Technician - February 9, 2010 by NC State Student Media

TECHNICIAN          

tuesday february

2010

Raleigh, North Carolina

technicianonline.com

TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN

Gary Habermas, professor at Liberty University, addresses an audience at Withers Hall in a talk called “Near Death Experiences” Monday. Habermas detailed the two kinds of experiences commonly encountered when someone has become clinically dead then revived.

Lecture reasons with near-death experiences

Dr. Gary Habermas details evidencebased cases with religious twist Laura Wilkinson Life & Style Editor

One of Wither’s lecture halls was filled Monday night 7 p.m. with people ready to hear from Dr. Gary Habermas, a philosophy professor at Liberty University, on the

subject of near-death experiences and the afterlife. The event, hosted by Ratio Christi Apologetics and Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, was intended to answer some tough questions about people who claim to have had an out-of-body experience while they were proclaimed clinically dead. Habermas said he is mostly interested in near-death cases where evidence has sup-

ported the stories of patients who, after being revived, said they experienced sensory phenomena while technically dead. “I’m not trying to claim there is no conceivable way to explain these things. But after a while, you start to ask why these things happen,” Dr. Habermas said. Curtis Hrischuk, who helps lead the student club Ratio Christi, said the goal of the lecture was to start a dialogue about the

tough questions both Christians and nonChristians have in today’s society. “Their heart has stopped, their brain has no activity, but they can recount what happens. Things they cannot know about,” Hrischuk said. “This is important because it suggests that naturalisms and atheisms

LECTURE continued page 3

Curriculum adjustment could Housing Search Begins change history for high schoolers Students begin considering living arrangements for the 2010-2011 school year.

Proposal would lead to high schoolers learning U.S. history from only 1877 to present

seventh and eleventh grades. Charles Carlton, a retired history professor, said the new measure effectively guts history out of the high Ty Johnson school curriculum. Senior Staff Writer “They’re saying that American history since 1877, that’s all you get. The Institute for Emerging Issues Tough luck,” Carlton said. “You don’t forum at the Raleigh Convention Cen- get Lincoln, you don’t get George ter brought together corporate titans Washington, you don’t get the Pilgrim and innovators Monday as Gov. Bev fathers.” Perdue, former Gov. But Brewer said Jim Hunt and others the proposed change discussed the issues is just the most refacing North Carocent blow against history and social lina. Outside the buildstudies education ing, however, four “Social studies and individuals said one history education innovation being contact hours have discussed will affect been cut in half in students’ and future the last 10 years,” generations’ percepBrewer said. “So tions of historical people are just getting less history and context. social studies generHolly Brewer, an ally. That’s the real associate profesChancellor Jim Woodward sor at N.C. State, problem.” organized the demNina Kilbride, a onstration to show Raleigh attorney, her and others’ reservations about a said she intends to send her children change in the state’s curriculum that to public school and is concerned they will eliminate the teaching of U.S. won’t have a grasp on the specific leshistory prior to 1877 in high school. sons that can be gathered from a high U.S. history will be split between the school focus on U.S. history.

“I’m an engineer, but I believe deeply that in order to deal with issues, current issues, you need historical context.”

insidetechnician

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? •

Allie Landry Staff Writer

North Carolina has proposed a draft to alter the curriculum for how high schoolers learn U.S. history.

•

The new proposal will split U.S. history between the seventh and eleventh grades, with students learning history from 1877 to the present their junior year.

•

Feedback on the draft will be accepted until March 2 and protesters have a Facebook petition, “History Did Not Begin in 1877.” SOURCE: NCPUBLICSCHOOLS.ORG

“Predigested themes and objectives aren’t going to give anybody the real touchtone comparisons to make between today and yesterday,” Kilbride said. “We’re going to lose that nuance as citizens and students.” Chancellor Jim Woodward, who was attending the forum, said the curriculum change was a legitimate cause for debate. “I’m an engineer, but I believe deeply that in order to deal with

PROTEST continued page 3

Brothers adapt to life in States See page 8.

Dietary supplements may have hidden side effects See page 6.

viewpoint science & tech classifieds sports

4 5 7 8

Students have already begun making living arrangements for the coming fall. Popular options include living in an on-campus residence hall or apartment, moving off campus to an apartment complex or finding a house. The Preiss Company is one of the largest rental companies in the area, owning 10 apartments or townhouse units near N.C. State. Elizabeth Little, a leasing consultant for Preiss, said a great majority of the company’s clientele is made up of N.C. State students and many have already signed for next year. “These months, January and February, are our busiest,” Little said. “Eventually we’ll have to quit leasing because we won’t have anything left. Historically, we usually fill up around May.” Little said students who lease early are at an advantage, as they typically receive lower rates. “Rates are based on supply and demand,” she said. “The earlier you sign the cheaper.” As of yesterday, University Woods, one of the units owned by Preiss, was already 41 percent full while University Village, another one of the company’s properties, was 34 percent full. There are many factors to take into consideration when moving off campus, with location being one of the most important. Safety of the area and proximity to campus or to a Wolfline bus stop makes a great impact on day-to-day activity. Alison Thomas-Hollands, a junior in animal science, said she found the commute from her apartment off Trailwood Drive to be a hassle.

Valentines Specials at NC State Bookstores All 2 for $20 tees are 2 for $14 Today Only! Come to NC State Bookstores and find your inner Cupid!

“If you include all the waiting time, it takes about 40 minutes,” ThomasHollands said, referring to her commute time. “It can be frustrating, especially since it means I have to wake up much earlier. The CAT bus is also very unpredictable, so it often takes longer.” Thomas-Hollands will be taking this into account while searching for a new apartment for next year. “I’d like to be closer to campus, or at least on a Wolfline stop.” The number of desired roommates can be another limiting factor in choosing the right housing option, as well as the choice between furnished and un-furnished housing. Gorman Crossing, for instance, is close to a Wolfline stop, but can accommodate at most three people per unit. University Oaks has no furnished units available for rent. “Since we do manage so many properties, we have a little bit of everything,” Little said. “That’s definitely an advantage we have over competitors.” Although most upper classmen choose to live off campus, some decide to stay in the residence halls or in on-campus apartments. Jodie Greene, junior in chemical engineering, said she could sum up her decision to stay on campus in a single word: convenience. With classrooms, dining halls, the gym and the library only a short walk away, students choosing to stay on campus often have less hassle getting around. Having all bills and expenses in one easy payment is also helpful. Greene said her decision to stay on campus was also influenced by the fact that many of her friends also decided to live in the residence halls. As a resident of the University Honors Village, Greene appreciates the intimate community. Next year, however, she will be moving off campus.

