Issuu

TECHNICIAN N OVEMB ER 12, 20 20

VOL . 101 | NO. 10

SUPER STRESSFUL SEMESTER

LLLLLLLLLLLLLL See Page 3

Contents

2 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

IN THIS ISSUE: page

Krispy Kreme Challenge goes virtual, makes doughnuts optional

WHAT YOU MISSED:

page

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

University Housing to remain open over winter break Students who are currently living in on-campus housing through special circumstance housing will be allowed to stay on campus during winter break from Nov. 25 to Jan. 16 for a $700 flat fee, according to Donna McGalliard, executive director of University Housing. Students who are graduating in December will not be allowed to remain on campus for the seven-week break.

NEWS

Pollsters may still have room for improvement in elections to come

SOURCE: TECHNICIAN

North Carolina sets record for daily COVID-19 cases North Carolina set a new state record for number of COVID-19 cases reported in one day on Nov. 11. The state reported 3,100 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. In the same update, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported an additional state record, with 1,286 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in North Carolina.

OPINION

SOURCE: THE NEWS & OBSERVER

page

Who’s Who at Student Media: Technician Managing Editor Alicia Thomas

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

page

After winning the 2020 United States presidential election on Nov. 3, President-elect Joe Biden announced his plan to reinstate the parts of the United States’ resettlement program for immigrants. The Trump administration lowered the cap for the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States each year during his presidency. Biden said he plans to raise the cap to 125,000, compared to Trump’s 15,000 for the 2021 fiscal year.

Scientists discover new species of endangered primates A recent study, in which the London Natural History Museum was a collaborator, announced a new species of primate discovered in the jungles of Myanmar. Popa Iangur, the new species of monkey, is endangered and at risk of extinction. There are an estimated 200 to 260 Popa Iangur left in the world.

Editor-in-Chief Rachael Davis

323 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 919-515-5017 919-515-2411 919-515-5133 technicianonline.com

technician-editor@ncsu.edu

technician-copydesk@ncsu.edu

Copy Desk Chief Sarah Newton

Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Abbie Davies-Cutting

Managing Editor Alicia Thomas

Marketing Manager Zahra Rangwala

technician-design@ncsu.edu

technician-managingeditor@ncsu.edu

technician-marketing@ncsu.edu

Multimedia Managing Editor Jaylan Harrington

News Co-Editors Cassie Englund Anna Beth McCormick

technician-digitalcontent@ncsu.edu

Social Media Co-Editors Emma Rizzo Antonio Dinkens Social Media Analytics Manager Joey Rivenbark

technician-news@ncsu.edu

Arts & Entertainment Editor Austin Dunlow technician-features@ncsu.edu

Student Health Services:

(919) 515-2563

Counseling Center:

(919) 515-2423

University Police:

(919) 515-3000

Women’s Center:

(919) 515-2012

Sexual Assault Helpline:

(919) 515-4444

GLBT Center:

(919) 513-9742

Student Legal Services:

(919 )515-7091

Multicultural Student Affairs:

(919) 515-3835 COVER BY ANN SALMAN

SOURCE: CNN

SPORTS

Editorial Advertising Fax Online

Biden discusses immigration plans after winning 2020 presidential election

SOURCE: NPR

Melissa Evans leading Pack volleyball through short season

KNOW YOUR RESOURCES:

Design Editor Ann Salman

Opinion Editor Caryl J. Espinoza Jaen

technician-opinion@ncsu.edu

Assistant Opinion Editor Shilpa Giri Sports Editor Camden Speight

technician-sports@ncsu.edu

Assistant Sports Editors Nicholas Schnittker Tristan Tucker Photo Editor Ryan Farischon

technician-photo@ncsu.edu

Assistant Photo Editor Marissa McHugh Video Editor Rachel Amponsah

technician-video@ncsu.edu

Assistant Video Editor Vasanth Ramdas

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

TECHNICIAN 3

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

NC State students discuss stress during condensed semester Caryl J. Espinoza Jaen Opinion Editor

Editor’s Note: This article contains mentions of depression and suicide and may be disturbing for some readers. Reader discretion is advised. For many students, the college experience has been a stressful juggle of class duties, job opportunities and social life. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an even larger toll on students’ mental health, with students highlighting NC State’s condensed semester as particularly stressful. Adonis Belton, a third-year studying industrial engineering, said the switch from in-person to online classes during the beginning of the semester amplified student stress. “The condensed schedule was a big surprise that I think nobody was ready for,” Belton said. “When everyone had to move out and everyone had to get their own things and had to get comfortable with the new schedule, we never got a chance to do things with, like, everyone’s mental state.” According to Belton, the lack of breaks and the switch to online classes during the condensed semester greatly affected his schedule and grades. Belton, the vice president of Phi Beta Sigma and a member of the Engineering Ambassadors program, had to change his schedule in order to keep up with courses, and even then, he said he still felt professors were continuing to increase schoolwork throughout the semester. “Professors are like ‘More work means that we’re getting more studying and more done,’” Belton said. “But that’s not the case, of course, which is also why you can see a drop in grades like that.” Kayla Faulk, a f if th-year studying criminology and biological sciences, said she spent the semester juggling schoolwork, an internship and a dog-sitting job. She said she felt like professors were not prepared to adapt a full semester into a condensed schedule. “Towards the middle of the semester, at least one of my teachers said ‘OK, I’m gonna completely do away with something, with an assignment,’” Faulk said. “But for the most part, it feels like expectations were remaining the same until teachers started to realize there was an issue.” Throughout the semester, Faulk said she was experiencing issues with her

mental health, with the condensed semester giving her no time to destress. According to Faulk, as she watched her roommates and family members also constantly stress, she started avoiding schoolwork due to her decreased mental health, and it wasn’t until recently that she started feeling better. “I had a really good conversation with one of my friends, and I just vented, and

“You have professors who are very headstrong in ‘I have to go through my syllabus! I have to hit these due dates!’” Lawrence said. “So, it really just feels like there’s a big disconnect between what the instructors are understanding what it’s like and how they’re treating their courses.” Michael Lewis, a fourth-year studying political studies and Arabic, said

JAYLAN HARRINGTON/TECHNICIAN

I was just like ‘This is stupid! Everything is stupid!’, and then I started kind of, like, picking back up,” Faulk said. “I’m in a really good spot right now; well, a lot better than I thought I would be.” Amir Lawrence, a fourth-year studying computer science, said his mental health deteriorated to a point that was debilitating. “I got to the point where I was contemplating suicide, and it was very much to the extent of like imposter syndrome, depression, anxiety,” Lawrence said. “And it just all culminates with, like, the semester, the coursework and, of course, being in America in a predominantly white region.” Lawrence said, with a high-intensity, project-heavy major like computer science, he had no time to rest or relax throughout the semester. According to Lawrence, he felt many professors were optimistic about the semester remaining in person and did not do enough to adapt classes online.

