Collegiate Times

A Pew Research Center analysis of census data shows the number of new married adults in the U.S. dropped by 5 percent.

Currently, only 51 percent of people 18 and older are married, compared to 72 percent in 1960.

Pew attributes this partially to people marrying later in life. First-time brides are, on average, 26.5 years old and first-time grooms are 28.7 years old–both record-high numbers. Additionally, cohabitation and single parenthood are becoming more common.

Read the full report here.

Hokies for Crouse broke $100,ooo.

The money will be used to help the Crouse family in their time of financial need.

Additionally, RunAbout Sports, a running store in the University Mall, will donate proceeds from its 9th Annual Frosty 5k to the fund.

Students can also donate by leaving their books at BookHolders, which will donate sales.

After last Thursday’s tragic events, the Hokie community has reached out in a number of ways to help out the family of fallen officer Deriek Crouse.

One of the most successful is the Officer Deriek Crouse Memorial Fund. By late Monday night, the fund had raised almost $85,000.The money will go to his family to help them pay for the funeral as well as other potential expenses.

“When we first got the email from President Steger saying that Officer Crouse will be succeeded by his five kids, my heart just broke,” said senior human development major Bethany Darnley.  “Especially around the Christmas season. It’s hard to lose a father in the first place, but during a time where you spend so much time with family.  I felt horrible for them.”

Darnley and senior communications major Drew Jenkinson were quick to form the Hokies for Crouse website.

“I felt like I had all this free time because I’m done with finals,” Darnley said.  “I felt like we should work on trying to do something for them.”

Through their website and Twitter page, the two are trying to raise money and awareness for the Crouse family. The website can be viewed here.

“When you watched the response online, everyone was saying that their thoughts and prayers were with the family,” Jenkinson said.  “All of us are thinking about it, but I think our thing is bridging the gap between thought and action.”

Hokies for Crouse is also working with local businesses to help raise money.  Bookholders is offering an option for students to give their books back to the store instead of selling them, and Bookholders will give the money directly to the Memorial Fund.

Students can also purchase a ‘Stay Strong and Gobble On’ T-shirt, designed by freshmen Jarrod Freeman and Sarah Little.

The shirt was inspired by an image Freeman posted online after the events on Thursday that said ‘Keep Calm and Gobble On,’ according to Little.  The line was changed from ‘Keep Calm’ to ‘Stay Strong’ by popular demand.

The back of the shirt will include Officer Crouse’s name and date of death, as well as the phrase ‘neVer forgeT,’ according to Freeman.

“We’ve made a Facebook group for it, and we’ve already have over one thousand people in the last two days,” Freeman said. “We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback.  And the t-shirt company we’re working with is helping out a lot as well.”

Shirts will be available starting next semester and will come in both long and short sleeve.

In addition, tuition will be waived at any Virginia public school for the Crouse children.

A state law says that a child of a fallen police officer can attend any community college or four-year public school in the state of Virginia free of tuition provided they are accepted as a normal applicant, according to Barry Simmons, director of scholarships and financial aid.

Simmons also noted that a fund is being created through the Bank of Blacksburg to help the Crouse children with other fees besides tuition.

By news staff writer Kelsey Jo Starr

The funeral for Officer Deriek W. Crouse will be at Cassell Coliseum Monday at 2:00 p.m.

Friends and family will be received at the Horne Funeral Home at 1300 N. Franklin St in Christiansburg on Sunday from 3:00 — 8:00p.m.

Online condolences may be left here.

The Virginia Tech Alumni Association – Richmond Chapter is donating $1,000 to the memorial fund established for Officer Deriek W. Crouse, who was killed in the Dec. 8 shootings.

The chapter includes about 14,000 people in the Richmond area. The executive board expects additional alumni can make donations though the fund in the name of the association, which can be done here. Or, checks can be sent to Alumni Association - Richmond Chapter, P.O. Box 25066, Richmond, VA 23260-5066 with “Crouse memorial fund” written in the memo.

“There really aren’t any winners in this situation,” said Emily Redd, president of the student body at Radford University. “I think I can say with confidence that the whole Radford community is grieving right now.”

Redd, a junior English major from Galax, Virginia, also said she attended the same high school – Carroll County High School – that the deceased officer Crouse attended.

Redd said that Radford’s student government wants to help Tech honor officer Crouse.

“I want to contact the Virginia Tech SGA,” Redd said. “I know Tech has already set up a memorial for officer Crouse’s family, and I think we want to get involved with that.”

While students mourn the loss of the officer, Redd said having lost a fellow student makes the situation even harder.

“It was hard enough to watch the Virginia Tech community get through it, and now to know we were involved is just heartbreaking.”

According to a message from Radford’s president Penny Kyle, students can receive 24-hour support by calling ACCESS at (540)961-8400 or CONNECT (540)731-7385.

The Crouse Memorial Fund has reached over $33,000 as of 10:30 p.m. Friday.

The money will be donated to Deriek W. Crouse’s family in their “time of financial stress.”

Money can be donated online via PayPal or checks and gift cards can be sent to:

Dana Sutphin,
PO BOX 90002
Blacksburg Virginia 24062-9002

The Cook Counseling Center and East Eggleston Hall will be open for students needing counseling.

Both centers will be open Friday from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The McComas Hall location will also be open Saturday from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00–5:00 p.m. Appointments can be made at (540)-231-6557 but walk-ins are welcome. After hours, students with emergencies can call (540)-231-6444.

Faculty and staff can receive counseling at the Southgate Center individually or as a group. Walk-ins are welcome on Friday during normal business hours or appointments can be made at (540)-231-9331.

By Nick Cafferky

In response to today’s events at Virginia Tech and the resulting death of officer Deriek Crouse of the Virginia Tech Police Department, Gov. Bob McDonnell addressed media Thursday night via teleconference to praise everyone involved with how the day was handled.

“I want to say that the multiple law enforcement agencies that were involved,” McDonnell said. “The Virginia Tech officials, the staff and the students are all to be commended for a very fast and very proper response.”

In addition to his praise, McDonnell also talked about his personal interest in today’s events, as his daughter, Rachel, a communication major, was one of the students in lockdown in Shanks.

“I spoke to her and texted her on a number of occasions,” McDonnell said. “I felt like so many parents who had children on the Virginia Tech campus. I felt that a lot of that angst and uncertainty when the initial reports came in about the shooting.”

McDonnell also let it be known that he has reached out to Tech President Charles Steger to let him know that the state is willing to offer whatever resources needed for the investigation as well as the for the safety of the students.