Representatives from NC State Class Ring Collection will be at NC State Bookstores February 8-12 from 10am to 3pm

Page 2

page 2 • tuesday, february 9, 2010

Corrections & Clarifications

Through david’s lens

In the know

Leading a University Lab and Company

Send all clarifications and corrections to Executive Editor Russell Witham at viewpoint@ technicianonline.com.

Guest speaker John Cavanagh, considered a leading N.C. State scientist, will be hosting an event where he will discuss the ethical dilemmas lab supervisors encounter when faced with data management. Cavanagh will address the duties of the principal investigator in a lab setting, duties with regards to data management, issues which arise when the principal investigator owns a private company and how supervisors can handle real or perceived conflicts of interest which develop in such a setting. Cavanagh will be speaking Friday from noon to 1:30 p.m. in room 2405 of Williams Hall.

Weather Wise Today:

42/32 Cold and rainy.

Wednesday:

41 25

Source: NCSU Campus Calendar

Hard Conversations: How to Handle Them

Mostly sunny and windy.

Thursday:

43 27 Mostly sunny and cool.

source: ncsu meteorology

POLICe BlOTTER Feb. 5 4:02AM | Medical Assist Public Safety Center EMS responded to non-student in need of medical assistance. RPD and Wake County Sheriffs Dept were notified. 12:40PM | B&E Vehicle Motor Pool Facility Staff member reported items removed from unsecured vehicle. 12:44PM | Fire Alarm Wood Hall Units responded to alarm caused by cooking in microwave. 2:04PM | Damage to Property Trenton Road Report of cut fence which may be associated with previous incident. Investigation ongoing. 5:06PM | Fire Alarm Mann Hall Units responded to alarm caused by experiment which malfunctioned causing small fire. Feb. 6 12:45 AM | Molest Fire Equipment Alpha Sigma Phi Unknown subject pulled fire suppression system for kitchen vent hood. PD and RFD responded. House president referred to the university. Appropriate personnel notified. 2:27 AM | Damage to Property Bragaw Hall Report of subjects yelling and glass breaking. Officer found Laundry Room window broken but did not locate any suspects.

Technician

Cruisin’ on a Monday afternoon

photo By David Mabe

hip Reap, a junior in chemical engineering, holds onto the handgrip while riding a Wolfline bus on the Engineering route Monday morning. “I think if they used the larger buses for the Engineering route it would be enough with the same amount of buses,” Reap said.

World & Nation

Afghanistan, NATO forces prepare for Iran approaches invasion nuclear British and American forces are preparing for what is being weapons considered the largest NATO offensive since the U.S.-led development invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Monday Iran formally announced its intent to enrich uranium to higher, weaponsgrade levels to the United Nations, increasing its ability to develop nuclear weapons. Though Iran maintains its nuclear program is being implemented towards peaceful ends, other world powers fear Iran’s program may be a cover and have warned the country could face U.N. sanctions. British representatives said Iran’s program is impractical for its stated purposes as the nation lacks the technology to convert the resulting material into fuel for reactors. In light of this announcement, representatives from France and the U.S. said they would have no choice but to push for another set of U.N. sanctions to punish Iran for its defiance. Source: Associated Press

NATO forces are assembling more than 15,000 to march on Lashkar Gah, the capital of the Helmand province in Afghanistan, in the latest attempt to oust Taliban forces. An unusual aspect of this invasion is the decision by NATO commanders to publicize the operation to give civilians opportunity to evacuate the area. Refugees leaving the area, however, have said as much as 90 percent of the population is trapped in the war zone by networks of improvised explosives and traps. Source: The Times

Beijing celebrates hacker ring bust Monday, China announced a major bust of what state media is calling the country’s largest distributor of tools used in

AG R O ME CK • B U S IN E S S OFFICE • NUBIA N MESS AG E TEC H N I C I AN • W K NC 88.1FM • WINDH O VE R • W OL F T V

Meet the candidates On March 9, the Student Media Board will be hiring the editors and managers for the Student Media for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Come voice your opinion on what you want from your student media. FEB. 25 • 7 P.M.

malicious Internet attacks. Three people were arrested under the suspicion of being the operators of Black Hawk Safety Net and making hacking tools available on the net. The online business generated $1 million in income from more than 12,000 subscribers. U.S. cybersecurity specialists are saying this is just a move to make a public statement following Google Inc.’s allegations hackers from China were behind attacks against Google. China has since been waging an aggressive public-relations campaign on the issue of hacking. Source: The Wall Street Journal

Today speaker Christie Knittle-Mabry will be speaking in room 3118 of Talley Student Center on how to deal with having difficult conversations in both the professional and personal realms. KnittleMabry will address how to approach asking for a promotion, talking to someone about a difficult matter and interactions where emotions can play a large factor in the conversation. She will share insights on how to effectively conduct “crucial conversations” while limiting angst, stress and conflicts. The event will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Source: NCSU Campus Calendar

Legacies, Layers and Lenses An event educating University students, staff and faculty on how to manage negative conf licts will be held Thursday in the Brown Room of Talley Student Center. Attendees will learn to handle their conflicts in proactive, constructive ways. Problem management methods like appropriate diversity training, coaching, group facilitation and meditation will be showcased and discussed. The event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Source: NCSU Campus Calendar

