Technician
After a student survey, the University plans to keep the current reading days schedule. Anna Riley Staff Writer
Recently on MyPack Portal, students were asked to complete a survey about the current exam schedule and implemented reading days. Although the recent reading days survey on the webpage suggested the potential for a change, Vice Chancellor Tom Stafford said the university is not planning on making any changes to the school’s exam schedule and use of reading days. After a majority of students asked for reading days in the fall of 2009, Stafford said the university implemented two reading days, the Monday and Tuesday before exams began, and adjusted the exam schedule to fit around them. “They were [implemented] primarily as a result of student input,” Stafford said. By design, the reading days were meant to give students extra time to study for exams, to finish final papers, and to de-stress before a week of final exams. “The students had strongly advocated for two reading days at the end of the last week of classes,” Stafford said. Stafford said the provost used the student input but decided instead to designate the Monday and Tuesday after the last week of classes as the two reading days, and in turn pushed the
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january
17 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Exam reading days to remain intact despite student survey
tuesday
Fans gear up for cold Campout Campout, a long-standing University tradition, continues this year with big plans. Anna Riley Staff Writer
For years the N.C. State community has supported the famous Wolfpack-Tarheel rivalry with a plethora of different events. This week, students will have the opportunity to show their school spirit by participating in the traditional ticket Campout. Student Government partnered with the Union Activities Board and other university organizations to host the 2012 Campout for students who are eager to receive tickets for the University basketball game against University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Jan. 26. The Campout is characterized by a number of events, including a three-on-three basketball tournament and amazing race competition, broken up by a series of checkpoints. The first checkpoint will be the students’ initial checkin and five others will follow. According to Scott Moore, this year’s Campout planner and a senior in computer and electrical engineering, students have to make four out of the five checkpoints, including the mandatory checkout, in order to receive a ticket to the game. Moore, who is a Campus Community Committee chair, said a great amount of planning and preparation went into the 2012 Campout. This year, Moore said the campers will be lining their tents along the side of Dunn Ave. and the various events will be held in Reynolds Coliseum and Talley. Among the events in Reynolds including the University Recreation sponsored three-on-three
Tim O’Brien/Technician archive
Graduate students Hannah Young, a textile engineer, and Will Sotoughton, a psychology student, walk with camping gear to check-in and setup for the night of activities in front of Reynolds Coliseum for the UNC ticket Campout Saturday night, Jan. 15. “I didn’t actually camp out last year,” Young said, despite having signed up and attending many of the events. “I’ll try to be more hearty this time.”
basketball tournament, hockey shootout, and slam dunk contest, a health promotions booth will be set up to endorse healthy habits and “The Big Event”. With the exception of breaking the University rules and regulations or the Campout conduct rules, Moore said all students who complete four out of the five checkpoints, including the final checkout, are guaranteed a ticket. “Students will check in between 5 and 8 p.m. and that’s the first checkpoint. After that there are three random checkpoints and then the final
checkout which is mandatory for getting a ticket,” Moore said. Students who break any of the rules or miss more than one checkpoint are ineligible for a ticket. According to Moore, a major deal-breaker is leaving trash behind. He said the grounds crews have cracked down on littering. “They definitely won’t get a ticket if they leave trash at their campsite,” Moore said. Moore said this is his first time planning Campout and he’s excited about how it will turn out. “It’s one of the oldest and most im-
portant traditions in N.C. State history, for one night everyone comes together as one big Wolfpack family,” Moore said. So far, according to Moore, over 1,500 students have signed up. Moore said he and his committee are eager for “as many students to sign up as possible.” The University Tradition’s Commission chair, Andy Walsh, junior in political science, said all students who
Sci-fi event brings out large crowd
Tactical mission
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insidetechnician
IllogiCon, a new science fiction convention held in Raleigh was met with success. Defense stands Deacs in line
Sarah Dashow Staff Writer
Jordan Moore/Technician
Scot Robertson, a freshman in mechanical engineering, runs through the Brickyard during a tactical mission for “Humans versus Zombies,” Monday,. Robertson was excited about “the infection,” which starts Jan. 23 and is expected to draw upwards of 1,000 students. “This is just a gauntlet, to get ready for the infection,” Robertson said. This is the second time the playful hunting game has hit campus, due to the success of the fall semester play. All proceeds of the game go to SCT Now, an organization devoted to stopping child trafficking.
This past weekend the first annual illogiCon, a science fiction convention, was held in Raleigh for the first time. Brandon Ulick, vice convention chair, spoke about how the convention came about. “We thought Raleigh needed [a science-fiction convention],” Ulick said. “We all kind of had an agreement on what we wanted to do, and we set out to do it. We made some mistakes, but it worked out.” As a fan run science-fiction convention, there were panels for a wide range of subjects including getting started as writer, sci-fi television shows, video games and films, comics, costuming, and trivia. There was also a “Wondrous Winter Formal” hosted by James Rippe, also known as Formal Vader, with other Star Wars costumers acting as guards, and a Harry Potter “Yule Ball” hosted by The Blibbering Humdingers, a band who sings songs about the books and movies. The guests of honor included science-fiction writer Joe Haldeman, and famous game master Richard “War Bunny” Desautels. Haldeman has been writing since 1969 and has attended conventions across the country. When he is not
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Save 25% on cost of your textbooks by buying used books at:
NC State Bookstores Located in Harrelson on theTextbooks. Brickyard! "The Official Store forHall NC State "
State defense holds Wake to 29 percent shooting in 76-40 win. See page 8.
Microneedles make breakthrough for biomedical sciences
Dr. Roger Narayan has developed a monitor system using microneedles to measure blood chemistry. See page 6.
Daniel Center’s after school program provides more than childcare for low-income children
Local childcare program inspires lowincome children to attend college and pursue STEM careers. See page 5.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
SPECIAL BACK TO SCHOOL HOURS: Monday - January 10 - 8am to 8pm
Monday Thursday, 8am 8pm Tuesday -- January 11 - 8am to to 8pm Wednesday - January Friday, 8am12to- 8am 6pmto 8pm Thursday - January 13 - 8am to 8pm Saturday, toto4pm Friday - January10am 14 - 8am 6pm
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