Technician
wednesday april
18 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Governor devotes week to volunteer efforts in N.C. North Carolina governor encourages volunteering with an entire week devoted to service. Shawn Thompson Staff Writer
archive photo/Technician
N.C. State transportatioin planner Alison Carpeter talks with Chris Font about bicycle safety Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. Font, a senior in electrical engineering, just finished the N.C. State Transportation bike tour, which snaked around common biking locations such as Dan Allen, Hillsborough, and Pullen.
Campus awarded ‘bike friendly’ status N.C. State’s many bikerfriendly programs have qualified it to win a state-wide recognition. Elise Heglar News Editor
The League of American Bicyclists recently awarded N.C. State with the official honor of “bicycle friendly” status. N.C. State is the third UNC-System school to receive this status. The League of American Bicyclists has also recognized the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. David Crye, assistant director for Outdoor Adventures, explained the
insidetechnician
application process for this recognition. “You have to apply for it, and depending on what kinds of programs you have, you can get awarded a status,” Crye said. There are platinum, gold, silver and bronze ratings available in the program. N.C. State is currently at the bronze status, but according to Alison Carpenter, planner for University Transportation, this could eventually change. “[This recognition] sort of sets a goal for the University to become more bicycle-friendly,” Carpenter said. After submitting a detailed application that includes a comprehensive list of all programs offered to bikers, the evaluation is completed
when a certified bicycle instructor visits and evaluates campus. The instructors that come are certified North Carolina residents. The University already offers programs bikers can take advantage of, including campus biking tours, a class on fixing bikes at the Crafts Center and WolfWheels. Carpenter plans to add more in the future. “Various things on campus are happening to support bikers. There’s a lot going on, it’s just that these things take time. Slowly, we’ll see improvements on campus,” Carpenter said. Achieving this bicycle friendly status is beneficial for the University because it could bring more prospective students in, according to Carpenter. In addition to potential
students, local Raleigh residents could also benefit from this new status. “It’s a national recognition, and that’s a big deal. It’s one more reason why someone might want to come here and see what we have going on,” Carpenter said. Biking has become a more frequent mode of transportation for many students, including Stephen Lindberg, a junior in art and design. Lindberg lives in an off-campus apartment and rides his bike to school in order to cut out travel time to campus. “I live next to campus, so biking is my most convenient way to class,” Lindberg said.
Bike continued page 2
Virtual Testing
EP: a new start for T0W3RS See page 3.
Spring weather lures students to green spaces See page 5.
Gymnast on quest for NCAA honors
Tyler Andrews/Technician
See page 8.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
4 5 7 8
Zhongqiang Chen, graduate in mechanical engineering, reaches into a virtual door pannel while sitting in Ford Motor Company's Programmable Vehicle Model on Tuesday in EB III. The PVM, which allows engineers to evaluate the design options of vehicles, was prepared by Ford as a demonstration for N.C. State's student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers corporate sponsored luncheon.
Governor Bev Perdue announced that AmeriCorps members and volunteers across North Carolina will participate in different service projects as part of National Volunteer Week, April 15 - 21. National Volunteer Week is an event sponsored by the Points of Light Institute and the Hands On Network. The Volunteer Week theme for this year is “Celebrating People in Action,” honoring ordinary people doing extraordinary things to improve communities across the nation. AmeriCorps members and volunteer centers will take part in activities across North Carolina by providing literacy services for children, feeding the homeless and other community service activities. AmeriCorps is a national service program designed to increase both volunteering and civic engagement. Members of the program tutor and mentor the youth, improve the quality of care for preschool children and advocate the need for energy efficient housing for lowincome families. “National Volunteer Week is a time for North Carolinians to celebrate the service they provide to their communities. I encourage all North Carolinians to give back by helping a neighbor in need or volunteering with a local nonprofit organization,” Gov. Perdue said in a press release. A variety of volunteer activities will be conducted during National Volunteer Week. Several North Carolina counties have particular activities taking place that meet the specific requirements of their communities. Alamance County AmeriCorps members will partner with Centro la Comunidad for their Access Project volunteer event. Access Project is an informational event for community members and provides activities for children, including group reading, arts and crafts projects, and much more. Guilford County AmeriCorps will hold activities for their Partnership to End Homelessness event. Members of AmeriCorps will divide into groups for activities targeting homelessness and beautification projects. Nonmembers of AmeriCorps will also be able to participate in the events. AmeriCorps will recruit volunteers to help plant a community garden at Youth Focus to increase awareness about gardening and produce benefits to those in need. “There are so many ways to get involved, I think it’s really great. It’s also cool nonmembers of AmeriCorps are able to take part in helping their communities,” Stephanie Johnson, freshman in engineering, said. Volunteers will also be needed to help cook and serve meals for the homeless during other events. AmeriCorps will be hosting a “Community Awareness Cookout for Homelessness” as well.
helping continued page 2
The new iPad
With the stunning Retina display, 5MP iSight camera and ultrafast 4G LTE
Page 2/News
page 2 • wednesday, april 18, 2012
Corrections & Clarifications
Technician
Through Jordan’s lens
Send all clarifications and corrections to Editor-in-Chief Laura Wilkinson at editor@ technicianonline.com
Weather Wise Today:
66/52 Cooler and overcast with scattered showers.
