January 14, 2016

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

vol.

xcvi lxxiv issue

technicianonline.com

Identity secrecy is not an option for NC Powerball winner

Driver licenses from five states now invalid at Fort Bragg gates

If you have an ID from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico or Washington, you can no longer use it to enter Fort Bragg. Instead, visitors can use U.S. passports, military IDs and other federal ID cards to enter. The states do not comply with the 2005 REAL ID Act, a national effort against terrorism aimed to improve the security of state-issued licenses and IDs. North Carolina IDs have until October to comply with REAL ID standards.

SOURCE: NEWS & OBSERVER

iPhone weather app predicts snow Sunday, weather models offer different predictions The European and American weather models show conflicting predictions about snow for the Triangle Sunday. The European model predicts wind and cold air but no snow, or perhaps a 37 percent chance. The American model predicts a low barometric pressure, indicating an intense snow storm is about 57 percent possible. WRAL Chief Meteorologist Greg Fishel warns Raleighites not to get too excited — he predicts the area may only see a flurry or two.

SOURCE: WRAL

14 2016

Raleigh, North Carolina

Cultural space adds art, invites discussion

IN BRIEF If the $1.5 billion Powerball winner was from North Carolina, everyone would be able to know due to a law that requires the winner and the amount they win to be public record. The father of Rep. Darren Jackson, a Democrat from Wake County, won $1 million in a 2007 Powerball lottery. He received calls from solicitors for months. Jackson tried to pass a bill in the General Assembly last month that would require the winner’s consent before his or her information was released, but it failed. A lottery spokesperson said being open about who wins it keeps the state and lottery accountable.

SOURCE: NEWS & OBSERVER

thursday january

Gavin Stone Assistant News Editor

KAI F. MCNEIL/TECHNICIAN

Students representing Student Government, Union Activities Board, Fraternity and Sorority Life, African American Student Advisory Council, Native American Student Affairs and Asian Students in Alliance sit on a panel during the Racial Climate Town Hall hosted by Student Government in Stewart Theatre Wednesday.

Student leaders question racial climate on campus Chauncey Bowden Correspondent

Lindsay Smith Staff writer

After a widely debated “CMT v BET” party in October, members of Student Government wanted to create a setting where students could start an open conversation on race. The student government hosted a town hall meeting on racial climate in Talley Student Union Wednesday, introducing several action items to further improve cultural competence on campus.

At this meeting, a panel of student organizations from Student Government, University Activities Board, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Afrikan American Student Advisory Council, Native American Student Association and Asian Students in Alliance led an open discussion on race amongst NC State students, faculty and staff.

“I can honestly say that I am no more proud of the student leadership at NC State in my three years than I am today,” said Mike Mullen, vice chancellor and dean of Academic and Student Affairs. “We obvi-

A long-awaited piece to the Talley Student Union puzzle was completed Wednesday with the unveiling of the Wolfpack World graphic in the Cultural Hearth, a word cloud of hundreds of translations of “Wolfpack,” “think and do” and other slogans in the shape of the continents of the world.

Ever since Talley Student Union off icially opened in August, students have assumed that the section to the left of the main entrance was just another lounge — complete with a modern fireplace and one of the lowest noise levels in the whole building — when in fact it is the Cultural Hearth, according to the assistant vice provost for Student Diversity, Tracey Ray.

“I’m hoping that students gravitate to that space, and it naturally becomes a hub.”

ously have a lot of work to do … and this is a very, very strong start for this campus.”

Student Body President Khari Cyrus expressed that this was not a reaction to events taking place across the nation, but specific problems on NC State’s campus.

“This event is solely because students on our campus feel as if they are not welcome here,” Cyrus said. “Everything you hear today is not in reaction to things in Missouri or things in Alabama; everything you hear today is about NC State.”

The panel organizations started developing these initiatives before winter break, with a goal of addressing NC State’s progress towards a more inclusive campus. However, these action items were merely suggestions and participants could show their enthusiasm for the conversation using a QR code at the event.

Throughout the event, posts from Yik Yak were displayed on a screen behind the panel.

Many of the posts were composed of profane and racist comments.

Moriah Barrow, Student Government diversity outreach coordinator, introduced

“This isn’t an afterthought; this has been a part of the whole design of Talley since pre-construction five years ago,” Ray said. “The notion is to have a space, what we call a ‘storefront space,’ so that when you walk into Talley, which has become a focal point of our campus, you know that there is the value not only for diversity but for dialogue.”

The Wolfpack World graphic was developed by the Office of International Services with an accompanying line of products such as T-shirts and mugs, which will be sold to benefit the “Our Three Winners” fund established to award scholarships in the names of students Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha and Razan Abu-Salha, whose lives were tragically lost in 2015.

For Ray, the Cultural Hearth was meant to seek an answer to the question, “What does it mean to work among differences both domestically and globally?”

“I’m hoping that students gravitate to that space, and it naturally becomes a hub,” Ray said.

The Cultural Hearth was in the plans of Talley

TOWN HALL continued page 3

OPENING continued page 3

—Tracey Ray, assistant vice provost for Student Diversity

2,000 expected at largest gaming event on East Coast Sasha Afanasyeva Staff Writer

This weekend in Talley Student Union, nearly 2,000 gamers will participate in the largest East Coast collegiate eSports competition. The event will feature tournaments in Hearthstone, League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Fourteen universities across the Carolinas will have teams coming out to play. However, only two universities will have female gamers as part of their team.

“Women in eSports have had an organizational role rather than a team, not for any particular reason,” said Ryan Griffin, a senior studying Sport Administration at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Griffin is the executive director of the Carolina Collegiate eSports Committee and one of the organizers of the event.

“I don’t know why that is, if there is a stigma attached to it, or societal reason,” Griffin said. “We figure that the men to women ratio are 70 to 30, mostly college-aged. While it is true that men show up more frequently, there is actually a good representation of women.

You won’t find many eSports events that are all men.”

Admission is free, and the event will start at 10 a.m. and will run until 8 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Students also have the option of bringing their own computers and consoles for LAN play, which allows for people in the same location to play games with each other. Students are encouraged to pre-register at clashofthecarolina.org or can register the day of the tournament.

The actual tournaments will start during various times of the first day of the event. On Saturday, the first League of Legends tournament will be at 10 a.m., CS:GO and Super Smash Bros: Melee Singles at 10:30 a.m. and Hearthstone at 2:30 pm. Sunday will feature Super Smash Bros. Melee Crew Battles at 11 a.m. and finals for the other games starting at 10 a.m.

The event will raise money for Operation Supply Drop, a charity organization that sends games to the troops. United States military service members will be a big part of the attendees of the event as part of Operation Supply Drop.

