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Clinton campaigns in Raleigh Elizabeth Moomey & Megan Dunton Staff Writers
Former President Bill Clinton made a pitstop in Raleigh’s Pullen Park Sunday, to gather support for the re-election of President Barack Obama, and to keep “North Carolina blue.” North Carolina, a contended state in the presidential election, has received much attention from both Obama’s and Governor Mitt Romney’s campaigns, and many speculate the state will be decided by a slim margin. The crowd was filled with campaign signs stating “Forward,” “Medicare No Vouchers,” “Fighting for Us” and “Bill Clinton 2016.” In the 2008 presidential election, Obama won by fewer than 14,000 votes. Jim Hunt, former North Carolina governor, introduced Clinton and said the vote may be just as split this year. “Here in North Carolina, the presidential election could be decided by just a few votes,” Hunt said. “Four years ago, North Carolina was the closest race in the nation. This year the race will be even closer.” Many have stopped classifying North Carolina as a swing state because Obama has not visited since the Democratic National Convention in September. Though North Carolina hasn’t seen much of Obama, his campaign in the state has remained active. Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama have frequented universities and major cities in the past weeks. Mitt Romney’s campaign has implied that it controls the North Carolina vote by a considerable
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Raleigh, North Carolina
Students pack in for Pack Howl Concert Alex Petercuskie Staff Writer
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Former President Bill Clinton speaks at a rally for Obama at Pullen Park Sunday. President Clinton spoke to supporters about the importance of getting everyone out to vote on Nov. 6 and turning North Carolina “blue” once again.
margin, large enough to remove its campaign’s chief spokesperson. Clinton’s visit echoed the North Carolina Democratic Party’s motto, “Keep North Carolina blue.” Early voting is typically driven by Democrats, according to David McClennan, a political science professor at William Peace University. But McClennan said this election will be different because Republicans don’t want to be steamrolled like they were in 2008. “North Carolina matters,” said Dan Blue, Wake County state senator. “Look to your left and right and challenge him or her to match your efforts, in the next 51 hours, to make
sure this is a blue state.” Chris Jones, a freshman in political science, said he agrees with Blue. To help with the voting effort, Jones said he encouraged his roommate to vote. “It’ s not who he wants to vote for, it’s that he won’t vote,” Jones said. “That’s the problem.” Clinton detailed several reasons he supports Obama, including Obama’s economic policies, support for women’s rights, efforts to make college more affordable and decrease in military spending. Obama’s position on women’s rights and college loans is an important issue for Antoinette Jones,
a sophomore in political science and vice president of College Democrats. She said these were the pivotal reasons why Obama received her vote. Senator Kay Hagan, an attendee of Clinton’s speech, reiterated the Obama’s stance on women’s rights, saying Obama is a stark advocate for women and has advanced policies that promote fairness and a level playing field. “The first bill signed into law by President Obama was the Lilly Ledbetter Act, so women could have equal pay,” Hagan said.
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Red and white bedeck homecoming parade Sara Awad
Chancellor Randy Woodson, Provost Warwick Arden, Mr. and Ms. Wuf and many other promiStudents, alumni and members of nent figures in the University atthe community gathered to watch tended the event. the Homecoming Parade make its The parade was also one of way through Hillsborough Street the many events of HomecomSaturday evening. ing Week that played host to the The parade started at the corner of spirit of competition. To comDan Allen Drive and Hillsborough pete, student organizations, soStreet and ended at Pullen Road. rorities and fraternities designed Parade-goers shouted until their floats that would be evaluated by voices grew hoarse both the judges as they f locked to and the audisee colorful f loats ence. and grab candy According to that participants Homecoming on f loats threw to Pa rade cha i r them. Kathryn Howie, The colorguard, this was the first A i r Forc e a nd year that audiJohn Sprague, member of Army ROTC began ence members NCSU Pipes and Drums the festivities with could particiGrand Marshal Cullen Jones follow- pate in the voting process. This ing behind. Jones graduated from type of voting was made possible the University in 2006, and is most through N.C. State’s Homecomfamous for his swimming career in ing App on Guidebook. the Olympics. Jones earned two gold Humanitarian efforts were recmedals and a world record in the ognized as members of CSLEPS 4-by-100 meter freestyle. asked the crowd for spare change The N.C. State Dance Team and that could be donated to Hurricheerleaders also kept the parade cane Sandy victims. going with twirling batons, red flags N.C. State Pipes and Drums and pom poms, while the march- brought some Scottish culture to ing band played the Red and White the event. Though band member Song. John Sprague was exhausted by The parade could not end with- the end of the parade, he said, out the entrance of the night’s guests the support of the crowd was of honor: N.C. State football team inspiring. captains Sterling Lucas and Mike “It was great seeing people line Glennon and head football coach Tom O’ Brien. PARADE continued page 2 Staff Writer
“It was great seeing people line up the streets.”
student tee shirt design contest
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Susan Youngstead, junior in psychology, holds a sign during the SlutWalk on Friday.
Slut Walk provokes awareness on gender inequalities Jessie Halpern News Editor
More than 30 students participated in a Slut Walk Friday afternoon to promote an end to the blame placed on victims of sexual abuse. The walk was the second one held on campus — the first was in the middle of the summer. Anokhi Shah, a senior in psychology, organized both events on campus, though she said the movement is not affiliated with N.C. State in any way. “A lot of people blame the victim, that’s why we came out here to protest it,” Shah said. Slut Walk is a movement that started after a Canadian police officer commented on a sexual abuse case in 2011, saying, “if women want to stop getting victimized, they should stop dressing like sluts.” Friday’s Slut Walk gathered participants in the Brickyard, where they held signs and walked to the
Bell Tower and back. “No matter what a victim is wearing, where they go, how they act, or how many sexual partners they’ve had, they didn’t ask for sexual assault,” Shah said. Representatives from the counseling center and the Women’s Center were present to give out information and be available in case any victims wanted to step forward and ask for help. Shah said the name of the walk seemed to alienate some people, but for the most part the event was successful. “We reiterated our point,” Shah said. “I really hope some people got things out of this. Some walked with us on their way to class, though we also got weird looks.” For more information on the Slut Walk movement, visit: http://www. slutwalktoronto.com/ To request help, counseling or information pertaining to sexual assault, visit: http://oied.ncsu.edu/ womens-center/category/services/
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Students packed Reynolds Coliseum Thursday night for the Pack Howl Concert, N.C. State’s annual homecoming concert. Featured artists included country music band Gloriana and rapper Wale. Before the concert, some students said they were curious about the choice of artists because of their stylistic differences. However, after the event, some students believed the two choices worked well together and attracted diverse groups of students. Lauryn Collier, president of Union Activities Board, said she was surprised by the low ticket sales leading up to the event. Collier said she anticipated an early sellout due to the diversity of the acts chosen by the UAB and the Alumni Association. Both organizations considered what music college students currently listen to when deciding what acts to book. However, one change made this year may have contributed to the lack of ticket sales. Tickets were only available for purchase online through a website called Ticket Central. In the past, students could pick up their tickets at the ticket office in the Talley Student Center. Collier said the website, Ticket Central, centralizes the process of buying tickets with no cost. In addition, Collier said the website makes purchasing tickets easier for the general public and alumni because they don’t have to come to campus. Concert tickets for students cost $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Another possible cause of fewer ticket sales might have been that tickets were free last year. Anna Martin, freshman in meteorology, said she thought the concert could have been advertised better, which might have contributed to the show’s
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Celebrating Guy Fawkes with music and fire See page 7.
‘Hoos spoil Homecoming See page 8.
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