Double Barrel — Technician 2/6/20

TECHNICIAN F E B RU ARY 6, 2020

VOL . 100 | NO. 21

DOUBLE BARREL

See Page 7

CAREER FAIR

STEM STUDENTS SEEK EMPLOYMENT See Page 4

OPINION

STOP CORONAVIRUS JOKES See Page 6

TECHNICIAN 2

Contents TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

IN BRIEF:

POLICE BLOTTER

02/02/2020

A quick look at the headlines outside of NC State NEWS New changes to on-campus living aim to satisfy student choice within reason, pg. 3

Raleigh City Council votes to disband community advisory groups On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Raleigh City Council voted to disband the 18 Citizens Advisory Councils (CACs) throughout Raleigh, according to WRAL. These groups have provided input to city leaders for decades, but Christina Jones, chairwoman of the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council, which oversees the 18 other CACs, said they weren’t included in the conversation. WRAL said the CACs “meet monthly to review all rezoning requests and act as a conduit for information between city departments and residents,” and anyone can attend these meetings to discuss community concerns. Councilman Saige Martin proposed the move after three failures by Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin to reform the advisory councils. Martin said the groups will be replaced with a program more effective at including Raleigh residents. The CACs will continue to operate for 45 days to conclude active rezoning hearings, but all other city support ended when the council announced the disbandment.

OPINION Let’s not dump on opposing views, but understand them, pg. 6

SOURCE: WRAL

Rise in Raleigh’s homicide rate from 2018 to 2019 According to ABC11, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, Raleigh Police Chief Cassandra Deck-Brown said although robberies, burglaries and home invasions went down in 2019 compared to 2018, the homicide rate has increased. Deck-Brown said on average, 10 people per month are getting shot in Raleigh, with a “considerable amount” of this activity stemming from nightlife and club life activities. She also said there was a general increase in gun violence, but the crime rate is still lower here than in comparable cities, and “Raleigh is a safe place to live.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

SOURCE: ABC11

WKNC to host annual Double Barrel Benefit concert, pg. 7

President Trump delivers 2020 State of the Union Address On Tuesday, Feb. 4, President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union Address to the American people, according to CBS News. When introducing the president, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi did not say the traditional “I have the high privilege and distinct honor” when introducing the president. According to CBS, Trump bragged about economic growth and low employment while ranting about Medicare for All, socialism and sanctuary cities, saying “We will never let socialism destroy American health care.” Trump also gave Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio host who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, according to The Hill, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After Trump finished, Pelosi tore up his speech.

SPORTS Anna Rogers, Alana Smith embracing hype as No. 1 duo, pg. 10

SOURCE: CBS NEWS, THE HILL Editor-in-Chief Dan Gilliam

technician-editor@ncsu.edu

Managing Editor Rachael Davis

323 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 Editorial Advertising Fax Online

919-515-5017 919-515-2411 919-515-5133 technicianonline.com

Copy Desk Chief Ben Wolf

technician-copydesk@ncsu.edu

Photo Editor Emma Sheppard

technician-photo@ncsu.edu

technician-managingeditor@ncsu.edu

technician-news@ncsu.edu

technician-opinion@ncsu.edu

Opinion Editor Joseph Rivenbark

Assistant Photo Editor Ryan Farischon

Social Media Editor Lauren Greene

Assistant News Editor Riley Wolfram

Assistant Opinion Editor Caryl J. Espinoza Jaen

technician-video@ncsu.edu

Sports Editor Camden Speight

Assistant Video Editor Matt Norris

technician-digitalcontent@ncsu.edu

Assistant Social Media Editors Anderson Brewer Becca Dandeneau Social Media Analytics Manager Isaac Tolbert

News Editor Boz Kaloyanov

Design Editor Rafael Zingle

technician-design@ncsu.edu

Arts & Entertainment Editor Antonio Dinkens technician-features@ncsu.edu

technician-sports@ncsu.edu

Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Austin Dunlow

Assistant Sports Editors Jake Caccavaro Nicholas Schnittker

Video Editor Jaylan Harrington

3:04 AM | AFFRAY Sullivan Hall University police received a report of individuals fighting but were unable to locate a fight and no report of assault or injury were received.

2:35 PM | HIT & RUN ACCIDENT Poulton Parking Deck University police investigated the collision of a parked vehicle and another vehicle that left the scene without stopping.

1:58 AM | ALCOHOL VIOLATION Dan Allen Deck A student was referred to the university for underage alcohol consumption.

02/03/2020 9:39 AM | ASSAULT Hillsborough Street University police investigated a reported assault.

12:32 PM | HIT & RUN ACCIDENT Bragaw Hall University police investigated a collision of parked vehicle and an unknown vehicle that left the scene without stopping.

3:14 PM | HARASSING PHONE CALLS Tompkins Hall University police investigated a report of an employee receiving harassing phone calls from an unknown person.

02/04/2020 11:00 PM | ALCOHOL VIOLATION Tucker Hall Two students were referred for possession of alcohol underage.

11:00 PM | DRUG VIOLATION Tucker Hall A student was cited & referred for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

11:35 PM | DRUG VIOLATION Talley Student Union University police investigated a report of drug possession.

COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA SHEPPARD, PHOTO BY SWATHI KARTHIK Daniel Sohn, a backing vocalist and guitarist for pop artist Max Gowan, performs at Kings Raleigh during the 16th annual Double Barrel Benefit on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. Proceeds from the fundraiser go toward NC State Student Media’s radio station, WKNC 88.1.

Technician (USPS 455-050) is the largest student newspaper of NC State University and is published every Thursday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods.

Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on the Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC, Copyright 2011 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.

TECHNICIAN 3

News

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

New changes to on-campus living aim to satisfy student choice within reason

GRAPHIC BY RAFAEL ZINGLE/TECHNICIAN

Anna Beth McCormick Correspondent

In the 2020-21 school year, students living in university housing will experience a new room selection process. These changes are the product of student feedback and of University Housing’s new executive director, Donna McGalliard, who was hired in March 2019.

Students will go through an expanded room selection process this year, consisting of three phases. The first phase is like past years, where students select their housing options online during their allotted time.

On its own, phase one created a massive waitlist of students who could not secure housing. The waitlist would be combed through as spaces became available, with no guarantees for anyone. By adding a second and third phase, University Housing will give consideration to waitlisted students once vacancies have opened up.

“A student might find out after the first round of room selection in February that they all of a sudden have an opportunity to go abroad, or that they have been accepted to a co-op,” McGalliard said.

Traditionally, McGalliard said, these

changes shake out before May, which is when the second phase of room selection will take place. New vacancies will move students off the waitlist in larger numbers than before. The third phase of this new process will accommodate any last-minute changes sometime in July.

“Getting into University Housing off the waitlist made my life so much easier this semester,” said Claire Register, a second-year studying accounting. “Staying in a dorm and being able to easily get out of my contract for Study Abroad took away some stress and allowed me to focus on other aspects of Study Abroad instead of how I was going to find a subleaser.”

In the new process, it will come down to the number of roommates a student has.

