JAMES
QUEEN
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Student Government report examines the impact of DEI policy changes on campus
A new report by the NC State Student Senate’s Standing Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach analyzes the effects of recent policy changes that have scaled back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the UNC System.
The 17-page report, titled “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Within the UNC System Research Report,” examines how the UNC Board of Governors’ May 2024 decision to repeal and replace the system’s DEI regulation has impacted NC State and other UNC institutions.
Key changes at NC State include the elimination of eight DEI-related positions and the realignment of 29 others, renaming of the Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity to the Office of Equal Opportunity, moving Campus Community Centers from OIED to the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, the suspension of DEI-related trainings not required by law and the redirection of $4.9 million in DEI-related funding to other initiatives.
Caroline Miranda, a third-year studying science, technology and society and Student Senate president, said these changes were primarily made to comply with new regulations rather than to improve student support.
The report argues these changes could negatively impact marginalized students who previously relied on targeted DEI support services. It also expresses concern about a potential “chilling effect” on campus discussions related to diversity and inclusion.
“For many UNC System students, especially those from marginalized communities and identities, departments supporting DEI initiatives within their respective institutions were essential to fostering a sense of belonging, providing resources and creating an inclusive environment that supports
students’ academic and personal success,” the report states.
Miranda said they found the quick implementation of the policy changes concerning.
“It really angered me, because it was so quick and easy, and it really did not value students that were standing outside [the Board of Governors meeting] hearing or speaking for their beliefs and what they think is crucial to our student bodies across the UNC System,” Miranda said.
The report examines how other UNC institutions have responded to the policy changes. For example, it notes Appalachian State University is still offering optional DEI-related trainings for employees.
“This university is a prime example of allowable display of DEI content and inviting individuals to seek knowledge, while still adhering to the policy,” the report states.
The Student Senate committee makes several recommendations in the report, including providing clearer guidelines on institutional neutrality, preserving inclusive curriculum development, maintaining campus dialogue and debate on DEI issues, increasing support for DASA and student outreach and enhancing student support
CRIME ON CAMPUS
NC State’s weekly log of major incidents across campus.
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY HARASSMENT
Red Hall
Jan. 30, 2025 at 10:06 p.m.
A witness reported seeing a white male allegedly hitting a vehicle parked on Founders Drive with a baseball bat.
Bayview Hall Jan. 29, 2025 at 10:55 p.m.
A student reported unwanted, non-sexual posts put on social media by another student.
and success programs.
Section 3.2 details several programs impacted by fund redirection resulting from recent policy changes. These include the College of Natural Resources’ Black Male Research Engagement and Mentoring Program and the peer-mentor support for USDA NIDA National Needs Fellows. Additionally, the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ Office of Diversity and Inclusion was eliminated, and $128,338 was reallocated from the Division of Academic and Student Affairs’ Assistant Director for Diversity and Outreach position in the Counseling Center.
The reallocations add up to $4,909,053 according to NC State’s compliance report.
Naila Din, a third-year studying microbiology and chair of the Standing Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach, said she was frustrated with how redirected DEI funding was characterized as “savings” in the compliance report.
“It’s just so inhumane and it’s insensitive that so many students like myself were able to benefit from these services, but now it’s just gone to savings,” Din said.
Bella Echiburu, a second-year studying
psychology and a member of the committee, said the moving of DEI program funds into savings undermines the value of support for marginalized students.
“They’re not even reallocating it into anything,” Echiburu said. “It’s saying like there’s no value, that they’d rather just send it away and keep that money for nothing than have it.”
The report said while aiming for institutional neutrality, the University can still provide targeted support for marginalized groups.
“NC State is capable of reinforcing an environment that uplifts every students’ success, while simultaneously acknowledging any gaps within the student population by ensuring an equitable environment for all,” the report states.
Shatha Boaj, a third-year studying political science and a member of the committee, expressed concern about the renaming of diversity-focused offices to emphasize “equal opportunity,” arguing that it fails to acknowledge existing societal inequalities and may worsen circumstances for marginalized students.
“Changing the department to the notion of equal opportunity undermines students on campus, because we all know in today’s society, no one is truly equal, especially with discrimination and racial biases,” Boaj said. “And I think that just kind of worsens some people, especially students’ circumstances, and just undermines [their experiences].”
University spokesperson Mick Kulikowski wrote in an email statement to Technician that the University is committed to continuing its student support initiatives through the OEO.
“For many years, the University has invested in student programs that help cultivate a sense of belonging and provide wrap
HIT AND RUN
Avent Ferry Road/Western Boulevard Jan. 29, 2025 at 6:21 p.m.
A Wolfline bus driver reported his bus being hit at this location.
INTOXICATED PERSON
Carmichael Gym Jan. 28, 2025 at 1:08 p.m.
A non-affiliated individual was trespassed from University property after initially refusing to exit a Wolfline bus near this location.
JERMAINE HUDSON
Students walk through Talley Student Union during the Latinx Heritage Month Kick-off in Talley Student Union on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024.
Matthew Burkhart News Editor
4 TECHNICIAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2025
DEI POLICY
continued from page 3
around support services across campus,” Kulikowski wrote. “In addition, the University provides robust discrimination and harassment prevention and response programs under the OEO. The University teams and offices dedicated to equal opportunity, student success and well-being continue doing their important work in alignment with UNC System policy.
Echiburu said the senators see the report as an important step in advocating for students impacted by the policy changes.
“We’re already doing a good thing by putting in our time and resources to researching this and making a formal report,” Echiburu said. “Obviously we’re trying to pass this bill to be endorsed by the Senate and then also holding our own events.”
The Student Senate is expected to vote this week on formally endorsing the report.
Committee members said they plan to share it widely regardless of the vote outcome.
Miranda said University administrators have already been briefed on the report’s contents. They said they hope it will spur further dialogue about maintaining support for marginalized students within the new policy framework.
Kulikowski wrote that the University administration hopes to continue dialogue on this issue.
The report comes as concerns grow nationally about restrictions on DEI initiatives in not just higher education but governmental entities and corporations as a whole.
“This is reflected not just in North Carolina, not just in the UNC System, but in the nation right now,” Echiburu said. “And I think it’s going in a direction we’d not like to see. So I think having at least some initiatives locally, I hope that it spreads nationally. But as it’s going right now, it is a little bit scary.”
Din said committee members worry the NC General Assembly could impose even
stricter limits when it reconvenes.
“That’s one of our biggest concerns, when the General Assembly comes back into session, will they take a more aggressive force at this to restrict it more, or will we see minor changes?” Din said.
Boaj said the General Assembly’s continued involvement in DEI policy has caused fear and chaos among universities, leading them to hastily implement institutional neutrality policies to preempt potentially harsher measures.
“When we first heard about the DEI repeal, it instilled a lot of fear because of what the General Assembly might do,” Boaj said. “A lot of universities were scrambling around and trying to figure out what to do and implementing institutional neutrality on their own so it wouldn’t be more aggressive. … It created chaos that universities shouldn’t have to be concerned about.”
Miranda said Student Government will continue advocating for marginalized students and working to foster an inclusive campus environment within the bounds
of the new policies.
