TECHNICIAN
wednesday august
21 2013
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
NCSU lands $60 million NSA grant UNIVERSITY DELAYS ANNOUNCEMENT IN WAKE OF PRISM CONTROVERSY, ADMINISTRATION SAYS FACILITY WILL NOT CONDUCT “OPERATIONAL INTELLIGENCE”
Ravi Chittila Staff Writer
The Harvard Business Review, last October, wrote that data scientists had “the sexiest job[s] of the 21st century.” In recent weeks, however, the field of data analytics has lost at least some of its public appeal with the controversy surrounding leaks of classified information by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden. So last week when the NSA and N.C. State announced
that the two institutions had collaborated to establish the $60.75 million Laboratory for Analytic Sciences on the University’s Centennial Campus, the news made national headlines. The grant is the biggest ever awarded to N.C. State, three times more than the any previous award, according to the News & Observer. Originally scheduled to be announced in June, Randy Avent, a professor of computer science, and principal investigator of the labora-
tory, said the controversy surrounding the Snowden incident caused N.C. State and the NSA to reconsider the timing of their joint announcement. “It was delayed as one might expect,” Avent said. “When the Snowden thing came out was about the time we were expecting to make an announcement. For a large part, the NSA decided that they didn’t want to announce then, but it was not an unreasonable thing to want to wait. Everyone agreed that it was
best to delay the announcement.” Those worried N.C. State will become a hub of surveillance operations can rest easy, according to Avent who said, “It’s a research lab. There are no operational problems being worked on at all. It’s a research lab conducting basic research concerning questions like ‘What are the fundamental techniques?’ and ‘What’s the fundamental math behind the problem?’” While a press release announcing the partnership
said the laboratory would bring 100 new jobs to the Triangle during the next five years, Avent said that was probably a fairly conservative estimate. He predicted that the Triangle would see much more growth than projected over the next few years in this area. Avent said a driving factor behind the choice of N.C. State was Centennial Campus. “When Centennial Campus was created 30-some years ago, it was quite out
of the ordinary to have a vision that we’re going to bring together industry, academia and government,” Avent said. Avent said another major reason N.C. State was an ideal choice was because of the interdisciplinary nature of the laboratory and the interdisciplinary nature of the work currently being conducted at the University. The project will bring together researchers not only from the colleges of science and engineering,
NSA continued page 2
University looking at MOOC options Josué Molina Staff Writer
CAIDE WOOTEN/TECHNICIAN
A Wolf Creek resident shot and killed an intruder Aug. 10. No arrests or charges have been made.
Wolf Creek residents move past fears regarding fatal shooting Jason Katz Correspondent
After a recent shooting at an apartment complex near campus, many students living there had more on their minds than the cost of rent or their security deposit as the semester approached. Wolf Creek, an apartment complex located off Hillsborough Street, is home to many N.C. State students during the academic year. In the wake of the deadly shooting just days before the start of classes, both the management of the complex and residents are in the process of getting back to business as usual. “According to the News & Observer, 23-year-old Wolf Creek resident Vincent Reed Bellamy shot and killed Trevor Anders Herne, 35, early Saturday, Aug. 10. Investigators say Herne broke
into Bellamy’s apartment and moved in as of yet.” Wolf Creek when the incident held a gun to his face, and McElwee said her team’s ef- occurred. that Bellamy, who owned a forts have gone beyond just “When I first heard it, I was gun of his own, shot Herne notifying residents. really surprised, you know?” in self defense. Police have “We have increased our Edwards said. “I really didn’t filed no charges in the case, on-site courtesy service and expect the shooting to hapthough the investigation is patrols in an effort to deter pen, and it was kind of alarmstill open.” would-be criminals from tar- ing for it to happen so close Misti McElwee is the re- geting our community, but to move-in.” gional manultimately it Despite his concerns, he ager of The takes a com- moved in on Wednesday, Woodlark munity,” Aug. 14, adding that he was Companies, McElwee impressed with the property the real essaid. “That owners’ response. tate g roup is why when “At first, I was a little unthat manages an incident easy about it [moving in], Trey Edwards, junior in Wolf Creek. does occur, but the apartment complex’s agricultural business “It is a very we feel no- reaction has definitely reass ad e vent, tifying our sured me,” Edwards said. “I and our hearts and thoughts residents is the responsible was really happy with Wolf go out to all of the parties in- thing to do. This allows peo- Creek ’s response in that volved,” McElwee said. “Our ple to take measures to limit they’ve increased the security management team was called their vulnerability. Informa- patrols.” to the community by the tion is empowering.” Edwards said he has seen police and began diligently Trey Edwards, a junior in on-duty police officers every working with them to notify agricultural business at N.C. night since he’s moved in. residents in the community State, was one of the residents Student Special NC State 1 7/29/2013 5:09:55page PM 2 and the ones that had not getting ready to move inTC072013.pdf to WOLF continued
“I think everybody feels pretty safe.”
