Technician - February 12, 2013

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february

12 2013

Raleigh, North Carolina

technicianonline.com

Weighted courses tip the scale

tuesday

Industry leaders encourage manufacturing renaissance

Kevin Schaefer Correspondant

Students challenging themselves in honors classes reap half the boasting benefits of their Advanced Placement counterparts.

High school students taking AP classes in North Carolina get two points added to their grade-point averages by default.

It is not unusual for gradepoint averages to rise above 4.0 for AP students. Honors and AP courses allow prospective college students to show off their transcripts with weighted GPAs. AP courses boost grades two additional letter grades, while honors provide one.

With the popularity of advanced, weighted courses, many college admissions look at both the weighted and unweighted GPAs of student applicants.

Universities like N.C. State are interested in how challenging students’ course loads were in high school and how well students performed, according to Thomas Griffith, director of undergraduate admissions at NC State.

High grades in multiple AP and Honors courses are generally a good indicator that a student will do well at a strong

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Anita Brown-Graham • Institute for Emerging Issues Director

Jim Hunt • former Governor, chair of the Institute for Emerging Issues

Tom Kurfesss • professor of automotive engineering at Clemson

Andrew Liveris • CEO of Dow Energy Co.

Mark Herring

event, which will conclude today.

Hunt founded the Institute in 2002, and like the forum series he started in 1986, the organization aims to facilitate collaboration between industry, government and academia to “tackle critical issues and to build North Carolina,” according to Hunt.

“We call it a think — and do — institute,” Hunt said.

Rebranding manufacturing as a high-tech and modern industry prevailed as a common theme among the 25 individual speeches.

“We’re talking about the next generation of manufacturing,” Hunt said. “The big textile mills we used to have — gone. We’re here to look at the future.”

North Carolina ranks third in the United States in manufacturing production, according to the Institute, and growth in the sec-

tor comes from new industries like pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, energy production and aerospace engineering.

The future economy Hunt alluded to will need a workforce to employ, and Woodson, a forthright upholder of N.C. State as an engineering school, introduced the forum.

“Manufacturing has a lways been a cornerstone of North Carolina’s economy,” Woodson said.

“Throughout our history, N.C State has remained steadfast in our commitment to providing the education and research needed to drive manufacturing forward.”

After the economic crisis of 2008, North Carolina lost 115,000 manufacturing jobs and has only recovered 11,000, according to Dow Chemical Co. CEO Andrew Liveris.

Despite job losses, Liveris, a keynote speaker, said North Carolina is redefining the manufacturing industry.

“Here in North Carolina, manufacturing of a different sort is taking hold, and the sector and the public’s opinion are changing, and they’re on the upswing,” Liveris said.

Liveris, who Business Insider named No. 7 of the 25 most-overpaid CEOs in 2010, calls himself an evangelist for manufacturing and said North Carolina gets manufacturing right.

“We have a stark chance to drive a manufacturing renaissance,” Liveris said. “We need jobs that can create widespread wealth.”

Liveris acts as a spokesman for manufacturing in his book Make It in America and as poster child of widespread wealth, too. He earned $16.3 million in 2010, according to Business Insider.

Liveris and Tom Kurfess, a pro-

Editor-in-Chief

Former Gov. Jim Hunt and Chancellor Randy Woodson sat together minutes before a speech on the importance of manufacturing in North Carolina. Though specifics of the conversation are unknown to us, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the conversation pertained to how N.C. State could benefit from a more industrialized economy.

Hunt, an N.C. State alumnus, donned a Wolfpack tie during the 28th Emerging Issues Forum Monday, a discussion series he started as governor. Business leaders, academics and politicians gathered in the Raleigh Convention Center to discuss local manufacturing.

The Institute for Emerging Issues, a North Carolina policy think tank based out of N.C. State, hosts the

Study room reservations: an empty promise

FORUM continued page 2

insidetechnician

Alden Early Correspondant

Students can reserve study rooms online, but there is no guarantee of availability when they arrive.

D.H. Hill Library technician Will Reddy explains the biggest problem with the study room reservation system is there is not enough space to hold the great number of students at the University.

The library staff revolves around the needs of the student body, according to Reddy, who has served as technician at the library since 1998. He said he defends the reservation system, as it follows the same student-oriented approach.

A few guidelines have been put in place by the University to maximize the efficiency of the reservation system, Reddy said. He urges students and faculty to plan ahead and reserve study spaces as early as seven days in advance.

Students begin the reservation process by locating the “reserve a room” link on the library’s website, where they are prompted to reserve any room at any time. There is no way to prevent a room from being occupied without reservation, but there is also no way to find out whether a group decided to fulfill their reservation.

The staff allows reservations to be made in two-hour increments, but only one reservation can be made by each user in a 24-hour span.

The library website defines a group as two or more people, and states a group will have priority over a single user. If the party fails to show up within the first 15 minutes of its reservation, the space is opened to other users, but no rules

OIS celebrates romance with film fest See page 6.

Student celebrate Lunar New Year See page 2.

KATHERINE HOKE/TECHNICIAN

Yasmine Ahmed, Milah Mohsin and Nisma Gabr study in a small group study room in the Hunt Library Saturday.

are monitored by staff.

John Nardini, a senior in mathematics, is a frequent user of the study room system.

“I have never had a problem with reserving a room,” Nardini said.

“People are usually polite and leave if I tell them I reserved the room.”

As a common courtesy, users are encouraged to cancel their reservation if they can no longer fill a time slot. A group may occupy an empty study space on a first-come, firstserve basis.

The library has taken action to increase the amount of area available for users, Reddy said. One way the staff has increased the efficiency of space is by placing sound-proof, dividing walls in six, existing study rooms.

