WEATHER
A Helping Hand: Student-led club builds prosthetics for children in need
Valerie Sun Correspondent
The Helping Hand Project is a student-run club that assembles free prosthetics for children with upper limb differences, such as missing hands. The club develops prosthetic limbs that help children perform everyday tasks like riding a bike or holding a video game controller.
Ava Jane Gooch, a third-year studying political science and nonprofit studies and the club’s outreach chair, said the club builds prosthetics uniquely suited to each child’s needs. Since the members are not medical professionals, Gooch said the prosthetics are recreational and simple to replace.
“Since [they’re] recreational, if they need to come back for repairs, it’s easier to use something that we provide rather than something that’s thousands of dollars and super expensive,” Gooch said.
Thanks to over 100 members, the club has printed roughly 30 prosthetics. The club is split into several teams: case design, public relations, community and family support, technology and innovation, outreach and electromagnetic design.
Eliette Crenshaw, a fourth-year studying microbiology, is the club’s support chair. The club’s support side communicates with families to develop goals for the prosthetics and guides them through the process of receiving prosthetics. Crenshaw said these efforts aim to make families comfortable.
“Some of our kids are as young as five years old,” Crenshaw said. “It can be overwhelming to come into this new space and have us measuring their limb difference and asking questions about it.”
The club allows children to pick designs for their prosthetics, such as princess or superhero-themed prosthetics. Crenshaw said these designs cultivate awareness and psychological support because they desensitize limb differences.
“They feel like they’re really a part of making the device,” Crenshaw said. “When they get the end product, they’re proud of it and they want to show it off at school.”
The club’s support team also creates media, such as videos, to raise awareness. Crenshaw said sensitivity training
includes using inclusive language to foster a safe space for children and their families.
“People, without thinking, will say things like ‘limb deficiency,’” Crenshaw said. “That has more negative connotations compared to ‘limb difference.’”
Karl Shroff, a third-year studying biomedical engineering and the club’s vice president, said the club’s engineering side follows the engineering design process, including research, sketching and iterating prosthetics. After making measurements, the team draws out their plan before designing the device using OnShape, a computer-aided design program. Once the product is complete, it’s uploaded publicly to Thingiverse, an online, free-use database for 3D-printed designs. The club provides its own 3D printers and filament, and finally, prints the prosthetics. Shroff said the experience is akin to real-world engineering.
Shroff said the club saves costs by performing tasks internally, such as printing. But he said the club has a high monetary need for materials such as filament and supplies for its care packages.
CRIME ON CAMPUS
NC State’s weekly log of major incidents across campus.
SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE
Nov. 10, 2024 at 2:53 a.m.
Gorman St/Sullivan Dr
University Police checked on a suspicious vehicle where two students were found and charged and referred with marijuana paraphernalia.
BREAKING AND ENTERING
Nov. 9, 2024 at 2:14 a.m. The Greens Apartments
Officers responded to what was thought to be a B/E. A nonaffiliated person lost his phone and keys to his apartment and entered via the balcony.
“The financial demands of our club are quite heightened due to the level of operation,” Shroff said. “We’re running a mini nonprofit organization.”
While the club receives some funding from NC State’s student government, it raises most of its funds through GoFundMe and fundraising events. The outreach team plans bake sales and events during Packapalooza and Engineering Welcome Week. The club also organizes a percentage night at least once a year. Gooch said these efforts help spread awareness of the club’s presence.
“A lot of it is just getting our name out there,” Gooch said. “Then hopefully the money will follow.”
Shroff said the club is diverse and welcomes all majors, not just those in engineering.
“Just because you’re not an engineer does not mean you can’t do the engineering task or the non-engineering task,” Shroff said.
The Helping Hand Project can be contacted through their email at helpinghand.club.ncsu@gmail.com
All incidents in the crime log are, according to the University’s daily crime log, published online in compliance with the Clery Act.
MEDICAL ASSIST
Nov. 8, 2024 at 10:47 p.m. Metcalf Residence Hall
Two students ingested marijuana edibles and needed medical attention. Neither subject was transported both individuals were referred to the University.
HARASSMENT
Nov. 8, 2024 at 8:55 p.m. Arboretum Office
A non-affiliated person reported that her non-affiliated ex-boyfriend was following her while she was driving. Officers stopped vehicles and the ex-boyfriend was arrested and charged with stalking and tampering with a motor vehicle.
GRAPHIC BY WYLIE PHU
Bike larceny on campus is rising.
Savannah Woodman Staff Writer
Whether students are jumping between Centennial and Main Campus or merely running late for class, bikes can be a fast and efficient resource for students. But what happens when, suddenly, your bike goes missing?
Throughout the year, stolen bikes are reported to NC State Police. Sometimes an entire bike is stolen, other times, parts of the bike — a wheel or a seat — go missing. In October alone, the NC State Crime Log listed 13 reports of bicycle larceny.
Here are some tips NC State Police and NC State’s Transportation Department shared for students with bikes on campus.
Register your bike
Registration is both free and mandatory for bikes on campus. As scooters have become popular modes of trans portation, NC State Transportation also supports scooter registration.
During the registration process, students have the oppor tunity to provide identifying characteristics, including the serial number as well as the make, model and color of the bike.
Once registration is complete, students receive a hardto-remove sticker with an identification number to add to the vehicle. Students should memorize this number as well as the serial number in case their bike goes missing. Bike registration can be helpful in other circumstances as well. Amanda Simmons, a transportation planner and transportation demand management program manager, said it can also help the transportation department warn stu dents of bike impoundment.
“If [a student has] blocked accessibility accidentally and not realized it, then we can get in contact with students instead of impounding the bike to move it out of the way for accessibility or access,” Simmons said.
Lock up your bike
While this advice might seem like com mon sense, Chief of NC State Police Daniel House said this preventative measure is of ten overlooked by students.
“Probably the biggest thing is the prevention aspect of it,” House said. “I mean, you’d be amazed how many people just don’t lock their bikes up. They don’t take the time.”
U-locks, a tool commonly used in cases of bike theft, are widely rec ommended because they are difficult to break with bolt cutters. Students should be sure to lock both the bike’s front wheel and frame to the bike rack.
Location also matters. Bikes must be parked or locked on a bike rack. Bikes left anywhere else are subject to impoundment by NC State Transportation.
Students have also reported on social media sites that their bikes have gone missing over holiday breaks. To prevent this, students are recommended to move their bike to a safe location, whether that be taking the bike home, storing it in an
Here’s how to keep your
bike safe.
apartment or moving it to a more sheltered bike rack. Additionally, electronic transportation like electric scooters and electric skateboards are prohibited in on-campus housing. Check with your on-campus or off-campus housing regulations before storing any bike or related item indoors.