Tomorrow:
73 54 Warmer with clouds breaking for some sun.
Friday:
I spy with my little eye... 77 59
photo By Jordan Moore
W
A bit warmer with partly cloudy skies and a slight chance of scattered thunderstorms. source: Emilia Hahn and Katy Shawkey
Talley Construction Update
ill Duncan, a junior in psychology, lounges in the Court of North Carolina between classes Tuesday. The wide open space, surrounded by trees, provides a comforting area for many students on campus. “I just listen to music before class starts,” Duncan said. “It’s killer.”
Campus Cinema Schedule
Existing Talley 1. Remove scaffolding on the north side 2. Complete the 2nd floor corridor electrical work 3. Complete the 3rd and 4th floor separation walls 4. Start the North stairwell separation wall
Thursday, April 19 — 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 20 — 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21 — 11:59 p.m. Sunday, April 22 — 7 p.m.
North of Talley - West Side (Future site of Dock, Dining, Senate Chambers & Arts N.C. State) 1. Complete the precast demolition 2. Start the shoring and excavation west Talley elevation North of Talley - East Side (Future site of Dining, Ballroom and Meeting Rooms) 1. Start the temporary stair erection on the northeast corner of Talley 2. Start the shoring and excavation at east Talley elevation 3. Staging for demolition
Man on a Ledge — As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex-con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in motion. Thursday, April 19 — 7 p.m. Friday, April 20 — 9 p.m. Saturday, April 21 — 9 p.m. Sunday, April 22 — 9 p.m. Up — By tying thousands of balloon to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredrickson sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America.
Other areas 1. Continue backfill at the Talley carriageway on Cates Avenue. Source: TJ Willis, assistant director University Student Centers
helping
to preserve history. However, the opposing side argues the wreckage is the graveyard for those lost during the disaster, and disturbing it would be an insult to their memory. “I think any and all remains should be left undisturbed,” Spicer said. “I would agree that would be grave robbing. I think historians should take the wishes of the family into account and be extremely careful with any recovery efforts.” “These people are heroes to their families… historians should respect that,” Torain said. She adds how important it is to teach about the tragedy of the Titanic in school curriculums. “I t hi n k teachi ng about any historical event is necessary,” Torain said. “We teach history so that we may understand and learn from it. Teaching the Titanic story is just as important as teaching slavery, or the event at Waco.”
During National Volunteer Week, participating counties will also acknowledge those who are active in their communities. Stokes County AmeriCorps and Children Together members will collaborate with high school volunteers to honor volunteers that serve at different non-profits across Stoke County. All volunteers will be recognized for their service during a dinner provided by members of Stoke County AmeriCorps. Stock County AmeriCorps members will also assist families and children to promote social issues ranging from early care and education to healthcare for children during the Week of the Young Child event, held at the Little Folks Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 21. N.C. State and other Wake County residents can volunteer with Wake County AmeriCorps Access JobLink
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Underworld: Awakening — When human forces discover the existence of the Vampire and Lycan clans, a war to eradicate both species commences. The vampire warrioress Selene leads the battle against humankind.
This week, construction noise will continue to be at level RED.
titanic
Friday, April 20 — 11:59 p.m. Saturday, April 21 — 7 p.m. Source: ncsu.edu/cinema
“a fiery blend of raucous Indian bhangra and funky New Orleans brass” –THE VILLAGE VOICE
919-515-1100 • 2nd floor, Talley ncsu.edu/arts $5 NCSU students, $21-$25 faculty/staff Pre-show talk with Dr. Alison Arnold 7pm, Talley Walnut Room Promo Sponsor: WKNC 88.1FM
Check out a live Red Baraat show!
RED BARAAT Saturday, April 21 at 8pm • Stewart Theatre
“FUN AS HELL ” –Chicago Reader
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NCAA
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plans to attend graduate school to study occupational therapy. Unfortunately, N.C. State doesn’t offer the program she’s looking for, so Fincham will have to continue her education elsewhere. “I want to help children with disabilities, mental and physically disabilities, so they can learn to use their disadvantages in a better way.” The humbled junior said she’s proud to be a part of the 2012-2013 NCSU DANCE TEAM SPRING TRYOUTS Dates: April 27-29, 2012
Location: Carmichael Gymnasium •Friday, April 27 6:00-8:00 Courts 6 & 7 Pre-Audition Clinic •Saturday, April 28 9:30-3:00 Courts 6 & 7 Tryouts Day 1 •Sunday, April 12:00-4:00 Courts 9 & 10 Tryouts Day 2/Final Cuts For more information please visit
www.ncstatedanceteam.org
members to assist with setup of Spring Fest 2012. Other volunteer duties include supervising games and other activities during the event. Spring Fest 2012 takes place on Saturday, April 21, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Along with Spring Fest 2012, Wake County AmeriCorp members will also be assisting with HELPscotch, a Triangle-wide day of volunteering and helping others, from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. “I think National Volunteer Week is a good idea, as long as people are aware of it, and it’s accessible for everyone to participate. Some people may want to help out, but are unable to participate because of the locations of events, which can prevent perspective volunteers from not participating,” Genevieve Vernon, sophomore in fashion design, said.
