits its stride in the latter half, focusing more on the turmoil of dealing with an illness and how best to deal with the time that one has left. The couple’s kitchen fight scene is a standout of the film. It revolves around Brühl’s turmoil of using her time for her family versus using it to leave a greater legacy for her family — and the world — to remember her by.
Pugh and Garfield deliver charming performances, both showcasing the ability to make the audience laugh and cry within a matter of minutes. From witty banter one would expect in a rom-com to devastating arguments about how to best spend their time left together, the two lead performers
and their chemistry are the highlight of this movie.
Garfield as Durand is everything one would expect from him in a romantic movie. He is charming, a bit awkward and easily likeable. Pugh as Brühl delivers the same charm and likeability with the added nuance of ambition and inner conflict when balancing her family and career. Together, Pugh and Garfield carry the emotional weight of the film through their comedic timing, raw emotions and incredible chemistry.
The visuals of the movie complement the emotional and genuine quality of the story, utilizing simple yet effective coloring and shot composition. The visuals of the film feel earthy and comfortable, paralleling the realism of the story. Lighting and costume choice are used effectively to distinguish the varying emotions of different scenes from a romantic date to a quiet and bittersweet family moment.
This version of a tragic romance is a concept that is not new to the big screen.
“We Live in Time” follows the basic formula of this genre, which is not a bad quality. It
is everything the audience could expect from a movie categorized as a tearjerker: romance, conflict and a tragic ending. However, “We Live in Time” expands the genre by including themes of ambition and legacy, as well as diverting from tropes of traditional relationships.
“We Live in Time” is well-acted, visually appealing and emotionally moving. Besides its atypical pacing, the film does not take many risks and does not need to. It’s quiet and grounded tone is exactly what makes the movie honest and refreshing.
The film caters to what its audience will expect out of a typical tearjerker while delivering high-quality artistic choices different from other movies of the genre.
“We Live in Time” manages to land as a genuine and fresh perspective on terminal illness and the interaction of grief, love and anger.
Rating: 8/10
460 WEST: GILES COUNTY
Emelia Delaporte | lifestyles editor
Giles County has new experiences and sights for Hokies looking to expand their local knowledge.
Just a stone’s throw from Blacksburg is Giles County, Virginia. This county, nicknamed “Virginia’s Mountain Playground,” is home to a number of small towns and recreation opportunities that are often overlooked by Virginia Tech students.
If you are looking to get out of Montgomery County but want to start close to your homeaway-from-home on or near campus, Giles may be the right place for you to start. Here is a breakdown of the different communities there and what they have to offer.
Towns and communities
There are four towns in Giles — Narrows, Pearisburg, Pembroke and Rich Creek — and a handful of unincorporated communities including Eggleston, Glen Lyn, Goldbond, Kimballton, Midway, Newport, Ripplemead and Staffordsville.
Pembroke is perhaps best known as the gateway to the Cascades. There are a number of small businesses in this town, from restaurants to a combo arcade-ice cream shop. While 460, which takes the name Virginia Avenue here, is the main street, offshoot Snidow Street is the closest to a walking downtown. It’s also home to a boat launch with picturesque views of the Castle Rock formation on the other side of the river. Pembroke is roughly a 20-minute drive from Blacksburg.
Pearisburg is the next closest town to Blacksburg, clocking around 30 minutes travel time. It hugs the east-bound side of 460 and is home to the county’s Carilion Community Hospital, as well as being the county seat. Pearisburg is the largest town in the county by both landmass and population, and it has more businesses to reflect it. There is also a LOVEworks sign behind the Giles County Courthouse. Additionally, you can access the Appalachian Trail via the notable Angel’s Rest hike.
“The Happy Hog does local, from-scratch cooking. Fun fact, they do open mic nights,” said Cora Gnegy, tourism director for Giles County. “Every Monday night, 5 to 8 p.m., downtown Pearisburg.”
Narrows, the next town past Pearisburg on 460, is about 35 minutes from Blacksburg. There are a couple of entrances to town, with the Randall Fletcher Memorial Bridge showing local spirit right off the bat; the underpass is painted in Narrows High School colors. Wolf Creek runs through the town and allows for swimming at Narrows Town Park. Mill Creek
Nature Park, with a historic dam and scenic waterfalls, is accessible through Narrows as well.
Rich Creek is the smallest and farthest of the four towns, 40 minutes from the university and just five minutes from the West Virginia state line. There is a small walking downtown off of US-219, which leads uphill to the unincorporated community of Midway and then over the West Virginia line. Sugar Mountain Bakery in Midway may be the only place in the New River Valley where you can use a donut as panini bread. There’s also a LOVEworks sign at the Rich Creek Town Park.
Between Blacksburg and Pembroke are the unincorporated communities of Eggleston and Newport. In recent years, historic Newport has been in the news for its location along the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Eggleston is perhaps best known for its singular restaurant, The Palisades, which is named for a rock figure at a nearby boat ramp.
