TECHNICIAN
friday february
27 2015
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
IN BRIEF
Pack on top See full coverage on page 8
NC State extends withdrawal date
The university has extended the last day for students to withdraw from a class due to weather-related closings and the date’s proximity to spring break. March 18 is now the last day for students to drop a class and receive a “W” on their transcript for the 2015 spring semester. Drops that would cause a student to drop below 12 credit hours must be submitted via a Schedule Revision Form and require the permission of the student’s Dean. SOURCE: University Registrar
Wake County high school students protest another snow day
After the snow days canceled hundreds of extracurricular events, several Wake County high school students protested the possibility of schools being closed again Friday. Students were upset after being told they would not be allowed to participate in the North Carolina DECA business conference in Greensboro on Friday and expressed their dissatisfaction on Twitter. Thursday’s closing marked the seventh day without school in the past two weeks for Wake County public school students. The Wake County school system responded to the students’ protest tweets by allowing students to participate in the conference if schools remain closed Friday if their parents can provide them transportation to the event. SOURCE: The News & Observer
RYAN PARRY/TECHNICIAN
Redshit junior guard Trevor Lacey, sophomore forward Lennard Freeman, redshirt senior guard Ralston Turner and sophmore guard Anthony “Cat” Barber react as sophomore forward BeeJay Anya makes a free throw during the game against No. 15 North Carolina Tuesday. The Wolfpack held the Tar Heels to the fewest number of points ever scored by a Carolina team in the Dean Smith Center, defeating them 58-46 in Chapel Hill.
CAIDE WOOTEN/TECHNICIAN
NC Senate approves bill allowing government offices to refuse to marry same-sex couples
The North Carolina state Senate voted to allow government officials to refuse to marry same-sex couples without fear of being fired Wednesday. The bill came in response to complaints from some magistrates in North Carolina who threatened to resign rather act in defiance of their religious beliefs by performing same-sex marriages. However, the bill does not explicitly mention same-sex marriage. It states that employees can refuse to perform the marriage if it goes against “sincerely held religious objection.” Samesex marriage became legal in North Carolina last year after a federal court struck down the state’s ban. In a statement, Senate leader Phil Berger said the bill is a way for North Carolina to preserve religious freedoms while acting in accordance with the law. SOURCE: Reuters
Above: Head coach Mark Gottfried holds redshirt senior guard Ralston Turner’s arm up in victory as they exit the Dean E. Smith Center following NC State upset 5846 victory over the No. 15 rival North Carolina Tarheels Tuesday. The win was the Wolfpack’s first at UNC-Chapel Hill since 2003, and its first over a Roy Williams-led Tar Heel squad. Right: Redshirt junior guard Trevor Lacey drives for a layup during the game against No. 15 North Carolina Tuesday. Lacey had 14 points and six rebounds in the Wolfpack’s 58-46 win over the Tar Heels at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. RYAN PARRY/TECHNICIAN
Candidates for SBP, SBVP debate platforms Sasha Afanasyeva Staff Writer
Chris Becker
Kelly Elder
Khari Cyrus
Nate Bridgers
Gavin Harrison
Meredith Mason
insidetechnician
SPORTS NC State bounces back, crushes Aggies See page 8.
SPORTS Experienced Avent helms Pack into 2015
Despite the looming snowstorm, candidates running for both student body president and vice president debated diversity, transparency and sexual assault at the annual debate hosted by the Technician Wednesday evening in Harrelson Hall. More than 50 people gathered in the former Governance Chambers, including students, members of the Student Government and the supporters of the candidates. Debaters included presidential candidate Chris Becker with vice presidential running mate Kelly Elder, Khari Cyrus with running mate Nate Bridgers, and Gavin Harrison with running mate Meredith Mason. Each pair had three minutes to give their opening statements and two minutes to answer each question. Technician editor-in-chief Ravi Chittilla and staff writer Ian Grice moderated the debate. Increasing diversity and encouraging acceptance on campus were some of the main topics of discussion throughout the debate. Becker, a senior studying philosophy and mathematics, stressed the importance of encouraging student leaders to promote diversity to as many students as possible. “We want to equip executive cabinet and Senate student leaders with
tools necessary to start these discussions and to ask the necessary questions,” Becker said. “It’s a matter of encouraging people to have these small dialogues.” Elder, Becker’s running mate and a junior studying political science, cited her experience creating the Social Justice Mini-Grant to help underrepresented students. Harrison, a senior studying biological engineering and whose campaign slogan is “tradition, unity, progress,” said inclusion is about representing the students. “We decided diversity is having people at the party and inclusion is people feeling welcome at the party,” Harrison said. “We represent the students. It’s not just representing the students, it’s representing everyone. GLBT students, grad students—someone is underrepresented somehow.” Cyrus, a senior studying biological sciences, said his experience as president of his fraternity has shown him that encouraging inclusion is about getting to the root on the problem rather than spending money on programs that don’t work. “If you look at around this room, we have diversity. But are we inclusive?” Cyrus said. “Are we making safe spaces for all students on campus? We don’t want to focus on throwing money at issues.” The candidates outlined how they plan to address sexual assault on
DEBATE continued page 2
See page 8.
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