Earth Month 2023 — Technician 03/30/23

TECHNICIAN

EARTH MONTH

WHAT YOU MISSED:

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

NC State announced partnership with 321 Coffee

NC State is partnering with alumni-owned and -operated 321 Coffee to create “Greater Good” coffee. The officially licensed co-branded coffee will be available for purchase at 321 Coffee beginning April 11. 321 Coffee began in the resident halls at NC State and now currently employs more than 50 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

SOURCE: WRAL

A 1,500-pound shark lurks off the coast of NC

A 1,500-pound great white shark named “Breton,” being tracked by OCEARCH, was pinged near Pamlico Sound on the Outer Banks Saturday. Breton, who is 13 feet long and weighs 1,437 pounds, was first tagged near Nova Scotia in September 2020.

SOURCE: CNN

Great Dane gives birth to 21 puppies in 27 hours

Namine, a two-year-old Great Dane, gave birth to 21 puppies in 27 hours. Average dog litters range from one to 12 puppies, and big dogs tend to give birth to larger litters. Almost all of the puppies weighed over a pound. The current Guinness World Record for largest litter of puppies is from 2004 with 24 puppies.

SOURCE: CNN

French Protesters clash with police amidst demonstrations against pension reform

Chaos erupted in France as demonstrators set trash bins on fire and threw projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas. These protests are a result of public frustration with Macron’s widely unpopular pension reform bill, which would move the retirement age from 62 up to 64. Officials rejected a demand by unions to rethink the bill early Tuesday morning.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT

THE RADAR

Events to keep an eye on for the week of March 30

“MUSE” BY GAVEN BELL

March 30 to April 1, 7:30 p.m., April 2, 2 p.m.

KENNEDY MCILWEE STUDIO THEATRE, THOMPSON HALL

$8 for students, $12 general admission

Come see two-time Creative Artist Award winner Gaven Bell’s original play “Muse” which unpacks the interactions of art and science through a retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Euridyce.

WOLFPACK’S GOT TALENT

Friday, March 31, 7-9 p.m.

WITHERSPOON STUDENT CENTER CINEMA

Free

Come see members of the Wolfpack show off their many skills and talents in University Activity Board’s annual talent competition. First place will take home $99 worth of prizes!

32ND ANNUAL NC STATE POWWOW

Saturday, April 1, Noon-5 p.m.

MILLER FIELDS

Free

Join Multicultural Student Affairs to celebrate indigenous culture with Native business owners, traditional drum groups and dance performances.

THEE DRAG BALL

Tuesday, April 4, 7-9 p.m.

MOUNTAIN/PIEDMONT BALLROOM, TALLEY STUDENT UNION

Free

Pan-Afrikan Week is April 3-8! Celebrate with Black drag queens from the Triangle and learn about their experiences of the Black queer community.

College of Engineering leaders speak on mental health initiatives in light of student deaths

Abigail Ali News Editor & Mariana Fabian Opinion Editor

Editor’s Note: This article contains references to mental health issues and suicide.

There have been 11 student deaths this academic year with five being deaths by suicide. Mental health initiatives have been put in place across campus in an effort to support students and inform them of resources available to them. Leaders from across the University discussed these programs.

College of Engineering leaders discuss impact of student deaths

Four of the student deaths reported from the University were students in the College of Engineering. Angelitha Daniel, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion in the college, and Dr. Louis Martin-Vega, dean of engineering, said the college is putting in the work to better support its students.

“It really hurts us a lot to see the numbers that have happened this year,” Martin-Vega said. “We have lost a relatively large number of those that are engineering students, which, in part, I think is because we have 11,000 engineering students, but let’s say it was just one — it would still be the same level of concern. And when something like this occurs, we all suffer together.”

Martin-Vega said the College of Engineering has been working to incorporate more mental health initiatives since the COVID-19 pandemic started, which created a lot of stress for students. He said their focus is on closing the gaps between students and resources available to them.

“We say, ‘OK, what more can we do?’” Martin-Vega said. “We keep trying to create an environment that hopefully will allow individuals who may be suffering in their own way to reach out and that we can somehow intervene in some way, and I think that’s what a lot of the efforts are focused on.”

Daniel was a part of the Student Mental Health Task Force, a group of faculty, staff and students who conducted research on best practices, held listening parties for the community and evaluated current University policies, resources and practices. Daniel said creating a culture of care was a main goal for the task force as it created its report of recommendations on how NC State can better support students and their mental health.

“Our report was just released and the focus

at the University level is for us to really put all of our energy and effort into creating a … culture of care and access [to resources], so students don’t feel like they don’t have the help that they need right at their fingertips,” Daniel said.

The task force’s report and recommendation was published in February and includes creating a culture of care, providing more resources to students and revising standing policies. You can read the initial statement by the University at news.ncsu.edu.

Embedded counselors, CARE Campaign and other initiatives for mental health

The College of Engineering, along with other departments on campus including the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Sciences, now has embedded counselors. Daniel said these counselors are currently located in Research Building II, Suite 200 and will eventually move to Suite 210.

Martin-Vega said students can make appointments by reaching out directly to the counselors or join them during their drop-in hours. Names of embedded counselors and other embedded staff across the University can be found on the Counseling Center’s website at counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/people/ embedded-staff/.

Daniel said the College of Engineering is also participating in the Academic Affairs CARE Campaign. The CARE Campaign allows students to communicate with faculty and staff by sending an email with a colorcoded heart representing how they feel with the subject line “share your heart.” This initiative allows students to let faculty and staff know how they are feeling without having to have a full conversation.

“So, they can send that email, and a person in terms of faculty or staff responds to their needs [whether that be a] quick response in terms of acknowledging the email and then ensuring [if] they need support in terms of a CARES report being submitted, or just to come in and talk just,” Daniel said. “We’re poised to be able to meet those needs based on what they share with us.”

A CARES report is a Concerning Behavior Report anyone can submit if they are worried about a friend, student or colleague. The report gets sent to Student Behavioral Case Management. Case managers through NC State CARES help students get in touch with resources and help monitor their progress.

The college has formed a Safety Pin Crew, which Daniel said is a group of faculty and staff who wear gold safety pins to indicate to students they are a safe person to communicate with if they are facing difficulties.

“During certain times throughout the semester, [the Safety Pin Crew] goes through all of the engineering buildings on Centennial and Main Campus to check in, ask students how they’re doing,” Daniel said. “It’s gone really, really well. Students appreciate that we’re visible in that way.”

Free Moms, a group of moms that provides food and hugs to students on campus, have also made their way from Main Campus to Centennial Campus every Thursday.

“To see the line of students waiting to get hugs from the Free Moms just speaks to what we know is what is needed by students, and that’s connection, and letting them know that everything is going to be OK … and we’re going to be here every week to support you,” Daniel said.

Daniel said the College of Engineering is also encouraging faculty and staff to do mental health, first aid and Question, Persuade and Refer training. Daniel said dates have been planned for faculty and staff to participate in trainings through Prevention Services.

Engineering Curriculum and its effect on students

Martin-Vega said the college has made ef-

forts over the years to reduce the vigor of the program while still maintaining its quality of education in order to relieve academic stress.

