TECHNICIAN
wednesday december
1
2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
University offers stress busting activities Campus Activities and Campus Recreation are teaming up to help de-stress the University during the exam period. Allison Saito Staff Writer
Free pizza and movies are two tools campus organizations will use to bust your stress next week. As a part of Campus Activities’ stress busters, pizza will be distributed on the Brickyard Dec. 8 and on Centennial Campus Dec. 9. Campus Cinema will also show ‘Knight and Day’ free to students Dec. 9 and Dec. 10. Rick Gardner, associate director of Campus Activities, said stress busters have evolved since the University sponsored its first stress buster, ‘Breakfast on the Go,’ 10 years ago. “Every semester we do something a little bit different,” Gardner said. One returning event is Pet-a-Pooch, which allows students the opportunity to see, touch and distress during the exam period by being around therapy dogs. According to Gardner, this is one of the most popular events Campus Activities sponsors. “It’s really interesting to see how Pet-a-Pooch has exploded [as interest has increased],” Gardner said. Pet-a-Pooch will be in the North Gallery of Talley from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 8. According to Gardner, all of the dogs are trained, healthy and safe to be around. “We work with a group called COPE Elder Care. They are therapy dogs that they normally take into retirement homes,” Gardner said.
Peter Koutroumpis, assistant director of Campus Recreation, said Campus Recreation is sponsoring several events this year, including one new event. “We have a dodge ball tournament we are introducing this year,” Koutroumpis said. The dodge ball tournament will be Monday and requires advance registration. The only other stress buster that requires registration is the Jingle Bell Jog. Gardner said this is a fun, noncompetitive two mile run/walk. “We have prizes for costumes,” Gardner said. “Registration is online and also [you can] walk up.” Koutroumpis said they have seen creative costumes in the past, including Santa and a team of reindeer. “We’ve had a Santa and some elves [also],” Koutroumpis said. The first stress buster of this semester will be a carnival in Wolf Plaza from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday afternoon. “Anybody can come up and play the games. And McDonald’s is bringing out a prize wheel,” Gardner said. According to Gardner, there is a philanthropic aspect to the carnival. Campus Activities is trying to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. If you donate to Ronald McDonald House, Gardner said, you can spin the prize wheel. “The bookstore has given us 50 $10 gift cards to give away at the carnival,” Gardner said. Another stress buster will be the biannual Exam Jam sponsored by CampusRec, according to Koutroumpis. “We have Exam Jam, which we always hold the first Tuesday of exam week,” Koutroumpis said. “It involves
STRESS BUSTER SCHEDULE: Date: Friday, Dec. 3 Activity: Carnival and Bookstore sidewalk sale Location: Bookstore & Wolf Plaza Time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Date: Monday, Dec. 6 Activity: Dodgeball Tournament Location: Carmichael Courts Time: 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Date: Tuesday, Dec. 7 Activity: Exam Jam and Climbing Wall Location: Carmichael Courts Time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Date: Wdnesday, Dec. 8 Activity: Pizza on the Brickyard; PetA-Pooch Location: Brickyard; Talley Ballroom Time: 11 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. SOURCE: CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
all our different program areas doing some sort of fun and active activity.” The rock wall will be open and free food will be provided. According to Koutroumpis, Exam Jam is a way for students to relax by being active. Inactive ways of relaxing will also be available. “We do have a massage therapist, so people can sign up for a free massage,” Koutroumpis said. UAB is hosting bingo in the Campus Cinema from 9 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Dec. 9. University Dining will also be opening Fountain Dining Hall late on Dec. 7, 8 and 9. They will have activities and food. “[One day] they’ll be doing the spin art with the records that we did at Friday Fest,” Gardner said.
JORDAN MOORE/TECHNICIAN
Chelsea Richardson, a freshman in professional golf management, tries to figure out how the payment system works in the game “Life” at Fountain Dining Hall. Richardson was with a group of friends, who participated in the event sponsored by Campus Police. The stress buster also included live Karaoke open to anyone. “I might sing, I’m not sure yet,” said Richardson.