Campus CalendaR February 2010 Su

Today Excel 2003 Level 1 McKimmon Center, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. InDesign Level 1 McKimmon Center, 9 a.m. Faces and Mazes Gregg Museum of Art and Design, Noon to 8 p.m. Hard Conversations: how to Handle Them Room 3118 Talley Student Center, Noon to 2 p.m. With Lathe and Chisel: North Carolina Wood Turners and Carvers Gregg Museum of Art and Design, Noon to 8 p.m. Toxicology Seminar Room 2104 Toxicology Building, 4 to 5 p.m. Experience China: A General Overview and Introduction TBA, 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. February 10 Access 2007 Level 2 McKimmon Center, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Word 2003 Level 1 McKimmon Center, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Faces and Mazes Gregg Museum of Art and Design, Noon to 8 p.m. With Lathe and Chisel: North Carolina Wood Turners and Carvers Gregg Museum of Art and Design, Noon to 8 p.m. Soil Science Seminar Williams Hall, 3:40 p.m. February 11 Project Level 1 McKimmon Center, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chinese Language Corner McKimmon Corner, Noon to 1 p.m. Faces and Mazes Gregg Museum of Art and Design, Noon to 8 p.m. With Lathe and Chisel: North Carolina Wood Turners and Carvers Gregg Museum of Art and Design, Noon to 8 p.m. Legacies, Layers, and Lenses Brown Room Talley Student Center, 1 to 4 p.m.

News

TECHNICIAN

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 • PAGE 3

COLLAGES

PROTEST continued from page 1

DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN

Looking at collages, Ariana Farquharson, a senior in graphic design and English, and Monique Cleveland, a senior in art and design, view the work of local artist Eric McRay on the second floor of Witherspoon Student Center Monday evening. Farquharson said she came to support black art and to learn more about who makes art in her community, and she said that she especially liked McRay’s paintings, which were on display in addition to the collages. Farquharson and Cleveland are also members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

LECTURE continued from page 1

TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN

Gary Habermas, professor at Liberty University, speaks to students in Withers Hall about people who claim near death phenomena. The lecture was sponsored by Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship and Ratio Christi Apologetics.

are not truth. Here we have scientific evidence that we are more than our bodies.” Amanda Vuke, the publicist for Ratio Christi, said they were hoping the event would get students to raise more questions. “We seek to help find answers and ask the big questions of life. We hope to help students think about their life,” Vuke said. “He went through and gave numerous cases of near death experiences that were evidence based. He showed that there’s more to this life and more to this world than we can see. There’s an immaterial side to this reality.” Eric Rountree, a sophomore in chemistry, said he liked the lecture because Dr. Habermas was not trying to force religion on people. “It was a scientific perspective, not really a religious perspective, which makes it easier for a lot of people to believe,” Rountree said. After the lecture part of the event, Habermas opened up a

question and answer session. Ashley Jones, a senior in communication, said there were many good questions posed about people who had “bad” experiences. “There were a lot of bad experiences about people who said they had experienced hell. But Dr. Habermas said there was no evidence. He was trying to use a scientific study of it rather than people’s subjective experiences,” Jones said. Hrischuk said the question and answer session was interesting because people were really challenging Habermas’s position. “People were pretty skeptical. They were devoted to finding weaknesses in the position,” Hrischuk said. “Dr. Habermas came up with a good rebuttal for them.”

Jones said the lecture reaffirmed what she already believed, but thought non-Christians would get something out of it as well. “If I had been agnostic it would have caused me to think about the afterlife,” Jones said. Jones also mentioned she had a personal connection to the idea of near-death experiences through her father, who had a seizure and claimed to have spoken to his uncle.

issues, current issues, you need historical context,” Woodward said. “You can get that historical context on some issues if you study the last 150 years, but other issues, it takes longer.” Woodward said though he wasn’t a history scholar, he feels it’s important for perspective. “I simply find that if I have a historical context, I better know how to understand what it is today. I don’t care what it is whether it’s political or social or whatever.” Woodward and Board of Trustees Cha irma n Lawrence Davenport said they didn’t know what had prompted the curriculum change. “I don’t know what the rationale is for even coming up with this new process,” Davenport said. “All I know is this is what we’re going to do.” Brewer said the process didn’t involve consultation with history professors or teachers and that, if anything, there should be more time devoted to history in high school. “We need to move away from one semester of U.S. history to two semesters and we need to keep world history,” Brewer said. She said the poor attendance at the protest was due to it being planned the night before and the fact that those who feel most passionate about the issue were teaching Monday afternoon. She said a Saturday protest may be in the works sometime in the next two weeks, since the deadline for feedbacks on drafts was extended until March 2.

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Viewpoint

page 4 • tuesday, february 9, 2010

Technician

{Our view}

The Facts:

History is waiting — get involved G

A group of University faculty and students from the history department protested the state’s changes to the high school history curriculum Monday at the Institute for Emerging Issues forum.

Our Opinion:

Students should take the opportunities to get involved in the political process where they present themselves.

overnor Bev Perdue’s administration recently released a new education plan detailing its intentions to update the North Carolina high-school curriculum. The proposal spearheaded by the state’s education leaders removes American history prior to 1877 from the North Carolina 11th-grade high school curriculum and would effectively begin secondary-school discussions of U.S. history at Rutherford B. Hayes. In response to the news, several N.C. State history professors and students protested the Institute for Emerging Issues forum where Perdue and other state and national leaders, including Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., were

The unsigned editorial is the opinion of the members of Technician’s editorial board excluding the news department and is the responsibility of the Executive Editors.

speaking Monday. Many non-governmental leaders have spoken out in outrage over the changes and the relatively small, last minute, protest is just a part of larger statewide outrage over the changes. The protestors’ challenges have merits and, perhaps, they will lead to some sort of continued discussion. But the larger issue of political activism has regrettably been missed. Protesting is all well and good, but it means little when the much larger forms of political change are neglected? Mayors, city council officials and board of education mem-

bers have a larger impact on people’s lives than national political figures are ever likely to have. Yet, when Wake County held elections for mayor, four seats on the Board of Education, and six seats on the City Council Oct. 6, the turnout was paltry. What does it say about those civics classes when most precincts reported voter turnout in the teens or single-digits for the Oct. elections? And those statistics don’t even take unregistered voters into account. The protests might have been unnecessary had the populace turned out to elect different representatives to local offices

— the people who have some sway into those political processes. In any case, everyone, faculty and students alike, needs to reconsider their role in the political process. Many students campaigned against — and for — the renovations to Talley Student Center. If they truly wanted to get a final parting word, they would consider the fact that the fee faces one of its last tests Friday at the Board of Governors meeting at UNC-Chapel Hills’ Spangler Center. If nothing else, it’s a chance to get involved in the process.

