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September 22, 2026
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NEWS MONTGOMERY COUNTY PAUSES USE OF FLOCK CAMERAS COLLEGIATETIMES.COM
Ella Frederick | News Writer
The pause was made as recognition of the importance of citizen’s trust in law enforcement. Montgomery County is temporarily pausing its use of Flock License Plate Reader technology as a result of community concerns, according to a statement released by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. LPR has been installed in massive numbers around the United States. These cameras make up a public safety platform for the benefit of law enforcement, businesses, schools and communities to find relevant information, respond faster and make better-informed decisions. This decision was released to the public by Montgomery County Sheriff Robert G. Page on Sept. 4 through Facebook. While the Sheriff’s Office has experienced the benefits of Flock LPR technology, they recognize that it is important to listen to the concerns of Montgomery County citizens.
Page stated the importance of Montgomery citizens’ trust in law enforcement as the reason for the pause. A review committee is being formed to address how to move forward with LPR technology in Montgomery County, according to the statement. “The purpose of this review is to ensure that our policies remain responsible, transparent, and consistent with our obligation to protect the people we serve,” Page said. Flock LPR technology was installed in Blacksburg in May of 2023. Fifteen Flock cameras are currently being installed on the Virginia Tech campus and surrounding area. Furthermore, Flock cameras and other LPR technology are a point of contention and concern for various Virginia Tech students and faculty. Many share concerns over individual privacy
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and the purpose of Flock Safety technology on college campuses. Virginia Tech Professor and co-host of the podcast “Voices of Privacy,” Donna Wertalik, voiced many of the issues citizens have with Flock cameras in their communities in an interview with WDBJ7. Wertalik believes that with the increase of Flock cameras in the United States, the right to privacy and the security of personal information have become a pressing issue. Wertalik highlights how Flock LPR technology is supposed to be beneficial to communities but ultimately does more harm than good. “With everything good comes the bad and that’s what it does — it puts everyone at risk,” Wertalik said. As surveillance becomes increasingly pervasive, people have been thinking, “Who’s following me, who’s watching me, and where’s my privacy?” Wertalik said. Many Virginia Tech students themselves have pushed back against Flock cameras on campus. A change.org petition with the purpose of ending the use of Flock cameras at Virginia Tech has
amassed 851 signatures since Aug. 24. The petition statement and mission view Flock cameras on campus as an “apparatus of control” that are insecure and high-risk to personal data. Many student supporter comments agreed with the sentiment, believing that the cameras infiltrate their privacy and make Virginia Tech feel like a surveillance state. For future updates on the pause and potential further actions taken by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, visit their website.
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PLASTICS, BIOPLASTICS AND HOW VIRGINIA TECH AIMS TO BRIDGE THE GAP Julia Sauers | News Writer
Virginia Tech research has made a new innovation in bioplastic development. Plastics dominate many industries, especially food packaging. They have many good qualities but present downsides that have led to the development of bioplastics. Even with the advantages of these materials, many companies have yet to make the switch. New research done in Virginia Tech’s Department of Chemical Engineering aims to bridge the quality gap between traditional plastics and bioplastics. Polymers are long chain molecules that consist of hundreds or thousands of smaller molecules called monomers. Many synthetic or man-made polymers are referred to as “plastics,” coming from the Greek word “plastikos,” or good for shaping. Plastics have various uses. Polyvinyl chloride makes pipes and garden hoses, foamed polystyrene makes food containers and polyethylene terephthalate makes beverage bottles. The properties of plastics come from the size of the molecules, the physical state and the arrangement of the polymer chains. The customizability of plastics makes them ideal for a variety of applications, especially food packaging. Their strength and ability to block the flow of gases make
them extremely moldable. They can also be see-through, opaque, flexible or rigid. The most commonly used plastic in food packaging is polyethylene, made of ethylene monomers, which has many variants. Since plastic is versatile, numerous common single-use plastics are mass-produced and global plastic production exceeds 400,000,000 tons annually, according to a recent study from Jan Dlugosz University. Thoug h convenient , the mass production, use and disposal of plastics cause several issues: pollution, contamination, health risks and rising greenhouse gas emissions. The extensive use of plastics has created what some experts call an “over-reliance” on them. To combat these negative effects, many innovations with more sustainable plastic materials have been made, referred to as “bioplastics.” The leading bioplastic material in global production is called polylactic acid, or PLA. It is a thermoplastic polymer, meaning it softens when heated and hardens when cooled, and is sourced from renewable sources like corn and sugarcane. It is biodegradable in industrial compost facilities, resistant to moisture,
