Dreamville 2025 — Technician 04/10/25

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April 10 - April 15 Forecasted by Logan Brumley, a first-year in

Freeman, who plays Cathy, slaps her rejected suitor Heathcliff, played by Becket Patterson, during the dress rehearsal of “You on the Moors Now” at the Fred Titmus Theater on Wednesday, Apr. 2, 2025. The play reimagines classic literary heroines who reject their suitors and band together on the moors, leading to a “battle of the sexes” against their entitled, enraged men.

North Carolina revisits bathroom bill controversy with SB516

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina’s Senate are pushing a new bill similar to House Bill 2, or “the bathroom bill,” that would limit transgender people’s rights across North Carolina.

The new legislation, titled the “Women’s Safety and Protection Act,” seeks to codify definitions of biological sex and impose restrictions on transgender individuals in state-funded public spaces across the state, including public university campuses like NC State.

Senate Bill 516 explicitly states biological sex would be related to an individual’s genitalia at birth and sex chromosomes without regard to an individual’s psychological, chosen or subjective experience of gender.

The bill draws similarities to the 2016 House Bill 2, but lawmakers claim they have different goals with the new bill. An email statement provided to Technician from the NC Values Coalition outlined the group’s goals.

“HB2 focused on anti-discrimination ordinances affecting employment and public accommodations (publicly or privately owned facilities used by the public),” the statement read. “SB516 focuses on defining terms - male, female, man, woman, etc. as intended by the legislature and protecting women in vulnerable spaces in specific publicly funded facilities.”

Michael Struett, the NC State political science department chair, said the bill could have another wave of uproar from not just citizens but also businesses

and corporations bringing jobs to North Carolina.

“I think what’s upsetting about this particular bill, and I do think it’s likely that there would be a negative reaction from large businesses doing business in the state from entities like the NCAA, whether or not they want to host events in the state,” Struett said. “We saw those types of boycotts in reaction to House Bill 2.”

In addition to the potential loss in business, Struett said the bill was concerning in its nature to specifically label public bathrooms.

“Some of the provisions that are in it that are disturbing, or this notion that all bathrooms in public must be designated as male or female, it seemed to me that a

CRIME ON CAMPUS

NC State’s weekly log of major incidents across campus.

ARREST

1030 Richardson Dr. April 6, 2025 at 8:41 p.m.

A subject was arrested following an incident involving assault and domestic violence.

VEHICLE BREAK-INS

Alliance Parking Deck April 5, 2025 at 9:31 a.m.

University Police responded to a vehicle being broken into. Officers discovered six additional vehicles that were broken into. Various items were stolen, including two firearms.

pretty healthy compromise was genderless bathrooms,” Struett said.

Chelsea Krieg, the interim MFA director in the English department, worked with others to help convert the Caldwell Hall Mezzanine bathrooms to singleoccupancy bathrooms.

Krieg described how she felt when talking with a colleague of hers about bathroom solutions for nonbinary people on campus, which made her think more about her own area in Caldwell Hall and the impact of unisex bathrooms for students.

“It really hit me then, just how difficult it was for any of our trans and nonbinary colleagues and students,” Krieg said. “I mean, at that point, they would have to go out of Tompkins Hall to go to a differ-

ent building in order to go to the bathroom comfortably, and I just was really upset about that.”

Krieg’s goal was to convert the signs on the already existing bathrooms to unisex and install a lock on the door of the formerly men’s designated restroom, to make it a single occupancy bathroom.

“It was a lot more of an extensive process than I would have thought because there are these plumbing code laws that require a certain amount of bathrooms be labeled male and female based on how much the occupancy is in the building,” Kreig said. “It’s a little bit of a different process with each group because you have to go through facilities and all these things.”

Krieg said she reached out to the LGBTQ Pride Center for help, which put her in touch with NC State Facilities. When working with NC State faculty, she said the process was much easier than the task of maneuvering the plumbing code laws.

“I didn’t meet any resistance along the way from anyone,” Kreig said. “I think everyone that I spoke to at every different level were all for these changes. I think it’s just one of those things that there are these strange laws in North Carolina that are put into place, that sort of prevent these things from being able to easily happen.”

While HB2 put North Carolina under the world microscope, SB 516 may not be as recognized. Other states have adopted similar bathroom regulation laws affecting nonbinary people across the country.

CITATIONS FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

Varsity Dr/Western Blvd April 5, 2025 at 3:41 p.m.

A subject was cited for expired registration, no insurance and driving while license revoked after being involved in a traffic accident.

AND RUN

Dan Allen Dr/Western Blvd April 3, 2025 at 8:03 p.m.

A student was involved in a hit and run crash. The student fled the scene. After investigating, the student was arrested and charged with driving while license revoked due to an impaired revocation, hit and run, leaving the scene, property damage and reckless driving.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CATE HUMPHREYS

John Amigh Correspondent

Are we entering a recession? NC State experts weigh in

Discussions about a potential economic recession are intensifying as job market fluctuations and stock market volatility dominate social spheres. The implications of a recession are being debated amidst these economic changes.

Social media users have joined the debate with the hashtag #RecessionIndicators trending on X as people speculate what these signs mean for the economy. For students, the implications could be far-reaching, potentially affecting education funding, career prospects and financial stability.

Mehmet Caner, a Thurman-Raytheon distinguished professor of economics, said a key indicator in predicting an economic recession is the stock market.

“We’ll see a freeze in the markets,” Caner said. “And I think already the University of California already had a freeze in hiring. Our school here might have a freeze in hiring too. It plays case by case. So it’s already there. The effect is already there.”

NC State has been under a hiring freeze for faculty and staff positions since Feb. 14. Warwick Arden, executive vice chancellor and provost, wrote in the memo announcing the freeze that “uncertain impacts of the presidential administration’s executive orders and guidance” and “financial challenges” were the driving forces behind the freeze.

Charlie Clarke, an assistant professor of finance, said the stock market’s drop is the first sign of an economic recession.

“If you look back, almost always the stock market’s gone down before or in the early stage of a recession,” Clarke said. “But just because the stock market goes down doesn’t mean we’re gonna have a recession, right?”

Clarke said, along with the stock market, job reports are vital to predicting an economic recession. He said the more the job market shrinks, the more signs point toward a recession.

“We want hard data,” Clarke said. “There’s a reason everybody focuses every month on the new jobs reports, because one of the first places we see an economic slowdown is in less hiring.”

Clarke said the shrinking career pool during a recession could have major implications for students going into the job

market right out of college.

“One thing we know is that recessions can hit students who are going on the job market hard, meaning, if you graduate in a big recession, it’s gonna be harder to find a job,” Clarke said. “The sad thing is that, if it’s hard to find a job, the average job someone will find will be a little bit worse than it could have been in a good economy.”

Caner echoed similar sentiments about the job market worsening during a recession.

“I expect the job market to be not so good, generally speaking, both in the finance sector, the academic sector and the tech sector, it will be less,” Caner said. “If things reverse in a month, who knows? So it’s very well titled, and that’s the whole point.”

Caner said a recession could lead to cuts in student financial aid and University funding.

“There might be cuts in anything related to [University funding], and it might affect the graduate students,” Caner said.

“Who will pay their fees? Do all these graduate school fees and the professors pay it? But what if they don’t want to?”

Caner expressed concern for the implications that come with an economic downturn.

“After seeing these last two days, it looks more likely to have a recession in the short term,” Caner said. “In the long term, we don’t know; next year, we don’t know. Maybe things will stabilize.”

When predicting recessions, economists look at data ranging from a few months to a few years to predict the future and the current state of the economy. Clarke said these indicators will not be able to accurately declare a recession in today’s economy for at least a few months, or even years.

“If I’m teaching my class, I would say we entered a recession in December of 2007,” Clarke said. “But I can show you the forecast from forecasters in the second quarter of 2008, and they’d have no idea we’re in a recession.”

Clarke said this uncertainty when pre -

dicting a recession leads economists to disagreements and sometimes produces inaccurate predictions.

“If we’re going to enter a recession in the next year, we’ll be arguing about whether we’re in a recession for the next two years,” Clarke said. “That’s just the state of macroeconomics. It’s very hard to know what’s happening in real-time.” Clarke said there are actions students concerned about a potential recession can take. He said debt is a friend to students during their college years, and they should not be afraid of it.

“Take on debt now,” Clarke said. “Don’t feel bad about making that person place slightly higher student loan payments if it makes your life easier today when you’re 20 or 21. That’s the purpose of borrowing for college.”

Clarke said students can also invest in themselves. He said by studying hard, building relationships and using Career Services, students can ensure their success in times of economic uncertainty.

OSCAR CODES-BODIEN/TECHNICIAN

Price indicator in front of the BP pump on Hillsborough Street on Thursday, April 3, 2025.

Caroline Alexander Correspondent

HOST program turns concern into action for college students facing housing insecurity

Nearly 10% of students at NC State had experienced homelessness throughout the 2016 school year. This statistic led to the birth of HOST, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing short-term housing for college students experiencing homelessness in Wake County.

Mary Haskett, the founder of HOST and NC State professor emeritus, said she was alarmed when she realized how few resources the university offered for students experiencing homelessness.

“I discovered that several of my students were experiencing homelessness, and I started asking around campus, ‘Where are the resources? Surely, you have resources,’” Haskett said. “Found out not so much.”

Haskett formed an interdisciplinary task force to decide how to move forward with solutions for the housing crisis on campus. The task force included members from various campus groups, including housing staff, dining staff, student advisors and student government. The group pursued data collection and Haskett said the results were staggering.

“We collected the data in 2017 and discovered that almost 10% of students at NC State had been homeless in the past year,” Haskett said.

As a result of the data collection, the group received a small grant from the NC State University Foundation which was used to research the methodology employed by other universities to combat homelessness amongst college students.

“The solution that the students were most excited about was the host home program,” Haskett said.

Within the first two years of HOST functioning as a part of Pack Essentials, a resource on NC State’s campus that serves as a hub of resources to help students with their needs, Haskett said the program had a 100% success rate, but shortly after, moved away from being an NC State specific non-profit to help other universities in the area.

Kaleb Holder, a fourth-year studying environmental science, was one of the students who utilized HOST for their needs. They said they were introduced to the program by Erin McKenney, a professor in applied ecology, who disclosed during class there were resources to help students with their specific needs.

“I think that the first step is having

professors who are willing and open to disclose,” Holder said. “What Dr. McKinney said was she doesn’t have all the answers, but she wants the class to feel comfortable coming to her and even if she doesn’t have the answers, she’ll try to find the next step for them.”

Sarah and Chris Wyne have been a part of the HOST program since 2023. They said their main motive behind joining the program and becoming a host family was to provide a supportive environment for a fellow human.

“Raleigh has a magazine called ‘The Walter,’ and in December they list a lot of non-profits,” Sarah Wyne said. “And that year, the host was listed, and it talked about 10,000 kids from state were had no place to sleep. And I said, we got to do that. And my husband said, ‘Yeah, we do.’”

Holder was housed with Sarah and Chris Wyne as a part of the HOST program for several months and said the program did a phenomenal job at assigning them HOST parents and securing basic needs and comfort.

“Even though I was going through something that was very difficult, I still felt like I was okay, both physically, like housing-wise, as well as emotionally, because that match was just so perfect with them,” Holder said.

