Technician - September 28, 2012 by NC State Student Media

TECHNICIAN          

september

28 2012

Raleigh, North Carolina

technicianonline.com

Students experience survey fatigue Weston Suggs Staff Writer

Response rates at N.C. State have dropped due to an excessive amount of surveys sent to students, otherwise known as survey fatigue. A committee has been assembled to regulate surveys at the University and address the problem. Nancy Whelchel, chair of the survey advisory committee, said the problem is being taken seriously. “We want to do everything possible for N.C. State University to collect information that we can use to make good decisions — that’s the bottom line,” Whelchel said. Provost Warwick Arden assembled the committee, whose members consist of representatives from various academic units at N.C. State and different people on campus who administer surveys. “Every single unit on campus is doing all these surveys along with others outside the University,” Whelchel said. “There are a lot of surveys going on.” There is roughly a 20 percent response rate for external surveys, those done outside the University, and about a 50 to 60 percent rate for institutional surveys, ones conducted within the University, according to the committee. “We don’t want survey fatigue to affect the quality of the data we get to make good decisions,” Whelchel said. “There’s only so many surveys people are going to do.” The survey advisory committee plans to present the provost with

friday

N.C. Research Campus faculty grows Naomi Whidden Correspondant

to recommend is a system where each survey is closely reviewed. If multiple surveys with similar questions exist, some could easily be eliminated. “I’d like to say that I would be able to keep really bad surveys from happening at N.C. State,” Whelchel said. “It’s in the best

N.C. State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute welcomes biologist Tzung-Fu Hsieh in August to lead enterprises on the N.C. Research Campus in Kannapolis, N.C. “Tzung-Fu Hsieh brings a dynamic research focus to our organization,” Mary Ann Lila, PHHI director, said. Hsieh specializes in systems biology, an area of traditional biology that is relatively new and focuses on the interactions between components of biological systems and how those components impact the functions and behaviors of the systems. Hsieh’s particular area of specialization in systems biology is known as epigenetics, a study of understanding changes in gene behaviors caused by factors other than mutations in DNA. “His focus on plant epigenetics will serve as a valuable interface with other research programs at the N.C. Research Campus, creating opportunities with both academic and industry partners,” Lila said. Hsieh is researching ways to better understand endosperm development, including how imprinted gene behavior, or genes whose be-

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new ideas on how to better organize surveys and data. There are hopes of a publicly accessible calendar that lists surveys and the groups of people being sampled. Whelchel said this would help organize whom the surveys go to, what questions are being asked and when they are being conducted. “People thinking about doing a survey could look at this calendar and see that they don’t need to do

the survey because somebody else already collected that information and can share this,” Whelchel said. “They can also see that groups of students are being asked to do multiple surveys at they same time and think ‘maybe I can wait a little bit.’” If a sample of random students is asked to do one survey, they will be taken out of the rotation for the next sample. Another idea the committee plans

University websites see increase in traffic Elizabeth Moomey

transformation by focusing on current and future students, Chacon said. N.C. State’s website and social As of January, the “Current Stumedia outlets have seen a measur- dents” tab, which has the largest able increase in traffic the past year audience, endured some large-scale thanks to redesign and creative col- changes with the collaboration of laboration, according to director of Student Government. Chacon said web communications, Luis Chacon. this partnership was born out of The University for mer st udent Facebook page has b o dy pre sident reached an all-time Kelly Hook’s goal high of more than to keep a student 60,000 likes, and government blog the Twitter page accessible to stuhas almost 5,000 dents. followers. In the “It was a natural last fiscal year, the partnership, now Brad Bohlander, chief communications officer genera l website we wonder ‘why gathered 12 mildidn’t we do this lion visitors, 40 percent of whom before?’” Chacon said. “Recent were new. presidents are more active…most Chacon attributes this increase to of the content is coming from Andy the work of the web communica- Walsh.” tion office and efforts to celebrate Changes were also made to the the University’s 125th anniversary academic and features calendars by relaying information to students as well as shifting the social media in a “content rich, fun and shareable” way. The website mirrors the TRAFFIC continued page 3 anniversary theme of tradition and Staff Writer

“There has been a shift in social media in this year...”

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRO PRO LAWNS

Gro Pro Lawns offers customers personalized lawn treatments based on an evaluation of their lawns. The package comes complete with all the essentials for a manicured lawn, as well as texts, email updates and reminders when it’s time for customers to use their product.

Entrepreneurship puts students in the green TeShima Brennen Staff Writer

insidetechnician Heading into the eye of the storm See page 8.

