JP’s Chop House, located at West End in Cochrane Hall, is now entirely serving gluten-free food, according to Virginia Tech News. The restaurant has yet to reveal its new menu of gluten-free meals but will also continue to serve the same foods.
“Our goal is to keep the same standard and quality, but make sure we serve as many different students, faculty, staff, and visitors as we can,” said Scott Surratt, executive chef of West End, to Virginia Tech News. “I want everyone to feel safe and to be able to eat the foods that serve their personal requirements.”
According to the article, Surratt has been creating the new menu for almost a year. He was able to change 30% of the menu to gluten-free, including sauces, gravies and rolls. Different shops at West End now also serve the mac and cheese.
Through input from students, Surratt began
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experimenting with various ingredients. Surratt worked alongside Ashley Foster and Melissa Hendricks, Dining Services’ registered dieticians, to form a plan accommodating student needs. Foster and Hendricks work closely with the chefs on campus to ensure that all meals offered are nutritious and accommodate everyone.
All Virginia Tech dining centers are aiming to create inclusive menus. Dining Services’ leadership used research to be more aware of and provide further dietary options and access for students, including those with restrictions.
The restaurant has yet to unveil the new menu. @COLLEGIATETIMES
Dining Services also used the studies and feedback to expand inclusivity in students’ dining experience. Leadership conducted an experiment last fall to see what was overlooked in the menus and to work on expanding options and access.
In the experiment, each member of the group was assigned a particular diet for a week, including gluten-free, to understand the accessibility of the menu and how to offer allergens more effectively. There are filters on menus online for those with dietary restrictions, which the group learned how they should be modified.
“We want all students to feel comfortable
eating in our dining centers,” Foster said. “We have policies in place to prevent cross-contact, but a student just might feel more comfortable eating somewhere with a reduced risk of that happening, such as an entirely gluten-free venue.”
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On Tuesday, Sept. 5, a rally at the Graduate Life Center lawn revealed two newly formed unions: the Graduate Labor Union and United Campus Workers. The groups protested for higher living wages and academic freedom. This has been an ongoing issue.
“You know, for a lot of graduate students, our stipends are all that we live on,” said Gabby Patarinski, a graduate clinician and second-year Ph.D. student in the clinical science program. “We don’t have enough time, nor energy to get other jobs. Other people are prohibited entirely from getting other jobs, and international students or programs will outright discourage it, or we would get in trouble if we have another position. It’s hard to pay our medical bills. The student fees are really taxing for everybody every semester. It’s just a universal thing that we can’t really ignore because it’s all around us.”
Darryl Campbell, a contract specialist for the Office of Sponsored Programs who is also pursuing an Executive Masters of Natural Resources, is on the justice committee of Virginia Tech’s chapter of UCW. Campbell
said that one of the group’s biggest goals is to gain collective bargaining rights, while another is to grow group membership.
“Because of things like one-year contracts, the possibility of retaliation or anything like that, we’re working to show that by sticking together and by supporting each other, we can work against any sort of retaliation that might come up after gaining a few other members,” Campbell said. “We are going to have certain committees set up to focus people’s attention on certain issues because although we do have a wall to wall union, we don’t have everybody involved, so we don’t know every single issue that’s out there.”
Oliver Shuey, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society, said that the GLU’s goals include establishing a minimum living wage for all graduate students and advocating for 12-month contracts, as contracts are currently for nine months out of the year.
“Even though we are graduate students 12 months out of the year, we have bills to pay those three (remaining) months, and we also don’t always have guaranteed work over
those three months,” Shuey said. “And so it’s hard to make a living off of what we earn each month, but it’s also hard to stretch that and save enough money to be able to ensure that you can pay rent and take care of yourself over the summer.”
Patarinski said that she wants to see transparency on the university’s end on how they spend student fees.
“We want departments to be more transparent about how much money they have to actually fund graduate students,” Patarinski said. “That’s something that departments aren’t necessarily super clear about, where that money is coming from. So any kind of transparency from the university, as in governance, would be really great.”
