WEATHER
African American cultural celebration showcases art, history
Dae Reed Correspondent
African American artists and educators gathered at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences for the 24th Annual African American Cultural Celebration to commemorate heritage, health, history and more.
Throughout the day, there were performances by drama groups, spoken word artists and storytellers. Intermixed between the museum’s dinosaur exhibits were presenters teaching about Black history, selling art and talking about local educational resources.
Belinda Alston was a presenter with the Heritage Quilters, a group of textile artists who create a diverse range of stitched works. The organization hosted tables with crafts and had many quilts on display in the firstfloor lobby.
Alston said quilting has a historical significance to Black communities because of its origin. Typically, white families could buy new fabric and customize colors for their textiles, but this wasn’t always the case for Black families.
“You would take cloths and flour sacks and whatever materials that you had access to,” Alston said. “If you worked in the house where they gave you the scraps of the fabric that they didn’t want anymore, you took that. And you repurposed it for your family because that was a need.”
Somewhere along the line, the irregular, non-traditional quilting of Black communities became recognized as legitimate art and expression. The Heritage Quilters used both traditional techniques and unconstrained methods that were consistent with Black communities.
Members of the organization spoke to onlookers and helped children glue triangles of fabric to templates. Next to one of their quilts was another table hosting Alfreda Johnson, a sweetgrass weaver from South Carolina, showcasing another multi-generational art form that has roots in the unique African American experience.
The Heritage Quilters tables were popular with children and adults, both excited to take part in an art that might seem intimidating.
“This was a special opportunity, an honor, for us to be able to present quilting and to carry on the tradition,” Alston said.
Pinkie Strother is a multi-talented artist who was also presenting at the celebration. Her exhibit was meant to explore a historically significant piece of North Carolina Black history: Palmer Memorial Institute.
Palmer Memorial Institute was a prestigious college located in Sedalia, North Carolina, operational from 1902-1971. It was a preparatory school for Black students, where they could study specialties like ministry and nursing.
Strother had sculpted a miniature classroom full of Black students and a teacher moving throughout, powered by an electrical circuit she built. There were posters and images exploring the history and significance of the school.
“So many people came through here and never heard of the place,” Strother said. “That means that history, Black history, is not being taught.”
Strother said events like the Annual African American Cultural Celebration are important because it is one of the only places guaranteed to teach about authentic Black history.
CRIME ON CAMPUS
NC State’s weekly log of major incidents across campus.
TRESPASSING FRAUD
Carmichael Gym Jan. 22, 2025 at 7:51 p.m.
Officers observed a non-affiliated individual let two non-affiliated individuals through an emergency exit. One non-affiliated individual refused to give identification and was arrested and charged for RDO, aid and abet trespassing and the other two were trespassed.
Varsity Drive Lot Jan. 22, 2025 at 3:39 p.m.
A student received a phone call claiming she was being investigated by Homeland Security and the DEA. She was told to transfer money to this person but declined to do so.
A few floors up, tables were showcasing several specialized sects of the libraries of North Carolina. These included Accessible Books and Library Services, the Government and Heritage Library and the State Archives. There were quizzes about Black historical figures from North Carolina, displays of accessible library tools and a handson Wheel of History for kids to learn about specific events.
In another section of the museum was Willa Brigham, an artist, writer, storyteller and speaker who had a table with a range of her works, including CDs, textile arts and children’s books.
“As a speaker and storyteller, I have an opportunity to plant seeds of love, communication, connection, diversity, inclusiveness, equity, all in stories, songs and poems,” Brigham said.
Her art arose out of a love for reading,
music and teaching in a way that children enjoyed. She found that her kids listened much better if she sang instead of scolded. She always made up stories instead of reading them from books. Above all, she found it essential to teach joyfully.
“The bottom line is, we are all on this great planet together,” Brigham said. “And it’s necessary to cooperate and move forward in a positive manner together.”
Across from Brigham’s table was a separate room, packed full of children. They crowded around a speaker from the North Carolina Association of Black Storytellers.
“A little girl came by, white as snow,” Brigham said as she gestured to the rack displaying her textile prints. “She picked the blackest [illustration] I’ve made. That’s the one she loved. She hasn’t been told any difference. It’s all taught, so why can’t we choose to teach love?”
SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE
1911 Building Jan. 22, 2025 at 12:21 a.m.
An officer observed a vehicle driving carelessly and recklessly in the area. The vehicle fled the area. After speaking with witnesses, a student was referred to the University.
SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE
Memorial Bell Tower Jan. 21, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
A student was referred to the University for having their vehicle parked on the grass area taking pictures.
CONTRIBUTED BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
4 TECHNICIAN
‘RedNote’ app explodes in popularity amid TikTok ban
Jackson Davenport, Daniel Susann Correspondants
TikTok is operating in the U.S. again after President Donald Trump granted the app a 75-day extension. Still, when TikTok’s future seemed bleak amid an hours-long ban, many found alternative sources for their short-form video cravings, such as Xiaohongshu, more commonly known in America as RedNote.
As of January 2025, Xiahongshu has around 350 million users globally and is one of China’s most popular social media apps. It was originally released in 2013 as a shopping forum.
Many students viewed the highly publicized TikTok hearings as a sign that our public officials are out of touch with technology and Gen Z culture. Students also seemed suspicious of the lobbying interests of U.S. companies such as Meta and Alphabet in taking out their biggest competitor in the short-form media economy.
Zackary Pazar, a third-year studying criminology, voiced his concerns about the aspect of lobbying in his decision to download Xiaohongshu.
“I saw Meta as a big reason why the TikTok ban was getting pushed a lot, and I know the algorithm is a little bit messed up for them, and I heard about RedNote from TikTok, and I checked it out,” Pazar said. “I was curious about it, and I preferred to go there over Meta.”
Pazar said the behaviors of the Supreme Court and other agendas were also another factor for him.
“I’m a criminology major, and I study a lot about the law, and so my knowledge and seeing how they were acting during that trial and seeing how dumb it was, I just realized what kind of agenda it was trying to push,” Pazar said. “That influenced my decision to try out RedNote.”
Congress enacted a law banning TikTok based on national security concerns, which was held up by the Supreme Court, fearing that the Chinese government would have access to the data of TikTok users in the United States and would use it maliciously. It also suspected that China controlled the TikTok algorithm, which made it so loved by users in the United States, and would be able to heavily influence American public opinion since social media is a leading source of news in today’s world.
Steven Greene, a professor of political science, said the ban was primarily based on national security concerns and the dissemination of information.
“It’s because TikTok has hundreds of millions of users, and that information is controlled by algorithms which are almost surely
under the influence of the Chinese Communist Party,” Greene said.
However, Greene said the ban should not alarm users who are still using the platform after its revival.
“In terms of the people who should be concerned, potentially, would be the people who are electronically hosting TikTok servers and whatnot,” Greene said. “Basically, Google and Apple have decided it’s important for them to comply with the law as written, and so that’s why it is not in the app store. But they’re the ones who would have to worry, not your typical user.”
Chloe Loflin, a second-year studying graphic and experience design, has been using the app for years.
“I think the West doesn’t really understand what it is,” Loflin said. “They see it as a TikTok alternative, but really, it’s just used for whatever.”
RedNote may be viewed as a TikTok replacement for many Americans, but the app also includes shopping, direct messages and a Pinterest-style feed showing multiple videos playing at once. Similar to TikTok, RedNote has an algorithm focused on ensuring videos are relevant and enjoyable to viewers.
Loflin said Xiaohongshu has been a forum for cultural exchange between Americans and
Chinese citizens.
