Technician
wednesday february
9
2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Students have final say on free expression Student Government releases results of the Free Expression Tunnel Survey.
Student Government offers appropriations
Eriane Evans Correspondent
The blacking out and blockading of the Free Expression Tunnel in November 2010 spurned feelings of uneasiness throughout campus. Questions about the validity of the tunnel surfaced as they had in reaction to a similar ordeal in 2008. Student Government sent a mass email to students earlier this semester asking students to complete a short survey regarding the care of the Free Expression Tunnel in light of the reoccurring presence of obscenity. The questions surveyed whether students approved of implementations such as free paint locations across campus or creating a student group whose sole purpose would be keeping up the tunnel. Phillip Christofferson, a junior in political science and deputy of staff in Student Government, sent out a follow-up email with the results of the survey. He was one of the forerunners in collecting students’ opinions. “I organized the survey,” Christofferson said. “Ideas for the questions were taken from different people around campus and student leaders in Student Government. I know this was the first time we’ve done a survey like that. There’s been times in the past where we’ve tried to get input from students, especially following an incident. The Free Expression Tunnel has been brought up several times in Student Government meetings.” A majority of students who completed the survey agreed that they were not in favor of the formation of a student group for the tunnel. For some students like Candy Thomson, a sophomore in animal science, who completed the survey, having a group would take control of managing the tunnel out of the students’ hands. “The tunnel is about free expres-
Free Expression Tunnel remains creative sanctuary From 1939 to the present, the University’s most colorful tunnel remains an icon. Jordan Alsaqa Senior Staff Writer
The Free Expression Tunnel is an ever-changing artistic tapestry. Constantly expanded and altered by students of every major and year, the tunnel has become one of the University’s defining features and a true representation of the diverse student body. The tunnel first opened in 1939 as part of the Public Works Administration project. At the time, it was only used as a service tunnel to connect North and Central Campus, which are separated by railroad tracks. The tunnel was first painted in the late 1960s. The University was experiencing trouble with illegal graffiti around campus, and the tunnel was promoted as a place students could graffiti without worry of prosecution. Since the Free Expression Tunnel was first painted, the site has become a popular means for students to express themselves in a myriad of ways. Clubs and organizations use the tunnel as a means of advertising upcoming meetings or events in a creative or colorful way. The tunnel is also used as a way for students to express opinions on national issues and events. In the past, murals relating to Black History
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to clubs Student Government is finalizing the annual appropriations for the spring semester. Elise Heglar Staff Writer
alex sanchez/Technician
Freshman in communications and film studies Adam Cheeks and UNC sophomore in journalism and mass communication Molly Green walk through the Free Expression Tunnel Tuesday. Student Government announced they would not create a committee to paint over offensive words and images in the tunnel, but that students could. “It’s the Free Expression Tunnel,” Cheeks said. “I’m a Christian and there’s stuff that’s offensive to me all the time, but I’m not writing over it.”
look at it. Having sion,” Thomson a student group said. “It would would be weird.” be silly to have While a majorsomeone in ity of students charge over it.” were against Gaivorlor Borhaving a student bor, a junior in g roup, t here elec t r ic a l a nd were still a sigcomputer enginificant number neering, said he of students -— a believes that stunumber too sigdents should take nif icant to be charge of the tunGaivorlor Borbor, junior overlooked by nel themselves. Student Govern“I f s t udent s don’t like what they see,” Borbor ment -— saying that they were for said, “they can paint over it or not having a student group. Christoffer-
“If students don’t like what they see they can paint over it or not look at it.”
son said he was impressed by the outcome of the survey. “We definitely had a great turnout,” Christofferson said, “it was what I was expecting. Even higher.” Student Government will not lead the formation of a group, but as a compromise they are offering to help students who are still interested in organizing a group on their own. The email containing the results of the survey called for anyone interested in being the founder of
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A look at Student Health Center The Health Center provides various services for students on a daily basis. Elise Heglar
Student Government is finishing the application process for club appropriations this week. Every fall and spring semester, Student Government accepts applications for funding from University clubs. Organizations that wish to apply fill out a basic application and are assigned to a Student Senate member who helps them interview with the appropriations committee. “I thoroughly enjoy this process because I feel that this is one of the most important things Student Government does for the students,” Ethan Harrelson, the student senate president and a senior in biological sciences, said. The applications for funding opened on Jan. 24 and are due by midnight on Thursday. According to Harrelson, appropriations are beneficial to the entire student body because it presents opportunities for on-campus events and gives organizations the opportunity to further the University’s name. “Appropriations benefit the entire student body because we fund events on campus that are open to the whole student body. Also, organizations go all over the country and improve the reputation of N.C. State. Student Government does a lot for students; however, this directly benefits organizations and the University with immediate results,” Harrelson said. The entire process for appropriations funding should be finished by the first week of March, according to Harrelson. Student Government is planning on being able to cut checks by the end of March. Buddy Bryson, the student body treasurer and a junior in sociology, said that nearly half of Student Government’s budget goes to appropriations. Last semester $85,138.24 was given out to the 171 organizations that applied for funding last semester. “This is one of the largest things
Staff Writer
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One of the many services available to University students is the on campus Student Health Center. The Health Center is open six days a week during the fall and spring semesters and five days a week during summer sessions. In addition to the general health center facility, there is also a women’s katie fraboni/Technician health facility, counseling center, The Student Health Center is located at the corner of Cates Avenue and and pharmacy on campus. Dan Allen Drive. The six physicians and six extenders provide care for the “When all 30,000 students are on University. In the building is a women’s health care facility, counseling campus, we are really busy. Our center and pharmacy. They do not typically handle emergencies. appointments are full at the start What can they do? of every day and we also try to do physicians, as well qualified as anyone walk-ins,” Jerry Barker, associate could be,” Barker said. Barker said that the Health CenIn addition to the six physicians, the vice-chancellor and director of the Health Center also ter not only specializes in primary Student Health has six extenders. care, but is also equipped to deal Center, said. According to Barker, with some urgent care situations. There are six extenders are nurse About 60 percent of all appointf u l ly cer tif ied practitioners or phy- ments are now made online and physicians that sicians assistants the Health Center tries to accomwork at the health who have completed modate walk-in patients. center, according “We deal mostly with acute ill2 years of medical to Barker. These training. Extend- ness; things that are happening physicians have ers are placed with right now. We have work-in serall attended acJerry Baker, associate vicea physician in the vices for people that are sick withcredited medical chancellor and director of the Student Health Center Health Center. For out appointments. We really try schools, comthe first 6 months our best to see everyone that comes pleted at least a of employment, this in,” Barker said. 3-year residency Things like compound fractures, program, have a North Carolina physician oversees all medical charts broken bones, severe chest pains, medical license and have experi- and cases that extenders work on. “Our extenders are usually very and severe bleeding should be hanence working in the medical field. All physicians at the Health Center highly rated. A lot of them have a dled in an emergency room or by are board certified, which means nursing or EMT background, so they dialing 911. The Health Center is that they have completed at least tend to have a really good bedside not equipped to handle emergency room situations. 50 hours of continuing medical manner,” Barker said. education every year. “They are really well qualified SHC continued page 3
Golden Graham returns to the Pack See page 8.
“We really try our best to see everyone that comes in.”
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Debate surrounds feasibility of a U.S. Internet blackout. See page 6.
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