TECHNICIAN
friday october
12 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
National Depression Screening Day Jake Moser Staff Writer
N.C. State now offers free screenings for depression, anxiety issues, eating disorders and alcohol abuse online. The service was rolled out as part of Thursday’s National Depression Screening Day. The screenings are provided through Screening for Mental Health Inc., which partners with colleges and other organizations to prevent, treat and educate people about mental health disorders. President and CEO of SMH Douglas Jacobs created the program in 1991 after health screening had become a primary tool in the early identification of health problems. SMH now offers its services internationally to diagnose and prevent depression, general anxiety disorder, alcohol abuse, eating disorders and bipolar disorder, according to Katherine Cruise, director of communication and marketing for SMH. The Department of Defense also began using SMH to screen soldiers for post-traumatic stress disorder in 2006. Cruise said SMH tailored the screenings specifically for the college student community. N.C. State’s free, anonymous screenings allow students to take screenings for specific disorders, like depression, or symptoms, like “worrying too much” or “drinking more than planned.” After students answer a series of questions, the survey tells students what disorder is consistent with their symptoms, mentions that the screening is not a substitute for a clinical evaluation and recommends meeting with a mental health professional for a complete diagnosis. “The most important thing is to talk to someone about it, and that the counseling center is available,” Cruise said. “You might be overwhelmed or having a bad day, but
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JOANNAH IRVIN/TECHNICIAN
Members of the N. C. State acapella group Ladies in Red preform during the Varsity Vocal Showcase at the N. C. State Fair on Oct 1.
Vocal showcase kicks off fair Nikki Stoudt Life & Style Editor
Five local collegiate a cappella groups performed in a fundraiser showcase in Dorton Arena at the N.C. State Fairgrounds Thursday night. The first-ever Varsity Vocal Showcase, presented by Mattress Firm, kicked off this year’s Dorton Arena concert series at the N.C. State Fair. Paul Jones, a public information officer for the fair and N.C. State alum, was one of the masterminds behind the event. To him, the showcase was more than just a concert. “With the rise of Glee, the Sing-Off and Pitch Perfect, a cappella is making a comeback,” Jones said. “I share an office with a coworker and we both realized we had an interest in a cappella music. We just decided to run with it.” The showcase served as a fundraiser for the participating groups, including the Grains of Time and Ladies in Red from N.C. State, Duke University’s Rhythm & Blue and UNC-Cha-
pel Hill’s Clef Hangers and Loreleis. Apke said. “It’s exciting because we Each group performed four songs have six new members performing and had the opportunity to interact for the first time as Grains — it’s with the audience. really the first time we’ll get to perAccording to Jones, the groups form together as a group.” were responsible for getting the Jones said the showcase not only word out about the performance provides opportunities for the and encouraging fans to buy tickets groups to get their names out to on behalf of each the community, but group. Altogethalso brings three rier, the N.C. State val schools together. Fair will donate “We like to think up to $50,000 to of the State Fair as the participating a ‘holy ground,’” groups, based Jones said. “There Joshua Apke, junior in civil on the number are no rivalries here, engineering of tickets sold in so when the groups the name of each come together, it’s group. neat to see them interact because With the money they have earned they know each other for the most through ticket sales, the groups will part. They were really happy to be be able to fund trips to regional and able to connect over something they national competitions, recording love.” sessions and other miscellaneous Krystal Rodas, a junior in bioexpenses. For Joshua Apke, a junior logical sciences and the president in civil engineering and business of N.C. State’s Ladies in Red, knew manager for the Grains of Time, the what an opportunity like this could donations will come as a big relief bring. in the future and hopes the event “It’s really important that our will make them stronger as a group. newest members get to perform “It’s really exciting to have been fairly soon after they join,” Rodas invited to be a part of the showcase,” said. “This was an especially great
“...it’s more than just music. To us, it’s an art.”
Local judical candidates meet and greet at Wolf Plaza Elizabeth Moomey Staff Writer
Candidates vying for positions as judges on local and state courts gathered in Wolf Plaza Wednesday at a meet-and-greet event hosted by N.C. State’s College Democrats. Participating candidates included Linda McGee, Wanda Bryant, Cressie Thigpen, Erin Graber, Bryan Collins and Sam Ervin IV. Ervin is seeking to unseat incumbent Paul Newby on the state Supreme Court. McGee, Bryant and Thigpen are all seeking to retain their seats on the state Court of Appeals against challengers David Robinson, Marty McGee and Chris Dillon, respectively. Collins is the challenger in the District 10E Superior Court race. He is running against incumbent
Abe Jones. Graber is hoping to retain her District Court seat in District 10 in a race against challenger Dan Nagle. Rashaad Hamilton, a sophomore in political science and member of the College Democrats, said the candidates are largely unknown to local voters because the judges’ race is non-partisan and has not traditionally generated the same volume of campaign advertising seen in other, higher-profile races at the top of the ballot. “It’s good to put a face on them,” Hamilton said. Collins has been a longtime supporter of College Democrats dating back to his service as vice president of the organization at Davidson College. “I came out because of the ice cream,” Collins joked. Bryant said she was impressed
with the College Democrats. “After hearing about the event from someone on the judicial team, I thought I’d stop and say hello,” she said. Bryant said she is ready for her next term as judge. “My immediate goal is to win reelection and get back to the work I love,” Bryant said. McGee, the longest-serving female judge in North Carolina history, said she came because of the family ties: Her son graduated from N.C. State last year and her husband earned his master’s degree here. McGee stressed the importance of civic awareness among young people and encouraged those gathered to be involved in political life. Graber said she was excited about the opportunity to come to N.C. State’s campus. “I wanted to come to the campus,
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but it is awkward to come and introduce yourself to people,” Graber said, adding that she “loves to have people come and meet me, and not me meeting people.” Thigpen said she also saw this as a good opportunity to engage with voters she might not have met otherwise. “I like talking to young people about our race and insight into judicial races,” Thigpen said. Ervin, who said he finally has the “love and time” to run for a seat in North Carolina’s Supreme Court, said he’s in a good place. “I have enjoyed the judicial stuff and plan to continue to do this,” he said. “I think I can make a difference with my education and experience on the North
event because this audience was so excited to hear us perform — they just love a cappella music and that really pumped us up.” According to Jones, it didn’t take long to get the ball rolling on the project. When the initial emails went out in March of this year, it was clear there was widespread interest. “We worked with a logistics and planning committee over the summer,” Jones said. “Once we sent out those first emails, it was pretty smooth sailing. After the groups were invited and accepted their invitations, they pretty much took care of advertising for the event.” Apke, now in his third semester as a member of the Grains of Time, hopes the growing popularity of a cappella will continue to flourish and knows events like the Varsity Vocal Showcase are instrumental in doing just that. “A cappella is such a unique genre of music and gigs like this are key in getting the word out,” Apke said. “Some people just don’t understand the point of it, but if they take the time to listen, they’ll realize that it’s more than just music. To us, it’s an art.”
insidetechnician viewpoint features classifieds sports
4 5 7 8 Duke researcher wins Nobel Prize See page 3.
Raleigh Oktoberfest celebrates local culture See page 6.
Soccer comes up short against Duke See page 8.
DEMOCRATS continued page 2
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