April 02, 2013

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TECHNICIAN          

tuesday april

2

2013

Raleigh, North Carolina

technicianonline.com

Reviving activism

Professors see advantages in online classes Kevin Schaefer Staff Writer

By the time you graduate, you probably will have taken at least one online course. Online courses are changing the way students learn, and conversely, the way professors teach. Contrary to common belief, many professors enjoy working within the online current. Lavon Page, a mathematics professor, said he enjoys teaching online courses because of the tools he can use. “When I first started teaching online classes, people asked me if teaching online works as well as teaching in a classroom,” Page said. “Even 15 years ago my stock response was that there is no contest.” WebAssign and MyMathLab offer methods different from textbooks for students to practice learning material. These programs enable professors to evaluate students’ progress and assess their skills using 21st-century tactics. “Compared to all the tools I have available to me in online teaching, if you put me in front of a class with only chalk and blackboard, I’d feel naked by comparison,” Page said. Page said he has not had a problem with enrollment either. “The popularity of my class went way up as soon as it was converted to an online course making heavy use of WebAssign,” Page said. Michael Kimberley, a professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, said that after teaching both online and standard classroom courses, he actually had a more personal experience teaching online courses. “Personally, I feel that my online courses are actually more effective than my on-campus sections because of all the email traffic that I

ONLINE continued page 3

insidetechnician

DAVE KUZDRALL/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVES

An estimated 5,000 marchers took Hillsborough Street by storm on their way downtown to protest possible UNC System budget cuts of $125 million on April 5, 2001. Students from other UNC System schools joined in the N.C. State effort.

Students and collective action: Look to the past for examples of success

The entire student body of 300 students protest tution increases during the Great Depression in 1939.

Tim Gorski Staff Writer

In light of the proposed $135 million budget cuts to the UNC System, the N.C. Student Power Union, an advocacy group for North Carolina college students, is organizing two protests and an informative session about the ramifications of such drastic cuts. The budget cuts, which will most likely be approved by the Republican super-majority in the North Carolina General Assembly, have been a trend in recent years.

Students protest the election of President Richard Nixon in the Brickyard in 1968.

Ben Elling, a UNC-Chapel Hill student, marches in protest of Amendment One, Thursday, Mar. 15, 2012.

Two years ago, N.C. State’s budget sociation of Student Governments, was cut by 15 percent due to budget commented on his recollections cuts to the UNC System’s budget. In of student opposition to budget 2011, the system cuts while he lost more than was president. $400 million in I n 20 01, t he funding. university sysStudents and tem was facor g a n i z e r s at ing a proposed N.C. State have $125 m i l l ion a history of proworth of cuts. testing to let our Within 10 days Andrew Payne, NCSU alum politicians know of t his news, that great cuts to Payne sent out the university system will not hap- a mass email to all N.C. State stupen without a fight. dents, visited UNC System camAndrew Payne, a graduate of N.C. puses and organized 5,000 person State and former president of the As- march down Hillsborough Street.

“The constitution says education should be as free as practicable.”

Erin McDermott, a sophomore in meteorology and environmental science, protests the ban on gay marriage.

MAY DAY PROTEST EVENT DETAILS • Who: N.C. Student Power Union • What: A protest of the proposed 135 million in budget cuts • Where: From the Bell Tower to the General Assembly • When: April 15, May 1

The student body president at the time, Derryl Willie, was at the march. “The University doesn’t get behind much, but when we combine, faculty, staff and students

PROTEST continued page 2

New SBP to improve campus communication Will E. Brooks

Raleigh expands bike lanes

Deputy News Editor

See page 5.

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socialtechnician

The Student Media App:

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As Matt Williams set foot onto N.C. State’s campus less than two years ago, he recalled a longtime dream: to become the University’s student body president. Williams thought the dream he cooked up as an elementary school student in Raleigh had been lost in his first year at North Carolina A&T, but he was wrong. Last Wednesday he strolled campus as the student body’s President-elect, and he couldn’t be more eager. “Once I actually transferred, I thought the dream was over,” Williams said. “I was like ‘You have to be here freshman year if you want to run for student body president, you have to get those connections.’” Following Wednesday’s results, Williams sat down with one of the people he connected with — Andy Walsh — to discuss his plans for office. “The first night after I won, me and Andy went out and talked,” Williams said. “So we started the mini-transition process.” Williams said he will focus on commu-

nication between Student Government and all students — most importantly a comprehensive website. “I think that’s the one thing that can be a lasting legacy for not just students now, but for students in the future to have that place where they can always know what is going on here at N.C. State,” Williams said. “We need something universityrun, university-maintained, but mainly run by students.” Williams said he intends for a universal calendar, University news updates and announcements. A universal site for students exists, labeled “Current Students” on the University website, but is seldom updated. The goal is to make a website worthy of being the homepage for all students, Williams said. “Now we just need to work with University Communications and make it happen,” Williams said. “The communication is not where it needs to be when it comes to letting students know everything that’s going on, something like this can

WILLIAMS continued page 3

Spring Housing Fair April 3rd - 10am-2pm- Brickyard

GREG WILSON/TECHNICIAN

Student Body President elect Matthew Williams looks to make improving communication on campus his main concern when he takes office this summer.

Sponsored by Student Leadership and Engagement NC State University


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