RED: 2021 NC State Basketball — Technician 10/28/21 by Technician

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RED 2021 NC STATE BASKETBALL See Page 10

Contents

2 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

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IN THIS ISSUE: page

Woodson’s reflective fall address

WHAT YOU MISSED:

SOURCE: NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Volunteering is simply awesome

Man receives $10 million after claims he was fired for being a white man

David Duvall was a top executive at Novant Health, one of the Carolinas’ largest private employers, before he was fired in 2018 and replaced with one Black and one white woman. Duvall claims he was a victim of reverse discrimination in the company’s attempt to diversify its leadership. Evidently, the jury agreed, and Duvall was awarded $10 million in punitive damages.

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NC State employees under federal directives required to be vaccinated Due to President Biden’s executive order 14042, which requires employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19, NC State employees covered by federal directives must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 8. This new requirement applies to any NC State employee including part-time employees, postdoctoral scholars and graduate assistants.

NEWS

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A quick look at the headlines in and outside of NC State

SOURCE: THE NEWS & OBSERVER

Viral Raleigh couple hosts free meals for students

CULTURE

To have bones, or not to have bones? That is the question. A thirteen-year-old pug named Noodle has taken TikTok by storm with his unreliable leg strength. Each day, Noodle’s owner records himself lifting Noodle off his bed into a standing position. If Noodle remains standing, it’s a “bones day.” If he sinks right back onto his bed, it’s a “no bones day.” The pug continues to gain traction on the internet, and whether or not Noodle wakes up with bones has determined what kind of day millions of adoring fans are going to have.

SOURCE: NPR page

No. 5 Wolfpack women’s basketball looks for ACC three-peat

SPORTS

Valerjan Romanovski attempted to break the Guinness world record for longest duration of full body contact with ice by spending three hours and one minute submerged up to his neck. Romanovski completed the task in a glass container which was placed in the main square of Vilnius Old Town in Lithuania. Guinness officials will still need time to verify the attempt, but the current record is held at two hours and 35 minutes.

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Lithuanian man attempts to break world record for longest time submerged in ice

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THE RADAR Events to keep an eye on for the week of October 28

NC SYNC: THROUGH THE DECADES Oct. 28, 2021, 7 p.m. STAFFORD COMMONS Free Various NC State student groups will be showing up and showing out with unique costumes, props and choreography to lip-sync to music from throughout the decades. Join your peers on Stafford Commons to sit back and enjoy the show.

HARAMBEE! Oct. 29, 2021, 3 to 6 p.m. HARRIS FIELD Free Join the African American Cultural Center in celebrating 30 years at NC State. Grab dinner from an assortment of food trucks and jam along with DJ Jaypee on Harris Field to commemorate the center in their annual welcome celebration.

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH KICKOFF Nov. 1, 2021,11 a.m. to 1 p.m. TALLEY STUDENT UNION Free Multicultural Student Affairs will be hosting the celebration kickoff for Native Heritage Month. Guests are welcome to enjoy giveaways and candy, and observe traditional clothing and regalia as native campus orgs talk about their impact on the campus community.

NICKELODEON TRIVIA Nov. 2, 2021, 7 to 9 p.m. STUDENT INVOLVEMENT CENTER Free Test your Nickelodeon knowledge with the University Activities Board at the Student Involvement Center, by yourself or with a team, for the chance to win prizes.

COVER BY ANN SALMAN

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.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Minu Lee: From campus to council Emily Vespa Correspondent

Minu Lee, a third-year studying political science, has launched his campaign to represent District B on the Raleigh City Council. Lee said he is eager to introduce a fresh perspective to local government. “I feel like we need more representation in our city council and in our government in general,” Lee said. “We need younger people. Younger people are the future; they’re the voice of tomorrow. In terms of representation, I’m honored to say that if elected, I’d be the first Asian-American and youngest council member elected to Raleigh City Council.” Lee said he was motivated to run for city council after he grew frustrated with the rising tensions and divisiveness that he observed in Raleigh politics. He felt inspired to serve as a council member and unify the community. Wearing a suit coat with the Raleigh flag pinned on the lapel, Lee expressed his love for Raleigh, his home of over 14 years. “We’re one of the best cities in the nation, if I do say so myself,” Lee said. Lee intends to increase affordable housing, improve infrastructure and advocate for small businesses. He said that spending time helping with his family’s small janitorial business has provided insight into the

challenges small businesses face. This experience also helped him understand the importance of entrepreneurship. “Local businesses are such a key component to the city of Raleigh,” Lee said. “It’s, quite frankly, in our blood; it’s who we are.” Lee’s opponent, David Cox, has represented District B since 2015. Steven Greene, a professor of political science, said challenging an incumbent can be a difficult feat. “Incumbents have had years of serving to build name recognition,” Greene said. However, according to Greene, overcoming an incumbent in local elections is far from impossible. Lee said he is confident his values and character set him apart from his opponent. “I strongly believe that we need a council member who has a sense of humility,” said Lee. “I will be that voice of truth. I will speak truth to power.” Lee is committed to serving his community; he is a substitute teacher for Wake County Public Schools and volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in court. He said that he appreciates offering guidance and mentorship to younger generations. “Mr. Rogers is a big role model of mine,” Lee said. “I grew up watching Mr. Rogers, and he had this principle of helping the children, the future of our society, and so

I thought, ‘This is my calling.’” Lee said that he has ga i ned k nowledge at NC State that has proven invaluable to his understanding of local government. “Anything that the city council does — or doesn’t do — has a sincere, noticeable impact on our daily lives,” Lee said. “I learned that in PS 201 with Steven Greene. That class just opened my eyes and showed me how important local municipalities are to our daily lives.” Greene said while local elections are often overlooked — superseded by national politics — they can make a profound difference on the quality of life among residents. “There’s important things going on in your community that you have no idea about, and where you could make a difference,” Greene said. “It’s more likely your vote will matter if it’s an election with three or four thousand people determining the outcome, rather than 40,000 or 400,000.”

COURTESY OF MINU LEE

The election will take place on Nov. 8, 2022. Lee encourages students to make informed choices and vote. In the coming year, Lee plans to develop a deeper understanding of the most pressing concerns among voters by going door to door and interacting with constituents. For more information about Minu Lee, visit his website, www.leeforraleigh.com

Student health encouraging flu shots Cameron Rhinehardt Correspondent

NC State Student Health has been on the move to get students vaccinated against the flu. Students might notice the flyers and signs posted around campus with information about getting the flu shot.

No appointment is required to receive the flu shot, but students must show proof of University-approved insurance. The approved insurance companies include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, Student Blue, Tricare and United Healthcare. Students with other insurance plans will have $25 charged to their university student account. There are walkin flu clinics once a week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in various locations on campu s . To find these locations and dates, visit t he Student Health Services GRAPHIC BY SHRADDHA MISHRA website. For stu-

dents to receive the flu shot at a walk-in clinic, they must upload a copy of their insurance card to the HealthyPack Portal prior to their arrival at the clinic. After arrival at the clinic, the visit is short, and students can be vaccinated against the flu within 10 minutes. If students cannot attend one of the walkin clinic dates, individual appointments can be made. Students can make an appointment to get their flu vaccine online via the HealthyPackPortal or by calling 919-5152563. Keri Massey-Shands, the outreach and student engagement coordinator for Student Health Services, said receiving the flu shot is extremely important, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are in for a brutal flu season,” MasseyShands said. “At any primary care appointment, patients will be asked if they want to get their flu shot; we are really pushing this.” Jake Long, a third-year studying business administration, said he thinks it is important for students to get the flu shot. “I personally will be getting the flu shot,” Long said. “It is important to stop the spread of the flu, especially with COVID.” Jacob Parvin, a second-year studying

computer science, already received his flu shot for this season. “My arm was a little sore after, but overall I didn’t have any side effects,” Parvin said. Some students express concerns about the flu shot, such as how it affects the COVID-19 vaccine and if it is truly necessary. The CDC states that both vaccines can be given at the same time, but “people should follow the recommended schedule for either vaccine: If you haven’t gotten your currently recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccine, get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can, and ideally get a flu vaccine by the end of October.” According to Massey-Shands, students can receive both vaccines in the same appointment if they want. “You can get the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot in the same visit if you really wanted,” Massey-Shands said. “You won’t get really sick or anything like that, and they might put them in different arms, but that’s it.” So far, Student Health Services has administered over a thousand flu shots this semester. If students are interested in getting their flu shot, they can attend a walk-in clinic or make an appointment online.

