Technician
friday march
26 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
SG candidates debate campus issues Candidates answered questions about their platforms and what they hope to accomplish in Student Government next school year
didates at one point, “It seems there is a rebranding campaign almost every year. Does Student Government need rebranding with the new administration this year?” Scott Goldsmith, a SBP candidate, said “I don’t think we need a rebrandRachel Port ing campaign. If Student Government Staff Writer is functioning the way it should, our WKNC sponsored a debate for can- rebranding will be that we are doing didates running in the 2010 general our job.” Other interesting questions the Student Government elections which took place in the Talley Student Center SBP candidates were asked included which they thought was more imporballroom on Thursday evening. Each candidate had 60 seconds to tant, their assessment of an issue or the student asanswer questions sessment; detailposed by host s ing their foreW K NC Genera l most platform Manager Mi ke plank; what sets Alston and Public them apart from Af fairs Director their opponents Saja Hindi. After and what they all, the candidates thought Student had a chance to Government’s answer, they were relationship allowed 30 to 60 with Technician seconds for volunshould be in the tary rebuttal. Saja Hindi, future. Accord i ng to WKNC public affairs director Answering, Hindi, debates like Charles “Ches” these are really imMcDowell, an SBP candidate, said he portant during campaign time. “This is a good time for students has worked to pay his way through to find out what the candidates are school and he can identify with stuall about and about their campaign dents who have participated in fraterpromises and their goals,” Hindi said. nities and organizations. Matt Woodward also said he has The first question Hindi and Alston posed to the student body president broad experience participating in (SBP) candidates was “define the student organizations. Goldsmith said his platform is the responsibilities of the student body most detailed and specific while Hook president.” Kelly Hook, SBP candidate and chief said she has experience and underof staff, had a unique answer. She stands the way the SBP position works. The Student Senate president cansaid the main job of the student body president is to “manage the team of didates Michael Robinson, Stephen 12 people who really do all the work.” Kouba and Sarah Center were asked Hindi and Alston asked the SBP can- questions including what they would
“This is a good time for students to find out what the candidates are all about and about their campaign.”
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Student Body President candidate Kelly Hook, currently chief of staff, speaks during the student body elections debate hosted by Student Media in the Talley Student Center Ballroom Thursday night.
do differently than the current student Senate president and what students would lose, “if anything,” if the Student Senate disappeared next year. Answering the latter, Robinson said students would lose representation on University committees and that “the voices of the students would be severely diminished.” Center said that it’s easier for students to approach a student senator with their input than to approach a University administrator.
The student body treasurer candidates Eagean “Buddy” Bryson and Kyle O’Donnell were asked how they were going to keep the budget process transparent and what their proudest accomplishments in Student Government have been. Answering the former, O’Donnell said he wants to use a page on the Student Government Web site to update the budget in real time, whereas Bryson said he wants to use Facebook to stay in touch with the students and
use Google Docs to make budget information accessible. Allison Hofmann, freshman in nutrition science who attended the debates, said she was glad she attended. “I think you’re doing a disservice to the future of the University if you’re not an informed voter. Public forums like this allow you to see candidates out of their comfort zones and have their platforms challenged,” Hofmann said.
