February 27, 2024

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NEWS

VIRGINIA TECH’S GIVING DAY 2024 BEATS PREVIOUS YEAR’S RECORD

Ayisha Surani | Assistant News editor

The Pamplin College of Business had the most donations, receiving over $3.5 million.

From Wednesday, Feb. 21 to Thursday, Feb. 22, Virginia Tech celebrated its seventh annual 24-hour Giving Day. The event began at noon and ended at the same time on the following day.

Minimum donations started at $5, but donors were welcome to donate more.

Giving Day is a time for the Virginia Tech community to donate to the university based on their interest in certain departments, colleges, teams and organizations. Popular donations this year included the Pamplin College of Business, the Hokie Scholarship Fund and the College of Engineering.

The event offers opportunities for people to win money for a department through online challenges. One of these challenges was a social media word

Impartiality means reporting, editing and delivering the news honestly, fairly, objectively and without opinion or bias.

Credibility is the greatest asset of any news medium, and impartiality is the greatest source of credibility.

To provide the most complete report, a news organization must not just cover the news, but uncover it. It must follow the story wherever it leads, regardless of any preconceived ideas on what might be most newsworthy.

The pursuit of truth is a noble goal of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately. Journalists’ role is therefore not to determine what they believe at that time to be the truth and

search — one of the users who correctly completed the word search was randomly chosen to unlock a gift for any department of their choice.

Departments that received the most funds were gifted an additional prize. The Pamplin College of Business was gifted an additional $5,000 for placing first with more than $3.5 million in donations. The Hokie Scholarship fund placed second and received an additional $4,000 with more than $1.9 million in donations. They were both followed by the College of Engineering, College of Science and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. All three also received additional funds from the university.

The event ended with a donation total of $13.1 million, breaking last year’s

reveal only that to their readers, but rather to report as completely and impartially as possible all verifiable facts so that readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth.

When a news organization delivers both news and opinions, the impartiality and credibility of the news organization can be questioned. To minimize this as much as possible there needs to be a sharp and clear distinction between news and opinion, both to those providing and consuming the news.

Voice your opinion. Send letters to the Collegiate Times.

365 Squires Student Center Blacksburg, VA, 24061 opinionseditor@collegiatetimes.com

All letters must include a name and phone number. Students must include year and major. Faculty and staff must include position and department. Other submissions must include city of residence and relationship to Virginia Tech (i.e., alumni, parent, etc.). We reserve the right to edit for any reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

Letters, commentaries and editorial cartoons do not reflect the views of the Collegiate Times. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board, which is composed of the opinions editors, editor in chief and managing editors.

record of $9.6 million raised. Last year’s Giving Day concluded with 16,841 donors compared to this year’s 18,946 donors.

Donations were received across all 50 states; 21 countries took part in Giving Day altogether, spanning from the United States to Australia.

“It is thrilling what Hokie Nation can do together in 24 hours. The generosity of our community never surprises me, but it does inspire me,” said Ann Bolton, director of annual giving, in a statement to VT News. @COLLEGIATETIMES

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AMERICA’S NUCLEAR ENERGY ABANDONMENT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE

Hannah PattoN | opinions contributor

Negative misconceptions on nuclear energy obscure its benefits.

From the 1950s into the 1970s, nuclear energy made its enticing debut and then began its decades-long decline in the U.S. Today, nuclear energy makes up 20% of the nation’s energy consumption according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The nation is failing to utilize a firm, powerful, pollutant-free and relatively carbon-free energy source. Amidst a period when the climate crisis encroaches, nuclear plant shutdowns have been ubiquitous throughout the last few decades. Recently, certain environmental groups claimed victory when Indian Point was shut down. Sitting across the Hudson River 30 miles from New York City, the plant provided a large percentage of energy to New York City and the greater area. The shutdown of Indian Point left a working-class town out of living-wage jobs and a city with an energy demand that would likely be met with far worse options. Although former Governor Andrew Cuomo had promised renewables in place of the plant, it’s a repeating story: plants are shutting down and fossil fuels are closing the gap. Environmental concerns weren’t unwarranted; according to Vox, the plant supposedly harmed wildlife as it occasionally pulled fish in through a water grate on the Hudson River. But their struggle for the shutdown diverts attention from the more eminent issue: what’s to come from climate change itself is far more dangerous. Regressing to fossil fuels is far more dangerous than the woes of nuclear energy.