News 4 TECHNICIAN Massive success for annual crowdfunding THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Abigail Ali

Correspondent

Annual Giving at NC State’s new crowdfunding programs bring communities together to support projects across NC State’s campus. Crowdfunding is a program that allows departments to create specific projects in areas in which they need financial support. Josh Privette, associate director of development for the Division of Academic and Student Affairs (DASA), is a part of the group of people responsible for the crowdfunding program at NC State. “So, crowdfunding tries to identify certain projects on campus that we think a wide group of people would be passionate about ... that they could support through personal philanthropy,” Privette said. There were five crowdfunding projects running for the fall semester. All of them reached their fundraising goals. “Each college can have different projects,” Privette said. “So, this semester, there were five projects representing different areas. DASA had two. University Theater did a crowdfunding project for their production support for this upcoming academic year. The other one was the clothing closet in the Career Development Center.” Other projects included medical supplies and equipment for the Turtle Rescue Team, North Carolina Science Olympiad and Student Teacher Mini-Grants. Adam Compton, executive director of Annual Giving at NC State, is part of a team that oversees the mass marketing and direct frontline fundraising of all gifts in the Annual Giving space. This includes their new crowdfunding project which addresses specific needs of organizations across campus. “Crowdfunding is an opportunity for us to raise some funds for very specific projects on campus, so if you look at Crowdfunding projects we just launched, the [medical supplies and equipment for the Turtle Rescue Team] was a really good example because they had something really specific they

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wanted to fund,” Compton said. “They needed a new freezer for the facility, so it was a great way to go out and identify an audience.” Kelly Laraway, director of employer relations at the Career Development Center, manages the Wolfpack Styled Professional Clothing Closet, which was part of the fall round of crowdfunding projects. Laraway said she knew exactly what she wanted to do when she saw the advertisement for fundraising projects from Crowdfunding. “Up to now, it’s really been a function of physical donations that we have received that students can then come and connect with,” Laraway said. “One of the dreams I always had for it is that we would actually have a pot of money where we could provide under-resourced students with stipends so that they could buy their own new things that were really bought just for them.” Compton said the Crowdfunding team takes care of mass marketing and awareness processes like sending emails and text messages, but where projects find success is through reaching out to their own communities. “If we’re looking at the example of the [NC State Turtle Rescue Team], they had a dedicated group of volunteers that were sharing it on their social media and texting it to friends and emailing it to friends,” Compton said. “And the same way that you look at a Kickstarter or some GoFundMe type campaigns, it’s the organic side of things that really drives more people to it. So, while we’ll do some promotion, I think the success will really come from those student groups or faculty and staff groups really pushing the message.” Becca Dandeneau, a temporary employee through the Rural Works internship program, led communications for the clothing closet, creating a social media content calendar, making graphics and more for the crowdfunding project. Dandeneau said crowdfunding is about community. “I think that’s what a crowdfund is about,” Dandenau said. ‘‘It’s about raising money,

but it’s also about your community coming together, and you get to see something grow and make it even better.” Privette said the crowdfund i n g pr o c e s s starts with centers approaching the development office with a project they would like to nominate for consideration for Crowdfunding. “We then look over that project and make sure it is a project we feel like would be met with good success — they have an identifiable audience, it’s an area people would be passionate about — and then we refer those to the [Annual Giving] office,” Privette said. “And the Annual Giving office makes the decision as to which projects will be placed on the Crowdfunding website and that project runs for six weeks.” The six weeks gives each project team a chance to meet a goal they identify. “Most groups identified a goal of $5,000 for their project,” Privette said. “When they meet that goal, we celebrate that goal and that project wraps up.” Laraway said DASA’s development office was a huge help in making the clothing closet’s campaign through Crowdfunding a success. “The development office that was running the crowdfunding was so organized,” Laraway said. “Everything was so developed ... and we went through a training so they [could] answer all of our questions to make sure we understood what we were doing and gave us ideas, and it helped us snowball it. It was such a well-run campaign, in my opinion, and they gave us guidance on

GRAPHIC BY KYLE HOWE

everything.” Laraway said the crowdfunding program did more than just raise money for the projects. “I think that one of the unexpected results, which we were not really prepared for staff-wise, was the added attention that the clothing closet started getting,” Laraway said. “We have had an overwhelming number of students, and we have heard students say, ‘Oh, my professor talked about [the clothing closet] in class.’” Compton said his team hopes the Crowdfunding project will expand by next year. “So, this first year, we did this fall round and we’ll do this spring round,” Compton said. “The longer term goal is to do this more times throughout the year, so maybe if we looked at the next academic/fiscal year, we might do it four times and continue to grow it from there.” Learn more about Crowdfunding through the Crowdfunding website, through NC State colleges’ fundraising offices or emailing Crowdfunding directly with questions at crowdfunding@ncsu.edu.

NUMBER BREAKDOWN With a total of $51,577 raised for five different projects, NC State’s crowdfunding event exceeded every goal set, from funding theater productions to supporting the Turtle Rescue Team. GRAPHIC BY ELLIE BRUNO

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Woodson’s reflective fall address Cameron Rhinehardt

fellowships. He also talked about NC State’s research successes in the last year. “More than $1.64 billion in research proNC State Chancellor Randy Woodson posals were submitted in this past year,” delivered his annual fall address Monday, Woodson said. “And nearly $400 million Oct. 25 in Talley Student Union. Woodson in new research projects were funded, and reflected on the past year and shared his more than half a billion dollars in annual plans for the future at NC State with sturesearch spending, representing a dents. new record for NC State.” The fall address Woodson spoke about diversity began with and inclusion at NC State and said McKenzy Heavlin, he is dedicated to making NC State a fou r t h-ye a r a diverse community that represtudying electrical sents all people of North Carolina. engineering and “Our commitment for diversity the student body and inclusion is written into the president, introduwork plan for every employee,” cing Woodson and Woodson said. “We’ve had unpregreeting students, cedented private support for diverstaff and faculty. sity initiatives this past year alone, The fall address with more than 40 new funds being is meant to kick created.” off Red and White According to Woodson, NC Week, NC State’s State’s Jenkins MBA program ranks annual homecoNo. 1 in the nation for diversity. ming celebration “This reveals that if you are from dedicated to NC an underrepresented background State pride and and you seek to gain a foothold school spirit. in the business world through an “Today kicks off MBA, there is no better place in a week of events America to do it than NC State,” meant to engage, Woodson said. inspire and reinviWoodson finished his fall address gorate your love for by placing the first item, Vice ProNC State Universivost for Institutional Equity and ty,” Heavlin said. SINDY HUANG/ARCHIVE Diversity Sheri Schwab’s lapel pin, “I hope this week Chancellor Randy Woodson speaks at the 2018 Fall Chancellor’s Address on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018, in Talley Student Union brings back memo- during Red and White Week. During the address, the chancellor talked about his pride in the excellency of NC State student in NC State’s new time capsule. This time capsule will be recovered in ries of why you love body and the high rankings NC State has been achieving. 100 years. our university.” “This is a token of our university and a trate sound theory by daily practice,” which Red and White Week is a time to reflect vaccine. “For those of you who have not gotten has been shaped over time into “Think and reminder of our ongoing support that this on the past of NC State, but also look towards the future and make plans for the your vaccine yet, I trust you’ll join the rest Do,” the NC State slogan that many will re- great place needs to thrive,” Woodson said. “Over the next few months, our campus of us in doing your part,” Woodson said. cognize. University. “Our goal is to create knowledge,” Wood- community will have the opportunity to “As we reflect on our time at NC State, Red “There is no better way to help your commuand White Week also serves as a time to en- nity, and it beats getting your nose swabbed son said. “We don’t just want to create select objects, photos and stories to fill our knowledge, however, we want to share it new time capsule, and next spring we will vision the collective future of our university each week.” place it in the Belltower.” Woodson said he is passionate about NC and use it for the greater good.” and its impact,” Heavlin said. “A future that If you missed the chancellor’s fall address Woodson introduced staff and students strengthens the educational opportunities State and how united the University is, even of North Carolina, builds the characters through the COVID-19 pandemic and vir- who had great achievements recently, in- and want to hear Woodson’s speech, you can cluding scholarships, research grants and view it on YouTube. of tomorrow’s leaders and creates lasting tual classes. Correspondent

