WEATHER
Park Scholars present William C. Friday Award to Walt Wolfram
NC State linguistics professor Walt Wolfram was recently named the recipient of the annual William C. Friday Award, named for the former president of the UNC System. The recognition is granted to members of the community who show exceptional dedication and scholarly achievement.
The award is presented on behalf of the entire Park Scholarships program, and the recipient is chosen by the senior class of Park Scholars.
Freddy Kelley, a fourth-year studying biochemistry and sociology and a member of the Park Scholars Class of 2025, introduced the ceremony.
“Each Park Scholarship class meets with the current UNC System President Peter Hans to select someone that embodies Friday’s dedication to service, character, leadership and scholarship,” Kelley said.
Syna Sharma, a fourth-year studying middle grades English language arts and social studies education and a member of the Park Scholars Class of 2025, listed a few of Wolfram’s achievements before inviting him onto the stage.
“It is my extreme pleasure to present Dr. Walt Wolfram with the class of 2025, William C. Friday Award for his commitment to serving the community through the preservation and promotion of linguistic diversity in North Carolina and beyond,” Sharma said.
Wolfram, a professor of linguistics at NC State, has dedicated decades to studying American dialects, particularly those in North Carolina. His work has resulted
in 15 documentaries, 24 published books, the construction of six museum exhibits and much more.
The documentaries he has worked on, two of which were awarded Emmy awards, cover linguistic research on a variety of communities, from Cherokee, Lumbee and Lebanese to African American Language. The most popular is a series called “Talking Black In America.”
Wolfram is also the director of the North Carolina Language and Life Project and has served as president for the Linguistic Society of America, the American Dialect Society and the Southeastern Conference on Linguistics.
After a brief admiration of his plaque,
CRIME ON CAMPUS
NC State’s weekly log of major incidents across campus.
STALKING
Fountain Dining Hall
March 30, 2025 at 11:04 p.m.
A non-affiliated individual was arrested for second-degree trespass, misdemeanor stalking and reckless driving.
TRESPASSING
D.H. Hill Jr. Library
March 30, 2025 at 7:19 p.m.
A non-affiliated individual was arrested for second-degree trespass and was permanently trespassed from all University property.
Wolfram jumped into a lively presentation about his work and the importance of linguistics.
“Everybody should have a little knowledge of linguistics to know how it is used,” Wolfram said.
Wolfram said many people have misconceptions about what linguistics actually is. He said it’s about analyzing language and connecting it with larger societal patterns, which often manifest as inequalities.
“Not only are universities compliant with data policy in language attitudes, they’re actually agents that lead in the discrimination of students based on their language,” Wolfram said. “NC State is no
different from other universities in that capacity, and we need to start getting the truth about dialect diversity.”
Wolfram said a core tenet of his research is giving back to the community. It’s a factor he coined as the “gratuity principle.”
“Part of the problem that social science researchers have in the United States today is simply the fact that they go into a community, they gain knowledge and the community never sees them again,” Wolfram said. “We don’t do that. If we have knowledge, if we work with the community, then we have a responsibility to give back to that community.”
Wolfram’s current work largely consists of classroom education. He said students who actually engage with the community during their studies are more successful.
Wolfram has taught a curriculum about the Ocracoke dialect, a version of American English unique to the Outer Banks, at Ocracoke School for the last 30 years.
“Every kid on that island in the last 30 years has been educated about their dialect, their unique dialect, about the role of language diversity in terms of social history,” Wolfram said.
Wolfram said he was surprised and honored to receive the award.
“I could have retired, but it’s the engagement that keeps me going because I feel like it makes a difference,” Wolfram said. “I’m not sure my research does, but the engagement does make a difference. So in that respect, it’s an inspiration to be here today.”
WEAPON ON EDUCATIONAL PROPERTY
University Towers March 30, 2025 at 4:17 p.m
An individual received a citation for possessing a weapon on educational property.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT
Varsity Lot March 27, 2025 at 1:52 p.m.
University Police recovered a stolen red 2018 Hyundai Sonata after it was stolen sometime between March 15 and March 27.
JUSTIN IRIARTE/TECHNICIAN
Dr. Walt Wolfram presents a slideshow on his work and research following his receiving of the William C. Friday Award at Witherspoon Student Center on Friday, March 28, 2025. Dr. Wolfram was honored by the Park Scholars class of 2025 for his research and achievements in the field of linguistics.
Dae Reed Staff Writer
A professor’s death reflects persisting cultural, administrative issues across NC State
in our postvention plan that’s informed by national best practices and research, including guidance from the Higher Education Mental Health Alliance.”
therefore we will fail the future of the institution unless we make radical changes,” Ade said. “I firmly believe that. We have a system that is not designed for a modern university.”
Editor’s Note: This article contains reference to suicide.
In November, Marshall Brain II, then director of NC State’s Engineering Entrepreneurs Program, died by suicide in his Centennial Campus office. Hours before he was found by University police, Brain sent an email to his colleagues entitled, “I want to help you understand.”
The 12-page email documents Brain’s perspective on the sequence of events that resulted in his resignation. Brain highlighted what he perceived as retaliation, structural manipulation and an unapproachable power hierarchy within the administration at NC State.
Technician has confirmed the validity of the emails Brain linked through public records. Though holes remain as to the whole picture of Brain’s dismissal and conduct of administrators within his department, his allegations and sentiments were familiar to many throughout the University community.
Parker Sexton, a 2024 computer engineering graduate, received mentorship from Brain as a recipient of the entrepreneuring-geared Miller Fellowship. Sexton was “shocked” to hear of Brain’s death, but said he had seen more than enough examples of things not being handled well within the department and at the University.
“I think conversations about Dr. Brain’s passing are more focused on the systemic issues,” Sexton said. “Those con versations have a lot less to do with, ‘It’s shocking and surprising to hear about his passing,’ but the things that he said in his email and sort of the reaction of the com munity and the allegations. I don’t hear a lot of shock and surprise surrounding those things … because [people have] similar experiences felt with obviously much less, lower stakes and less significant things.”
Kelly Mae Allen is a graduate student studying electrical and computer engineering who got her undergraduate degree from the same department. Allen said there is widespread disappointment within the department for the University’s response to Brain’s death.
“It was an initial shock,” Allen said. “And now I just haven’t stopped thinking about it. It just bothers me more and more whenever I think about it. And then, how quickly they took down his web page. How quickly the administration just kind of hid everything, you know. It made the words in the email and all the weirdness around it even more weird.”
The University has not issued a public statement about Brain’s death. The College of Engineering posted an obituary for Brain on Dec. 17, almost a month after his death.
University spokesperson Mick Kulikowski said in an email statement that NC State follows a postvention policy for campus deaths.
“NC State balances community needs and the risk of suicide contagion with transparent and sensitive commu nications to those closely impacted,” Kulikowski wrote.
“You can find more information on the University’s re sponse following the loss of someone in our community
Students and faculty across NC State’s campus report similar themes of retribution and top-down administrative culture, as well as an overarching fear to speak out against the administration.
Top-down culture
Dror Baron, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering — the same department as Brain — said Brain’s narrative reflects a wider sentiment of cultural issues at the University.
“It all rings a bell,” Baron said. “The whole method — how the administrators, they know everything best and nobody else understands anything. They represent the truth, and they won’t hesitate to punish a person if they feel like it. So basically, it’s a dictatorial atmosphere.”
Stakeholders throughout NC State say the University operates with a strong top-down direction, a structure that creates difficulties for faculty and staff seeking to voice feedback about University operations.
