TECHNICIAN
technicianonline.com
Raleigh, North Carolina
Construction creates obstacles Despite parking issues, planners say project will be worth the sacrifice Sonja Deulina Correspondent
The last phase of the Rocky Stream Restoration project started Monday, and while the project’s completion will restore main campus’ creek as a scenic stream, parking for staff, faculty, and students has been directly impacted with the construction’s beginning. The last phase will create some issues for staff parking in ‘C’ spaces — those reserved for employees from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Approximately 114 parking spaces have been temporarily eliminated in central campus while 42 have been lost in Carmichael lot for the duration of construction. 37 spaces will be permanently lost in Carmichael between Lower Miller Field and the south side of the Natatorium. “It was very hectic of course”, Dr. Rob Hayford, associate director at the student health center, said. “The number of parking spots for employees has been reduced significantly.” Traffic cones and fencing are blocking off parking spaces and causing employees to leave their homes early to find parking. “People had their blinkers on ready to take a space as soon as someone pulled out. One employee got here half an hour in order to find parking,” Hayford said. Although it was the first day of construction, both students and staff seemed to be reacting badly. Transpotation said ticketing increased with the beginning of construction as students, responding to the elimination of parking
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN
Setting up reference points along the creek, Chuck Rushton, a surveyor and a ‘73 NCSU graduate, prepares the creek that runs parallel to lower miller field for construction while crews remove the basketball court lights Monday. An estimated 107 parking spaces will be lost during construction, which is set to finish in December.
spaces, are more inclined to park in spots restricted to them. The Rocky Branch Restoration project will include the installation of 6,000 feet of greenway path along an urban creek which runs more than a mile though the center of campus. The path is intended to provide a transportation alternative and bring people close to the
creek. The project is being completed in three phases. Phase I, the construction of a greenway from Gorman St. to Dan Allen Dr., was completed in the spring of 2002. Phase II ran from Morrill Dr. to Pullen Rd. Phase III will connect Dan Allen Drive to Pullen Drive. The project will also include an
accessible outdoor teaching laboratory, water and wildlife preservation at the creek, and a way to integrate the creek into campus life. Water quality specialist, Barbara A. Doll from the Sea Grant program, believes that the benefits of this project far exceed any temporary setbacks. She says that the quality of the creek has drastically
WKNC experiences problems Student radio station has equipment troubles
CREEK continued page 3
Juicy Campus redirects to new site Decreased revenue leads to site shut down
Samuel T.O. Branch Deputy News Editor
[EDITOR’S NOTE: WKNC is a part of Student Media.] WKNC, the student-run radio station, has been undergoing problems with transmission since Feb. 7. That morning the station employees noticed a problem with the station’s output. “We had static in our signal,” Jamie Lynn Gilbert, the assistant coordinator for Student Media, said. “[The static] would literally block the audio.” Austin Page, the student engineer for WKNC, said the problem is somewhere within the transmission process, causing the signal to became very weak. “The effect the user experiences is ... all you’re getting is static. The sound is just what you would hear if we weren’t broadcasting,” Page said. In order to deal with the problem and still broadcast to some extent, WKNC reduced the power for the transmission on Feb. 8, Gilbert said. “It decreased the signal range. As of right now we’re still at 10
improved over the years. “When I came to school here, it was an eroded polluted wasteland and now it is frequently used for classes,” Doll said. “It has really become an outdoor classroom. 235 feet of stream will be unpiped and let out from underground.
outpaced our ability to muster the resources needed to survive this economic downturn.” The Web site, which provided an anonymous forum for people John Cline Correspondent to discuss virtually anything, garnered a lot of activity but was The popular discussion site derogatory and vengeful postJuicyCampus.com fell victim ings often plagued the Web site. to the finan“I saw it while cial crisis this it was operable month, which and I think it some students was completely say may be a unnecessary good thing. and negative, “Online ad e spec ia l ly i n re venue ha s regards to the plummeted Greek coma nd vent u re munity,” Allie capital funding Nash, a junior Allie Nash, junior in arts has dissolved,” in arts applicaapplications creator Matt tions said. “I’m Ivester said in a glad it’s gone.” press release on the site. “Juicy Campus’ exponential growth JUICY continued page 3
“I saw it while it was operable and I think it was completely unnecessary.”
CHRISTIN HARDY/TECHNICIAN
Jon Gomes, a junior in mechanical engineering who is also known as “Agent Orange,” trains Logan Kimler, a sophomore in political science and international politics, to be a WKNC radio DJ. The radio transmitter has lost its broadcasting range . “We have an obligation to our listener base. They tune in regularly and are very loyal, so to loose our range to places like Chapel Hill and other places on the fringe limits who we can reach ... It’s leaving people in the dark,” Gomes said.
percent [or capacity],” Gilbert said. Page mentioned that listeners away from campus have not been able to listen. “We’ve been getting com-
plaints from our listeners in Durham and Chapel Hill,” he said. Kyle Robb, the general manager for WKNC, said campus and most of Raleigh should be covered, but past that the signal
insidetechnician
is too weak. The decrease in the signal range is accompanied by a decrease in penetration power. Page said if you were behind a WKNC continued page 3
Representatives from Balfour Class Rings will be at NC State Bookstores Feb 1620th. Final chance to order for the ring ceremony!
Cougar Magnum brings the noise See page 5.
viewpoint arts & entertainment classifieds sports
4 5 7 8
1"(& t 56&4%": '&#36"3:
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
THROUGH TIM’S LENS
Page 2
TECHNICIAN CAMPUS CALENDAR February 2009
Send all clarifications and corrections to Editor-in-Chief Saja Hindi at editor@ technicianonline.com.
WEATHER WISE
Su
M
T
W
Th
F
1
2
3
4
5
6
Sa 7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Today ENGINEERS WEEK: SECOND DAY University Council Dorothy and Roy Park Alumni Center. 10 a.m. to noon
Today:
GRANT WRITING 101 Walnut Room in Talley Student Center, noon to 1:30 p.m. FREEDOM ACROSS THE AGES: NORTH CAROLINA’S AFRICANAMERICAN HISTORY Harrelson Hall room 107, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m.
51/35 Mostly sunny with light winds.
4 ON 4 FLAG FOOTBALL MANDATORY MANAGERS MEETING Carmichael Recreation Center, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday:
55 49
BLUES ‘N CUES BILLIARDS TOURNAMENT Talley Student Center, 6 to 9 p.m.
60 percent chance of rain showers throughout the day.
Robots take over Brickyard
Thursday:
55 30 Partly cloudy with winds gusting to almost 30 miles per hour.
Wednesday THOMAS SAYRE: NEW WORK Gregg Museum of Art and Design, noon to 8 p.m. NORM SCHULMAN: A LIFE IN CLAY Gregg Museum of Art and Design, noon to 8 p.m.
PHOTO TIM O’BRIEN
S
howing off their submarine skills, Baird Hendrix, a senior in electrical engineering, and David Hoffman, a junior in electrical engineering, navigate a toy remote controlled submarine around a fish tank in the Brickyard Monday. Hendrix and Hoffman were manning a table for the Underwater Robotics club as part of the 2009 Engineers Week. “When I was in middle school, I got a lego mindstorm kit and I have been interested in robotics since,” Hoffman said.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FORUM Winston Hall room 209, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
SOURCE: WEATHER.COM
IN THE KNOW
QUOTE OF THE DAY “It was very hectic of course, the number of parking spots for employees has been reduced significantly. ” Rob Hayford, associate director of the Student Health Center on the effects of the Rocky Branch Restoration Project on employee parking
GLBT Center to feature documentary
The Witherspoon Student Cinema is showing a new educational documentary entitled, “For the Bible Tells Me So.” The movie explores the connections between religion and homosexuality in the United States. The event shows how religious groups have used the Bible to antagonize homosexuals. The movie, which is free and open to anyone, is sponsored by the Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Center. The runtime is from 7 to 8:35 p.m. on Feb. 18. The movie is not rated. SOURCE: GLBT CENTER AND CAMPUS
Annual event held at RCC
OASIS to hold minors fair
The sixth annual Urban Design Conference is coming Feb. 21. The event, which will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center this year, will last from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This conference, entitled, “Healthy City > Healthy People: Design Solutions,” will discuss numerous strategies of improving the health and wellbeing of citizens in urban areas through effective design. Speakers include Eugene Conti, the secretary for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Cynthia Girling, a professor and chair of Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia, and Lawrence Scarpa, who co-owns Pugh + Scarpa Architects. Registration is required, and there are different fees for whichever lectures you want to attend.
The Office of Advising Support, Information and Services (OASIS) is hosting a minors fair Feb. 25. The second annual event will take place in the ballroom inside Talley Student Center from 1 to 4 p.m. The purpose of the fair is to make students aware of all their options. There will also be opportunities for interested students to talk to department and college representatives to discuss their needs. The event is free and registration is not required.
CINEMA SOURCE: URBAN DESIGN CONFERENCE
ON THE WEB See exclusive audio/photo slideshows. Answer the online poll. Read archived stories. There’s something new every day at technicianonline.com. Check it out!
GET INVOLVED IN TECHNICIAN Technician is always looking for people to write, design, copy edit and take photos. If you’re interested, come to our office on the third floor of Witherspoon (across from the elevators) Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to midnight and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or e-mail Editor-in-Chief Saja Hindi at editor@ technicianonline.com.