On the app, videos aim to teach Americans basic Mandarin, and Chinese citizens look for help with their English homework. There have also been cases of Chinese citizens being shocked at aspects of the American system, such as the health care system or housing prices.
Loflin said she viewed a post with a Chinese user having a “crash out” over the cost of living in the U.S.
“She was like, ‘What do you mean it’s normal to work two jobs and barely pay rent,’” Loflin said.
Greene said that cultural exchange taking place can be seen as a double-edged sword.
“There is this cultural exchange that is very real, but at the same time, it is easy to say that China is our greatest geostrategic enemy,” Greene said, “Insofar as TikTok and RedNote certainly encourage and extend cultural exchange, that strengthens one level of the U.S.China relationship, but at the same time, other levels of it are very strained.”
The translation of Xiaohongshu in Mandarin is “Little Red Book” — a reference to a book of quotations and speeches by Chinese Communist Party leader and founder Mao Zedong, espousing the virtues of Chinese Communism. Xiaohongshu may fall vic-
tim to the same concerns plaguing TikTok — Chinese Communist Party influence and data security.
Greene said the adoption of Xiaohongshu is about retaliation against authority, making the Chinese influence a selling point.
“The psychological term for this is reactance, which is, ‘You’re gonna tell me I can’t do something? Well watch this,’” Greene said. “Let’s be honest, it would make so much more sense for people to go to Instagram reels. ‘Oh yeah? You don’t want me viewing Chinese communist-influenced propaganda on my TikTok? Well, take that. And I want something so Chinese, it’s in Mandarin.’ It’s hard to not think that this is a significant portion of it.”
RedNote’s terms and conditions include both normal fare for social media companies, as well as more direct links to Chinese Communist Party influence — including a prohibition against “endangering national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
While TikTok is back, many plan to continue using RedNote due to the cultural exchange taking place and greater insulation from American influence and culture. But the app faces many of the same security concerns plaguing TikTok, leaving its future uncertain.
GRAPHIC BY LOUBETT GARZA CUEVAS
Raleigh City Council member Jonathan Melton meets with students for Q&A session
Matthew Burkhart News Editor
Raleigh City Council member Jonathan Lambert Melton met with students Tuesday in the Student Government Suite for a Q&A session focused on local issues affecting the campus community.
Melton, an NC State alumni who graduated in 2008 with a political science degree, moved to Raleigh in 2004 to attend the university. After completing his law degree at North Carolina Central University, he decided to make Raleigh his permanent home, but that wasn’t without difficulty.
“I really struggled to find a place I could afford to live,” Melton said. “A lot of my friends at the time were living in other places, like D.C., and they were renting garage apartments or basement apartments and I couldn’t find anything like that in Raleigh.”
Melton said at the time, Raleigh had outlawed the building of accessory dwelling units, townhomes and duplexes in favor of single-family homes.
“I felt like that was ridiculous, and that was one of the things that I also worked on when I got elected, and those things are legal now,” Melton said. “I’m hoping as we can continue to increase the supply of our housing, help bring costs down, make more space for folks who want to live here and do that in a really sustainable way.”
Melton said he decided to run for office due to the make-up of the City Council at the time. He said it was aged, not diverse and supported backward and regressive policies, such as the banning of rental scooters.
“I felt like it was time for new leaders to step forward,” Melton said. “I kind of just felt like if not me, then who?”
Now serving his third term, Melton emphasized the unique nature of this council session.
“This session is unique because I’ve been elected two times prior, and we got so much done those first two terms that a lot of what I want to do this term is just to give some of those policy changes we made space to take effect,” Melton said.
One of the key projects Melton discussed was the Bus Rapid Transit, or BRT, system, which would be the first of its kind in North Carolina.
“Fingers crossed, it’s going to start construction this term,” Melton said.
Although there was a ground-breaking ceremony for the beginning of the construction of the transit system in 2023, there has been no actual construction yet. Melton said the project faces challenges, including find-
ing contractors with experience in this type of construction.
Addressing public safety concerns, particularly in off-campus areas, Melton said he acknowledges ongoing challenges.
“We haven’t added enough officers to the police department to keep pace with population growth,” Melton said.
Melton said the city is conducting a compensation study to improve recruitment and retention of officers.
One achievement of Melton’s past term that is expected to come into effect this term is the Council’s alternative response for public safety, which embeds mental health professionals in Raleigh’s 911 call center.
“If you call and you’re having a mental health crisis, or someone calls that someone needs food or shelter, it is not going to be an officer that would respond to those calls,” Melton said. “It’ll be a social worker or clinician.”
On housing affordability, Melton emphasized the need for more diverse housing options, as Raleigh’s zoning laws have historically limited housing types and access to retail spaces.
“We grew in a really sprawled manner,”
Melton said. “Zoning set it up to where people would live here, work here, shop here.”
Melton also discussed recent changes to Citizen Advisory Committees, or CACs.
“The demographics we got from CACs is they were majority old and white, and a very small portion of the Raleigh population was attended,” Melton said.
The city has since modified the system, creating a Community Engagement Office to embed engagement in all city processes and removing zoning cases from CACs.
Regarding state-level challenges, Melton mentioned recent legislation that has impacted local zoning abilities. He suggested that student engagement could make a difference.
“NC State’s a big entity here, and if the student body here got behind something that would probably help,” Melton said.
Syd Fryer, a third-year studying political science and Spanish and director of government affairs for Student Government, emphasized the importance of such interactions with local officials.
“Seeing how engaged the students were always makes my heart happy, because when we’re able to plan things that people really
enjoy and feel like they learn something from, and then also just to show people that our hyper-local leaders are very accessible, very eager to talk with students and this opportunity for them to meet with constituents,” Fryer said. “So hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to do more stuff like this in the future.”
Ethan Clark, a fourth-year studying environmental sciences and meteorology who organized the event, said he hopes the event will teach students how accessible local representatives can be.
“As a student, I feel like a lot of students don’t know or want to know who is their representative and how to learn and work with them,” Clark said. “I just thought it’d be a good experience for students to interact with a city council member — stuff that matters very close to students.”
Melton said he encourages students to get involved in local government and that anyone can sign up to speak at city council meetings. He also mentioned opportunities to serve on boards and commissions, participate in neighborhood meetings and provide input on the city budget.
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Raleigh City Councilmember Jonathan Lambert Melton talks to the crowd during the Raleigh City Council Member Forum in Talley Student Union on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. During the forum, students in the Student Senate and the Honors program were able to ask questions to city councilmember. Melton was an NC State alum before being a three-time Raleigh City Councilmember.
Pouring love into adoption: Raleigh’s first cat cafe
AJ Toler Correspondent
The ASPCA estimates that around 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters across the country each year. Cat overpopulation is a serious concern for shelters in the United States — but find comfort knowing that you can help combat this issue by patronizing Raleigh’s first cat cafe, Purr Cup Cafe.
A cat cafe is a coffee shop that allows guests to enjoy their provisions in the company of cats, a concept that originally gained popularity in Taiwan and Japan. The cats are typically rescues from partnering rescue organizations, thus improving their chances of adoption by providing a more comfortable environment for potential adopters to find a suitable companion.
Purr Cup Cafe’s owners, Sarah Newton and Arthur Hailey, both self-proclaimed feline enthusiasts, caught inspiration to open their own cat cafe after visiting Kawaii Kitty Cafe in Philadelphia. The hybridization of a coffee shop and cat adoption center helps reduce the rising number of cats in shelters, all while cultivating a community that brings animal lovers and java fanatics under one roof.