McGalliard said the new policy requires the size of the rooming group to match the size of the space the students want. To live in a double in Bragaw, a student must have one other student in their rooming group. To live in a four-person apartment at Wolf Village, a student must have four students in their rooming group.

This resolves a common frustration for students who would go to sign up in groups, but become unable to live with their groups because one bed had already

been selected by a student, leaving an odd number available.

“Hopefully having the same number in your roommate group that matches the space will allow more people to live with who they want to live with and where,” McGalliard said. “We are really excited about that.”

McGalliard said she hopes implementing rooming groups will also resolve random vacancies, because students will no longer be assigned in odd numbers.

However, not all students feel like their best interests are a top priority in this new process, and first-year students are not the only ones who will be affected by these changes.

Emma Hudspeth, a second-year studying business administration, lives in Wolf Village and planned to live there again next year. She did not know about the change in requirements for roommate groups and assumed she could apply with one roommate and be assigned random roommates like she had last year. Because she did not know about these changes, Hudspeth was unable to sign during her allotted time and will have to find offcampus housing for next year.

“I wish that University Housing had

communicated these changes better to students who are currently living on campus,” Hudspeth said. “I really liked living in Wolf Village because of the convenience to campus.”

Hudspeth offered a suggestion for University Housing, saying they could fine-tune their new system by designating specific spaces for students with incomplete roommate groups.

“I wish that University Housing would designate specific buildings for students who have incomplete roommate groups so that students still have the option to live at Wolf Village,” Hudspeth said.

“Students come into housing with a variety of situations, and this would accommodate everyone.”

Students will also not be able to request the residence hall they live in next year.

This decision was based on the trend that most students applied into the same residence halls, and it was impossible to accommodate everyone.

“When first-year applications went live, we had a very, very large number of students all select Bragaw as their first choices,” McGalliard said. “What we don’t want to do is have to automatically say, ‘Hi, all 700 of you who have all selected Bragaw … you can’t live there.’

So we are trying to make a more practical and realistic choice available for them.

What we’ve heard is that the most important thing to most students is who they live with, not necessarily where they live.”

Gracen Sessoms, a first-year studying business, said most students she knows would prefer to live with someone they are comfortable with, even if they may not be able to pick which residence hall they live in.

“At the end of the day, most students I know would prefer to know that they can live with someone they know and someone that they are comfortable with,” Sessoms said. “It depends on your major and where your classes are, but every building on campus is convenient to some locations and less convenient to others.”

McGalliard said University Housing is constantly evaluating the room selection process in order to balance the 10,000 beds on campus with student needs, and the department looks to students during these evaluations.

“We want to do things thoughtfully and with student voice participating as necessary,” McGalliard said.

TECHNICIAN 4

News

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Spring Engineering Career Fair draws thousands of students in search of employment

EMMA SHEPPARD/TECHNICIAN

Students attend the Engineering Career Fair Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020 at the McKimmon Center. The Career Fair helps students and attendees network with companies looking for employees and interns.

Boz Kaloyanov News Editor

Each semester, NC State hosts several career fairs, the largest of which is the Engineering Career Fair. On Wednesday, Feb. 5, just over 2,000 NC State students came in search of employment opportunities to the spring semester’s Engineering Career Fair.

Over 500 representatives from more than 180 different companies were present to scout potential hires and promote their brands.

Dylan Snarr, a second-year studying aerospace engineering, attended the event in search of a summer internship. She said the event really highlights NC State’s status as a top engineering school.

“I think it really goes to show how highly ranked and how competitive our program is, the fact that all these people are coming from all over the place,” Snarr said.

Other students, like Omkar Ghodekar, a graduate student in mechanical engineering, came to the event in search of full-time employment after graduation. Ghodekar was interested in speaking to representatives from GKN, an automotive and aerospace components company.

“They are related to mechanical manufacturing, and as an international student, they sometimes sponsor visas,” Ghodekar said.

While many large, international companies such as Hewlett-Packard attended the event, many in attendance were local to the Raleigh area, including Crowder Construction Company. John McIntyre and Jeff Gellenbeck, two representatives of the company, said the career fair is a prime way to recruit new employees.

“We are interested in engineering, and this career fair has always been beneficial,” McIntyre said. “We are very happy that the engineering college is supported by the coop program … We hire full-time; most of our full-time comes through the co-op program.”

Gellenbeck said the company is local to the area, which is beneficial when attracting students who want to stay in the area after graduation.

“We’re a local company,” Gellenbeck said.

“We’re not only local to this area, the Triangle region, but we work in the southeast, so this has always been a good place for us to find candidates that want to stay in this area.”

Kenny Edwards, a second-year studying mechanical engineering, said he enjoys the

nature of the career fair and getting to talk to companies in person.

“I feel like some of the lines are chaotic, but I really like the experience of going to talk to somebody and getting the experience with a face-to-face conversation,” Edwards said.

Edwards said the university takes events like career fairs seriously and it has a focus on helping students find a career.

“You come to State to get a job,” Edwards said. “You don’t come to State just to learn.”

Andrew Coletta and Adam Cox, representatives from EM Structural, said the applicants from NC State have historically been good for their company. They said they were looking primarily for civil engineers.

“This area in North Carolina is really

EMMA SHEPPARD/TECHNICIAN

Salvin Michael, an employee at Allstate, speaks with Zhonghe Yao, a their year studying computer science, at the Engineering Career Fair.

growing, so there’s a lot of work to go around,” Coletta said. “[The Career Fair] is open to a lot of different people and alumni, so you’re drawing from a big talent pool, which is great for the companies around here. That’s why there’s so many companies that come to this thing; they know they’ll get some quality candidates.”

Daniel DeVane, a fourth-year studying chemistry, said the fact that NC State supports its students with events such as the career fair is a big reason to attend the university.

“One of the big selling points when you start in NC State engineering is, ‘Hey, we have this giant career fair; companies come and they want you because you’re at NC State,’” DeVane said. “The fact that people come not just from NC State but also from elsewhere shows that it’s a good place to be.”

Not all attendees were entirely satisfied with the career fair’s offerings. Aditya Ghawre, a second-year graduate student in mechanical engineering, said there are more employment opportunities for some majors than others.

“There are not a lot of aerospace companies here, which is quite depressing,” Ghawre said. “A lot of computer science, electronics. Room 2 is full of civil engineering. A lot of companies, it depends on which major you are.”

Though it is the largest, this is not the only career fair held this week. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences will host a career fair Friday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Talley Student Union Ballroom.

More information can be found on the Career Development Center’s website.

TECHNICIAN 5

News

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

NC State ranks in The Princeton Review’s “Top 50 Green Colleges” Alexander Perrin Correspondent

In recent years, NC State has adopted a campus-wide sustainability initiative. The focus on sustainability across campus has taken shape in many different ways, especially as an increasing number of student organizations align themselves with the effort. To be classified as “sustainable,” there is an Online Certification Form. Started in 2014 and later revised in 2017, organizations such as Student Government, Zero Waste Wolves and NC State Stewards have received this recognition for supporting the initiative for sustainability on campus.

