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Raleigh, North Carolina
Partisan voters may face ballot confusion Straight-ticket voters must vote separately for president, judges Chris Allred News Editor
PEGGY BOONE/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVE PHOTO
Presidential candidate Barack Obama addresses a crowd of 3,200 at North Carolina Central University Nov. 1, 2007. Obama discussed a number of hot topics including health care, the war in Iraq and the energy crisis and expressed his frustration with the current administration’s shortcomings.
Obama returns to Raleigh Democratic vice presidential candidate brings campaign back to North Carolina Staff Report Continuing to campaign hard in North Carolina, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will come back to Raleigh Wednesday. The event will be open to the public at the Government Complex at Halifax Mall. Doors open at 10 a.m. with the pre-program beginning at 11:15 a.m. Obama’s wife, Michelle, will be close by, campaigning in Rocky Mount at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at Rocky Mount Senior High School.
Obama’s Republican rival, presidential candidate John McCain, will be in Fayetteville today at another free, public event. Obama has been drawing large crowds throughout the country with public speeches, with more than 100,000 people attending a rally in Denver, Colo. Sunday. Joe Biden, Obama’s vice presidential running mate, came to Meredith College’s campus in Raleigh last Thursday. About 4,000 people, including students, came to hear his argument for voting for Obama. In the latest composite pollster.com poll, Obama is leading McCain in North Carolina with 49.1 percent to McCain’s 46.9 percent.
North Carolina voters may encounter problems this year with the state’s ballot, which forces straight-ticket voters to vote separately for president and non-partisan judges. “Some people said that’s not made terribly clear to voters,� Chris Ellis, assistant professor of political science, said. Justin Moore, a former Duke University computer scientist, compiled results from the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections that showed an “undervote� in which people that voted neglected to vote for president, and Ellis said it could be a result of the ballot. “Data suggests that to some extent, that is the case,� he said. When filling out the North Carolina ballot, one has the choice to fill a bubble beside their respective party, which will choose all the Democrats or Republicans on the front of the ballot, except for president. Ches McDowell, a sophomore in political science and chair of the College Republicans, said the ballots should not be an issue. “You shouldn’t be voting straight party anyway,� he said. “You should vote based on candidate, not party.� According to the North Carolina Commission for Verified Voting, there were 75,364 undervotes in 2000 and 93,316 in 2004, making up 3.15 percent and 2.57 percent of each year’s vote. Ellis said in a typical election there is a runoff, in which voters cast votes for the candidates of highest prominence, such as president or governor, but ignore down-ballot local candidates. If people do not vote for president because they vote straight party, it could create an inverse runoff situation. Jonathan Friel, a junior in biological sciences, said since he did not vote straight party, the ballot could not have been an issue. “They were telling everybody VOTING continued page 3
Plans to start campus farmers’ market in works Committee members said they want to provide fresh local foods
FARMERS’ MARKET UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and Wake Forest University each have a farmers’ market on their campuses. The sustainability commission hopes to provide locally grown fruits, vegetables and freshly cut flowers at the market. Eventually, the market could offer jams, jellies and crafts.
Courtney Bolin Staff Writer
The Student Government Sustainability Commission is planning to establish a farmers’ market in the Brickyard by this spring to run once a week. Organizers said they hope to be able to provide local food to students at an affordable price. Eric Ballard, a senior in agricultural communication, said he wants to have local foods available to students and staff members. Ballard said, the committee is planning on having the market open on either Wednesdays or Fridays from 11 a.m. to about 2 p.m.
SOURCE: ERIC BALLARD, SENIOR IN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNICATION
“It will be a big hit, especially for faculty members,� Ballard said. Eric Scholz, a sophomore in engineering, said he believes that the market would be great to have available. “I would definitely buy a lot of fruit,� Scholz said. “Lots of varieties would be nice. It depends on what is in season and can be
NC State Bookstores
october
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grown locally.� “We are planning to provide The committee wants to pro- local crops from farmers around vide locally grown fruits, veg- Lake Wheeler,� Ballard said. etables and fresh cut flowers at Ballard said the food should be first. Ballard said the commit- affordably-priced and possibly tee hopes to lower than stueventually also dents are used be able to offer to seeing at grojams, jellies and cery stores. crafts. Some stu“I would dents like Ashmostly be inley Thornton, a terested in the sophomore in fruits and vegtextiles, say that etables, but the they really supoccasional jam port the idea. Eric Ballard, senior in or jelly would agricultural communication “I would buy also be nice,� fruit and vegScholz said. etables a nd Ballard said flowers when I a few years ago that an intern- had money available,� Thornship program started a farm- ton said. ers’ market on campus. This Nicole Wanke, a sophomore in ended in part because the cost education, agreed. of transporting the crops from Goldsboro. MARKET continued page 3
“We are planning to provide local crops from farmers around Lake Wheeler.�
CHRIS SANCHEZ/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVE PHOTO
Mingling with the college crowd in front of the Marrakesh Cafe, Erin Philbrook, a sophomore at Wake Tech, joins Taylor Griggs, Zach Buck, and Grace Farmer, a freshman at Wake Tech. Students from the Raleigh area turned out for the first annual Haunted Hillsborough Hike last Halloween.
Hike limits may deter large crowds Haunted Hike could bring restrictive checkpoints on campus roads Chris Allred News Editor
The University is considering restricting access to campus during the Haunted Hillsborough Hike on Halloween, and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford said it would limit the number of outsiders coming to Hillsborough Street. “If you are planning to drive in to this event, it will be very difficult for you to find a place to park,� he said. This could cause problems for students who live off campus who want to go to Hillsborough Street to hike, he said. The University could work with Raleigh police and Campus Police to close down all campus streets, Stafford said, adding checkpoints in which officers will let through only those with N.C. State IDs. Campus Police Chief Tom Younce said they would be working in collaboration with Raleigh Police, and there will be a zero tolerance policy for student violations. “Raleigh has taken a very aggressive stance on this,� he said. Students that commit a violation will be subject to arrest or citation, which will follow students through a campus
POSSIBLE HIKE RESTRICTIONS • The University and Raleigh Police may close streets on campus, with police manning checkpoints to check drivers’ NCSU IDs for passage. • Police are concerned that the event could become unmanageable like the Halloween festivities from Chapel Hill’s Franklin Street last year. • Chapel Hill has cut down its activities, and if students get out of hand, businesses on Hillsborough Street could be forced to close the sale of alcohol later at night. • If a student is caught underage drinking or another infraction, they could be subject to arrest or citation that would lead to further disciplinary actions within the University’s Office of Student Conduct. SOURCES: VICE CHANCELLOR FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS TOM STAFFORD, CAMPUS POLICE CHIEF TOM YOUNCE
appearance ticket in the Office of Student Conduct. Stafford said the University and Raleigh Police are concerned because Franklin Street’s Halloween activities in Chapel Hill are being downgraded this year. Vendors will stop selling alcohol at midnight, and Chapel Hill is looking to keep outsiders from entering the festivities, which drew as many as 80,000 last year. Some students from other schools have already planned to come to the Halloween activities on Hillsborough Street, but Chris HIKE continued page 3
ELECTION COUNTDOWN:
7
Days until the election.
Find national and local election coverage online at technicianonline.com. The Technician Voter’s Guide, which outlines each national, state and Raleigh candidate, is still available to view online at technicianonline. com.
ELECTION POLL QUESTION:
From now until the election on Nov. 4, Technician will post different election-related poll questions online. Cast your vote to have your voice heard. We’ll run the results on election day.