Newton and Hailey wanted their menu to be completely vegan to reduce their environmental impact and maintain their value of supporting animals of all species.
“We always say we didn’t want to hurt any other animals to help cats,” Hailey said.
Purr Cup made its debut in 2020, starting with pop-up events that featured cats from Meow House Cat Rescue and select menu items.
“The first or second one we did just explod-
ed,” Hailey said.
Purr Cup’s brick and mortar, located on Prospect Avenue off of South Saunders, opened to the public in October of 2020. They partnered with Safe Haven for Cats until 2023 when they began taking rescues from the SPCA of Wake County.
The cafe has helped 481 kitties find their forever homes since opening, an accomplishment that makes the hard work of owning a business worthwhile.
“A major rewarding part is that we get a lot of people coming in here after their cats have passed and they are either missing their cats or starting to prepare for adding one back into their lives,” Hailey said.
Since the presence of animals prevents them from being able to prepare food on-site, Purr
AJ TOLER/TECHNICIAN
Cup sources its vegan treats from local restaurants and businesses such as Dee’s Kitchen and The Fiction Kitchen. They offer a variety of coffees, teas and matchas and house specials that are the cat’s meow.
“We have a ‘torty mocha’ which is a caramel and chocolate mocha with whipped cream and caramel and chocolate drizzle, and the ‘caramel meowchiatto’ which is caramel drizzle on a vanilla latte,” Hailey said.
The cafe keeps a rotating selection of merchandise ranging from cat-themed jewelry to quirky bumper stickers, most of which comes from small businesses within North Carolina. Purr Cup also hosts what they call “Stray Cats Markets” featuring vegan food trucks, local vendors, live music and even tarot readings. Hailey said they’re holding their next one
in March for the spring equinox. College students are especially encouraged to visit Purr Cup for a serotonin-boosting session with the kitties at a discounted price. By using the code “StudyBuddy” when booking an online reservation for the cat room, students can get $2 off per person on Thursdays and Fridays from 12 to 4 p.m. For those who just want to grab a beverage, a 10% student discount can be applied to in-house drinks.
Emely Chavez-Rosa, a second-year studying animal science, recently visited Purr Cup Cafe for the first time and described the atmosphere as homey and warm.
“I liked it because the only time I’d ever seen cats, they were in a cage at a shelter,” Chavez-Rosa said. “This time, I actually got to see cats interacting with people, walking around, sleeping.”
As for the future of Purr Cup, Newton and Hailey have dreams of expanding to accommodate more guests and, obviously, more kitties.
“I would love to open a second location with more of everything: more cats, more baked good options, more space, more seating,” Hailey said.
When you visit Purr Cup, you’re guaranteed quality coffee and a welcoming environment to unwind with furry friends; what isn’t guaranteed is that you will be able to resist falling in love with one of the kitties.
When asked about their favorite aspect of owning Purr Cup, Hailey said, “Seeing [the cats] get adopted, fallen in love with and going to their forever homes to enrich people’s lives.”
A look at the evolving religious beliefs of NC State students
In an institution filled with tens of thousands of students all with their own opinions and upbringings, it begs the question — what is the general perception of religion and spirituality in the modern age? Is it looked down upon as an old practice? Or is it looked up to as a system of belief and a way to build community? Most people regardless of their beliefs tend to have some form of spirituality; the important distinction to find is if their belief is in spirituality alone, or in a type of religion.
Antonietta Tiano, a second-year studying anthropology and criminology, spoke about her upbringing in a small town in Italy where she was told to entrust and fol-
low the church. However, as she’s grown into an adult she’s found more comfort in spirituality, putting her faith into the universe as a connected higher being rather than one entity.
A common thread between Tiano and many other students at NC State is the foundation of a religion in their upbringing but not practicing as an adult. That could be due to lifestyle, culture or more simply what is most logical and connecting to the individual mind.
This pattern proves that regardless of a faith being introduced to you, one must find what you believe in and make that decision for yourself.
Sarah Mahmoud, a third-year studying business, has had this kind of experience.
“I think everyone at the end of the day has to choose their own religion,” Mah-
moud said. “I was born and raised Muslim, but I eventually at some point decided to choose Islam and to choose to learn more about it.”
[Religion is] something that gives you a guide, a pathway to live life upon and to do the best you can in this life.
-Ahmed Hauter
Ahmed Hauter, a first-year studying philosophy, spoke about how his faith affects day-to-day life. He brings a certain practice to their daily goals and interactions with people.
“[Religion is] something that gives you a guide, a pathway to live life upon and to do the best you can in this life,” Hauter said. Though most of the religious and spiritual students find comfort in their own beliefs and use them as a guide, there are many who simply don’t find connection in one at all.
Michael Whittington, a third-year studying statistics, spoke about how religion was not a major influence in his childhood. He never had a desire to seek it out and considers himself agnostic. Whittington finds a lack of connection to higher powers, whether that be one or many entities.
Adam Sawafta Correspondent
The burden and beauty of being: Mac Miller’s ‘Balloonerism’
I’ve been a devoted Mac Miller fan since I was 10 years old. No exaggeration — I vividly remember watching the music video for “Best Day Ever” as a fifth-grader sitting in my childhood bedroom. My eyes lit up, and a wide smile spread across my face cheek to cheek. In a time when life felt confusing, Mac Miller’s music reminded me of how beautiful and sweet it could be.
Over the next five years, I went through some heavy experiences and found myself in dark places. So was Mac Miller, it seemed. His music laughed in the face of life’s chaos, while also diving into the sleepless nights that fall on us all. That authenticity was a lifeline.
I know it’s a cliché, but his music made me feel less alone.
When his second posthumous album, “Balloonerism” was announced, I hesitated. I didn’t want to stir up emotions tied to those difficult years, and honestly I assumed it might just be a cash grab. Seven years after his passing, how could anything released now be truly Mac?
That was before I discovered that “Balloonerism” was recorded in 2014, nestled between two of Mac Miller’s most musically diverse and profoundly introspective works, “Watching Movies With the Sound Off” and “Faces.” These albums marked a pivotal shift in Miller’s artistry — from the carefree, upbeat party anthems that dominated early 2010s house parties, skate parks and teenage smoke sessions, to a raw and unfiltered exploration of his innermost thoughts and struggles.
In these works, Miller laid bare the weight of his heart, mind and soul, grappling with themes of death, addiction, mental illness and even spirituality. Dark as they often were, his reflections were always honest, offering an intimate window into his humanity.
This is clear through the lyrics “Suppose I’ll die alone from an overdose of some sort”
“I think we went to church once in my whole childhood. I remember we went to church on a random Sunday,” Whittington said. “I guess we were trying it out? I didn’t really enjoy it much, and my mom did not care for it.”
Despite a lack of connection to a specific belief, Whittington certainly doesn’t look down upon it. In fact, none of the agnostic and non-religious students stated any
from “San Francisco,” “Confession that I have, the curiosity about life and death / Most of us will never understand it, we just like the quest” in “Aquarium” and “Initial symptoms of schizophrenic behavior / The mind is like religion, can’t agree on who’s its savior” in “I Am Who Am.”
His authenticity continued with uniquely captivating albums like “The Divine Feminine” and “Swimming.” However, it is clear the period in which “Balloonerism” was recorded reflects a kind of midlife crisis for Miller, offering insight into the deeper, more vulnerable parts of his being.
