TECHNICIAN
november
15 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Q&A Chandler Thompson & Sam Dennis with
Dennis, Thompson named LOTP
T
monday
o an applauding crowd of over 57,000 at Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday, Sam Dennis and Chandler Thompson were named N.C. State’s 2010-2011 Leaders of the Pack. After accepting the award from Chancellor Randy Woodson, Dennis and Thompson sat down with Technician to discuss their successful campaigns and future plans.
Course-rating websites may threaten advising
STORY BY ELIZABETH AYSCUE | PHOTO BY LUIS ZAPATA
Websites like www.pickaprof.com can help students choose their courses, but University officials maintain face-to-face advising is best. Pranay Deshpande Staff Writer
WHAT WAS IT LIKE CAMPAIGNING FOR LEADER OF THE PACK? Sam Dennis: “It helped a lot that we did it together. It was awkward to talk to people and it helped having someone else there. It was also fun getting to meet a lot of people you didn’t know.”
Chandler Thompson: “It was tiring. It’s hard because not many people on campus have heard about Leader of the Pack. So you’re educating and trying to get votes.”
DO YOU THINK THIS ELECTION IS BETTER AND MORE BENEFICIAL TO OTHER STUDENTS THAN THE TRADITIONAL HOMECOMING KING/QUEEN? Thompson: “I think it’s cool that it’s not a popularity contest. There’s three other factors — grades, essays and interview — and student vote that determine the winner, so that way a true leader is chosen. That makes it cool because it isn’t based on looks. I think all of the finalists were leaders. It’s really cool to recognize people at N.C. State that do great things.”
Dennis: “The competition reflects the N.C. State community and its goal. By having it based on what it is based on, you’re encouraging people to get involved. It does a good job of including what the students think as well.”
NOW THAT YOU’VE BEEN ELECTED, WHAT WILL YOU DO? Thompson: “There’s no specific duty besides working on LotP next year. I will continue to educate students on the history and traditions of N.C. State. I plan to continue The Brick and the deck of cards to have lasting impact on N.C. State. We have the same goals.”
Dennis: “The title encourages me and it’s a validation of the work we’ve done. Having the title tells me the students want us to keep doing the work.”
HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WON? Dennis: “Chandler and I have been friends for a really long time. They announced her name first. We campaigned together and do a lot of the same activities. And it was also really abrupt, because there is so much going on on the field.”
Thompson: “It was overwhelming. Time just flew by. We were in the chancellor’s suite and then we were down on the field. And then the game was over.”
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE ELECTED LEADER OF THE PACK? Dennis: “It was the opportunity for another venue to let the students what we’re about and another way to market the activities and traditions.”
Thompson: “I felt like it was something I had the qualifications for. And I love N.C. State more than anything. It was like applying, more people will learn more about…the importance of traditions.”
ANYTHING ELSE? Dennis: “All of the six finalists were amazing people. And they do awesome things.”
Thompson: “I like that that the LotP gave me the opportunity to meet and get to know other leaders on campus.”
Police honor Spencer Shell’s saviors Three students were awarded the N.C. State Lifesaving Award Friday in Talley Student Center for their Sept. 3 actions. Pranay Deshpande Staff Writer
University officials awarded three students on Friday in Talley Student Center for their heroic actions -- saving a fellow student’s life -- in early September. Chancellor Randy Woodson, along with Student Body President Kelly Hook and other University representatives, awarded Matthew Cross, Christian Olson and Jonathan Smetana the N.C. State Lifesaving award for using CPR to keep Spencer Shell alive after he collapsed while jogging beside Harris Field on Sept 3. After Shell, a junior in political science, went into cardiac arrest, the three students performed CPR. Several others helped before emergency services arrived. Shell was present at the event and said he was fine, completely healthy and getting back into a routine. David Rainer, the associate vice chancellor of environmental health and public safety, said the student body went above and beyond the call of duty during the Spencer Shell incident. “This is a celebration of life, partnership and team effort,” Rainer said. “Shell collapsed and he didn’t have an identity either, students responded to the situation, this shows the quality and the responsibility of our student body.”
