Technician
thursday april
7
2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Police still searching for assault suspect Incident brings campus safety to light.
attack area
Lana Layton Staff Writer
sarah tudor/Technician
Sikina Jinnah, assistant professor of international relations in the Global Environmental Politics Program at American University, gives a lecture on climate change bandwagoning Wednesday. “Everyone from the Pope to Sara Lee are creating programs linking to climate change,” Jinnh said.
Climate a hot topic for ‘bandwagoners’ Governments, corporations, implementing climate-related initiatives. Shivalik Daga Staff Writer
Though climate change started off as a scientific phenomenon, today it is discussed in corporate boardrooms and government offices worldwide. As more people have become aware of climate change issues, corporations have found ways to incorporate sustainability as a business strategy via “Climate Bandwagoning” –a phenomenon that has made inroads into international bureaucracy and is now affecting global political discourse. Sikina Jinnah, assistant professor of international relations in the Global Environmental Politics Program at American University, spoke Wednesday about the impact of climate bandwagoning on the global business and political stages. According to Jinna h, climate bandwagoning occurs when non-climate related institutions develop climate-related programs and framings, and an increasingly large number of institutions are engaging in the process simply because it is a popular cause. “If you ask today why there is climate bandwagoning, the first thing that comes to my mind is that simply because it is a hot topic,” Jinnah said, “Institutions will also do it to attract financial and political resources, and to address concerns about the climate’s impact on the organization’s core mission.” Jinnah said that bandwagoning can be beneficial because it can overcome political barriers that result in enhanced effectiveness
and provide increased attention to under-resourced issues, such as deforestation. Another positive outcome of a global climate-change debate is that more voices lend legitimacy to climate governance. On the negative side, Jinnah said climate bandwagoning can result in inefficient management, and could even lead to wasted resources. In addition, too many people at the climate change table may make cooperation difficult. The take home message, Jinnah said, was the increasingly important role of United Nations Secretariat plays in framing climate-related policies and conventions. The U.N. Secretariat is one of the five principal bodies of the U.N.; it is tasked with providing studies, information and facilities needed by U.N. bodies. “International bureaucracy matters and we can’t ignore it. They frame a lot of important stuff and secretariats matter in global governance,” Jinnah said. Jinnah said she believes that protecting biodiversity gives developing countries a guide to use when factoring climate change issues into their policies. “Developing countries are unique in this respect because they are the places most vulnerable to climate change as well as major biodiversity regions remaining in the world,” she said. “In the U.S. we have neglected our biodiversity and Europe has very nearly exhausted all of it. Developing and poor countries are most vulnerable because they do not have resources enough to protect biodiversity that is affected by climate change.” Dan MacDonald, a junior in political science, came to know about this discussion from his global environmental politics teacher, and said the event was very interesting. “It was good to see how our world
bandwagoning What is climate change bandwagoning? Climate-change bandwagoning occurs when non-climate-related institutions develop climaterelated programs and/or framings. These entities could be businesses, governments, schools or any other type of non-climate-related institution. Who bandwagons? N.C. State has engaged in climate change bandwagon initiatives. Other entities that have engaged in bandwagoning include: Google, McDonald’s, Ben & Jerry’s, the Vatican, the National Basketball Association and the American Museum of Natural History. SOURCE: SIKINA JINNAH
is trying to cope with global climate change at different levels and what we are doing in that direction,” MacDonald said. “What I really found most interesting was how the money used for mitigation purposes is controlled and distributed by various organizations. This makes you realize how to cope with this increasingly important issue.” Sarah Royster, a senior environmental engineering, was surprised to find how closely climate change connects to other issues. “It was interesting to see how intertwined politics is with climate change,” Royster said. “One of the most important things I realized was how much inf luence the [organization’s climate] secretary can have on people and organizations.”