change on a national and global scale.” Woodson followed Heavlin with his fall address, discussing the pandemic and what the University is doing moving forward. Woodson said over 82% of students are currently vaccinated and encouraged unvaccinated students to get their COVID-19

“Our time apart did remind me that NC State isn’t bound by its bricks and mortar,” Woodson said. “This University isn’t just a fixed place; it’s tens of thousands of us learning, working together and rising together.” NC State’s first catalog in the late 1800s stated that the goal of NC State is to “illus-

Opinion

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Volunteering is simply awesome THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

For the past four weeks, I have looked forward to Friday more than usual. Not only does it cap off a long, brutal school week, but it’s also the one day where I know my existence has a Lauren Richards positive impact on the lives of others — a profound Correspondent feeling generated through the simple act of reading children’s books. I volunteer with Partners Read, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase literacy among elementary schoolers. In the program, first and second graders are paired with adults who help develop confidence with their reading. During my time with Partners Read, I’ve discovered volunteering is generally easy, benefits all parties involved and the more people who are able to do it, should. As busy college students, finding time within our jam-packed schedules to give back can be a challenge. With the added

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stress of financial strain, some of us simply do not have the luxury to volunteer. However, for those who can, the benefits of volunteering far outweigh the costs of time and energy. While volunteering provides support to people in need and important causes, the volunteer may get more than what they give. Since the onset of the pandemic, 40% of adults have reported symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders. Social distancing and quarantine forced people into a bubble of isolation, with limited face-to-face interaction. Due to concerns for the virus, many outreach groups operated with limited resources or temporarily halted activities. As the world continues to slowly open back up again, volunteering can be a great way to reconnect with others and boost mental health. Volunteering can help you make new friends and boost your social skills, which staves off feelings of loneliness, anxiety and depression. Devoting time to volunteering has also

been shown to provide a sense of purpose, increase self-confidence, overall life-satisfaction and even help you live longer. One study published by the University of Exeter found that those who volunteer had a 22% lower mortality rate compared to non-volunteers. In addition to improved mental and physical health, devoting time to volunteering can also teach you valuable skills such as leadership and problem-solving, give you a chance to explore new career fields and connect you with organizations that could benefit your career. Because of the enormity of volunteer opportunities available and the impact COVID-19 has had, finding the right place to volunteer can be tricky. Some important things to consider when searching for volunteer opportunities are your interests, goals, abilities and the amount of time you’re willing to commit. Luckily, there is no shortage of volunteer opportunities available on campus, from

Feed the Pack food pantry — where volunteers strive to reduce food insecurity — to Arts at NC State. Additionally, many of the hundreds of student organizations at NC State offer community service activities, including Best Buddies, the Companion Animal Club and Service Raleigh. NC State’s Office of Student Leadership and Civic Engagement offers a great resource for finding volunteer opportunities within the community. The website is easy to use and creates a list of opportunities and service events tailored to individual needs and interests. The site also allows you to “fan” certain organizations and get regular updates on their activities. Whether you are looking to lend a hand, want to meet new people, or have nothing better to do, consider volunteering. With so many opportunities available on and around campus, there is something for everyone. Although the time for giving is right around the corner, get a head start by giving back to the community and yourself.

Five reasons why you should join your school’s community garden Even though NC State’s community garden has been around since 2009, it ’s not wel l-k now n amongst students. The garden is located on campus in Lee Park, which is Debra adjacent to Lee Residence Mullis Correspondent Hall and Fountain Dining Hall. Students for Organic Living (SOL Garden, formally known as SOUL Garden) is beneficial for both NC State and the students who are members of the organization. Learn about where your food comes from and improve your green thumb: If you have ever thought about starting a garden in your backyard, have herbs in your kitchen window or are confused why the succulent in your dorm died, SOL Garden is a great place for you. The student-led organization is filled with knowledgeable people who can answer your questions and teach you things you wouldn’t even know to ask about. Meet new people and make new friends: Even if you aren’t a horticulture or environmental science major, you will meet a great group of people when you come to a workday, with students from a variety of years and majors. Working on the garden together can also take away some of the awkwardness of meeting new people and is a great way to bond. If you feel like you missed your

COURTESY OF DEBRA MULLIS

chance to get involved in a campus organization earlier in the semester, SOL Garden is still accepting new volunteers for workdays every weekend, but you are not required to come every weekend. Destress by spending time outdoors, away from your computer: As students, we are forced to spend a lot of time on screens studying, completing assignments and even attending classes now. Joining the community garden gives you a built-in time each week to work outside with your hands, away

from scholarly demands. It really helps to prevent those Sunday night scaries where you feel you didn’t have a weekend that was productive, fun or relaxing enough. Getting my Saturday or Sunday started with time in nature puts me in a great headspace for getting work done later in the day. I especially enjoy getting a chance to work with my hands for a change instead of typing away on my computer, like how I spend most days. Help your NC State community: Several

of SOL Garden’s beds grow food to go towards NC State’s food pantry, Feed the Pack. According to a report from this February, on homelessness and food and housing insecurity among NC State students during the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 25% of students experienced food insecurity. Fresh produce is one of the hardest things for food pantries and food insecure people alike to get their hands on because of the inherent problems of perishability and high prices. SOL Garden and the organization’s volunteers help to fill in the gaps for Feed the Pack. Create a beautiful space on campus: There is no shortage of gorgeous plant life on NC State’s campus, but there are not as many places where students are in charge of the entire process of planning, planting and upkeeping a green space. Club members get to vote on what is planted in the garden and where. Once the plants begin to bear fruit, they are also able to benefit from what is grown based on their number of service hours during the semester. While sitting in the green grass in the Court of North Carolina is nice, sitting amongst organic plants that you helped grow is a different feeling. To learn more about how to volunteer or become a club member contact solgarden-org@ncsu.edu or visit the SOL Garden website.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Horror movies deserve your respect