relatively durable and safe for human contact. Still, with innovation in bioplastics happening globally, there is widespread reluctance to make the switch. Bioplastics can be more expensive to manufacture than plastics derived from fossil fuels, and require industrial conditions to break down that are not widely available yet. Additionally, since they are still in development, the effectiveness of bioplastics like PLA is less consistent compared to more popular materials like polyethylene. However, research led by associate professor of chemical engineering Rong Tong, in collaboration with assistant professor of food science and technology Yifan Cheng, addresses this issue. With Ph.D. students Ziyu Huo, Xiaoyu Xie and Huida Duan, the research team altered plastic’s molecular architecture. They controlled both the shape and the sequence of the polymer, making the chains into rings and changing the sequence of the molecules to form a gradient polymer, or a polymer whose monomer composition changes gradually along the length of the polymer chain. This engineering allowed for many
positive characteristics of plastics to exist within one plastic. “For decades, developing better plastics has largely focused on changing what they’re made of,” Cheng said to Virginia Tech news. “Our work suggests that how the molecules are arranged, whether as lines or circles, can be just as important.” Several of the polymers the team worked with exhibited properties similar to those of PLA, matching its oxygenblocking ability while being more ductile and tougher. “Usually, when you improve the strength of a material, you have to make some sacrifices — the material could become more brittle, for example,” Tong said. “But here, we see both the strength and the toughness improve together. That shows us that the ring-shaped structure and the controlled arrangement work together in a way we haven’t seen in previous approaches.” Research like Tong and Cheng’s suggests that changing the molecular structure of these polymers could help address their limitations and make bioplastics a suitable substitute for conventional plastics.
FIRST TOWN GOWN MEETING HELD BETWEEN BLACKSBURG AND VIRGINIA TECH Christian Larson | News Writer The recent Town Gown meeting focused on public transit and expanding housing.
On Thursday, Sept. 10, in the Creativity and Innovation District, the Town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech continued efforts to improve communication and connectivity between the university and community in the New River Valley. This was achieved by conducting a Town Gown meeting regarding how both communities govern themselves. The Town Gown meetings focus on how the town and university are organized and how each institution should continue to work together. Additionally, the meetings had conversations regarding coordination when the two institutions’ responsibilities overlap. Residents and students living off campus face issues ranging from rising
housing costs to transportation and public infrastructure. The Town of Blacksburg is governed by an elected Town Council who are responsible for adopting ordinances, setting tax rates and making land-use and zoning decisions for housing and infrastructure. The council then appoints a town manager to serve as the town’s executive and carry out the council’s policies. Virginia Tech operates under a separate government. The university’s Board of Visitors serves as its governing authority, while the university president oversees administration and carries out policies approved by the board. Virginia Tech also uses a shared
governance system that includes faculty, staff, students and administrators in discussions and recommendations on university policy, although they do not have a direct say on administrative issues. The separation between the two governments becomes visible when issues arise regarding housing and infrastructure, an issue that affects Virginia Tech students but is more regulated by Blacksburg. The Town of Blacksburg’s 2026-28 strategic goals outline expanding pedestrian, bicycle and transit infrastructure while additionally encouraging the development of affordable housing for students, faculty and residents. These priorities
reflect the needs of the Virginia Tech community. The meeting was part of a continuing series to give members of both communities the ability to collaborate on issues that affect the New River Valley collectively. Additional Town Gown meetings are scheduled for Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Feb. 11, March 18 and April 8. Topics for those meetings will be announced closer to each date.
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LIFESTYLES
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STAYING HOKIE HEALTHY: EASY MEALS, SNACKS AND DESSERTS Morgan Brown | Lifestyles Contributor
Need simple food ideas? Check out some nutritious recipes to prepare in your kitchen that can be ready in no time.