In 2019, Virginia Tech formed a task force focused on advancing graduate education, according to a university website. The group released a report in 2020 with 14 recommendations, many of which were regarding financial support for graduate students.
Graduate students in candidacy status were able to get approval for discounted tuition, which went into effect in the fall of
2021. The university is currently looking into expanding the program.
In spring 2022, Virginia Tech created a second task force to make recommendations on how the university can financially support graduate students, according to the website. The group submitted a report last spring semester with recommendations, including a raise of $2,400 per month in stipends, along with more recommendations.
While Virginia Tech did not find all the recommendations to be feasible, this year, it increased the minimum graduate assistant stipend to $2,420 per month. However, Shuey said that while this raise was necessary, it is still not enough to cover expenses.
In a written statement to the Collegiate Times, Mark Owczarski, a spokesman for Virginia Tech, said that graduate students are “vital members of the Virginia Tech community, contributing many valuable services to the university” and that it is committed to their various successes — personal, academic and professional.
“Graduate education is a critical element of the mission of Virginia Tech as a global land grant, R1 research university,” the statement said. “Our ability to attract, educate, and graduate talented graduate students is dependent upon a variety of factors, including institutional reputation, faculty expertise, and financial support. Accordingly, Virginia Tech continuously works to offer a competitive, holistic compensation package to graduate assistants that benefits students and the university.”
The university website said that Virginia Tech is actively pursuing other recommendations in the 2023 report.
Campbell said that faculty members have reached out to learn more about UCW. He aims to involve more staff members, such as the custodial and dining hall staff, as he believes they might be the most vulnerable.
“I want them to also feel secure and be with us in everything that we’re doing. Without them, the university wouldn’t be able to run it all, so it takes everybody that’s working here to actually get this done,” Campbell said.
As Virginia Tech expands in size and population, more buses should run to accommodate these changes.
“LEAVE YOUR CAR, TAKE THE BUS!”
We’ve all seen that sign as a Blacksburg Transit bus passes us by. As students at Virginia Tech, almost everybody takes the bus to classes or to get around town. Parking spots are always full, parking passes are pretty pricey and many people just don’t have a car in general — the bus seems like a perfect alternative.
As everyone knows, “Blacksburg Transit is Fare Free on all vehicles, at all times! No fares, ID’s or passes are required.” However, how many freshmen have noticed that $97 charge on their tuition for “Transportation Services”? As Virginia Tech’s Description of Fees states, “The Transportation Services Fee entitles a student to unlimited Blacksburg Transit System bus service with a valid student ID card and supports alternative transportation programs.” So if the students are paying a fee to take the bus, then it isn’t really free on all vehicles at all times, and the website should reflect that the “free of
charge” aspect doesn’t apply to Virginia Tech college students.
Adding to the frustration of this hidden cost is the problem of full buses. Buses that are at-capacity and refuse to take anyone from a normal stop is not a new issue. In 2019, the Roanoke Times wrote an article about how an overflow of freshmen led to packed Blacksburg Transit Buses. Students talked about how there should be more buses to accommodate more students. This was published mid-September, after Virginia Tech accepted a high of 7,651 students despite intending to accept 6,600 students, according to enrollment statistics from 2011–2023. As a result of this influx in students, the transportation methods suffered greatly. Buses were constantly full, and empty parking spots were a miracle.
Virginia Tech still has this issue, and the buses remain consistently at full capacity. Moving forward, there should be more buses in the Blacksburg Transportation
system, and the system should account for “busy” times when many people have class at once.
It is no secret that Virginia Tech is looking to expand as a school. Construction is ongoing for more residence halls and academic buildings. For the 2022-2023 school year, Virginia Tech accepted 7,166 students. Even though more dorms have been built — such as the $85.2 million Creativity and Innovative District in 2021— lines have returned at all dining halls and the buses are constantly full again.