championships but would rather the whole team be a part of the experience. “It was def initely a dream and goal of mine to get here,” Fincham said. “I hope the whole team goes next year.” Fincham w i l l begin her pursuit for a national championship Friday at Gwinnett Arena in Duluth, Ga.
bike
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While Lindberg does feel safe biking through campus for the most part, he admits to previously experiencing problems dealing with vehicles on campus. He was once struck by a car while traveling on Sullivan Dr. “I think the main problem on campus is the drivers. They don’t understand bikers and they get upset even when we try to follow the law,” Lindberg said. According to Lindberg, it is common to experience problems with cars when riding on Dan Allen Drive or anywhere on campus where one would ride in the street. “I’ve had people in cars yell at me to ride on the sidewalk, which is ridiculous because that’s illegal,” Lindberg said. Though he has experienced some trouble biking on campus, Lindberg maintains the University has done a good job of making campus accommodating for bikers. “I really feel like the school does as good a job as it can,” Lindberg said. Making campus more bicycle-friendly has been a top priority in the past year, according to Carpenter. University Transportation has been making efforts to bring bikes to the forefront of student transportation by adding new programs and creating conversation about biking. Crye supports the effort to bring more biking to campus because of the sheer amount of people traveling through the area on a daily basis. “It’s a great thing because there’s always a lot of people moving around on campus,” Crye said.
News/Features
Technician
EP: a new start for T0W3RS T0W3RS will release their new album April 27. Jordan Alsaqa
Lindsey Rosenbaum Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Tim Lytvinenko
Derek Torres is the founder of T0w3rs and is an N.C. State alumnus.
of time the band has taken to pressure.” Still, Torres said he feels develop, Torres is still proud the band has managed to of the album they’ve put todo a great job on stage. The gether. Torres described “If All We band’s continues to try to do something special for their Have is Time” as a break-up album. live performances. “I ended a long-term re“I feel that live shows lationshould be sh ip w it h unique exa wom a n periences,” and I felt Torres said. really lost “I want to and empty,” go to a live Torres said. show a nd Derek Torres, founder of “I tried to feel t hat T0W3RS make songs what I saw about that, w i l l on ly be seen that night and never but I wanted to make them incredibly positive. I didn’t again.” As a result, Torres is not want to make another sad worried about how the al- bastard record because there bum is received. Torres began are so many of them.” Torre’s only has one regret recording, “If All We Have is Time,” in September 2010, about the album—the curbefore the band had even rent band isn’t featured on it. “The live band speaks for been formed. Despite the lengthy amount itself,” Torres said. “In ways,
“T0W3RS’s debut album will release April 27.”
I’m disappointed the band isn’t on the album.” Torres hopes anyone who hears the album will give the live show a chance. T0W3RS has several live performances lined up for the end of this month, including a show at All Day Records April 28. Overall, Torres remains thankful for the amount of success the band has had so far, and feels the group has the talent to keep performing at their current level. “At this point, I think we’ve been blessed with an amazing amount of opportunity,” Torres said. “It’s been nice.” T0W3RS’s debut album will release April 27. The group’s previous work can be found at t0w3rs.bandcamp.com.
tonight! The Arabian Nights Wed-Sun, April 18-22 Evenings 7:30pm, Sundays 2pm Titmus Theatre
Scheherezade unfolds her stories, each more wondrous than the last, with action and adventure, humor, and sometimes even a touch of naughty. This is not the Disney version!
long-acting
safe
Twitterverse hit with reality of shipwreck
With the re-release of the film, some students reflect on the history behind the plot.
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The North Carolina-based band T0W3RS has had a pretty good run since its formation in March 2011. After the group put out its Summertime EP and landed a gig playing at Hopscotch, the band has managed to continue playing shows to crowds of over a hundred people. The majority of the instruments featured on the album were played by Torres, with help from his longtime friend and collaborator Sam Logan. Now, following a name change and a few new members, the group is set to release its EP, If All We Have is Time on April 27. Derek Torres, the band’s founder and N.C. State alumnus, has found the whole experience to be a surprise. “We had no idea. We didn’t even know the size of the crowd [at Hopscotch] until the night before,” Torres said. It’s been amazing, but it’s been stressful.” Having played a few times over the past year, Torres has found it difficult to adjust to playing in front of so many people so quickly. “It’s been kind of hard because we didn’t get the opportunity to play to a small crowd and make mistakes a few times,” Torres said. “I totally understand how [other bands] crumble under the
page 3 • wednesday, april 18, 2012
effective affordable
$5 NCSU students
non-daily
919-515-1100 ncsu.edu/arts
S t u d e n t H e a l t h S e r v i c e s, Wo m e n ’s H e a l t h 9 1 9 - 5 1 5 - 7 7 6 2 h e a l t h c e n t e r. n c s u . e d u