Some study lounges in D.H. Hill have been updated with dry erase boards, writeable walls and two monitor screens for group collaboration.

Reddy said he “rarely finds empty rooms” on his walk-throughs of the Book stacks section.

Reddy does not think the demand for study space has declined at D.H. Hill since the opening of the James B. Hunt Library on Centennial Campus either, especially during the day when students living anywhere make use of the library.

Students who live on campus and those who use the parking decks during business hours are the primary users at D.H. Hill, Reddy said, and since there is lack of space dedicated to graduate students, he

labeled D.H. Hill as an “undergraduate library.”

According to Reddy, student numbers tend to reach a climax at Hunt Library after 6 p.m. due to the convenience of parking and the great amount of study space available. Some study spaces at Hunt Library cater directly to the needs of graduate students and faculty by offering an exclusive-access wing.

Reddy thinks that being able to effectively manage Hunt in addition to D.H. Hill will be an important challenge.

“The library is the heart of the campus. It is an incredible resource and tool,” Reddy said.

Baseball ready to hit the diamond See page 8.

A battle between sponsors and tradition See page 8.

viewpoint features classifieds sports

4 5 7 8

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PAGE 2 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS

TECHNICIAN

THROUGH SAM’S LENS

POLICE BLOTTER Thursday 4:26 AM | SUSPICIOUS PERSON Case Athletic Center Report of suspicious subject following someone. Officers checked the area but did not locate anyone matching description.

Send all clarifications and corrections to Editor-in-Chief Mark Herring at editor@ technicianonline.com

WEATHER WISE

9:21 PM | FIELD INTERVIEW DH Hill Library Non-student who had been previously trespassed was located in the building.

Subject was arrested for 2nd Degree Trespassing.

Today:

62/46

FORUM

Partly cloudy.

continued from page 1

Tomorrow:

53 37

Stretching with students

Chance of thunderstorms.

PHOTO BY SAM O’BRIEN

Thursday:

58 37 Mostly sunny.

SOURCE: WWW.WEATHER.COM

S

arah Luzzi, junior in human biology, teaches a yoga class at Carmichael Recreation Center on Jan. 17, 2013. Group fitness classes, including yoga, are offered daily at Carmichael Recreation Center. There are morning, afternoon, and evening classes offered free to students and faculty. Fitness instructors are large health promoters and want to present a comfortable and fun exercise environment to everyone who wants to participate. “People of many fitness levels can come because there are so many different modifications that suit everyone,” Luzzi said.

Students celebrate Lunar New Year Emma Cathell Staff Writer

During the first day of the Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, people all around China launch fireworks, eat traditional foods such as jiaozi, nian gao and play board games. People decorate their houses, light incense and celebrate what is largely considered to be the biggest Chinese holiday.

And Chinese students at N.C. State sit — thousands of miles away.

“It’s something like Christmas in [the United States],” Alice Dai, a freshman in engineering, said. “Families have dinner together and there’s a big show on TV. And when it’s 12 o’clock, we light off fireworks. And the children will get gifts and money from their parents.”

Although many Chinese students missed celebrating the big holiday in their hometowns, many of them found ways to make up for it in North Carolina.

Students of the CSSFA — Chinese Students and Scholars Friendship Association — held a Spring Festival celebration at Talley Student

Center on Sunday. Students, scholars and community members marked the occasion with dance, singing and instrumental performances, along with games, skits and Chinese food. “[The Spring Festival] is a really good time to meet with our friends and celebrate our country and culture,” Tracey Yuan, a junior in civil engineering and mathematics and CSSFA vice president, said.

“We can think about home and can talk to our friends about it here.”

CSSFA helps Chinese students at N.C. State adjust and acclimate to the American culture, said Bo Yang, graduate student in civil engineering and CSSFA president.

“CSSFA is very helpful for the students and gives them a lot of opportunities,” JinYuan Zhang, a PhD candidate in chemistry, said. “It’s a way for them to meet a lot of people and to develop friendships here. It’s a very useful organization.”

However, Yuan said she found more to CSSFA than just an organization.

“It’s more like a family,” Yuan said.

With many things in com-

CSSFA members sing to celebrate Lunar New Year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BO YANG

mon, Chinese students and scholars also find the organization to be a good place to network in a new country.

“We have a lot of things to do [such as] share ideas, presentations and activities,” Dai said. “We are all foreign students from China, so when we [feel homesick], we can all feel sick together.”

Not only does CSSFA help N.C. State Chinese students meet other students, it helps

them get more comfortable with the United States, Yang said. CSSFA has held meetings, activities and performances to accomplish this.

“Most of the Chinese students are shy or they don’t want to talk, especially in front of many people, but I think American students can always say something,” Yang said. “There’s no problem for them to speak, but the Chinese students need

the confidence to speak. So if they do CSSFA activities and performances, they will have the opportunity to gain more confidence.”

CSSFA is planning to hold elections for leader positions and is also preparing for the annual end-of-year barbeque set to take place at Lake Wheeler.

WEIGHT

selves.

Chuck Small, school counselor at William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh, said he agrees.

“Upper-level courses benefit students by exposing them to more academically challenging work while they’re still in high school,” Small said, “In addition, successfully earning AP credit can help students reduce the amount of money they spend overall on college courses, or at least allow them to move to higher-level college courses more quickly.”

Small said he thinks most schools check students’ un-

weighted GPAs in addition to the weighted average, which can change how schools view students’ academic records.

“It’s not as if students taking heavy-AP schedules can somehow ‘fool’ admissions officers with the extra credit points,” Small said.