“We don’t have many covered bridges in the state of Virginia really anywhere anymore and so Giles has two of them. [One is] the Newport covered bridge, otherwise known as Sinking Creek Covered Bridge,” Gnegy said. “It’s right there in Newport. It’s really pretty when it snows, too, because it’s bright
red.”
On the state line is Glen Lyn, which was the fifth town in Giles County until Jan. 1, when a resident vote dissolved the town charter, and it became an unincorporated community. A walking trail leads to the Mary Draper Ingles Trail and Shumate Falls on the New River.
The Giles County website keeps more comprehensive lists of places to eat, stay and play.
Rural recreation
Mountain Lake Lodge holds a Pembroke address, but the famous resort is actually about 15 minutes up the mountain. The relatively isolated resort includes restaurants, off-roading tours, hiking opportunities like the well-known Bald Knob and more. Bald Knob is the highest peak in the New River Valley
“Adjacent to Mountain Lake Lodge is also the Giles County Trail Center,” Gnegy said. “It’s an unmanned, but open, facility with restrooms and warmth but also information about hikes in the larger area, not just up at Mountain Lake.”
Big Stony Creek Road, off of 460, leads through the unincorporated communities
of Kimballton and Goldbond to the Peters Mountain Wilderness. Further back along Big Stony is Glen Alton, a Forest Service site with an agricultural past and bountiful biodiversity. Even further back, Big Stony turns onto White Rock Road to lead to a Forest Service campground.
There are a number of other Forest Service sites in Giles, including Cherokee Flats Day Use Area and Dismal Falls. Cherokee Flats is a paved trail allowing wheelchair access to a stocked trout stream. Dismal Falls is a system of waterfalls and swimming holes just a short walk from the road. On the way to the falls, one would pass Walker Creek Market.
“Walker Creek Market is owned by the families in our Amish community. They have deli sandwiches, all sorts of good food. They also have other shopping,” Gnegy said. “Quite a big chunk of that Walker CreekWhite Gate area is an Amish community.”
The Appalachian Trail traverses 50 miles of Giles County, passing through both Pearisburg and Narrows. This provides ripe opportunity for day hikes, short-term overnight trips and longer treks.
PHOTO COURTESY: EMELIA DELAPORTE
A waterfall above the historic dam at Mill Creek Nature Park in Narrows, Virginia.
SPORTS
TECH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL RIDES BALANCED ATTACK TO 84–57 BLOWOUT OVER PITT
Thomas Hughes, sports staff writer
Rose Micheaux finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
For the fifth time in its last six games, Virginia Tech (14–5, 5–3 ACC) won. This time, it was over the Pitt Panthers (9–12, 1–7 ACC) in a game where Tech never trailed and leapt out to a 21-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Tech’s biggest strength this season has been that different players can step up when it matters. Against Pitt, all five starters did, with each scoring 13 points or more. Guard Carleigh Wenzel led the scoring with 16 points, while Lani White scored 15 to go along with three assists. Forward Matilda Ekh also scored 14 points with three assists and a game-high four triples, and forward Carys Baker scored 13 points to go with four boards.
Forward Rose Micheaux shined on both sides of the floor. Her 14 points and 15 rebounds were critical to Tech’s victory, and she held Pitt forward Khadija Faye to seven points on 3-of-12 shooting. Faye came into the game against Tech with a seven-game streak of 15 or more points.
Tech’s defense against Pitt in general was extremely solid, as the Panthers shot 39% (21-of-56) from the field and a disastrous 21% (3-of-14) from beyond the arc, going 1-of-7 in the first half.
Though the game was tight for the first seven minutes, Tech broke the game open with a quick seven-point run in the next minute and added on a layup by Wenzel to lead by 11 going into the second quarter.
Pitt’s magic against SMU last weekend was not replicable, as Tech ended the first half on an eight-point run to lead 41-25 at the game’s midpoint. Though Pitt went on a 10-point run midway through the third quarter, Tech maintained a 19-point lead going into the final quarter, an advantage it would only add onto en route to a 27-point blowout.
One area of improvement for Tech going forward is shooting. The Hokies have finished 12-1 when shooting 45% or better from the field, while going 2-4 when shooting less than 45%. Tech’s shooting against Pitt sat at a solid 42%, and it converted 38% (19 of 49) inside the arc compared to 50% (13 of 26) outside it.
This unit is solid at shooting from the field, ranking second in the ACC, but a run in the NCAA tournament will have to come from both inside and outside the arc.
