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CMY K
Technician
wednesday august
26 2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Open houses boost involvement Student Government officers hope recruitment efforts will spawn competition, diversity
SG recruitment estimates first-year senators who filed 28 last year
Zainab Baloch Correspondent
Last semester, two candidates ran unopposed for two of Student Government’s top positions. Since then, Student Body Treasurer Elmo Lamm and Student Senate President Kelli Rogers have made it their goals to increase SG’s visibility on campus, and the organization’s open houses last week were one step toward bringing in new interested students. Rogers said while most of the students that visited SG’s Witherspoon office were freshmen, she was particularly pleased with
50+
first-year senators expected to file this year
100+
attendees who attended SG’s open houses last Wednesday and Thursday Source: Kelli Rogers
the turnout of upperclassmen. “Both the open houses were extremely successful,” Rogers said. “We had a lot of students come that were interested in joining.” Rogers said she hopes having more members will help diversify SG, bringing in new perspectives as the organization looks to
shed its “good ol’ boys club” image. “I think that competition is essential to a successful Student Government in every branch and at all times,” Rogers, a senior in political science, said. “It keeps the officers and members accountable and it challenges them to constantly improve.” Rogers said she was dissappointed in the number of candidates for positions last year, and hopes to create more interest in SG during her term. “I was dissapointed that last year we had two uncontested officer postions,” she said. “It is definitely one of my goals this year to raise the bar for both of those positions so they’re more attractive.” Eleven freshmen senate seats are open this semester, and Rogers said more than 40 senators have already filed. SG’s adviser, Eileen Marin, is excited
Restaurants get facade lifts Two Guys, Melvin’s adding new amenities, improving facilities
SG continued page 3
New parking zones, deck impact parking, traffic Partners Way expansion, permit reclassifications to reduce traffic congestion, increase capacity
John Cline Staff Writer
Hillsborough Street is going under some major aesthetic changes to improve its image and become a better haven for N.C. State students, and some local businesses are following the trend. Two Guys Restaurant, a mainstay on Hillsborough Street for over 35 years, is in the process of instituting a number of improvements aimed to both increase the restaurant’s appeal and build an even stronger connection with the University and the surrounding communities. “We are hoping to join in the changing of Hillsborough with its new look to help rejuvenate the street as a destination,” Keith Getchell, the manager of Two Guys, said. “After 35 years, we are hoping to continue the tradition that Two Guys has here. With as many options as students have now as opposed to back then, we have to keep up with the times and offer items and services that students, faculty and the community look for.” Two Guys has recently installed six big screen high definition televisions surrounding what was formerly the “dark room” and has also increased its food and beverage offerings in hopes of becoming a new destination for sports fans of all types. “By adding the TVs we are hoping to show all the N.C. State games and also to make this a destination for those looking to watch not only college but professional sports as well,” Getchell said. “We’ll be running food and beer specials throughout games and daily as well.” For those who have always loved
about the projections for membership increases this year. “ I’m excited to see new faces that can bring about new ways to address different issues,” Marin, who is in her second year of advising N.C. State’s student government, said. Marin said while she would prefer to have more members, the lack of opponents in last year’s elections didn’t have an effect on the efficiency of student government. “I really think we have a lot of strong, ethical leaders,” Marin said. “We have leaders that truly want to represent the student voice.” Lamm said he felt running unopposed actually helped him transition better into his role.