GAMING continued page 2

BRANDON LANG/TECHNICIAN

The renovated hallways of Carmichael Gym. Students can now enter through the main entrance to get to the 1308 and 1309 weight rooms. The newly renovated weight room will open Tuesday.

Carmichael Gym renovations to open next Tuesday Brenden Parsons Staff writer

The $7.6 million Carmichael Gym renovations are nearly a month behind schedule, but the new fitness room will open Tuesday, adding about 5,500 square feet of fitness space, making it larger than the third-floor recreation center, the Play-

ground. Phase 1 of the renovations will wrap up Monday, Feb. 1 and Phase 2 of the project will be completed in late April.

Phase 1 includes the new fitness room with 18-20 new pieces of state-of-the-art cardio equipment and strength training equipment for Olympic weight lifting,

UPDATES continued page 2

News

PAGE 2 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

POLICE BLOTTER January 12 4:12 AM | TRESPASS Gray Hall While conducting ID check of lab, officers located subject who refused to provide ID or name. Subject was arrested for 2nd degree trespass. Trespass Warning will be issued once identity is known.

6:30 AM |FOLLOW UP Off Campus An unidentified suspicious woman was found at the Wolf Village housing complex, investigation revealed that she was a victim of an off campus assault. Assistance and recourses were provided to the victim.

12:48 PM | HIT AND RUN/PD Coliseum Deck A student reported an unknown vehicle struck her parked and unoccupied vehicle and left the area. Damage was estimated at $500. There were no injuries reported. Report on file.

1:19 PM | SPECIAL EVENT Friday Institute University Police provided law enforcement support for Governor McCrory’s attendance at an education meeting. There were no problems reported at this event.

1:23 PM | SUSPICIOUS PERSON CVM Main Bldg An employee reported a suspicious male subject was writing “Go Vegan” in chalk around the campus. Responding

officers were unable to locate the suspicious individual.

TECHNICIAN

THROUGH SAM’S LENS

1:27 PM | SUSPICIOUS PERSON Morrill Dr/Western Blvd A student reported a male subject was stopping cars and trying to get into the vehicles. Responding officers were unable to locate the suspicious individual.

10:42 PM | TRAFFIC VIOLATION Western Blvd/Varsity Dr A student was issued a citation for No Operators License.

11:17 PM | TRAFFIC VIOLATION Main Campus Dr A subject was issued a citation for speeding 40/25 and No Operators License.

3:08 PM | DAMAGE TO PROPERTY Free Expresion Tunnel An employee reported someone had painted outside the designated area. Responding officers found that chalk had been used instead of 3:19 PM | FIRE ALARM Cates Ave Steam Plant Fire Protection responded and determined the alarm was due to an electrical malfunction.

Electronics was contacted and they responded.

3:31 PM | SKATE COMPLAINT Katharine Stinson Dr University Police responded to a complaint of skateboarders on Current Dr. Skateboarders fled the scene across Hillsborough St. when responding officer arrived on scene.

Drop it like it’s hot (cocoa) PHOTO BY SAM FELDSTEIN

Z

an Gerrans, a junior studying history and psychology, pours hot cocoa mix in a cup at the South Atrium in Poe Hall Wednesday. The College of Education was giving out free hot cocoa and cookies to welcome back new and returning students in an event titled “Welcome Back to the Pack” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to Regina Gavin Williams, interim student involvement coordinator for the College of Education, the event was held in response to the New Student Programs’ Winter Welcome Week held last week. The event was also an opportunity for students to connect with one another as well as find out about student organizations associated with the College of Education. “The only thing better than hot chocolate is free hot chocolate!” said Emma Farrell, a junior studying business.

OPENING

continued from page 1

GAVIN STONE/TECHNICIAN

The Cultural Exchange Network has its first meeting of the spring semester in the Cultural Hearth in Talley Student Union Wednesday. CENet works to connect the NC State population with international students through social, academic and service activities.

UPDATES

continued from page 1

new men’s and women’s bathrooms near the front entrance and bright corridors that will be nearly double the previous size. In addition, students will have access to sections of the men’s and women’s locker rooms as well as two additional single-occupant locker rooms. Gym staff will have renovated storage and laundry areas as well as office space for the faculty managing the building.

Phase 2 will finish off the men and women’s locker rooms and include a sauna and steam room near the pool, as well as updated bathrooms.

Jason Spivey, associate director of University Recreation explained that it is not unusual for renovation projects this big to fall behind schedule because the original building is so old. “[Carmichael] is an old building, built in 1961, and throughout the years to now in 2016 they only addressed issues with the building one problem at a time, not looking at the big picture,” Spivey said.

“Once we started opening walls up, workers found some unforeseen conditions.”

In 1961, the Carmichael drawings and records of where electrical and plumbing lines were done with pencils and pens, making it challenging for contractors to rewire electricity when knocking down walls and re-route piping under streets and

sidewalks, according to Spivey.

“There were hurdles like that down the road, but we’ve worked through it and come up with great solutions, so we are going to have a great project when we’re done,” Spivey said.

Alexis Gray, a sophomore studying business administration and part of the University Recreation staff, said students are most excited to have more space to workout in.

“People often come and ask me how crowded the rooms are even before they go inside because the Playground is so crowded, so they would have to find somewhere else to workout, it turns out everywhere is crowded,” Gray said.

Spivey credited the construction workers for all the work they have put in.

“The workers have put a lot of hours into this project, and we have really pushed them on the deadlines of when we wanted the project to be completed,” Spivey said. “The most [workers] we have had one day was 135 workers in the building. They have been working on top of each other and on weekends to get this done. Even over the holidays between Christmas and New Years when the university was shut down, they had 20 to 30 people in the building continuing to work and get things done.”

Eric Hawkes, director of University Recreation, said the old locker rooms were too big and outdated, so they were able to use some of that square footage for the new fitness space.

Student Union from the beginning, with a goal of being fully complete at the time of the grand opening, but was delayed several months because of bureaucracy.

The signage that will off icially name the space will be added in the near future.

“When there’s so many people involved in the process, it’s just going to go slower,” Ray said. “But to me, everything happens when it’s supposed to, so I’m very grateful that it went up today with the start of a new semester and so much happening, I’m very, very excited about how this space will speak to some of the concerns that students have.”

The space has a retractable sound-

proof wall to allow for private meetings, or it can f low into the larger space.

“I would love for this to be a natural part of students seeking out understanding, everything doesn’t have to be a program,” Ray said.

One of the groups that will use the Cultural Hearth frequently is the Cultural Exchange Network, a group of nearly 200 NC State students who work to engage American and international students, according to International Program Coordinator for the Global Training Initiative Melissa Edwards Smith.

“The Cultural Hearth really speaks to what we want NC State graduates to have,” Ray said. “When you leave, we want you to have awareness because more than ever [students] are going to be living and working in diverse communities far more than even your parents.”