On turnovers, Tech’s record is 9-1 when it’s had 16 or fewer turnovers, compared to a 5-4 record with 17 or more. Against the Panthers, the Hokies had just six and a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio to Pitt’s 1.0. Assists came early and often, as Tech dished eight assists in the first quarter en route to 21 total, compared to the Panthers’ 11. But rebounding was where Tech held the biggest edge. Led by Micheaux’s 15 rebounds, Tech gobbled 51 in total, including 18 offensive rebounds and 13 second-chance points. This gave them a sizable advantage over Pitt, who only grabbed 29.
So far, the season has been a pleasant surprise for Tech. Coming off a preseason where it was projected to finish 12th, the Hokies sit at ninth, having beat two teams ahead of them (Louisville, No. 18 Georgia Tech). Performances like the Hokies had against Pitt will be needed in key tests ahead, as Tech’s next two games are both against ranked teams.
The first test is on the road against No. 20 N.C. State on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. The Hokies will then return home to Blacksburg and Cassell Coliseum to face No. 3 Notre Dame on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m.
HAMAD ALHENDI / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Virginia Tech Hokies forward Rose Micheaux (4) shoots from outside the paint on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Blacksburg, Virginia.
HOKIES HANG-AROUND VS. CLEMSON IS ENCOURAGING IN SOME WAYS, TROUBLING IN OTHERS
Dylan Tefft, sports editor
Virginia Tech ran with the Tigers at points but couldn’t get over the hump.
Up-and-down, ultimately lopsided losses aren’t a particularly new development for Virginia Tech basketball, but perhaps there’s something encouraging about a young team keeping up with a fringe top-25 Clemson squad that sits second atop the ACC.
There’s something equally troubling about dragging behind that team at the tail end of both halves.
“Encouraging” came with 6:39 remaining in the first half of Saturday’s in-conference bout in Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies (8–12, 3–6 ACC) overcame a 0-of-5 start to claim a 26-24 lead over the stronger, lengthier, taller, straight-up better Tigers (17-4, 9-1 ACC). Guard Jaydon Young hit threes on back-to-back possessions, hit one of two free throws the next, then Brandon Rechsteiner drained a three of his own to put Tech ahead by two.
Troubling: The Hokies missed their next eight shots and allowed Clemson’s next six, putting it on a 15-point run. Even when Tech’s defense didn’t necessarily blunder, the Tigers’ ability to make difficult shots prevailed.
“That’s what good teams do,” said Tech head coach Mike Young of the Tigers’ streak. “We have to hold the line and continue to battle. Our team continued to battle, but they do have the ability to hit you with a 6-0, 8-0 (run). I had to call time out in there at the under-eight … they’ve got a really good team.”
The Hokies went into the locker room down 41-29, a score unindicative of the half’s first 14 minutes. But wins are born of playing a full 40 minutes. A good team like Clemson — shot 60% in the first half to Tech’s 31% — understands this. A young Tech squad is still trying to put that together consistently.
But as soon as the beginning of the second half, where they shot 46% to Clemon’s 36%, it seemed as if the Hokies really wanted to figure it out.
A slick turnaround jumper by guard Jaden Schutt early in the half kickstarted a near seven-minute field goal drought for Clemson, and an 11-point run for Tech.
Tech’s
More fluid shot creation allowed the Hokies sufficient offense throughout that span, but their defense was key.
“Just did a better job of keeping a body on a body,” Young said of Tech’s second-half defense. “Our ball-screen hedges were better. We were able to keep it inside our outside shoulder. Just a lot of things better. Our ball shot contest was better. I thought we rebounded pretty well.”
But as soon they came within four at the 10:10 mark, the Hokies fell off another proverbial cliff.
Star Tigers guard Chase Hunter hadn’t played to this point due to a stomach bug, but coach Brad Brownell deemed the moment urgent enough to put him in. He offered a thin two points and as many assists in 10 minutes, but it was his backup, freshman Del Jones who handed Tech
havoc.
Jones fired off a 6-1 one-man run, including tough turnaround and step back jumpers to quiet the Cassell crowd. The Landover, Maryland-born guard finished with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting with five rebounds and four assists.
“Might be the most he’s played all year,” Brownell said. “But he’s been coming along the last two weeks, I think he’s practiced probably as well as he’s played ... obviously he was big down the stretch. We told him before the game, you’re going to play for (Hunter).”
Forward Ben Burnham made valiant efforts to give Tech a chance at a comeback — as he had throughout the game — with loose-ball diving and a three, but it wasn’t nearly enough. The Tigers scored 23 points to Tech’s 12 at the tail half of the second frame.
Next, the Hokies will get a four-day break before heading to Tallahassee for a match with Florida State (13–7, 4–5 ACC).
“I think just we gotta execute better and defend better, especially when we’ve done that all the way to cut the lead,” Burnham said. “Getting over the hump and winning the game like that would be good.”
THOMAS BRAY / COLLEGIATE TIMES
Virginia
Ben Burnham (13) puts up a floater, Jan. 25 2025