COLLEGIAT ETIMES
VIRGINIA TECH TO HOST RETURNING ‘GOBBLERFEST’
Lindsey Kudriavetz | News Writer
Virginia Tech will host their annual Gobblerfest for students to explore organizations and traditions.
Virginia Tech’s Student Engagement and Campus Life will host their 17th annual “Gobblerfest” Friday, Aug. 29 on the Drillfield.
Gobblerfest allows students to explore the clubs at Virginia Tech. Students get the opportunity to talk to, connect with or join any club on campus that fits their interest.
The event will host over 700 booths, including academic clubs, Greek Life,
social clubs and intramural sports. Gobblerfest will have live performances, fair rides and games. There are opportunities to win free merch, toys, candy and more.
The fair also allows students to learn more about services that the school offers, including therapy dogs Josie, Epcot and Derek. Students are able to interact with staff members at Virginia Tech. New and returning students
will have opportunities to socialize at the ferris wheel or enjoy live music performances.
Gobblerfest will occur rain or shine, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is a free event for all students.
The Collegiate Times will have their own booth at Gobblerfest for students to find more information about the student organization and chat with prospective members. The interest
meeting for the Collegiate Times will be Sunday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m.
For students who cannot attend Gobblerfest, GobblerConnect offers information and resources on Virginia Tech’s nearly 800 student organizations and clubs.
BLACKSBURG ENACTS SPEED LIMIT INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE SAFER ROADS
Megan Dahn | News Writer
Commuting students and faculty won’t face travel time differences with the new speed limits.
Speed limits around Virginia Tech’s campus were lowered this summer in an effort to improve road safety.
All streets have been brought down to as low as 15 mph starting with roads in Downtown Blacksburg, 16 Squares and followed by Prices Fork Road.
According to the Speed Limit Initiative, these changes followed the Safe System Approach created by the U.S Department of Transportation to lessen risks and fatalities on the roads.
The increased use of bicycles, scooters, e-bicycles and walking as transportation, as opposed to buses and cars, caused local governments to establish a plan to create a sense of safety for local road users.
“The overall volume of pedestrian
crossings at Prices Fork Road and Toms Creek Road has increased by 75% since 2019,” stated Whitman, Requardt & Associates in the Speed Limit Initiative.
The plan to reduce speed limits began in 2021 when the Virginia General Assembly passed HB 1903. However, research and action did not begin until summer 2024.
“We are working toward a future of zero roadway fatalities and the elimination of crashes,” stated the initiative’s comprehensive planner, Maeve Gould.
The Blacksburg community consists heavily of commuting students and faculty. Gould found it notable to mention that travel times in short distances and signal timing will not be affected by the speed limit changes.
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As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, on trips less than three miles, the time difference between 25 mph and 20 mph does not exceed two minutes.
“Adding a minute or a minute and a half to commuting time is worth the safety of all road users,” Gould explained.
To publicize the new changes, the local government will continue with public outreach and education in local project areas with promotional videos and materials.
Gould mentioned that the ongoing goal is to be proactive about safety, and the Speed Limit Initiative is only one piece of the puzzle. Students can expect future changes and additions to off-road trails and bike lanes to continue
improving safety.
The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, was established in 1903 by and for the students of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Collegiate Times is published every Tuesday of the academic year except during exams and vacations. To order a reprint of a photograph printed in the Collegiate Times, visit reprints.collegemedia.com. The Collegiate Times is a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission to provide educational experience in business and production of mass media for Virginia Tech students. © Collegiate Times, 2020. All rights reserved. Material published in the Collegiate Times is the property thereof, and may not be reprinted without the express written consent of the Collegiate Times.
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MORE THAN A CAMPUS: WHAT MAKES VIRGINIA TECH TRULY UNIQUE
Bailey Miller | Lifestyles Staff Writer
Uncover and explore these campus hidden gems.