When Holder first arrived at the Wyne household, he said the couple was more than happy to lend him basic items and a free range of appliances, however, it

didn’t just stop there. The Wyne’s set up a personal garden for Holder and also invited them to join Chris on his volunteer trips to the Science Museum every Wednesday.

Not only did HOST and Pack Essentials help set up Holder with secure housing, they said their efforts did not stop there.

“They didn’t just stop in providing housing,” Holder said. “They also tried to make sure that students are connected to resources.”

Holder’s case manager helped them look for affordable apartments in the area for rent, while also helping pay for the first-month deposit with additional help on financial aid concerns.

Holder still keeps in contact with the Wyne family and said they are grateful to have received their support.

“I think the family I stayed with is so valuable to my life now even though the terrible situation that I went through,” Holder said. “I’m very grateful I was connected with the people, because I know that they’ll be lifelong friends.”

The latest survey published by HOST detailed an increase in students experiencing homelessness since 2017 — though the number has decreased from its high during the pandemic. The 2023 report noted that nearly 30% of NC State students had experienced food insecurity in the past year and 14% had experienced homelessness.

“So, [in spite] of Pack Essentials and this influx of resources, we have a grow-

ing health problem, and I think that is because Pack Essentials is what I call downstream services,” Haskett said.

Kaly Wall, coordinator of student success initiatives for the environmental first-year program, and John Classen, director of graduate programs for biological and cultural engineering, serve as co-chairs of the University’s steering committee for student food and housing.

The committee works to create “upstream solutions” that address the root causes of homelessness and food insecurity on NC State’s campus. They work alongside organizations like Feed the Pack and HOST to gauge the need amongst students. The group itself responds with specific plans to target the apparent structural inefficiencies.

Wall said the committee works to address homelessness among students and food insecurity. Their goal is to find solutions within the University and try to have conversations that can result in structural change.

The steering committee includes members from across NC State’s campus, which allows them to understand the experiences of students from various disciplines. Wall said that those involved are passionate about and dedicated to supporting students in their community.

Wall said her personal experience was one reason she was invited to join the steering committee.

“When I went to undergrad at NC State, between 2011 and 2015, I was food insecure,” Wall said. “I was actually the first person to ever use Feed the Pack.”

Recently the committee has created strategies to increase community involvement with the HOST program. The group discussed utilizing local alumni networks to spread the word about the work of the non-profit and the level of need amongst college students in the county.

With the limited number of on-campus housing options for upperclassmen, the group makes a point to work with the university itself. They stress the importance of increasing affordable housing options for students.

“We’ve pushed on the University in various ways to emphasize the need,” Classen said. “To emphasize that just because they will buy a piece of property in a hotel and turn them into luxury apartments that are for students doesn’t mean that they’ve actually added beds.”

KATIE BARNES/TECHNICIAN

In this archive photo, Lee Hall and Sullivan Hall sit on Monday, April 15, 2019. Lee was built in 1964 while Sullivan Hall was developed in 1966. Both halls are conveniently located by Fountain Dining Hall and Doak Field and house undergraduate students at NCSU

Ally Tennant, Piper Vance News Editor, Correspondent

Dreamville: A collection of the music we grew up with

Sarah Hoffer Culture Editor

This weekend, tens of thousands of people from across the country gathered within the gates of Dreamville Festival on the 300 acres of Dorothea Dix Park. In December, North Carolina native J. Cole and Dreamville Records announced that this would be the last Dreamville ever since its beginning in 2019.

Since its launch, the future of the festival wasn’t certain for Dreamville. However, through the years, the festival has etched itself into the fabric of the art and music community in Raleigh by emphasizing inclusivity, diversity and community. This celebration of music, art and culture has driven a surge of people to Raleigh for the past five years, filling up hotels, crowding the streets and bringing people to local businesses.

Back in 2023, the festival drew over 100,000 people to Raleigh, and the festival had a $145.9 million impact on the city. These recordbreaking numbers cemented Dreamville as the world’s largest artist-led music festival.

“We want to put on something amazing for Carolina,” Cole said during his final remarks. “We love being able to offer that and bring amazing artists. … I’m sad, but we’ll be back, just in a newer form.”

Because of this reach, Dreamville has become a cultural touchstone for artists and music enjoyers during the past few years, and its proclaimed end has disappointed the masses. However, this brought people together to celebrate the so-called end of this cherished annual event. In his final remarks during his set, Cole spoke on the future of Dreamville or something very similar, and how this final Dreamville is an end that will lead to the beginning of something great.

Lindsay Poplin, a local Raleigh resident, was among those disappointed about Dreamville’s current standing.

“It’s my first year here in North Carolina, so I was hoping they could have another one,” Poplin said. “So I’m supportive of [the festival], because they bring in so much revenue and just

all kinds of people from everywhere. And the artists, of course.”

She saw Dreamville as an opportunity to meet new people and thought it was a great experience to see the scale of the event on the ground.

“You meet the good and the bad, but mostly good people,” Poplin said. “It’s just people, and they’re just so human, you know what I’m saying? They’re just so human. It’s cute to see. … It gives you perspective on how many people there are on this planet just at this event.”

Aside from J. Cole, headliners of this year’s festival included 21 Savage, Lil Wayne with Hot Boys and Big Tymers, Erykah Badu, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Chief Keef and Tems. The artists continually expressed their gratitude for Cole’s friendship and support and the opportunity to perform at a festival as large as Dreamville. It was also a reunion of sorts for Dreamville Records, bringing artists J.I.D, EarthGang and Lute, another North Carolinian.

On day one, Keyshia Cole began the nostalgia, performing songs back to 2005 with songs

from her album “The Way It Is,” and concluded the show with “Love,” which she dedicated to every supporter on the lawn. The Chief Keef show was more high-energy, with songs “Faneto,” “I Don’t Like” and “Love Sosa.” Later, PARTYNEXTDOOR preceded Lil Wayne at Shine Stage, both bringing crowds that filled over half of the park.

Wayne brought out the Hot Boys and Big Tymers, who honored the early 2000s with songs “Back That Azz Up” and “Real Big,” before Wayne came out and opened with “Mr. Carter,” followed by songs such as “Lollipop,” “I’m Goin’ In” and “Money On My Mind.” Despite the heat and massive crowd, the first day was filled with awe and set up the second day for even more success, bringing in tens of thousands of more people than there were on day one.

Josie Becerra is a student at Shaw University and was at the festival to fundraise for students at her school. She was surprised at how large the turnout was but excited to meet people from so many places with the same goal: two days of live music.

“I’ve been hearing that a bunch of people from different states have been coming to Dreamville,” Becerra said. “So it’s crazy because, I mean, it is the last one, sadly, but people have been eager to come, and that’s good, getting exposure from different states … it helps expand, and then you meet different new people all around.”

Becerra was grateful to attend the festival and ecstatic to see all of the artists and traction it brought to Raleigh.

“There are banners and a lot of stuff that helps you tell that a big event is gonna happen, and Instagram is a big part of it, yeah, because you see ads about it, and you’re like, ‘Oh, yes, my artist is coming as well,’” Becerra said. “Since they released the lineup on Spotify, it tells you if your artist is going to be at Dreamville. So I enjoy that, because then I can re-catch up on my music if I know my artist.”

Sunday had a stacked lineup too, if not more than day one. BigXThaPlug, CoCo Jones, J.I.D, Glorilla, Tems, Erykah Badu and J. Cole played consecutively, beginning a communal stampede between the two stages to catch the next set across Dorothea Dix.

The stages’ proximity to each other echoed each other across the park, allowing the people waiting for Tems to hear Glorilla, which became a theme throughout the weekend.

Cole’s set, the last performance of the festival, was a journey through his discography. He opened with “Rags To Riches (At The Beep),” then brought out Erykah Badu to perform “Too Deep for the Intro,” and continued with “Wet Dreamz,” “No Role Modelz,” “She Knows” and “MIDDLE CHILD.” The crowd waited in anticipation for over an hour and a half between Tems’ set and his and killed time by sharing their admiration for Cole and his contribution to the hip-hop scene.

“This festival will exist,” Cole said at the end of his set. “It might not have the … ‘Dreamville Festival’ name on it, but we will be back with this feel.”

Readings of ‘Alice in Wonderland,’ ‘Coraline’

Evie Dallmann Correspondent

“Alice in Wonderland” illustrates the contradictory, heretical rules adults abide by through the eyes of an adolescent. That being said, I took away something different from the ballet. It felt akin to the creation story, bored in the liminal world, we decide to descend to Earth and meet its peculiar joys and

burdens.

I think of “Alice in Wonderland” as an incarnation story, a guide to life on Earth, “eat me,” “drink me.” If we chose to occupy this Earth with its specific luxuries, should we indulge? Alice’s code of conduct says yes — we drink the things that make us bigger, eat the things that make us smaller, drink with the lunatics, chase the rabbit with no time for us and appease and wage war with the tyrant.

The particular segment of the play that resonated with me was her conversation with the caterpillar. He pries, “Who are you?” She responds, “I hardly know, sir, just at present, at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have changed several times since then … I can’t explain myself … I’m not myself, you see.”

Alice seems to be feeling a sentiment of loss of self and ego-death, a phenom -

enon associated with psychedelics, and in the age of ketamine-assisted therapy we can understand questioning existence and the self and peace in uncertainty and fluidity as possible antidotes to an increasingly inflammatory scape.

These stories of enticing worlds with alternate rules remind us the world could be different, for better or worse, inducing contentedness for our states simultaneously to inspiration for changes in facets

ALEX MANUEL/TECHNICIAN

Dorothea Dix Park hosted the final Dreamville Festival on April 5-6, 2025. A variety of performances, food vendors and attractions headlined by hip-hop superstars like J. Cole and Lil Wayne attracted over 100,000 attendees during the event.

Hip Hop Caucus: Advocating voting rights at Dreamville

This weekend, the fifth, and apparently final, Dreamville was held at Dorothea Dix Park. Among the tens of thousands of people at the park, in a small corner of the festival sat a village of nonprofits, one of which being Hip Hop Caucus.

Hip Hop Caucus is a nationwide nonprofit that advocates for liberation and justice by using cultural expression to empower communities affected by injustice. They educate young people about climate justice, democracy voting rights and economic justice.

Malikah French is the development manager for Hip Hop Caucus and has been working for them for about three years. She saw the deficit in philanthropy and education, especially in public and state-funded institutions.

“We do all kinds of equity and advocacy for BIPOC communities and frontline communities,” French said. “That ranges from climate justice … a bunch of social justice movements and voting rights advocacy and then economic justice as well.”

At the festival, Hip Hop Caucus was joined by other organizations such as Dream Go, North Carolina Black Alliance and EARTHGANG Foundation. Some had interactive activities, but Hip Hop Caucus had petitions for people to sign.

“We made a big pledge to voter registration,” French said. “We do a lot of voter registration work, so just acknowledging that voting is important at the local level and committing to signing up for more information. I think that a lot of people would

we see fit.

Falling down, down, down, down the rabbit hole of algorithmic inflammatory pipelines can create a particular world and an inflated sense of self through a community of seemingly other outcasts, which creates a community. This often digitally curates an awkward paradox between internet-Alice and the local world they impact and engage with.

In “Coraline,” Coraline sees similar drab beginnings and temptations of another world of sweets and indulgence. We see this through the role the “othermother” occupies. She does not equate to ideals we would hope parents to instill, instead, she is rather indulgent with boundaries and hopes to coax Coraline to turn over her soul through unadulterated experiences.