Know the serial number
Knowing your bike’s unique and identifying serial number is also helpful. While each bike is different, House said the serial number is most often engraved on the underside of the bike where the two pedal cranks meet. While knowing the serial number is helpful for police, Simmons said students have reported having a hard time finding it on their respective bikes. If you can’t find the serial number, at least know the registration number, which will help police in searching for the bike. When a stolen bike is reported, University Police runs the bike’s serial number or registration and checks with the Transportation Department to see if they have impounded the bike. Sometimes, stolen bikes are then sold in pawn shops or on reselling sites like Facebook Marketplace and eBay. NC State Police keep an eye on what arrives at pawn shops, but if students don’t know the bike’s serial number, confirming the bike has been stolen is difficult.
Take care of your bike
Bikes are also flagged and sometimes subject to impoundment if they are believed to be abandoned. This often happens at the end of the school year, over summer break or when students leave bikes in one spot for long periods.
“Transportation does come at the end of the semester and takes all the bikes and puts them in a secured area,” House said. “So if you run into somebody who’s like, ‘Oh, I left my bike here last year and it’s gone,’ which has happened, transportation probably has it.”
Simmons recommended students keep their bike tires inflated, both for user safety and also to prevent impoundment.
“We want to make sure people are actively bicycling and not just storing their bike all year long and taking up valuable parking space for other people who are wanting to bike,” Simmons said.
Wolfline faces delays amid construction, errors, driver shortage
Valerie Sun Correspondent
NC State’s Wolfline bus system has recently experienced delays and cancellations, prompting student concerns. NC State Transportation said it’s working to resolve difficulties and improve rider satisfaction.
Connor Jones, NC State’s transit manager, designs the route schedules and manages the contract between NC State and Transdev, the third-party company that owns the Wolfline buses. He said the bus timing may not always be exact.
“Sometimes we’re right and sometimes we’re a little off,” Jones said. “Route 30, this semester, there’s just not enough time on that route.”
Next semester, Route 30’s current 30-minute schedule will be extended by a few minutes. Jones said construction on Dan Allen Road is set to finish before the spring semester, allowing Route 30 to resume its original path while still serving the stops by Talley Student Union and Carmichael Gymnasium.
Jones said bus delays are often due to traffic, shift changes and drivers’ bathroom breaks. Drivers are employed by Transdev, so they must first check in at the Transdev facility before being transported to NC State’s campus, which equates to a 15-minute journey. He said bus routes programmed without enough time can often fall behind.
“If [drivers] have to go to the bathroom or check something, they get behind,” Jones said. “And then it’s a vicious cycle of just being be-
hind more and more.”
Buses often idle at stops, such as Route 30 at Wolf Village. Jones said it is important for drivers to balance route time and idling time to maximize efficiency. The Wolfline also faces service gaps due to Transdev’s driver shortages, a national issue. Additionally, he said the Passio GO! App sometimes incorrectly marks buses as out of service.
Demar Bonnemere, communications manager for the Transportation Department, said
hiring drivers is difficult because they must possess a commercial driver’s license and undergo extensive training. Without this specialized driver’s license, training can take a month and a half.
“We can’t just hire somebody today and then have them out there tomorrow,” Bonnemere said. “It’s going to take some time to get drivers hired and then trained up before they start.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic, NC State downsized its bus fleet from 45 to 35 to cut
costs. During peak hours, only 25 buses operate on the road, with the remainder as backup. Jones said the department is open to expanding service but is constrained by driver shortages from Transdev.
“We want to focus on possibly expanding weekend service and limited service because a lot of students have requested that,” Jones said. “But if we don’t have the drivers, we can’t do that.”
Jones said the department has added buses to some routes, such as 42 and 43, but must balance distribution across the system.
“We’re operating in a zero-sum game,” Jones said. “If we were to add service on one route, we would have to take service away from [another route].”
Jones is thankful for the dedication of current Wolfline drivers, who often work overtime and on days off to maintain service.
“People don’t realize that [drivers] are working so much overtime,” Jones said. “They’re working on days they have off. They’re signing up for extra shuttles like Red Terror to bring students to [sports games] just because it needs to be covered.”
Bonnemere said the transportation department is well aware of students’ frustrations and works hard to resolve issues. He said he urges students to be understanding.
“Just be patient with us,” Bonnemere said. “We’re doing everything we can on our end to assist [you] and get [you] service.”
Department of Performing Arts and Technology celebrates 100 years, looks to the future
Matthew Junkroski Staff Writer
NC State is known for its engineering, computer science and STEM programs, but under a layer of science and math lies a burgeoning music program that, 100 years after its creation, is larger than ever.
When Tom Koch, associate head of the Department of Performing Arts and Technology, joined the department 20 years ago, there were only around seven full-time faculty members. Today, Koch said the department has grown enough to expand beyond Price Music Center into Broughton Hall.
Up until two years ago, the department was simply the music department. Stuart Benkert, head of the Department of Performing Arts and Technology, said the modern department is the result of merging NC State’s music and
dance programs into one.
“Putting music and dance together allows at least the opportunity for some really great collaborations,” Benkert said.
Koch said before the merge, faculty were less specialized than they are today.
2024 marked the first full year of the department’s new music technology major. Benkert said the major is designed to teach students how to make equipment and programs for musicians to use in creating music, which sets NC State apart from other universities offering music programs.
“It has to be a school like NC State to pull something like that off,” Benkert said. “This is a school for making and doing. And so, other institutions, we’re not trying to compete with them. We’re trying to offer something that’s uniquely ours and I think [we’ve] captured
that.”
Koch said the major’s creation came after previous chancellors rejected attempts at a music major. When a music major was finally approved, Koch said the music department had the freedom to design it however they wanted.
Justin Mathew, associate teaching professor of music technology, said the major has an incoming class of roughly 15 freshmen and three transfer students with more on the way.
“I think the coincidence of our first-year students coming in [on] the 100th anniversary is very pleasing,” Mathew said. “It kind of kicks off the next 100 years we’re going to go down this route.”
Koch said the major came from the idea of marrying arts into the University’s STEM focus.
“[There] is this idea of fulfilling the mission of
the University — it has a STEM mission,” Koch said. “And the arts, I think, have a responsibility to be a part of that mission in some capacity. And our technology major will do that, but we can also fulfill that by being partners with other programs.”
Scan this QR code to visit technicianonline.com to view the entire article.
GRAPHIC BY MAXX ALSOP
NC State’s social dance course goes beyond fulfilling a GEP requirement
Sophia Robertson Staff Writer
This semester, I decided to register for both of my GEP fitness and wellness classes. It wasn’t something I was looking forward to, and I was hesitant about taking DAN 240, “social dance,” in particular because I had no previous dance experience. However, taking this class proved to be one of my best enrollment decisions since starting college.
Social dance, an eight-week health and fitness course, teaches students the basic steps of cha-cha, foxtrot, waltz, rumba and shag. It requires no prerequisites, though students must choose between the leader and follower role upon registering. This means half of the class learns the basics of leading while the other half learns how to follow.
Peggy Domingue, assistant teaching professor in NC State’s Department of Health and Exercise Studies for the past 32 years, emphasized the importance of taking this course.
“It’s really a fundamental class where you learn not only different dances but you’re learning technique,” Domingue said. “You’re learning things like leading, follow-
ing that are important aspects of dancing [in general].”