Virginia Tech has grown in many ways since opening in 1872. Traditions, architecture and academics have evolved to create the current student experience. Beyond the well-known classes and athletic teams, Virginia Tech’s campus and culture have unique qualities that differentiate it from other schools.
Gargoyles
On the south side of the Drillfield, facing residential, 15 gargoyles overlook passersby. Eggleston Hall, Hillcrest Hall and Saunders Hall each have four gargoyles atop them; Smyth Hall is home to the remaining three. These stone creatures fit in with the Neo-Gothic architecture of the buildings. The gargoyles on Eggleston Hall, Hillcrest Hall and
Smyth Hall function as waterspouts, originally installed to divert water away from the roof of the building and add unique decoration. Spotting all 15 can be a fun challenge for students during their time at Virginia Tech.
Hokie Stone
Hokie Stone is the primary stone used to construct buildings around campus. It is a type of limestone found in Blacksburg, with Virginia Tech’s quarry located just minutes from campus. This unique limestone variation is the signature look for buildings, memorials and other structures, representing home for many Hokies.
Skipper
Skipper is the Corps of Cadets’
cannon. The cannon’s name was inspired by John F. Kennedy, honoring his legacy and time as a PT Boat Skipper. It was first used in the 1963 Thanksgiving Day football game against Virginia Military Institute (VMI). A special group of cadets, called the Skipper Crew, fires Skipper at football games after a Hokies touchdown, during the New Cadet Parade each August and at other events. When Skipper isn’t in use, it can be found on the basement floor of Pearson Hall East.
VT Meat Center
The VT Meat Center is an education and research facility in the Department of Food Science & Technology, as well as a fully functional meat processing plant.
The center sells various cuts of steak, ground beef and pork, bacon and more. The center provides quality meat to Blacksburg residents at low prices while teaching students about meat processing and retail. The Meat Center is open on Wednesdays and Fridays and is located in room 107 of the Food Science & Technology Building. Their available products are posted on Facebook. This is not an exhaustive list; Virginia Tech has even more unique qualities and opportunities for students, faculty and locals to discover when visiting campus.
@COLLEGIATETIMES
SEPT 16
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AEROSPACE, DEFENSE, & INTELLIGENCE
CAREER FAIR
WELCOME BACK, HOKIES!
Whether you’re stepping onto campus for the very first time or are a familiar face, we’re glad to have you here for another exciting chapter at Virginia Tech.
This year, you’ll find a university with expanding opportunities in every direction – from the heart of Blacksburg to our new presence in the greater D.C. area. Our state-of-the-art academic building in Alexandria opened in January and now welcomes hundreds of graduate students to its collaborative, tech-forward space at the center of what’s next.
Here in Blacksburg, there are many opportunities to embed yourself in our campus community.
On Friday, Aug. 29, from 4-7 p.m., the much-loved Gobblerfest returns to the Drillfield. Explore hundreds of student clubs and organizations; enjoy live music, food, and games; and connect with other students. You can browse groups now on GobberConnect to get a head start.
The start of fall semester also means the start of football season. Join Hokie Nation at Lane Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, for our home opener against Vanderbilt and be sure to stop by the Welcome Back Tailgate to get ready to cheer and celebrate with the best fans in college football.
As you connect with new friends and classmates, remember to look to our Principles of Community for guidance on how to encourage mutual respect and a shared sense of purpose on our campus, fostering a welcoming academic environment for everyone.
Let’s go Hokies!
Tim Sands, President
CONFIDENT AYDEN GREENE EMBRACES HIGH-VALUE ROLE IN HOKIES’ OFFENSE SPORTS
Thomas Hughes | Sports Staff Writer
Greene is returning to a Hokies team that features 30 transfers.
Growing up, wide receiver Ayden Greene always played above his age group, suiting up against children who had a size, strength and experience advantage. Greene didn’t just hold his own; he thrived. That habit of punching above his weight shaped his edge, his self-assuredness and the swagger he carries today as he prepares for a bigger role in Virginia Tech’s offense. With that, growth is necessary, not just in his own play but his methods toward the game.
