Technician
wednesday november
11
2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Student Government reaches out despite bad weather Student Government looks to interact, students uninterested Nick Tran Staff Writer
Student Government has partnered with the athletic commission to hold Howl Out Hang Out in the Brickyard through Thursday to promote awareness of various campus groups and allow students to register for Campout. Besides registration, the purpose of SG’s presence on the Brickyard is also to collect feedback from students and allow students to interact with members of SG. The booth housed a couch where students could sit and hold dialogues with student leaders. Student Senate President Kelli Rogers said SG’s presence at the event is
an attempt to remain in contact with students and listen to the issues they have. “We are informing people on Campout,” she said, “but we also want to see what students are interested in and how SG can help. We need feedback.” “We want to set it up as an open environment, like an open forum, where students can freely interact [with SG]. It’s important for [SG] to be out there with students even when they don’t need a vote,” Rogers said. Despite this opportunity, few students stopped to converse with SG representatives, which Sen. Kyle O’Donnell said was likely due to classes and the weather. “If students have any comments or concerns about the University and how we can do better, we are open for
dialogue,” O’Donnell said. “But we’ve received a generally apathetic response from students.” Abby Cranford, a junior in international studies, said it wasn’t apparent what SG’s purpose was and she had no idea what was going on. “It’s like they’re just hanging out playing corn hole,” Cranford said. “It’s good for the Campout, but the reaching out part doesn’t seem to be going that well.” Ellis Kieffer, a sophomore in mechanical engineering, also said he only received the Campout registration portion of SG’s effort. “It’s cool they’re coming out to get people excited about Campout,” he said. “They didn’t really talk to me about much else. Reaching out doesn’t seem like the main purpose.”
Student Government competition promotes sustainability on campus New competition challenges students to ‘Think Outside the Brick’, make impact on campus Amber Kenney Deputy News Editor
As part of the Think Outside the Brick Competition, the Student Government Sustainability Commission is accepting proposals on ways to make campus a more sustainable place to live, work and study. According to Jason Smith, a junior in business administration and the project director of Think Outside the Brick, the competition is looking for simple ideas that can be started on a limited budget, but can still make a
huge impact. “We want to find an idea, put it into action and see it through to fruition,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for students to make their mark on campus.” According to Caitlin Purcell, a sophomore in anthropology, the Think Outside the Brick competition is a good way to get students involved. “Young people today have some of the best ideas,” she said. “If they are given the opportunity to put those ideas into action, wonderful things can happen.” All submitted proposals will be judged on feasibility, scalability and campus impact, Smith said. The winning proposal will receive $1,000
“Still, it is cool that you can talk to them and that they’re making themselves available,” Kieffer said. Sen. Sam Daughtry was approaching students in the Brickyard and said he felt he was getting a lot of positive feedback from students. “Students gave me a lot of ideas and talked to me about issues like transportation, Atrium construction and campus organizations,” Daughtry said. “Our job here is to educate, and even if students don’t show up, it’s a success that we’re here.” Caroline Meddock, a junior in history education, said she didn’t even realize it was SG. “When I talked to them they focused a lot on the game and talked about changes in procedures this year,” she said. “I thought it was specifically
about Campout. I didn’t know about the couch or open invite. The couch was kind of vague.” “In light of everything that’s happened in the past few months, SG is probably trying to be more proactive. People right now have a bad taste in their mouths,” Meddock said. Jim Ceresnak, student body president, said SG’s presence was to increase visibility for the students, something SG was working towards during and after Rally for Talley. “We want to inform students about things going on,” Ceresnak said. “I’m expecting a positive response. We got lots of response during Homecoming and this is a chance for SG to give back and interact with students.”