“A sustainable organization would be one that finds a good balance between association of the three pillars of sustainability, being economic, social and environmental,” said Haley Hall, student coordinator of NC State Stewards and a fourth-year studying environmental science. “So oftentimes when we say the word sustainability, we think of going green and environmentalism and the movement, but it is really much more than that.”

In 2019, NC State was ranked No. 17 on The Princeton Review ‘s “Top 50 Green Colleges” list, up from No. 42 in 2018. The report includes that 71% of incoming NC State students in 2018 were influenced by the university’s commitment to the environment and sustainability when deciding to attend NC State.

NC State currently has nine student organizations that are certified as “sustainable.” To receive this certification, each organization must incorporate sustainable practices into everything from their mission statement to purchasing decisions.

Any student organization can apply for this recognition, and depending

on the level at which they are able to integrate sustainability, the organization will be certified at either the Contributor (25% – 49% of total survey points), Steward (50% – 74% of total survey points) or Champion levels (75% or more of survey points).

The form submitted to receive any level of certification evaluates eight different practices: mission, training, lead the pack, sustainability for all, transportation, purchasing, waste reduction, and health and wellness. Upon receiving certification,

student organizations can promote their achievement in support of their organization’s practices. However, these items differ slightly for the workplace and event certifications.

Additionally, workplaces and events on campus are able to apply for a certification to recognize their sustainable practices. For events, most of the environmental impact is minimized by

GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE/TECHNICIAN

careful preparation and efficient cleanup afterward. For workplaces, the priority is ensuring an efficient and healthy environment.

While sustainability is supported on campus, there still remains much room for improvement, according to Hall.

“We have a ton of student organizations that are doing workshops and hosting seminars and doing volunteer hours all focused around sustainability, but the efforts are somewhat isolated and pocketed,” Hall said.

Val Mera, a fourth-year studying political science, director of sustainability for Student Government and secretary of Feed the Pack, said she is trying to increase communication between those practicing sustainability on campus.

“I try and get more communication between all the students doing sustainable things on campus through their clubs, organizations or projects, which are all pretty siloed from each other, so my role is being a liaison between the Department of Sustainability and anyone trying to make a sustainable change on campus,” Mera said. “There’s so many sustainable organizations and people who care about it, but they’re all working by themselves because they don’t know about each other.”

NC State has made a notable track record for itself starting in 2009, and a lot of progress has been made.

The following are some of the student organizations involved in sustainability: • Sustainability Stewards • Student Energy Club • Zero Waste Wolves • Net Impact • The Environmental Student Association • Vertical Farms Club • SolarPack • Green Greeks • Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Student Chapter

TECHNICIAN 6

Opinion TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Let’s not dump on opposing views, but understand them If there is one thing I love, it’s Twitter drama.

Every week, I like to see what’s trending and who people are dragging this time. A few weeks ago, it was Kaitlin Bennett, or as Destry she is commonly known, Adams Gun Girl. Bennett reached Staff Columnist internet fame after she posted a graduation photo of her walking with an AR-10 around Kent State University — the same university where the Ohio National Guard killed four college students and injured nine protesting the Vietnam War. As I was having fun watching her get dragged on Twitter and seeing videos of her making a complete fool of herself, I was inspired to write a column about her.

I could write a column why her arguments and interviews are terrible, but I decided to go with the number two option: how not to engage in political discussion.

With the United States becoming more politically divided, it’s time we learn how to engage in political discussion, and what better way by showing how not to do it by

watching Kaitlin Bennett.

A video that I will be analyzing is Bennett’s infamous video titled “College Kids Have No Morals.” This video features Bennett asking random college students their opinion on having menstrual products in the men’s bathroom and urinals in women’s bathroom.

The first flaw with her video is the title.

She is labeling people with opposing views as immoral. The American Psychological Association strongly advises against “polarizing language and personal attacks” in political conversation. When you label someone with differing views as “immoral” or “evil,” all it does is create division, and people are less likely to listen and have a discussion.

The second f law in her video is she doesn’t seem to actually listen to people with opposing views. Studies have shown that it is difficult to change people’s minds on political issues, but you can expose them to opposing viewpoints to gain an understanding of why people think certain ways.

Part of a discussion is to hear what the other side has to offer. It’s hard to listen to different viewpoints when a person is

attacking and berating you. None of the college students Bennett interviewed were verbally or physically violent with her. Most of them were calm, even when asked ridiculous questions that denied the existence of transgender people. In fact, some students tried to inform her about gender identity and issues some transgender people might face.

When students were politely trying to explain the nuances of gender identity, she would openly mock them behind their backs. Bennett does not seem interested in understanding other people and tries to make a fool of them, but instead makes a fool of herself.

The biggest flaw in Bennett’s content is her trying to make a fool out of others. Her shtick is she does or says something offensive, people get mad and explain why they are upset, and then she cries wolf and pretends to be victim. The questions she asks are often misguided or insert her own personal thoughts on the matter. As someone who interviews people, you never ask questions that label and attack people or try to insert your opinions.

Instead, the person being interviewed

should have most of the speaking time, and you should ask them to elaborate more when they say something vague or factually incorrect. Even when I interview someone for an opinion column, I try my best to ask unbiased questions, never label the people I’m interviewing, and give them a platform to speak. Regardless of whether I agree or disagree with what a person is saying, I understand where they’re coming from.

Bennett’s content is a reminder of how not to engage in political discussion. Since NC State is more conservative than most other UNC System schools, it is very likely you will come across people with different political views. On campus, we have diverse political backgrounds of Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and more. The important point is that we are all students who want our country to be the best it can be.

While Bennett leaves a lack of nuance in political discussion, we don’t have to. So let’s not waste time dumping our political views on people. Instead, we should move past labels we have prescribed for each other and have proper discussions.

When the joke goes too far...

WHY MAKING FUN OF THE CORONAVIRUS ISN’T FUNNY

As college students, we are constantly exposed to an endless stream of social media, and with the rise of popular apps such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, it is easy to get caught Skye up in the online jokes. Of Sarac Staff Columnist course, laughing at these jokes doesn’t make us bad people; it just means we have been desensitized to the media definition of “humor,” which is often denigrating to others. However, the recent response to the coronavirus outbreak suggests we might be taking this humor a little too far.

On Jan. 30, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of the coronavirus, a highly contagious, viral disease that first began in Wuhan, China, a global health emergency. Since then, there has been a surge in anxiety among the public.People are using social media to express their concerns, and for good reason. Public health officials have yet to determine the cause of the virus, and the number of people affected is rapidly increasing.

However, another “strain” has quickly emerged on social media. In recent years,

there has been a trend of responding to national crises on social media with memes and jokes — and this time is no different.

On Instagram, people are posting images of the coronavirus that are intended to garner laughs. Even more disturbing is that some individuals are using social media to express racist sentiments about people of Chinese descent. According to the New York Times, the hashtag #chinesedontcometojapan has been trending on Twitter, and some users on Instagram are using the hashtag #coronavirus to garner attention and likes.