Who would you rather babysit your kids? • Joe Biden • Barack Obama
• John McCain • Sarah Palin
Visit www.technicianonline.com to cast your vote.
insidetechnician
Flag football championships tonight. For results, see pages 7 and 8.
viewpoint arts & entertainment classifieds sports
Halloween Spooktacular
4 5 7 8
Page 2
PAGE 2 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
THROUGH DAVID’S LENS
The third part of the College of Humanities and Social Scientists Energy Symposium will begin Oct. 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the 1911 Building. There will be a panel discussion on Innovation in Action, led by Lyle Estill, the vice president at Piedmont Biofuels. Sarah Sharma, from the department of communication studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, will be on hand to discuss an “Energy Regime Change.� Tracy Dixon, director of the Sustainability Office, and Steve Kalland, executive director of the North Carolina Solar Center, will lead a discussion on “The Slow Life: Thinking through the Politics of ‘Sustainable Time.’� The event will be moderated by Thomas Birkland, William T. Kretzer professor of public policy.
In Monday’s page-six story, “How to: Design a costume,� the photo illustration credit was misattributed. Lynda Buck actually took the photo. In the Sept. 23 page-two feature photo, senior in sociology Dawn Martin’s name was misspelled. Technician regrets these errors. Send all clarifications and corrections to Editor-in-Chief Saja Hindi at editor@ technicianonline.com.
WEATHER WISE Today:
SOURCE: CHASS
55/37
All Carolinas’ Meal comes to dining halls
Mostly sunny throughout the day. Chance of precipitation at 10 percent.
Wednesday:
55 34
Fountain and Clark dining halls will host the All Carolinas’ Meal Oct. 30 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The meal is made from food produced, grown or processed in the Carolinas. It is $10 with an AllCampus account, or counts as one meal. It costs $10.50 with cash. The entrees include pork BBQ, fried fish f lounder, turkey breast and baked BBQ chicken breast.
Partly cloudy all day with a chance of precipitation at 10 percent.
Thursday:
62 34
Lengthy lab works continues
Sunny all day with a 10 percent chance of precipitation.
PHOTO BY DAVID MABE
SOURCE: WWW.WEATHER.COM
SOURCE: NCSU DINING
A
fter three hours working in a lab, Stephen Shuford, a junior in electrical engineering, finishes his work. “We’re fatigued and frustrated,� Shuford said. The lab in Engineering Building II on Centennial Campus involved measuring parameters of amplifiers.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “[Elections officers at the polls] were telling everybody that if you vote straight ticket, you still have to choose a president.� Jonathan Friel, a junior in biological sciences, on straight ticket ballots
Peace Corps at NCSU Learn how you can use your degree and experience to impact the lives of others...and your own.
Wednesday ednesday,, October 29
Life is calling. How far will you go?
800.424.8580
www.peacecorps.gov
IN THE KNOW
CHASS completes Symposium
In Monday’s page-three story, “Obama, McCain continuing to focus on N.C.,� the 2008 and 2004 graphs showing early voting demographics were switched.
Peace Corps.
TECHNICIAN
Information Table Minority Career Fair Talley Student Center 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Thursday Thursday,, October 30 Information Session Winston Hall, Room 209 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
For more information contact: Marques Anderson at 919-515-5340 or peacecorps@ncsu.edu
SUBMIT Send your poems, essays, short stories, photos, and art to literary@windhover.ncsu.edu by Dec. 1 for consideration for inclusion in this year’s copy of Windhover, N.C. State’s award-winning literary & arts magazine.
WORLD & NATION
Stevens convicted on corruption charges
Alaska’s veteran Sen. Ted Stevens said he would continue to fight after he was convicted Monday on federal corruption charges. He was convicted on seven counts of making false statements to hide hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and work done on his home from an oilfield contractor. Stevens is the longest-serving Republican senator in history, and the first of any senator convicted of a felony. He could have a maximum of 35 years in prison, and he is currently in the middle of a re-election bid. Polls show him neck-and-neck with his Democratic rival, Mark Begich, and it could mean the end of his Senate term. SOURCE: CNN.COM
Two charged in plot to kill Obama
Federal prosecutors charged two white supremacists with plotting a “killing spree� against blacks, ending with an attempt to kill Sen. Barack Obama. The two men met online and planned to kill more than 100 African-Americans while dressed in white tuxedos. They were arrested
after they aborted an effort to rob a gun dealer. SOURCE: CNN.COM
Columbian hostage escapes after 8 years
Oscar Tulio Lizcano, a former Columbian congressman, escaped from captivity in the jungle. Lizcano was aided in his escape by a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC), the same rebel organization that captured him. Lizcano was one of the estimate 750 hostages FARC holds in Columbia as part of its campaign against the nation’s government. SOURCE: CNN.COM
Carmakers may need bailout
Bush administration officials have spoken with the nation’s auto makers, discussing possible plans to give federal aid to the ailing companies with money from the $700 billion bailout Congress passed earlier this month. Ford, General Motors and Chrysler have seen their sales drop nearly 20 percent from 2007. GM and Chrysler also have announced job cuts and shift reductions across the nation. Congress has already approved a separate $25 billion program to help automakers finance a switch in production to more fuel efficient vehicles.
Take Back the Night returns More than 500 participants are expected in this 21st annual Take Back the Night, a rally sponsored by the Women’s Center to raise awareness about rape and sexual assault. The marches begin at 6:15 p.m., with a rally at 7 p.m. The rally will be on the North Plaza behind Talley Student Center on Cates Avenue. SOURCE: N.C. STATE WEB SITE
Dracula Day inspires competition National Dracula Day will take place Wednesday in the Brickyard — a day for students to donate blood to save the lives of premature babies and others in need of it in North Carolina ECU and UNC-Chapel Hill will also be participating in the event that N.C. State students from the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students initially began last year during the last Wednesday in October. SOURCE: DR. RON, CAMPBELL, EVENT FOUNDER
SOURCE: CNNMONEY.COM
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Tuesday CHASS ENERGY ISSUES SYMPOSIUM 1911 Building, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. NCSU CENTER STAGE PRESENTS WAR OF THE WORLDS AND THE LOST WORLD Stewart Theater, 8 p.m. Wednesday FALL FORUM Veterinary School, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday ALL CAROLINASâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; DINNER Fountain Dining Hall, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. SOLVING EVOLVING ENGINEERING: THE PROGRESS ENERGY DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS SERIES Stewart Theatre, 5:30 p.m. HELLBOY II Campus Cinema, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. GET SMART Campus Cinema, 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Friday GET SMART Campus Cinema, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. HELLBOY II Campus Cinema, 9:30 to 11:30 p.m.
POLICE BLOTTER Oct. 25 2:06 A.M. | HIT AND RUN Western Boulevard/Avent Ferry Road Vehicle was struck by vehicle. Suspect fled the scene. No injuries. 5:17 A.M. | INDECENT EXPOSURE Talley Student Center Nonstudents reported seeing naked subject in vehicle. Investigation ongoing. 7:30 A.M. | SPECIAL EVENT Wendell Murphy Football Center Campus Police assisted with deterrence patrols during the State Fair. 7:30 A.M. | CHECK PERSON Watauga Club Drive Officers spoke with nonstudent sleeping on bench. All files checked with negative results. No further action taken. 12:02 P.M. | FIRE ALARM Owen Hall Campus Police responded to alarm caused by cooking. 12:28 P.M. | LARCENY Dan Allen Deck Nonstudent reported tires and rims stolen from vehicle. Investigation pending. 4:45 P.M. | TRAFFIC STOP Carter-Finley Lot Campus Police was called to assist SHP in reference to vehicle with fictitious plates. Subject was cited for same. 6:18 P.M. | ACTIVITY REPORT Reynolds Coliseum Units were assigned to monitor the Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball Game. 7:26 P.M. | TRAFFIC STOP Cates Avenue/Jeter Drive Staff member was cited for going wrong way on one way street. 9:22 P.M. | ACTIVITY REPORT Kamphoefner Hall Units were assigned to monitor the Halloween Bash for College of Design. 10:15 P.M. | SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE Dan Allen Deck Officers spoke with student and non-student in the area where recent thefts had occurred. No action taken. 10:40 P.M. | CHECK PERSON D.H. Hill Library Officers located students in library after closing. Subjects were studying. No action taken.
