Ain't Nothing Soft About It! — Technician 2/11/21

TECHNICIAN FEB RUAR Y 11, 2021

VOL . 101 | NO . 1 2

AIN’T NOTHING SOFT ABOUT IT! See page 10

Contents

2 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

WHAT YOU MISSED:

IN THIS ISSUE: page

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Study abroad cancels summer programming

A quick look at the headlines in and outside of NC State

Harris Field reopening as an outdoor lounge area On Feb. 11, Harris Field outside of Witherspoon Student Center will be reopening as an outdoor lounge area. The revamped space will now have Adirondack chairs, tables and fire pits to give students a place to relax and socialize safely. All campus COVID-19 prevention measures will continue to be enforced.

NEWS

SOURCE: NC STATE page

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OP-ED: Students are struggling with mental health

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Teachers and childcare workers among next to be vaccinated in North Carolina Starting Feb. 24, teachers, child care center employees and school support staff will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as part of Group 3. Gov. Roy Cooper made the announcement on Wednesday as students have started to return to in-person learning across the state.

SOURCE: THE NEWS & OBSERVER

Nano-EXtended Textiles research group developing next big thing in wearable tech

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Rod Ponton, an attorney from Texas, experienced his 15 minutes of fame during a civil forfeiture case hearing in Texas’ 394th Judicial District Court on Tuesday as his computer ran software that transformed his face into a sad kitten. Instantly an internet sensation, Ponton admitted that he is trying to “roll with it.”

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Sister André, a French nun who has lived through two world wars and the 1918 flu pandemic, has survived COVID-19 after testing positive on Jan. 16. André showed no symptoms and is preparing to celebrate her 117th birthday on Thursday at her nursing home in Toulon as the oldest living person in Europe.

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Texas lawyer accidentally appears as cat during a virtual court session

Oldest person in Europe survives COVID-19

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Technician (USPS 455-050) is the largest student newspaper of NC State University and is published every Thursday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods.

Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on the Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC, Copyright 2011 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.

News

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

A car that reads “UE 150” and “Protect Students” drives up and down Hillsborough street with other cars with similar signs on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021.

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NC State Graduate Student Union advocates for essential university employees’ rights Alicia Thomas Managing Editor

Tristan Tucker Assistant Sports Editor

Members of NC State’s Graduate Workers Union (UE 150) gathered outside of Holladay Hall for a press conference on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The union criticized what it called a “lack of response” by NC State leadership to secure essential graduate workers’ protections.

UE 150 is a member-run North Carolina Public Service Workers Union. Statewide, there are several chapters of the organization made up of city and state employees. According to the organization’s website, their goals are advocating for better wages, working conditions and protection from unfair treatment. Within the UNC System, there are five chapters of UE 150.

“We, the NC State Graduate Workers Union, are here today because the UNC Board of Governors, the UNC System and the NC State leadership have refused to directly address the public health safety and work concerns that we, UE Local 150, have expressed regarding the University’s reopening,” said union chapter vice president Brent

Boland, a Ph.D. student in physics.

In January, the union released a petition to the University and held a news conference.

The union’s full list of requests include: • All classes and work that doesn’t require a physical presence be moved online.

• Limit on-campus housing to only those who have no alternative.

• Provide consistent and transparent communication about COVID-19 cases on campus.

• Provide adequate personal protective equipment and offer free and regular testing.

• Allow for sick and family leave and use endowment and university funds to cut administrative salaries so that no one experiences job or hour cuts.

As of the most recent COVID-19 tracking numbers, 256 employees have contracted the virus, compared to 2,450 students since the beginning of tracking.

In the fall semester, the University announced furloughs for essential workers in auxiliary units, such as dining and housing, an idea the union has vehemently rejected.

All three graduate student speakers also called for the University to utilize emergency

funds in order to pay worker salaries. Additionally, they petitioned the administration to take pay cuts before frontline workers.

“We are the people who make up the University, the people who bring its reputation

the University and that students’ rights are being overlooked.

Chapter President Grace Ullman, a thirdyear Ph.D. student in plant science, said that members of the Graduate Student Union will

“We are the people who make up the University, the people who bring its reputation for excellence, and we’re the people whose lives are on the line.”

- Alex Wall for excellence, and we’re the people whose lives are on the line,” said union representative Alex Wall, a research assistant studying toxicology. “It’s time that the administration started listening to us and protecting us instead of their profits.”

The union also asked that UE 150 be granted a seat at the table when it comes to representative matters.

According to Wall, the union has not discussed this with the administration. The union feels as though it is being ignored by

continue voicing their demands until the University addresses them.

“The reality is that no one knows what’s going on, and we, as university employees, are being kept in the dark with the hope that that is going to placate us,” Ullman said. “But it’s not working. We in the union know that we deserve to know what’s going on in the workplace, and we deserve a safe environment, and we deserve to be fairly compensated for any risks that we take on in the workplace.”

News

4 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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Study abroad cancels summer programming

GRAPHIC BY KYLE HOWETECHNICIAN

Talya Ozbelli

Correspondent

The study abroad program at NC State made the decision to cancel all facultyled group programs in summer 2021 due to COVID-19. However, those in the Study Abroad Office are keeping applications open, so students can still apply to study abroad in various cities, should travel restrictions be lifted.

Kim Priebe, director of the Study Abroad Office, said the office is seeing interest in students wanting to study abroad, but most programs are not currently in operation due to NC State’s restricted travel policy.

“NC State’s travel policy only permits student mobility to countries with Department of State travel advisories and the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)] travel health levels of one and two,” Priebe said. “With that being said, the office is continuing to prepare for a time when mobility can happen to as many locations as possible, with preparing students and advising students in hopes that study abroad possibilities can become possible.”

According to Priebe, the Study Abroad Office has established a new summer program model where they hope to partner with existing overseas institutions.

Cenia Goldstein, a recent graduate from the Poole College of Management, studied abroad twice, although one of her trips was cut short thanks to COVID-19.

“It was hard having to go home from an

experience I have been dreaming about since I was 10 years old,” Goldstein said.

“Studying abroad really heightened my social, academic and professional life, and I would recommend it to anyone.”

For the safety of students given the COVID-19 pandemic, Priebe said the office is taking precautions and measures to follow the best practices possible for the campus community.

