TECHNICIAN
BELLTOWER BRIEFS Jon Ort, retired Director of Cooperative Extension, passed away Monday, April 4. Ort retired from his post as associate dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences in 2010, though he served in other capacities previously within the University. During his time at N.C. State, Ort received several awards and served as the director of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service and as the assistant vice chancellor for Extension, Engagement, and Economic Development.
Justin Rose Staff Writer
TALLEY MEETING TO FOCUS ON CONSTRUCTION
Although student body election polls were reopened last week to incorporate excluded voters, few took this opportunity. Brooke Wallig News Editor
After a mistake in the request for the voter list for this year’s Student Government elections, the polls were reopened last Thursday for all students left out of the original election day. According to Stephen Williamson, senior in computer science and Student Government webmaster, out of the 2,192 students eligible to vote on the make-up election day, seven exercised their right to vote. According to Lindsey Pullum, senior in political science and chair of the Elections Commission, “The polls were open for almost 2200 students, and only seven of them—less than one percent— utilized this opportunity,” Pullum said. “We got a lot of criticism for our mistake, but [reopening the polls for part-time students] was the fair thing to do.” Pullum said although a very small number of part-time students voted, it is the responsibility of the commission to ensure that every student voice is heard. “These students have a right to express their votes,” Pullum said. “We will never take that right away.” Despite the very low voter turnout, Williamson said every single one of those seven votes will be counted and added to the votes from the first election day. “We will combine the seven votes with the other votes and run the tabulations,” Williamson said. “This is the obviously fair thing to do. I don’t see anything changing, but we have to run them to be sure.”
NATALIE CLAUNCH/TECHNICIAN
Rainey Wheeler, sophomore in special education, Chelsea Markus, sophomore in business administration, and Whitley Griggs, sophomore in biology, watch the opening ceremonys prayer kicking off Relay for Life. “I do it for my grandma, and I have done it since high school,” Wheeler said.
Relay rained out
While rain forced an early end to the 2011 Relay For Life, it didn’t damper support for the cause. John Wall Staff Writer
More than 50 teams of students set up booths and tents around the impromptu walking track built by Lee Field Friday night to show their support for the Relay For Life, an event designed to raise money for cancer research. Fraternities, sororities, campus clubs, student government, and others had booths and representatives at the event. These booths were meant to raise money above and beyond what had already been raised before the event, all of which is donated to the American Cancer Society.
While, due to inclement weather, the event was canceled before midnight, event coordinators and teams raised more than $54,000 from online fundraising and sponsorships before the event began, according to Madison Dixon, senior in psychology and Relay For Life co-chair. The N.C. State Relay event raised more money prior to event than any other college Relay, according to Dixon. “The goal is $56,000, and we’re already almost there,” Dixon said, prior to the beginning of the Relay. Alyssa Johnson, a senior in elementary education, built and operated a booth along with Alpha Psi Omega, a theater fraternity. The group sold lottery tickets and lollipops, as well offered face painting, magic shows, and palm-readings throughout the night. Johnson, who said she took part in
the event for multiple years, said she participates because Relay’s mission is one that hits home. “My mom is coming tonight. She is a cancer survivor; this is a cause close to my heart,” Johnson said. Matt Brokaw, a junior in construction engineering management and president of the skateboarding club, said people from outside the club who had been affected by cancer approached him and asked him and his club to participate in the Relay. Prior to the event, the club raised $700, and built a half-pipe skate ramp near Sullivan Hall. Brokaw and his club hosted a skate session and barbeque at the ramp where they raised several hundred dol-
While many college students cherish their Saturdays as a “day off ” from academics, one group of adolescents trades this day off every week to participate in a pre-college program sponsored by N.C. State. Around 200 middle and high school students competed against each other Saturday morning during the N.C. State Math and Science Education Network’s (MSEN) mini runoff for MSEN Day, an annual math and science competition. The finalists from the competition will contend against students from the other eight NC-MSEN pre-college programs across the state for the official MSEN Day at the end of April. For the mini runoff, students were divided into groups and worked on various hands-on projects and exercises, including creating parachute egg drops, water bottle rockets, engineering design and architecture, and robotics. Some students also competed in a quiz bowl, where they tested their knowledge of astronomy, chemistry, history and anatomy, among other subjects. According to Braska Williams, NCMSEN Coordinator, the goal of the pre-college program is to be more inclusive towards minority students, such as girls and first-generation college families, and children who come from families where no one is an en-
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insidetechnician
Museum unveils ‘30 Americans’ exhibit Students gather to enjoy NCMA’s first annual college night. Abby Miller Correspondent
On Friday, crowds of college students made their way to the North Carolina Museum of Art for the first annual “College Night,” put on by NCMA’s College Advisory Council. At the event, students were able to view the current “30 Americans” exhibition, which displayed the works of 31 contemporary African-American artists, all lent to the museum by the Rubell Family Collection in Miami, Florida. The 75 works ranged from portraits made of rhinestones and oil paints to old carpets and sculptures made of human hair. Kirsten Southwell, junior in graphic design, said she thought the exhibit’s use of contemporary ideas made it culturally relatable for students. “The 30 Americans exhibition was diverse and interesting, without the meanings of the pieces going over our heads,” Southwell said. But the 30 Americans exhibition wasn’t the only activity at “College Night.” Students were able to complete a scavenger hunt in the exhibition, enjoy modern and hip-hop dance routines by Southern High School Dance Group and Peace College, listen to poetry in the “Beatnik Café,” and eat with friends all for free with a student I.D. Garrett Warren, junior in biochemistry, and Jay Patel, junior in biological
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Pack drops series finale to Heels See page 8.
UAB provides a ‘taste’ of diversity See page 5.
Story headline See page 8.
SARAH TUDOR/TECHNICIAN
Morgan Werner, a dancer from the CC& Company dance program performs for college students at the North Carolina Museum of Art College Night. Werner goes to North Raleigh Christian Academy and also dances there.
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N.C. State sponsored pre-college program prepares for a multiuniversity competition.
SOURCE: CALS WEBSITE
Reopened polls yield 7 votes
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University prepares for MSEN competition
RETIRED FACULTY MEMBER PASSED AWAY
SOURCE: SUMAYYA JONES-HUMIENNY, PROJECT MANAGER
april
Raleigh, North Carolina
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On Monday, April 25, a meeting regarding the Talley renovations will be open to students and other parties affected by the project in the North Ballroom at noon. There will be an overview of the project, schedule for construction, and a question and answer session.
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