Laith Ulaby explores the music of the Middle East See page 5.

viewpoint features classifieds sports

4 5 7 8

Gro Pro Lawns, a company started by two N.C. State students, works with local consumers to maintain healthy lawns by providing custom, environmentally friendly and cost-effective fertilizer. Ryan Walsh, a senior in turfgrass science teamed up with Daniel Walser, a senior in business administration, to help consumers balance the cost of fertilizer with the quality of their lawn. “We found that customers wanted to do the landscaping themselves,” Walser said. “The fertilizer consumers would buy wasn’t the best quality, plus the

instructions on how and when to apply fertilizer were unclear.” Go Pro Lawns conducts assessments to provide consumers with individualized lawn care packages that offer more than the generic fertilizer brands. “We realized that different environments need different fertilizers and treatments to help them grow,” Walsh said. “[Generic] fertilizer mostly contains nitrogen because it will work in different grasses across the country, creating one product that is useful to people no matter where they live in the U.S.” Walsh said nitrogen works well, but a lawn needs other chemicals to achieve full growth, like phosphorous and potassium. To find the right package for a lawn owner, Go Pro Lawns visits the

lawn and makes some assessments based on key factors. “There are three factors we look at when evaluating a lawn: what types of grass the lawn has, where the lawn is, and how big the property is,” Walser said. This information is used to create a custom lawn care system for the client with a package that includes six fertilizer applications per year, instructions on how to apply fertilizer, as well as when to apply it. Purchasing a package from Go Pro Lawns is just as affordable as purchasing a generic over-the-counter lawn care program, according to Walsh and Walser. “For a 5,000-square-foot lawn,

GRO PRO continued page 3

News

TECHNICIAN

TRAFFIC

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link farther down the page. These alterations and others increased the traffic to 57,000 visits in the month of August, a seven percent increase from the previous August. The updated ncsu.edu website has been a success for both students and administration, Chacon said. The web communication office has also noticed a rise in the popularity of their Facebook and Twitter sites. “There has been a shift in social media in this year,” Brad Bohlander, chief com-

munications officer, said. The University was an early adopter of the timeline update for Facebook and asked students to make the transition. “We encouraged others to use the timeline by supplying art to use [for the cover photo],” Chacon said. Because social media fosters faster, two-way communication, the University uses it to fill the time gap as communications staff write and develop stories for the webpage. The sites also allow alumni and others to look back and remember their time at N.C. State by meshing the “digital world and physical world together,”

Chacon said. On ncsu.edu, the most clicked tab is “Academics,” followed by the “Current Students” or “Prospective Students” tabs depending on the time of year. The Academics page was also transformed to make it more fluid and easy to find information for the various colleges, according to Chacon. One such change was including an alphabetical list of academic departments. Working for a university as big as N.C. State has been a struggle for the web communication office, Bohlander said. “There are too many good stories,” Bohlander said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRO PRO LAWNS

Ryan Walsh and Daniel Walser represent their lawncare company, Gro Pro Lawns.

GRO PRO continued from page 1

our base kit is about $219, whereas Scotts’ is $200,” Walser said. Walser said the extra $19 goes a long way because it entitles customers to Go Pro Lawns’ customer service. “We are more than happy to come out and take a look at our clients’ questions or problems with their lawn. This is included in their package purchase,” Walser said. In addition, Go Pro Lawns sends clients text message or email reminders when it’s time to apply their fertilizer package. Go Pro Lawns also prides

SURVEYS

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interest of both the institution as a whole and for the person trying to collect the information.” The committee bases a good survey on the questions asked, the design, and if it is administered properly, otherwise known as being methodologically sound. The questions should be easily answered and have a good understanding of who the population is. Surveys with irrelevant questions don’t contribute to valuable information being obtained

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itself on being environmentally friendly. “Many times, when consumers apply fertilizers they tend to apply too much,” Walsh said. “This creates runoff, which ends up in our oceans and lakes. Go Pro Lawns gives consumers the right amount of fertilizer custom-made to fit the measurement of their lawn, preventing runoff.” For Walsh and Walser, this is just the beginning. Go Pro Lawns has already been featured in The Triangle Business Journal and The Premiere in addition to participating in the Southern Ideal Home Show. Both Walsh and Walser have personal landscaping companies that they manage individually as well.

“This is just something I’ve always done year-round,” Walsh said. “We both did landscaping heavily in high school too. I’m glad I finally found a business model that works off of my degree.” Though they are students, Walsh said they don’t let school get in the way of entrepreneurship. “We determined this was a good product that could be very profitable and provide a professional quality to the homeowner,” Walsh said. “We now have investors and many of them are blown away by our product.” Go Pro Lawns is looking toward the future with hopes to expand locally, statewide and nationwide.

and lead to more survey fatigue. The survey advisory committee hopes to cut down on the external surveys conducted by organizations outside N.C. State. “If someone from outside wants to do a survey, then someone at N.C. State needs to stand up behind that project and say ‘I think this is worthwhile,’” Whelchel said. Plans are to have surveys with over 100 students

sampled registered with the committee. This would not include teachers who want to administer a survey to their class. “It’s not to approve or deny surveys, but we’re trying to improve,” Whelchel said. “Not just for the individual surveys, but for the institution as a whole to improve our data collection efforts so we get the best information for everyone to make decisions.”