A century ago, the RMS Titanic left port in the British Isles, heading toward New York City. But, in one of the greatest peacetime maritime disasters to ever occur, the ship never completed its maiden voyage, and took the lives of 1,514 passengers with it. 100 years later, a great debate has arisen as to whether the artifacts sitting on the ocean floor should be recovered. When it was built, the Titanic stood as a monument to the success and power of technology. “You had this huge ship, which was inconceivable 100 years ago, and it allowed people to travel without even feeling like they were traveling, surrounded by luxury,” Ross Bassett, associate professor of history, said. For its time, the Titanic was the biggest, latest and greatest luxury liner on the seas. With the release of James Cameron’s movie by the same name and the subsequent re-release just a few weeks ago, many people are familiar with the events that transpired: multiple ice warnings were sent to the ship and promptly ignored, the unsafe speed at which the ship was sailing, the treatment of passengers in lower classes and the inadequate number of lifeboats led to the poor reaction to the wreck. In response, maritime safety laws have increased, including those concerning radios. “One of the aspects of the Titanic was that it had wireless radios, but many of the radio operators had gone to bed that night,” Bassett said. “After the sinking, radios had to be manned 24 hours, and that helped advance technol-
ogy and the further possibilities of radios.” Bassett explains that one could look at the technological splendor of the Titanic and see it as foreshadowing the weapons created for World War I. He goes on to say some people looked at the sinking of the Titanic and saw it as a sign technology wasn’t advancing society. One would assume with the re-release of James Cameron’s movie, the events surrounding the tragedy would become more publicized. However, it was revealed on Twitter a sizeable number of users weren’t even aware there had actually been a ship Titanic that sank. Many believed the plot was created specifically for the movie. Some, like Derek Spicer, senior in history, are astounded by the general lack of knowledge surrounding the event. “I posted a Facebook status about it, in which I called them idiots,” Spicer said. “I pulled no punches on that and I make no apologies for it. Next thing you’ll hear that people watching Saving Private Ryan didn’t know that D-Day actually happened.” Kimberlin Torain, freshman in biochemistry, also expressed her distaste over the Twitter revelation. “Twitter is a place for young adults with too much time. In a generation concerned with iPhones and Wiz Khalifha, I’m not surprised they hadn’t had time to educate themselves.” With discussion of this century-old tragedy coming back into the public eye, so has the controversial issue over whether the artifacts sitting at the bottom of the sea should be recovered. The skeletal remains of the ship sit in international waters with protection against salvagers. Many arguing for the recovery use this as their main platform, and also assert recovery is the best way
Titanic continued page
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Viewpoint
page 4 • wednesday, april 18, 2012
Technician
{Our view}
The Facts:
North Carolina is observing National Volunteer Week by hosting community projects across the state.
Our Opinion:
A week of volunteering is a great reminder, but people need to be involved in volunteer work year-round.
National Volunteer Week A
pril 15 marked the start of National Volunteer Week; official NVW events in North Carolina are scheduled until April 21. According to Governor Bev Perdue and a CBS affiliate in Greenville, AmeriCorps members and volunteers will be participating in many community projects across the state in celebration of National Volunteer Week. Buncombe County hosted a beautification project yesterday at the RiverLink Outdoor Recreation Outfitter site. Guilford County is observing the week by providing volunteer opportunities through their partnership with AmeriCorps to end homelessness. Closer to home, the Durham
The unsigned editorial is the opinion of the members of Technician’s editorial board, excluding the news department, and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief.
Hotel will be hosting the 2012 Key Volunteer of the Year awards. Finding volunteer opportunities in Raleigh is not a hard task, especially with access to the Internet. State’s CSLEPS website cannot possibly make it easier to find volunteer work for students. This site has a seemingly endless list of volunteer opportunities in the area, complete with contact information. Another site, Volunteermatch.org, provides users with a list of opportunities both local and far-reaching, anywhere from being a men-
tor in Cary to helping building schools in Haiti. Having a week to celebrate volunteering is a great idea; it serves to remind people that there is always work to be done in the community. It is important to realize the importance of volunteering the other 51 weeks of the year, too. NVW is a great time to start volunteering, and if you do only volunteer this one week out of the year, it will be better than not volunteering at all. However, consistent involvement will go a long way in solving social problems. Service work helps build
cultural connections, which are invaluable in an increasingly more connected world. Saul Flores, a Caldwell Fellow, creatively combined cultural expression with his volunteer work. Flores took 20,000 photos on his journey from Ecuador to Charlotte, NC. Not only did Flores bring attention to the immigration issue, his photos are being sold to help educate children in Atencingo, Mexico. Getting involved, locally or globally, provides volunteers with perspective. Speaking on an issue is much easier after being involved, rather than speaking from ignorance. Volunteering benefits the individual as much as it benefits the community.
{
A week of spiritual expressions:
This is the third in a series of columns on various belief systems for the week.