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CAMPUS CALENDAR
8pm, Stewart Theatre
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L. A. Theatre Works: War of the Worlds and The Lost World Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere radio theatre company presents a special backto-back double bill of chills, thrills and great literature, performing two masterpieces of science fiction and adventure. www.ncsu.edu/arts Ticket Central: 515.1100 2nd Floor, Talley Student Center
11:33 P.M. | SUSPICIOUS INCIDENT Avent Ferry Complex Officers responded to report of vehicle wrapped in plastic. Owner advised there was no damage. No police action required. 11:35 P.M. | MEDICAL ASSIST Murphy Center Units responded to non-student in need of medical assistance after leaving fair. 11:37 P.M. | ALCOHOL VIOLATION Kamphoefner Hall Student was referred to university and ejected from Halloween Bash after providing false information and for fire code violation.
News
TECHNICIAN
MARKET
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008 • PAGE 3
CAMPAIGING FOR SENATE
continued from page 1
“It would provide a good social atmosphere for lots of students,” Wanke said. Wanke feels like the market would be healthier. “Usually produce at a farmers’ market is genuinely fresh.” In the next year or two, the Sustainability Committee hopes to start using AllCampus as a means of payment, Ballard said. Thornton said it would be more convenient to do so since she doesn’t usually carry cash. “I would be more likely to purchase items if I could use my AllCampus Card,” Thornton said. The market, Ballard said, will be continued through the summer semester. UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke and Wake Forest each have a farmers’ market on campus. He said he thinks N.C. State should have a farmers market because it is a school that has a rich agricultural program. “We want it to be a service,” Ballard said. He said he feels that students should have an opportunity to buy fresh, raw fruits and vegetables from campus. Thornton said that it would be a lot healthier than lots of the food options on campus now. “Greasy pizza versus fresh fruit,” Thornton said. “Easy choice.”
CHRIS SANCHEZ/TECHNICIAN
Elizabeth Dole, Republican senator running for re-election, spoke at the GOP headquarters in Raleigh Monday. “This is a time in our history... that’s extremely important,” she said. “And you want strong, steady leadership.”
VOTING
nature of this race, Ellis said any confusion among voters could continued from page 1 adversely affect one party more than another. that if you vote straight ticket, “I don’t know how partisan this you still have to choose a presi- is or how many Obama would dent,” he said. lose [with inverse runoff],” he North Carolina is a swing state, said. with the potential to vote for a McDowell said students should democrat for the first time since be concerned with the non-par1976. tisan judges on the back of the Michael Mcballot, and not Donald, an asjust the presisociate professor dential race. at George Ma“Even people son University, who are very has compiled informed don’t e a rly vot i ng k now w h ic h data from across judges to vote t he cou nt r y, for unless they including the take a voters record turnout guide and list in North Carothem,” he said. lina. E ach pa r t y E a r l y v o tproduces a voting data shows ers’ guide that Ches McDowell, chair of high turnout lists which canCollege Republicans for Democrats, didates for judge which have positions the made up 55.1 party endorses, percent of the over 1.2 million McDowell said, and that is one voters so far. way students can learn about About 27.7 percent of voters judge candidates that otherwise have been Republicans, with a do not advertise. remaining 17.2 percent unaffili“It’s a lot of work to look up ated. these judges,” he said. With the highly competitive
“Even people who are very informed don’t know which judges to vote for unless they take a voters guide and list them.”
UNDERVOTING BY THE NUMBERS Undervoting represents the number of people who voted but did not vote for a presidential candidate on the ballot. Some attribute undervoting to North Carolina’s ballot, in which those who vote straight ticket must separately vote for president and non-partisan judges. 2000 election
3,015,964
number of North Carolinians that voted
2,940,600
ballots cast for president
75,364
number of undervotes
3.15
percentage of undervoting
2004 election
3,593,323
number of North Carolinians that voted
3,501,007
ballots cast for president
92,316
number of undervotes
2.57
percentage of undervoting
HIKE
continued from page 1
Mitchell, a junior in business administration, said if campus is restricted, they would be less likely to come. “They’ve heard Franklin Street is not going to [have] as much this year, so they’re coming to Hillsborough Street,” he said. “A lot of the attraction of Franklin Street is probably lost this year.” But Franklin Street’s decline could mean more students will stick around Hillsborough Street for this year’s Halloween, according to Mitchell. Raleigh Police does not want the Haunted Hike to get to the level of Franklin Street’s activities, which have been considered unmanage-
able, according to Stafford. Police have enforced cut advertising for the Hike, and there will be little promotion of the event other than what comes from the police and the University. Since plans for containing students and blocking streets have not been finalized, Stafford said they would be announced in a press release later in the week. Student Body President Jay Dawkins is working with the University and police to plan, and he said ID checkpoints would be good for campus. “It’s going to create traffic issues, but ultimately it will keep outsiders from adversely affecting various surrounding residence halls and campus buildings,” Dawkins, a junior in civil engineering, said. While restricting campus could keep nonstudents out, Dawkins said traffic problems will not keep students from coming.
“If you have a valid ID, then basically everything’s the same,” he said. “If you’re a resident of Greenville or some random place in North Carolina and you’re trying to get into our campus, it might be difficult.” Events like the Hike make Hillsborough Street businesses significant money, which could be affected by the turnout Friday. “[Raleigh Police] are trying to keep it within a reasonable size and keep it under control,” he said. “They see the stuff happening on Franklin Street and are worried the same negative things associated with that event could happen here. They’re working with a lot faith in the business owners and what they’re doing is getting a mixed reception among business owners. If this event is kept at a sustainable level, it could be more beneficial for those businesses longterm.”
!Register SPRING 2009!
SOURCE: NORTH CAROLINA COALITION FOR VERIFIED VOTING
PEH 335 ! 3 credits !Wed. 3:00-5:30 pm !Counts
toward the Physical Education Health Minor http://pe.ncsu.edu/health_minor.html
This course will educate, empower and provide leadership training to women and men to help others make informed and positive choices to reduce their risk of sexual assault and relationship violence. Students will become peer educators to present the Men’s and Women’s Program outreach on campus. Class meets in 2301 Student Health Center Questions? Contact Marianne or Justin: marianne_turnbull@ncsu.edu or Justin at jbinscoe@ncsu.edu
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008
TECHNICIAN
{OUR VIEW}
Don’t kill the Haunted Hike
THE ISSUE:
University officials are considering placing restrictions on roads and parking lots on campus for the Haunted Hillsborough Hike.
OUR OPINION:
Closing parking lots and restricting road access is too harsh and may prevent the Haunted Hike from flourishing.
THE SOLUTION:
The University should work with Hillsborough Street businesses to expand the Haunted Hike in a controlled manner.
{
H
alloween is Friday, and with it comes the Haunted Hillsborough Hike. However, University officials are considering restricting on-campus road access and parking. With the new restrictions on bars and other Franklin Street businesses and limit on who may attend the festivities in Chapel Hill, students are more likely to stay in Raleigh for the Haunted Hike. The Haunted Hike is not comparable to Franklin Street’s Halloween festivities. Shutting down roads and parking on campus is an overreaction. University administrators should work with local businesses and the Raleigh Police Department to build upon the Haunted Hike in a safe manner.
CAMPUS FORUM
EDITOR’S NOTE Letters to the editor are the individual opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Technician staff or N.C. State University. All writers must include their full names and, if applicable, their affiliations, including years and majors for students and professional titles for University employees. For verification purposes, the writers must also include their phone numbers, which will not be published.