Police: Centennial parking vandalism on the rise Over 30 incidences of vandalism this semester makes Centennial’s RS lot one of the most dangerous parking lots on campus. Brooke Wallig Staff Writer
Vehicular vandalism is becoming more common for students parking in the Resident Storage lot on Centennial Campus, but maybe not for the reasons they think. Shattered windows and slashed tires are hardly what students expect to worry about, especially for freshmen who frequently park in the lot, but over 30 incidences have been reported in the Campus Police blotter as having occurred in that lot since Aug. 15. According to Capt. Jon Barnwell, Campus Police receive more reports about incidences in this particular lot than any other on campus. “Compared to other lots on campus, we have seen a much higher increase in crime in the Resident Storage parking lot, though it is typical for the lot of choice for subjects to change every couple of years,” said Barnwell. “There are usually only a couple students damaging vehicles, so the lot of choice depends on lot location, what the lot is used for, and who the perpetrators are. We are considering these factors and are working to enhance the security of the lot.” There are signs in the lot stating that students can help prevent damages to their vehicles by locking their doors and keeping their valuables out of sight—therefore “out of mind”—but Barnwell said this trend seems to be no longer valid. “In the past it has been an issue of what is in the vehicles, such as GPS systems, CDs, or other electronic items or items of value,” said Barnwell. “However, we are seeing more instances of random acts of violence, with no intent of theft. This new trend makes it difficult to advise students on
Friday, Dec. 3rd 12pm to 8pm
how to keep their cars safe.” But Barnwell said while Campus Police are stepping up security measures in the lot, the University needs students to be “neighborly” and look out for any suspicious incidences in the lot. “First and foremost, we focus on dealing with physical safety, and then we focus on protecting students’ property. From a physical standpoint, students in the lot are safe,” said Barnwell. “Right now, we’re working on investigating this which has reduced the number of incidents and we are aggressively checking the lots. But we need students to report anything they see. We need the help of the campus community.” Kelly Womack, a freshman in elementary education, said she finds this new trend of breaking into cars for purposes other than theft surprising and confusing. “I’ve always been told not to leave anything of value in my car or out in the open for people to see because that encourages people to break in to cars,” said Womack. “Yeah, it is surprising because I don’t get it. It seems pointless to break into someone’s car and not take anything. They are just breaking in to break in.” While Barnwell said he could not divulge the specifics of how Campus Police is strengthening security other than instating an increased police presence, he said Campus Police will install surveillance equipment as soon as the University has the money for it. “As we move forward with our plans to place CCTV cameras in the lot as it becomes economically viable, I believe it will have an impact of reducing criminal behavior,” said Barnwell. “It will have a tremendous impact on deviant behavior because it will take away the anonymity perpetrators believe they have when they commit such acts.” According to Emily Ericksen, a freshman in agriculture, employing the use of such cameras would make
A sophomore at Wake Forest–Rolesville High School collapsed at a swim meet Tuesday night at Carmichael Gym Pool. Staff Report
KIMBERLY ROCHESTER/TECHNICIAN
A sign warns students against theft at the RS lot off Oval Drive on Centennial Campus Monday, Nov. 22. Acts of vandalism, including shattered windshields, have become a common occurence in the lot. “I wouldn’t park my car here if they offered free parking,” said Jeff Hemric, a junior in business administration.
BLOTTER FROM CENTENNIAL CAMPUS DATE/TIME
REPORT
DETAIL
Suspicious Incident
Security officer report suspicious incident. Officers responded but did not locate subject.
9:53 AM
Damage to property
Student reported scratches on hood of vehicle.
2:40 PM
Damage to property
Student reported vehicle had been damaged.
1:34 PM
Damage to property
Student reported vehicle had been keyed.
Damage to property
Student reported vehicle had been damaged.
November 18 2:16 AM November 19
A Wake Forest–Rolesville High School sophomore collapsed at a Carmichael Gym swim meet Tuesday evening. According to observers’ reports, the teenager is a member of the WFR High swim team and hadn’t eaten that day. The girl’s teammates said stress from the swim meet may have been a factor in her collapse at the Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center. Eyewitnesses said the swimmer was breathing normally when EMS crews wheeled her away via stretcher.
insidetechnician
November 23 4:26 PM
SOURCE: CAMPUS POLICE
her feel more comfortable with having a car on campus, though currently the damages are not enough to discourage her completely from on-campus lots. “I feel like these should deter me from parking on campus, but I simply need my car for too many things,” said Ericksen. “I think they should put
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Teenager collapses at Carmichael Gym Pool
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cameras out there since it would prevent people from doing these things. Obviously many people won’t go out there knowing they are being watched, or they will at least be a lot easier to catch. But it would be nicer if there was more security so I wouldn’t have to worry.”
After 14 years, ‘Donkey Kong Country Returns’ See page 6.
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