Derby Days fundraising competition breaks previous record
Candidate’s wife speaks to College Democrats
Sororities raise money for developmental center through week-long competition
Holly Lewis, Wife of U.S. Senate Candidate Ken Lewis, spoke to the College Democrats Club
the money from T-shirt sales and collected box tops to get money for the school.” This year, there was an added focus on getting more donations from sponNick Tran sors, McCaslin said. News Editor “This year, our goal was to increase The money raised by sororities par- donations and we planned thoroughly ticipating in Derby Days is slated to be to achieve this. We had a couple big awarded to the Raleigh-based Frankie donors like Nypro Incorporated, who Lemmon School and Developmental donated $500, the ‘John Boy and Billy [radio] Show,’ who donated $2,500, Center in the coming month. The check will be presented to the and Financial Marketplace, who doschool in April at Pullen Park and will nated $600,” McCaslin said. “We also be written out for the $23,835 raised made sure sororities were more knowlby the event, which beat the previous edgeable about everything involved with Derby Days.” 2008 record of $20,000. Samantha Dowless, the director of According to Jason McCaslin, Derby activities of Delta Days chair, the traGamma sororit y, dition began in 1936 said sororities comat the University of peted in events, soTennessee and has licited for sponsors, spread through naand volunteered at tional Greek societthe Frankie Lemmon ies since. It is hosted School. on campus by Sigma “Members had to Chi fraternity, Delta go and interact with Epsilon chapter. the students, help “[Derby Days] is t hem lea rn, a nd our annual philanplayed with them thropy event and is during the school a week-long compeday,” she said. “It’s tition between our a really great expeeight pan-Hellenic rience. It lets them sororities. This is the Sam Dowless, director of see what the philan35th year we’ve done activities for Delta Gamma thropy is actually this on campus,” sorority for, since most of McCaslin said. “The the week is just social events include dance and karaoke competitions, a scavenger and competitive events. Volunteering really lets them see where the time and hunt, and field events.” McCaslin said money was raised effort is going.” Dowless said because Derby Days through $5 admission fees for people to view the competitions and private is a philanthropic event, as well as a competition, there is some potential sponsors. “The names of the sponsors were for participants to be unhappy about put on the back of the [Derby Days] the outcome. “In any competition, no one wants T-shirts with a donation of $300. All monies went to the Frankie Lemmon to lose, but people would probably School,” he said. “We also donated not be as motivated to participate if
“It lets them see what the philanthropy is actually for, since most of the week is just social and competitive events.”
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it wasn’t a competition,” she said. “It’s a good time people look forward to. I could see how people could be unhappy with the results, but that’s how it is with any competition.” According to Dowless, the spirit of competition does not take away from the idea Derby Days is still a positive philanthropic event. Mia Ahmad, the chair of Zeta Tau Alpha, the winning sorority of Derby Days, said the competitive nature of the event often draws unwarranted criticism. “Some people think negatively of Derby Days because of all the competition,” she said. “The competition was intense, but not so intense that people were poor sports. Organized well and set up in a way as to be very fair.” According to Ahmad, the winners were decided based on a point system, as opposed to purely funds raised. Sororities were awarded points based on their performance in events as well as the number of sponsors they acquired. Ahmad said volunteering at the school was also a very beneficial experience. “Part of the competition was volunteering at the school and it was the most positive part because it let you see what you were working for,” Ahmad said. “Every hour throughout the day, a pair of girls would go to help the teachers and play with the kids.” According to Ahmad the money raised by the event went to fund programs and toys for the school and essentially anything else the kids needed. “We got everyone really involved and it really unites the chapter,” Ahmad said.
U.S. Senate under a campaign of hope and innovation. “Don’t ever be discouraged,” Lewis said. According to Lewis’ Web site, he Stephen Behan plans on reforming “No child left beCorrespondent hind,” expand access to student loans, The College Democrats club hosted and push for higher quality teachers Holly Lewis Wednesday evening. She in our schools. Health care reform is is the wife of Kenneth Lewis, a Dur- also a big part of his campaign. The strong Reham lawyer who publican oppois running for sition to passing U.S. Senate this health care legisNovember. lation is a sign of “The progress success, accordwe’re bringing ing to Lewis. and differences He worked as we’re ma k i ng a fundraiser for are working,” she Oba ma’s 2004 claims. “We’re senate race and living in an exhis 2008 presiciting, dynamic d e nt i a l c a m time.” paign, and was She said we’re behind the scenes in an “incredi n t he senate ibly meaningful Holly Lewis, wife fo U.S. Senate c a mpa ig n s of time” with major Candidate Ken Lewis Erskine Bowles health care legisand Har vey lation recently being passed, and the first African- Gantt. Lewis said her husbands’ on the ground experience and entrepreAmerican president being elected. Holly Lewis said she has been in- neurial background would make him volved in politics since she was a teen- a good candidate. Ken Lewis announced his intentions ager. “I started working in campaigns to run for U.S. senate in early 2009. when I was 16,” she said. Her husband, Ken, is running for democrat continued page 3
“The progress we’re bringing and differences we’re making are working. We’re living in an exciting, dynamic time.”
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$6.00 T-Shirt Sale @ NC State Bookstores All Soffe brand t-shirts Reg. 2 for $20
Coach still satisfied after 30 years
Head Coach Mark Stevenson built a gymnastics program from the ground up. See page 8.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
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