College students are constantly on the go. Finding time to eat between classes, extracurriculars, jobs and a social life is a challenge. Gobbling down a protein bar or a bag of chips can stave off hunger for the busy student, but maintaining a healthy diet around a tight schedule doesn’t have to take up a huge amount of time. Here are some easy and nutritious recipes with five ingredients or less. Breakfast: Burritos The basic recipe includes tortillas, eggs, sausage, salsa and cheddar cheese. This simple meal takes only a few minutes to prepare and store and can be frozen to provide an entree for later in the week. For students who want a more protein-packed meal, consider buying protein tortillas, leaner packages of chicken or turkey sausage or adding black beans to the mix. Kick it up a notch with diced onions and peppers to add a boost of flavor. Keeping it
simple is a nutritious and delicious way to start the morning. Lunch: Tuna Pasta Salad Tired of eating a sandwich every day? Pasta salad is a great alternative that contains both protein and carbs, making it a filling meal. Mix together pasta, canned tuna, chopped celery, frozen green peas and mayo. In just 10 minutes, a quick lunch is ready to pack and go. To avoid boiling pasta, try buying microwave-ready pasta instead. Tuna, packed with protein and fatty acids, can help support overall health. Not a fan of peas — use chopped bell peppers or cucumbers as a substitute. Dinner: Teriyaki Chicken After a long day of classes, it can feel daunting to cook an elaborate meal. Chicken is a great source of protein, can be reheated easily and is a versatile meat that can be used in a variety of meals. This recipe calls for chicken breasts, soy sauce,
brown sugar, garlic and ginger. To prepare, sauté the chicken until brown, season and enjoy. Complement with rice for a carb and add any vegetable of choice. Teriyaki chicken is a flavorful way to add variety to the meal rotation. Snacks: Sweet and Salty Having snacks on hand is an important part of staying fueled during the day. It’s a great way to boost nutrition and remain satiated between meals. Finding snacks that are filling and healthy can be difficult. Although a bag of chips is satisfying, incorporating balance is important. Here are some grab-and-go options: Beef sticks are a quick source of protein and a satisfying salty snack. Popcorn comes in pre-popped bags or microwaveable ones, are high in fiber and can come in a variety of flavors. Applesauce is packable for lunches or on the go and has important nutrients. Trail mix is another good option where students
can create their own or buy pre-packaged for a healthy balance of protein, carbs and sweetness to satisfy an array of tastes. Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookies Who doesn’t love a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie? Perfect for late night studying or just a sweet treat at the end of a busy day, this recipe is super simple and welcoming to all baking levels. Whisk together brown sugar, butter, eggs, flour and the most important: chocolate chips. For ice cream lovers, add a scoop of vanilla or any flavor of choice. Ending the day with a well-loved dessert is sometimes just what a Hokie needs. Whether students are feeling like cooking or not, these recipes will make meal time actually fulfilling, healthy and efficient — not just another inconvenient chore to check off the daily to-do list.
AUTUMN TREATS: FALL FLAVORS OF BLACKSBURG Grace Keller | Lifestyles Staff Writer
From pumpkin bagels to maple brown sugar cookies, explore some of Blacksburg’s favorite fall treats. The nights are cooler, the days are shorter and the leaves are starting to turn. That can only mean one thing: Fall is just around the corner. With autumn’s inevitable return comes a plethora of seasonal treats in the Blacksburg area, both on and off of Virginia Tech’s campus. This month, Bruegger’s Bagels in Turner Place debuted their new pumpkin bagel and pumpkin cream cheese. They are an exciting addition to an already abundant and unique selection of bagels and schmears: sesame, cinnamon sugar and rosemary olive oil bagels, along with honey walnut, onion chive and sriracha honey cream cheese, to name a few. “Trying the pumpkin cream cheese at Bruegger’s Bagels was a life-changing experience for me as a pumpkin spice lover myself,” said Bruegger’s employee and senior cybersecurity management and analytics major Elizabeth VanGilder. “It tasted like a pumpkin was exploding in my mouth. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be eating it again soon.” Another on-campus option for students
in search of fall-inspired drinks is Starbucks, or Corner ‘24 Coffee Shop, located inside of Squires Student Center. Customers can choose from a wide selection of options, ranging from a nutty pecan crunch latte to the iconic pumpkin spice latte. An expanse of pumpkin options, including pumpkin cream cold brew, pumpkin spice chai latte, iced pumpkin cream chai and pumpkin spice crème frappuccino, compose both fall menus. In the coming months, any drink may be topped with pumpkin spice cold foam, a play on traditional cold foam, blended with real pumpkin puree and finished with a dusting of pumpkin spice topping. For students looking to venture a little further out of campus in pursuit of seasonal snacks, Our Daily Bread offers an array of pastries and sips worth the trip. ODB has a variety of seasonal autumn offerings, including pumpkin bread, pumpkin cinnamon chip scones, pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin strudels, apple cider raisin bread pudding, salted maple brown