The album opens powerfully with “DJ’s Chord Organ,” featuring SZA’s unmistakable voice. The track begins with a stunning instrumental — layered meditational hums and a steady, hypnotic organ — that sets the tone for the emotional journey to come. It didn’t take long for me to realize this album would be heavy-hitting. By the middle of the track, I was bracing myself, trying not to cry.
judgment towards religious people. Some of their peers and friends share it, which is something they can respect.
Many students felt that faith became more important to them when met with challenges and sudden life-altering events. There comes a desire to understand the world around them and understand themselves. Dalya Al Obaidi, a third-year studying business, said she finds her faith
“Do You Have A Destination” brings back Miller’s signature sound, weaving witty rhymes with head-nodding drums and a soft piano line that feels effortlessly familiar.
“5 Dollar Pony Rides” is a clear foreshadowing of “The Divine Feminine.” More melodic than lyrical, the track incorporates jazzy influences, complete with a groovy bridge and tambourine, delivering a warm, soulful vibe that feels like a hug from the past.
I immediately saved the next five tracks. Gifted with metaphorical storytelling, these songs offer a new look into Miller’s sinner world and his reflective take on the human experience.
A clear theme of the album is Miller’s deep, unflinching questions about death. Does God love me? What does death feel like? These existential ponderings seem to loom over the project, as Miller confronts his mortality with both raw honesty and a haunting sense of inevitability
in community.
“The West is very individualistic … we’re taught to depend on ourselves,” Al Obaidi said. “But in cultures around the world people live in a tight-knit society. I associate religion more with a communal connection — you’re surrendering your logic — being individualistic is not natural; we need community, we need something to lean on.”
through lyrics like “I wonder, what does death feel like?” in “Rick’s Piano,” “God is like the school bell, He gon’ tell you when your time is up”in “Manakins,” “If I dyin’ young, promise you’ll smile at my funeral” in “Shangri-La” and “Tryna find Heaven, I get high but never come close” in “Do You Have A Destination.”
Despite my initial hesitation to listen, Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism” turned out to be nothing short of breathtaking — heavenly, even. From beyond the grave, Miller reminds us of what the human experience entails: pain, uncertainty and suffering. Yes, it’s dark, but we are challenged to consider how we bear this burden.
We can choose love. We can choose to live freely. There are no answers, and that’s the beauty of it. Mac encourages us to embrace life with open arms, taking in everything it has to offer — the pain, the joy and all the moments in between: “A shame that my tragedy my masterpiece” in “Funeral.”
Everyone seeks an understanding. Whether it is in science, in the natural universe around us, in a higher being, to gods or one God, people shelter themselves in a community — in a connection with the people around them and their beliefs. So while it may vary, in the eyes of young students it is seen as a guide, regardless of how different that guide is from person to person.
CONTRIBUTED BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Cate Humphreys
Photo Editor
Sophia Robertson Staff Writer
Embrace switching majors
Beginning college, I felt pressure to pick a major because I didn’t want to go in undecided. So my freshman year, I started out as a forensic science major. I absolutely hated it. Stoichiometry, isotopes, the cell cycle — what a bore. Was this really what I wanted to do with my life?
The short answer was no.
My sophomore year, I ended up switching to criminology, adding English as a second major and religious studies as a minor. It felt liberating, and as I got into the rhythm of my new classes, I found that I was doing something I actually enjoyed.
Some people have always known what career path they want to follow. My brother knew since he was a kid that he wanted to work with planes and rockets. Today, he’s an aerospace engineering graduate student at Penn State, doing exactly what he planned. However, the majority of people do not have it all figured out. Like myself, many students have uncertainties related to the future. Approximately 41% of adolescents feel unprepared to make a career choice
after high school graduation and, likewise, 37% are not sure where they want to be in their chosen path of education, according to a survey of 500 students.
With that being said, it’s important to realize that switching majors is not a sign of failure, and it’s actually quite common. A study of 25,000 students found that approximately 30% of undergraduates changed their major at least once, with roughly 10% changing twice.
Of course, it becomes harder to switch majors as the semesters begin to fly by, and sometimes this might mean taking an extra semester or year. Yes, college is expensive, but it’s an investment in your future. No one wants to be stuck in a job they hate for the rest of their lives, even if that means having to stay in school a bit longer.
There are also many opportunities to rack up credits, making graduating on time a doable task in most instances. Summer classes at community colleges are one of the cheapest and easiest options, and online courses through the summer or regular semesters here at NC State are another flexible and relatively inexpensive option. If you have questions about these options, you may want to schedule a meeting with your aca-
demic advisor.
In addition to discovering a more enjoyable career path for yourself, switching majors has other benefits. Studying a subject you are passionate about might increase motivation, which, in turn, may lead to improved academic performance.
You may also choose to switch majors because of limited job prospects in your current major. In this case, trying something different may simply be the smart decision. Alternatively, you may feel trapped in your major because you think it is the only way to secure long-term financial and career stability. However, with an evolving job market there are many opportunities across a variety of fields, making it worth considering other options.
It’s important to note that, if you switch career paths, the hours you spent working towards credits in the major you leave behind were not wasted. All classes have some sort of value, whether that is preparing you for the workforce or expanding your knowledge of a topic; so even if it feels like you stressed over classes for no reason, it wasn’t for nothing.
Taking a wide variety of classes contributes to a well-rounded education. Am I
going to do anything with the chemistry I learned my freshman year as a student in the forensics program? Probably not, but that class taught me how to deal with a tough professor, challenged me with difficult material and helped me make friends I still keep in touch with today.
Importantly, switching majors requires careful consideration. Just because one of your classes is hard doesn’t mean you should completely alter your career. If you are having doubts about your major, it might be helpful to talk to your academic advisor who can walk you through the process and help make a plan for graduation.
For students interested in switching or adding majors, NC State requires a Change of Degree Application through the MyPack portal.
It might feel intimidating and risky to switch, but college is a time to explore your passions. Even though it may seem like everyone has it figured out, we’re all in the same boat, finding our likes and dislikes, working towards a degree and embracing uncertainty as we navigate college.
The revolution will not be on TikTok
TikTok, the Chineseowned social media phenomenon housing your ‘For You’ page full of cat videos, fashion trends and brain rot, has been under fire due to concerns surrounding user privacy and the nature of the app’s foreign ownership. Around the time of the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the TikTok ban and the subsequent short-lived TikTok blackout, American TikTok users rallied against supposed government censorship and free speech limitations.
But now that TikTok is back — not that it was gone for long — what does that mean for American users’ free speech? What does it mean for movements aiming for social and political liberation?
Many social media platforms, including TikTok, have been beneficial avenues for political expression. Despite ongoing issues with algorithm censorship, millions of American users can reach vast audiences with a message and a post. Social media has allowed activist movements to grow nationwide, connecting users from across the country and the world. We’ve become a society of technological innovation and integration but also, I would argue, of reliance.
When thinking of the TikTok political
realm, I am often reminded of the black square Instagram “activists” during 2020’s Black Lives Matter surface.
But does the movement end when the phone is put down?
It’s undeniable that plenty of Americans are politically and socially inspired by what they might see on TikTok and, often, for the better. TikTok may open users’ eyes to oppressive injustices harming diverse communities, issues surrounding women’s reproductive healthcare and debates on recent laws.
However, not even taking into account misinformation and partisan echo chambers, where does this inspiration and energy go? We might tap the like or, if you’re feeling especially passionate, hit that repost button, but we aren’t really talking face-to-face.
Boomer take, I know.
But after being involved in on-the-ground campaign work during the 2024 election season, I realized how difficult it is for us to talk to one another — to publicly vocalize opinions and have civil conversations. During this time, conversations weren’t even had, and if they were, they often spiraled out of control.