BRANDON LANG/TECHNICIAN

One of the weight rooms that will open Tuesday. There will be 18-20 new state-of-the art pieces of cardio equipment.

“I would argue old Carmichael had one of the largest, if not the largest, men’s locker room in the country,” Hawkes said. “So we were able to carve out that space for a fitness center for everybody.”

The new locker rooms are designed with new features to meet the needs of today’s gym-goers, according to Hawkes.

“One of the biggest feedbacks that we heard [from students] was that because of the gang showers and the old outdated lockers, everyone was uncomfortable to come in and change clothes,” Hawkes said. “So

there will be individual changing rooms that are more inclusive, sort of like what you would see at Macy’s.”

In addition to more privacy, the new locker rooms will have added amenities to make it more comfortable, according to Hawkes.

“The new locker rooms will include a lounge with a TV and couches, so you can come and hang out if you’re waiting for a shower,” Hawkes said. “Students between classes can open up a book and read or check emails while they wait.”

The lockers in the locker rooms

will have wooden phenolic z-shaped lockers designed to fit more stuff in them. Previously, the locker rooms offered both large and small lockers, and the large lockers would often fill up, and people would complain that the small lockers were not big enough.

Miranda Mozick, a sophomore studying civil engineering and University Recreation employee, said “The two weight rooms upfront are bigger than they are before, so it should be much less crowded once they are finished.”

News

TECHNICIAN

TOWN HALL

continued from page 1

the first action item which asked for the training of student leaders to help create a more inclusive environment. She stated that with a campus as large as NC State’s, student leaders have the power to implement social change.

“At the bare minimum all students on this campus should be on the same playing field, especially when it comes to feeling safe and welcome in a stressful and challenging environment such as a college campus,” Barrow said.

James Kiwanuka-Tondo, an associate communication professor, spoke out about discrimination in his own department and the faculty’s ability to benefit from these trainings as well.

The second action item called for mandatory diversity trainings for incoming freshmen.

“This is a very plausible and beneficial result because eventually it would impact every single student here at NC State long after I’m gone or anybody here on this panel is gone,” said Rodney Strickland, NASA president.

Kamrie Risku, UAB diversity activities board chair, introduced the third action item, which focused on developing a process

GAMING

continued from page 1

The event will also feature a prize pool that is estimated to be about $7,500. Additionally, 1,000 Loot Crates™ have been donated

to deal with instances of nonacademic misconduct. She later stated that the action item was modeled after an existing system at UNC-Chapel Hill, which holds a court of diverse students who help facilitate a conversation between the student accused of non-academic misconduct and the person who reported it.

Director of Student Conduct Paul Cousins pointed out that this was no easy task and requires a great deal of effort from both students and faculty. He said more research is necessary in order for it to be successful.

The fourth action item was introduced by Nina Ondona, a representative of ASIA. It focused on better representing the AsianAmerican community at NC State.

“Asian-American students make up approximately 5 percent of the student population at NC State,” Ondona said. “This makes us the second largest racial minority group here, but the only one without an assistant director in Multicultural Student Affairs.”

Tracey Ray, assistant vice provost of academic affairs, took time to explain to the crowd that funds were stretched across the campus.

“The resources in Multicultural Student Affairs are very limited,” Ray said. “They’ve done work on a shoestring budget for a very long

to be distributed at the event.

Loot Crates are mystery boxes that contain v ideo game and science-fiction-themed toys and T-shirts. Anyone who registers on the event’s website clashofthecarolina.org and comes to the Operation Supply Drop booth at the event between 10 a.m. to

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 • PAGE 3

KAI F. MCNEIL/TECHNICIAN

Tracey Ray, assistant vice provost for Student Diversity, speaks during the Racial Climate Town Hall meeting hosted by Student Government in Stewart Theatre on Wednesday. Students discussed both the problems and possible solutions toward the racial climate on NC State’s campus.

time.”

Darryl Johnson, associate director of diversity outreach for Student Government, commented that the excuse of lacking resources didn’t seem legitimate when Chancellor Randy Woodson received a raise last year.

After all action items were presented, the f loor was opened to any students or faculty that wanted to comment. Many students in the audience expressed their appreciation for the event taking place, but said they would rather see action.

“This is more of a goal and process, as opposed to an outcome,” said Dominique Foster, a graduate student studying higher education administration.

noon on Saturday will receive a Loot Crate.

Ledford estimates prizes to be worth more than $50,000 when including the Loot Crates. Intel will also give out graphics cards and monitors as prizes.

Viewing rooms will be available for major tournaments that will

be happening around the country. The event will also feature a Tespa and Epic Games panel on Saturday.

Seventeen people from NC State will be competing this weekend.

Stephen Downhower, a freshman studying computer science is hoping for a top-four finish.

“I am expecting for me and my team, NCSU Team Alpha (NC State’s Division I Collegiate Star League team), to perform far beyond average at the Clash of the Carolinas due to the immense amount of practice we have undergone to prepare ourselves for this event,” Downhower said.

Opinion

PAGE 4 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

TECHNICIAN

Go look at some art T

Lit Crit, Part 2

Sarah Ishida, graduate student studying technical communication

Did you hear the one about the solar panel?

L

et’s get one thing straight: Solar panels don’t suck up all the sun’s energy.

They aren’t giant funnels that capture the sun’s energy for miles around, leaving the plants dead around them. However clearly false that may seem it is exactly what two concerned citizens voiced at a town hall meeting in Logan Woodland, North Carolina Graham last month.

Correspondent Jane Mann, a retired science teacher from Woodland, worried that photosynthesis would no longer occur if a solar farm was created, thereby allowing vegetation to die. Bobby Mann, her husband, agreed and argued that the solar farms would suck up all the energy from the sun. After their comments, the Woodland Town Council voted down the proposed solar farm by a 3-1 vote.

Instantly, the story spread like wildfire.

Headlines reading “North Carolina town rejects solar farm over fears it would ‘suck up all the energy from the sun’” made newspapers from New Delhi to London.

Just under 250 articles were published about the story, and while it was laughable, ludicrous and completely absurd, the rate at which the story spread was deeply troubling because the story was largely untrue.

The world read that a North Carolina town had rejected a solar farm based on evidence no more plausible than the existence of unicorns. Naturally, they reacted. A commenter on a Native American newspaper wrote that the “U.S. is moving from [a] developed country to [a] stone age nation,” and a commenter on a U.S. newspaper wrote that “this would be why your state [North Carolina] is a worldwide joke.”

Our nation and state was ridiculed at home and abroad, and the ridicule would have been just if only the story was this simple, but, as with many news articles, the story spread far faster than the facts could be sorted out.