It’s not just religion, it’s my life
T
his is a column about Christianity. Now, before you start running in the opposite direction, thinking I am anything like the crazy “Brickyard Preacher,” Brother Ross, I must inform you that he Madison i s a n outMurphy Staff columnist l ier a mong Christians. Most of the time, Christians are not going to shove their faith down your throat with such anger and judgment. In fact, it’s the opposite. Christians strive to welcome all people with the same kindness and love Christ showed us. We want to express to them the same unfailing forgiveness Christ offers us. We do this because Jesus is the example of what we should strive to be. But, to really understand this, you’ll need a quick lesson on the Christian faith. The core of Christianity is the Gospel, or the story of the relationship between God and man. The story is revealed in countless places in the Bible. There are four parts to the Gospel. First, God created man, but because of original sin, we are all born sinners. Second, the punishment for sin is death, but we can receive the gift of eternal life through Christ. Third, this is possible because Christ came to earth as a man and bore our punishment by dying on a cross. Finally, if we believe in this, then we can receive God’s gift of eternal life in heaven. However, what gets me most excited about Christianity is not discussing doctrine, it’s knowing that my life does not end on this earth. When I have a bad day, I do not fret. I am not worried because I know one 90-year life on this earth is absolutely nothing compared to an eternity of pure and perfect joy
in heaven. It’s electrifying to know God will be with me forever. I wasn’t always like this though. Even though my parents raised me as a Christian, I didn’t really get what was so exciting about Christianity. Then I went to a nondenominational Christian camp called Camp Oak Hill. At first, the kayaks and catchy songs were the things that kept me coming back. But as I aged, something else made me want to come back summer after summer: an overwhelming joy only found in a place completely absorbed in Christ. Before I gave my life to Christ, I did not understand why the people who ran Camp Oak Hill had such insurmountable joy. One summer, when I was in the leadership program at Camp Oak Hill, I was intent on discovering the reason why the counselors were so happy. Through conversations with older women—counselors who changed my life—I realized I was putting other things before God because I thought they would make me happy. But God could give me more. He could give me the joy, love and security I was searching for. The reason I gave my life to Christ was because I saw something in the counselors that brought me into his arms. It was their unshakable joy in their Savior. What I have found out is that once you realize the love that God can offer, Christ’s joy becomes contagious and cannot be contained. I suppose many people would not understand why I cannot help but throw my hands up when I sing worship songs, or think it’s silly that I enjoy listening to a preacher talk for hours. But I think it has to do with the fact that for me, Christianity is not just a religion or a set of beliefs, it’s my life.
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in your words
}
What has been your best volunteering experience? by jordan moore
Don’t fall into the cycle.
“My sorority took at risk teenage girls around campus, and took them to a forum.”
Matthew Clark, senior in arts application
{
Campus Forum
}
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is skin color and nationality when it comes to determining someone’s worth? How much does it really matter, or should it even matter at all? Also, what part does the media play in these ideals? Do they help the situation, or simply add more fuel to the fire? Kim Rucker, grad student interdisciplinary studies
Ahmed Salah Mohammad Metwally Amer: the man, the myth, the legend.
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The Hunger Games I recently came across an article about the controversy outpouring from the fact that three of the actors in the very successful movie, The Hunger Games were black. I was completely set back by some of the responses and comments people made about this casting choice. I never thought that people would be mad about African Americans being in a big Hollywood movie, seeing as how it seldom ever happens anyway (unless you are a big name actor like Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Forrest Whitaker, etc). Some of the comments made disturbed me and made me wonder why skin color has such a huge impact on what we think of movies. A very good point was made in an article from Jezebel.com saying that everyone was so upset when Rue died in the book, but once they find out she is black, all of a sudden it isn’t a big deal. It saddens me to think that we live in this world where the color of your skin determines whether or not your life means anything or if you are even capable of doing or being anything successful. So the question I want to ask is how relevant
Ahmed Amer has a secret admirer—me. For those of you who don’t know, this journalistic god has been producing original, quality viewpoint columns since last spring, although his true rise to glory has occurred primarily throughout this semester. Through his use of casual yet deliberate sarcasm, his wellwritten columns inside an otherwise mediocre newspaper have consistently entertained me throughout this academic year. If you haven’t gotten a chance to read an column written by him, you really need to reevaluate the purpose of your life. The first column written by Ahmed that I read was titled “The worst day ever.” I normally don’t find columns in the Technician to be very entertaining, but when I read this column I almost cried due to the pure comedic genius carefully planted within the column. The best line of the column is where he states: “You mathematicians may be asking how these variables were resolved to integers that, when put into this formula, equal Jan. 24, and that is a good question, please let us know when you figure it out.” I’m a math major, so I almost fell out of my seat laughing at the ridiculousness of the formula that was mentioned in the column. Ahmed writes columns on
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topics ranging from cultural ignorance towards his name, breaking up after Valentine’s Day, and the most depressing day of the year. By far, my favorite column was the one about the bus stop romance. I recently had a similar experience as I was using the Greyhound bus system, so I know how quickly those interesting social encounters can develop. Bus stop social encounters can prove to be really interesting, but we all have to step back into society at some point and leave them where they belong—at the bus stop. Let’s be honest, we’ve all been disappointed by the Technician at some point, but don’t give up on finding the hidden gems lurking within its pages. When I open the Technician to the viewpoint page and see Ahmed’s name and tiny picture next to a column, I just know that I’m going to walk into class with a smile on my face. Joseph Murray, senior in mathematics
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“I helped teach kindergartners at a church school a while back.” Nikki Palen sophomore, bioengineering
“I participated in an event called ‘Tackling Hunger’ with IFC and campus police where gave out canned food a couple of years ago.” Vince Novosel junior, business administration
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Devanne Pena graduate student, architecture
“Highway cleanup with my fraternity. It’s something I do every year, and something I think is very important.” Keyuntae Ward 2011 alumnus
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Features
page 6 • wednesday, april 18, 2012
Technician
Spring weather lures students to green spaces Despite N.C. State’s reputation as an unattractive campus, students find green spaces welcoming. Story By Zachary Diesel photos By Katherine Hoke
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wentieth in the nation. It is not uncommon for the University to make lists for academic or research excellence. What is uncommon is to see N.C. State on a “worst of” list.