When people think of ways to describe the horror genre in film, the first words that pop into their minds tend to be along the lines of “gore,” “sex” and/or “mindlessness.” Tristan And while some horror Tucker movies definitely play Managing into those tropes, there is Editor so much more to horror movies than meets the eye. Whereas Hollywood, in general, has historically danced around the concepts and theories pertaining to sex, gender, race and identity, horror as a genre has never been afraid to tackle those themes head-on. Consider George A. Romero’s 1968 classic “Night of the Living Dead.” In the film, the world has been overrun by zombies — the flick is credited with developing what we know today as the modern zombie — and at first glance, it seems like a relatively simple concept. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. While Romero denies considering race while casting for his film, it’s notable that Duane Jones, a Black man, plays the lead role. To delve into spoilers a bit, Jones is as resourceful as they come, surviving the entire night and putting his life on the line to save others throughout the titular night. In a heart-wrenching moment, Jones is shot and

killed the next morning by a redneck posse that “mistook” him for a zombie. The social commentary couldn’t be more clear, and it was especially poignant considering Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated just under six months prior to the film’s release. Even the film franchises you may think are mindless often aren’t. It may be baffling to see franchises like “Friday the 13th” or “Child’s Play” get upward of 10 installments, but their lesser-known sequels often give screentime to those that deserve it. Interestingly, 2004’s “Seed of Chucky” explores issues of gender and identity, with killer doll Chucky’s child not sure whether they identify as male or female, and it actually explores how parents react differently to their child’s identity. Another huge horror franchise, “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” was one of the first major franchises to explore homoerotic themes. 1985’s “A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” has been dubbed a cult film for gay audiences and the lead character, a male, plays the final girl,a role that has been pretty much exclusively reserved for women. While I do applaud both of these movies, I cannot seriously recommend them for anything other than viewing for a case study. One of the more prolific early slasher films, 1982’s “The Slumber Party Massacre,” was one of the first films to explore

the horror/comedy genre and was directed and written by two women, majorly uncommon for most other genres of film at that point. Male nudity, something that is still rare to this day, is featured in this inherently feminist film. 2009’s “Jennifer’s Body,” starring Megan Fox, is another feminist film that flies under the radar. Both “The Slumber Party Massacre” and “Jennifer’s Body” were directed by women, and both also suffered from studio interference muddying the respective directors’ visions. “Jennifer’s Body,” in particular, suffered from misleading advertising. I wouldn’t blame you for originally thinking the film was a cheap attempt to cash in on Fox’s popularity and looks. I wrote it off for that exact reason, but the film is so much more than that. “Jennifer’s Body” is not only a feminist work but it seethes with homoerotic undertones — which would otherwise be ostracized by mainstream media at the time. Horror films haven’t been afraid to tackle themes of feminism since their origin. The movie often dubbed as the first slasher film, 1974’s “Black Christmas,” features an almost exclusively female cast and even delves into topics like abortion. 1979’s “Alien,” one of my personal favorites, features perhaps the most badass woman film has ever seen in Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley. Horror/thriller films today have gotten

“Nova and Comet - Halloween Special”

Pearl Knight, a third-year majoring in art and design

more overt in their conveyance of social themes. Jordan Peele’s 2017 classic “Get Out” and his follow-up film “Us” (2019) are clear in their themes of covert racial discrimination or commentaries on class disparity. And you can’t get more mainstream than Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 best picture winner “Parasite.” People also seemingly sleep on the amount of time and effort it takes to craft an effective horror film. Make-up effect artists who craft the gruesome kills you see in movies deserve so much more credit than they are afforded. Guys like Tom Savini are outright geniuses, while directors like Ari Aster and Robert Eggers are excellent in crafting scary settings and finding ways to characterize and villainize the environments in which their films are set. One of my favorite examples of excellent film techniques comes in the little-known 2009 horror flick “The House of the Devil.” Sound design is an underrated component of filmmaking, and “The House of the Devil” masterfully finds a way to scare its audiences without actually showing anything scary on screen until the very end. It’s intense and a real thrill ride all the way through. If you’re interested in learning more about critical analysis of film, the NC State English Department offers film studies courses and majors and minors in film.

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MSA reflects on successful NC State Latinx Heritage Month Sam Overton

different groups,” Terrones said. “Some people focused more so on, let’s say, the Latinx Takeover, while others focused on the Latinx Hangout. We kind of did a little Latinx Heritage Month at NC State bit of everything.” wrapped up on Oct. 15, after a month of Given the overwhelming aspects of an engaging events for the campus community. in-person semester for the first time since From the Latinx Heritage Month speaker March 2020, Bell and the rest of MSA foseries to a new mural unveiled outside the cused on giving students an early heads-up Poole College of Management, Multiculturfor in-person events. Furthermore, an inal Student Affairs’ (MSA) annual celebragenious solution was implemented to give tion turned out to be a big hit in the midst participants a safe space during the event, of a newly-reopened campus. should they need one. According to MSA Assistant Director “We had green wristbands, yellow wristGavin Bell, the introduction of events and bands and red wristbands,” Bell said. “So gatherings both large and small was cruwhen people came to our events, the green cial in this year’s successful Latinx Heritage wristband [said] ‘You can come and shake Month. my hand, meet me, have a more intimate conversation.’ Yellow was ‘I want to keep my distance a little bit,’ and red was ‘I’ll definitely keep my distance.’ Thanks to the color-coded wristbands and early event marketing, students were able to meet and mingle throughout several events geared toward the celebration of the campus Latinx community. “I just found it to be a great opportunity for me to remember who I am and my background, as well as its place within academics,” Terrones said. “I think for most of us, we tend to have different identities within that and so for it to come together in one place — it’s [great].” Latinx Heritage Month is the first of several heritage months that MSA is celebrating over the course of the 2021-2022 school year. According to COURTESY OF RAY BLACK III Bell, recognizing and commemoratCristian Mendoza, a first-year in engineering, breaks apart a piñata after it was mostly empty of ing different communities on campus is candy during the Latinx Heritage Month kickoff event at Talley Student Center on Wednesday, crucial for students looking to navigate Sept. 15, 2021. a large school such as NC State. Culture Editor

“We wanted to have opportunities that were a little bit more intimate as well, to foster connections within a lot of the Latinx community,” Bell said. “Primarily because a lot of students — not even just first-years, a lot of sophomores and, technically, juniors — haven’t really been on campus. A lot of them weren’t even aware of the different organizations.” Jessica Terrones, a fourth-year studying math education, works as the student coordinator at MSA and took part in the Latinx Heritage Month Planning Committee. From the beginning, Terrones was involved in fleshing out the design and marketing aspects of MSA’s celebration. “Within it, we kind of subdivided within

“I think these heritage months provide an opportunity to fast-forward that process for a lot of students,” Bell said. “Particularly because [Latinx Heritage Month] just so happens to fall at the beginning of the year, it’s really strategic in that regard, because it allows students to get used to navigating these different organizations.” Bell, Terrones and the rest of the MSA staff will be taking important lessons away from this year’s celebration, putting what they know now toward Native Heritage Month, Black History Month and more. “A lot of students came for more activerelated activities,” Terrones said. “That was interesting. Also, the Tuesday Hangouts were nice, because I think it just created a space for all types of students to come in.” From this year’s Latinx Heritage Month, MSA learned that a wide array of different students representing different races and identities is crucial in planning a slate of activities that impact the entire campus community. “I want multiple different organizations represented, I want multiple different races and identities within the Latinx community represented on our committee,” Bell said. “Because that’s going to be important when we’re trying to have an impact across the entire Latinx community.” With a diverse planning community and the presence of dedicated students and staff showing up day after day at MSA to pull together events for the Latinx community, Latinx Heritage Month was a hit after a year and a half of Zoom gatherings. “It allows students to know they have a place within campus and that they’re being recognized,” Terrones said. “They have a community they can reach out to if they ever need to, or just to hang out.”