RESEARCH continued from page 1

haviors are determined by the parent, dictate physical traits like fruit size or amount of fiber in a particular grain. The development of endosperms, the placentalike tissue inside seeds of flowering plants, plays a critical role in human nutrition and health, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. About 75 percent of the world’s food supplies are cereal crops like corn, rice, and wheat, FAO said. These most widely grown crops are mostly endosperms. Using relatively new systems biology processes, Hsieh and fellow researchers have begun to map epigenetic approaches as critical regulators for plant reproduction and endosperm development. His findings suggest new fields of research as to how the environment can exert influences on plants through epigenetic changes. “My long term research goal is to understand what kind of heritable responses are controlled by epigenetic mechanisms,” Hsieh said. Hsieh is an innovative researcher, holding four scientif ic patents and nearly two dozen published research articles. He is an assistant professor in N.C. State’s department of plant biology. Hsieh grew up in Taiwan and received a degree in

PAGE 3 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Chemistry from a local uni- health to revitalize local and versity. He came to the U.S. to state economy. study molecular biology and “I want everyone to underholds a doctorate from Texas stand the importance of the A&M University. Institute and the Campus,” After moving to California Murdock told DHMR I. for postdoctoral work at UC “We’ve opened the door to reBerkeley, he stayed on as a research that will help everyone search specialist before mov- lead longer, healthier lives. ing to NCRC. World class resources will “I have a family with two attract world class scientists.” lovely daughters and a cat The campus includes over named Lily,” Hsieh said. “My one million square feet of family is still in California. state-of-the-art research faWe are all praying that the cilities and offices, with plans economy and housing mar- for over two million more. ket will rebound so we can Here, eight of the UNC Syssell our house in California tem’s top research universiand move my family to North ties, including N.C. State, Carolina.” have 30-year leasing contracts The North Carolina Re- to explore and advance scisearch Campus in Kannapo- entific knowledge across a lis, N.C. is a public-private, variety of disciplines. nonprofit research organizaN.C. State’s facilities intion founded by billionaire clude PHHI and the Institute and sole for Fruit and ow ner of Vegetable Dole Food Science. Co., David PHHI now Murdock. employs Kanseven lead renapolis was search faculfounded in ty members, 19 0 6, a nd including was once Hsieh, with t he homeseven more town of the researchers world’s larg- David Murdock, NCRC investor to be hired as est tex t i le the program facility, Cannon Mills. Over expands. The institute emthe next century, the failing ploys almost 50 faculty and economy bankrupted the staff, including postdoctoral mill until David Murdock researchers, graduate stupurchased it at auction in dents and Cooperative Exten2004, according to the Da- sion employees, according to vid H. Murdock Research its website. Institute. Some of the leading reThe Research Campus was search done on the campus founded as an effort to inte- includes the study of bluebergrate scientists from public ries, isolating phytochemicals and private sectors to drive that counteract malaria, and innovative research in agri- exploring natural products culture, nutrition and human for biomedical use.

“We’ve opened the door to research that will help everyone lead longer, healthier lives.”

Viewpoint

PAGE 4 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Localizing the benefits of innovation

striking feature of Chancellor Randy Woodson’s final 2011-20 strategic plan is its commitment to doubling the number of startup companies turned out by N.C. State. Currently the University produces about five startups every year, a number that the Springboard Innovation Partnership Portal hopes to increase to 10. N.C. State is already reputed for its technological innovation. However, the licensing and patenting technology put out by the University does not necessarily convert to benefits at the local level, as forces of globalization carry much of the technology we produce to large companies worldwide. Because of this, economic growth dissipates on a broader scale,

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TECHNICIAN

CAMPUS FORUM

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Feed the Pack thanks Technician for showing interest in us and would like to add a few important details. We would like to recognize our other campus partners who were not mentioned in the article. We feel this is important so readers have a better sense of just how committed N.C. State is to providing for its own. Along with the partners listed above, we are receiving assistance from the TRIO program, Raleigh Fellows, Greek Life, Housing and Facilities. All partners have contributed in unique ways, and most recently Facilities has donated their services to renovate the classroom that will be used for Feed the Pack. Through their creative efforts, they received a generous donation from an off-campus partner, Rogers Builders, to cover the costs of the renovation, which is in the thousands of dollars. This is just one example of how much the Wolfpack can accomplish when we work together with a shared passion. This is also a reminder that departments you may be less aware of are doing amazing work and making important contributions to student, faculty and staff well-being! In addition, it’s important to stress that although community initiatives often start with one or two individuals, Feed the Pack was inspired by the merging of separate energies from staff, faculty, and students who wanted to address the food insecurity they were seeing in our campus community. A small number of N.C. State staff began discussing the feasibility of developing a food pantry here and quickly connected with students and faculty who also saw a need for this. A multidisciplinary steering committee emerged organically and ideas started to become reality. We’re truly amazed with the amount of buzz Feed the Pack has generated during its pre-launch phase, and the positive relationships built over the past 10 months have been life-changing for everyone involved. Thanks again to Technician for supporting Feed the Pack. Please check us out at https://www.facebook.com/ FeedThePackPantry. Facilities started the renovation project on September 24th, 2012, so stay tuned for more details! - Dr. PJ Adams, Feed the Pack

The unsigned editorial is the opinion of the members of Technician’s editorial board, excluding the news department, and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief. resulting in barely a trickle of wealth down to the local level. However, startups can reverse this trend. It is convenient and beneficial for startups to hire locally, and startups also have a tendency toward developing products that are relevant at a local level. Moreover, they are involved in philanthropic activities directed toward their communities. Two examples of such companies that started at N.C. State but have since gone big are SAS and Cree, both of which trace their origin to research opportunities at N.C. State.