{

Unconventional career paths

he unfortunate thing about attending college is that it has to end. As an entering freshman, senior year and graduation seem light years away. Before college, I never understood why my parents would always say, “the years f ly by so fast.” I thought my l i fe wa s Marlena goi ng rat her Wilson Staff Columnist slowly and I was impatient about wanting to grow up. Now, everything seems to be moving too fast. After graduation, one needs to find a job. How are we supposed to do that in this economy? The answer is seeking out jobs that many people don’t even know exist. A career that is not widely renowned, but desperately needed, is an accent reduction specialist. This type of work involves helping those who have heavy accents reduce them and be able to communicate more efficiently with the general public. Before anyone starts pointing fingers, this is not about “Westernizing” anyone or taking away anyone’s culture. This is simply to make business and customer service transactions run more smoothly. Accent reduction specialists primarily work with individuals who are from other countries or Americans with thick regional (Northern, Southern, etc.) accents that are difficult to understand. The qualifications for this type of work are either a master or doctorate in speechlanguage pathology, a license in speech-language pathology in your state or a specialty credential in accent reduction or ESL training. If you consider yourself to be a lover of the arts you don’t always have to be the actor. Why not try being a casting director? A casting director’s work expands across the realms of television, theater and even instructional videos for exercise and how to prevent sexual assault at work. As a casting director you should have a good eye for original talent and be able to keep a mental database of all the actors you see. Casting directors work closely with acting agents as well as lead instructional seminars that help aspiring actors land roles. This

job is time consuming, yet very enjoyable. To get started apply for internships at a casting agency or become active in your local theater. An example of a serviceoriented career would be as a child life specialist. Child life specialists mainly work with children who are dealing with chronic illness, major surgery or hospice. The main purpose of this job is to make the child’s life as normal as possible considering the health limitations. If you choose to do this you must be very people oriented. You are not only helping the children, but the families as well. A bachelor degree in child development would suffice for this career, as well as 10 related courses and 400 or more internships hours. This is a great way to give back to the community and gain personal fulfillment. A career for a person that is concerned with improving the current health-care system could be a health informatics specialist. Hospitals, private practices and insurance companies are moving in the direction of electronic medical records. Doctors are now pressured to do more evidencebased medicine and they have no choice but to use computerized expert systems to guide their diagnoses and treatment findings and recommendations. This means health care providers are collecting more data to evaluate the quality of care they are giving. This job involves being technologically savvy as well as being a relatable person. As a health informatics specialist you will work closely with doctors to seek out the best program implementation. Even in this economy, all is not lost. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer. There are jobs out there that are less time consuming, but provide really good salaries. Choose a career that provides a stable salary as well as personal fulfillment. Digging a little deeper never hurt anyone; be willing to look beyond the generic careers that you see every day and find something unconventional and, possibly, exciting. Send Marlena your thoughts on career options to letters@ technicianonline.com.

Executive Editors Lauren Blakely Kate Shefte Russell Witham editor@technicianonline.com

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}

Are you involved in any sort of political activism? Why or why not? by Jordan Moore

“In my hometown, I helped campaign for the mayor. I was also on the campaign committee for the sheriff in my town.”

It seems more like a crawl to me.

Christian O’Neal, freshman in mechanical engineering

Austin Gulley sophomore, business management

Take the bull by its horns

riedrich Nietzsche, a name that is synonymous with the infamous phrase “God is Dead,” was one of the most influential thinkers of modern day thought. Nietzsche did not actually believe that God was Chad dead ; he Rhoades was an atheStaff Columnist ist. What he meant by the controversial statement was that the search for God was dead. No one was actually seeking to find who or what God was. I do not agree with a lot of what Nietzsche wrote, taught or believed; however, I do think that there is an element of Nietzsche’s thought that we can all use. I can expect one thing to happen everyday: complaining. Someone is tired; or someone does not want to study; or someone has had a bad day. I know that I am guilty of this as well; we all are. I know that we are in a recession and that there are economic hardships that are affecting some more than others. Nietzsche would suggest that the world is just a crazy series of events that are unpredictable. We do not know why things happen and we probably can’t explain them when they do. Instead of turning our

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in your words

News Editors Alanna Howard Nick Tran

Sports Editor Kate Shefte

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backs on this world and simply trying to exist, we should embrace the challenges and use them as motivators. Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. The Saints played in, and won, the Super Bowl, but all I have heard the past few weeks is how bad Katrina was. Katrina was a terrible event, but it’s in the past. Instead of harping on the tragedy, the media should be focused on looking forward. We should remember those who lost their lives, but it is impossible to make positive forward progress by focusing on the negative. I doubt the people of New Orleans only want their home to be known as the place that Katrina destroyed. In my experience, there is not a greater motivator than someone saying, “You do not have the ability to do that.” The world can be a terrible place and there are challenges that we all face everyday, but we as Americans have greater opportunities for success. We often take these opportunities for granted. As college students, we already have an advantage and privilege that many people are denied. Instead of being concerned and worried about petty things, we should be motivated to accomplish much more. We are animals, but we are social and political animals. Animals in nature strive to exist; we have intellect and reason that can guide us to bigger and better accomplishments. Many of us do not know

Deputy Sports Editors Taylor Barbour Tyler Everett Jen Hankin Viewpoint Editor Russell Witham

Photo Editor David Mabe

Send Chad your thoughts on self-motivation and the forces of nature to letters@ technicianonline.com.