Harald Ade, a distinguished professor in the Department of Physics, spearheaded an effort to send Chancellor Randy Woodson an open letter in 2023 expressing
The letter, which amassed more than 240 signatures from faculty and staff, outlined issues with the administration of research financing, human resources and an “operational approach that values compliance” from faculty instead of collaboration. A corresponding letter from the Research Leadership Academy similarly called the “core problem as being cultural,” wherein a “culture of oversight” leaves faculty feeling their voices aren’t being heard.
One of the comments in an appendix to the letter providing specific examples of problems from anonymous faculty members read, “I’m over it and will be leaving the University. I just can’t do my job here anymore.”
Danesha Seth Carley, an associate professor of horticultural science and director of the NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management, was a signatory of the letter and was involved in the discussions that prompted it. Carley said she lost a million-dollar grant because of how the contract was handled at the University level, resulting in her having to lay off staff.
“I love NC State, love the people I work with, but the layers of bureaucracy make it really difficult sometimes to come in and feel like I’m making a difference,” Carley said. “And sometimes I get bogged down in the inefficiency within the system and the incompetence that I’m up against, and that keeps me from doing the best job I can do to begin advanced science, right? And so I can get frustrated, and I think a lot of people do because of that.”
Sandra Yuter, a distinguished professor in the Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department and signatory of the letter, conducted another anonymous survey in the summer of 2024 to provide further feedback on the issues highlighted. Yuter said anonymous feedback is essential to getting a full range of input.
“I have talked to a large number of staff, a large number of junior faculty, about it,” Yuter said. “They feel uncomfortable, basically, speaking up, particularly if they’re indicating there are problems. I think it varies a lot depending on individual managers and the organization you’re in, but based on what I’ve seen, that fear is not misplaced.”
In response to the letter, the chancellor created three task forces which prompted nine pilot projects to improve research infrastructure and be implemented in the fiscal year 2025.
Yuter said she believes the efforts of the University to address the issues are sincere, but sees reluctance to engage with the broader community. Carley and Ade said they weren’t asked to provide input for any of the University’s efforts.
“I thought it was a predictable way for the University to handle it,” Carley said. “I can’t even tell you just a single action item that came out of any of the task forces, because that’s what we do. We form a task force, we talk about things and then change does not happen. So I have seen nothing positive come out of it.”
“To some extent, the open letter went into a bit of a black hole,” Ade said. “So it all stayed within sort of the paradigm of the prior operational approach, which is hierarchical. I can understand that — if it works — but it hasn’t worked, and that’s why the letter was necessary.
GRAPHIC BY LUCY OSBORN
Justin Welch Managing Editor
The response to the letter has not stepped out of the current failing administrative paradigm.”
Ade said the power dynamic at NC State is asymmetric, and he would like to see an open investigation into Brain’s death from an outside consultant.
“The administration closes ranks and sits out the scandals, and that’s just the generic response, and it doesn’t impact the culture,” Ade said. “It doesn’t get discussed in the department, and these things just keep getting ignored, right? … We can’t have adult-to-adult conversation between the faculty and the administration. It’s always them talking down to us.”
Carley said she was saddened by the news of Brain’s death and the response from the University.
“I understand the need for the University to sort of circle the wagons and protect itself,” Carley said. “But at the same time, when an institution fails to take faculty concerns — they just sort of sweep it under the rug as much as possible — I feel like it does harm individuals.”
Moreover, Carley sees parallels in Brain’s struggle to navigate through the proper channels of the system without a productive response.
“As a faculty member, I understand his sort of despair, just from a very high level about trying to push against the system,” Carley said. “How people should feel safe to voice their concerns about ethical issues or accountability issues, and feel safe in that space. I voiced all my concerns. I continued to escalate to talk to my boss, to talk to my boss’s boss, to go up the food chain. I did everything the way you’re supposed to when you have concerns with inefficiency and incompetence in the system.”
Retaliation and
retribution
Brain is not the first long-standing faculty member to accuse University administrators of retaliating against them.
Stephen Porter, a professor in the College of Education, filed a lawsuit against NC State in 2021 alleging he had been retaliated against for protected speech criticizing DEI
initiatives at the University. Porter said he faced punitive action that forced him into a program drained of resources and kept him from attending department-wide meetings.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Porter in 2023. The majority opinion said Porter’s statements did not amount to protected speech, while the dissenting judge argued the case should go on as it was “plausible” the University retaliated against him.
Porter said people are “terrified” to speak out against the University.
“Here we seem to have this culture amongst the administrators that either you are loyal or you’re disloyal,” Porter said. “You can’t have a principled criticism of something the administration does. You’re either loyal or disloyal, and if you stand up against the administrator, you immediately get put in the disloyal bucket.”
Porter also said he was not surprised by Brain’s situation.
“I think people were shocked when that email came out, ‘How could this happen at NC State?’” Porter said. “I got news for you. It happens all the time. It gets swept under the rug.”
Stefan Franzen, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, took legal action against the University in 2016. Franzen alleged NC State retaliated against him for his role as a whistleblower in a near decade-long investigation over former colleagues who falsified data.
NC State conducted an almost two-year investigation into Franzen for “research misconduct” that was prompted by the same colleagues Franzen had reported for falsification years earlier. The University investigation ended because of “insufficient evidence” and concluded that the allegations against Franzen were likely retaliatory in nature.
Franzen’s court filings posit he had suffered damages to his reputation and research during this period, where he says he was “isolated” by the University and blocked from receiving records relevant to the investigation. NC State and Franzen settled in mediation in 2017.
Franzen said he faced rumor-mongering and criticism
from within his department and from the administration throughout his whistleblower process. “They were more concerned with how to keep me quiet than actually resolving the issue,” Franzen said.
Franzen was the subject of additional investigations in the years prior; none of which found him responsible for wrongdoing.
“They decided a long time ago, I was just a rotten egg in the batch,” Franzen said. “And that they would try to, in essence, earlier, very actively try to get me to leave, right? I mean, do things like, investigate me [multiple] times. Okay, that’s a pretty clear message, right? When all of it was obviously retaliatory, right?”
Franzen is also situated in Dabney Hall, a building whose occupied renovation has drawn criticism from faculty in the Department of Chemistry.
“And this is, unfortunately, just the way that our university has been run for so long,” Franzen said. “What they’re describing is to a tee what I experienced. It’s complete indifference to reality, complete indifference to the mission of the University … and complete disrespect for faculty.”
If you or someone you know is having difficulty processing grief or having a mental health emergency, the Counseling Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 919-5152423. If you are in a crisis situation and need immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
The Counseling Center’s website offers free online screenings, a plethora of self-help resources regarding mental health and wellness concerns and a comprehensive list of campus services available for those who need guidance. To view an exhaustive list, visit https://wellness. ncsu.edu/resources/.
If you’re seeking professional counseling or other mental health services on campus, visit the Counseling Center’s Getting Started page at https://counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/ get-started/make-an-appointment/ to complete paperwork, set up an appointment and more.
Two NC State students leave U.S. after visas terminated
OIS staff also contacted government officials to confirm the terminations.”
Two NC State graduate students have left the country after the U.S. State Department revoked their visas. The Office of International Services notified the two students, who both studied in the College of Engineering, that the U.S. government had terminated their student visas last week. OIS confirmed the terminations in a statement April 1.
The statement said the University did not issue the terminations but advised the students of their options once it became aware.
“NC State did not initiate these terminations and was not directly notified of these changes,” the statement read. “Our Office of International Services (OIS) contacted the students to advise them about the potential consequences of these changes and provide resources for them.
University spokesperson Mick Kulikowski said the University has nothing to add to the OIS statement.
Saleh Al Gurad is one of the students whose visa was terminated, according to his roommate Philip Vasto, a fourth-year studying chemical engineering. The NC State directory lists Al Gurad as a graduate student in the engineering management program and a University Dining employee. At the time of publication, Al Gurad has not responded to Technician’s request for comment. The second student has not been identified publicly.