Maintaining America

ntil the mid1960s, it seemed as if the U.S. was becoming a more open-minded country. However, there are signs liberal America is regressing. The 15th Amendment prohibits denying a U.S. citizen the right to vote based on “race, color, or previous Megan condition Ellisor of serviStaff Columnist tude” and was ratified in 1870. Similarly, the 19th Amendment guaranteed female citizens of the U.S. the right to vote in 1920. This was later followed by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended racial segregation and unequal voter registration opportunities. The U.S. has evolved and continues to evolve, but not always in a progressive manner. Although the regression cannot be pinned down to one particular point in history, it is in part due to the Vietnam War, which led to an overall lack of trust in the government. According to The New York Times, Allied casualties were reported at 3,470 dead and 12,062 wounded after the Tet Offensive in 1968. In February of that year, a Gallup Poll reported that only 35 percent of those surveyed approved of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s handling of the war. The American massacre of Vietnamese civilians in My Lai only deepened the distrust Americans were developing toward their government. History.com reported that in March 1968, U.S. troops were told to destroy the village of My Lai, and they did so in the most brutal and disrespectable manner, torturing and raping the villagers before killing them. These events were covered up by high-ranking army officers for a year until Ron Ridenhour heard of the incident secondhand and wrote to President Nixon describing what he had heard. The story broke in 1970 and led to further distrust in the United States government. The events of the war, followed by the Watergate Scandal and later President Clinton’s sex scandal has made many

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With the impetus provided by the many research openings at N.C. State, startups are formed, but many fail without financial backing. Thus, the administration’s promotion of startups is an exciting venture with the right intent. It is a good move on behalf of the University to aim to make use of the potential we have for pioneering influential innovation. With the recently created New Venture Services department, 15 startups a year — the Fast Fifteen, as they are called — will have access to yearlong customized support and networks, and the ability to benefit from mu-

tual success within their own community of entrepreneurs. We live in a society in which far too much capital is siphoned up high into a corporate structure from where the wealth generated is out of reach for the majority of people. Our local community here is no exception to this. But it is likely that the new strategic plan will result in an increase in successful startups, which, by bringing products, economic development and philanthropic contributions to a local level, can only be good for the community.

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Americans more doubtful and less trusting of our government. In 2010 the Pew Research Center found that 78 percent of Americans say they “do not trust the government to do what is right.” The other 22 percent say they trust the government “just about always” or “most of the time.” The question of governmental trust was first posed in 1958 when 73 percent of Americans said they trusted Eisenhower’s administration. The number has only decreased since. According to Jeff Madrick of The Nation, “the latest wave [of the modern antigovernment movement] started with the capture of the GOP by evangelicals, the Tea Party and Grover Norquist’s anti-taxers” when they helped elect a group of “far-right-wing members of Congress dedicated to breaking government’s back.” Madrick also said Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum “propose budgets that would cut taxes sharply for the rich, decimate our most basic social programs and leave no room for significant investment in the future.” The issue of distrust extends past monetary issues. Skepticism has made us rather closed-minded. Because we do not trust our government, our progress has slowed down as we would rather maintain our traditional ways than take risks. Risk-taking has a negative connotation, but many of the previously stated civil rights acts were considered risks at one point or another. For example, two centuries ago, African-Americans and women were not considered intelligent enough to vote. Similarly, there are risks that need to be taken today so as to ensure that civil rights are applicable to all citizens. More fully supporting gay marriage would be a nice place to start. Gallup polls from May 2012 found that 88 percent of people with “no religious identity” believe same-sex marriage should be legal. Likewise, if the government itself does not have a religious identity, it should support the national legalization of same-sex marriage as a progressive step toward equality. I understand it is risky — after all, the government has never promoted anything not promoted by the Bible before — but maybe we should try it out if we want to maintain the U.S. as the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Dr. Marvin “Pop-Pop” Herring

Sustainable State vs. Sustainable Students

ho is responsible for the costs of creating a sustainable campus: administration or students? The proposed Sustainability Fund has recently been a hot topic, rejected Heather twice Troutman in years Staff Columnist past and approved by the Student Government for $0 on Wednesday night. What is the fund, why is it so controversial and how do students receiving their degrees in sustainability feel about it? The $5-per-semester fee has been proposed to generate a fund that would be available for student and faculty-initiated programs across campus focused on improving sustainability. “The Fund will enable further education of students on sustainability as well as physical sustainability changes to the campus. This Fund will create multiple ways for students to become involved in sustainability, while reducing the University’s costs and greenhouse gas emissions and realizing other resource efficiencies,” taken directly from