HOW TO SUBMIT Letters must be submitted before 5 p.m. the day before publication and must be limited to 250 words. Contributors are limited to one letter per week. Please submit all letters electronically to viewpoint@technicianonline.com
Discussion around cartoon ignores real racism Coach Stubbs... obvious racial stereotypes! What are you talking about? Why don’t you specify these items in the cartoon, because I am convinced they don’t exist. You say the cartoon does not portray you as a professional, but doesn’t it show you wearing a suit? Maybe the lips were a little big, but get over it. The cartoon was a caricature of you, not a portrait. Congratulations on bringing your skin color into a piece that solely discusses your performance as a professional. Reading your letter disappointed me, because I though race relations in the United States had come further. In a time when a black man will likely get elected to the highest office in the country, it is your oversensitivity — not the cartoon —that seems like it comes from another era. Your concerns are ridiculous and petty compared with what real racism is. It is people like you that will ensure race remains an issue for decades to come. Get over yourself and your self-righteousness. And while you’re at it, win some volleyball games. Brad Frenier senior, business management
Oct. 21 cartoon not an attack In response to Coach Charita Stubbs and Keisha Demps’ campus forum letters on Oct. 24, I believe their perception of racism is skewed. Racism, as defined by MerriamWebster’s dictionary, is “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities.” The depiction of Stubbs in the cartoon printed on Oct. 21 in no way undermined her intelligence and abilities. In fact, as she pointed out, she is a very intelligent, well educated and successful woman. Her attempt to call an unflattering caricature of herself as racist is allowing her own bigotry to propagate racism throughout society. In a world that is on the brink of electing an African-American as the next president of the United States of America, it is clear the race is becoming an issue of a bygone era. Racism exists in much of America today because people like Stubbs and Demps feel that is necessary to
The unsigned editorial is the opinion of the members of Technician’s editorial board excluding the news department and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief.
Will Savage, general manager at Red Hot & Blue, said RPD has handled most of the safety issues this year, and that he expected more people to be at the Haunted Hike, particularly with the new restrictions on the Franklin Street festivities. As a former Chapel Hill resident, Savage said the University should get involved with some of the planning. Yet University officials are looking to copy some of the harsh, restrictive measures Chapel Hill officials are implementing on Franklin Street this year. The University’s plan entails restricting access to main roads through campus to people who
present a valid student ID with a checkpoint system. Additionally, RPD will have zero-tolerance policy with any violations, and Campus Police and Student Conduct are looking to punish students for any arrests or citations they receive during the Haunted Hike. Clearly, the University is trying to crush a tradition before it can even establish itself. There is no reason for the University to impose additional penalties for any citations students receive from the RPD during the Haunted Hike. And limiting on-campus parking will force students to park around Hillsborough Street, taking spots away from local residents.
The new restrictions on Franklin Street may keep more people in Raleigh for the Haunted Hike this year, but it is highly unlikely that Hillsborough Street will be flooded with tens of thousands of Halloween revelers. Safety is an issue, and keeping the Haunted Hike safe becomes increasingly difficult if a large number of people attend. But killing a potential tradition because of possible issues at future events is short-sighted and exceedingly harsh. The University should be involved with the safety and expansion plans for the Haunted Hike. It should not crush all the plans by shutting down roads and parking decks and punishing students twice for violations they commit during the night.
}
{
IN YOUR WORDS
}
What, if any, safety measures should the University take for the Haunted Hillsborough Hike?
blow something as silly as a cartoon in a school newspaper wildly out of proportion. As I saw it, there was obviously no ill intent or racial undertones in this cartoon — its aim was to make note of the teams number of ACC wins this season. Perhaps there is an underlying motive for her disgust. Could it be her team’s win-loss record?
BY LUIS ZAPATA
Bryan Owens senior, mechanical engineering
Don’t complain about caricatures In response to coaches Stubbs and Demps’ letters complaining about the caricature of Stubbs in the Oct. 21 Technician. It is a caricature, “a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things.” I don’t see how it is offensive, by definition it is ludicrous which means you are supposed to laugh at it. Have you ever seen a caricature before? They all look the same. Stop whining, get a sense of humor and win us some more games. Adam Nock junior, mathematics
Defining pro-life Last week, Justice for All was accused of forcing religion onto the student population. It is important to note that the display did not in any way reference religion of any type. Also, abortion is not an issue exclusive to religion; some atheists and agnostics are also against abortion. Secondly, “anti-abortion” was a term used several times last week. Abortion is a focus of the pro-life movement because of the enormous number of lives destroyed, but pro-life issues also encompass stem cell research, cloning, euthanasia, capital punishment, prejudice — in short, the respect and defense of all life, from conception to natural death. Being pro-life is not a political choice; it is a position on morality. If we can see the moral wrong of abortion, then we can also understand the moral wrong of the issues listed above. Therefore, the letter to the editor that suggested pro-lifers would object to an anti-war display is incorrect: war is inherently a situation where life is lost. Finally, addressing comments against the images themselves, the pictures are definitely gruesome; but so are the images of war, famine and genocides that are used to create awareness of violence and injustices occurring in the world. The images on the JFA display were not “misleading graphics” (Campus Forum, Oct. 24, “Don’t shock students - inform them”). The pictures are images of reality — they show the results of abortion on human fetuses. Yes, the pictures are shocking; but they are also informative. Emily Boros senior, creative writing
Once again, football’s defense decided not to show up.
Phil Hursey, junior in biochemistry
T
I had to try it. Of course, I made the mistake of going on a Saturday night, when every other person in Raleigh is also at the Fair. So after 20 minutes in line at one of those big booths with the dozens of obnoxious multi-colored signs I finally got 5 small golden triangle things and a big soggy golden triangle thing on a stick. The thing on a stick turned out to be the pie, and it was OK. I found myself wishing that I’d just ordered pecan pie on a stick and not fried pecan pie on a stick. The fried part was just too doughy and greasy. Overall, I thought it was sort of disappointing. My friends seemed to like it alright, but that might have been because they didn’t have to spend $5 on it. The f ive golden t riangle things turned out to be the fried mac and cheese. The Kraft-y fake cheese-powder taste actually depressed me. To bring my spirits back up, I went to a booth operated by old men in hats — always a good festival or fair choice — and got a hot dog. Nothing about it was fried and it was perfect. That night I closed with a caramel apple. The actual natural food item on the inside was a welcome reprieve from the gal-
“After all those other gutbusters, the old-fashioned, boring funnel cake was best.
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Wrapping up the State Fair
he Fair is over, which means everything will go back to normal. Except, maybe, your arteries. People say they go to the State Fair for rides and shows and exhibits, but deep down, those things are just excuses to go e at re a l l y, really, really unhealthy Taylor McCune food. Many Senior Staff Columnist of them (myself included) probably left with a stomach ache. So, in order to protect myself and the millions of people who read the Technician daily from grease laden stomachs and diabetic shock next year, (and with the help of some friends) I made it a point to sample as many t y pical fair foods as possible — with the exception of funnel cake. I love funnel cake, but it’s getting old. I made the decision to avoid it and, instead, focused on other foods. There were two new food items at the Fair this year — fried macaroni and cheese and fried pecan pie. I’ve heard of fried mac and cheese, but fried pecan pie? Seriously? As if the concentrated sugar goop and saturated fat in the pecans wasn’t enough.
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lon of fat I’d just eaten. It took a week for me to get up the gastric strength to go back. This time a friend and I arrived at 10:30 in the morning to avoid those pesky lines. After sampling a polish sausage with peppers and onions, I realized what a mistake I had made. See, food booths are slow in the morning, but that doesn’t mean the workers don’t cook anything. Those peppers and onions were akin to soggy pulp. A peek around the counter revealed a 6-inch tall stack of vegetables. The bottom was black. My tasting companion and I made our way down the midway in search of a booth with no food in sight. We found a place that seemed safe and ordered ribbon fries. I think the serving was a bit light for $6 worth of potatoes, but at least they were fresh. As we began the walk back to the gate, my friend said she wanted a funnel cake. I wanted to tell her, “No funnel cake!” but deep inside I knew that I wanted some too. We found a booth that made their cakes fresh — none of that pre-frying crap — and bought one. And wouldn’t you know, after all those other gutbusters, the old-fashioned, boring funnel cake was best. Tell Taylor about your fair food experiences at letters@ technicianonline.com.