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“Last year I held candles in Greensboro to raise awareness for Palestinians.” Zainub Javed freshman, biology

“Not really, I guess I never really got into politics that much.” Tucker Reyner freshman, communication

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This week’s poll question:

Was the Krispy Kreme Challenge an enjoyable experience? • Yes • No • I don’t care because it doesn’t affect me Visit www.technicianonline.com to cast your vote.

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our place in the world right now; we are in a transitional phase between our last leg of academic study and what our parents refer to as “the real world.” If you think it is tough having to study or doing homework, just imagine the hardships that await you the day after graduation. If we can learn to embrace the stresses and hardships now, it will be much easier to cope when they are on a much larger scale. Ambition is a great thing, but in order to accomplish what we set out to do, challenges must be overcome. Look at the great leaders and heroes of America. If they had just simply put their tails between their legs, America would not be the great country that it is today. No matter what tribulation you are facing, chances are there is something that you and only you can do about it. Make decisions, follow through with them, reap the successes or learn from your mistakes; either way you will be guaranteed to be a better person for it. You have two options: take the bull by its horns or get trampled in the pasture.

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Technician (USPS 455-050) is the official student newspaper of N.C. State University and is published every Monday through Friday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods. Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Copyright 2008 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.

Features Science & Tech

Technician

tuesday, february 9, 2010 • Page 5

Structural errors lead to building collapses in Haiti In violent symphony, several factors came together to make Haitian disaster worse than previously imagined Heidi Klumpe Staff Writer

On Jan. 12 a magnitude 7 earthquake outside the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince ushered complete chaos and destruction into the island nation. Anita Flick, director of Health Professions Advising and assistant professor of biology, has been traveling to Haiti since 1982. “Now they’re all living in tent cities,” Flick said of the current situation. “There are no toilets. You can’t even get to where they are.” Senior in biochemistry Michael Ransone traveled with Flick to Haiti this past summer. “I knew what it was before, and I couldn’t fathom what it was afterwards,” Ransone said, recalling the lack of water, electricity and sanitary clinics he saw in Haiti. Flick partners with Hearts with Haiti, an organization whose orphanages for rescued child slaves were destroyed in the earthquake. The seventh floor of one orphanage, St. Joseph’s Home for Boys, fell to ground level because, as with many Haitian buildings, the lack of structural integrity was not apparent from the outside, according to Flick. Del Bohnenstiehl, assistant professor of marine earth and atmospheric sciences, conducts research

nanobytes Oral hygiene linked to overall health in animals According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, periodontal, or gum, disease is the most commonly diagnosed problem in small animals. By the age of two, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats are estimated to have the disease. It has been linked to diabetes, strokes, kidney disease and other disorders in these animals. The organization suggests talking to your vet about your pet’s dental health . Source: cnn.com/health

White House cancels NASA plans

Courtesy of Del Bohnenstiehl, assistant professor of marine earth and atmospheric sciences

The Haitian Earthquake began beneath Port-au-Prince (white star) and ruptured a 50 km section of the riquilloPlantain Garden Fault(white line). The Caribbean region has many fault zones (black lines), which accommodate the relative motion (black arrows) between the North American and Caribbean plates. Beneath aiti the plates move horizontally past each another and earthquakes typically occur at shallow depths.

on earthquakes and volcanoes. According to Bohnenstiehl, Haiti’s quake can be traced back to the violent interactions of the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates. “Things started to slide past each other,” he said of the strike-slip fault which lies beneath Port-auPrince, a feature similar to the San Andreas fault in California. “It was no surprise to anyone that there was an earthquake [there],” he said, though, unlike volcanoes, there is no way to know the timing of an earthquake. According to Ransone, such a lucky prediction would have done little for Haiti.

“If you told them there’s going to be a big earthquake in a month, there’s not much they could do,” he said. Plate tectonics, however, only tell half of the story. “It wasn’t that the earthquake was that big,” Bohnenstiehl said. “The same earthquake happening on the San Andreas Fault wouldn’t cause as much damage. We have places with destruction, but we wouldn’t have 150,000 dead.” A prime example is California’s 7.3 Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, which resulted in a death toll of 60. Another serendipitous evil was that the earthquake occured at 5 p.m.

“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time,” Flick said. According to Flick, Haitians go to the market two or three times a day, putting the majority of the Haitians at the market preparing for the evening meal when the earthquake struck. Furthermore, the automatic doors of the Caribbean Market, where many Haitian shoppers were, locked up as soon as the earthquake began, trapping everyone inside. The largest casualties, according to Bohnenstiehl, were caused by buildings such as St. Joseph’s whose quick crumbling posed a fatal threat to their inhabitants. Mervyn Kowalsky, civil engi-

Quake continued page 6

With an expected federal deficit of $1.6 trillion in 2011, Obama has proposed a three-year freeze on most nondiscretionary spending, which includes some space programs. According to Budget Director Peter Orszag, the Obama administration is proposing a cancellation of the Constellation program at NASA but also plans to make other investments in longrange research and development. Source: foxnews.com/scitech

Aircraft company creates pilotless Black Hawk helicopter In response to rising military demand to meet the task of fighting two wars, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. is launching a $1 billion project to create a pilot-less Black Hawk helicopter. The company announced the creation of Sikorsky Innovations on Monday with the intention of speeding the transition of the mechanical helicopter into a computerized weapon. Source: foxnews.com/scitech

Features Science & Tech

page 6 • tuesday, february 9, 2010

Technician

Dietary supplements may have hidden side effects Students who use weight-gain or weight-loss products may be at risk Edward Markus Staff Writer