In this case, N.C. State ranked twentieth in the nation for the least attractive college campus, according to princetonreview.com. Despite the rating, many students still manage to find places around campus to welcome the great weather spring brings. Jen Gough, a sophomore in fisheries and wildlife science, said she often waits outside between classes. “It’s really nice to have some places on campus where you can go and you don’t feel like you’re in a big city,” Gough said. The spring weather also attracts students outdoors for fun activities. William Howell, a sophomore in electrical engineering, said the social element was part of the appeal of playing in the Thunderdome—the green space between Turlington and Alexander residence halls. “There were like 10 people out here, and we started playing music and started playing [Frisbee],” Howell said. “It got up to about 50 people in a matter of 10 minutes. It’s cool just how being
out here brings other people around to enjoy company.” Across campus in Gardner Arboretum, Christie Armstrong, a graduate student in history, said she appreciated the green spaces for other reasons. “The temperature is better [outside],” Armstrong said. “The way the green spaces are set up, they are somewhat out of the way and protected so you don’t get blown away completely. And there is some shade. It’s quiet.” Students are sometimes drawn to the shade provided by historical buildings around campus. Armstrong, who has an undergraduate degree in historic preservation, has a special appreciation for the buildings of east campus. “Early 1900s are some of my favorite pieces,” Armstrong said. “These buildings, colonial revival or neo-classical revival, are appropriate for that time span. I love the brick... I think it’s wonderful.” N.C. State’s reputation for bricks goes back to its roots. Thomas Skolnicki, the Uni-
Phia Phua, senior in biochemistry, and Devin Doyle, junior in sociology, hulahoop the greenspace within the brickyard on Friday afternoon. Phua and Doyle frequent this grassy area with a group of their friends.
Will Howell, a sophomore in electrical engineering, catches a frisbee in the thunderdome on Friday.
versity Landscape Architect, has overseen many of the recent additions of green spaces to campus. He said the University did not have a master strategic design plan until 1950, and that is the reason for some of the variety of buildings and green spaces around campus. “We’re not married to all brick all the time,” Skolnicki said. “But red brick is one of the things that unifies campus.”
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According to Skolnicki, one of the challenges of the University Architect’s office is the University’s continued growth, and ensuring the greenery and expression of the campus is more visible from the edge of campus. “Between the things we are doing on campus to improve the green spaces and the things we are doing to make the edges more attractive and expressive of the University, I hope [the perception of cam-
Christie Armstrong, a graduate student in history, reads in the greenspace outside Withers Hall on Friday afternoon. Armstrong says she often comes to this shaded area to read.
pus] is going to change someday,” Skolniki said. “It’s a big, ongoing challenge.” Spring weather continues to bring students outdoors.
Despite the campus’ brickfilled reputation, green spaces provide an area for them to relax and study.
Sports
Technician
tennis
continued from page 8
was only a sophomore at the time, had a model about the size of an office desk completed to scale. “I felt like it was a great opportunity to work on something like that,” Rozek said. “I just wanted to do a good job.” Choboy was beyond impressed with the work and detail put into Rozek’s model. “It was beautiful,” Choboy said. “If we could have this, it would be awesome; that would be cool.” When it came time to interview the designers, Rozek’s original model was presented as a base to work with. Although the designers flipped the stadium around and made some improvements, much of Rozek’s design was incorporated into the final project. Stadium construction began in February 2011 and took about eight months to complete. Rozek has had a
few chances to check the stadium out himself since the opening and is pleased with the way it turned out. “I think it’s incredibly impressive and it’s one of the best venues to play in that I have ever seen,” Rozek said. “It turned out way better than I thought it was going to be after designing it. It’s a worldclass stadium.” Choboy has used the stadium as a recruiting tool since the early design stages and is happy to see it come to reality instead of a simple dream, not only for himself, but for players and recruits as well. “There’s a period of time when you take a recruit out there and you don’t actually have to talk for a few minutes,” Choboy said. “You just let them walk around and you let them judge for themselves. This one speaks for itself and you can let it do a little bit of the talking for you.”
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recruits continued from page 8
Raleigh, the team has often struggled to find many such playmakers at other positions. However, Smith has words of wisdom for those who choose to chastise O’Brien because Gottfried managed to bring a strong group of recruits. “Football recruiting and basketball recruiting are completely different animals,” Smith said. “When we’re talking about a team with 50 players, and a team with 15, one player can make more of a difference on a basketball team than on a football team, which changes the dynamic.” According to J.D. Hamby, a freshman in history, the Pack needs to focus on getting the best players from North Carolina. “Target them and recruit them better, especially the in-state 4 and
page 7 • wednesday, april 18, 2012
5-star recruits,” Hamby said. Smith chose to offer an opposing view. “We have to recruit in ‘football’ states,” Smith said. “Local recruits are good, but N.C. just does not have the type of athletic system for football for creating excellent recruits.” Smith, despite his reservations, said he believed in O’Brien’s player development approach. “With T.O.B’s focus on development of the player, I have learned not to get too excited about players until they step onto the field,” Smith said. “Oftentimes what you end up seeing at CarterFinley is nothing like they did in high school.” According to a recent article by ESPN, N.C. State is one of the only two universities in the ACC that hasn’t registered a single commitment for the class of 2013, with FSU, UNC and even Duke making eight, seven and five commitments, respectively. “I would say that it’s pretty
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Coach Tom O’ Brien watches a Maryland extra point attempt on the field of Carter-Finley stadium Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011.