The terminations come after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday that the State Department had revoked more than 300 student visas. Vasto said Al Gurad was notified by OIS Thursday evening, and he never communicated
with the federal government directly.
Vasto said both Al Gurad and the other student are from Saudi Arabia, and OIS connected them after being notified of their visa terminations. After consulting with immigration attorneys, their country’s embassy and other contacts from home, both students decided to return rather than risk deportation.
While Vasto said various legal experts informed Al Gurad of the appeal process, he ultimately felt that it would be better to do so from his home country. Vasto said Al Gurad notified him he had made it home Sunday.
“He seemed just very weary by the whole situation and after speaking with the other [student], and also speaking with his contacts back home … they told him, ‘File the appeal from Saudi Arabia, if you’re going to do that at all,’” Vasto said.
Vasto said Al Gurad did not understand why his visa was terminated and the State Department had not provided a reason for the decision.
“He was very, very deeply frustrated,” Vasto said. “He told me that he was thinking about it, and he kept pondering it over and over again. But to him, it didn’t make any sense, because he said, ‘First of all, I’m hardly on social media.’ That’s first and foremost. ‘Second of all, I’m not writing, and I’m not posting anything.’ And then, thirdly, his social media page is very private.”
Kate Denning Editor-in-Chief
Park Madness: Parking problems plague campus during March Madness
Ally Tennant News Editor
With March Madness recently taking over Reynolds Coliseum, NC State students faced parking issues and traffic delays causing class disruptions, highlighting the challenges of hosting major sporting events on campus.
The NC State Women’s basketball team hosted games in Reynolds Coliseum March 22 and March 24. Parking for Monday’s noon game opened at 11 a.m., causing a rush of spectators into the Coliseum Parking Deck as students attempted to park ahead of their classes.
Abigail Giambalvo, a second-year studying biological sciences, was one of the students who experienced parking difficulties March 24. Giambalvo typically commutes to campus via WolfLine, but with heavy traffic surrounding Reynolds Coliseum, she had to get off her stop early and walk to class.
“ I got there at noon instead of 11:45 a.m. because I got off at a stop that wasn’t too close, but I just walked the rest of the way because there was no way I was gonna get the whole time,” Giambalvo said.
After arriving in class, Giambalvo said her professor never showed up to class after sending out an email they would arrive late due to traffic.
Brandon Monarca, a fourth-year studying economics, also experienced parking troubles. As a student who commutes by car to campus, he said every parking spot in Coliseum Deck was taken.
After circling campus for several minutes, Monarca said he was late to class after he had to park in a random spot on campus and hoped he would not receive
VISAS TERMINATED
continued from page 5
Reynolds Coliseum stands on Dunn Avenue on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. Reynolds Coliseum is home to NC State’s ROTC program as well as multiple sport programs including women’s basketballl, gymnastics and volleyball. In 2024, Reynolds Coliseum celebrated its 75th anniversary of being open.
a ticket.
“It’s whenever we have events, it’s always 10 times harder for me to commute,” Monarca said. “One, I don’t know sometimes events are even happening, so then traffic, I’m like, ‘Oh, I didn’t expect this traffic to be here.’ So it’s always like a coin toss if there’s gonna be traffic or not, because I don’t know if there are events.”
Demar Bonnemere, communications manager for NC State Transportation, said the department was notified the day before the scheduled game and had little to no say about parking.
“We did not find out until very late Sunday what time the game was going to be on Monday,” Bonnemere said. “Then
there are various times that they have slotted for and we didn’t know until that Sunday if we were going to be at 12, 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. … So we have no control over the schedule and the timing.”
Bonnemere said the game schedule is dictated by the NCAA during March Madness. Therefore, the transportation department’s scheduling for events gets overridden by the announcement of brackets and host schools.
Even with short notice, Bonnemere said the transportation department did everything it could to notify students, along with an email to expect game delays.
“So when we find out that information,
we’re trying to balance the needs of the students and faculty and staff that are parking on campus as well as the needs for the event,” Bonnemere said.
Although students were affected by the influx of traffic, faculty also had trouble arriving on campus. Giambalvo said on their short commute to campus, she encountered a professor also taking the WolfLine.
“There was a teacher taking the bus that was on the same bus as me, because he takes the same route and he got there until super late too,” Giambalvo said. “So you know what? I don’t even know why we still bother being open.”
Giambalvo said the University cannot expect to have both students and a large event on campus on the same day. She said it is not fair to students who have to deal with the added stress of missing class.
“I had to just have the headache of getting through here and hoping maybe I’ll get to class on time,” Giambalvo said. “I just don’t think that it’s worth it for the students to have to come and deal with all this when we’re going to be late.”
Bonnemere said the department hears the student concerns.
“The biggest thing is, it was just the timing,” Bonnemere said. “That was the X-factor there that we have no control over. So again, we appreciate and we want that feedback. We hear everything that’s said to us, and we definitely take that into consideration when we are planning moving forward.”
“1) A noncitizen whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground[s] to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States,” Lam wrote. “2) Authority of the Secretary of State to revoke a nonimmigrant visa, such as international student visa[s]. Once the visa is revoked, the subject is deportable. Whether the Secretary’s discretion to revoke a visa is unlimited or subject to judicial review for arbitrariness will likely be litigated.”
Vasto said Al Gurad had not been in legal trouble in the U.S. and did not drive, never receiving so much as a traffic citation.
“He just minded his business, and he went to class,” Vasto said. “I can speak for him on that behalf, in the sense of, he didn’t know too many people on this campus, and he kept a very low profile.”
OIS said it is concerned by the situation and is committed to supporting both students through the changes. “We are deeply concerned about the
lack of communication from federal agencies and the impact of these actions on our international students,” the statement read. “We are committed to assisting these two students in any way we can, including completing the semester from abroad. Our NC State international students, faculty and staff remain critically important members of our community and we deeply value the talent, ideas and insight that they bring to our campus.”
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Hoang Lam, an immigration attorney at Student Legal Services, said in an email that the Trump administration is pursuing deportation on two legal grounds.
What your favorite Beatles song says about you
AJ Toler Staff Writer
The Beatles produced a whopping 188 original songs ranging from heartfelt love ballads to trippy songs inspired by drug culture. The breadth of genres they explored made it so anyone can find a song to enjoy, regardless of their preferred music.
A person’s favorite Beatles song reveals a lot about their music taste and even gives insight into one’s personality. Behold a list of some of the top Beatles songs with the character traits and archetypes they best represent.
“Here Comes the Sun”
You likely made flower crowns for fun as a kid and spend nearly every day of summer break sun-bathing with a good book. You are a down-to-earth, go-with-the-flow type of person who has mastered the art of living in the present.
“Blackbird”
You’re a free soul who pursues their dreams without hesitation. You might face challenges throughout your life, but you always manage to pick yourself back up and continue moving forward.
“Twist and Shout”
Let’s not understate it — you’re the life of the party and a social butterfly in any setting. Your energy lights up the room and could lift the spirits of even the wettest of blankets.
“I Want To Hold Your Hand”
Ah yes, a hopeless romantic at their finest. You believe wholeheartedly in love at first sight and your ideal date is strolling hand-in-hand through a park, pausing every now and then to admire the beauty of your potential future spouse.
“Let It Be”
Everyone comes to you for advice and you’re more or less the resident therapist in your friend group. You’re rarely perturbed and you always know what to say in times of distress.
“Rocky Raccoon”
You’re one of the coolest people alive. That’s all there is to say.
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”
You are a true music snob with an appreciation for the finer tunes in life. You pride yourself on listening to underground music and enjoy spending an afternoon in the record shop — because you obviously have a record player.
