Final answer:
The word that completes the sentence is 'empty'. The university appeared busy but was lacking substance. 'Desolate' can also be fit, indicating the university was empty or inactive, despite the pageantry suggesting vibrancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that completes the sentence is empty. The sentence suggests that although the university appeared to be full of activity, the reality was that it was empty or lacking substance. The word 'virtually' indicates that the university was only pretending to have students, while in reality, there were no actual students present. The word 'pageantry' refers to the elaborate and showy display put on for visitors, further emphasizing the deceptive nature of the university's appearance.