“Student Government is fundamentally here to make sure that the student voice is still heard and implement changes,” Miranda said. “Then what we can do as well as holding the University accountable to making sure that they’re still supporting students.”
Kulikowski emphasized in his statement that any students who feel that they have been discriminated against at NC State should file a report with the OEO.
“The University wants to stress that individuals have rights under various civil rights laws,” Kulikowski wrote. “If you want to learn more about these, please reach out to OEO. If you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against or harassed because of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex or religion in any NC State program or activity, or if you want to discuss any of these policies you may file a report with the Office for Equal Opportunity at equalopportunity.ncsu.edu/ report-a-concern/.
Behind the scenes of the class cancellation process
After NC State experienced two winter weather events in January which resulted in reduced operating conditions, students might be wondering how and why the University decides to cancel classes.
Todd Becker, NC State’s manager of emergency management and mission continuity, is one of the first individuals in this process. Becker’s department regularly creates emergency operations plans, effectively mapping out strategies for a variety of scenarios, one of the most common being adverse weather.
When the National Weather Service begins reporting potential adverse weather, Becker’s team starts reaching out to a myriad of campus partners. This includes groups like campus enterprises, transportation, facilities and registration and records.
Sarah Ketchem, director of landscape maintenance and operations, is also a part of these early conversations. For snow or ice, individuals driving trash trucks during the day will switch off and work to salt and plow the roads. For other adverse weather events, like tornadoes or hurricanes, Ketchem’s team looks into landscaping and any items that could become flying debris.
While class might get canceled for students, Becker emphasized the idea that campus itself never truly closes.
“Campus doesn’t really shut down,” Becker said. “The public has this mindset — if you read a ticker on WRAL or something that says NC State canceled classes — they just think campus is closed. And that’s not the case. If you drove around when the snow started that evening, this place was still full
of University personnel.”
Several operations and partners on campus must remain open 24/7, such as the steam plants, certain research projects and the NC State Veterinary Hospital.
Ketchem said in all circumstances, safety is always the top priority.
“We want to make sure that always our first priority would be life safety,” Ketchem said. “So we need to keep the roadways open for the ambulances or fire trucks, and then additionally for Wolfline.”
Students living on campus are a major consideration when it comes to making a decision to reduce operations. On-campus facilities like dining halls remain open as long as possible to make sure students can safely get their meals. Transportation is also
important as the Wolfline is the main mode of transport for a majority of staff working at these facilities.
Ketchem’s team and other facilities partners refer to an “after hours” map, which shows important sidewalks that run from residence halls to dining halls or other locations frequented by students and staff. The Environmental Services team also works to clear building and residence hall entrances, focusing on accessibility.
“If we were to get, let’s say, a huge snowstorm, the first thing we’re going to do is make sure the [accessible entrance] is available,” Ketchem said. “So we might leave one staircase — we might even put up caution tape and block off a staircase to make sure that the one accessible entrance is accessible
by everyone.”
After consulting with various campus partners and assessing the impacts on surrounding counties and school systems, Becker and his team make a recommendation to senior leadership on campus, which includes members of the chancellor’s cabinet.
“We also know that childcare is a concern for a lot of our faculty and staff and some students,” Becker said. “And so we always put that note in, when we put that written assessment that goes to the chancellor’s cabinet, there’s almost always a note: ‘Here are the surrounding schools that have canceled so far.’”
Once decisions have been made, it’s the job of University Communications to effectively relay information to students, faculty, parents and impacted Raleigh residents. Mary Cole Pike, executive director of communications and chief of staff, works with a team to make the alerts as widespread as possible.
The top priority is to send a WolfAlert, which sends text messages and emails to impacted individuals. Pike and her team then update NC State social media accounts, contact local media outlets and update the adverse weather conditions hotline at 919513-8888.
The entire emergency response process reveals the interconnectedness of University personnel.
“I would just say that what I’m most proud of is just the collaborative effort that all of NC State comes together to try to just work together to keep campus going even in times of difficult things that we can’t control,” Ketchem said.
GRAPHIC BY ANGEL CHEN
Savannah Woodman Staff Writer
How Trump executive orders, immigration changes affect NC State
A string of executive actions from the Trump administration have raised concerns about immigration status, student visas and free speech on campus. University officials say NC State will continue to monitor the changes and adhere to federal law.
Immigration enforcement on college campuses
President Donald Trump initiated sweeping changes to immigration upon his inauguration to his second term in office. Among these was a Homeland Security directive ending the restrictions on immigration enforcement in so-called “sensitive locations” like schools and churches, raising questions of law enforcement’s authority on university campuses.
In January, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts said the university would comply with all requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration lawyer Pooyan Ordoubadi, who defended UNC students charged in the pro-Palestinian encampments last spring, said universities are not usually legally obligated to comply with ICE warrants; a position the ACLU affirmed in a letter to UNC last week.
“If ICE comes to them and asks for student records and disciplinary records and things like that, I assume most schools would not provide it,” Ordoubadi said. “There’s no institution that’s required to work with ICE unless ICE has a judicial warrant.”
ICE delivers its own kinds of ‘administrative’ warrants that do not legally require compliance or give agents any authority. Ordoubadi said he rarely sees ICE have judicial warrants, which are orders signed by judges legally authorizing agent actions. If universities voluntarily supply student information, he anticipates they will be met with lawsuits.
NC State issued guidance regarding potential immigration enforcement and information requests for campus personnel last week. The guidance reaffirms the University’s adherence to federal laws like FERPA and the corresponding requirement of “a valid court order or subpoena to release certain information.”
Admission and student visas
Executive Order 14161, entitled “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” lays the groundwork for changes to the deportation and admission of immigrants.
“The United States must ensure that admitted aliens and aliens otherwise already
present in the United States do not bear hostile attitudes toward its citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles, and do not advocate for, aid or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to our national security,” the order states.
Ordoubadi likened the order to the first Trump administration’s “Muslim ban” but with wording more likely to hold up in court. Generally, the administration has control over the admissions component of immigration and can temporarily suspend admissions from certain countries.
Sarah Ludington, director of the First Amendment Clinic at the Duke University School of Law, referred to the 1972 Supreme Court decision Kleindienst v. Mandel as precedent for upholding the order.
“Although it may seem really distasteful that the United States is doing a sort of clearly viewpoint-based vetting of who’s allowed to enter the country, it is under current Supreme Court law and statutory law — as far as I know — allowed,” Ludington said.
Deporting migrants already in the country who may harbor certain opinions is another case. Constitutional rights like freedom of speech and due process still apply to non-citizens, Ordoubadi said, so immediate deportation based on speech would likely fail in court.
The concern facing international students at universities is their student visas.
“The way that’s going to affect students is that a lot of people have to renew their student visas,” Ordoubadi said. “So if there’s anything kind of troubling in their record,
they can just choose not to renew them. And then once they overstay, then that makes them deportable.”
First Amendment concerns
Another executive order points to what the Trump administration might consider ‘troubling’. Executive Order 14188, titled “Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,” specifically points to crackdowns on college campuses. According to a fact sheet distributed by the White House, the order promises to cancel the visas of ‘Hamas sympathizers’ on campuses and directly refers to those who participated in Palestinian protests.