Most importantly, we do not hear each other.
If we rely on TikTok and social media as our path to liberation, what happens if it falls down? If censorship is already a problem across multiple apps, it’s very possible that
controversial political conversation could cease.
Even after the TikTok ban, most users promptly fled to yet another app, RedNote. There was no conversation about considering in-person community — it was scouring the app store for another digital alternative.
Building in-person community, talking to one another and truly listening will be our path to true coalition. It’s our path to expanding the tent and welcoming others, which might be scary amid the algorithms that completely agree with us.
In light of Trump’s inauguration, there are mostly heavy sighs and hopelessness in the air. My political science classrooms are full of groans and eye rolls. My Instagram direct messages are full of disbelief and fear.
The Trump administration has issued at least 51 executive orders since Jan. 20, many of them attacking immigrants and their families, DEI frameworks and the environment. There has been a continuous flurry of new headlines and, with it, the feeling of lost power.
In the face of despondency, it’s more crucial now than ever to be with and talk with one another.
Your power is not lost. And harnessing that power is not only critical but pivotal.
College campuses have historically been the stage for the younger generations’ movements. Campus organizing was the lifeblood of the
anti-war movement in the Vietnam era. It was the vitality of the Civil Rights movement. It can be our way forward now.
And it’s not like campus organizing doesn’t exist on NC State’s campus already. Groups such as the Progressive Students Task Force, Students for Decarb and NC State’s YDSA chapter often work in coalition to educate, converse with and engage students regarding leftist activism.
NCSU Wolfpack Beds crochet plastic mats for local homeless populations and NC State College Democrats regularly campaign for and converse with forward-thinking candidates across the state and country.
BridgeNCSU and Political Science Club create space for students from all political backgrounds to discuss pressing issues in a civil, respectful environment. All you have to do is show up.
It’s not our fault that we are bombarded by misinformation, unclear messaging and biased content, but we have the potential to rise above it. TikTok can be, and should be, a continued tool for activist education and organizing. However, it should be far from our primary means of mobilizing. To move forward, we must look up from our screens and at one another. `
Logan Lowery Correspondent
Women should apologize less
Women should apologize less. That’s it.
As a disclaimer, I’m not saying women should never apologize for anything at all, or that we should go around purposefully committing apology-worthy acts for the sake of not apologizing for them. I’m saying that women have long been subject to the stereotype that we apologize more than men, that we apologize too much.
As it turns out, we do. But the reasoning behind our unnecessary apologies isn’t as obvious as you may think.
It’s not that women simply apologize more, full-stop. Social scientific studies show we have different thresholds for what warrants an apology. Essentially, we think more things deserve apologies than men do.
“Apologies themselves are often considered acts of politeness, as they theoretically help both the apologizer and the apology recipient save face following an injustice,” Karina Schumann wrote in her study. “It is thus not surprising that women, who are stereotypically considered to be more polite and relationally concerned than men, are also commonly believed to be more apologetic.”
Personally, I have a terrible tendency to use “sorry” as a filler word of sorts. Most of the time, I couldn’t tell you exactly why I’m saying it. I do, however, know that I was taught to be polite and, while I don’t consider myself particularly rude, I can find it difficult to be overly-friendly — a common struggle for women.
I find my dry demeanor might sometimes be misconstrued as rudeness, or at least feels like it may. One way I compensate for this trait is to apologize excessively, whether or not I sincerely owe an apology. Apologizing for this reason has become second nature to me and many other women.
But it doesn’t end there. There are a slew of other reasons a woman might apologize unnecessarily. Throughout our patriarchal history, women have been forced to be quiet, obedient and convenient, and some of that mindset still lingers in our culture today, factoring into our beliefs about what deserves an apology.
Social conditions have drastically improved for American women, but the idea that we should occupy as little space as possible is so ingrained in society that we often forget that we are allowed to unapologetically exist and make mistakes.
Other times, we simply want to be liked — because an unlikeable woman is a bad
woman — and apologizing can increase trust.
It’s important to remember that too much of anything is never a good thing.
On the other hand, women who expect apologies from others are victims of equal criticism. Instead of unnecessarily defaulting to an apology, Chappell Roan, a popstar only recently rising to public prominence, has been a subject of controversy for calling out mistreatment from photographers. At a film premier, Roan said to one photographer, “You were so disrespectful to me at the Grammys. … I remember. You were so rude to me. And I deserve an apology for that.”
Our threshold for what warrants an apology often results in us apologizing more, so it’s interesting to see a woman use it instead to gauge when she deserves an apology, and rightfully so. It’s healthier that way too.
Over-apologizing can lead to lower selfesteem and projects a lack of confidence. If you convince yourself that you must apologize for everything, you — and others around you — will start to think that you really can’t do anything right.
On the bright side, this habit can be broken like any other. As an alternative to apologizing, you can always thank someone for giving you an ounce of grace in a situation, one that probably isn’t even as bad as you
think it is to begin with.
While this advice can be heeded by anyone, it’s especially important for women to try and reframe their mindsets since we’re
Other
times, we simply want to be liked — because an unlikeable woman is a bad woman — and apologizing can increase trust.
the ones likely to feel like we should. Too many apologies fuels an unconfident perception and turns the genuine ones meaningless, so it’s best to save them for when they’re needed.
GRAPHIC BY KRISTA PADILLA
Grace Turschak Staff Writer
A family affair: The bond of the Ensley sisters
VanDerMark Assistant Sports Editor
It’s rare to see a pair of siblings in the same sport. It’s even rarer to see a pair of siblings on the same team. But rarest of all are two star siblings on the same team, and that’s exactly what NC State softball has in senior infielder Taylor Ensley and her sister, sophomore outfielder Tori Ensley.
The Wolfpack hit the jackpot with the Ensley family. Hailing from nearby Franklin, North Carolina, Taylor made a name for herself in high school, winning three conference championships and being named a two-time NCSCA District Player of the Year. One of the most highly touted players in the state, Taylor’s collegiate choice was simple.
“When I first came to NC State, it just felt like a family,” Taylor said. “It felt like home. They were also looking at Tori at the time, which really piqued my interest because there was an opportunity that me and my sister could play college softball together.”
As Taylor began her freshman season with the Pack, Tori continued to dominate at Franklin High School, living up to the family name by taking home both the 2022 Conference and District Player of the Year awards and making High School OT’s top 25 watch list. Much like her sister, Tori quickly became one of the most impressive players in the state, and when commitment season came around, the choice was clear.
“Me and her are best friends,” Tori said. “I knew I wanted to be close to her no matter what school it was and it worked out that the coaches were interested in me as well. I don’t think it could’ve played out any better.”
Chemistry is one of the most important things in sports. It determines how well you work together as a team. It determines morale, motivation and unification. Teammate chemistry separates good teams from great teams, and what chemistry could be stronger than that of a blood bond?
Whenever Taylor makes a big play at-bat, you can always see her younger sister loudly cheering from the dugout. And whenever Tori makes a big play in the field, you can always see big sis cheering close by, as if she was the one who made the play. Their bond is so strong that they feel better watching the other make a huge play than making the big play themselves.
“We’re competitive, but we are also just proud of each other,” Tori said. “It’s never to the point where we’re jealous of one another. We’re always just lifting each other up and we feed off each other’s energy. It’s like we’re
unstoppable. I think it’s really cool because everyone else is really close on the team, but we’ve got a blood bond and I think that’s really unique.”
“Tori played with me my whole life,” Taylor said. “Whenever we take the field, all I can see is that little girl running out there that was always smaller than everyone else, but she’s out there beating every person. Going out there and making the plays that she does, I have so much pride in the fact that my little sister is out here with me.”