A parental figure without bounds, without upstanding character and diplomacy, the “other-mother” hopes to

feel things internally and not realize that there’s a place to voice it with the petition.”

This organization is dedicated to teaching the importance of local elections and that voting shouldn’t be seen as only happening every four years.

“I think that it’s really important right now because once a lot of these presidential elections have gone by, people lose a lot of the momentum around voting,” French said. “And voting is not a presidential election thing, it’s an every year thing.”

Aside from voter registration, Hip Hop Caucus advocates for climate and economic justice. They attract people by connecting their cause with hip-hop culture. Brittany Bell Surratt is the senior director of storytelling and connections at Hip Hop Caucus and joined the team because she felt a true

feed off of Coraline’s soul, feed off of her life force.

Tales of “Coraline” and “Alice in Wonderland” look to check and balance normalities and extremities in the worlds we’ve created. Indulging in fiction and questioning realities is a cognitive psychedelic pursuit that can work to further integrate critical thinking that seems to be losing traction in the wake of pipelines, misinformation and inflammatory discrimination/othering.

The “Alice in Wonderland” ballet ends with her looking at her younger self through a door. It makes me curious about being your own parent, nurturing your child self and making them proud.

In this way we might see ourselves being our own mother and father, the role of femininity and masculinity. In an opener performance for “Alice in Wonderland,” dancers performed as the instruments in the orchestra, women were

connection to its purpose and mission.

“We utilize hip-hop culture to kind of meet folks where they are,” Surratt said. “And sometimes that’s through artists and influencers. Sometimes it’s through the messaging, sometimes through fashion and choreography; just the many different facets of it, to bring people into our work.”

Music is an outlet for many and brings people together — especially at festivals like Dreamville.

“At a place like Dreamville, we’re able to talk to people who are coming from, I think I read all 50 states,” Surratt said. “People come to Dreamville, and they come because the love of hip hop, but we’re then able to, if they come to the nonprofit village, say ‘Hey, you know, there are local elections that are happening in your state, depending on

strings, men were brass and percussion. I think this lends well to our understanding of balance.

You are the yin and yang of your existence, the conductor and the spectator

where you’re from.’”

French feels that it’s becoming increasingly essential to actually go to the communities you’re advocating for because you can gain a better understanding of them. A first-hand account helps you see the communities internally and find connection with them.

“It’s actually more imperative to come out, talk to a community, be in that community and kind of see what is most important to them,” French said. “So I think that that’s why, especially now, it’s become magnified because I think elements of what people in the community have wanted for generations came out in the last election.”

Dreamville generated business for over 75 vendors, muralists and Raleigh small businesses, but also gave nonprofit organizations a chance to continue advocating for their cause.

“Having thousands or tens of thousands of people and that traffic there, to be able to do that is very helpful for us,” Surratt said. “It’s a big goal of ours to continue to have it resonate with folks, the importance of local elections, the importance of down-ballot issues and how they affect your everyday life, that sometimes they have more of an impact than who’s in the White House.”

Hip Hop Caucus currently runs a podcast, has a radio show, a YouTube series and even released a documentary about how the climate crisis affects communities of color. For more information, take a look at their website and Instagram for more events in North Carolina.

of your own performance. Incorporating both values and questioning how they are flawed and can be better, make life a beautiful song of love, compassion and cohesion.

CONTRIBUTED BY HIP HOP CAUCUS

Sarah Hoffer Culture Editor

GRAPHIC BY EVIE DALLMANN

How students shape the future of Hillsborough Street

Kelsey Bohn Staff Writer

Hillsborough Street is both a reflection and a glimpse into the future of our community. It is central to the culture and morale of NC State students and the surrounding community, as the businesses and events on Hillsborough Street act as an extension of our campus.

Raleigh has consistently demonstrated significant growth and undeniable allure over the past several years. U.S. News ranked Raleigh No. 6 in both “Best Places to Live” and “Best Places to Retire” in their 2024-2025 report.

However, with immense growth and development also comes higher risk of over-commercialization. A rapid increase in popularity means many large chain corporations will try to jump in and capitalize on the market. This isn’t always bad, but it is important to invite and protect the independent businesses that set our city apart.

Anil Gordon, NC State student body vice president, explained how finding ways to support the uniquities that bring depth and purpose to Hillsborough Street is one of his priorities.

“We could really capitalize on bringing

more businesses to Hillsborough that provide that space and opportunity for students to enjoy things like live music and have a good sit-down meal that’s affordable,” Gordon said.

Gordon spoke about the Carreno-Gordon administration’s idea to compile a list that encompasses the various student discounts and venue agreements offered by businesses to compel students and student organizations to engage with them.

“Understanding what businesses provide me and which businesses are going to give me a good deal would be particularly helpful in deciding where to go,” Gordon said.

“I think if we provide that resource to students for Hillsborough, it would be a great opportunity.”

But it’s not only about engagement. A large part of growing Hillsborough Street is about choosing to fund the kinds of businesses that support local entrepreneurs and cater to all members of the community.

“I see a lot of chain restaurants coming in and things like that,” Gordon said. “And it’s upsetting because I know there are a lot of great small businesses that want to come and would love the opportunity.”

Supporting the existing small businesses and encouraging the development of new

ones largely relies on student impact. As the main consumers of Hillsborough Street’s businesses, our favorite places to study, organize fundraisers or take photos for social media have a very large impact on the market.

Live It Up! Hillsborough Street is an independent non-profit corporation focused on improving the community around Hillsborough Street. This includes capitalizing on their relationship with NC State and the impact that its students have.

Jeff Murison, the president and CEO of Live It Up! Hillsborough Street, said alongside their big picture pursuits, they also prioritize day-to-day goals like beautification and lending a helping hand.

“We provide a lot of services across a wide spectrum,” Murison said. “We have five ambassadors who are out on the street every day of the year, picking up trash and removing graffiti. They find students’ ID cards and get them back to them. They help jump start cars when their battery dies.”

As for the shopping and dining on Hillsborough Street, Murison said there are no direct restrictions on the types of businesses that can fill vacancies.

“In a traditional mall or shopping center, there’s a property manager that manages a

tenant selection process to be able to pick what businesses fill vacant spots,” Murison said. “Along Hillsborough Street each property has its own owner and they get to make their own decisions.”

However, Live It Up! Hillsborough Street still works to influence the types of businesses that come to our community through publishing market segmentation reports which point to areas of oversaturation along with reports about students’ demands and interests.

“We publish these reports in hopes of educating decision makers and attracting entrepreneurs who want to fill these spots,” Murison said. “All we can do is coach. That’s why our partnership with the University is so important. It’s a connection that allows us to partner with a range of groups to provide activities that highlight those needs and fill those gaps.”

Students determine the future of Hillsborough Street. Get involved with the pursuit for growth by pushing for Student Government voices that reflect a desire for the positive development of our community and by shopping, posting and hosting at the businesses you love.

CONTRIBUTED BY LIVE IT UP! HILLSBOROUGH STREET

Almost There

Alyssa Phillips, Staff Cartoonist

A fourth-year studying art and design

Goodbye<3

Jordan Ramsey, Staff Cartoonist

A fourth-year studying art and design

Bye!

Avery Szakacs, Staff Cartoonist

A fourth-year studying art and design

Comic from the Editor

Lucy Osborn, Graphics Editor

A fourth-year studying art and design

10 TECHNICIAN

Letter from the editor: The hardest goodbye

Kate Denning Editor-in-Chief

When I think about the first day I walked into Witherspoon Student Center, it’s hard to believe this is where I’m sitting now, editor-in-chief of Technician and struggling with how to say goodbye. It’s hard to believe how much I’ve grown and changed all because of this student newspaper. It’s hard to believe all the doors that have opened for me because of the work that we’ve done here. Most of all, it’s hard to believe that it’s over. Technician is where I learned to be a journalist, a leader and a friend. Technician taught me some of life’s hardest lessons, but even when it knocked me down, it was the first to pick me back up. I experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in Witherspoon 323, and I wouldn’t trade a single second of it for anything. Because while there are undoubtedly a few days I would prefer not to live through again, each of them shaped me into who I am today — especially the difficult ones.

But it’s the people who truly make the place, so I’ll do my best to thank everyone who got me here and got me through it. Although the truth is, I’ll never be able to say thank you enough.

Thank you to Emily for being the reason I started at Technician and one of the many reasons that I stayed. Our quests to the police station and Chapel Hill and many Board of Trustees meetings — never without a bit or two along the way — are some of my fondest memories. I’m grateful and honored to call you my friend.

Thank you to Jameson for being a shining example of an editor-in-chief. I lost count of how many times I asked myself “What would Jameson do?” this year. You always led Technician with grace and compassion, all while never compromising on journalistic integrity or your standards. All I can hope is that I continued to push Technician to its best self just as you did.

Thank you to Justin for being the person I looked to so I could be told not what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear. You’ve pushed me and all of us at Technician to be better journalists, editors and leaders. In an industry that is increasingly compromising its standards of integrity and transparency, your dedication to upholding those values in Technician and broader society is a testament to your character and passion for justice.

More than all of that, you have become one of my very best friends. From “my coworker” to “my friend from work,” I’m excited for you to simply be “my friend from college.” There’s few people in this world who understand what it takes to run this paper, and I am proud to say that we are in that club. KEJ forever.

Thank you to Ethan for being my rock. There’s no one else in the world I could have imagined doing this journey with. Believe me when I say that I don’t know a more passionate, driven, creative and hard-working person than you. I’m so lucky and grateful to have had your unwavering support since the very beginning of this extremely wild ride.

From correspondent to staff writer to assistant sports editor to sports editor to editor-in-chief to social media manager to managing editor, you have quite literally been there, done that and gotten the T-shirt. You put your heart and soul into everything you do, and Technician has thrived these last few years because of it. For that and so many more reasons, I will always be your biggest fan.

All we can hope for in life is that we leave things better than we found them, and you have undoubtedly done that for Technician. And on top of that, you’ve made me a better person, too.

The good days were better and the tough days were worth it because you were by my side. Out of all the stories we’ve written at Technician, our story is my favorite. I love you — put it in the newspaper!

Thank you to the Vol. 105 Editorial Board, because while it wasn’t always a smooth ride, none of this year would have been possible without every last one of you. I see so much passion and fire in each of you that I know will carry you all to do incredible things in this world, whether that be in journalism or elsewhere. To those who are graduating or moving on to other things, I wish you nothing but success and happiness. You’ve

worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and I can’t wait to celebrate all of your wins. To those who will be joining or rejoining Technician for Vol. 106, I hope that you feel as though you are inheriting Technician at its very best, just as I felt one year ago. This is a special paper doing special work for the student body and campus community. May you never forget the responsibility you have to serve the public through the journalism that we produce. And may you have some fun along the way, too. I will always be rooting for Technician and each one of you.

Thank you to every friend, roommate, sorority sister and classmate — Edy, Mia, Natalie, Mary Margaret, Emelie, Abby and so many more — who listened to me quite literally rant and rave about the highs and lows of this job over the years, even if you didn’t always understand what I did at work and why I stayed there so late, and for always pretending to care about what happened at the Board of Trustees meetings.

Thank you Mom, Dad, Margaret, Elizabeth, Granny, Granddad, Mum, Papa, the Plambeck family and the Bakogiannis family for your love and support, both financial and emotional. Thank you for the home cooked meals and cheering me on when it felt like no one else was. I hope I’ve made you all as proud as you were the day I published my first article for Technician almost three years ago.