Opponents argue the extra points put more emphasis on the grade system itself, rather than the actual learning process. According to Griffith and Small, rewarding higher GPAs is an important incentive, not because of its face value, but because of what it says about students.

continued from page 1

university.

“The theory is that part of being well-prepared for college is taking challenging classes in high school. By giving extra points for AP classes, it encourages students to take those courses,” Griffith said.

Whether or not each course provides a relatively difficult challenge, Griffith said weighted, advanced courses incentivize high school students to challenge them-

The Technician staff is always looking for new members to write, design or take photos. Visit www. ncsu.edu/sma for more information.

fessor of automotive engineering at Clemson University, laid out similar points to keep manufacturing successful in the United States in their panel discussions. Both said the nation must enable innovation by investing in human capital by training 135,000 more STEM graduates annually, changing the business climate by cutting corporate taxes and introducing a territorial tax system, and streamlining regulation.

“We need a system where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded,” said Kurfess, who is finishing a year of serving in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Many speakers of the day touched on educating and training the youth for an industrialized future, and though business executives in suits and university officials consisted of much of the crowd, all freshmen students in the Park Scholar program were required to attend.

“This event is all about ex posure,” Sid ha r t ha Jandhyala, a freshman in biomedical engineering, said. “Governor Hunt is a friend of the Park Scholars, and I’m excited to see what the issues are about.”

Jandhyala said attending the forum was a privilege, and missing class for two days to attend the event for free is a deal: University officials paid $275 to attend, while outside participants paid $400.

The forum will continue today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hunt said he thinks the forum improves every year.

“New things are happening, and we’re going to learn about them and their amazing potential,” Hunt said.

Woodson said he is eager to see N.C. State seize the potential Hunt referred to, and with the same attitude he had when he entered his office, he plugged the University’s highly technical programs.

“It’s all about a publicpr ivate pa r t nership,” Woodson said. “We’re ready to support [manufacturing], have our students embrace it and move North Carolina forward.

We can’t be successful if we can’t keep building things.”

Technician was there.

You can be too.

News

TECHNICIAN

“It’s the single purpose of the Party to elect those who will make decisions in Legislatures...”

Percentage of votes (2.18 mil)

0%

25%

50%

Percentage of votes (2.27 mil)

133%

of their party without clear knowledge of where to start.

Interparty issues often take North Carolina Democrats root in power struggles and now face Republican-con- misunderstandings among trolled executive and legisla- issue pushers who aren’t fative branches. miliar with the political proAs a result, some long-time cess, Messick said.

Democrat supporters are “It’s the single purpose of growing tired with Demo- the Party to elect those who cratic policies. � will make decisions in LegLeftist groups like Occupy islatures, Commissioner and Raleigh have begun criticiz- Council meetings,” Messick ing the Democrats — both said. “[Democrats] cannot local and national — citing get anyone elected because a shift in the party toward they’re turning voters off.” more conservative policies.

Many voters consider PresiGene Mesdent Barack sick, a memObama to be ber of Oca centrist — cupy Raleigh between the who moved Republicans to Virginia and Demodue to her crats a nd dissatisfacalways shiftt ion w it h ing. Messick North Carobelieves the lina politics, “center” is believes the becoming Gene Messick, Democratic more rightOccupy Raleigh member Party’s failwinged ure to gain because of North Carolinian votes is due more conservative opinions to a lack of leadership and, from the Obama adminisconsequently, voter turnout. tration Failure to educate new “Obama continues to do Officers of their positions things that no Democrat leaves new politicians with- would even consider previout an understanding of the ously, like keeping multiple expected roles and responsi- wars going . . . and like debilities. They hope for reform stroying the protections of Staff Writer

Registered Party voters (1.7 mil)

Obama

Emily Weaver

North Carolina Voter Breakdown in the 2012 Presidential Election

Romney

Democrats face dissent from far left

PAGE 3 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

Registered Party voters (2.8 mil)

75%

100% GRAPHIC BY TREY FERGUSON

habeas corpus for all Americans,” Messick said.

Both Republicans and Democrats have noticed dispersion and separation within their parties since the beginning of the century, according to Messick.

The Democratic Party contains social conservatives, progressives and socialists, while Republicans range from “core Republicans” to small-government Tea Party members, Messick said.

“My concern [about extremists] is that both are anarchists of the extreme fringes . . . tearing down based upon ideology, not changes based upon expressed real needs of citizens,” Messick said.

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PAGE 4 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

TECHNICIAN

Forum leaders fail Public Relations 101

T

he Raleigh Convention Center played host to more than one inconsistency on Monday.

As businessmen and thought leaders gathered at the 28th Emerging Issues Forum to discuss manufacturing’s importance to North Carolina, representatives handed out convertible pens to drive home their point on innovation. These pens transformed into screwdrivers and dazzled our editorial team. That is, until we looked at the label.

The pens were made in China.

One positive effect of the forum was illuminating the modern-day definition of “manufacturing.” Manufacturing is making a comeback in North Carolina, in the form of bio and tech innovation. It’s no longer about assembly lines and factories. Dr. Anthony Atala, chair of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, exemplifies the critical change that’s coming. He’s making organs that are on a fast-track to mass production in special reactors.

“Up until recently, we were creating organs one at a time, handmade,” Atala said. “The question is how do you scale it up? How do

The unsigned editorial is the opinion of the members of Technician’s editorial board, excluding the news department, and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief. you take it to mass production? That’s what we’re working on right now.”

It’s fascinating stuff. But like the pens, the messages the Forum is sending and the actions the Forum is taking don’t line up. Perhaps that’s because the Forum is neither saying nor doing anything we haven’t heard before.