“An engineering curriculum is rigorous; it’s always been rigorous,” Martin-Vega said. “There was a time when an engineering degree had more credit hours than it has today, but … the way the engineering curriculum exists today really provides a lot more support for students to be successful than it was in the past. If you look at retention rates, for example, between the first year and the second year, or graduation rates, you’re gonna see that all of those metrics are much better and stronger today than they were 10 or 15 years ago.”

Martin-Vega said he thinks the COVID-19 pandemic may have made coming into college as an engineering student more difficult the past couple of years.

“I mean, you have students that normally would have come into the first year of engineering, and … they would have been on campus, they would have had more interaction, they would have had more support,” Martin-Vega said.

GRAPHIC BY HEIDI REID

Affordable housing fundraiser Shack-A-Thon returns in full force

Matthew Burkhart Staff Writer

Shack-A-Thon, the annual fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity, is back in full force this year, having tripled in size compared to previous years. Students build and live in shacks day and night in the Brickyard from Sunday, March 26 to Friday, March 31, when they will be demolished at 4 p.m.

Matt Tripp, a third-year studying business administration and Maddie Blume, a fourth-year studying mechanical engineering, lead NC State’s Habitat for Humanity chapter. The two coordinated with Wake County’s chapter to organize this year’s event.

Blume said the purpose of Shack-AThon is twofold. Firstly, every shack has fundraising opportunities in which all proceeds will go to Wake County’s chapter to build a home for a homeless family. Secondly, living outside in the elements gives students the chance to become aware of the struggles homeless people face.

“Besides just raising money, it’s just raising awareness about home insecurity,” Blume said. “Just by being a presence on campus this whole week, [it] obviously draws a lot of attention to the issue.”

Tripp said the COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected Shack-A-Thon over the last three years. For the last two years, the event hosted six shacks. This year, 16 shacks were built with a goal of raising $50,000.

Adam Sichel, a third-year studying political science, said his shack represented Hillel and Alpha Epsilon Phi, the Jewish organization and fraternity on campus. Sichel said Shack-A-Thon not only raises money for a good cause, but gives participating students better awareness about homelessness.

“For organizations to be out here in shacks, and living in it and being there throughout the day, I think you kind of realize the importance of a good home — the importance of a shelter,” Sichel said. “For us, it’s so tough, camping and we’re out here in the wilderness, but people are homeless, and this is their lives. I think it’s also like how much [effort] it takes to build a home. If this is a tiny little shack, building a home is no small feat. So I think it just makes students more appreciative and more aware of the issue in general.”

Ellie Hannum, a third-year studying civil engineering, said her shack represented the American Society of Civil En-

gineers and the construction engineering program. Hannum’s shack was equipped with a foundation, closing windows and a locking door. She said her organization had a unique advantage in building their shack as civil engineers.

Hannum said she was excited to see Shack-A-Thon back in full force and for the chance to participate in some friendly competition for a good cause.

“Last year, because COVID was still a thing and campus was recovering, there weren’t as many shacks and so it’s so great to see so many people coming out for just the one cause of supporting Habitat for Humanity,” Hannum said.

“I’m just glad that I get to be a part of that and hopefully we raise a fair amount of money for them [and] a little bit of some friendly competition between other organizations on campus is always a plus.”

Olivia Dioli, a fourth-year studying chemistry, was operating the Sciences Council’s shack. Dioli said a different science organization is operating the

shack each day, hers being Alpha Sigma Chi, the chemistry fraternity. Dioli said building the shack gave her an opportunity to work with and get to know members of other science organizations on campus.

“I think the biggest thing was that we had a few people from each club,” Dioli said. “It was a lot of different people who know how to do different things. … It was definitely challenging since none of us have any experience with this.”

Erie Mitchell, a third-year studying electrical engineering, was stationed at WKNC’s shack. The shack held a spinning prize raffle as their fundraiser. She said the radio station’s presence, its first in 12 years, offered variety among the other organizations present.

“Our goal was just to hang with the best of them and create a shack that worked and also looked really cool and showed the student media side of things,” Mitchell said. “Not to just be Greek life, not just be those kinds of organizations, and

I think we pulled it off.”

Mitchell said the building process provided a team-building experience and an opportunity to develop practice skills.

“It’s not just raising money — it’s an actual practical experience,” Mitchell said. “I feel like I learned stuff yesterday. I think a lot of people hadn’t touched a hammer in a while or ever and that was a great team-building exercise.”

Tripp said he hopes this year will set the standard for Shack-A-Thon in the post-pandemic world.

“I think just continuing to be a major kind of a staple of NC State, and something that people look forward to every year to happen,” Tripp said. “I feel like it lifts up the campus as a whole. When you come to the Brickyard and you see a ton of shacks just sitting here, it’s just wherever there’s some big event, it piques your interest, and you want to go check it out. And I think it’s just a great way to boost morale.”

COURTESY OF MATTHEW BURKHART

Naloxone and drug safety: What to know

Emily Vespa Assistant News Editor

Editor’s Note: This article contains reference to drug overdose.

More than 4,000 people died of drug overdose in North Carolina in 2021, reports the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the highest number of overdose deaths recorded in a single year in state history. The CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System dashboard indicates that of the total drug overdose deaths in the state in 2021, 69.3% had at least one potential opportunity for intervention.

NC State Prevention Services works to prevent overdoses and limit risks associated with substance use by providing resources and education to the NC State community. Students, staff and faculty can register for regular Opioid Overdose Prevention and Education Workshops with a Unity ID login on Reporter.

Jeffrey Fay, an alcohol and other drug prevention coordinator at Prevention Services, said these trainings equip participants to prevent, identify and respond to an opioid overdose.

“Our main goal is to just educate students, no matter what the substance is, that there’s inherent risk associated with it,” Fay said. “So even if we go to the dollar store and buy Tylenol, there’s an inherent risk of taking the medication. We want students — if it’s an opioid, if it’s cannabis, if it’s alcohol — to be aware, if you’re going to use the substances, what are some of the warning signs if you overconsume.”

Fay said Prevention Services began distributing free naloxone, a medication

MENTAL HEALTH

continued from page 3

“Well, that first year for some of them was a year, almost in isolation, with remoteness and all that, and they still have to work through their courses. And now, they’re thrust into the second year, but they haven’t had those experiences.”

Daniel said the College of Engineering is mostly working to balance keeping the rigorous curriculum expected of an engineering school with fostering a caring environment.

“Students, if they’re having challenges, professors and TAs would be empathetic, and give them the flexibility that’s needed,” Daniel said. “Because I think those are the things that really cause students to have anxiety and be stressed when they’re experiencing things and there’s no flexibility and maybe turning in assignments. And so, we’re working through how we do that.”

designed to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, in summer 2022, and they handed out over 175 naloxone kits in the fall semester.

Loftin Wilson, the harm reduction programs manager at the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, said anyone can carry naloxone.

“It’s something that it never hurts for everybody to have, kind of in the same way that most buildings have fire extinguishers, and a lot of buildings have AEDs,” Wilson said. “We’re not planning for people to have heart attacks, we’re not planning for fires, it’s just a good thing to be prepared for.”

The NCDHHS reports that in 2021, 77% of overdose deaths in North Carolina likely involved fentanyl, an opioid

Regarding Wellness Days, Daniel said professors would be more flexible with moving assignment due dates if they had more time to adjust their syllabi.