“We are educating our students about the known risks, ensuring that they understand how to access the resources

the unique learning experience is a popular choice among students. Now with the global pandemic still looming, students are still unsure when they will be able to study abroad. With COVID-19 restrictions on travel, it is hard for students to know when to study abroad.

NC State is currently monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and the travel restrictions implemented within different countries. Students can still submit applications for summer 2021, in the case that restrictions are lifted and students

“The Study Abroad Office has established a new summer program model where they hope to partner with existing overseas institutions.” available to them, utilizing the CDC, the Department of State and the governments abroad and the sites that they have available,” Priebe said. “In addition, we also ask our students to become familiar with these resources and know what the situation is like in the countries that they hope to study abroad in.”

With the number of cities and majors NC State’s study abroad program covers,

are able to travel to certain locations.

The safety of students, faculty and staff is a top priority for the University, and the Study Abroad Office is taking precautions and monitoring the spread of COVID-19 for students’ health and safety.

“We want to make sure that students are aware that we are continuing to advise and accept applications, and we want

to let people know about the opportunities to get assistance through the application process,” Priebe said. “We also are aware that we don’t want to get students’ hopes up. As we have seen, there’s always the possibility that a program could get canceled. That is something that we need to be open and transparent about with the students.”

If students’ are concerned about their financial situation, Priebe said the office is here to help in any way possible.

“The office is very sensitive to the financial investment that students make to study abroad,” Priebe said. “We’ve implemented a highly flexible COVID-19 application and fee refund policy that allows a student to withdraw for any reason. If they’ve pursued study abroad and then later decide that they no longer feel comfortable, we don’t want them to be continuing just because of a financial commitment. We have extended that policy to summer and into fall 2021 applicants.”

The Study Abroad Office is hopeful students will be able to travel for the summer session.

“I think it will be an impactful experience either way,” Goldstein said. “Students need to understand that if study abroad is possible this summer, it will not be the same, but the experience and the importance of study abroad will help an individual learn and grow in various ways in their life.”

To learn more about studying abroad, visit the NC State study abroad website.

News

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Students discuss their opinion on optional SAT/ACT scores for fall 2021

GRAPHIC BY NOAH WEAVER/TECHNICIAN

Avery Davis Correspondent

Due to COVID-19, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions waived the SAT or ACT test score admission requirement for the fall 2021 applications. This decision came as a result of the cancellation of many standardized tests in the spring and summer of 2020, which made it difficult for many applicants to take either test before the application deadline.

Jon Westover, the associate vice provost and director of admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, said a student’s high school transcript has always been one of the most inf luential aspects of their application, especially now, with the absence of standardized testing scores.

“We really dug in a little bit deeper on the overall curriculum that students were taking and looking at the types of classes they were taking throughout their four years — the progression in those classes, the rigor of those classes and how well they’ve done in those,” Westover said.

Westover said the admissions office had to be more lenient during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the educational disadvantages it has caused for applicants.

“We had to recognize that students went to online learning last March, so how they performed in the second half of last year is not how they necessar-

ily would have performed in a regular face-to-face,” Westover said. “So really putting a bit more emphasis on the first two-and-a-half years.”

Westover said students were provided with a space on the application to explain how their circumstances may have been affected by the pandemic and how their application may look because of it.

“The good thing is that the Common Application and the Coalition Application, the two applications that we accept, gave students opportunities to let us know how they were impacted by COVID-19,” Westover said. “They can tell us about how it’s altered their education experience, but also anything else that may have happened outside of the classroom, whether it be loss of income of a parent, their own personal loss of income, relatives getting sick and all those different kinds of things. We’re really mindful of that as we’re looking at students this year.”

Westover was surprised by the amount of students who chose to submit an SAT or ACT score, given the option to opt out.

He said about 48% of applicants wanted to be reviewed with scores, and only 52% chose to be considered without one.

Landon Smith, a high school senior accepted into the Poole College of Management, decided to submit both an ACT and SAT score with his application.

“We had a schoolwide ACT exam in

February, and I actually took the SAT on the March date,” Smith said. “It was right before COVID-19 started getting bad. A lot of schools canceled their tests, but we didn’t have a breakout yet, so we were able to have it.”

Westover explains that a significant number of students were able to take a test before the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“As a junior in February, you got to take the ACT,” Westover said. “So there’s a lot of students who had the opportunity to do that. I think there were students who had already taken it, either the SAT or ACT, even before they took the schooladministered exam. So by the time March rolled around, it wasn’t that big a deal that they weren’t able to take it over the summer. For out-of-state students, depending on where they are, there were some exams that got administered late in the summer and again this fall.”

Some applicants decided to submit their scores because they thought it would provide them with a competitive edge. One such student was Alexandra Davies, a high school senior admitted into the College of Education.

“I think it helped my chances, but only because it was optional for everybody,” Davies said. “I thought maybe because it was optional, people who chose not to submit their scores, I would have an advantage over them, even though most schools said it wouldn’t affect your ap-

plication.”

Smith had a similar opinion to Davies and thought that submitting his score would be more beneficial than not.

“I had a pretty good score, so I think that since they complimented my application rather than hindering them,” Smith said. “I think that definitely gave me an advantage rather than not sending anything because of having that quantitative value that compares you to others.”

Westover is adamant that choosing to submit a score did not affect any applicant’s chance of admission. Students’ high school transcripts and essay question responses were the most inf luential factors in their admission decision.

“The transcript, and everything that the transcript tells us, has always been really the most important part of the review process,” Westover said. “How students have done in challenging courses is the most predictive of how well they’re going to do when they get there. We use a very holistic review process, so in addition to the transcript, we are reviewing the essays. There’s a couple of short answer questions, and we ask the student why they’re interested in a particular major and, more importantly, why are they interested in studying that here at NC State.”

The absence of standardized testing scores on applications this year has fueled the long debated conversation about the usefulness of standardized testing.

Davies feels fortunate to have been provided with the resources needed to succeed but believes, overall, that standardized testing may not be a good way to measure students.

“I think, personally, I’m an average test-taker, but I was fortunate to take an ACT prep course prior to taking the ACT,” Davies said. “I think that’s probably the only reason I did as decent as I did. I do not think that they are a good way of measuring students’ intelligence because I did really bad on my PreACT, but after I took the prep course, I did so much better. I know that most kids are not able to take a prep course.”

