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
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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
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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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PAGE 2 • TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
THROUGH KELSEY’S LENS
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Sunny
Tomorrow:
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Friday 6:49 A.M. | MEDICAL ASSIST Leaxar Hall Units responded and transported to employee in need of medical assistance.
Partly Cloudy
Thursday:
9:00 A.M. | SUSPICIOUS PERSON Public Safety Center Officer observed suspicious subject near Western Blvd. Subject was trespassed from NCSU property.
Showers SOURCE: WWW.WEATHER.COM
3:00 P.M. | SKATE COMPLAINT Pullen Hall Report of skateboarders violating university policy in the area. Officer did not located anyone violationing policy.
Students learn about plans for the new Talley
8:02 P.M. | FIRE ALARM MAE Lab Units responded to accidental activation of alarm. Saturday 13:32 A.M. | DRUG VIOLATION Off Campus Non-student was cited for Driving WHile License Revoked. Subject was in possesion of Schedule I & IC controlled substances. Subject was arrested for Habitual Felon charge.
PHOTO BY KELSEY BEAL
C
4:29 P.M. |FIRE ALARM BTEC FP reponded to alarm caused by autoclave. System reset. 5:21 | SPECIAL EVENT Doak Field Officer monitored baseball game.
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PROTEST continued from page 1
there is no limit to what we can do. This isn’t Student Government; this is students,” Willie said. According to Payne, at the time ASG had hardly any money yet was able to get things like this done, today on the other hand, N.C. State pays about $34,000 to ASG and
April 2013 Su
ampus Enterprises hosted a Campus Block Party in the Brickyard, 1 Apr 13. In attendance was Jasmyn Hitchcock, a freshman in economics. “It’s nice to learn about the new Talley and bookstore,” Hitchcock said. The Block Party had representatives from University Dining, the Bookstore, Wolf express, The Lonnie Poole Golf Course and others. doesn’t get anything done. “Its a terrible shame,” said Payne about ASG’s lack of vigor. Moreover, in 2001 when Universit y of f icia ls attempted to reduce library hours, Willie organized a 500 person sit in at the D.H. Hill Library and a march to the chancellor’s residence. Technician reported that the protest woke up the chancellor, who responded along the lines, “OK, you can have your library hours,” according to
CAMPUS CALENDAR
Payne. African-American studies, The N.C. Student Power may face a disproportionUnion is working to continue ate amount of cuts. this legacy. McDonough, like Payne The organization will host and others, said she is approtests on palled April 15 and by these May 1 and sor t of a n i n forcuts. She mative sessaid her sion about organithe effects zation of the cuts would this Thurs“do evday in 214 erything Daniels at Derryl Willie, 2001 Student Body [it] can 6 p.m. The to make President informative sure session includes free food. these [cuts] don’t get Molly McDonough, fresh- passed.” man in women’s and gender Drastic cuts like these studies and organizer in the are as illogical as they are N.C. Student Power Union, without legal precedent expressed that it is important in North Carolina, Payne for students to understand said. the effects of the budgets “The constitution says and to take decisive action education should be as free in preventing them. as practicable. We put that She pointed out that the in the state constitution for upcoming increases — 5.1 a reason,” said Payne. “If percent for in-state under- we put it in the constitugrad and 3.1 percent out-of- tion, we can’t go outside state undergrads at NCSU through the legislative next school year — are di- process and not fund the rectly affected by budget cuts university system because and that certain programs you are not upholding the programs, such as gender and values you have set forth.”
“...When we combine, faculty, staff and students there is no limit to what we can do.”
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Today BEST PRACTICES FOR RECORDING WITH MEDIASITE D.H. Hill Library East Wing, 12 to 1 p.m. Tomorrow WHAT’S NEW IN MOODLE 2 D.H. Hill ITTC Labs 1A and 1B, 12 to 1 p.m. SUICIDE PREVENTION WORKSHOP: MULTICULTURALISM, DIVERSITY, & SUICIDE PREVENTION Talley Student Center Walnut Room, 12:15 to 1 p.m. DEDICATION OF HUNT LIBRARY Hunt Library, 3 to 5 p.m. JOHN W. POPE LECTURE 3400 Nelson Hall, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday POPULATION MEDICINE FORUM Veterinary School, 12:15 to 1:10 p.m. MOVIE: ZERO DARK THIRTY Witherspoon Student Cinema, 7 to 9 p.m. NCSU CENTER STAGE PRESENTS NINETY MILES, FEATURING STEFON HARRIS, NICHOLAS PAYTON & DAVID SANCHEZ Titmus Theatre - Thompson Hall, 8:00 p.m. MOVIE: MAMA Witherspoon Student Cinema, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
to nC state’s
Friday POPULATION MEDICINE FORUM Veterinary School, 12:15 to 1:10 p.m.
Brian schuster!
SPRING MEETING FOR THE NC STATE BOARD OF VISITORS Hunt Library, 1 to 5 p.m. MOVIE: ZERO DARK THIRTY Witherspoon Student Cinema, 7 to 9 p.m.
The College Edition Award recognizes engineering students whose academic successes and experiences in the engineering field have positioned them to become tomorrow’s leaders.