Keynote speakers endlessly circled issues such as “streamlining regulation,” “changing the business climate,” “territorial tax” and “efficiency.” It seemed as if this Forum existed as a dumping pool for buzzwords as opposed to an actual discussion.

The Forum brought up training and inspiring youth to make a difference in manufacturing. We will inherit these “emerging issues,” and including students in the discussion is

smart. But there weren’t enough students, and the ones who were obligated to be there don’t count.

We applaud the efforts of the Forum to bring these issues to the discussion table. However, instead of manufacturing pageantry and endless plugs for the James B. Hunt Library, we want tangible economic propositions.

The most nuanced thing we heard, ironically, came from the dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jeffery Braden, who said the rising tide of a better economy floats all boats, but the crux of success is when we all benefit from a better economy and job market. Not just industries.

Braden’s point is that manufacturing should benefit everyone — not the 1 percent CEOs,

“The entire day felt choreographed.

There was a call to action, but the call was foggy.”

such as Dow Chemical Co. CEO Andrew Liveris, who proclaimed that “widespread wealth” was one change manufacturing would bring to North Carolina. But just how widespread is his own $16.3 million paycheck, according to Business Insider in 2010? Instead of sitting in stock options, we think that it would be better spent on things such as education.

And Liveris mentioned the need for more education. Instead of stopping at that, he could have proposed an actual solution, such as monetary incentives funded by his company to students who seek some type of education in manufacturing work. Though we do not agree with him, Gov. McCrory is at least — in his eyes — attempting to get our “butts” some jobs.

The entire day felt choreographed. There was a call to action, but the call was foggy.

The individual talks were sustentative, but the Forum as a whole was not.

The lengthy Forum consisted of talking heads uttering praise for and interest in manufacturing in North Carolina one moment, while handing out pens made in China the next.

Previewing the State of the Union

P

r e s i d e nt B a r a c k Obama will deliver the first State of the Union Address of his new term tonight. After unemployment rose to 7.9 percent i n January, it is expected that he will focus on making Megan the economy Ellisor work for the Deputy Viewpoint Editor middle class, spending, and economic growth. But what should his focus be? The State of the Union has historically been regarded by the public as a speech of useless ramblings that only reiterate previous speeches. Ideally, this will not be the case and Obama will address pressing issues facing the nation.

On Thursday, Illinois will vote on a bill to legalize gay marriage. According to ABC’s local Chicago news, “Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn praised senators who moved the same-sex bill out of committee and says it’s time to pass it so the state can achieve ‘full equality.’”

Not only is Illinois Obama’s home state, but it will also become the tenth state to legalize gay marriage if the bill passes. The continued pressure from state governments should force the federal government to re-evaluate the constitutionality of the ban on same-sex marriage.

After the massive Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn., shootings, Obama needs to address gun violence. FOX News says a push for new gun control measures is already in the plan but is facing resistance in the House. The President needs to propose a plan to lower gun-related violence without infringing on our constitutional rights in order to cross party lines.

Immigration reform has received more bipartisan support than the previous two issues combined. From a democratic standpoint, President Obama needs to discuss how immigration laws will change to allow immigrants to assimilate into our culture and economy. This assimilation also works for Republicans — by allowing more immigrants to gain citizenship,

the government is forcing them to pay taxes.

President Obama should also mention the deficit. According to the Pew Research Center, 72 percent of Americans say reducing the deficit is a top priority. Seventy-four percent say a combination of tax increases and program cuts is the best way to reduce the deficit.

The general consensus seems to be that while the previously stated social issues are of enormous importance, they should not be given priority over the stability of the economy. I beg to differ.

Repealing the ban on gay marriage is a human rights issue. Human rights should always come before money, especially when the issue can be quickly resolved with the f lick of a pen, without increasing taxes or spending.

Immigration, though more of an economic issue than gay marriage, should not be put on the back-burner either.

Immigration reform can work with solving economic issues because more legal immigrants means more taxpayer revenue.

Gun control reform, however, is a different story. If taken to an extreme extent, it could be harmful for Americans in the gun industry.

Requiring more extensive background checks might add jobs, but it also may force more spending. Though recent shootings have brought attention to gun control, solving gun violence-associated crimes will take more time than repealing the gay marriage ban and will not have the economic benefits of reforming immigration.

The State of the Union Address will set the tone not only for 2013, but for Obama’s entire second term. Still, we will not know the success of the address until years from now when we can measure the effects of the policies the President advocates. As historian H.W. Brands puts it, “It’s tempting to think that speeches make history, but it’s probably the other way around — it’s history that makes the speeches.”

Scouts’ honor

Y

ou’ve seen them around town, lurking in the woodland shadows, selling you Christmas trees and popcorn to rival their cookie-carrying female counterparts. There is no denying the past popularity of the Boy Scouts of America. However, due to the declining membership rate, maybe it’s time for an “adapting with the times” badge to be issued.

Lauren Late last month, Noriega the Boy Scouts of Staff Columnist America (BSA) decided to take a leap forward into the current century and partially open the closet door for homosexuals who wish to be involved with the organization. Due to pressure by advocates on both sides, the organization has delayed its decision to change the policy banning gay scouts and leaders until May. This newfound openness to change came only seven months after the organization publically reaffirmed its traditional practices of

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banning homosexual members.

The BSA has been no stranger to controversy, as a 2000 United States Supreme Court case questioned if the organization had the right to exclude gays. Though the organization gained victory in the case, it lost in other aspects, such as sponsorship by public schools and other entities that adhere to nondiscrimination policies and support from UPS Inc. While not all Boy Scouts hold this sentiment against gays, it is hard to accept that an organization can so blatantly ban an entire group of people from joining just because of their personal preferences.

