TECHNICIAN
technicianonline.com
Raleigh, North Carolina
Becton residents aim to fight charges Students raise questions, plan to appeal Amber Kenney Senior Staff Writer
When a resident advisor discovered vandalism in the second floor men’s bathroom of Becton Residence Hall on Feb. 27, and no one took responsibility for the actions, all residents of Becton Hall were charged for the damages. In response to the charges, residents of Becton Hall gathered in the Honors Village Commons building Sunday to get further information regarding the February vandalism that has led to resistance from residents of the
Noise meter near completion
community. Brandon Moore, a junior in chemical engineering and Quad resident, said the forum was informative, but said it also brought about more issues. “We definitely got some of our questions answered,” Moore said. “But it kind of brought about more questions than it answered.” Among the information discussed at the forum was the existence of a previous incident involving damage to a Becton bathroom last year when residents were told half of the hall using the bathroom would be charged for the replacement. “We were informed that the sink was supposed to be replaced, and it was,” Moore said. “But also
that no one was charged for it.” Jordan Luzader, the community director of the Quad, said after finding the vandalism , facilities and the housing staff followed protocol to evaluate the damages. Because it was less expensive, the staff attempted to repair the damages, but the efforts were deemed unsuccessful. Facilities workers decided the bathroom stall would need to be replaced leading to each resident of Becton Hall having a total charge of $4.88 added to his or her student account. Although not a huge charge, the students who attended the community meeting Sunday evening said fighting the charges was more about the principle of the matter than the actual cost.
“This is an object that could have been repaired for under 10 dollars,” Moore said. “And housing goes out and spends over a thousand - those are decisions we have to question.” Luzader explained the appeals process to the students and even mentioned a group appeal option offered specifically for the situation dealing with the Quad. Moore said the policies were online, but appreciated the personal explanations. “Obviously it’s something students could look up themselves,” Moore said. “But it’s nice for the administrators to come out and tell us we have these avenues.” Luzader stressed the imporBECTON continued page 3
Transition period in full swing
N.C. STATE’S BEST DANCE CREW COMPETITION
New Student Government leaders prepare to take office, officially
Team plans to paint “Howlometer” this weekend, make finishing touches before student body president’s approval
Managing Editor
News Editor
METER continued page 3
THE TRANSITION ONLINE Jim Ceresnak, student body president-elect, has a blog with a short introduction to the junior in political science and links to help students get involved in his team of supporters. The Web site also contains Ceresnak’s platform and offers ways students can contact the incoming student body president.
Derek Medlin
Ty Johnson A senior design project commissioned by Student Body President Jay Dawkins to be a noise meter for home athletic events is in its final stages of completion according to the design team. The “Howlometer” will measure the decibels of crowd noise and help Wolfpack athletic teams secure a decisive home advantage in match-ups. “We want to push the loudness envelope,” Dawkins said. “Nothing gets in the opposing players’ heads like 7,000 people screaming in their ears.” James Coleman, a senior in electrical engineering, says the noise meter, which is structured to be a 10-foot replica of the Bell Tower, should be completed ahead of Design Day April 22. “We have two weeks left before design day, and all we have to do is a little more painting and touch it up,” Coleman said. “Things have been going as planned.” Josh Wilson, a senior in electrical engineering, said finishing the heavy work early will improve the aesthetics of the final product immensely. “We’ll be finishing it up and making it look like a stone structure,” Wilson said. “Now we’ll have some time to take care of smaller details.” Dawkins said the meter doesn’t look great in its current stage, but the prospect of the completed product is exciting. “It’s like a monster assembly of wires, 2x4s and lights - kind of looks like Medusa,” Dawkins said. “But when they turn the lights on, I just start giggling with joy.” Coleman said making the tower portable is the last structural addition the team will need to make, and plans to have it ready for painting this weekend. “We just have to mount the wheels so we can move it around,” he said. “ We’re at the stage where we’re about to start painting.”
DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN
After a vandalism incident in a Becton Residence Hall bathroom Feb. 27, University Housing chose to charge the entire community with the replacement of two bathroom stall walls. Residents voiced concerns at a community forum Sunday night and laid out plans to appeal the charges to their student accounts.
The newly elected officers in Student Government, who were chosen by the student body a little more than two weeks ago, have started the somewhat teSOURCE: STUDENTS.NCSU.EDU/ TRANSITION dious process of transitioning into new positions before the end of the year. his goals, or “Common sense soTim Lipka, special assistant to lutions,” as Ceresnak calls them. current Student Body President Ceresnak lists problems and Jay Dawkins, said he has assisted goals about financial issues, president-elect Jim Ceresnak in student life and even traditions beginning his transition process. on campus. Lipka said he and Ceresnak Ceresnak said the transition have worked together to produce process has gone well so far dea Web site, tranistion.ncsu.edu, spite his lack of experience withdesigned to inform students in Student Government. about open positions and allow “It’s been going real well,” he Ceresnak to inform the student said. “We’ve been taking one step body about what is going on in at a time with all the different SG. tasks. There’s been a slight learn“I’m required by statute to ing curve but everyone has been post the open positions and helping me to better understand t h a t ’s b e e n the system.” done by t he During t he transition Web next few weeks site,” Ceresnak Ceresnak said said. “Jim and I he will expand have talked and his small staff are working on and begin to filling those pobuild a group sitions because of people to certain people help him acStudent Body President have to be ap- Jim Ceresnak on his new staff complish his pointed by the platform goals. end of the se“We haven’t mester.” made any apNumerous open positions, in- pointments yet, but I feel pretty cluding director of government strong in my head about who my relations and director of com- main staff will be,” Ceresnak munity service, will be filled said. “We’re going to start the by Ceresnak during the coming recruitment process soon to fill weeks. all those positions.” “I want to keep a lean staff to Lipka said a certain number of begin with,” Ceresnak, a junior positions must be filled by cerin political science, said. “It’s tain dates before the end of the easier to manage if we have a semester. small, tight knit staff to begin Newly elected Student Senate with.” President Kelli Rogers, who took The transition Web site is also office last week, said the dates are a place where Ceresnak can tell the student body about some of LEADERS continued page 3
“It’s easier to manage if we have a tight-knit staff to begin with.”
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN
Dancing with Bhangra, Varun Goswami, a sophomore in biology, and Heerangi Amin, a freshman in animal science, perform at the Best Dance Crews competition Sunday night. Their ensemble was one of the finalists in the dance-off but lost to the Clogging team.
READ MORE ABOUT JIM CERESNAK Student Body President for 2009 - 2010 Jim Ceresnak has a variety of platform goals he said he hopes to accomplish and challenges he will inevitably face in the upcoming year whether it is delaying spring break a week or dealing with ongoing budget cuts. Ceresnak ran on a platform of unifying the campus and its students and promoting financial solutions, student life solutions and enhancing traditions. Check out more in Technician and on www.technicianonline.com this week about Ceresnak’s life as a student and his new life as SBP.
NC State Bookstores Now offers Staples® brand office & school supplies right here in our store.
insidetechnician
Men’s open final draws crowd See page 8.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
All the supplies you need. All right here.
4 5 7 8