coursework felt crammed in throughout the semester. “I kind of felt like, at the beginning of the semester, a lot of the classes’ syllabi weren’t really adjusted for the short amount of time that we were in,” Lewis said. “They kept a regular semester’s load of coursework and packed it into the time that they had.” Lewis said, even if many of his professors made coursework cuts throughout the semester, it showed that professors were not ready to adapt to the sudden shift to a condensed, all-online semester. According to Lewis, balancing living at home with schoolwork and his duties at the African American Cultural Center often felt stressful. “For people that I’ve talked to who are at NC State, it’s also the same,” Lewis said. “It’s trying to duck and dodge, you know, getting sick and trying to stay as healthy as they can, and then maintaining grades, GPA or their standards for classwork and grades.”

Nicholas Williams, a third-year studying political science, said while he didn’t feel like the workload had increased this semester, the condensed semester added on to student stress. “It’s felt like it has increased just because there’s been no breaks at all,” Williams said. “So it’s kind of been all running together, and it’s felt like more work than past semesters.” According to Williams, while being a full-time student with a part-time job at the Career Development Center did not allow for much free time, he saw a few positives in the condensed semester, such as the longer break at the end of finals. Williams said while his grades were not declining this semester, he felt like the university administration’s response to COVID-19 was lackluster. “I feel like, this semester, there were some good policies in place but did not see a lot of enforcement, which I think definitely contributed to the outbreaks,” Williams said. “I think, from the student side, people just need to make more responsible choices.” Amber Ellis, a fourth-year student in communication, said while her academic life was not suffering under the condensed semester, many students were not experiencing the same thing. “I think, ultimately, college students can adjust to a lot, but it’s important to remember that there is a breaking point for everybody,” Ellis said. “So I think, while I’ve been able to handle it, I don’t think that it’s a win by any means, and an extended semester would’ve done most people some good.” According to Ellis, despite dropping a class after the switch to all-online delivery and keeping her extracurricular activities minimal, the workload for the condensed semester felt increased due to the barriers of communication between professors and students, making studying more rigorous. With NC State adding mental health days for the upcoming spring semester, Ellis said while she understood the University was equally as stressed as students, more could be done to ensure student wellness. “At the very least, make the mental health days a little more consistent,” Ellis said. “At least give us a week’s worth of days if you’re taking away spring break, and then maybe just have them every Monday or something, since I know some people aren’t too happy that they’re scattered.”

News

4 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

Revenue losses lead to auxiliary employee furloughs Cassie Englund News Co-Editor

Following revenue losses casued by COVID-19 during the fall semester, NC State will implement furloughs and salary reductions for employees in auxiliary units, such as Campus Enterprises and NC State Athletics, beginning Nov. 12 and ending in June. The recent furloughs were announced on Sept. 24 in an email from NC State, detailing a $75.4 million loss in revenue, which will affect employees and leadership staff. Most student workers have already been furloughed or terminated. According to Richard Berlin, associate vice chancellor of Campus Enterprises, Campus Enterprises is the largest entity affected by the furloughs, however, the current furlough plan is temporary “When two-thirds of your business revenue is gone, you have to make adjustments,” said Berlin. “But you’re not doing this because you want to lose employees or you don’t need them anymore.” NC State implemented different types of furloughs based on individual positions and responsibilities. Furloughs included partial, where employees do not work on certain days of the week; full, where employees work zero hours; and hybrid, where employees are on a full furlough for a designated period of time before returning to work. According to Charles Maimone, vice chancellor for finance and administration, in Campus Enterprises, 67 employees are partially furloughed, 90 employees are fully furloughed and 96 are on a hybrid furlough.

Maimone also said all the administrators in Campus Enterprises took temporary salary reductions. “This was not an easy thing to have to do,” Berlin said. “We did so many things before we even considered furloughs to save money in our division.” Many of the employees who were partialy furloughed or on hybrid furloughs already work seasonally in response to the influx of students during fall and spring semesters. However. there will be a decreased number of students on campus in spring 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many planning to take online or hybrid classes. Maimone said the current furlough plan accounts for the worst case scenario in the spring semester. “Our hope is that the spring semester will actually generate much more work than this furlough strategy plans for,” Maimone said. Housing is one of the best indicators of how many auxiliary employees will be needed in Campus Enterprises during any given semester. Currently, there are approximately 2,000 people living in on-campus residences. According to Maimone, the University currently expects around 4,500 people living on campus during the spring 2021 semester. “These furloughs will be mitigated then because we will bring more people back to work because we will have more activity on the campus,” Maimone said. “And so, that is our hope, is that we actually do reactivate in a larger scale than we are right now.” Benefits will still be available to furloughed employees, unlike in the case of

GRAPHIC BY ANN SALMAN/TECHNICIAN

layoffs or terminations. University Human Resources held information sessions over Zoom for employees who received furloughs.

Employees can find answers to questions about furloughs and more through the University Human Resources website.

News

TECHNICIAN 5

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Krispy Kreme Challenge goes virtual, makes doughnuts optional

GRAPHIC BY NOAH WEAVER/TECHNICIAN

Kathryn Ellis Correspondent

The Krispy Kreme Challenge is a longstanding tradition at NC State and will experience changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, just like many other aspects of campus life, by being completely virtual. Registered participants will run independently and can complete the challenge over the course of a week, spanning from Feb. 6 to Feb. 13. Last February, the 16th Annual Krispy Kreme Challenge took place with 5,489 participants. Participants run 2.5 miles from the Belltower to the Krispy Kreme in Ra leigh, where t hey eat a dozen doughnuts and then run back to their original location in less than one hour. This year’s event is organized entirely by students and is offering virtual registration to allow participants to

run independently in compliance with social-distancing mandates. The event donates all proceeds to UNC Children’s Hospital, which serves 100 counties in North Carolina. Tatum Kellum, a third-year studying biological sciences with a concentration in noncommunicable disease, serves as director of logistics and finance for the Krispy Kreme Challenge and stated although it is not a traditional year at NC State, NC State’s number one tradition had to go on. In years past, runners would compete against each other to finish first. However, this year, the competitive aspect will be missing from the event. “Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a competition aspect to it because there’s no way for us to truly ensure that everybody is submitting correct timing information,” Kellum said. “It’s not