early to pass any judgment, but that does look pretty bad,” Smith said. However, O’Brien believes the team is heading in the right direction. “We are in better position than we have ever been at this stretch,” O’Brien said. “Commitments are important come next February, but you got 10 months to go. We are happy with what we have;
we are happy with the list we have. We have some kids out there that we think will help us win an ACC championship.” Fans eager for the football season to begin can get an early taste at the Kay Yow Spring game, which will take place Saturday at 3.30 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium.
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By The Mepham Group
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Level 4
Level 2
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle
4/18/12
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
© 2012 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
Solution to Thursday’s puzzle
11/25/11
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
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ACROSS 1 As yet 6 “Atlas Shrugged” writer Ayn 10 WWII carriers 14 ’60s-’70s Twins star Tony 15 Sautéing acronym, à la Rachael Ray 16 Ear-related 17 “Doesn’t bother me!” 19 “__ Zapata!”: Brando film 20 Harbinger of lower temperatures 21 Man on a misión 22 Biblical mount 23 More than hesitant 24 Sign of puppy love? 25 Ben & Jerry’s purchase 26 Spice gathered by hand from crocus flowers 30 Leave no escape route for 33 Aquamarine, e.g. 34 Carol syllables 35 After “on,” relying mostly on hope in desperate circumstances 39 Stinky 40 Floor cleaner 41 __ fit: tantrum 42 “500” racesanctioning group 44 Boxer Max 46 Fed. property agency 47 Prefix suggesting savings 49 Sox, on scoreboards 52 Creep 54 Deli sandwich 56 Brit of Fox News 57 “Shake!” 58 Most draftable 59 Fortitude 60 Cardiologist’s concern 61 Cold War initials 62 Year, on monuments 63 Small fry
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DOWN 1 Puccini opera 2 Butterlike products 3 Bohr of the Manhattan Project 4 Ancient Roman poet 5 Hemming and hawing 6 Apply more varnish to 7 __-garde 8 Waters between Great Britain and Europe 9 Fawn’s mom 10 Chick flick subject 11 Dangerous bottom feeders 12 DVR pioneer 13 Battle reminder 18 Wrinkle remover 21 Personal ad abbr. 25 Schoolyard handshake 27 Sound system part 28 Cheers for a torero 29 Not a one 30 Mata __
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48 Replace a dancer, perhaps 49 Paper-pusher 50 Gold rush storyteller Bret 51 “Don’t get any __” 52 Dynasty during Confucius’ time 53 Legs it 55 Hail in a harbor 57 Sports tour organizer, for short
Sports
COUNTDOWN
• 3 days until football’s Kay Yow Spring Game at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Page 8 • wednesday, april 18, 2012
Gymnastics
INSIDE
• Page 7: More on tennis’s new outdoor tennis facility.
Technician
Gymnast on quest for NCAA honors Rachel Fincham looks to bring individual championship back to Raleigh.
New soccer training complex sets grand opening ceremony
Jonathan Stout N.C. State soccer’s Wolfpack Training Complex will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the complex’s grand opening at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 27. The complex, which is located on the former upper Miller intramural field, will be open for tours after an address from Athletics Director Debbie Yow during the ceremony. The newly constructed facility features a replica grass field of the pitch at Dail Soccer Stadium as well as a smaller turf field and a field to practice on-goal set pieces. The complex will also play host to the Grassroot Soccer 3v3 Tournament the following day. The funds raised at the tournament will benefit Grassroot, an international nonprofit that helps prevent the spread of HIV among youth in Africa. Source: N.C. State Athletics
Baseball loses to Campbell, 8-6 The No. 18-ranked baseball team lost to the Camels at Taylor Field in Buies Creek on Thursday. The Wolfpack halved a four-run deficit later in the game but the comeback was not complete; the Pack lost 8-6. State built up to a 3-0 lead in the second half but went downhill from there. By the bottom of the fifth, the game was tied at 4-4. Campbell scored four more runs in the sixth inning, a lead the Pack could not manage to recover from. The team returns to play on Friday at 6:30 p.m. when State hosts Boston College for a three-game series. Source: N.C. State Athletics
Staff Writer
Junior Rachel Fincham will be representing N.C. State in the National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Championships in Duluth, Ga., April 20-22. “I’m really excited,” Fincham said. “It’s definitely something you work toward your whole life.” When Fincham began her gymnastics career at the age of four, competing in a national championship wasn’t on her mind. But as she got older and started competing, it became a dream. “When I started out it was because I would flip around my living room all the time and my mom would want me in something to control that,” Fincham said. “It was a dream; I never voiced it all the time because you don’t want to get your hopes up for something that’s not going to happen.” By receiving a score of 9.9 on the uneven bars during the regional championship meet, she qualified individually for the championships. Although Fincham is proud to represent the University at nationals, she
BRENT KITCHEN/Technician archive photo
Sophomore Rachel Fincham is congratulated by coach Mark Stevenson following her uneven bars routine. Fincham led the team with a 9.825 in the event. State beat West Virginia 194.550-194.475.
hoped the team would be joining her. “I wish that my team could go with me, but it’s definitely good to have any kind of representation at nationals for our team,” Fincham said. Fincham said she will take the
same approach that she has used all year in preparation for nationals. “We’ve been doing it for 14 weeks in a row at this point, so I’m just going to do the same thing I’ve been doing all season—trying not to overwork myself and keep my mental state the same.”
