Technician
Assaults reported near campus Will Brooks Staff Writer
Breaking and entering and sexual assault have been reported near Hillsborough St. the past few months. Four incidents occurred on Vander-
bilt Ave. near Hillsborough St. recently; two of these reports involved sexual assault, one involved burglary and three involved breaking and entering, according to Jim Sughrue, director of public affairs for Raleigh Police. “These cases go back a couple of months,” Sughrue said. The first of these crimes was reported on Aug. 25 in the 2600 block of Vanderbilt Ave. A man was accidentally let into a residency and subsequently sexually assaulted a woman
in her home, Sughrue said. What began in August has continued, with the last related report filed on Oct. 16 when a man was said to have snuck in through the window of an apartment. The man proceeded to slip into the victim’s bed and sexually assault her, Sughrue said. Raleigh police believe that one person may be responsible for all of the reported crime, Jon Barnwell, Deputy Chief of Campus Police said. The suspect is described as “a dark
complexion male, approximately 6 feet tall, stocky build with short “stubbly” hair” according to an email sent out by Barnwell. All the crimes were committed in the same vicinity and the man described seems to be similar on all accounts. The crimes were similar, with only slight variations. One of the strangest cases in-
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Blue Ridge Cinema increases prices The Blue Ridge Cinema has raised its prices for the first time since it’s opening. Elise Heglar Deputy News Editor
For the first time since the opening in 1993, the Blue Ridge Cinema has raised ticket prices from $1.50 to $2. The decision to raise the ticket prices was a corporate one according to Stephen Emerson, a manager at the theater. Staff at the cinema was not given any specific reasoning as to why the prices were raised. “They didn’t give us any reason at all for the price change, unfortunately. I guess that they just decided it was time, since we haven’t raised our prices at all since we opened in 1993,” Emerson said. The change officially went into effect on Oct. 28. Emerson said staff was notified about a week before the change went into effect. There was some concern from staff members that ticket sales would drop due to the increase, but Emerson said they have not seen any changes in sales. “We had some small concern about it at first, but ultimately it’s the best and cheapest way to go see a movie in Raleigh,” Emerson said. Rose Cuomo, a sophomore in arts
Vanessa Movasseghi/Technician
Nikki Whitt, a junior in extension education, receives a receipt after purchasing movie tickets at Blue Ridge Cinema Monday. The cinema recently increased their movie prices from $1.50 to $2.00 per ticket. “It can no longer be called the $1.50 theater, and that needs to be advertised,” Whitt said. Whitt said she will still continue to see movies at the theater despite the price increase.
applications who frequents the Blue Ridge Cinema, does not think the price raise is a big problem. “It’s still a really good deal for seeing a pretty recent movie,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo said she believes the raise is so insignificant that attendance at the theater will not drop at all. “Even though the atmosphere of the theater might not be the most ap-
pealing, it’s still a fun experience. A 50-cent difference is not going to make people not want to go,”
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Seniors prep for graduation at Grad Fair Annual grad fair at the bookstore gives students a chance to spend and give back to N.C. State.
Junior Hannah Willoughby was staffing the senior gift table on Tuesday. “It’s really important that you give your senior class gift so that you can leave your legacy at State,” Willoughby Emily Collis said. Correspondent There are a variety of ways to give, The semi-annual Grad Fair is in full including monthly and yearly. There swing at the University Bookstore’s is no set amount required. Students new location on the ground floor of can give any amount that will fit into their budget. Harrelson Hall. Willoughby explained, “this year is “It’s a full set up of graduation needs,” Debra Goode, one of the many a little different because you can pick people in charge of coordinating the where you want your money to go.” Everywhere from the First Year Colfair, said. lege to the MarchGoode encouraged ing Band Fund can all students graduatreceive the money ing in December or donated by graduatMay to come by the ing students. Grad Fair. The way you can “[Students] can give to the senior gift pick up their cap and is not the only thing gowns, they can pick that is changed at up diploma frames, this year’s fair; 2011 and they can get inmarks the first year it formation on their is held in the bookrings,” Goode said. store’s new location. The fair is a oneHannah Willoughby, junior in Goode explained stop shop for a gradsport management that there is a lot uate’s needs. At the more space to work fair, anything from graduation announcements, to N.C. with in Harrelson as opposed to the State plates and glasses, to University old location in Talley. With more space comes more room apparel can be picked up. A photographer is also available to for grads to closely examine all of the take free proofs of the grads in their things the fair has to offer. The Grad Fair will be the first time caps and gowns. Although merchandise is one of the for some students to view the design primary focuses of the fair, a table is of class rings, cap and gowns, and analso set up for the graduates to give back by donating money to their chosen area of the University. grads continued page 3
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No set standard for attendance As the semester draws to a close, students are reviewing attendance policies. Anna Riley Staff Writer
With the end of the semester looming, many students have begun tightening their academic discipline and reviewing attendance policies that may have an impact on their final grades. In the student code of conduct, the attendance regulation section is comprised of the University policies pertaining to excused and unexcused class absences. These policies state the attributes of excused and unexcused absences, but allow professors to determine how to implement consequences of missing class. According to university attendance regulations, an absence is deemed excusable if it pertained to an official school function, a mandatory court appearance, a religious observance, military duty, short-term illness or injury, or a death in the family. The University policy records all other class absences as unexcused unless otherwise excused by an individual professor. Following a University-wide determination of what constitutes an excused or unexcused absence, professors use their discretion to establish a class policy on the permissible number of absences and the implications for students who exceed their limit. The exceptions to the rule, however, fall among 100 and 200-level courses. Because they are classified as introductory classes, the University policy obliges instructors to keep an attendance record for every class period. Beyond the 200-level, professors only have to record class attendance as they see fit. By means of a required syllabus, professors are obligated to inform students about their specific rules for class attendance and the potential consequences for excessive absences. While some professors adhere to strictly managed attendance policies, others are more lenient. Communication professor Craig Smith said he encourages students to attend class for their academic benefit, but does not factor specific absences into final grades. He said his reasoning stems from the notion that students should
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“It’s really important that you give your senior class gift so that you can leave your legacy...”
Scientific reasons behind beauty of autumn See page 6.
Metcalf stays young with Wolfpack See page 8. Megan Farrell/Technician
Anna Kanipe, a senior in English, looked over options for purchasing graduation announcements at N.C. State Bookstore’s Grad Fair Tuesday afternoon. While at the Grad Fair, Kanipe purchased her gown and tassel in preparation for graduation in December. “I’m excited about graduating and ready to go into the ‘real world,’” Kanipe said.
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Breaking and entering combined with sexual assault have recently been reported near Hillsborough Street.
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