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IN YOUR WORDS

the text of the Sustainability Fund Proposal. A s a n env i ron ment a l science student, an active WESA member morally charged with campus improvement,and a social entrepreneur, this sounds great. What is $5 — half the cost of lunch? Compare the $286,000 budget the $5 fund will generate annually to the $183 million generated in student fees for the construction of Talley. Talley is intended to be a LEED Platinum certified building — highly sustainable. Compare $286,000 to the $5.5 million paid annually in student fees (for most of us, through student loans) for transit operations. The Wolfline is also a highly sustainable service, reducing car exhaust emissions, traffic and required parking on campus. The $275 I’ve paid this year in Talley fees combined with the $143 paid for transit operations could have funded campaign initiatives to make a real difference on campus, such as a plastic bag ban. That amount, $418, is fractional to my annual tuition costs, but it is among the thousands of dollars I’m required to pay for services I don’t use. I’ve ridden the bus once — it was miserable — and I’ll have graduated long before future students will be enjoying the luxuries of the new Talley. Where is the fund to support my interests: campus

community, environmental stewardship and positive social change? The argument I’ve found put forward by university professionals opposed to the fund is that sustainable projects are not going to be the means to create a reputation for sustainability for N.C. State — leaders in sustainable technologies and research will give our campus the prestige we desire and deserve. Our university is not lacking only in a few thousand dollars to support rain gardens, recycling bins, and bike awareness. To a large extent, our university could improve on institutionalized dedication for the research of alternative energy sources, improved renewable energy technologies, and deactivation techniques for spent uranium. (Forget storage, it’s a bad idea.) As to the sustainability fund, I say go for it. What is $10 a year to me anyway? $40 invested in the fund over the course of my degree is closer to $160 invested after I pay my loans at seven percent interest over the next 20 years. Assuming most of you will also contribute to the fund through student loans, the $287 thousand generated a year will collectively cost us around $400 thousand by the end of our loans. Is that sustainable?

“Make them shorter.”

“Free stuff, or more notice. The last one I got had to be done in like a day.”

Sidney Parris freshman, management

Amee Snaders freshman, political science

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What can the university do to make you take more surveys? BY REBECCA LOCKLIN

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Technician (USPS 455-050) is the official student newspaper of N.C. State University and is published every Monday through Friday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods. Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Copyright 2011 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.

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TECHNICIAN

PAGE 5 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Laith Ulaby explores the music of the Middle East Nikki Stoudt Life & Style Editor

Given the recent uprisings throughout the Middle East, knowledge and understanding of the culture has grown as an important aspect for Americans to appreciate. Approximately 100 students and faculty packed i nto T homps on Ha l l ’s Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre on Sept. 21 to hear Laith Ulaby, an instructor of ethnomusicology at Georgetown University and UCLA, speak about the correlation between music and the Arab Spring. As part of the Price Music Center Lecture Series, “Music and the Arab Spring” hoped to shed light on the prominent, yet misunderstood Middle Eastern cultures. The PMC Lecture Series has become a way for diverse cultures and their music to be brought to N.C. State’s campus, students and the growing music department. The Arab Spring of 2011 not only signaled a massive upheaval in the political structure of several countries in the region, but also

CHRIS RUPERT/TECHNICIAN

Laith Ulaby speaks to students on the importance of music and the Arab Spring.

brought into focus a number of emerging social dynamics. Through his research, Ulaby has examined the role of music in the Arab revolutions as well as explored the importance of media, demographic shifts and society in the Arab world. “It sort of equates to the way Woodstock helped an American cultural revolution in the ‘70s,” Ulaby said. “The

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music of the Arab Spring allowed people to relate to the revolutionaries in a way that would have otherwise been very difficult.” While most were in support of the revolution, several Arab pop stars were vocally pro-regime, meaning they were against the revolution. According to Ulaby, these stars became cultural outcasts, depicting the close re-

lationship between the Arab music industry and the government. According to Ulaby, each Middle Eastern regime had a pop star serve as its “face.” Musicians like Umm Kulthoum and Abdel Halim shaped public opinion and became the pride and joy of their respective homelands. Pop stars were so influential that in 1969, Muammar Gad-

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dafi planned to revolt in Libya but postponed it because Kulthoum was performing on the same night. During the Arab Spring of 2011, several stars came out in support of Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian dictator. Almost immediately, these celebrities were blacklisted. “In their eyes, to listen to their music was to support Mubarak,” Ulaby said. “Most of them are still trying to rebuild their images.” When Ulaby recalls what it was to be a child, his memories are filled with music, laughter and friendship. “My father is from Syria so I remember people coming over and bringing records,” Ulaby said. “I’d think, ‘Oh, that’s different,’ and I’d want to know more.” From an early age Ulaby was drawn to his parents’ record collection. As he began to realize the impact music had on people and societies, Ulaby began to play instruments. “I play the bass and a few Middle Eastern instruments and have played all kinds of music,” Ulaby said. “I think it is also a great way to meet

people when you are doing international research. It gives you another level to connect with them.” In addition to music, Ulaby has also traveled to the Middle East to conduct his research. After traveling to the region, Ulaby has learned to appreciate the United States. By visiting the places he has researched, Ulaby feels that he can really grasp the culture. “I just started going to the region and seeing all the differences,” Ulaby said. “I think that some people get interested in a country or one place and just stick with that. I was drawn to the whole region. I wanted to know why they were different but still connected.”