As students, we must take a stand against racism and xenophobia, and one way to start is to boycott and report social media accounts that use people’s fears about the coronavirus as conduit for racism. This increase in racist sentiments on social media mirrors the trend that took place from approximately 2014 2016, when concerns about the Ebola virus resulted in mass hysteria. Similarly, people on the internet and TV made jokes about being infected by the deadly virus, even posting pictures of themselves dressed up as the Ebola virus for Halloween.

While most of these jokes were likely made without ill intent, the ways in which social media and the general public responded to

the crisis not only ignored the fact that Ebola has affected people for years, but spread false information to the public surrounding the virus. And those making fun of the outbreak fail to consider the very scary reality for those affected and their families.

While there is nothing wrong with dark humor itself — I personally have used satire and dark humor to cope with some tough situations during my life — the problem arises when we use it in excess or in such a way that mocks or minimizes the struggles and suffering of others. Using humor tends to skew the facts surrounding an event, and misconstruing information can actually lead to increased anxiety and panic.

Fortunately, social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, are all taking steps to remove misleading information surrounding the epidemic, but that doesn’t negate the damage that has been done from jokes which have already been posted, nor does it completely eliminate everyday conversation surrounding the virus.

Another reason students should be wary of posting or referencing jokes about the coronavirus, as well as other public health crises, is the potential negative impact on students

who have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or anxiety. One of the ways anxiety can manifest itself is through an irrational fear of illness, and this can be triggered by excessive talk about certain diseases or illness such as the coronavirus.

As someone with severe anxiety, I know what it feels like to see articles about a certain illness and feel as though I am at imminent risk of contracting the illness, even though my sense of logic tells me otherwise. When I see jokes like these, I see people minimizing the struggles of people like me by inducing a sense of irrational fear.

By talking about the coronavirus and other diseases in a joking manner or making jokes about everyday objects being infected with coronavirus, we could be unknowingly triggering someone with anxiety or OCD. While I am not suggesting we eliminate humor as a coping skill, we should always consider the repercussions of what we joke about. While social media can easily blur the line between humorous and offensive, we should stop and think before posting or repeating an insensitive joke or “fact” that has not been verified, because we never know the impact it might have on those around us.

Arts & Entertainment

TECHNICIAN 7

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

WKNC to host annual Double T H E R A DA R Barrel Benefit concert Events to keep an eye on for the week of Feb. 06 WELLNESS AND RECREATION CENTER HARD HAT TOURS CARMICHAEL GYM FRIDAY, FEB. 7, 12-2 P.M. Free A tour is being given of the inside of the Wellness and Recreation Center currently being built. All guests are being asked to wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Registration for this event can be found on the NC State University Calendar.

DESIGNED BY LYDIA FARRO AND CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA MOONEY

Austin Dunlow Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor

On Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m., NC State’s campus radio station and Student Media outlet, WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1, will be hosting its 17th Annual Double Barrel Benefit Concert at Kings Raleigh. This two-night event features a wide selection of mostly NC State performers to raise money for WKNC. W K NC G enera l Ma na ger L au ra Mooney, a third-year studying social work, said Double Barrel is incredibly important for the station, as the show helps generate about 6% of the station’s annual budget. Aside from this, Mooney believes it is important for students to recognize the free media around them.

“It’s so incredibly important for audience members to come out,” Mooney said. “Having NC State students come out is the coolest thing ever, because we have less university support than I would like. We’re not a very prominent, advertised portion of the university.

Student life doesn’t really get to hear about us a lot. It’s really amazing to see people come out and see that free media still exists and that independent broadcasting can still be a part of music curation.”

Night one has Dotwav Media, King Gino and Vacant Company performing with Pat Junior headlining, and Night two has Junior Astronomers, Black Surfer and De()t, with Truth Club headlining. Mooney said three of

the performers have current NC State students in their groups, and six of the eight groups contain either current or former NC State students.

“It’s really cool to engage with our students that way,” Mooney said. “Our cornerstone of broadcasting is local music.

We do get sent a lot of music by national promoters and things like that, but local music is the easiest form of access regarding interviewing, live performance, concert booking and giving back to our community immediately.”

Mooney said WKNC strives to have a

“It’s really amazing to see people come out and see that free media still exists...

”

diverse group of performers at Double Barrel every year.

“We do our best not to book an artist more than once,” Mooney said. “It’s happened in the past, but none of these acts have played before ... It’s also really cool to select NC State performers who are of marginalized demographics. We always aim to have more than four white guys and a guitar on the bill. That’s part of why we book so many genres, but it’s also a goal when we book bands.”

WKNC Social Media Director Lauren

Nakonechny, a second-year veterinary student, said while money is important, it’s also important to give smaller artists a place to make a name for themselves and have people come celebrate their music together.

“I think a big part of Double Barrel is showcasing local artists and giving smaller names the chance to play a big show and having their fans come out and hear their music,” Nakonechny said.

“The biggest thing about it is having a bunch of people come together and listen to music together and have fun.”

According to WKNC’s website, tickets are $13, or $15 the day of the event, and a two-day pass is $22. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite.

Mooney said people of all ages are welcome to attend this event, but emphasized that the event is dedicated to and put on for WKNC staff and DJs. “It’s so amazing to see new DJs volunteer here and really get a taste of all of the cumulative hours that we’ve put into this event,” Mooney said. “I know I will be saying a few words on the second night, right before the headliner goes on, just thanking everyone and giving a shoutout to my staff members. It couldn’t have happened without them, and in a way, this final product is kind of dedicated to them.”

For more information about WKNC or the Double Barrel Benefit, visit WKNC’s website. For updates on the Double Barrel Benefit, visit WKNC’s Instagram page.

FIRST FRIDAYS AT THE GREGG: NC STATE WOODWIND QUINTET GREGG MUSEUM OF ART & DESIGN, GRAND LOBBY FRIDAY, FEB. 7, 5:30-7 P.M. Free The Gregg Museum of Art & Design will be hosting NC State students, faculty and staff to come enjoy a musical performance Friday.

The performers are the NC State Woodwind Quintet: Reece Neff on the flute, Andrew Whitley on the clarinet, Ben Masters on the horn, Ana Sofia Uzsoy on the oboe and Margaret Larimore on the bassoon.

SEX TALK PARTS 1 AND 2 TALLEY STUDENT UNION, GLBT CENTER, 5230 MONDAY, FEB. 10 AT 5:30-7 P.M. Free The GLBT Center will hold an educational series discussing safe sex, consent and sexual issues that disproportionally affect the LGBTQ community.

As Seen Around Campus

TECHNICIAN 8

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

THE TECHNICIAN 100TH ANNIVERSARY GALA On Feb. 1, 1920, the first issue of Technician ran. On its centennial, Feb. 1, 2020, Technician alumni gathered at Talley Student Union for a gala. In attendence were over 30 past editors-in-chief, many other former staff memebrs, Chancellor Randy Woodson and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Emeritus Tom Stafford.