“I know I have the physical abilities, but tuning some of those, making those better,” Greene said to the media on Aug. 22 .“Route running, releases, catching the ball, anything in that realm. And then outside of it, just understanding that I am a leader and that I am capable of being that for this team and showing up every day with the right mindset, the right mentality. Bad things are going to happen in this game.
“Unfortunate things are going to happen, good things are going to happen in this game, but highs, lows, just staying right there in that medium. That’s a major key in
being a leader and being able to go out and do the things we want to do.”
Now entering his junior campaign in Blacksburg, Greene’s belief in himself is high.
“He’s confident. He’s a little bit arrogant, which I love about him,” said wide receivers coach Fontel Mines. “That makes a really good receiver. There’s no catch or play that’s too big for him. There’s no moment that’s too big for him. And we’re going to lean on him a ton this year.”
Greene flashed his potential last season, making timely catches and showing glimpses of the explosiveness that made him a three-star recruit and the No. 11 player in Tennessee coming out of high school, according to 247Sports’ metrics. Last year, Greene played in all 13 games and tallied 19 receptions for 268 yards and a pair of touchdowns. What also stood out most to Mines was how quickly he embraced big moments.
“The moment is not too big for that kid,” Mines said. “He’s going to rise up at any challenge.”
For Greene, confidence, he said, is rooted in an unshakeable belief in his talent.
“If you put your mind to something and you firmly believe that and have an undeniable belief in your abilities and what you want in life, anything is possible,” Greene said. “And we’ve worked our butts off this offseason to go out and not have to think, not have to worry. Just rely on the work that we’ve done.”
Virginia Tech enters 2025 with questions about its offensive identity. The Hokies showed flashes last year under head coach Brent Pry but lacked the consistency to sustain drives against top competition.
With Kyron Drones returning at quarterback and an unproven receiving group, there’s now an expectation for Greene to demarcate himself and be the leader the Hokies need. Greene embraced that responsibility.
“He’s done a really good job of attacking that role, embracing that role vocally, on
and off the field,” Mines said.
That edge has translated well to college football, where the physicality and speed of the game can overwhelm younger players. For Greene, despite now mentoring teammates older than him, it feels familiar.
“Age is a number,” Greene said. “I grew up playing ball one, two years ahead. So, all my brothers are older. Always wanted to hang out with their friends and I’ve kind of always been more mature for my age, older than my age in a sense.
“And I hold myself to a high standard. So, regardless of me being 20, I don’t look at that as a factor in me being a leader, me being mature, and me being a player, and leader of our unit that I need to be.”
As the season opener looms, one thing is clear– Greene is ready for the spotlight. He’s been preparing for it since the days when he was the youngest kid on the field, playing above his age group and proving that he belonged. Now, with the Hokies counting
Don't miss a world of performances and exhibitions right here on campus!
Check out what's coming this season.
artscenter.vt.edu
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on him to elevate their offense, Greene isn’t just stepping into a bigger role. He’s
embracing it.
“I believe the sky’s the limit,” he said. “There is no real, for me at least, goal or expectations. I think we’re capable of
anything. I think we’re capable of going out, beating South Carolina, going out, winning the ACC championship, competing in playoff games. I think we’re capable of all that.”
SHANE BEAMER RETURNS HOME: SOUTH CAROLINA COACH FACES HOKIES IN WEEK 1
Thomas Hughes | Sports Staff Writer
Shane Beamer is the son of legendary Hokies coach Frank Beamer.
Sunday’s game will be a homecoming of sorts.
When South Carolina takes the field against Virginia Tech in the Aflac Kickoff on Aug. 31, all eyes will be on Shane Beamer — not just as South Carolina’s head coach, but as the son of Frank Beamer, the former Hokies head coach who steered the program through its apex. For Shane Beamer, however, this isn’t much of a sentimental reunion.