so much of a competition this year but more about fundraising for UNC Children’s Hospital and trying to still keep the spirit of the event alive.” This year, doughnuts are optional. “As of right now, we aren’t planning on offering doughnuts to people who register just because there’s no way for us to ship a dozen doughnuts,” Kellum said. “We have people registering all over the country. That’s another reason the competition aspect won’t be happening this year because it won’t be the true challenge of eating the dozen doughnuts and running the 5 miles in under an hour.” Turnout for the challenge is usually impressive, but Kellum said they are unsure about this year’s participation. “We don’t have any expectations in terms of participation for this year, but we do have a goal of at least 1,000 runners, which is very small compared to

previous years,” Kellum said. “We normally can have any where upwards of 5,000 runners, so we said 1,000 to be ambitious for ourselves, but also realistic, given the circumstances.” Kellum said the challenge hopes to still raise substantial donations this upcoming year despite the changes. “Our donation goal is at least $60,000, which we feel is a bit ambitious, but doable. With hardwork, sponsorships and people registering, we’re definitely hoping to get close to that number,” Kellum said. Bratton said the best part about the race is it’s a fundraiser for UNC Children’s Hospital. “You’re raising money for a good cause and the whole challenge itself is fun,” Bratton said. “The idea of it, the absurdity of it, makes it fun.”

Opinion

6 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

Wake County Board of Elections should stop using religious institutions as polling sites Austin Dunlow

Arts & Entertainment Editor

It’s now been a little over a week since thousands of people went to their local polling location to cast their ballots for president, governor and many other down-ballot races. Many peoples’ Election Day had them standing in line inside of a religious institution to cast their ballot, and it’s time for this to not

be the norm. In 2020, Wake County had 204 polling places, with 75 of those being religious institutions. That’s 36% of the polling places hosted inside of a religious institution. I recognize that some areas do not have enough large and empty locations to use as polling sites without using religious institutions, but these institutions should be a last resort. First, it has been shown that your polling location has an effect on how you vote. In Arizona in 2000, it was found that voters that cast their ballots in a school were more likely to support an education funding initiative than

people with similar social and demographic characteristics who voted at other polling places. In 2012, a study asked people their thoughts about minority groups while standing in front of city hall and when standing in front of a church. People asked in front of the church were more likely to give anti-minority and conservative responses than those asked in front of city hall, regardless of their personal religious beliefs. Furthermore, voting in religious institutions has actually encouraged violence and discrimination against religious minorities. In 2016, a mosque was removed as a potential polling location in Florida after the Palm Beach County Board of Elections received 50 complaints, including threats of violence, from people who refused to vote in a mosque. As of 2016, in New York City, there were no polling locations in mosques, even though it is estimated that one in eight New Yorkers are Muslims. Wake County has 75 religious polling locations, with 73 of them being Christian. One,

Sha’arei Shalom Congregation, is a Jewish synagogue, and the other, Hindu Society of North Carolina, is a Hindu temple. We’re willing to accommodate Islamophobes while forcing other religious minorities to vote in Christian churches. Religious organizations are also tax exempt under the condition that they do not endorse or oppose a political candidate. Sixty-three percent of Americans believe the church should not be involved in politics; however, the government has not listened to this majority once again. The Johnson Amendment, enacted in 1954, prevents 501(c)(3) organizations, or taxexempt nonprofit organizations, from being able to participate in political campaigning, endorsing or opposing a political candidate. However, in 2017, Donald Trump signed an executive order limiting the power of the U.S. Treasury to enforce the Johnson Amendment against individuals or religious organizations endorsing or opposing political candidates for moral or religious reasons. A religious organization may not be seen as political, but if their leader can legally endorse

a candidate for religious reasons, the organization has then become political. Political messaging is not allowed within a polling place under electioneering laws, but if the polling place itself is political, how is that any better? It’s an erosion of the separation of church and state. It’s time for the Wake County Board of Elections to move away from using religious institutions as polling locations. I recognize that many times religious institutions tend to be in central areas of precincts with large and empty areas that can easily be used throughout the week. However, these religious institutions should not be the first choice. They should be the fallback. If a religious institution should be chosen as a polling location, it should be investigated for political activism. If the religious institution is involved in partisan political activism, it should not be chosen as a polling place. We wouldn’t let the North Carolina Republican or Democratic offices be used as polling places, so why are we allowing partisan organizations to be used as one?

Why Trump’s executive order on race and sex stereotyping should be overturned On Sept. 22, Donald Trump issued an executive order to combat race and sex stereotyping in t he work place. W h i le some may view this as him turning over a new leaf, Alex Ongstad the order is riddled with Correspondent irony that only substantiates claims made against his character and principles. Despite the promising title, the president’s language suggests that we must ignore our nation’s history with racism in order to foster effective change. Trump stated that “this ideology is rooted in the pernicious and false belief that America is an irredeemably racist and sexist country; that some people, simply on account of their race or sex, are oppressors.” In an attempt to redress what he perceives to be the root of the problem, the president has banned federal agencies from conducting diversity training that condones stereotyping or scapegoating. Ironically, the order itself stereotypes the values of training proponents and restricts what can be taught, even if the information is rooted in the reality of our past. Educating workers on types of

discrimination, such as institutionalized racism, is prohibited through this order, despite the impact these terrible systems have had, and still have, on marginalized groups. Trump claims that this sort of learning will only label people as oppressors on account of the color of their skin, but it’s ignorant of the president to turn a blind eye to America’s racist roots and to claim that educating our people will fuel a reverse racism. Not only is his perception ignorant, but it’s also counter progressive. Instead of acknowledging the oppression of marginalized groups, Trump is more concerned with how white people are being portrayed in the eyes of those who maneuver a broken system that we created. One can only assume this executive order is an appeal to the “All Lives Matter” protesters who make up the base of Trump supporters. While some may be able to appreciate the sentiment, this belief inadvertently lets minority groups know that their lives don’t matter as much as. Years of oppression and discrimination, whether it be forthright or unconscious, is a call for redress and a reinstatement of natural liberties. By arguing that we should feel

sorry for the historically-common oppressor, we ignore necessary reparations needed for the systemic racism that has plagued our nation for decades. Trump’s executive order only helps affirm the fact that certain races are given more privilege and opportunity as a result of this biased system. Because this executive order targets institutions that affiliate themselves with the federal government, some universities, such as NC State, could be at risk of adhering to these regulations. There are multiple instances in which the University could be affected. If NC State were to enter an agreement with the federal government or receive grant funding from the federal government, the University would have to abide by these limitations in diversity training. Some students already view the current diversity training at NC State as ineffective and counteractive, so an adherence to this new executive order would only fuel a growing distaste for the program. Institutions have until Nov. 21 to revise their contracts with the government in order to reassess their training procedures and potentially make any other necessary changes.