sugar cookies and fall-decorated sugar cookies. They also have a fall drink menu with eight different seasonal drinks, including espresso drinks, lemonade and chai. When asked about fan favorites, Hannah McCoy, co-owner of Our Daily Bread, listed a few fall must-tries. “Staff and customer favorites are pumpkin cheesecake, which we carry every autumn, salted maple brown sugar cookies, peach cobbler latte and caramel apple chai,” McCoy said. “And of course, our pumpkin chocolate chip muffin, which is vegan and served all year round.” Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the assortment of chocolate truffles and ice creams that Sugar Magnolia provides. Located on Main Street, Sugar Magnolia is a comfortable, family-friendly spot, known for their decadent chocolate treats and ice cream scoops, as well as a curated gift shop. This fall, seasonal truffle flavors include s’mores and apple pie, which are available in
pumpkin and turkey shapes. Ice cream flavors that customers can look forward to include apple crisp, black cherry and chocolate peanut butter, with more to come later in the season. On North Main Street, students will also find Halwa Bakery & Cafe, a woman-owned establishment with a culturally-inspired twist on traditional goodies. This autumn, Halwa features flavors such as pumpkin spice, brown butter, butter beer and candy apple, which may be added to any latte or chai, iced or hot. Stop by to try pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and pumpkin loaves, baked daily. With countless autumnal options around Blacksburg, there is something for everyone. Whether it be an early breakfast pumpkin bagel from Bruegger’s, a pecan latte to sip on while studying or a post-dinner sweet treat at Sugar Magnolia’s, Blacksburg offers plenty of ways to ring in this fall season.
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TUNING IN: THE ALBUMS MUSIC FANS SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR THROUGH THE REST OF 2026 Benjamin Gozzi | Lifestyles Staff Writer The year is not over yet; Explore some of the upcoming music selections dropping soon as the seasons.
Based on pure volume and variety alone, there’s an argument that 2026 has been a standout year for music as a whole. Regardless of favorite genre, artist or specific sound, a staggering number of records from artists big and small have hit streaming platforms, offering new sounds and melodies that can find a home on any playlist. Nearly every genre has experienced an exciting new entry throughout the past year. Fans of rap have been satiated with Drake’s “Iceman,” J. Cole’s “The Fall Off” and Don Toliver’s “Octane,” to name a few, while pop fans received their fix with Olivia Rodrigo’s “You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So In Love,” Harry Styles’ “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally” and RAYE’s “This Music May Contain Hope.” Luke Combs’ “The Way I Am” is a familiar, yet original journey into the country music landscape, while Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide” saw the folk artist sell out four consecutive nights at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. Hyperpop even saw a resurgence behind new artists like Slayyyter, whose “WOR$T GIRL IN AMERICA” record featured viral smash hits like “CRANK” and “DANCE...” and Bruno Mars made a triumphant return with “The Romantic” early in the year. 2026 has seen artists bolster their catalogs with new tracks and newer sounds. However, while the year comes to a close and the weather gets colder, the music scene is heating up across genres. Don’t forget to load up your preferred music streaming service to get a taste of these albums as they release through the end of the year. Miley Cyrus – Bass Persuades Disney Channel-turned-Grammywinning artist Miley Cyrus announced her tenth studio album, “Bass Persuades,” via an Instagram post on Sept. 1, accompanied by a monochrome album cover of the artist holding a flower between her teeth. The album was released on Sept. 18, featuring a lead single by the same name that features a heavy synth melody and motivations from Cyrus herself to get up and dance. “Music takes hold of us. We feel it, sing it, sometimes dance to it, let it out and carry on,” said Cyrus in the
album’s social media announcement. “It is powerful, vulnerable, sweet and strong...Heart full, heartache, every part of life in between. That’s what the title means to me.” “Bass Persuades” marks the first entry into Cyrus’ catalog under Atlantic Records, with which she signed a deal in July 2026. The album has 10 tracks and two features, giving fans yet another exciting look into Cyrus’ musical brand — one that has seen Cyrus exclusively go by “Miley” since announcing the record. Carly Rae Jepsen – Day and Night Cyrus shared the Sept. 18 release date with “Call Me Maybe” artist Carly Rae Jepsen, whose monster 24-track “Day and Night” was released Friday. The record serves as the eighth studio album and her first record since “The Loveliest Time,” which was released in July 2023. Jepsen makes a riveting return to pop music with an entirely original concept. While the record’s 24 songs may seem daunting, the first 12 hits — the “Day” side — feature dreamy synth illustration and pop rhythms, while the later 12 — the “Night” side — introduce a flurry of new sounds sure to bring audiences into an unforgettable listening experience. The double record, announced in June 2026, came with a quartet of lead singles: “On Wires,” “After All,” “Don’t Leave Me on the Dance Floor” and “Motivation.” Greta Van Fleet – Palace for the People Greta Van Fleet, who has earned global success behind their vintage rock identity and moving melodies, announced their fifth studio album, “Palace for the People,” via social media on July 29. The album, rooted in themes of “humanity, connection, resilience and transcendence,” is scheduled to be released on Oct. 9. Greta Van Fleet is composed of brothers Josh, Jake and Sam Kiszka, while Daniel Wagner joins the trio on the drums. While the band began collaborating in 2012 as teenagers, their most infectious breakout hit, “Highway Tune,” launched to the top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and stayed for four weeks in September 2017. The band’s newest work has already been accompanied by two lead singles:
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROLLING STONE Carly Rae Jepsen released her eighth studio album, “Day and Night”, on Sept. 18,2026.