The true story of Woodland, North Carolina reads much differently than the shocking, view-attracting headlines would

{

IN YOUR WORDS

“I think the political climate is polarized. Political parties are incapable of reaching ‘middle ground’ decisions. As a result, it has greatly divided the left and right wings and ultimately the people at either side.”

}

have you believe. In truth, the Woodland town board, before the fateful sun-sucking vote, had already approved the construction of three solar farms. So, when the town council voted down the fourth solar farm project, the council didn’t vote it down because they believed the farm would actually suck up the sun’s energy, they did it, as the town’s mayor puts it, “to grant the zoning request (to construct the fourth solar farm) would create a situation in which the town would be completely surrounded by solar farms.”

As it turns out, the Manns had no sway on the council’s voting decision. The two were none other than lunatics at the meeting, spewing ludicrous facts that were quickly dismissed. The council made its decision not on the Mann’s crazed testimonies, but on a reasoned argument that perhaps three solar farms were enough for the town.

Now whether or not you believe the town council of Woodland still made the wrong decision in voting not to approve the fourth solar farm, the story of Woodland’s sun-sucking voting was clearly blown far out of proportion. A town of 766 people which has three solar farms doesn’t sound like a town so against solar that it makes up ridiculous reasons to support it, instead, it sounds like a town leading the charge to make solar a widespread energy source.

Despite what the numerous articles may have led the world to believe, Woodland is a town largely in support of solar as a clean, smart and beneficial energy source in a state that ranks second nationally in building new solar capacity.

False and dramatized stories like the sun-sucking one bring a bad name to our state and the communities within it. There is no doubt we still have a long way to go in the solar energy game, but right now I think we do a pretty good job at it. So the next time you hear a story so ridiculous it’s hard to even believe, take a step back — it just might be because the story is actually false.

How would you describe the political climate in North Carolina?

BY SAM FELDSTEIN

“It’s very divided. Everyone seems to be either very left wing or right wing.”

Emma Hanley freshman, exploratory studies

“Today’s political climate has diverse presidential candidates that will reflect what the people think.”

Nick Perdomo sophomore, civil engineering

Ebony Tate junior, social work

Editor-in-Chief Kaitlin Montgomery technician-editor@ncsu.edu

323 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 Editorial Advertising Fax Online

515.2411 515.2029 515.5133 technicianonline.com

Features Editors Sam Roberson Emma Cathell (Bienvenidos Editor)

Managing Editor Megan Ellisor

technician-features@ncsu.edu

technician-managingeditor@ ncsu.edu

Projects Manager Katherine Kehoe

News Editor Inez Nicholson technician-news@ncsu.edu

technician-projects@ncsu.edu

Sports Editor Drew Nantais Daniel Lacey technician-sports@ncsu.edu

Opinion Editor Mary Anna Rice technician-opinion@ncsu.edu

Copy Desk Manager Kelly McNeil technician-copydesk@ncsu.edu

his past weekend, I was fortunate to be coerced into doing something that normally I rarely do in my free time: go to the North Carolina Museum of Art. I was very glad I went when I realized how great a time it is right now to go to the museum. I am referring to two specific exhibits that are currently featured at the Jim Twiddy museum: “The Worlds of M.C. Escher: Nature, SciCorrespondent ence, and Imagination” and “Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester and the Creative Mind.” Both of these exhibits are incredible, for different reasons, and you should go see them.

“The Worlds of M.C. Escher: Nature, Science, and Imagination” is my favorite exhibit of the two. This exhibit is very extensive and features many works of art by M.C. Escher who is famous for his prints, and many of his most famous works are showcased in the exhibit. Anyone who grew up around the same time as me is familiar with many of Escher’s works whether he or she realizes it or not. His works are frequently used in textbooks for elementary through high school students.

It is important to go see an exhibit like this because it is very different from what you might expect from an art museum exhibit and features a very different form of art and artist.

As previously mentioned, Escher is quite famous for his prints rather than what you may expect from an artist like paintings, drawings or sculptures. This is a particularly unique form of art and is worth looking into, especially if you have never seen something like that before. Escher himself is also different from what you may think about when you think of famous artists, in large part because he lived so recently.

Escher died in 1972, making him a fairly contemporary artist. These factors make the Escher exhibit worth looking into, and you will find yourself recognizing a lot of his works from your time in grade school.

The second exhibit “Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester and the Creative Mind” is also very interesting, but for different reasons. Firstly, everyone has heard of Leonardo da Vinci, and having the opportunity to see some of his notes and sketches in the exhibit is quite a privilege. Secondly, the exhibit is exactly that: a collection of

“Art speaks to us in

ways that Twitter can’t.” notes and sketches from da Vinci. Again, this is not the kind of thing you expect to see at the art museum and makes for a very intriguing experience. I learned many interesting facts about the notes from the exhibit, and it was surreal to see notes and sketches from a historical figure who we all know so much about and have seen images of before. To see those notes in person was a valuable experience.

It’s easy to get caught up in the fast-paced media that has become so readily available today in the 21st century. However, we should all take the time needed to look into other forms of media, especially from the past. Art speaks to us in ways that Twitter can’t. This is a very important educational opportunity for students of today and even can be enjoyable, believe it or not. With free entry for college students on Friday nights, you really have no excuse not to go.

Be Captain Ahab I

am scared.

Imagine waking up when you’re 50.

You see a delicate sunbeam hit your sheets, and you smile for a second.

But, your slight grin erodes from your face, and your eyebrows furl as you slowly realize that you made the wrong choice.

Your life of work has been a total waste of your time.

Gabriel Twent y-f ive plus years, DeCaro f lushed down the toilet, Assistant all because you chose your Opinion Editor career path when you were 18 years old. Maybe you chose it because you thought you loved it or because it had a high salary. Or perhaps you were just shooting from the hip.

If this doesn’t keep you up at night, you might want to lower your dose of Ambien.

Of course, far too many people live in fear of starvation, physical harm or social duress. But still, this existential ennui is a valid emotion, a product of a lack of fulfilling the need for self actualization. Not living up to one’s authenticity, one’s true self, can be terrifying. But it should not be paralyzing.

That’s why we invented education: the dialogue between people that creates meaning. Its point is not to get you a job, but to find your vocation. Some people refer to this as your calling/your passion/ your talents.

Kinky Friedman, famed singer, has a particularly pithy quote to describe this sentiment: “Find what you like, and let it kill you.” Although insightful, I think there’s more to the search than that. A professor and good friend of mine drew an analogy to captain Ahab hunting down Moby Dick. People hate on his relentless pursuit for the sake of revenge. But hey, at least he cared about something.

