Technician
thursday october
29 2009
Raleigh, North Carolina
State leader advises Student Senate N.C. Senate majority leader discusses issues, politics with student leaders Jessica Neville Staff Writer
David Mabe/Technician
Student Body President Jim Ceresnak asks a question during a question and answer session with Tony Rand, majority leader of the N.C. Senate, in the Student Senate Chambers in Witherspoon Student Center Wednesday. During the meeting Rand spoke about issues including sustainability, education expenses and health care.
Wednesday, Student Senate heard from the North Carolina Senate majority leader Tony Rand about the joys and trials of working in government at the state level. Senators were able to ask Rand questions pertaining to four pre-selected topics, as well as other current issues. The main topics discussed were the UNC-System tuition rate increases, Sen. Rand’s role as a majority leader, the new bottle ban law and how senators could work with media and students effectively. Rand has served 22 years in the Senate representing Bladen and Cumberland Counties, and has served as the
Democratic majority leader for 11 years. Sarah Center, sophomore in science education, serves as the public affairs chair of the Senate and led the planning team that invited Rand to speak. “We have been planning this event for a while,” Center said. “It didn’t take Sen. Rand very long at all to respond and we were very excited that he took the time to speak to us.” Rand spent much of his allotted time speaking about the University tuition increase that the General Assembly passed in its last session that will come into effect next year. The bill made $162 million worth of permanent cuts and $132 million worth of one-time cuts from higher education. “This past session of the legislature
Class registration causes frustration
we were in the worst economic situation I have ever seen,” Rand said. “We regretted having to make budget cuts to the universities but we had to contend with a $4 billion deficit. We are fortunate to live in a state that values education as much as North Carolina does, and we will continue to support our universities.” Student Body President Ji m Ceresnak personally thanked Rand on behalf of students that have enjoyed higher education in N.C. for the visionary leadership he has shown in making higher education affordable for students in the state. Rand also recognized the importance the University plays to the state as a research institution.
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Greenville police expect large crowds for Halloween Some students flock to party town, others shy away.
Students still adjusting to the new enrollment process makes class registration a difficult task
Laura Wilkinson Staff Writer
Nick Tran Staff Writer
Registration for Spring 2010 began in the past weeks, but not without student complaints. Some students have expressed frustration with the different aspects of registration which must be overcome before they can enter a class. Chad Alligood, a freshman in biological engineering, said he had little idea of how to navigate the process. “I have no idea what I’m doing,” he said. “I have no experience with registration and no one has told us anything about how to go about doing it. Last semester [the University] pretty much signed us up for what they thought we needed.” Alligood said he felt the advising lock existed more to give upperclassmen and priority groups first picks on classes. “[The lock] is a necessary evil,” he said. “It is so special programs can select classes first and so the University can maintain control over registration.” According to the University calendar, seniors have the highest priority with registration that opened Oct. 16. Registration for the honors program also opened around that time. Registration for juniors opened Oct. 21, for sophomores Oct. 27 and for freshmen it will open Nov. 2. Jonathan Coburn, a freshman in engineering, said the registration process took some getting used to. “It was difficult trying to figure out how everything worked,” Coburn said. “After playing around with it it’s not too bad; it could use some improvement and better formatting.” Coburn said he saw both positive and negative aspects to the advising lock. “Forcing people to meet with their adviser is important, especially for freshmen,” he said. “But it was frustrating because I had to wait two weeks to meet with my adviser. I felt by the time I was able to register, all the good classes would be taken.” Louis Hunt, the vice provost of the University Registrar, said the current registration process was implemented last February as part of an evolving MyPack Portal, which began its overhaul in the year 2000. The new portal is a version of a system being implemented at universities worldwide.
Marisa Akers/Technician
Thomas Richardson, a graduate student in operations research, engages in a debate on micro- and macroevolution with pastor Tom Short in the Brickyard. “The way he was talking, it kind of warranted someone to argue with him,” Richardson said. With library books in hand, Richardson made his point to Short face-to-face. “It’s not like I have it memorized. I’ll find sources.”