Thank you to every source who trusted me to handle your words and stories with care; journalism would be nothing without that trust. Thank you to Abigail, Heidi and Emily — who will forever be the first editors I ever had — for believing in me and

COURTESY OF STEPHEN KOVACS

encouraging me from the very beginning. Thank you to Ben, Patrick and the Student Media Board of Directors for your tireless work in supporting students and ensuring NC State Student Media remains dedicated to its mission of informing the campus community.

Thank you to everyone who picked up a paper, read an article or liked an Instagram post. If Technician was your first introduction to journalism, I humbly ask that you continue that interest when you leave NC State. Journalists need your support more than ever, and don’t ever forget the right you have to access a free and uninhibited press. Most of all, thank you Technician, because it truly seemed like this paper took on a life of its own at times.

Being a journalist, especially being a journalist at Technician, gave me a sense of purpose like I’ve never experienced. This job and community have kept me grounded and provided me a home when I was admittedly pretty lost and unsure of myself and my place in the world. Technician is unlike any other place, unlike any other paper, and I can never thank it enough for the experiences, opportunities and lifelong friends it has given me.

Some days I felt like the end couldn’t come soon enough, but most of the time I felt like I would give anything in the world to have one more week, one more paper to make. I’ve said all year that being the editor-inchief of Technician is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but saying goodbye to it might be even harder. How fortunate I am to have experienced something so difficult to let go of.

Letter from the editor: My fateful relationship with Technician

Ethan Bakogiannis Managing Editor

I always knew this day would come. The day where I’d be staying up unreasonably late — for one of the last times — once again writing an article.

However, I never intended to wind up here. Four years ago I had no clue what college held for me. I somehow stumbled my way into sending an interest email to a sports and managing editor by the name of Tristan Tucker — my first fateful interaction I had with Technician.

I wasn’t even close to ready for what came next.

One article after another, I was sucked in. Journalism, something I never knew, and never even considered, grew on me. Soon enough, I became addicted, finishing correspondency in record time. So, my first thank you goes to Tristan, who got me into all of this and showed me the model of a maniacal sports editor and writer. My second and third go to my Vol. 102 sports editors: Nicholas Schnittker, who took me to my first sports recap, and Bryan Pyrtle, who I still love seeing in press boxes on weekends.

Once the spring semester of my freshman year rolled around, all bets were off. Apparently, no one liked to write tennis articles, so I did.

I’ll interject once again with a big thank you to the NC State men’s and women’s tennis programs and their coaches, Kyle Spencer and Simon Earnshaw. I couldn’t imagine the past four years of my life without priding myself on covering every single one of these matches. From six-hour thrillers to my favorite article I’ve ever written after the women won the 2023 ACC title, thank you to both of you, the game of college tennis and countless players for all the memories.

After agreeing to write tennis, I quickly consumed myself with writing, and I loved it. Little did I know that four years later I’d have written more than 430 articles — second most in Technician history, by the way — and held a total of seven different writer and editor positions.

I continued to fall deeper into the hole, becoming assistant sports editor and soon enough, sports editor with my best friend Ben Ellis. I unknowingly, and now thankfully, signed my life away to Technician for the next three years of my life.

To Ben, the Bert to my Ernie, thank you for the endless memories running sports meetings, covering games, but more importantly watching NC State sports. From football to basketball to baseball and almost everything else in between, I’ll forever associate my time with the paper’s best section, Technician

Sports, with you. Let’s go grab Bojangles soon. I was nonstop. No matter the time, day or place, if I wasn’t writing a sports article I was editing one. It consumed me. At the time I liked it — writing, editing and publishing articles for hours on end, many times taking up all my time on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays was a part of the grind. I was happy to have something to work so hard at, something I was actively affecting, leading and advancing, even if it had me on my computer while hanging out with my friends, or locked away in my room while other things were happening. In hindsight, it wasn’t healthy and may have hurt some relationships with my friends, but on and on I went, further down the rabbit hole.

The next tumble down that hole came in Jameson Wolf and I’s campaign for editorin-chief — a crazy thought considering I hadn’t even been a sports editor for a whole year. However, with just a handful of Vol. 103 editors sticking around for Vol. 104, we were proud to take a leap of faith from running our respective sections to running the whole operation. Once again, I had no clue what I was in for.

All of a sudden, I was editor-in-chief. Getting Vol. 104 off the ground with some of my best friends, Jameson and Emily Vespa, was hectic, but so much fun.

While fun and flashy, leading Technician was not for the faint of heart. I quickly learned this job was far more about managing than actually editing. But thanks to Jameson, no matter how bad it got, I wasn’t alone in it. So thank you, Jameson, for being a great editorin-chief and a great friend. You always brought a relaxing presence, a thoughtfulness to the job that inspired me to keep on going during Vol. 104. I can’t wait to see you and Harry in Boston soon.

Next goes a big thank you to our advisor, Ben McNeely, for showing us the way through these tough times where we simply didn’t know where to go, and for always being in my corner.

During my time at Vol. 104 I finally got truly serious about journalism. All of a sudden, news was on the front of my mind. It was here I learned the true importance of what we did and why journalism as a public service and as a profession is so important. From reporting on campus suicides to Poe Hall to a surreal pair of Final Four runs, I’m proud to say we transformed the way Technician did news. We weren’t just reporting the news, in many ways we were leading it by priding ourselves on accurate, ethical, transparent journalism.

A lot of that effort would not have been possible without Emily, an unstoppable and sometimes frightening force of journalism that inspired me and the rest of the volume to keep doing better and better work. Along with be-

ing a workhorse and our resident court jester, she almost had us digging up soil and ripping off caulk outside of Poe Hall under the cover of night and joining a lawsuit — both of which were separate events. Thank you Emily for all the times we were kicking ass one minute and being thrown into giggle jail the next.

My next thanks goes to Ethan Rimolt, who, along with Jameson, Emily and a few others I’ll get to shortly, offered me moments of respite from the tough moments of Technician. One of my best friends, I’ll forever be thankful for all those moments of impressions and general uncontrollable laughter we had. You were by my side since day one of Vol. 103 and had your own fair share of struggles in the zany, oftendraining world of Student Media photography, so I knew I could talk to you about all of mine in the managerial world of Technician.

For all the great moments I had with you all in Vol. 104, that was by far the toughest year of my life. One thing after another, I faced situation after situation that eroded both my mental health and love for the publication. Some of it was self-inflicted, but a lot of it wasn’t. There were so many days where I felt defeated, dejected and surrounded by those who didn’t care about Technician to the extent I did.

Here, I learned the ugly lesson of learning how to let go, how to care less about something for your own good. While he’ll never, ever read this, nor probably think about me again, thank you to my Vol. 103 Managing Editor, Wade Bowman, who taught me that lesson. You don’t know it, but I did and still look up to you sometimes, so thank you for being a tough older brother to me.

Despite many near-breaking points in the last two volumes, there were those that made it all better, those who showed the dedication and willpower to make this publication the

best it possibly could be. Thank you Justin, for being relentlessly ambitious in your reporting and need to hold the University and other higher powers accountable. You’re a great friend who brought endless moments of joy and levity when it was needed the most.

To Colby Trotter, Aidan Carlson and Connor VanDerMark, thank you for being an amazing trio of sports editors, the best I could’ve asked for. Aside from putting on shenanigan after shenanigan in the office and always bringing a smile to our faces, you did the sports section justice. Thank you Aidan for being a great friend to me, even outside of the office. And Connor, I know you’ll continue to advance the Tech Sports legacy in Vol. 106. Thank you specifically, to Colby, for coming from the rafters in Vol. 104 to take over the sports section. You not only did the job, but excelled. I can easily say that your passion, hard work and reporting hunger made you one of the best sports editors in Technician history — even better than me.

However, there was a time that I felt emptier than I ever had before. And a lot of those feelings stemmed from Technician.

I was exhausted. I was burned out. I was tired of pouring all I had into Technician and only receiving a fraction of the care I put into it from other people and other forces around me. I constantly thought, ‘Imagine all the things I could be doing, all the fun I could be having, how much less anxiety I would have,’ without the all-consuming, ever-present and penetrating beast Technician had morphed into.

But I still kept crawling back to my codependent relationship with Technician. It left me battered and bruised, feeling like it didn’t care to look after me like I looked after it. What was my reward for it all? Was any of this even worth it?

Yes, it was.

Little did I know Technician had one more fateful twist in store for me. The one that made it all worth it. The one that saved me from itself.

I realize now that my story at Technician isn’t about the amount of articles I wrote, the editions printed and certainly not about the amount of times I lost faith in all of it. It was about my former news editor, my current editor-in-chief and most importantly, my best friend, Kate Denning.

To my Kate, thank you. I found someone, something more important than Technician. I was so used to consuming myself with it all to the point of exhaustion, and you quickly erased that. All of a sudden I had perspective, and I had found my ‘Why.’

COURTESY OF STEPHEN KOVACS

LETTER

continued from page 11

A kind, strong woman that knew what she wanted, Kate took what she helped establish in Vol. 104 as the best news editor this publication has ever seen and ran with it, then becoming editor-in-chief of Vol. 105, a better one than I ever could be. You experienced your own share of pains at Technician, ones even worse than

mine, and every time you emerged stronger. I always smile when I see our names on the editor-in-chief plaque near the door of the office. I couldn’t be prouder of us for that.

Besides all that, Kate is the most impressive Technician writer and editor I have ever seen in my time at this publication. With a remarkable work ethic, endless willpower and a burning desire to impact the world through responsible and thoughtful journalism, you are a journalist through and through. You inspire me each

and every day, both in and outside of Technician. Consistently amazed by you and endlessly proud of you, I know you’ll do great things in the world of journalism, and I can’t wait to be by your side for all of them. You deserve so much more recognition and praise than I can include in words here. But for now, this’ll do. Intelligent, quick-witted, driven and thoughtful, you quickly became my entire life. Working with you this past year has been a dream, and it’s bittersweet to see it all end. For being

my person, the force that constantly drives me to be better and my peace after a long print night, I love you. I couldn’t have done any of this without you.

From harrowing board meetings to Belltower celebrations, I’ve been through it all in my time at Technician and in college at NC State. But my story at Technician was, and will always be, about finding you.

And for that I owe this place everything.

Letter from the editor:

If it weren’t for Technician

Colby Trotter Sports Editor

During my time as sports editor, both basketball teams made the Final Four in the same season, and I helped make a paper that thousands of students lined up for. I traveled to Arizona to cover the historic and unexpected run, interviewed some of the best athletes and coaches in college sports, sat in the press box alongside writers I admired and had a front row seat to some of the greatest moments in NC State athletics’ history — like men’s basketball overtime win over Oakland in the NCAA Tournament (shoutout Jack Gohlke).

But as incredible as those moments were, they were just cool things I got to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to do all of that. My 15-year-old self would’ve lost his mind if he was told that’s what college would look like. But when I talk about my time at Technician, those won’t be the first stories I tell.

It’ll be about the people.

Yeah, I get it, that sounds corny and like an empty platitude, but I truly mean it. And I’ll admit when I first joined Technician my freshman year, I did only care about the games I was covering and the stories I was writing. But as I built relationships with other writers and joined the editorial staff, I realized that covering games was just a cool part of the job — not the heart of it.