RAY BLACK III/TECHNICIAN

RAY BLACK III/TECHNICIAN

Tim Peeler speaks during the Technician 100 festivities on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

Former Technician Editor-in-Chief Thushan Amarasiriwardena delivers the keynote address during the Technician 100 festivities on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

The volume 100 Technician Staff poses for a photo during the Technician 100 festivities on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

RAY BLACK III/TECHNICIAN

As Seen Around Campus TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

TECHNICIAN 9 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Over 30 of the past editors-in-chief gather for a photo during the Technician 100 festivities on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

RAY BLACK III/TECHNICIAN

RAY BLACK III/TECHNICIAN

Current Technician Editor-in-Chief Dan Gilliam speaks during the Technician 100 festivities on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

RAY BLACK III/TECHNICIAN

NC State chancellor Randy Woodson speaks during the Technician 100 festivities on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

RAY BLACK III/TECHNICIAN

Former Technician Editor-in-Chief Saja Hindi speaks during the Technician 100 festivities on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020.

Sports

TECHNICIAN 10

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Anna Rogers, Alana Smith embracing hype as No. 1 duo

DAVID TRACEY/ARCHIVE

Junior Anna Rogers celebrates winning a point with freshman Alana Smith against Duke on Friday, May 10, 2019 at Ambler Tennis Stadium in Durham. Rogers and Smith beat Duke sophomore Kelly Chen and senior Ellyse Hamlin 6-2 during the Wolfpack’s 4-0 overall loss, ending their season in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Jake Caccavaro Assistant Sports Editor

Anna Rogers and Alana Smith aren’t your average tennis doubles duo. Paired up last season because of an injury to Rogers’ former partner, the sophomore Smith and senior Rogers weren’t expecting to play together when Smith first stepped foot on NC State’s campus as a highly anticipated recruit in fall 2018.

Rogers was coming off back-to-back NCAA Doubles Championship Sweet 16 appearances, back-to-back All-ACC Third Team honors, and was already one of the most successful players in program history. Meanwhile, Smith was a five-star recruit and the No. 1 recruit in Maryland. But once they were paired together, it didn’t take long to see their potential.

“Once we got them on the court, we could see [their potential] in practice, but it can be

different in competitive match play,” said women’s tennis coach Simon Earnshaw. “But based on what we saw in the [first fall tournament] in two days, it was pretty clear that there was going to be a very high ceiling.”

Since then, they’ve become the best doubles duo in NC State women’s tennis history.

After becoming the first doubles duo in program history to reach the NCAA Doubles Championship Elite Eight in 2019, they finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country, the highest doubles ranking in program history. Smith became the first All-American in Wolfpack women’s tennis history while being named to the All-ACC Second Team, and Rogers was named to the All-ACC First Team, her third straight year with All-ACC honors.

The duo meshes together seamlessly on the court, both in playing style and emotional output. Emotionally, Rogers takes the role of the fiery upperclassman, always wearing her emo-

tions on her sleeves and not afraid to yell at any point in a match. Opposite her, Smith is more naturally calm, someone who prefers to be a silent assassin and let her play do the talking.

“Anna is very loud and energetic,” Smith said. “I’m very quiet and to myself and very calm, so I think we balance out each other.”

Right across from a video screen lending credence to Smith’s statement, showing Rogers screaming and fist-pumping to celebrate winning a point, Rogers echoed her teammate’s sentiments, knowing how the duo’s polar opposite on-court personalities work well when one needs to be hyped up or calmed down.

“I think that we complement each other very well,” Rogers said. “She’s more laid back, so when I’m too uptight, she tells me to relax, but when she needs to up her energy, then I’ll get her going.”

That emotional connection is peanuts compared to how their physical playing styles

match up with each other. Both women are tall and athletic, but each has a different style of play when they’re together on the court. Smith is more of a power hitter, someone who can smash an ace while serving, whereas Rogers sometimes likes to play the finesse placement game.

“I think we’re both really aggressive at the net,” Rogers said. “She has a big serve which really sets me up, and she’s really quick and can hit overhands. On the ad [left] side, she likes that forehand return down the tee, and I like the backhand more down the tee that I can go cross-court with, or I can pull it. I think it really plays to our strengths.”

That perfect blend of emotional and physical complementary play has led them to where they are now. The duo is the No. 1 doubles duo in the country, has amassed a 20-2 record this season, and hasn’t lost a match since the week after Halloween. But that No. 1 ranking hasn’t led to even a whiff of complacency; Rogers and Smith are still hungry as ever.

“I think it’s just proving to other teams and programs that we can be this good and can consistently be this good,” Rogers said. “We’re No. 1 right now, but I really don’t feel like we are. I feel like there’s still so much to chase.

And honestly, a ranking’s a ranking, but I feel like at the end of the year, that’s really when it means the most.”

To Rogers and Smith, the end of the year means one thing and one thing only: winning a national championship. As the highestranked returning duo from last season and the No. 1 ranking duo all season, they and their coaches haven’t tempered expectations at all.

They’re expecting to win the national championship, and anything short of that would be a letdown.

“I knew whatever we did [last] year, this year was going to be tremendous,” Smith said. “So obviously since we did that last year, this year I’m like, let’s go win a national championship.”

However, the duo isn’t only thinking about a national championship on its own. The NC State women’s tennis team is 9-1 and ranked No. 8 in the country, with its only loss coming at the hands of No. 7 Texas. The team has dominated the competition with six wins of five or more, and with Rogers and Smith always ensuring at least one win in doubles, the team’s expectations are sky high.

“I think we can win [the national championship],” Rogers said. “There’s definitely some close matches to come, but two years ago if you’d have asked [the team’s ceiling], I don’t know what I’d say. The expectations are so much higher now … It’s kind of scary.”

Sports

TECHNICIAN 11

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Death of Kobe Bryant hits hard for women’s basketball players, community Jake Caccavaro Assistant Sports Editor

On Sunday, Jan. 26, former NBA star and five-time champion Kobe Bryant passed away at age 41, perishing in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, and seven others. With his passing came the abrupt loss of nearly two decades of hardwood progressivism, both on and off the basketball court.

Bryant, who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers and retired in 2016, is one of the biggest sports idols of the last two generations. Kids all across the world grew up yelling “Kobe!” as they launched their balled-up pieces of paper into trash cans, imitating the iconic Black Mamba’s patented fadeaway.

But Bryant wasn’t just idolized on the court.

In the three and a half short years since his retirement, he’s made an indelible impact off the court as well. Bryant was a champion for women’s basketball, the sport’s biggest and most noteworthy male voice. In a time when the WNBA and its players are pushing for support on and off the court, Bryant was always there to bring attention to the game. By attending games with any of his four young daughters, bringing his kids’ basketball teams to games, or breaking down film of the sport’s top players on his ESPN+ show “Detail,” Bryant did all he could to support the growth of women’s basketball.

“He’s always been a huge supporter of women’s basketball and women’s sports in general, and that stems from the wonderful relationship he has with his daughters,” said NC State women’s basketball senior guard Aislinn Konig following her team’s 76-68 win over North Carolina, just hours after the news of Bryant’s death. “To lose somebody who is such an inspiration on the basketball floor, but also so supportive of what we’re doing, is a big blow to women’s basketball and the basketball community as a whole.”