Scaffold Sit
think outside the brick:
students.ncsu.edu/sustainability
starting funds, a team to jumpstart the idea and initial support. “We are eliminating the barriers,” Smith said. “We are providing the funding, the support and the resources. It is a tremendous opportunity. We are creating a solid infrastructure for student ideas to grow.” The funds that will be used too implement the chosen idea is mon-
CONTEST continued page 3
Dean, student to switch places for day A contest for undergraduates in CHASS offers a chance for students to trade places with the dean for a day Adair-Hayes Crane Staff Writer
A student from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences will have the chance to be the dean for the day, on Jan. 28. CHASS is holding a contest for all undergraduate students in the department to have the chance to exchange places with Jeff Braden, dean of CHASS. Braden came up with the idea while reminiscing with colleagues over an
old television show called “Queen for a Day.” Braden jokingly suggested that the college should do “Dean for a Day,” and the idea began to develop. Eventually, CHASS decided to turn Braden’s idea into a reality. CHASS sent an e-mail to all undergraduate students in the college describing the contest and how to win the chance to be dean for a day. According to Braden, students must be an undergraduate CHASS major, be available from 5 p.m. Jan. 27 until 5 p.m. Jan. 28 and must submit no more than 100 words explaining why they would be a good candidate to be the dean for a day and why their day would be interesting to Braden. According to Braden, the contest is not just for fun. He already has a
pretty full calendar of events for the student that will take his place. Some of those events include representing CHASS at the Dean’s Council, a meeting that involves the deans from all the University’s colleges. The chosen student will also meet with Braden’s advisory board chairman, he said. “It is a full 24 hours of work with real things to do and real decisions,” Braden said According to Lauren Kirkpatrick, director of communication, CHASS student ambassadors will jury the applications and ultimately decide on a student after the Nov. 24 deadline. Students apply-
DEAN continued page 3
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Despite the coming of the now tropical depression Ida, Ben Bell, a junior in chemical engineering, and Taylor Resparc, a sophomore in paper science and engineering, sit in a couch with a tarp overhead while another student looks at drinks stored under the scaffold. Bell and Resparc, both members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, were on duty during the fraternity’s second annual Scaffold Sit. Pi Kappa Phi has used the event to raise money for Push America, an organization established by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity as a way to raise money to help those with severe disabilities. The brothers of the NCSU chapter are holding a raffle to help raise money, with prizes including a PS3 and Xbox 360. The fraternity hopes to raise at least $1,000 by Thursday at noon. “It’s gonna be tough,” Bell said of sitting out in the steadily-increasing downpour, “but we’ve got our tarp and we switch out.”
Student Veterans of America celebrate national holiday N.C. State chapter to host fundraiser and ceremony to honor veterans Annie Albright Staff Writer
nick toptine/Technician
Helping further show support for our veterans, Matthew Walker, a sophomore in communication and member of the Kappa Alpha Order at N.C. State, posts a sign promoting Veterans Day on the fraternity’s hot dog booth out in the Brickyard. The money raised by Kappa Alpha at its booth is going towards the Wounded Warriors Project and the Honor Flight Network. “We felt it was the right thing to do, to raise money and help out people who allow us to live the lifestyle we do,” Walker said.
The Student Veterans of America will host a fundraiser followed by a ceremony to honor veterans tonight. Andrew Hall, president of the Student Veterans of America, said the doughnut sale will take place between 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Brickyard and outside the Free Expression Tunnel, regardless of weather. “We will be raising money to send care packages to the North Carolina National Guard unit who will be deployed over Christmas,” Hall said. “They are going to be gone this Christmas and it sucks to be over there alone without your family.” Amanda Migliaccio, a sophomore in social work, said she was looking forward to contributing to the cause
for veterans. by purchasing goods at the sale. “Part of the organization is trying “I really appreciate our veterans and what they do for us because without to do one or two service projects a sethem we would not be as strong of a mester. This is a biggest project of this country as we are today,” Migliaccio semester,” Hall said. “We are mainly said. “I will definitely stop by their an advocate program for veteran affundraiser tomorrow because they fairs and veterans rights, making sure everything is going deserve all of our smoothly and going support.” the way it should Along with the for veterans. Last d o u g h nu t s , t h e semester, getting PE fundraiser asks for credits for military students to write a training, like basic thank you card to training, was pushed members of the unit, through.” Hall said. Hall said that he “Thank-you cards Amanda Migliaccio, sophomore along with Thomas are a great thing bein social work Stafford, vice chancause they do not cellor of student afcost anything but fairs, and represena minute of your time,” Hall said. “It is nice to get a card tative Grier Martin will speak at the from someone, especially a handwrit- ceremony. “The ceremony will be at 5:15 p.m. ten, personalized token of their appredownstairs in the main lobby of Ridciation for your service.” The organization, Hall said, is active throughout the year, advocating VETERANS continued page 3
“I really appreciate our veterans and what they do for us.”