I walked up the steps at Witherspoon Student Center with a smile on my face, not because I was picking up a press pass to go to a game or because I had a story going into print but because I was about to spend about the next seven hours with people I genuinely loved being around.

Y’all became my family. You were the reason why print nights were always the highlight of my week. No matter how tough the day had been or how stressed I was trying to balance classes and work, my heart was full those nights because of the love I had for everyone in the office.

Technician taught me what really matters. Sure, the recognition and bylines were nice. But in the end, it’s about the relationships you build. The impact you have on each other’s lives.

With that in mind, I want to say thank you to the people who made Technician what it was for me — who made every late night worth it, who challenged me, supported me and made me laugh when I needed it most.

To Nicole, you’ve become my best and closest friend. Shout out to Isaac for recruiting you to video and encouraging you to apply for an editor role. Thank you for bugging me to go to the gym with you and making the effort to build a friendship with me. I’ve learned so much from you — about leadership, compassion and showing up for people. God knew exactly when we needed each other in our lives. We’ve grown so close, so quickly, and I realize how special our relationship is. And if it weren’t for Technician, I would’ve never met you. I love you.

To Kate, Ethan and Justin, thank you for the unwavering faith and trust y’all had in me to lead the sports section. Y’all gave me the freedom to be creative, the space to try new things and so much support. I never felt held back — only pushed forward. And if it weren’t for Technician, I would have never been able to express my creativity in such a way. I love y’all.

Special shoutout to the E in KEJ. Ethan, you became one of my first mentors. I learned so much from listening to you, reading your work and watching how you carried yourself. Anytime you complimented my writing, it meant the world because I looked up to you. When I took over as sports editor in the middle of Vol. 104, you were so patient and made sure I felt comfortable. And if it weren’t for Technician, I would have never gotten to learn from someone like you. I love you.

To Aidan and VDM, I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished with the sports section and the standard we set. Thank you for having tough conversations with me and saying what needed to

be said — it made us a better team. More than that, thank y’all for being there for me, not just as coworkers but as friends. Y’all were there for me when I was making one of the hardest decisions in my life, and you made me feel seen and supported. And if it weren’t for Technician, we wouldn’t have become so close. I love y’all.

To Noah, Erin and Jenna, we all joined the sports section at the same time, and we’ll always be connected because of that. Y’all made the section fun, welcoming and easy to grow in. Special shoutout to Jenna for giving up the sports editor role a month and a half before the dual Final Four runs that allowed me to take over.

Thank you Noah and Erin, for welcoming me in as the sports editor in the middle of the volume and helping me navigate those waters. Noah, our trips to Pittsburgh and Arizona to cover the men’s run to the Final Four along with Hallie and Rimolt are some of the best memories I’ll take with me. I loved every second working with you. And if it weren’t for Technician, I wouldn’t have been able to build those bonds with y’all. I love y’all.

Cate and Rimolt, thank y’all for always answering my texts about if we had photos for events. Photos elevate everything, and your work made ours better. Rimolt, I’ll miss our Tuesday night hugs and laughing about the Penguins blowing it again. Cate, I’ve loved getting to know you more this year, and I’m so proud of you for doing the Krispy Kreme Challenge a year after spraining your ankle. And if it weren’t for Technician, I wouldn’t have gotten to know y’all. I love you guys.

Jakob and Lucy, I’m not sure how y’all tolerated the sports section chaos every Tuesday night — though, Jakob, you were most certainly a part of the tomfoolery. But seriously, I appreciate every conversation we had with each other and the relationships we built. And if it weren’t for Technician, I would’ve never gotten the chance to become friends with y’all. I love y’all.

To the entire sports section, it’s been my greatest honor to lead this group.

Watching y’all grow as writers and people has been my favorite part of the job. I’ve learned that while I may not pursue a career in sports journalism, what I do love is leading and making a difference in people’s lives. I hope I’ve made a positive impact on your lives. And if it weren’t for Technician, I would’ve never been able to lead such a great group of people. I love y’all.

If I didn’t mention you by name, it doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It only takes one bad apple to spoil the whole barrel, and our group didn’t have a single one.

To everyone stepping into Vol. 106 — you’re about to experience something incredibly special. Skye and Nicole form an incredible duo, and I’m genuinely jealous of everyone who gets to be part of what’s ahead. I will be cheering you on from wherever life takes me next.

I’m definitely sad my time here is over, but I’m not leaving with a hollow heart. I’m leaving full. Full of gratitude, full of memories and full of love for the people I met and the relationships that will stay with me the rest of my life.

And if it weren’t for Technician, none of it would’ve happened.

Letter from the editor: Thank you, Technician, for everything

Aidan Carlson Assistant Sports Editor

Covering NC State sports as a kid who grew up a Wolfpack fan in “enemy territory” — Durham, North Carolina — wasn’t something I ever thought possible. Now, putting my name and words in print has etched my name in NC State and Technician history a little bit — mementos I have kept every time. I don’t know how many other writers or editors remember exactly when they decided they were going to join Technician. Like them, I don’t remember the exact day. But the reason for why? I remember it as if I am still a correspondent.

A freshman year that was still reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and isolation, I never felt like the community I wanted was there for me, but it was something I knew I desperately wanted. Spending seven years in the same place before NC State, you forget that finding

a community and friends is harder than you think.

At the end of the fall semester of my sophomore year, I walked across campus to the third floor of the Witherspoon Student Center, not sure if anything would change once I had left. As it turns out, it changed a lot. It changed my life.

Ushering me into the office to give me the Technician spiel was, at the time, Assistant Sports Editor Ethan Bakogiannis. What that conversation was has been long forgotten, but what I did takeaway was my first article assignment and that sports meetings are on Tuesdays.

From then on, every Tuesday, I was in the Technician office talking about sports with people I never thought would become some of my closest friends.

Without Ethan putting me to work right away, you probably never get to read this letter — it probably never gets written. I love playing tennis matches that felt like Federer

vs. Nadal, but definitely didn’t look like it. Or doing a Tony Romo impression that never fails to get a laugh.

Thank you, Sam Overton, for taking me under your wing as the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Beyond the Canes you have been there when I needed it most, as an advisor and a friend.

To Jenna Cuniowski and Erin Ferrare, you guys were the blueprint for me, I look up to you guys more than you know. Thanks for letting me pester you all this time.

Thank you to Colby Trotter, Connor VanDerMark, Jakob Halbur and Ethan Rimolt. It would be easy for seven-plus hour-long print nights to be the death of me, but you guys made it fun and something I couldn’t miss.

I hope you guys got as much joy out of watching me spin around in a chair 100 times before doing a lap of the office as I did ordering a cheesesteak stromboli from NY Slice that took 30 minutes to make and watching Jakob drop his food on the floor.

Thank you to all of Volume 105 Editorial

Board; there isn’t a group of people I’d rather make the paper with. Thank you to those of you who made up the Super Stokers, Full Court Press or whatever you want to call it. Playing intramural basketball with you guys was the highlight of my Thursdays and hitting a buzzer-beater in the last game is something I won’t forget.

Thank you to the readers. I never would have thought that an article would change football head coach Dave Doeren’s postgame vocabulary or call for me to be tarred and feathered. I enjoyed the positive feedback as much as I did riling you up.

Thank you, thank you, thank you and a million times more. It’s an honor and a privilege to have been a part of Technician these last two-and-a-half years. People say to live life without regrets but if there was one thing I’d change, I’d have walked up to the third floor of Witherspoon on day one.

Thank you,

Aidan Carlson, Assistant Sports Editor

Letter from the editor: Bittersweet release

Justin Welch Managing Editor

Oh boy, OK I guess we’re doing this.

I started as an editor here two years ago by editing and publishing these very farewell letters from the Vol. 103 editorial board. I had no idea what mine would look like all this time later, and I doubt anything I write can do my time and experience here any justice.

I worked here in some shape or fashion from the semester I stepped foot on this campus. For me, NC State and my college years will always be Technician. It was my community. It shaped the person I am now, and for the better.

Mari Fabian, always my editor, my journey begins and ends because of you. Thank you for entrusting me to take your stead. You irreversibly changed the trajectory of my life. Also, huge shoutout to Elyse Boldizar for not wanting to become the Opinion Editor in Vol. 104 — couldn’t be where I am now without you!

To Jameson Wolf and Emily Vespa, certainly my favorite members of JEE: Jameson, it’s an interesting dynamic to really look up to someone who’s your own age, but that was certainly how I felt working with you last year. You were a steady, grounding presence fit for someone years your senior. Keep fighting the good fight against the rats in rat city. Emily, you were my model and inspiration for this job. I sought to bring your spirit and continue your work’s legacy this year. I believe Hemily were the ones who gave me a duck at the tail end of Vol. 103, which, though maybe a small or seemingly inconsequential act, was

actually incredibly sincere and made me feel welcome when I absolutely felt like an imposter.

To KEJ, boy wasn’t that fun!

Ethan Bakogiannis, I was joking about the JEE thing. It genuinely feels like I’ve known you all my life. I haven’t laughed with anyone as much as you in, well, I don’t really know how long. We were the greatest managing editor duo to ever grace the Earth. Yin and yang. Curry and Klay. Smegel and Frodo. I don’t know if you have fully clocked it, but you had a profound influence on this publication and deserve immense credit for the shape it’s in today.

Kate, you have become one of my best friends in the last year. It was my delight to serve as your managing editor and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone else. You demonstrated again and again that you were the only person for the job, and you consistently met and held a standard no one else could. I do not exaggerate when I say at times you handled things with such conviction and poise that I was left in awe. It’s a shame that you will have to resign in disgrace before the volume turns over. Kind of like the Richard Nixon of Technician I guess. Ethan, of course, is Agnew in this scenario and will also have to resign.

Speaking of editors-in-chief, Skye Crawford is going to take this publication to the moon. Skye, I am immensely proud of you, the things you’ve done and the direction you’re heading. You deserve to be where you are and I have full confidence that you will uphold the values, integrity and tradition of this newspaper. You are an incredible writer and editor, and a better friend. The opinion section will always reign

supreme at Technician.

I could write a sonnet singing the praises of every person I’ve worked with for the past four years. Tuesdays are certainly not the envy of the regular work week for regular people, but for the past two years, they have been my most cherished nights. I came to work to escape from the rest of the world; not many have the privilege of saying the same.

Technician is a staple of NC State and incredibly fortunate to have as advanced an apparatus as it does. This is a testament to the many, many people who work here in many different capacities and the talents of our students. I have travelled across the state and country representing this publication, and I can tell you with

absolute certainty our university has it much better than others when it comes to student media support. Few student newspapers are able to run a weekly physical print paper, that is if they even print at all. For all the benefits NC State sees from the publication, the community should seek to protect it in its purest form for as long as it runs.

The tradition and drive of students at Technician makes this a unique publication with immeasurable value for our campus and community. To the future editors, writers and readers of Technician, make sure you cherish it. You’ll be glad you did.

With love,

Justin Welch

ETHAN RIMOLT/TECHNICIAN

Letter from the editor: Friends in photo places

Ethan Rimolt

Photo Editor

It’s funny that the three years of photo editing for Technician ends in writing. I’m not a writer nor a talker. That’s why I’ve taken photos and edited around here for this long, but I need to thank some people from my time here at NC State and at Technician.