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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 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TECHNICIAN COMMENTARY
L.A. TheatreWorks rekindles old radio magic
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cardinologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; upholds Ryan Adamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; standards
UPANDCOMING Music (Oct. 28)
PICK
Morgan McCormick Senior Staff Writer
We have reached a point in history where technology is growing and changing by the hour, where the way things were done last week can be radically altered and improved by the devices of this week. VHS became DVD, cassette tape became CD, Television became streaming video and a roll of film became a stick of memory. But before it all was something so strange and unknowable to us, I doubt our grandchildren will believe us. Entertainment that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t permanently recorded or stored. Entertainment of a moment in history, an article of time itself. Radio. This Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Stewart Theatre, L.A. TheatreWorks takes us back nearly a century into our cultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past to present War of the Worlds and The Lost World, just in time for Halloween. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit of hybrid in that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radio theatreâ&#x20AC;Śwe all do the sound effects and the theatre part is that we have costumes and lighting and make-up and we carry our scripts around like you would in a old time radio show,â&#x20AC;? Jen Dede, one of the leads in the show, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you close your eyes you can hear it like it was the radio in the room.â&#x20AC;? Performers run back and forth across the stage, playing multiple roles and providing a kind of tonguein-cheek humor about the time period and the art that came out of it. The show itself is based on the novels of the same name, who found foothold in our history for their roles in film and radio. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Warâ&#x20AC;? is based on the infamous 1938 radio performance, which announced, without indication that it was fictional work, an alien invasion on Earth, all the way down to the Martian woo-woo sound effects. In a pre-WW2 America already gripped in paranoia, this left a mark on the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty relevant today. You can compare it to a lot of stuff, from the problems with in the environment to peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fear of terrorism. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s TV [where we get our news] but years ago it was the radio,â&#x20AC;? Dede said.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 5
Artist: The Green Album Album: Kottonmouth Kings Label: Suburban Noize Artist: The Cure Album: 4:13 Dream Label: Geffen
OF THE WEEK Cardinology
RYAN ADAMS & THE CARDINALS LABEL: LOST HIGHWAY RECORDS RELEASED: OCT. 28
SOURCE: FYE.COM
Movies (Oct. 31) Title: Changeling Studio: Universal Pictures
Charlie Burnett
LOST HIGHWAY RECORDS
WKNC DJ
COURTESY PATRICK RYAN AND TADASHI OMURA/DEBARTOLO PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
L.A. TheatreWorks brings viewers into the studio during a radio show from the 1930s.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lostâ&#x20AC;? is based on the 1925 film of the same name, which at the time featured high quality special effects but now looks charmingly goofy. The two-part show is directed by John de Lancie, who Star Trek fans will recognize as the enigmatic deity Q. â&#x20AC;&#x153;John is a blast, we had such a wonderful time in rehearsal and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so open to trying different things. Knowing he was even going to direct it was a draw,â&#x20AC;? Dede said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He made [War of the Worlds] dark and intense and scary. Lighting has a bluish tint and building intensity to it. You take a little break and then you see The Lost World and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s completely the opposite: campy, melodramatic and a lot of fun. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even a dinosaur fight!â&#x20AC;? As if the show it s e l f we re nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough, celebrated science fiction author and professor at NC State, Dr. John Kessel, will he holding a pre-show discussion in Talleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blue Room at 6:45 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wellsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s War of the Worlds is the first alien invasion story ever, and it establishes many of the clichĂŠs of the formâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;which were not clichĂŠs at the time,â&#x20AC;? Kessel said. Conan Doyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Lost World is a little less serious, but perhaps more fun. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as far as I know the origin story for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dinosaurs surviving into the present day.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like dinosaurs?â&#x20AC;? Perhaps the most important aspect of the show is reminding
â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you close your eyes you can hear it like it was the radio in the room.â&#x20AC;? Jen Dede
us that art like radio and stage performances are far from gone and have a lot to show us about where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come, not just technologically but also culturally. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For me itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really cool when you can tell a story and the audience can still use their imagination. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really also neat just sitting around a campfire and telling stories and we can use our voices. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so theatricalâ&#x20AC;Ś my 12 year old nephew was glued to [the show] and I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sure if after this stuff being blown up on film that [he could] be impressed. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m hoping theatre can still have an impact wherever people are in their life,â&#x20AC;? Dede said. Before she left, I had to ask how she came into stage acting in Hollywood of all places. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe the different stars who do thisâ&#x20AC;Ś[when it comes to acting], never stop learning or training. Even if you went to theatre school, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about constantly working, whether [even if] itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see yourself in. Learn when not to listen to other people because people will have an opinion and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just an opinion of course. People are allowed to maybe not like you or your work. What youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to hold on to knowing that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got something to woffer.â&#x20AC;? L.A. Theatre Works takes us not only back in time but back to the reason we love art: the people. Sit back, keep your ears open and listen. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how you take the history and the culture with you.
Articles about Ryan Adams rarely focus on his actual music , which is a shame as he has released a stream of records since 2000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heartbreaker that range from good (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Demolitionâ&#x20AC;?) to classic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jacksonville City Nightsâ&#x20AC;?), with the exception of 2003â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mediocre â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rock Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Roll.â&#x20AC;? That tradition continues with the just released Cardinology, the third record to be released under the name Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. Cardinology kicks off on a somewhat misleading note. The first couple tracks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Born Into A Lightâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go Easy,â&#x20AC;? are easily the weakest songs on the record. Things change with first single â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fix It.â&#x20AC;? Adamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; songwriting has always dwelled upon loneliness, love won, love lost and the regret that follows the dissolution of a relationship. On â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fix It,â&#x20AC;? over wistful country-rock instrumentation, Adams sings of a relationship gone wrong, saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d fix it if I could.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a heart-string-tugging type of song and not the only one on the album. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Crossed Out Nameâ&#x20AC;? consists of not much other than
Adamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; voice, some acoustic guitar and some words about a lover who has walked out. The minimal instrumentation serves to perfectly accompany lyrics about loneliness such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;where we used to live, I live alone.â&#x20AC;? On â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sinking Ships,â&#x20AC;? one of the more well-written songs of the year, Adams sings of a lover/coworker who has moved away and the emptiness in both his heart and the office where she used to work. The lyrics are lifted by ringing guitars and the haunting pedal steel guitar playing of Jon Graboff, one of Cardinonlogyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secret weapons. Elsewhere on the record, Adams dives into more straightahead rock territory on the catchy, but poorly written, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Magick.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stopâ&#x20AC;? finds Adams comforting a friend who has seemingly lost hope. The songâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s low-key piano melody serves as a great close to the record. Old fans should enjoy the familiar country-rock stylings of Carinology and strong songwriting and the record is accessible enough to turn newcomers on to Adamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work. Regardless, Cardinology ultimately serves as the perfect soundtrack to the leaves falling from trees as the winter months set in.