IDEAS FOR PAGE 2?
WORLD & NATION
Authorities confirm collision
Both British and French officials have confirmed reports that two submarines crashed into each other while practicing maneuvers earlier this month. The vessels, HMS Vanguard, the British submarine, and Le Triomphant, the French vessel, were carrying nuclear warheads. The submarines suffered damage, but the contact was minor. Neither the warheads nor any crew were injured. The United Kingdom’s Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament chair Kate Hudson said both nations are lucky. ”The dents reportedly visible on the British sub show the boats were no more than a couple of seconds away from total catastrophe,” Hudson said. SOURCE: CNN
Government reaches agreement
Pakistan has reached an agreement with the Taliban regardig sharia, government officials announced Monday. Sharia is a strict form of Islamic law, but was not recognized in any part of Pakistan. The agreement officially recognizes sharia in the entire Malakland Division. The Taliban already has control over that region and is practicing sharia, while the war between the two factions rages on. The Taliban is trying to reclaim leadership over Muslims after the Pakistani democracy was instituted last year, but the Pakistani government wants to find a way to gain peace through diplomacy. SOURCE: CNN
Obama creates auto task force
President Barack Obama announced he is creating an automobile task force to advise him on how to deal with the struggling American car
SOURCE: OASIS
Panel to discuss religious beliefs
The University is hosting a religion forum Feb. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. The event will feature a panel of people from varying religions who will discuss their particular belief system. Participants will learn about religious industry. The panel will involve both the Treasury and the Labor Departments, along with other agencies, to help direct the reconstruction of General Motors and Chrysler. Right now, both companies have until today to submit plans on how they are going to try to turn their respective failing companies around. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and NEC Director Larry Summers will head up the new committee. SOURCE: CNN
Sheriff says Phelps won’t be charged
Sheriff Leon Lott of Richland County in South Carolina said Olympic champion Michael Phelps will not be charged with regards to a photograph of him smoking out of a bong. Lott said there was not enough evidence to charge the eight-time gold medalist, especially considering Phelps never confessed to smoking marijuana, only “regrettable behavior.” The photo was taken at a party last November at the University of
discrimination, how to avoid it and how different groups experience it. In addition, participants will gain key insights into different religions during the forum. SOURCE: NCSU
Conference designed to equip leaders
The Epic Leadership Conference is coming to Talley Student Center ballroom Feb. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. The conference is designed to better equip you as a leader and help you become bolder as you lead. Donnie Thurman, Jr. and Joe Jones will be speaking at the event. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 on the event day. Refreshments will be provided. SOURCE: NCSU
South Carolina at Columbia. Lott said authorities have officially ended their investigation. SOURCE: CNN
Police shoot after chimp attacks
POLICE BLOTTER Feb. 13 12:49 A.M. | NOISE DISTURBANCE Avent Ferry Complex Report of loud music. Officers spoke with subjects who complied to turn music down. 12:56 A.M. | ALCOHOL VIOLATION Syme Hall Student was referred to University for consuming alcohol in a substance free residence hall. 1:45 A.M. | MEDICAL ASSIST Dan Allen Deck Officer located extremely intoxicated student. Student was transported to hospital and will be referred to the University. 6:26 A.M. | SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE Red Hat Deck Report of suspicious vehicle. Officers located vehicle and found no issues. 9:34 A.M. | BREAKING AND ENTERING - BUILDING Gardner Hall Report unknown persons had entered offices and stolen petty cash. No signs of forced entry. 10:40 A.M. | CONCERNED BEHAVIOR REPORt D.H. Hill Library Officers spoke with student and issued welfare referral. Student agreed to meet with counselors. 2:26 P.M. | SAFETY PROGRAM Admin II Officer conducted safety program.
A pet chimpanzee attacked a women in Connecticut, leaving her hospitalized with serious injuries to her neck, face and hands. The victim arrived at her friend’s house when she was attacked by Travis, an estimated 200 pound chimp. The owner stabbed the chimp to stop him, followed by police shooting him multiple times after arrival. SOURCE: CNN
Do you have events or information you would like to see on page 2? Send your calendar events, In The Knows, or other ideas to pagetwoeditor@ gmail.com.
MOVIE: FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO Witherspoon Student Cinema, 7 to 8:35 p.m.
6:11 P.M. | ASSAULT D.H. Hill Library Staff member reported being touched by subject in inappropriate manner. Another staff member escorted subject from building. Investigation ongoing. 7:09 P.M. | FIRE ALARM Western Manor Units responded to alarm caused by cooking.
Test Your
Energy IQ! Arts Now! Series Concert:
I’m Talking Here!
New works for voice and electronics from Finland, the USA, and Sweden performed by Dr. Rodney Waschka.
www.ncsu.edu/arts Ticket Central: 515.1100 2nd Floor, Talley Student Center
What is the nation’s most plentiful energy source? A. Oil B. Coal C. Nuclear
Answer: B. Coal
7pm Talley Ballroom
From: U.S. Department of Energy
$
!"#$%&'"&()%*+,&-.).+%/%)0
1112)$342%546%)%*+,
News
TECHNICIAN
56&4%": '&#36"3: t 1"(&
JUICY
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
continued from page 1
CHRISTIN HARDY/TECHNICIAN
Logan Kimler, a sophomore in civil engineering, runs the board in the WKNC studio while training to be a radio DJ. The radio transmitter has been having problems since last week.
WKNC
continued from page 1
building or in a dense place such as a forest there would be no way for the signal to get through. Page said he is working with another engineer on WKNC’s staff and Capitol Broadcasting Company to fix the issue. While some equipment has been tested, the problem has not been found. “We’ve ruled out a lot of equip-
“We’ve ruled out a lot of equipment that we know [the problem is not coming from].” Austin Page, WKNC engineer ment that we know [the problem is not coming from],” Page said. Gilbert said nothing has been purchased yet except for some firmware for the transmitter. The firmware is important to actually finding the error in the system,
according to Robb. “The transmitter wasn’t giving us any error messages even though we knew something was wrong,” Robb said. “[After replacing the firmware] we are receiving error messages but
haven’t been able to isolate the problem.” Taylor Adams, a senior in communication, said the amount of funds at the radio station is probably the source of the problem. “Since it’s a student organization, they are probably running low on money and trying to figure out the problem and finding a solution costs money,” Adams said. Deputy News Editor Preston Boyles contributed to this story.
Other students shared similar sentiments. “Ju ic y Ca mpus shows people’s ignorance … it allows them to bash each other ‘anonymously,” Lauren Warwick, a junior in psychology, said. Some students who claimed to have enjoyed the site refused to comment so they were not associated with the use of JuicyCampus. However, the site’s purpose has not completely disappeared. The site now automatically redirects users to CollegeACB.com, the ‘Anonymous Confession Board’ that is apparently claiming the vacated throne. CollegeACB has installed “user moderation buttons” that report offensive posts to the Webmaster and they claim in their mission statement to be “devoted to promoting actual discussion, not provoking salacious posts or personal attacks.” “We want to do something more positive than JuicyCampus, and I think we’ll have a much more positive image because we’ll adhere to our terms of service by responding to e-mails with complaints and installing the user moderation feature,” CollegeACB owner/operator Peter Frank said. “I believe this can have a much more positive effect.” Visiting the site reveals it to be just more of the same with the most recent postings full of more personal attacks. “The new site claims to be more substance oriented and less about gossip, but I
For more on the shutting down of Juicy Campus, or to experience CollegeACB, visit http://www.CollegeACB.com “We want to do something more positive than JuicyCampus, and I think we’ll have a much more positive image because we’ll adhere to our terms of service by responding to emails with complaints and installing the user moderation feature. I believe this can have a much more positive effect.” -Peter Frank , owner and operator of College ACB
looked at it and all I saw were people talking junk about other people or organizations,” Brian Smith, a sophomore in biology, said. “It’s just the same site with a new name a face.” Anonymous internet gossip appears to be a phenomenon which will not go away easily, according to some students like Joel Dietrich, a senior in business. “I think insecure people will always find a way to badmouth those around them, it makes them feel better,” Dietrich said. “Unfortunately, with the Internet, those comments are exposed to a much larger group and much more damage can be done.” CollegeACB.com’s mission is “to fill the same niche as Juicy Campus, but without as much controversy and slander.” However, Daniel Marcus, a sophomore in computer engineering, said Juicy Campus is a disappointment. “On a college campus, communication is important and it must be open, but people also must be identified with what they say and be held accountable,” Marcus said. “Juicy Campus allowed people to communicate in ways that tear society apart, not build
Picture this: Your favorite photo on a mug.
TIM O’BRIEN/TECHNICIAN
Construction for the Rocky Branch Restoration continues for the greenway project Monday afternoon.
CREEK
continued from page 1
This will increase the amount of habitat on campus for aquatic animals and improve the water supply by opening up the pipes,” she said.
Doll believes that construction will take about 305 days and that the setbacks on parking are going to have the most direct affect on faculty and students. However, she believes these setbacks should be kept in perspective with the ultimate goals of this project, as students will have an opportunity to do more biking
and walking, while getting closer to nature. “It is an inconvenience for users but only for a short time. The University decided that it was important and paid for the lost spaces,” Doll said.