Before I started the class, one of my biggest worries was the idea of having to dance in front of others, but it became clear from day one that no student would be put on the spot. Instead, the dances are partnered, with students rotating partners after every song. This helps students get to know one another quickly, fostering a sense of community within the class and creating a stress-free environment.
The environment of the dance studio is also a stark contrast to other classrooms. While lectures typically require students to remain seated and listen to a professor at the front of the room, social dance keeps students on their feet the entire class. Each class, students are encouraged to talk to one
another and collaborate.
“Although we dance the entire time and we are moving the entire time and we certainly cover those GEP objectives, it’s more enjoyable for the students,” Domingue said. “They get to come in, talk to each other and not feel so much pressure that they feel in their other academic courses.”
While it may be intimidating to dance with a group of other college students, especially without having any experience, everyone works together to learn the material.
Utilizing the dance studios and other spaces within Carmichael Gym, students frequently meet outside of class to practice.
“Someone will always be there to help you, whether it’s myself, whether it’s my students, before class or after class. You’re never going to be left alone to figure it out
on your own,” Domingue said.
Domingue said one of her goals in teaching is getting students to find what they enjoy and continue to dance after the class.
“We start off by trying to provide a very positive experience for the students on campus and then they can take that outside of the classroom,” Domingue said.
There are many opportunities to continue dancing after the course, on and off campus. Dancing with Wolves, NC State’s ballroom dance club, offers lessons and has a competitive team. There are many other dance organizations at NC State, including country swing club and Celtic Wolves, the Irish dance club.
In the Raleigh area, Carolina Dance Club is one of the many local groups that offers dance classes, from West Coast Swing to Carolina shag. Carmen’s Cuban Cafe & Lounge in Morrisville also has salsa nights, and there are countless other opportunities to grow the basic techniques learned in NC State’s social dance class.
Although it may be outside of your comfort zone to learn dance in a room full of your peers, everyone taking the class is in the same boat. It’s a shared experience, and I encourage any student, even those with no knowledge of dance, to take social dance.
Philosophy of Law class not just for pre-law
In a world where we are surrounded by legal rules, one may wonder why we listen to the law in the first place. This concept of what makes law legally-binding is called jurisprudence.
The concept of jurisprudence is no stranger to the world of legal philosophy. If you are interested in learning more about it, I highly recommend enrolling in PHI 312: Philosophy of Law next semester.
This course begins by teaching you the basic theories of jurisprudence, then delves deep into specific legal philosophers that held theories within each major school of thought, such as H.L.A. Hart, Ronald Dworkin and Lon Fuller.
My favorite part of this course was the fact that it is centered more around learning both concepts and people who took those concepts and created a theory. Knowing the reasoning behind a school of thought is nice, but it is so much more beneficial to understand what other scholars derived from said concepts.
After this, you spend time learning more about specific parts of jurisprudence, such as how laws can be interpreted, if-and-or why it is permissible to break a valid law and if immoral
laws hold any binding authority.
PHI 312 isn’t just about the practicalities of law; it also invites students to question deeply held assumptions. Students explore why certain laws are followed and others are challenged, and grapple with questions like, “When, if ever, is it justified to defy legal authority?”
By examining these topics, students will gain critical thinking skills and ethical insights that apply to more than just the courtroom — they’re relevant to everyday life.
By examining the foundations of legal authority within this course, students learn to question assumptions, understand diverse viewpoints and develop well-reasoned arguments. All of these skills are an important part of any wellrounded person and will be sure to be of benefit
to anyone who takes the course.
While the course may seem like it is suited for pre-law students, there is something for everyone.
Yes, the majority of students in the course likely will have some sort of vested interest in attending law school after graduation, but not all of them will be. Some may have an interest in why law matters, or just want to understand the law more closely.
You don’t have to be a legal fanatic to want to know more about a system you live in.
The course also encourages discussions that prepare students for active citizenship and personal accountability.
In a world where protests, advocacy and social movements frequently question authority,
understanding legal philosophy is invaluable. PHI 312 provides a space to understand the role law plays in society and how each of us contributes to shaping it, making it a must for anyone who wants a fuller picture of the law’s impact on our lives.
The course consists mostly of readings, which students discuss in-depth during class. There are some smaller pop-quizzes, which are usually open book, and three exams throughout the semester.
I took this course with Nevin Johnson last spring, and it completely changed how I understood the law. The course is full of interesting content that Johnson encouraged us to critically engage with, which was able to further my understanding of the topics come exam time. The course challenges you to think critically about the authority and morality of legal systems, equipping you with insights that go far beyond the classroom. By exploring the philosophical foundations of law, you’ll not only gain knowledge but also develop a more nuanced perspective on the rights and responsibilities we all share.
For any student looking to make sense of the complex relationship between law and society, PHI 312 is an invaluable opportunity, one that I highly recommend you take.
Jacob Smith Staff Writer
GRAPHIC BY LUCY OSBORN
GRAPHIC BY LUCY OSBORN
Take “Survey of Rhetorical Theory”
Grace Turschak Staff Writer
With registration fast approaching, many of us are scrambling to find classes that fulfill major requirements. My recommendation for English majors?
ENG 321, “Survey of Rhetorical Theory.”
English majors can only take five 200- or lower-level English classes for our major blocks, so this is a great option if you’ve met your limit.
I took the class last fall with Ken Zagacki, fulfilling a requirement in my ‘English core’ block. Zagacki explains content like he’s telling a story, which personally helps keep my attention. There have been few classes that I’ve been anything more than neutral toward, and fewer I can say I’ve genuinely enjoyed. In regards to my core classes, this one is definitely in the top.
Throughout the class, you learn about the evolution of rhetoric and multiple sophists like Aristotle, Quintillian and Gorgias. Rhetoric is a controversial subject, as it’s often viewed as a manipulation tactic, and the class paints it in a more positive light, so that’s an element to consider when enrolling.
The class was largely discussion-based with
the final grade being composed of two exams, a final paper and participation points.
Unfortunately, you cannot get by without doing the readings. On the bright side, it’s an easy class to do well in, so long as you do them. I ended up finding the readings pretty interesting. One of my favorite readings explored women’s contributions to the development of rhetoric, namely Sappho’s.
So, maybe you’ll find these readings interesting too, especially if you’re also an English major.
Trust me when I say “get ready to read” is my least favorite tag to see on Rate My Professor, and I’m still recommending the class. That has to count for something, right?
What motivated me in this class was the fact that it really does teach you helpful tips on how to write and speak more eloquently. In our final papers, we were told to apply a rhetorical concept to solve a problem. I chose to write mine about how I’d hypothetically use Cicero’s dispositio to request that Wolfpack Pickup extend its hours to cover weekends. This class is definitely one of those where you get out what you put in. If you keep up with the readings and put effort into the paper and exams, you’ll walk away with an A. If you don’t do the readings, you might struggle, but I’m not here to act like your mom and force you to do your homework.
For most STEM majors, there’s not much
wiggle room regarding what classes they have to take; their schedules are pretty rigid and straightforward. Luckily for English majors, there are many options that fulfill the same requirement, so sometimes you can choose less painful ones.