“Yesterday”
Who broke you? This song must be making its rounds in your sad music playlist. Don’t be ashamed, we’ve all likely teared up to this song before. Just know that you will get through it, soldier.
“Revolution”
It’s difficult to sway you on your opinions, but your determination is what makes you powerful. You boldly voice your perspectives on different issues, often when other people feel they cannot.
“Across the Universe”
You’re likely a yogi who dresses boho-chic, burns incense on the regular and has tapestries draped across your walls. You search for the deeper meanings within things and often find yourself deep in philosophical thought.
“Something”
You’re most likely in an annoyingly adorable relationship, the kind where you make eachother Spotify playlists and stare into each other’s eyes for minutes at a time. As much jealousy as you evoke, people can’t help but love seeing two people in love.
“Strawberry Fields Forever”
You’re known for being nostalgic, reminiscing about “the good ol’ days” before taking on the responsibilities of school and work. Snapchat memories are the highlight of your day and you most likely keep photo albums documenting all of your life experiences.
“All You Need Is Love”
If humanitarians had a theme song, this would be it. You are selfless, kindhearted and welcoming to people from all walks of
life. You probably give the best hugs, too.
“Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”
You live for hot gossip, whether between your close friends or on TV shows like “Love Island” and “Too Hot to Handle.” People always come to you for the inside scoop on the latest scandals.
“Yellow Submarine”
Your positivity and happy-go-lucky attitude are unyielding, making you the bright spot in everyone’s day. You’re easy-going and would probably love actually living in a yellow submarine with your closest friends.
“Drive My Car”
You must be an aspiring social media influencer or musician with dreams of making it big. Nothing brings you more excitement than the thought of having millions of followers or your name in lights.
This list could go on forever given the variety of The Beatles’ songs, but it covered a good handful of the Beatles fans you may encounter. The Beatles have touched many lives by producing music that anyone can resonate with, making it no surprise that they are the highest-selling band of all time.
Next time music is the topic of your conversion, ask someone what their favorite Beatles song is. You might unveil more about a person than you ever would have thought.
North Carolina Museum of Art receives multi-million dollar implementation grant
Kelsey Bohn Staff Writer
The North Carolina Museum of Art received a $2.5 million implementation grant to expand staffing and programming within its Initiative for Jewish Art and Culture and accompanying Judaic Art Gallery. The grant is funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.
The NCMA is one of only two general museums with a permanent gallery for Jewish ceremonial art. In addition to providing the chance to view stunning artifacts, the gallery seeks to educate and promote religious and cultural understanding.
Jamie Powell, the manager of institutional giving at the NCMA, said her role as a grant writer involves researching various foundations, both locally and nationally, which fit the museum’s mission and current activity areas.
“We’re in the middle of our largest comprehensive fundrais-
ing campaign ever,” Powell said. “It’s called the ‘Reimagining the Possible’ campaign for the North Carolina Museum of Art. We are trying to raise $75 million for not just capital projects, but also programming. And one of the priority areas is to expand programming around the Judaic Art Gallery.”
This grant initially developed from a planning grant in 2024, which was also awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc. This allowed for several exciting program developments such as the NCMA’s first-ever Jewish film series and a contemporary artist residency.
“There are multiple pillars of the program,” Powell said. “Public programming, performance arts and film, contemporary arts, scholarship and interfaith dialog. We laid out those broad buckets of activities in the planning grant and asked them for funding in those specific areas, and then we checked in with them periodically.”
LILY MCCABE/TECHNICIAN
Greek and Roman statues are staggered throughout the sculpture court at the North Carolina Museum of Art on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The NCMA recently received a $2.5 million endowment to support the Judaic art collection. The NCMA is one of only two art museums in the United States that houses a permanent gallery dedicated to Jewish art and culture.
Ramadan: A time of devotion, reflection and community
Sunday marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims worldwide. Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islamic calendar where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. It is believed that during this month, the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. Since Islam follows the lunar calendar, Muslims rely on moon sightings to determine the first day of Ramadan.
This month is observed by Muslims through fasting, reflection, worship, spirituality and as a time for communities to come together. It is considered to be one of the holiest times of the year for Muslims.
“Ramadan is a month of spirituality for Muslims that was designated by God and His messenger,” said Mikhail Raza, a fourth-year student studying engineering. “It’s characterized by a lot of different things, but mostly an emphasis on an intense sense of devotion and worship to God. There’s an overarching theme of disconnecting from the world and worldly matters and reliance, and focusing solely on our connection with God and on fostering that.”
One of the key aspects of Ramadan is the fast
that Muslims keep. Muslims start their fast in a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and open their fast during dusk in a meal called iftar. The fast is traditionally broken with a date and small appetizer, usually consisting of a variety of fried foods. During the day, they aren’t allowed to eat anything or drink anything, not even water. Along with food, there are also prohibitions on intimate activities, swearing and music.
“Fasting in and of itself is an act of worship that is meant solely for the sake of your connection with God,” Raza said. “There’s nobody that is affected or benefited from fasting except yourself and your connection with Allah. … It serves to remove your naafs, your humanity’s reliance on the material world and what comes from it. Throughout the year, you spend all this time thinking about your job, your school, about our family. Well, in Ramadan and fasting, you remove yourself from that completely and you understand that the purpose of your life is not for this.”
Another important aspect of Ramadan and fasting is the ability to empathise with the less fortunate and to give charity to those who need it. Called zakat, it is a type of mandatory charity that Muslims are obligated to give usually increases significantly during this holy month.
“When you feel hunger, it helps you feel for the people that are involuntarily subjected to hunger, where we make a choice that we’re going to feel hunger and that we’re going to discipline ourselves,” said Atif Chaudhry, an Imam and executive director at the Rahma Center of Charlotte. “One of the lessons that a lot of Muslims benefit from is the ability to empathize with people, and this is why Ramadan is also such a charitable time of the year, where a lot of the poor, a lot of the people in need, their needs are taken care of.”
Along with charity and fasting, additional worship and spirituality is also increasingly practiced. Extra voluntary prayers called Taraweeh are usually prayed after Isha, which is the nightly mandatory prayer, and are prayed in groups and in eight or 20 sets, usually at a mosque. These prayers are led by Hafiz, or those who have memorized the Quran.
“Those [prayers] are not obligatory upon us, but encouraged to attend if you can,” said Osama Said, the chair of the Shura at the Islamic Association of Raleigh. “If you’re able to attend Taraweeh every single night, then you can complete the Quran in one month.”
While the whole of Ramadan is special and a holy time for Muslims, the last 10 nights
of Ramadan are hailed as the most spiritual times of the year. Muslims believe that in the last 10 nights, the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel in an event known as Laylatul-Qadr, or “The Night of Power,” where a person’s prayers are accepted.
“We’re told to find the night,” Chaudhry said. “It wasn’t specified, but the Prophet saw them and told us that it’s in the odd nights of the last 10 days. So it can be the 21st, the 23rd, the 25th, the 27th or the 29th. It’s a special night that has a significance, because that’s when the Quran was revealed, and then also because it is a time where prayers are accepted.”
Ramadan is additionally a time to come together and celebrate with tradition and culture. Mosques encourage community activity by hosting events and programs, such as iftars and bazaars.
“My mom makes special dishes that she usually waits until Ramadan to make, and everyone is really happy,” Raza said. “My mom’s happy we’re eating for food. My dad’s happy because his house is full. I’m happy because I have everyone that I love around me. There’s lots of community events, community iftars, it’s a time for everyone to come together, especially
ETHAN RIMOLT/TECHNICIAN
Religious texts and pamphlets sit on a shelf in the Cultural Hearth inside of Talley Student Union on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. The space is an area for students, faculty and staff to pray or meditate.
Seemal Syed Correspondent
with the community prayers.”