Fortunately, the order does not directly affect the realm of educating students in class, but it does beg the question of how this order will be interpreted in the future. If Joe Biden takes office in January, I believe it’s necessary for him to overturn this executive order in order to effectively acknowledge our nation’s troubled history and to hold government agencies accountable for understanding the origins of racism in the United States. To be honest, I didn’t even know that this executive order was issued until a couple weeks ago, and I think it’s a real issue that it’s not gaining more attention. Promoting a system that blatantly ignores underlying bias and instead focuses its attention on the people who are considered oppressors serves no purpose in this country other than to distract us from the real issues at hand. I believe the aim of this executive order is to regulate conversation and, in turn, undermine a movement that has, unfortunately, seen a lack of attention in recent months. This is a conversation we should be having, and we should also be fighting to ensure that our right to speak out on the issue and identify the root of the problem are protected.

TECHNICIAN 7

Opinion TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Pollsters may still have room for improvement in elections to come The ending was anticlimactic, but at least it’s over. With Joe Biden’s decisive win on Saturday morning thanks to Pennsylvania’s 20 electora l votes, the 77 million — Sam and counting — people Overton Staff Columnist who voted for him can breathe a collective sigh of relief and set their clocks for Inauguration Day 2021. However, as much as we’d like to move on from such a stressful week, it’s worth examining what made it so stressful — specifically, polling. Expectations and reality were, once again, vastly inconsistent. To start, while many key states were predicted to tip in Joe Biden’s favor, the actual results ended up favoring the Trump administration for a second presidential term. We had the same problem in 2016, where everyone believed in Hillary Clinton’s lead in the polls, but the electoral results ended up clearly favoring the opposition. Even NC State was not immune to this overtrust in polls, with many NC State students not expecting the results and 2016’s Technician underrepresenting conservatives. Simply put, the polls were even more off for Democrats in those four swing states this year than they were in 2016, contributing to the four nail-biting days we sat and waited for someone,

anyone, to declare a winner. In the aftermath of 2016, there seemed to be clear reasons why the election didn’t tip in Hillary’s favor when it felt undeniable. According to Pew Research Center, pollsters underestimated Trump’s resonating support, especially among white, uneducated voters. Another reason was the prominence of “shy Trumpers,” Trump supporters who were quiet in their backing of the Republican candidate due to Trump’s brazen positions that polarized the race. Pollsters may have also identified the wrong likely voters, severely overestimating turnout in some key districts and underestimating in others. Regardless, the upshot was that there was plenty of room to grow before the 2020 election, and pollsters adjusted their methods accordingly. This year was going to be different, they claimed. Except, it wasn’t. As I explained earlier, the polling differences were substantially worse for Democrats in 2020, leading to election-night blues and a spark of hope for Trump supporters. Even though virtually every pollster made substantial changes for the presidential election, at a time when the stakes couldn’t be higher, the polls fell short again. Joe Biden won Wisconsin by less than a point, not 17, and Florida tipped nearly three points in President Trump’s favor when FiveThirtyEight predicted

Biden to pull ahead by almost the same margin. Even in North Carolina, Democrat Cal Cunningham was favored to beat Thom Tillis in the race for the Senate, despite a sexting scandal, and the state House of Representatives and Senate were locked in a fierce battle that seemed to be leaning blue, thanks to redrawn district lines and fierce volunteer support. Neither of those predictions came to pass, and voters from both parties were surprised. Why were the polls so inconsistent, despite more meticulous methodology and increased awareness? We may not be able to tell for a while, but let’s remember that this election season was a chaotic one at best and catastrophic at worst. The coronavirus pandemic led to a slew of mail-in ballots from mostly Democratic precincts, lending itself to excruciatingly slow results from the states that still matter the most — here’s looking at you, Georgia — but enough states tipped in Joe Biden’s favor by Saturday morning. There may have been a number of unforeseen “shy Trumpers” in this election as well. It wouldn’t be surprising, given President Trump’s catastrophic handling of the coronavirus pandemic and an incredibly polarizing election. Tha n k s to Tr ump’s weaponization of journalism, his supporters tend to be less enthusiastic about supporting

Eye of the Hurricane

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

whatever Trump slams as “fake news.” Because of this, news organizations — Technician included — can rarely integrate conservative opinions into their content unless that’s the general tone of their organization. As a result, conservatives may feel underrepresented and less keen to contribute to journalistic endeavors, such as a massive survey to gauge political support. People are also increasingly less likely to pick up the phone or text back a pollster — I can personally attest to this, as I must have received at least a hundred phone calls and texts from unknown numbers in the weeks leading up to the election, the bulk of which I ignored without a second thought. All of these discrepancies aren’t to say that there weren’t reasons to celebrate after looking at the polls. 50-52% of young people aged 18-29 voted in the 2020 election, almost a 10-point increase from 2016. We also filled in for at-risk poll workers, volunteering in the weeks leading up to the election. No matter who the 2024 candidates will be, it’s crucial that we bring that energy to upcoming elections and fight complacency as hard as possible. However, beyond our efforts, pollsters should tweak their methodology once again heading into future elections. Either that, or maybe we should consult a Magic 8-Ball.

Opinion

8 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

Now that the semester is almost over, take time for a mental health check This truly has been a rollercoaster of a semester, with classes moving online after only two weeks in August, thousands of students having to move back home and adjusting to college during Emily Cooney a global pandemic. As we Correspondent are now in the official last week of classes, with the last day of class on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and then finals ending on Nov. 24, I think now is an important time to check on our mental health and motivate ourselves to finish strong. I think it is vital to reflect on how much we have all accomplished as college students during this time. Whether this is your first semester or your last, we should all be proud of ourselves for getting through this

condensed virtual semester with stressful events, like the recent presidential election, happening in the world. College students’ mental health has been a growing concern for a long time, but it has only gotten worse amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. On top of the stress and anxiety often produced by academics and personal problems, the pandemic has caused an increase in mental health issues for many. While it makes sense for your mental health to be at a low right now, you should also never minimize the value of taking time to take care of yourself, as cliche as that sounds. It can be too easy to drown in assignments, papers, projects and Zoom meetings to the point where your mental health is put at the bottom of your priority list. However, people must make a conscious effort to prioritize

their mental health because I believe your sanity should always be put first. For myself, online classes have not been the worst this semester, but I still make time to do things for my mental health, even when I am just tired of looking at my laptop screen. This could be going for a walk, taking a drive with music blasting, buying a cheap candle or anything that I know will bring me back to some state of balance during this time. Remember that NC State has counselors ready to help if you need it and never forget that it is more than okay to ask for help when it comes to your mental health. The NC State Counseling Center even has an entire page dedicated to the mental health impact of COVID-19 to help students either schedule a phone or Zoom appointment or view helpful strategies to manage concerns