In 1928, in L.A., a motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son disappears. When the son returns, the mother recognizes that the person that returned is not her child. Title: RocknRolla Studio: Warner Bros. A Snatch-style film in which a London crime boss is approached by a Russian property dealer with a new deal and a very large payout. SOURCE: ROTTENTOMATOES.COM
Video Games Oct. 28 Fallout 3 (XBOX 360, PS3, PC) LittleBigPlanet (PS3) Nov. 4 Resistance 2 (PS3) source: ign.com At The Brewery Oct. 31 Halloween Party doors: 6 p.m. source: brewerync.com At Lincoln Theatre Oct. 31 Yo Mamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Big Fat Booty Band Strut Costume Contest SOURCE: LINCOLNTHEATRE.COM
JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN... and seventy years after Orson Wellesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; infamous radio broadcast that shocked the nation, L.A. Theatre Works takes us back to the mother of all space invasions !"S$ "&'(&) S(*+& *', ARTS !" STATE 1)&2&'(
WAR OF THE WORLDS THE LOST WORLD AND
Tues, Oct 28, 2008 at 8pm â&#x20AC;˘ Stewart Theatre
Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premiere radio theatre company makes its first NC State appearance with a special back-to-back double bill of chills, thrills and great literature, performing two masterpieces of science fiction and adventure. Recreating the breathless pace and convincing details of Orson Wellesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; infamous radio broadcast (and just two days before the 70th anniversary of that event), L.A. Theatre Works makes it clear why H.G. Wellsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; War of the Worlds is truly the mother of all space invasions. Sir Arthur Conan Doyleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campy adventure, The Lost World, follows Professor Challenger as he heads a harrowing expedition through the remote jungles of South America to prove his extraordinary claim that prehistoric animals exist. This performance will feature actors from the Sci-Fi Channel, Star Trek and The *-,iles. Pre-show discussion with acclaimed science fiction writer and NCSU English professor Dr. @ohn Aessel, CD45pm, The Play Hone, Carmichael Recreation Center. Dr. Aessel will talk about the historical origins of these stories in the late 1800s, and how they contributed to the origin and development of science fiction.
ncsu.edu/arts â&#x20AC;˘ 515-1100 Ticket Central, 2nd floor, Talley Student Center $5 NCSU students, $19-$23 faculty/staff, $24-$28 public
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Features ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
COMMENTARY
Zack and Miri yields crass yet empty comedy Andrew Johnson Senior Staff Writer
There is a moment in Zack and Miri Make A Porno that everyone will remember. It’s the kind of thing that audience members immediately start talking about once the credits begin to roll, just to make sure they actually saw what they think they saw. Without giving too much away, all I’ll say is that it’s a joke involving human fecal matter that is so graphic and shocking, you’ll laugh simply because you don’t know how else to respond. Such is the nature of Kevin Smith’s new movie: you’ll laugh not necessarily because what’s on screen is actually funny, but because not to do so would be to acknowledge that you’ve spent money on the kind of crass substance you could find on the Internet for free, or just by asking your friends to make a dirty joke. The plotline is simple: Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are long-time best friends who decide to make a no-budget pornographic film to raise money for their rent. But when it comes time for the two of them to “do the deed” on camera, their friendship is tested by the resulting complications. Think When Harry Met Sally with porn, and jokes that would make Ron Jeremy blush. The problem with “Zack and Miri” isn’t that it’s a raunchy movie, it’s that it’s a movie built entirely upon raunch. Smith has long been known as a di-
rector that embraces poop and sex jokes, but he usually has the ability to write compelling characters and craft genuinely engaging relationships that set his films apart from the typical juvenile sex comedy. Unfortunately, while Zack and Miri does attempt to insert conflict into the relationship of its protagonists (in what ends up being the film’s most well-crafted and heartfelt scene), this ultimately is overshadowed by the sheer volume of jokes that serve no purpose except to shock and offend. It’s as if when Smith was writing the script, all he could think was, “I’ve got to top the donkey scene from Clerks 2!” The result is a film that comes as close as possible to being actual pornography, and that should have kept its original NC-17 rating. This is no Dogma or Chasing Amy, which infused an effective amount of commentary and social satire between the dirty jokes. While the premise could easily be utilized to ask thought-provoking questions about the treatment of sex in American society, or the fusion of sex and capitalism, Zack and Miri chooses to ignore these opportunities in favor of getting in a few extra penis and fart jokes. Nor does it approach anything like Clerks 2, which successfully crafted a sappy and sweet story of friendship amidst scenes of bestiality punchlines. We’re left
with a film that retains Smith’s gift for snappy dialogue, but the fact that 99 percent of the jokes are unprintable should tell you something. The movie is not a total failure. The first third is strong, and Zack and Miri’s relationship comes off as one of the more charming and refreshing in recent memory. The craftsmanship is superb – Smith is growing as a filmmaker in terms of his visual style. I also should point out that the movie is very funny at times. The problem is that, like the relationship of its two leads, once porn and sex directly enter the picture, what started out as a dirty-yet-fun comedy becomes a muddled and distracting string of sex jokes, each designed to be more over-the-top and offensive than the last. At some point, one must remember the story and characters. It says something about the quality of Smith’s writing that the film is most engaging when it takes its characters and their conflict seriously. If he had chosen to focus more on the “Zack and Miri” part of the title rather than the “Make A Porno”, the result might have been one of his more endearing and well-crafted films. If you just want to sit back and watch some sex gags for 100 minutes, you’ll probably have a blast. As it stands, though, “Zack and Miri” is all raunch and very little heart.
It’s as if when Smith was writing the script, all he could think was, “I’ve got to top the donkey scene from Clerks 2!”
Shelton Leadership Forum
TECHNICIAN
HOW TO: MAKE A GUM BALL MACHINE COSTUME What you need: A bag of balloons (12-15), a tall, clear kitchen trash bag, hat, small piece of paper, ribbon, a marker, and scissors What you do: Take the trash bag and cut four holes out, 2 for the legs and 2 for your arms. Put the bag on, leaving the top open around your neck. Blow up 12 to 15 balloons, making them all relatively the same size. Stuff the balloons in the bag around your body. Using the ribbon, close the top of the bag off around your neck. With the marker, write “25 cents”on a small piece of paper and tape it to a hat to top off the outfit.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MICHELE CHANDLER
PAGE 6 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008
Q&A
Jam Pain Society emphasizes personal responsibility, fans Yamil Camacho Staff Writer
The Technician’s Yamil Camacho interviewed Chris Hill from the local band Jam Pain Society. Technician: How did you come up with the name Jam Pain Society? Chris Hill: We are a very fan-oriented band. That’s where the “Society” part came from. The “Jam Pain” part came from us trying to find words that convey what our music sounds like. Those just felt right. Technician: How did you come up with the title to your album, Black Light Messiah? Chris Hill: The title Black Light Messiah is about the concept of hero worship and the idea that a lot of people seem to be looking for a hero or for someone to blame. The “Black Light Messiah” concept is more about personal responsibility. It’s about reaching within and becoming the hero yourself. We need more of that in the world. Technician: What are your inspirations for your lyrics? Chris Hill: Sometimes it’s a simple as a story of someone we’ve encountered. Overall though, it seems the basic
PHOTO COURTESY ERIC PAGE
Jam Pain Society mixes hard rock/metal with a compelling message.
struggle and frustration of maintaining integrity and truth all while keeping the dream alive is a common theme for us. Also, the desire to be honest, realistic and hopeful. Technician: Why two bassists? How did that come about? Chris Hill: The addition of the second bass player came as a result of us wanting to have a bigger live sound and wanting to take a different route instead of adding a second guitar player or a keyboard player. Technician: I know it’s “the undefinable”, but can you describe your sound.
Chris Hill: It’s a mix of hard rock and metal with obvious hints of funk, industrial and pop with melodic and from-the-gut vocals combined in a way that you probably haven’t heard before. If you’re interested in Jam Pain Society, make sure to check out their Web site www.jampainsociety.com. There you’ll find videos and merchandise, as well as more information about the band and their upcoming show dates. They’ll be playing Halloween night in Murfreesboro at Zakk’s Coffeehouse.
