Technician
friday january
15 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Haiti, campus organizations unite to provide relief Student Government rallies student leaders to supply aid to victims of Haiti earthquake Nick Tran Deputy News Editor
Student leaders and faculty came together Wednesday to plan their response to the earthquake which struck Haiti Tuesday. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and is estimated by the Red Cross to have killed more than 50,000 people. The meeting, led by Student Body President Jim Ceresnak, is the first step in what is expected to become a unilateral campuswide front to give aid to those affected by the earthquake. “The scope of the tragedy is what captured me,” Ceresnak said. “Over 100,000 people have been affected. In times of crisis the [NCSU] community has stepped up to provide relief and we need to do our part to help those in need.” Ceresnak said SG has been in close contact with the leaders of other groups on campus, which is important as the success of this movement hinges on how much participation is received from student groups. “We want a unified and focused effort. All major successful philanthropic groups are well organized,” he said. “We hope to collect all the money raised by student groups into one pot to give and show what the collective N.C. State community can do.” The movement has been named Howl for Haiti and will be raising funds for Stop Hunger Now, the University’s traditional philanthropy partner, which will supply the relief. Stop Hunger Now is a local philanthropy
courtesy Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times/MCT
While some residents of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, search for survivors in the rubble, others have gathered belongings and are attempting to leave the earthquake-ravaged area Thursday.
group which has been working with the University since 2004. The group has prioritized aid to Haiti and hopes to raise at least $50,000 for immediate relief. According to Ceresnak, the plan is to allow student groups to proceed with their relief events independently, but pool the money into one aid bundle. The first large-scale united effort will be a collection and awareness event at the upcoming Duke basketball game.
Petition aims to thwart $200 increase Student Government officials collaborating with UNC Association of Student Governments, other university student governments to solicit support for repealing $200 tuition increase Ty Johnson Editor-in-Chief
The UNC Association of Student Governments is collaborating with student governments at all 17 universities in an effort to repeal what the groups are calling a $200 “tax on students” that is included in the 201011 state budget. Each campus is circulating a petition and soliciting signatures from students who oppose the $200 increase in tuition.
According to Student Senate President Kelli Rogers, what makes the increase so objectionable lies in where the funds will go. “None of the funding goes back to the universities,” Rogers said. “Not only is it making students pay $200 more, it’s not improving their education at the same time. We’re fighting it because it’s wrong.” N.C. State’s student government is aiming to collect 15,000 student signatures to send to the UNC Board of Governors, the governing body of the UNC System, and the state legislature. Rogers said students should care about the increase simply because of the additional financial burden it places on wallets without benefiting those who pay it.
Petition continued page 3
“We’ve partnered with Athletes and the Student Athletic Council to have volunteers at the game. People want to do something but don’t know how so we’re providing an organized effort for people to contribute to,” Ceresnak said. There are also plans to place donation buckets around campus and hold events in the Brickyard to raise awareness. Mike Giancola, the director of CSLEPS, ap-
proached Ceresnak with the idea to gather resources from across campus into a united effort. “At the meeting we talked about how as a campus community we could come together to provide support for Haiti,” he said. “After a disaster of this magnitude the easiest way to help is to donate money.” According to Giancola, NCSU has a long history responding to disasters like 9/11, the Indonesia tsunami and hurricane Katrina in conjuncture with Stop Hunger Now. “We’re hoping to challenge members of the campus community to come up with events on their own to donate money to the effort and provide aid to areas of need.” Paige Millar, a junior in international studies, said she thought this was a good idea to bring awareness to Haiti and the situation of similar countries. According to Millar, Haiti was criticized for not preparing for an event like this when in reality they do not have the means to do so. “Haiti is so impoverished, they had no programs to prevent such disasters,” she said. “It’s good [the University] is sending as much aid as possible and bringing awareness to other countries.” Millar said the amount raised by Howl for Haiti will be significant despite the ailing economy. “I think we could make a good amount of money. Even though everyone is pinching pennies because of the economy, people will at least try.” Syrena Huynh, a freshman in aerospace
Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
Jordan Moore/Technician
Classmates Brett Williams and Briana Taylor spin together in a mating ritual in their ecology class, while fleeing from the “Big Bad Wolf” Tuesday afternoon. The experiment was designed to give students insight into the everyday tasks animals must perform. Taylor, a senior in biological science, and Williams, a freshman in zoology, had started “mating” when the wolf, played by Will Lopez, a senior in biological science, came to attack them.
Senior class fundraising given significant boost ‘The ball is in our court,’ says class president Kate Shefte Sports Editor
Several months ago, the Pack’s senior class approved plans to place a bell inside the University’s long-vacant tower as its parting present. Then began the compiling of funds to donate a $35,000 engraved bell through a fundraisng drive Senior Class President Jay Dawkins called “unprecedented.” Thursday afternoon, Dawkins announced a $17,000 donation from the Athletic Department allowed fundraising efforts to sail past the halfway point overnight. “The Athletic Department’s involvement is something we didn’t have to make a whole lot of effort on as students,” Dawkins said. “Associate Athletic Director Dick Christy is the one who was really heading that up. They
saw the opportunity.” According to Dawkins, the contributions came directly from ticket sales at the Pack’s Homecoming football game against Maryland and season finale against UNC-Chapel Hill, both wins. In addition, Jack McDonald, CEO of McDonald York Corporations – a local construction company – offered a challenge match of $5,000. If donors can raise $5,000 on their own, McDonald-York will match it evenly. If matched, the company will donate the sum on behalf of Smedes York, a former Raleigh mayor and chairman of York Properties. He earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from State and was honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree last December. During his speech, Dawkins reminded how important it was for the seniors to give back to the University that has provided them with both an education and invaluable life experi-
Haiti continued page 3
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Pack looks to build on first ACC victory See page 8.
Tim O’Brien/Technician
Senior Class President Jay Dawkins and Chancellor James Woodward converse after speaking at the senior class gift spring kickoff at the Bell Tower Thursday.
ence. Katie Sullivan, a senior in political science, echoed those sentiments. “I love N.C. State. I love the Bell Tower,” Sullivan said. “I’m so excited to give back to this University that has given so much.”
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Sullivan, who heard about the announcement via Facebook invitation, said she appreciated the boost in funding.
FUNDS continued page 3
Examining the politics of Avatar See page 4 .
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