Viral Raleigh couple hosts free meals for students Myra Bari

Assistant Culture Editor

In a now-viral TikTok, Rachael Sullivan found her husband Tom’s secret Instagram account @MealsSheEats, chronicling the recipes he had been cooking to help Rachael Sullivan regulate her hormones after being diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). According to Tom, @MealsSheEats was initially created to catalog his recipes for future reference. “When I started cooking for Rachael to help with her PCOS, we had to stick to some

pretty strict diets, and I always used to just read a bunch of recipes and wing it,” Tom said. “I also knew that I’d have to write these out to make sure we’re getting the nutrients she needs and to track it better and be able to reciprocate them down the road. Instagram’s the only platform I knew how to use where I could put the pictures up and write everything out without starting a full-on blog or something intense.” When it comes to finding recipes, Tom usually begins the process by shopping seasonal produce and sales, looking for items that fit Rachael’s dietary and nutritional

needs. “Tom will look at things that are on my list and be like ‘OK, Rachael’s protein this week is chicken,’” Rachael said. “‘What’s a fun chicken dish I can make that maybe incorporates something that’s seasonal, but also something else from the list that will add nutrients to her diet?’” The Raleigh couple has also begun cooking for local college students, serving homecooked meals for free every other week. The opportunity arose when Rachael and Tom reached out to Kevin Gallagher, a secondyear at NC State studying computer science,

known as “College Kid Kevin” on both Tom’s Instagram and Rachael’s TikTok accounts. As a Chicago native attending Appalachian State University, Rachael was invited to meals and get-togethers by family friends, an experience she cherished. “Being that far away from home and having a family that took me in, I knew how much a home-cooked meal meant, Rachael said. “Especially having someone who supported you and how much that means.” Tom said he began setting aside leftovers for Gallagher after running into him at the gym.

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NC State Fair foods: what hit and what missed? Editorial Board

For foodies and ride-goers alike, the NC State Fair is an opportunity to try the weirdest and wackiest food combinations, from tried-and-true favorites like donut burgers and deep-fried Jell-O to newcomers like shrimp alfredo, stuffed turkey legs and alcohol-infused gourmet popcorn. After visiting the state fair, we decided to review some of this year’s offerings, new and old. Jaylan Harrington, Editor-in-Chief: I’m a very simple man with very simple tastes, and when I go to the state fair, it’s to have a funnel cake. Is it overpriced? Yes. Is it much too sweet? Yes. Does my stomach make me pay for it later? Yes. But in a normal year, all that is worth it, as there’s nothing that announces fall has arrived like a state fair funnel cake. This year the luster wore off, I won’t lie. My funnel cake was lukewarm, not hot, and I had to powder sugar onto it myself. Typically that wouldn’t be a problem, but the stand was nearly out of it. So I ate my not-really-powdered funnel cake as my friends rode their rollercoasters and wondered if it was just me, or if this state fair didn’t feel so magical. Rating: 5/10 Tristan Tucker, Managing Editor: Every single year I refer people to one snack and there hasn’t been a single year in which it’s let me down: the chocolate chip cookies. The cookies and milk stand is undefeated. Each year the cookies are warm, gooey and delicious and if you order a bucket, yes, a bucket, you get a heaping ton of delightful cookies that can last you up to a week if you ration them correctly. For just $13, this is one of the best deals at the fair. Don’t let any naysayers fool you, the cookies are supreme. Rating: 10/10 Sam Overton, Culture Editor:

The fair rides begin to light up as the sun sets on Tuesday, Oct. 19. 2021 at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. The fair featured everything from livestock to vendors to rides and art.

“I was cooking that night, and I basically said, ‘Hey, I’ll make some extra and throw it in a tupperware for you to grab,’ and that turned into every time I cooked something,” Tom said. “When we went on Rachel Ray, she gave us a year of groceries for free, so when we would order stuff, I’d order a little extra and just cook some extra for Kevin, and he would come by. Then Rachael started recording every time he came through, and would like send it to his mom and be like, ‘Oh, Kevin’s back with the Tupperware we’ll let you know what’s going on with him.’” Following several posts of Gallagher on her TikTok, Rachael began getting comments and DMs from other college students, eventually deciding one weekend to send out an invite on Tom’s Instagram. “Five students came and then after that, we just got a really thoughtful text message from a student who said how much she appreciated this and kind of what it meant to her that week,” Rachael said. “I think that alone gave us the gratification, it just meant so much to know that what we were doing

meant so much to someone.” After documenting each of the invites on Rachael’s TikTok, the sign-up list began getting even longer, currently at more than 500 locals in the Triangle. This past Sunday, the couple ran out of food for the first time with the most attendees yet. On Monday, the couple held a live cooking demonstration with NC State Dining in the RecWell Center as part of Red and White Week. In the future, the couple would love for their meal program to hit a national level and even visit other colleges to cook meals. “We’d definitely like to also possibly do a cookbook for women and hormone health,” Rachael said. “I think that would be really awesome, and something that I have tried to find on the market that isn’t out there, so I just feel like there’s a need.”

EMILY PEEDIN/TECHNICIAN

When you think of the NC State Fair, you don’t necessarily think of fruits and vegetables, but the frozen, chocolate-covered banana I had blew the other food I had right out of the water. Although I’m not much of a banana person myself — I’m very picky about overripe bananas — the thick chocolate coating with a healthy layer of sprinkles made for a refreshing treat. Despite a quick moment of brain freeze upon the first bite, this fair food classic failed to disappoint. Rating: 9/10 Myra Bari, Assistant Culture Editor: After walking the fair for an hour or two, I was sorely in need of a cool treat and decided on getting some Dole Whip after passing a stand earlier. Popularized by Disney World, Dole Whip is usually made from a mix of

pineapple juice and preservatives with the consistency of ice cream. The $6 pineapple soft serve ice cream I bought had no preservatives, a smooth and creamy texture and a hint of vanilla flavor. Overall, I thought it was a great snack, but it was expensive, especially for the amount I was given. Rating: 8/10 Avery Davis, News Editor: The fair is a culmination of some of the best (and worst) things the state of North Carolina has to offer, but if there’s one thing the south does right, it’s biscuits. There are a few different places you can get biscuits at the fair, but I got my egg and cheese biscuit from the NC Farmers Market Restaurant. Even though I was annoyed at the amount of time it took to make, that anger soon dis-

sipated as I bit into the biscuit for the first time. Not only was it as big as a “cat’s head,” as the restaurant so strangely put it, but the biscuit tasted like it had been made with the tender love and care of an elderly southern grandma. I couldn’t finish the whole thing because it was so big and filling, but I definitely know where I’ll be going back next year. Rating: 8/10 Nicholas Schnittker, Sports Editor: Even before last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19, it had been a few years since I had last been at the fair. Despite having not been in a while, one of my go-tos has been (and likely always will be) the fried Oreos, and they did not disappoint. They stand up a lot better to being fried than some of the other sweets (looking at you Twinkies) and the chocolate is a nice change of flavor from the fry batter. Even though I got covered in powdered sugar, I enjoyed the Oreos like I always do. Rating: 9/10 (-1 for the powdered sugar shower I had to endure while eating them) Chloe Allen, Video Editor: Having not been able to find my typical NC State Fair staple, boiled peanuts, I decided to try something new and bought some fried mushrooms. For $8 I received around 12 whole mushrooms that had been dipped in batter and deep fried. I was excited at the concept, but in reality I’d say they were just okay. The batter was light and they didn’t seem overly greasy. The mushrooms themselves tasted sort of like they had come from a can, which is understandable but still not the best taste. I ate half of my mushrooms before I had enough. It was a great concept, but could’ve used some help in the execution. Rating: 6/10