NCSU CENTER STAGE PRESENTS NINETY MILES, FEATURING STEFON HARRIS, NICHOLAS PAYTON & DAVID SANCHEZ Titmus Theatre - Thompson Hall, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. NCSU CHOIRS SPRING CONCERT Holy Trinity Lurtheran Evangellical Church, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Brian is a student member of AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers). Find us at: www.facebook.com/CollegeEdition Funding is provided by:
Triangle Area Pipe Smokers
PIPE & TOBACCO EXPO Saturday, April 13 14 • 9:00 - 4:30
State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC in the Gov. James G. Martin Building For more information: email- pipechief@nc.rr.com phone- (919) 848 - 0685 One (1) free admission with this AD
UNIVERSITY THEATRE PRESENTS THE HELDI CHRONICLES Kennedy-Mcllwee Studio Thompson Hall, 7:30 p.m. MOVIE: MAMA Witherspoon Student Cinema, 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. MOVIE: TANGLED (FREE) Witherspoon Student Cinema, 12 a.m. Saturday VITA TAX INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE Nelson Hall Basement Labs, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. MOVIE: ZERO DARK THIRTY Witherspoon Student Cinema, 7 to 9 p.m.
News
TECHNICIAN
PAGE 3 • TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
Students prepare for COM Week Katie Sanders Deputy Features Editor
GRAPHIC BY TREY FERGUSON
ONLINE
continued from page 1
have with my students,” Kimberley said. “I get to know each of my online students in some personal way, whereas there are few students who I get to know personally in a big class in Witherspoon Cinema.” Due to the structure of online courses, students are forced to establish a network of communication with their professors. Depending on course size, a student may get more or less one-on-one time with their professors. To ensure students are keeping up with material in an online course, professors can hold them accountable through regular emails. “For the online class, I require students to email me either every week during the school year, or three times per week for summer-school classes with written evidence they are progressing through the course,” Kimberley said. Ultimately, the advantages of distance education depend on how comfortable both teachers and students are with it. David Covington, a professor in English, said he
WILLIAMS continued from page 1
help take it to the next level.” Williams said he hopes to communicate to students more through Technician, WKNC and other on-campus resources so students can hear and be heard. “To administrators, email is their best friend. We’ve got to break out of that,” Williams said. Williams said he wants to start “Lunch With the Leaders,” a program where groups of students meet with Student Government leaders in the Brickyard to discuss how to tackle issues on campus within student means. “I feel like most of the time when student leaders get together now, it’s in a conference room in a meeting,”
has slowly grown fond of the new teaching method. “As the years have passed, our teachers have grown more and more comfortable with online delivery, and now most of us choose it when we schedule the sections,” Covington said. Many professors in different departments appreciate the accommodating aspects of online courses as they pertain to their schedules, and the structure of online and traditional courses are more alike than some might expect. “Teachers in the Professional Writing Program have the same responsibilities teaching online as they do in the classroom. The learning goals for the courses are the same, and the assignments are the same as well,” Covington said. While responsibilities vary among departments and individual courses, the general principle of teaching remains the same. “I can’t speak for teachers in other programs, but we have found online courses a very effective way to teach professional writing,” Covington said.
Williams said. “That’s not how stuff happens.” Williams said he and his campaign staff began to bawl as the results came in last Wednesday. The end of the campaign was the beginning of a long year. The election did not come without controversy, but Williams said he made sure not to get involved on either side of Dwayne O’Rear’s Facebook controversy. “You got a chance to see more of a candidate and [students] made their judgment off of that,” Williams said. Regardless of the incident’s impact on the election, Williams said he is ecstatic to fulfill his dream.
Public relations students will compete in the sixth annual Wolfpack Speaks speech competition as part of COM Week 2013. COM Week, April 8-12, features workshops and panels organized by the Department of Communication and emphasizes skills learned in Public Relations Writing, or COM 316. The Wolfpack Speaks competition began with minimal attendance but has become a Universitywide event. “These students are very, very serious speakers, and that was very evident last year,” said Dean Phillips, internship director of communications and senior lecturer. “We had six speakers last year and every one of them I would rate as extraordinary.”
This year speakers will raise awareness on a social issue or argue for change in an aspect of audience members’ lives. The entire class created such presentations and will vote among themselves Tuesday for the top-five finalists to speak at the event. “There’s been the full gambit. There have been people speaking on very serious topics and there have been people speaking on light topics,” Phillips said. “Or speakers will take a speech on a serious topic and put their personality in it.” Depending on the finalists, topics may include gun violence, how to help the homeless, mental health and diet and exercise, said communication lecturer Sherry O’Neal, who teaches COM 316. The speeches will be given in the “pecha kucha,” or “20-by-20” format. This is a format in which people follow their timed slideshows, matching their timing to that of the slides.
“It’s an advanced skill because you have to practice the timing of what you’re going to say while each slide is up and transitioning to the next slide,” O’Neal said. Pecha kucha speeches have 20 slides that each stay on the screen for 20 seconds, making each speech exactly six minutes and 40 seconds. Though it only began about 10 years ago in Japan, pecha kucha has become a popular format. However, speakers are not judged solely on their adherence to the format. Judges will consider substance and style, including sources, logic and the quality of the presentation. O’Neal sees the competition as a way for students to gain confidence in their abilities by presenting in front of their peers. Phillips echoed this sentiment by telling the story of a very shy student that he used to teach. “I watched him develop as a student, and he was in this class — the COM 316 class —
last year,” Phillips said. “He was selected as one of the finalists, and he just came out of his shell. He was just marvelous.” David Young of Edward Jones Investments will be one of the judges for the competition, and the company will provide cash prizes for the event. Young said he chose to support the event because of how valuable communication education is to students’ future careers. “Regardless of the type of business that you’re in and the level of management that you’re at, you are always trying to build bridges and help people understand what they know and what they don’t know. That becomes increasingly important as you progress in your career,” Young said. “This is an opportunity to sharpen those skills.” Wolfpack Speaks will take place April 9 in Burns Auditorium, Kamphoefner Hall at 6:45 p.m.