We are now able to offer reprints of our photographers’ work on high-quality Kodak photographic paper. Posters, T-shirts, coffee mugs, BBQ aprons and other items are also available, printed with the staff photo of your choice. reprints.technicianonline.com
Do You Smoke?
Occasional cigarette smokers are needed for a research study. Healthy, drugfree subjects will be scheduled for a physical and 4 study visits. Quitting not required.
Receive up to $100 in gas gift cards PLUS as much as $300 in compensation!
on the BIG Screen FREE
Call Today!
888525DUKE www.dukesmoking.com
Sponsored by the ACTION Committee
Live Smart. Love your Wolfpack Heart.
Viewpoint
56&4%": '&#36"3: t 1"(&
TECHNICIAN
{OUR VIEW}
Keep balance between affordability, education THE ISSUE:
The UNC Board of Governors decided to keep the tuition cap lower than previous years.
OUR OPINION:
There must be a balance in the tuition increases that caters to North Carolina’s universities and North Carolina’s families.
THE SOLUTION:
The legislature must decide if the tuition increase is appropriate by listening to North Carolina’s people.
{
CAMPUS FORUM
}
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
Russell Witham is redundant I am writing in response to the article, “Fight abortion act,” by Russell Witham, in the Technician. I would like to address my feelings on abortion. I am a firm believer of pro-choice. I say this because you never know what circumstances people are under or what situations they are involved in. Some people may not be able to mentally, physically or emotionally support a child. Granted one may think that they shouldn’t have laid down or whatever and put themselves in that situation, but once again you never know the person’s situation and what happened for them to be in that situation. I do agree that the government is rather wishy-washy when it comes to setting laws for this type of situation, but at the same time the government is trying to please everyone and it just can’t do that. What really bothered me in the article is this statement: “So, Mr. Obama, are you going to keep your promise to Planned Parenthood and send us toward “liberation” or can just a little bit of common sense remain in Washington?” The statement was unnecessary. Obama is the president but he can’t do it all himself. He has his support (cabinet) and for you to point him out was redundant. Abortion is a sensitive subject and people have their own thoughts. Let’s leave it at that. It’s not one person’s fault. Deidre Deane freshman, First Year College
Let wildlife be The other day at Wolf Village, there was a hawk eating a squirrel. Albeit gruesome, I understand that this is part of the “circle of life.” I have seen quite a few hawk-squirrel interactions during my time at State and was happy that most of the time, no one intervened. When I watched some NCSU employees purposely drive over the half eaten squirrel and scare away the hawk, I thought about common sense. There is a reason humans normally don’t intervene in animal interactions… It’s a part of life! There are enough videos on YouTube that show people simply watching one animal eating another, at sea or on land. It should be common sense that this behavior is natural and we should not take sympathy on the animal being eaten. Making them not eat their only source of food is torture, causing starvation and death. Sanitation-wise, it’s not that great, but we have to think about the wildlife on campus. Let them do what they do and pick up after them later. A thoroughly picked skeleton is much cleaner than a rotting, decaying corpse. We’re college students. There aren’t usually children on campus. Intrigue is often peaked during
T
he University is scrambling to cut 2009-2010’s budget in the midst of a financial crisis and a deficit of more than $2 billion, and the UNC system’s Board of Governors raised tuition an average of 3.9 percent, down from the usual 6.5 percent. Erskine Bowles, the UNC system president, said he proposed lowering the tuition cap to keep college affordable for families, especially those that are not faring well in this tough financial situation. We commend this decision but want to remind the legislature that it must be aware of the potential of keeping tuition prices so low to the point that our quality of education suffers.
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.
Next year’s tuition for instate, undergraduate students will be $3,953, up from $3,860. The University is discussing cutting classes and faculty to compensate for the lack of funding it is experiencing. Most students who originally plan on graduating in four years will have to stay in school longer to graduate because of the reduced availability of classes, so they will end up paying more than they would if they stayed four years because they would have to pay for student fees every year they are here. The sinking economy has caused an increase in financial
aid requests, which can’t be met because there is a decrease in endowments to fund them. But raising tuition, even just a little, can help fill the deficit and help prevent drastic cuts, such as furloughs, letting go of adjunct professors and hiring fewer tenure-track professors, as much as we hate that route. And as we have said several times before, the University must make keeping faculty and core classes a priority and keep them over funding clubs and other programs that are not necessary to education. We understand Bowles tried to side with North Carolina
families and their economic situation by trying to keep tuition costs as low as possible, and we agree with that stance. We need to keep in mind that tuition can’t decrease because we don’t want to hurt t he qua lit y of education. The tuition increase is now in the legislature’s hands, and it must decide whether it sides more with the people of North Carolina or the UNC system. So talk to your representatives and let them know your opinions on this issue. There is a lot riding on this decision, and the only way the legislature can help you is to let them know your opinion on the tuition increase.
{
EDITOR’S NOTE
BY RENEE BAKER
feeding, hence the picture/movie taking frenzy and groups of staring intellectuals. In the end, what must be said is what we should already know. Leave wildlife alone. There are no signs or instructions that tell us this, just something inside that says “Let nature run its course.” Clean up afterwards if necessary, but for goodness sake, don’t scare the hawks away from the already dead squirrels. Jason Hill senior, aerospace engineering
Some students want to ban panhandling on Hillsborough Street.
Is anyone else tired of Russell Witham’s constant whining? Every article reads as a bitter tirade against Obama’s inability to fix all of America’s problems that have been eight years in the making in less than a month thathe’s been in office. I’m sorry Russell, I don’t know where you heard it, but there won’t be a day where you’ll see dancing unicorns and rainbows flying out of your pretentious rear end. But maybe instead of using your special type of arrogance to write letters posing as Obama which contain no journalistic or informational value, why not stick to writing articles that might actually inform? I might then not regret wasting my time reading your pointless drivel. Alex Handlovits junior, electrical engineering
Challenge to Wolfpack nation 4117, 1368 and 8560. These are the attendance numbers from the last three Women’s Basketball games versus Boston College, Wake Forest and Virginia, respectively. I wonder why there was a drop in attendance at our game against Wake Forest. They are in our conference and a Big Four rival. All women’s basketball games are important and should have the same support as shown against BC and Virginia. There are two remaining home games for women’s basketball: UNCChapel Hill on Monday at 7 p.m. and Clemson on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. Coach Stephanie Glance put out a challenge to turn Reynolds into a Sea of Red for the UNC game and UNC will be bringing students after our students were louder at the game at UNC earlier this semester. I WILL NOT let UNC students be louder than us, so I want as many students as possible in Reynolds on the 23rd. We say we have the best fans in the ACC and the country. NOW is the time to prove it and show support for our Wolfpack Women vs. UNC and Clemson. GO PACK!
“I don’t think they should approve it because it’s hard to pay for college and the economy is bad and the stimulus hasn’t kicked in yet.”
Conrad Plyler, freshman in political science
Russell Witham should inform, not whine
I
n any economic crisis, the deck of cards that everyone has gets reshuffled. If you don’t like the hand you have been dealt, it offers a chance to do better. If you have a good hand, you need to know how to protect your posiAndrew Payne t i on a n d Senior Staff Columnist hold onto the cards you want. There is still an opportunity to gain better cards from the reshuffle. The economy was destined to implode. It was inevitable in an economy built on greed, overleveraging and convoluted valuations. The bubble had to burst. The economic turmoil has been appropriately referred to as the perfect economic storm. In other words, different or separate economic problems or storms are converging together at the same time to create a much more powerful storm. The economy and the markets that make it up are really an ecosystem with an equilibrium equation. When things get out of whack they will always adjust and come back into balance over time. The important thing is to anticipate and take advantage of the direction of change. People are shaken and awakened by the economy and
Editor-in-Chief
Saja Hindi
Managing Editor
Derek Medlin News Editor
Samuel T.O. Branch news@technicianonline.com
the lack of job security. Entrepreneurism is thriving. People are keenly interested in supplementing and expanding their income because they are concerned about the escalating unemployment rate and they are looking for solutions and alternatives like never before. It is important to understand the economy crashed in the financial markets at the top of the pyramid — not at the bottom where most Americans make it happen day by day. People are still productive and ambitious, want to work hard, and are willing to do what it takes to maintain their lifestyles and buying habits. But they are looking to buy smarter. While the retail industry is contracting and closing up locations as in-store sales plummet, Internet marketing is growing by leaps a nd bou nds. In 2008, sales at Amazon.com jumped 29 percent to $19.17 billion, pushing the company’s profit up 36 percent to $645 million. The inconveniences of shopping in stores are abundant — fighting traffic, waiting in long lines, fuel costs and not being able to compare products instantly across stores or brands for the best price or best features. This is causing people to move to online shopping at a record rate.
features@technicianonline.com
Deputy Features Editor
Ty Johnson Deputy News Editors
Alison Harman
Science & Tech Editor
ae@technicianonline.com
There is a paradigm shift away from brick-and-mortar stores to online shopping. The overhead of retail stores is causing companies to go out of business. The downturn in the economy and the leveraged financial bubbles bursting simply serve as a catalyst to speed it up. The inefficiencies of mass marketing in stores have become more pronounced and apparent than ever before. Internet shopping eliminates the need for costly inventories spread all over the country and eliminates the exorbitant cost of mass media advertising. The economy hasn’t failed at the bottom. It caved in at the top where t he g reed a nd insanity became too h e a v y. I t wasn’t from a lack of production or demand for consumer goods and quality products. Commerce will go on and great products at the best prices will thrive. More efficient ways of buying continue to thrive. While some see a crisis, I see an opportunity. It is time to ignite the inner entrepreneur in all of us.