The energy’s fraught history in the U.S. has shaped the trend of plant shutdowns and the relative lack of governmental support and promotion of atomic energy. Reframing the narrative and emphasizing the bottom line will turn a nation toward nuclear; the bottom line of less fossil fuel consumption. Some are too worried about adding more renewables to our energy portfolio rather than phasing out fossil fuels. The goal is, most importantly, to be fossil fuel aversive. Of course, nuclear energy won’t solve climate change, but that’s beside the point — we need clean energy. The rejection of nuclear energy exposes U.S. hypocrisy and relentless bias toward fossil fuels.

Negative public opinion and the high cost of nuclear energy influence the narrative

around atomic energy, and they both partake in a strange dance with economics, culture and policy. The environmentalist movement in the 70s and the famous nuclear meltdowns to follow have greatly influenced public opinion. According to the article “Environmentalism Then and Now” by Michael S. Pak, certain schools of thought in the 1970s environmentalist movement were all about minimal growth and moral ideas regarding what technologies humanity could “handle.” Not ill-intended, the environmentalist movement also swept up anti-nuclear warfare into its platform, forever commingling nuclear energy and weaponry. There were also insidious ideas at play. Solutions regarding overpopulation, while a valid concern for humanity, were often historically racist and eugenic solutions — like ideas from the Sierra Club founder, John Muir. A concoction of “too much growth” sentiments and an anti-nuclear war platform created an opposition to atomic energy. An energy source like nuclear would expand human and technological growth beyond what they thought morally acceptable. The Sierra Club — one group leading the movement — was, according to Politico, funded by fossil fuels throughout its history, and the club still touts anti-nuclear rhetoric today. Although the environmentalist movement as a whole has fomented necessary progressive achievements for environmental regulation, they incited fear of nuclear energy in generations to follow. Consequently, effects of any nuclear disasters that followed were exaggerated. Many refer to Three Mile Island as a tragedy, yet no deaths were caused by the meltdown. Outside of the U.S., more dangerous events occurred. At Fukushima, although no one died, the meltdown displaced many families and wreaked havoc on the land. There were also high agricultural costs for the lost cropland. The most infamously devastating meltdown was Chernobyl where 31 people, and counting, died as a result of the incident. But it’s highly unlikely that the latter meltdowns would have ever occurred in the U.S. due to our safety protocols and design standards. Ultimately, it doesn’t make sense that Three Mile Island killed nuclear energy’s reputation.

Mark Pierson, retired associate professor of

nuclear engineering, describes hesitations the public may have with nuclear energy.

“People are so afraid of radiation because they can’t sense it,” Pierson said.

However, nuclear energy continues to prove itself relatively safe. According to Vox, nuclear energy ranks fourth in terms of deaths per terawatt-hour, which is significantly below any fossil fuels. Perception is skewed often because of the chaotic, mysterious and rare nuclear meltdown events that swiftly alter public opinion. It’s hard to hear the chime of the ever-present fossil fuel death toll that is not usually tied to a specific, nameable event.

Cost, the other player in the game of nuclear energy takedown, has trended up

and down throughout the century. Nuclear energy was booming in the 1950s when the first commercial plants came on the market; the plants continued to grow in size over the decades because of economies of scale. During the OPEC oil embargo, nuclear power seemed to meet high energy demands. In the 1970s, new regulations derived from studies claiming radiation was harmful, ballooned nuclear energy costs. These studies were funded by the fossil fuel industry and later proven somewhat nonsensical; most humans have been exposed to radiation with no harm done. The regulation philosophy of LNT (Linear No Threshold) prevailed and demand for nuclear

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power sharply decreased. This is because electricity demands decreased after the OPEC oil embargo. However, the LNT framework wasn’t necessarily a villain.

“LNT was a reasonable theory for the time,” Pierson said.