“For professors, they lay out their syllabus, and say ‘We’re doing X, Y and Z throughout each week,’” Daniel said. “And when the Wellness Day is put in, it either means I gotta move things up or push you to the end. And so, where their Wellness Day is intended for a student to actually not be involved in anything academic, you have the students still in there and doing work. … I think giving professors enough time to be able to really make those adjustments to their syllabi [is important] … for them to really shift everything in a way that’s meaningful for the information to be shared.”

Daniel also said having Wellness Days on Mondays or Fridays might make more of an impact on students since those days go into the weekend.

Despite the challenges, Daniel said the College of Engineering will continue to work

that is similar to morphine and approximately 100 times more potent. Due to its low cost and higher potency, drug suppliers may mix fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin and oxycodone.

“It’s not that students seek out heroin or morphine or any other opioids,” Fay said. “The concern nationally is the amount of contaminated products, so if me and you are interested in another drug, we might be getting fentanyl or an opioid.”

In addition to naloxone, Prevention Services also offers free fentanyl test strips to test for the presence of fentanyl in unregulated drugs. Fay said it is not illegal to possess naloxone or fentanyl test strips in North Carolina.

Fay said Prevention Services also works

on creating a supportive environment for its students.

“We’re not going to let up on creating space where faculty, staff and students feel welcomed in the College of Engineering, you’ll see a lot of DEI, diversity, equity and inclusion with a B now starting to be at it, belonging,” Daniel said. “I think our efforts around mental health, definitely tie to belonging, and I’m happy to lead in our efforts. We’re not going to let up until we have things in place for students to know that their health is our main priority.”

Are you currently a student in the College of Engineering and would like to make a statement? Please email technician-editor@ncsu.edu, techniciannews@ncsu.edu or technician-opinion@ ncsu.edu for more information. If you or someone you know is having a mental health emergency, the Counseling Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 919-515-

with the College of Veterinary Medicine to highlight the risks associated with purchasing medication for a pet online.

“A lot of people give medications to their animals,” Fay said. “So if you’re buying medication that’s not monitored or regulated, we want people to be aware that it could be tainted.”

Currently, Fay said Prevention Services relies on grant funding and donations to cover the cost of naloxone and fentanyl test strip kits, which means they have a limited supply of naloxone kits. However, naloxone is covered by most insurance policies and available to purchase without a prescription at the majority of pharmacies in the state. To find the nearest pharmacy that dispenses naloxone, visit naloxonesaves.org.

Wilson said providing strategies to reduce the risks associated with drug use is an important part of harm reduction and can save lives.

“It’s something that we use a lot in other parts of our lives without thinking about it,” Wilson said. “Every time we use a seatbelt when we drive, that’s harm reduction. Driving is dangerous — we’re likely to hurt ourselves or hurt somebody else when we drive. But we don’t say nobody can ever drive and nobody can ever build cars; we have seatbelts, we have airbags, we have speed limits, we have all of these sort of interventions that we’ve developed over time that help reduce the risk of what’s inherently a risky activity because we recognize that it has benefits for people.”

Wilson said students can get involved in volunteering opportunities at the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition to help promote harm reduction. To learn more, visit their website at www. ncrhc.org.

2423. If you are in a crisis situation and need immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911. The Counseling Center’s website offers free online screenings, a plethora of self-help resources regarding mental health and wellness concerns and a comprehensive list of campus services available for those who need guidance. To view an exhaustive list, visit counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/resources.

If you’re seeking professional counseling or other mental health services on campus, visit the Counseling Center’s Getting Started page at counseling.dasa.ncsu.edu/ about-us/gettingstarted to complete paperwork, set up an appointment and more.

GRAPHIC BY MARLOWE HENDERSON

Mental Health Journeys: Follow your dreams, not your fears

This is the first of an ongoing series called Mental Health Journeys where Technician’s staff discusses their mental health experiences.

I’ve always been shy. In fact, for the first few weeks of preschool, my teachers thought I wasn’t able to speak. In elementary school, talking was almost as natural as breathing, but I hardly went out of my way to make friends.

By the time middle school rolled around, everything started to take a turn for the worse. Like anyone else my age, I was burdened with typical teenage angst and insecurity. And like everyone else, I desperately wanted to be liked. To that end, I did the only reasonable thing someone in my position could do — I tried to change everything about me.

In my efforts to be popular, I straightened my hair, wore trendy clothes and even adopted a new sense of humor. In the end, none of my efforts were enough to win me a coveted spot amongst the it-crowd, or even maintain my relationship with my closest friend. For no explainable reason, she shut me out, as if I was invisible. So naturally, that’s what I became.

In my mind, the solution was simple: if I didn’t speak, no one would have any

opportunity to reject me, or even dislike me. Of course, not speaking also meant nobody would have much of a reason to be my friend, a harsh truth I would soon discover. With virtually no one at my side, my self-doubt manifested itself into something more chronic — social anxiety and depression.

Yet, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Not long after receiving my official diagnoses, I found myself immersed in a world once unfathomable to me, a world where I could begin to face my worst fears and overcome them. When I was first introduced to Sertraline and therapy, I was ashamed: How could I be worthy if I couldn’t master my own mind? Little did I know how much those two things would not only benefit me but change my perspective on mental health forever.

Slowly but surely, I witnessed something amazing take place within and all around me. In the span of a few years, friends I was afraid to make before emerged, motivation returned and a general sense of peace replaced the panic-ridden mentality that haunted my existence for so long. The life I wanted when I was in eighth grade was finally here, and it was mostly thanks to medication and my therapist. With that realization, I gained a deep appreciation for mental health, and thus, a newfound confidence in my abilities.

For the first time in seemingly forever, I

shifted focus to something other than my fears. Finally understanding my worth, I found the courage to step out of my comfort zone and discover my passions. I signed up for my high school’s yearbook class, where I eventually got promoted to design spreads. Then, I did something even more unimaginable for someone as shy as me — I started my own club, the Student Mental Health Alliance.

When I arrived at NC State, I hoped to continue that momentum. Not even a month after being here, I pitched my first article idea for Technician, and within weeks after that, held my first printed work in my hands. Don’t get me wrong — even the thought of speaking in front of a few people was anxiety-inducing, but I didn’t let it hold me back from writing about issues that mattered to me. I refused to stop letting my insecurities prevent me from doing what I loved anymore.

One and half years later, I’m still writing for Technician, and doing more than that fearful middle school girl ever envisioned for herself. Just this year, I started working as a research assistant for the Teen Health Lab and assisting the campus community as a mental health ambassador. All of this is to say — I found something more important to me than my anxiety. I found a purpose, and that is to pull others from the trenches the same way my therapist did with me. While I would love to say healing is easy,

the truth is it’s not. Healing isn’t a linear path — it’s rocky and full of unexpected twists and turns. Even if the darkest days are over for me, not everyday is guaranteed sunshine. In all honesty, I still struggle to open up to others. The difference between a few years ago and now is that I don’t allow myself to get in my way. At the end of the day, the only person that can live the life I want is me, and that is something I’m willing to fight for.

If you or someone you know is having a mental health emergency, the Counseling Center can be reached 24 hours a day at 919-515-2423. If you are in a crisis situation and need immediate help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. In the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

The Counseling Center’s website offers free online screenings, a plethora of selfhelp resources regarding mental health and wellness concerns and a comprehensive list of campus services available for those who need guidance. To view an exhaustive list, visit counseling.dasa. ncsu.edu/resources.