An Insurmountable Obstacle

Patrick Delaney, a fourth-year studying English

and emotions about the pandemic. Aside from these resources, remember to talk to those close to you if you are struggling, including friends, family or even professors, if you are unable to complete an assignment due to a mental health-related issue. Also, make time to have fun, whether that be FaceTiming a friend, watching the entire Twilight series or anything that can alleviate the stress that you may be experiencing this semester. Overall, I encourage all students to push through this final stretch of the semester and look forward to the long break ahead. This semester has been difficult for us all in a multitude of ways that have never been navigated before, so be kind to yourself and others because everyone’s mental health matters.

TECHNICIAN 9 Arts & Entertainment African American Cultural Center hopes Kwanzaa 2020 celebration creates community despite distance TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Sally Parker Correspondent

Austin Dunlow

Arts & Entertainment Editor

As we approach the end of the year, we look forward to the many celebrations that winter brings. Among those celebrations is Kwanzaa, a Pan-African cultural celebration that was created by Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana studies at California State University, Long Beach, in the 1960s after Karenga lived through the Watts Riots in California. Karenga traveled around the United States to spread his idea of Kwanzaa as a celebration of community and strength for African Americans. The nascent celebration entered mainstream culture due to public schools and universities marking and institutionalizing the event. Kwesi Brookins, associate professor of psychology and Africana studies at NC State, discussed this symbiotic relationship and how the Black studies movement popularized Kwanzaa. “Africana studies is part of what was the Black studies movement,” Brookins said. “Kwanzaa is part of that Black studies movement as well. Maulana Karenga is a prominent figure, a professor and a scholar, in the Black studies movement that also extends from the 1960s. Africana studies at North Carolina State University has an official major and minor degree and was founded in 2006.” The African American Cultural Center (AACC) celebrates Kwanzaa every year with events, celebrations and traditional Kwanzaa customs, like lighting the seven candles and reciting the seven principles of Kwanzaa. This year, the AACC has had to move the Kwanzaa celebration online due to COVID-19 regulations. Despite this, the AACC has found online ways to still mark and celebrate Kwanzaa virtually. Aminat Bashorun, a graduate research assistant at the AACC, discussed the events marking each day of Kwanzaa. According to Bashorun, the AACC is hosting events that celebrate some of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Some of the events that have already occurred were a watch party and discussion of Beyoncé’s “Black is King” to celebrate kujichagulia, or self-determination; an Instagram Live interview with local Black businesses and Black entrepreneurs to celebrate ujamaa, or cooperative economics; and a storytelling and coffee hour to celebrate kumbaa, or creativity. There are two more upcoming celebrations that students can participate in, according to Bashorun. The first is a reflection and healing space to celebrate imani, or faith. This event will be held Thursday, Nov. 12, from 12 - 2 p.m. and is in partnership with NC State Pre-

DANIELLE MEYER/TECHNICIAN

The president of the Uninhibited Praise Gospel Choir sings at the Kwanzaa celebration in the Witherspoon Student Center Campus Cinema on Dec. 4, 2019. Kwanzaa is a celebration of the African diaspora through the seven principles of Nguzo Saba.

vention Services and the Counseling Center. “We’re using this time to show people how to heal, how to lead with grace and, you know, how to really, really own our Blackness, but at the same time, holding ourselves accountable as Black people,” Bashorun said. The final event is the annual Kwanzaa ceremony, which will be held Friday, Nov. 13, from 6 - 8:30 p.m. The ceremony will encourage community and “uplift Black joy and purpose” while celebrating Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Bashuron reflected on last year’s Kwanzaa celebration and said there was a sense of community that was built in Witherspoon Student Center. The AACC hopes this sense of community can still be translated across a virtual event. “We would have dance performances,” Bashuron said. “We would have performances by the Uninhibited Praise choir. We would have spoken words, and students would come

and tell their stories or share their poems. Then we would acknowledge Black faculty, Black staff and Black students, and we would recite the principles of Kwanzaa by lighting each different candle.” Brookins said this year could see more widespread or renewed attention on Kwanzaa, similar to that of Juneteenth, after everything the Black community has experienced this year. “Juneteenth was a pivotal moment for African American history,” Brookins said. “When you think about the ‘full recognition’ of that liberatory moment, when emancipation occurred, one could envision, for instance, what we’ve gone through in 2020 as a pivotal moment, particularly related to racial justice and the dismantling of racism and the events that led up to that. Certainly it will depend on what happens after this moment, but I could easily see them revisiting [Kwanzaa] because of all of these significant things that occurred in this year and at this moment.” Brookins said the University including celebrations like Kwanzaa and departments like Africana studies speaks to a growing desire for inclusivity on campus. “The goal and the purpose is to make real this idea of diversity and inclusion,” Brookins said. “To be sure that the key experiences of a people in the United States, that indeed were pivotal or crucial and critical to the growth and development of the United States, would be included in the academic, scholarly curriculum of the University, right? That’s the big goal, right?” For more information about the African American Cultural Center’s Kwanzaa celebration, visit the Center’s event page.

DANIELLE MEYER/TECHNICIAN

The Uninhibited Praise Gospel Choir sings at the Kwanzaa celebration in the Witherspoon Student Center Campus Cinema on Dec. 4, 2019. Kwanzaa is a celebration of the African diaspora through the seven principles of Nguzo Saba.

Arts & Entertainment 10 TECHNICIAN Who’s Who at Student Media: Technician Managing Editor Alicia Thomas THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THE RADAR

Noah Buck

Correspondent

Events to keep an eye on for the week of Nov. 12

Meet Alicia Thomas, a fourth-year studying political science, who, for the past year, has been the managing editor at Technician, one of the student newspapers at NC State. Through her position, Thomas strives to help curate the most relevant, informative and engaging content possible throughout every editorial section. “I’m basically the direct supervisor of the editorial staff, which includes the news, sports, opinion and A&E section, as well as some digital media content,” Thomas said. “My job is to make our editors’ lives easier by pushing each section to put out the best content possible.” Thomas said she reviews the stories from each section to ensure they are newsworthy, not just with the news section, but

DANIEL JOHNSTON INSTALLATION Thursday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. YOUTUBE LIVESTREAM Free

Tune in to a livestream on the Gregg Museum of Art & Design’s YouTube channel to watch world-renowned potter Daniel Johnston create an exhibition at the Gregg Museum. Johnston will also answer questions from those who tune in.

