TECHNICIAN
Ravi Chittilla Deputy News Editor
In 1980, Gov. Jim Hunt, along with the former Gov. Terry Sanford and academic John Elhe completed an effort to open the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, or NCSSM. The school, located in Durham, was the first of its kind—a public, residential high school where students studied a specialized curriculum emphasizing in Science, Technology, Engingeering and Mathematics (STEM). NCSSM, which has gone on to generate thousands of living alumni since its inception, has seen those alumni give back to North Carolina in big ways. These distinguished individuals have become tenured professors, teachers, physicians, entrepreneurs, filmmakers and university presidents. According to the school’s website, alumni have generated an estimated $500 million just in North Carolina, and with the advancement of distance and online education, that number will continue to grow. Gino Lerebours, sophomore in statistics and graduate of NCSSM, said he has found that his STEM based education and experiences have complemented at NCSSM strongly complemented his education here at the University. “I am constantly surrounded by innovators who look to shape and improve the world by understanding how it works. It has inspired me to look on how I can help further society with my area of expertise,” said Lerebours. N.C. State benefits from NCSSM
NCSSM continued page 2
15 2013
MLK-inspired speaker energizes students Elizabeth Moomey Staff Writer
Author and lecturer Iyanla Vanzant spoke about how to evolve one’s life at the campus commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. at the McKimmon Center Monday Jan. 14. Warwick Arden, provost and executive vice chancellor, Sheila Smith McKoy, director of African American Cultural Center, Sandra Dubose, singer, and Joanne Woodard, vice provost for institutional equity and diversity, welcomed Vanzant and noted the importance King had on his or her own life. The event was created as a celebration leading up to the memorial of King, with the N.C. State community and a community as a whole and reflecting upon his life, according to Arden. Community was mentioned early on by Vanzant as she recalled the connection the North had with the South when African-Americans were hosed down and attacked with dogs. “We need to create a bigger community,” Vanzant said. One of the ideas stressed by Vanzant with the beginning of the New Year was “you can get with this or you can get with that.” She relied on her experiences and King’s speeches. “’Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step,’” Vanzant said, quoting King. Vanzant also used “the great philosopher Jermaine Jackson” to stress the audience to make needed change with his song, “Let’s Get Serious.” Early in her address she had the men in the audience stand up and encouraged them to keep pursuing in the current economic time. She also concluded her speech with the same idea, a quote from King: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in
CHRIS RUPART/TECHNICIAN
Iyanla Vazant, author of multiple The New York Times Best Selling books speaks at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Campus Commemoration in the McKimmon Center Monday Jan 14, 2013. Vanzant encouraged attendees to “take the first step” saying that “You cannot continue to live your own dysfunctional history over and over, hypnotizing yourself into inactivity.”
moments of comfort and conve- said. “Much of what she has seen, nience, but where he stands at times heard and lived through would have of challenge and controversy,” King devastated an ordinary person.” said in his last speech in 1968. Arden, who was raised in AustraMcKoy started off the night by lia, spoke about his views of King mentioning the accomplishment of as well. African Americans with the second “You are probably thinking that inauguration of my knowledge Barack Obama, of Martin Luther which is on the King began when Martin Luther I came to work King holiday. in an American Woodard inuniversity, but in troduced Vanzreality I learned ant and spoke of about Martin Luher past, which ther King when I w a s f i l le d of was a child,” Armisfortune, like den said, “I tell the death of her you that because Joanne Woodard, vice provost for mot he r w he n it is important institutional equity and diversity she was t hree that you know and how she was that King not raped at nine, followed by her ac- only changed this country, but he complishments. changed the world.” “Many ordinary people cannot tell The event concluded with a questales of tragedy, struggle, strength, tion and answer session. A long time courage and triumph in the same fan, Moses T. Alexander Greene, way Iyanla Vanzant can, “ Woodard who met Arden 15 years ago, asked
“Much of what she has seen, heard and lived through would have devastated an ordinary person.”
Global warming no longer a myth Taylor O’Quinn Staff Writer
2012 was the hottest year recorded in every state in the Continental U.S., and this year is expected to break more records. Robert Bruck, professor of plant pathology, forestry, environmental science and technology, said for the first year in 34 years of teaching, he will use the word “fact” in relation to global warming. “People need to wake up. This is not a political ploy, it is science,” Bruck said. “A global holocaust is what it will take for people to wake up after tens of thousands of people die.” Bruck said mankind is a large contributor, if not the sole cause, for the excessive warming of the earth. “Things are happening much faster than anyone anticipated in terms of global data analysis,” Bruck said. “It will be life-changing during the lifetimes of all of the students on campus.” Michael Scanlan, a sophomore studying meteorology, said he too has studied a trend of rising temperatures since the industrial revolution when humans began using more fossil fuels. Scanlan said that rising temperatures could lead to warmer oceans, creating stronger and more destructive hurricanes and a rise in sea levels. Since 1990, sea levels have been rising at about 1.8 millimeters per year, according to Scanlan.
january
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
STEM schools contribute to N.C. State’s academics
tuesday
AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE, RALEIGH, N.C. GRAPHIC BY DERRICK FREELAND
Higher temperatures and warmer bringing the N.C. shore near New global climates will lead to longer Bern. and heavier droughts as well, someWith more frequent and longer thing Scanlan said lasting droughts could affect the endue to the rise in tire population. We average temperacould even be seetures, Scanlan said ing the effects close tourism could into home, including crease in cities and changes at Lake lakes as opposed to Robert Bruck, professor of environmental science Gaston and Falls the beaches because Lake near Raleigh. of the heat from the “Winter doesn’t seem to exist any- sand. more,” Bruck said. Bruck’s initial interview to be a Bruck said if the current pattern professor at N.C. State was cancelled continues, popular tourist areas due to two feet of snow in Raleigh. such as Wilmington may no lon- Now, 34 years later, Raleigh has seen ger exist by the end of the century, temperatures in the 70s during mid-
“Winter doesn’t seem to exist anymore.”
January. Bruck said Chris Christie, the Republican Governor of New Jersey, was “screaming” about global climate change following Hurricane Sandy, behavior that is unusual of the party. He said that he believes it proves a widening acceptance of global warming. “Two ex-PhD students of mine work for the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and they showed me their data,” Bruck said. “They’re scared.” Humans are currently emitting 79 billion tons worth of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels into the atmosphere according to Bruck, something he said he believes is a significant contributor to the warming trend. “Higher carbon dioxide levels lead to higher temperatures which lead to a warmer climate,” Bruck said. Bruck, Scanlan and global climate scientists all agree global warming is quickly becoming a “fact” and deserves more attention. Bruck said people need to start seriously considering alternative energy options such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass energy. “We need to start thinking about how the future of our planet will be,” Bruck said.
her for advice about achieving his dream and gave her two books he wrote. Arden also expressed to the audience that the ideals of King are still important today. “One of the key things we are trying to continually reinforce, we want everybody to live, work, play, learn on this campus to feel valued, to feel supported, to feel empowered in the way they achieve their goals everyday,” Arden said. Arden mentioned the vandalism of the GLBT center in 2011, a community that has also received prejudice. McKoy ended the night with a speech, happy to feature Vanzant and commemorate the life and death of King.
insidetechnician
Illogicon marks year of growth See page 3.
New hooka lounge attracts casual students See page 6.
A silver lining in the Pack See page 8.
viewpoint features classifieds sports
4 5 7 8