The decision whether or not standardized test scores will be waived for admissions for fall 2022 is up to the UNC Board of Governors. Westover hopes the board will come to a decision soon, so next year’s applicants can make important decisions and plans regarding testing.

“We didn’t receive the waiver until sometime in July, which certainly caused a lot of angst for students who were getting ready to go through the process,” Westover said. “I hope that the board will certainly take the issue up sooner rather than later.”

More information about admissions and application requirements can be found at the admissions office’s website.

Opinion

6 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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Here’s some social practices we should keep after the COVID-19 pandemic

As vaccines continue to roll out across the nation, we are finally going to see the end of this pandemic.

Hopefully, things will return to normal and we can see our friends and family Destry again. While many of us would like to forget this Adams Staff Columnist pandemic ever existed, there were some good developments that came out of it.

No, I am not making light of the number of people who died, the doctors who have been overworked or the mental health issues caused by the pandemic. Instead, I’m talking about the various habits we learned over the past few months that can help fight against the spread of disease.

Some of these practices helped prevent COVID-19 from becoming much worse, so here is a list of social practices I hope to continue well after the pandemic.

1. Wearing a Mask I am not saying the government should

force us to wear masks well after the pandemic, but I would suggest wearing a mask if you are sick in public. As the pandemic made it blatantly obvious, masks help prevent the spread of diseases.

Once the pandemic is over, people should wear face masks when they are sick to prevent others from getting ill.

Not only is it a sign of respect for other people’s health, but it could also prevent massive amounts of people from being infected by a disease, especially those that might be immunocompromised. Plus, many Asian countries have already normalized wearing masks to protect others from getting sick, and I’m sure many U.S. citizens could do the same.

Since people are already required to wear masks if they want to leave their house, masks have become less stigmatized, so I hope this social practice continues in the future.

2. Social Distancing I know some of us find it annoying that we have to remain 6 feet apart in public.

I remember some college students mumbling about how much they had to social distance while waiting in line at One Earth. However, as someone who hates it when a random, crusty stranger is breathing down my neck, I welcome the change.

The reason the government wants us to remain 6 feet apart is because that is how far COVID-19 travels. While other diseases travel much shorter or farther than the coronavirus, we should still maintain a respectable distance when around other people to reduce any potential infections.

Of course, I am not saying that every store and restaurant should require all their patrons to stay 6 feet apart and remodel their stores to accommodate these changes in a post-pandemic world. I just want to encourage people to maintain a safe distance from others out of respect and to prevent potential diseases from being spread.

3. Getting your shots I think this is the first time ever that people are excited to receive their shots.

Can Red Go All The Way?

Patrick Delaney, a fourth-year studying Engish

I always remember dreading going to the doctor’s office to get my flu shot, especially because my arm would feel sore for the rest of the day. Now, I see people ecstatic to receive their COVID-19 vaccine, in part because they want this stupid pandemic to be over.

But why stop with the coronavirus vaccine? I know a lot of people are hesitant to get their flu shot. In fact, measles is starting to make a comeback because people are getting vaccinated less. Let’s keep this energy for vaccinations, so other diseases don’t make an unwanted comeback.

So those are a couple of things I wish would remain well after the pandemic.

Of course, I can’t make anyone follow the changes I recommend, but I hope people will become more considerate of their surroundings, especially if diseases are involved. Since this is college and people like to congregate at sports games or parties, I hope students are a little more conscious about their behavior when they are socializing.

TECHNICIAN 7

Opinion TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

OP-ED: Students are struggling with mental health, but the assignments keep coming Anyone else feel like their days are all the same right now? Mine go like this: I wake up, force myself out of bed and make the long, t reacherous commute to school. Once I finally make it to my desk — that Kate Delahanty sits about five feet from my Staff Columnist bed — I begin my day of online learning.

At first, virtual school seemed like the dream. Early morning classes could now be done from the comfort of my own bed, deadlines were extended to accommodate “unprecedented times” (take a drink every time we heard that phrase in 2020) and I had so much more free time. Not to mention, I didn’t have to brave the Coliseum Parking Deck anymore, which made me fear for my

car’s life every time I entered it. I know that a global pandemic is never anything to celebrate, but I was honestly grateful for this brief pause in my once chaotic daily routine as a student.

Well, I thought it would be brief.

Now, almost a year later, I’m still doing online learning, and it has admittedly taken a huge toll on my mental and physical health, my social life and my GPA. Deadlines are no longer extended despite the craziness going on outside, and I feel myself struggling to keep up. But I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. Many students cannot keep up with online school; undergraduate enrollment decreased almost 4% this past fall, according to NPR. While I’m struggling, I know I have it better than many of my peers. I live in a townhouse with one roommate and have my own

room with a desk to complete my work. I have a working laptop and the financial security to stay afloat, even after losing my part-time job during the pandemic. I often think about my peers who live in cramped spaces where it’s hard to focus, no longer have access to childcare, or those who had to pick up another job to help support their family during this time. Not to mention those who have lost loved ones due to COVID-19.

While some professors have been understanding and adjusted courses to help those struggling, it feels like the majority of classes have just kept on pushing. Yes, there are more pass/fail options for classes, but it sometimes feels as if we are expected to push through the struggle if it means getting our work done.

This pandemic has taken a real toll on the mental health of young Americans. A survey from November, done by The COVID

States Project, found that nearly half of the population between the ages of 18-24 show symptoms of at least moderate depression.

This is not to gain pity for students. I know that even in tough times, life goes on, and we have to adjust. But sometimes I look around at what we’ve accepted as the “new normal” and want to scream — does anyone else feel crazy?

The bottom line is that students are struggling and we need to feel like we’re heard. We need professors to accept feedback and collaborate with us on ways to improve online learning so that we don’t have to sacrifice our mental health. We shouldn’t have to get through this alone.

Kate Delahanty is a fourth-year studying communication.

The breakup we desperately need: Church and state

Olivia Hille

Correspondent

Since the founding of our country, religion has always been a driving aspect of our society. Public figures, celebrities and politicians alike voice their support for which religion they choose to practice. In many cases, politicians will gain more headway in certain districts due to their religious affiliation, especially in rural areas of the country. As the 117th Congress officially begins, with sessions having started as of Jan. 3, 2021, the influence of religion and the church has also taken its hold on the legislative branch.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, there is only one representative who does not affiliate with any religion. It is the prerogative of the United States government to keep the

separation between church and state clear and defined. There is a disconnect between rural and urban America in which religion plays a major role.

