Technician
monday november
28 2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Students recharge over break Students spent the annual Nov. holiday traveling and spending time with family.
New course offering fosters awareness of racial issues An innovative history course explores the reality of racial issues in the South.
Emily Collis Staff Writer
After a week of celebrating and honoring N.C. State traditions, students made the trip back to their homes and continued traditions of a different variety. For st udent s, t he t hree-day Thanksgiving holiday officially began Wednesday. Students braved the traffic on I-40 and headed back to visit family and friends for the holiday break. Surrounded by family, students celebrated Thanksgiving in a variety of ways, most of them revolving around Tupac Sanchez/Technician the all-important holiday cuisine. A carved Thanksgiving turkey sits on a counter top Thursday. Students “This Thanksgiving was better than returned home last week to celebrate the holiday with family and friends. years past because [my family] actually went somewhere else to eat dinner as opposed to our own home,” Isaac in doesn’t matter for most people as around the T.V. on Thanksgiving Day Smith, freshman in mechanical engi- long as treasured traditions—football, to watch the Lions game,” Josh Stark, good food, and family—remain the freshman in mathematics, said. neering, said. Unique or not, the practices of the same. S ome s t udent s After the trypto- holiday traditions hold special places traveled to enjoy phan began to take for every University student. the festivities with For freshman in First Year College, its toll, many people those who live far turned to television Kathy Bryan, different genders are away, while others to provide their af- assigned duties to make the day run had relatives come ternoon entertain- smoothly. stay with them. “Every year the women prepare the ment. “My grandparents “My family and I food and set the table, but after the came from Indiana have watched Christ- meal, it is the men’s job to clear the to have ThanksgivIsaac Smith, mechanical mas Vacation every table and clean up everything,” Bryan ing at my house. We engineering freshman Thanksgiving for as said. ate turkey, asparagus Whether students came home looklong as I can rememcasserole, sweet potato casserole, cranberry dressing, and ber. I can probably recite the entire ing forward to the traditional gatherhad six pies to choose from,” Jennifer movie by now,” Jordan said. “Our tradition may not be very Jordan, freshman in psychology, said. The decision of going out or staying unique, but my family always gathers break continued page 3
“This Thanksgiving was better than years past...”
fields, and yet I think our positions as historians are very different. He grew up in the South as a white man, and he had different kinds of experiences than I had growing up as an African American woman,” Kelley said. “So I Brooke Wallig think our particular positions in the Staff Writer world make us see things differently, It’s no secret that, in recent years, and it’s interesting for students to see N.C. State has had its share of in- two historians who like each other and cidents surrounding racial issues. agree and know similar things and yet But by providing students with have different points to make, differa safe, academic setting to discuss ent emphasis and even some disagreethese issues and others like them ments.” By witnessing these discussions— through historical context, one professor said she hopes to inspire including potential disagreements— a change in thinking that will ex- every week, students will not only gain a more detailed understanding of the tend beyond the classroom. Blair L.M. Kelley, associate his- subject, but also examine their own tory professor, will be co-teaching opinions, Kelley said. “This course gives you an opportuan innovative course called “The nity to think about South in Black our own position and White” along in our world, how with Duke Unito engage in it and versity visiting how to think quickly professor a nd about what’s going award winning on around us,” Kelauthor of Blood ley said. “It’s a fun Done Sign My way for them to see Name, Timothy that we all can come Tyson next seto this material from mester. our own points of According to view and walk away Kelley, the course with different things w i l l e x a m i ne Blair L.M. Kelley, associate and have different both the history history professor thoughts about it.” and future of life Another way the in the South from multiple perspectives—something course attempts to show students the that may prove both challenging past and present of life in the south is and enlightening for the students through an interactive exploration in and collaborating professors. “[Tyson and I] have similar training and we are in similar course continued page 3
“We need to create a space that’s safe, where students feel brave enough to say what they think. ”
University’s first sexual communication class holds fair The University’s inaugural Sexual Communication class offers a health and information fair. Jessie Halpern Staff Writer
The University’s first Sexual Communication class is holding a fair today to educate students about sexual health and general information. While the fair promises to be an entertaining event, for some, the most interesting part will be getting a glimpse of what the sexual communication course is about. Associate
professor of communications Kama Kosenko, who suggested the creation of this course at N.C. State, says that the University’s class is only the second offered in the nation. “I think [this class] is incredibly important, mainly because people of college age are at extreme risk for a variety of sexual health threats and I think that it is important not only to inform students about these risks, but to give them a sense of effective ways of communicating about those risks,” Kosenko said. “One of the things we know about the literature on sexual health is that communication can be one of the most powerful preventive
behaviors.” While Kosenko could not comment on why other universities currently choose not to offer a similar course, she is cognizant of the stigmas associated with sex research and the effect that may have on course selection. “At other universities, some sex researchers and scholars have had some issues, so I was a bit concerned that the class would not be something that people would be interested in for a variety of reasons; but when I first proposed it, my department head was very supportive,” Kosenko said. Kosenko promoted th e class as it opened up for registration and tried
Jumping for joy
to give students good information about what they would be learning in the course. “I tried my best to promote the class and make sure students knew a little about the topic and myself, to make the topic a little less scary, and this semester we’re close to 70 students,” Kosenko said. Jessica Highsmith, senior in communications, and Kat Michael, junior in communications, originally enrolled in the course because they enjoyed other courses taught by Kosenko, but both were surprised at the depth and variety the subject had to offer.
“I thought the course was really unique and it seemed like a good way to get out of my comfort zone a little bit,” Highsmith said. Kat Michael added that, although she enrolled in the course because of the professor, she found it to be an interesting and surprising topic. “With sex being so prevalent in media and culture, it’s important that we learn how to communicate about sex,” Michael said. “I was worried at first that there wasn’t going to be a lot of information for the course, but I was
fair continued page 3
insidetechnician
In down market, energy jobs continue to ‘electrify’ local economy Despite stagnant employment rates in North Carolina, renewable energy jobs are on the rise. See page 6.
Pack trumps Terps, clinches bowl eligibility N.C.State scores 42 unanswered points in comeback victory against Maryland. See page 8.
alex sanchez/Technician
Olivia Blackwood, a sophomore in animal science, celebrates a fourth quarter interception by Earl Wolff in the game against Maryland in Carter-Finley stadium Saturday. Wolff’s interception started a Wolfpack drive that gave N.C. State the lead for the first time in the game. The Wolfpack defeated the Terrapins 56-41 in what was the second largest comeback in ACC history.
DECEMBER 2,2011 11AM-9pm
NC STATE BOOKSTORE HARRELSON HALL
I T ’S C R A Z Y L I K E
USING A HAIR DRYER In AN IGLOO MADE OF STRING CHEESE
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