But it’s not just their sisterly bond that makes them special. The Ensleys are the real deal and have become anchors for this Wolfpack team in their own separate ways. While both finished in the top five in batting average last season, Taylor’s experience at the collegiate level has made her a much bigger threat in the batter’s box, closing the 2024 season with a .333 batting average, the third-best on the team. Not only that, but Taylor recorded 50 hits, 30 runs and 11 home runs — no worse than third in every category.
“It’s exciting knowing how much work she’s put in all of her life,” Tori said. “She’s just grown so much in her confidence and it’s awesome to see her dreams coming to life.”
While Tori was a threat from the batter’s box with a .268 batting average, she proved to be one of the best outfielders in the ACC just as a freshman. She tallied 76 putouts in left field and finished the season with a perfect fielding percentage. Tori turned left field into a no-fly zone, quickly becoming known for diving catches and home run robberies, constantly making highlight-worthy plays game after game.
“She does that all the time,” Taylor said. “Diving catches and crazy hits. Seeing Tori do well, I feel better about that than when I do well. I’ve watched her since she was four or five years old out there with a glove and a bat when the bat was so big that it was swinging her. It’s just so fulfilling because I’ve seen how hard she’s worked for her whole life.”
When asked about their favorite moments as teammates, the sisters reminisced on some of their best moments on the field, but Tori took a different route when asked about her big sister.
“One of my favorite memories with Taylor isn’t even on the field,” Tori said. “She was just getting back from her hip injury and she started running for the first time. I just thought that was awesome to see her being grateful for the little things, remembering that she can walk and run again and not feel pain when she’s playing softball. Knowing
that her final season of softball, she’s gonna be playing pain-free and get to leave it all out there.”
The sisters play with such a love for each other and the game of softball, and it directly translates to the locker room. The energy is contagious. Win or lose, their love for each other is evident in everything they do.
“I don’t know anyone who loves me as much as Taylor does,” Tori said. “Knowing that I have someone that’s never going to turn their back on me and always root for me even when I’m not doing well, she’s my number one fan.”
Just the second sister duo in program history, the Ensleys have made their mark on NC State softball, but aren’t done yet. As Taylor heads into her senior season, the
sisters have one final season together and have high aspirations for the year. Under second-year head coach Lindsay Leftwich, the team is ready to shoot for the stars.
“I think that the next couple years with the way we’ve been building and developed habits, it’s gonna show up on the field, especially this year,” Taylor said. “Last year, I feel like we were trying to rush it because we only got so much time with Coach Lindsay. But I feel like all the habits have formed and that we’re gonna be great this year.”
Few things can be guaranteed in collegiate sports, but you can be sure to see the Ensley sisters suit up in the red-and-white, leave it all on the field and enjoy every second of it. Together.
CATE HUMPHREYS/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore outfielder Tori Ensley (left), and senior infielder Taylor Ensley (right) laugh at an inside joke in Dail Softball Stadium on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. When reflecting on their time together as sisters on the NC State softball team, Tori Ensley stated “I don’t know anyone who loves me as much as Taylor does”.
CATE HUMPHREYS/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore outfielder Tori Ensley (left), and senior infielder Taylor Ensley (right) pose for a photo in Dail Softball Stadium on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. The sisters on the NC State softball team have made a name for themselves, finishing in the top five in batting average last season.
Connor
NC State softball primed with chances to prove itself in 2025
were against the top six teams in the conference. Notre Dame and Pitt were the only teams the Pack played in the bottom half.
Coming off a season where NC State softball didn’t reach the 20-win mark in 2023, first-year head coach Lindsay Leftwich flipped the program in a positive direction with a 30-23 record in 2024.
Despite a positive overall record, the team finished with a dismal 6-18 record in conference play. The team’s only conference series win came in the final three games when it swept Pittsburgh — the worst team in the ACC.
“Our record doesn’t represent who we have become and what we have done,” Leftwich said following the team’s sweep over Pittsburgh last year. “I understand where we’re headed, where we’re trying to be and where we’ve grown from and it’s definitely not enough and not how we wanted to finish the year, but I am proud that they found a way to fight through it here at the end.”
And its record was not representative of what the team did accomplish nor what it can in 2025.
Last season, the Wolfpack faced the best teams in the conference. The Pack had eight series against ACC teams and six of them
Seven of NC State’s 18 conference losses came by a difference of two or fewer runs. In its limited wins, the Pack earned some big ones like taking down then-No. 8 Clemson, then-No. 15 Virginia Tech and Virginia. The team also earned a big non-conference win against then-No. 22 South Carolina at the Garnet and Black Invitational.
Last season the team dominated when it played at Dail Softball Stadium in Raleigh as it totaled 22 wins on its home field. Only Duke and Florida State — who finished first and second respectively in the ACC — had more home wins.
With a large group of returners from last year and improved performance in front of Wolfpack fans, the team can propel itself from a bottom-dweller to a feisty contender in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
The Pack’s first test comes early against No. 15 Georgia on Feb. 6. In only its second game of the year, the red-and-white face a top-15 team in the Bulldogs.
Because of a sequence of classics and tournaments, NC State will play 11 games
before it takes the field at home. Wolfpack fans will get to cheer their team on for the first time in Dail on Feb. 21 when it kicks off the Marucci Classic against Illinois.
The Marucci Classic is the beginning of a 12-game homestand for the Pack where it will have plenty of opportunities to find its feet before it begins ACC play on the road in Atlanta on March 7.
Facing Georgia Tech, and then Notre Dame a week later, the Pack has an opportunity to take the gold from two teams who swept it just a season ago.
Compared to last year’s schedule, the Pack will only face two new opponents: Boston College and UNC-Chapel Hill. While holding a strong grasp of the historic series against the Eagles with a 31-18 record alltime and an 8-2 record in the last 10 against the Tar Heels, it’s a much different story.
NC State is 25-32 all-time against UNC with its last series win coming in 2014. Going 4-10 in road games in 2024, series away to Boston College and UNC will be key benchmarks early and late in conference play.
If the preseason rankings hold true, the Pack’s first series against a ranked opponent will be when it travels to Tallahassee to take
The Seminoles are a perennial contender, having made an NCAA regional every year since 1999 and the College World Series in five of the last 10 seasons. Swept in last year’s series against FSU, the Wolfpack has nowhere to go but up against one of the best softball programs.
No. 16 Virginia Tech and No. 7 Duke are the other two ranked series matchups for the Pack. After winning 5-4 against the Hokies in the first match, the Wolfpack was mercy-ruled in each of the next two games, getting outscored 26-1.
Against the Blue Devils — who made the College World Series last season — the redand-white fared better as the first and third games came down to the wire. Series against Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Duke will all be home affairs and true chances for the Pack to earn signature wins. With a bit more bat luck and wins going the Pack’s way, don’t be surprised if it knocks off some notable teams this season as Leftwich and the squad continue to find their identity as a team.
on the No. 8 Florida State Seminoles.
GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN
Head coach Lindsay Leftwich talks to the team between innings during the Wolfpack’s softball game against Queens University at the Dail Softball Stadium on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
The Wolfpack beat the Royals in the first game of the doubleheader 7-1.