For example, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis is aware of this disconnect and, if anything, continues to uphold the polarization.

Tillis, like many others in the Republican Party, creates this narrative that Democrats across the aisle are against religion. As stated on Tillis’s website, Tillis references a dispute between a custom cake business and the court, stating that it is within a business’s right to deny services based on religious beliefs. Ultimately, this stance paves the road for homophobia, transphobia, racism and sexism.

It is disturbing that our own senator, who represents many religions, races, sexualities and genders, basically stated he does not sup-

port his own voters. While this is not the only concerning statement from Sen. Tillis, nor will it be the last, it begs the question of how separated is church and state?

Essentially, there isn’t a major separation between church and state if denying goods and services is tagged on to freedom of religion. You are not practicing your religion when you ask someone their sexual orientation; you are being intrusive and weird. You are not practicing your freedom of religion by protesting against abortion; you are simply denying someone else basic health care which, again, is none of our business unless you’re planning to adopt their unborn child.

It is pertinent that we, as students, recognize how personal infringement presents itself. Especially for those who advocate for conservative politicians and policies. This applies to our own clubs and groups on

The Joys of Youth

Kiara Bush, a second-year studying design studies and statistics

campus, like the College Republicans, who “work with county and state Republican organizations to help Republican candidates up and down the ballot.” Unfortunately, conservative politicians and policy tend to tiptoe the line between being constitutional and attempting transgressions in the name of religion.

The rise of Christian extremism is exacerbated by the lack of denouncement from the conservative side of the legislative branch.

Religion is not inherently extreme, as many use faith for love and consideration in our harsh world. Unfortunately, the kindness and openness of religion is shadowed when church and religion are used to harm and diminish other lives. Simply, there is a line that has since been crossed by many who claim to represent our population, and it is dangerous if this mentality perseveres.

Arts & Culture

8 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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Nano-EXtended Textiles research group developing next big thing in wearable tech Kevin Clatfelter Correspondent

Imagine you are out on a run; while running, you are measuring your heartbeat to ensure there are no problems. However, instead of wearing the dead weight of a wristwatch, there is already a sensor comfortably embedded within your shirt that has it covered. Does that sound like technology of the future? Well, a research group at NC State is developing it right now.

Led by Textile Technology Program Director Jesse Jur, Nano-EXtended Textiles (NEXT) is an NC State research group that studies the design of “smart” textiles. In addition to striving to make clothing more comfortable, they also look at things like the implementation of devices into textiles that can do things like take measurements, harvest energy and store energy.

“We leverage different processes and different designs from the nanoscale all the way up to the macroscale to see if we can embed electronics into textiles,” said Braden Li, a senior level Ph.D. student on the research group.

The aforementioned sensor-embedded shirt is actually the project Li oversees.

Specifically, the sensor is a low and selfpowered device that can take a person’s electrocardiogram, meaning it would measure the heart’s electrical activity. For this project, NEXT is working with Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) at NC State, as well as collaborators at Penn State who are making supercapacitors for the shirt.

However, it isn’t as easy as just making a wearable heart monitor.

“You have all these different components,” Li said. “Now you need to wire them all together, and then you need to wire them all together on a shirt, and you have to make sure it looks good, and you

able, which can be a difficult balance.

“There are these really smart textiles, which is great, but they’re not really practical in the real world,” said Marissa Noon, a fourth-year studying industrial engineer-

GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE/TECHNICIAN

have to make sure it’s washable. You’ve got to make sure it’s not impeding the comfort of the user.”

Clearly, it isn’t enough for a sensor to work; the device also needs to be comfort-

ing. “They’re not comfortable; they don’t stand up well… so it’s really important to have a flexible piece of fabric that you’re able to move around in but also measures accurately.”

The members of the NEXT research team are more than equipped for these challenges. The group members have a wide range of specialties. Li, for example, looks at the big picture of how the small components will fit together, while Noon might work with something more specific, like researching and testing how well certain screen-printed materials conduct electricity to find good sensors that work well on comfortable and flexible materials.

Shirts aren’t the only projects they work on. Researchers like Noon worked on the development of a smart sock that could potentially reduce the recovery time of a sprained ankle from four to six weeks to two to three, while still allowing for some activity during the recovery period.

“People who are going 24/7 can’t afford to just sit down or have their foot up at their desk job,” Noon said. “I’m really interested in moving towards in-home, remote wellness, taking it out of the doctor’s hands and putting it more into your hands.”

The research and work being done at NEXT is very exciting, and their researchers are using their endless creativity to combine technology with art to make the unique, useful and comfortable clothing of the future. Look out because, someday soon, you might find the Nike or Adidas sections lined with NEXT gear.

“The community is so welcoming, they are so helpful, they want you to learn, and they also want to learn,” Noon said.

“Having that lab experience is just priceless. And I get excited to work, and that’s when you know you’re doing something that you love.”

TECHNICIAN 9 Arts & Culture Sweatpants and sustainability: Fashion in the era of COVID-19 THE RADAR TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

Sam Overton

Assistant News Editor

After nearly a year of being trapped in a pandemic, we’ve become used to attending class from home. Sweatshirts have replaced button-downs, and slippers have replaced canvas sneakers as we log in to Zoom lectures for what feels like the millionth time. Comfort has become more important than looking chic, said Kiana Bonollo, a fourth-year studying fashion and textile design.

“Honestly, I don’t dress up for classes unless it’s an interview or a meeting, and [then] I’ll be very conscious of my background and how I look on camera,” Bonollo said. “For classes, because a lot of the teachers don’t require the camera to be on, I will just roll out of bed.”

Andre West, the director of Zeis Textiles Extension and an associate professor in textile and apparel technology at the Wilson College of Textiles, said it’s no surprise loungewear and pajamas have become the uniform of choice for most college students.

“People are buying a lot more of what I call comfort clothing, anything soft and nice and comfortable,” West said. “The comfort is not just the clothing itself, but the actual feeling on the body. In general, people want to be more relaxed.”

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, trends such as loungewear and simple outfits have thrived in a world where you don’t have to step outside to attend class.