“The economic turmoil has been appropriately referred to as the perfect economic storm.”
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Viewpoint Editor
Advertising Manager
ae@technicianonline.com
viewpoint@technicianonline.com
advertising@sma.ncsu.edu
Sports Editor
Matt Moore
Dan Porter
Features Editor
Taylor McCune
Cheyenne Autry
Preston Boyles
Aleecia Dobbs sophomore, animal science
While some see crisis, I see opportunity
editor@technicianonline.com
323 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 Editorial .............................................................................................................................. 515.2411 Advertising ......................................................................................................................... 515.2029 Fax ...........................................................................................................................................515.5133 Online ................................................................................................... technicianonline.com
}
Should the Board of Governors approve a 3.9 percent increase in tution, down from the usual 6.5 percent increase? Why or why not?
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.
Chris Hathcock senior, aerospace engineering
IN YOUR WORDS
Taylor Auten
sports@technicianonline.com
Deputy Sports Editors
Daniel Ellis Kate Shefte Jonathan Laughrun
Jane Moon Photo Editor
photo@technicianonline.com
Design Co- Editors
Ana Andruzzi Lauren Blakely
design@technicianonline.com
David Mason
“The 3.9 percent, so we wouldn’t have to pay as much. I don’t see school getting any better. “ Amanda Priddy freshman, mathematics
“They should change it because students have to purchase things in order to go to school.” Ty Johnson freshman, First Year College
This week’s poll question:
Which e-mail provider would you want the University to use to replace the current webmail system? t .JDSPTPGU t (PPHMF t * MJLF UIF DVSSFOU TZTUN t * EPO U DBSF
Visit www.technicianonline. com to cast your vote.
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
56&4%": '&#36"3: t 1"(&
Cougar Magnum brings noise A STORY BY SARAH EWALD | PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LAUREN BLAKELY & LUIS ZAPATA
cougar holds an electric guitar in one paw, and f lashes the rock sign with his other paw. This memorable image lets the viewer know that they are in for some rockin’ music, presumably, though incorrectly at the paws of a large cat.
Cougar Magnum formed in the summer of 2006, when Shane Smith, guitarist and vocalist, met drummer Alex Shepard and they began playing together. Smith later met Brandon McLean, guitarist and vocalist, at an open-mic night at Blue Martini later that summer. Until recently, there had been a high turnover rate of bassists within Cougar Magnum, having had six players previously. Seventh bassist Scott Birch joined the band about two months ago, when he was introduced to the band through a mutual friend. After trying out and rehearsing, he’s been the bassist every since. The name Cougar Magnum came about as a joke from childhood. Smith and Shepard were twelve years old, and they and another mutual friend all thought that Cougar Magnum, the name of a gun from the Goldeneye video
game, would be a good name for a future band. Years later, the current band formed and got booked for a show in short order, and a name was quickly needed. Cougar Magnum was the first name to come to mind, and has stuck ever since. There have occasionally been problems with audience members comprehending the name. Smith said, “We’ve had a bunch of people think it’s different. We were at Blue Martini for another open mic and when we got done with the set we said ‘Hey thanks, we’re Cougar Magnum.’ I went up to the bar and the guy was like, ‘Cooter Magnet, huh? Pretty out there.’ It’s not that and then you know the whole cougar with the older woman reference thing. That has nothing to do with the band.” The band decided to go on tour for two months, from the end of March to the end of May of last year. Smith said, “We did two months and played thirty shows, totally self-booked, we did everything. We drove all the way down to south Florida and Fort Lauderdale and all the way up to Messina, New York which borders Canada. We played pretty much ever y major city on t he E a s t
Coast.” Cougar Magnum returned to Raleigh on the night of Feb. 13, playing a set at the Berkeley Café, with Vintage Freshness opening. Vintage Freshness warmed up the crowd with some blues-inspired stylings, driven by drumbeats and accompanied by saxophone. While waiting for Cougar Magnum, the audience mingled, talking and eating. The room darkened, and colored lights swirled around the room in kaleidoscopic patterns. The lights went up as Cougar Magnum went on, and the crowd clustered around the stage. For their first song, Cougar Magnum played “Felix Chesapeake”, the last song from their first CD entitled “The Greens”. They also played “Emily’s Song” and “Outer Banks” off this album. The band employed a wide range of instruments during the concert, using cymbals, a keyboard and a cowbell. The members also used their voices by harmonizing, singing a cappella, and, at one point, whistling. After playing sixteen songs, Cougar Magnum finished their set to the sound of raucous applause. The audience asked for an encore, and they obliged, ending the night by playing an energetic cover of Weezer’s “No One Else”, punking it up a bit with the addition of cymbals and heavy drums.
Rasta, ska and jam band inf luences can be heard in Cougar Magnum’s music. Various influences are named amongst the members, such as the Beatles, Van Halen, Creedence Clearwater Revival and general jazz. In terms of defining their sound, McLean said, “That’s one of the things that we’ve gotten over the past couple years. Some people say we haven’t really found our sound yet, but we are definitely working towards that direction.” The members disagree on how exactly to categorize their music. Birch said, “pop-rock funk”. Aside from touring, the band has also played special gigs, such as one for a friend who was showing her fashion collection at the Art to Wear fashion show. McLean said, “We were background music. Normally, we’re kind of in the front of things, with lights on us. At the fashion show, we were just noise on the side. We had to play for exactly how long the girls were walking down the runway. We apparently screwed it up, but no one noticed and everyone thought it was great”. Smith said, “It was the most people we have played to, because there were like 2000 people at this event in the Court of the Carolinas.” Cougar Magnum will next be seen at Lincoln Theater on March 16, opening for Badfish and Ballyhoo. They will also be releasing a full CD in the coming months, to be found on iTunes, their MySpace page and their Web site cougarmagnum.com.
UP AND COMING
Music (Releasing Feb. 17) Artist: The Sleeping Album: What It Takes Label: Victory Artist: Thursday Album: Common Existence Label: Epitaph Artist: Morrissey Album: Years of Refusal Label: Lost Highway Artist: Living Things Album: Habeas Corpus Label: Jive
SOURCE: FYE.COM
Video Games Feb. 16 Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (DS) Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS) Evasive Space (Wii) Feb. 17 Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (XBOX 360) Street Fighter IV (XBOX 360, PS3) Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (PC) RacePro (XBOX 360) SOURCE: GAMESPOT.COM
Movies (Opening Feb.20) Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail Studio: Lions Gate Films Synopsis: Tyler Perry adopts his alter-ego Madea again, but this time, (s)he is wearing not only the attire of a family matriarch, but that of a prisoner as well. SOURCE: ROTTENTOMATOES.COM
At The Pour House Feb. 18 No Strings Attached & Town Mountain doors: 8 p.m. show: 9 p.m.
!
Feb. 19 Mic Harrison & Chris Berardo and the DesBerardos doors: 8 p.m. show: 9 p.m. Feb. 20 The Old Ceremony w/ The Jackets doors: 8 p.m. show: 9 p.m.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE? The College Inn is the place to be!
SOURCE: THE-POUR-HOUSE.COM
At The Lincoln Theatre
FUN FACTS
r The band’s first gig was on Sept.
Now Accepting Fall ‘09 Applications!
27, 2006, 26 days after Brandon had moved to Raleigh. r Brandon and Shane met at an open-mic at The Blue Martini. r The band has played many different styles of music, ranging from background trance at a fashion show to pop rock funk. r Brandon is the owner of
Spring ‘09 Spaces are still Available!