Pierson explains that there hasn’t been much pushback to define a threshold that would keep regulations reasonable. Still, LNT regulations and supply and demand principles kept the atomic energy prices high. Pierson references that today, nuclear energy at existing sites is technically very cheap. Due to different state markets and the artificial pricing of other energy sources like fossil fuels and wind,

plant maintenance is costly, and it’s harder to keep sites open. Given that the nuclear power industry is essentially starting anew after the almost complete abandonment of the energy source in the 1990s, it is incredibly expensive to build new sites. Now, if newly designed nuclear plants are built and promoted across the nation, in a few decades nuclear energy will be the cheapest energy source to date. Still, countries like France essentially managed to decarbonize their grids with nuclear energy, and did so without the high costs.

When it comes down to it, “The politics in France were better,” Pierson said.

The U.S. time and again set itself up to fail nuclear power.

Growing up in the U.S., I imagined nuclear energy as simmering pools of radioactive nuclear waste lurking in geological deposits, waiting to infect surrounding regions and birth mutant wildlife. Dr. Pierson debunked my childhood myth as he explained that all nuclear waste ever produced would take up Lane Stadium and would be about 10 feet high. In the context of the size of the world, this is a relatively small amount of waste. And it’s all stored on sites in weather and disaster-proof domes. To solve the nuclear waste conundrum, he references how there are already methods of eliminating nuclear waste that would involve recycling it into fuel. An expensive endeavor, but one that could be made

possible by government subsidy, as was done in France.

The U.S. initially created an environment for nuclear energy to fail even after it showed great potential for meeting energy demands and decarbonizing grids. Now, as the energy crisis worsens, U.S. markets and policies squash the chance for a nuclear energy renaissance because of its fossil fuel loyalty.

@COLLEGIATETIMES

LIFESTYLES AN OPEN LETTER TO UNDERGRADS

Gracie Brogowski | lifestyles contributor

Graduate student Gracie Brogowski shares insights on going to grad school.

Dear fellow Hokies, First of all, thank you for picking up a copy or digitally reading this week’s issue of the Collegiate Times. I hope you are well informed and get caught up on all things Virginia Tech and Blacksburg related. My name is Gracie and I am a grad student. Many students are interested in going to graduate school, and I would like to share my experience working on a Master’s in communication at Virginia Tech. Disclaimer: Everyone’s experience is different, so there could be some differences if you talk to other graduate students.

I was over the moon excited to get accepted into this university, as my sister came here for her Bachelor’s. I had a little knowledge about the university because of her, but through the eyes of an undergrad student. Getting everything set up was just like what my sister told me. Virginia Tech sent me several emails, I went through orientation, I had to set up my HokieSpa, you all know the drill.

After that, the process shifted and the unexpected surprises began. When it was time to sign up for classes, I had to take specific classes my first semester. They were all focused on theories of communications as well as research. I’ve never taken a class on theory before. “Okay,” I thought to myself. “That actually sounds quite interesting.” I clicked on each one and submitted my course request.

The surprises continued when I noticed my earliest class began at 5:00 at night until 7:45. “Does this mean I have to miss weekly episodes of my favorite show?” Yes, but that’s not a catastrophe. I just signed up for Hulu and Peacock, which resolved that situation. Grad school classes are held in the late

afternoon or early evenings because the age range is spread out. I have classmates who just got their Bachelor’s degree and I have classmates who are parents. This way, those with full-time jobs or families can still maneuver those aspects of their lives and make it to class.

Most of my courses are two hours long or more. Classes are that long because they meet once a week, which I had no idea was the case. I think having one long class each week versus three short class meetings each week gives you more time to manage all of your assignments. I don’t worry that I only have two days to cram all my homework in. Instead, I get a week to pace myself or figure out a schedule that won’t overwhelm me.

When I learned more about graduate school, I found out it was less about memorizing and more about understanding the material. Of course, professors have the typical weekly reading assignments followed by a summary, but that’s not the end of the world. Now, as I said in the disclaimer, this might not be the case for every master’s program, but all of my major projects and assignments were papers. Graduate students are also required to do independent research and write a thesis in their final year. Some programs differ and make the requirement a project.

As classes progressed, my prediction of theory-based classes wastrue. It was so interesting learning the origin of the information

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professors discuss in undergrad communication classes. This semester focuses more on topics, but still from a foundation standpoint.

