TECHNICIAN
november
1
2012
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Dash in the Dark postponed until Monday
thursday
Woodson listens to students
Elizabeth Moomey
Pack Poll finds political conflict among student body, faculty
Staff Writer
The Dash in the Dark, an event to raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics, was postponed to Monday, Nov. 5, due to inclement weather. Originally planned for Oct. 29, the dash is a 3K charity race to raise money for Wake County Special Olympics. Last year’s profits were donated to the Haven House, a non-profit that works to provide services for struggling youth and their families. The organizations Leadership in Action, Goodnight Scholars and Alpha Phi Omega host the Dash in the Dark. The three felt an attachment to the cause, but didn’t know of any other organizations sponsoring the Special Olympics. They have been planning the Dash for more than two months. The date was changed because of safety concerns. “We invited some people from the special needs community and want them to be comfortable,” said Lauryn Coombs, an event organizer and sophomore in environmental technology. “It will be more fun when the weather
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Jake Moser Staff Writer
RYAN PARRY/TECHNICIAN
Discussing the impact of a possible increase in tuition, alumni Madavia Johnson and Jason Cooper pass time with Chancellor Randy Woodson Wednesday, February 1. “Speaking with Chancellor Woodson allowed for me to see the benefit of a tuition increase here at State. He said the increase would allow for improvements to everything that there is to offer here on campus and everything State represents.”
Staff Report Chancellor Randy Woodson will host his last Chancellor’s Chat of the semester at the Creamery in D.H. Hill Library Nov. 5 to connect with students and listen to their concerns. The Chancellor will host “office hours” to see students Monday, between 2-3 p.m. Woodson’s spokesman Mick Kulikowski said he’s worked under three chancellors, and that Woodson is the most active chancellor he’s worked for in terms of pursuing student feedback.
“I think it’s more of him getting feedback from students,” Kulikowski said. “He just wants to know what students are thinking. Take the pulse of the student body.” In the past, students have taken advantage of these opportunities to ask the Chancellor about tuition increases, the University’s stance on social issues and changes at the University and within the UNC System. “At the end of the day, we’re here to provide our students with the best education possible,” Woodson said. “In order to make sure that happens, we have to keep them engaged in
WOODSON’S STRATEGIES TO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS: • • • • •
Eat in campus dining halls Walking across campus Attends Respect the Pack, Park Scholar’s Freshman Seminar Hosts Chancellor’s Chat, Liaison Meetings, brown bag lunches and homecoming events Manages “Ask the Chancellor” online SOURCE: CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE
the conversations that shape the forward progress of this university.”
COSTUMES TAKE OVER RALEIGH
GEORGIA HOBBS/TECHNICIAN
Megan Harr, a senior in English, started a chapter of the nonprofit service organization Pencils of Promise at the University. “Often where we live determines how well we live, and that’s a problem.” Harr said.
Pencils of Promise engages students in education service Megan Dunton Staff Writer
Pencils of Promise, an education nonprofit organization, offers students the opportunity to raise awareness for sustainable educational initiatives abroad, and University students may have an opportunity to name a school in another country in honor of N.C State. Megan Harr, a senior in English, became interested in Pencils of Promise this past summer and thought it would be a good idea to introduce N.C. State students to the organization. She said she admires the method of outreach Pencils of Promise uses to build partnerships in target communities. The respected national organization started in 2008 and its founder Adam Braun started Pencils of Promise after an en-
counter with a young boy while he traveled in India. When Braun asked him what he wanted most in the world, the youth said all he wanted was a pencil. This one interaction made Braun realize that children everywhere have a desire to learn, and it also made him confront the problem of education facing many poor citizens in developing countries. “The approach is different from other nonprofits because they don’t just look at the communities that need a school, they look at communities that are interested in investing and creating a successful school,” Harr said. Harr said she wants the N.C. State chapter to shed light on sustainable education through fundraising and creating awareness through different events. One of her visions includes a fundraising competition between the Triangle
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PHOTO BY JOHN HUNTING
tudents came together to walk down Hilsborough Street in costume Halloween night, Oct. 31. Crowds of people came decked out to celebrate the holiday, visit with friends and take advantage of discounts and bar specials.
Student and faculty political opinions varied widely in this year’s Pack Poll, a study of political opinions and tendencies on campus. The poll also indicated a disparity among students, with a 50-50 split in the approval of President Barack Obama. The poll was released this month and surveyed 1,024 students. There was a 20 percent response rate, with a 3 percent margin of error. Michael Cobb, an associate professor of political science, runs the Pack Poll and works with volunteer undergraduate students who want to learn more about the polling process. Cobb said the Pack Poll helps recognize some trends as to why students adhere to their particular political views. “I want to help students know what other students think about politics,” Cobb said. “I also want to teach students the art and science of survey research.” The findings of the poll were somewhat balanced in terms of Republican versus Democratic participants, with 46 percent generally identifying as Republican while 42 percent identified as Democrat. However, the responses to questions on the social and economic issues of politics were more uneven. The Pack Poll found the student body more conflicted on its stance on social issues in politics, with 37 percent of students reporting they hold more liberal views, 37 percent moderate and 26 percent of students with conservative views. This was supported by the responses to questions on same-sex marriage. Reflecting the student outcry after the passage of N.C. Amendment 1, 70 percent said they were in favor of allowing gays and lesbians to have civil unions, with only 30 percent opposing. Likewise, 65 percent were in favor allowing gays and lesbians to legally marry, with 36 percent opposed to the idea. In terms of economics, 14 percent identified themselves as liberal, 42 percent as moderate and 44 percent as conservative. Many questions focused on the candidates for the upcoming elections, and with the 50-50 split of the overall approval rating of President Barrack Obama, 23 percent of those polled strongly disagreed with how Obama was handling his job as president, as opposed to only 8
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insidetechnician viewpoint the fifth classifieds sports Spamgate 2012 See page 5.
Senior approaches final set See page 8.
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