Your white whale is your unending quest for meaning, for discovery, for social improvement, for whatever. The point isn’t

Design Editor Devan Feeney

Social Media Editor Sarah Catherine Smith

technician-design@ncsu.edu

technician-digitalcontent@ ncsu.edu

Photo Editor Banu Ganeshan technician-photo@ncsu.edu

Video Editor Julia Kenny technician-video@ncsu.edu

Business Manager Mark Tate advertising@sma.ncsu.edu

to catch it, but to recognize it and then let it consume you.

A privileged, 20-year-old man-child shelling out pretentious advice on the meaning of life is the cliché of clichés. You can reject it, but at least let me tell you how I found my white whale: conferences.

Conferences, if you haven’t had the pleasure of attending, are when a bunch of grown-ups in a given field get together at a hotel or a convention center, make presentations, hold workshops, host panel discussions, etc. Some students use them to schmooze up and expand their network, get free stuff or get some clout in the academic world. But these are all trivial compared to the value of a glimpse into the future that conferences provide.

Assuming your field won’t change in nature during the next couple of years (sorry journalism), the culture will remain relatively constant. The people you meet at conferences are a microcosm of your potential coworkers. You hear their jokes, see how they dress and watch their rapport. This gives you the opportunity to see just exactly what you’re getting into.

Besides the media of learning, the content of what’s presented is of great importance. What’s discussed is the frontier of a field. The questions being asked and the solutions being proposed may be your potential projects. If they enthrall you or you see the opportunity in an alternate route, the field might be right for you; however, if you are bored to tears, some deep thinking might be in order.

Sadly though, conferences can be awfully expensive to attend. I just went to an Institute of Nuclear Materials Management conference, which costs just shy of $1,000 for non-member registration; that figure doesn’t even include hotel and transportation costs. Thankfully though, there are many opportunities out there to lower a staggering number such as volunteering, applying for a grant or presenting a paper.

The Technician (USPS 455-050) is the official student newspaper of N.C. State University and is published every Monday through Thursday 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 the 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

TECHNICIAN

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 • PAGE 5

SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA

The 5 best films of 2015 Kevin Schaefer Contributor

Amidst a string of reboots of classic franchises and multitude of blockbusters, some of which were quite good, 2015 was also a year for auteur filmmakers to deliver some of their finest works to date. Alejandro G. Innaritu, Danny Boyle, Ridley Scott, George Miller and the up-and-coming Alex Garland each made movies which moved, captivated and struck viewers with powerful storytelling and stirring cinematic techniques.

From Westerns, to biopics to authentic science fiction, the best movies of 2015 managed to tackle a diverse range of stories and deliver them in an imaginative way.

The following are my top-f ive films of 2015, along with a few honorable mentions.

5. ‘Spotlight’

 In “Spotlight,” director Tom McCarthy tells the true story of the Boston Globe team that uncovered the massive child molestation scandal within the local Catholic Archdiocese, an investigation which dates back to the 1970s and resurfaced in the early 2000s. Starring Mark Ruffalo in a role reminiscent of his work in the 2007 David Fincher thriller “Zodiac,” the film also boasts a stellar supporting cast of Michael

Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber and John Slattery.

Like his other films, such as “The Station Agent” and “WinWin,” McCarthy tells a genuine human story in “Spotlight,” zeroing in on the extreme lengths these men and women went to, to discover the truth. Driven by fantastic ensemble acting, a sharply written script by McCarthy and Josh Singer, as well as an authentic look into the world of investigative journalism, “Spotlight” is a remarkable human drama worthy of comparison to its 1976 predecessor “All the President’s Men.”

4. ‘The Revenant’

 The latest film from Academy Award-winning director Alejandro G. Innarritu may indeed win megastar Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar, and rightfully so. Set in the early 1800s in the Dakota Mountains, this action-propelled Western is a stirring portrait of human survival, betrayal and vengeance and is also one of the most beautifully shot mainstream films in years. Based somewhat on true events, the film tells the story of the American frontiersman Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) and his rivalry with one of his companions John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), a man who left him for dead after a bear mauling.

Coming off the 2014 Best Picture winner “Birdman,” Inarritu

delivers another unforgettable cinematic experience and powerful human story. DiCaprio and Hardy both give some of the best performances of their careers, along with supporting actor Domhnall Gleeson, who seems to have appeared in every other movie in 2015. Using natural lighting instead of artificial to shoot this film, Inarritu and master cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki provide some of the most gorgeous imagery and eye-popping scenery in years. Though not quite as emotionally gripping as “Birdman,” “The Revenant” showcases both the depths of DiCaprio’s talent as well as the versatility of Inarritu as one of the great modern filmmakers.

3. ‘Steve Jobs’

 Despite it performing miserably at the box office, which is likely the result of there being an excess of movies made about its subject, director Danny Boyle’s portrayal of the iconic Apple co-founder is the Steve Jobs biopic we’ve been waiting for. Split into three acts, which each focus on the buildup to the unveiling of three of Jobs’ most famous products, a choice made by the film’s screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, “Steve Jobs” is a stunning culmination of writing, directing and acting.

Starring Michael Fassbender in the titular role and Seth Rogen as

Jobs’ longtime business partner Steve Wozniak, both deliver some of their finest performances yet in a drama, which feels Shakespearean in its execution, thanks to Sorkin’s relentless dialogue. That said, this film is a more-thanworthy follow-up to the other Sorkin-scripted biopic, “The Social Network.”

2. ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

 It says a lot about a movie when a blockbuster reboot of a classic action flick franchise receives as much praise from critics as the more “traditional” Oscar-bait films. Since its release last summer, “Mad Max: Fury Road” has garnered massive amounts of praise from critics and mainstream audiences alike. Australian filmmaker George Miller breathes new life into his iconic dystopian sci-fi series while maintaining the use of practical special effects over the more traditional CGI methods, a rarity in today’s Hollywood.

Featuring one of the better action movie female leads in the form of Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa, “Fury Road” also has another spoton casting with Tom Hardy playing the titular hero, a role previously held in the original trilogy by Mel Gibson.

Though destined to be ripped off in who knows how many movies in the future, “Fury Road” is evidence of the potential of blockbuster action movies when they’re done right.

1. ‘The Big Short’

 Just as some of the funniest actors get automatically typecast in comedies, comedic filmmakers are also expected to work strictly in this genre. No one imagined that Adam McKay, the writer-director of “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights” would deliver one of the best American dramas in recent years. Though filled with plent y of laugh-out-loud moments, “The Big Short” is both riveting and shocking. Telling the story of four financial executives who predicted the economic crash of the mid-2000s, McKay’s film is a true triumph from start to finish. Between its stellar writing and breaking the fourth wall, eclectic filmmaking and standout performances from Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt, “The Big Short” stands as the most crisp and memorable film of 2015.

