TECHNICIAN
spring exam week extra 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
The year in review: 2009-10 A look back at the year that was September 2009
August 2009
November 2009
October 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
D
uring last year’s exam issue, the University’s provost and chancellor were Larry Nielsen and James Oblinger, respectively. The year that was saw both men leave their office in heated controversy along with Mary Easley and Board of Trustees Chairman McQueen Campbell. In the time between, the University has experienced dramatic changes and gone through some controversy. The Technician staff has compiled a very brief list of the highlights, the highs and the lows: SOURCE: CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE
BRENT KITCHEN/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
TALLEY STUDENT CENTER REFERENDUM, FEE HIKE
JAMES OBLINGER, MARY EASLEY GET BOOTED In the wake of pay-for-play allegations concerning Mary Easley’s $170,000-per-year salary and accusations that he concealed his knowledge of her employment arrangement, Chancellor James Oblinger stepped down from his position June 8, 2009. Upon stepping down, he was granted a six-month leave at his then salary of $400,000 per year before returning to the faculty in spring 2010. Despite denying all wrongdoing and involvement in the controversy, her position was terminated by the Board of Trustees June 8, 2010. Easley and Oblinger were just a few of the other University officials who fell that summer; Chairman of the Boart of Trustees McQueen Campbell and Provost Larry Nielsen also resigned.
BUDGET CUTS IMPACT CLASSES, CAMPUS SERVICES
MARISA AKERS/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
SWINE FLU HITS CAMPUS During 2009, N.C. State — and the world as a whole — experienced an outbreak of H1N1, known colloquially as swine flu. Despite millions of infections around the world, including many at the University, the virus did not prove any deadlier than the seasonal flu; most of the deaths were contained to those at higher risk of death from the flu, children and the elderly. The University was forced to adopt several measures to contain the disease, including requiring that students self-quarantine and stay away from class during the duration of the disease. When all was said and done, more than 1,500 students were diagnosed with the flu or exhibited H1N1 symptoms.
Almost immediately after the resignation of Chancellor James Oblinger and Provost Larry Nielsen, Chancellor Jim Woodward stepped in to fill the chancellery in one of the worst budget climates the UNC System had ever experienced. During his first weeks on the job he was forced to deal with the University’s approach to the 10-percent budget cuts UNC President Erskine Bowles was preparing the system for. The cut’s affects were seen throughout the year with travel freezes, firings, class shortages and other service losses. Likewise, Governor Bev Perdue’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year was announced April 20 with additional bad news for the System in the form of a 4-percent budget cut. The cut, if finalized, could impact as many as 1,200 positions across the state.
Annie Albright News Editor
A team of engineering students presented a converted, eco-friendly vehicle at the N.C. Solar house on Friday. The students converted the General Motors donated vehicle into an eco-friendly vehicle, powered by an electric motor and biodiesel. According to Erik Schettig, a graduate student in technology education and outreach coordinator for the team, the students designed the vehicle with advanced software and computer modeling tools, and then incorporated Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology with an electric motor, and also a generator fueled by biodiesel into the vehicles.
HILLSBOROUGH STREET RENOVATIONS CONTINUE Some businesses shut down due to the year of renovations on Hillsborough Street which began in the summer of 2009, but everyone suffered in the form of barricades and traffic cones. Joe Carnevale, a senior in history, gained national recognition after his Barrel Monster, composed of Hamlett construction cones, sprang to life on the street; a recreation of the original now sits high above Hillsborough on top of the Electric Company Building. The initial stage of the revitalization itself is set to be completed two months ahead of the schedule – originally Sept. 2010.
RANDY WOODSON BEGINS TERM After meeting with UNC System President Erskine Bowles and other state leaders during the winter break, Randy Woodson, the executive vice president for student affairs and provost at Purdue University was announced as the 14th chancellor at N.C. State Jan. 8. Woodson, 52 years old, comes to the University from a fellow land-grant institution, Purdue, where he worked his way up through the Department of Horticulture and College of Agriculture. After he took office in early April, Woodson has engaged the campus community at several function and expressed his desire to avoid being perceived as an introverted administrator. Consistently being holed up in his office at Purdue earned him the moniker Unicorn, for his somewhat rare, mythical appearances on campus.
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
Student team creates eco-friendly vehicle Engineering students convert donated vehicle into eco-friendly vehicle for Department of Energy and General Motors sponsored EcoCar competition
MEREDITH FAGGART/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
The Rally 4 Talley campaign drove the topic of a new Talley Student Center to the forefront of students’ consciousness in the fall; the University spent more than $10,000 supporting the campaign. On the student side, Student Government held a referendum to gauge students’ interest in the project. Despite the results, with 60 percent of students voting against the graduated fee increase, Student Senate determined students were in fact in support of the project based on other criteria from the referendum and passed a resolution supporting the measure. The project was subsequently approved by the Board of Trustees and the UNC Board of Governors. In recent developments, the University released information stating that the Atrium portion of the renovation is already behind schedule. Students can only wait to see what sort of implications that holds for the Talley timeline. The first increase will occur during the 2010-2011 school year when student fees will be raised by $83.
The next phase, he said, will be testing the vehicle. “The next part if testing it and seeing how efficient it is,” Schettig said. “They are working on making it more consumer friendly, and preparing it to put on the market. When it is finished there won’t be wires hanging down and it will actually look nice. A lot of the time they’re going to be testing it and gathering data.” Friday was mostly a chance, Schettig said, for people to come see the car. “There are engineering professors and people in the other parts of the university that we like to keep involved,” Schettig said. “We wanted to show everyone that they vehicle is moving now and progressing, and moving into the next stage.” In a press release from the College of Engineering Communication department, Terry Gilbert, the faculty advisor for the N.C. State team, said the EcoCar competition has provided
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SOURCE: CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE
FLASH RAVE HITS BRICKYARD
DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN
Devin O’Rourke speaks with police after being stopped while trying to drive a truck into the Brickyard during the flash rave Sunday night. Students were prohibited from playing amplified music because they lacked a permit. Some students shouted an intent to reschedule the event for Monday night. Around 1 a.m., the rave moved down Hillsborough Street in the direction of the Chancellor’s Residence.