Bonollo, a fashion YouTuber with over 60,000 subscribers, said how she would never repeat an outfit pre-pandemic.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Events to keep an eye on for the week of February 11th

“It’s funny, because you would think that fashion majors would dress up, but I felt like I was one of the only people to really go all out for classes,” Bonollo said. “I would always do my makeup and my hair. I would be one of the people who would not repeat an outfit, but I just loved dressing up for every single class.”

Now, that dedication to looking stylish seems nearly impossible for Bonollo.

“If I’m going out and about now, I’m wearing cute loungewear,” Bonollo said. “It’s never how I used to dress. They’re comfy, and I can still get work done around the house.”

Sustainable fashion has also seen a rise in engagement during the pandemic, with more and more brands pushing messages of climate change awareness, the wastefulness of the fashion industry and more.

“I think most companies have a sustainable mantra on their website,” West said.

“Whether they use it for their benefit or a marketing tool are two different things, but I think there is definitely a sustainability aspect.”

According to West, attempts to turn piles of used clothing into brand-new garments can be ineffective and costly.

Instead, he sees clothes-renting services, such as Nuuly, as part of the solution to a vast array of sustainability issues plaguing the fashion industry.

COURTESY OF KIANA BONOLLO

POP-UP TASTE OF CHINA Friday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

ONE EARTH WORLD CUISINE, TALLEY STUDENT UNION Prices vary

In celebration of the Lunar New Year, NC State Dining and the Office of Global Engagement are hosting an event to celebrate the cuisine of China. At both lunch and dinner, students can visit One Earth in Talley Student Union for vegetable spring rolls, pot stickers and more.

BODYSTORIES WORKSHOP Saturday, Feb. 13, 1 p.m.

VIRTUAL EVENT Free COURTESY OF KIANA BONOLLO

“When you get a big load of different clothes, it’s next to impossible [to repurpose them],” West said. “I see the renting of clothes may be the answer we’re looking for regarding sustainability because obviously we have a big problem when it comes to global warming and everything else regarding the textile industry.”

For students who don’t mind dressing up for Zoom University every once in a while, Bonollo offered some tips for those who want to look fashionable with minimal effort.

“I’ll accessorize with the earrings and necklace because those are the things that are visible and I’ll try to get those to match,” Bonollo said. “Usually, I’ll wear a plain shirt, because it looks better on camera — on camera, stripes and patterns look weird.”

It’s nearly impossible to predict what the fashion industry will look like in a postpandemic world, but one thing is clear: Just as COVID-19 has changed the way we look at stadium concerts and surgical masks, the future of fashion will be redefined by the pandemic.

“If you look back at the 1920s, rather than 2020, that was a great fashion movement — when women’s independence was becoming a force, when more women were driving cars and getting out in the workplace, and that inspired a generation,” West said. “I think that’s the thing that is going to happen [today], so I expect that there’s going to be change, but I don’t know what that change will be.”

NC State LIVE will host local choreographer and organizer Murielle Elizéon and local cellist and educator Shana Tucker for a series of workshops that explore storytelling.

The series will ponder the idea of the individual and the reclamation of our own stories.

BLACKS IN WAX WEEKEND Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 14, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

VIRTUAL EVENT Free

In celebration of Black History Month, the African American Cultural Center, joined by the GLBT Center and the Women’s Center, will host their annual Blacks in Wax wax museum. This year is virtual but will still feature famous figures and icons of Black history.

UNRAVELING THE TRUTH: A LOOK INTO BLACK CULTURE Tuesday, Feb. 16, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

VIRTUAL EVENT Free

The Wilson College of Textiles will host Harvard University professor Jonathan Square as he details the history of the headscarf in Black culture. Square will document the use of headscarves and other fashion as a form of resistance by enslaved people.

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Brigette Nordberg leading the charge as Pack softball enters new era Bryan Pyrtle Staff Writer

“Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical.”

Although in the similar sport of softball, baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra’s words ring just as true. For NC State’s softball program, a recent change in mentality has paid dividends for the Wolfpack, with redshirt senior outfielder Brigette Nordberg as its poster child.

Nordberg’s story doesn’t begin with NC State or softball in particular, but with the mother she looked up to while growing up in Exton, Pennsylvania.

“My mom was my biggest influence; she played field hockey and she played softball,” Nordberg said. “Having her growing up, she put whatever I had in front of me in my hand, it didn’t matter the sport. Luckily enough, I picked softball.

Starting from a young age and then going into travel ball seasons and high school, I knew that it was something I wanted to extend. I wanted to attend a university that made me happy, and I wanted to play for as long as I could, which is why I’m back for a fifth year.”

Nordberg realized that goal of playing collegiate softball at the University of Maryland. After two seasons with the Terrapins, she was convinced by NC State head coach Jennifer PatrickSwift and assistant coach Patrick Swift to venture further south and join the Wolfpack. Nordberg had nothing but high praise for her coaches and their impact on her life both on and off the field.

“Coach Patrick and Coach Swift have honestly changed my life in more ways than on the field…” Nordberg said. “Having them in my corner and wanting me to come play at a school during their first year coaching was super exciting. They’re

great people… They made me a better woman, they made me a better person and they made me a better softball player.

I literally owe my whole career to them because, without them, I wouldn’t be here and wouldn’t be as happy as I am today.”

Nordberg’s success is also attributable to the emphasis on home runs in the NC State softball program. After leading the Pack in home runs for the previous two years, she knows a thing or two about the mentality preached by her coaches.

“It’s stepping in the box and knowing that you’re going to hit a home run, expecting that you’re going to hit a home run and wanting to do that,” Nordberg said. “[The team’s] mindset is ‘Hit the ball over the fence and we’ll score some runs.’

I’ve bought into that from the first day I got here, I’m still buying into it today and I will probably buy into it for the rest

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off the ball in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season by going yard approximately once per every nine at-bats. This pace would have put her home run total at a

“I got a call from the coaches in the summer asking, ‘Are you going to come back?’ and I told them they couldn’t get rid of me that easily, that I was going to be here for another year,” Nordberg said. “Knowing that I love the coaches and that I love my teammates was the main reason that I wanted to come back. I wanted another year. I love the sport as well, but those were the big two that made my decision easy.”

As she enters her fifth year of college softball, Nordberg has a lot of experience to draw from on how to succeed both on and off the field. Coming full circle from the mom that inspired her in her youth, Nordberg described her legacy as a demonstration to young women on the importance of having good mentors.