Viewpoint
PAGE 4 • TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
TECHNICIAN
Just to clarify a few things... WE DO NOT USE YOUR STUDENT FEES
A
few days ago, Technician received an anonymous note criticizing us for using student fees to create “a glorified crossword puzzle holder.” Though we don’t feel much of a need to grace this letter with a comment, we’ve decided to respond so we can clear up any future misunderstandings. First, though we may be somewhat biased, we’d like to think that Technician is more than just lipstick on a crossword puzzle. Every day from 3 p.m. until midnight, writers, photographers, editors, cartoonists and designers all collectively sweat over the next day’s paper. That’s not including the reporters that spend their time outside our Witherspoon head-
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IN YOUR WORDS
quarters into “5 The unsigned editorial is the opinion of the members chronicling Down” and of Technician’s editorial board, excluding the news the actions “23 Across.” department, and is the responsibility of the editor-in-chief. of g roup s Second, ranging and the f rom Unisomewhat versity Dining to Gov. Pat McCrory’s ad- bigger reason behind this editorial, is that this ministration. anonymous comment is utterly unfounded. Last year, after a woman was shot and killed We don’t rely on student fees. Our printing in Cameron Village, we voiced our frustra- and payroll costs are completely covered by tion with the University’s WolfAlert system, the advertising revenue — which shies just prompting changes in communication. Good short of half a million dollars, thank you very changes. But hey, we’re not taking the credit. much. The University probably got the idea from fillTechnically called the “Student Publications ing in the words “FLAWED” and “SYSTEM” Fee,” the $15.50 N.C. State charges each stu-
American Exceptionalism
} T
Do you think universities should be allowed to pay revenue athletes? BY PATRICK WHALEY
“No, not particularly. Universities are meant for education.” Martin Mondou freshman, mechanical engineering
“There are so many athletes that don’t become professional that I would be hesitant to create that sort of dependency on that line of work that early in their career.” Sarah Parks sophomore, art and design
“Yeah I think they should be payed, there should be some kind of way that we are paying for their education.” Josh Smith sophomore, biomedical engineering
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he United States is the best country in the world. I had to fight to place my fingers on the keyboard throughout that first sentence. The truth is America has fallen f rom its position on the podium. Tyler Gobin I n j u s t Staff Columnist four years, America has dropped from first to seventh in the World Economic Forum’s competiveness rankings. The United States is simply not alone at the top anymore. Other countries caught up during the recent recession and now compete in our global economy. And though our country has stepped down from its pedestal, our citizens are too slow to assume the new position. During several conversations I have had with members of other cultures, a c om mon stereotype seems to surface regarding American citizens. The belief is simple: Americans are lazy. Fast food encourages this belief, but it originates from our lack of knowledge and unwillingness to learn more about other cultures and languages. Conversely, these other cultures begin to learn our practices at an early age. While talking with a citizen from China, I learned the Chinese are taught English as early as 3 years old. From a South American, I learned the Southern Hemisphere’s education surrounding English and the United States begins at an elementary stage. Although many Americans take time to understand another language and learn foreign cultural practices, stereotypes form for a reason. I am an unfortunate example of this generalization. With hardly any time spent in another country and only the necessary foreign language experience to gain entrance into college, I lack cultural awareness.
Alongside the stereotype is the country’s sense of indiv idualit y. American exceptiona lism’s proper definition is that the United States is qualitatively different than other countries. But this differentiability is often misunderstood for superiority. The United States is an incredible country, but so are China, Brazil, South Africa, the Netherlands and many others. The Imperial system is out of date and needs to go. As Americans, we need to stop believing we are unique and join the rest of the world by recognizing the metric system. We need to stop ignoring that we are only one part of a larger whole. The United States encourages individuality and independence in its citizens, while China encourages collectivism and the benefit of the group. Both have freedom within their cultures and simply differ in cultural morals and values. Both are exceptional in that they are unique — but neither is better than the other. I n 20 09, President Barack �Obama was quoted stating, “I bel ie ve i n American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” Obama correctly recognized that exceptionalism stands for uniqueness and not superiority. He understood the United States represents an important piece in the global goal for “peace and prosperity,” but cannot achieve anything by itself. The United States is a great country, but we are not alone. It’s time to recognize other countries and citizens for what they are, and it’s time to stop comparing them to our culture, which is unique but not the best. In my effort to avoid criticism for being hypocritical, I am continuing my Spanish education from high school and am visiting Europe this summer. But if traveling to another country isn’t an option for you, I challenge you to learn about a new culture through education and stop making excuses. The knowledge you gain cannot be summed up. It can only be reflected upon — once you have it.
“American exceptionalism ... is that the U.S. is qualitatively different than other countries..”
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dent does go toward Student Media. According to a recent budget update, the fee pays for 100 percent of The Windhover, approximately 85 percent of Agromeck, 70 percent of The Nubian Message and 15 percent of WKNC. But Technician uses a total of $0 from fee money when it comes to paying our staff and printing N.C. State news. So the next time you read one of our articles and happen to think, “I’m not paying for this crap.” Well . . . you’re right. You don’t give us a dime. We could go on, but we think our cartoon sums it up...