Directly !"#$%%&'#$(&)*(+,%&&-&&Individual Leases Computer Center with Free Internet !"".%%&&-&&Caring, Professional Staff FullyFurnished Apartments with Utilities Included !"#$%"$#&'(""$)#*("+&*"&$,$%-&.$/%((0&&1&&Billiards/Recreation Lounge Expanded Cable 23&4*#5&6&7.8&'59""$:+&&1&&StateoftheArt Fitness Center Located on Bus Route 1;&&1&&/.%$#012034.&5$$4&&-&&Tanning Bed Free Student Wolfpack Club Membership Amenities and Rates subject to change
www.myownapartment.com 2717 Western Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27606
9198328383
pongstuff.com, a Website that sells beer pong equipment to convenience stores near colleges. r The band toured the East Coast between March and May of 2008, all the way from Fort Lauderdale, FL. to Massena, NY. r Cougar Magnum will be playing March 16 with Badfish at the Lincoln Theatre. SOURCE: COUGAR MAGNUM
Feb. 18 Son Volt w/ Alvin Youngblood Hart doors: 8:30 p.m. show: 9:3o p.m. Feb. 20 Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit w/ Benji Hughes doors: 8 p.m. show: 9 p.m. SOURCE: LINCOLNTHEATRE.COM
Features ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
1"(& t 56&4%": '&#36"3:
‘I’m Just Not Into This’ Morgan McCormick Senior Staff Writer
As the end credits are disappearing into the ceiling my female companion turns to me and says “It’s like reading a Cosmo.� And it was at that precise moment Burt Reynolds descended from his Miller Litesoaked throne on Manolympus and robbed Morgan of all his man-points. But she’s absolutely right, because this film embodies many of the neurotic, self-destructive qualities of that rag. It’s not that I’m opposed to these kinds of magazines, but they’re notorious for perpetuating stereotypes and class differences with the ferocity of a fascist dictator. When the February 2009 cover of Cosmopolitan reads “8 Things In Your Closet That Make You Look Chunky,� well, yeesh, I have emo friends writing poetry less depressing than that. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look good and feel good either, but if it comes at the sacrifice of self-esteem, it just seems like too high a price. With that social commentary in mind, there’s He’s Just Not That Into You, a film based on the self-help book of the same name. It’s a romantic comedy starring... um, everybody. Guess who they’re having sex with? Everybody else. But in all fairness, this isn’t really a bedroom blitz to the finish line, And not that I would’ve, y’know, minded. Rather it’s one of those romantic comedies described as “Like Love Actually BUT,� in this case it’s like “Love Actually BUT� 60 times more nerve-wracking. Is guy meets girl not good enough anymore? Does it have to be guy meets girl, but guy is married to another girl who works with yet another girl that got rejected by another guy whose in love with the first girl? And the relationships would be easier to follow if there weren’t a love heptagon going on here (that translates to a seven point love fest, for the tragically unmathematical out there). When there are nine different major characters having seven different relationships over the course of two hours and ten minutes
COURTESY OF WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
(a length which only good romantic comedies are allowed to get away with), it’s easy to lose interest in somebody who isn’t there half the time. Presumably this is because they’re on the set of another, more interesting movie. Drew Barrymore and Ben Affleck are the biggest offenders in this category, coming off like whiny plot devices to be yelled at and then cashed in at the end for some of that magical romantic comedic currency known as “hope.� But hope feels pretty fake when all the characters are overblown and overexaggerated walking, talking stress tumors. The movie acts like all women are supposed to be paranoid and neurotic, not that you’ll get any argument from me, and that all men are simple as dirt and go through life looking for brick walls to drive through. And once again, no problems here, but are all people really reducible to the stereotypes the media awards them? Yes, says Hollywood. And what’s more, Hollywood adds, when you have a fight with your significant other, you get treated to a melancholic little piano solo. Do the math, seven relationships means
SEVEN FRICKING PIANO SOLOS. Like there’s some guy with a Yamaha running mad from one end of Baltimore to the other so he doesn’t miss the pretty Hollywood people drying their tears with bazillion dollar contracts. I’m picking nits here, but if there had been more actors participating in the time-honored pastime known as “acting,� the hate valve might have closed long enough to let something nice drip through. Well, to be fair, Justin Long (“Mac� from the Apple commercials) is actually pretty funny as the wizened dating expert/bartender/man-whore. Also featured prominently among the cast are Scarlett Johansson’s breasts. I’d say Ms. Johansson herself has a starring role, but the camera operator and the costume designer clearly only had two things in mind, if you get my drift. And all could be forgiven if this were just funny. Like, hilarious. Like, who cares that this movie doesn’t make sense, because it’s so funny I just peed myself a little. Not that there aren’t laughs, but sometimes it just feels like they’re really reaching to crack a joke, even having a minute-long gag at a wedding about chatty, self-righteous Wiccans. Really? Wiccans? That’s the best you’ve got? The movie’s biggest weakness is, unfortunately, the very same reason it was made: to talk about how people in relationships act. The movie is armed to the Gucci with little asides and interview sequences meant to offer some kind of insight into the nature of love, but it treats every one of these side stories as if they were one big joke. HJNTIY, instead of trying to be serious for two seconds and be honest with the audience, is a hodgepodge of bad ideas from ten thousand other movies just like it, and anything it gets right feels purely by accident. What this was supposed to be was chicken soup, but it’s really just cold Dinty Moore beef stew. It’s not terrible, but it wasn’t what you wanted.
TECHNICIAN
Music made for dance
PICK
OF THE WEEK Josh Wink
i8)&/ " #"/"/" 8"4 +645 " #"/"/"w -1 -"#&- 076. 3&$03%4 3&-&"4&% '&#36"3: ,*,0.050 "--45"34 i)064& .64*$w &1 -"#&- */5&3/"5*0/"- %&&+": (*(0-04 3&$03%4 3&-&"4&% '&#36"3:
The term “electronic music� encompasses lots of styles of music, and as much as any the pulsing 4/4 of house, techno, and electro. Josh Wink of Philadelphia extends this pulse across a long play release When a Banana Was Just a Banana. All the tracks except “Minimum 23� are over nine minutes. Each makes a subtly different approach to layering synthesized sounds over robotic beats. Running at more than an hour and a half, Wink’s release embraces once futuristic realities of contemporary music and how we listen to it now. “Stay Out All Night� is a flashy homage to the 303 synthesizer updating dance club sounds from the nineties. “Airplane Electronique� then takes off into bright harmonies and bending pitches. In an online interview, Wink discusses how many of these songs were written over the last few years of his travel as a DJ, so in all likelihood many of these songs have already had a fair share of club play. It is worth noting that Wink’s own record label, Philadelphia’s Ovum Recordings, is releasing When a Banana Was Just a Banana.
COURTESY OF NERVOS RECORDS AND GIGOLO RECORDS
Wink’s LP is a smart, driving collection of songs, but unlike mainstream popular music contemporary new electronic music from Ovum and similar labels is generally released as EP length material. One EP that is of particular interest is the upcoming release of Kikomoto Allstars’s House Music EP on International Deejay Gigolo Records. The Berlin techno label consistently releases electronic music that is at once surprising and envelope-pushing. Kikomoto Allstars is the name of an Australian electronic producer and DJ whose songs are new, yet filled with retro nods to U.S. club sounds. The title track is a deliberate nod backward to the early dancefloors for electronic music in such cities as Chicago, New York, and Detroit. The second track of the E.P. “Bending Time� sizzles percussively around a modulating tone then breaks into a phasing handclap suspended amidst propulsive yet ambient bass of very low frequencies. Both Josh Wink’s When a Banana Was Just a Banana LP and Kikomoto Allstars House Music EP are dancefloor ready, but their appeal goes further. The clever syncopations and dazzling sound palettes of these mostly instrumental tracks are both historic and futuristic. These releases suggest the complex appeal of listening to electronic dance music whether dancing at the time or not.
‘Push’ provides a flawed, but fun ride Andrew Johnson Senior Staff Writer
It seems like just yesterday I was walking out of a screening of Jumper wondering how Hollywood could have turned such a promising idea into such a lackluster film. Films involving supernatural powers seem to be hit-and-miss nowadays - when they hit, they hit hard (SpiderMan) and when they miss, it’s by a lot (Hancock). This weekend saw the release of Push, yet another movie in the growing sub-genre involving people with special abilities. While it’s certainly no masterpiece, it has its moments and is nowhere nearly as painful to watch as some of its thematic predecessors. Push follows Nick Gant (Chris Evans), an American ex-pat living in Hong Kong, who happens to be a second-generation “Mover� — think Jumper, but with telekinesis instead of teleportation. When Cassie (Dakota Fanning), a preteen who can see the future, enlists his services in tracking down a mysterious briefcase, he’s thrust into a race against time with a host of other supernatural players. There’s Carver (Djimon Hounsou), a prominent leader in the government program known simply as Division, who needs the contents of the case to make an army of superhumans. There’s also a Chinese gang of clairvoyants after the same thing so they can overthrow Division. To top it all off, there’s a plethora of subplots involving everything from Nick’s father, to his ex-girlfriend, to Cassie’s mother, to his eventual plan to take down Division entirely. Not to mention there are individuals sporting so many different powers, you’d be forgiven for thinking you stepped into an episode of Heroes on crack. Aside from
COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT
the Movers and Watchers, the film also introduces the audience to Wipers (they erase memories), Stitchers (healers), Bleeders (who yell a lot), Pushers (who manipulate thoughts), Shadows (who block the Watchers), and a few more ability-laden individuals for good measure. Did you get all that? Unlike Jumper, which failed to make the most out of a simple premise, Push is too ambitious for its own good. There are so ma ny charac ters w it h so many different (a nd possibly hidden) motivations that it isn’t hard to get confused as to how everything in. terconnects. In the second act of the film, Nick hatches a plan that would be very engaging indeed, if we only knew what it was. For some reason, director Paul McGuigan refuses to give the audience any sort of reference point as to who is supposed to be doing what. We’re supposed to watch it all unfold and figure it all out on our own. That wouldn’t be too much to ask if the plan did not involve more than a dozen different major and minor characters all interacting with each other in specific ways at specific times. There’s a fine line between creating suspense and lazy writing,
“There’s a fine line between creating suspense and lazy writing, and Push crosses it repeatedly �
and Push crosses it repeatedly. Most of the cast handles the material admirably well, particularly Hounsou. He learns from Samuel L. Jackson’s mistakes and provides a villain who, while not particularly compelling, at least isn’t laughable. Unfortunately, 14-year-old Dakota Fanning feels out of place and borderline exploited. Aside from spending the entire film in a miniskirt and constantly cursing, there’s also a scene played for laughs in which Cassie gets inebriated as a means of improving her Watching. Because yes, evidently in the world of Push, being drunk doesn’t dull the senses, it sharpens them! Thankfully, despite a flawed second act and an ending that deliberately sets the stage for a sequel, there are enough fresh ideas to make Push an engaging watch, even if ultimately it’s only partially decipherable. At the very least, it isn’t boring. Each power could potentially be utilized in so many tactical ways that it’s interesting to see which path the writers ultimately choose for each of the three competing factions. McGuigan’s cinematography is unique enough to make even the hard-to-follow bits interesting. The camera is rarely static during the action scenes, moving with a kinetic energy that avoids the Paul Greengrass school of quickcutting and allows the audience to see most of the choreography. Action directors take note enjoyable (and understandable) action sequences can help overshadow an inconsistent script. Considering the constant stream of superpower-related films and television programming getting thrown our way nowadays, it’s easy to come away from the advertisements thinking Push is just more of the same. In many ways it is. However, there’s enough creativity in its mythology that it sets itself a slight step above the rest. Though its many parts fail to mesh together perfectly into a cohesive whole, at least it tries to be innovative and provide a few surprises, which is more than can be said for many other films that explore similar territory.