W. beats around the Bush
30 Student Complimentary Registrations Morgan McCormick
Available through the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, & Public Service Friday, November 7, 2008 Keynote Speaker: Cal Ripken, Jr. Beginning Wednesday, October 29, students can e-mail Leslie Beddingfield at leslie_beddingfield@ncsu.edu on a firstcome, first-serve basis. Students who accept the complimentary registration must attend the majority of the day, including lunch. Students who accept the registration and do not attend will be held responsible for the fee of the registration ($159). For more information visit:
www.ncsu.edu/sheltonleadership
Senior Staff Writer
We need presidents, our president, to be larger than life. His hands must stretch to the clouds, but his feet should be firmly planted to the ground with his people. The President should be the power and the glory of our nation, but can never forget that the power is given by people and not divine right. I’m probably a hopeless romantic for some things, but I think a lot of people are hopelessly romantic for this ideal, this kind of president. I’m not going to say whether or not George W. Bush was such a president, and neither does the film W. I think it was put best when someone said this film about humanization, not justification. W. follows the life of Bush frowm Yale through early 2004, from frat hazings to the big Mission Accomplished banner, constantly flashing back in between the two. Three time Academy Award winning director Oliver Stone plays it smart and avoids saying too many definite things about Bush’s character. Rather, Stone lets the audience form their own opinion of the man. He feels caged by the expectations of his father, his love of the Lord and the advice of a cabinet he trusts too implicitly. It’s hard to tell how much of this is admonishment on the part of Stone, but most of the scenes boil down to the historical facts of a moment and focus less on character motivations. The character’s actions speak louder than words. There’s a really beautiful scene in a conference room where Colin Powell and Dick Cheney lay out the flaws and advantages, respectively, of the Iraq war provides. All the while Condoleezza Rice makes quips, Donald Rumsfeld plays everyone against the mid-
COURTESY LIONSGATE ENTERTAINMENT
Close up of cover for Oliver Stone’s movie W. about George W. Bush.
dle and Karl Rove watches from the shadows. When Bush finally stands up and begins talking about freedom, he’s seems to be just an inflated figurehead filled head-to-toe with buzz words. It feels weird to be watching a biopic about a presidency that isn’t over, and I wonder if Stone is too quick to judge. At times, he seems to want to stay the observer, casually documenting history. Other times he’s shoving pretentious dream sequences in our face and suggesting that maybe all Bush really loves is baseball. Moving between having no opinion on the subject to a lot of opinion on the subject at the drop of a hat is confusing. While the film mostly wants to avoid telling you who Bush is, the times when it does feel awkward and almost offensive to the viewer. The audience is constantly receiving mixed messages from the director when they should be receiving layered messages from the character. And that’s the problem. The film feels like a movie on Bush the character and not the man, the one who the media has eviscerated. I don’t feel like everything people see on camera, and certainly not what we know
It was put best when someone said this film about humanization, not justification.
about their history, can tell us who a person is. I don’t feel like I know him any better or accept him for who he is any more after watching the movie. I just noted that the movie portrays him as a simple man who refuses to be out-Texas’d, out-Christian’d or out-Freedom’d. Josh Brolin plays a fine Bush, even incorporating his little laughs, squints and posture until its hard to imagine Brolin not being Bush and vice versa. Truthfully, I wish this film had taken some kind of a stance because often it comes off as surrealist art that rejects being terribly dramatic or comedic, instead going for serious all the time. Once you hit the last 30 minutes, which concerns the Iraq war, it drags its feet and then ends suddenly. It seems Stone was trying to come off as thought-provoking but instead just leaves you asleep or annoyed. There’s another excellent scene with Bush before Congress, where footage of Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and John McCain watching on are spliced into the movie. This gives you a feeling of timeless chaos as they watch on from the future like phantasms. This is where the movie should have ended because, topical as it is, it can’t divorce itself from the fact that it came out here and now, and that we look back only to make sense of what we see ahead.
Sports
TECHNICIAN
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008 â&#x20AC;˘ PAGE 7
Intramural flag football championships brackets THE ROAD TO CAMPUS REC IMMORTALITY ENDS TONIGHT COMPILED BY TAYLOR AUTEN & TY JOHNSON | GRAPHICS BY SUSANNAH BRINKLEY
MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OPEN | OCT. 28, 9 P.M.
MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RESIDENCE | OCT. 28, 9 P.M.
Young Gunnaz
Dan Allen Street Elite The Lawnmowers Torturefest
The Lawnmowers
Got Wood
Blackhawks
Snickelfritz
(Unavailable at press time)
Got Wood Torturefest
Syme Time Ballers
FRATERNITY | OCT. 28, 8 P.M.
CO-REC | OCT. 29, 8 P.M.
Kappa Sigma Green
Red Team Go Gold
Unofficial
Sigma Chi Gold Pi Kappa Phi Gold
Gold
The Juggernauts H & Bs
Unofficial Pi Kappa Phi Gold
SORORITY | OCT. 29, 7 P.M.
H & Bs
GRAD/FACULTY/STAFF | OCT. 29, 8 P.M.
Pi Phi
Football Knurds Semi-final: Oct. 28, 6 p.m.
Delta Zeta
Semi-final: Oct. 28, 6 p.m.
Tri Delta
Football Knurds
Sigmoid Flexors Kutta Condition
Chicken and Biscuits Sigma Kappa
Kutta Condition
Got Wood Oct. 28, 9 p.m. (Unavailable at press time)
Final: Oct. 29, 6 p.m.
Gold
The Lawnmowers
Final: Oct. 28, 9 p.m.
Oct. 28, 8 p.m. Pi Kappa Phi Gold
Torturefest
POLICY
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MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL-CAMPUS CHAMPIONSHIP | OCT. 29, 9 P.M.
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HOMES FOR RENT
TOWNHOMES FOR RENT
Near NCSU, Nice house for Rent. $1350/month. 3BD 2.5BA, 2-car garage, fenced in yard. W/D included, pool. Available Jan. 1, 2009. Contact Ryan at 836-8225.
Townhouse for rent, large 3 bedrooms/3 baths, Kimsey Ct. off Bashford Rd, 1700 ft2, $1050 a month, move in condition, (919)272-8268 for details
Near NCSU. Exceptional 3,4, and 5 Bedroom Houses. Close to Campus. Available August 1, 2009. Very attractive. Ideal for students. Call day: 833-7142 and evening: 783-9410. Please visit our website www.jansenproperties.com
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FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 28, 2008
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Sports
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• 26 days until the football game at UNC-Chapel Hill.
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• Page 7: A flag football championship bracket .
TECHNICIAN
PAGE 8 • TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008
WOLF FACTS
COMMENTARY
‘This team is not that bad’
ACC announces Duke kickoff time
W
NC State’s gridiron tilt with the Duke Blue Devils will kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 8. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU or ESPN360 and will be the first meeting between the two in-state rivals since 2003. SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
Tennis tandem finishes second
The doubles team of Berkeley Brock and Lenka Hojckova lost 8-2 in the finals of the ITA Southeast Regional held in Winston-Salem, N.C. The two defeated five straight opponents before losing to UNC-Chapel Hill’s Sanaz Marand and Sophie Grabinski. SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
CSCAA recognizes swimming and diving
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams were recognized by the College Swim Coaches Association of America for having among the best team GPAs in the country. Individually juniors Mason McGee and Kevin Woodhull-Smith received honorable mention Academic All-America honors for their classroom performances. SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
State golfer wins tournament N.C. State’s Darren Blair won the Bank of Tennessee @ The Ridges Tournament this weekend. The senior was the only golfer under par all three rounds and won the tournament by five strokes. The Wolfpack placed fourth as a team in the 14 team tournament to end the fall season. SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
ATHLETIC SCHEDULE October 2008 Su
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Wednesday MEN’S SOCCER VS. LONGWOOD N.C. State Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. Thursday WOMEN’S SOCCER VS. MIAMI N.C. State Soccer Stadium, 7 p.m. VOLLEYBALL AT BOSTON COLLEGE Chestnut Hill, Mass., 8:00 p.m.
FLAG FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Tuesday, October 28 6 p.m. — Grad/Faculty/Staff 7 p.m. — Men’s Residence 8 p.m. — Fraternity 9 p.m. — Men’s Open Wednesday, October 29 6 p.m. — Men’s All-Campus Semifinal — Fraternity Champion vs. Men’s Residence Champion 7 p.m. — Sorority 8 p.m. — Co-Rec 9 p.m. — Men’s All-Campus Final — Men’s Open Champion vs. Men’s All-Campus Semifinal Winner
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
Redshirt junior John Martinez, freshman Ryan Hill, redshirt seniors Gavin Coombs and Fredy Torres and freshman Patrick Campbell run the final 200 meters for the Wolfpack INvitational Cross Country Meet at Wake Med Soccer park Sept. 12. The team dominated the men’s race, a five kilometer race, and finished with a perfect team score. Martinez, Hills, Coombs and Torres places in the top 5.