Honorable mentions Honorable mentions include veteran writer Alex Garland’s directorial debut “Ex Machina” and Ridley Scott’s “The Martian” for proving that real science-fiction films still exist, “Inside Out” for being one of Pixar’s best movies to date and “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” for returning the iconic franchise to its roots. Hopefully 2016 will be a year moviegoers can remember as well.

SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA

Features

PAGE 6 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

TECHNICIAN

Students and startups come together at HQ Raleigh Sam Roberson Features Editor

HQ Raleigh is a warehouse converted to office space in downtown Raleigh, renting out to companies, startups and entrepreneurs. Walking into the building, you’ll find impromptu meetings at the in-house coffee bar (complete with beer taps), while people click away on laptops behind glass office doors. Within this hub of innovation, you’ll also find a few NC State students.

The NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic — coming up on a year since the launch — has its own space in HQ. Students in the clinic are either enrolled in a class or volunteering, where they work on projects directly with companies, many of them housed in HQ. Lewis Sheats, director of the clinic, wanted to place students with small-staffed startups, who instead of needing an intern, were looking for another temporary team member.

“Youth and energy is always an asset, but the real asset is knowledge,” Sheats said.

In many fields, it’s almost inescapable for students to gain valuable work experience for a position; they usually must run the trial of an unpaid internship. To soften the blow of work in exchange for experience, many employers will offer class credit. The Entrepreneurship Clinic is a more refined evolution of this process.

The clinic has its own workspace in HQ where students are surrounded by the start-up community of Raleigh. Companies can submit a project to the clinic for students to use their own expertise. Students are not paid but have the benefit of choosing their projects, working as consultants. It changes the system from students being employees to working as partners with a business.

Last fall, Jacob Burt, a junior studying entrepreneurship and data analytics, worked with Lumenova, a technology startup working on transferring 4k video wirelessly, where he examined the market and competitors.

“If you come as an intern, you may not be adding value, but just doing the same thing over

The inside of HQ Raleigh has an open design, encouraging collaboration between people and teams.

VICTORIA CROCKER/TECHNICIAN

and over again,” Burt said. “We look to add to business development.”

According to Burt, after initial meetings students and a company will target a specific problem to solve and then implement a project with a set end date.

In true startup spirit, the Entrepreneurship Clinic started off fast, getting the class officially set up Dec. 23, 2014. This gave Sheats just weeks before classes started to recruit students to join.

Six students signed up, including Jared Childs, a 2015 alumnus who studied management.

Childs said he attributes the clinic to opening up a whole new community where he met en-

NC STATE

CONTRIBUTED BY JARED CHILDS

Inside the Entrepreneurship Clinic’s space in HQ Raleigh, students interact with entrepreneurs and work along side local startup.

STUDENT MEDIA

trepreneurs and was exposed to ideas he may not have been to in a classroom.

“When you look at your average 20-something-year-olds, their network is other 20-something-year-olds,” Childs said.

The clinic has since grown to include 57 student participants. Childs now works as program manager for the Entrepreneurship Clinic while also running Pitch and Primer, a clothing startup. Childs is still apart of the HQ community, even drawing from the clinic for help on projects.

“Without HQ, the clinic would not be as successful,” Childs said. “When you walk in, you feel this energy, and it’s contagious to students.”

Currently, the clinic is still growing and accepting students from all majors. Sheats emphasizes it’s not just business students needed, but anyone on campus with a skill set and entrepreneurial drive.

“The number one plan right now is to spread this around campus,” Sheats said. “To get students with a more diverse background, not just curriculum, but gender, race and experiences.”

Welcome

OPEN HOUSE Come learn more about each outlet of Student Media!

THE RADAR Moonlit Movies

Thursday, January 14 from 3-6pm Free Professional Head Shots Find us at: studentmedia.ncsu.edu NCStateStudentMedia NCStateStuMedia

Doyle’s Vineyard Friday, movie starts at 8 p.m.

Doyle’s Vineyard in Durham opens its outdoor space not only to gaze at stars, but to enjoy a “moonlit movie” as well. You can enjoy the film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” scrumptious desserts and delightful beverages throughout the night. And if the weather is too chilly, you can always enjoy the film in the vineyard’s cave.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre

Friday – Saturday, 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday, 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Tickets are $10-15

This is the last weekend to check out the Chinese Lantern Festival that began in November.

This show was such a hit this holiday season that it was extended two more weeks from its original end date of Jan. 3. According to its website, the festival includes “more than 20 displays, each one comprised of hundreds of parts and thousands of LED lights.”

Astronomy Days Saturday North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wanting to explore the universe? You should blast off at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences at Astronomy Days this weekend. The Museum of Natural Sciences partners with NASA and the Astronomy Club to show a big picture and experiences of the universe. You can take an inside peek at what it’s like to be an astronaut and view black holes, constellations, double stars and more.

Sports

TECHNICIAN

PANTHERS

continued from page 8

terback and MVP candidate Cam Newton without his No. 1 target. This left the drophappy Ted Ginn Jr. as the No. 1 wide receiver. Second, star linebacker Kuech ly missed three weeks with a concussion.

Third, defensive end and the second-highest paid player on the team, Charles Johnson, injured his hamstring and missed eight games. Now, the team is without starting cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Bene Benwikere, who sustained seasonending leg injuries in the final four games of the season.

Let’s start with Newton’s performance. He struggled at first, throwing 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his first eight games and completing just 53.7 percent of his passes.

However, he improved drastically in the second half of the season, throwing 21 touchdowns and only one intercep-

tion while completing 65.9 percent of his passes. Couple that with his dynamic running ability (636 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns) and there should be little argument that he is the MVP. While Benjamin’s injury certainly hurt the team, it forced Newton to spread the ball out more. Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen led the team with a career-high 1,104 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, but he was the only outlier.

The four leading wide receivers all had at least 31 catches and 447 yards. Ginn led the group as the deep threat with 41 catches for 739 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns (as well as dropping about four other ones). Jerricho Cotchery stepped up as a reliable thirddown target and was second in the group with 39 catches and 485 yards. The inexperienced Dev in Funchess and Philly Brown had a slow start, but ended the season with a combined 62 catches for 920 yards

POLICY

The Technician will not be held responsible for damages or losses due to fraudulent advertisements. However, we make every effort to prevent false or misleading advertising from appearing in our publication.

DEADLINES

Our business hours are Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Line ads must be placed by noon the previous day.

and eight touchdowns.

While analysts picked on this group for being the weakest in the NFL before the season started, it proved to be more than adequate down the line.

However, the successful passing game was largely set up by the power running attack led

by Pro Bowler Jonathan Stewart who ranked second in the NFL with 142.6 yards per game.

Despite missing the final 3.5 games, Stewart led the team with 242 carries for 989 yards and six touchdowns, even with Newton and fullback Mike Tolbert vulturing most of the goalline touches.

