TECHNICIAN
technicianonline.com
Raleigh, North Carolina
A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2008-09 A look back at the year that was
W
ith exams and final assignment deadlines looming, it’s easy to wonder where the year went. From August to April, the academic year has flown by, so let Technician catch you up on what happened on campus while you were busy procrastinating.
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
NOV. 4 ELECTION:
May 2009
NOV. 5 ELECTION REACTION:
Barack Obama made history Nov. 4, becoming the first black president of the United States. Obama, a senator from Illinois, became the fifth youngest president ever at 47. With the current economic crunch, he campaigned for change and made promises to help the middle class. North Carolina and N.C. State played a role in the Democrat’s election as the state was blue for the first time since 1976. Reynolds Coliseum also hosted Sen. Obama when it was announced he secured North Carolina in the Democratic primary. Voter turnout was the highest in more than 40 years and young voters played a key role in MATT MOORE/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO the election.
Four students painted racist remarks, including “Let’s shoot that n——- in the head,” throughout the Free Expression Tunnel Nov. 4 following the election of Barack Obama. After an investigation with the Secret Service, Campus Police Captain Jon Barnwell announced the students had not committed a crime. Controversy from the incident led to debates and discussions on campus regarding the First Amendment and the future of the Free Expression Tunnel. In response to the events, Chancellor Oblinger created the Campus Culture Task Force in accordance with the Board of Trustees to review the campus climate, examine CHRIS SANCHEZ/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO student conduct and explore guidelines for use of the Tunnel. It made its final recommendations this spring which included implementing better lighting at the tunnel entrances and raising awareness and expectations for the tunnel for current and incoming students.
DREIER CARR/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO MARK SCHAFFER/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVE PHOTO
JAN. 24 KAY YOW:
Following a 22-year battle with breast cancer, Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach Kay Yow died Jan. 24 at the age of 66. Yow was named head coach in 1975 and led the Wolfpack to 738 overall wins. During her tenure, the Pack made 20 NCAA tournament appearances and won four ACC tournaments. She also coached the 1988 U.S. Olympic team to a gold medal. Yow had surgery for her cancer in 1987, but it returned in Nov. 2004. In 2006, the cancer progressed to her liver and forced Yow to take a leave of absence from the Wolfpack. Throughout her constant battle, Yow inspired others to persevere and created the Hoops 4 Hope game in 2006 to raise money for cancer awareness.
MARCH 14 RENAISSANCE:
The City of Raleigh temporarily shut down Hillsborough Street March 14 for Hillsborough Street Renaissance, an event designed to support local businesses in an environmentally-friendly way and bring the Raleigh community together. Planners created the festival to showcase the construction changes planned in the next two years and help revitalize Hillsborough Street. The proceeds from the festival supported community and student non-profit organizations that are focused on sustainable development and renewable energy research. Despite planners’ expectations of 20,000 people, rain and cold weather impacted the turnout that reached about 2,000 attendees.
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
2008 - 09 ECONOMY:
Chancellor James Oblinger, Provost Larry Nielsen and Vice Chancellor for Finance and Business Charles Leffler developed a five percent budget reduction strategy for 2009-10 in response to a two percent decrease in monthly funding by the state. Decreases in the Academic Affairs, Agricultural Research Service and Cooperative Extension Service budgets will lead to the elimination of up to 317 jobs. In addition, the University will cut 1.1 percent of total class offerings. CHASS seat and section cuts immediately followed the budget decrease announcement because of its large financial deficit.