The 2009-2010 University Ambassadors Recruitment Drive is underway. -Do you love NC State University? -Are you interested in meeting campus visitors and developing public speaking and interpersonal skills? -Are you knowledgeable about NC State (or willing to learn!)? -Are you enthusiastic, well-rounded, outgoing, and willing to give 10-15 hours per month back to NC State University? -Are you a solid academic student with at least a 2.8 GPA? If you answered “Yes� to the above, the University Ambassador program is for you. The mission of the North Carolina State University Ambassadors is to enhance the recruiting efforts of the University by accurately representing the institution to prospective students and parents. NC State has a commitment to excellence in a comprehensive range of academic disciplines that foster academic maturation and inclusion of all students and facilitates a learning environment that is conducive for a diverse population of students to succeed. As ambassadors for the University, students seek to present a positive and accurate image of both academic and student life at North Carolina State University. Key responsibilities of University Ambassadors include: -Conducting daily campus tours. -Serving as representatives for University wide events, including diversity programs, football games, open house, forums, etc. -Working office hours in Athletics and The Joyner Visitor Center. Please complete the application found here by February 27 to be considered for the Fall 2009-Spring 2010 academic year:
http://admissions.ncsu.edu/ambassadors/application.htm For questions, contact Stacy Fair, Director of the E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center: stacy_fair@ncsu.edu or 513-2102.
Sports
TECHNICIAN
ATHLETICS continued from page 8
“It’s not that they’re not capable of doing majors that are more diverse or more challenging,” Owolabi, a junior, said. “It’s not to say that [those majors] are not good, but I doubt that a large percent of them are all interested in the same field. If you have people pressuring you take the easy road, than you are more or less going to take their advice without any better guidance.” The TIDES study also mentioned that the overall GSR for African-American football players as a whole—59 percent—is much higher than that of the 38 percent GSR given for AfricanAmerican male students as a whole. Additiona l ly, a dif ferent TIDES study showed that African-American male and female basketball players graduate at a higher rate than African-American male and female students who are not student athletes. Role models and the media Angelina Blackmon, a senior on the Track & Field team, said being a student athlete has given her qualities that “are important to any kind of success in life.” According to Blackmon, ath-
MCKOY
“For black athletes, I think there is a certain urgency to be a respectable and positive role model.”
continued from page 8
women who competed alongside Owens in the 1936 Olympics. Today, the female athlete is less likely to be forgotten than to be impacted by America’s focus on “beauty.” Athletes from Althea Gibson to the Williams sisters have achieved greatness while being criticized about their hair styles and their “Amazonian” bodies. When African-American athletes face legal challenges, the double standard is even more telling. Race and gender combined to make Marion Jones one of only a few athletes to be sentenced to jail for steroid use, unlike her male and non-black counterparts. Race also con-
Senior Angelina Blackmon letes are obligated to act as role models. “For black athletes, I think there is a certain urgency to be a respectable and positive role model,” she said. “The great African American intellectual and author, W.E.B Du Bois wrote about what he came to call the talented tenth. His theory was that every race has a fraction of exceptional individuals that will lead and elevate the masses of the race.” With today’s constant stream of media, athletes are receiving more face time than ever before. And sometimes that attention isn’t positive. According to Owolabi, the “media is a bit harder on African American athletes.” “There are many athletes that do a good job of being professional and putting up a good image,” he said. “But sometimes the media, because they want to raise ratings, they go straight to the controversial stuff.”
POLICY
The Technician will not be held responsible for damages or losses due to fraudulent advertisements. However, we make every effort to prevent false or misleading advertising from appearing in our publication.
DEADLINES
Our business hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Line ads must be placed by noon the previous day.
56&4%": '&#36"3: t 1"(&
Beyond sports Clemmons said a drawback of the prominence of athletics is that some blacks are stereotyped. “A lot of people now think that if he’s black or AfricanAmerican and he’s tall, then he must play basketball,” he said. “They just assume that all African-Americans are good at sports. Sometimes, sports as a whole overshadow that fact that there are intelligent African-Americans as well. It brings us to the forefront, but that comes with some consequences.” But Clemmons also said his experience as a member of the football team has positively shaped his life. “I can see it in my schoolwork, on and off the field and in class,” he said. “It’s structured my college career. I thank God for giving me the opportunity.”
STANTON continued from page 8
can-American athletes focused on the big prize, which are their career goals such as becoming doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. Many may wonder why African-Americans use athletics as a charging system, and this is because African-Americans do not have a lot of the same op-
tributes, in part, to what is perceived to be the criminalization of African-American athletes in contrast to our willingness to forgive Michael Phelps or Lance Armstrong. Yet, where is the line between public expectations and the African-American athlete’s private dreams and disappointments drawn? This question is especially relevant when we consider the African-American athlete in collegiate sports. Most college-level athletes involved in basketball and football, the two highest revenue sports, are African-American. Yet, there is a staggering absence of African-American head coaches in these two highprofile sports. This is important given the complex social, racial, and economic factors that im-
pact these students. As athletes and scholars, they are most at risk for academic suspension, for being targeted socially, and for being forced into or away from majors so that they remain eligible to play. African-American collegiate athletes risk becoming victims of the very economy that is fueled by their labor. Professional sports, after all, is an industry where owners have a captive workforce until the workers earn their status as free agents. Given the fact that the professional sports culture to which the African-American student athlete aspires is still framed in the language of slavery and capitalism, the uncomfortable alliance between race and sports is likely to linger.
portunities as others. AfricanAmericans lead the United States in poverty, because there are so few opportunities. The children in these situations look for something to grasp their attention. Sports are something to keep them occupied with their time. Once a child has downtime on their hands there is so much to get into. When anyone has down time on their hands there is so much to get into. Athletics
is used to keep children out of trouble and to keep them focused on something that is productive. The opportunities that are available for African-Americans are limited. Athletics does not lure children away from career goals, but provides a pathway or another door to choose to help reach the goals they have set for themselves. African-Americans use athletics as a charging system but not as an ENGINE.
Classifieds
RATES
For students, line ads start at $5 for up to 25 words. For non-students, line ads start at $8 for up to 25 words. For detailed rate information, visit technicianonline.com/classifieds. All line ads must be prepaid.
To place a classified ad, call 919.515.2411, fax 919.515.5133 or visit technicianonline.com/classifieds ANNOUNCEMENTS AROUND CAMPUS New CPU for Christmas. If the kids don’t want it I’ll fix it for the Blind. Call Kris 325- 0631 for pick up.
EMPLOYMENT HELP WANTED Hab Techs Needed! Maxim Healthcare needs staff to work w/developmentally disabled clients in Wake County. Flexible hours in afternoons, evenings, and weekends. $10-$15/hr based on experience. Need own transportation. 676-3118. If you are looking for a fast pace environment and interested in Emergency Veterinary medicine, After Hours Small Animal Emergency Clinic is just for you. We are looking to hire 1 full time Veterinary Assistant/Technician to work the overnight shift. The hours will be 9pm to 9am 3 or 4 days a week. Must also be able to work weekends and holidays. Fax or email your resume to: (919)782-7061, ahsaec@yahoo. com or come by during our normal business hours to fill out an application.
=
Sudoku Level:
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
CONDOS FOR RENT
ROOMMATES WANTED
IP Firm seeks experienced detail-oriented accounting support with MIS background. Competitive salary and benefits package including profit- sharing, 401-K, health, dental, and life ins., and LT&ST disability. Visit our website at www. coatsandbennett.com. Reply to: tpurdue@coatsandbennett.com
Hab Techs Needed! Maxim Healthcare needs staff to work w/developmentally disabled clients in Wake County. Flexible hours in afternoons, evenings, and weekends. $10-$15/hr based on experience. Need own transportation. 676-3118.
Medical office front desk: orthopedic surgery practice Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30 to 4pm, checking in patients, scanning. Need computer skills. Across from downtown KrispyKreme. $11/hour for undergrad, up to $13/hour for graduate student. Email cstrickland@ orthopedicfootandankle.com. 838-5254.