Three years ago, a 19-year-old man died from liver damage after taking Hydroxycut dietary supplements to lose weight. Though the company responsible for Hydroxycut recalled its products after 22 more cases of liver damage were reported in otherwise healthy users, the exact cause of the affliction remains unknown. Chillingly, the products remain on the market. Students who use dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building might be putting themselves at risk. “I use EAS 100 Percent Whey Protein,” Gavin Forrest, a freshman undecided major who exercises two to three times per week, said. Forrest, who has been using the supplement for about a year, said, “I use the protein because I believe it helps with muscle growth.” The Food and Drug Administration defines a dietary supplement as one or any combination of vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars and metabolites. “A properly labeled dietary supplement might say something like ‘Helps to support a healthy immune system.’ It doesn’t make a direct claim,” Sarah Ash, associate professor of nutrition, said. She said a properly labeled drug makes a very specific claim for health improvement, such as relieving aches and pains. According to the Nutrition Business Journal, dietary supplements are a $27.3

billion industry in the United States. A search for “dietary supplements” on Amazon.com reveals a litany of products, many of them claiming to help users lose weight or gain muscle. Many of them suggest they are supported by research or endorsed by doctors. While they may appear to be effective and safe, dietary supplements do not need approval from the FDA before they are marketed. This opens the door for a wide variety of problems. “We’re seeing an increasing number of supplements aimed at the ‘bodybuilding’ population, which includes college students just trying to bulk up, which are sold as dietary supplements but are spiked with steroids,” Ash said. According to Ash, manufacturers intentionally and illegally put the steroids into their products in order to boost results in customers. She also noted the illegal labeling problem extends to weightloss drugs, some of which have been found to contain amphetamines. I l le g a l l abeling is certainly not the on ly h a z a rd associated with dietar y supplements. “There are products that themselves are potentially dangerous because they have unknown ingredients,” Ash said. These typically include glandular products, such as desic-

cated liver, which are found in a variety of dietary supplements, including those for bodybuilding. There is also a danger to students’ pocketbooks. Ash said, “Amino acid supplements are a particularly good example of products that can become very expensive but are basically useless.” With a large number of students graduating in debt, spending large sums of money on useless supplements could impair graduates’ financial futures. While there are risks associated with taking dietary supplements, some of them do have proven benefits for students trying to bulk up. Creatine is marketed as a bodybuilding aid that can be bought at many nutritional supplement suppliers. “There is more meaningful research suggesting a beneficial effect from creatine than probably any other legal ergogenic [performance-enhancing] aid,” Ash said. Ash added that while there is research suggesting caffeine can boost the performance of endurance athletes, she is reluctant to recommend it to students because it has substantial side effects and can be injurious if taken in excess. Some students aren’t taking any chances. Capen Rhew, a freshman in computer engineering, lifts weights at the gym several times a week. “I don’t use dietary supplements because I don’t think they’re necessary at my level of physical activity. Plus, they can make you gain weight and I don’t

want to gain weight right now,” Rhew said. For students trying to lose weight, Ash said dietary supplements have little benefit, if any. “The sad reality for weight loss is that there is nothing magical about it. It is easy and as hard as eating less, exercising more,” Ash said. Ash said many students aren’t aware of how many calories are consumed through alcohol. For example, she said a single shot of vodka contains approximately 126 calories. She encourages students trying to lose weight to cut back on “mindless eating,” or eating that is associated with boredom, social events or other reasons besides hunger. Though dietary supplements might help students reach their fitness goals, they should be mindful of potential consequences. When they consider whether or not to use them, students might want to remember the ancient Roman advice “Caveat emptor” or “Let the buyer beware.” As Ash puts it, “People will sell you anything.”

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quake

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neering professor, does seismic analysis and researches the design of structures with earthquakes in mind. “It’s not a mystery how you

Also, the system in America design building to minimize loss of life,” he said. “There’s eliminates a lot of these issues. “A lot of the education in the certainly a disconnect between how we should design U.S. of the structural engineer structures and how they’re be- is such that you learn these ing designed or constructed [in things in graduate school,” Kowalsky said. “It’s also emHaiti].” This structural failure may bedded within all of our buildhave been caused by poor de- ing codes. Even engineers who sign or a failure to implement haven’t specifically studied that a good design, although, ac- get exposed to it.” Failure to meet these recording to Kowalsky, no one will know until examining quirements has different conthe blueprints. For now, those sequences as well. “In this country, someassessing the problem rely t hing li ke on photos of t hat hap the collapsed p e n s a nd buildings. that person Kowalsky is going to points out lose t hei r concrete reinlicense,” forced by crossKowalsky ties too widely said. separated and Reflectheavy buildings ing on how supported by the disaster disproportionunfolded ate columns, provides both of which t he most failed to dissiinformation pate the energy Mervyn Kowalsky, civil for how the provided by the engineering professor country will earthquake. respond. The bui ld“The ings materials themselves, particularly the unfortunate thing is that it’s poorly-consolidated concrete not expensive to build new with low-quality aggregates, structures for good seismic further crippled the building. performance,” Kowalsky said. “If you design everything “In the big rush to rebuild the correctly and if you inspect company, you don’t want to go everything correctly, but you through this again. You want use poor quality concrete or to make sure you get it right. poor quality steel, you can have Now’s the time to do it, not damage occur,” Kowalsky said. after.” Still, the physical scars alone The possibility of a similar scale disaster in North Caro- do not beg all the world’s atlina is virtually nil. Charleston, tention. “Already fractured families S.C. and New Madrid are the closest areas with histories of and homes have been devaslarge magnitude seismic ac- tated further. They have no tivity. However, not being on sense of order anymore,” Flick a fault, these areas’ most re- said. “The biggest aspect recent activity took place in the ally is going to be dealing with nineteenth century, according emotional recovery.” to Kowalsky.

“The unfortunate thing is that it’s not expensive to build new structures for good seismic performance.”

