TECHNICIAN
wednesday august
25 2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Language Exchange draws linguists
Farmers’ Market hopes to sprout The Campus Farmers’ Market will be in the Brickyard Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Allison Saito Correspondent
VANESSA MOVASSEGHI/TECHNICIAN
The University Scholars program holds its first information session for the Language Exchange, presented by Assistant Director Bengt Carlson Aug. 24. “People are really excited and we have a good group this year,” Carlson said.
Two other informational sessions will be held Wednesday Aug. 25 at 4:30 p.m., and Thursday, Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m. in the Sullivan Hall Classroom. Janell Miller Staff Writer
The first information session about University Scholars’ Language Exchange program was held Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Sullivan Classroom. The Language Exchange is a program that pairs students with N.C. State staff members whose native language is not English. The program allows students and faculty to get together and converse in the language they are trying to learn. Bengt Carlson, assistant director of the University Scholars program, said the program’s foundation is fundamental. “It is a simple idea about people getting together to talk,” Carlson said. According to Carlson, this is the program’s sixth active semester. The
According to Carlson, past exprogram’s previous semesters have encompassed as many as 40 students. changes have included the following “The common denominator is that languages: Arabic, Keren, Chinese, [students and staff] want to learn a Creole, French, Spanish, Twi, Swahili, Vietnamese, language,” Carlson as well as many said. “Talking with African Tribal a real person is the dialects. substance of the exCarlson said change. You are both a the program’s teacher and a learner.” ex perience is According to Carlvery different son, the Language from the tradiExchange is an eight tional classroom week program that experience bemeets once a week for c au s e you’re half an hour. working handsOne week there will on with another be a conversation in person. English, Carlson said, “The converand the next week Jude Jackson, a freshman in sation is very there will be a conpsychology different than versation in the other writing somedesired language. “It is a difficult situation to acquire thing down on a piece of paper,” a brand new language, you need to Carlson said. “It is different learning have some root knowledge of the lan- experience and you have to be ready guage and be able to speak a little to just jump in.” “You need to commit to come to bit,” Carlson said. “The program conversations depend on your desire each half hour session because it is a pretty big deal. It’s not class, it’s a to learn and converse.”
“I’m looking forward to be able to converse in Japanese...and I’m looking forward to teaching English”
relationship with another person,” Carlson said. According to Carlson, the program will occasionally provide topics for conversations, and other times it is up to the members of the session. Carlson said the exchanges meet in different locations around campus and the program is not just open to students in the University Scholars program. William Laundon, a sophomore in industrial engineering, said he’s going to the exchange to prepare for a study-abroad experience. “I took Spanish in high school and I plan to study abroad in Spain,” Laundon said. “I really want to learn the language, to improve my Spanish and attain it before I go to Spain.” Jennifer Chu, a senior in special undergraduate studies, said she’s not only excited about learning another language, but she’s also looking forward to teaching someone else. “Learning another language is a great advantage, to be able to communicate, and not just in the class-
The Campus Farmers’ Market will reopen for its second year in the Brickyard on Wednesday, Sept. 1. The farmers’ market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is organized by students and offers produce from across North Carolina. Ariel Fugate, a junior in fisheries and wildlife science and a student organizer for the farmers’ market, said she this year’s market will have nine vendors. “We were most successful last year in growing. We grew from four vendors last fall to nine vendors by the end of the year,” Fugate said. “This year we will have nine. Two [vendors from last year] cannot come this year, and two joined.” Acknowledging the market has room to improve, Fugate said she wants to expand the market’s reach. “[We need to] publicize the market to all different types of people. We have reached some departments, but not all,” Fugate said. “We are trying to involve everyone this year.” Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, an assistant professor in crop science, is the faculty advisor for the Campus Farmers’ Market. Schroeder-Moreno said she’s looking to get more agriculture clubs involved this year. “There are a lot of agriculture clubs out there, we really need to work on connecting with them more,” Schroeder-Moreno said. Schroeder-Moreno said the University’s alumni play an important role in the farmers’ market. One of these alumni, Gary Wise, graduated in 1993 with a degree in education. “Gary was the first one here,” Schroeder-Moreno said. “He’s got a busy schedule, but he is committed to coming out here.” Gary Wise said his connections to the University motivate him to sell produce on the Brickyard.
MARKET continued page 3
insidetechnician
EXCHANGE continued page 3
University to look at religious observances’ policy A new state law requiring a minimum of two excused absences for religious observances is prompting the University to review its diversity policy. Elise Heglar Correspondent
The new law state lawmakers passed last month requiring universities to allow a minimum of two excused absences for students and staff observing religious holidays is motivating the University to re-evaluate its diversity policy. Lawmakers passed the law in August, allowing employees and students to miss work or class without penalty for certain religious holidays. The University’s current policy is to allow students and staff two excused absences for religious observances. The University’s diversity policy has been in place since July 16, 2007. According to Marth Gumpertz, assistant vice provost for faculty and staff di-
versity, said although campus officials have not changed the policy yet, they may soon. “No changes are being made as of right now, although the absence number could change,” Gumpertz said. According to Gumpertz, she makes University staff aware of the important religious observances each year and encourages them to be sensitive when planning their courses. “I send out a message every summer to the units on campus that says which holidays are important and to be sensitive when planning coursework,” Gumpertz said. The University’s complete diversity calendar, available online, includes Jewish, Muslim, and Baha’i holidays such as Rosh Hashanah and Eid alFitr. The list is not considered exhaustive; students can contact the Student Organization Resource Office in Talley Student Center to inquire about holidays that are not listed. “We have not had any issues with accommodation so far. The staff is usually very understanding to students,”
man in FYC, said. Gumpertz said. Staff members at the University Ramadan, an important Muslim holiday that began Aug. 11, is missing are also allotted time off for relifrom the list. According to Gumpertz, gious holidays. They are expected it is very uncommon for people to take to make a formal request for time off off from work or school in observance through the University, much like students are expected to. Although of Ramadan. “People don’t typically take off for staff can request time off, the University is not required to give time Ramadan,” Gumpertz said. off if it will result But she said the in inconvenience. end of Ramadan, Ac c ord i ng to known as Eid alGumpertz, if the Fitr, is something University is unpeople take leave for able to offer time occasionally. Missoff for staff as a reing class or work for ligious observance, this is considered the staff is able to excused by the UniSarah Berger, freshman in FYC use some of their versity. vacation leave. According to the “The University three-year-old University policy, students must fill out tries to be very accommodating to a form to receive an excused absence. faculty and students when it comes “[The University is] understanding to religious observances,” Gumpertz about students missing class for ob- said. Anna Bigelow, assistant professor serving holidays, however it is kind of unnecessary that we have to fill out a form,” Sarah Berger, a Jewish freshRELIGION continued page 3
StarCraft’s legacy continues with ‘Wings of Liberty’ See page 6.
“...it is kind of unnecessary that we have to fill out a form.”
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