NC State also offers a variety of community events for Muslims during Ramadan.
“The Muslim Student Association … offered dawah tables at Talley Student Union for people that maybe aren’t familiar with Islam or with Muslims in general,” Raza said. “They have the opportunity to speak to a Muslim to gain perspective on the religion. I think nowadays, especially when there’s so much disinformation that is spread about Islam, it’s a really nice opportunity just to engage with the broader community, not just Muslims.”
Seeking out and being with the community
NCMA GRANT
continued from page 7
doesn’t necessarily mean only the Islamic community, as many Muslims also engage and celebrate with non-Muslim friends and neighbors during Ramadan.
While people generally view Ramadan as a holy and joyous month, there are still many misconceptions that people have regarding it.
“We can eat after sundown,” Raza said. “No, we don’t drink water during the day. You know, those are memes at this point. The spiritual aspects of Islam really aren’t represented. A lot of people see Islam as just like a set of rules, you know, a set of regulations. … It’s a very, very spiritual experience.”
The new implementation grant follows the success of this initial planning grant. The implementation grant will allow for continued expansion of the global and contemporary works within the Judaic Art Gallery.
The Initiative for Jewish Art and Culture seeks not only to highlight Jewish culture, but also to encourage interfaith dialogue and understanding.
“From the beginning, the Judaic Art Gallery has been incredibly popular with church groups because it ties directly to biblical sub-
Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan through the holiday of Eid al-fitr. Eid al-fitr is usually based on the moon sightings that mark the beginning of a new Islamic month. During Eid, Muslims come together as a community to celebrate the end of Ramadan and to celebrate the end of their hard work.
On Eid morning, a special prayer is hosted at the mosque, and then people tend to come together for brunches and dinner. People wear new clothes, and the women tend to decorate their hands with henna. Children are gifted with money or gifts referred to as Eidi.
While Ramadan is a time for Muslims to
ject and religious practice,” Powell said. “It is an opportunity for us to not only engage with Jewish communities but also interfaith communities and to bring people together around commonalities of spiritual practice.”
The NCMA is only a 10-minute drive from campus and offers a myriad of college programming, including juried exhibitions, social events and interactions with art and practicing artists.
Jordyn Kettisack Lee, a fourth-year studying social work, said the museum provides supplemental education opportunities for students looking to immerse themselves in world-class art, culture and conversation.
“There’s so many reasons to go,” Kettisack Lee said. “You can simply appreciate the interactive art and the environment, you can take aesthetic photos or you can learn the history of all the
connect and come together, it has been marked by tragedy and heaviness for the past year and a half as many Muslim communities worldwide have been impacted by the Israel-Hamas war and other conflicts, making it difficult for communities worldwide to celebrate Ramadan and Eid.
“With regards to everything that’s happening in Palestine, Sudan, Myanmar, even Muslims in Europe and Chechnya that are being oppressed; a lot of us find ourselves engaging daily with this and struggling immensely,” Raza said. “These horrible things are happening around the world, and it’s very, very painful.”
different exhibits.”
Students can also engage with local museums through their coursework.
“For one of my English literature classes, I had to go to a museum and find a piece to write about,” Kettisack Lee said. “It acts as a resource and often goes along with the curriculum.”
The exciting news of the new implementation grant means even more opportunities for students and the local community to engage with the NCMA.
The NCMA offers free admission to their East and West Building Galleries, as well as to their 164-acre Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park. You can keep up with their exhibitions and programming via their website or Instagram page, @NCArtMuseum.
Notice of Unclaimed Property
In accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15-12, the North Carolina State University Police Department hereby gives notice regarding unclaimed property currently in its possession, including items in the following categories:
Any person who may have or claim any interest in any of these items must call the NC State Police Department at (919) 515-5300 or submit an inquiry via email to ncsupdproperty@ncsu.edu no later than May 1, 2025, which is 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. These items will be disposed of in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15-12 after that date.
On Your Left
Jordan Ramsey, Staff Cartoonist
A fourth-year studying art and design
Geese Teeth
Jordan Ramsey, Staff Cartoonist
A fourth-year studying art and design
Opinion
Don’t shame people for trauma dumping
AJ Toler Staff Writer
Everyone has likely experienced a conversation where another person diverts from the topic to rehash a traumatic event. While it seems inappropriate to discuss trauma in certain settings, it’s important to recognize that this is often a coping mechanism that should be met with empathy rather than criticism.
Trauma dumping refers to the instances when an individual talks about their traumatic life experiences with someone who may not feel comfortable discussing such sensitive topics. It often reflects negatively on the person sharing and can create barriers to building new relationships.
Trauma dumping indicates that the individual is still processing through their experiences and is seeking validation for their emotional turmoil. The coping mechanism can make recovering from trauma more difficult when it causes negative emotions to resurface or when the person on the receiving end responds unfavorably.
Social media platforms often function as breeding grounds for trauma dumping with many users sharing their traumatic experi-
ences in vivid detail as a way of connecting with their followers. Social media users may feel like they are being raw and open, but the reality is they are exposing intimate details of their lives to complete strangers.
Trauma dumping can lead people to form inaccurate assumptions about the person sharing purely based on the atypical and unfortunate experiences they’ve had. When one shares painful details about one’s life with an unfamiliar person, one runs the risk of being misunderstood and potentially ostracized.
Oversharing can elicit a host of negative thoughts and emotions for the person on the receiving end as well. Trauma dumping can be anxiety-provoking to those who struggle with talking about emotions, can create guilt over having a comparatively less traumatic past and can cause people to worry about needing to walk on eggshells in the future.
There is also potential for trauma dumping to be triggering to a person with similar traumatic experiences, inadvertently causing distress for the listener. It’s difficult for people to establish which subjects are off-limits when they pertain to a painful experience.
Of course, there is a difference between venting and trauma dumping. Venting refers to when you discuss your experiences with a willing participant at a time and place where the conversation is appropriate.
Whether a person’s rant would classify as venting or trauma dumping doesn’t negate the hardships they are dealing with. What matters is that you respond in a way that respects your boundaries while protecting the other person from being emotionally vulnerable.
One of the best things you can do if you get caught in a trauma-dumping session is to acknowledge the person’s experience to let them know their struggles do not go unnoticed. People might trauma dump when they feel overlooked; by validating their emotions, you can positively influence their healing process.
You don’t even need to call someone out for trauma dumping. Just let them know they are seen and heard.
The next step should be to establish boundaries so that your future conversations take on more appropriate courses. It’s important to be honest if you’re overwhelmed by talking about traumatic subjects as the other person may not realize that
their trauma elicits discomfort.
It never hurts to suggest support resources to those who trauma dump. Therapy and support groups are essentially traumadumping arenas with the benefit of mental health professionals equipped with resources to guide people through their healing. If a person’s trauma dumping becomes triggering, remove yourself from the situation. You must protect yourself from having to relive painful memories, even if that means you come across as impolite by exiting the conversation.
Everyone processes trauma differently; some choose to openly discuss their trauma while others prefer keeping things to themselves. Either way, their experiences and emotions are completely valid.
Likewise, establishing boundaries is a valid response to trauma dumping and prevents uncomfortable conversations from happening in the future.
If you find yourself on the receiving end of a trauma dump session, keep this dialectic in mind: You can have sympathy for the person’s experiences and simultaneously set limits to the conversation to respect your personal boundaries.
The necessary agony of pretending to care
Being confined to forced small talk causes a unique form of anguish. You understand how it feels to nod along and frantically look for a way out while you’re standing there acting enthralled as yet another person reveals their boring and generic story. The catch is that, as much as we all loathe it, engaging in meaningful conversations requires a certain amount of forehand small talk.