First off, I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for giving me the opportunity to do this job and for introducing me to people who, frankly, have helped me improve as a person and have loved me unconditionally.

Thank you to my mom, dad and big brother, Carrie, Chris and Adam Rimolt. I would be nothing without your endless love and support. I’m graduating, y’all, I did it!

I’ve had the pleasure of working with two incredible photo editors for these years, Mollie Mitchell and Cate Humphreys. Mollie is hard for me to describe with words, but I can say she’s the best boss I’ve worked for. Mollie, thank you for pushing me to do my best, for

showing me the ropes, for your patience and for your kindness. Cate Humphreys is a person of compassion. Cate, thank you for your incredibly hard work, for picking up where I fell short and for creating an environment of positivity and inclusivity even when it was difficult to do.

Some days would be really hard at Technician. I’d be at wits end and wondering if I was even good at my job. On those nights, I could always rely on my little group of guys to give me a laugh. Colby Trotter, Aidan Carlson and Connor VanDerMark, our sports editors, and our assistant video editor Jakob Halbur. Colby, Aidan, Connor and Jakob are the guys who can make you laugh on your hardest days. They’re the guys who will make sure you leave work with a smile and who will give you a hard time when the Pittsburgh Penguins get beat by their favorite team (thanks y’all). I cannot thank you enough for the laughs, for your patience with me and for your unlimited ball knowledge.

A special thank you to my best friend at

NC State and one of my bosses at Technician, Ethan Bakogiannis. It seems to be a coincidence that I make such good friends with people named Ethan, but it isn’t. Ethan, thank you so much for everything you’ve done for me over the years here. You are a man of humility and humor. You will go so far in life, and I truly hope to be by your side when you do. Thank you for making me laugh to the point of crying with your Joker impression. I’ll never forget our time here in college. I can’t even fit the rest of the people that I need to thank on this page. NC State Student Media is filled with some of the best people at NC State. I truly mean that. It has been a privilege to know each and every one of you, to learn from you, to laugh with you and to struggle with you.

If you are someone who has happened to make it to the end of this thank-you-fest, just take this one part to heart if you take anything from this: Give generously, love fully, take that risk in your life and just know that if nobody else believes in you, I do.

Letter from the editor: Farewell Technician

— the place that grounded me, the people who lifted me

I can’t believe it’s over. Technician has meant so much to me and will continue to for the rest of my life. I’ve had many coworkers come and go, some who would laugh at my previous statement. But those who get it, get it.

Witherspoon Student Center, in all its blinding LEDs and haunted elevator glory, has unironically been a great place of comfort for me over the past three years.

In some of my most difficult moments, Witherspoon was there. Whether I was part of the photo staff, serving as photo editor or occasionally contributing as a writer at Technician, I always had somewhere to go — a place that grounded me during some of the hardest times I’ve faced so far.

I had work, and that felt, at most times, deeply rewarding. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m damn good at it, too.

My preteen self would be absolutely giddy over the opportunities I’ve had: from photographing Dreamville 2024 and seeing SZA live, to capturing former Vice President Kamala Harris. Even something as simple as dressing up my coworkers for Halloween — my favorite holiday — and photographing each of them reminded me how much joy I find in this work. These are experiences I’ll carry with me forever.

Now for the long list of sappy thank yous:

Rimolt, thank you for reminding me not to take myself too seriously. It has been a

pleasure getting to know you over the past two years. I know God has great things in store for you.

E-sports, thank you for the Joker impressions. Seriously. So unexpectedly hilarious.

Kate, you’re a badass. Thank you for reminding me that I am one too.

Justin, please never griddy again. In all seriousness, thank you for taking an interest in my writing. I bet you didn’t know photographers were literate.

Skye, your kind spirit lifted me up so many nights. Thank you for that. And for Rumpel, 105’s mascot. I can’t wait to see your leadership thrive in Vol. 106.

Rocky, I have truly enjoyed our philosophical conversations. Remember your worth and your power. The world is yours.

Sarah, thank you for bearing witness and participating in the absurdity of our round table. Thank you for your iPad Instagram Reels, and just for being a good friend.

Colby, the best coach ever. Thank you for being unapologetically yourself, and reminding us all that we possess immense amounts of strength and potential. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.

Aidan, thank you for making that threepointer during the last second of our intramural basketball game. I have not felt that much excitement since I was a child. Seriously, y’all, I ran out onto the court like a freak.

Connor, thank you for being the source of many laughs during print nights. The

sports section wouldn’t have been the same without you. Now go get yourself a Chipotle burrito.

Matthew, your dedication to news writing and journalism has not gone unnoticed. You continue to impress me. Thank you for everything you bring — to life and to Tech.

Olivia, you are nothing but a delight. Working with you has been so endearing. I hope your senior year is filled with much good fortune. You deserve it.

Lucy, thank you for being a ray of sunshine. I have loved working with you on countless last-minute covers, your artistry and hard work does not go unnoticed. I’m sincerely grateful for the experiences we’ve had together.

Nicole, I’m so glad Charlie brought you in, even though you didn’t become a photographer. Your maturity, poise and little-boy humor have truly been a gift. I’m genuinely excited to see your leadership shine and to witness the positive impact you’ll have on the paper next year.

Jakob, thank you for always letting me use your adapter and being a listening ear to the most outlandish drama ever. I’m looking forward to seeing what you accomplish next year. Hang in there.

To the visual staff, our community has meant so much to me, as I hope it has meant as much to you. Be kind, stay driven and do cool shit. Remember the job is what you make it.

Ally, you are the most delusional person I’ve ever met and I love you so much for it.

The best thing to come out of my time at Technician is our friendship. You’ve been a light, even when we’re both in darkness. I promise, for the hundredth time, I will not forget about you when I graduate. You are my best friend, I need you too. Let’s go get some Golden Dragon.

To Technician, thank you for letting me shine. You offered me solace. A place, physical and spiritual, that I could turn to. A creative outlet that provided me with the greatest community of people I could’ve asked for during my college experience. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner. I love y’all.

Thanks Vol. 103, 104 and 105, it’s been a ride. See y’all next time, Ethan

COURTESY OF MOLLIE MITCHELL

ETHAN RIMOLT/TECHNICIAN

Cate Humphreys

Photo Editor

Vince Robinson’s rise to become a national champion

Noah Teague Staff Writer

In the span of just a few short minutes in Philadelphia, a legend was made. Redshirt freshman Vince Robinson ascended to the top of college wrestling with a lightweight national championship.

“I said I was gonna do it, and I did it,” Robinson said. “It felt amazing. I’ve never felt a feeling like that.”

NC State wrestling’s history is filled with storied careers and talented stars, but there have only been nine individual national championships for the Wolfpack — the latest being Robinson’s. Joining an exclusive club, Robinson etched his name into the sport’s history books in his first opportunity. On the surface, it looks like a sprint, but the result is the product of years of hard work and dedication.

“Any time you can win a national title, it’s the pinnacle of our sport,” said head coach Pat Popolizio. “For an athlete, when they set their goals to do it, and then it becomes a reality, I think that’s very rewarding.”

Once reaching NC State, Robinson has battled through adversity. Yet, no matter what challenge emerged, Robinson faced it head-on. From injuries to frustrating finishes, many wrestlers would have given up — but not Robinson. Instead, Robinson fought every step of the way, motivated to win and confident in his abilities.

“Sometimes the separation from some guys is the blind confidence they have in themselves,” Popolizio said. “That’s one thing that Vinnie brings to the table. He’s shown that he believes in himself … and he backs up everything that he believes in, and that’s what it takes to win at this level.”

Robinson’s first challenge came at the beginning of the season during the team’s Wrestle-Offs event. Facing one of the more experienced wrestlers in all of college wrestling, Robinson took a 5-4 loss at the hands of redshirt senior Jakob Camacho. Despite stumbling in the intrasquad scrimmage, Robinson used it to learn and improve.

“It motivated me a lot,” Robinson said. “That moment when I didn’t win the wrestle off, it hurt because everybody hates losing for sure.”

With the encouragement of his coaches, Robinson continued to work at his craft and when the time came, was ready to step up. Before ACC play began, Robinson was a regular in the Wolfpack’s lineup. However, a

knee injury requiring surgery in December proved to be Robinson’s next hurdle.

“When that happened, I was just bummed out for real,” Robinson said. “[Associate head coach Zack Esposito] stayed on me during that time, just to stay motivated and to focus on the main goal. The main goal was still three months ahead.”

Like he did all season, Robinson didn’t let the setback stop him in his quest to be a national champion. Robinson returned in time for a non-conference showdown at Oklahoma State where he faced none other than Troy Spratley — his eventual opponent in the 125-pound national championship. The win cemented Robinson’s status as a national star while also showing that his work was paying off.

“He had to get his knee cleaned up, and he was out for a month,” Popolizio said. “A lot of guys come off those injuries and just don’t believe in themselves and question their ability. … I think that speaks to the type of competitor he is.”

Robinson certainly looked the part following his knee surgery and began tearing

through ACC competition. Arguably, the biggest moment of Robinson’s regular season came against UNC, where Robinson dominated a high-stakes matchup against Carolina’s Spencer Moore. In the final bout of the evening, the Wolfpack needed a win from Robinson to complete a ten-point comeback. The redshirt freshman delivered for NC State and extended the Pack’s winning streak to 12 dual meets over the Tar Heels.

“That was my first rivalry duel, so those moments, I was just excited,” Robinson said. “All your teammates are there, and it’s on the road. … I just like moments like that to shine. It’s all on me, so I want to get it done. It’s like a buzzer beater in an NBA game.”

From there, Robinson continued to soar. Despite falling short in the ACC Championship against Virginia Tech’s Eddie Ventresca, Robinson secured the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The rest is history — Robinson won five matches in the NCAA Tournament to bring home the national championship. The championship not only brought Robinson to the mountaintop but

also added on to the strong legacy of the entire program.

“It’s very refreshing, and it was much needed for this program,” Popolizio said. “There were a lot of moving components this year, and we really needed some guys to step up, and that’s exactly what we got out of him.”

While he’s now at the mountaintop, don’t expect Robinson to hand away his crown. Instead, Robinson is facing his next challenge with determination and confidence to remain the best.

“I’ve never really been in this position,” Robinson said. “Being the top guy, I think it just motivates me more because now they want to come and cut the snake’s head off, and I can’t let them do that.”

Challengers will certainly be lined up to bring Robinson their best every time he takes the mat. However, with a full offseason to get healthy and improve his craft, Robinson has plenty in store for next season and is just getting started.

CHARLIE OTTO LILIENTHAL/TECHNICIAN

Redshirt freshman Vince Robinson walks out during the parade of All-Americans during the NCAA Wrestling Championship Tournament in the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

Midseason takeaways from NC State baseball’s underwhelming start, promising recovery

Lights too bright

A lot of influential people had high expectations for NC State baseball in 2025. Coming off of a College World Series berth, the Pack was ranked No. 13 in D1Baseball’s preseason rankings and had some of the highest-ranked pitchers in the ACC.

Despite the hype, the Pack quickly fell out of the rankings after a five-game losing streak early in the season. Six weeks and 24 games later, NC State finds itself at 7-5 in the ACC with series wins over Pittsburgh, Virginia and Virginia Tech — and picking up one of three against Duke, the reigning ACC champs — making a small case to get back into the top-25 rankings.

Even with the recovery, NC State is far from the contender status that fans had hoped for. Why has the Pack not lived up to expectations?

