Technician
thursday april
12 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Student Government elections receive low voter turnout Student Government elections this year were met with less enthusiasm than previous years. Lindsey Rosenbaum Staff Writer
Turnout for last month’s Student Government elections was significantly lower than for the past several years, despite various efforts to increase student interest.
N.C. Skate will ride for autism this weekend University skateboarding club to hold competition with all proceeds going to organization for autism. Will Brooks Deputy News Editor
The skateboarding club, N.C. Skate, will be holding a charity competition this Saturday to benefit autistic children. Matt Brokaw, president of N.C. Skate and senior in construction engineering and management, said the club holds competitions like this at least once a semester. “We officially became a club sport a year and a half ago,” Brokaw said. “Since then we have been doing at least one or two events per semester, usually for charity, where we bring a whole bunch of skateboarders from all over North Carolina.” Brokaw said he encourages anyone interested to come to the event, which is free to spectators. The competition will be held at Mars Creek Skate Park in Raleigh, a new venue for the club. “This is the first competition we’re doing off campus; usually we do them at the Wolf Plaza,” Brokaw said. Patricia Carrow, secretary for N.C.
Skate continued page 3
When the polls closed, 4,056 students, or about 12 percent of the student body, had voted. Andy Walsh won his presidential campaign with 2,160 votes. Jonathan Smith came in second, and Caroline Yopp came in third. Those who voted in the elections did so because they were very much aware of the impact Student Government makes on campus and wanted to be a part of that process.
“Whether it is setting up events, or giving out free stuff in the Brickyard, [Student Government] has definitely made a noticeable impact on my college experience,” Alex Mull, freshman in business administration, said. Mull worries many students on campus don’t appreciate or even know what their Student Government does for them. “They could send out a report of
sophomore in management, said. “I think the Student Government plays a major role [on campus] and we need to elect student leaders who will represent us well.” The big three organizations on campus consists of the Student Government, the Inter-Residence Counsel and University Activities Board, all of which serve the students.
what they accomplished and how it affects the students, much like the president of the United States gives a State of the Union address,” Mull said. Even though many students weren’t informed of the policies set for by the candidate for Student Government President, they understood the importance of their vote. “[I voted because] it was part of the big three,” Erin Hunter, a
Voters continued page 5
10-digit dialing code causes misdials The new 10-digit dialing system in Raleigh has received mixed responses. Jessie Halpern Deputy News Editor
About two weeks since 10-digit dialing began in the Triangle, it has received mixed reviews from local businesses and emergency communication centers. Some may have noticed you can no longer leave out the area code when calling someone in the 919. Since March 30, all 919ers must dial all 10 digits of the phone number, no matter how local the outgoing call. ATCOM Business Telecom Solutions, a local phone system provider, has more than 4,000 customers in the affected area. With offices in both Charlotte and Greensboro, ATCOM has experienced this type of change before when areas had to make the same kind of switch due to a shortage of available numbers in the same area code. “We didn’t have nea rly a s ma ny problems this time,” David Finch, CEO of ATCOM said. In fact, he called it “miraculous” that out of all the multitude of
customers, only two had actual issues because of the dialing change. All ATCOM’s customers receive programming service in person. Because of this, it is possible for certain human errors to occur during programming for callout systems. For example, a service provider might not have programmed the number to dial back including the area code – something that wasn’t a problem until now. To make sure medical providers could avoid any life-threatening issues caused by a possible human error, ATCOM prioritized its medic a l customers and checked
our resources are being tapped. We had four and six times the amount of hang-ups on Saturday and Monday that we had to dispatch.” While the center can usually get in touch with a caller by dialing back, they have to send an officer out to investigate about 20 percent of the time. Monday, one officer was dispatched every seven minutes, solely because of the dialing change confusion. “When our operators are taking calls by frustrated people who don’t understand why they have to dial an area code to call their neighbor, they’re not able to answer the next call that could be an actual emergency,” Furey said. “The same can be said for the officers who are out investigating hang-ups.” Furey said he is concerned about this issue. He says this was a problem they expected, but the center had hoped this time they might be wrong. Jim Soukup, however, has not had the same problem at the Durham Emergency Communication Center. As director, he said any issues caused the first few days have settled down. “We’re in good shape; we aren’t experiencing much of an inconvenience because of the dialing changes,” Soukup said. While Durham is free from worry, N.C. State students should take the necessary precautions when dialing so as not to clog the Raleigh-Wake system.