Study break options abound during exam week Campus organizations seek to give students opportunities to de-stress all week through StressBusters Ty Johnson News Editor
For most students, the first week of exams is spent cramming, writing and overdosing on caffeine in preparation for finals, but opportunities for study breaks are all over campus as the semester comes to a close. Campus Activities again is hosting StressBusters, a week-long collection of events and activities to keep students from being overwhelmed by end of course assignments. Fountain Dining Hall will be open from 9 to 11 p.m. this week for Night Owl Meals, serving late night food and hosting events sponsored by different campus organizations. Campus Police, University Housing and the Inter-Residence Council will have board games and host karaoke at Fountain Monday night during Night Owl hours. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Tom Stafford will oversee Bingo Tuesday night, and Wednesday the Division of Undergraduate Academic Programs and First Year College will host Insect Cafe with Undergraduate Academic Program Interim Dean John Ambrose. ComTech and the Outreach Communications and Consulting Group scheduled guitarist Kenny Shore to entertain diners Thursday night. D.H. Hill Library will also give away free coffee each night until May 2 at 1 a.m. to help students through the night and will also be open 24 hours a day
ROB FISHER/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVE PHOTO
Zack Schneider puts his left foot on yellow for a Twister match at Carmichael Gym’s Exam Jam during Fall 2007 exams.
throughout exams. Campus Recreation will host its Exam Jam Tuesday at Carmichael Gym and from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will feature activities at courts 9, 10 and 11 and at the rock wall. Peter Koutroumpis, assistant director of Campus Recreation, said the Exam Jam has worked its way into students’ end of semester rituals, and that’s precisely what Campus Rec had hoped to accomplish with the biannual study break. “We try to due it on Tuesday each time,” Koutroumpis said. “We’ve done it every semester for six years around the same
time because it’s a short period of time between exams when students can recharge their batteries, eat some food and catch up with friends.” Koutroumpis said students have begun to expect the Exam Jam during exam week each semester and the continued popularity of the event over the years has allowed attendance numbers to increase over time, and this week’s new events should help to continue the trend. “A big feature we’re beginning is a great promotion with the rock wall and we’ll have several raffles,” Koutroumpis said. “We found a Kay Yow autographed basketball, and we’d like to give it away.” Koutroumpis said food will be provided by Dominos, Panera Bread and Jimmy John’s. He said he hopes the variety of food and activities will bring out the entire student body. “There’s a little something for everybody,” Koutroumpis said. “We don’t want just freshmen and sophomores, but also juniors and seniors to take that break and come by.” There will also be lots of free activities and giveaways throughout the week as Talley Ballroom will feature Pet-a-Pooch Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and the Brickyard will feature free pizza Tuesday at 11 a.m. Centennial Campus will be the site for Ice Cream on the Oval Wednesday at noon, and Thursday there will be a free showing of Yes Man at Campus Cinema. The Bunny Hop fun run will begin Thursday at noon at the Lower Miller Fields. Check-in begins at 11 a.m. at the Carmichael Breezeway.
insidetechnician
EXAM WEEK EVENTS SCHEDULE Night Owl Meals Fountain Dining Hall, Monday through Friday, 9 to 11 p.m. Monday Pet-a-Pooch Talley Ballroom, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Karaoke and board games Fountain Dining Hall, 9 to 11 p.m.
A sleepy student’s guide to exam week See page 6.
Tuesday Free pizza Brickyard, 11 a.m. Exam Jam Carmichael Gym, 5 to 7 p.m. Bingo Fountain Dining Hall, 9 to 11 p.m. Wednesday Ice Cream on the Oval Centennial Campus Oval, noon
I’m outie five thousand See page 8.
Insect Cafe Fountain Dining Hall, 9 to 11 p.m. Thursday Bunny Hop fun run Lower Miller Fields, registration begins at 11 a.m. run begins at noon Yes Man Campus Cinema, 7 p.m. Yes Man Campus Cinema, 9 p.m. Guitarist Kenny Shore Fountain Dining Hall, 9 to 11 p.m. SOURCE: CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
SEE PAGE 5: For a story about the dangers of excessive caffeine use.
‘Technician’ sports report card See page 10.
features viewpoint classifieds sports
NC State Bookstores PAYS CASH FOR YOUR BOOKS Visit our Website for a new Buyback Lookup feature along with locations & times www.ncsu.edu/bookstore
5 7 9 10