His goal has been to step out of Frank Beamer’s shadow. While he acknowledges
his father’s influence, he has sought to be recognized as more than just Frank’s son.
“I love Virginia Tech,” Shane Beamer said in the new “SEC Football: Any Given Saturday” documentary released this month. “I was there before as an assistant coach, but up there, I’m always Frank’s son. I came to South Carolina because I wanted to make my own name, be Shane Beamer and not just ‘Frank’s son.’”
In many ways, he has done just that. Last year, the Gamecocks endured their share of ups and downs. South Carolina
stumbled early, dropping three of their first six games, sitting at a middling 3-3 halfway through the regular season.
However, the Gamecocks rallied, ripping off six straight wins to close the regular season. The surge earned them a spot in the Citrus Bowl, where they narrowly fell 21-17 to No. 20 Illinois. While the ending wasn’t what Shane Beamer envisioned — just shy of the College Football Playoff and finishing 9-4 — it still marked a major leap forward from their 5-7 campaign in 2023.
Shane Beamer’s path back to Virginia
Tech is more than a storyline of father and son. His connections to the Hokies run deep. After growing up on the sidelines at Lane Stadium, he suited up in maroon and orange himself, playing as a walk-on wide receiver and later, a long snapper under his father from 1995-99. He later returned to Blacksburg as a running backs coach from 2011-15.
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It will be Shane Beamer’s first-ever matchup against the Hokies in a coaching role.
“I’m happy to be playing a marquee opener,” Shane Beamer said to the media on July 28. “It makes it a little bit different, obviously, because it’s where I grew up and my dad’s got a statue outside the stadium. That’s a little bit different. But I love playing marquee openers where you’re where you jump right into it. You look around college football, great matchups like that across the country.”
Ironically, during Shane Beamer’s tenure as a player at Virginia Tech, the Hokies’ current head coach, Brent Pry, was a graduate assistant for the team.Now, decades later, the two cross paths again — Pry still working to rebuild the Hokies into an ACC contender and Shane Beamer leading an SEC program projected to fight for the College Football Playoff. In the preseason pollreleased by the Associated
Press earlier this month, South Carolina was ranked No. 13.
The Gamecocks enter the season with a rising quarterback in LaNorris Sellers and expectations to build on last year’s strong finish. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, is searching for a fresh start after inconsistent results under Pry’s first three years. For both programs, the opener represents a measuring stick, not just for how they stack up on the field, but for the trajectory of their seasons.
For Shane Beamer, the symbolism of facing his alma mater in what he calls a “marquee opener” is hard to ignore. As such, the spotlight will shine brightly. If they win, the Gamecocks gain a solid victory to begin the year. Lose, and the narrative shifts to whether last year’s late run was truly a sign of progress or just a fleeting spark.
What complicates matters is the inevitable narrative of legacy. Frank Beamer retired in 2015 as one of the most respected
coaches in the sport, guiding Virginia Tech to 280 career wins, a BCS Championship Game appearance in 1999 and an era of consistency built on aggression, defense and special teams. Shane Beamer hasn’t hidden from the influence his father had on him, but also made clear that his aspirations stretch beyond being Frank’s son.
“I wanna make an impact (at South Carolina), on and off the field, for a long time,” Shane Beamer said. “Like my dad did at Virginia Tech.”
The Hokies, meanwhile, are looking to open their season on the right foot against Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks. Pry’s squad looks to outperform 2024’s disappointing 6-7 campaign, led by returning quarterback Kyron Drones. For the Hokies, facing a Beamer-led South Carolina carries extra motivation: a chance to measure themselves against an SEC foe while reminding the college football world that the program is still capable of competing on a national stage.
For fans, Sunday’s matchup offers a rare blend of nostalgia and forward-looking promise. The Beamer name ensures that the past will be present in conversations all week. But once the ball is kicked, the game will be about two teams, two programs and two coaches trying to prove themselves. As kickoff approaches, one thing is certain: the stakes are larger than a season opener. For Shane Beamer, it’s another chance to prove his program is on the rise and to distinguish himself from his father’s legacy. The Aflac Kickoff gets underway Sunday, Aug. 31, at 3 p.m. ET, with coverage on ESPN.