Some students regularly have to take a bus an hour and a half before classes begin just to avoid the series of full buses in order to arrive on time. To be late to a class and keep waiting while four buses drive by saying “FULL” is exhausting — especially because it’s something students paid for. Just as Virginia Tech has increased the amount of dorms to accommodate students, Blacksburg Transit should consider doing the same with buses. Otherwise, some students may have to often resort to paying for pricey Ubers, walking one to two miles to class, or simply skipping a class and sacrificing their educational knowledge because the transportation system that they pay for (often unknowingly) and rely on, refuses to let them on.
These issues are common, as Zavier Wise, a sophomore majoring in creative technologies, addresses.
“The buses are very crowded. So we had one bus driver — it was a joke — but, he told us essentially that if we could breathe, we had too much space. We’re packed in like sardines,” Wise said.
That sentiment rings true — we truly are packed in like sardines with no personal space. “Put your backpacks by your feet and move closer,” the bus drivers often say. However, it is important to remember that the issue of overcrowding is not the fault of the bus drivers. Crowded and full buses are simply consequences
of overpopulation in areas, and in this case, there are not enough buses to accommodate the increasing number of students at Virginia Tech. This problem is only heightened by the fact that class schedules aren’t spaced out enough to prevent thousands of people needing to get to campus at the same time.
Megan Luby, a junior double-majoring in psychology and professional and technical writing, further emphasizes this idea.
“The buses, since they’re so crowded — especially the ones that come 30 minutes before class — I wake up and take the bus an hour before my class starts just to avoid the rush, and the buses right after class get so full.” Luby said. “They get so full, especially at Burruss, that they have to turn away (students) at all the stops after, so a lot of kids can’t get on the bus.”
Virginia Tech provides a lot of amazing opportunities to its students, but more attention should be shown to issues with the transit system. There should be more buses in the Blacksburg Transit system in general, and the system should account for “busy” times when many people have class at once. The only question now is who will drive all those extra buses, and will the fees that students pay for the free transportation system be able to cover the costs?
Read information about career development opportunities at Virginia Tech and how to get ready for them.
Career fairs are crucial for students looking to enter the professional world. They give students the opportunity to begin searching for positions within careers and companies that they are interested in. Connecting with prospective employers can enhance networking skills and provide experience in a professional environment. This can help establish beneficial professional relationships. Learning about employers through career fairs can help you to discover what your potential fit is.
Here are some tips on what to do before a career fair to help prepare you for prospective employers:
1. Visit and make an appointment with the VT Career and Professional Development office to review your resume.
Before doing anything, working on your resume should be the first priority because it showcases the most important characteristics that are needed in the professional world: your qualifications, experience, and education. Career and Professional Development at Virginia Tech is available to help with resume tips and other career planning aids that can enhance your presentation to prospective employers. They will help to ensure that your resume stands out from the others as well as proofread and correct any errors.
2. Build and edit your LinkedIn/ Handshake profiles.
LinkedIn and Handshake are sources that help to look for jobs, internships, co-op opportunities, etc. Your profile should be another version of your resume and should exclude anything you would put on your regular social media profile. Furthermore, LinkedIn Learning provides learning resources to Virginia Tech students, staff, and faculty with online courses to help one build necessary skills and gain new knowledge. The online learning platform is personalized for your experience and is designed to help strengthen your accomplishments. Here are some of the things you should add to your LinkedIn and Handshake profiles:
• Create a headline to talk about the
positive things that are happening in your academic career right now and what you want to do in the future.
• Provide a summary that outlines your expertise and what’s next in your life and career. List relevant experience in your related field if you have any.
• If you are active in any clubs or organizations, include them on the profiles.
• Add your education, and ensure that your college education appears first.
• Any courses that you have taken in your academic career that are relevant to your desired field should be listed as they enhance your experience with your skills.
• Add as many skills and expertise that you have. On LinkedIn, your connections are able to endorse your skills by verifying them.
• Add a presentable and professional profile picture. Professional headshots can be done on campus at the Iris professional photo booth located in the Career and Professional Development building, and it is free for Virginia Tech students and alumni.
• Additional information that can be listed are honors and awards, projects and volunteer work. If you participated in any summer programs at an institution, put it on your profile. If you’ve attended multiple high schools, you can list them.