The worst feeling is sitting in class right after the drop date and realizing enrolling in it was a terrible decision. When it’s not necessary to suffer through boring classes, I try to find ones that are both interesting and meet my degree’s criteria, and I hope my recommendation can do the same for you.
It all depends on personal learning style and class structure preferences, but I’d consider this one if you’re drawn toward discussion geared classes with fewer assignments.
ENG 321 has real world applications — rhetoric is a versatile art that’s used, to varying degrees, in just about everything, from advertising to movies to resumes. Knowing how to communicate effectively gives you an advantage in any field.
If option paralysis is hitting you hard, rest assured knowing we’ve all been there. Instead of blindly choosing a random course, look into ENG 321. It’s not too difficult, and it’ll leave you with a pretty useful skill set that can be applied in your future career.
Your degree of political activity shouldn’t dictate your decision to vote
No matter one’s political affiliation, American voters are experiencing an array of emotions in response to the outcome of one of the most highintensity presidential elections in United States’ history. The future of our nation could go in virtually any direction, making me wonder how much apolitical American citizens contributed to the election results.
Many voting-age adults shy away from politics out of personal choice or individual circumstances. But should someone’s lack of political knowledge discourage them from practicing their right to vote?
One’s level of political interest is irrelevant in regards to deciding to participate in elections.
Some might argue that individuals who are less engaged in politics don’t deserve to cast their votes in an election. I’ve often heard people say it’s pointless to fill out a ballot if one lacks substantial reasoning for picking each candidate, with younger voters especially being targeted for having a
limited understanding of politics.
To be transparent, I was not the most politically active during this year’s election, and I found myself feeling somewhat guilty for voting anyways. I kept myself informed of the overarching goals of each candidate, but I think I could certainly improve on my consumption of political news.
Although I initially felt unworthy of casting my vote, I came to the conclusion that the right to vote is not contingent upon one’s degree of political involvement or knowledge. Such criteria was never written in fine print in our constitutional rights and likely never will be.
According to a 2023 Gallup poll, it’s estimated that only 32% of Americans consider themselves to pay very close attention to national political news. There could be a multitude of reasons why politics aren’t the forefront of one’s life, none of which should be one’s deciding factor in choosing to vote.
I think many emerging adults have a proclivity to focus on their education or developing a career, with newly-gained political responsibilities seeming like less of a priority. Socioeconomic factors can also come into play, even if the person in office has
a significant influence over the ability for individuals to stay financially afloat.
One might consider making a living to be of greater importance than politics, but that doesn’t mean they should avoid the trip to the polls. Or perhaps they are overcome with financial constraints that make devoting time to political activism unfeasible.
In addition to personal circumstances, politics as a whole can be genuinely overwhelming. When things like reproductive rights and immigration laws are on the line, it’s no surprise that many people put up their blinders out of bewilderment and fear of the unknown future.
Based on the APA’s 2024 Stress in America survey, a staggering 77% of adults noted a significant stressor in their lives being the fate of our nation. Our country has experienced peak political anxiety over the last year, and one should not be frowned upon for avoiding the stressfulness of national elections.
That being said, everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in elections, regardless of how much they can say about the agendas of individual candidates.
I’m not promoting political apathy what-
soever; in fact, I think everyone should appreciate American democracy by exercising their rights to contribute to the nation’s future. It’s important to be as informed of the political climate as possible, especially when formulating one’s beliefs and values as a young voter.
However, I can’t get behind guilting other people for their lack of interest in politics, nor do I think apolitical individuals should be discouraged from voting.
Although the 2024 voter turnout statistics are still being tabulated, I speculate that the election could have looked different had more people felt comfortable voting. Of course it’s impossible to know whether greater turnout would have resulted in a different outcome, but it’s important that everyone feels welcome at the polls to uphold our constitutional rights.
As American citizens, we have the precious prerogative of being able to contribute to the operations of our country. One should never hesitate to exercise their right to vote simply because their scope of political knowledge is more limited than others.
GRAPHIC BY LUCY OSBORN
AJ Toler Correspondent
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GOUGE Wrestling at Rebus Works Raleigh gets wrecked
at breweries or places like Rebus or different bars, and all our shows are free, so we draw kind of a hipster crowd, college crowd.”
Boylan Heights is nestled in the corner of Southwest Raleigh on the other side of the train tracks from downtown. It’s a bustling arts community and home to some of the most beautiful architecture in Raleigh due to its origins as one of the first planned communities in the city.
Boylan Heights residents took to the Rebus Works parking lot on Saturday to blow off post-election steam and engage in wholesome family fun by watching some grown men throw each other around.
GOUGE stands for Gimmicks Only Underground Grappling Entertainment. The league was founded in 2006 by wrestling promoter Greg Mosorjak, also known as Count Grog.
“We don’t cater to the normal, traditional wrestling fan — your basic redneck crowd,” Mosorjak said. “We do all our shows, mostly
GOUGE wrestling is unique in the comedic performance aspect of the event. The wrestlers are waging truly physical fights, but that won’t stop them from taking a moment to indulge the crowd with some grotesque bromance.
Outrage and chaos did, in fact, ensue once the pin was erected and the performers started hopping in the ring.
I refer to them as performers not to alleviate their strength but to emphasize their creativity. What’s special about GOUGE Wrestling is that it’s essentially a multi-
faceted performance art exhibition. A wondrous display of high-low entertainment grappling outside of an art gallery, GOUGE appeals to the most basic and primitive human intuitions.
“We’re not real serious,” Mosorjak said. “There’s a lot of fun in our show. It’s a lot of wrestling mixed with comedy and outrageous gimmicks.”
We all love to watch a brawl, but the children seemed to have an especially vested interest in the matter. Still attached to their gloriously naive moral codes and seething with anger at the idea of an unfair fight, the kids in the crowd were the most engaged participants. I even heard a young girl drop the L word — “loser.”
“They’re probably my best audience,” said Seymour Snott, the ‘geek with the physique and world’s strongest mathlete.’ “They have a lot of fun with my character and getting sprayed with the silly string.”
The crowd went berserk when Snott won
his match after spinning his opponent “Sawdust” around in a nose pinch, eventually pinning him to the mat in a stunning triumph.
But love and hate, as they say, are two sides of the same coin. I saw a beautifully beaming newlywed couple leaving the Heights House Hotel, floating across the Boylan Bridge on a rickshaw to catch a glimpse of the fight.
Shonna Greenwell, the organizer of the event, played an integral role in increasing GOUGE’s success in Boylan Heights.
“Shonna brought in all these food trucks and breweries to sell beer, and it just took off,” Mosorjak said. “For a while, we were the hottest thing here in the neighborhood.”
The line was out the door for most of the event. It was a truly picturesque fall afternoon, capturing a moment of unity and joy in what was ultimately two hours of reprieve from the frenzy of everyday life.
Rocky Berhe Assistant Opinion Editor
Editor’s Note: The writer of this article is an employee at the location of this event.
