TECHNICIAN
friday september
21 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Gary Johnson inspires Libertarian vote Linda Lear
to Speak at N.C. State
Taylor O’Quinn Correspodent
Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson spoke Thursday in Durham about the rise in libertarianism in today’s political environment. Joining him at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University were libertarian gubernatorial candidates Barbara Howe and Brian Irving. The Libertarian party’s appearance follows on the heels of a 16 percent increase in registered Libertarian voters in the United States last month, according to Howe. She said that mostly Democrats and independents are converting to Libertarianism. “Our country needs a new direction,” Howe said. “It needs a third party to break through.” Howe conveyed her strong opinions on the passage of Amendment One, an anti-same sex marriage law, this previous May. Howe said she believes the passage of the amendment was a “slap on society.” She said she was so upset by the passage of this amendment that she shredded her marriage license in front of the Attorney General’s office. This is Howe’s third run for Governor of North Carolina, and to boost awareness of her campaign and the Libertarian party in general, she is organizing and participating in a 5K run in all 100 counties of North Carolina. She has already visited 84 counties and hosted what she said to be successful events. On Nov. 4, the day before election day, Howe plans to end her tour in Wake County by completing a 5K in front of the Governor’s Mansion.
Sara Awad Correspodent
TYLER ANDREWS/TECHNICIAN
Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson speaks about his time as governor of New Mexico and discusses his platform for the 2012 presidential election at “Elevate - A Discussion on Ignored Policy Issues” on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Duke University. “Why are we out talking to college students? Why are we out talking to young people? Because you all are getting screwed.”, Johnson said, while discussing the future state of retirement and healthcare.
The Libertarian party currently has three candidates running for the House. One of whom is Brian Irving, who gave a brief speech after Howe. “Our country has been at war my entire life,” Irving said. He said he feels strongly abut bringing our troops home and supports an isolationist foreign policy. “I am presenting a completely different view than twinkle-dumb and twinkle-dumber” Irving said. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian presidential candidate, highlighted Thursday’s private press conference, and outlined his vision for a country
with a smaller government. “I think America is really hungry,” Johnson said. “Libertarianism is not only a third choice, but the only choice.” Johnson said he believes most American’s identify with Libertarian views, and during his speech, he emphasized the importance of this election’s timing. “We need to pull out of Afghanistan now, recognize marriage equality now, legalize and regulate marijuana now,” Johnson said. He also heavily advocated for repealing the Patriot Act and balancing the federal budget.
When it comes to the ever present issue of the economy, Johnson is a proponent of the fair tax and abolishing the IRS. He said he believes if the U.S. enacted these views, it would “reboot [the] American economy.” Johnson said slashing Medicare and military spending is essential to the growth of America’s failing economy. Johnson warned if Congress does not severely cut spending across the board then “we will find ourselves without a country.” Johnson said he fears he may be
JOHNSON continued page 3
Documentary Competition open to campus community Megan Dunton
community engagement.” Specific services and opportunities available to students this fall North Carolina Campus Com- are N.C. Campus Compact’s anpact announced its first Docu- nual student conference, grants, mentary Film Shorts Competi- the Campus Engagement Election tion. Project and the video shorts comN.C. Campus Compact is a petition. The Campus Engagement coalition of campuses dedi- Election Project is also another vidcated to creating graduates who eo competition in which students are engaged and active in the are asked to send in a 30-second community. They also encour- video detailing why they vote. age graduates not only to be enThis year’s conference, hosted gaged in their local community, by N.C. Campus Compact, will but also to be involved nationally be at UNC-Wilmington on Nov. and globally. 2-3. Keyne said about 250 students N.C. Campus Compact has 42 come to the annual conferences member colleges and universi- and that they come to share their ties out of 114 total in North stories of community engagement. Carolina. N.C. At the conference, State is one of students receive a those member community impact universities. award. Lisa Key ne, The Documenexecut ive d itary Film Shorts rector of N.C. Competition is a Campus Comcompetition that pact, said their asks students to job is to keep submit short videos campuses endetailing commugaged. nity engagement “We do this in on their respective a variety of ways c a mpu s . T h re e by holding conjudges will then ferences, acquirexamine the vidLisa Keyne, Campus Compact ing and locating eos and determine resources and a winner. The winproviding awards,” Keyne said. ner will receive $1,000, a screening “We try to expand their reach of their video at the annual conferinto the campus to encourage more people to be involved in SHORTS continued page 3 Staff Writer
PHOTO COURTESY OF NCSU.EDU
University’s layout to be improved and updated Alex Petercuskie Staff Writer
N.C. State’s physical master plan, which works to improve the physical layout of the University and its surrounding community, is being updated. The master plan, last revised in 2007, is a presentation of all development projects that take place on the University’s campus and in adjacent neighborhoods, such as building renovations and enhanced walkways. University architect Lisa Johnson said the plan brings together the various aspects that make up N.C. State and helps to create a safer and
more aesthetically pleasing campus community. “The physical master plan presents a way to integrate the many parts of a large urban campus into a coherent whole,” Johnson said. “Our campus neighborhoods overlap with city neighborhoods, so it is important for us to work together toward mutually beneficial goals.” One of the better-known projects that recently took place under the plan is the Hillsborough Street redevelopment project, on which the University and the city of Raleigh partnered.
PLAN continued page 3
AT THE BOOKSTORE TODAY - SATURDAY 10am-3pm Harrelson Hall On the Brickyard!
“...student filmmakers see this as an opportunity to tell a story about how their campus is making an impact.”
N.C. State will host biographer Linda Lear, author of Rachel Carson: Witness for Nature, next Thursday. The event, organized by Larry Nielsen, professor in the College of Natural Resources, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in 3400 Nelson Hall and will commemorate the 50th anniversary publication of Carson’s most famous work, Silent Spring. Silent Spring details the risks associated with the haphazard use of pesticides, especially in regard to the pesticide DDT. As Carson made the public more aware of the harms of pesticides, she sought to create reform concerning their usage. As a result, she is often given credit for starting the modern environmental movement. A victim of breast cancer, Carson passed away in 1964. Carson’s legacy, however, still lives on through the writings of Linda Lear. A former professor at George Washington University, Lear said she was astounded to discover many of her students had never even heard of Rachel Carson, nor her book Silent Spring. Lear said she was determined to fix the scenario, and thus the biography was born. Lear said she looked up to Carson and her “courage to stand up to all the powers of the ‘establishment’ that were arraigned against her.” Writing the biography was not easy, according to Lear. Lear said not all of Carson’s works were easily accessible, so she interviewed everyone who had even the slightest knowledge of Carson. “Writing a biography is all about telling a life [story],” Lear said. Lear wanted to make sure she wrote the most accurate portrayal of Rachel Carson’s life, and Nielsen said Lear did an excellent job with this. “Lear is balanced and doesn’t romanticize,” Nielson said. “She is objective.” While Lear did not respond to her praises, she did have a lot to say about Carson’s “Silent Spring.” “[Carson] was committed to changing attitudes in order to save lives,” Lear said. “I enjoyed the powerful language with which Carson used to convey her message.” Lear said Carson’s idea that destroying nature also harms the human race is especially appealing. “She intended to disturb us, to alarm us and to make us think about tomorrow and not just about our comforts today,” Lear said. At the time of the publication of Silent Spring, many in the industry and government viewed Carson unfavorably, according to Lear. “They challenged her credibility since she did not have the proper education, and even called her a hysterical woman,”
LEAR continued page 3
GAME DAY SPECIAL
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