“A lot of coaches are in your corner; they’ll fight for you no matter what,” Nordberg said. “If you truly buy into what your coaches are telling you, then you will have no problem succeeding.”

“If you truly buy into what your coaches are telling you, then you will have no problem succeeding”

- Brigette Nordberg of my life. It’s a bigger mindset than just on the field. [It’s] knowing you’re going to succeed, believing you’re going to do that.”

This mental approach was working well for Nordberg, who was tearing the cover

career-high 18 if she had had as many at-bats as in 2019.

When the pandemic cut the 2020 season short, one would think Nordberg might consider opting out of the following year.

But for her, the choice was a clear one.

No. 12 women’s tennis looks toward February to continue winning streak Kat Peters

Correspondent

After a successful start to its season, the NC State women’s tennis team is looking to continue its two-match win streak after sweeping Central Florida and Appalachian State. The Pack will have three ranked opponents in the coming month, but seeing as it is 3-1 and No. 12 in the NCAA, this month shouldn’t prove

to be too difficult for NC State.

Vs. Old Dominion, Feb. 12 Old Dominion had a rocky start to its season, notching a 2-3 record. The Lady Monarchs fell to the two ranked teams they have played, No. 7 Florida State and No. 20 Central Florida. The Pack has not competed against Old Dominion since the 2011 season, where the Pack swept the match 7-0.

The Lady Monarchs’ doubles team, Yulia Starodubtseva and Alesya Yakubovich, was ranked eighth in the preseason and has gone 3-2 this year. Outside of the Old Dominion doubles team, this matchup shouldn’t have the Pack fighting hard for a victory.

Vs. No. 21 Tennessee, Feb. 13 Tennessee is 5-1 this season, only falling to No. 14 Virginia. Its schedule thus far hasn’t

proven to be challenging for the team; however, falling to Virginia showed that Tennessee wasn’t ready to take on a team ranked higher than itself. The Lady Vols are on a two-match win streak.

NC State last played Tennessee in the 2019 season, besting the Lady Vols 4-0. The Lady Vols have a little less than two weeks between matches to prepare for the matchup against

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the Pack, which unless there is a major upset, should once again prove to show the Pack on top.

At No. 25 Wake Forest, Feb. 20 The Lady Deacons are 2-3 this season and have lost their last three matches. Wake Forest has fallen to No. 8 Northwestern, No. 21 Tennessee and Furman. The Pack and Wake Forest had a matchup in the 2020 season, where the Pack won 5-2.

Junior Anna Brylin will most likely be who the Pack will have to look out for in this matchup. She is 3-1 in singles this year.

Brylin and freshman Brooke Killingsworth are leading the team at 3-1 in doubles this season. Despite Wake Forest having Brylin, the Lady Deacons have fallen to teams that are ranked higher than themselves, so once again, this shouldn’t be a tough matchup for the Pack.

At No. 7 Florida State, Feb. 26 Florida State is 3-1 this year with its only loss coming from an away matchup against No. 5 Georgia. The Seminoles are coming off that loss in their second matchup of February. Andrea Garcia has gone undefeated this season in five singles matches, as well

MARISSA MCHUGH/TECHNICIAN

Senior Adriana Reami celebrates her victory against Virginia on Sunday, March 1, 2020 at J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. Reami and junior Jada Daniel lost their doubles match to Virginia 6-3.

as undefeated in six doubles matches, paired with Nandini Das.

The last time these two teams met was in 2019, when Florida State bested the Pack 4-3.

This matchup will certainly be the hardest of February for NC State, given Florida State’s rank and the fact that the Seminoles have not lost a home matchup this season. However, this matchup is later in the month, which will allow the Pack more time to prepare.

At Miami, Feb. 28 Miami started its season later in January but is already 2-1 and coming off a loss to No. 15 Vanderbilt to start this month. In the preseason, Estela Perez-Somarriba was ranked second in women’s singles in the ACC, and she has gone undefeated so far this season in three matches.

NC State defeated Miami in their last matchup in the 2019 season 6-1. A lot can change about this Miami team between now and the NC State matchup. Since there is so much time, and considering Miami hasn’t had time to really solidify itself as a team yet, it would be difficult to say which way this matchup could go.

The Pack’s first match this month is this Friday, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center in Raleigh against Old Dominion.

Softball opens spring season with weekend series against Longwood Bryan Pyrtle Staff Writer

The NC State softball team will begin its 2021 campaign against the Longwood Lancers this weekend at Dail Softball Sta-

dium. The Saturday season opener will be followed by a doubleheader Sunday, Feb. 14 to round out the series, as softball season gets into full swing.

The Lancers have retained most of their top batters from last season, and chief

MINH PHAM/TECHNICIAN

Sophomore pitcher Sydney Nester pitches during NC State’s 12-2 win over Lehigh on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 at Dail Softball Stadium. Nester had three strikeouts en route to her seventh win of the season.

among them is utility fielder Sydney Jacobsen. Jacobsen led Longwood in a bevy of batting categories a year ago, including doubles, triples and slugging percentage.

Stopping her from clobbering the ball will be paramount to the Wolfpack’s success on the field.

Other notable returnees for the Lancers are shortstop/outfielder Lauren Taylor and shortstop/third baseman Mason Basdikis. Taylor was the team leader in on-base percentage in 2020 by way of 11 walks, a category in which she also led the team.

Taylor also combined with Basdikis for almost half of the Lancer’s total stolenbase production, as they swiped five and eight bags, respectively, without ever being caught. It will be important for the Pack to keep these two speed demons in check.

Despite a veteran-heavy lineup, Longwood will be looking to improve on its overall hitting as this 2021 gets underway.

The Lancers only knocked five balls over the fence over the course of 21 games last season and slugged an underwhelming .326 as a team. The Wolfpack contrasts significantly with its weekend opponent in this regard, as it homered over six times as often as Longwood did last season, so this power differential will play a huge role.

The Lancers will also be looking to turn its luck around on hitting for contact, as one-third of the team’s starters batted below the Mendoza Line last year. Longwood also often failed to put the bat on the ball at all a season ago, striking out over twice as often as it walked. The Pack will hope

to continue that theme, as its pitching staff boasted a .204 opposing batting average last season.