3. Develop an elevator pitch.
An elevator pitch is your introduction and first impression to the prospective employer, and it’s important to practice what you’re going to say before the career fair. It’s the start of an authentic conversation, and it’s useful to build the courage to interact with them so they can remember you in a positive manner. The elevator pitch elements contain your greeting, current level in school, education, skills, accomplishments, extracurricular activities, experience and availability. Make sure to highlight key accomplishments in your academic career to make an impression on the employers. It should be about 30 seconds.
Just by introducing yourself with a
practiced yet natural elevator pitch, you can show them that you are a good fit for the prospective position.
4. Do your research on the companies that will be in attendance.
The Career and Professional Development website contains a list of all of the employers that will be attending, and doing your research will allow you to see who and what you are interested in. The relevant information will help you make a decision about what you want to talk to each of them about, and it will give you time to tailor your communication for each employer.
5. Start investing in business casual clothing.
Check the website to see the dress code. Dressing appropriately in business casual attire is important because representing yourself in a put-together manner will make for a good impression. It helps to gain more respect and credibility from the prospective employer. Employers can see and envision you in your desired position if you dress appropriately.
The Career and Professional Development offers a “Career Outfitters service” that is
free in the clothing closet in Smith Career Center. The clothing is gently used professional attire and is donated for career fairs and other important events. Styling services are available as well to see what your fit is. Their website has listed specifics of clothing for both men and women. Their website also offers videos and tips on what to wear to career fairs and interviews.
Career fairs help students make the right connections with job seekers, and it’s important to present yourself in a professional manner to increase your chances of securing your desired position. The resources on campus can assist you in seeking advice and taking advantage of the free resources to help students succeed with establishing employment connections. More information on career fairs can be found on the Career and Professional Development website.
Lifestyles editors offer advice on preserving your health and managing stress while at Virginia
With week four of the fall semester on its way, the academic workload is beginning to loom over students thus starting a never-ending cycle of stress. Whether we realize it or not, stress can often be managed by how we interact with our own bodies. We feel it in our breathing, headand-body aches, changing sleep patterns and more. It’s important to make sure you are taking time to take care of yourself, so here are some helpful strategies for managing stress.
Exercise
It’s easy to get overwhelmed and busy to the point that you aren’t getting a lot of movement, but one of the best ways to decrease stress is by getting exercise. Whether it’s a 20-minute walk through campus or a full-blown workout, moving around can help with relaxing and increasing your mood.
With group exercise classes and personal training options available, McComas Hall is a perfect spot to get all forms of exercise in.
McComas is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. MondayFriday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Meditation
Providing a safe time and place for your mind to relax and unwind is important and easily overlooked. Meditation is often misunderstood as a result of pop culture as being much more difficult than it is. In reality, meditation is whatever works the best for you. Yoga, running, painting, the classic sit-and-think imagery we’re all familiar with; if it soothes your mind, it can be a meditative practice.
The Hahn Horticulture Garden is an excellent on-campus resource for beginning or continuing your personal mindfulness journey. The garden is close to six acres, complete with walking trails, benches and lit paths after sundown.
If you are interested in off-campus recreation, the Huckleberry Trail is a local favorite. This paved multipurpose trail stretches almost 15 miles and
functions as part of a larger 60-mile trail system. This is within walking distance from campus and goes through downtown.
Another off campus spot is Heritage Community Park and Natural Area, which consists of over 150 acres near University City Boulevard. This location has a variety of habits to wander for hours when you need a break from the bustle of central Blacksburg.
Getting a good night’s sleep is arguably the most important way to keep stress levels low. As college students, it’s easy to get consumed by classes, clubs and work but it’s important to carve out time to rest. One way to make sure you are getting restful sleep is to mute notifications from your phone, laptop and other devices an hour before you go to sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, “sticking to a cut-off time every night (at least an hour or two before bedtime)” will help with creating a good sleep routine.