“To all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests, we put you on notice: come 2025, we will find you, and we will deport you,” the fact sheet states.
Ludington said, especially in the context of the Trump administration already attempting to undermine the 14th Amendment in ending birthright citizenship, the speech rights of international students might not be as black and white as before.
“It is a really complicated and difficult question to say whether students who are here on student visas have identical First Amendment rights to every other student,” Ludington said.
Ludington said the executive actions appear to have substantial legal merit and will be tested in court sooner rather than later.
“I’m really, really concerned about this kind of order expanding beyond this kind of speech,” Ludington said. “In the free speech area, one of the mottos is we have to be ever vigilant against government intrusions on
freedom of speech and freedom of thought, because this is probably a test case that, if they win, will embolden the administration to go after other unpopular ideas.”
Trump has referred to the December 2024 House of Representatives “Staff Report on Antisemitism” in relation to Order 14188, which posits institutions of higher education across the country “failed to stop antisemitism on their campuses, likely violating Title VI.” NC State revised its anti-discrimination policy after settling an antisemitism Title VI complaint in October of last year.
The order directs universities to monitor and report activities by aliens that may violate a federal code, which, among other things, extensively defines “terrorist activities” and what ‘participating’ in them might entail. Judicial precedent has defined how the government can prevent material support for terrorist organizations, but Ludington suggests Trump could take it a step further.
“It’s going to be really interesting to read and see how the administration wants to push that line,” Ludington said. “But they probably do want to expand the definition of material support for foreign terrorist organizations into areas that I would consider pure speech, pure political speech.”
Ordoubadi maintained that revoking visas or deporting someone based on political speech would be problematic and unlikely to survive a legal challenge.
In response to the executive actions, University spokesperson Mick Kulikowski told Technician “NC State complies with all federal laws and is monitoring the new directives.”
Elizabeth James, director of the Office of International Services, said in a written statement they are working to understand the changes and communicate with any affected students.
“Whenever a new executive order or regulation comes out that impacts international students and scholars, we work closely with campus officials to determine the extent of the impact and to notify the affected students of the policy change,” James wrote. “At this point I cannot speculate further.” Ludington connected recent political efforts with the downturn of pro-Palestine activity on college campuses this year.
“The protests this year have been minimal, and I think that it is pretty telling about the chilling effect on speech of official actions that are intended to stop protest,” Ludington said. “It does. It works. It stops people from expressing their opinions. It doesn’t mean those opinions aren’t still there — they just can’t be aired. That doesn’t make them any safer.”
GRAPHIC BY ROXXANNE ALSOP
Justin Welch Managing Editor
‘The Brutalist’: An ambitious film about power and the promises of America
with a sense of light heartbreak, befitting of a man always in search of perfection.
Editor’s Note: This article contains reference to sexual assault and substance use.
“The Brutalist,” directed by Brady Corbet, is the story of László Tóth, a HungarianJewish architect who escapes post-war Europe to the United States. It is a film about devotion, passion, the immigrant experience and the hypocrisies of the American dream.
Brutalist architecture showcases raw material, unique shapes and minimalism. It might evoke images of protruding concrete structures with harsh angles and a general dislike by the public.
This film is similarly raw and unapologetic in its storytelling. There are visuals that cannot be described as anything other than “epic,” especially when viewed in theaters. Its themes are heavy but handled elegantly and the performances make it feel like it isn’t a fiction at all.
The film opened with a breathtakingly joyful scene, where Tóth emerged from a ship to see the Statue of Liberty before him. It is the promise of hope and future free of the burdens of war. However, the shot of the monument is upside down.
Adrien Brody, who some might know from “The Pianist” or any number of Wes Anderson’s films, plays Tóth, the titular brutalist architect. Brody gave a powerful yet subtle performance. He is always imbued
In the new environment of Philadelphia, audiences see Tóth blunder several job opportunities due to his single-mindedness. Eventually, he finds himself employed by the philanthropist Harrison Lee Van Buren, played by Guy Pearce.
The first half of the film feels hopeful, like it is building to some great triumph. With work, Tóth is given a great chance to prove himself and he is also introduced to a lawyer who can help his wife follow him to America.
Felicity Jones plays Erzsébet, Tóth’s wife. Previously, she starred in “The Theory of Everything” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Although she has a delayed appearance, she steals the show as Erzsébet, a resilient woman who faces antisemitism, misogyny, illness and a neglectful husband.
Her relationship with Tóth is constant push and pull. It is obvious the circumstances have made a relationship built on love turn to one of resentment, a prison. The nuance and desperation of their relationship was compelling and fascinating to watch.
It seems Tóth is struck down, then built back up and put through the same thing several times over. His struggles with addiction and communication make it so he is reliant on his art, which is also unstable.
There is a distinct tension between Tóth and Van Buren, in which the latter holds the power. Tóth’s work is only taken seriously by Americans when it is decided by Van Buren. Tóth is only employed when he
follows Van Buren’s will, which results in a years-long pause in the project’s progress when they come to disagree.
There are several instances in the movie where immigrant characters are implied or shown to be sexually assaulted by their American counterparts. There is an ever present strain on Tóth’s family, both as Jews and foreigners, and there is an ease with which those in power exploit them.
The tension underlying the entire film is similar to that experienced by the main characters, whose lives never seem to be in their own hands. The trauma and mistreatment of the Tóths is almost wholly unspoken, informing often erratic relationships and actions.
Despite what some might deem an unnecessarily long duration, it seems every minute is infused with intention, conflict and beauty.
The spectacular runtime of 215 minutes might push away more casual viewers, but there is a 15-minute intermission between the two acts of the movie. This unorthodox addition by the filmmakers is a tribute to the time period of the film and has been praised by the movie-going community for making the extended experience more pleasant.
“The Brutalist” was shot entirely on VistaVision, a widescreen version of 35 mm motion picture film which is a predecessor to 70 mm and IMAX. It was used throughout the 1950s, but since has only been used for special effects and dynamic scenes that benefit from its wide format and high-resolution.
The film format was an homage to the era, but also an artistic choice. The quality of the film is better in terms of coloring, depth and definition. Movies shot on film have a certain quality which makes them almost pop off the screen and even more so with VistaVision.
This grandiose movie made use of its expensive materials. In a film about architecture, the buildings were given their time to shine. Huge images, like a mountain range or marble quarry, were rendered in incredible detail. The cinematography and quality of the film added to an air of worldliness and magnificence.
With a budget of under $10 million, “The Brutalist” has passed several major box office milestones, surpassing expectations for a limited-release film.
The film has been a powerhouse this awards season, both for performances and production. The movie is a favorite to win Best Picture at the Oscars and Brody has already won numerous accolades for his performance.
Though clearly a movie catered to the eye of a critic or arthouse enjoyer, it is an exercise in genuine and thoughtful storytelling. At times, it seems both aloof and right on the nose, but overall balances the two to create a dynamic and enthralling narrative.
Ambitious in its scope, “The Brutalist” seems to have done what it set out to do: leave its audiences with a sense of dread, appreciation and awe. With a still-expanding rollout, make sure you get a chance to see it in theaters.