campus and allow more parking permits to be issued. “Resident parking permits are now being sold at 100 percent,” Cain said. “The new policy allows us to accommodate more people.” Briant Robey Student reactions to this have been Correspondent mostly positive. “[No cross-parking] might be a Transportation has implemented changes to parking zones around good thing because you won’t have campus, referencing a recent na- 500 people trying to park in 300 tional parking study as reason for spaces,” Kiefer said. Hartman recalled previous exthe change. “We’ve implemented a ‘no-cross- periences with parking on campus. parking policy’,” Assistant Director “Generally you’re able to find a space for Parking Greg Cain said. Cain if you get there early,” he said. “But during the day said the new policy it’s harder.” will reduce traffic In addition volume, enabling to the parking buses and other zone changes, vehicles to move the construcmore freely around t i on of t h e campus. Partners Way “Overall, there Parking Deck will be less gridex pa nsion is lock,” he sa id. complete.Lo“Traffic is more cated on Cenpredictable.” Greg Cain, assistant director tennial CamHowever, stufor parking pus, the new dents are not enextension protirely convinced. vides approxi“Traffic, especially [on] Dan Allen, is worse than mately 200 additional permitted spacit has been,” Josh Hartman, a senior es and 200 additional pay-lot spaces in livestock and poultry management, adjacent to Engineering Building II. said. “Rush hour is about the same as The change primarily affects graduate students and employees, but student last year.” Jeffrey Kiefer, a junior in English, awareness is not widespread. Parking permits, although now sold thinks traffic is worse, yet remains out, were available for the same price optimistic. “I feel like traffic’s been a lot worse as last year’s permits. This marks a dedue to construction, but I’m hoping parture from the gradual price hike of that construction will improve it in previous years. “Due to cost of living, we try to the long run,” he said. “I don’t know program a 2-percent increase per if we can make that judgment yet.” In addition to reducing traffic, the year for parking spaces. We didn’t do new zoning rules are also projected to free up more parking spaces around PARKING continued page 3
“There are complaints with the new policy, but within a few weeks, everybody should adjust to it.”
Jordan Moore/Technician
Brian Reed, of Binswanger Glass, puts the final touches on the new glass awning for Melvins’ and Five-O-Clock Sports Bar on Hillsborough Street. The renovationsare part of the plan to draw in more consumers to the area.
Two Guys for their tradition of great food there is nothing to worry about. “One of the things that Two Guys has always had is a quality of flavor not only found in our sauces but in our
pizzas and other dishes as well,” Gretchell said. “It’s the same old Two Guys in
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Student Government to debut its ticketing incentive Program rewards students who attend more games and those who arrive early to games with points that can be redeemed for prizes.
How does the incentive program work? •
Students receive one loyalty point for attending a football or basketball game.
Ty Johnson
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Students receive one bonus point if their ticket is scanned at least 45 minutes before kickoff or tipoff.
Editor-in-Chief
Jay Dawkins, last year’s student body president, said the program is the product of ideas that came together last year that weren’t realized due to technical problems. “[The incentive program] was a big piece of the puzzle we couldnt accomplish last yera because of software issues,” Dawkins said. “Because [Associate Athletics Director of Ex-
•
The points will increase students’ chances of getting tickets to high profile games.
ternal Operations] Dick Christie has been persistant–it’s now a reality for students.” Dawkins said the call for fans to be in the stands early came largely from
NC State Bookstores Student T-Shirt 2nd Annual Design Contest CMY K
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Students also receive prizes for accruing a certain amount of points during the seasons: • 45 points earn the student a T-shirt • 50 points earn the student a hat • 55 points earn the student a cooler Those receiving the most points will be entered in a contest for ACC basketball tournament tickets. Source: Jim Ceresnak, student body president
the coaches of the football and men’s basketball teams. “It’s what our teams want and need,” Dawkins said. “Coach Tom O’Brien and Coach [Sidney] Lowe have always
Call fors! Entrie
Proceeds benefit:
packpromise
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stressed the importance of getting there early and we want to reward students who do that.” Student Senate President Kelli Rogers said SG’s involvement in ticketing declined when the process became electronic, and that this was an opportunity for the organization to be more directly involved with student ticketing. Rogers said she liked the idea because it rewards the most dedicated fans. She said she felt it was a part of SG’s role to support athletics and the University, and that the incentive program was a way to give back to the fans who support the University’s athletic programs most consistently.
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Freshman duo set for success See page 8.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
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Become a fan for a chance to win one of 100 gift cards! 10 lucky students have already won! Hurry, the longer you wait, the less chances you have to win!
fan drive!