PT or FT sales positions available. Work at our offices in Raleigh. Call for our clients. Hourly pay. Flexible schedule. Good for students. careers@leaseasalesrep.com. (919)783-4182
Summer Camp Staff Wanted! No weekend work. The city of Raleigh Parks & Recreation Department is seeking aplicants 18 & older that are interested in working with campers ages 6-11 this upcoming summer in a recreational setting. Experience working with children or in a summer camp environment is a plus, but not necessary. Pay range is $8.25 per hour and up. Job begins in late May and ends in mid August. Please contact Joseph Voska at joseph.voska@ ci.raleigh.nc.us or at (919)8316165. The city of Raleigh is an equal opportunity employer.
Condo for Rent. 2BR/2BA near I40 and Downtown. All appliances. $750/month includes water, sewer and cable. Call 919-380-3062 and leave message.
Christian male seeking similar non-smoker, non-drinker, school focused, male students to share 4 bed 2 bath. Merrie Road House on Wolfline, near Centinial. Split utilities, lease starts August. Contact 824merrie@gmail.com
1-4 bedrooms near NCSU & Downtown Raleigh, Condos, Townhomes, and detached houses. Please visit our website at www.chelseamills.net BAJA BURRITO at Avent Ferry/ Western seeking P/T help. Flexible hours that work well for students. Apply at Baja Burrito, Mission Valley or Call 244-4466 BARTENDERS ARE IN DEMAND! Earn $20-$35 per hour. 1 or 2 week classes & weekend classes. 100% job placement assistance. Raleigh’s bartending school. Have fun! Make money! Meet people! Ask about our WINTER tuition rates and student discount. CALL NOW!! 919-676- 0774. www. cocktailmixer.com FREE SPRING BREAK MONEY! CALL 919-832- 7611
Join the City of Raleigh, Parks and Recreation Department for our upcoming special events! Part Time Position Pre Xpress Camp Counselor Raleigh Parks and Recreation Director $9.00/hr Counselor $8.25/ hr Location: 408 Ashe Ave Raleigh Staff to work with 5 yr. old summer campers at Pullen Park Community Center. Staff will guide activities, games, and programs. All positions require previous experience with children; experience with preschoolers preferred. Priority will be given to applicants 21 years old or older. Job runs from June 15 through August 14, 20 – 40 hours a week. All applicants who are selected will be required to go to camp counselor training prior to the first week of camp. Call 831-6052.
P/T or F/T Veterinary assistant needed at Clayton Animal Hospital. Morning work required, ideal position for individual with aspirations to become veterinarian. Call Debra at 919-889-9764. Part Time–Friday/Saturday Nights– Downtown Raleigh– Selling breath tests for alcohol and promotional items in downtown bar districts. Applicants should be outgoing, energetic, and motivated. Base hourly rate + sales commission. Persons with interest in criminal justice, toxicology may find this job of particular interest. Call Doug at (919)454-1198. www.alcoholeducators.com
Level:
1 2 3 4
Tutorial Service is hiring Chemistry and Math tutors. Juniors, seniors and graduate students who also will be here next year and have a 3.0 and above GPA. $22-$24 per hour. 847-2109 Leave name, phone number and major (repeat for clarity).
WORK WANTED Dance Instructor Needed! Fall 09-10. Great pay, fun, and less than 15 minutes from campus. All styles of dance needed. Call today! (919) 772-7755
Part-time employment working with children with disabilities. Evenings and weekends. Hours vary. Hiring for immediate positions. Will train. $10-$15/hr. For more information or view available cases, www.asmallmiracleinc.com. By The
Sudoku
www.parkwoodvillageapart-
ments.com By The Mepham Group
Seeking energetic, fun, and highly motivated staff who enjoy working with kids 7-15. Work 5 or 11 weeks or complete an internship. Pay ranges $190-$230/wk plus room and board. High atop the mountains in Roaring Gap, NC! If interested contact Leigh at leigh@ campcheerio.org for a Quick Application.
REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS FOR RENT Great Specials and Rental Rates! Spacious 1 and 2 bedroom apartments available immediately directly on Wolfline. No Security Deposit required. Please call 919-8327611. www.parkwoodvillageapts.com
Mepham Group
19 20 22 23 24 26 30
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 1
32 33
2/17/09
© 2009 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
Solution to Wednesday’s puzzle
SPRING BREAK BAHAMAS SPRING BREAK $189 5-DAYS or $239 7- DAYS. All prices include: Round-trip luxury cruise with food. Accommodations on the island at your choice of thirteen resorts. Appalachia Travel. www.BahamaSun. com 800-867-5018.
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
THE Daily Crossword
1 2 3 4
16 17 18
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
Near campus. 4BD/2.5 Bath. Availiable August 1st. Call 919-801-2466 or email romalehall@gmail.com for more information.
SERVICES
FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 17, 2009
1 6 9 14 15
Solution to Monday’s puzzle
HOMES FOR RENT 3BR/2BA House in Boylan Heights. Private backyard with 2 decks and a large great room. $1250/month. Available Feb. 1st. Call Steve Superville, 412-9688
1/1/09
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.
© 2009 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.
34 35 39 41 43 44 46 48 49 50 51 52 56 58 59 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73
ACROSS African river Wrath Fine sprays Lend beauty to Lon __ of Cambodia Integra maker Sal of movies Director Browning Slice again Weather unit Pile of rocks Trifling amount Lions, at times Fancy schmancy Diminutive being TV Tarzan Ron Raines of old films Fade away On the way up Clan pattern Part of IOU One of a flight Aerie youngster Golfer Ernie Water of Guadalajara Black or Salton Rend "Stay (I Missed You)" singer Lisa Field event Theatrical signal Climb aboard Weather units Of sheep Fleming or Garfunkel Ancient region of Asia Minor Lacoste and Russo Go out with Subject to random chance Ringlet of hair Possessed Okays
DOWN 1 Pushrod pushers 2 Norse god
3 Childhood taboo 4 Cultivated 5 Like a toggle switch 6 Glyptic art 7 Castling piece 8 Mormon leader 9 Wynton or Branford 10 Weather unit 11 One of Bolivia's capitals 12 Less of a lie? 13 Fills completely 21 Manufactured facts 25 "__ the ramparts we watched..." 26 First name in cartoon skunks 27 Big pot of stew 28 Smeltery waste 29 Weather units 31 Less 36 "Othello" conniver 37 New Zealand island territory
Edited by Wayne Robert Williams
Lookin’ for the answer key? VISIT TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
38 40 42 45 47 52 53 54
Seize suddenly Profundity Educed Greek letter Produced yarn Brief Craft starter? Voice one's thoughts
55 Junk 57 Enlighten 60 Length times width 61 Part in a play 62 Heavy load 63 Explorer Zebulon 64 Speaks out
Sports Holston earns ACC Co-Rookie of the Week honors 7OMEN S BASKETBALL FRESHMAN FORWARD "ONAE (OLSTON WAS NAMED THE !## WOMEN S BASKETBALL CO 2OOKIE OF THE 7EEK ALONG WITH &LORIDA 3TATE S #IERRA "RAVARD (OLSTON CONTRIBUTED POINTS AND THREE REBOUNDS IN LAST WEEK S WIN OVER 7AKE &OREST AND ADDED POINTS AND SEVEN REBOUNDS IN 3UNDAY S VICTORY OVER 6IRGINIA (OLSTON IS A KEY PRODUCER IN !## PLAY AND RANKS SECOND AMONG ALL FRESHMEN IN SCORING AND REBOUNDING SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
Baseball America names Poulk AllAmerican 3ECOND BASEMAN $ALLAS 0OULK HAS BEEN SELECTED TO "ASEBALL !MERICA S THIRD TEAM !LL !MERICA SQUAD (E IS THE TEAM S SECOND PRESEASON !LL !MERICAN ALONGSIDE PITCHER *IMMY 'ILLHEENEY 3ELECTIONS ARE MADE BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE TALENT AND PROFESSIONAL POTENTIAL )N 0OULK BATTED HITTING EIGHT HOME RUNS DOUBLES AND RUNS SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
Two Pack players named to All-ACC Academic team 4HE !LL !## ACADEMIC FOOTBALL TEAM WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE LEAGUE ON -ONDAY /FFENSIVE GUARD -EARES 'REEN A BIOCHEMISTRY MAJOR WAS HONORED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN HIS CAREER 1UARTERBACK (ARRISON "ECK A COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR MADE HIS WAY ONTO THE LIST FOR THE lRST TIME SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
ATHLETIC SCHEDULE February 2009 Su
M
T
W
Th
F
Sa
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
4ODAY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL @ WAKE FOREST Winston-Salem, N.C., 7 p.m. MEN’S GOLF @ RICE INTERCOLLEGIATE Houston, Texas, all day WOMEN’S GOLF, QDOBA INVITATIONAL Miami Lakes, Florida, all day
QUOTE OF THE DAY “For the last century plus, athletics was one of the few areas that AfricanAmericans were allowed to excel.� 4RACEY 2AY
DID YOU KNOW? /FFENSIVE GUARD -EERES 'REEN S SNAPS RANKED SECOND AMONG ALL OFFENSIVE PLAYERS IN
COMING SOON
Wednesday: ! PREVIEW OF THE WOMEN S SWIMMING DIVING !## CHAMPIONSHIPS
s 0AGE #ONTINUATION OF THE STORY AND COMMENTARY ON ATHLETICS AND BLACK AMERICA
s DAY UNTIL THE MEN S BASKETBALL GAME AT .ORTH #AROLINA
TECHNICIAN
1"(& t 56&4%": '&#36"3:
WOLF FACTS
INSIDE
COUNTDOWN
COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY
ATHLETICS
The persistent legacy of race in sports
ATHLETICS &
BLACK AMERICA SPORTS HAS HELPED SHAPE AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOCIETY
It is difficult to conceive of what modern sports would look like divorced from its relationship to race. Sports have always been politically, socially, and racially charged. In fact, when we think of Sheila Smith these conMcKoy siderations Associate Professor in regard to the AfricanAmerican athlete, the social and cultural impact is easy to trace. Consider the very public intersections of race and sports in the 1936 Olympics when Jesse Owens won gold in Hitler’s Germany and when, ironically, Owens lived under the weight of segregation in the U.S. Or the photograph of John Carlos and Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics when the two raised their fists in a black power salute and were summarily stripped of their medals and banned from Olympic competition for life. What do we learn from the raceladen experiences of Jack Johnson, Jackie Robinson or Muhammad Ali? What does the image of Michael Jordan and the young white boy who wants “to be like Mike� teach us, even while we are reminded that ‘white men can’t jump’? When race and sex enter the cultural mix, the confluence of sexism and racism make it even more difficult. It is almost impossible to recover the names of the two African-American
Emily Seck 3ENIOR 3TAFF 7RITER
Contrary to popular belief, the first black athletes in the United States may have actually been jockeys. Slaves of African descent became involved in horse racing in 1607 and dominated the sport until 1910 when Jim Crow laws excluded blacks from the sport. The predominance of blacks in the sport of horse racing blurred many racial and societal lines of the time period. Many people credit Jackie Robinson with breaking the color barrier as the first black in professional sports when he integrated baseball in 1947. In 1957, Irwin Holmes and Manuel Crockett became the first black athletes at N.C. State as members of the track team. They were also the first to integrate the ACC. Naturally, the rise of the athlete has had an impact on black culture. “I would really not characterize it as a positive or a negative influence,� Tracey Ray, director of Multicultural Student Affairs, said. “For the last century plus, athletics was one of the few areas that African-Americans were allowed to excel.� Athletics and academics Overall, graduation rates for black athletes have improved over the years. But a 2008 study conducted by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) shows that a wide gap remains between the graduation success rates, (GSR) of white and black student athletes. Richard Lapchick, the author of the study, stated the most “disturbing� information involved the GSR’s of football players. Data obtained from the study shows that, at N.C. State, white football student athletes have a GSR of 86 percent, compared to just 50 percent for African-American student athletes. According to Jamaine Clemmons, a former defensive lineman for the Wolfpack, academic achievement is the responsibility of each individual athlete.