Another worry I had was if I was able to be a student from both an academic perspective and from a social standpoint. That doesn’t

have to be an issue. I’m able to get to class, complete my work and still get the Hokie experience. Not only that, there are activities and events exclusively for grad students, which makes it easier to meet other grad students outside of your program. I can go on and on about my experience

so far, but I would give it a positive summary. Sure, some classes are hard and there are days when you feel like it’s too much work, but that also happened to me as an undergrad. There were many surprises when I was transitioning, but I’m grateful to call myself a Hokie grad student.

Go Hokies!

Gracie Brogowski

@COLLEGIATETIMES

STAY OR STRAY: SHOULD YOU STAY ON YOUR UNDERGRADUATE CAMPUS FOR GRAD SCHOOL?

Emma Duncan | lifestyles staff writer

Grad students offer advice on whether you should stay or leave your campus for graduate school.

After receiving their bachelor’s, many students begin finding their place in the workforce. However, some go on to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree.

Typical of any application process, there are many things to consider. For grad school, there’s potentially the option to continue studying at one’s undergraduate alma mater, but is it better to stick with what one knows or enroll at a new university? Current Virginia Tech students shared what brought or kept them here for grad school.

Tasia Travis, a 2022 Hokie grad with a B.A. in communication science and social inquiries, believed that staying in Blacksburg was her best option. Pursuing her M.A. in communication at Virginia Tech has reportedly allowed for more growth within a familiar space.

“I felt that I had support here and didn’t want to start over at a new campus. I chose Virginia Tech because it gave me an assistantship. That way, I wouldn’t have to pay for my graduate degree. I get to work and study, allowing me to get work experience,” Travis said. “My program is also small, and it is easy to get more one-on-one connections with professors and students. Lastly, I enjoy staying in Blacksburg and felt that I didn’t get to do that in my undergraduate because of COVID-19.”

However, Bradley Frick thought that attending a different university for grad school would broaden his horizons. Last year, he graduated with a B.A. in human communication studies from Shippensburg University and is now a first-year graduate student pursuing an M.A. in communication.

“Shippensburg did not offer a Master’s in communication studies. Even if Shippensburg did… I would have not attended because I think it is in my best interest to show graduate schools (for my doctoral program in the future) that I can get into more competitive schools. Additionally, I think it helps with network building,” Frick said. “I would suggest [to] not stay at the same school for undergrad and grad school because it opens up the doors for

your future and may allow you to gain valuable connections with many more people within your given discipline.”

For Lizzie Hunt, who graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in biomedical engineering, continuing at Virginia Tech for grad school didn’t bring much change for her, as she’d already started her M.S. in biomedical engineering during her senior year.

“The Accelerated Master’s Program (4+1, undergraduate/graduate program) made it really easy to transition from undergrad to graduate,” Hunt said. “I had been working with my research professor for a few semesters and wanted to continue my research through my master’s. The accelerated master’s is a big reason why I pursued grad school, which was only an opportunity here.”

Hunt expressed that she felt established in the lab and that it was easy to continue progressing with previous research, however, she fears hiring officials may want more diversity in her research profile.

Katharina Reis Farina is obtaining her M.A. in communication in a completely different country than her bachelor’s degree. In addition to completing her coursework, she is also a graduate research assistant and a graduate teaching assistant and was a member of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate.

“I went to the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, which is my hometown back in Brazil. I moved to Blacksburg with my husband from Brazil in 2021 and I found out Virginia Tech had a communication department so I enrolled,” Reis Farina said. “The best part of my grad program is definitely the people. It seems like you have to be nice to be hired because everybody is super nice. There are so many resources here and there’s such a concern from the grad school for grad students to thrive, not just survive.”

However, Reis Farina shared that adjusting took more time for her than her colleagues.

“It’s very different from my school in

undergrad because in Brazil we don’t have this thing of college being a lifestyle. It used to be siloed. You went to school close to where you lived and only to study, “ Reis Farina said. “We don’t have big sports teams or the same kind of community that comes with being a Hokie here. I think it’s good I came here for grad school. You learn to become a new person when you go to a different school.”

The consensus among these graduates seems to be that attending the same university for undergrad and grad school brings opportunities to strengthen preexisting connections

and feel comfortable in one’s environment. On the other hand, students who came to a new university for grad school expressed that they were given a fresh start to network with new people and learn differently.

Grad school is a time to continue discovering one’s identity and learning about their chosen field. It’s not the university that matters, but what one makes of where they are.