Sports

Technician Prep Differences

tuesday, february 9, 2010 • Page 7

Track

Matt Thomson

Dave Thompson

Lawn Tennis Association Ranking

continued from page 8

ITF Ranking

143

ginia Tech Elite Invitational over the weekend while freshmen sprinters Shawn Murray and Austin Jackson took fourth and fifth respectively in the 400m. Major said the large number of freshmen has helped him with his preparation for events. “We have a lot of numbers so you have more people at practice, so you have a variety of runners,” Major said. “It’s easy to find someone that matches your running style and you can use them to push yourself at practice.” Both coaches and athletes know the real test will come later in the season against ACC competition. “The ACC is one of the toughest conferences so coming in I knew that you have to have one of the top times in the country if you want a seed in this conference,” Major said. “It’s a good thing for me because you can use it as motivation.” Freshman jumper Karimah Shepherd said that these early season meets are just preparation for the conference meets. “We take these other meets kind of like preparing for ACCs because they’re the most important ones,” Shepherd said. “[ACC meets] are big meets so we’re going to try our best to deliver.” But with the high level of competition comes a lot of pressure on the young athletes. “We’re all pretty nervous,” Shepherd said. “But with ACC’s around the corner I think we’ll all be prepared.” The coaching staff, however, is doing its best to help ensure that nerves don’t negatively affect the team. “We try to keep pressure off the athletes,” Geiger said. “What we do in all these competitions against the conference is just try to get them ready to compete on that weekend.” Some of the athletes, like Major, thrive under the pressure. “As a freshman coming into the ACC and North Tim O’Brien/Technician archive photo Carolina State University, which has a tradition of Lawanda Henry, a sophomore in management, throws shot put at the excellence in the track and field program, you can’t Raleigh Relays track meet March 27, 2009 at the Paul Derr Track. Henry, a help but be nervous,” Major said. redshirt freshman, threw 15.80 meters, earning her second place overall.

Source: N.C. state athletics

tennis

Prep Similarities: •

continued from page 8

•

record of 6-0. “[Dave’s] a fierce competitor,” coach Jon Choboy said. “He really does not want to lose a single point when he’s out there competing.” Competing is one thing Matt would love to do, but he has been forced to deal with an elbow injury that has held him out of action since August. “I was really looking forward to the opportunity to play here and getting started right away,” Matt said. “It’s been a bit of a pain having to sit out and watch everyone else compete when I can’t. It’s taken a lot of patience and I’ve tried to keep a positive attitude towards the rehab and not get too depressed about it.” Both Matt and Dave admitted to having little familiarity with tennis on the college level here in the United Sates prior to joining the Wolfpack. They did not know which college tennis programs were traditional powerhouses and which programs were not. “In England, tennis is much more of an individual sport be-

•

Competed at the ITF Under 18 Juniors in 2009 Advanced to the finals at the Bangladesh International Under 18 Junior Championship Competed at Junior Wimbledon in 2009 Source: N.C. state athletics

cause it’s only you out there on the court,” Matt said. “Here in America, there is much more of a team aspect. The atmosphere here is a lot louder and more competitive but I really enjoy it.” The Thomson brothers are part of a men’s tennis team that is helping bring a new culture to Wolfpack tennis. The Pack has a 5-1 team record so far in the spring season and has attained a ranking of No. 46 in the nation. “As long as we keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard, I think we can do good things this year,” Dave said. The Wolfpack will look to improve on it’s strong start to the season as it heads to Columbia, S.C. on Tuesday to square-off against the No. 45 South Carolina Gamecocks.

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Sudoku Level:

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By The Mepham Group

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ACROSS 1 Part of DMV 6 Need a backrub, say 10 “__-daisy!” 14 Nobel Peace Prize winner Root 15 Walk like a drunk 16 Entre __ (between us) 17 Using a treadmill, e.g. 20 29-Down, for one 21 The Beatles’ “__ Loser” 22 Relating to flight technology 23 Laurel and Getz 25 Medicine amount to take 26 Regional air travel brand since 1984 31 Either Bush, e.g. 32 Round-buyer’s words 33 Baker’s meas. 36 Leftover bits 37 “I don’t think so!” 39 “__ boy!” 40 On the authority of 41 Friend 42 Vietnamese, e.g. 43 Aviator who said “the lure of flying is the lure of beauty” 47 Corp. heads 48 Hospital staffer 49 Beer unit 52 Former telecom giant 53 Former Pakistani president 56 Movie DVD special feature, perhaps 59 Encircle 60 Fiber-rich food 61 “Dog the Bounty Hunter” network, and a hint to the theme in this puzzle’s four longest answers 62 Many MP-3 player batteries 63 Game with six colorful characters 64 Google alternative DOWN 1 Honeyed liquor 2 Land O’Lakes product

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3 Run out of gas 4 “I’ve got you now!” 5 Add insult to injury 6 Major or Minor tarot card group 7 So-so mark 8 Penta- plus one 9 Mt. Fuji statistic 10 Dweebish 11 Leaves for the holidays? 12 Sleeping girl in an Everly Brothers hit 13 “Hang on __” 18 All-in-one Apple computer 19 Crest 23 Mmes., in Madrid 24 Kids’ outdoor winter project 26 Resting on 27 Trifling 28 Old-time breaking news cry 29 Bambi’s aunt 30 Actress Adams of “Enchanted” 34 Marquee name 35 Gasp 37 Org. with Senators and Capitals

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38 Québécois’s approval 39 Queens tennis stadium 41 Civil rights activist Chávez 42 Munitions center 44 Bermuda rentals 45 University of Oregon city 46 Museo hangings 47 Eyelashes

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Sports

COUNTDOWN

• 10 days until the baseball team’s season opener against LaSalle University

INSIDE

• Page 7: Continuations of the stories on men’s tennis and track and field

Technician

Page 8 • tuesday, february 9, 2010

A new Lowe

men’s tennis

When he split our backcourt into a threeheaded failure last year, I Ty Johnson complained every game Columnist and now Javi Gonzalez, the point guard he sat for reasons I still haven’t figured out, is our best playmaker.

Kastanek earns rookie of the week honors Freshman guard Marissa Kastanek has earned the ACC Rookie of the Week award for the second time in the past month. Kastanek is ranked second among ACC rookies in scoring, averaging 10.2 points per game. She scored a team high of 19 points in State’s win over Virginia Tech last Sunday, which broke the team’s three game losing streak. Source: N.C. State Athletics

Women’s soccer signs nine to the class of 2010

On Feb. 8, head coach Steve Springthorpe announced the signing of nine freshmen that are set to play for the Pack in the fall of 2010. The freshman class is highlighted by Victoria Hopkins, Jennie Krauser, Karri Owens, Morgan Phipps, Claudel Pilon, Ariela Schreibeis, Kaley Shlaes , Stacey Smith and Lauren Woodson. Source: N.C. State Athleticss

Tucker Frazier Correspondent

February 2010 M

Brothers adapt to life in the States Freshmen making successful transition from Britain to N.C. State

athletic schedule Su

David mabe/Technician

Freshman Dave Thomson prepares to return the ball during the match against Vanderbilt Jan. 22, 2010. Thomson is from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, U.K. and has a brother, Matt, who is also on the men’s tennis team.