However, there are some people who believe that change is unnecessary, such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry who believes that the organization should not bend to the whims of society because having “popular culture impact 100 years of their standards is inappropriate.” Apparently his opinion on �discrimination

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such as this is not considered uncouth.

Not only is the reputation of the BSA on the line come May, but there is also a pending threat of increasing pedophilia — at least in the mind of “700 Club” host Pat Robertson. On his show, Robertson made fairly ludicrous comments claiming that if the BSA changes its ways, it will see “predators as Boy Scouts, pedophiles who will come in as Scoutmasters.” This airtight logic would only reinforce the known fact that all males who would like to volunteer with an organization probably have some hidden agendas involving perverse fetishes towards children.

Blame it on pop culture or blame it on the liberals, but change is on the horizon for gay rights activists. Who knows, maybe this could be a good opportunity for the BSA to create new rainbow-filled diversity badges.

“There is no denying the past popularity of the Boy Scouts of America.”

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What issues do you expect the president to mention at the State of the Union Address?

“Gun control.”

“The economy.”

Darly Dix sophomore, business

Alexander Beattie senior, construction engineering

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“He might mention something about poverty and health care.”

Michelle Barreto freshman, social work

Technician (USPS 455-050) is the official student newspaper of N.C. State University and is published every Monday through Friday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods. Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Copyright 2011 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.

Y

ing Cheng’s boyfriend wanted to do something special —something romantic. Cheng and her boyfriend lived in China, and it was summer 2011. He made a reservation more than a month in advance at one of the fanciest steak restaurants in Shanghai.

He had to. Because on the day that Cheng and her boyfriend went out to have a romantic dinner, they joined millions of other couples celebrating love and time shared with a special someone. That day wasn’t the couples’ anniversary. And it wasn’t Valentines Day either. It was Zhongguo qingren jie, also known as Chinese Valentines day.

Cheng, now a graduate student studying higher education administration, is one of many N.C. State students that come from different countries — each with its own way of celebrating romance.

While in the United States, barring each couple’s respective anniversary, Valentines Day reigns supreme as the primary romantic holiday. For people around the world and for international students at N.C. State, other holidays may hold greater value.

This feeling of disconnect between the holidays that international students have grown up with and the holidays that many Americans find significant is something that Katarina Pantic, an Office of International Services communications intern, has felt.

Born and raised in Serbia, Pantic did not mark Feb. 14 in the same way as many Americans.

“Because of globalization, [Serbians] are aware of Western custom and many people — especially younger generations — they would like to say, ‘Oh! Today is Valentines Day,’ Pantic said. “And there are a lot of [Valentines Day] themes in stores. We get that influence, but I wouldn’t say that’s a Serbian custom.

It’s just something that comes from TV or Hollywood.

A bigger holiday in Serbia would be March 8, [International Women’s Day].”

On International Women’s Day, Serbians celebrate the women in their lives. While not inherently romantic, some husbands or boyfriends may choose to make the event romantic.

Although Hollywood and American culture continue to seep into some cultures around the world, many cultures also have a traditional way to celebrate love — whether it involves a holiday or not. By studying some of these ways, students can learn what people find special in different cultures.

For example, in accordance to Chinese mythology, Chinese Valentines Day, also called the QiXi Festival, is the one day in the year that a young cowherd could meet with his lover, a goddess, in the heavens.

Technician mapped out just a few of these ways other cultures recognize their significant others.

Known as El Día del Cariño, Valentine’s Day in Guatemala is a colorful, affectionate affair.

Throughout Latin America, the day recognizes the importance of family and friendship as well as love.

In Guatemala City, locals and tourists alike dress in traditional Mayan masks to participate in “Old Love,” a senior citizens parade.

Guatamala

Eid al Hob (Valentine’s Day) is becoming more popular in Egypt. Young engaged and newlywed couples are the most likely to celebrate as Western culture begins to permeate Middle Eastern culture. Couples exchange cards, flowers, stuffed animals and candy — although, the presentation is arguably gaudier than in the west.

Egypt

STORY BY YOUNG LEE AND NIKKI STOUDT | GRAPHIC BY EMILY PRINS

Though often protested by Hindu nationalists due to its Western symbolism, Valentine’s Day has crept into Indian society.

Stuffed animals and chocolates are common in Indian markets on this day.

The day also accounts for 40 to 45 percent of India’s annual flower exports.

India

Romance around the world

China

In China, many people in their 20s and 30s celebrate Valentine’s day but it is not considered a traditional holiday and is largely unrecognized by older couples. White Day is observed with women giving presents to their boyfriends on March 14.

Chinese Valentine’s Day is another romance-themed holiday and occurs on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month

On Feb. 14, women give men chocolates — referred to as the “giro choco” tradition. It is not uncommon for women to give out 20 boxes a piece.

Today, Japan’s Valentine’s Day sales account for more than half of the chocolate sold annually in Japan.

Japan

Although it isn’t considered romantic, many Serbians celebrate the women in their lives during International Women’s Day on March 8.

Serbia

Features

Valentine’s Day is celebrated with extreme adrenaline rushes in Thailand as cliff-hanging, sky-diving and underwater weddings have become the norm.

Women often flock to Trimurti shrine where red roses adorn the feet of the Hindu deity and prayers for a husband fills the air.

Thailand

In Korea, Valentine’s Day is celebrated with the same traditions of love and devotion in mind, but with a twist. On Valentine’s Day, only women give gifts — mostly chocolates — to men.

A month later, on March 14, there is a day called ‘White Day’.

On this day, men give gifts — mostly candies — to women.

This is evidence of Japanese influence, since White Day was first conducted by a marshmallow company in Japan.