CATE HUMPHREYS/TECHNICIAN
Wrestler Seymour Snott punches wrestler Sawdust during the Collision Under the Bridge event at Rebus Works coffee shop on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. The event, hosted by Rebus Works in downtown Raleigh, featured wrestlers from GOUGE Wrestling.
CATE HUMPHREYS/TECHNICIAN
Wrestler Glamour Boy Khan puts wrestler Mavrick Vo in a headlock during the Collison Under the Bridge event at Rebus Works coffee shop on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. The event, hosted by Rebus Works in downtown Raleigh, featured wrestlers from GOUGE Wrestling.
The Corner on Centennial ropes in Food Truck Rodeo and thrift pop-ups
Sarah Hoffer Culture Editor
Five food trucks lined up on Main Campus Drive at The Corner at Centennial Campus, and racks with second-hand clothing and sustainability pop-ups were scattered throughout the space for the recurring Food Truck Rodeo.
The Corner is a space dedicated to fostering socialization, community, sustainability and creativity among the visitors. It’s a place for people to cross paths and bring people together, which is a necessity to give Centennial Campus a personality of its own beyond one’s preconceptions. It’s new, full of buildings with no names and separate from Main Campus, so creating personal connections through “third spaces” is vital to its advancement.
That’s where Centennial Campus Placemaking comes in. Their small but mighty team is dedicated to creating and improving these third spaces to incorporate “play time” into students’ largely work-oriented lives.
Katie Butler, the marketing and communications coordinator for Centennial Campus Placemaking, was one of the organizers of the event, along with Jude DesNoyer, the director of Placemaking.
“We’re trying to make a place worth visiting, place worth hanging out, working, making it better for people that are here,” Butler said. “We want to attract people to make them become active participants, not just somebody who comes to work and then checks out, but somebody who enjoys being
here and wants to participate in things.”
The Food Truck Rodeo had Doo Wop Desserts, Boss Burger, Hollywood Taco Shop, Sister Liu’s Kitchen and Santopietro Sandos to provide something for everyone. From dumplings to burgers to iced lattes, they had it all.
Not only did the event have food trucks, but the Campus Thrift Store was part of the event and had a pop-up, along with Amelia Boys of Boys Studio, a shop with handscreen printed clothing.
Jaxon Davis started Campus Thrift Store three years ago. He found it overwhelming to be in school and feel the pressure of having a good outfit a lot of days but also
didn’t want to compromise with the ethics of fast fashion.
“I essentially just started collecting a bunch of my friends’ clothes, and figured if I could sell them for a dollar then I could make an impact — not only on campus but off of campus — by being able to donate that money after the fact and give it to charities that could make use of it,” Davis said.
Thrift stores around Raleigh can get pricey. Although there are a lot of great finds, it can be difficult for students to find something affordable. A point of thrifting for many students is to keep great clothes in circulation for the sake of sustainability. Campus Thrift Store aims to do just that but
at a much lower price.
Sustainability is one side of the coin, but the organizers feel that it is imperative to make on-campus events accessible to students.
“I think the purpose of the story is that Placemaking is more than just us,” DesNoyer said. “Part of our efforts is to collaborate with others and help them make sure they’re successful. And so this is a good example of us working with a student group who’s doing hands-on learning with placemaking, but also recreation.”
Both DesNoyer and Butler felt that the mission of Centennial Campus could be to break down barriers between students and bring different demographics together.
“I think a lot of times Centennial gets left out of the picture,” Davis said. “I think unless you have classes over here, you’re not really coming over here much. I think there should just be a bigger focus on having events geared towards students on Centennial to highlight engineering and textiles and whatever it might be, just to bring people over here and make them feel engaged.”
Centennial Campus Placemaking also has a concert series, pickleball, yoga classes and other community and sustainability-based events coming up, so keep a lookout on the Events Calendar. Follow Campus Thrift Store on Instagram to keep tabs on their upcoming pop-ups, and for more related events, visit NC State Sustainability.
Brews and bluegrass: Lorraine’s Coffee House & Music
AJ Toler Correspondent
Coffee shops — the perfect places to sip artisan lattes, enjoy an assortment of baked goods and decompress in a cozy ambiance. Lorraine Jordan wanted to emulate the same welcoming atmosphere in her business, but added a twist by intertwining the elements of bluegrass and country music into her coffee shop.
North Carolina native Lorraine Jordan is a prominent singer and mandolin player with her band, Carolina Road, and has performed for over 20 years at bluegrass and
country music festivals across the nation. In 2014, Jordan contrived a business model that would allow patrons to enjoy the typical atmosphere and amenities of a coffee shop while getting to experience live bluegrass and country music performances.
Jordan saw an old drugstore for sale in Garner as an opportunity to bring her business idea to fruition, and Lorraine’s Coffee House & Music officially opened in 2014.
Mickey Stroud, the creative consultant for Lorraine’s, said the coffee house would serve as a homebase for Jordan, who frequently tours the country with Carolina Road.
“She got tired of traveling all the time and
wanted to have a place where she could play at home,” Stroud said.
Stroud jokingly remarked that Jordan doesn’t drink coffee herself, but that her idea behind a cafe with live entertainment was to create a welcoming atmosphere centered around respecting the music. Some of the first performances at Lorraine’s included an appearance from country music star Marlon
“Marty” Raybon and a show with the Malpass Brothers, a traditional country music duo from Goldsboro.
To further their sphere of influence, Lorraine’s introduced its three-camera setup in 2020 to stream the live performances
for all to enjoy. Lorraine’s Video JukeBox showcases over 1,000 recordings of the coffee house’s shows, allowing listeners to experience authentic bluegrass and country music performances for free.
Jordan is dedicated to preserving the bluegrass and country music scene and does so by providing the streamed performances online without a required payment.
“Lorraine has chosen to underwrite the cost herself,” Stroud said. “We don’t try to monetize it or sell it.”
In addition to watching the show’s recordings, bluegrass and country enthusiasts can tune in to Highway 40 Bluegrass, a station
COURTESY OF KATIE BUTLER
Building a future: Perseverancia event to fund school construction in El Salvador
Sarah Hoffer Culture Editor
Jack Rothacker, a fourth-year studying business administration and Spanish and a 2024-2025 Social Innovation Fellow, partnered with the Discomfort Club to put on the second annual Perseverancia event on Nov. 16. Perseverancia is a nonprofit with an aim to raise money to build a school in El Salvador.
El Salvador has three school cycles for students. Cycle one is first through third grade, cycle two is third through sixth grade and cycle three is seventh through ninth grade. The main cycle of education they’re lacking is the third cycle, which is what Rothacker is focusing on for the new build. Because of the limited number of third-cycle schools, many students are unable to go past sixth grade.
Rothacker originally gained inspiration for the event during a mission trip in El Salvador, where he noticed the need for schools for young students. He originally planned on solely building a seventh-grade classroom, but the project has since expanded to a three-classroom construction.