BRICKYARD BROADCAST Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. JAYLAN HARRINGTON/TECHNICIAN

“My job is to make our editors’ lives easier by pushing each section to put out the best content possible.” - Alicia Thomas with all writing sections at Technician. As a managing editor, she also covers the blind spots of each section, searching for content that may have been left out. “I read every story that goes on the website,” Thomas said. “I want to make sure it’s the best content we can put out, and if it’s not, we have a meeting to see what we can do better.”

VIRTUAL EVENT Free

Thomas gained experience writing for her high school newspaper, which led her to consider writing in college. Despite her experience, writing wasn’t necessarily her first choice coming into her first year. “I really wanted to join the Indian dance team, but I broke my foot freshman year,” Thomas said. “I couldn’t participate in the activities where I was expecting to make

JAYLAN HARRINGTON/TECHNICIAN

new friends.” Despite the setback, Thomas decided to explore her talents as a writer for Technician’s news section, where she developed her skills and her eye for relevant stories. Although it didn’t come easy at first, Thomas continued to work and eventually found a passion for covering Student Government and politics. “With the first article I wrote, my editor changed almost every single word of the draft,” Thomas said. “That’s how it was for the first two articles, but I kept writing and started covering Student Government, which is how I really got interested.” Thomas recalled a moment in her early experience that put her responsibility of covering NC State news into perspective. “During the 2018 student body president election, one of the candidates said a really sexist thing during the debate,” Thomas said. “It really hit me that I had the power to write about it and make people aware of what was said. It was kind of a defining moment for me.” With the encouragement of Kennedy McCutchen, assistant news editor at the time, and Mary Dare Martin, news editor at the time, Thomas applied to join the Technician editorial board and has been involved since. Thomas said she has met some of her best friends through her experience at Technician, and they have made her college experience that much better. “I care so much about the people that work here,” Thomas said. “They all put so much time and effort into making our news outlet the best it can be. These people are like my best friends. I literally live with some of them.” Through her experience at Technician, Thomas has found her passion for writ-

Join the Department of Music in attending the first Brickyard Broadcast, a virtual reality music experience in the virtual Brickyard. The event will also feature a Q&A session with Peter Askim and Nathan Leaf, directors of orchestral studies and choral activities respectively, and Lisa Bielawa, a composer.

UAB’S NC STATE LIVE Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. VIRTUAL EVENT Free

The University Activities Board will be hosting “Saturday Night Live” cast members Heidi Gardner and Chris Redd. The two hope to entertain all in attendance. If you want to attend this event, you must register in advance.

LAST DAY OF CLASSES Tuesday, Nov. 17 Tuesday is the last day of classes for the semester for regular classes and eight-week classes. We hope everyone does well on their exams and has a safe and restful winter break. We look forward to “seeing” everyone back in the spring (hopefully).

ing and educating her peers on important matters in news and politics. Thomas said she sees a successful future where her experience pays off. “I would love to pursue journalism as a career path,” Thomas said. “Ideally, I also want a happy life where I can travel a lot, eat good food and be surrounded with my friends and family and a ton of animals all the time.”

TECHNICIAN 11

Arts & Entertainment TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Melissa Evans leading Pack volleyball through short season Elizabeth Stone Staff Writer

Originally from Porter Ranch, California, senior opposite hitter Melissa Evans started playing volleyball at the age of 11, while also playing basketball and softball. At the age of 14, Evans was told she would have to make a decision between the three sports. An easy choice for a natural talent, Evans chose volleyball. Before coming to NC State, Evans received a call from former NC State head coach Linda Hampton-Keith who invited her to visit the University. Evans wanted to experience the East Coast and how different it would be from California. She mostly enjoyed the Southern hospitality and knew she wanted to be at a place where she could

figure out what she wanted to do with her life outside of volleyball. “My sister and I went, and we just fell in love with the girls I would be playing with that year,” Evans said. “...So I was like, what greater way to be across the country, on the East Coast and figuring it out myself.” Evans used her dedication to the sport to make an impact and to continue furthering her success when she came to NC State. Confident about her talent and performance, Evans was driven to showcase her passion for her team. While Evans credits her teammates for pushing her to use her voice not only in volleyball but as a leader in her community, she has also enjoyed having multiple mentors encourage her to apply her talents as

“We have to be those role models in the community that are being safe, that are not going out...we just have to be super safe about it.” - Melissa Evans

NICK FAULKNER/TECHNICIAN

Sophomore opposite hitter Melissa Evans prepares a serve. Evans had one of the Pack’s six aces to along with her team-high 12 kills in the 3-0 win over Campbell on Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018 in Reynolds Coliseum.

a student-athlete to impact the NC State community in a profound way. “[Assistant AD] Tonya Washington has always pushed me to be more than just an athlete on campus,” Evans said. In fact, Evans was the founder and creator of the Black Athlete Coalition, an NC State student organization that gives “Black student-athletes a voice and a safe space where [they] have the opportunity to talk to each other and administration and

JESSE CHILDS/TECHNICIAN

Sophomore opposite hitter Melissa Evans blocks a shot by the University of Virginia at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday, Oct. 12, 2018. The Wolfpack beat UVA 3-1. Evans had 14 kills and 4 digs.

where [they] can make a change.” She was instrumental in coordinating logistics for the Black Lives Matter public demonstration on Sept. 12. Evans credits building her leadership skills by learning from Associate AD Dereck Whittenburg, who specializes in community relations and student support . Having someone like Wittenburg has provided Evans with a mentor she can turn to for advice and guidance in a number of areas outside of her sport. “I’ve always had a great relationship with him where I can just ask him questions about anything in life, whether it’s in athletics, academics, injustices in America…” Evans said. Her leadership skills came in handy this season amidst a worldwide pandemic. Despite a schedule change this season, Evans has kept her team on track, stressing the importance of following COVID-19 protocols and setting a strong example to ensure a successful and healthy season. “We have to be those role models in the community that are being safe, that are not going out...we just have to be super safe about it,” Evans said. “...I think our team is doing amazing. We’re being leaders in that very way.” When asked about a word that describes her team, Evans reflected on all the hardwork and dedication the team has put into this season. “I would say resilient, especially during these times, especially at the beginning of the year, we didn’t have a coach,” Evans said. Although playing an entire season in the midst of a pandemic isn’t an ideal situation for anyone, Evans continued to develop as a leader this year, an invaluable skill she will carry with her even after her playing days are over.