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Standardized testing makes us dumb
T
he wors t pa r t about pre-college school life was end-of-year standardized testing. One stomach bug in May and suddenly your future was ruined. Megan Your Ellisor fifthDeputy grade self Viewpoint could no Editor longer hope to become more than a garbage person ... at least, that’s how your teachers made it seem. Students may work hard for nine months, but ultimately a huge percentage of their grades is decided by end-of-year test scores. Standardized testing doesn’t benefit the students. The highstakes, comprehensive tests pressure teachers to teach preparation for the test rather than students’ futures. By feigning massive improvements on endof-year test scores, former District Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools Beverly Ha l l ea r ned $500,000 in bonuses. On Friday, Hall was charged with “racketeering, theft, inf luencing witnesses, conspiracy and making false statements,” according to The New York Times. Prosecutors recommended a $7.5 million bond for Hall. If convicted, she may face up to 45 years in prison, which is more than many firstdegree murderers have faced. Though it may seem extreme, the pressure Hall placed on teachers to cheat warrants 45 years in
prison. From 2001 to her retirement in 2011, Hall falsely led the 52,000 children of the district and their parents to believe they were truly improving. The state report said that Hall “created a culture of fear, intimidation and retaliation, which was usually enforced on principals and teachers by some of the SRT executive directors.” Because of this, the cheating went undetected for 10 years. Thirty-four other educators were indicted along with Hall. This includes Parks Middle School Principal Christopher Waller. In Waller’s first year at Parks, 86 percent of eighth grade students scored proficient in math — a 62 percent increase from the prior year. The passing rate for the reading test rose from 35 percent to 78 percent. The falsified scores increased so much that Parks Middle lost $750,000 in state and federal aid because it was no longer classified as a school in need of improvement. As argued by The New York Times, “That money could have been used to give struggling children academic support.” Instead, the educators altered their students’ answers for their own self gain. After administering an end-of-year test, some teachers would sit in windowless, locked rooms and correct the wrong answers. Students who grew up in this cheating environment are ill-equipped for college. Nybria Troy, a 15-year-old student from the Atlanta Public School System, told NBC she fell behind due to the cheating scandal: She currently reads at a fifthgrade level. Erroll Davis Jr., who succeeded Hall as superintendent in July 2011, created remedial classes to help
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students like Troy catch up. But remediation will not replace 10 years of wasted education. If tested accurately, some students may find that their intelligence level is grades below that of their classmates. Outside of this scandal, the bigger problem is that these tests — which have high stakes for the students, teachers and their bosses — encourage cheating. So much weight is put on comprehensive testing that it almost completely disregards a student’s classwork. This can be seen in other standardized tests, like the SAT. Some students are great test-takers and score well above the SAT average, but they may not be hardworking students. Conversely, some students may be committed to learning, but are extremely anxious when it comes to test-taking and score lower. For this reason, more than 800 accredited colleges, including our neighbor, Wake Forest, do not require applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores. The Washington Post says these schools dropped the standardized testing requirement because “they don’t think a high-stakes test score is very revealing about a student’s abilities and find that high school grades are a more accurate reflection.” End-of-grade testing is a good way to ensure that students across counties are learning the same topic at the same pace. However, the fact that they make up such a large portion of students’ final grades makes for a faulty education system in which we do not learn. Fifth graders need to know that earning low end-of-grade scores does not mean they’ll become garbage people — at least, not all of them.�
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.
Features CAMPUS & CAPITAL
TECHNICIAN
PAGE 5 • TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
Black writers deal with assumptions Young Lee Associate Features Editor
GREG WILSON/TECHNICIAN
Jennifer Baldwin, a bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, said the city is trying to become more bike friendly.
Raleigh expands bike lanes Will E. Brooks Deputy News Editor
Cyclists are members of the modern city. Whether it began with the green movement or high obesity rates, cities — Raleigh not excluded — are accommodating to bikers. City planners laid out a comprehensive bike plan in 2009 to accommodate for 440 miles of bike-accessible roads. The city added bike lanes and removed a few car lanes since then, but the work is not over. Jennifer Baldwin, a bicycle and pedestrian coordinator for the City of Raleigh, was hired immediately following the plan. She helped Raleigh achieve a Bronze ranking by the League of American Bicyclists in 2011, and said she hopes to turn the city Silver in 2013. Raleigh’s fast-growing population — almost 50 percent since 2000 — creates a multimodal puzzle. Bicycles are an increasingly important piece, according to Baldwin. “As the population continues to grow, obviously our transportation need will grow,” Baldwin said. “The more options people have, the more that can help alleviate some of the congestion issues we will be facing here in the triangle.” Steven Goodridge, alumnus and League of American Bicyclists certified instructor, agrees with Baldwin’s sentiment but said some bike ac-
commodations are less than helpful. “I think there is a lot of window dressing that doesn’t do anything operationally, but there are some core improvements that really are good,” Goodridge said. “The things that are the most visible are not actually that useful. The things that are useful are often harder to notice.” Paint on narrow roads seldom helps traffic flow, and the bike lanes bordering campus on Hillsborough Street are dangerous, Goodridge said. Cutting down the number of lanes is a more serious solution that “changes the nature of the roadway” in many cases. A stretch of Avent Ferry Road has experienced this change, as well as the stretch of Hillsborough Street between the Bell Tower and downtown. “I’ve been riding in Raleigh for a long time and I find that, other than the rough pavement, operationally [cycling] usually isn’t very bad,” Goodridge said. “But sometimes there are cultural problems that aren’t really safety problems and often result in harassment.” The future of cycling is often defined by public perception, Baldwin said. “I think we are headed toward [cycling as common transportation], but it takes so much more than a city and the infrastructure. It’s a culture shift,” Baldwin said.