After the Pack’s loss to Liberty in February, head coach Elliot Avent did not appreciate all the hype being thrown in the direction of the team, especially toward sophomore reliever Jacob Dudan, who was touted as the No. 1 reliever in the nation in the D1Baseball preseason rankings. Dudan blew a three-run lead in the ninth, kicking off the five-game losing streak and a rough start to the season.

“He just got too many accolades,” Avent said. “He was unbelievable last year when nobody knew his name, and now, every time he picks up a paper, I’m sure he’s seeing how he’s the best reliever in the country.”

Dudan’s ERA was 20.25 after four appearances, and he looked like a shell of his freshman-year self. But after a few quality outings, his ERA has slowly come back down to just 4.85.

A similar story can be told about sophomore catcher Alex Sosa, who was one of the

few familiar names returning to NC State’s roster. Sosa has started 11 of 12 conference games so far and is batting just .263 — not great for a player who was expected by some to carry the offense.

Bright spots

Even without strong performances from Sosa and Dudan, NC State is still relying on underclassmen to get the job done. Only three players have started all 32 games for the Pack this year — freshman center fielder Ty Head, sophomore first baseman Chris McHugh and sophomore second baseman Luke Nixon.

In the ebbs and flows of the baseball season, most players go through periods of inconsistency — but not star freshman Head. He has started every game this season for a reason. Head ranks sixth in the ACC for on-base percentage at .500 and second in walks, with 36. His plate discipline has put the Pack in positions to win, most recently

by getting a walk to put senior designated hitter Josh Hogue at the plate, leading to a walkoff win.

“It’s really tough to play with younger people at this stage,” Avent said. “But we’ve got some young guys doing some special things.”

Along with the young bunch, a few of the veterans have also stepped up in ACC play. Senior shortstop Justin DeCriscio is batting just under .300 with six homers, and junior reliever Andrew Shaffner has posted a 1.24 ERA in 12 appearances. Hogue and junior right fielder Brayden Fraasman both hold hit streaks of six games. Junior starting pitcher Dominic Fritton has solidified himself as the top dog, with a season ERA of 2.85, a massive jump from his sophomore year 7.64.

If Dudan and Sosa can climb out of their sophomore slumps, the Pack would morph into a formidable force come postseason. With six series to play, we’ll find out who can handle the spotlight.

Daniel Susann Staff Writer

GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN

Freshman outfielder Ty Head leaps and catches a ball at the wall during the Wolfpack’s home game against the Virginia Cavaliers on Doak Field at Dail Park on Friday, April 4, 2025. Head stole a home run on defense and went two for two before being walked the rest of the game from the batter’s box. The Cavaliers beat the Wolfpack 8-6 to take the first game of the series.

NC State men’s basketball transfer portal shortlist

Brennan Weiss Correspondent

With the transfer portal open and new head coach Will Wade at the helm, NC State men’s basketball has a lot of ground to cover if it wants to live up to Wade’s bold introductory press conference promises.

After former McNeese State guards Alyn Breed and Quadir Copeland announced they’d be following their coach to Raleigh, there are still a lot of scholarship spots left on the roster. Let’s take a look at the players NC State is trying to fill those spots with and see what they could bring to the team.

Devin Haid

Devin Haid worked his way up to Division I, playing at the JUCO level for Cuyahoga Community College in 2022-2023 and then Division II for Notre Dame College Ohio in 2023-2024 before transferring to Central Connecticut State last season. Haid averaged 14.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and was selected to the All-NEC second team this year.

At 6-foot-5 in the guard role, his game has a lot of similarities to Bethea’s. The big difference is that he is more effective when he can get by defenders instead of settling for 3-point shots. Last season, he averaged four 3-point attempts per game and made 31.8% of them. That’s not exactly elite shooting, but Wade has employed guards with similar numbers effectively in the past. He is also strong enough to rip rebounds away from other players, something he does a lot.

This season, he was named as a finalist for the Riley Wallace Award, given to the season’s most impactful transfer player. Haid is ready to make another big impact next year, hearing from Mississippi State, West Virginia, St. Johns, Texas and, of course, NC State.

Rodney Rice

Rodney Rice hardly needs an introduction, starting for Maryland in a lineup that earned the moniker “Crab Five.” A four-star recruit out of high school, Rice committed to Virginia Tech in 2022. He struggled with injuries and was in and out of the lineup for all of that season, only playing eight games. His next year was even worse, with a broken ankle and hand keeping him out all year before he transferred to Maryland, where he got the opportunity to show off his skills.

Averaging 13.8 points per game and shooting 37.4% from 3 on almost six attempts per game, he was a crucial part of a Maryland roster that earned a four-seed in the NCAA Tournament on its way to losing in the Sweet 16 to No. 1 Florida. His ability to create shots around the perimeter would see him as a focal point in Wade’s offense. His defensive

skills do not stand out, but he played big minutes on one of the best defenses in the nation, and he is far from a liability.

As the 17th-ranked player in the transfer portal according to 247Sports, Rice is highly sought after, one of those teams being Villanova — the team his head coach at Maryland, Kevin Willard, left for. In addition to the Wildcats, he has heard from tournament titans Gonzaga and UConn and is being pursued by a number of Maryland’s in-conference rivals, including Michigan and Indiana. It’ll take more than just Wade’s charisma to earn him over, but he would make a huge difference for the Wolfpack.

Juslin Bodo Bodo

Unlike most of the guys on this list, Juslin Bodo Bodo earned his stripes on the defensive side of the court. Hailing from Yaounde, Cameroon, he committed to High Point University as a three-star recruit out of high school. With High Point, he won Big South Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back years. This year, he was named to the All Big South first team, averaging 5.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

His 7-foot, 240-pound frame contributes to his menacing presence on defense, but he also ranks number one in KenPom’s offensive rebound rating. His rebounding, especially in open space, may be his best skill. He is not much of a shooter, but he is a dangerous lob threat and often puts back his or his teammates’ misses around the rim.

Conference competitors Florida State and Virginia have reached out to Bodo Bodo in

addition to Texas and NC State. Not every player in the portal is seven feet tall, so Wade’s team will have to fight hard to bring him here.

Rodney Johnson Jr.

Rodney Johnson Jr. is a bit of an unknown on the transfer market. Johnson played for Panola College at the JUCO level in the 2021-2022 season and then for Weatherford College in the 2022-2023 season before transferring and playing two years at Tennessee Tech. Thanks to a new NCAA ruling, athletes who transferred from JUCO and just used their last year of eligibility will be granted another one, so pending future rulings, he has another year to play.

A 6-foot-5 guard, Johnson scored 13.0 points per game, as well as grabbing 5.8 boards and shooting 40.2% from 3 in the 2024-2025 season. He is not afraid of contact, scoring almost 40% of his baskets around the rim. Most of his 3s are catch-and-shoot, but he will let it fly when he’s unguarded coming down the floor. Shot creation is not his specialty, but he knows how to use his size and strength to his advantage when matched up with smaller players.

Johnson has received offers from a number of other Division I programs, but NC State is the only Power 4 school to reach out to him so far.

Malique Ewin

The second center on this list, Malique Ewin played for Florida State last year. As a

four-star recruit, he committed to Ole Miss and played one season before transferring to South Plains Community College to play at the JUCO level. After being named to the NJCAA All-American First-Team, he transferred to Florida State this past season, where he averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Ewin had a monster game against the Wolfpack last season, scoring 23 points and grabbing nine rebounds in an 84-74 loss for Florida State.

At 6-foot-11, 230 pounds, he moves surprisingly well with the ball, bringing it down the court sometimes and attacking lanes when he sees space. He scores most of his points in the post and at the rim, where he has a wide array of moves. He is great at making the pass out of double teams, not only to the perimeter but also to teammates under the basket. He saw a lot of use in pick-and-rolls where his good hands made him an effective lob threat. Overall, he has a very fleshed-out offensive game.

The Wolfpack would be thrilled to win over a guy like Ewin, but every team in the country looking for a center will be ringing his line.

Will Wade has his hands full filling up the roster for the 2025-2026 season but has found plenty of the right guys to target. The transfer portal doesn’t close until April 22, so this process will go on for weeks — the Wolfpack’s next star player might not even be in the portal yet.

GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN

Chancellor Randy Woodson and Athletics Director Boo Corrigan look towards Will Wade during his press conference inside Reynolds Coliseum. NC State introduced Will Wade as its 21st head coach in program history on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

18 TECHNICIAN

Impressive senior class set to lead No. 5 Pack men’s tennis against No. 1 Wake Forest

Ethan Bakogiannis Managing Editor

No. 5 NC State men’s tennis earned its highest ranking in program history last week. Led by head coach Kyle Spencer and its trio of accomplished, impactful seniors, the Wolfpack is gearing up for its highest potential postseason run in recent memory. With only one match remaining in the regular season, the red-and-white has its first ACC title since 1979 firmly in its sights.

But the regular season finale will come against none other than the undefeated, undisputed No. 1 Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Raleigh on Saturday night.

A titanic clash of two of the best teams in the country, the ACC rivals will square off in what is easily the Wolfpack’s highestanticipated regular-season match in years. Both teams hold undefeated conference records, and whether it’s in the fall, in ITA Indoor competitions or in the postseason, NC State and Wake Forest are no strangers to facing each other in high-stakes matchups.

“We’re playing for the ACC Championship,” Spencer said. “I mean, I don’t have to tell anybody that — they can see the records. We’re both undefeated. We’re getting them at home. And the interesting part is that we see them all the time.”

In the past five meetings with the Demon Deacons, NC State has only claimed victory once, in 2023. That victory came in an electric 4-2 thriller in Raleigh — the only one of those matches played at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. While NC State has already faced Wake Forest this season in a 4-1 loss at the ITA National Indoors Competition, the Wolfpack is eager for a rematch, this time at home, under the lights.

NC State has beaten a whopping seven top-25 teams, and four of those wins have come against teams in the top-10. While it’s hard to believe, the Pack’s best year yet hasn’t been defined by those wins, it’s been highlighted by the world-class culture built by Spencer and his three seniors, Braden Shick, Fons Van Sambeek and Luca Staeheli.

If there’s one reason NC State can beat the best team in college tennis, it’s because of the standard those seniors have been building since day one of their freshman year.

It’s a culture that Spencer has preached every day of his tenure. One based on family, high character, hard work and not a focus on rankings or wins, but on the willingness to fight tooth and nail for every point, for every match.

Shick, Van Sambeek and Staeheli embody those values like no other.

“When we talk about characteristics of people that I know and that I’ve coached, they would be right at the top,” Spencer said.

The three players were celebrated at the Pack’s senior day ceremony Sunday. Met with rousing applause from fans and praise from their coaches, Senior Day was a celebration of how impactful they were to the program, not about the matches they won.

“I don’t think words are really going to do it justice because of the people they are,”

Spencer said. “I mean we can talk about their talents as a player, you can talk about what they’ve done in big matches, which all of them have come through just in amazing fashion. But where we sit now is a direct reflection of their belief, of the way they carry themselves, their love for the program, their love for their teammates. They will be missed. They’ll never be forgotten.”

Shick, Van Sambeek and Staeheli have been together since the Pack’s 2021 season. They have grown up together throughout their collegiate careers, and didn’t focus on talking about their achievements after

Senior Day, but on the memories they made together.