For tunately for Carolina, Stewart is set to return from injury for the first playoff game against Seattle. His presence will be needed against the Seahawks, who boast the league’s best rushing defense, allowing 81.5 yards per game.

Seattle is easily the toughest opening matchup the Panthers have gotten. Although the Panthers beat the Hawks 27-23 in

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016 • PAGE 7

the first meeting, Seattle ended the season as one of the hottest teams, compiling a record of 9-1 in the final 10 games of the season, tied with the Panthers for the second-best in that span.

While some see the matchup as unlucky, I see it as the true test for Carolina to show that it is the best team in the NFL. If the Panthers beat the Seahawks, and then the winner of the Arizona CardinalsGreen Bay Packers game in the NFC Championship Game (it will likely be Arizona), no one will question that the Panthers earned the right to play in the Super Bowl by taking the toughest road to the big game.

If the Panthers play to their fullest potential, as they have for most of this season, I truly believe that they can scratch and claw their way to the Super Bowl and hold the Lombardi trophy in three weeks’ time.

Classifieds

WRESTLING

continued from page 8

“I think we can, the guys in that room think we can, why can’t it be us?” Popolizio said. “We don’t have history, we don’t have tradition but we have talent and have put in the work.”

The remaining schedule that stands in the way of an undefeated season is, without question, daunting. Starting with Sunday’s match against No.17 Virginia, the Pack will not face another unranked team the remainder of the season and has three matches to close out the season against the top-10 opponents. Fan support could make the difference between a one-point win for an undefeated season and an overtime loss preventing perfection.

For those who have not attended a wrestling match, the best way to describe it is one of the most intense competitions in all of sports. ”You’ve got to be prepared for a war,” Gantt said. “It’s a battle for a full seven minutes.”

A chance at making history is what is staring the Wolfpack wrestling team in the face right now. Matches start on Sunday at Dorton Arena as the Wolfpack continues its quest for the first national championship in program history.

RATES

For students, line ads start at $5 for up to 25 words. For non-students, line ads start at $8 for up to 25 words. For detailed rate information, visit ­technicianonline.com/classifieds. All line ads must be prepaid.

To place a classified ad, call 919.515.2411, fax 919.515.5133 or visit technicianonline.com/classifieds

EmploymEnt

Help Wanted

ServiceS

Help Wanted

Childcare for Autistic Child

Summer Camp Staff Needed

Looking for a compassionate, energetic,

No plans for the summer? Like working

and enthusiastic candidate to care for

with kids? Miss the good old days of

Database development for web project

an 11 year old autistic girl. The position

summer camp?

Near NCSU: Exceptional 3, 4 and 5

with Individual Leasing! CALL NOW

BAHAMAS SPRING BREAK $189 for

I am looking for someone to develop

is from 2-6pm, Monday through Friday.

Duke Youth Programs has openings for

Bedroom Houses close to campus.

(855) 296-5954.

5-Days. All prices include: Round-trip

a database for a web project. All data

Description: Work on social skills goals

a Director of Residential Life and other

Available August 1st for upcoming school

luxury party cruise. Accommodations on

is currently contained in excel. helpful

in the community. Transportation is

summer residential staff positions. Make

year. Very attractive. Ideal for Students.

the island at your choice of ten resorts.

if person has front end experience to

provided and your job will be to take

a difference!

Call Day: 919-833-7142 and Evening:

Appalachia Travel. www.BahamaSun.com

integrate the data and assist in publishing

her to scheduled activities, and other

Apply at http://learnmore.duke.edu/

919-783-9410. Please visit our website:

800-867-5018

site. Preference to negotiate one price for

fun outings.

youth/employment.asp

www.jansenproperties.com

the project.

Email triciawildman@yahoo.com

For more information:youth@duke.

Help Wanted

Email tbb66@msn.com

LEASE NOW for Fall 2016 at Campus

Homes For rent

Spring Break

Edge Raleigh! Great leasing specials, NO OVERAGES, Internet and Cable Included

edu/919-684-2827 Email:youth@duke.edu

FOR RELEASE JANUARY 14, 2016

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Did you know?

• Prestage Department of Poultry Science has 100% job placement.

• Poultry Science has a pre vet program.

• Our faculty and staff ratio is approximately 1:5 for quality advising oppertunities.

• We are 1 of 6 departments in the nation.

• Prestage Department of Poultry Science offers P 56 scholarships totaling over $100,000.

• We offer multiple GEN ED courses.

For more information look us up on the CALS website or you can follow us on Facebook at NCSU Prestage or on twitter @joinourflock #NCSUPoultry

ACROSS 1 Home of the Great Sphinx 6 French thinkers?

11 Priestly garb 14 Charter 15 Discharge 16 __ chi 17 Well-cast “Into the Woods” actress?

19 It’s used for some trips 20 Bank customer acct. datum 21 Tackle box items 22 It may have a nice bouquet 23 Well-cast “An Education” actress?

26 Like the Detroit Lions in 2008 29 Financial pg. topics 30 Clod breakers 31 __ arguments 32 Spat 35 Director’s explanation as to why this puzzle’s actresses were well-cast?

40 Familiar saint?

41 Gets ready to fire 42 “Zounds!”

43 Cable service extras 44 “Spoon River Anthology” poet 47 Well-cast “Duplicity” actress?

51 Fissionable particle 52 “Sorry, __ go!”

53 Whale watcher’s dream 56 Software issue 57 Well-cast “Birds of America” actress?

60 Bud 61 “Is that __?”: challenging words 62 Quad Cities resident, maybe 63 Rule of crime writing 64 Actresses Diane and Cheryl 65 Address to a boy

1/14/16

By Danny Reichert

DOWN 1 O’Neill’s “Desire Under the __” 2 Heist units 3 Unlikely story 4 Subj. involving cognitive development 5 “Spill it!”

6 Aquarium fish 7 Wetlands wader 8 Top choice 9 Legal conclusion?

10 Brake fluid brand 11 Low-tech GPS? 12 Stock holder?

13 Former senator known as “Amtrak Joe” 18 Totals 22 LBJ and Nixon, e.g.

23 Einstein’s second wife 24 Hawaiian food fish 25 Lawn problem 26 Blender button 27 Bit 28 Brooding spot 31 Iron-__ 32 Extreme road response 33 “Rubáiyát” poet 34 Brings together

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2016 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

36 California’s __ Beds National Monument 37 Way to get to N.Y.’s Citi Field 38 Response to happy news 39 Brings home 43 Lacking luster 44 Scotland yards?