GRAPHIC BY LUCY OSBORN
Dae Reed Correspondent
Glimmer: The sound of spring and the return to life
A very noticeable shift occurs for me in mid-March. It’s very sudden, but it overcomes all parts of my being: mind, body and spirit. It’s in this transformation, I experience what I’ve come to call a “glimmer” — a fleeting yet powerful moment of divine transcendence, sparked by something small yet deeply moving. It’s an overwhelming rush of gratitude, a reminder of life’s beauty in its simplest forms. While these moments vary for everyone, I find my greatest glimmers in the transition from winter to spring, when the world awakens.
Like many others, I struggle with seasonal affective disorder, ironically known as SAD. It’s the kind of thing you don’t recognize until you’re out of it.
One day you wake up and life is full again. Driving with my windows down, my spring soundtrack playing — I feel the warm sunshine over me, the first warm days of the year. I see vibrant green dusted with a
yellow pollen that is all too familiar to us North Carolinians. The Court of Carolina filled with our college community, students search for the spots of sun. The color quite literally comes back into the world. In these moments, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for life itself.
This is glimmer.
A spring soundtrack is crucial for this time of year. Music has an overall positive effect on our psychological well-being and quality of life, aiding in feelings of joy, relaxation and inspiration.
I can attest to music’s therapeutic nature, it played an integral part in my development as a human. I genuinely don’t think I would be the same person if my childhood hadn’t been stapled with my dad’s music. Albums like “Hot Fuss” by The Killers, “Demon Days” by Gorillaz, “Doolittle” by Pixies, “London Calling” by The Clash, “Silent Alarm” by Bloc Party, “Discovery” by Daft Punk. If you can’t tell, my dad is pretty cool. Shoutout to him.
My spring playlist this year is filled with
songs that evoke inspiration. They make me feel the way sunshine on my skin does — warm, grateful and at peace. Here are my top four picks.
Starting the playlist off strong is “Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins. Coupled with The Smashing Pumpkins’ signature whining guitar and Billy Corgan’s raspy vocals. This song transcends me into rock heaven with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
Next up, we have “Sure” by Hatchie. I’m shocked Hatchie hasn’t blown up yet. Drawing inspiration from the ethereal 90s alternative sound that bands like the Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine, Hatchie takes a dreamy-pop spin on the iconic indie sound.
I stumbled on “The Party” by Portraits of Tracy a couple of years ago and have been hooked ever since. It’s difficult to put into words, but something about this song sparks a unique sensation — like a melody that tickles my brain and leaves me feeling radiant.
“Glimmer” by Tame Impala is mostly an
instrumental piece, featuring speedy percussion and a rhythmic guitar. It was an obvious choice for this playlist. The entire album, “The Slow Rush”, is a masterpiece. I had the chance to see Tame Impala live on their 2022 tour for this album and it was easily a top-five experience of my life. Sure, they might be a popular pick, but sometimes, there’s a reason for that — great music speaks for itself.
To all my SAD girls and gals, I’m sending you love during these last couple of months of winter. Remember, it gets better. I encourage you to reflect on when you feel “glimmer” and seek out those opportunities. I hope my playlist brings you some serotonin.
Albums I’m looking out for in spring 2025: “If You Asked For A Picture” by Blondshell, “The Crux” by Djo, “For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)” by Japanese Breakfast and “is” by My Morning Jacket.
GRAPHIC BY LUCY OSBORN
Cate Humphreys
Photo Editor
The man in the mirror and the light within: Tyler, the Creator’s ‘Chromakopia’
Rose Amburose Correspondent
In honor of “Chromakopia: The World Tour” starting on Tuesday, I spent the past week relistening to Tyler, the Creator’s eighth studio album “Chromakopia” and falling in love all over again. Branding a new yet distantly familiar musical direction, the album weaves together defiant jazz melodies, cosmic synth patterns and thunderous horn ensembles.
Embracing his roots, the album celebrates historically Black sounds and features contributions from notable Black artists like Doechii and Donald Glover, making it the perfect gateway listen to African American music this Black History Month.
“Chromakopia” has all the classic Tyler elements: boisterous bragging, ingenious samples and remarkably-poignant confessionals. Speaking on intimately personal topics like family, parenthood, aging and sexuality, Tyler paints a picture of the fickle, hesitant and always-conflicted human mind.
Lyrics reflect his internal dialogue as he questions monogamy, starting a family and his absent father, switching from perspective to perspective the same way he switches through luxury cars, I assume. Ultimately, “Chromakopia” is an unmistakable tribute to the journey of self-acceptance, from confronting the man in the mirror to accepting the light within him.
Opening track, “St. Chroma,” is a battle cry and march all in one. It begins with a beat consisting of a strictly-paced military cadence and breathwork before breaking into a reverberating synth pattern that is reminiscent of rockets breaking through atmospheres. Spoken word snippets from his mother are scattered across the album and in this song particularly, she instructs Tyler to not dim his light for anyone. Tyler recalls his unwavering self-confidence even before achieving stardom and coupled with Daniel Caesar’s hypnotic chorus, the song lights a fire even within the most casual listeners: “I don’t (I don’t), like the (like the), way that this is lookin’ (no) / Mirror got me (got me), thinkin’ about my bookend (I’m done) / I just need this time to myself to figure me out-out / Do I keep the light on or do I gracefully bow out?”
He sets his pride aside though, questioning his mirror reflection and admitting that he needs to figure himself out in quoted lyrics above. This moment of confrontation begins his journey of self-acceptance.
Track four, “Darling, I” is another selfexpression anthem and this time, Tyler describes his polyamorous identity. He uses a metaphor of luxury cars that compares his BMW, Ferrari and Rolls Royce to explain how he gets “different things from different people,” joking that forever is so long. In an exceptionally profound moment of selfreflection, he admits that as time changes, people — though compatible in the present — can grow apart, but their connection will always be memorable and impactful. This song is a courageous attempt at selfacceptance, especially during a time when polyamory still ruffles feathers in public opinion: “Everybody’s different, you know? And it’s not just sex / I get different things from different people, and I want you to explore too (uh) / Have those moments and experiences (uh).”
Track six, “I Killed You,” a mesmerizing composition of tribal drum rhythms, loud trumpet horns and Spanish guitar, pays homage to the complexities of Black hair. Historically, natural Black hair has created social and employment disadvantages for African Americans and centuries of shame have caused many Black people to turn to chemicals and relaxers: “I gotta work, I gotta eat / If they see you on top of me, I gotta leave / … I killed you / Your natural state is threatening / To the point that I point
at myself and self-esteem /… I killed you.”
“Chromakopia” has all the classic Tyler elements: boisterous bragging, ingenious samples and remarkablypoignant confessionals.
the song’s conclusion, testifying “you are my crown” and “I would never kill you.” Self-acceptance takes on all kinds of daunting shapes and sizes in “Chromakopia,” from Tyler’s realization of gaining weight and seeking rest in “Tomorrow” all the way to a story of a closeted preacher in “Take Your Mask Off.”