Speaking of pitchers, right-handed pitcher Sydney Backstrom will try and improve upon her numbers for the Lancers in her senior year. In 2020, she matched the overall NC State pitching staff in opposing batting average at .204 and posted an ERA under 2.00. As she faces a Wolfpack lineup that put up a combined OPS of almost 1.000 last year, Backstrom will have her work cut out for her when she enters the pitching circle.

Outside of Backstrom, Longwood pitchers will be looking to find success rather than build upon it. Backstrom was the lone bright spot in an abysmal 2020 by Lancers pitchers, as right-hander Arleigh Wood and southpaw Angelina Sherba accounted for over 70% of earned runs surrendered last season. Freshman pitcher Maison Myers may also provide a muchneeded boost to the Lancers’ pitching performance.

When the Wolfpack takes on Longwood this weekend, it will be NC State looking to build upon last season’s 19-6 start and Longwood looking to finish above .500 after an 10-11 2020 season that included an 0-6 away record.

The weekend series will start Saturday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Sunday at noon and 2 p.m. All three games will be available for viewing on ACC Network Extra and follow @TechSports on Twitter for live updates.

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Volleyball star Jade Parchment improving rapidly, leading NC State through adversity Tristan Tucker

Assistant Sports Editor

The NC State volleyball team got out to a rough start in the fall season before rallying and winning four straight to close the season. Under first-year head coach Luka Slabe, the team was able to show a sense of resilience that it wasn’t able to last season, when the Pack finished 11-19.

Much of that resilience and success is due to the upperclassmen on the team, players who went through the coaching change and are able to guide the younger players on the team amidst a season plagued by COVID-19.

“I think as far as leadership, we’ve definitely been working with that,” said junior opposite hitter Jade Parchment. “How to bring each other all up together...just being able to have those conversations with one another and push each other to the best of our ability. We talk about accountability a lot and being able to hold each other to the high standard of volleyball that we’re trying to play at and compete against.”

As one of the leaders of the Pack, and one of the most underrated players on the roster, Parchment had an outright dominant fall season and improved in each game, putting up outlandish stats across the board.

“One of the things that Luka [Slabe] and our entire coaching staff is harping on us for and specifically me is being more disciplined,” Parchment said. “And going from the club level to the collegiate level and being able to play under somebody who is able to coach us at that sort of technical level, discipline is something I’ve really been working hard at in my offseason.

The little things that you wouldn’t think to pay attention to, that at the end of the day, make a huge difference.”

Parchment led the team in kills with 118 through eight games in the fall semester, while also leading the team in points with 131.5. Parchment also led the team in attacking errors with 44, tied with senior opposite hitter Melissa Evans, but she was able to cut down on those numbers in the second half of the season. Parchment had just nine total errors across three of the final four games of the season, outside of the team’s second win against Virginia.

“Early in the fall, she was struggling with taking swings,” Slabe said. “She’s very dynamic, athletic with a big arm, but she took a lot of swings that hurt her and our team.

But if you go back and look at those last four matches...there’s a huge difference in efficiency and it’s not because she’s jumping higher and hitting harder, but the decisions she was making on offense were

different...level of maturity [improved].”

The star outside hitter’s statistics were good enough to move her into the record books. Parchment earned ACC Player of the Week in the fall season, the first time

has definitely been one of my major areas of improvement the past couple of years.”

Despite an unusual fall season and having a limited offseason due to COVID-19, Parchment jumped from 2.8 kills per set

KATIE BARNES/TECHNICIAN

Sophomore opposite hitter Jade Parchment serves the ball in Reynolds Coliseum on Oct. 27, 2019. Parchment had 15 kills, one ace and nine digs in the Wolfpack’s 3-0 loss to Syracuse.

such a feat was accomplished by an NC State player since 2017. Parchment also moved into 10th place all-time for career kills at NC State while finishing the season ranked fourth in the conference and 17th nationally for kills.

“I would say, in addition to discipline, definitely thoughtfulness, not just doing things mindlessly,” Parchment said.

“Having an attention to every single swing, every single dig and that thought process

and 2.57 kills per set in 2018 and 2019, respectively, to a whopping 4.21 kills per set in 2020, which led the team.

Her augmentation of personal statistics across each year Parchment has been at NC State is just one testament of her character and what she brings to the team on and off the court. “[Parchment]’s a little bit unpredictable, sometimes you don’t know what you’re going to get out of her,” Slabe said. “But

then she does something and you’re like, ‘Wow, that’s an elite move,’ or ‘That’s an elite swing…’ But she has this goofiness in herself, she’s this gooftball, TikTok dancing moves, just fun. But she’s unpredictable and I like to have a little bit of unpredictable players on the team, in a good sense...

Jade never let us down, she was always where we needed her to be not just on but also off the court for us and for the team. So she’s absolutely a good girl to have around.”

Behind players like Parchment, redshirt junior defensive specialist/libero Kaylee Frazier, Evans and middleblockers junior Pam Chukwujekwu and redshirt senior Mmachi Nwoke, the team has been able to undergo a cultural reset and set the standards of what high-level competition is supposed to look like.

“I think one of the greatest things about our new coaching staff is we’re always talking about open and honest communication,” Parchment said. “We’ve eliminated this whole idea that there’s this hierarchy; we’re all working towards one main goal together. If there are any issues with our coaching staff, we can go to them with that and vice versa. For the upperclassmen, that’s the culture that we’re trying to implement with the rest of our team... we’re all trying to achieve the same thing.

We’re all equal and we’re all leaders in our own ways.”

Alongside her peers, Parchment has been able to step up individually as a leader, becoming a more vocal presence on the court.

“I think one of the biggest things this program has helped me with is stepping outside of my comfort zone,” Parchment said. “Pushing myself to do things and say things that I definitely would not have my freshman year...the culture we’ve been implementing has really encouraged me and everyone else to step outside themselves in order to be what everyone needs from one another.”

With Parchment and the upperclassmen set to depart the program following the 2021 fall/2022 spring season, Parchment is hopeful their contributions to the program will be felt for years to come.

“Like I said before, the team is everything,” Parchment said. “Through adversity and through all the challenges, the fact that this group of people has always been there for me, and the way we can be there for each other, that stood out to me amongst any other school that I was being recruited by. I hope those connections and the type of leader that I’m trying to be. I hope that’s going to leave a lasting impression when I leave for sure.”