COURTESY OF TOM SULLIVAN

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Raygun Superstar takes Raleigh indie pop-rock scene by storm Jameson Wolf Correspondent

Despite its recent conception, new band Raygun Superstar has already made a splash in the local music scene, playing several venues including Ruby Deluxe and two Hopscotch day parties at Boxcar. The group describes itself as high-energy pop-rock with a dark side. “It’s danceable, but still rock,” said guitarist Jack O’Brien, who graduated from NC State in May 2021 with a degree in anthropology. “A little edgy with a bit of a darker side.” The group has six members: Alec O’Brien on lead vocals, Jack O’Brien and Andrew Barsody on guitars, Alex Shoop on drums, Jeremy Shoop on keys and Marshall Farr on bass. Farr, who is also an NC State alum, met Barsody when they both worked at Cup A Joe on Hillsborough Street. The two hit it off and started playing music together. Barsody and Jack O’Brien had played together on another project before starting Raygun Superstar. “None of us were in a band together,” Jack O’Brien said. “We all kind of knew each other and had jammed together, and then in May we all kind of got together and decided to actually have a band. Jeremy and Alex were brothers, and me and Alec were brothers, so it was kind of easy to fill out.” One of the initial attracting forces that pulled the group together was a mutual love for Young the Giant. “We all have a lot of overlap but also a lot of variations of bands we like,” Barsody said. “But, Young the Giant, that’s the kind of stuff that I’d always wanted to do and we all agreed on.”

COURTESY OF JACK O’BRIEN

Other musical inspirations include The Neighbourhood, Cage the Elephant and The Strokes. The band name itself actually came from a song by the Charlotte-based group The Business People, which was integral to Barsody’s early understanding of the local music scene. Though all the members had played music individually or jammed informally for a long time, they were attracted to the idea of being able to regularly perform live and create music with a group. Having loved attending live performances themselves, the members wanted to create an energetic atmosphere through their own performances. They wanted to make music the band would

want to listen to. The band has found that its creativity thrives in a collaborative environment. “When you write your music alone, it stagnates after a while, and you run out of ideas for how things should sound,” Barsody said. “But being in a band, you would have five other creative people with you who can come up with different parts and change what you’re doing and just make it sound cool or interesting.” Raygun Superstar has also found a great deal of creative strength in the members’ differences as far as what they pay most attention to in music. While Alec O’Brien is very lyrically-oriented, for example, while

Barsody pays most attention to the different interactions in instrumentation. These perspectives work together to produce a balanced and full sound. The band is in the process of recording its first EP for release later this year. Having primarily performed for live audiences, the recording process has been a learning experience for all of them. One of the biggest lessons thus far is within the surprising difficulty of metronomes, counting and patience in the studio. “We’ve only been playing live, and to convert that into recording, we don’t want to lose the live aspect of it, but also there’s certain things that sound better live that wouldn’t necessarily translate over well to recording,” Barsody said. “It’s been a learning process.” It has also been an incredibly rewarding experience, however. The members have found great value in watching their music solidify into something they can share with others to enjoy alongside them. “I think it was just cool seeing a project start to finish and then also putting together a show and seeing people come out, seeing our friends and meeting new friends,” Jack O’Brien said. In the future, all of the band members are looking forward to making Raygun Superstar an even more central part of their lives. Their next goal is to buy a van in order to broaden their tour reach out of state. Check out a demo track of “Bloom” off of Raygun Superstar’s upcoming EP. Their next gig is a 21+ show at The Pour House Nov. 2 with Nordista Freeze. You can keep up with the band on Instagram @raygunsuperstar and look out for practice and performance clips on TikTok @raygunsuperstar.

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Wolfpack men’s basketball set to run gauntlet against several ranked teams Tristan Tucker

guards some problems — he averaged an insanely good 3.6 steals per game last year. It’s that time again. Basketball ACC play season is around the corner and While there are plenty of like every year, NC State has a bit challenges in the early parts of of excitement surrounding its new the season for the Wolfpack, NC blend of talent on the roster. UnState’s ACC schedule is particulike every year, the Pack’s schedule larly brutal. Right out the gates at is cruel, with the team set to play the beginning of December, NC several ranked teams in a row and State will play Louisville at home. squaring off against one of the best Louisville is certainly a beatable teams in the nation in No. 7 Puropponent but Samuell Williamdue. Let’s break down the team’s son is primed to break out this rough schedule and highlight some year. Look for Jarrod West to key games. cause some problems defensively Nonconference play and for top JUCO prospect El ElOutside of the several in-season lis to have a phenomenal year as competitions like the Basketball an initiator in the pick-and-roll. Hall of Fame series and the annual After that, NC State gets a Big Ten/ACC Challenge, NC State handful of other nonconference plays a similar caliber of teams to matchups before having to travel prior seasons. The Wolfpack should to Miami and then taking on No. have zero issues running up the 20 Florida State at home and Virscore on teams like Bucknell (No. ginia Tech on the road within the 302 in kenpom.com’s rankings), span of a week. Miami is around Texas Southern (No. 241) and BeNC State’s skill level on paper but thune-Cookman (No. 354). in the Kevin Keatts era, the Pack But not all of the Pack’s nonconhas struggled for the most part ference foes can be overlooked. on the road at just 18-23 across Colgate posted the second-best four years. mark for points per game last seaFlorida State will be at home son en route to an NCAA Tournabut looks to be an incredibly ment appearance, making it for just tough out bolstered by freshmen the fourth time in school history Matthew Cleveland and Jalen but the second time in the last thWarley. Anthony Polite seems ree years. set to have a strong year. Just thWright State and Louisiana Tech ree days later the Pack hits the round out the Wolfpack’s nonconroad to take on VT, a team led ference schedule, two teams NC JON WILLIAMS/TECHNICIAN by Keve Aluma, who averaged State is better than on paper, but 15.2 points per game last year, they could pose problems. Louisia- Redshirt sophomore guard Dereon Seabron dunks during the dunk competition at Primetime with the Pack in Reynolds Coliseum on Oct. 14, 2021. The event served as a fun way to introduce the 2021-22 men and and Storm Murphy, a lead guard na Tech, in particular, ranks No. 88 women’s basketball teams. who led Wofford to a memorable in the kenpom.com rankings. season in 2019. State will take on Nebraska, a team that nal outlets as a potential lottery pick in Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase NC State does get Clemson in a matchup, Though Central Connecticut should be clocks in at No. 81 in the kenpom.com the 2022 NBA Draft. As a freshman, Ivey easily handled, the Wolfpack will get its rankings. Alonzo Verge Jr., who transferred averaged 11.1 points per game. The sheer it should be the favorite to win right after first real litmus test of the season when it from Arizona State, will be sure to give the amount of talent and versatility will be a that stretch. But then, as if the schedule takes on Oklahoma State. Though OSU Wolfpack some problems. Verge averaged marquee matchup in a must-watch for the couldn’t be harder, the Pack’s next stretch of games includes, at Louisville, at No. 9 no longer boasts star Cade Cunningham, 14 points per game last season and is a pro- Pack. Duke, vs. Virginia Tech, vs. No. 25 VirBasketball Hall of Fame Shootout there’s a true argument to be made that the fessional prospect. In the final game of the Basketball Hall ginia, at Notre Dame, at No. 19 UNC, vs. Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational Cowboys could be even better this year. Continuing the Basketball Hall of Fame of Fame series, the Wolfpack will travel to Syracuse and vs. Notre Dame. Every single Avery Anderson and Kalib Boone were phenomenal for Oklahoma State last sea- series, NC State will travel to Brooklyn, Charlotte to take on the Richmond Spiders, one of those teams received ranked votes son and according to kenpom.com, the New York to take on Purdue. Purdue has a team that seemingly always exceeds ex- in the preseason AP poll. The Wolfpack’s slate of games does get a pair each notched three game MVP awar- a very real chance to be the best team pectations. Richmond is another sleeper ds. Cunningham won four. The Cowboys the Pack plays all season, boasting star team like Oklahoma State that will present bit easier from there, with matchups against also brought in the talented Moussa Cisse forward Trevion Williams, who averaged problems for the Wolfpack, and the Spiders the likes of Wake Forest, Boston College from Memphis, someone that bolsters the 15.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game last come into the season with 13 preseason AP and Pitt, but UNC and Florida State mark the home and road finales, respectively. team immediately. Quietly, Oklahoma season, along with guys like Eric Hunter Poll votes. Richmond is insanely experienced and NC State will have a great chance to play State received 25 votes for the preseason Jr. and Sasha Stefanovic, who both scored its rotation clocks in with an average age of spoiler against UNC, a team featuring new AP Poll and presents a serious challenge plenty of points for the Boilermakers. Meanwhile, Jaden Ivey has a real chance 22.3 years old, even without Blake Francis head coach Hubert Davis, transfer Dawson for the Pack. to be one of the best guards in the country who moved on to professional ball. Look Garcia and Most Improved Player award Big Ten/ACC Challenge In this year’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge, NC and is being projected by several natio- for Jacob Gilyard to give the Pack’s young candidate Caleb Love. Managing Editor