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM To read more about Laith Ulaby’s presentation, view the full article online.

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Sudoku

Email jhort13@gmail.com

Level:

or Call 919-829-8050 x115

By The Mepham Group

FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

1 2 3 4

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 2

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Solution to Thursday’s puzzle

9/28/12

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve The Technician staff is always looking Sudoku, for new visit members to write, design or take www.sudoku.org.uk. photos.

Technician was there. You can be too. Visit www.ncsu.edu/sma for more information.

ACROSS 1 It can keep a watch on you 6 Phi follower? 10 Took the bus 14 French fry? 15 Transportation option 16 Carafe kin 17 Quarry for Henry VIII’s cat? 19 Word in a boast 20 King of fiction 21 Martin Luther, to Pope Leo X 23 European wine region 25 Bouquet 26 Dutch exporter’s forte? 32 The Olympic Australis and others 33 Slippery 34 Pop-ups, often 37 Hollywood VIP 38 “The Prince of Tides” co-star 40 Bend at a barre 41 LAPD section? 42 Pay stub abbr. 43 Origami staple 44 New Orleans campus sign during spring break? 47 Way up 50 Desperate 51 Horns in 54 Puts in a lower position 59 Melville’s “grand, ungodly, god-like man” 60 Garb for a private pupil? 62 Two after do 63 Go like mad 64 Pitched perfectly 65 It’s pitched 66 Strong arms 67 Racket DOWN 1 Former fleet 2 Tense 3 Boorish 4 Sitting on 5 Noncommittal response

9/28/12

By Marti DuGuay-Carpenter

6 “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” author Anne 7 Seine flower 8 Addams family nickname 9 Toward shelter 10 Put on a pedestal 11 Have an outstanding loan from 12 Durable fabric 13 Evergreen shrub 18 Muddle 22 Risqué 24 Swift’s birthplace 26 Drudgery 27 Prom night style 28 Myanmar neighbor 29 Bugged? 30 Spot checker? 31 __-de-France 34 Melodramatic moan 35 Wine partner 36 Word with poppy or top 38 Zilch 39 Andean tuber 40 Arnie or Tiger, e.g. 42 Roll up 43 South Carolina university

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

Lookin’ for the answer key? VISIT TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

44 Gossip morsel 45 Down sources 46 First Nations tribe 47 Sting 48 Chuckle relative 49 Not worth __ 52 Words of reproach, and a hint to how the four longest puzzle answers are formed

9/28/12

53 “The Highway to India” canal 55 “That’s terrible!” 56 __ torch 57 Cockney toast starter 58 Ocular nuisance 61 Clavell’s “__-Pan”

Features

PAGE 6 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

TECHNICIAN

Brickleberry barely makes an impression Brickleberry

struggling. The show itself had a rough pilot and trouble getting its feet off the ground. At the end of the first episode, I was discouraged and let down by Brickleberry’s failure to deliver. The opening sequence of the cartoon starts with various shots of animals in their natural habitats before it abruptly changes to showing animals crudely mating. It simply wasn’t funny and clearly missed the mark. I don’t think I even cracked a smile, and it left a horrible first impression for the rest of the show.

Comedy Central

 Brooke Shafranek Staff Writer

Brickleberry focuses on an incompetent team of rangers in a struggling national park. As the series premiere begins, head ranger Woody Johnson (Tom Kenny, SpongeBob SquarePants) takes in an abandoned bear cub with a crass attitude named Malloy (Daniel Tosh, Tosh.0). However, it isn’t just Brickleberry National Park that is

The episode focuses around Steve Williams (David Herman, Futurama), the overconf ident Ranger of the Month, who is threatened by the newest addition to the team, Ethel Anderson (Kaitlin Olson, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia). The show follows Steven as he attempts to get Ethel fired, a plotline that proved to be every bit as monotonous and predictable as it sounds. Meanwhile, Malloy, whose junk food diet is threatened by Ethel’s no-nonsense attitude, is lured into a trailer with a candy bar by a ste-

