TECHNICIAN
BELL TOWER BRIEFS A North Carolina House Panel approved a bill Tuesday that would allow low-income students to attend private and religious schools, using taxpayer money. Supporters claim the bill is good for school choice, while opponents, like Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, say the measure could decrease funding for public schools in the state, which already ranks 48th in the nation in that category. The controversial bill must be accepted by another committee, assessing its economic impact, before being debated in the N.C. House.
Staff Writer
has made improvements to beautify its campus during the last few years. “I think N.C. State has really come a long way in the past decade to become a more aesthetically pleasing campus,” MacNaughton said.
So & So Books, a bookstore that opened its doors in downtown Raleigh only a few weeks ago, is taking a new approach to the art of selling books. The independent bookstore is located in the front of the In Situ Studio architecture firm on Person Street. “We saw a hole in the dow ntow n landscape … [and] circumstances opened up for us to try something new,” Charles Wilkes, co-founder of So & So Books said. Chris Tonelli, a former English professor at N.C. State, is Wilkes’ partner in the endeavor. They say the secret to success in selling books is making a connection with the buyer and working with that person to suggest books that they will enjoy.
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Construction of the new Talley Student Center is on schedule even though heavy rains this spring threatened to delay the project. Phase I of construction will be completed early in the 2013 fall semester.
Construction projects continue despite cuts Jake Moser News Editor
N.C. State is of ten praised for its affordability or its College of Veterinary Medicine, but it is rarely recognized for having an aesthetically pleasing campus.
Many lists have been made to assess how attractive various college campuses are. Unfortunately however, N.C. State does not appear on such lists. Instead, the University has made its way onto several lists of the ugliest campuses, compiled by websites, such as Campus Squeeze and BroBible.com.
However, the Facilities Division and the rest of the N.C. State community are trying to change the University’s reputation as a visually unappealing campus despite a decrease in state funds. According to Kevin MacNaughton, associate vice chancellor of facilities at N.C. State, the University
Former state Rep. is accused of stealing federal funds Liz Moomey Staff Writer
The trial of former state Rep. Stephen LaRoque began May 20 in federal court. Prosecutors say Laroque took U.S. Department of Agriculture funds set aside to help struggling rural business owners as part of the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Duffy said Laroque used a complex scam to steal $300,000 in federal funds. Other charges include attempts to conceal theft and avoiding ta xes t hrough “sham loans,” according to The News & Observer. LaRoque has faced many accusations about the way he spent federal- and stateissued money in the past. In early 2011, some of LaRoque’s political rivals began questioning where his additional salary was coming from. That, in turn, prompted an investigation by N.C. Policy Watch. N.C. Policy Watch found that LaRoque allegedly pocketed some of the $582,000 which was supposed to go toward the Rural Grant Program. He allegedly used this money to cover his salary and gave some to friends. Investigators are also looking into his involvement with the East Carolina Development Company and Piedmont Development Company, two small economic
organizations. Laroque earned almost $195,000 a year heading the two non-profits. He then used the proceeds to loan public funds to close associates and political allies, according to the N.C. Policy Watch. Also under investigation is the Kinston-based forprofit LaRoque Management Group, owned by Laroque and his brother. Investigators say LaRoque used his company to funnel money from the nonprofits into his own pockets. Duffy said LaRoque has used various means to cover up his extra earnings, like failing to report his financial dealings on state ethics
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Professors advise N.C. General Assembly Tim Gorski Deputy News Editor
TAKAAKI IWABU/TECHNICIAN
Former state Rep. Stephen Laroque went is currently trial, accused of using federal money to buy cars, jewelry and gifts for his friends.
Budget cuts to education — but for whom, and what?
Packapalooza aims to top last year’s festivities
2013
Lindsey Schaefer
Cyber research
Downtown Raleigh’s free outdoor concert series, Oak City 7, starts today at City Plaza and will include music, 15 local beers, along with five food trucks.
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New bookstore gets personal with patrons
School bill
Oak City 7
may
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Researchers from N.C. State created a software algorithm that senses cyber attacks on networked control systems. These systems are used to organize transportation, power grids and other infrastructure around the country. They also tend to use wireless or internet connections, making them susceptible to cyber attacks. The software detects malicious software and isolates it so the system can continue to function properly. The project was funded by the Nation Science Foundation and was lead by Wente Zeng, a Ph.D. student at N.C. State.
thursday
Are we a nation of subsidies?
forms and hiding from the N.C Board of Elections that he had diverted loan money to his campaign. LaRoque has reportedly tried to defend himself on comment boards that accuse him of illegal handling of federal money. Under a Huffington Post story saying LaRoque had hired an unemployed worker to clean his yard, LaRoque wrote he had done a good deed for the lack of money he earns. “My wage rate as an NC Legislator is $6.71 an hour,” LaRoque wrote. “How many unemployed have you offered work to?” The comments of LaRoque and other commentators made Sarah Ovaska, an in-
vestigative reporter for N.C. Policy Watch, curious about LaRoque’s use of government money, according to The Huffington Post. She subsequently opened a two-month investigation. Michael Cobb, associate professor of public and international affairs who also studies scandals, said that LaRoque’s scandal isn’t likely to end his political career, because it was already over. Cobb noted that the last two times LaRoque has ran for public office he was defeated both times. Cobb said if the scandal was the only thing hindering his career as a politician, his
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Animazement shows growth, change Lecturer finds his muse on campus
Rychcik leads Pack to success in debut season
A team of experts from the UNC System, including professors Mike Walden and Roby Sawyers of N.C. State, are working to analyze and predict the effects of a tax reform plan which is currently under consideration in the North Carolina Senate. Republ ic a n law ma kers have been trying to change the state tax code for years. This year, with Republicans in control of the House, the Senate and the governor’s office, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has proposed a plan known as the The Tax Fairness Act, which would cut the income tax from 7.75 percent to 4.5 percent. That would mean one billion dollars in cuts to state revenues over a period of three years. Berger described this cut to the Associated Press as the “largest tax cut in state histor y.” This plan comes amidst the Senate’s budget proposal to cut $48 mill ion f rom t he U NC s y s t e m n e x t y e a r. According to the Senate plan, much of the money lost in income tax would be made up by expanding the scope of the sales tax and increasing the number of services currently taxed by law. “The big picture of tax reform being considered in the General Assembly is to move the state’s tax system away from taxing
SOURCE: NCSU.EDU
Roby Sawyers, professor of accounting.
income - both corporate and individual - to taxing spending,” Walden said. Some services that may be taxed under this plan include haircuts and car repairs. Many experts agree that the state tax code is in need of reform. According to the Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax research group, North Carolina ranks 44th in the nation in “business tax climate,” a figure determined by taxes which affect businesses, including sales tax, property tax, corporate tax and individual income tax. Ne ve r t h e l e s s , s h i f t i n g the burden of generating state tax revenue to sales ta x and away f rom income tax is controversial. “There are many issues involved with the proposal, including the impact on economic growth in the state, how taxes would change for households with different income levels, how particular sectors of the economy might be impacted if their services are now taxed or if their purchases cannot be included as tax deductions,
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