“Play Your Games,” which was released in May 2026, and “Saw You Stand,” a July 2026 track that features a profound piano ballad alongside razor-sharp guitar and stellar vocals from Josh Kiszka. If the album is anything like the pair of early tracks, listening to the new record with a box of tissues may be worth your while. Anderson .Paak and Cordae – Heavy is the Crown Two of the rap genre’s most recognizable names announced plans for a full-length joint album in August 2026, revealing their album “Heavy is the Crown” will hit the airwaves on Oct. 23. The record will see the frequent collaborators come together for a concentrated album, which has 11 tracks. Anderson .Paak and Cordae first joined forces on the latter’s 2019 record “The Lost Boy,” where both artists exchanged lyrically driven bars behind a relatively simple pattern of synth rhythms on “RNP.” Cordae — whose real
name is Cordae Amari Dunston — would collaborate with Anderson .Paak two more times years later on 2023’s “Two Tens” and 2024’s “Summer Drop,” both of which highlight the duo’s talents in production and lyricism. While production credits are yet to be revealed on the upcoming work, fans should look for J. Cole’s signature production touch throughout the work. The acclaimed artist had a hand in producing all three of the previous Anderson .Paak and Cordae collaborations. While the music scene has already experienced quite a number of impressive records this year, don’t forget to listen in on the newest records yet to be released. You might find your new favorite song.
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OPINIONS A MEDITATION ON SYDNEY SWEENEY’S NEWEST AD
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Shelby Brann | Opinions Editor
Famous actress Sydney Sweeney’s newest ad for a sports betting company is so much than a commercial.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CNN
I didn’t actually watch the ad the first day it came out, or the first few times I heard about it in passing. I’m a college student with two jobs; I’ve got things to do coming out of my ears. All I knew was that Sydney Sweeney had released a new ad that had something to do with sports. I wasn’t particularly interested in watching it. Based on the many angry TikToks I’d seen about it, I figured it was just another sexually charged, somewhat annoying commercial and that the backlash was probably making the ad seem much worse than it really was. I shook my head and went along with my day. When I finally watched it for the first time, I was stunned. I’d gotten sick of seeing it all over my For You page and decided to give in and see what the fuss was about. After all, how bad could it be? The answer is “pretty bad.” For 59 seconds, Sweeney poses naked, or nearly naked, with a variety of sports equipment, from hockey goalie pads to football gear. Little to nothing is left to
the imagination — in many instances, she is only covered from full nudity by, for example, two basketballs or a baseball mitt. At the beginning of the ad, she asks the camera, seductively, to prove they “know sports.” The ad itself is for a sports trading app company called Novig that acts as a prediction market for sports and sports only; this separates it from other prediction markets like Kalshi, which offers betting platforms for politics, pop culture and even economics, among a variety of other fields. Novig’s main business appeal is that it focuses on sports only, leading to its charming new ad that drives this point home. I was shocked by the ad; I couldn’t believe Sweeney’s marketing team would let her be a part of something so obviously, in my opinion, distasteful and downright disrespectful to her. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have been so shocked — this is far from the first time Sweeney has been involved in controversy. I still
remember her American Eagle ad from last year about her “great jeans.” The truth of the matter is that this ad is good marketing. Not from an ethical or moral or even respectful standpoint, but from a publicity standpoint. Sweeney and Novig have the world abuzz right now with what feels like every influencer, news anchor and internet personality talking about this ad and their personal opinion on it. From an advertising perspective, this is exactly what an ad should do — get people talking. Like it or not, most anyone somewhat connected to pop culture or sports right now knows about Sweeney’s ad. After all, any publicity is good publicity. One way or another, this ad is bringing attention to Novig just like planned. Unfortunately for Sweeney, “good marketing strategy” isn’t always a compliment. I don’t mind the sexuality of the ad; Sweeney has built a career off of appealing to audiences with her body and looks, and power to her for it. In many ways, she’s the sex symbol of my generation. In her defense, she’s played a somewhat wide variety of roles, from a horror movie’s leading nun to a real-life 90s star boxer. Her role as one of the main stars of Euphoria, HBO’s second most-watched show, launched her rise to fame in 2019 and she has far from fallen off the page of notoriety. Despite her claims of rejecting the sex symbol label, Sweeney is very simply one of the hottest Hollywood stars because of her attractiveness. If I looked like Sweeney, I’d want to be a famous actress, too. But there is a line between using your own body for fame and creating a mockery out of women’s sports. Whether she meant to or not, Sweeney’s ad was a culmination of the fears female athletes have — that instead of being valued for their knowledge or skill in sports, they are valued only for their bodies and how they look. Many professional female athletes have commented on Sweeney’s ad in this light, including champion sprinter Amy Hunt and gold