In “Like Him,” Tyler accepts his reality without ever knowing his father, affirming “I’m everything that I strive to be” despite previously feeling lost without a father figure. The album is full of countless iterations of self-growth and perseverance; sonically, it’s vivacious and lyrically, it’s masterfully sentimental.
These products are physically damaging and the emotional gravity of such harmful beauty standards erodes the rich history that Black hair and hairstyles have. Tyler raps about how Black braids depicted slave routes to freedom and how it was “essential” and a “symbol.” The repetition “I killed you” describes how he killed his hair, but as the quoted lyrics above suggest, Tyler simultaneously killed his self-esteem and identity in the process. He accepts his heritage at
Lessons in the album transcend Tyler’s own experiences and apply to listeners too: the folksy, jazzy ballad “Judge Judy” urges living “your truest self with no regrets,” and “Tomorrow” encourages us to stop “worry[ing] bout tomorrow.”
I have lived half the life that Tyler, the Creator has and yet, I see myself in every note and every syllable. The word “transformative” doesn’t begin to capture how much this album has changed me, and it is my hope that it might have a place in your heart too.
GRAPHIC BY DANE HUTTER
Eating in college dining halls is a premier experience
After a long day of completing grueling tasks and trekking innumerous miles of brick, one often makes their way to the grand mead hall for a hearty meal amongst their comrades. The soft lighting and the reverberation of hearty laughter elicits feelings of comfort and belonging. Wait, I forgot this isn’t my literary analysis of “Beowulf” — let me restart.
Out of the many experiences I’ve had during my first year of college, I must say that eating in the dining halls is at the top of my list. I get the pleasure of people-watching other diners, and I can’t help but feel connected to the Wolfpack community when surrounded by fellow students.
My impression of the dining halls wasn’t always positive since I started my freshman year early during the Summer Start program. Campus was essentially a ghost town, and eating in the empty dining halls felt isolating.
Once campus repopulated for the fall semester and lines began filing behind the food stations at Fountain and Case, I gained a new appreciation for the concept of a shared dining space.
People-watching in airports, malls and Walmart parking lots is one of my favorite pastimes. Now, I get the privilege of observing mundane activities once or twice a day when I sit down in one of the crowded dining rooms.
I love looking at the unique combinations of food on people’s plates or the balancing act of bringing a tower of soft-serve to one’s table. I find even more pleasure watching a large friend group sit shoulder-to-shoulder around a table. Seeing different social dynamics play out in real life fascinates me, almost like I’m watching an episode of “Friends.”
What I love most about eating in dining halls is how I seldom feel alone, regardless
of whether I’m sitting with friends or by myself. I feel secluded when I eat alone in my tiny dorm room, so I try to eat in the dining halls as frequently as possible.
A study on university students in South Korea found that individuals who consistently ate by themselves reported higher levels of depression. Thus, choosing to eat in the dining hall over one’s dorm room or apartment — a decision that may seem trivial — could potentially prevent adverse mental health effects and improve social wellness.
As social beings, humans need to spend time in the presence of other humans, even if that means being surrounded by strangers
in public. Some people might grow weary upon seeing a large crowd filling the dining rooms, but perhaps it could be seen as an opportunity to boost one’s socioemotional well-being.
Let us not forget the effort the dining hall staff puts into creating a positive dining experience through themed meals like the Lunar New Year meal or the upcoming Black History Month meal. It takes immense effort to curate menus and set up decorations for these events, all of which makes one’s trip to the dining hall more meaningful.
And the small interactions I have with the staff at Fountain, Clark and Case make me appreciate my time in the dining halls even
more. My days start off on a good note when I receive a fist-bump from a staff member while I’m eating breakfast, and I melt a little when one of them calls me “sugar.”
I know that eating in dining halls may be the last thing that comes to mind when thinking of one’s favorite thing about college, but from my perspective, it’s a chance to absorb the NC State culture in its finest.
Something we can extract from “Beowulf” is that sharing meals strengthens the connection between the individual and their community, and what better way to apply that than by eating with the rest of the Pack in the dining halls.
GRAPHIC BY RORY MOON
AJ Toler Correspondent
Don’t take your access to English courses for granted
Sophia Robertson Staff Writer
Literacy is more than just the ability to read and write; it is also a fundamental skill that opens the door to personal development, job opportunities and the acquisition of knowledge.
Unfortunately, in addition to 21% of American adults being illiterate, 54% of American adults have a literacy level below sixth grade, according to the National Literacy Institute. The U.S. ranks 36th in literacy worldwide.
Literacy issues have been correlated with socioeconomic factors, as 43% of adults with the lowest literacy levels live in poverty. However, there are many other contributing factors to these low levels, such as learning disabilities and inadequate resources available for individuals attempting to learn English.
Justin Tackett, who began teaching in the Department of English at NC State in 2024, suggests that the literacy crisis, in part, is the result of our decreasing attention spans in an era of growing digitalization.
“In a way we’re reading more than ever before. We’re constantly reading online, social media, reading emails, we’re reading text messages,” Tackett said. “I think it’s more a matter of attention and concentration.”
Tackett also said that, although these statistics may appear concerning, we shouldn’t overlook the country’s literary accomplishments.
America has produced some of the world’s greatest writers, such as Kate Chopin, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Harper Lee. In Tackett’s 19th-century American literature class, he explores the works of remarkable writers like Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen Crane, all of whom have undoubtedly shaped modern American literature.
“Our achievements in literacy are huge and are really central to what makes this country wonderful,” Tackett said.
As students at NC State, we are fortunate enough to have easy access to ways to improve our own literacy. Although many people shy away from reading and writing after high school, NC State’s Department of English offers a wide array of courses from screenwriting to science fiction that can be beneficial to students of all majors.
These classes prepare students for their own unique careers by improving communication skills, increasing cultural awareness and enhancing reading comprehension, which are important in both personal and professional settings.
Adding English as a major is another option for those wanting to take their literary career beyond just a class or two, but how far is a degree in English really going to get you after college?
The possibilities are endless, as there are job opportunities from journalism and publishing to politics and law. NC State offers six concentrations within the Bachelor of Arts in English: creative writing, film studies, linguistics, rhetoric and professional writing, literature and teacher education.
“Wherever there are words, you will have skills that will make you hirable,” Tackett said.
Many people are hesitant to try a field like English because of the potential for a lower paying job, and it is true that people in STEM occupations generally make a significantly higher salary than those in nonSTEM fields, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nevertheless, this is not a reason to give up your passion or pass on an opportunity for a wider knowledge base. Tackett encourages students to look deeper than money as a motivator in choosing their career path and consider pursuing what they love.
“You will seldom have this chance of four years just to absorb knowledge,” Tackett said. “In this country we have a kind of paradise where you get these four years to learn things that you love, which, to me, is a great reason to pursue literature.”
In addition to English courses, NC State’s English Club, which meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m., offers the opportunity to get involved with the University’s community of readers and writers.
At NC State, we’ve been presented with unlimited opportunities to expand our literacy, and many people across the country aren’t fortunate enough to have this same opportunity. With that being said, try an English class. The reading, writing and communication skills that you’ll gain are essential to navigating both the college experience and professional world.