“That’s why I think I’ve just stuck close to, honestly, my nonprofits, values of raising the money for this classroom, for this community, sticking with education as a solution to improving life,” Rothacker said. “Just creating opportunities.”
Rothacker spent two months this summer in El Salvador living in a church and interning for Habitat for Humanity.
“I think that’s really what has kept me so close to this project, is that I feel like I have a family over there,” Rothacker said. “I feel the commitment to this project and to wanting to learn more, and there’s just so many opportunities to innovate and almost just change the future through education.”
Last year, Rothacker said the event had about 120 participants — 12 teams with 10 people on each team — and over 40 volunteers. This year, he wants the event to be even larger and hopes for about 36 teams. He’s reached out to the captains of intramural teams, student organizations in the Latinx community and presidents of fraternities and sororities to get participants.
So far, Rothacker has raised over $15,000 for the cause, and hopes that they can hit $70,000 soon. If all goes well, construction for the classroom will begin in the next few
hosted by Doug Whitley on “The Bluegrass Jamboree” radio show. The weekly show broadcasts every performance at Lorraine’s, making the music accessible to those who may be unable to attend in-person.
Whitley said he started Highway 40 Bluegrass after a 40 year hiatus from working as a radio show host and that the station has had great success over the last three years of runtime.
“It’s a good, fun show that tells you about what’s going on [at Lorraine’s],” Whitley said.
While bluegrass and country may seem like genres of music enjoyed exclusively within the United States, Highway 40 Bluegrass has amassed a worldwide audience.
“There’s one guy who watches from Wales all the time … and a regular coming from New
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Amanda Campos, a third-year studying political science, keeps the ball away from the other team during the El Salvador Soccer Tournament at Stewardship Park on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. The tournament served as a fundraiser for Perseverancia, a nonprofit whose purpose is to leave a positive impact on the education system in Central America.
weeks.
“The budget is a $70,000 project,” Rothacker said. “I’ve already raised $15,000 from October 2023 and we’re expected, not confirmed, but we’re expected to start building our first classroom in November, because their school years are from January to October.”
The Discomfort Club aims to push students out of their comfort zone to achieve personal growth. Shire Thompson, a third-year studying business management and the president of Discomfort Club, thinks it is important for students to build community and challenge themselves to grow.
“I think getting outside your comfort zone, breaking your routine, breaking your habits, is really where you grow in life, and that us humans, we’re meant for growth,” Thomp-
Zealand,” Stroud said.
It’s no surprise that Lorraine’s has gained such popularity when looking at the impressive list of musicians who have played in the coffee shop. Two-time IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Larry Sparks performed at the coffee house in 2023 with his band, The Lonesome Ramblers and four-time IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Danny Paisley made an appearance with his band, The Southern Grass, this past month.
Lorraine’s also showcases many emerging artists such as Carson Peters, a fiddler and singer who has performed several times at the Grand Ole Opry and was a contestant on The Voice in 2021. Garrett Newton, a banjo player and singer from Eastern North Carolina, has played alongside Jordan at the coffee house
son said. “When you stay the same, when you get comfortable, that’s where our mental health crisis begins. It’s all about promoting people’s mental and physical well-being and having fun along the way.”
Radhika Kulkarni, a third-year studying business administration and the head of marketing for Discomfort Club, said this event has the potential to make a big impact.
“The cause overall is so, so important,” Kulkarni said. “So I feel like tying this into Discomfort Club and just creating like that can creating like that community around it, it’s just going to create greater awareness. And then from that, you make a real impact.”
since his early teens and now has his own Hank Williams tribute band.
Aside from their impressive line-ups, Lorraine’s features a full coffee and cafe menu with options ranging from specialty mochas to hot sandwiches and Hershey’s ice cream. The casual fare adds to the homey and quaint atmosphere, allowing guests to savor a satisfying meal and the sounds of live music simultaneously.
A few noteworthy shows coming up on the cafe’s calendar include Lorraine Jordan and Garrett Newton performing together on Nov. 29, The Tennessee Bluegrass Band on Dec. 6 and Lonesome River Band on Feb. 21.
The coffee house also hosts “Karaoke with Doug” and “Open Mic with Mike” on Thursdays, both of which are free admission and
open to musicians of any skill level. Whether you can barely carry a tune or you can sing like Alison Krauss, all are welcome on Jordan’s stage.
In light of the growing appreciation for bluegrass and country music, Stroud said Jordan hopes the coffee house will attract more young music enthusiasts into the audience. Most events have a cover fee of $15 and the coffee house is just a 20 minute drive from NC State’s campus.
Bluegrass and country music fans of all ages are encouraged to experience both the live performances at Lorraine’s and the welcoming environment cultivated by Jordan and her staff. “This is a family atmosphere,” Stroud said. “You come here and you feel very comfortable very quickly.”
Facing early adversity, NC State women’s basketball searches for frontcourt solutions
Colby Trotter Sports Editor
CHARLOTTE, N.C., — When it was announced that graduate forward Caitlin Weimar would be out indefinitely due to hip surgery a few weeks before the season, it was clear that it would take time for NC State women’s basketball to figure out its lineup.
After losing Mimi Collins and River Baldwin, who combined for 21.2 points per game and 13.1 rebounds per game, Weimar was supposed to help fill the void as she transferred in from Boston University, where she won both the Patriot League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
It would allow head coach Wes Moore to play his four most trusted guards with an experienced big anchoring the paint, but that plan had to be ditched before the season even started. Moore was forced to play talented but inexperienced bigs right out of the gate.
Moore even admitted at the ACC Tipoff that he felt his team’s preseason ranking of No. 9 was too high because of the question marks in the front court.
“I think everyone looks at our guards, especially [senior guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers] and think, ‘Oh, wow, NC State is going to be really, really good,’” Moore said. “But we lost two really good players in River Baldwin and Mimi Collins,
who are both playing overseas in Europe now professionally. Those are going to be big shoes to fill.”
It’s not that NC State lacks the players in the frontcourt. The Wolfpack has four players that stand six-foot-three or taller, they just all lack playing experience at the collegiate level. Sophomore center Mallory Collier and graduate center Lizzy Williamson were on last year’s Final Four team but were in reserve roles. Tylda Trygger and Lorena Awou are highly touted prospects but are freshmen.
With that, the early part of the season would be a time for Moore to test out lineups and see what big would fit the best with NC State’s guards. The problem was that the Wolfpack was set to face reigning National Champions and No. 1 South Carolina in the second game of the season.
After the Gamecocks handled the Wolfpack 71-57 Sunday afternoon in the Ally Tipoff at Spectrum Center, Moore still feels like he hasn’t found an answer.
“I’m searching,” Moore said. “Last year we had a pretty well-set lineup, a set rotation. It was easy. Now I’m searching for that. I don’t know. Do we go small and quicker? Do we go big? Do we play four out, one in, which is what I traditionally play? Or do we try to get five guards out there and play five out? I’m searching, and I gotta find out in a hurry.”
While Moore feels like he hasn’t found out who to play in the frontcourt or to ditch playing a big altogether, it seemed like NC State had an answer against the Gamecocks. When Trygger was inserted into the lineup, the Wolfpack went on its two biggest runs of the game.