“I feel like we’ve just grown the three of us all together, and it’s really showing this last year, it’s awesome to really start to get the results that we wanted,” Shick said.

“But I think the thing that I’ll remember and cherish most is the locker rooms after the practices, after the matches, the team dinners, and just all the memories we have as a team, the funny moments — I think that’s the most special thing.”

That selfless culture based on the things outside tennis is core to what makes the Pack so special, especially this year. Of course, however, NC State is still a handful to manage for any team in the country, largely because of those seniors.

However, Wake Forest will be their toughest test yet — perhaps the best team Spencer, Shick, Van Sambeek and Staeheli have ever faced together. But the Wolfpack isn’t planning to adjust its identity. The goal remains the same: Embrace the chaos, lean into the pressure and get into a dogfight with the Demon Deacons.

“I think we’re really focused on getting

into a fight and doing what we do, and being excited about doing that, and excited about having a fantastic environment with a huge crowd on a big day, and I think that’s what we live to play for,” Spencer said. “I think they live to play for that too. And so I think it’s going to be — whether it’s Saturday or in the ACC Championship or in the NCAA Championship — I think it’s fantastic for us, for college tennis, for the two programs.”

It’ll make for one of the most exciting and highly anticipated matches of the college tennis season, let alone NC State’s season. First serve against the Demon Deacons is set for 5 p.m. Saturday at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center in Raleigh.

No matter the amount of height, pressure or expectations for Saturday and beyond, the Wolfpack’s culture, success and chances of downing the top team in men’s college tennis all rest on the steady shoulders of its seniors.

“They’re the guys that are going to keep the team together,” Spencer said. “They’re the guys that are gonna set the level. They’re the guys that the younger guys will look to. We go through them.”

LILY MCCABE/TECHNICIAN

Seniors Braden Shick, Fons Van Sambeek and Luca Staeheli smile during their Senior Day ceremony after the match versus SMU at J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center on Sunday, April 6, 2025. The Wolfpack beat the Mustangs 4-1.

Finding the Resurrection Power of Christ

Jesus Christ is the One who conquered death. Proven by his resurrection, Christ has the power to transform your life from the inside-out with new purpose, meaning, and joy. In great love and mercy, God sent Jesus as the perfect and sinless sacrifice to forgive sin. Through Christ you can know God personally and enjoy him forever. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus never forces or coerces anyone to believe in him. Neither do we. This Easter we simply invite you to investigate Christ as God’s gift for new life. We are a group of faculty and staff who are united in our discovery and experience that Jesus Christ provides intellectually and spiritually satisfying answers to life’s most important questions. Interested? Have questions? Talk with us or go to EveryStudent.com or MeetTheProf.com. Contact us at cfsn-ncsu.org or info@cfsn-ncsu.org – Sponsored and paid for by the Christian Faculty Staff Network at NCSU

Everette Gray Allen – OIT IT Specialist

Dr. Chris Austin – CSAPC

Clarissa Spencer Austin – Center for Integrated Pest Management

Dr. Suzanne Balik – Department of Computer Science

Dr. Steve H. Barr – Management, Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Valerie Basham – NC State Veterinary Hospital

Carrie Baum-Lane – Applied Ecology

Dr. Mark Beasley – Department of Accounting

Donise Benton – Department of Communication

Dr. Emily Zechman Berglund – Civil, Const. & Environ. Engineering

Dr. Roy Borden – Professor Emeritus Civil Engineering

Dr. Michael Boyette – Professor Emeritus Bio. & Ag. Engineering

Dr. Marianne Bradford – Poole College of Management

Kiresten Branch – Department of Computer Science

Dr. Rick L. Brandenburg – Entomology & Plant Pathology

Dr. Joseph Brazel – Department of Accounting

Dr. Steve Broome – Crop & Soil Science

Dr. A. Blake Brown – Agricultural & Resource Economics

Dr. Kathryn L. Brown – Arts Entrepreneurship

Dr. Gregory Buckner – Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Dr. Wayne Buhler – Horticultural Science

Dr. Lisa Bullard – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Michael Bustle – Global Training Initiative

Connie Caldwell – College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Dr. Al Chen – Accounting Department

Jeannie Chen – Budget and Resource Manangement

Dr. Mo-Yuen Chow – Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Dr. Maurice Cook – Professor Emeritus, Soil Science

Donna Cooper – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Dr. Rich Cooper – Crop & Soil Sciences

Judith F. Daniels – College Of Agriculture & Life Sciences/CBO

Dr. Rhett Davis – Electrical & Computer Engineering

Steven DelGrosso – Industrial & Systems Engineering

Heather Dellinger – Career Development Center

Dr. Christopher S. DePerno – Dept. of Forestry & Environ. Resources

Dr. Joseph L. Donaldson – Agricultural & Human Sciences

Dr. Jon Doyle – Computer Science

Shawn Dunning – College of Engineering, ITECS

Dr. Harriett C. Edwards – Agricultural & Human Sciences

Dr. Michael Edwards – Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management

Kenny Ferguson, MBA – Director of Information Technology

Dr. Peter Ferket – Prestage Department of Poultry Science

Patricia Anne Fields – College of Education

Dr. April Fogleman – Food, Bioprocessing, & Nutrition Sciences

Dr. Mary Fosnaught – Prestage Department of Poultry Science

Dr. Sherry L. Fowler – Poole College of Management

Dr. Garey Fox – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Dean

Dr. Bonnie C. Fusarelli – Professor, College of Education

Dr. Betty Gardner – Biological Sciences

Dr. Ed Gehringer – Department of Computer Science

Pamarah Gerace – University Student Legal Services

Dr. Gary Gilleskie – Biomanufacturing Training & Education Center

Jason Gipe – College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Lucy Gottlieb – Institute for Advanced Analytics

Dr. Andy Hale – Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Dr. Steven Hall – Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Spencer Hamrick – Department of Statistics

Alicia Harris – College of Humanities & Social Science

Felicia Harris – College of Education

Dr. Gabriel Keith Harris – Food, Bioprocessing, & Nutrition Sciences

Nikki Harris – College of Natural Resources

Dr. Robert B. Hayes – Nuclear Engineering

Dr. Gary Hodge – Forestry & Environmental Resources

Dr. Dennis Hazel – Forestry & Environmental Resources

Gail Hill – GTI

Dr. Daniel Israel – Crop & Soil Sciences

Dr. Lee Ivy – Director of the Agricultural Institute, Ag. & Life Sciences

Dr. Chad Jordan – Plant & Microbial Biology

Dr. David L Jordan – Crop Science

Dr. Ivan Kandilov – Agricultural & Resource Economics

Lisa L. Keel – Design and Construction

Sandi Keith – Department of Health & Exercise Studies

Laura Kelly – Communication, Rhetoric & Digital Media

Dr. Jung-Eun Kim – Department of Computer Science

Dr. Sung Woo Kim – Animal Science Nutrition

Deanna Knighton – College of Natural Resources

Dr. Kenny Kuo – Molecular & Structural Biochemistry

Dr. Aleksandra Kymalainen – Department of Chemistry

Bryce Lane – Horticultural Science

Dr. Aric LaBarr – Institute for Advanced Analytics

Dr. Tyre Lanier – Food Science

Jamie Larsen – Department of English

Dr. Jerome P. Lavelle – College of Engineering

Dr. Crystal Lee – Teacher Ed. & Learning Sciences

Issac Lewis – Horticultural Science

Katrina Lewis – Advancement Services

Dr. Fanxing Li – Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

Dr. Jianqing Liu – Department of Computer Science

Dr. David Livingston – Crop Science

Dr. Frank Louws – Horticultural Science

Paige Luck – Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences

Felicia Mangum – Athletics, Women’s Basketball

Dr. Robert H. Martin Jr. – Emeritus Professor, Mathematics

Dr. Meredith Martinez, PE – Dept. of Civil, Constr., & Environ. Engr.

Dr. Stephanie Mathews – Department of Biological Sciences

Julia Matthews-McClain – Psychology Department

Dr. Jacquelyn McClelland – Emeritus, Ag. & Human Sciences

Lis Meyer – Horticultural Science

Dr. Tom Melton – NC State Extension

Dr. Jason Miller – Department of English

Katie Miller – University Communications

Dr. Steven L. Miller – College of Education

Julie L. Moon – Catering Sales Liaison

Dr. Annette Moore – Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management

Cirũ Mutura – Department of English

Parks Newby – STEM Education

Dr. Gracious Ngaile – Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Antoinette Norton – OIED/Women’s Center

Dr. Jack Odle – Animal Science

Dr. Jun Ohata – Department of Chemistry

Angela Oldham – CALS Personnel Services

Dr. Arnold Oltmans – Agricultural & Resource Economics

Emily Packard – University Communications

Dr. Jason Painter – The Science House

Dr. Michael Parker – Horticultural Science

Lacy Parrish – Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Dr. Bob Patterson – Crop & Soil Sciences

Jill Phipps – OIT-Business Services

Dr. Carrie Pickworth – Animal Sciences

Wayne Pollard – Health & Exercise Studies

Dr. Daniel H. Poole – Animal Sciences

Terry K. Price – Poole College of Management

Cynthia P. Pullen – Friday Institute

Dr. Bobby Puryear – Department of Economics

Dr. Scott Ragan – The Science House

Dr. James Reynolds – Electrical and Computer Engineering

Dr. Gary Roberson – Professor Emeritus Bio. & Ag. Engineering

James E. Robinson III – Friday Institute

Lenny Rogers – NC Cooperative Extension

Jeff Roggie – Facilities Grounds Management

Barbara Runyan – Office of Information Technology

Dr. John Russ – Agricultural & Resource Economics

Dr. Kay Sandberg – Department of Chemistry

Dr. Tim Sanders – Food, Bioprocessing, & Nutrition Sciences

Dr. Chadi Sayde – Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Dr. Jonathan Schultheis – Horticultural Science

Dena-Carol Seamon – Agricultural Institute

Dr. Xipeng Shen – Department of Computer Science

Melinda “Miss Mindy” Sopher – Department of Communication

Dr. Laura Sremaniak – Department of Chemistry

Dr. Larry F. Stikeleather – Professor Emeritus Bio. & Ag. Engineering

Sarah Stokely – Academic Success Center

Dr. Jeffrey Stonebraker – Poole College of Management

Michael Sturgill – Crop & Soil Sciences

Josh Thompson – Office of Information Technology

Dr. Peter Thompson – METRIC

Dr. Kimberly Titus – Department of Computer Science

Dr. Joseph Tracy – Materials Science & Engineering

Dr. Chau Tran – Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Zelda Tuazama – Department of Computer Science

Dr. Beverly B. Tyler – Management, Innovation, & Entrepreneurship

Karen Rackley Visnosky – Accountant

Michael Walker – College of Engineering, Dean’s Office

Dr. Lingjuan (Ling) Wang-Li – Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Dr. Jason Ward – Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Dr. Brenda Watson – Department of Health & Exercise Studies

Deborah Wilkins – Poole College of Management

Dr. Billy Williams – Civil Engineering

Braska Williams – Friday Institute

Eddy Wu – IT College of Engineering

Jayne Yoder – Animal Science

Dr. Michael Yoder – CALS Administration 4-H

Timothy Young – Shelton Leadership Ctr. & Inst. for Emerging Issues

Dr. Man-Ki Yoon – Department of Computer Science

Dr. Xiangwu Zhang – Wilson College of Textiles

WE MADE A PAPER!

Vol. 105, signing off