Politics are everywhere — stop avoiding it
A political science major loses its wings whenever the phrase “Could we just not make things political?” is uttered. The room tenses. Glances are quietly shared. God forbid you commit the sin of “being political.”
But the phrase is inherently wrong. It suffers from a fundamental misunderstanding of what I’ve found to be true time and time again: Politics are everywhere.
I think it would be accurate to say that NC State’s School of Public and International Affairs — and particularly those in political science — are made out to be the troublesome, dramatic middle children of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
SPIA is an island of sorts, one that you only might take the time to visit when election season gets especially rough, and — like magic — once election results are in, everyone disappears.
It is the island where the talkative, opinionated people go. We sit huddled around our makeshift campfires from the burning pages of The New York Times, waiting for another four years. When the fresh new faces finally
show up, our crazed eyes and outstretched hands are a little off-putting.
“Please vote, please vote, please vote,” we chant. We might look crazy, and it feels crazy when no one really wants to listen.
Because politics are everywhere all the time, even when you aren’t on your way to the ballot box.
This is coming from a trained eye, however. A political science major from a politically active family who often consumes political media is naturally going to pick up on the small notions of policy or political ideology in everyday life.
But there’s also more to politics than just the government.
There are a few definitions of politics. The first aligns with what likely first comes to mind for most of us: Capitol Hill, suits, pearls and presidential debates. You could think of executive orders or the Civil Rights Act. It is the “art or science of government,” or how government works and functions.
A second definition is much more broad: “The total complex of relations between people living in society.” But what does this mean?
Well, for starters, have you ever had an argument? That’s politics. Do you remember critically thinking about an opinion that differed
from yours? That’s politics. Ever worked to figure out the best plan of action for a group project in class?
Yes, your engineering major is political, actually.
Both of these definitions of how we think about politics spring up in your life constantly, whether you know it or not. Not only are government policies affecting you, the people you know and the institutions you rely on, but you’re also unknowingly political in your everyday life.
Being aware of your not-so-underlying political life is the first step; interacting with it is the next.
The problem with the question “Could we just not make things political?” is not only that it is inherently incorrect but it’s also completely reflective of our fear of politics. Our tendency to push it away or ignore it.
Why, really, are we so afraid of politics?
There is a simple answer. In today’s day and age, it’s messy. It’s mean. It divides us more often than it brings us together. It’s difficult to mention it when we’d rather just “get along.”
Politics, though, has never just meant bloodthirsty, spiraling arguments.
Politics dictates the cleanliness of your drinking water, funds state universities like
NC State and outlines government-funded STEM goals. It also bans books, targets the most marginalized of our community and decides whether a struggling family is eligible for welfare or citizenship.
Politics are present when you set boundaries with your partner or negotiate a paper extension with your professor. It can easily uplift or abuse others.
Therefore, your political apathy has direct, dangerous and dividing outcomes.
Ignoring current policies and political action altogether perpetuates compliance. As the saying goes, staying silent is siding with the oppressor, not the oppressed.
Denying the influence of personal politics in your life has effects reaching beyond the tip of your nose too. Refusing to develop and nurture critical thinking skills not only makes communication and innovation more difficult but erodes your empathy as well.
The “scary” politics we avoid so regularly can only become less scary when we acknowledge and interact with them. Continuing to quietly label politics as taboo means we never talk about it. If we never talk about it, nothing ever changes.
It’s time to stop avoiding it — politics are there whether you like it or not.
Logan Lowery Correspondent
Envisioning spirituality in a STEM-minded world
“The way to learn is to assimilate. The way to know is to forget.” These words, which can be attributed to the principles of Chinese architecture, encapsulate a profound truth: Knowledge is not merely a product of accumulation but also one of transformation and integration.
In our fast-paced, hyper-rationalized world, dominated by science, technology, engineering and mathematics, we may overlook vital, alternative ways of coming to know things — instinctual, passionate and often mystical ways. Approaching knowledge from this standpoint offers not only insights into the fabric of existence but also new space for innovation and rediscovery.
While modern science prides itself on empirical rigor and secular detachment, history tells a different story: Pivotal breakthroughs have frequently emerged from dreams, visions and subconscious musings.
Friedrich August Kekulé’s dream of a snake eating its tail alluded to the structure of the benzene ring, which is foundational to organic chemistry. Niels Bohr’s model of the atom, likened to a miniature solar system, came to him in a dream. Such moments reflect an intuitive interplay between the seen and unseen, the tangible and the ephemeral. They suggest that imagination and intuition are as integral to discovery as data and experimentation.
Our relentless hustle culture, rooted in capitalist productivity, robs us of contemplative and soul-fulfilling time.
Simply being — feeling, envisioning, pondering — has become a luxury rather than a necessity. Scientific methodologies emphasize immediate results and reproducibility, leaving little room for ideas to percolate and evolve organically.
This neglect of rest and reflection stifles creativity and denies us the serendipitous insights that often arise when the mind is allowed to wander.
To return to Chinese architectural philosophy, learning is tied to assimilation, and knowing arises from constructive forgetting. This kinesthetic knowledge — rooted in experience, intuition and bodily awareness — is often dismissed in modern scientific discourse. Yet, it aligns with the idea that the body “keeps score,” as evidenced in discussions about trauma and healing. Our instincts, our “gut feelings,” are not baseless but deeply embedded in the physical and subconscious processes that connect us to the world.
The evolution of alchemy into modern
chemistry illustrates how mystical practices can lay the groundwork for scientific advancement. Historically, science and spirituality were not adversaries but allies.
The ancient Greeks attributed creative genius to “daemons,” divine spirits that inspired human innovation. Romans referred to “genii,” personal guides believed to channel wisdom. These cultural frameworks acknowledged that creativity often arises beyond the individual’s conscious will.
Today, however, such notions are relegated to the realm of “woo-woo” — alternative or new-age perspectives dismissed as unscientific. But as we face increasingly complex, multidisciplinary challenges, integrating diverse ways of knowing becomes essential. The rigid separation between science and
spirituality, between rationality and intuition, deprives us of tools to illuminate solutions to pressing modern problems.
Similarly, the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome exemplify the fusion of mathematics, aesthetics and spirituality. One-point perspective, with its vanishing point at the horizon, reflects an understanding of depth and infinity that resonates beyond the visual. Such integration of the measurable and the immeasurable is a reminder that knowledge is not confined to what can be quantified.
By embracing a multidisciplinary approach that honors both empirical evidence and intuitive insight, we open ourselves to discoveries that lie outside conventional frameworks. Mystical practices, long sani-
tized and marginalized in the name of progress, may hold keys to innovations that modern methods cannot unlock. The way forward lies in bridging the gaps — between science and spirituality, between rationality and intuition and between modernity and tradition.
As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, let us not forget the power of dreams, the wisdom of the subconscious and the knowledge embedded in our bodies and histories. Let us make space for forgetting and for imagining worlds beyond the visible — worlds waiting to be understood and integrated into the tapestry of human knowing.
GRAPHIC BY EVIE DALLMANN
Evie Dallmann Correspondent
NC State baseball isn’t ashamed of its youth
Daniel Susann Correspondent
It’s no secret that NC State baseball’s offense is an inexperienced bunch after departures from six of its top offensive threats from last year’s College World Series team. Despite the movement, players were optimistic about the future and looked forward to what the season ahead will bring.