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No. 5 Wolfpack women’s basketball looks for ACC three-peat with stacked nonconference schedule Kat Peters Staff Writer

In its quest for a three-peat this year, twotime defending ACC champion NC State women’s basketball team is starting No. 5 in the AP preseason poll, the highest of any ACC team. While its conference schedule won’t prove too difficult for the Pack, NC State will take on three preseason top-10 teams in its nonconference schedule, including No. 1 South Carolina, to kick off the season. Nonconference opponents No. 1 South Carolina, Nov. 9: South Carolina finished last season at No. 6 in the AP poll, with a 26-5 record. The Gamecocks won the SEC Tournament and went on to lose in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. As South Carolina is No. 1 in the preseason AP poll, this will be a challenging start to the Wolfpack’s season. NC State is on a two-game winning streak against South Carolina, beating the Gamecocks early last season 54-46. No. 4 Maryland, Nov. 25: Maryland had a record of 26-3 last season and finished No. 7 in the AP poll. The Terrapins claimed a second-consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship title and made it to the third round of the NCAA championship before

falling to Texas. The Wolfpack is on a threegame winning streak against Maryland, with the last matchup coming in 2019. No. 8 Indiana, Dec. 2: The Hoosiers finished last season No. 12 in the AP poll with a 21-6 record. Indiana did not make it very far in the Big Ten Tournament, but did knock NC State out of the NCAA Tournament in the third round only to lose in the quarterfinals. The Pack will look for redemption against the Hoosiers this season. NC State has not seen the Hoosiers in the regular season since the 2016-17 season and the Pack took the victory in that game. ACC matchups NC State starts ACC play with a break from its high-ranked nonconference opponents, but with the Pack holding the highest preseason ranking out of the entire conference and only four other teams being ranked in the preseason, the Wolfpack should once again have a strong hold on the top spot in the ACC. “It’s the best conference, especially with all the transfers, like you don’t really actually know who’s on the team anymore,” senior center Elissa Cunane said. “So it’s gonna be different, playing every team this year is go-

Being best friends since high school, and both of us being like the top centers in the nation, ... Like a dynamic duo. - Elissa Cunane

ing to be different. And now that we won back to back, there’s gonna be a bigger target on our back.” Pitt, Dec. 10: Pitt should prove to be an easy opponent to kick off conference play for the Pack. NC State has a six-game winning streak against Pitt, beating the Panthers 83-53 last season. Pitt finished last season with a record of 5-14 (3-12 ACC), and was knocked out in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Clemson, Dec. 30: Clemson finished last

season 12-14 (5-12 ACC) and was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. NC State has won its last 12 games against Clemson, including a win last season, 86-65. UNC-Chapel Hill, Jan. 6: UNC went 1311 (8-9 ACC) last year. The Tar Heels were knocked out in the first rounds of both the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. NC State won its last game against UNC last season, 82-63. Chapel Hill poses a threat to NC State, having defeated the Pack in Carmichael Arena in each of the last two seasons. However, the Pack should feel a little more confident given that UNC lost its top three scorers from last season and has a young roster. Duke, Jan. 16: Duke canceled the remainder of its season after only four games due to COVID-19 concerns, but went 3-1 (0-1 ACC). The last time NC State played the Blue Devils was in 2020, when the Pack lost 65-70. No. 6 Louisville, Jan. 20: Louisville will most likely be the most difficult ACC opponent for NC State this year, according to its preseason rank and the fact that it finished last season at No. 8. The Cardinals finished their season 26-4 (14-2 ACC) and made it to

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the quarterfinals in the NCAA Tournament. However, Louisville lost to the Pack twice last season, once in the regular season and again in the finals of the ACC Tournament. Louisville doesn’t have Dana Evans this season, but it got two amazing transfers. Emily Engstler from Syracuse and Chelsie Hall are going to add several new dimensions to this team and will give the Pack a formidable opponent. No. 24 Virginia Tech, Jan. 23: Virginia Tech went 15-10 (8-8 ACC) last year. NC State knocked the Hokies out of the ACC Tournament in the quarterfinals and then Virginia Tech was knocked out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Pack split its two games against the Hokies in the regular season last year. It will be fantastic to see Cunane square off against Elizabeth Kitley once again, with both hailing from Summerfield, North Carolina. Every matchup between the two is mustwatch basketball and this season will be no different. “Yeah, it’s so cool,” Cunane said at the ACC Tipoff. “Literally like two people from Summerfield, North Carolina. Half y’all probably don’t know where Summerfield is. Honestly. So I think just being from there, like being best friends since high school, and both of us being like the top centers in the nation, I think it’s just like, it’s amazing, you know? Like a dynamic duo.” No. 16 Florida State, Feb. 3: Florida State finished last season 10-9 (9-7 ACC) and made it to the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. The Seminoles were beaten out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. NC State is on a three-game winning streak against Florida State, playing them last in the 2019-2020 season. This season will see the return of head coach Sue Semrau, who took off the 202021 season and will return all five of its starters. FSU has been one of the teams to beat in the last few years and this season will be no different. No. 17 Georgia Tech, Feb. 7: NC State will play its 17th annual Play4Kay game against Georgia Tech, which finished last season with a record of 17-9 (12-6 ACC). The Yellow Jackets lost to NC State in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament and then got knocked out in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. The Pack is on a three-game winning streak against Georgia Tech, beating it in the regular season last year and in the ACC Tournament. Boston College, Feb. 10: Boston College went 7-12 (2-11 ACC) last season. It lost to Syracuse in the second round of the ACC Tournament. NC State is on a nine-game winning streak against the Golden Eagles and beat them last season, 76-57. Syracuse, Feb. 20: Syracuse went 15-9 (9-7 ACC) last season. It lost to Louisville in the semifinals of the ACC Tournament and was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by UConn in the second round. NC State has beaten Syracuse four times in a row, including a victory of 68-61 at the end of last season.