Adapting to college life can be a strenuous task for any incoming freshman, especially those arriving from outside of the United States to attend college here at N.C. State. That is exactly what British twins Dave and Matt Thomson have experienced their freshmen year on the men’s tennis team, except they have had a strong sibling bond to rely on, making the transition from England to Raleigh a bit more stress-free. “The thought of being on my own

was a bit daunting,” Dave said. “Hav- “But it’s made both of us train and ing my brother Matt here has defi- compete harder, which has helped nitely made adjusting to college life us become better players in the end.” The transieasier because we’re tion from Engex per ienc i ng t he land to Raleigh same sort of things has seemed to and the fact that we’re have little effect British twins makes on Dave in parus stand out a bit.” ticular. He has The Thomson played lights out brothers hail from so far his freshHatfield, Hertfordman year, going shire in Eng la nd Dave Thomson 6-1 in singles this and have been playpast fall. He is off ing tennis with and to yet another fast against each other start in the spring since they were five season, already amassing a singlesrre years old. “When we were young, we hated tennis continued page 7 losing to each other,” Matt said.

“The fact that we’re British twins makes us stand out a bit.”

Today Men’s Tennis at South Carolina Columbia, S.C., 2:30 p.m. Wrestling at Old Dominion Norfolk, Va., 7 p.m. Wednesday Wrestling vs. UNCGreensboro Reynolds Coliseum, 7:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Virginia Tech RBC Center, 9 p.m.

Track & field

Young blood fuels track and field teams Track and field enters season loaded with an influx of young talent Brent Kitchen Senior Staff Writer

Thursday Women’s Tennis ITA National Team Indoor Championships (through Saturday) Madison, Wis., All Day Women’s Basketball at Duke Durham, N.C., 7 p.m.

Did You know? 70 out of 93 athletes on the men’s and women’s track and field teams are underclassmen.

Coming soon

Wednesday: A feature on the club roller hockey team Thursday: A recap of the men’s basketball game against Virginia Tech

Yes No Maybe

The men’s and women’s track and field teams look very different this year from what fans may remember from years past. That is because most of the athletes on the rosters were not here prior to this year. The men’s team features 18 freshmen and 31 underclassmen on the 42-man roster, while the women’s team features 25 freshmen and 39 underclassmen on its 51-girl roster. But the youth is led by a strong core of upperclassman leadership. “We have some outstanding seniors in a number of the events that the younger kids can look to,” coach Rollie Geiger said. “They’ve been through several conference championships in both indoor and outdoor, so certainly their leadership is important in the growth of the program.” Senior thrower Jason

Jones said each year a few talented seniors step up to lead the squad. “When I came in there were two really talented upperclassmen ahead of me so they helped me out a lot,” Jones said. “So I got used to that being how it is.” But even Jones has noticed a difference in work ethic in this incoming class from previous classes. “To me it looks like they want to work a lot harder than maybe some people in the past,” Jones said. “People are putting the work in now so [the team] should be in a good position moving forward and in the future.” And that work ethic will be necessary for the young athletes to succeed. “The Atlantic Coast Conference is a high level conference in track and field,” Geiger said. “It’s very difficult for a freshman to come in and be competitive immediately within the conference.” But many freshmen have been able to compete at a high level. Freshman sprinter Ben Major III grabbed a third place finish in the 200m at the Vir-

track continued page 7

josh lawson/Technician archive photo

Senior triple jumper DeMiracle Washington jumps at Derr Track Monday Feb. 4, 2008. Washington leads the team with the third longest in the ACC with her 41’00.25”. She finished fourth in the Carolina Classic event for the triple jump.

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He had our team foul Florida way too early instead of trying to ride a tie into overtime, but I gave in when I realized there’s no way to predict a 75-foot buzzer beater. With State down three with 1.8 seconds left in the Clemson game, I watched as he literally pointed at players while screaming instructions when every other coach from the middle school level up has a breadand-butter inbounds play to get an open look from three. But as Julius Mays threw up an off-balance prayer from NBA range, I tried to focus on the team’s 21-point comeback instead. Then came Saturday. Mays again launched a shot that could send the game into overtime, but it glanced off the front of the rim. Ball game. Every Wolfpack fan in the country breathed a familiar sigh, yelled at the television or turned it off. It was just another loss in a season all too familiar with failure. Not to coach Sidney Lowe, though. He wanted to add insult to injury. Instead of hanging his head, biting his tongue and shaking the opposing coaches’ and players’ hands, Lowe headed straight for the locker room. And it’s not just any “I’m ticked off so I’m heading to the locker room,” either. Lowe mumbles to himself on his way, stopping to turn toward the court (and FSN’s cameras) to let everyone know he’s clearly upset over the final play, one in which Lowe and I’m sure a lot of fans thought Mays was fouled. Now, I’ve yelled at the referees like crazy at every game I’ve been to in my four years in the student section, so I understand getting upset over a no-call that may have cost State the game, but Lowe’s behavior was unacceptable. Yeah, I know he went to find Hewitt in the locker room later, but that’s not the true issue. If Lowe thinks our basketball team’s biggest problem was that Mays didn’t have a chance to tie the game at the free throw line, our program is in worse condition than I thought. The issues start and end with his erratic substitutions and inability to run any set plays. Until Lowe becomes competent or the Athletic Department realizes he isn’t, the most Wolfpack Nation can hope for is to lose by single digits, which, luckily, Lowe has proven he can do this season. Lowe swallowed his pride and shook hands 55 times before Saturday’s loss, so he should be used to it. His fans sure are.

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