MCKOY DPOUJOVFE QBHF
A charging system of social mobility
“Some people have the priority of coming to school to get a degree and some people have the priority of coming to school to be a professional—they want to go to the league,� Clemmons, a mechanical engineering major, said. “It just depends on the mindset of the athlete. No coach really can do anything about that. It depends on how a person sees his future and how it relates to him.� USA Today published an article recently about the prevalence of “clustering� in college sports. Clustering occurs when several players of the same athletic team are enrolled in the same major. For example, at State, more than 50 percent of the black juniors and seniors on the Pack’s football team are majoring in sports management or parks recreation and tourism management. According to Isaac Owolabi, a Park Scholar and aerospace engineering major, “there’s definitely some negative stuff going on in college athletics.�
Athletics does not serve as an engine but more like a charging system of social mobility, enabling thousands of African-Americans to earn scholarships to college. It gives African-Americans a way PHOTO COURTESY N.C. STATE MEDIA RELATIONS to earn an Brenda Stanton education. Junior, track & field When a student athlete enrolls in college, they are not majoring in a sport. The studentathlete’s first priority is to receive a diploma in the area that he/she has majored in. Being an African-American athlete myself, I can say that athletics has been a great motivation to my life. It has kept me busy and focused on the things that I need to accomplish. I have learned leadership skills, time management skills, and have developed a great work ethic. When I was a little girl, I grew up in a low-income neighborhood and my No. 1 goal in life has always been to be a successful lawyer - not to be a pro athlete. The accomplishments that I have earned with my athletic abilities have made me a stronger person. It has reassured me that anything is possible and that dreams can become realities. Now, I am a role model for many and I have touched many lives. Student-Athletes encourage children to focus on their education and discourage them from focusing on the streets. Athletics is a tool to keep Afri-
ATHLETICS DPOUJOVFE QBHF
STANTON DPOUJOVFE QBHF
BY THE NUMBERS "LACK HEAD COACHES OUT OF &OOTBALL 4 "OWL 3UBDIVISION SCHOOLS 46
0ERCENT OF &OOTBALL "OWL 3UBDIVISION PLAYERS THAT ARE BLACK
7,5,4
0ERCENT OF MEN S HEAD COACHING POSITIONS HELD BY BLACKS IN $IVISION ) )) AND )))
7,5,4
0ERCENT OF WOMEN S HEAD COACHING POSITIONS HELD BY BLACKS IN $IVISION ) )) AND )))
25
0ERCENT OF $IVISION ) MALE STUDENT ATHLETES THAT ARE BLACK
16
0ERCENT OF $IVISION ) FEMALE STUDENT ATHLETES THAT ARE BLACK
7,4,2
0ERCENT OF "LACK !THLETICS $IRECTORS IN $IVISION ) )) AND )))
100
0ERCENT OF $IVISION ) CONFERENCE COMMISSIONERS EXCLUDING HISTORICALLY BLACK CONFERENCES THAT ARE WHITE
SOURCE: STREET & SMITH’S SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
After a bumpy road, don’t count her out Guard Nikitta Gartrell has made basketball a springboard for her life Lindsey Hall Senior Staff Writer
Ten years ago, if someone asked Nikitta Gartrell what she would be doing now, playing college basketball would probably have been the last thing to cross her mind. But one afternoon many years ago, Nikitta took a walk with her brother, Mario Gartrell, to the neighborhood basketball court, and she has been in love with the game since. “Everything Mario did, I wanted to do. One day, the boys were one man short, so my brother says ‘I’ll pick my little sister,’� Gartrell said. “All the guys couldn’t believe he was picking a girl.� Gartrell, who often goes by Kitta, had never picked up a basketball, never dribbled or even taken a shot. From childhood, she was always told that she couldn’t play sports because she was too uncoordinated. But she made the first shot she took, and basketball was all uphill from there. She played on her middle school team, then went on to win the state basketball championship her freshman year of high school. When colleges started contacting her during her sophomore year, Nikitta knew she was on to something big. She knew she could play college basketball.
But a long road stood between her and N.C. State. Growing up in the inner city of Atlanta, Ga., Gartrell was always faced with adversity. She credits a woman named Danielle Livingston with a great deal of her success. Livingston was Gartrell’s brother’s social worker when he was a child, but became even closer to Nikitta, who considers her to be her aunt. “She’s been the one main person I could talk to, she’s helped me through a lot as far as school and networking to get to college,â€? Gartrell said. “She’s been more than anyone could imagine, and I love her to death.â€? Livingston spoke in detail about Gartrell’s childhood and how she has made the most of what she has been blessed with. She describes Gartrell as competitive, tough, inquisitive, and almost afraid to fail.â€? “Kitta was a kid with a whole lot of talent surrounded by a whole lot of issues, in terms of her home life and her friends,â€? Livingston said. “She would go to the edge, but didn’t want to jump in Ăą she didn’t want to be a bad person, or do any wrong.â€? One day, Gartrell told Livingston that she didn’t want to be poor, to be on drugs, or to be homeless. From that day forward, Livingston took Gartrell under her wing. Gartrell uses her childhood as motivation to continue to succeed. “My motivation is to not be the person that everyone wants
me to be. I want to be something more than the typical girl that came from Atlanta, played ball in college, but didn’t do anything after,� Gartrell said. That same motivation helped to earn her the first state title in school history at Benjamin E. Mays high school in Atlanta, where Gartrell also holds the alltime scoring title. And that same motivation has helped her work her way to becoming one of the most dangerous ACC backcourt scoring duos with teammate Shayla Fields. Gartrell, like many other players, chose N.C. State because of the family atmosphere. Talking with coach Yow on her two day recruiting visit made her feel like she belonged at State. Every practice with Yow has become part of Gartrell’s favorite memories, especially all of Yow’s quotes. “I’ve been told that I’m so fast, I go too fast to stop myself. So every time I would over-do something, coach Yow would just stand there and say Nikitta, slow down. Just slow down,� Gartrell said. “She would always tell me be quick, but not in a hurry, and to get my teammates involved to get me to the next level.�
VIEW MORE
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM :PV DBO SFBE NPSF BCPVU /JLJUUB (BSUSFMM T QBUI UP UIF 8PMGQBDL CBTLFUCBMM UFBN POMJOF
DREIER CARR/TECHNICIAN FILE PHOTO
Nikitta Gartrell, a junior guard, drives down the court during an exhibition game in Reynolds Coliseum. Gartrell is third on the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game.
“I want to be something more than the typical girl that came from Atlanta, played ball in college, but didn’t do anything after.� *UNIOR .IKITTA 'ARTRELL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2009 Lower Level tickets as low as $25* / Upper Level tickets as low as $15* To purcha se tickets a nd for more information, s kate to: www.carolinahurricanes.com/college *When purcha s ing through w w w.carolinahurricanes.com/college
VS.