For Virginia Tech fans, the matchup carries a twist of irony: the last time the Hokies faced South Carolina, in 1991, Frank Beamer’s team fell to the Gamecocks. Now, his son leads the team on the opposite sideline.
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VIRGINIA TECH MAKES SPACE FOR EVERYONE OPINIONS
Arnav Gupta | Opinions Contributor
With Virginia Tech’s many clubs and organizations, every Hokie can find their place.
Think about the stereotypical American high school movie. You’ve got the football team, performing arts, maybe the debate team and that’s pretty much it. But at Virginia Tech, the options are far broader, from the UNO Club and Bob Ross Club, to the award-winning Drone Racing Team, and I recommend joining one.
A large majority of us have spent our lives going to school with the same people, feeling comfortable with them. Coming to college, being away from home and surrounded by thousands of strangers, making friends can feel intimidating. Joining a club can be a great way to make friends who share similar interests. Whether it’s staying up late working on a project together, grabbing a bite after meetings or just catching up week after week, those small moments help make friendships occur more naturally. I was part of the debate team in high school, dedicating hours each week to it. I wanted to continue my passion for debate, and I found my home in VT’s Ethics Bowl, which offers the Goldilocks balance of conversation, collaboration and competition. With all the pressure that comes with a
new academic year, joining a club can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s perfectly okay to drop in on one or two meetings, get a feel for the club, chat with members and ask questions. Last semester, I was studying in an empty classroom in New Classroom Building when members of the Sports Broadcasting Club began setting up. I hadn’t realized it was their meeting room, and since I was already there, I decided to stay. They were warm and welcoming, and even after I explained I was there by accident, they made me feel right at home. I didn’t join, but I walked away having learned something new and a better appreciation for the nuances of sports broadcasting. Between working part time to pay rent and taking extra credits to graduate early, clubs can sometimes be put on the back burner. But at the very least, I’d recommend checking out an organization tied to your field of study. These groups aren’t just a way to meet classmates; they often bring in company reps, host workshops and share opportunities you might not hear about otherwise.
Earlier this year, I went to a CMDA Club
meeting and sat next to someone I had been in class with for half the semester but had never spoken to. We bonded over our mutual struggle in differential equations, and now he’s one of my closest friends on campus. Academic clubs also open doors professionally. Last semester, IEEE at Virginia Tech hosted an Amazon workshop where students learned about career opportunities, the latest projects at the company and even had the chance for a one-on-one session with a recruiter.
If you enjoy being physically active, there’s a place for you too. Virginia Tech has no shortage of organizations for adventurous Hokies. At my first Rec Fest in War Memorial Hall last fall, I remember seeing booths for everything from the Cycling Club, which I briefly considered joining, to the SalsaTech Club, a club dedicated to salsa dancing.
Another way to get involved is through service and community-focused organizations. Virginia Tech offers plenty of ways to contribute. The Appalachian Service Project helps communities across the region by repairing homes in the region. There’s also The Big Event, a hallmark of
Hokie culture, where students dedicate a day to improving the lives of people in the local community. College isn’t just about what we take from the experience; it’s also about what we give back. If everyone only takes and no one gives, what kind of society would we have?
Virginia Tech boasts over a thousand registered student organizations. The best way to discover these organizations is through Gobblerfest and GobblerConnect. Experiencing Gobblerfest first-hand on the Drillfield is the only way to truly understand it. The best comparison I can make is to a bazaar: endless booths eager to engage with you, crowds of people pressed together and music drifting across the warm August air. As for GobblerConnect, it’s an online website where you can see any organization Tech offers and can connect with them through email or meeting times. Whatever it is you are passionate about, you are bound to find it at Virginia Tech.