Small talk is uncomfortable, monotonous and frequently feels like an endurance test. You’ll be paying that price a lot, especially in college, whether you like it or not.
In the quintessential college experience, this begins on the very first day of orientation. There, one inevitably struggles to communicate with others, hindered by the usual barrage of surface-level questions such as: “What’s your name? What’s your major? Where are you from?” These questions,
though familiar and harmless, often fail to spark any meaningful interaction.
Meanwhile, your soul quietly recoils, and you wonder if there’s a polite way to fake a medical emergency just to escape.
It’s an unwritten fact that genuine friendships seldom ever emerge from forced exchanges of meaningless words. Instead, true connections are formed when both parties are willing to step beyond the confines of small talk, engaging in conversations about more unconventional topics — subjects that provoke real, authentic reactions and allow for a deeper understanding of each other.
Ultimately, small talk is a necessary evil for those of us who consider ourselves introverts trying to establish some sort of rapport with like-minded people. My experience has shown that the most successful friendships unfold like this:
You walk up to someone new, or perhaps you’ve been introduced to each other by someone who knows you both. You exchange the usual pleasantries, quickly establishing the tone to set up for the mean-
ingful part of the conversation. Small talk is a gateway to something much more substantial.
Without first building basic acquaintanceships, no one will be ready to dive into your passionate conversation about your annoying politics, newly-learned philosophies or the existential crisis you experienced during your most recent exam. In one minute, you can’t expect to transition from no conversation to a long, thoughtful discussion with a complete stranger. Human connections typically don’t operate that way.
Yes, it can come across as forced and uncomfortable, and it often leads to those embarrassing moments where you both stand there unsure of whether to go. But you know what? That is completely okay.
Not every encounter needs to be meaningful, and not every discussion should result in a friendship that lasts an eternity. Small talk demonstrates your own approachability and willingness to engage, which lays the foundation for something genuine. You’ll be more at ease and find it simpler to go into
deeper conversations the more you practice, like any other skill.
But you certainly won’t get to the enjoyable part of a meaningful talk until you’ve learned to embrace the suck.
In professional settings, small talk is expected, and it’s no secret that people only tolerate it because it serves as a bridge to identifying those they genuinely want to engage with. Reliance on these interactions shows they have value, but leveraging them to your benefit is something everyone ought to put stock in by practicing repeatedly. As I’ve said before, experience has proven this time and again.
Accept it, move past the discomfort and take advantage of it to get to the important things. Otherwise, you’ll just be that person in the corner wondering why nobody is discussing anything other than the weather with you. And believe me when I say that’s a much more uncomfortable place to be.
Eugene Ngina Correspondent
Our obsession with productivity is killing creativity
Sophia Robertson Staff Writer
Step away from the everyday stressors of school and work, take a break from your phone and pick up a “useless” hobby.
We’ve all heard this simple piece of advice before — take time to do something you enjoy — but how many of us follow it? We get so caught up in our assignments, deadlines and constant pressure to keep moving forward that we forget the importance of slowing down and all the ways we can utilize it.
This fast-paced mindset is exactly what’s damaging our ability to truly unwind, and hustle culture is ruining our hobbies. It has distorted the idea of relaxation, convincing us that every moment of free time should be productive.
Hustle culture, a mindset that heavily encourages working hard and constantly striving for success, may sound like a good thing on the surface, but the reality is that there are significant drawbacks. It often
creates a lack of work-life balance, which can have a negative impact on productivity and health.
In fact, people who maintain a healthy work-life balance tend to perform better at work, being 21% more productive than those who don’t. Working more than 55 hours each week also increases the risk of stroke by 35%. Yet, in our modern society, we often prioritize work over personal wellbeing.
We forget how important it is to spend time nurturing our passions for no reason other than personal joy.
Sometimes, when we try to turn these passions into something more — an obligation or a source of income — the pressure to succeed can drain the joy they once brought. This is a lesson I’ve learned firsthand. When I was too young to work a typical part time job, I created an Etsy shop to sell products I crocheted. I started crocheting purely for fun, but after monetizing it the fun quickly faded away. I spent hours and hours crocheting until my hands were sore, only to create a product I couldn’t even keep.
I don’t remember the last time I picked up yarn and a crochet hook, and although this is in part because I’ve been busy with school, it’s also because I got burnt out.
There’s a certain luxury to doing something exclusively for leisure. We don’t always have to make everything “productive” in the sense that they’re guiding us to our ultimate life goals.
After all, hobbies are productive in their own ways. They’re important to giving the brain a break and sparking creativity. In fact, hobbies have been linked to good mental health, according to a study of over 93,000 people across 16 countries.
I have a long list of seemingly pointless hobbies I’d like to pick up just for fun. For instance, I’d like to learn Russian. Am I ever going to use it? Maybe not, but that’s OK. I want to learn piano too, and although I don’t think I’m going to be the next Beethoven, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t give it a try. Moreover, I’m constantly struck by the amazing things I see my friends and peers doing. For me, watching others dive into their interests with a carefree enthusiasm is
an important reminder of how valuable it is to just have fun with what we love.
I have friends with remarkable talent for painting, writing stories and poems, playing in bands, doing photography and skateboarding, and I’ve always been inspired by how they embrace their passions, no matter how impractical it may seem to others.
At the end of the day, most of them aren’t aiming to turn their hobbies into careers, like becoming professional painters or skateboarders, but that doesn’t make their efforts any less meaningful.
Their dedication reminds me that it’s not always about mastering something for the sake of achievement — it’s about enjoying the process. It’s time to let go of the idea that every moment needs to be filled with purpose. Taking time without the pressure of goals or outcomes can refresh your mind and soul. So, go ahead, embrace that “useless” hobby, and see where it takes you. You may be surprised by the sense of fulfillment it brings.
It’s not ‘no contact,’ you’re just broken up
Grace Turschak Staff Writer
The phrase “no contact” implies you’re expecting someone to come crawling back. It describes the phase after a breakup when a person decides not to reach out to their ex under any circumstance. It doesn’t sit well with me because that’s basically what happens anyway without the label — this fancy wording is just denial poorly disguised as empowerment.
I used to hear the phrase used in reference to familial relationships, but recently it’s become common to say after the end of a romantic relationship.
“No contact” obviously means you don’t plan on reaching out to that person but, to me, implies you’re doing it for the wrong reasons. You’re not contacting your ex be-
cause you feel like you have something to prove to everyone else, not because you’re actually over them. It doesn’t get you anywhere.
It’s not “no contact.” You’re just broken up. It comes off as a nonchalant way to win your ex back. Every post I’ve seen about the rule has the goal of the ex returning. But why do you want them back, honestly?
Breakups happen for a reason, always. I guarantee you that there’s someone more fit for you than your ex. They’re your ex for a reason.
It’s much more beneficial for your growth to accept that you aren’t compatible with someone than it is to tell everyone you’ve entered “no contact.” It feels like you’re waiting for them. It sounds like you’re devaluing yourself.
Sure, “no contact” originated as a way to take back freedom when it feels threatened,
even if it’s not something you want to do — that’s valid. But because of this, I think it’s important to recognize why you’re saying it. It’s likely you’re not using it because you actually want your ex to come back; it might just be that your freedom feels lost and you want to reclaim it.
Relationships with the wrong person are draining, and if you feel like you’ve lost control of the situation, this might just be your Hail Mary. But “no contact” will, unfortunately, slow down the healing process.
When you leave the door open for your ex to come back, you admit that you think they will. You’re holding onto the fact that you want them to.
Instead of saying you’re in “no contact,” we need to go back to admitting what it is — a good ol’ fashioned breakup. Clearly you’ve decided the relationship is no longer functional, and that’s okay.
In fact, that’s a good thing. It means you’re developing as a person. You’re figuring out your wants and needs, not tying yourself to someone who simply doesn’t fit your lifestyle anymore.