Academics tread into time travel debate Princeton astrophysicist to lead forward-thinking discussion. Shivalik Daga Staff Writer
Ever wondered what would happen if H.G. Wells’ time machine could really be built? According to a number of phy sic i st s studying time travel, the idea of Princeton Office might not be Courtesy of communications science fiction. J. Richard Gott Students will Astrophysics have an oppor- professor at Princeton tunity to explore the possibility of time travel Friday in
a lecture organized by John Carroll, professor of philosophy, and presented by renowned astrophysicist J. Richard Gott of Princeton University. The lecture, from 2 to 3.30 p.m. Friday in Withers Hall, is free and open to the public. Attendees do not need to have any specialized knowledge about astrophysics, according to Carroll. “The lecture is a chance to see and hear prominent astrophysicist, Professor J. Richard Gott, present his recent thoughts on time travel,” Carroll said. “The lecture will be aimed at a general university audience and no background is required.” Carroll touted Gott’s book, “Time Travel in Einstein’s Universe,” as a “wonderfully accessible and careful presentation of the physics of time travel. I expect his lecture to be every
bit as good.” A diverse discussion panel that includes members from N.C. State, Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill will support the lecture. “I see this as a great opportunity to bring different parts of our campus and the Triangle together for something that should be fun and educational,” Carroll said. The following individuals are slated to be on the discussion panel: Steve Reynolds, N.C. State physics professor Chris Hazard, N.C. State doctoral student in computer science Sara Bernstein, Duke philosophy professor John Roberts, UNC-Chapel Hill philosophy professor.
Authorities are still searching yar bo for the suspect who attacked a fero ug h “In male student on campus last week. Meanwhile, campus officials said they might reassess the lighting and security in the area where the assault occurred. The investigation into the March 29 assault is ongoing, Campus Police Patrol Division Commander The above graphic highlights the area of campus where a female student Jon Barnwell said. was attacked March 29. “We’re still conducting interviews and collecting information,” Barn- general, N.C. State is an extremely safe well said. “At this time, we haven’t campus. But because [the Thomas had anything substantial come from Hall area] is a low-traffic area and that as far as the potential identifi- because [the incident] was at night… cation of the suspect. But we’re still the risk and lack of security is raised,” Pullum said. working hard.” Barnwell said he does not rememBarnwell said at this point in the investigation, it cannot be deter- ber similar incidents occurring near mined whether or not the assailant Thomas Hall in the past. “I can’t think of any that comes to was a student. “[The suspect is] a younger guy, so mind and I’ve been here for about 15 it’s very feasible that he could be a years. That’s the first [incident] I can college student,” Barnwell said. “But remember happening [at Thomas on that same token, he has the abil- Hall],” Barnwell said. Because the assault occurred at ity to not be a student. [However], we can’t rule him out as not being a night, Barnwell discussed the potential issue of student.” proper lighting Barnwell around the area. praised the vic“What [Camtim’s efforts to pus Police does] get to safety afis we prov ide ter kneeing the recommendaassailant in the tions. From time groin. to time, safety “[Afterward,] money becomes she was just available for retconcentrating rofitting, or comon getting to a Lindsey Pullum, senior ing in and looksafe place and in political science ing at an area like making contact [Thomas Hall] with [Campus Police,]” Barnwell said. “She actu- and adding additional lighting,” Barnally went back to her residence hall well said. It is entirely possible the area where and made contact with a roommate, and her roommate actually initiated the assault occurred could be retrofitted with more lighting, Barnwell said. the call with a cell phone.” “I’m not saying that’s not going to Although the assault victim was not physically injured, Barnwell wants take place based on the nature of this her to utilize campus resources to incident. I can say the area has been combat any adverse emotional ef- looked at for lighting,” Barnwell said. Eric Dean, power systems engineer fects. “My biggest thing is making sure within the Department of Utilities Enshe has the resources to be in a good gineering, said this particular area is place mentally…she was not physi- already well-lighted. “Specifically, [regarding] the lightcally hurt but she was clearly shaken up, as can be expected,” Barnwell ing at Thomas Hall…all the walkways, specifically around the building and said. Thomas Hall and the area sur- more particularly at the site of the inrounding Yarborough Drive and De- cident, was very well-lit,” Dean said. rieux Place, where the student re- “So with the exception of it being ported being attacked, is “somewhat yellow light, [the area] was extremely hidden” from view, according to well-lit. All the lights were functionLindsey Pullum, a senior in politi- ing [and] lighting very nicely.” The Department of Utilities and cal science. “All campuses have those nooks Engineering, Campus Police and and crannies that buildings are concerned students correspond with hidden away at. And although it each other in attending to campus is a well-lit area, [Thomas Hall] is almost a hidden part of campus,” assault continued page 2 Pullum said.
“Officers, men and women, will bend over backward for students if they need help getting home.”
insidetechnician
time continued page 2
$5.00 from the sale of each shirt to benefit “Origami Wishes” NC State’s campus-wide fundraising for the American Red Cross. T-shirts will be available this Friday for $10.00 each at NC State Bookstore.
Sutton swinging into stride See page 8.
Pending moble merger raise concerns See page 5.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
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