Tennis
Pack enjoys new outdoor facility
athletic schedule
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that got the ball rolling. However, the pursuit of the dream began two years earlier for Choboy, along with a young man named David Rozek. Rozek, a design major and member of Choboy’s tennis team, was asked to perform an immense favor by his coach— come up with a design for an outdoor stadium. “I was thinking maybe he’d draw up a blueprint or something,” Choboy said. “If he put something on a piece of paper, it could be something we could have. Then he came up with the idea. He said, ‘Coach, if you give me a little bit of time, I’ll build a 3-D model of the stadium you’re talking about. I’ll design it and build it to scale.’” Six months later, Rozek, who
After watching first-year basketball coach Mark Gottfried bring in one of the best recruiting classes in the nation, football coach Tom O’Brien’s bunch seems to lack the punch for a fan base that constantly craves instant success. Since O’Brien’s arrival at N.C. State, he has focused on developing players to become better instead of signing a lot of top-ranked recruits. Although O’Brien is confident in his team’s current situation, there are fans who are worried. “While I do feel like T.O.B’s ‘Three Star Nation’ approach is effective at what it’s supposed to do, I never understood why he never thought he could apply the same methods to higher-ranked recruits,” Rickey Smith, a junior in human biology, said. “If one has a stronger base set of abilities to improve upon, then the end product will be much stronger.” O’Brien’s coaching successes include Denver Broncos linebacker Nate Irving, Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year Russell Wilson, quarterback Mike Glennon, defensive end David Amerson and linebacker Audie Cole. While these players have been leading examples of the successes during O’Brien’s reign in
tennis continued page 7
recruits continued page 7
Thursday-Saturday Track ACC Championships Charlottesville, Va., All Day
Quote of the day “We have some kids out there that we think will help us win an ACC championship.” Coach Tom O’Brien
Students worried about lack of recruits
Deputy Sports Editor
Women’s Tennis ACC Tournament Cary, TBA
Saturday-Sunday Softball vs. Maryland Raleigh, 1 p.m.; Sat. 1 p.m. & 3 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m.
football
Rishav Dey
Thursday-Sunday Men’s Tennis ACC Championships Cary, All Day
Baseball vs. Boston College Raleigh; Fri. & Sat. 6:30 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.
NCAA continued page 2
Coach Tom O’Brien optimistic despite having no commitments for upcoming season.
Wednesday Softball vs. Elon Raleigh, 6 p.m.
Friday-Sunday Men’s Golf ACC Championships London, N.C., All Day
The uneven bars, Fincham’s favorite event, is what she will be competing in for the national championships. “As I got older I realized that bars was my favorite event,” Fincham said. “Usually your favorite is your best, so I worked toward that one more.” Fincham credits her parents, teammates and coaches for inspiration. Her father was a standout collegiate athlete, instilling the determination and passion to perform at a high level. “He put passion into everything that he did and it taught me how to put passion into the things I love, especially gymnastics.” Some athletes and coaches have strange pre-game rituals or specific music they listen to beforehand to prepare for the upcoming game. Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III wears strange socks, LSU head coach Les Miles eats grass if he’s stressed, and Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher eats two Girl Scout cookies before each game. Fincham said she has a few superstitions, but nothing out of the ordinary. “I won’t change the way I do my hair for meets, so if it works it stays,” Fincham said. “And I always have to cough before I do bars.” After completing her final year of gymnastics next season, Fincham
john joyner/Technician
The Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Tennis Center hosts outdoor games for both men’s and women’s tennis teams.
N.C. State tennis is proud of new stadium and looks forward to its future. Nolan Evans Senior Staff Writer
If you asked men’s tennis head coach Jon Choboy to describe the team’s previous outdoor tennis facility, he would use one simple word—terrible. “We didn’t have [a stadium],” Choboy said. “What we had was six courts with a fence around it and cracks all over the courts. It was just terrible. It was worse than high school facilities.” “It wasn’t something that I had to convince people [about], that we had a poor facility,” Choboy continued. “It was well-known.” Although the journey has been a long process, Choboy has had a vision for the team for many
years. He pushed the issue with administration, making the case that tennis is an outdoor sport and his team deserved better than “the worst facility in the country.” Following a 2007 season that saw an Elite Eight run for the team, Choboy asked then Athletic Director Lee Fowler for a few minutes of his time. “I said, ‘Lee, we’ve done some good things here,’” Choboy said. “’We’ve put up some good numbers and put together a couple of good teams here, and I can’t do this by myself. I need your help. The men’s and women’s programs need a facility.’ He said right away, ‘I know you do. We’ve got some money coming through for a couple different avenues here, and on that list we’re going to build a tennis stadium. I understand what you’re saying. I agree.’” That was the year and moment