Korea

Valentine’s Day, or Valentinstag, is celebrated with most of the western traditions of old as well as some of their own.

Gigantic heart-shaped gingerbread cookies have become a staple for men to give women and are often wrapped with a ribbon that can be tied in his sweetheart’s hair.

Germany

TECHNICIAN PAGE 5 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

Features

PAGE 6 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

TECHNICIAN

OIS celebrates romance with film fest Nikki Stoudt Life & Style Editor

Though Valentine’s Day activities have traditionally included an amorous dinner and a dozen roses, a little something new is always a welcome way to spice up the most romantic day of the year.

The Office of International Services and the UAB have teamed up to bring an international romance double feature to the campus cinema in Witherspoon Student Center on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

According to Thomas Green, associate director of OIS, this is the first time the University has held a film festival of this sort.

“In 2011, we had this really something along the lines of huge program that featured a the program. week of monster and Hallow“This program especially een movies from four differ- hits close to home with me,” ent countries,” Greene said. Greene said. “I’ve always “We toned loved films, it dow n a especially bit this year internationwith just a al films, so double feato be able to ture. It was put together really great, a prog ra m but we delike this is a cided to go dream come one step furtrue.”

Thomas Green, ther and do When seassociate director of OIS a romance lecting the festival. It’s f i lms for new, and we love the idea.” this year’s double feature, While the international Greene said the OIS put a lot Valentine’s Day film festival is of thought into which counnew to the University, Greene tries “do romance best.” said he has always planned for “Romance is a really uni-

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versal thing,” Greene said.

“We had to look at which film industries were the most accessible and fun. Of course, it’s important to appreciate the way each culture tells a story, but it’s impossible not to notice when someone excels.”

The success of this year’s Halloween horror double feature inspired Greene and his team to compliment the event with one that is a little lighter. About 120 people attended the October event, but Greene expects to see an increase in number for Wednesday’s event.

“Horror just isn’t as accessible as romance,” Greene said. “You can relate to being in love with someone or being attracted to someone as opposed to being chased by a masked murderer.”

The film festival will feature a French film called Amélie and a Bollywood film called Namastey London.

Released in 2001, Amélie is a romantic comedy film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and written bhy both Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant. Amélie (played by Audrey Tautou), a young Parisian waitress, decides to help those around her by interfering in their lives.

As she subsequently reunites families, torments the wicked, draws the isolated out of their seclusion and so on, she finds a man with a heart like her own and begins to fall in love with him.

Namastey London is a 2007 Bollywood film directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shahand and stars Akshay Kumar and Ka-

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trina Kaif. Namastey London revolves around a girl who was born and raised in the heart of London. Jasmine, “Jazz,” has already been courted by many eligible suitors through her father, but has gotten rid of them in one way or another.

Tirelessly searching for a man with the same spirit and passion for adventure she possesses, Jazz falls for her boss, a ladies man who has been through three divorce settlements. A series of events and an arranged engagement bring a new light to the culture and heritage she has always deplored.

The film festival is free to the public, but OIS will be collecting canned goods as a part of a service initiative with CSLEPS. The donations will go to Feed the Pack at the North Carolina State Food Bank. When students donate two cans, they will receive a voucher for a free bag of popcorn.

“The event is unique and really different,” Greene said.

“It hasn’t been done here, but it’s about time. You get a few films, a ton of culture and you get to help the community. So if you’re looking for something really special to do, this is it.”

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PAGE 7 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

Open-source unites the innovative

UNIFORM

Nasir Khatri

people more likely to buy that brand’s athletic products.

In short, if a team has alternate uniforms, then it must be a pretty prominent team.

The best example is the Oregon football team.

Nike, the university’s athletic sponsor, has provided the Ducks with radical uniforms that have captured the nation’s attention since 2007. The program’s success, combined with its flashy uniforms, also captures the attention of stud high school football recruits: Now more recruits want to play football for Oregon.

The Ducks pulled in the No. 18 recruiting class in the nation last year, according to ESPN.com.

The Ducks handily beat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. Compare this to the Ducks’ 2006 recruiting class, which wasn’t ranked in the top 25.

Another benefit of having alternate uniforms is increased support from the school’s fan base. Fans love seeing their team in new uniforms, knowing

Staff Writer

Muhammad Abbasi, a senior in business administration and a FOSS user, said he appreciated that the fair was held on State’s campus.

“I use Open Source software regularly, and it’s nice knowing that the N.C. State community is playing a central role in continually improving FOSS,” Abbasi said.

And while FOSS does allow students to download free alternative software programs from the Internet, many users also frequently use it in other fields, ranging from robotics to data management.

“Open source software to developers is like free speech to the rest of the world,” Khadija Khan, a junior in electrical and computer engineering, said. “When you have free speech, you can get in a group and share ideas, collaborate and improve upon them. In the same way, FOSS allows us to develop programs that are bigger, better and more powerful than any one of us could create by ourselves.”

The fair also presented a

GRAPHIC BY ZAC EPPS

With the cost of software programs such as Photoshop and antivirus suites rising, many people turn to alternative software they can legally download from the Internet for free.

But penny-pinching students are not the only people turning to Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

Many software developers use these programs to study and improve their peers’ programs, which cannot be done with licensed software.

Still, developing these complex programs and distributing them for free online is no easy feat — it requires collaboration between FOSS users, developers and companies. N.C. State’s Office of Information Technology is looking to facilitate that.

To bring together FOSS enthusiasts, Jack Neely and Breandan Dezendorf from OIT held the fifth annual FOSS Fair Saturday on Centennial Campus. Sponsored by Red Hat, the program welcomed more than 150 participants.