Senior pitcher Carson Kelly is embracing a roster where 25 of its 39 players are underclassmen. Kelly is trying to become a player they can look up to.
“Last year, I was like the 25th oldest, and now I’m like second or third oldest, so it’s been a change,” Kelly said. “But I like having all the freshmen here. I kind of got to take them under my wing and show them the ropes, so it’s been fun having this role.”
Alongside its youthful offensive core is a veteran pitching staff featuring names such as Kelly, juniors Dominic Fritton and Derrick Smith — just to name a few.
One of the Pack’s younger additions is sophomore infielder Chris McHugh, who
transferred in from VCU after a stellar season where he recorded 56 hits and six home runs as a freshman.
McHugh thinks the talent he sees in his teammates is more important than a lack of experience.
“With young teams, I think that usually just means a lot of guys — freshmen, transfers — get a chance right out of the gate,” McHugh said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal honestly, experience. I just think talent brings it all together … just believe and trust that just because you haven’t played that many seasons because you’re a young guy, it doesn’t matter. It’s just baseball.”
NC State’s young guns will be counted on early in the season, because although it begins the 2025 campaign with a series against Fordham and a midweek game against Liberty, it will soon face stiffer opponents a week into the season at the JAX baseball classic from Feb. 21-23, facing Ohio State, Alabama and Coastal Carolina.
Instead of seeing tougher competition as an obstacle, sophomore catcher Alex Sosa views it as an opportunity to grow and de-
ETHAN RIMOLT/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore pitcher Jacob Dudan stands at Doak Field at Dail Park on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. Dudan pitched 48 total innings in 2024.
velop as a team before it starts conference play.
“Last year, playing midweek games, our midweek local teams were ranked top 15 or
top 20 in the country, so I mean, we’ve seen all the rankings and stuff,” Sosa said. “There is a ton of competition here, and anytime you can play good talent, it’s always good for the team.”
Sosa has taken on a role as a vocal leader in just his second season, having grown up quickly after being thrust into a major role his freshman season. Although it seems Sosa is one of the Pack’s leaders, head coach Elliott Avent stressed that he isn’t taking too much stock in preseason team dynamics.
“I don’t think you see leadership until things go bad,” Avent said. “Anybody can lead when your horse is leading down front. Anybody can do that. Anybody can be a winner. What’s tough is when things go bad — see what happens then.”
As the long and tough college baseball season progresses, Avent will find out who the real leaders are. The hope around Doak Field is that leaders will emerge on a young team and help the Pack get back to another College World Series or its first ACC Championship since 1992.
How No. 14 NC State women’s basketball looks a month away from March
Erin Ferrare Staff Writer
March 31, 2024 is a day that will go down in history NC State women’s basketball.
That’s when the Wolfpack punched a ticket to its first Final Four appearance since 1998. With veteran players like Mimi Collins and River Baldwin leading the charge, the Wolfpack dominated in March of 2024, and many Wolfpack fans are wondering if the Pack can find that same magic this year.
NC State entered the 2024-25 season ranked No. 2 in the ACC preseason poll and No. 9 in the AP preseason poll, and so far the Pack has held up its end of the bargain. Currently, the Wolfpack is ranked second in the conference, just under Notre Dame. It has also been a mainstay in the Top 25 AP poll the whole season and is No. 14 but will most likely move up after taking down No. 10 Duke.
But what do the statistics say? Does NC State have what it takes to make deep runs in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments?
The Wolfpack is second in the ACC in defensive rebounds per game and averages the third-highest rebounds per game. The team shoots 45.4% from the floor with its top scorers including senior guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers leading the charge, along with sophomore guard Zoe Brooks in
the mix as well.
At the beginning of the season, it seemed as if NC State couldn’t compete with the best in college basketball. It fell short in a Final Four rematch against then-No. 1 South Carolina, lost to No. 9 TCU and then-No.7 LSU. Starting the season out 5-3 was not in the Wolfpack’s plan, but soon the team found a rhythm.
With tough losses against good teams, many wondered if the Pack could compete against some of the best in the NCAA. But eventually, the Wolfpack found its footing and now it seems the Pack has a good foundation heading into March.
A 68-61 win against then-No.18 Ole Miss got the red-and-white rolling, along with Brooks and freshman guard Zamareya
Jones who put up points. Crushing a historic program in Stanford a few weeks later, and keeping a 15-1 record since the loss to LSU, it became clear that NC State had the mettle to rebound from a rough start.
And it was against No. 10 Duke in the Play4Kay game where the Wolfpack proved it has what it takes to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament again. With the Blue Devils boasting one of the best defenses in the ACC, it was a tough start for the red-and-white, including the Pack only scoring eight points in the second quarter. But James didn’t allow the Pack to go down without a fight. Behind a career-high 36 points, James led the team to an 89-83 win over a Top-10 team.
This win proved NC State belonged among the best in the country, but the Pack has a tough road before the March arrives. With seven games left in the regular season, the Pack has matchups against four Top-25 teams, including No. 3 Notre Dame who is currently undefeated in ACC play.
This survive and advance mentality can hold this group together even more than before. The first round of the ACC Tournament starts on March 5 in Greensboro, North Carolina — let the countdown begin.
KATIE RYDER/TECHNICIAN
The team stands together after winning the Play4Kay game against Duke at Reynolds Coliseum on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. The game is dedicated to raising money and awareness to fight women’s cancers. The Wolfpack beat the Blue Devils 89-83.
James fuels comeback victory for No. 14 Pack women’s basketball over No. 10 Duke
There are few NC State traditions that are as special as the Play4Kay game. Every year, thousands of Wolfpack fans fill Reynolds Coliseum clad in pink shirts to watch NC State women’s basketball — in custom pink uniforms of its own — and raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. But rarely have the stakes been as high as this year’s matchup as No. 14 NC State hosted a Tobacco Road and conference rival, No. 10 Duke.
Undefeated in front of its home crowd this season, the Wolfpack (18-4, 10-1 ACC) looked nearly unstoppable in the first quarter, scoring 24 points on 71.4% shooting while holding the Blue Devils (17-5, 8-2 ACC) to just 17 points on 35.3% shooting. With a seven-point lead early, it looked as though NC State was in line for a statement blowout victory on such an important night.
But the Blue Devils are a top-10 team for a reason. In just the first two-and-a-half minutes in the second quarter, Duke made all six of its shots, shooting out on a 14-0 run and quickly putting the Wolfpack in a sevenpoint deficit. While the Blue Devils got hot, NC State scored just two points through the first eight minutes of the second quarter.
All of a sudden, the once-deafening cheers in Reynolds Coliseum quickly turned to halftime silence. The team that had looked nearly unbeatable in the first quarter scored just eight total points in the second and found itself 11 points behind on the most important night of the season.
Luckily for Wolfpack fans, NC State holds claim to one of the best scorers in the nation — senior guard Aziaha James. Now, James was coming off her worst performance of the season in a seven-point outing against Wake Forest, but when her team needed her most, the Wolfpack’s most trusted player stepped up.