When the Pack went on an 11-0 run in the second quarter to take a lead, Trygger was playing with James, sophomore guard Zoe Brooks, graduate guard Madison Hayes and freshman guard Zamareya Jones. Her ability to spread the floor opened up the court for the rest of the guards to drive in the paint and score. James scored seven points of her 13 overall points during the run because the paint wasn’t clogged up by a post player.
When NC State cut a 20-point deficit to seven points in the fourth quarter, it was Trygger on the court with four guards again. Jones scored eight of her team-high 16 points in the fourth with Trygger opening up the floor for her.
The freshman forward finished the game with the highest plus/minus of any Wolfpack player who played 20 or more minutes. The moment didn’t look too big for her despite going up against the reigning national champions in her second collegiate game.
“She’s a little bit more mobile than a true five player,” Moore said. “She’s got a bright
future. She can shoot it better than she shot it today. She’s got a good basketball IQ — gives us some length that can also step out and do some things on the perimeter.”
If Trygger can knock down 3’s at a consistent level as she did during the 2024 FIBA U20 European Championship with Sweden when she hit 14 3s in seven games, then all of a sudden Moore won’t have question marks in the frontcourt.
Even though her team won by double digits, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was impressed by what she saw from NC State and doesn’t think the inexperience in the front court will hold the Pack back.
“Anytime you have great guards like they have, they’re going to give you a shot,” Staley said. “The bigs are going to get better. They just lack some experience. We’ve been there. Several of our bigs lack experience. They played a small lineup to get back in the game in the fourth quarter. So when their bigs get up to speed, they’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Despite Moore not feeling like he has found an answer with his lineup quite yet, it seems like when he goes back and watches the film he will know who to play in the starting lineup along with his quartet of guards.
LAILA BUSH/TECHNICIAN
Freshman forward Tilda Trygger yells during the game against East Tennessee State University in Reynolds Coliseum on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The Wolfpack beat the buccaneers 80-55.
From promise to pain — inside NC State football’s disastrous season
Connor VanDerMark Assistant Sports Editor
NC State football has nothing but itself to blame for its disaster of a 2024 campaign.
Not only was this season a massive failure compared to preseason expectations, but the Wolfpack is in very real danger of missing a bowl game for the third time in head coach Dave Doeren’s 12-year tenure.
NC State went all-in during the offseason, spending untold sums of money to acquire notable offensive talents like graduate quarterback Grayson McCall and redshirt freshman wide receiver Noah Rogers while retaining key defensive pieces like graduate defensive end Davin Vann and graduate cornerback Aydan White. But even with such a sharp influx of talent, the Wolfpack still found a way to underachieve.
Some aspects of the season have been uncontrollable. McCall’s career-ending injury and ensuing retirement were a total shock to the nation. In a linebacker room that already had question marks entering the season, a season-ending injury to redshirt junior linebacker Caden Fordham severely hurt an already staggering defense.
To say NC State fans have been put through the wringer this season would be an understatement. Week after week, the Wolfpack finds new ways to disappoint its fanbase, whether it’s coaching, poor decision-making or just straight-up bad play.
NC State’s flat performance to open the season against Western Carolina — an FCS school — was an ominous start to the season. Many thought it was the team simply working to find its chemistry on opening night. Little did they know it foreshadowed the inevitable disappointment that would soon follow.
The Wolfpack followed up its lackadaisical season-opening victory with a 5110 blowout loss to Tennessee on neutral ground. But hey, Tennessee is an SEC school, so that was supposed to happen, right? Surely NC State would go on to recover and perform well in conference play.
Wrong. Two weeks later, in a matchup against ranked Clemson, the Wolfpack had a chance to prove that some of the preseason hype was still legit. But it was over before the first quarter when NC State allowed 28 points — the second-most points allowed in the first 15 minutes in program
history — en route to an embarrassing 5935 loss.
The Wolfpack continued to shoot itself in the foot week after week. The Pack entered its matchup against Wake Forest with the ninth-longest home winning streak in the nation. It held a 10-point lead against its longtime rival in the fourth quarter and yet somehow managed to squander an opportunity for an important conference win.
NC State then gave hope that it could still salvage its season in a 59-28 victory over Stanford. However, looks can be deceiving. Stanford holds claim to the worst defense in the ACC, allowing over 34 points per
game. Nonetheless, NC State’s 59-point outing marked the most points scored against a conference opponent and finally gave Wolfpack fans a bit of faith for the rest of the season.
But in the following matchup against Duke, NC State’s offense looked more like a high school JV team than a Power Four school. In 14 offensive possessions, the Wolfpack came away with four field goals and a touchdown while allowing a safety, turning the ball over twice and missing a field goal.
Now, the Wolfpack holds a 5-5 overall record and a 2-4 ACC record, sitting at 14th in the conference with two games remaining, neither of which are in Carter-Finley Stadium. The Wolfpack will take on Georgia Tech, a team that just gave then-No. 4 Miami its first loss of the season.
Assuming it loses that matchup in typical NC State fashion, its final opportunity to secure that all-important sixth win is a Thanksgiving weekend matchup against rival UNC-Chapel Hill — a matchup that the Wolfpack has owned in recent history, winning the last three games. However, if the 2024 season has proven anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed in the world of college football.
Even if NC State manages to win one more game and earn a postseason matchup, all it does is sugarcoat a season that’s been nothing short of a dumpster fire — a season that has left the fanbase questioning just about every aspect of the team and program itself. No matter the outcome of the final two matchups, the 2024 season has been a disaster of epic proportions and one that will leave the Wolfpack reeling in the offseason.
GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN
NC State head coach Dave Doeren walks off the field prior to the team’s game against Stanford in Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. The Wolfpack beat the Cardinal 59-28.
The curious case of Kevin Concepcion’s sophomore year
Colby Trotter
Sports Editor
The entire world seems to be asking the same question. Where is sophomore wide receiver Kevin Concepcion?
It was against this same team last year when NC State football was forced to make major changes to its offensive scheme after, in the words of head coach Dave Doeren, an “embarrassing” 24-3 loss to Duke.
The change that was made wasn’t that complicated. It was simple. Give the ball to then-freshman receiver Kevin Concepcion in any way possible, and it worked. NC State ripped off five straight wins after its loss to the Blue Devils and Concepcion was one of the biggest reasons why.
Concepcion recorded four games with over 100 yards from scrimmage and totaled six touchdowns over those last five games. He became the Wolfpack’s best running back and it seemed like there was nothing teams could do to stop him, even though they knew the ball was going to him one way or another.
He essentially became the Wolfpack’s offense and in turn won ACC Rookie of the Year as he set an NC State freshman record with 10 touchdown receptions.
It looked like his sophomore season would be much of the same when he started the year with a nine catch, 121yard and three-touchdown performance against Western Carolina. But since the first game of the season, the most scrimmage yards Concepcion has recorded in a game was 55 yards against California. He entered the game against Duke with just 14 targets in the last three games and had only carried the ball 13 times all season.