Two percent of Triangle-area residents use bikes as their main mode of transportation, but opinions are shifting and more people are biking. “Harassment is going down and there is better education,” Goodridge said. “The police are becoming aware of the rights of bicyclists on the roadways and the best practices for [implementation].” According to Baldwin, this shift is occurring quicker in some parts than others. “The bike plan itself really puts a high priority around N.C. State’s campus because that’s where most of the users are,” Baldwin said. Counters will be placed on Hillsborough Street to gauge how much the road is being used by cyclists, Baldwin said. The road has seen re-pavement and added bike lanes since 2011. Goodridge biked for transportation in Raleigh while obtaining his master’s and doctorate in electrical engineering during the ‘90s. Cycling was originally out of necessity. “For me as a student, cycling was all about self-reliance,” Goodridge said. “I was paying my way through school and couldn’t afford a car, so my bike was how I got around.” Biking took Goodridge where other forms of transportation could not and quickly became important to him. “I could go where buses
couldn’t go. I could go where buses couldn’t travel,” Goodridge said. Looking beyond environmental and health advantages of cycling, Goodridge said bike-friendly streets aid the local economy. Employers can incentivize workers with the average $20 a day they would save without a car commute, according to Goodridge. It is an advantage often overlooked that requires the cooperation
CYCLING continued page 6
No one likes to be pigeonholed. Howe ve r, A f r ic a nA merican authors have been pigeonholed throughout history, according to English professor John Charles Williamson. And because of the way many students have come to understand African-American literature, many are still at risk of pigeonholing famous African-American authors. The works of many wellknown African-American authors such as James Baldwin, Richard Wright and Zora Neale Hurston have found their way into the curriculums of many high schools. However, it is easy for many to think these authors only wrote about the concerns of African-American life. Even though he studied African-American literature for much of his time as a graduate student, Williamson said he did not discover the “whitelife” genre — stories by African-Americans with white protagonists — until he began research on
his dissertation. Originally about mid-20th century African-American authors, his dissertation changed direction when he came across a reference to “white-life” novels written by authors hailed as major influences in African-American literature. “[My research] started as a question: How is it that I had been studying African-American literature and this period and not known about these works?” Williamson said Williamson’s research led him to publish a book in December titled Abandoning the Black Hero: Sympathy and Privacy in the Postwar African American White-Life Novel. Williamson said that as he got further in his research, he stumbled upon other questions and deep implications for present-day race relations. In his book, Williamson addresses some of his questions, including why there was a great interest in the genre among African-American writers in the mid-20th century and whether whitelife novels should be counted in African-American literary canon. From the early to mid-20th century, bookstore owners
HERO continued page 6
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HERO
continued from page 5
categorized books written by African-American writers as “negro writing.” According to Williamson, this label also came with a certain set of expectations. “African-American literature was supposed to mirror something true about black life, whereas white writers could write about art and [other topics]. They could do what artists do: create,” Williamson said. “It’s a sign of the privilege of ‘Whiteness.’” These extra-literary assumptions many have of African-American literature, to be socio-political, are a burden for many AfricanAmerican authors even today, Williamson said. “I think a really important question is whether we are still asking black writers to be Negro writers instead of just writers. In other words . . . are we still perpetuating this idea that African-American writers can only be experts on black life?” Williamson said. W hi le ma ny A f rica nAmerican writers embrace the socio-political analysis with which readers read their books, Williamson said readers should try to perceive African-American literature as nuanced and multi-dimensional as the authors who wrote them. And many of them have a diverse catalog of work to show. Many African-American writers in the mid-1900s had white-life novels in their catalogs, some that have what Williamson would consider very sympathetic views of white characters — even plantation owners.
TECHNICIAN
COMMENTARY
CYCLING
Improv creates humor from death
continued from page 5
of local planners. “A bike is just a very valuable form of transportation,” Goodridge said. Goodridge, a resident of Cary, said he chooses to commute to Raleigh via bike, weather permitting, but realizes it isn’t always realistic. “People have different preferences at different stages of their lives,” Goodridge said. “We as Americans really value having flexibility in mode choice.” Above all, biking is an important option that should be accessible, Baldwin said. “It’s not whether they should choose, it’s just . . . giving [citizens] the option to choose,” Baldwin said. “I argue that sympathetic views of these white characters give these authors what I call, ‘racial privacy’: the freedom to make their race private and just be writers,” Williamson said. “White writers didn’t have to worry about racial privacy because they could just write and do whatever they wanted to do. African-American artists have the right to be just artists and not racial representatives.” As a professor of AfricanAmerican literature, Williamson said his research also caused him to reconsider his role and the way he teaches his students.