medalist swimmer Ariarne Titmus. Titmus referred to the ad as “a kick in the face.” And honestly, I fully agree. By posing almost entirely naked with sports equipment, Sweeney reinforced a stereotypical and outdated image of an overly sexualized woman attempting to be sporty. Her ad stands as a representation of how female athletes are sexualized nearly constantly. As a sports fan and a massive supporter of women’s sports and female athletes, I’m deeply insulted by the ad. Not only does it mock female athletes, but Sweeney’s sly remarks on “knowing sports” are negative towards female sports fans as well. I’m not the only one irritated either — all across social media, female athletes, professional and otherwise, as well as female sports fans, have taken to posting responses to Sweeney’s ad, often including photos or videos of them excelling in their specific sport, be it dance or flag football. It’s inspiring to see so many other women recognize the ad as disrespectful, even though just as many people don’t see an issue with the ad. Sweeney might be a sex symbol. She might be a Hollywood star. She might be a publicity genius. She might be a great person blessed with a wonderful figure. But at the end of the day, her ad for Novig, knowingly or not, mocked and degraded both women in sports and female sports fans and opened up a whole host of issues that I personally thought the world had moved past.
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September 22, 2026 PAGE 7
THE WORLD MIGHT BECOME OVERTHROWN BY HUMANOID ROBOTS Emily Urda | Opinions Editor
Technology has reached a point in which the outcomes are cleaned up after they happen, instead of taking preventative measures to protect individuals from dangerous outcomes. Technology is pervasive and its ability to completely change, automate and adapt life is nothing short of mind-blowing. Humans have an amazing ability to innovate, create and change things for the better of mankind, but what about when these breakthroughs are taken in dangerous directions? Humanity has innovated well past what it can anticipate from these discoveries. The future of scientific discovery depends on restraint, ethical considerations and preemptive planning. Artificial intelligence has plagued our social media. Some of the ways I’ve seen AI used are through the creation of apps with vibe-coding; that’s a big one, especially among my peer group. Another use of this has been small businesses creating posters for their food/information about their business. And finally, one of the most problematic ways AI is being used is to do computing, thinking and writing for others. I originally heard about ChatGPT in my English class, of all places, my senior year of high school. A guy I had classes with all
throughout high school told me he had used AI to write his essay for class. He was later kicked out of the honor society for this. AI usage is tempting. It sounds like something that could make your life easier, allowing you to go to bed earlier and have time to work on more important things, but this dependence creates cognitive offloading. On a larger scale, we see the loss of programming skills, how to write well and do simple but important math. With companies racing towards a more powerful AI, the normalization, integration and use of AI continues to interweave itself into our society. We should all be aware of how quickly AI has become extensive in our day-to-day life, and how dangerous it can potentially become. Another piece of technology that has integrated itself into our lives are phones. Phones are at our fingertips 24/7. Phone usage has become something people consider an addiction; people constantly post on social media and scroll on TikTok or Instagram Reels. I found my father scrolling
on YouTube Shorts one afternoon and I shuddered to think: my Dad, the biggest anti-smartphone person I know, had fallen into the very trap he warned me about. AI is integrated into every app and web browser, and with smartphones at our fingertips, what about the technology we don’t see? Clustered Regularly Interspaced Repeats, shook the biotechnology field. A relatively cheap but extremely powerful tool, CRISPR has the ability to edit genes. The biology works as an enzyme akin to a scissor reads a section of DNA via an RNA strand until it matches its own programmed section and begins to cut the DNA. It’s a relatively simple process and doesn’t cost a ton to reproduce. In a field where technology costs thousands of dollars, this piece of biotechnology is extremely accessible. The use of CRISPR has many potential applications like editing cancer genes, but also editing pretty much any sequence of DNA. DNA editing on human germline cells is currently illegal because it is not known what effects DNA editing can have
on humans long-term. In one of my biology classes, my professor mentioned a scientist had genetically altered embryos and was sentenced to prison for three years. Science can solve our problems, but it can also create many more: a big topic is the increasing use of AI and its depletion of our freshwater supplies. If we don’t have these natural resources, then we don’t have the ability to continue scientific discovery. AI is the end of the beginning of scientific discovery if we don’t responsibly use its power. Smartphones and DNA editing are tools that have become so powerful we can’t begin to fathom their long-term effects. Science desperately needs the lessons that humanities provide — the absence of empathy and abandonment of historical lessons. Did we not learn anything from nuclearization? Rampant innovation isn’t the answer to all problems.
