Technician
thursday october
15
2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
Senate listens to Talley protesters’ concerns Students opposed to Talley, resolution voice grievances to the Student Government Nick Tran Staff Writer
The Student Senate Chamber was overflowing last night as protesters organized by the “Rally Against Talley” Facebook group appeared before student senators to express their discontent. The group, which announced its intent a week ago, packed the senate chambers and the adjacent lounge with students disgruntled by the Senate’s support of the Talley fee increase. The Senate approved Resolution 22 Oct. 6, formally stating the body’s support for fee increases. Senators said they approved the Student Center Renovation fee increase based on three criteria, but students argued Wednesday the 61.6 percent of students opposed to the increase represented a majority. Vidya Sankar, a sophomore in biochemistry and organizer of the protest, said the purpose of appearing before the Senate was to allow students to express their discontent with the Student Government and the Talley fee process. “We are here to get student voices heard,” Sankar said. “We are trying to gain public exposure to student concerns. Even off-campus media was here. This is a huge accomplishment.”
Sankar said this protest should clearly show how the Senate contradicted the student body’s will and how it skewed the votes to advance the Talley project. Sen. Sam Daughtry said the protest was a result of the Senate not looking after the students, not listening to voters, and misinterpreting the vote. “This was because of miscommunication and misunderstanding between students and the Senate,” he said. “And it shows students do care.” Daughtry said while the student-led protest didn’t fall on deaf ears the Senate no longer had any input on the fee. “Change will depend on how the students continue this protest. At this point, the recommendation can’t be revised; it is out of the Senate’s hands,” Daughtry said. Nonetheless, students stepped forward to speak and the Senate extended the period for open commentary from 15 minutes to 30 minutes to accommodate. Tucker Biningay, a senior in landscape architecture, said he felt SG did not properly consider student votes. “Students depend on Student Government to represent [them] to the administration,” he said. “If you ask students to vote and they turn out in unprecedented numbers, you have to listen to them.” Daniel Marcus, a junior in technical education, said senators improperly extrapolated the results of the student vote and were not doing the jobs they were elected to do.
Meredith Faggart/Technician
Matthew Adams, a junior in computer science, speaks at the Student Senate meeting Wednesday night. “I had a lot of friends who were upset about the Student Government and I noticed there was a small flaw in their criteria,” Adams said.
Sen. Morgan Donnelly said this kind of student response would cause the Senate to weigh over student votes a lot more. “This shows a lot of student leadership and that students recognize their power,” Donnelly said. “Students wanted to make sure their voice was heard. Student Government is trying to connect more with students and improve communication.”
Ramie Elawar, a sophomore in biological engineering and a member of the protest, said he felt the issue will eventually solve itself if students are this unhappy. “We were asked our opinion by the Senate but then the Senate decided in the opposite,” he said. “We are a group angry with the Senate.” “Senators will know students are unhappy with them and in the end
the students give them power,” Elawar said. “This will definitely reflect in the next election.” This is not the last confrontation to be had on this issue. The Senate is plans to have an open forum next Wednesday to allow students to express their opinions more freely. Students with the “Rally Against Talley” group have planned another protest at Holladay Hall the same day.
David Mabe/Technician
A car drives by the construction site for a parking deck next to the site of the future Hunt Library on Centennial Campus Tuesday.
Amanda Karst/Technician
To raise awareness for breast cancer and collect donations for Relay For Life, juniors Mary Brannan Seeger, in business, and Jen Lewis, in chemical engineering, sell bracelets, ‘fight like a girl’ T-shirts, and cookies decorated to look like breasts. The Relay For Life committee set up the table on the Brickyard this week because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Pink trailer brightens up gray day
Library invests in future for students, state Hunt Library groundbreaking approaches Heidi Klumpe Staff Writer
Susan G. Komen On the Go informs about breast cancer Caroline Barfield Staff Writer
Despite the cold, rainy weather, the members of Komen On the Go were surprised by the turnout at their hot pink trailer in the Brickyard Wednesday. The group was informing students about breast cancer and how to get involved in helping to find a cure. According to Nick Blake, director of Susan G. Komen on the Go, the organization attracted many students, giving Komen members the chance to educate how greatly breast cancer has affected the world and what can be done to help find a cure. “We gave out over 7,000 stickers and 300 or more people sat down at the computer kiosks to learn more about breast cancer awareness,” Blake said. The pink trailer brightened up the rainy day by offering informational sessions about breast cancer. Those who participated received a bright
pink breast cancer bag. The Komen members had to pack up early due to a sliding trailer on the bricks but, in spite of the early end to the function, every bag was given out and individuals were still coming to learn more. According to its Web site, Susan G. Komen for the Cure aims to teach participants to take charge of their breast health, be empowered to share information with friends and join the breast cancer movement. The organization began in 1982 when Nancy Brinker watched helplessly as her sister, Susan Komen, died after a three-year battle with breast cancer. Before Komen died, Brinker made a promise to end breast cancer forever. In 27 years, Komen has built the nation’s largest network of breast cancer advocates, nearly 200,000 strong at the local, state and national level. Komen has even gone global with three international affiliates in Germany, Italy and Puerto Rico.
This is your last chance to order a NC State Class Ring this semester! NC State Bookstores - Oct. 14 & 15 - 10am-3pm
Breast cancer by the numbers Amount $900 the federal million government
devotes each year to breast cancer research
465,000
Number of women who die from the disease each year
Every 3 minutes
How often a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer
Every 13 minutes
How often a woman dies of breast cancer in the U.S.
2.5 million
Number of breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
Source: American Cancer Society’s Cancer Facts and Figures
Construction of the James B. Hunt Library will begin Oct. 23 on Centennial Campus with a groundbreaking ceremony. “This is truly a 21st century library,” Larry Nielsen, co-chair of the building committee, said. “When people are using that library, the emphasis will be on access to information and the written word. It’s not just for books and journals.” From the start, the plans for the library will include many of the renovations which came to D. H. Hill years after its construction. “We have the opportunity to design, right from the beginning, a library that can meet the needs of the campus for the future,” Nielsen said.
insidetechnician
One key feature is the Automated Retrieval System, a highly-efficient storage of books which frees up more money and space for technology and study spaces, according to David Hiscoe, the director of communication for the libraries. “What the ARS is allowing us to do is put books in one-ninth of the place of traditional stacks,” he said. With the ARS, students will be able to browse shelves virtually and retrieve books with a request to the automated system. Nielsen said he hopes the superior technology and available space will make Hunt Library the “living room for Centennial Campus students” of all majors. “The Centennial Campus is not a campus just for engineers. It’s a campus for the entire University,” Nielsen
HUNT continued page 6
Dressage team trots competition See page 8.
viewpoint arts & entertainment classifieds sports
4 5 7 8