Kaitlin Montgomery Applause exploded from ComedyWorx as Sock Monkey Murder Farm took the stage Friday night. The comedic improv group consisting of a hodge-podge of different talents teased laughter from the audience as it depicted the life of a deceased character named “Laura” in its inventive style of improv called The Fauxbituary. Sock Monkey Murder Farm uses its long form improv to celebrate the life of someone who has recently passed. With audience members offering details, improv performers celebrate the created character’s life accordingly. “We get the suggestion of an age, gender and a random word — that’s how we make up this person,” said Alex Hofford, member of Sock Monkey Murder Farm and 2009 N.C. State graduate. “Our format has molded over time, but where we’re at now is we’ll start with a wake. One person will be the ‘body,’ which is the person we’re talking about, and then the rest of the people are their friends or people who knew them.” Currently consisting of six team members, Alex Hof-
ford, Phil Kruh, Brian Dukes, Mike Ryan, April Dudash and Ty Devries, Sock Monkey Murder Farm was the brain child of former member Jessi Nemeth. “It was about a year ago that we got started,” Hofford said. “Jessi Nemeth, she had the idea for the team. It’s a new form and completely made up when we started it. That was kind of the big selling point for the team — a format no one had ever done before.” The team practices a form of improv called long form that is modeled after the “Harold version.” “It’s in sets of three,” Hofford said. “Each set consists of different people with a little game in between those scenes. The next three scenes have all those same people except they’re ahead in time. It’s all about remembering where you started to know when to go ahead.” “It’s just real life with different rules,” Devries, a senior in computer science and mathematics, said. According to Hofford, reenacting a morbid topic can hit home sometimes, especially if one of the team members has experienced a loss. “Mike and I have both experienced family members passing away while we’ve been doing this,” Hofford
said. “We’ve taken parts of our own lives and put it into the shows. It makes it all feel a little more real when we’re up there.” It’s the connection to their own lives that strengthens the bond within the team, Dudash said. “We have this sense of fearlessness on stage that is always coveted by improv groups,” Dudash said. “Trusting each other and having that group mind means we can have the most outrageous scenes and the most emotional characters . . . . We’re all imagining and concocting that together.” “We’re sort of this bastard child of improv,” Ryan said. “We don’t have a coach, which is a big no-no. It’s hard for a team to develop and move forward without a coach, but the thing is we care so much about this baby we’ve created that we’re dedicated to finding ways to pump up our game and really develop as a team.” “Your team will call you out on your mistakes,” Hofford said. “The thing is,” Kruh said, “your mistake can always turn into something brilliant.” When it comes down to it, team cohesion is just one part of the puzzle, Hofford said.
“There are times where everything clicks and goes together,” Hofford said. “Then there are times where we’re like, wait, how did that person die again?” “The devil is in the details,” Kruh said. “You’ve got to remember so many little things. I have trouble remembering someone’s name in real life, never mind a name I learned a few seconds ago.” According to Kruh and Hofford, the unique team name literally came off of the top of their heads. “It was before our first practice,” Hofford said. “Phil had on a sock monkey beanie and someone said it probably killed eight sock monkeys to make it. I mumbled something about a sock monkey murder farm and we knew right then that’s what the name would be. If you learn anything about improv and long form team names, it’s usually this serendipitous light bulb that goes off.” Hofford attributes much of Sock Monkey Murder Farm’s success to an aspect of improv he considers to be its main rule. “Basically it’s the philosophy of saying yes to everything,” Hofford said. “You’ve just got to embrace the weird.”
“I’m participating in it. I’m teaching an African-American literature survey course right now,” Williamson said. “I’m teaching no white-life novels . . . . They’re all focused on black life. So it’s very easy to participate in this assump-
tion.” Williamson said his research serves as a reminder for him to remain aware of his own assumptions of the value of the literature he teaches and to avoid imposing inappropriate expecta-
tions on the literature. “All marginalized groups have to deal with these extraliterary burdens,” Williamson said. This may be unfortunate for both readers and writers because, as Williamson
said, books are often an extension of the writer, an act of creating that transforms the writer, creating multidimensionality. And no one should be barred from that opportunity.
Staff Writer
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Sports
TECHNICIAN
PAGE 7 • TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
BASEBALL
Austin avoiding sophomore slump Jon J. McNamara Correspondent
If you have not been to an N.C. State baseball game this season, you may be missing out on witnessing some great talent for the future of N.C. State and baseball in general. Sophomore catcher Brett Austin came to State last year as one of the top high school players in the country after a sensational career at Providence High School. In his first season in Raleigh, Austin started in each of his 62 appearances. He enjoyed a 23game hitting streak, the longest of the year for N.C. State, and provided the game-winning two-run single to left field in the seventh inning of State’s 3-1 win against North Carolina. He was selected in the supplemental first round – the 54th pick overall – by the San Diego Padres in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. Since beginning his second season with the Pack, Austin has grown into a leader on the field. Austin is batting .339 (No. 21 in the ACC), 38 hits (No. 8 in ACC), 14 doubles (No. 1 in the ACC) and 16 RBI’s. After a tough 8-5 loss against UNC-Greensboro March 19, Technician was able to catch up with Austin about life as a student-athlete.
When did you start playing You have to stay as structured as baseball? you can and as disciplined as you “Ever since I could walk, prob- can. Getting up early after late ably about 3 or 4 years old. I games can be hard, but you’ve started T-ball like everyone else. got to do it. It just comes with Actually, my dad started throw [the job].” ing to me, and he didn’t want me What does your routine for a hitting off the tee. I started with normal game day consist of? that and worked my way up”. “Before the game I like to lisWhat did you do differently to ten to some music, get a little prep for this season versus what pumped up. I like to go out early you were doing before college? because it takes me forever to “Worked my butt off out at the get warmed up. I stretch a lot, Cape. I worked out a lot more — go down to the cages, hit a little about every day — and tried extra, go hit, take batting practice to get in the best shape I could and stretch out again — and then while I was up there . . . . I worked it’s game time.” smarter instead of harder and Can you describe your teamworked on catching as much as I mates? could, focusing on being the best “We have a good group of guys defensive catcher. And with my here, with a lot of talent as well. swing, I tried to shorten my swing the best I could, just Year Batting RBIs having a good Average approach and having a plan HS Senior (2011) and sticking to it.” W hat are Freshman some of the (2012) challenges for you as a stuSophomore dent athlete? (2013)* “Class, you know, it sucks. *through 29 games Class is class, ** No. 1 in ACC you know? You have to get up and go to it.
