Technician
Earth Day engages campus, community Events to highlight sustainability on campus
15 2011
Tour examines black history Red, White and Black Tour takes in-depth look at the history of African-Americans on campus. Shivalik Daga
Campus organizations ready to highlight their past and present sustainability efforts at N.C. State.
Staff Writer
Brooke Wallig News Editor
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Raleigh, North Carolina
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According to David Dean, outreach coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, the concept of striving to become more sustainable is not a foreign one at N.C. State. “N.C. State has many chapters in its story of sustainability,” Dean said. “We’d like students to understand sustainability is not new on campus.” The Earth Day 2011 events on the Brickyard will not only focus on N.C. State’s current ventures in all things “green,” but also on the history of this issue within many organizations in the University, Dean said. “There will be a timeline people can add to that goes into the future so students can share their thoughts on sustainability. What will it look like in 2040? What did it look like in 1950?” Dean said. “It will let different departments tell their stories and let the campus community share where they also think it’s going.” But according to Dean, the University has a lot to be proud of this year in regards to sustainability. “A lot of what we have done this year are going to have huge impacts on the campus, one if which is the installation of solar thermal system on top of Carmichael to heat the swimming pools,” Dean said. “That’s thinking outside of the box. Another example is the combined heat and power plant under construction right now on Cates Avenue. This project, which is due to be completed in a year, will greatly reduce our dependence on coal and increase our efficiencies.” Joe Furstenberg, freshman in political science, said he especially would like to learn more at the event about the physical applications of such efforts as well as information on sustainable job markets. “I would really like to see sustainability organizations there [at the event],” Furstenberg said. “We hear about sustainability all the time
friday
photo courtesy of Meg Lowman
Meg Lowman, a specialist in rain forest research, educates Ethiopian children while working in the East African country that suffers from one of the worst cases of deforestation. Lowman is dedicated to advancing scientific research regarding forests and developing philanthropic projects to preserve them.
The skyline’s the limit Canopy research paves way for forest conservation and philanthrophy. Ken Cheng Staff Writer
Imagine trekking through the exotic rain forest of the Amazon, a place so isolated that only the daring consider stepping foot in it. Imagine scaling the side of the large tropical trees that, to the average N.C. State student, would look like something straight out of James Cameron’s Avatar. Now imagine not just climbing these colossal rooted spires, but living in them hundreds of feet off of the ground. For many, this is a feat that only someone with extraordinary abilities or with a total lack of vertigo could ever accomplish. A task reserved for those who are perhaps Green Berets, or British extreme survival show hosts. However, for Director of the Nature Research Center at the Museum of Natural Science Dr. Meg Lowman, it is just another day. “Canopy research mostly refers to studying parts of the trees that we couldn’t study in the past,” Lowman said. “The tops of the trees have a diverse biological population. We’ve discovered insects pollinating that
aren’t on the ground and that the she discussed many of the details leaves on the top are different than of her occupation and what it inthe ones closer to the bottom. They volved; among the audience was are very important to ecosystem Velez. “We asked Dr. Lowman to come services.” Since the start of the environ- because her research sounded inmental movement in the 1970s, rain teresting,” Velez said. “She’s been everywhere. She forests research even took her kids has expanded imwith her. I was mensely and stulike ‘Oh my God!’ dents at the UniShe built a path up versity have bein the trees so you come involved in could basica lly the work to study walk across them. how these natural I was really blown wonders function. away.” Jasmine Velez, a Meg Lowman, director of the Nature Research Center at Lowman’s adsenior in microbiMuseum of Natural Science venture in t he ology, is involved forest isn’t limited i n re se a rch i ng to climbing trees or encountering tropical butterfly behavior. “There’s also a lot of different venomous critters. While doing her plant life on top.” Velez said. “It’s research she also raises her sons, at not as moist and humid at the top home and in the forest, as a single because the moisture is held in bet- mother. “My sons climbed with me—it ter by the plants there.” Australia, Western Samoa, Mexi- was an amazing juggling act,” Lowco, Peru, Panama, India, Cameroon man said. However, like any reand Brazil are all just a few of the sponsible parent she was very aware countries where Dr. Lowman has of the risk involved. “Of course done her canopy research. Along there were extra things I was worwith the perk of travel, climbing ried about like poisonous snakes, different trees exposes Dr. Lowman tarantulas and army ants. But famto all sorts of habitats and foliage ily life was great and my kids got extraordinary exposure.” types. This past March, Lowman came to speak at the University, where lowman continued page 6
“My sons climbed with me-it was an amazing juggling act.”
sliding into summer jordan moore/Technician
Freshman in animal science Cameron Overby slides down an impromptu slip and slide at Tucker beach Thursday, April 14, 2011. Overby said the warm weather was one of the reasons she decided to shed her clothes and slide down the wetted plastic tarps. “Its a hot day, and I like to play.” said Overby. The slide, which was hosed down with a mixture of dish soap and water, provided a smooth surface for students, though it wasn’t entirely pain free. “They keep throwing on soap, but there is still dirt on the tarp, which is kind of gritty.” said Overby.
There was a time when the University typically shunned AfricanAmerican students. To be accepted at N.C. State, they had to be in-state residents, and could be admitted only if the courses they wanted to graduate in were not offered in traditional black universities like Central and A&T. That was then, in times when racedirected campus violence was a common occurrence across the nation, and now, N.C. State graduates more African-American students than does any historically black university in the entire UNC system. Speaking on the occasion of the inaugural “Red, White and Black” tour, Walter Jackson, associate professor in history, shared similar historical facts about the University’s AfricanAmerican student population. For instance, the West Dunn building was the first unofficial AfricanAmerican Cultural Centre, and the first four African-American students were admitted not until 1956. The tour started from the D.H. Hill library, and Jackson walked students and other attendees across campus, stopping at Holladay Hall, Stewart Theater and Watauga Hall before arriving at the AACC in Witherspoon Hall. Jackson said he became interested about African-American history while teaching a course on civil rights history. “When I was teaching that course, my students read about violence on campus that was prevalent during those times,” Jackson said, “They asked me about the situation at N.C. State and I didn’t know anything about it. So that was when I started learning about it, about 10 years ago.” The tour was the brainchild of Toni
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University strives for sustainability See page 6.
New-look Pack excited for Kay Yow Spring Game See page 8.
Tobacco Road rivalry hits the Doak See page 8.
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Sidewalk Sale
NC State Bookstores - April 28 & 29 - 10am to 4pm - On the courtyard next to Talley - Lot’s of great deals!