their systems well in advance. Nurses from North Raleigh Pediatrics and the Call-A-Nurse agency, which is used for after-hours medical calls, also said they have not experienced problems. Yet, Barry Furey, director of the Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center, says some initial problems caused by the new dialing have not yet been rectified. Mainly, people are dialing 911 instead of 919, so they are automatically being transferred to the emergency line. “When you hear a nine and a one, it’s almost an automatic response to put another one after it – people are getting confused and frustrated,” Furey said. “It’s not as much an issue of ou r l i ne s being blocked up, it’s more that
Sarah Tudor/Technician
University alum discusses language challenges in Africa A University alum spoke yesterday about the struggles of language in Africa. Sarah Dashow Staff Writer
Kodjo Adabra, N.C. State masters alum in French and assistant professor at the State University of New York, returned to campus Wed. to present his essay on African languages. “Kodjo is a very remarkable young man. He has lived in many places. He speaks five languages...and he’s brilliant,” Michele Magill, associate professor of foreign languages
and literatures, said. “In the foreign languages department, we’re always thinking about the value of the languages that we teach. French, compared to Spanish sometimes, is a little overlooked...but so many millions speak French in Africa.” His lecture opened with the concern of some African writers who believe the linguistic remnants of colonization, English, French and Portuguese, are imposed upon the natives who would prefer a return to their native tongue. “We ask if it’s critical to suggest that the concept or an idea specific to a certain African tradition can not be accurately translated into
French, English and Portuguese another language because of cul- Adabra said. His argument suggests having are deeply rooted in African daily tural differences inherent to the two societies where the two languages colonial languages is beneficial life, it is almost impossible to simto these nations. ply get rid of them,” Adabra said. originated,” AdabWit h most A f- “We argue that those languages are ra said during his rican countries part of a linguistic heritage from presentation. having over 150 colonial times and should be, in a He spoke on the native languages, word, changed, or should I say, doproblems t hese it would be al- mesticated.” writers see with He concluded eradicating the most impossible to the use of foreign choose one official European languages from African languages. language. French, society would deny opportunities “These lanKodjo Adabra, assistant English and Por- for fellow Africans to communicate guages are the exprofessor at the State tuguese provide a across boundaries. clusive domain of University of New York Technician “[Publishing in only African lanneutral ground for the miniscule, the Gotta catch hONeyBeaR PSUedOeURO guages] unquestionably creates a Africans wishing educated minority ‘em all and remain incomprehensible to the to communicate with one another. “However, because we find that masses and most people in Africa,” African continued page 3
“These languages are the exclusive domain of the miniscule...”
The Fifth
page 8 • thursday, april 12, 2012
Hungry friend
Obnoxiously cultured friend
A
dmit it. It’s part of our past. There’s no need to be ashamed. If anything, it should be embraced. You, us, your mother—everyone loved Pokémon. Pokémon was the first, and most effective, diversity training we’ve ever experienced. The name of the game was to collect them all, all 150 of those slightly cracked-out creatures. You couldn’t spend all your time hanging out exclusively with the Squirtles or Snorlaxes of the world. You had to branch out and broaden your horizons. All the fun of the games and shows was the discovery of what else was out there. The fun of college follows the same principle. Never in your life will you be exposed to as many different creatures as those that reside around you right now. Simply put, there’s a lot to see out there, and it’s up to you to collect them all. Here’s just a handful of friends you might want to consider capturing along the way.
insidetechnician
F
Met during: your unlimited meal plan
Faux Accent: Three months in France have somehow replaced 20 years of Southern living. The accent works well with male specimens, until origins are discovered to be false.
YOLO on BOGO: If a grocery store ever holds a buy-one-get-one-free on his favorite product/ any product, he will clear the shelves at all Triangle area locations.
American Blast: The Euro One has the ability to find fault in all things American—even Arbor Day. Avoid talking about America at all costs.
wEAknESS Shanghai Express
rESiSTAnCE Eating is cheating
Rich friend
N.C. State returns to winning ways against Elon. See page 12.
More than skin deep
10% off all Caps Gowns & Diploma Frames
Editor Deputy Editor Designer
The FiFTh is The Technician’s FirsT parody secTion based on oF collegiaTe liFe. iT is in no way a reFlecTion oF The Technician or a represenTaTion oF iTs views.
Frugalness: While you do not expect them to pay for you, you do expect them to pay their own way. In a twist of logic, they find their trust fund exempts them from throwing in on cab fare.
The Fifth wEAknESS Getting cut-off
State keeps on rolling with two more wins. See page 12.
Met during: a Tuesday night out Sketchiness: While he gave up a life of crime years ago, every time he takes a call in the other room or sends a text, anxiety builds in you as if you’re part of Breaking Bad. But, most of the time, he’s just talking to his mom.
rESiSTAnCE The mooch
viewpoint features classifieds sports
4 5 7 8
Storytime: His years of trapping have given him a wealth of stories. Ask him about one and be prepared to not sleep for a week. He makes Requiem for a Dream look like Cinderella.
Athlete’s arms provide a canvas for their Gotta catch ‘em all. See page 8. lives. See page 9. The FiFTh: named for the Pokémon nobody liked—Charmeleon.
Grad Fair Class Rings
CONTRIBUTORS Josh Lucas Elise Heglar Taylor Cashdan
Softball maintains its winning ways
rESiSTAnCE Rosetta Stone
ChaRlIe
Met during: brief club V.I.P. experience
FiFTh
With another year behind them, the N.C. State drumline looks back and prepares for the fall season. See page 6.
Baseball downs Phoenix, 14-2
wEAknESS American friends
Reformed dealer friend
BROTheR Of BROOkS
The
Drumline reflects on upbeat year
Met during: high school
Honeyhole: Not trusting his roommates with shared cabinet space in the kitchen, the Honeybear will start storing his food in his room. When he spends alone time in his room, he’s not doing anything sketchy—he’s feeding.
wEAknESS Friends of Bill W.
rESiSTAnCE The metric system
r i a F Grad
NC State Bookstores April 10 - 12 10am - 6pm for more info: go.ncsu.edu/grad-fair
Graduation Announcements
Diploma Frames