Losing him isn’t just a devastating blow for the basketball community; it’s a crushing blow for the progressivism of women’s basketball and the idea that if one of the best men’s basketball players of all time can staunchly follow and support women’s basketball, anyone and everyone can.

“He was super important for women’s basketball,” said redshirt senior guard Grace Hunter.

“I feel like [Kobe] even impacted [the WNBA] raising their salaries. And I feel like a lot of men are supporting women’s basketball now since he started, because now they’ve seen that Kobe sees the good in women’s basketball, so

NICK FAULKNER/TECHNICIAN

The NC State women’s basketball team comes together after the alma mater to celebrate one more time before heading to the locker room after the 76-68 win over UNC in Reynolds Coliseum on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020.

they’re like, ‘Well, I’ll start watching women’s basketball,’ and that’s caused a lot of NBA players to show up at games or tweet at a women’s basketball player that had a good game.”

Bryant’s famed “Mamba Mentality,” an ultracompetitive, win-at-all-costs mindset that has worked its way into popular reference in all walks of life, won’t die with him. Players and coaches alike have worked that type of mentality into their everyday lives on the court, and just because its creator and pioneer is gone, doesn’t mean the idea is no more.

“As a player and as a person, he was a competitor,” said NC State women’s basketball head coach Wes Moore after the North Carolina game. “That’s what we talk to our players about all the time: competing and trying to be the absolute best you can be, on the court and off.

He did unbelievable things on the court, and I have no doubt he was going to do unbelievable things off the court.”

Outside of being a trailblazer for women’s basketball, Bryant was also an idol through and through. Basketball players as a whole looked up to him, not just men’s basketball players.

Hunter first started watching Bryant in middle school, and in high school began to work on his patented stepback jumper, something she’s fond of breaking out.

“The one move I feel I got from him is my stepback,” Hunter said. “Before I got hurt, I

used to kill that stepback fadeaway. I used to call it in practice; my redshirt year, I’d be like, ‘Kobe!’ But that’s the only one I feel like I was able to do.”

Players who looked up to and idolized Kobe didn’t just do it while on the court. Take Hunter, for example, who patterned parts of her game after him. A dedicated Kobe “stan,” she used to run a YouTube account dedicated to Bryant.

“I even have a YouTube channel [called] ‘Kobe’s Daughter,’” Hunter said, laughing. “And it’s so embarrassing.”

The special thing about Bryant and his impact is that millions of people felt as if they knew him and were friends or family with him without even meeting him. The loss of such an icon, one who felt like you knew him intimately, hit home for a lot of people. It’s something that is hard to understand from an outside perspective if you’ve never been through it.

“I just broke down [when I found out],” Hunter said. “It was bad. My teammates were like, ‘You don’t even know him,’ and I was like, ‘You don’t understand; I stalked him.’ But yeah, I broke down. It was pretty bad because I was feeling for him, and then when I found out it was his daughter too … It was just hurting my heart.”

Like all humans, Bryant was far from perfect.

His 2003 rape case, in which a young woman

alleged that Bryant sexually assaulted her and Bryant alleged he had consent, highlights that.

Bryant and the young woman eventually settled out of court, after her name was publicized and she received daily death threats. The details are extremely muddied, and although Bryant publicly apologized to the woman for seemingly having misunderstood, what exactly went down that night in Colorado will likely never be known.

Instead of shying away from his shortcomings as a human, he embraced them and worked passionately for a decade and a half to prop up women’s sports and bring as much attention as possible to some truly wonderful athletes.

“I feel like he’s just as great an inspiration for women’s basketball,” Hunter said. “He’s the NBA player that was supporting women’s basketball.”

In a fitting tribute to the man known for knocking down the clutchest of shots, Hunter had her own “Mamba moment” just a week after Bryant’s passing. On Sunday against Duke, she hit game-tying, go-ahead and clinching 3-pointers at the end of the fourth quarter in succession, knocking down all three in a row in the Wolfpack’s 63-60 road win over Duke.

“It was the greatest feeling ever,” Hunter said.

“It was crazy. I felt like Kobe at that moment.

It was amazing. I was like, ‘This is for you.’”

Sports

TECHNICIAN 12

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Cat Barber named G League player of the week Tristan Tucker Staff Writer

Cat Barber was named the NBA G League Player of the Week this week after having a strong three-game series for the College Park Skyhawks, the G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks.

Barber has been playing for the Skyhawks franchise for the 2019-20 season after being traded from the Greensboro Swarm to the team, then called the Erie Bayhawks, a name that is being used for the New Orleans Pelicans affiliate team now.

The 6-foot-1 point guard from NC State is the first player in Skyhawks franchise history to have earned the G League Player of the Week Award, and is in prime position to continue his hot streak.

Barber and the Skyhawks went 2-1 in the week of Jan. 27- Feb. 2, beating the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the affiliate of the Houston Rockets, and the Wisconsin Herd, the affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, who lead the Eastern Conference and the league in win percentage.

Barber averaged 26 points, 5.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals in the three games played.

Barber also shot 51% from the f loor, along with 38% from 3-point range and 85% on free throws, nearly a 50/40/90 line, which is wildly impressive. However, this is in stark contrast to his standard splits, where he shoots 48% from the f loor, 28% from 3-point range and 70% on free throws in the regular season.

In regular season play this year for the Skyhawks, Barber is averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game in 28 games played for

BEN SALAMA/ARCHIVE

Junior guard Anthony “Cat” Barber drives toward the basket for a tough layup in the first half of the game versus Clemson. The NC State Wolfpack beat the Clemson Tigers in a close one, 77-74, at PNC Arena on February 20, 2016.

the Skyhawks, with 10 starts under his belt. The 25-year-old guard is looking to continue his recent level of play as the NBA heads closer to the NBA trade deadline, where teams may be opening up roster spaces and looking to fill them with young talent from the G League.

The Skyhawks are sitting at 17-15, only two games behind the Lakeland Magic, the affiliate of the Orlando Magic, for control of the Southeast Division, which would put the Skyhawks in the playoff

picture.

Joining Barber on the Skyhawks are two-way contract players Charles Brown Jr. and Brandon Goodwin, who both average over 16 points per game, and Armoni Brooks, who has begun to play well for the club. Marcus Derrickson, a former member of the Golden State Warriors, also plays for the team.

Barber joins guard C.J. Williams and forwards Trevor Lacey and Caleb Martin as the other former NC State play-

ers playing in the G League this season.

Williams plays for the Long Island Nets, the affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, Lacey plays for the Herd and Martin is on assignment from the Charlotte Hornets to the Greensboro Swarm.

For NC State fans who wish to watch Barber in action in the G League, the next streamable game is Sunday, Feb. 9, when the Skyhawks take on the Magic.

The game tips off at 3 p.m. and can be streamed on gleague.nba.com.