If you’re seeking professional counseling or other mental health services on campus, visit the Counseling Center’s Getting Started page at counseling. dasa.ncsu.edu/about-us/gettingstarted to complete paperwork, set up an appointment and more.

The Willow Project is an environmental threat, but not as huge as we think

The Willow Project, the new biggest oil-drilling project in Alaska approved by President Joe Biden’s administration, has sparked controversy among environmental activists.

According to the Washington Post, it is estimated to create enough oil to emit 9.2 million metric tons of planet-warming carbon pollution annually. For this, the project has been called a “carbon bomb” or a “betrayal” by many organizations. But, is it really the huge environmental threat the media outlets are portraying?

Not really. While it is clear that Willow will definitely bring irreversible damage to the environment — especially to the Arctic landscape in Alaska — the environmental impacts are not as big as we thought they would be.

Tom Birkland, associate dean for research and engagement in the School of Public and International Affairs, said like any other industrial project built in a sensitive area such as the permafrost in Alaska, there will be local impacts on

the ecosystem. But on a bigger scale, it won’t have as much of an effect.

“You’re gonna have things like melting soils, or you could perhaps have some chemical runoff,” Birkland said. “But the overall impact on the big scheme around the world, this project is not that big. … If this is the only drilling project that is approved in the next 10 or 15 years, it won’t have a noticeable impact. It’ll just be part of a bigger system.”

How will Willow affect the local environment?

The project entails the construction of a processing facility, roads, an airfield, pipelines and a gravel mine in or near the habitats of caribou, grizzly bears and several species of birds. Its impact will directly affect the surrounding environment where the drilling will take place.

Initially, ConocoPhillips — Alaska’s largest crude oil producer — sought approval for five drilling pads in the middle of Alaska’s Arctic tundra and wetland. However, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a Record of Decision substantially reducing the size of the project by denying two of the five drill sites. This would reduce the number of drill pads

by 40%, thus lowering freshwater use and eliminating all infrastructure related to the two rejected drill sites. Limiting the project would reduce the potential impacts on caribou migration routes and yellow-billed loon nesting areas.

If built, the project will still be a large new fossil fuel development, producing up to 180,000 barrels per day. According to the administration’s own estimates, this would generate oil emission that would be equivalent to adding 2 million gas-powered cars to the roads.

However, Birkland said we can’t pinpoint this project as something that’s going to increase global temperature.

“The amount of oil we’re talking about is about 1.5% of the daily production in the United States; it’s very small,” Birkland said.

In 2022, the U.S. produced 11,850,000 barrels per day, becoming the second highest oil production that the country has seen since 2019. Considering the estimates made by the government over the next 30 years, Willow’s production of barrels per day doesn’t seem a staggering number as the ones we have now. Still, this project will add to the current value, thus exacerbating the environmental effects of oil drilling.

Even scaled down, the Willow Project will still be the largest new oil extraction project on federal lands — one that will certainly do irreversible damage to the Arctic. While we cannot stop the project from proceeding as it has received the green light from Biden, it’s important to highlight that it’s setting environmental issues back into the political agenda and in daily conversations.

“Protecting the environment is now a permanent feature and is an institutionalized feature of the American political agenda,” Birkland said. “It has to be paid attention to. You can’t just ignore it. What I’m trying to say is that people shouldn’t just give up simply because they didn’t win on the Willow Project. There are other things that we can work on.”

It may appear, based on the outcome of the Willow Project, that protesting isn’t accomplishing changes in favor of the environment. But that’s not true — it was the protests that led the administration to reject two of the five drilling sites. It’s crucial to continue the fight for the environment since it unites young people to advocate for our planet and hold our politicians accountable for their actions moving forward.

Lauren Richards

Staff Columnist

Emilia Rivadeneira Staff Columnist

Biden should be held accountable for his failures on climate action

As Earth Day comes around again and climate projections become evermore dismal, Democratic climate promises will be plastered all over the media. After all, President Joe Biden proudly stated on the campaign trail there would be “no ability for the oil industry to continue to drill, period.” His track record since that bold statement however has largely failed to meet such lofty goals.

For most of his time as president, Biden has been lauded for his action on climate change, and for good reason. He has made significant changes that should be recognized, but we should also talk about his failures, especially as the 2024 cycle begins heating up.

What did Biden actually promise to the American people and, beyond the need to address climate catastrophe, why did he promise it?

The Democratic primaries largely became a competition of who could be the most progressive, a competition which pitted moderate Democrats against Sen. Bernie Sanders. Biden was widely touted as the most qualified moderate option for Democrats, making him more appealing to older voters but unpopular among younger, more progressive voters.

All this to say, it seems Biden was not initially dedicated to strong action on climate change. If Biden were to win the Democratic primary while still claiming the title of moderate, he would have to be strong in less controversial areas.

Enter climate change.

Younger voters care a lot about climate change. Data from Gallup polls in 2018 and Pew Research Center in 2021 corroborate this. However, a Times/Siena poll conducted in 2022 showed climate change is of far less concern for most registered voters.

Climate change is the perfect issue to aggrandize on, thus currying young voters’ favor without repelling the general public.

When the Democratic field inevitably crumbled to Sanders and Biden, it’s not surprising that Biden promised what he did. After all, according to the polls, if Biden ended up failing to meet those promises, there would be little political cost from the general electorate.

It’s no surprise then that fossil fuel industries have been able to function largely unharmed through lobbied loopholes in climate legislation under Biden’s watch.

No doubt the latest instance of broken promises is Biden’s approval of the Willow Project in Alaska, a plan which will expand oil drilling in one of the United States’ most unique environments. But, this is just one of many concessions Biden has made since his inauguration.

In passing the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden made sure to flaunt its climate-positive qualities. While it does take monumental and important steps toward a greener future, it has concerning concessions which could make or break whether Biden’s action will truly stop climate catastrophe in the coming decades.

As a result of stalled negotiations with Sen. Joe Manchin, Biden made two significant changes to his originally expansive climate plan.

Firstly, the Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits to implement carbon capture and storage technologies at fossil fuel facilities.

However, companies can wait to break ground on implementation as late as 2032 to qualify for the tax credit. The problem with such subsidies is that carbon capture is not foreseeably feasible to negate fossil fuel’s carbon footprint and allows for their continued production and expansion for the next decade.

Secondly, the plan allows for the leasing and auctioning of millions of acres of federal lands for oil and natural gas drilling, especially in the Gulf of Mexico. It is inexplicable that drilling is actively expanding in an area known for its oil spills.

Why develop and spend all of this money making green technologies if you’re going to continue to expand climate-hostile energy production? We are running out of time and these concessions kick the can of green transition too far down the road.

Recent toxic train derailments in East Palestine, Ohio and Sandstone, West Virginia have raised further questions about Biden’s

attempts to protect the environment through strict transportation regulations.

Train derailments, reported and unreported, have been in part the result of loosened requirements on train transportation under the Trump administration. Specifically, Trump’s reversal of regulations under the Obama administration removed laws meant to reduce train derailments.

If Trump repealed rules made under the Obama administration, it would only be logical for Biden to reinstate them if he wanted to crack down on polluters. But, for some reason, this never happened and the standard of hands-off regulation of train safety continued.

Biden has played young voters. He’s broken his promise to leave no room for the fossil fuel industry. He has allowed the fractional conservative voices of his party to undermine the climate action he has pushed for. If he wants at all similar young voter turnout in 2024, he must step up his climate policy.