@COLLEGIATETIMES

YOUR DISSERTATION: WHAT IS IT? AND SOME ADVICE FOR STARTING OUT…

When going through the process of getting your Ph.D., preparing your dissertation is a notably important step. If you are a prospective Ph.D. student at Virginia Tech, keep in mind that you will be taking academically challenging courses. You have the ability to conduct your own research on topics you are most passionate about. This research can take the form of a dissertation. To obtain your Ph.D., most departments of study at Virginia Tech require dissertations to be written and defended as part of the degree. Though, it is important to note that every department of study has different requirements for structuring and defending your dissertation.

Plainly put, a dissertation is a piece of academic writing that is on average 200-300 pages. It allows Ph.D. students to present research findings in response to a research question originally proposed by the student. A dissertation fosters independent research skills and challenges students to think in innovative ways. It can be thought of as a research paper, yet it is more complex in structure, review and investigation.

Alexandria Lilly | lifestyles contributor

On average, students will work on their dissertation for one to three years, with the timeline dependent on many factors. The purpose of the dissertation is to make unique contributions to your own discipline, or field of study.

“(It is) sort of the last hurdle of the Ph.D., and often the biggest one,” said Jack Leff, a Ph.D. candidate and climate action fellow.

The dissertation can be thought of as a “big hurdle” because of its many technicalities. These include structuring, writing, editing and preparing to defend it. In these processes, however, you are able to select a committee of people and a committee chair who will guide you along. These people are mentors, and they are there to provide support whenever it’s needed. It is very important to choose your committee members wisely as you will be working closely together.

Since the dissertation is a very hefty project, working on it continuously over time will yield results that are truly productive and influential.

“Doing a little bit every day will reduce your stress in the dissertation process,” Leff said.

In developing your dissertation, there are realities of work and time that are unlikely to be overcome in short periods. Therefore, working on this project continuously is of key importance.

“You just have to write. Write to be read,” said Taylor Loy, a Ph.D. candidate at Virginia Tech.

This project is self-driven in exploration, so it can be approached from the perspective of endless curiosity, where new ideas are continuously shaping the research as well as the writing. This process leads to new, important discoveries in the chosen field of study. In structuring and writing your dissertation, you can follow your own curiosity in a subjective way. In this case, inspiration and passion influence the writing process.

“Be open to the moments of inspiration that come from working on your dissertation,” is advice Loy gives in working through the writing process.

“Take each draft seriously, but not so seriously that you are unwilling to re-write it completely if a better idea comes along,” Leff said. In the structuring and writing process, plans of

action are likely to change. In fact, in many Ph.D. students’ experiences, dissertations change many times in structure over the course of writing their proposal and extended research. This is very natural as inspiration, passion, curiosity and creativity lead the path. However, it is also natural for plans of action to remain unchanged.

“Setting aside dedicated time to write everyday and planning for writing according to the established timeline,” said Nataliya Brantly, a recent Virginia Tech Ph.D. graduate, in discussing her approach to her dissertation.

Whether your plans throughout the process change, or not, know that every step will be unique to you.

If you are in the process of working on your dissertation, or amidst starting it, know that there will be challenges. Seeking balance in your life is important, and don’t be afraid to reach out to anyone for support. Taking on the challenge of writing a dissertation can be intimidating, but the process will prove to be rewarding.

SPORTS

HOKIES CLINCH SHARE OF ACC TITLE ON SENIOR DAY

Thomas Bray | sports editor

Virginia Tech earned a No. 1 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament.

On a day Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks wanted to look at as a celebration, No. 8 Virginia Tech women’s basketball (23–4, 14–2 ACC) beat North Carolina, 74–62. By doing so, they also clinched a share of the ACC regular-season title.

Before the regularly scheduled game, Virginia Tech became the first ACC women’s basketball team to have College GameDay in town.

It was the Hokies’ senior day, and Elizabeth Kitley, Cayla King, Olivia Summiel and Georgia Amoore were recognized for their accomplishments in Blacksburg.

Amoore is yet to release an official decision on returning for her final year.

North Carolina’s Lexi Donarski kicked off scoring for both teams. The Iowa State transfer knocked down her first three of the day, and the Tar Heels led, 3–0, with a little over eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.