Camel City invites NC State track and field to another routine meet Zach Seitz

Correspondent

The NC State track and field team is headed to the JDL Fast Track in WinstonSalem to participate in the Camel City Track Invitational. Thirty Wolfpack athletes will be competing head-to-head against Wake Forest, Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Florida, NC Central and many more. The meet will be from Feb. 7-8.

A long distance Pack runner to look out for is sophomore Ares Epps, who has posted

the fifth-fastest 800-meter run in the men’s category, a clean 1:50.40 seconds. Epps’ main competition will be a trio of runners from the District Track Club, the fastest of which runs 1:44.80. That difference might seem steep, but it is still very possible for Epps to claim first place.

On to the women’s side of long distance, freshman Samantha Bush is the Pack’s best bet for seizing first in the 1000-meter run.

Bush has the second-fastest time going into this meet, with a solid 2:49.50, only 0.50 seconds off of the top time from an unattached

runner. If Bush comes into this race with her A-game, there is no question she’ll take first for State.

The women’s 3000 is the event to watch for any long distance fans, as four NC State runners, sophomore Mariah Howlett, sophomore Sara LaTour, redshirt junior Anna Vess and redshirt sophomore Isabel Zimmermann, are all in the top 8 fastest times. These powerhouses can put up a lot of points for the women’s team and should not be taken lightly.

With long distance out of the way, short

distance for the women’s team seems to be promising in terms of scoring points. Junior Kylia Wright holds the fifth-fastest time in the 60 at 7.65. She’s only 0.08 seconds off of the leader, so there is a definite chance for some big points earned.

For the women’s 60-meter hurdles, NC State junior Alexis Postell has the potential to take the top spot. Boasting the third-fastest time in the lineup at 8.65, Postell is another female competitor that can earn some seri-

TRACK continued page 13

Sports

TECHNICIAN 13

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Women’s tennis looking to make noise at ITA National Team Indoor Championship Marty Madar

Florida State, No. 10 Michigan, No. 11 Virginia, No. 14 Arizona State, No. 17 Princeton and No. 22 Georgia Tech.

NC State (9-1) will kick off the tourThe NC State women’s tennis team is set to compete in the ITA National Team nament facing Princeton (3-0) Friday, Indoor Championship in Chicago this Feb. 7. If the Wolfpack wins, it will face the winner of Arizona State and North weekend from Feb. 7-10.

No. 8 NC State (9-1) is coming off a Carolina on Saturday. Although Georgia dominant 6-1 victory against Kansas. won last year, the championship is up for grabs for most In the match, the of the teams comWo l f p a c k w o n peting. the doubles point NC State (9-1) will NC State has w it h top-ra n ked doubles par tners kick off the tournament a n adva ntage i n doubles play with senior Anna Rogfacing Princeton (3the No. 1 doubles ers and sophomore duo of Rogers and Alana Smith, win0) Friday, Feb. 7. If Smith and No. 22 ning their eighth d o u b l e s du o o f st r a ig ht double s the Wolfpack wins, it Daniel and Reami. match and No. 22 will face the winner Rogers, Reami, doubles par tners and Smith are also junior Jaeda Danof Arizona State and top-ranked singles iel and senior Adripl ayer s a s we l l , ana Reami winning North Carolina on with Rogers being their match as well. ranked at No. 18, T h e Wo l f p a c k Saturday.

Rea mi at No. 23 wou ld a lso on ly and Smith at No. lose one si ng les 31. The Wolfpack is in good shape to match in singles play.

This tournament features several top- make a name for itself in the tournament, ranked women’s tennis teams including if it hasn’t already.

The first match for NC State will begin No. 1 Stanford, No. 2 North Carolina, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 UCLA, No. 5 Duke, Friday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. at the XS Tennis No. 6 Pepperdine, No. 7 Texas, No. 9 Village.

Staff Writer

“

”

DAVID TRACEY/ARCHIVE

Junior Adriana Reami celebrates winning a point against Duke sophomore Kelly Chen on Friday, May 10, 2019 at Ambler Tennis Stadium in Durham. Reami lost to Chen 6-3, 6-4 during the Wolfpack’s 4-0 overall loss.

TRACK

continued from page 12

DAVID TRACEY/ARCHIVE

Senior Janel Pate competes in the women’s long jump at the Raleigh Relays on Friday, March 29, 2019 at Paul Derr Track & Field Facility.

Pate placed third in the event with a jump of 5.90 meters.

ous points for the women’s team. Her male counterpart sophomore Cameron Murray is also in the race for points in the 60-meter hurdles, with a fourth-fastest time of 7.96 seconds.

Both the men and women are in the top eight for the weight throw. Redshirt junior Tyson Fortenberry has posted the fourthlongest throw, a sizeable 18.89m, while his female teammates, redshirt sophomore Jersey Harris and sophomore Kayla Beasley, hold the sixth and seventh spots, respectively.

NC State is looking fairly competitive in all types of events, its strongest field being women’s long distance. A couple of great runs are to be expected from both the men and women, and there will no doubt be points earned for the Wolfpack.

The next meet for the track and field team is slated to be Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Queens Multi Events again in Winston-Salem.

Sports

TECHNICIAN 14

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020

Wolfpack softball to begin T H I S W E E K season this weekend in Florida I N S P O RTS Rachel Umbach Staff Writer

The NC State softball team is set to begin its season this weekend in Clearwater, Florida in the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

The tournament will kick off with a doubleheader Friday and games against both Minnesota and Ole Miss at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturday will be another doubleheader, and the Pack will take on Kentucky at 10 a.m. and Missouri State at 12:30 p.m. before concluding the weekend with a Sunday matinee against Mississippi State at noon.

Minnesota is currently ranked No. 8 in the nation after an excellent 2019 season. Head coach Jamie Trachsel led the Gophers to the No. 7 overall seed, after posing a 20-2 Big Ten record and a 5-0 record in the Minneapolis Regional and Super Regional. This was the first trip for the Gophers to the Women’s College World Series in the NCAA era.

Led by senior third baseman Katelyn Kemmetmueller, the Gophers are known for their excellent defense. Minnesota finished 2019

with a 0.976 fielding percentage, ranked ninth in the NCAA. This will be a tough start for the Wolfpack offense to begin the 2020 season.

No. 21 Ole Miss is returning from a 41-20 2019 campaign, but it experienced a bit of change over the offseason. Back in December, the Rebels’ head coach, Mike Smith, announced his resignation, and the program announced Ruben Felix will be the interim head coach for the upcoming season.

The Rebels only lost four of their 22 players from 2019, and Kylan Becker, former center fielder, will be returning to the team as a part of the coaching staff. This weekend will be the first test for Ole Miss under its new coach, but the Rebels are a strong team and will be more tough competition for the Wolfpack as it starts the weekend.

On Saturday, the Pack will face both No. 15 Kentucky and Missouri State. Kentucky will be the third ranked team NC State will face in the upcoming weekend. The Cats lost a significant part of their infield over the offseason and will be relying on their experienced pitching staff. Pitcher Grace Baalman led the team in strikeouts last season with 102, while also

recording a 3.49 ERA; while Autumn Humes led the team in saves with two, while posing a 15-11 record and a 4.14 ERA. The Missouri State Bears will be returning eight position starters and their entire pitching rotation from last season. Catcher Darian Frost will also be returning to the team after missing all of 2019 due to an injury. As another solid team, this is a game the Pack can’t let up on.