Massive open online courses, or MOOCs, are educational platforms with a large number of students and interactive programs. The courses are flexible, and they usually don’t offer course credit. However, several universities, including Georgia Tech, are beginning to allow students to earn full degrees via MOOCs. While MOOCs may be available to N.C. State students as early as January, members of the faculty and staff haven’t exactly clamored aboard the MOOC bandwagon. According to Thomas Miller, senior vice provost for academic outreach and entrepreneurship, UNC System officials want an online course in global economics for the upcoming spring semester in at least one of the system’s schools. While N.C. State’s deans have been notified about the opportunity, Miller said no one at N.C. State has ex-
pressed an interest thus far. He said the deadline to apply for the course is Oct. 1, which means anyone accepting the challenge would have to design up for the course very quickly. “They plan to have the course offered Jan. 1,” Miller said. “I’m not sure, honestly, if that’s a realistic time frame.” Even if N.C. State implemented a MOOC program, it is still uncertain whether the University’s MOOC offerings would resemble those of Georgia Tech. Miller said UNC System administrators have not been clear about the process, and N.C. State would have to invest significant–and increasingly scarce–funds to participate in a MOOC system. Rebecca Swanson, associate vice provost of Distance and Distributed Education, said MOOCs could be in N.C. State’s future. “I cer ta in ly t hin k [MOOC’s] have wonderful potential,” Swanson said. “It’s
MOOC continued page 2
Quilt display at Crafts Center opens Aug. 21 Staff Report
“I Did It My Way!,” an exhibition of work by the Triangle Art Quilters, will open to the public at the Crafts Center on Wednesday, Aug. 21. In this exhibit, art quilts combine traditional quilting techniques with imagery and ideas to create art objects that may be hung or worn. A reception for the artists will be held Friday, Aug. 23, from 5-7 p.m. in the Crafts
Center. The reception is free and open to the public. Otherwise, the exhibition may be viewed any time the Crafts Center is open. The exhibit will remain on display through Nov. 3. For more information on this event, contact Jo Westmoreland at (919) 515-2457 or jo_westmoreland@ncsu. edu. For more information on the Crafts Center, visit www. ncsu.edu/crafts SOURCE: N.C. STATE UNIVERSITY CALENDAR
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Student Special NC State TC072013.pdf 1 7/29/2013 5:09:55 PM
Professor recreates 17thcentury London
NC State Wolfpack SPORTS
Wolfpack athletics reach new heights
Former standout women’s basketball guard begins pro Student Special NC State TC072013.pdf career in Sweden.1 7/29/2013 5:09:55 PM
Professor recreates Donne’s 1622
NC State Wolfpack
STUDENT SPECIAL
speech in London at Hunt’s Teaching
Former guard signs first pro contract
and Visualization lab. See page 5.
to play overseas. See page 8.
STUDENT SPECIAL Refill when you bring back your WW cup with your student ID and the purchase of any wich* *Offer valid at the Brier Creek, Cameron Village, Holly Springs, North Hills and Park West Village locations for a free refill with the purchase of any wich. Valid with previously purchased cup only. Guest must show valid student ID. Limit one per customer. Not valid with any other offers. No cash value. Tax not included. VALID FOR 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR
The junior right fielder was named to the Cape Cod League’s All-Star team. See page 8.
NC State Wolfpack Refill when you bring
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back your WW cup with your student ID and the purchase of any wich*
*Offer valid at the Brier Creek, Cameron Village, Holly Springs, North Hills and Park West Village locations for a free refill with the purchase of any wich. Valid with previously purchased cup only. Guest must show valid student ID. Limit one per customer. Not valid with any other offers. No cash value. Tax not included. VALID FOR 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR
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