Technician
wednesday september
14 2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
He’s got a plan.
Band welcomes President Obama Welcoming the president, marching band will perform in Reynold Coliseum.
but will it
work?
It’s the question that will be on everyone’s mind when Obama sells his job plan on campus today. But it’s not an easy one to answer. Story By elise heglar | photo By brent kitchen
P
resident Obama will be speaking about his American Jobs Act on campus today. While the act itself is extremely comprehensive, there are sections that apply directly to NC and affect the students of our state directly. Updates for public schools, stabilization for teachers and tax relief plans are all in the program.
One of the main points of the plan focuses on teacher stabilization. Obama has proposed $35 billion to prevent the layoffs of up to 280,000 teachers in N.C.. His plan also supports new hires for teachers. N.C. will be provided with $900,300,000 to support up to 13,400 educator and first responder jobs if the plan is passed. Improving schools is also a large part of the plan that would affect N.C. A $25 billion investment in school infrastructure in order to update at least 35,000 public schools nation wide is proposed. These updates, according to the official press release, are meant to upgrade our schools and make them more technology friendly. N.C. would receive $675,700,000 in order to support as many as 8,800 jobs in the pub-
lic school system. In the plan, $5 billion is allotted for modernization needs at community colleges. N.C. would receive $163,100,000 in funding for this purpose. In the press release for this proposed plan, it stated that the money would go towards ensuring that these “local, bedrock education institutions have the facilities and equipment to address current workforce demands”. N.C. could potentially receive up to about $20,000,000 to go toward refurbishing local communities. Additional funds would also be made available through a competitive application process, according to the press release. Obama wants to use this money to help put construction workers back on the job as well as to help refurbish
Starting local to go global A seminar on education had four panelists commenting and answering questions. Erin Schnuit Staff Writer
The Global Issues seminar series hosted an event Tuesday, Sept. 13 regarding Education in the 21st century where panelists commented and answered questions. In the seminar, each panelist gave a brief, 10-minute monologue discussing their personal views of education in the 21st century. After these discussions, the floor was opened to a question and answer segment. Chantell LaPan, program coordinator at the Office of International Affairs, planned the seminar. LaPan says that the purpose of the series is to showcase what University experts are contributing in terms of big global issues regarding the state, the nation and the world. “Education in N.C. hasn’t always been globally focused and I think this is a step in the right direction,” LaPan said. “We need to start preparing students and teachers for a global society.” With each new semester comes a new theme for the seminar. Last semester’s theme was “Energy of the Environment,” this semester was “Well-Being,” and next semester’s will be “Health: Bridging the Gap.” In the 10 minutes allotted for pan-
meet the panelists Dr. Jayne Fleener, Dean of the College of Education • Dr. Hiller Spires, Curriculum, Instruction & Counselor Education, Professor & Senior Research Fellow • Megan Landwehr, International Education Program Coordinator, Office of International and Distance Education AllianceIDEA • Katie McMahon, Principal of Wiley International Magnet Elementary School. •
Source: office of international affairs
elists to discuss issues, they may choose any topic that relates back to the larger theme. One panelist, Dr. Hiller Spires, spoke about connecting globally a new ecology for teaching and learning. Dr. Spires discussed in depth a change that is quickly arising from an old classroom ecology to a new, advanced one. “There is a sharp contrast in the old learning ecology in which the teacher is the center of attention in the classroom and the students simply do what they are told and the new ecology that has emerged,” Spires said. “Now there is communication among students in the classroom, in the county, and
edu continued page 3
Quick facts on the jobs act $900,300,000 $675,700,000 $163,100,000 $20,000,000 90,400
allotted for education jobs
35,000
US schools allotted to receive updates
allotted for updating public schools allotted for community college updates allotted for refurbishing local communities people protected from losing benefits in first 6 weeks of work
SOURCE: american jobs act press release from the white house
and rehabilitate businesses and homes that have been foreclosed. Unemployment is also addressed in the plan. Obama plans to institute a Pathways Back to Work Fund, which would help to provide low-income youth and adults with opportunities to receive needed training and work. The program could potentially assist 4,000 adults and 12,700 youth with getting work.
Obama wants to extend unemployment insurance and, if approved, could potentially prevent 90,400 people in N.C. looking for work from losing their benefits in the first six weeks. Ultimately, Obama wants to use this plan to help put 234,000 people who have been out of work long-term back to work.
Young Lee & Nishanth Coontoor Staff Writers
Peter Lin, a sophomore in Arts Application was sitting with his fellow band members in Wind Ensemble when band director Paul Garcia walked in, with special orders from the White House. The excitement in the room at that time was palpable but Garcia asked anyway if the N.C. State marching band be ready to perform for the President Barack Obama. “We were all excited,” Lin said. “Everyone said yes.” There will be no touchdowns to highlight, no roaring crowds of football and marching band fans, but according to Lin, playing for President Obama is just as exciting and the marching band believes that they are prepared this morning to give President Obama a friendly Wolfpack welcome. Even for a fourth year marching band veteran like Karin Hurwitz, a senior in History, who has marched in bowl games and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland, this opportunity is a special one. “This is a completely mind-blowing opportunity,” she said. Nevertheless, this performance is not without unique challenges. With the highest standards for security, band members had to surrender their instruments Tuesday night to the Secret Service and White House staff for inspection and safe keeping until this afternoon’s performance. Colorguards and majorettes will not get a chance to perform. Food items are permitted only under strict guidelines. But Lin remains hyped despite all of the extra precautions. “I feel really privileged,” he said. Lin had considered joining one of the Ma-
band continued page 3
insidetechnician
All Carolinas Meal showcases local farmers Dining hall hosts local suppliers to cook a meal from food produced in-state.
“At Fountain, we serve about 5,000 students,” Brackett said. “It’s really hard to provide local ingredients that are in season, for that many students, on a daily basis. We’d certainly like to do it more Jordan Alsaqa if we could.” Arts & Entertainment Editor The event, which lasted from Every year, University Dining pro- 5:00 to 8:30 last Thursday night, vides a change of menu at Fountain saw a large number of students and Clark Dining Hall. Instead of turn out to sample the foods on the usual processed foods, all-natu- offer. Even students who do not normally eat at ral food grown exthe dining halls clusively on farms chose to visit and around the Carolitry out the localnas is brought in for ly-grown wares. a special dinner opSara Hess, a jution. This showcase nior in computer of the hard work and science, found livelihood of local the selection to farmers is called the be an exciting All Carolinas Meal. change of pace. The annual event, “I thought the a staple of Universifood that was ty Dining, features prov ide d w a s loca l grow n and excellent,” Hess farmed food from Kelley Brackett, recent said. “I rea lly the area, including University graduate and like homegrown producers such as University Dining employee food, a nd it’s Brookwood Farms, great to be able Carolina Catfish, Wayne Bailey Farms, and House of to support North Carolina agriculture here on campus.” Raeford. Students were given numerous Kelley Brackett, a recent University graduate who works with University choices at the four dining stations Dining, described the event as an opportunity to provide something different for students. meal continued page 3
“It’s really hard to provide local ingredients that are in season, for that many students, on a daily basis.”
Letting the bed bugs bite
Researchers in entomology are working on a way to get rid of bed bugs. See page 6.
Pack embraces ‘Howl Towel’
New tradition for Wolfpack set to “make a splash.” See page 8.
Students torn on importance of college football jerseys
Students torn on the importance of jerseys in college football. See page 8.
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