“Duke and Carolina,” James said. “Them blues, they don’t sit right with me. I bring my all every time we play them. We just don’t like blues.”
Last year, James set a career-high against the Blue Devils with 33 points. But this year, she one-upped herself, scoring a new careerhigh 36 points and leading the Wolfpack to a come-from-behind 89-83 victory.
“Sometimes you just gotta get out of the way and let her go,” said head coach Wes Moore. “She’s got confidence and she makes things happen, which makes it easy on the old coach when you can just get out of the way and let them go.”
James scored 27 points in the second half
while making 11 of her 13 shot attempts, spearheaded by nine-straight points in the fourth quarter to take back the lead that the Wolfpack had lost early in the second quarter. James played with an unbridled confidence every time she touched the ball, almost as if she knew it would go in before she had even shot it.
“She’s amazing, as you can see,” said sophomore guard Zoe Brooks. “She scores the ball in so many ways. You can’t guard her. It’s literally impossible. She can score from 3, pull up or go to the basket.”
Even more impressive was the fact that she put her career performance against the second-best defense in the ACC — a defense that typically allows just 59.5 points per game. But the Blue Devils had no answer for the Wooden Award hopeful.
“She makes tough shots,” said Duke head coach Kara Lawson. “She’s a talented scorer and when she gets going, it’s difficult. She did a good job of one-on-one, breaking down and getting to the rim.”
Though James was the driving force behind the comeback, NC State’s veteran players stepped up in a big way when Moore needed them most. Senior guard Saniya
Rivers missed just 30 seconds of game time, scoring 13 points and playing primary defender for nearly the entire match. Brooks provided 15 points on 55% shooting, constantly delivering a clutch jumper when needed. And when the Wolfpack needed an energy boost, graduate guard Madison Hayes was there to provide, whether it was a full-court assist, a tough and-1 layup or simply a hype woman.
“They’re an excellent team,” Lawson said. “Very complete and obviously have a ton of experience. And I thought that experience showed itself late.”
But it wasn’t just the Wolfpack’s experience that gave it the edge. Moore subbed freshman center Lorena Awou into the game in perhaps the most perilous situation — a tight-knit fourth quarter. Moore discussed earlier in the season that younger players such as Awou would be thrown into the flames of the ACC, and no flames were hotter than these. But Awou responded in tremendous fashion, making all three of her shots — including two and-1 layups — to go along with three rebounds and a block, all in the fourth quarter.
“She did great tonight,” Brooks said. “I’m
so happy for her. She put in a lot of work and she made a lot of progress since the summertime.”
Now, a top-10 win on Kay Yow night is cause for much celebration from Wolfpack fans, but Duke exposed key issues in NC State’s roster. The red-and-white was outrebounded, outassisted and blocked six times compared to the two it swatted. This is the first time all season the Wolfpack has won in such conditions but can’t rely on new career highs from James to bail it out every time, especially with its upcoming gauntlet of a schedule.
“I’m proud of what they did in January,” Moore said. “February is brutal. Five out of six games against ranked teams, three of them on the road and, oh boy, the two at home are Duke and Notre Dame. Two top-10 teams. Gotta look at the schedule, folks. Road games are tough every night in the ACC, but now you’re going to three ranked ones. We still got a whole lot of speed bumps ahead of us.”
Next up, the Wolfpack travels down to Tallahassee to take on No. 22 Florida State on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on The CW.
Connor VanDerMark
Assistant Sports Editor
ALEX MANUEL/TECHNICIAN
Senior guard Aziaha James soaks in the crowd during the Play4Kay game against Duke in Reynolds Coliseum on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. James led NC State with 36 points. The Wolfpack beat the Blue Devils 89-83.
Pack wrestler Vince Robinson’s rise to stardom
Noah Teague Staff Writer
Seemingly every year, NC State wrestling features an elite talent who can compete with anyone in the country. From Nick Gwiazdowski to most recently Trent Hidlay, many all-time greats have donned the redand-white. This season, the next of those has emerged — redshirt freshman Vince Robinson.
After redshirting last season, Robinson has become one of the stars of the sport. Ranked No. 3 nationally, Robinson has positioned himself as the favorite in the 125-pound class for the ACC title, and a potential national championship contender. Despite his inexperience, Robinson is already near the top of his class with multiple years ahead to improve his craft.
In his latest bout, Robinson won one of the most important matches for any NC State wrestler this season. In a heated 16-16 match with No. 18 North Carolina, Robinson was
the Wolfpack’s last competitor, facing No. 13 Spencer Moore. From a 12-match winning streak over Carolina to an undefeated conference record, everything was on the line for NC State.
While most freshmen would be intimidated by such a high-stakes bout, Robinson stepped to the mat as confident as ever and rightfully so. Aggressively seeking takedowns, Robinson manhandled his opponent, showing no signs of inexperience or hesitation. When the damage was done, Robinson left the mat with a decisive 10-4 decision.
“I was ready for the moment,” Robinson said after defeating Moore. “That’s just the type of moments I live for. … I like shining and I like the big lights.”
The match showcased everything about Robinson and his game. Confidence, speed and consistency were on full display. Notably, Robinson’s teammates also had confidence in the rising star. Despite his youthfulness, his teammates had seen him handle
previous opponents and knew he’d seal the deal for the red-and-white.
“It was really good to see everyone on their feet,” said redshirt junior Isaac Trumble after Robinson’s win. “It was good seeing Vinny be able to seal out the duel. That was fun.”
The match wasn’t Robinson’s first time shining in the spotlight either. The Wolfpack suffered a 34-3 smackdown at No. 3 Oklahoma State where only one Wolfpack wrestler won a match: Robinson. Ranked No. 2 nationally at the time, the Cowboys’ Troy Spratley may have seemed like a shooin for a win to an outsider. However, Robinson announced his presence nationally with a 7-3 victory. Seizing the lead with a first-period takedown, Robinson never looked back and led the remainder of the match, vaulting himself near the top of the national rankings.
Under head coach Pat Popolizio, NC State has built an identity that matches Robinson. Much like wrestlers before him, Robinson
is a hard worker and shows no mercy on the mat, scoring critical extra points whenever he can. Additionally, Robinson is a tireless worker who begins winning matches with his work in practice.
“I just prepare myself,” Robinson said. “Prepare myself for this in the practice room, every day we go through it so that I’m ready and prepared.”
Before reaching postseason play, Robinson has a couple more matches, likely including his toughest ACC bout of the season. Virginia Tech’s No. 5 Eddie Ventresca — a former All-American and ACC runner-up in 2023 — will certainly be a challenge for Robinson. However, Robinson’s best wins have come on the road and he’ll be ready for this challenge.
Regardless of how the rest of the season goes, the future is bright for the Wolfpack and Robinson. With a rising star that’s only a redshirt freshman, NC State will remain dangerous on the mat for years to come.
KAELA BELINGON/TECHNICIAN
Redshirt freshman Vince Robinson celebrates his win during the duel against Appalachian State in Reynolds Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. Robinson won the 125 bout by technical fall. The Wolfpack defeated the Mountaineers 34-12.
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