Technician
hopes to grow campus numbers The Hillel Jewish student group gets ready for annual Hanukkah celebration.
november
30 2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
University Hillel
wednesday
Students fight pre-exam stress With exams looming, students find various ways to combat stress issues. Sarah Dashow Staff Writer
Jessie Halpern Staff Writer
Among the several pamphlets offered to students in Talley Student Center is a directory of the Chaplains’ Cooperative Ministry, which lists all of N.C. State’s religious organizations. Jewish students may have noticed that one campus group is too far for comfort: Hillel Jewish Student Life. Hillel, an organization that affiliates itself with campuses around the country, offers Jewish students a forum to celebrate holidays away from home and meet other students of the same faith. While Hillel is listed on the Ministry pamphlet, it is not indicated anywhere that N.C. State has its own Hillel group; rather, its Chapel Hill address is printed, leaving some to conclude participation requires transportation. Michelle Haber, junior in social work and peer network engagement intern for the N.C. Hillel system says N.C. State’s Hillel has been around and thriving. “We have Shabbat on certain Fridays. We’ve had camping, hiking, played Apples to Apples, had an N.C. State Football party, and more,” Haber said. Haber’s role in the N.C. Hillel system gives her the responsibility of representing the University and getting others involved in events, like the upcoming Hanukkah Party. Sarah Mazur, senior in accounting and president of the University’s Hillel chapter, is excited for the upcoming holiday celebrations. “The Hanukkah party is usually our biggest event of the year,” Mazur said. “We have lots of games set up, like a Jewish version of Apples to Apples, and we raffle off small prizes.”
hillel continued page 3
During exam periods, student organizations put together events called Stress Busters for students to take study breaks and relieve some tension. The counseling center also offers services for students who wish to have one-on-one help during exam time. This year, University Activities Board is running a week-long event called Finals Fun Week. “This is the first year that we are doing a week’s worth of Stress Busters events. We, as a board, thought it was strange that UAB didn’t put on events during finals, so we figured it was important to start a new tradition,” Erinn Wofford-Allen, senior in applied psychology and UAB diversity chair, said. The events include a promotional movie put on by the Films Committee, a dub-step dance party put on by Issues and Issues, a karaoke night put on by the Black Students Board, an origami night photo illustration by andrew so put on by the Diversity Activities Board Committee, and ultimate With exams quickly approaching, many students are overwhelmed with stress. The Counseling Center offers services to bingo put on by the Leisure and help students cope with anxiety. sessions with counselors as well as agement. Coming up Nov. 30 is a test puter science, attended Carmichael Entertainment Committee. “The idea was to have each workshops students can sign up for anxiety workshop, a healthy cram- Gym’s Exam Jam a few times. “The event was decent. Free food through the counsel- ming workshop Dec. 1 and a stress committee creis always a boon to students. It’s nice ing website, includ- management workshop Dec. 5. ate a fun event According to Lee Salter, director of near exams to be able to take a moing a weekly Friday to showcase all Stress Meeting. Last counseling and licensed psychologist, ment away from your work,” Adams the committees year, there were 191 student appointments increase sig- said. and the UAB as Derin Alabi, senior in computer enworkshops through- nificantly during exams. Despite the a whole. We all out the semester, high demand, they still take walk-ins. gineering, attended the Pet-A-Pooch knew we would with 8,611 students The counseling center is open and the event last year. be stressed “I liked [Pet-A-Pooch]. It really was workshops run all semester. in attendance. around finals and However, Salter offered some sim- a nice break from the constant scramThe work shops figured that this vary by organization ple advice any student can follow. He bling during dead week,” Alabi said. would be a perFor more information on stress reand are run by the recommends organization of tasks, fect short break Erinn Wofford-Allen, lief, there are pamphlets available at getting enough sleep, eating healthy, counseling outreach for students durUAB diversity chair program. There are exercising, limiting parties to after all the counseling center, and a collecing finals,” Allen topics such as study exams are done and not pulling all- tion of virtual pamphlets linked on said. the counseling center website. The counseling center offers skills, stress management, test tak- nighters. Matthew Adams, senior in comappointments for one-on-one ing, procrastination and time man-
“This is the first year that we are doing a week’s worth of Stress Busters events.”
Wind ensemble presents annual holiday concert The University wind ensemble held a diverse performance Tuesday night. Anna Riley staff writer
Playing a collection of rich classical and contemporary tunes, N.C. State’s wind ensemble held its winter concert Tuesday night. Headed by the N.C. State music department and Director Paul Garcia, the ensemble performed an organized musical show for a crowd of public and student onlookers. In a packed theater, the wind ensemble, known for its rhythmic variety and great amount of student talent, showcased its most recent compilations and arrangements of melodies. The program comprised six pieces, with one piece boasting four separate parts. Kevin Quick, a first-year string bass player and freshman in nuclear engineering, said he was pleased with how the concert turned out. “I absolutely loved it,” Quick said. Quick and fellow ensemble member Michael Scanlan, a horn player and freshman in meteorology, said they were happy to be a part of the performance and have the opportunity to work alongside pianist Tom Koch. “He’s fantastic. It’s amazing playing with him,” Scanlan said. Quick said he enjoyed playing with Koch because he is such a talented player. Scanlan, also a first-year member, said the group required many practices to prepare for Tuesday night’s
show, including a handful of rehearsals with Koch. “We had practiced before, but when he came in we just started following what he was doing,” Scanlan said. The group began the performance with the “Tannhauser Overture,” and with help from the piano soloist, music professor Koch, continued with the “Petite Suite” that carried the audience through a medley of sections. The tunes featured a variety of sounds, pitches, rhythms and tempos. “Petite Suite,” which contained En Bateau, Cortege, Menuet and Ballet, started with calming flute sounds and a smooth riff from the clarinets. As “Petite Suite” progressed, the tempo became more upbeat, though maintaining mellow undertones. During the piece, the tubas added complimentary sounds that were pitch-perfect. And with the holiday season looming, the Menuet, “elves at play,” that was full of cheery flute parts, provided a holiday feeling for audience members. “Petite Suite’s,” conclusion with Ballet was a fast-paced, energetic collection of melodies that featured flutes and French horns. Following an intermission, the ensemble played three additional pieces including “Symphony for Band” and “Cloudburst.” Charles Townes, a senior in business administration, said he attended the event because he was interested in hearing the ensemble’s new pieces “The whole ensemble was great. And Dr. Koch was spectacular. When he played ‘Dangerous Moonlight’ it seemed like it belonged in a movie. It was very suspenseful,” Townes said.
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jordan moore/Technician
Kevin Quick, a freshman in nuclear engineering, plays the string bass during the wind ensemble’s performance of “Tanhauser Overture,” Tuesday.
DECEMBER 2,2011 11AM-9pm
NC STATE BOOKSTORE HARRELSON HALL
I T ’S C R A Z Y L I K E PINK LEG WAR MERS ON GIRAFFES
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