TECHNICIAN
friday february
7
2014
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Rhodes Scholar speaks at N.C. State Vishwas Rao Correspondent
Mary Hale Tolar, a Rhodes and Truman Scholar and director of Kansas State University’s School of Leadership Studies, spoke to N.C. State students today regarding authentic and ethical leadership. Rhodes Scholarships are offered to postgraduate students from around the world. If awarded, the student will be given the chance to study at the University of Oxford in England. To date, no N.C. State student has ever been named a Rhodes Scholar, which makes this lecture a rare opportunity for students to learn from one. Tolar concentrated on one main idea throughout her lecture, which was a unique approach towards leadership—what she called authentic leadership. “It’s about one’s values and one’s purpose, and it’s also about a narrative,” Tolar said. Tolar said leaders should be able to confidently share genuine stories about themselves. She said genuine narratives are an act of leadership that give purpose and influences others. A story can be a good indication of someone’s values. “Sometimes it’s hard to be true to yourself when you haven’t really figured out who yourself is, but you have dig deep and follow your inner purpose and stick to it,”
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CHRIS RUPERT/TECHNICIAN
Harriet Washington, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and author of the Medical Apartheid and Deadly Monopolies, signs books Thursday in the Washington Sankofa Room of the Witherspoon Student Center.
Author discusses history and medical injustices of slavery Mona Bazzaaz Staff Writer
Medical ethicist and author Harriet Washington spoke on Thursday about the unjust medical treatment slaves received in the past. The presentation, which was part of the Lawrence M. Clark Lecture Series, was held in the Witherspoon Student Center and packed the Washington Sankofa Room to the brim. Washington travels internationally to universities and conferences to speak.
She said it was gratifying for her that so many people came to the lecture and that her work has meant something to them. “I have spoken in this area twice before,” Washington said. “I like the people here, and I am very moved by the fact that this area has such a rich history in terms of medicine. I feel as though the people here deeply understand things that have happened in the past and the livery of healthcare today.” Washington spent most of her lecture speaking about the medical history revolving around
slavery, and spent some time answering questions as well. During her lecture, Washington said the way that female African American slaves were treated was immoral. She said enslaved women were constantly being used as test subjects for procedures because they were not allowed to say no. According to Washington, white physicians did not need the consent of African American women in order to conduct surgery on them and would
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Moodle usage increases regardless of complaints Katherine Kehoe Staff Writer
Despite persisting complaints leveled against Moodle by several professors, usage reports show an increase in the number of faculty members using the learning management system, which will eventually completely replace its outdated counterpart, Wolfware Classic. According to usage reports from Distance Education and Learning Technology Applications, N.C. State’s company for creating and administering learning technologies, 2,866 course sections used Moodle in the spring of 2012. For the spring of 2014, the number has risen to 3,566 course sections. A professor still has the option to use Wolfware Classic, the software that was used prior to Moodle, if he or she prefers. However, the number of sections taught by professors using Wolfware Classic has also declined since 2012. In two years, the total number of class sections still using Wolfware Classic has dropped from 1,332 to 1,131. So what exactly is it about Moodle that always seems to spark complaints from some professors? “The problem with Moodle is that it has so many features that are complicated for the instructors to use,” said Bob Larson, a communication lecturer. “A lot of us don’t run our classes that way and don’t need all of those things.” For Larson, however, the thought of using Moodle isn’t entirely dismal. Moodle has gotten much easier to use since it was first implemented, Larson said, but he also said he wished a simpler version of the program would be made available for professors who are less techno-
logically literate. “I would like to see them come up with a Moodle lite, or something like that,” Larson said. Fortunately, for Larson and anybody else who dreams of a more user-friendly Moodle, DELTA, a division of the Office of the Provost whose stated goal is to “foster the integration and support of learning technologies in NC State’s academic programs,” is working to bring these dreams to fruition. According to Martin Dulberg, senior coordinator for DELTA, the division is currently fielding suggestions regarding how to make Moodle more user friendly. Any student or faculty member who would like to submit a suggestion pertaining to Moodle can do so via the WolfWare home page. However, though Larson’s “Moodle lite” may seem only a suggestion away, submitting a request doesn’t necessarily mean DELTA will make it happen, Dulberg said. “We have about 270 [requests] in the system, and there are about 120 that are being worked on right now,” Dulberg said. “There were about 49 that we just said ‘no were not doing it.’” Cyber suggestion box and “Moodle lite” aside, the increasing complexity of software will inevitably confuse some professors, Dulberg said. “If you look at my bookshelf, I have a lot of books on usability, and that’s what my degree is in,” Dulberg said. “I am very mindful of how hard or easy it is to use something. The most we can do is try to make the best tools that
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ARCHIVE/TECHNICIAN
Kate VanVorst, a senior in parks, recreation and tourism management, raffles off a PBR hat at Double Barrel Benefit on Feb. 2, 2013. The two-night concert raised money for N.C. State’s radio station WKNC.
Double Barrel begins tonight at Cat’s Cradle Staff Report
The Double Barrel Benefit concert, hosted by 88.1 WKNC, is beginning its two-date festival tonight at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro and will continuing Feb. 14 at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh. It will be the 11th annual DBB, and this year it will be bigger than ever. For one thing, this will be the first year DBB will be taking place in more than one place, as it previously had just took place at one venue in Raleigh. According to Michael D’Argenio, program director at WKNC, the station is heard throughout the Triangle, and having shows in both Carrboro and Raleigh will allow more of its audience to be reached. Additionally, both the Cat’s Cradle and the Lincoln Theatre offer significantly more seating than the previous venue, which will help bring more money to the station and replace the need to go out and ask for private donations,
D’Argenio said. “It will help keep the station upand-running and help us keep doing all of the things we want to do,” D’Argenio said. The two dates will feature a total of eight bands. The Love Language, Hammer No More the Fingers, T0W3RS and Ghostt Bllonde will be performing tonight. Mount Moriah, Bombadil, Loamlands and Daniel Bachman will be the performing at Lincoln Theatre for the second show. “It’s crazy to have both The Love Language and Mount Moriah this year,” Walt Lilly, production manager and co-creator of “The Lounge” video series, said in a press release. “These are two incredible acts that have a national presence while staying rooted in the Triangle, and we are glad to have their homecoming at Double Barrel.” D’Argenio said both The Love Language and Mount Moriah are part of Merge Records, which is a nationally renowned record label
based in Durham. He said supporting labels and musicians from around the Triangle has always been important to the station. “Supporting local music has always been a staple of WKNC,” D’Argenio said. “We not only consistently DJ local music, but we also hold local concerts such as our annual festival Double Barrel Benefit, our on-campus concert series Fridays on the Lawn and our weekly Local Band-Local Beer concert.” D’Argenio said those working at WKNC believe the Triangle has a lot of very talented musicians that need to be showcased. “We want to bring the community together to help show the world what North Carolina has to offer,” D’Argenio said. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit WKNC. Both shows will begin at 9 p.m., with the doors opening at 8. Tickets may be purchased for $12 or $14 at the door. Additionally, two-night passes may be purchased for $22.