That was their only lead of the day.

The Hokies blitzed North Carolina in the first quarter. Matilda Ekh knocked down

three shots from beyond the arc in the opening period, and they closed the first quarter on a 19–2 run.

North Carolina star Deja Kelly entered the game with more free throws made than Amoore and Kitley combined.

Virginia Tech’s funnel defense kept her at bay in the first half and it headlined a first quarter that changed the outlook of the game for North Carolina head coach Courtney Banghart.

“In the first quarter these guys were excited, and we weren’t able to harness that,” Banghart said after her team finished that quarter with five turnovers and a 15% field goal percentage.

North Carolina looked like a different team to start the second quarter. Kelly scored a quick seven points to begin the quarter and the Tar Heels made their first four shots.

Banghart’s squad had a chance to flip the game upside down after Amoore picked up her second foul. Following her exit, Kelly knocked down a three-pointer and got to the free throw line the next possession.

Virginia Tech’s lead was down to seven with just over a minute to go in the first half. Kitley scored just before halftime on a contested mid-range jumper.

She had a team-high 18 points, and the Hokies took a 33–27 lead into the break.

Amoore’s absence was felt in the first half. She was +17 in 11 minutes and the game was shaping up to be a blowout.

The second half was very different for the Australia-native, however.

Amoore took over, scoring 14 points in the third quarter. On the Hokies’ final possession of the quarter, Amoore got her defender with a pump fake and got the shooters bounce for her second threepointer of the game.

On the other side, Kelly kept the Heels in it. She had 25 points entering the final frame, but they still trailed by double digits.

Starters remained in for both teams up until the final minute, but this game was the Hokies all the way through.

North Carolina, more specifically Kelly, also believed the first quarter had a lot to

do with their loss.

“I just think we didn’t value those possessions,” Kelly said.

The Tar Heels shot 2-for-15 from the field and scored just five points in the opening quarter. In fact, they went on to outscore the Hokies, 57–53, in the final three quarters.

North Carolina’s slow start played a large part in Virginia Tech’s 12-point win and their 15th win in Blacksburg.

For Coach Brooks, the atmosphere they’ve built inside Cassell is a testament to his seniors’ hard work.

“We talked about this, but it was unimaginable that (College) GameDay was going to be here... I don’t know who wrote the script, but it was pretty doggone good,” Brooks said.

With that, King, Kitley and Amoore’s stories aren’t finished. They travel to South Bend, Indiana to face Notre Dame on Feb. 29.

@CTSPORTSTALK

COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND SENIOR DAY FOR VIRGINIA TECH WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

sam mostow | sports editor

Elizabeth Kitley and Georgia Amoore signed autographs for an hour after the game.

The first Virginia Tech home game featuring center Elizabeth Kitley and guard Cayla King was on Nov. 5, 2019, against Saint Francis. The Hokies won, 105–41, in front of 1,209 fans.

Contrast that from their last regular season home game, a 74–62 win over North Carolina on Sunday. Fans of all ages packed every seat at Cassell Coliseum, and after the game, several hundred of them

stayed back to meet Virginia Tech players.

Kitley and King — along with guard Georgia Amoore, who arrived a semester after them — have been in Blacksburg through it all. They saw Virginia Tech approach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years, only for it to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They saw Virginia Tech finally reach that mark in 2021, advancing to the second

round before running into No. 2 Baylor. They saw Virginia Tech work up to a No. 5 seed in 2022, falling to No. 13 Florida Gulf Coast.

They saw Virginia Tech advance to the Final Four in 2023, clinching a No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. Right before, they emerged victorious from the ACC Tournament, winning three games in three days to earn a ring.

And on their senior day, the fanbase thanked them. They packed half of the arena for ESPN’s College GameDay on Sunday morning, then filled all 8,925 seats in Cassell two hours later.

“We affectionately call (the fans) a healthy cult, because their passion is so strong for the Hokies,” said Virginia Tech head coach Kenny Brooks. “The way they continued on page 8

continued from page 7 came out, it was a great showing for our school, a great showing for our program.”

The team made so much progress that ESPN’s College GameDay visited on Sunday, bringing its flagship pregame women’s basketball show to Blacksburg for the first time. Virginia Tech is no stranger to College GameDay for other sports — the football show has appeared five times and the men’s basketball show has appeared once. With the women’s basketball show, however, Virginia Tech is the first ACC destination it visited.