Another way to help yourself rest is to make sure you are getting roughly the same number of hours of sleep each night. It’s easy to lose sleep some nights when you are working on homework and prepping for exams, which can affect your quality of sleep. Research shows that young adults should get between 6 to 11 hours of sleep, so try to aim for at least 6 hours of sleep every night around the same time to create a solid sleep schedule.
Overall, there are a variety of ways to begin taking better care of yourself or to continue on your personal wellness journey. Luckily, they don’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. Virginia Tech’s physical location offers a lot of options to help you out. Take advantage of them!
Also, remember – if your stress turns out to be too big for you to handle alone, Cook Counseling Center is available online and on campus to help.
The game resumed after nearly five-and-a-half hours.
Hudson Card and Purdue’s rushing attack was just enough to outlast the Hokies in a 24–17 slugfest blemished by a weather delay.
Last week, the Hokies opened the season with a dominant victory over Old Dominion. The Hokies took control in the second half, scoring 13 unanswered to finish Week 1.
With a 28–17 lead early in the second half against Fresno State, the Boilermakers looked like they would come to Blacksburg unbeaten. However, their inability to convert on third down offensively coupled with a defense incapable of slowing down Fresno State’s Mikey Keene led to a heartbreaking 39–35 loss. Keene’s offense converted on 11-17 third downs and faced just one-third down on the go-ahead drive.
The Boilermakers offense was efficient early. They converted consecutive third downs, and Devin Mockobee finished their first drive with a fifteen-yard rushing touchdown.
After a pass-interference call and quick
completion to Jaylin Lane, the Hokies’ first drive ended with a 51-yard punt. Running back Bhayshul Tuten was stuffed on his first rushing attempt and was fortunate to make it back to the line of scrimmage on his second touch. A weather delay ensued after the Hokies drive.
Old Dominion transfer Ali Jennings was also injured on the drive. Jennings was later seen on a cart with a boot on his left foot.
The injury was a terrible development for Grant Wells and the rest of the Hokies. Jennings was excited about his debut last week. He was a member of the 2023 SIS Preseason ACC All-Conference Team and had two touchdowns in his first game as a Hokie.
“In my celebration, I opened up the door and kicked the door down, just to let everybody know that I’m finally here,” Jennings said after the game against Old Dominion.
Following a stoppage of more than five hours, play resumed with the Boilermakers facing a third
down with just under six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Alan Tisdale got the Hokies off the field, registering his first sack of the season.
After an uninspiring drive from the Hokies that included a Tuten fumble, the Boilermakers marched down the field. They were in scoring position entering the second quarter, but the Hokies got a crucial stop on third down, limiting Purdue to a field goal.
The woes continued for the Hokies. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Wells threw an interception deep in his own territory. Purdue’s Tyrone Tracy Jr. rushed in from 21 yards out to capitalize on the miscue. Tracy had a kick-return touchdown last week in their 39–35 loss to Fresno State.
Both teams traded three-and-outs before the Hokies began to click offensively. In a game where the Hokies couldn’t establish anything on the ground, Tuten broke free for a 14-yard rush to start the drive.
After Tuten was stuffed in the backfield on
his next touch, Wells connected with Stephen Gosnell for 20 yards and a first down. The Hokies didn’t sway from the running game on this drive. Malachi Thomas received some work on the drive but was a non-factor for the rest of the contest.
After Thomas was stonewalled on a third-down rush, Wells hit Tuten on a swing pass, and the North Carolina A&T transfer went the distance. Tuten’s first touchdown of the season included several broken tackles.
Purdue’s aggression put the Hokies back in the game. On the drive following the Hokies’ first touchdown drive, the Boilermakers faced a third and five in their territory. Card found Max Klare, but he was just short of the sticks. Head Coach Ryan Walters left the offense on the field, and Card was stuffed on a quarterback keeper.
That fourth-down stop put Hokies kicker John Love in position to cut into the lead. Love
continued on page 7
connected on a 41-yard field goal to bring the game within a possession.
Offensively, Purdue was dreadful in the second quarter. After the Hokies put points on the board on consecutive drives, the Boilermakers went three-and-out, and the Hokies had the ball with a chance to tie it before halftime.