Sports

12 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

Wolfpack Wager: Analyzing lines surrounding Indiana, Florida hype Andy Mayer Staff Writer

In what was supposed to be the second full week of Power Five conference matchups, the SEC has seen a rough week due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, which has forced it to cancel four games. There will still be plenty of action this Saturday, including Florida State visiting Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday night. Florida State at NC State (-10) I was very skeptical of NC State staying competitive once redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary came out of NC State’s game against Duke with a broken fibula. However, with the exception of the games at Virginia Tech and UNC-Chapel Hill, redshirt junior Bailey Hockman has done a solid job filling Leary’s shoes as quarterback. Hockman had one of the best games of his career against Miami and almost led the Wolfpack to a win over the much favored Hurricanes. I expect this to continue against Florida State and its pass defense, which ranks near the bottom of the ACC. In addition to NC State looking impressive last week, Florida State has just looked downright bad for much of its season. While the Seminoles did beat the then-No. 5-ranked Tar Heels, the rest of their season has been awful. The only other conference game the Seminoles have been within 9.5 points, besides against the Tar Heels, was Georgia Tech. Florida State didn’t even beat the Yellow Jackets, it just kept the game close. Even with these horrible performances, Florida State is being

Austin Dunlow A&E Editor Record: 53-37 Rank: 7

GRAPHIC BY JOE LINGO/TECHNICIAN

overvalued as it has gone just 2-5 against the spread this season. Pick: NC State (-10) Indiana (-7) at Michigan State The bandwagon for Indiana is getting awfully full after the Hoosiers were ranked inside the top 10 for the first time in over 50 years in this week’s AP poll. While it may be up for debate whether or not it converted the 2-point conversion in overtime that gave Indiana the win over Penn State, the fact that this is at least a good team can’t be debated. In addition, the Hoosiers are 3-0 against the spread this season. While odds makers have been rushing to figure out the true value of this Hoosiers team, I don’t think they hit the mark with the spread they put out this week. Just like NC State’s matchup, not only is Indiana trending in the right direction, but it

Rachael Davis Editor-in-Chief Record: 61-29 Rank: 1

Will Thornhill Sports Writer Record: 58-32 Rank: 2

NC State

Minnesota

Iowa

Miami

Wake Forest at North Carolina

North Carolina

Louisville at Virginia Baylor at Texas Tech

Florida State at NC State Iowa at Minnesota No. 9 Miami at Virginia Tech

Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech No. 13 Wisconsin at Michigan No. 23 Northwestern at Purdue Utah at UCLA

is going up against a truly bad team. Michigan State is 1-2 this year record-wise and against the spread. Its only win in both categories came as a 3-point victory against a Michigan team that has somehow looked even worse this season than its in-state rival. Pick: Indiana (-7) Arkansas at Florida (-17.5) This Florida team, like many to come before it, seems overhyped. Head coach Dan Mullen can make all the noise he wants, which he certainly has this season, but his team just can’t consistently compete on a national level. Sure, Florida had a big win over Georgia last week, but it also lost to a Texas A&M team that loves to underperform in big games. Florida is a good team. The Gators will probably even end up in a New Year’s Six Bowl, but it should not be getting two-and-a-half-touchdown

Disclaimer: Gambling is a form of entertainment and can become addictive. If you think you have developed a problem, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network at 1-800-522-4700.

Rachel Bilenki Senior Sports Writer Record: 55-35 Rank: 4

Tristan Tucker Asst. Sports Editor Record: 54-36 Rank: T-5

Florida State

NC State

Iowa

Minnesota

Iowa

Minnesota

Miami

Virginia Tech

North Carolina

Virginia

Louisville

Virginia

Louisville

Virginia

Baylor

Texas Tech

Baylor

Texas Tech

Baylor

Texas Tech

Baylor

Pittsburgh

Georgia Tech

Pittsburgh

Wisconsin

Michigan

Wisconsin

Northwestern

Purdue

Northwestern

Utah

Northwestern Northwestern UCLA

Utah

Caryl J. Espinoza Jaen Alicia Thomas Opinion Editor Managing Editor Record: 51-39 Record: 51-39 Rank: 8 Rank: 8

spreads against solid SEC teams. Not only do I think Florida gets too much credit, but I don’t think Arkansas gets enough credit. Arkansas put up a terrible 27-point loss to Georgia to start the season. However, since then, Arkansas has quietly and quickly put together a very respectable season. In the five games since, Arkansas has gone 3-2 and 1-2 against ranked teams. This includes a nailbiting 2-point loss to Auburn and a respectable 11-point loss to Texas A&M. If the schedule comparison isn’t enough, take a look at Arkansas’ 6-0 record against the spread. Of the Power Five conferences that are attempting to play a full season, the ACC, SEC and Big 12, Arkansas is the only team with an unbeaten record. Pick: Arkansas (+17.5) Last week, staff writer Ben Ellis struggled in all three games, going 0-3 while incorrectly picking Miami, Clemson and Stanford to cover in their matchups. Wolfpack Wager Record: 7-14 Ben Ellis: 0-3 Bryan Pyrtle: 2-1 Camden Speight: 3-3 Andy Mayer: 1-2 Will Thornhill: 1-5

Northwestern Northwestern Utah

Utah

Purdue UCLA

Northwestern Northwestern Utah

Utah

Nicholas Schnittker Camden Speight Asst. Sports Editor Sports Editor Record: 56-34 Record: 54-36 Rank: 3 Rank: T-5

Jaylan Harrington Multimedia Manager Record: 49-41 Rank: 10

Sports

TECHNICIAN 13

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Pack football looks to rebound against struggling Florida State Bryan Pyrtle Staff Writer

NC State will play the second game of a three-game homestand in Carter-Finley Stadium Saturday, Nov. 14, against the Florida State Seminoles. This matchup comes one week after the Wolfpack suffered a close loss at home against then-No. 11 Miami. The all-time series between the Pack and the Seminoles stands at 26-12 in favor of Florida State. Last season’s game between the two programs was a 31-13 victory for the Seminoles, but in 2018, the Wolfpack won by a score of 47-28 in the last face-off held in Raleigh. The name of this game will be defense, as both squads will be looking to improve their performance on that side of the ball. Both NC State (4-3, 4-3 ACC) and Florida State (2-5, 1-5 ACC) have given up over 35 points per game and over 470 yards per game, so if one of these teams can gain an edge over the other in that regard, it could be the difference between a win and a loss. With both sides tending to surrender so many yards and points, the offenses will be looking to capitalize on a poor defensive showing by the opponent. The Pack’s attack is headlined by sophomore running back Zonovan Knight and redshirt junior quarterback Bailey Hockman. Knight earned ACC Specialist of the Week honors for his kickoff return touchdown against then-No. 11 Miami, though he only logged 45 rushing yards on 13 carries in that game. Hockman had a better statistical showing against the Hurricanes, completing over two-thirds of his passes for 248 yards, two touchdowns and only one intercep-