SPORTS
WOMEN’S SOCCER OPENS ACC PLAY WITH COMEBACK VICTORY Sidney Shore | Sports Staff Writer
The Hokies bump their ACC failures from a year ago. Thursday night in Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech women’s soccer earned its first ACC win in two years, rallying past Pitt 2-1 in the rain. Freshman forward Riley Karpinski sealed the victory with a stunning strike from outside the box that curved over the keeper to the top-left corner of the goal. The Pennsylvania native’s strike came in the 77th minute of the game and marked her third goal of the season. After experiencing their first loss of this year to Illinois, the win put the Hokies (5-1-3) back in the win column to begin their ACC slate. The two halves could not have looked more different. In the first half, the weather
was dry, the sun was still shining and the Hokies struggled to take shots — a departure from their season average of 20.9 shots per match. Possession was even, and neither side was able to break through the other very well. Pitt (6-3-1) forward Sofia Doheny caused a lot of problems for Virginia Tech’s defense, putting three shots on target in the first half. Goalkeeper Julianna Trujillo stopped all three shots to keep the game scoreless. The Hokies’ offense, meanwhile, managed just three shots through the half, none of which found the target. Once the teams returned for the second half, the sun had set and the skies had opened. In the new rainy conditions, the
Hokies found a spark. In the first 10 minutes of the half, Tech took five shots and earned four corners. However, the Panthers managed to counter, with Doheny finally beating Trujillo to give the Panthers a 1-0 advantage. As the rain came down harder, the Hokies responded to the deficit by going on the attack and winning a corner. Hannah Pachan’s corner connected with freshman defender Celine Kampmann who headed it by the keeper to even the game just two minutes after Pitt took the lead. It was Kampmann’s first collegiate goal. The two sides battled for another 18 minutes until Karpinski scored the go-ahead goal, assisted by Pachan and Anna
Weir. After that, the Hokies went defensive. With 10 minutes left, Doheny went down in the Hokies’ penalty box, claiming to be fouled. The incident went under review, but ultimately the referee’s original call was upheld – there was no foul. After that scare, the Hokies held on to win. At the full-time whistle, Tech totalled 13 shots, 10 of which came in the second half. Trujillo managed a season-high six saves for the Hokies. Virginia Tech continues its ACC road trip on Sunday, when they face Syracuse at noon on ACCNX.