The Wolfpack will close out the weekend against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs, known for their stellar offense, are highlighted by catcher/infielder Mia Davidson and senior utility player Fa Leilua. The duo recently earned preseason All-American honors after combining for 48 home runs and 116 RBIs in 2019. Davidson broke the SEC single-season home run record last year and led the Bulldogs in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, RBIs and total bases.

This weekend will prove to be a tough start to the season for the Pack as it will be full of tough competition and a large number of games in a short period of time.

Games to keep an eye on for the week of February 6-12 Bryan Danner Staff Writer

Although this week is a little slow on sports, the games that are around campus this week are vital to each team. Wrestling takes on a fierce top10 North Carolina team, while club hockey starts to wrap up its season at home.

FRIDAY, FEB. 7 WRESTLING VS. NORTH CAROLINA 7 P.M. Reynolds Coliseum No. 3 NC State (12-0, 2-0 ACC) will take on No. 8 UNC (11-1, 2-0 ACC) for its second ranked match in a row out of three. The Pack is currently undefeated and only has three regular-season duels left. Last week, it faced No. 10 Pittsburgh and won 21-12 for a solid win. Though higher ranked, with the home advantage combined with multiple skilled wrestlers, including redshirt juniors Hayden Hidley and Tariq Wilson, NC State has a great chance of winning Friday.

CLUB HOCKEY VS. UNCW 9:30 P.M. Raleigh Iceplex The Icepack (20-3) will face UNCW Friday for its last home game of the season on senior night. Its last game of the season will be at UNCC on Saturday.

DAVID TRACEY/ARCHIVE

Sophomore outfielder Sam Russ hits the ball against Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at Dail Softball Stadium. Russ went 1-2 with one double and one walk in the Wolfpack’s 12-1 loss to the Hokies.

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 6, 2020

TECHNICIAN 15

Classified

To place a classified ad, call 919.515.2411 or visit technicianonline.com/classifieds

ANNOUNCEMENTS Crazy Axe Throwing open in Raleigh Crazy Axe! Raleigh’s only dedicated axe throwing venue is open welcoming ages 18 and up. book online or walk-ins may be available 919-900-8625 #thecrazyaxe @thecrazyaxe www.thecrazyaxe.com 10% off mentioning this ad and your Student ID Email crazyaxenc@gmail.com

HELP WANTED Seeking mature individual with pleasant personality to show rental houses to NC State Students. Fun work. 10-20 hrs. per week. Monday-Friday 1:00pm-5:00pn January - May, 2019. Excellent Salary. Office Furnished. Call day 919-833-7142 and Evening 919-783-9410. Email Resume with contact information to pjansen@jansenproperties.com.

Courier/Office Assistant Raleigh Law Firm in need of a courier. Hours are M-F 12:30pm - 5:30pm. Duties include daily trips downtown (secretary of state/courthouse/register of deeds etc.) to file/retrieve documents, general deliveries both local and out of town, as well as various office duties to include but not limited to copying, scanning, filing, mail, phones. Attention to detail is a MUST. Should be reliable, eager to learn and able to lift 25lbs. Stable vehicle required. Applicants subject to background and driving record checks. Pay for the position is $11.00/hr with mileage reimbursements. Perfect for students with a flexible schedule. Email resumes to resumes@hsfh.com Hiring Team Members and Shift Leaders You will have FUN and PRIDE serving fresh, healthy good for you Mexican food. We also do good for others!!! For every burrito, bowl or water purchased we donate a meal to someone in need!! If you are personable and like to engage with guests then the ZamFam is the place for you!!

Apply on Indeed.com and search Zambrero Raleigh Email oneglenwood401@zambrero.com

HOMES FOR RENT Near NCSU: Exceptional 3,4&5 Bedroom Houses Close to Campus Available August 1 for upcoming school year. Very attractive. Ideal for students. Cal l- Day: 919-833-7142 and Evening: 919783-9410. Please visit our Website: www.jansenproperties.com Email pjansen@jansenproperties.com

SPRING BREAK CARIBBEAN SPRING BREAK $189 for 5-Days. All prices include: Round-trip luxury party cruise. Accommodations on the island at your choice of seven resorts. Appalachia Travel. www.BahamaSun.com

ORDER YOUR 2019-2020

yearbook $ 75 At balfour.com/ncsu NC State’s award winning Agromeck Yearbook Est. 1903

COVER PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EMMA SHEPPARD, PHOTOS BY DAVID TRACEY Senior Anna Rogers and sophomore Alana Smith compete as the No. 1 ranked doubles duo in the country.

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis ACROSS 1 Diamond problem 5 Plush carpet 9 Test versions 14 Feminist poet Adrienne 15 It’s partially submerged 16 Valuable violin 17 Italian wine region 18 Founder of Edom 19 R2-D2 or BB-8, e.g.

20 Parvenu’s business venture?

23 Beantown NHL nickname 24 “__ whiz!”

25 Quarterback’s nonchalant move?

32 Vague time period 33 Spots for AirPods 34 One may be decorated for the holidays 35 Sprightly 36 Marmalade bits 38 __ Ren, “Star Wars” villain 39 Trig. function 40 Aloha State bird 41 Plumlike fruit 42 Down Under withdrawal?

46 Disney doe 47 It’s just over a foot 48 TSA agent’s perfected search technique?

55 Tropical porch 56 Murdoch who received the 1978 Booker Prize for “The Sea, the Sea” 57 “What’s the big __?”

58 Habituate 59 Retail outlet 60 Mattress option 61 Zaps 62 Neverland pirate 63 What this puzzle does here DOWN 1 German spouse 2 Speech therapy target

By Robert Wemischner

3 Tries to look 4 Plant leaf pest 5 Himalayan guide 6 “Prizzi’s Honor” director or actress 7 Word of regret 8 Excess 9 Scrubby wastelands 10 Chewed the scenery 11 Perfume that sounds forbidden 12 Surmounting 13 “Pull up a chair” 21 Arthur in the International Tennis Hall of Fame 22 Seaweed-based thickeners 25 Buckeye State sch.

26 Leading 27 Brightest star in Cygnus 28 Taken in 29 “All Because __”: 2005 U2 song 30 Steakhouse order 31 Picked dos

2/6/20

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

32 Dr Pepper Museum city 36 Postgame postmortem 37 Skin pics 38 Yukon gold rush region 40 Au pairs 41 Burlesque bit 43 “’__ the Jabberwock, my son!’”: Carroll 44 Have great plans

2/6/20

45 Pure 48 Mike’s “Wayne’s World” co-star 49 Obligation 50 Gets in the crosshairs, with “at” 51 Disneyland transport 52 Norse god 53 Make (one’s way) 54 Old horses 55 Put a match to

TECHNICIAN F E B RU ARY 6, 2020

VOL . 100 | NO. 21

NO. 1 RANKED DUO

See Page 13