Trust me when I say I know it’s easier said than done, but once the breakup has happened there’s no point in dwelling on the past.
Regardless of why you say it — whether it’s to be on trend, for a sense of freedom or because you’re in denial about the relationship truly being over — don’t look at your breakup from a “leave the door open” perspective. That’ll just keep you from moving on.
Think of how much happier you’ll be with someone who works better for you. Be excited that there are better people out there for you and look forward to meeting them.
Former NC State men’s basketball stars weigh in on new head coach Will Wade
Noah Teague Staff Writer
If anyone knows what it takes to win at NC State, it’s the players who suited up and won big for the Wolfpack.
Some of the biggest stars in NC State men’s basketball’s storied history have expressed excitement about new head coach Will Wade. With Wade’s winning pedigree and outward confidence, he’s quickly earning the trust of some of the Wolfpack’s greatest.
“I’m just super excited,” said former NC State guard Chris Corchiani. “He’s the right guy at the right time, checks all the boxes for NC State. I mean, he kind of gets our fan base. He’s one of us, and I just think it was a great hire.”
NC State has hired promising coaches in the past, but none quite like Wade. The Pack has seemingly been searching for a coach it can truly embrace since the legendary Jim Valvano. No two coaches are ever the same, especially across such vastly different eras, but there are some notable similarities between Wade and Valvano.
“I’ve told a few people that he definitely has some Coach V tendencies,” Corchiani said. “The players that play for him, much like Coach V, they love him. They’d run through a wall for him. You hate putting comparisons on Will like that, but there’s
certainly some similarities.”
There’s no doubt that a coach like Wade, who brings competitive fire and passion to every challenge he faces, will be a hit with Wolfpack fans. Rather than running from adversity, Wade takes it head on. Whether it’s actively looking to schedule difficult non-conference opponents or paying his dues at McNeese State, Wade embraces the grind and a blue-collar mentality — something NC State fans relate to.
“NC State’s fan base is very different,” said former Wolfpack forward Chucky Brown.
“Most fan bases are passionate, but this is a different type of passion they feel. … You have a hard-working crowd that feels like they have a stake in what’s going on.”
With that passion comes high expectations. Like the fans, former players also have high expectations. NC State is a program with multiple national championships, a slew of ACC titles and has been to the Final Four as recently as last year. Rightfully, there’s an expectation for NC State to continue to grow and build off of its history with Wade at the helm.
“We put a lot of time in trying to build NC State into a big basketball program, and that’s what we think it deserves,” said former Wolfpack shooting guard Scott Wood. “We want these kids to come through, give everything they got for this fanbase because
they’re hungry for a winner, and we think Will Wade can bring that.”
When NC State men’s basketball is at its best, it’s not just high flying — it’s consistent. From 1967 to 1990, when coaches Norm Sloan and Jim Valvano led the Wolfpack, NC State only had two losing seasons. When a program consistently wins like that, it puts itself in a position to win championships, which the Pack did with a pair of national titles in 1974 and 1983.
“We want relevancy,” said former NC State guard Ernie Myers. “Back when I played, we had relevancy every year. We were ranked, we were in the conversation — in recruiting and everything. We were top of the mind when it came to college basketball, and that’s what [Wade] is going to bring.”
Reaching annual relevancy and national success isn’t easy for any program, but with the transfer portal, the opportunity is there for Wade. That starts with establishing a brand and a style of play. From there, the Wolfpack can decide which players to target to maximize its identity.
“Establishing an identity, that’s the beginning of every team,” said former NC State forward Tom Gugliotta. “You get an identity, and you get kids to fit into those roles, that’s a big hurdle, and then you can worry about the little things.”
In addition to setting a culture and build-
ing an identity, Wade’s job will also be maximizing talent. Whether it’s adjusting defenses on the fly, like he did masterfully against Clemson in the NCAA Tournament two weeks ago, or drawing up the right play for an end-of-game shot, Wade’s shown the potential to get the most out of the talent he has.
“That’s what you have to do as a coach, you have to throw wrinkles,” Brown said. “When it comes tournament time, everybody’s good, so you gotta throw some wrinkles in with your plays.”
With the right mixture of talent acquisition and in-game coaching, expectations among the basketball program’s alumni are as high as ever. After building a successful program in the past, the players who invested years into NC State are ready for the Pack to be back. Now it’s up to Wade to make the next chapter of Wolfpack basketball a successful one.
“As alumni, all we want is to see success,” Wood said. “We want kids to come through and have the same opportunity that we had, the love for NC State that they developed, the opportunity to play for championships and go to an NCAA tournament, and then when their time comes, just have an appreciation to understand that they have joined a family.”
LAILA BUSH/TECHNICIAN
Will Wade, the new head coach of NC State men’s basketball, points towards a reporter during the press conference. NC State introduced Will Wade as its 21st head coach in program history on Tuesday, March 25th, 2025.
Wolfpack women’s golfer Olivares invited to Augusta National
Daniel Susann Staff Writer
Lauren Olivares Leon is an NCAA record holder, a three-time collegiate tournament winner and now an invitee to one of the most prestigious tournaments in amateur golf — the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Olivares is the most decorated NC State women’s golfer of all time, and as her collegiate career is coming to a close, it is also hitting its peak.
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur hosts the top 72 women amateur golfers in the world, with the final round taking place at the mecca of golf — Augusta National Golf Club, the home of The Masters.
To qualify for the event, you must either be the winner of the Women’s Amateur or the Junior Amateur Championships, the NCAA Division I Champion, or rank among the top 30 in the United States or top 30 among international players who have not already qualified. Since the tournament’s creation in 2019, no NC State golfer had been invited.
In October of last year, approaching the final events of the fall season, Olivares was ranked 38 among internationals and was on the outside looking in. Her chances were slipping away, and the pressure got to Olivares.
In the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, hosted by UNC-Chapel Hill at Finley Golf Course, Olivares shot 11-over par, tying for 37 — a result that pushed her further from her lifelong dream.
“I was putting a lot of pressure on myself,” Olivares said. “I just didn’t want to let myself down in my last year of college since
it was basically my last chance to make it to Augusta National. … When we played at UNC’s club, I was so bad. I hated golf.”
Two weeks later, she secured her third career win at the Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, North Carolina, claiming enough points in the World Amateur Golf Rankings to earn a bid to Augusta.
“Golf is just like that,” Olivares said. “You have bad tournaments, good tournaments and you just never know when it’s going to come.”
Olivares hit her peak at the perfect time,
as she was the 31st-ranked international player as of Dec. 31, 2024 — just squeaking into the field.
“I’ve always dreamed of that letter and getting invited to this tournament,” Olivares said. “I feel like for every single little girl, this is the dream.”
Head coach Darby Sligh has seen Olivares’ ambition over the course of her collegiate career, and to see her accomplish one of her goals means just as much to her.
“When Lauren came in as a freshman, that was her broad amateur golf goal before
she turned pro,” Sligh said. “At the time, she may have been around 300 in the world, and even six or seven months ago, she was around 120 in the world. So to climb that far to get the automatic invite, it’s one of the neatest things I’ve ever seen a player do under that type of pressure of her own will.”
This was not the first huge accomplishment for Olivares. It was just a culmination of the hard work she’s put in. She broke the NCAA record for lowest women’s golf score, shooting an 11-under 60 at the 2023 Cougar Classic — a record which still stands today.
“I just didn’t even realize what I just did, like I just shot 60,” Olivares said. “… I mean, it changed my life, and I guess more people got to know me.”
The Mexico native couldn’t speak any English when she got to NC State and has had to manage her studies and team practices on top of six to seven hours of individual practice per day. Despite these challenges, she has broken barriers. And now, as her amateur career comes to a close, she isn’t just content with a spot in the dance.