“The FOSS Fair, unlike ordinary fairs and confer-

ences, has no keynote speakers or formal talks planned in advance,” Neely, self-proclaimed “LinuxCzar,” said.

“Instead, folks gather on the day of the event and decide what they are interested in talking and learning about, and spend the day doing so.”

In fact, participants created their own informal discussion sessions on the fair website prior to the day of the event, allowing for collaboration on a wide range of topics.

Aditya Vaja, a graduate student in computer science, was among the students who created their own discussions.

Vaja took the opportunity to teach his peers about how to use FOSS to create a ‘cloud’ system.

Jason Hibbets, an open source project manager at Red Hat, took a different approach and spoke about “10 ways you didn’t think open source could be used.”

“The event is designed to give the Open Source community at N.C. State, as well as local folks and companies, a chance to network and collaborate,” Neely said. “Sometimes the most challenging part of Open Source is being aware of what other developers are working on.”

continued from page 8

unique networking opportunity for developers in addition to helping FOSS enthusiasts improve their programs. Many of them could collaborate on their projects with peers and showcase projects and skill sets to local companies who may be interested in recruiting FOSS experts.

“This event builds our community, shares and improves ideas, and gives local companies a chance to interact with future job seekers,” Neely said.

InfoSec Institute, Raritan Inc. and Red Hat were among the companies whose representatives participated in the fair.

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that sponsors have deemed the team important enough for special resources.

Nevertheless, State’s jerseys are not completely original: Sponsors often have a concept uniform they use for multiple teams. However, they still implement elements that are school-specific.

For example, all of N.C. State’s basketball jerseys have graphics of howling wolves on the shoulders. Although State’s jerseys are created using the same basic template as those worn by Louisville, Michigan and Baylor, the howling-wolves graphic gives the jerseys a nice personal touch.

Adidas has made several alternate jerseys for N.C. State over the past two years.

The 2011 Wolfpack football team wore all black jerseys for its game against Central Michigan. A few months later, State’s basketball team wore all black jerseys for its game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This year, State’s basketball team has worn both black and red jerseys.

Personally, I’m excited to see what Adidas comes out with next for the Wolfpack.

Keep the new designs coming.

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Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk.

LEVEL 3

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Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

© 2013 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 12, 2013

Level: 1Los2 Angeles 3 4 Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 ACROSS box (in bold borders) contains every digit Employment 1 to19.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, agency listings Fried Cajun visit5www.sudoku.org.uk. veggie 9 WWII conference

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14 Billion extension 15 Steady guy 16 He hunted with a club in the “Odyssey” 17 Club used as a weapon, say 20 Nonagenarian actress White 21 Yeats or Keats 22 Color, as Easter eggs 23 Summer quencher 24 Dorm VIPs 27 Where Lux. is 29 Kid-friendly comfort food 36 Soothing additive 38 River through Sudan 39 Country rocker Steve 40 Sable maker, © 2013 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved. briefly 2/13/13 41 Turn __ ear 43 Pub projectile 44 Former Portuguese territory in China 46 Prefix with -pus 47 Abates 48 Tests during which checking notes is allowed 51 Gymnast’s goal 52 Deli bread 53 Art on skin, slangily 56 Draw upon 59 Not as much 62 Calf-roping gear 64 Candid sort 68 Street toughs 69 Diamond Head’s island 70 Aromatic drinks 71 Go on tiptoe 72 Small songbird 73 Wine area near Turin

indie rock / hip-hop / dance / electronica / metal / folk / post rock / local / soul / a capella

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By Melanie Miller

Lookin’ for the answer key?

Sports

COUNTDOWN

• 4 days until men’s basketball takes on Virginia Tech at the PNC Arena.

PAGE 8 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2013

INSIDE

• Page 5: A story on romance in different countries.

TECHNICIAN

COMMENTARY

A battle between sponsors and tradition For the alternative

For the traditional Luke Nadkarni Staff Writer

RYAN PARRY/TECHNICIAN

Junior forward C.J. Leslie jumps up for tip off at the start of the North Carolina game Saturday, Jan. 26. Leslie had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Wolfpack’s 91-83 win at the PNC Arena.

Andrew Schuett Deputy Sports Editor

There’s just a “coolness” factor to alternate jerseys. How many times have you been talking to a friend and said, “Man, wouldn’t it be awesome if State had all black jerseys?”

Well, thanks to Adidas, now it does.

But what’s the point of having alternate uniforms? Yes, they look awesome, but why do sponsors such as Nike, Adidas and Under Armour bother making them in the first place? What advantages do they provide to the school?

The biggest benefit lies in the recruiting advantages the uniforms provide. All student-athletes want to look good while they’re on the field

or court. Most recruits also want to play for successful programs. What recruit wouldn’t want to win and look awesome while doing it?

Alternate uniforms grab the attention of potential recruits and make them aware of the school’s athletic success — sponsors don’t waste their time designing an alternate uniform for a team that isn’t very good. Bad teams carry negative vibes and a smaller broadcast audience.

On the other hand, if the public sees a team succeeding while wearing a brand’s uniform, then people associate that brand with success.

This positive association makes

UNIFORM continued page 7

“We’re the Red and White from State.” As a student of this university, I take that very seriously.

Now, I am not totally opposed to alternate uniforms. But to me, there are two criteria that alternate uniforms should always follow. First, they should only include team colors. Second, they should follow the same template as the regular uniforms.

That is where my first issue lies: N.C. State’s “blackout” game against Clemson on Jan. 20. The Wolfpack wore black uniforms.

No matter how much people want it to be, black is not one of State’s official colors. We’re not the “Red, Black and White from State.”