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Good freshman players too. I think the team chemistry is good. We all get along, have fun and play hard. I think it is just a great group of guys to be around.” Other than Doak, what is your favorite ballpark to play at? “Clemson, that environment and Florida State: Those two go hand in hand. That environment is pretty hostile. It is fun to play and you look forward to those weekend series — those two are definitely the most fun.” Brett Austin and the Wolfpack take on East Carolina tonight in Greenville. The next home game is 6 p.m. Wednesday at Doak Field against Elon University.
Runs
Doubles
.537
38
47
10
.284
37
49
17
.339
16
23
14**
SOURCE: N.C. STATE ATHLETICS
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By The Mepham Group
4
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 4
LEVEL 2
Solution to Friday’s puzzle
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com FOR RELEASE APRIL 2, 2013
Level: 1Los2 Angeles 3 4 Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis Complete the grid soEdited eachbyrow, column and 3-by-3 ACROSS box (in bold borders) contains every digit show 1 to 19.“SNL”-like For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, filmed in Canada visit 5www.sudoku.org.uk. “Doctor Who” network 8 Rafters shoot
Solution them to Thursday’s puzzle
14 Pre-Euro Italian coin 15 Nest egg letters 16 With 3-Down, way west for many American pioneers 17 __-Iraq War: ’80s conflict 18 Crooner Perry’s ad? 20 Self-righteous sort 21 Manicurist’s aid 22 Rage inwardly 23 Space pilot Han’s shirt? 25 Through 26 Classic racecars 27 Lighthouse light 30 Nouveau __ 33 U2 frontman’s bit of naughtiness? © 2013 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved. 36 Back in the day 37 Bedevil 12/22/12 39 PC monitor type 40 Cartoon possum’s corporate symbol? 42 Chilean range 44 Camera stand 45 Roman 1,051 46 Winery container 47 Japanese general Hideki’s talisman? 53 Triumphant cries 55 Disconnect 56 Explosion sound, in comics 57 Movie pooch’s picture? 59 Poetry unit 60 Church key, e.g. 61 “__ My Party”: Lesley Gore hit 62 Fairly matched 63 Great suffering 64 Easter egg dip 65 “That didn’t go well” DOWN 1 Pink ones are unwelcome— except in lingerie
4/2/13 2 Prefix with Monday’s Puzzle Solved cumulus 3 See 16-Across 4/5/13 4 Self-portraitist with a bandaged ear 5 Bodybuilder’s “guns” 6 __-Seltzer 7 Desert safari beast 8 Pink-cheeked 9 Dada pioneer Jean 10 __ Gulf: Arabian waterway 11 Reason given for calling in sick 12 Rounded roof 13 Winter whiteness 19 Pizarro’s gold (c)2013 Tribune Media Services, Inc. 4/2/13 24 Broad-brimmed 49 Harbor wall 33 Male sib hat 50 Eight-time All34 “Egad!” in an IM 25 Chaste Star Tony of the 35 Opposite of priestesses of ’60s-’70s paleoancient Rome Minnesota Twins 38 Long in the tooth 27 “__ appétit!” 51 Sister of 41 Tommy Dorsey 28 Fairy tale start La Toya hit tune 29 Dozes 52 Warning signs 43 Less clumsy 30 Like one who 53 Elemental 45 Sullen can’t put a book particle 47 Internet slang down 54 Arizona native based on a 31 Composer 55 Twinkle-toed common typo Stravinsky 58 Rev.’s message 48 Egg-shaped 32 Ponders By Jeffrey Wechsler
Sports
COUNTDOWN
• 3 days until baseball begins its series against Virginia Tech.
PAGE 8 • TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
INSIDE
• Page 7: A Q&A with sophomore catcher Brett Austin.
TECHNICIAN
MEN’S BASKETBALL
# PACKTWEETS
Leslie and Purvis leave the Pack Jeniece Jamison Sports Editor
Chase Cannon @ChaseCannon10
Everyone needs to support @ rpurvis_0 He’s just trying to do his thing. Best of luck to you man, glad to be your teammate this past year
Jordan Vandenberg @JPV14Wolfpack Amazing how fast the got Kevin Ware back together, i wish him a fast recovery and as little pain as possible
C.J. Leslie @ncsu_cleslie Thx to everyone for those who supported me had a lot of fun playing in my home town I appreciate all the love.
Mark Gottfried @Mark_Gottfried I hope that #WPN continues to support Rodney where ever he decides to go. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.
NC State Athletics @PackAthletics Happy April Fools’ Day! No, we won’t be replacing Mr. and Ms. Wuf with “The Big Bad Wuf”. Thanks for playing along.
NC State Football @PackFootball New signage around CarterFinley Stadium. #1PACK1GOAL
ATHLETIC SCHEDULE
Less than a week after junior guard Lorenzo Brown declared his intent to enter the 2013 National Basketball Association draft, two more members of the Pack decided to leave the program. Junior forward Calvin Leslie announced his intent to forgo his senior year to pursue a professional basketball career, while freshman guard Rodney Purvis decided to transfer out of the program. State has lost five of its top-six players. Only freshman forward T.J. Warren remains. Leslie announced his plans to enter the draft at a press conference Monday morning. Like Lorenzo Brown, he was accompanied by his mother, Lisa Leslie, and head coach Mark Gottfried. “It’s one of those things where you just know that it’s time,” Leslie said. “It’s time to move on and that’s what I feel like in my heart. My family feels the same way that I do.” Gottfried described Leslie as a “misunderstood” talent, but said he has the potential for a bright future in the professional ranks. “I’m proud of Calvin. I think he’s gotten a lot better,” Gottfried said. “I’ve enjoyed coaching him. He’s one of those guys that I think a lot of times is misperceived by a lot of people. “The general consensus is there’s no doubt that he’s going to be a good player in the NBA.” Gottfried’s system allowed Leslie to flourish in his sophomore and junior years with the
JOHN JOYNER/TECHNICIAN
Junior forward C.J. Leslie and freshman guard Rodney Purvis react to a three point field goal scored by senior guard Jay Lewis during the final home game against Wake Forest in PNC Arena Wednesday, March 7, 2013. The Wolfpack defeated the Demon Deacons, 81-66.