Diamond Johnson: the crown jewel of Pack women’s basketball additions Tristan Tucker Managing Editor

I’m sure by now you’ve heard the adage, “the rich get richer.” This was especially true in the case of the No. 5 NC State women’s basketball team, which added three five-star freshmen to its roster, added two five-star transfers and retained every player from last season’s ACC title rotation. One such player, sophomore guard Diamond Johnson, is set for a huge role in the Pack’s offense and will likely see more time than the team’s other newcomers. Johnson came to NC State from Rutgers, where she finished the year on the All-Big Ten second team and Big Ten All-Freshman. “Diamond’s a special player, now,” head coach Wes Moore said. “Unbelievable quickness, [can] shoot the 3 from really deep and she has just fit in great. Her personality, she’s fun to be around. Yeah, I don’t know if y’all know, Allen Iverson has an all-star game in Philly. She’s the only female ever invited to play in that.” As a true freshman, Johnson found a way to make an impact early, starting in 15 of the Scarlet Knights’ 19 games. Johnson averaged 17.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game. More impressively, the 5-foot-5 guard had a 50/40/90 season, a feat that has only been accomplished at the professional level one time. It’s not like Johnson was putting up empty stats either — last season’s Scarlet Knights finished No. 12 in the NET rankings, just one spot under the Wolfpack. Rutgers went 14-4, finishing the year as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament in the same bracket as the Pack. Advanced analytics support the Johnson campaign. Rutgers’ most-used five-woman lineup, featuring Johnson at the point, reg-

Yeah, I don’t know if y’all know, Allen Iverson has an all-star game in Philly. She’s the only female ever invited to play in that. - Wes Moore

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Sophomore wing Jakia Brown-Turner attacks the basket against Pittsburgh on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021 at Reynolds Coliseum. Brown-Turner recorded 14 points and five rebounds as the Wolfpack won 83-53.

NICK FAULKNER/TECHNICIAN

Head coach Wes Moore yells to his players as No. 4 NC State women’s basketball took on Clemson on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 in Reynolds Coliseum. The Pack beat the Tigers 86-65.

istered a plus-25.7 rating in 272 minutes played. Five-person lineups are a little volatile, because it’s hard to pinpoint just one player making that kind of impact. But in three of Rutgers’ most-used two-woman lineups, Johnson featured at the point, and those lineups registered plus-27.8, plus-26.7 and plus-20.8 net ratings. Just take a look at the amount of green on these charts. While Johnson did benefit from being next to a bonafide bucket in Arella Guirantes last season, a player that now hoops for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, it’s not like she won’t be able to find that kind of role with the Pack as she continues to grow her game. Look at Johnson’s absurd shooting chart from last year. That kind of bucket-getting proved to be extremely valuable in last year’s transfer addition graduate guard Raina Perez. Perez went on to score the game-clinching bucket for the Pack’s second straight ACC Tournament title. At the 2021 ACC Media Tipoff, Moore was quick to point out the similarities in the duo’s game. “She’s a special player,” Moore said. “So it’s going to be interesting, trying to get all the pieces to fit. Hopefully, we can make that happen. But she makes it easy because of her personality, just like Raina [Perez] did a year ago. Raina was instantly accepted because of her work ethic and her personality, so we’re confident Diamond can do the same.” Though both guards are small, with Perez

clocking in at 5-foot-4, the talent is there and the spacing the duo could provide would propel this team to further greatness, especially if Moore experiments with any three-guard lineups that would involve graduate guard Kai Crutchfield. Moore seemed excited about the prospect. “It gives you two kids on the floor that can handle the ball, that can shoot it, that make great decisions. It would be a small lineup, but definitely a possibility,” Moore said. It’s clear how Johnson can fit into Moore’s rotation to begin the season. The team will return all of its starters, senior center Elissa Cunane, graduate forward Kayla Jones, junior wing Jakia Brown-Turner, Perez and Crutchfield. Reigning Co-Sixth Woman of the Year, junior forward Jada Boyd, is set to miss time at the beginning of the season as she recovers from an injury, according to Moore. That leaves Johnson to take the helm as the Pack’s sixth woman, though fellow transfer sophomore guard Madison Hayes, along with junior center Camille Hobby and sophomore guard Genesis Bryant, seem primed to compete for big minutes off the bench. Regardless of Johnson’s exact spot in the rotation, the guard will do what she does best: Get buckets. Johnson will look to keep up the winning ways she displayed at Rutgers with Moore as the Pack aims to win its third straight ACC title.

14 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

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COMMENTARY: Why 2021 is Kevin Keatts’ most important season yetw Scott Gates Correspondent

Sunday, March 19, 2017: the day NC State men’s basketball coach Kevin Keatts stood at a podium in Reynolds Coliseum and proudly relayed the now famous quote, “Kevin Keatts is a winner.” Plastered onto T-shirts, banners and bumper stickers all across Raleigh, Wolfpack Nation fell in love with Kevin Keatts. Keatts brought with him to Raleigh a swagger that exuded confidence and success, having helped turn every program he touched into a winner. He was a coach who believed in putting your head down and getting to work to achieve the goals you wanted. The excitement surrounding Keatts was sent into overdrive following his first season as head coach of the Wolfpack. Picked in the preseason to finish 12th in the ACC, the Wolfpack shocked everyone finishing in a four-way tie for third in the ACC with an 11-7 record in conference play. Keatts and his squad earned an NCAA bid as a No. 9 seed before falling to Seton Hall in the round of 64. The season was a massive success; Keatts had returned the Wolfpack to the big dance in his first season in charge. What would come next, however, was a consistent downhill slide for Keatts and the Wolfpack. The Wolfpack has now missed the NCAA tournament three straight years and has not been able to break past a .500 record in ACC play since that first season.

SARAH COCHRAN/TECHNICIAN

Head coach Kevin Keatts tells his players to keep their hands up after Funderburk was charged with a foul during the game versus the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2020 in PNC Arena. The Florida State Seminoles beat the NC State Wolfpack 67-61.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021

Frustration has begun to grow and questions have arisen about Keatts and his recruiting abilities. Jalen Lecque and Josh Hall, two of Keatts’ most impressive recruits, decided to forgo college and enter the NBA draft, much to NC State fans’ displeasure. While this hasn’t been enough to get Keatts onto the dreaded “hot seat,” it has made a few of the Keatts faithful begin to question if he’s the man to take NC State to

the top of the college basketball mountain. Pressure is on for Keatts to get NC State back to the NCAA tournament this season. Wolfpack fans are tired of mediocrity; they aren’t satisfied with the National Invite Tournament (NIT) which is seen as more of a joke than anything in the eyes of most college basketball fans. More commonly referred to as the “Not Invited Tournament,” teams play to see who gets to claim they are the 69th best team in the country in

half-empty arenas. That is simply not good enough for the Wolfpack. There has never been a more important season for Keatts in Raleigh. The public perception of the Wolfpack head coach is teetering heading into this year. With a strong performance in the 2021 season, Keatts can have all of Raleigh in his corner backing him for the future. With another NCAA tournament miss, however, the questions will begin to pile up quickly for Keatts. It will be very

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Michigan State

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Texas at No. 16 Baylor

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Duke at No. 13 Wake Forest

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No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 18 Auburn

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No. 12 Kentucky at Mississippi State

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interesting to see how the fifth-year head coach performs with his back against the wall in what could be a make or break year. College basketball in the Triangle has long been dominated by UNC and Duke with NC State always lagging behind. With Roy Williams retiring after last season and Coach K set for one final season before retiring, there is no better time for Kevin Keatts and NC State to pounce.

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Michigan

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Texas

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Duke

Wake Forest

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Ole Miss

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Kentucky

Mississippi State

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Houston

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No. 20 Penn State at No. 5 Ohio State

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North Carolina at No. 11 Notre Dame

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Virginia at No. 25 BYU

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Louisville at NC State

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No. 6 Michigan at Michigan State

No. 19 SMU at Houston

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