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HOKIES HANDLE MARYLAND IN FIRST REAL TEST COLLEGIATETIMES.COM
Brody Bryan | Sports Editor
Virginia Tech took down the Terrapins to end their non-conference Power Four losing streak. Virginia Tech’s first two games may have counted on the schedule, but neither offered much of a measuring stick. Any Power Four team worth the time of day should trounce VMI and Old Dominion. Going on the road to face a Big Ten opponent you haven’t beaten since 2009 is a different story. In fact, the Hokies had lost 15 straight games to power-conference opponents outside the ACC, a streak that dated back to 2017. Saturday night at SECU Stadium in College Park, Tech decided that history had hung around long enough. The Hokies conquered Maryland 35-26 to snap their losing streak and improve to 3-0 for the first time in nine seasons. “I thought we played really good complementary football,” said Hokies head coach James Franklin. “Offense, defense and special teams. Obviously there’s a lot of things that we’ve got to get corrected and cleaned up, but we’ll do that tomorrow.” What’s on the list of things to clean up? Pass defense, for one. Ter rapins quar terback Ma lik Washington, who drew a not-so-glowing review from Hokies cornerback Jaquez White earlier in the week, completed 30 of his 43 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. “I think [Washington] is really good,” Franklin said. “I don’t know why we made the comments we did earlier in the week. I didn’t agree with them when they were said and I don’t agree with them now. … He’s one of the better quarterbacks in the country.” As impressive as Washington was, Tech’s secondar y struggled with miscommunic at ion and busted coverages throughout the night. On Maryland’s first scoring drive, wide receiver Kaleb Webb ran free down the right sideline for a 44-yard gain. The Terrapins hit paydirt three plays later. Just before halftime, fellow wideout Chris Durr Jr. found himself all alone in the end zone for an easy touchdown. Then midway through the fourth quarter, Washington eluded pressure near his own goal line and fired a pass intended for tight end Dorian
Fleming. The ball bounced off Fleming’s fingertips and into the hands of receiver Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding for a 43-yard gain. “I’m not going to sit here and say we had a perfect game by any means,” said Hokies defensive end Aycen Stevens. “There’s things we got to clean up still to become a great defense.” On the other side of the quarterback battle, Ethan Grunkemeyer had arguably the best night of his young starting career. The Penn State transfer went 31-of-39 — his second time this season completing over 75% of his passes — for 314 yards and three touchdowns. He added an 18-yard rushing touchdown on third-and-goal after a disastrous start to the goal-to-go series for Tech. “I feel like a lot of people don’t give [Grunkemeyer] credit for his legs,” Stevens said. “He can run around a little bit.” “I think I’ve been talking about his ability to make plays with his feet, and he’s worked very hard at that,” Franklin said. “I thought that [touchdown] was a huge play in the game.” He wasn’t wrong. After a Marcellous Hawkins catch set up first-and-goal at the 1-yard line, the Hokies failed to execute a quarterback sneak and were backed up five yards by a false start. The offensive line then allowed a sack and lost starting left tackle Justin Terry to a left leg injury. Oklahoma transfer Logan Howland replaced him. “We think highly of [Howland],” Franklin said. “He’s worked his tail off. … We’ll find out about [Terry], but it’s going to be important for [Howland] to continue to develop and get better.” Grunkemeyer’s legs weren’t the only ones giving the Terrapins trouble. After averaging 2.1 yards per carry against the Monarchs last week, Tech averaged 3.6 Saturday night. That number isn’t eye-popping, but lead running backs Hawkins and Jeffrey Overton Jr. combined for 124 yards and both averaged over four yards per attempt. Overton’s lone rushing touchdown came from two yards out midway through the third quarter to extend the Hokies’ lead to 35-14.
Virginia Tech Hokies defensive line Cortez Harris (34) celebrates after sacking Old Dominion Big Blues’ quarterback Quinn Henicle (10) in Lane Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Blacksburg, Va.
As comfortable as it looked for the Hokies, Maryland wasn’t finished. The Terrapins scored the game’s final 12 points and had a chance to cut Tech’s lead to seven after Durr’s second touchdown of the night late in the fourth quarter. But Locksley opted for a two-point conversion, which fell short and kept the Hokies’ lead at two possessions. Locksley and Franklin are no strangers The two worked together under former Terrapins head coach Ralph Friedgen from 2000-2002 and faced off seven times as head coaches entering Saturday. Their most recent meeting before this season ended in a 44-7 Penn State drubbing of Maryland in which the Nittany Lions’ third-string offense scored a 15-yard touchdown — caught by current Hokies receiver Tyseer Denmark — as time expired, leading to an icy postgame handshake between the former colleagues. With three minutes remaining and Maryland out of timeouts, Franklin had a chance to close things out. Facing fourth and one, he kept the offense on the field, and tight end Luke Reynolds
backpedaled his way to a first down after a catch near the sideline. There were no late fireworks this time, though, as Grunkemeyer kneeled out the remaining seconds to seal Tech’s 35-26 victory. Three games into Franklin’s tenure, the good vibes are rolling. And the team seems to be enjoying itself. “They’re having fun,” Franklin said. “God forbid you have fun, right? … Everyone talks about toughness and all these types of things, but it’s still a game. They should be having fun right now. They are having fun.” Next up for the Hokies is ACC play, which begins next Saturday at noon ET in Chestnut Hill against Boston College on ACCN.
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