NICHOLAS LEICHTER DANCE

TWENTY TWENTY

“Astonishingly fluid” NEW YORK TIMES

reoty pical redneck, who later rapes him. However, the scene is only played for a poor joke, the crime being deemed unimportant by the rest of the rangers. I couldn’t find anything funny about the way the scene turned out, and it seemed like something that was thrown into the script without any real comedic value. This entire plotline possibly could have been a play on some bad press Tosh received regarding rape jokes while performing at The Laugh Factory. Overall though, the jokes just fell f lat. I found them very similar to Tosh’s standup comedy, with a constant stream of racial stereotypes. However, the material was unoriginal and downright lazy. I felt like I had heard a lot of the show’s jokes before and it made for a slow halfhour. There was nothing about Brickleberry to make it stand out among other animated

shows. It felt like a generic version of an adult cartoon, lacking anything to set it apart from its contemporaries. I am a huge fan of Daniel Tosh, enjoying both Tosh.0 and his stand-up comedy. However, the fact that Tosh u s e s his natural voice makes watching Malloy awkward. Tosh’s voice simply doesn’t match at all with the bear cub. It seems as though Malloy’s mouth is moving, and Tosh’s voice is coming from smewhere else. The show itself uses an animation style that resembles Family Guy and American Dad, and while viewers may be comfortable with the cartoon’s character models and color schemes, it furthers the sense of laziness behind the

show’s creation. It feels like Brickleberry wants to achieve the infamy and status that Family Guy has managed to cultivate over the past decade. Unfortunately, the pilot lacked any sign that the creative team put real effort into the development of a strong identity for the show to build on. However, not all shows start off with a great first episode. I remember thinking American Dad was flat until I was able to appreciate its humor after about five episodes. Brickleberry may require the same time scale, though the quality of the pilot leaves me skeptical. Still, fans of Daniel Tosh may find enough here to warrant a few more viewings before making a final decision.

“I was discouraged and let down by Brickleberry’s failure to deliver.”

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Sports

COUNTDOWN

•1 day until the football team takes on Miami.

INSIDE

• Page 7: A poster of Sebastian the Ibis and Mr. Wuf.

TECHNICIAN

PAGE 8 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

FOOTBALL

Heading into the eye of the storm Halle Mangrum

Men’s soccer to visit Boston College The Wolfpack is looking to get its first ACC win of the season in Chestnut Hill, Mass. as it faces the Boston College Eagles. The Pack is coming off a 2-0 win over Gardner-Webb on Tuesday after dropping three straight games. The Eagles (4-3-1, 0-1-1) comes into the match on a two-game winning streak. In their last meeting, the Pack won, 2-1 in Raleigh. The last time these two faced off in Chestnut Hill, Boston College walked away with a 4-3 victory. SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS

Injury report versus Miami Out for the season: Jacob Kahut- DT (knee) Michael Peek- LB (knee) Out for the game: Rob Crisp- OT (lower back) Andrew Wallace- OT (foot) James Washington- RB (ankle) SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS

Canada finishes Day One of World Am Team Championships Third

N.C. State women’s golf sophomore Augusta James’ Canadian golf squad finished the first day of the World Amateur Team Championships, held in Antalya, Turkey, third. James hit bogeys on the first and ninth holes as wells an eight on par four fifth. She played the back nine at 3-under. She scored birdies on the 10th, 15th and closing holes. James’ next tee time will be at 7:40 a.m. local time today. SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS

ATHLETIC SCHEDULE September 2012 Su

“They’ve got guys that look like they’re all 6’5, 6’6, 300-and-some pounds in front of them, so the Here’s what you need to know backs do a good job of hiding beabout the Miami team N.C. State hind them and then when they take faces Saturday. Between the two off they’re hard to catch,” O’Brien conference games it has played said. “They run through tackles, so far this season, against Bos- that’s the other thing they do.” ton College and Georgia Tech, Luckily for the Pack, the past four Miami’s defense has given up a weeks have been ample time to perwhopping 68 points. The catch is fect the defense. The linebackers in they still won both games. particular have been of concern to If Miami’s current ACC track State football fans. During the press record is any indicator, it would conference, O’Brien put those worseem the Pack has its work cut ries to rest. out for it Saturday. “I think we’ve sorted what their However, at the press confer- jobs will be going forward,” O’Brien ence Monday, senior safety Bran- said. “Looking at what they are dan Bishop was confident. able to do and able to accomplish, “They have put up quite a few we have a better understanding points,” Bishop said. “It’s going of how to use them in the defense to be a big challenge for us. I we want to play against personnel think it’s going to be a good test groupings.” for us early, but I think we’ll be O’Brien expects Miami to bring ready to go.” a lot of different personnel groupCertainly, State has shown ings onto the field this weekend. He potential to be an ACC front- anticipates Al Golden, head coach runner, but four non-conference of the Hurricanes, and the rest of games to start the season means the Miami coaching staff will “work that Miami will prove to be an hard to put their play-makers in interesting and advantageous podaunting comsitions.” petitor SaturState may be priday. “The first oritizing its defense goal is to not let this week, but true them score so freshman runningmany points so back Shadrach Brandon Bishop, senior safety we don’t have to Thornton has rematch it,” head ceived much of the coach Tom O’Brien said. “That’s attention following his impressive the dilemma we’re working debut against the Citadel. Averaging through right now, especially as nearly seven yards per carry and toa defensive staff.” taling 145 yards rushing in his first Of special interest to O’Brien start, Thornton may be a rising were Miami tailbacks Mike star for the Wolfpack. O’Brien said James and Duke Johnson. In Creecy is listed first on the depth the 2012 season they have a com- chart and Thornton is second in the bined total of almost 600 yards Miami game. rushing and receiving. When asked about Thornton, Staff Writer

“I think it’s going to be a good test for us.”

