Technician
monday april
2
2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Recreation Center updating facilities With the renovation of Carmichael Gym, new services and equipment will be available for students.
Idol winner to attend N.C. State 10th season winner of American Idol, Scotty McCreery, announced he will attend N.C. State this fall.
Anna Riley Staff Writer
Staff Report Over the past five years, University Recreation has been making big changes. While the improvements continue, the face and infrastructure of University Recreation as a whole is making room to benefit more students. Currently Carmichael, or the “old gym” as it’s referred to, is undergoing drastic and expansive construction that will create a larger, more open entrance area, a new cardio room with added equipment with flat screen televisions, and a renovated weight room with new machines. According to Eric Horth, junior in marketing and a facility manager, the changes to the older gym will be very pleasing for students. “They’ve really been doing a lot to improve the facilities. And they’ll only continue to get better,” Horth said. The construction and renovations began in late 2011 and are expected to be completed and open for student use in late April. In addition to housing new equipment, the remodeled area will contain improved locker room facili-
Sikh students stand behind political prisoner
Thomas Obarowski/Technician Archive Photo
Tyler Melvin, a Freshman in Engineering, works out at Carmicheal Gymnasium on Tuesday Oct. 11. 2011.
ties and will make better use of the cardio and strength-training space. Though fees and expenses are often a subject of concern for students, Horth said University Recreation actually has lower fees than that of other recreation facilities at universities of the same size. He said the fees are relatively low for all the options available throughout the two buildings and playing fields. During the 2007-2008 school year,
students were given more options for cardio workouts and strength training with the opening of the Recreation Center. With three stories, multiple studio rooms, and a hefty addition of workout equipment, the Recreation Center provided students longer hours and a greater selection of fitness plans. Laura Sharpe, senior in fashion brand management and a facility manager, said the Recreation Center gives students a wide variety of
health and fitness activities. She said students not only have a large area of cardio and weight equipment, but also studio rooms for PE and group fitness classes. Sharpe said students can also use the studio rooms recreationally when classes are not using them. “We really try to cater to the student population and provide for a lot of different interests at the same
At the American Country Music Awards, American Idol alum Scotty McCreery announced in an interview that he plans to attend N.C. State this fall. McCreery said in the interview that one of the main reasons he chose to attend N.C. State is because it’s where his father went to school. It is possible he will only attend State for two years and then transfer to school in Nashville, but in the interview he said that is not officially decided. McCreery won season 10 of American Idol in May 2011. He is originally from Garner, North Carolina, and sings and records country music. His debut studio album, Clear as Day, was released in Oct. 2011 and went platinum in the United States. He has two top 20 country hits: “The Trouble with Girls” and “I Love You This Big.” McCreery said in the interview that he looks forward to attending N.C. State and spending time in Raleigh.
Update continued page 3
Student Government reflects on the year As the year draws to a close, student body officers and students summarize and comment on the past. Jessie Halpern
Political dissident from the Indian stage of Punjab brings Sikh disenfranchisement to light. Mark Herring Features Editor
Sikh students across India, the U.K. and the U.S. gathered in cities last week and this weekend to protest the execution of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a conspirator in the assassination of a former chief minister of the state of Punjab. After seven years of trials and detainment, the government of the northwestern Indian state of Punjab announced Rajoana’s hanging for March 31, but rescheduled his execution to a future date, not yet determined. Rajoana’s case exhibits an ongoing conflict since Indian independence from Britain in 1947, when the British partitioned the country due to religious tensions between Hindus and Muslims. However, the Sikhs, comprising the fifth largest religious body in the world, were divided during partition. India and Pakistan took portions of Punjab, the Sikh native state, and since then the religious minority has struggled for partial autonomy and sovereignty. India is the largest democracy in the world, but according to Manpreet Kaur, a Sikh junior in design studies, the Indian government has not treated Sikhs with equality. “The main problem is that Sikhs have always wanted an independent
sikh continued page 6
Deputy News Editor
The recent election of our next student body president, Andy Walsh, has signaled that Student Government is coming to a close for the academic year, but the current officers plan to show N.C. State just how much they’ve done in their time in office. “It’s been a busy and exciting year,” Chandler Thompson, student body president and senior in economics, said. When tuition issues took center stage for Student GovernLeanna Osisek/Technician ment in recent months, many Ethan Harrelson, a graduate student in international studies, directs the Student Government meeting on Feb. 15. students overlooked the other things the officers have worked successful. We increased appropria- the tuition increase proposals that campaign promises met, such as on. In order to inform students tions, worked to plan the 125th cele- went back and forth for months, De- extending Atrium hours, creatof the year’s accomplishments, bration and advocated for students.” vore thinks positively of his experi- ing a Google calendar for campus events, enhancing the Wolfpack Those looking over the Sine Die ence in Student Government. Student Government passed a “It’s been a great learning experi- Student Discount program, adding Bill will notice a significant amount bill. Emerson Barker, senior in of work was done in changing the ence,” Devore said. “I’ve met some more student study places around political science, pointed out organization of Student Govern- people in and out of my college, campus and more. “With everyone in Student Govas well as administrators whom I the Sine Die Bill as a useful tool ment. “We did a lot of that at the begin- would otherwise have never met. ernment helping and working for students interested in what Student Government has done ning of the year. We made things The experience helped me to be- hard, I truly believe we were able to improve the student experience,” less bureaucratic, in one sense of come a better leader.” this year. While Student Government would Thompson said. the word, so we According to Kayla DeWald, sophomore in could better serve be nowhere without its officers, the bill, more students,” Devore campus would be lacking a voice middle grades education, has a high than 60 resolusaid. “The system without a student body president. opinion of the year. tions have been “I think Chandler did an excelalso just needed Thompson wants to make sure her passed. From to be updated be- voice has been heard. To do so, she lent job as student body president,” extending cause it had been created a document that took her DeWald said. “She provided a reAtrium hours the same for 10 platform from last year’s campaign ally transparent view of Student to cleaning up and showed exactly how she ful- Government that allowed students years.” the executive Patrick Devore, senior in meteorology Though he has filled her promises. The document, to actually see what was going on bra nch, t his served as the Col- “Student Body President Platform behind the scenes.” year’s officers Transparency was brought up in lege of Physical and Mathematical Review,” was sent out in a HOWL have made some big changes. “We did a bunch this year,” Science’s representative, in the past message and is also available on Stu- several of the recent student body president candidate debates, and it Patrick Devore, student sena- two years Devore has also chaired dent Government’s website. According to the review, Thomp- remains to be seen whether Andy tor and senior in meteorology, the Senate Tuition and Fees Comsaid. “On a whole, this year was mittee. Even with recent stresses like son’s term has seen many of her Walsh is up for the challenge.
“We made things less bureaucratic... so we could better serve students.”
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