Aidan Carlson
Assistant Sports Editor
D-Rock and The Dude: NC State baseball’s bullpen aces
There’s a certain look NC State baseball head coach Elliott Avent gets from a player that lets him know his guy is ready for the moment. Players such as legendary NC State baseball pitcher Evan Justice gave that look to Avent in 2021 before he closed out No. 1 seed Arkansas in back-to-back games to send NC State to the College World Series. Fast forward three years later and Avent needed 14 outs for his Wolfpack team to advance to the College World Series for the second time in four years. There were only ever two arms he was going to call upon because they gave him the same look: thenfreshman pitcher Jacob Dudan and thensophomore pitcher Derrick Smith.
Dudan was summoned first. He came in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, the bases loaded and a 4-2 lead. Oh, and Charlie Condon — the eventual Golden Spikes Award winner who led the NCAA in home runs, batting and slugging percentage — was up to bat. Unfazed, Dudan promptly struck out Condon on four pitches then got the next batter to groundout to maintain the Pack’s 4-2 lead.
Dudan returned for the sixth and gave up a run after his offense scored a run in the top of the inning. The Huntersville, North Carolina native then came back in the seventh but allowed two baserunners on with no outs. It was now time for Smith to enter.
Although Smith had never pitched three innings in an outing in his college career, Avent entrusted him to pitch the final three frames with two runners on, no outs, a 6-3 lead and a trip to the College World Series on the line.
Smith got out of the seventh — giving up just one unearned run — then had a clean eighth but was already approaching a career-high in pitches going into the ninth. With each pitch thrown, Smith’s nerves ramped up.
“I was running out of what I had in the tank,” Smith said.
He allowed a home run in the inning, but Avent stuck with him, and Smith got the last nine outs of the game to send the Wolfpack to the College World Series. Even though both came in the game earlier than usual with runners on base, Avent had no doubt they’d be the ones who’d secure the Pack’s return to the World Series.
“It got to a time where you could just see it in their eyes,” Avent said. “That’s what great players do, and Derek Smith and Dudan had that look.”
At that point in the season, Dudan and Smith had established themselves as the Wolfpack’s closers, but it wasn’t always like that. Dudan was a freshman and didn’t expect to be in high-leverage situations at all and neither did his coach.
“Jacob Dudan kind of came out of nowhere,” Avent said. “We had no idea when
the season began that he was going to be who he became.”
The guy that Dudan became was a Freshman All-American who led NC State with 27 appearances, earning six saves and 56 strikeouts over 48 innings.
Smith had only pitched three innings his freshman season and didn’t make an appearance until the sixth game of last season. But as the season went on, Smith locked down the closer role when he had a 13-game stretch where he allowed just four hits and one earned run with 12 scoreless outings.
“I had the best stuff I’ve ever had,” Smith said. “Strung those outings together and together, and then from there on I got the call late in games, went out there and continued to do the same thing over and over.”
The first time they went back-to-back to close a game was in the eighth game of the season when they combined for a scoreless ninth inning against Towson. From then on they took turns closing out games, joking that they kept taking the closer role from each other. Dudan actually started the season as the closer, then Smith took the role, but there were only six instances where they pitched one after the other. Most of the time in a series, Smith closed out a game and Dudan would close out the next.
Both point to the same series where they knew they had something special in the back of the bullpen. In a series against then-No. 2 Clemson, Smith notched a one-
inning save in Game 1, and in Game 2, they combined for 3.1 scoreless innings to clinch the series against the Tigers.
“That’s really when we got the closing spot,” Dudan said. “Then we go to places like Virginia, Florida State, UNC, and it’s just us two are the ones closing.”
“Clemson was when we knew the back end could be really, really scary and dangerous if me and him were back there whenever we had a lead,” Smith said.
From then on, their names were always called when the Wolfpack needed to close a game. In a series win over then-No. 11 UNC-Chapel Hill, Smith closed out the last two innings in game 1 and the next day, Dudan secured the save. In the last two games of a sweep over then-No. 8 Wake Forest, Dudan threw 2.2 scoreless innings to close out Game 2, and Smith recorded three strikeouts in the ninth the next day for a save and sweep. Then to win the Raleigh Regional, they combined for three innings and gave up just one run in a 5-3 win over James Madison.
“Just us two throughout the rest of the season it just felt like the game was over,” Dudan said. “If we were up three or even less than three, with two or three innings to go.”
Despite competing for the same role at times, neither Dudan nor Smith got jealous of one another.
“We had a ton of faith in each other last year,” Dudan said.
ETHAN RIMOLT/TECHNICIAN
Junior pitcher Derrick Smith poses for a photo at Doak Field at Dail Park on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. During the 2024 season Smith had an earned run average of 4.55.
Colby Trotter
Sports Editor
The only competition they had was trying to make one another better, whether that was giving information to each other when one came off the mound or just looking over the scouting report together.
“Good players tend to feed off each other, and they kind of compete with one another,” Avent said. “The way you get better is not only competing with yourself, but competing with teammates in a team-oriented kind of way, and it’s just really cool to see how those guys go about their business doing that.”
For it being their first time in high-leverage situations, both thrived in it. Smith and Dudan both like the adrenaline rush they get when their name is called, knowing there is pressure on them to get the outs whether there’s no one on base or the bases are loaded.
“It’s adrenaline, and you’re just waiting to hear your name,” Smith said. “The second you hear your name, it’s showtime, and there’s no turning back now.”
“You hear your name get called, and then just like an immediate boost of adrenaline, you just start zoning in, and everyone’s just cheering, and it just gets you going,” Dudan said.
team’s 18 saves in 2024.
When they get into a situation where the bases are loaded or they need to get the last three outs, both make sure to focus on their breathing while dialing in on the catcher. Smith was impressed with the poise Dudan
showed late in games despite having never been in high-leverage situations before. And Dudan admired Smith for staying patient his freshman year while preparing for the moment.
“We were both very calm during the highleverage situations, which I think carried us through,” Dudan said.
As for this season, Smith expects to be in the same closer role he was in at the end of last year. He’s working on the shape consistency of his fastball and slider and is adding a changeup that he can have in his back pocket.
Dudan’s role is more up in the air. He’s not quite sure if he’ll be a starter or a highleverage reliever again.
“No matter what my role is, of course, I’m gonna go out there and compete for the team,” Dudan said.
Avent said Dudan, who was just named a preseason First-Team All-American, has become “more of a pitcher than a thrower” and has added a third pitch that could put him in a starter role, but Avent expects him to start the year in the bullpen.
No matter what role either one plays this season, Avent will have the confidence to call on Dudan or Smith in any situation because he knows they’ll have that look in their eyes.
NC State baseball to take on loaded 2025 schedule
NC State baseball’s season is just around the corner and there’s reason to be excited for another season of Pack 9 baseball as the Wolfpack is coming off its second College World Series appearance in the last four years. Although the Wolfpack lost six starting position players from last year’s team, this season still has the potential to bring much excitement.
Once again, the ACC is projected to be one of the best conferences in the country as it has seven teams in the preseason Top 25, including NC State which is ranked No. 13. Let’s take a look at the marquee games on the Wolfpack’s 2025 schedule.
Non-conference slate
In non-conference play, the Pack will get its first test of the season in the Jax Baseball Classic from Feb. 21-23. Held in Jacksonville, Florida, this round-robin-style tournament will feature games against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. Although not world-beaters, these teams will be good measuring sticks to gauge the Pack’s potential.
Later in the season, NC State will face instate rival ECU in a pair of midweek games, a tradition that was started in 2004 and has continued for much of the past two decades. There is no doubt that there is bad blood be-
tween the Pirates and the Pack, considering the post-game scuffle after their most recent football matchup. The first game will take place on April 8 in Greenville. Then, they will face off again on April 22 in Raleigh.