45 Pretentious 46 Balanced state 47 “Star Wars” villain

1/14/16

48 Reversal 49 Start a telecommuting session 50 Advisory body 53 Puppet 54 Put-act link 55 Designer label initials 57 Evil computer of film 58 NW state 59 Court

Sports

ATHLETIC SCHEDULE

* Before Wednesday night’s games

1 2 3 5 4

North Carolina Tar Heels Overall

4-0

15-2

Pittsburgh Panthers Conference

Overall

3-0

14-1

Duke Blue Devils Conference

Overall

3-0

14-2

Clemson Tigers Conference

Overall

3-1

10-6

Miami Hurricanes Conference

Overall

2-1

13-2

Louisville Cardinals Conference

Overall

2-1

13-3

14

Saturday

Track and Dick Taylor Carolina Cup All Day

Men’s basketball at North Carolina Noon

TECHNICIAN COMMENTARY

Panthers eye Lombari Trophy Daniel Lacy

Conference

6

Friday

Women’s gymnastics at LSU 10:00 PM

PAGE 8 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016

2016 ACC STANDINGS

Today Women’s basketball at Duke 7:00 PM

NC State Wolfpack

Conference

Overall

0-3

10-6

Sports Editor

The Carolina Panthers have exceeded all expectations en route to their phenomenal 15-1 record in what has been by far the best season in franchise history, winning the NFC South for the third-straight year.

While the team with the best record isn’t always necessarily the best team, the Panthers arguably are just that.

They were one sloppy loss in Atlanta away from becoming the second team in NFL history to go 16-0 in the regular season and are only the fifth team to win 15 games in the regular season.

The team also had a franchise-record 10 players selected to the Pro Bowl, as well as eight players selected to the AP All-Pro first and second teams.

While critics point out their weak schedule as a reason for their success, they did beat four playoffs teams, all by at least four points, including a 44-16 thumping of Washington.

Perhaps the biggest part of their success is the turnover ratio. Carolina had the best turnover ratio with 39 takeaways (first in the NFL) and 19 giveaways (tied for eighth fewest) for a ratio of +20, as well as the most points off takeaways (148). Only Kansas City (+14) and Cincinnati (+11) had ratios more than 10, and the topfive teams in this category all made the playoffs.

This defensive prowess is led by defensive tackle Kawann Short, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis and cornerback Josh Norman. all Pro Bowlers at their respective positions.

SOURCE: FLICKR/MIKE MORBECK

Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton avoids a tackle from Green Bay Packs Linebacker Clay Matthews. Newton has led the Panthers to a 15-1 start this season.

“I truly believe they

can scratch and claw their way to a Super Bowl.”

Short led the team with 11 sacks and forced three fumbles (T-second).

Kuechly was first in tackles with 118 tackles, tied for second with Davis and Norman with four interceptions (behind only safety Kurt Coleman, who had seven), and added a sack and two forced fumbles, despite missing three games with a concussion. Davis was second on the team in tackles with 105, third in sacks with 5.5 and led the team with four forced

fumbles. Norman had two defensive touchdowns, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries while allowing a league-worst opposing passer rating of 54.0.

Another factor was the balance of scoring on each side of the ball. The Panthers averaged a franchise-best and league-leading 31.2 points per game, while allowing a sixth-best 19.2 points per game. Only the Seahawks, who were T-fourth in scoring offense and first in defense, ranked higher in terms of balance.

Now, consider what the Panthers had to work with. First, second-year wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL in practice before the third week of preseason, leaving quar-

PANTHERS continued page 7

Pack wrestling proves it can contend for a title Ethan Caldwell Correspondent

A top-five ranking nationally, historic winning streaks, highly rated recruiting classes, ACC championships, All-Americans and competing for an NCAA National Championship — these are some of the goals and measurements for being an elite collegiate sports program. At NC State, the wrestling program boasts all of the aforementioned accolades and more.

The NC State wrestling team under head coach Pat Popolizio is achieving this level of excellence on a more consistent level. Senior heavyweight Nick Gwiazdowski is surging toward a third-consecutive national championship while piling up 74-straight wins, and senior Tommy Gantt is also undefeated on the season and eyeing more than just an All-American distinction.

“Being an All-American means a lot, but I have my eyes set on much higher goals,” Gantt said. “I want to be a national champion; being an All-American is a good accomplishment, but I won’t be satisfied until I’m a national champion, and that should be the goal for everyone in our lineup.”

The level of success the Wolfpack’s wrestling team is enjoying

BRANDON LANG/TECHNICIAN

Redshirt freshman Sean Fausz wrestles in the Wolfpack Open, in which he placed fifth at the 125-pound weight class. The tournament, which hosted several regional teams including Virginia Tech, UNC, Duke and App State, was held in Carmichael Gymnasium Sunday, Nov. 22.

right now — 16-0 on the season and a No.3 NCA A ranking — has been accomplished by only a handful of teams, and this dominance is in spite of the Pack starting only two seniors.

The program is set up for the future — not only in terms of quality student-athletes coming into a winning culture that the wres-

THE LAST SCHOOL PICTURE YOU’LL EVER TAKE

tling coaches have established, but also with the mindset and legacy Gwiazdowski and Gantt are leaving behind.

“We have set a standard, and we don’t compromise to get there,” Popolizio said. “It’s a process. I told the guys we would be competing with the best teams, and we are going to beat them; it just takes ev-

1. It’s a great LinkedIn profile picture!

2. It’s an appropriate photo from college to show your children!

eryone buying in, and that’s what has happened.”

It’s a given that few people understand the sport of wrestling, so to help put what the wrestling team has done into perspective, take a look at its biggest wins so far.

In its second match of the season, the team traveled to New

3. It’s free!

4. Your picture will be in the yearbook and your copy will be discounted!

York and beat then-ranked No.16 Minnesota 31-3, in other words, a complete performance by the Wolfpack not only on the road, but against a ranked team to boot.

Another noteworthy performance came Dec. 6 when Popolizio returned to his alma mater in Stillwater, Oklahoma to face his college coach John Smith and the No. 4 Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Smith has led the Cowboys to five national championships, the equivalent to what Nick Saban has accomplished in college football.

The Wolfpack won a thriller by a score of 19-15 that has provided a level of validation that is allowing the coach and his team to dream big moving forward.

“That was the biggest win I have ever been a part of,” Gantt said.

“You’ve got Illinois and Iowa, but Oklahoma State is the best historical program in America. They’ve won 34 national championships and had 200-plus All-Americans.”

The 34 national championships that Oklahoma State has compiled is more team championships than all-but-11 NCAA universities have total. The Wolfpack just went into its building and proved to any remaining doubters that it is a legit contender for the national title.

WRESTLING continued page 7

Who: You! What: Senior Portraits When: Monday – Friday, Jan. 11-15 Where: Talley Student Union - Student Involvement Center

Schedule your appointment at www.ouryear.com, entering school code (279) or by calling 1-800-OUR-YEAR™ (6879327), during normal business hours.