In the Wolfpack’s 29-19 loss to Duke on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium, Concepcion’s involvement in the offense hit a new low.
Concepcion had just one touch during the game — a four-yard carry in the fourth quarter. Even though Duke entered the game with the ACC’s best pass defense, freshman quarterback CJ Bailey didn’t think the Blue Devils’ defensive game plan was the reason why Concepcion didn’t contribute to the offense.
“Duke didn’t do anything to limit him,” Bailey said. “We did it ourselves, me and him. I missed him a lot. He didn’t make a couple plays for me as well. So it’s both our fault. Duke didn’t do anything. He did what he had to do to get open every time he was open. He had guys beat. He was working and we just couldn’t finish.”
Doeren had a different perspective than his freshman signal caller. Against Duke and all season, teams have put two players on him at all times. Whether it’s someone on his inside and outside or in zone defense there are players underneath and over the top of him.
It’s not something that Concepcion had to deal with much last season, but now he is the number one threat on every opponent’s scouting report.
“Last year really coming out of the bye it became kind of the [Concepcion] show and people weren’t as in tune,” Doeren said. “They had the whole off-season to listen to how good a player he is and obviously they’re paying attention. They’re doing a good job. They’re defending them well, and that’s why we’ve had to spread the ball around.”
While it’s true teams are paying attention to Concepcion more, the Pack still has to find ways to get him the ball more, especially in the redzone. Against the Blue Devils, the Wolfpack made six trips to the red zone and came away with four field goals and just one touchdown — an area Concepcion thrived in last season.
It’s harder to score touchdowns when the field shrinks, but a player with the shiftiness and route running of Concepcion can make things easier. It could be as simple as throwing him a screen or handing the ball off and more times than not Concepcion will make a positive play. On the one target Concepcion received in the red zone, he caught the ball in the endzone but the ball was thrown too late as he was pushed out of bounds before he got a foot down.
“We couldn’t finish in the red zone,” Bailey said. “We had those chances, and we missed a lot of shots. I missed a lot of shots, a lot of throws, and that I wish I could have back.”
The most confounding part of Concepcion’s regression from last season has been his involvement in the run game. He was NC State’s second-leading rusher last season and during that five-game winning streak to end the season, he rushed for 258 yards on 33 carries.
Through nine games, Concepcion has run the ball just 14 times for 33 yards. It’s not to say Concepcion should be the lead running back because that would take away from his playmaking ability as a slot receiver, but he
proved last season that he can change the outcomes of games with his ability to run the ball.
In a game where the Wolfpack struggled to run, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry, Concepcion received just one carry. When nothing else is working in the run game, why not hand the ball off to the most explosive player on offense?
He doesn’t have to get the ball every play because NC State does have playmakers outside of him like junior tight end Justin Joly, who leads the team in receiving yards, and redshirt freshman running back Hollywood Smothers, who has the most games with 100 or more yards from scrimmage. But in a game where NC State struggled to move the ball, he has to have more than one touch.
Concepcion can’t go without any of the blame either. In the fourth quarter, he dropped passes on back-to-back drives where he could’ve taken off for an explosive play like he has multiple times in the past. But he was probably so shocked the ball was coming his way that he forgot how to catch the ball.
Jokes aside, the potential of the Wolfpack’s offense will never be unlocked if Concepcion isn’t getting the ball. When NC State force-fed him the ball last season, it proved to work, but the Pack has almost completely forgotten about him this season.
LAILA BUSH/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore wide receiver Kevin Concepcion looks into the crowd before the football game against Duke at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. The Wolfpack lost to the Blue Devils 29-19.
Breaking down NC State men’s basketball’s new-look starting lineup
With a new season comes new faces and fresh lineups. Many of last season’s stars from March Madness have departed for professional basketball, although graduate guard Michael O’Connell and senior guard Jayden Taylor remain in Raleigh as starters, while senior forward Ben Middlebrooks is a key role player.
Until redshirt junior guard Mike James returns, the Wolfpack’s starting five appears set. Along with O’Connell and Taylor in the backcourt, the Pack has a trio of transfers starting. Senior guard Marcus Hill, senior guard and forward Dontrez Styles and senior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield.
Thus far, O’Connell appears to be the Wolfpack’s best player. Leading the Wolfpack in minutes, O’Connell is the stabilizing force for the red-and-white, elevating everyone around him when he’s running the offense. Through two games, the Wolfpack is +44 when O’Connell is on the floor but -4 without him. The March Madness star leads the Wolfpack in both assists and 3’s and may very well be the team’s most impactful player this year.
Without a clear primary scoring option to open the season, Taylor is taking on more of a scorer’s role than last year. Leading the team in shots and points per game, the former Butler transfer enjoyed his first big game of the season against Presbyterian. Against the Blue Hose, Taylor turned in 19 points on an efficient
7-14 shooting. One thing to monitor with Taylor is that he’s been efficient inside the arc, but shooting just 25% from deep. To truly evolve into a top-scoring option, Taylor will need to improve his efficiency from beyond the arc.
The Pack’s final starting guard, Hill, is also looking to establish his presence as a scorer. Against USC-Upstate, Hill rattled off eight quick points early in the second half. Best when driving into
the paint or attacking in transition, Hill might not be a consistent option in the halfcourt but has the potential to score buckets in bunches. However, the Bowling Green transfer is not much of a threat from deep, shooting 0-2 from 3 through the team’s first two games.
Moving to the four, Styles appears to be solidified as a starter this season. After playing at North Carolina and Georgetown, the Kinston native finally has the
opportunity to break out with the Wolfpack. With a versatile, two-way skillset, Styles showed the ability to be an explosive scorer in the first halves of both games thus far. With the athleticism to drive and the shooting ability to space the floor, Styles has untapped potential for the red-and-white.
On the defensive end of the floor, he relentlessly pursues rebounds and blocks, but also has a tendency to foul. If Styles can stay out of foul trouble, the Wolfpack may have acquired a two-way gem.
The Pack has started both HuntleyHatfield and Middlebrooks once this season at the five, with each showing unique advantages. Middlebrooks is a problem for opposing defenses, with his ability to score inside. Additionally, Middlebrooks is working on adding the 3-point shot this season, unveiling it by draining his only attempt of the season against Presbyterian.
Meanwhile, Huntley-Hatfield is a slithery weapon in the paint, shooting an efficient 83.3% from the field. Regardless of who starts and who comes off the bench, the Wolfpack is in good hands at the five. The Wolfpack’s starting lineup is very different from last season and has plenty of room to improve, but the potential for a strong season is there. If there’s an early concern about the group, it is 3-point shooting. However, there is enough talent and experience to overcome the issue as NC State looks to build off of last season.
Matthew Burkhart
Denning Editor-in-Chief
VIOLET BEESLEY/TECHNICIAN
Senior guard Marcus Hill contests a pass during the game against the University of South Carolina Upstate at the Lenovo Center on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Hill scored 14 points. NC State defeated USC Upstate 97-66.
Noah Teague Staff Writer
