Technician
thursday march
22 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Candidates face vandalism issues Student body presidential candidates are experiencing problems with sign vandalism and theft.
New programs to lower textbook costs This summer, the NCSU Bookstore will be making several changes to help lower book prices.
Will Brooks Deputy News Editor
Several days into the election, candidates’ signs have been spray-painted, knocked down and stolen. Jonathon Smith, student body presidential candidate, said he hasn’t had a tremendous problem with vandalism, but has experienced some issues. “I got a ca l l last week t hat some skateboarders were using my signs as a ramp,” Smith said. “I got [to the sign] and the boards were nearly split in half.” Smith said the vandalism is unfortunate for all candidates. He expressed his disappointment in the vandalism. “We’re all really committed to this, so to see that kind of thing is discouraging,” Smith said. Andy Walsh, student body presidential candidate, experienced the most Jordan Moore/Technician vandalism. Walsh said one particular A student walks by a vandalized sign in the Court of North Carolina, that endorses Andy Walsh for student body president. event appeared to be a direct attack. Walsh’s large wooden “A-frame” dential candidate, said although sign in the Court of Carolinas was the only one that particularly annoyed touch them.” There are no suspects as to who may she hasn’t experienced as much him. spray-painted “I thought that have vandalized the sign, but Smith vandalism as Walsh, it is an unforwith the words was a pretty di- said he didn’t suspect foul play among tunate thing to happen to anyone. “cheater,” and “I think that coming out and rect attack, and fellow candidates. “stupid.” “I’m thinking that it is just typical doing something like that, you’re I ’m t he on l y “I’m the only person that has students going crazy on campus at basically tearing up someone else’s ca ndidate to property,” Yopp said. “Even if you had that happen nighttime,” Smith said. bu i ld one of Although the sign was vandalized, don’t agree with the person or the to them,” Walsh those A-frame said. “I don’t care Walsh said he continues to keep his platform, I encourage people not sig ns,” Wa l sh Jonathon Smith, to take it out on their campaign.” what you do with head up. said. “I want a presidential candidate All candidates said they are keep“I keep doing my own thing, trying my signs after lot of votes.” Tuesday of next to win the election,” Walsh said. Wa l s h e xCaroline Yopp, student body presiplained the spray-paint incident was week, but until then, just please don’t vandals continued page 3
“I’m thinking it’s just typical students going crazy on campus at nighttime.”
Shawn Thompson Staff Writer
Students will soon be able to participate in new cost saving programs that will be implemented this summer to decrease textbook expenses. A Chancellor’s Liaison Meeting, held Feb. 29, focused on innovative ways to help students save money on course materials, like the introduction of a mobile textbook buyback app for Android and iOS users. Although students have access to some textbook cost-reduction programs, the new programs are projected to increase those savings. Currently, Bookstore programs like Sales Tax Holiday, eBooks, and Guaranteed Textbook Buyback help students cut expenses. During the sales tax holiday, students have a weekend to purchase their fall textbooks tax free. In-store shoppers and online shoppers both benefit from this event, which averages sales tax savings of $150,000 each year. “It depends on the class on how I feel about the textbook cost. But I usually try to purchase used books because they’re much cheaper. I wish there were more options when purchasing WebAssign for class, like being able to purchase it without having to buy the book too,” Katherine Selman, junior in zoology, said. EBook s have been ava i lable through NCSU Bookstores since 2008. The eBooks are made possible through partnerships with three providers of digital textbooks. CourseSmart is one of the current providers, offering savings up to 50 percent off
books continued page 4
insidetechnician
Sarah Tudor/Technician
Andy Walsh, a student body presidential candidate, speaks about diversity within N.C. State, during the Diversity Debate. In response to the second question asked-should undocumented students be able to enroll at N.C. State Walsh said, “All students should get access to information…Not having these students in the classroom hinders the environment.”
Ladies in Red brought class and talent See page 8.
Diversity debate poses tough questions Student body president hopefuls were asked various questions about diversity during last night’s debate. Jessie Halpern Deputy News Editor
Matt Woodward, senior in applied sociology, moderated a debate on the issue of campus diversity last night in the Student Senate chambers, where student body officer candidates were invited to field questions. Several minority groups on campus, most notably the GLBT Center, Multicultural Student Affairs and the Women’s Center, hosted the debate. These organizations, as well as other students, submitted questions for the debate via email. While hopefuls for student body treasurer and other positions were in attendance, presidential candidates were the first to be questioned.
To begin, Woodward asked a unique with minor variations. With only five general questions question causing each of the candidates to pause and consider their an- posed, the debate took a more serious turn when Woodward asked the secswer. “How can the University facilitate ond question- should undocumented creating a climate in which women de- students be able to enroll at N.C. State? Walsh was the first to answer this velop deeper relationships with each other across ethnic backgrounds,” controversial inquiry. “All students should get access to Woodward asked. education,” Walsh Caroline Yopp, said. “Not having presidential candithese students in the date, was the first to classroom hinders answer, mentioning the environment.” her experience on Smith, up next, the appropriations added a qualifier to committee, claimhis response. ing it gave her direct “I agree that everycontact to diverse one should have the ca mpus g roups rights to basic necesorganized for feCaroline Yopp, sities, but I believe males. Yopp stressed presidential candidate we need to reform the importance of t he immig rat ion attending events, and candidates Andy Walsh, junior system and make it easier for people in political science, and Jonathon to come here legally,” Smith said. Finally, Yopp responded by saying Smith, junior in agriculture, agreed
“Sometimes we don’t understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes.”
she did not want to linger on politics. Instead, she offered an anecdote and told the audience of her trips to different parts of Mexico, where she taught young students English. “Sometimes we don’t understand what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes,” Yopp said. As the debate continued, candidates answered questions about increasing African American enrollment rates and students with disabilities. In addition, Woodward posed a question on whether the candidates would support genderneutral housing. Though the means by which they came to their answers differed, all three candidates agreed if there is a need for something amongst the student body, it is worthwhile to do the necessary research to make that happen.
debate continued page 3
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Manning up for the NFL See page 10.
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