“I was talking to my mental coach yesterday, because I didn’t know if I should go with expectations,” Olivares said. “... He told me, ‘You want to win the tournament. There’s no reason to go play that tournament and just see what happens.’ I want to win.”
The first two rounds will take place April 2-3 at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Georgia, and the top 30 players will compete in the final round at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5. The first and second rounds will be broadcast on the Golf Channel, and the final round will be on NBC Sports.
What a general manager means for NC State men’s basketball
Colby Trotter Sports Editor
NC State men’s basketball just made one of the most quietly important hires in college basketball. While the national spotlight remains on head coach Will Wade, the Wolfpack’s reported hire of Oklahoma City Thunder scout Andrew Slater as its general manager signals something bigger: NC State is going all in on the modern era of college hoops. In 2022, Duke men’s basketball sparked a new era in college basketball when it
became the first program to hire a GM, setting off a wave of innovation in roster building and program management. Since then, it’s become clear that if a school wants to compete at an elite level, having a general manager is no longer optional — it’s essential.
Slater brings more than a decade of experience as a scout and has built one of the deepest contact lists in basketball, spanning college, AAU and high school programs. He’s widely regarded as one of the most connected and hardest-working people in the industry.
“Getting a guy like Andrew Slater to come into the mix and to leave the NBA, to leave arguably the premier front office in the NBA, it’s a big deal,” said Miles Masercola, co-owner of NCAA-certified scouting service HoopState. “To people in the basketball industry, this shows the seriousness that [Wade] and NC State are operating with as we approach this coming offseason.”
A college general manager operates much differently than one in professional sports. In the pros, the GM runs the show — hiring and firing coaches
while building the roster. In college, the GM reports to the head coach and supports their vision for the team.
The responsibilities vary depending on the school. Some programs have their GM focus on the best ways to spend NIL, while others may be more concerned with raising booster money. But they all keep up with the ever-changing NCAA rules and regulations, along with state and federal regulations, while keeping their coach one step ahead.
At NC State, Slater will focus primarily on evaluating high school and college
COURTESY OF LAUREN OLIVARES/TECHNICIAN
COLUMN
A tribute to NC State women’s basketball’s superstar trio
Connor VanDerMark Assistant Sports Editor
It’s hard to define what a player means to a program, even more so when three of its most accomplished players don the same jersey at the same time.
Senior guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers and graduate guard Madison Hayes made up one of, if not the best trio in NC State women’s basketball history. The three took the Wolfpack to new heights, recording milestone after milestone in their historic collegiate careers.
From bringing the Wolfpack to its first Final Four appearance in over 25 years to the third-longest active home winning streak in the nation, James, Rivers and Hayes gave NC State everything they had and then some.
James will be immortalized as one of NC State’s most talented scorers — a true three-level guard who could score against any defense. The sharpshooter has been NC State’s top option for the last two seasons, averaging over 17 points per game. James made a name for herself as one of the shiftiest players in the country, producing highlight-reel plays every game while leading the team to greatness. The lefty is now regarded as a first-round hopeful in the upcoming WNBA Draft.
Rivers was simply a Swiss Army knife, able to do whatever whenever it was needed. Whether it was a clutch midrange jumper, a plethora of rebounds or a flashy assist, Rivers could provide. But it was her defense
players, identifying potential transfer portal targets and building relationships with coaches and programs. He’ll work closely with Wade to target the right fits and anticipate roster needs.
“It’ll be kind of a chief strategist type role,” Wade said. “He’ll certainly be heavily involved in the recruiting and then the strategy of putting the team together and how all of the parts and pieces fit together.”
Slater’s most valuable asset might be his relationships. During his time as an independent scout, he built strong relationships with people in the industry across the country.
“There isn’t a single person that I trust more with information or that I think has a more powerful contact list, to be
that really drew the eyes of WNBA scouts. Her six-foot-one frame, long wingspan and hustle made Rivers a vicious defender, able to guard any position on the court. Like James, she is also a first-round projection in the upcoming WNBA Draft and will be heavily sought after.
While many analysts constantly talked about the impact that James and Rivers had, few talked about the impact of Hayes.
However, NC State fans knew just how important she was to the team. In head coach Wes Moore’s four-guard lineup, Hayes was forced to play out of position, playing
honest with you,” Masercola said.
Slater’s also built his relationships on trust. When people come to him with information, it’s always accurate. Masercola said that’s because he operates in an ethical manner in a space that is largely unethical.
“A lot of the time, people don’t hit Slater with BS because they know he’s going to filter it out and they’re going to lose credibility with him,” Masercola said. “The level of honesty that these people are giving him is as high as they’re giving anybody.”
Slater’s deep network and strong eye for talent will allow Wade to focus on his team throughout the season. With Slater handling scouting and projecting the team’s NIL needs, Wade can count
in the four position instead of the three. Even though she was undersized, her hardworking attitude and perseverance made her a crucial part of the Wolfpack’s success. Hayes quickly became one of the best 3-and-D players in the country, averaging seven rebounds per game while shooting 41% from beyond the arc.
Though they were all great individual players, it was the trio’s chemistry that brought the team together and spearheaded the past two seasons of NC State’s success. They weren’t just teammates — they were best friends, and it showed on the court.
on having everything he needs lined up when the offseason arrives.
That’s what makes Slater such a vital piece of NC State’s rebuilding efforts. Gone are the days of a core group sticking together for three to four years. Instead, rosters are rebuilt annually, and Slater will be crucial in identifying the new pieces year after year.
“You’re no longer building a program, just building a team every year,” Wade said. “So you just got to build the best team you have, and then turn around and try to keep as many of those guys, and then go build the next best team you can the next year around the guys that you’re able to build on this year.”
In today’s era of college athletics, it does come down to money at the end of
Every 3-pointer, jumper or acrobatic layup was cause for celebration as they hyped each other up through every game.
While their performance on the court won over analysts and coaches, it was their actions off the court that drew the hearts of the Wolfpack faithful. No matter where you saw them, the veterans always had a smile on their faces. Unlike some athletes who treat fans like pests or annoyances, the trio embraced fans as if they were family. Whether it was mid-game interactions with those who sat courtside or visiting students before games, they made sure to include the fans in everything they did.
And because of their kindness, Wolfpack Nation matched their energy tenfold. Reynolds Coliseum sold out game after game to see the beloved squad play, with some loyal students even camping out the night before NC State’s matchup against then-No. 1 Notre Dame just to make sure they got the best seats in the house — an action that Rivers said even brought her to tears.
Yes, their impact on the court was more than enough to be remembered for, but it was their infectious energy and the way they got an entire fanbase to rally around women’s basketball like never before that will immortalize them in NC State legend.
To three NC State legends, Wolfpack fans thank you for everything you’ve done in the red-and-white. Your impact will not be forgotten.
the day. While Slater has more expertise in the scouting and relationship-building side of things, he will most certainly be making sure NC State’s allotted NIL and revenue-sharing funding is spent wisely.
“We’re going to be competitive,” Wade said. “Are we going to have the most? No. But that’s not what we need. We’ve got to be competitive, and that’s on me to spend it properly and the general manager to allocate the resources properly. That’s what we’re going to do.”
Slater’s hire may have flown under the radar, overshadowed by Wade’s high-profile arrival. But to those in the know, it’s a power move. It’s proof that NC State is serious about becoming a national basketball force once again.
ALEX MANUEL /TECHNICIAN
Senior guards Saniya Rivers, Aziaha James and Madison Hayes celebrate a basket together during the game against Michigan State in Reynolds Coliseum on Monday, March 24, 2025. The Wolfpack beat the Spartans 83-49.
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