ADITYA PENUMARTI/TECHNICIAN

Freshman running back Zonovan Knight rushes versus UNC-Chapel Hill on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Knight had 56 rushing yards in the 44-10 loss.

tion. Now that he is going up against a Florida State secondary that only nabbed four interceptions in seven games, Hockman could be poised for a big night. The Seminoles will also be looking for a rejuvenation on offense, as they have combined for 33 points over their last two games. Against a Wolfpack defense that has allowed over 40 points in each of

its last two games, it seems Florida State will also be looking to make this into a shootout. With both outfits struggling to win on the gridiron as of late, this game looks like it will be close. But even with the possibility of quarterback Jordan Travis returning from injury to be the Seminoles’ signal-caller,

the banged-up Florida State squad is missing leading pass-rusher Marvin Wilson and starting offensive lineman Devontay Love-Taylor due to injury, as well as lead receiver Tamorrion Terry, who is sitting out the rest of the season. The game will air at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, on ACC Network. Prediction: NC State 38, Florida State 24

NC State men’s soccer suffers first winless season in past two decades

Wade Bowman Correspondent

Wolfpack men’s soccer suffered its first winless season since 2000, finishing up at 0-6-1. Its final loss came against a No.1ranked Wake Forest team, which managed to win 2-0 at Dail Soccer Field Saturday, Nov. 7. It could be said this Wolfpack team was dealt a bad hand going into the shortened

season, where the majority of its games would be against high-level ACC opponents. Four of its seven games were against top-five programs nationally. Heartbreak for this team certainly didn’t creep in slowly over the season but rather made its way to the forefront following NC State’s first game. In a double-overtime loss to Duke on Sept. 26, the Pack established a precedent for what was to come in its re-

maining games. That precedent was one where it could play physical and smart while keeping its opponents in low scoring contests. Unfortunately, time and time again, that proved not to be enough to come out of contests with wins this season. The last thing this Wolfpack team would’ve wanted was to play the No. 1 team in the country immediately following such a hard loss, but unfortunately, that’s what was

in the cards for them. Wake Forest has notoriously dominated this matchup in years past, boasting a record of 17-1-3 against NC State. This game was no exception to the rule, as NC State was outplayed by a very good Demon Deacon team that managed to nearly double NC State’s shot opportunities. The Wolfpack could never seem to find its footing. After the first SOCCER continued page 14

Sports

14 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Wake Forest g a m e , NC State would lose to Duke continued from page 13 ye t a g a i n , this time more convincingly with a final score of 3-1. What could have been one of NC State’s best chances to find a win this season came against an untested Navy team, which had only played one exhibition match coming into the game. Fitting the theme of the season, this game also ended in a close 2-1 loss for the Wolfpack. Coming into the home stretch of the season, NC State faced off against No. 3 Clemson at home. This contest was close from start to finish, with NC State managing to hold possession well, along with putting pressure on a dominant Clemson back line. Both teams had plenty of opportunities go just wide of the post or get miraculously saved by exceptional goalie play from both sides. It was Clemson that capitalized on a Wolfpack turnover at midfield, netting a goal the Pack could not match. With its best result of the season, NC State pulled out a tie against No. 5 UNC-Chapel Hill. In a game that went to double-overtime, the Wolfpack was able to stay right with the Tarheels’ pressure. The game ended with both teams having comparable statis-

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

SOCCER

JESSE CHILDS/TECHNICIAN

Sophomore goalkeeper Leon Krapf kicks the ball downfield against James Madison University on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018 at Dail Soccer Field. The game went into overtime and ended in a 0-0 draw. Krapf had four saves.

tics in nearly every category. This was the only game in its season the Pack managed to shoot the ball 10 or more times, which did not result in the absolute best outcome, but a tie is certainly better than another loss. In the final game, NC State lost a second time to a dominant Wake Forest program that walked its way to a convincing 2-0 vic-

tory. Wake Forest kept the pressure on the Wolfpack, managing to shoot 14 times with eight on target to NC State’s three shots with two on target. Seemingly the story of the season, a lack of pressure from NC State offense resulted in a loss for the squad. There are obviously some negative takeaways to be discussed, but there are some

positives to be recognized as well. First off, the play of redshirt junior goalie Leon Krapf should be acknowledged. NC State’s back line fell victim to constant pressure from its higher-ranked opponents, conceding numerous shot attempts per game. Krapf stepped up for his team to make saves more often than not with a .629 save percentage. Granted, had the Pack not been under constant pressure, Krapf would not have put up such stellar numbers. Not being able to keep the ball in the offensive half led the Wolfpack to being tied for second worst in goals allowed in the ACC with 13 on the season. Moving forward, the offensive presence of this team will be under reconstruction to resurrect what was lost this year. NC State managed the fewest shots in the ACC as well as being far behind all other ACC competitors in the total points category (last in goals and assists). While it seems hard to speculate what next season could look like in the couple of days since the previous one ended, what can be known is it’s only uphill from here. Head coach George Kiefer and his squad look to rebuild and improve for the season to come, hoping to remedy the downhill slide the program suffered this season.

Classified

TECHNICIAN 15

To place a classified ad, call 919.515.2411 or visit technicianonline.com/classifieds

HELP WANTED Sales and marketing team members NC State Student Media has paid and volunteer positions available for full-time NC State Students. The positions available are advertising sales, graphic design, social media developers and influencers, on-campus ambassadors, writers, djs, and other similar positions. - NC State Student Media includes the following media outlets: - Agromeck - yearbook - Nubian Message - biweekly newspaper and website serving NC States Black students - Technician - weekly newspaper and daily online reporting on news, sports, arts and entertainment and commentary of interest to the NC State community - WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2 - student-run, non-commercial radio broadcasting indie rock, hip-hop, metal and electronic music - Windhover - annual literary, visual and musical arts publication representing students, faculty, staff and alumni To get involved or learn more, fill out the form at https://studentmedia.dasa.ncsu.edu/jointheteam/ You can also leave a message at 919-515-2411. We look forward to meeting you and having you join our team, which normally includes about 300 students. There is a place for everyone.

Answers to Last Issue’s Sudoku