Pack, according to the former guard. move on.” It helped him prepare for the next Almost four hours following level. the press conference, Purvis anDespite the critinounced his intencism Leslie endured tion to transfer out from fans and comof N.C. State via his mentators during Twitter account. his career, he said He tweeted, “Tears he has no regrets. won’t stop falling. I “A lot of people enjoyed every momy freshman ment here. I still year were saying I love you guys, no should have went matter how you to another school, may feel towards Mark Gottfried men’s basketball head coach but I don’t really me. Thank y’all!” think back,” Leslie Purvis started the said. “I just keep it moving. I try not first 23 games of the season, but was to think back. You have to learn to unseated by Warren in the middle of take what you did, live with it and the Atlantic Coast Conference play.
“...there’s no doubt that he’s going to be a good player in the NBA.”
Purvis averaged 8.3 points per game in 25.5 minutes of action per outing. Gottfried now faces the challenge of retooling a program with — for now — a pair of sophomores, former LSU guard Ralston Turner and Scout.com’s No. 9 recruiting class in the nation. “We have to move on, and we’ll adapt how we play to our personnel within our system,” Gottfried said. “What we try to do is take advantage of guys’ skill sets and how well they do. We tried to do that with him and Richard. Whoever that ends up being next year, we’re going to do the same thing.”w
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CLUB ROWING
Club rowing rebuilds for its future on the lakes, SIRA championships Daniel Neal Staff Writer
Today BASEBALL AT EAST CAROLINA Greensville, N.C., 6 p.m. Wednesday SOFTBALL VS. CHARLOTTE Dail Softball Park, 4 p.m. BASEBALL V. ELON Doak Field., 6 p.m. SOFTBALL VS. CHARLOTTE Dail Softball Park, 6 p.m. Friday TRACK AT DUKE INVITATIONAL Durham, N.C., All Day TRACK AT FLORIDA RELAYS Gainsville, Fla., All Day Saturday VOLLEYBALL VS. CAMPBELL @ N.C. CENTRAL TOURNAMENT Durham, 9 a.m. VOLLEYBALL VS. LOYOLA @ N.C. CENTRAL TOURNAMENT Durham, 1 p.m. MEN’S SOCCER VS. UCLA, 4 p.m. (exhibition) VOLLEYBALL VS. N.C. CENTRAL @ N.C. CENTRAL TOURNAMENT Durham, 7 p.m. Saturday VOLLEYBALL VS. CAMPBELL @ N.C. CENTRAL TOURNAMENT Durham, 9 a.m. VOLLEYBALL VS. LOYOLA @ N.C. CENTRAL TOURNAMENT Durham, 1 p.m.
Shaun Stevenson founded the N.C. State rowing club in 1986. Over the past 27 years, the club has experienced its share of ups and downs. The club is rebuilding its team and hoping to have a strong group for many seasons. The club consists of 42 members divided between two teams, novice and varsity. First-year rowers staff the novice team while members who have participated for a year are moved up to varsity. Sophomore Matthew Demetrious is the current rowing club president. The economics major is happy with the growth the club is showing. “There is more enthusiasm than I have seen in the past two years,” Demetrious said. “Everyone is sticking with it and there aren’t many problems. Everybody seems happy.” There is no previous experience required to join. The club practices six times a week to prepare members for competitions, which are called regattas. The practices consist of early morning land practices and afternoon water practices. The club participates in several regattas each semester. During the fall semesters the regattas
are five kilometers in length and the boats start at separate times. In the spring, races are shortened to two kilometers and the focus is shifted to strength rather than endurance. Most regattas take place in the southeastern part of the country — the club frequently travels to Georgia to race. The rowing club participated in three regattas this fall, at Falls Lake, Davidson College and Augusta, Ga. The novice team has had a strong showing this year and has medaled at many events throughout the fall and spring seasons. The varsity team has competed at a higher level but has not had as many positive results. There is one regatta left in the rowing club’s season. The team will compete in Oak Ridge, Tenn. at the SIRA Championship. The regatta will feature a high level of competition and boats of four rowers instead of the traditional eight. “On varsity it is a little tougher because you have to go through trials, but we have been growing as a team recently,” Demetrious said. “This year has been a rebuilding year.” One of the novice members is Josh Condray, a freshman double majoring in business and environmental technology. Condray was introduced to rowing by his older brother who rowed during his four years of college. He said the club is held together by the strong bonds the club has formed.
KARIN ERIKSSON/TECHNICIAN
The Rowing Club at N.C. State practiced on Lake Wheeler Wednesday, 27 March 2013. The rowers from front to back are Matthew Demetrious, the president, Cory Connell, Ryan Smoker and Andrew Carlson.
“The varsity [team] has been together for multiple years,” Condray said. “They have known each other for a very long time and you can tell they hang out all the time beyond rowing. All the novice team seems to be feeding off of is how tight the varsity is and [how it] wants to become part of the big family.” Demetrious agrees that the club
has a strong family atmosphere. Due to the intense practice schedule, the members spend a lot of time around each other. “There is great unity, we are really just kind of a big family,” Demetrious said. “We all enjoy hanging out together and rowing. We just come out here because we enjoy what we are doing.”