Koen Rodabaugh Correspondent

A Wandering Fish: Part IV Jacinto Sho Hernandez, Staff Cartoonist

A second-year studying art and design

GRAPHIC BY HIEDI REID

Nova and Comet: Spring Into Nature Pearl Knight, Staff Cartoonist

A fourth-year studying art and design

Pickin’s: Ube

Phu,

Evenings Spent by The Fire Avery Szakacs, Staff Cartoonist A second-year studying art and design

Earth Month celebrates core values of sustainability, environmental awareness

Earth Month is almost upon us, and NC State’s Sustainability Office has planned a month full of sustainability-related events and activities, from the annual Earth Fair to monthly Flourish events.

Along with an in-depth calendar of events on their website, the Sustainability Office also has several tips listed to celebrate sustainability, labeled “30 Days, 30 Ways.”

Lani St. Hill, communications and engagement coordinator for the Sustainability Office, said Earth Month is actually a celebration centered around NC State’s core value of sustainability.

“NC State has a core value of sustainability that’s already integrated into our campus operations, community, culture and research, so Earth Month allows the campus to come together and celebrate,” Hill said. “We’re bringing awareness, but it’s not just about lifestyle tips. It’s also awareness around all of the amazing things that our campus partners are doing.”

Earth Month is also a partnership across various NC State colleges. The upcoming Flourish event is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture Sciences and Prevention Services and includes activities like planting your own mini pot or creating a zen garden.

The annual Earth Fair this year will be on Wednesday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Stafford Commons with an estimated number of 350 to 400 guests expected.

“We expect between 50 and 75 vendors to be out there, which includes campus departments, student organizations, groups, as well as outside community members to come and table and talk about their projects or research programs and how they relate and make the world a better place,”

Hill said.

The Earth Fair is an annual event that brings everyone together, showcasing campus departments, student organizations and community members who want to display what they do to advance sustainability. One of the programs that will share their sustainable ideas at the event will be Sustainability Stewards.

Maggie Wesslen, equity and outreach coordinator for the Sustainability Stewards, said the Sustainability Stewards will have two tables at Earth Fair this year.

“One table [will] showcase our projects and just educate the campus population about what we do and how they can be involved,” Wesslen said. “And then another

table is an idea that one of our stewards did. … He turned wildflowers into sustainable paint, so we’re gonna have a watercolor activity where the paint is made from local wildflowers.”

Another staple event of Earth Month is the Celebration of NC State Sustainability. This event will showcase all the different advancements and projects that have occurred on campus to further sustainability, one of which is the plant sciences building recently becoming LEED certified at the Gold level.

“The second [event] that we do, and it’s part in collaboration with the University Sustainability Council, … is the celebration of NC State Sustainability,” Hill said. “That’s really a recognition program, where we re-

view all of the highlights that have gone on this past year. We make announcements for those who have won sustainability awards, as well as those who are receiving sustainability fund grants.”

NC State continues to fund sustainability projects year after year supporting research projects from expanding clean water in campus dorms to Campus As A Classroom.

“If you look up, ‘What are the values of NC State,’ one of them is sustainability, and I think Earth Month as a whole is one way to connect all of the campus as well as community members and alumni to that value and to showcase how integral [sustainability] is to each of our individual lives,” Hill

What the 2023 Dreamville lineup has in store

Heidi Reid Assistant News Editor

Fans of hip-hop and R&B were not disappointed when J. Cole released the full line-up for his annual Dreamville music festival. The Fayetteville native is holding the festival from April 1-2 at Dorothea Dix Park and has invited a variety of artists to perform, mixing together large names with

industry newcomers that have big potential. The event also serves as an annual reunion for musicians signed to Cole’s label, Dreamville Records.

Here are a few of the 27 featured artists you won’t want to miss.

Drake is the largest name performing with almost 70 million monthly listeners on Spotify. With the amount of success Drake has achieved over the past decade, I

was shocked to see his name on the lineup, but I’m excited nonetheless. Although “Her Loss” and “Certified Lover Boy” were both very popular, I hope he includes more tracks from “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” and “Take Care.” Drake has a long discography of well-produced songs, so it’lll be hard for him to mess up. Unless, of course, he opts to include “One Dance” in his set.

Key Glock defines himself as “in the

streets, not industry,” and this is reflected in the rawness of his music. He strictly avoids including features on his albums, the only exception being his collaborative albums with his cousin Young Dolph, who passed away in November 2021.

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said.

HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN

Steve Baxter, a volunteer for Baxter’s Bees, educates students on the honey retrieval process and the different ways that bees contribute to our world at the Earth Fair on Stafford Commons on Wednesday, April 7, 2022. The Earth Fair was a celebration of Earth Month and focused on sustainable demonstrations and ideas to help make the world a better place.

Shelby Bryson Staff Writer & Emilia Rivadeneira Staff Writer

Horticulture space promotes student health

home, which can be used to make a room more aesthetically pleasing.

Spring arrives each year with a reminder of how beneficial warm temperatures and new blossoms — excluding the onslaught of pollen — can be for one’s overall well being. However, the year-long program Flourish proves that these benefits don’t have to be limited to one season.

Flourish, a drop-in space created by Prevention Services and Department of Horticultural Science, aims to increase students’ time with nature and plants while providing students with support and promoting student connection.

The drop-in space is run by Emily Anderson, an outreach and resilience coordinator with Prevention Services, and Helen Kraus, an associate professor and Undergraduate Programs director within the Department of Horticultural Science.

Anderson provides supplies for the activities and ensures Flourish remains a safe space that focuses on student connection while Kraus focuses on the horticultural aspects, teaching students about plants as well as letting them experience the benefits in a hands-on manner.

“We look at Flourish as offering some opportunities for just the grounding aspect of really just literally getting your hands dirty, as well as helping to promote that environmental wellness,” Anderson said.

The program was developed based on research from the benefits of horticulture therapy: a type of therapy that uti-

lizes practices like gardening or taking a walk in nature to boost well-being and improve mental and physical health.

Horticulture therapy has also been shown to improve fine motor skills, and as a result is used by many institutions including, but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, retirement communities and prisons.

Flourish’s activities range from creating zen gardens and terrariums to taste-testing unique jams and jellies made from begonias. Some activities allow students to take plants

“We know that so much of being a student is being in your rooms, being in the lab, being in these brick or concrete buildings,” Anderson said. “There’s just so many benefits of just being around the plants, whether that’s that they’re helping to purify the air, or they’re scented, or just visually, they’re bringing that calmness to your space.”

Another added benefit of having plants in a living space is that they encourage routine. Creating a watering schedule or checking on the health of the plants regularly can provide structure to one’s day.

For Kraus, the routine of checking on her plants each evening helps her to decompress.

“When I get home in the evenings, I’m really kind of just drained from the interactions I have all day,” Kraus said. “So the first thing I do is actually walk in my garden for just five minutes even, and it’s just time to set aside work and kind of refocus to be at home and transition over.”

As finals season approaches, Anderson added that finding time to relax is increasingly important, even if it’s only for five or ten minutes.

“One of the biggest things right now is just encouraging students to remember to take breaks,” Anderson said.

Flourish will meet April 3 and April 17 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Campus Health, in room 2301. The program is set to start again in the fall semester after the first couple of weeks of classes.