CROSS COUNTRY
Wolfpack cross country athletes remain runners for lifetime Cross country alumni have continued involvement in dynasty
recently that there are a number of former athletes that show up at competitions like the Wolfpack Invitational,” coach Rollie Geiger said. “He said, ‘once the kids are Daniel Ellis in your program, they’re in there Deputy News Editor for life.’” In fact, the only current coach, Taking a look at the current graduate assistant or assistant men and women’s cross coun- coach that didn’t formerly run try staff, there is a consistent for State is the team’s head coach, trend — nearly all were grad- Rollie Geiger. Geiger successfully uates of one of the most well- built a running dynasty that has established programs in N.C. won 32 ACC championships. State history. “Coach Geiger has been like a “It’s very common for cross father-figure to everyone on this country runners to continue team,” Martinez said. “He makes helping out after they gradu- people feel very comfortable here ate,” redshirt to where they junior John can go in and Martinez talk to [him] said. “It’s a about a nyg reat way thing. [He] has to continue the time and is running willing to help w h i le d o others.” ing graduate G eiger beJohn Martinez, school and to lieves that there redshirt junior continue beis a certain neing involved cessity in conwith the protinuing to help gram.” runners with In fact, more than just ma ny at hathletics. One letes continue to run with the of his time-honored traditions program, even if they aren’t a is that his door remains open to part of the coaching staff, by anyone, not just cross country showing their support in large runners. numbers at seasonal meets. “Once they’re out of school, it’s The meets have become like not so much coaching daily, but a cross-country homecoming it’s more of a consoling situation in recent years as former run- where you are sitting down with ners return to the program. the athlete and making plans “Dr. Phil Moses with our ac- about where they want to race,” ademic support program said Geiger said.
“Coach Geiger has been like a father to everyone on this team. ”
some of the parents and recruits soon and they will want to know what kind of runner they need to be to succeed at N.C. State.” Furst realizes that his experience, coupled with the strong unity among team members, is very beneficial when trying to entice recruits to come to State and Geiger’s focus on creating close ties between the runners and coaches is paramount to the program’s success. “It’s a family, and those graduates were important to the program when they were here and are certainly important after they leave,” he said.
Flag football championships tonight Three teams’ quests to become champions will end tonight at Miller Fields Ty Johnson Deputy Sports Editor
The last time the football team finished winless in an ACC competition was 1959.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Once the kids are in your program, they’re in there for life.” Phil Moses to Coach Rollie Geiger about his cross country program
DREIER CARR/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
Stories on the flag football championships, redshirts, and the differences between east and west coast volleyball.
Many of the athletes vary in how they remain involved with the program. Some are looking to tie up some loose ends, while others are just doing they’re part to help out. “One of the former athletes is very good about e-mailing when everyone’s birthdays are and everything,” Geiger said. “It’s good because I get confused with who was here in ‘80 and ‘81 versus ‘90 and ‘91.” Others, such as volunteer assistant Stephen Furst, periodically show up throughout the week to run with the team and guide some of the younger runners. Furst, a 2007-2008 All-ACC graduate of the program, also helps with recruiting. “I have had nothing but positive experience from the program,” Furst said. “I’ll be going on a recruiting dinner to talk to
INTRAMURAL SPORTS
DID YOU KNOW?
COMING SOON
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
Jemissa Hess, a graduate runner, runs with junior Kara Mckenna and graduate Angelina Blackmon run across Miller fields during the women’s cross country practice Sept. 9.
Brandon Huat, a junior in business, bobbles the ball in the for his team, the Roc Boys, during the first day of flag football playoffs on the lower Miller Intramural fields Oct. 6. Huat dropped the ball and the Roc Boys lost out of the playoffs as the 336 Mafia won 1221. It was Huat’s third year playing intramural football, and he said it was “better than last year.”
Tonight’s flag football championships on Miller Fields will be played on a field boasting a newly painted block-S logo while fans scream and the all-girl cheerleading squad perform as the campus’ best compete for Campus Rec football immortality. The action begins at 6 p.m. when the Football Knurds take on Kutta Condition in the graduate/faculty/staff championships. Football Knurds (4-0) arrive in the finals after defeating Chicken and Biscuits last week 26-19 while Kutta Condition (3-1) shut out Sigmoid Flexors 14-0 in its semi-final bout. The last time the Knurds met Condition, they came out on top 28-6 in Condition’s only loss of the season. In the fraternity division, Gold will battle Pi Kappa Phi Gold for the championship in a game slated to kick off at 8 p.m. At 9 p.m. the men’s open championship will be decided as the Lawnmowers take on Torturefest. The Lawnmowers arrive in the championship game after beating the Young Gunnaz 26-13 last night, while Torturefest blanked the Blackhawks 14-0. The Wednesday night football match ups will pit tonight’s fraternity champion against the men’s residence champion for the right to play in the men’s all-campus final at 6 p.m.. The men’s open champion will take on the winner at 9 p.m. in as the team’s make a final push for men’s flag football supremacy. The sorority championship will be decided at 7 p.m. followed by the co-rec championship at 8 p.m. featuring the 5-0 Juggernauts and 6-0 Unofficial. All games will be played at Miller Fields and the schedule is subject to change.
hen football coach Tom O’Brien walked into the visitor’s press tent in College Park, Md., after his team’s fourth consecutive loss, the frustration was palpable. Midway through the press conference, Maryland’s band marched by, Taylor Auten drowning Sports Editor out reporter s’ que stions as it blasted its fight song just yards away from where coach O’Brien was standing. In the midst of all this, I couldn’t help but think, or at least hope, that this will be remembered as the low point of O’Brien’s career with the Wolfpack. Right now, the numbers show the Pack to be the worst team in the ACC. State has ridden a four game losing streak to last place in the Atlantic division and the worst record in the ACC — even worse than Duke’s. If you go beyond the win-loss records, and begin to look at the statistics, the situation gets only bleaker. It is hard to say what this defense is really good at, as it is last in the ACC in both rushing defense and pass defense. The Pack has earned the fewest first downs while allowing its opponents the most first downs than any team in conference. Despite the evidence, I just can’t help but think that this team is not that bad. Just ask Boston College, Florida State or Maryland, the three teams at the top of the Atlantic division. State took all three of them down to the wire. While all that matters at the end of the day is the almighty “W,” one cannot just condemn the Wolfpack as the dregs of the ACC when it is competing on an even level with some of the top teams in conference. Looking at the season, it is hard to believe the team that was shut out at South Carolina or was blown out in Clemson is the same team that was fielded against Maryland on Saturday. In September, it seemed as if every week the football team announced another injury to a critical offensive player, but that is over now, and the continuity on the offense is beginning to pay dividends. The Wolfpack moved the ball at will against the Terrapins for most of the game, and the emergence of quarterback Russell Wilson has been incredible. Much of Wilson’s success can also be attributed to the offensive line, which has been solid in the last two contests. Wilson had plenty of time to make decisions against the Terrapins. At one point, the Maryland faithful were literally booing their defense’s inability to put any pressure on him. The defense, which played atrociously against the Terps, looks as if it is in need of a tackling lesson. It is clear O’Brien is still looking for which players will give the Pack the best chance to win. Freshman cornerback Dominique Ellis and redshirt freshman linebacker Audie Cole saw extensive playing time in the second half when the game was on the line. After the game, O’Brien acknowledged the staff was going to take a serious look at the defensive depth chart. To some, it may seem as if the situation could not get much more depressing for the Pack. The statistics and the numbers all show State to be the conference’s worst team. However, the team has showed it can compete at a high level in its last three games, so let’s just hope it can use this bye week to learn how to win.