The blackout is one of those classic college concepts in which the crowd dresses in black to supposedly intimidate the opposing team. I did not attend the Clemson game, but from the look of it, the only people wearing black were the students. And even then, there were pockets of people not wearing the black shirts provided to all students. What’s the point? Uniform junkies call this “black for black’s sake,” or BFBS for short. It’s pretty selfexplanatory.

It created an interesting dynamic as the students in black stood with the rest of the customary red-and-white crowd. It looked, for lack of a better term, lame. Perhaps timing was the issue — I didn’t even know it was supposed to be a blackout until the day of the game. That doesn’t change the fact that it looked funky.

Back in December, State played in the Jimmy V Classic, an event named for legendary Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano. The team wore special one-time red uniforms with a net design on the shoulders alluding to the practice of cutting down the nets – which Valvano did in 1983 when

JOHN JOYNER/TECHNICIAN

Freshman guard Tyler Lewis moves through coverage during the basketball game against St. Bonaventure in PNC Arena Saturday, Dec. 22. The Wolfpack defeated the Bonnies 92-73.

the Pack won the national title. Instead of displaying player names on the back, the jerseys featured the famous Valvano phrase “Don’t ever give up.”

I’ll be the first to admit that it was a great concept. I’m all for honoring Jimmy V. But in practice, it just didn’t look very good. The top half of the jerseys looked like a Spiderman outfit. The one redeeming factor, however, was that the words and numbers on the uniforms were reminiscent of the Valvano era.

In State’s Jan. 26 showdown with rival North Carolina, the Pack broke out an all-red look. Not only were the jerseys and pants red, but so were the names, numbers, warm-ups and pretty much every other conceivable component. Most people liked the look, but I did not. With Carolina in its traditional baby blue uniforms, both teams were sporting colored attire.

This was also the case in the Clemson game. To me, that looks tacky, especially in a sport where 99 percent of games are played with one team in white. It looked like a YMCA game.

See, it’s not that these uniforms look particularly bad. It’s just that I’m getting tired of teams needing to wear some type of special uniform every time they have a big game.

In my opinion, it strips a team of

its identity if it comes out wearing something different every night.

Just look at Oregon’s football team.

It has 512 possible uniforms combinations. No, that is not an exaggeration. And it sounds awesome — if you’re in middle school.

Nike, which provides many programs with uniforms, has been making special football uniforms for years and giving them to select schools. Now it’s moved on to basketball. Teams such as Carolina, Duke, Gonzaga and others have worn or been scheduled to wear “Nike Elite” uniforms, which are basically the same dumbed-down uniform with differences in color and logo.

Of course, there is a reason for all of this, and you guessed it: money.

More uniforms equals more money for whoever provides the school with apparel, and then the school can sell replicas at the bookstore and make money themselves. It’s happening everywhere.

It’s logical, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

When I was growing up, State basketball had two uniforms — white for home games, red for road games.

What was wrong with that?

BASEBALL

Baseball ready to hit the diamond Jon Stout Senior Staff Writer

The baseball program has not reached the College World Series since 1968.

Forty-five years have passed since the Sammy Esposito-led team took the dugout in Nebraska. This season’s team has the makeup to potentially take the field at TD Ameritrade Park in June.

Head coach Elliot Avent has taken the program to three Super Regionals: against Miami in 2003, Georgia in 2008 and Florida in 2012.

“There’s a lot of hype around this season, which always makes it extra special, but every opening day at N.C. State has been special,” Avent said.

Four rising sophomores from last season — pitcher Carlos Rodon, infielder Trea Turner, catcher Brett Austin and outfielder Jake Fincher — will play essential roles in the team’s success.

“They came in as freshmen and played in a league that’s tough to play in as a freshman,” Avent said.

“To see what those guys did in this league, I think they’ll handle expectations pretty well.”

The team will look for Turner and Rodon to have another dominant season based on their stellar freshmen seasons, which earned them spots on the United States Colle-

RYAN PARRY/TECHNICIAN

Making a double play, junior Matt Bergquist throws the ball to first base after tagging a Virginia runner out at second. The Wolfpack beat the Virginia Cavaliers in a three-game series 2-1 the weekend of March 30.

giate National Team and the 2013 preseason All-America first team.

Turner will make the switch from third base to shortstop, a plan that has been in the works since his recruitment, said Avent.

Playing third base last season gave Turner the opportunity to play immediately rather than sit behind

former shortstop Chris Diaz last season.

The multi-talented Turner also saw time at second base over the summer with Team USA but said he plans to play shortstop at the next level.

“I’m more comfortable with the throw and setting up the ground

ball better at shortstop,” Turner said. “I think it would be a more comfortable year.”

Both Rodon and Turner were recently named to the Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American and Perfect Game Preseason AllAmerican first teams.

The team is ranked No. 9 in the

country, the highest preseason ranking ever for the baseball program. But according to Avent, the team cannot afford any “lone wolves.”

He said the team will have to work as one unit to play to its high expectations. The Boston Celtics of the late ‘50s and ‘60s, which Avent considers the best team(s) of all time, won 11 NBA championships without ever having a league scoring leader.

Rodon’s arm, along with Turner’s bat and speed, will not be enough alone for the Wolfpack to succeed.

“That’s why you’ve got to have leadership,” Avent said. “You have to have leadership within your ball club if you’re going to make a run and stay together through a long, grueling season.”

After Rodon’s performance with Team USA, rumors began to spread about the sophomore sensation leaving for junior college. Rodon said there was never any truth to the rumors: He wants to win a College World Series.

“Expectations are nice, but they don’t really mean anything until you get on the field and actually compete,” Rodon said.

“The goal is not to get to Omaha,” Rodon said. “The goal is to win the whole thing. That’s what we plan on doing.”