“Can the Non-Human

Other Beings in Myth, Literature, and Ethnography”

COURTESY OF EMILY ANDERSON

Savannah Woodman Correspondent

NC Museum of Art fundraiser connects Wolfpack and greater Raleigh community

Madison Ligh Staff Writer

Art in Bloom is an annual fundraiser at the North Carolina Museum of Art, where floral designers are able to showcase their interpretations of the museum’s art. The arrangements were showcased to thousands of attendees from March 15-19.

One attendee, Laurie Elliott, is an NC State alum who graduated in 1991 with a degree in English. After her instructor at NC State brought her class to the event, Elliott has attended each year.

“My world history teacher, Dr. Knowles, at the end of the semester took us here,” Elliott said. “He showed us how each piece mirrored each period that was studied in literature. It was absolutely the best.”

Elliott said she and 10 friends come every year to enjoy the event for her birthday.

“It’s absolutely the most wonderful [thing],” Elliott said. “I feel like it’s a treat for the senses. Because you smell it, you see it, and we also get the fellowship.”

Among the event’s attendees, various florists were also present to discuss their pieces. Designer Diane Makgill created a piece that was inspired by a 4,000-year-old ancient Egyptian broad collar. As a former North Carolina Museum of Art docent, Makgill described her career at the museum and participation in the event.

“I was a docent, which is a fancy word for tour guide, for 15 years,” Makgill said. “And this is my fourth time in Art in Bloom. So

DREAMVILLE

continued from page 9

Glock will definitely include “Ambition For Cash” and “Gang S--- No Lame S---” in his set, and hopefully, fans will also hear “Mr. Glock,” “Jigsaw” and “1 Hell of a Life.”

City Girls, made up of Yung Miami and JT, originally gained popularity after making an uncredited appearance on Drake’s “In My Feelings” and have since made a name for themselves with hits such as “Act Up” and “P---- Talk.” In addition to these tracks, the duo will likely also include “Rodeo,” “Drip” and “Where The Bag At” in their set and pair them with extravagant outfits and dance moves.

Earthgang, consisting of Johnny Venus and Doctur Dot, are founders of the Atlanta-based music collective Spillage Village and one of the eight artists signed with Dreamville Records. They describe Atlanta as “Black people just being unafraid and unapologetically creative” and draw inspiration from this in their music. Some tracks to listen for during their performance include “Proud of U,” “Bank” and “BILLI.”

once I stopped being a docent, this is now my way of giving back to the museum.”

While Makgill is a designer for Art in Bloom, she currently works as an interior designer and is a part of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society. Working for almost 200 hours to create her piece, Makgill credits her time and work for Fallon’s Flowers as giving her the basic knowledge necessary for such intricate work.

Alongside the detailed needlework and assembly required for her creation, Makgill said there are other components people may

Usher has released new music recently, but nothing will top the cultural phenomenon that he was during the 2000s — hopefully, he taps into that era when choosing a setlist. I cannot imagine that he wouldn’t perform “Yeah!,” his biggest hit to date, and hopefully he opts for “My Boo” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love” rather than his new single “GLU.”

Finally, J. Cole himself. Not only has he provided a space for a variety of artists, vendors and community organizations, but his performance has always been a highlight of the entire festival. In addition to certain tracks by the Dreamville Records group, he’ll likely focus on older albums, such as “2014 Forest Hills Drive” and “Born Sinner” — they feature his most successful solo tracks. It would be a crime if he didn’t include “Middle Child” in his set and hopefully he gives the people what they want and chooses to include a few tracks off of “KOD” as well.

General Admission tickets are still available and can be found at dreamvillefest. com/tickets/

not consider when creating and taking care of such elaborate designs.

“It was 150 hours of needle points, and probably 40 more hours of researching, getting the vessel, etc.,” Makgill said. “I did want this point to mimic the patterns of [the broad collar]. Afterwards, I’m gonna make it into maybe some bracelets or a belt. So next year, If I’m here, I will be wearing this somehow. And then the vessel, this part is really hard. It has to be watertight, it has to hold a lot of weight. And then you know, I want it to be dramatic.”

Laura Finan, director of stewardship and special initiatives at the museum, said Art in Bloom started 47 years ago at the Museum of Fine Arts and was brought to Raleigh in 2015.

“At that time, we looked for floral clubs, and garden clubs and local florists to get people to create those floral interpretations,” Finan said. “Since then, word has spread. So every year, we send an application to anybody who’s done it in the past, and anybody who’s interested in doing it in the future. … And this year, I think it was less than 24 hours, and we already had a full roster and a waitlist.”

With no monetary target for the fundraiser, the museum targets attendees when evaluating success. Finan said an overwhelming 19,750 topped the target of 18,000 visitors. With no other fundraiser, the museum primarily earns funds through sponsorships.

“We’re a public private partnership,” Finan said. “Part of the museum is run by and funded by the state of North Carolina, and the other part is run by and funded by the NCMA Foundation. … These funds, [and those] generated by Art in Bloom will be added to a general fund, which covers programs and exhibitions to ensure that admission to the museum is free, with the exception of special exhibitions throughout the year.”

The success of the fundraiser, along with the overwhelming support provided by sponsors and attendees alike, reveal the impact this special event offers to the greater Raleigh community.

COURTESY OF MADISON LIGH

SARAH COCHRAN/TECHNICIAN

Earthgang performs at the 2022 Dreamville Festival on Saturday, April 2, 2022 in Dorothea Dix Park. The 2022 festival is J. Cole’s second Dreamville Festival hosted in Raleigh.

It’s Trea Turner’s world, and we’re all just living in it

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or have never attended a game in your life, there’s a good chance you’ve at least caught wind of the World Baseball Classic, which took the world by storm for the past few weeks. And if you’ve been paying attention to it, there’s a good chance you’ve heard a particular name mentioned once or twice: Trea Turner.

If you have, it’s for good reason. Turner, an NC State alum, took the tournament by storm, crushing five home runs and 11 RBIs in six games, including a massive go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning of the USA’s win-or-go-home game against Venezuela.

That homer appropriately sent baseball, NC State and sports fans in general into a frenzy on social media — it was the apex of his mind-blowing streak that earned him the nickname “Captain America.”

It’s safe to say that Turner has had a successful offseason. From signing an 11-year, $300 million mega-deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, to his WBC takeover, his name is currently one of the biggest and brightest in baseball, and all of professional sports for that matter.

Coming off the high of his legendary WBC performance, the hard-hitting, speedy shortstop is reminding us why he’s one of, if not the most, successful professional athlete that has ever hailed from NC State — and by the end of his career, it might not even be close.

After playing for years under head coach Elliott Avent in Raleigh, Turner was drafted 13th overall to the San Diego Padres in 2014 but didn’t make his major league debut until 2015 with the Washington Nationals. It took some time, but Turner established himself as an elite defender with pop at the plate. However, his defining characteristic is his speed — he’s mastered the art of stealing bases and is known around the league, and now around the world, as one of the fastest players in baseball.

Turner isn’t just good during the regular season, however. He’s been there and done that in October. In fact, he was an integral part of the Nationals’ 2019 World Series Championship, and he has had more postseason experience with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who he was traded to halfway through the 2021 season.