According to Woodson, the event occurred at a spot on campus where there were lots of people around to help. “There were people around who knew what to do before emergency services arrived, I am really proud of the N.C State students and community,” Woodson said. Shell said he has no doubts after this incident that miracles happen, if the right people are present at the right time. “I have absolutely no fear, insecurity or fear that healing happens, truth happens and we will see hope come back. Mountains will move, oceans will part and God that lives, we are in His hands,” Shell said. Shell said he felt grateful for his life and wanted to thank everyone who was present and helped him survive and recover. “It’s an awesome pleasure to stand in front of everyone alive, it was a divine and miraculous thing that happened with the help of amazing technology and medical care,” Shell said. Several other students also received awards for their roles in the incident. Assir Abushouk, David Barbee, Max Daniel, Kate Gilbertson and Patrick McGrath were awarded the Citizen Citation Award. Matthew Cross, a freshman in business administration, said his training helped him through the shocking incident. “It was a great adrenalin rush. I am a trained fire fighter and this wasn’t out of the world but I was not expecting an incident like this at school,” Cross said.
ADVISING continued page 6
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BRENT KITCHEN/TECHNICIAN
Jon Smetana, a junior in sport management, and Robert Olsen, a passing runner, stand overlooking Spencer Shell on Dan Allen Drive as paramedics perform chest compressions Sept. 3.
According to Cross, it was his firsttime using CPR in a real-life scenario and the only thing that could have made more of a difference was a defibrillator. Cross’ girlfriend, Sara Hora, was present when the incident happened and said everyone worked as a collective group to help Shell. “I am very proud of [Cross]. It was really scary, but everyone helped and kept it under control,” Hora said. Another of the heroes, Jonathan Smetana, a junior in sports management, said he was trained in CPR just two weeks before the incident. “I just did what any person would have done at that time. I saw the need
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Websites that rate grade distributions may be gaining popularity among students, but University officials say face-to-face advising remains essential. John Ambrose, interim dean for the division of undergraduate academic programs, said the value of websites catered toward advising is restricted. “I think that sites such as pickaprof. com do have some value for students as they select courses, but its value is limited,” Ambrose said. According to Ambrose, some sites do provide course difficulty, grade distributions, a summary of the course and comments on the instructor, but he said there are various aspects to advising. “Websites such as pickaprof. com may be valuable in selecting free electives or in selecting a section of a particular course, but I pity the student who selects all of their courses based on such recommendations,” Ambrose said. Ambrose said advising focuses on some of the basic questions students should consider like career plans, job environment, majors and appropriate courses. Roxanna McGraw, director for the office of advising and student services, said the University strives to develop personal relationships with students so they can help students make the right choice. “It’s good to use technology and look at courses, etc., but we want to start an interpersonal relationship; get to know students, their educational plans, goals, interests and skills,” McGraw said. McGraw said face-to-face advising develops mutual respect between students and advisers. In addition, a student’s majors, internships opportunities, job opportunities and their life after N.C. State are discussed. McGraw said websites that rate the University’s academic side encourages students to make decisions based on another student’s performance.
and I acted,” Smetana said. Smetana said he had lunch with Spencer Shell and it was encouraging to see him do well. Nancy Waters, Smetana’s mother, said she felt Smetana had been put in that situation for a reason. “I am just glad that God placed Jonathan and everyone else in the right position,” Waters said. The third of the award recipients, Christian Olson, a graduate student in business administration, said he was humbled by the award but also embarrassed for receiving it.
Pack routs Deacons in the seniors’ home finale. See page 8.
Youth helps Pack prevail
Freshman trio combine for 51 points in decisive victory over Tennessee Tech. See page 8.
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AWARD continued page 6
Seniors star in romp over Deacs
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