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Pack wrestling looks to get back on track versus Duke Jaylan Harrington

Multimedia Managing Editor

No. 7 NC State wrestling closes its dual season at home against Duke this Friday, Feb. 12. The Wolfpack comes into the matchup in near-uncharted territory for this class of wrestlers, off a loss and ranked outside the top five.

The Blue Devils come into this match winless, at 0-4, losing to their ACC opponents by a combined margin of 117.

Duke has no ranked wrestlers and only a single starter with a winning record.

This is the perfect opponent for NC State heading into preparations for the ACC Championships. The Wolf-

DAVID TRACEY/TECHNICIAN

Redshirt junior Thomas Bullard wrestles Princeton sophomore Grant Cuomo on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020 at Reynolds Coliseum. Bullard lost by decision 7-6, but the Wolfpack won the dual 29-12.

pack went through a grueling stretch of ranked opponents, and this will provide it with as close as it comes to a bye week.

It also gives NC State a chance to improve on the reason why it lost for the first time in over two years: getting bonus points. Though NC State had three ranked wrestlers — including No. 2 redshirt senior Hayden Hidlay — facing unranked opponents in Blacksburg, Virginia, all came away with only decisions.

If just one of them got a bonus-point win, NC State would still be perfect on the year. Head coach Pat Popolizio should have the Wolfpack ready to make a statement against the Blue Devils.

Though the match will be incredibly lopsided, the bout of the night may end up being exciting as Pack freshman Ed Scott wrestles Josh Finesilver. Living up to his pedigree as a Finesilver, Josh is the pride of this Duke team at 3-1. He’ll provide Scott with a challenge, but the freshman may be able to get back into the win column this weekend.

Looking at the Blue Devils’ prior performances, three Duke wrestlers were defeated by fall against Virginia Tech, and against Virginia, four were pinned.

It remains to be seen how many pins NC State can record, but matching the Cavaliers should be feasible.

No. 11 redshirt sophomore Jarrett Trombley, if he wrestles instead of freshman Ryan Jack, will see Drake Doolittle at 133 pounds. Doolittle was pinned against UVA just 50 seconds into his bout, and Trombley will look to do the same to him. If it’s Jack, though, Doolittle has shown the ability to keep things close against unranked wrestlers, and the bout could be interesting.

At 141 pounds, No. 9 redshirt senior Tariq Wilson draws Patrick Rowland.

Rowland was also pinned against Virginia, but he lasted two minutes before No. 16 Brian Courtney ended things.

No. 15 redshirt senior Thomas Bullard takes on Eric Carter at 165 pounds.

Carter comes into this bout off back-toback falls, and Bullard has had a tough year. A pin here would give his confidence a boon.

At heavyweight, No. 17 Deonte Wilson takes on Jonah Niesenbaum. Niesenbaum was pinned last week and lost a technical fall the week before. Wilson should have no problem with his opponent.

NC State’s final dual of the season comes this Friday against Duke at Reynolds Coliseum and will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra. The first bout starts at 7 p.m. Follow @TechSports on Twitter for live updates.

Forbes, Nordberg and Nester return to Pack hopeful for successful softball season Kat Peters

Correspondent

Spring sports are kicking into full gear this month, including teams that didn’t compete in the fall due to COVID-19.

The NC State softball team is one of these groups that is looking to get back on the field after not competing since last spring.

Pitching staff Redshirt sophomore Sydney Nester is returning to pitch for the Pack this season. Nester was one of three ACC pitchers that recorded a double-digit win record last season, going 10-4. Despite only playing two seasons for the Pack, Nester has already left a mark on the school record books. She’s recorded 7.8 career strikeouts per seven innings, which is the fourth highest, as well as 24 career wins, which is the seventh highest at NC State.

Also of note is the addition of redshirt senior Abby Trahan, who transferred from Southern Miss after her junior season, and didn’t play last year due to NCAA redshirt regulations. Trahan was named Conference USA Pitcher of the

Year at Southern Miss and finished that season with a 1.89 earned run average.

Between Nester and Trahan, the Pack’s pitching staff is solid this year and, if it’s able to put up similar numbers to last season, should help drive this team forward.

Infield position group The Pack’s starting infielders are all returning this season: redshirt junior Logan Morris, redshirt junior Randi Farricker, redshirt sophomore April Visser and redshirt junior Carson Shaner.

The Pack does have freshman Kaylee Lambrecht, who played shortstop in high school, as well as freshman Haley Haislip coming in to play infield. Between the returning veteran corps and a talented freshman class, NC State should be able to cover the infield this season, but there will most likely be an adjustment period as the roster gets ironed out early in the season.

Outfield position group All three starting outfielders, redshirt junior Sam Russ, redshirt senior outfielder Tatyana Forbes and redshirt senior

Angie Rizzi, are returning to the Pack this season.

“Obviously, everyone in our lineup is super talented,” said redshirt senior outfielder Brigette Nordberg. “We have Taty, Sam, Angie in the outfield; they’re big name players. So, you know, we have a lot of people that I’m excited to see on the field.”

Forbes is most likely going to be the highlight of this team once again, coming back for a fifth year after ranking first in the ACC and fifth in the NCAA in batting average (0.538) last season. She was also selected as an outfielder for the 2021 Preseason All-ACC softball team.

“Coming back another year, I saw it as such a great opportunity,” Forbes said.

“I get to finish the second year of my master’s while playing the game, so I’m excited for this season.”

That thing that is so special about this team and what will give them the edge this season is its depth. While recruiting and training for the season, the coaching staff was really looking for players

that would be able to play multiple positions well, instead of just specializing in one position. This will certainly help the team out in case of COVID-19 cases on the team.

While defensive positions are critical to the success of the team, the home run mentality runs strong with head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift and assistant coach Patrick Swift. “[Patrick-Swift]’s mindset is ‘Hit the ball over the fence and we’ll score some runs,’” Nordberg said. “And you know, I mean I’ve bought into that first day I got here. I’m still buying into it today and probably will buy into it for the rest of my life.”

There’s a lot to look forward to from this team, even with COVID-19 standing in the way of its fall season.

“The coaches and our support staff really made sure that you know, when we hit springtime, when we hit next week, that we’re all going to be ready to go,” Nordberg said.