Now fast-forward to this offseason — after expanding on his talent and legacy in Los Angeles, the 29-year-old World Champion and 2022 All-Star had a nice payday waiting for him in free agency — a $300-million payday. Meanwhile, Philadelphia was determined to add even more talent to its World Series-caliber roster and paid a premium for it. Now, as Opening Day inches closer, Turner’s already been turning heads as a Phillie in spring training by continuing his red-hot home run streak.

But does all that really make him the greatest of Pack Pros ever? Some might argue that athletes such as Philip Rivers, Russell Wilson, Torry Holt and David Thompson have had more successful careers than Turner. After all, Rivers, Wilson and Holt are future NFL Hall-of-Famers, in the all-time upper echelon of their respective positions and — with the exception of Rivers — have a world championship title to their name. Meanwhile, Thompson is an

NBA Hall-of-Famer and has that all-important NCAA championship with the Wolfpack.

However, in terms of his professional athletics career, Turner almost has them beat. While not a shoe-in for the MLB Hall of Fame, Turner could be on track to etching his name in Cooperstown, especially if he continues the upward trajectory that he’s on, and that’s one of his biggest advantages — he’s got a long way to go. After just signing an 11-year deal in his prime, Turner isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and has plenty of time to build on his alreadyimpressive legacy.

Additionally, no matter your personal criteria for a GOAT, Turner’s built up a pretty bulletproof defense thus far, because he’s got it all. He’s got the talent — the freak speed, the show-stopping plays at shortstop, the base stealing and home-run potential — that makes him one of the most successful players in NC State history in terms of athletic ability. He’s also got the world championship, the All-Star status, the mega-deal and the stats to back it up — all placing him at or above the level of Wolfpack legends such as Rivers, Holt, Wilson and Thompson.

What might truly set him apart, though, is his popularity

among baseball fans across America and his passion for the game, both of which were perfectly encapsulated in his aforementioned electric, goosebump-inducing grand slam in the WBC.

It was a no-doubter from the very beginning, and as Turner turned towards his dugout after his bat flip, anyone watching could see his passion, joy and love of the game on full display.

That special moment rightly captured everyone’s attention all across America. After that and his subsequent home runs in the tournament, he’s quickly been recognized as a hero — a status that his contenders for Pack Pro GOAT just don’t have.

By the end of his career, Turner will have plenty of time to cement his legacy as NC State’s greatest professional athlete. But for now, let’s all just relish in the success and spectacle of the speedy shortstop’s uncanny ability to crush homers, steal bases and capture the hearts of everyone watching him do it.

Because it’s Trea Turner’s world, and we’re all just living in it.

JOANNAH IRVIN / ARCHIVE

Junior shortstop Trea Turner throws the ball during the 3-0 victory over Michigan at Doak Field on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. Turner was an infielder for the Pack from 2012 to 2014.

Ethan Bakogiannis

Sports Editor

TREA TURNER’S WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC TAKEOVER REMINDS US WHY HE’S THE GREATEST PACK PRO

‘Complain-iacs’ beware, Hurricanes trending positively ahead of playoffs

The stage is set: thanks to the Florida Panthers’ loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes have officially clinched a spot in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’ll likely play either the Pittsburgh Penguins or New York Islanders, unless the Panthers really step up their game to slide into the first Wild Card spot.

Both the Penguins and the Islanders should be relatively benign competition for Carolina, although I could certainly jinx myself on that one. It’s the second round that becomes sticky — the Hurricanes will face either the New Jersey Devils or the New York Rangers, two teams they’ve struggled against this year. Between the two, Carolina has a combined record of 3-5-0 on the season.

Obviously, that doesn’t look great. To make matters worse, right wing Andrei Svechnikov suffered a season-ending injury March 11 — with his absence, Carolina lost one of its best goal-scorers, even if he hit a bit of a plateau later in the season.

In his place, analysts and fans alike are looking for that guy within the Hurricanes’ current roster. They’re seeking the lightsout scorer, the offensive machine, a forward who will put shot after shot on the likes of Boston’s Linus Ullmark and New York’s Igor Shsterkin before the game-winning goal finally sneaks through.

The only problem? “That guy” might not even exist. At least he doesn’t exist in the capacity the Hurricanes need if the playoffs started tomorrow.

Even the most casual hockey fan will tell you that every team poised for a run at the Cup needs a star. They could be franchise players: Pittsburgh has Sidney Crosby and

Kris Letang, Boston has Patrice Bergeron. Or they could be young upstarts with nothing to lose — think of New Jersey center Jack Hughes, who’s already notched 86 points on the season and is largely responsible for the Devils’ monstrous comeback. As it stands, Carolina just doesn’t have that player.

That’s not to say the Hurricanes don’t have depth — in fact, just the opposite. In the five years since general manager Don

Waddell and head coach Rod Brind’Amour were hired, the pair have built a consistently well-rounded team. You don’t have to look further than Carolina’s history to see it: after missing the playoffs for nine seasons in a row, the Canes have clinched a postseason run every year since Waddell and Brind’Amour were hired.

That being said, anyone who’s ever been on Canes Twitter after a hard-fought loss

knows that the positive aspects of the season are often lost in a sea of despair and confusion. Fans really living up to the “bunch of jerks” title couldn’t help but complain after Sunday night’s tough OT loss to the Bruins despite the fact that Carolina took three of four points out of a back-to-back weekend playing Toronto and Boston. That’s still impressive.

I get the concern. The Hurricanes are struggling to find their footing in the crease between Antti Raanta’s injury, Frederik Andersen’s tendency to give up easy shots and Pyotr Kochetkov’s rookie status. One of their top scorers is out for the rest of the season, and younger hotshots like centers Seth Jarvis and Jesperi Kotkaniemi aren’t producing like they need to be.

But let’s face it — despite everything, Carolina is still firmly the second-best team in the league. Depending on how well they play over the next three weeks, the Hurricanes are poised for a 55-win season, which is something they’ve never done before. They’ve had incredible individual successes this season — defenseman Brent Burns is having one of the best seasons of his career in spite of his relocation to Raleigh in 2022, and you couldn’t ask for a better comeback year from center Martin Necas. Why all the doom and gloom?

Obviously, it’s easy to complain the second your Jennings Trophy-winning goalie lets an easy puck slip through or when someone reminds you your team’s lost two of their best forwards for the rest of the season. But the Hurricanes don’t need your pity, nor do they really want it. There’s so much more to look forward to as the season draws to a close.

Complain-iacs, maybe keep the negativity off Twitter for a while.

GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho waits during the game against the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022 in PNC Arena. Aho had two assists. The Canes beat the Oilers 7-2.

Sam Overton Managing Editor

Taking stock of NC State baseball’s batters in ACC play

at-bats in conference play with 39.

With three ACC series in the books, NC State baseball has gotten off to a slow start in conference play, dropping each series and recording a 3-6 conference record. In the lineup, 10 players have started at least four games for the Pack.

The Pack’s best hitter by batting average in ACC play has been sophomore catcher Jacob Cozart, who’s hitting .555 through eight conference starts. With 15 hits over that span, Cozart is emerging as one of the Wolfpack’s most reliable options at the plate. He’s also brought power to NC State’s lineup, blasting a pair of homers and a teamhigh five doubles in ACC play.

Junior infielder LuJames Groover is one of four players to start all nine conference games for the Pack and is the only other NC State player to have double digit hits in ACC play with 11. Unlike Cozart, Groover only has one extra base hit in conference play and has leaned on singles, giving the Pack some balance at the plate.