Conference slate
NC State’s first ranked conference series
of the season comes against No. 11 Duke from March 28-30 in Durham. Last season, Duke knocked the Wolfpack out of the ACC tournament and later went on to win the conference championship. This three-game series will be a good chance for the Pack to get back at its rival and see how it stacks up against a solid team.
The next weekend, the Pack will get an-
other huge test as No. 2 Virginia comes to town April 4-6. Virginia is a team with serious national championship aspirations, having made it to the College World Series three of the last four years. The Pack’s series win last year in Charlottesville helped galvanize the squad and build confidence for the postseason. A series win against the Cavaliers could be huge for the Pack.
A series that could turn the tide of the season is a matchup against No. 15 Clemson at Doak Field from April 24-26. If the season does not start out so hot and the Pack drops the ball in its first few tests, this series will be an opportunity to get back on track against a competitive opponent.
As always, keep an eye out for the annual series against No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill, which takes place from May 9-11. It seems like sparks fly every time these two teams face off. Last season, the Pack got the better of the Heels, winning two of three games, including a Thursday night thriller that ended in a walk-off homerun. Both teams are looking to build off of College World Series appearances and go all the way this year. Luckily for local Wolfpack fans, NC State will play 33 of 56 games at home, plus an additional six games in the Triangle at Duke and Carolina — giving fans a great chance to grab a hot dog, a soda and catch some Pack 9 baseball.
ETHAN RIMOLT/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore pitcher Jacob Dudan (left) and junior pitcher Derrick Smith pose for a photo at Doak Field at Dail park on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. When discussing playing a similar role on the team Dudan said “We had a ton of faith in each other last year.” Dudan and Smith combined for 14 of the
ETHAN RIMOLT/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore pitcher Jacob Dudan stands in front of the pitcher’s mound at Doak Field at Dail Park on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. In 2024, Dudan made 27 appearances on the mound, the most of any pitcher on the team.
Daniel Susann Correspondent
14 TECHNICIAN
NC State 2025 baseball roster breakdown
Heading into the 2025 season, NC State baseball is fresh off of a 2024 campaign where it went 38-23 and took a trip to the College World Series. This upcoming season looks to be another one of success for the Pack as it has a lot of key pieces on the roster to make another run to Omaha.
The Pack has had high rankings in several preseason polls, getting a No. 13 ranking on the D1 Baseball poll. While the key to the Pack’s success is pitching, there are several other factors that can give the red-andwhite an edge this season.
Pitching
One of the most exciting returns for Wolfpack fans on the pitching roster is gradu-
ate right-handed pitcher Matt Willadsen. Willadsen missed the 2024 campaign with an injury, but during his junior season in 2023, he served as the primary pitcher for Saturday games, starting in all 16 of his appearances. He led the team with 81 innings pitched, 86 strikeouts and posted an ERA of 3.78.
Another big piece returning to the mound is sophomore left-handed pitcher Ryan Marohn. In 2024, Marohn posted an ERA of 3.97 — the only starter under 4.0. The feat is more impressive considering he was only a freshman and got a lot of playing time, making 10 starts in 16 appearances. He fired 46 strikeouts and allowed just 25 walks as a freshman.
There are several other pitchers to watch out for on the Wolfpack roster. In the junior class, there are right-hand pitchers Derrick Smith and Shane Van Dam. In 2024, these
pitchers posted ERAs of 4.55 and 4.58 respectively. In the sophomore class, there is right-handed pitcher Jacob Dudan and lefthanded pitcher Cooper Consiglio who had 2024 ERAs of 4.5 and 4.97.
Hitting
While there is an abundance of playmakers on the pitching side for the red-andwhite, it certainly has talent from the hitting side as well. The top returning hitter from a batting percentage standpoint is junior outfielder Josh Hogue, who returns with a 2024 batting average of .314, totaling 44 hits and 26 runs last year. The junior will look to keep making big plays in big moments. Sophomore infielder Luke Nixon also had a big first year with a hitting average of .238 for 41 hits and 37 runs.
While there are several key returning
players at bat for the Pack, there are also two transfers to watch out for when they step up to the plate. Senior infielder Justin DeCriscio transfers in from San Diego, where he spent 2024 starting in all 49 games and finished with a .308 batting average and 61 hits. He is also known for being sneaky, stealing 10 bases last season.
Another talented transfer coming in is junior outfielder Brayden Fraasman. Fraasman comes in from Lincoln Trail after playing there for two seasons. In those two combined, he made 51 appearances and hit an average of .348, including 30 doubles, four triples and 20 home runs.
In 2025, the Pack certainly has Omahaready talent. Now, if it can stay healthy and show up in big games against its conference opponents, expect big results from the Pack 9.
HECTOR CAZARES-MEDELLIN/TECHNICIAN
The NC State baseball team huddles before its game against Elon University at Doak Field at Dail Park on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. NC State beat Elon 20-4.
Carson Correll Correspondent
NC State 2025 softball roster breakdown
While unable to make the NCAA Tournament in the 2024 season, NC State softball was still able to make some noise in its first year under head coach Lindsay Leftwich. The Wolfpack posted an overall record of 30-23, while picking up some impressive wins, including a 6-1 victory over then-No. 8 Clemson and a 5-4 win over then-No. 15 Virginia Tech.
There is a lot of excitement growing around the program, and a lot of that has to do with the passion and potential that the 2025 roster brings to the table.
Pitching
The top returning pitcher for the Wolf-
pack is junior right-handed pitcher Rylee Wyman. In 2024, Wyman had an ERA of 3.59, which was the lowest of anyone on the team and recorded 63 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched. She also has a lot of experience pitching in a Wolfpack uniform, starting in 19 of her 35 appearances in 2024.
Another important returning pitcher is junior right-handed pitcher Madison Inscoe, starting in 14 of her 28 appearances in 2024. As a pitcher, she had an ERA of 4.20 with 66 strikeouts. But Inscoe is a dual threat, not only playing as a pitcher but as a hitter as well. In 2024, she started 33 games as a designated hitter and finished the season with a .313 batting average, 25 hits and 10 runs. Inscoe is a dynamic player who can make a huge impact on both sides of the ball.
Hitting
The biggest strength of this Wolfpack roster is the returning hitters. Redshirt junior infielder Michele Tarpey returns after leading the team during the 2024 season with a batting average of .353, as well as finishing the season with 41 hits. On the fielding side, Tarpey was tied for first on the team with 237 putouts.
One of the biggest threats in the batter’s box is senior infielder Taylor Ensley. Out of the returning players, Taylor had the most in the 2024 season with 50 hits, including 11 doubles, 11 homers and 30 runs on the ground. She had a batting average of .333 and was extremely efficient when fielding with a .972 fielding percentage.
Junior utility player Makayla Marbury recorded 40 runs last season, which was
the most of any player on the team. She appeared in all but one game and started in 48. She also finished the season with a .267 batting average, 35 hits and 10 homers as well as leading the team in stolen bases with 18. Other playmakers for the red-and-white include senior infielder Hannah Goodwin, sophomore infielder Tori Ensley and junior outfielder Ellie Goins. Out of those three, Tori had the best 2024 batting average at .268 and Goins had a batting average of .252. Both of these players had 33 hits, while Goodwin had 31 hits. All three of them had over 20 runs last year.
Overall, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the returning talent of NC State softball, which will look to make some more noise in the ACC and contend for an NCAA Tournament spot.
KYLEE HERTRICK/TECHNICIAN
The team chants “Wolf” as the audience chants “Pack” during the game against Elon at Dail Softball Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. The Wolfpack beat Elon 14-7.
Carson Correll Correspondent