The only other campuses to obtain the show are UConn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Iowa and LSU.

“If you sold that to Disney, I don’t know if they would buy it,” Brooks said.

Virginia Tech has sold out Cassell Coliseum five times since January. When they host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament in a few weeks, that number will rise to seven. Before the 2022–23 season, they had never reached the attendance capacity.

Amoore gestured towards the court from her seat during the press conference while reflecting on her accomplishments.

Sunday might have been her last home regular season home game — she has the option to return for a fifth year — but doesn’t need to make a decision until the season ends.

“People show up when there’s a free T-shirt or people show up when there’s free pizza,” Amoore said. “People showing up and caring about us and showing passion and riding the wave with us — it’s a thing of beauty. We get gratification and satisfaction from winning, but so does everyone else watching it. It’s the coolest thing ever, the impact that we’ve had on this town.”

As Kitley and Amoore completed their media obligations and emerged from the locker room, the children in attendance cheered in appreciation. Kitley and Amoore waved to signal theirs — and then started signing.

Kitley and Amoore spent nearly an hour signing for every last person in Cassell Coliseum, taking pictures and offering hugs to the kids there. They made conversation with all of them, collecting handmade cards and a Funko pop — customized of Amoore and her dog, Winnie.

Another month-plus of basketball

awaits, then comes the future. For Tech’s seniors, it is uncertain — many don’t know where they’ll live in a few months. But for now, they’ll always have Sunday and their healthy cult.

@CTSPORTSTALK

PITT MEN’S BASKETBALL HEATS UP AGAINST VIRGINIA TECH IN THE SECOND HALF

Sam Mostow | sports editor

The Hokies have lost five of their last seven games.

Virginia Tech men’s basketball allowed an 18–0 run in the second half against Pitt on Saturday, falling 79–64.

Before the Panthers’ (17–9, 10–5 ACC) second half run began, the two teams were tied at 42. When the Hokies (15–12, 7–9 ACC) finally scored nearly five minutes later, they trailed, 58–42. In that stretch, Tech missed seven consecutive shots — including five from behind the arc.

“We had some great cracks at it,” said Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young. “Our lack of shotmaking affected our defense a little bit.”

Missing three-pointers was not limited to that five-minute stretch for the Hokies. They shot 3-for-20 from deep, while guards MJ Collins, Sean Pedulla and Hunter Cattoor were the only players to connect from that range.

Pedulla scored 26 points, but aside from that, very few Hokies players contributed

offensively. Mylyjael Poteat was the only other player to reach double digit points — scoring 10 — while Collins scored nine, center Lynn Kidd scored eight and Cattoor scored seven.

Pedulla also contributed eight rebounds and seven assists, along with only one turnover. All of his statistics led the Hokies.

This was in sharp contrast to the Panthers, who had three players score more than 10 points and three others who came a field goal away from that mark. All but one player who saw more than one minute came within a field goal of doubledigit points.

Forward Blake Hinson led Pitt with 22 points, adding three rebounds and two assists.

“(Hinson is) probably the best shooter in our league,” Young said. “... Hinson has been quite impressive throughout.”

Guard Jaland Lowe scored 18 with a

team-leading six assists. Forward Zack Austin grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds, while scoring nine points.

Pitt’s run was a team effort, too — four different players scored throughout it. Guard Carlton Carrington hit a layup and a three-pointer during the run to break the game open.

Both teams combined for 41 fouls, split nearly evenly between them. The Hokies lack depth in the first place, so limiting minutes due to foul trouble was far from ideal. Cattoor fouled out in 25 minutes, while Robbie Beran collected four fouls and spent significant time on the bench. Three Panthers players — Carrington, Lowe and forward Guillermo Diaz Graham — also finished with four fouls.

Entering Saturday’s game, the Hokies already had slim chances of reaching the NCAA Tournament and needed a win against Pitt to even remain in the

conversation for an at-large bid. With this loss, their chances became even slimmer. Barring a deep ACC Tournament run, all Tech can hope for after the season is an NIT bid.

However, the season is not over yet. Tech will travel further north to play Syracuse on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.