Freshman catcher Cannon Peebles has started his ACC career on the right track. Second on the team with eight RBIs in the conference play, Peebles has a knack for scoring timely runs. Down to one final out in the Wolfpack’s win over Virginia, Peebles hit a two-RBI single for the walkoff win, salvaging an otherwise disappointing series for NC State.

Freshman infielder Eli Serrano is emerging as a promising player for the Pack. Despite only being a freshman, Serrano has started all nine ACC games, averaging .258 at the plate in conference play. Paired with Peebles, NC State has a promising freshman duo.

One player that has shown improvement this season, including during ACC play, is junior infielder Kalae Harrison, a transfer from Texas A&M. After falling below the Mendoza line last season with a .162 batting average, Harrison has made significant progress and is batting .337 against ACC competition. He also leads the Wolfpack in

Davidson transfer and graduate outfielder Parker Nolan has made eight ACC starts and is proving to be a quality starter. With a .321 batting average in conference play, Nolan combines reliability and power. One of Nolan’s best games came in a win against Miami, where Nolan went 4-4 at the plate, including a home run.

Nolan’s teammate from Davidson, graduate outfielder Trevor Candelaria, has had a slower start to ACC play, only posting a .190 batting average. Candelaria started strong in nonconference and will look to get out of his current slump in the coming weeks. Like Nolan, Candelaria has the ability to blast homers and will be needed in order for the Wolfpack to improve its conference record.

Sophomore infielder Payton Green opened the season scorching from the plate, leading the team in overall home runs. However, Green has cooled off significantly against ACC competition with only one home run and a .237 average at the plate. Like Candelaria, Green is a key piece for the Wolfpack that has started conference play in a slump.

While he’s only appeared in five ACC games, junior outfielder Noah Soles has popped for the Wolfpack. His .400 conference batting average is second on the team, and he has a pair of doubles to his name. While it is a small sample, Soles’ numbers have improved since entering conference play and is one of NC State’s more reliable batters.

The last regular contributor to the Wolfpack’s lineup is junior outfielder Carter Trice, a transfer from Old Dominion. The transition to the ACC has been rocky for Trice, who’s batting .154 in conference. One bright spot for Trice was blasting a grand slam in the Wolfpack’s victory over Boston College that helped the team pull away.

As NC State continues through the gauntlet of ACC play, the team will need more consistency and firepower from its bats in order to right the ship and stand a chance at playing in the postseason.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN

Junior infielder LuJames Groover throws the ball to first base during the game against Elon at Doak Field at Dail Park on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. NC State lost to Elon 14-6.

Noah Teague Staff Writer

NC State track and field competes alongside plethora of schools in Raleigh Relays

son with something like this in my opener,” Tyynismaa said. “Going into the race, all my practices had been going really well. Even with a few minor hiccups, workouts are really enjoyable with the girls, and I love the workouts — great environment.”

For one weekend of the year, all eyes in the college track and field world turn toward Raleigh.

That’s because of the annual Raleigh Relays track meet, hosted each year by NC State in which programs from across the country come to compete in a three-day event.

The meet took place this past weekend, March 2325, and it didn’t disappoint, featuring exciting races and field events that drew a tremendous crowd all throughout the event.

“The event itself is amazing — it’s one of the biggest track meets on the East Coast the entire year,” said men’s head coach Rollie Geiger. “This event, for this area, this community is very, very positive for track and field. …The exposure to the community is terrific.”

A total of four Wolfpack athletes took first place in their respective events: graduate student Allie Hays in the women’s 10K Invitational, graduate student Jamar Davis in the men’s triple jump, graduate student Cam Murray in the men’s 100-meter dash and senior Jirah Sidberry in the women’s long jump.

Hays was the first member of the Pack to take a top prize, and she did so in style, breaking the school, meet and facility record in the women’s 10K Invitational on Thursday night with a time of 32 minutes, 21.13 seconds.

Davis secured the Pack’s first victory in the field events on Friday by taking first place in the men’s triple jump with a score of 15.66 meters. He nearly took first in the long jump the following day, coming in second with a score of 7.44 meters.

Also on Friday, Murray sprinted his way to the top prize in the men’s 100-meter dash with a time of 10.38. Murray’s win came despite competing in the first heat, which is usually reserved for the slower-seeded runners, but Murray dusted his competitors and the field to nab first.

“I was kind of mad I was in the first heat, but I didn’t have a seed time, so I just went out there, got out of the blocks good and just had a good transition,” Murray said. “I had a feeling I would run that fast. I was hoping for a little faster, but it’s my first 100 in like five years, so I’m satisfied with that.”

Murray’s teammate, senior Alex Lang, also fared well in the event, taking fourth with a time of 10.58. Lang finished first in the ninth and final heat, the fastest of the event.

“It’s nice to come back outside; running into a headwind is not fun,” Lang said. “It was a good race. I won my heat too, so I think it’s just nice to get my legs back under me again and just keep it up for the rest of the season.”

Back on the field, senior Jirah Sidberry followed in Davis’ footsteps, taking first place in the women’s long jump with a personal-best leap of 6.23 meters. Her mark ranks fifth in Wolfpack history.

Plenty of other NC State athletes came in the top 10 of their respective events or came pretty close to it. On Friday afternoon, sophomore Amaris Tyynismaa took fourth overall in the women’s 1500-meter run with a time of 4:12.02.

“I’m super excited — I’m at a place that makes me really happy, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the sea-

Later that same night, senior Sam Bush continued the Pack’s impressive distance performances with a time of 15:39.26 in the women’s 5K, earning second place. For Bush, it wasn’t certain she would even run the entire race — her teammate, graduate student Savannah Shaw, left early as a pace-setter, but Bush finished the race and nearly came in first.

“My thought coming in was that I wasn’t gonna stay engaged the entire time, and I wanted to leave early because I tend to do more of a same kick,” Bush said. “It was more like practicing a different technique, and I didn’t win but it felt better.”

NC State’s final top-five finish of the meet came from graduate student Gavin Gaynor, who took fifth in the men’s 800-meter run with a time of 1:49.47 on Saturday. Gaynor also took a top-10 finish earlier in the meet, earning sixth place in the 1500-meter run on Thursday with a time of 3:41.58.

“Not a bad opener — it was a little windy today, but I PR’d by like half a second and came back from running the 1500 on Thursday,” Gaynor said. “Pretty good to come back — good practice for ACCs when we run trials and finals with one day in between. Pretty happy with how the season is going.”

In all, it was a great weekend for college track and field. Spectators from across the community and the country came to Raleigh to watch high-level athletes compete, and they weren’t disappointed.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN

Graduate distance runner Sarah Latour jumps out of the water during the women’s 300-meter steeplechase event of the Raleigh Relays track meet at the Derr Track and Field Facility on Friday, March 24, 2023.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN Freshman sprinter Lance Patterson prays before running the men’s 400-meter during the Raleigh Relays track meet at the Derr Track and Field Facility on Friday, March 24, 2023. Patterson finished first in his heat and second overall with a time of 49.01.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN Graduate hurdler Timara Chapman scales the hurdle during the Raleigh Relays track meet at the Derr Track and Field Facility on Friday, March 24, 2023. Chapman finished the women’s 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.40.

Ben Ellis Sports Editor & Jenna Cuniowski Assistant Sports Editor