TECHNICIAN
tuesday october
16 2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Linguistic diversity celebrated at State Fair Megan Dunton Staff Writer
Members of the North Carolina Language and Life Project educated fair-goers about North Carolina’s language diversity through a booth at the North Carolina State Fair. Sightseers learned about North Carolina dialects through eight banners, a documentary, a dialect quiz and dialect buttons. This year the booth expanded to include a Spanish language section.
Leaders in the NCLLP booth said they wanted to quell myths associated with the Spanish that is spoken in North Carolina. Directors also aimed to have a bilingual volunteer at the booth at all times. This focus on Spanish reflects the organization’s interest in the emerging varieties of English spoken by Latin Americans in rural and metropolitan areas like Raleigh. Ryne Jones, senior in biological sciences and French language and literature teacher education, said to-
day it’s about more than just learning a language. “In the 21st century with its global economy, to effectively communicate and live and be successful you have to be proficient in another language,” Jones said. “It’s not just the language but it’s knowing that culture and being accepting and knowing that things are done differently. “ Jones said language is one of the ways to explore and understand diversity in the classroom. He also
said students in foreign language classes can learn cultural context through stories and life experiences that the native speakers have to offer, especially those of peers. “Here at N.C. State we do a good job with diversity education,” Jones said. “Our foreign language department is amazing. Even at the beginning levels all the way up you’re exposed to so much culture
“A Bumper Crop of fun!”
and learning has never been by the book.” Jones said K-12 education is what needs the most work because most of the time a foreign language is viewed as only a requirement. He also said a foreign language helps students develop critical thinking skills that help with taking standardized tests,
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Abortion in the presidential campaigns Jake Moser Staff writer
BOBBY KLIMCZAK, GEORGIA HOBBS & JOANNAH IRVIN/TECHNICIAN
The 2012 North Carolina state fair had many types of fried comfort food for patrons to try, such as frozen cheesecake on a stick, fudge on a stick, and fried variations of familiar foods. (Left) Colorful cake pops from The Cake Pop Shop’s booth at the State Fair. (Top Right) Students from Liberty University Ashley Jones, a senior in history, and Meagan Henry, a senior in family and consumer science, enjoy a pumpkin spice funnel cake. (Bottom right)
Political Science department hosts election panel Noah Rouse Staff Writer
Professors from the Department of Political Science held a panel on the upcoming presidential election in Winston Hall Monday to discuss issues that might decide which candidate will be elected on Nov. 6. Speakers included associate professors William A. Boettcher, Steven Greene, Sanford H. Kessler, Elisha Savchak, and were moderated by Professor Andrew J. Taylor. Boettcher began with a brief discussion on the role of foreign policy this election cycle and its potential impact to sway likely voters. He made clear that 2012 was not going to be a foreign policy election, and that the American public was still fixated on the national recovery and “foreign policy fatigued” from the Bush years to give these issues much attention. As for the candidates themselves, Boettcher saw little difference in their policies despite their contrasting approaches.
“It is surprising [when you go to these rapid swings in popular opinhis website] to see that so many of ion are unprecedented.” the policies that Romney is callGreene also dismissed the analogy ing for resemble Obama’s record, that has been made by right-wing and Obama’s policies [on his web- critics of the president that this elecsite] resemble Romney’s rhetoric.” tion will resemble the failed reelecBoettcher said. tion campaign of president Jimmy Greene followed Boettcher with Carter in 1980, saying that polls are a n update on far higher for the where both canpresident than didates stood, they were for taking note of Carter and inthe extremes the stead suggested c a mpa ig n ha s the possibility of gone through. a 2004 reelection “Romney began or even a 2000 his campaign in scenario where the general elecObama wins via tion as one of the the electoral colweakest Republege. lican candidates Savchak and Sanford H. Kessler, political science professor in American hisKessler finished tory, and now has the panel by dismade the largest post-first debate cussing the future of the Supreme comeback in American history,’ Court and the roles of culture and Greene said. “Despite most pundits, religion in politics, respectively. political scientists are able to predict Savchak noted that like foreign elections six months in advance, but policy, the courts would not play a
“We have seen little mention of religion in this campaign, despite how critical it is to the American people.”
decisive role in the upcoming election. She predicted that a second term for Obama would see more seats being filled on The Supreme Court by minorities than those appointed by President hopeful, Romney, who would appoint judges based on social issues. Kessler devoted most of his time discussing the social sciences and changes in national culture that might sway the election in an unpredictable direction. “We have seen little mention of religion in this campaign, despite how critical it is to the American people. The country has been locked in a deep culture war for the past few decades, and religion is at the center of it. The debate has centered on abortion, gay marriage and the division of church and state for years, but who is making these decisions is changing. For the first time in our country’s history, Protestants now
PANEL continued page 3
insidetechnician
features classifieds sports ‘Wyatt’ brings about a Wild West Summer See page 5.
Carillon performer helps celebrate the Bell Tower See page 7.
Campout brings new tradition See page 8.
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President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney’s opposing views on the issue of abortion have been well publicized this campaign season. Obama is for abortion rights. Romney is anti-abortion and stated life begins at conception, Roe v. Wade should be overturned and states should have the right to decide the legality of abortion. Romney also supports the 1976 Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of certain federal funding for abortion. According to his website, he wants to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood, which funds some abortions. Abortion has long been a prominent issue in presidential elections. According to a 2004 Gallup poll, 19 percent of voters claimed that abortion “completely directs” which candidate they are willing to support. The poll also mentions that anti-abortion voters are three times as likely as abortion rights voters to make abortion a single-issue voting platform. This would provide Romney with a significant support base, and could change the results of the election. It is also worth noting that, when Obama was elected in 2008, there was close to a 50-50 split between those who supported and those who opposed abortion. Now, the 2012 Gallup data indicates that 50 percent of Americans are anti-abortion, compared to only 41 percent who are for abortion rights. Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which includes plans that will cover abortion, has been criticized for forcing anti-abortion Americans to cover other people’s abortions. However, the law requires that states have at least one health care plan that does not cover abortion. For those who want abortion-included plans, at least $1 of their premiums must be contributed to a fund that ensures money will be available for abortion services. The health care system utilized in Massachusetts in 2006 while Romney was governor did not include the word abortion in it. But, due to a ruling in 1981 by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, abortionaccessible plans were required through private insurance plans subsidized by the state.
ABORTION DEBATE on page 2