JOHN JOYNER/TECHNICIAN

Redshirt junior wide receiver Quintin Payton runs a pass down the field during the ACC Military Appreciation Day football game against The Citadel in Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday, Sept. 22. Payton has totaled 338 yards on the season. Miami has allowed 226.2 receiving yards per game.

Bishop said, “I knew early on he could be a good player for us, but I didn’t imagine he’d get the opportunity so early. That’s something I like to see — young guys who make the most of their opportunity.” Bishop also spoke of the wide receivers, calling them a “talented group.” He specifically praised teammates redshirt junior Quintin Payton, redshirt sophomore Bryan Underwood and redshirt senior Tobais Palmer. “They’re not as experienced as those guys in the past have been, but I think guys are stepping up nicely,” Bishop said. All this taken into stride, the test for the Pack this weekend comes down to an aggressive defense and

a consistent offense. Although Miami is an unfamiliar opponent and just the first of many tough conference games in the weeks ahead, State knows it is up for the challenge. “We like to take it one game at a time,” said redshirt senior tight end Mario Carter. So, as Miami looks for its third conference win, the Pack is hungry for its first step toward the ACC championship. Miami’s explosive offense will surely be a different beast than N.C. State has seen this season — State can only hope that beast is no match for a wolf.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Late goals by the Canes down the Pack, 2-0 in Raleigh

Tyler Ellis

Today MEN’S SOCCER V. BOSTON COLLEGE Chestnut Hill, Mass., 7 p.m.

Correspondent

VOLLEYBALL V. GEORGIA TECH Reynolds Coliseum, 7 p.m. CROSS COUNTRY AT THE GREAT AMERICAN CROSS COUNTRY FESTIVAL Cary, N.C., TBA CROSS COUNTRY V. NOTRE DAME South Bend, Ind., TBA Saturday FOOTBALL V. MIAMI Miami, Fla., 12 p.m. VOLLEYBALL V. CLEMSON Reynolds Coliseum, 5 p.m. RIFLE AT SEARC 1 Dahlonega, Ga., All Day MEN’S TENNIS AT ITA ALL-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Tulsa, Okla., All Day

Randy Woodson Chancellor

N.C. State v. Miami

The Wolfpack fell Thursday night to the Miami Hurricanes, 2-0. The Pack could not hold on late in the game, allowing two late goals, which it could not rebound from. This loss is its fifth straight, keeping it tied for last place in the very tough ACC. “I would have hoped overall that we would have played a little better, but I thought our fight was good,” Wolfpack Coach Steve Springthorpe said. “We battled hard.” The Pack came out of the gates fired up, possessing the ball extremely well and testing the Canes back line and goalie. Two tough saves by the Canes goalie, Emily Lillard, kept the Pack off the scoreboard early on.

Andy Walsh Student Body President

Tom Suiter

WRAL Sports Anchor

“We had some chances,” Pack with letting the Canes push the ball forward Cheyenne Spade on the deep into State territory before stepPack’s scoring opportunities. “Balls ping up and defending the attacking weren’t getting to the forwards, and Canes forwards. However, the Pack passes just didn’t defense held. work out for us.” “Yeah, I mean However, as the our defense gave first half continued, us a chance,” Spade the game turned said. “They held into a defensive them.” battle. In the 80th min“Our defense alute, Canes forward ways works hard,” Ashley Finn scored State goalie Victoaf ter winning a Steve Springthorpe, women’s ria Hopkins said. header off of a goal soccer head coach “They’re a lways kick and outracing there for our team.” the Pack defenders. As time was winding down in the With time winding down, and the first half Miami starting finding its Pack push faltering, the Canes took forwards on long passes, forcing advantage of another misplayed State goalie Victoria Hopkins into ball. Canes forward Jasmine Patersome tough saves. son scored in the 88th minute after After halftime, the Canes didn’t outmaneuvering goalie Victoria let up. The Pack seemed content Hopkins gently tapping her shot

“It was a little unfortunate for us in the end to give up two goals like we did.”

Mark Herring

Editor-in-Chief of Technician

Jeniece Jamison Sports Editor of Technician

Sean Fairholm

Deputy Sports Editor of Technician

Nolan Evans

Deputy Sports Editor of Technician

into an open net. “It was a little unfortunate for us in the end to give up two goals like we did.” Springthorpe said. The Pack got two late shots, but neither found the back of the net, leaving the Pack scoreless as the buzzer sounded. The Pack was outshot 20-4, with Hopkins having 11 saves. “She played great,” Springthorpe said about Hopkins’ effort. “She made a lot of saves. Caught a couple crosses, had some good challenges on some balls. Certainly the two balls aren’t here fault, they get behind the defense, and it is hard to stick them away sometimes.” Next up for the Pack is undefeated Florida State, which is ranked No. 1 in the country.�

Jonathan Stout

Deputy Sports Editor of Technician

Pulse of the Pack WKNC Sports Talk Radio Show

Trey Ferguson

Managing Editor of Technician

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