Brickyard preacher attracts crowds, interacts, debates with passers-by Pastor visits campus to reason with students Heidi Klumpe Staff Writer
Tom Short preached on the Brickyard Wednesday afternoon for the first time this semester before holding a question-andanswer session in Tucker Residence Hall. Berk Wilson, a pastor at Grace Community Church which meets on campus, brought Short to campus to present a new kind of speaker. “So many other [campus] preachers are kind of bizarre,” he said. “They don’t interact. They just yell at the students.” By midafternoon, Short had attracted a crowd of students, many of whom appreciated his different approach. “I like him,” Madavia Johnson, a sophomore in political science, said. “He states that he is openmined. If he’s wrong and you prove him wrong, he’ll change.” Zach Kezios, a junior in zoology and biochemistry, has heard Short speak before. “He’s a nice guy. I’m an atheist, but I like him,” he said. “Although he’s very adamant, he’s willing to accept that other people won’t believe the same thing. He won’t be shaken, but he’s willing to listen and help people think.”
According to students, Short’s one person is worth his day, at least strong point is talking to his lis- to him,” Taylor said. According to Halpern, Short’s teners. “He’s more interactive,” said reception is similar to that of his Jenn Halpern, a sophomore in colleagues. Halpern said that the majority psychology. “He’s a little crazy, but I respect his desire to stand of that reaction, whether vocal or not, is because and preach.” he’s loud. Wi lson at“Sometimes tributed Short’s abrasive people differentiation tend to attack,” to something she said. else. Kezios said “ T he re ’s a t he reac t ion different spirit comes from the about him, Jenn Halpern, sophomore in apparent simithe real spirit psychology larity of any of Christ,” he spea ker who said. However, his novel approach comes to talk about his religion. “[The other guys] call people may not change his ability to reach out. They’re just asking for anpeople. “[His message] is only effective tagonism,” he said. “It’s difficult if people want to hear it,” Halpern to tell the difference between him and the other guys.” said. According to Wilson, people’s Levi Taylor, a sophomore in brief opportunity to listen causes computer science, disagrees. “His way is much more effec- misunderstandings, especially tive,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a when students walk past in the debate too much, and people try middle of Short’s dialogue with a to argue semantics. [Short] focuses student. “People haven’t heard the whole on the central message and how conversation,” he said, “so they people can be saved.” “He challenges people to give jump to conclusions. That’s one of their whole life to Christ and tries the downsides when people don’t to have people think,” Wilson said. stay to interact.” “The possibility of him saving
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“[His message] is only effective if people want to hear it.”
For those students who vacate Raleigh during Halloween in favor of other college towns, Greenville is a popular destination. Marshall Fowle, a junior in accounting, is going to a string of parties at an off-campus apartment complex in Greenville with his friend Robert Whitley, a junior in financing. “All our friends are going,” Fowle said. “A good friend of ours is having a party. Well, it’s two or three parties at one time. Come and go as you please. We stayed in Raleigh last year and it kind of sucked.” Paul O’Leary, a freshman in management, is taking his first trip to ECU this year with a friend to celebrate the holiday. “It’s something new to experience,” O’Leary said. “I’ve heard the parties there are sick-nasty. I plan on dressing provocatively as Waldo.” Lisa Lehnan, a junior in English education, said she will not go to ECU for Halloween for several reasons, the main one being safety. “I’ve heard crazy stories about ECU from friends,” Lehnan said. “It’s too far away and it’s not the safest place for a group of girls to go.” Instead, Lehnan said she has opted to go to Franklin Street at UNC in years past. Major Frank Knight of the ECU Campus Police said the entire police department works that day and the force gets help from the Greenville police as well. “We’ve divided the campus into
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‘Wasted plays’ hurt Pack See page 8.
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