With a minute remaining, Wells found wide receiver Jaylin Lane who showed his run-after-catch ability on an 18-yard completion. Wells and Lane were playing pitch and catch on this drive. On the next play, Wells and Lane connected for another first down. The Wells-Lane drive concluded with a two-yard touchdown pass.
Lane has scored a touchdown in three straight games, dating back to his time at Middle Tennessee State. Lane eventually exited the game with an injury, but Pry didn’t comment on it.
The game was knotted at 17 and the Hokies had all the momentum. Brent Pry’s defense hadn’t allowed a third-down conversion since the weather delay. The Lane Stadium environment under normal conditions would’ve been a sight to see. Nonetheless, the Hokies scored 17 unanswered before intermission.
Both teams had stretches of success offensively in the first half, but the second half became a dogfight.
Wells kicked the second half off with an interception deep in Hokie territory. The pass was
intended for Da’Quan Felton, but the ball went through his hands and into the hands of Dillon Thieneman.
With the ball at Virginia Tech’s forty-yard line, Purdue was in position to come away with points. Mockobee had a nice run to set up second and short before Antwaun Powell-Ryland brought him down in the backfield the next play. On third and long, Card couldn’t connect with TJ Sheffield, and the Boilermakers had to punt.
After each team traded empty drives, Purdue began to hone in on the run game. The Boilermakers’ running group averaged just under seven yards a carry in the third quarter. After Mockobee picked up the first down, Card connected with Klare to move the chains. Klare is only a redshirt freshman, but Jalen Stroman and the rest of the Hokies’ defense knew the caliber player they were facing.
“It wasn’t surprising,” Stroman said. “I knew he was gonna come in and try and ball out. I saw his film and watched him play.”
On the very next play, Card found Sheffield down the sideline to put the Boilermakers in Virginia Tech territory; Sheffield laid out for the 36-yard gain.
With the Boilermakers approaching the red zone, the Hokies needed to put Card and company behind the chains. With a new set of downs, C.J. McCray sacked Card to push the
Boilermakers to the brink of the field-goal range. Purdue tried to get some of the yardage back in the run game, but it was still a difficult kick. Purdue’s Ben Freehill missed a 50-yard attempt, and the Hokies defense got another stop.
Wells had the ball around midfield entering the fourth quarter, but the drive was killed by a fifteen-yard penalty. Right guard Bob Schick was credited with the personal foul, and the Hokies would eventually punt.
The Hokies offense was ineffective for most of the second half, but the defense had been answering the call for most of the game. That was before Card put together a signature drive to score what would be the go-ahead touchdown.
Card began the infamous drive connecting with Klare to set up second and short. Klare had a career night, finishing the game with eight catches and 64 yards.
Mockobee and Tracy Jr. got going again on this drive. They accounted for 44 rushing yards; for reference, the Hokies had eleven rushing yards all night.
Facing a third and long, Card found Mockobee, but he was just short of the endzone. Purdue didn’t sway from the aggressiveness that gave the Hokies life earlier that night. On the biggest play of the night, Card kept the ball and ran it in himself from two yards out.
Card was ecstatic, jumping into the endzone and silencing the remaining Hokies in Lane Stadium. Walter’s gamble gave the Boilermakers a 24–17 lead with eight minutes left.
The Boilermakers’ defense controlled the fourth quarter. They forced a three-and-out after the scoring drive and stayed disciplined on the final drive.
Kyron Drones replaced a banged-up Grant Wells for the final drive of the game, playing well in a pressurized situation. Drones found tight end Dae’Quan Wright for 26 yards, then he connected with Tucker Holloway for six yards to get to midfield.
The Hokies got a pass interference call before Drones showed off his legs on a 13-yard rush. Unfortunately for the Hokies, the drive stalled after that. Offensive coordinator Tyler Bowen dialed up some deep shots late, but they couldn’t connect on any.
Purdue ran out the clock and left Blacksburg with a 24–17 victory. The Boilermakers won in large part because of their play in the trenches. Mockobee finished with 108 yards and Tracy Jr. had 50 yards on just four attempts.
