Dreamville 2023 — Technician 04/06/23

TECHNICIAN

DREAMVILLE

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Worth the buzz? USDA conditionally approves first vaccine for honeybees

WHAT YOU MISSED:

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

NC State’s Christina Koch to be the first woman to orbit the moon

NC State alum Christina Koch is the first woman to be a part of a NASA mission to orbit the moon. NASA’s Artemis II is an exploration program that aims to reestablish human activity on the moon. Koch graduated from NC State in 2002. She has worked with NASA since 2018 and set the record for longest duration in space for a woman in 2019 and 2020. Artemis II plans to launch in 2025.

SOURCE: NC STATE NEWS

Leia the giraffe is expecting a baby

The North Carolina Zoo’s resident giraffe, Leia, is expecting. This is Leia’s first calf and the zoo’s first giraffe birth since 2017. Zoo officials warned Leia and her partner might seclude themselves leading up to the birth, but the zoo may release a live birth cam for Leia’s many online fans.

SOURCE: N&O

Donald Trump indicted on 34-count felony indictment

Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be criminally charged after a 34-count felony charge on Tuesday. The indictments refer to a series of alleged hush-money payments to multiple individuals, including adult film star Stormy Daniels about an alleged affair, a Trump Tower doorman regarding an illegitimate child and Karen McDougal about a separate affair. The statement of facts released with the indictment indicates these payments were part of a larger scheme to keep potentially damning information from interfering with Trump’s 2016 presidential run.

SOURCE: NBC

Paris’ worker strike is called off, efforts put in place to clean the city

Throughout the beginning of 2023, French sanitation and union workers have held protests in hopes to provide retirement benefits and high wages to over 200 unions. With sanitation workers holding strikes, Paris’ streets have become full of over 10,000 metric tons of garbage. On April 1, the strike was called off and action is being taken to clean the streets. Several restaurants and residents are celebrating as the air is cleaner, and business is coming back.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

THE RADAR

Events to keep an eye on for the week of April 6

THE WRIGHT WAY: WHAT WE GREW UP WITH BY KIRAN SOMA

Friday, April 7, 7 p.m.

FRANK THOMPSON HALL, KENNEDYMCLLWEE STUDIO THEATRE

Free

Join University Theatre to see NC State student Kiran Soma’s one-act play. “What We Grew Up With” follows an immigrant family’s experience with racism, xenophobia and estrangement in the post-9/11 United States.

SNEAKER BALL

Saturday, April 8, 6-9 p.m. STATE BALLROOM

Free

Join the Black Student Board for Sneaker Ball, the closing event for Pan-Afrikan Week 2023. Don’t forget to come dressed with formal attire and a pair of sneakers.

SURVIVOR EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPY

Tuesday, April 11, 1-3 p.m. CAMPUS HEALTH, CONFERENCE ROOM (2301)

Free

The Women’s Center and Counseling Center will lead a therapeutic, traumainformed event centered on expressive arts and gardening. This event will be open only to self-identified survivors of interpersonal violence.

NC STATE EARTH FAIR

Wednesday, April 12, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

STAFFORD COMMONS

Free

Celebrate Earth Month by attending the NC State Earth Fair. Bring a friend and learn about sustainability, climate, wellness and more!

Worth the buzz? USDA conditionally approves first vaccine for honeybees

Matthew Burkhart Staff Writer

In late December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved the conditional use of a vaccine for honeybees, the first of its kind for insects. Offering a chance to remedy one of the most devastating diseases to hives, campus experts weighed their opinions on this new development.

David Tarpy, professor of applied ecology and extension specialist in apiculture at NC State, said the vaccine aims to provide immunity to one of the most deadly bacterial diseases to honeybees, American Foulbrood disease.

Although NC State was not directly involved in the research of the new vaccine, Tarpy said the University’s research on the underlying phenomenon, transgenerational immune priming, could have been used in understanding how to administer the vaccine.

Prior to the vaccine’s approval, Tarpy said colonies with American Foulbrood would have either been burned, along with all the bees and equipment, or treated with antibiotics, which only stop the production of new spores, and do not kill existing spores.

Tarpy said American Foulbrood was given its name due to the stench it produces in its wake.

“It is called foulbrood because the developing bees are called brood,” Tarpy said. “When they die, they have the wonderful aroma of sweaty gym socks.”

Tarpy said the phenomenon was first discovered in beetles. If a female egglaying insect is exposed to a pathogen,

its genetic information can be spread to the eggs she lays in the future, giving the offspring a chance of immunity to the particular pathogen.

Ben Regester, a fourth-year studying environmental sciences and president of the Beekeeper’s Club, said the vaccine is administered through royal jelly, a protein-rich mixture of sugar and water that is fed to larvae and queens. Regester said once the queen ingests jelly that is incorporated with dead versions of American Foulbrood, the vaccine settles in her ovaries and is passed down to her offspring.

Tarpy said although less than 1% of

colonies in North Carolina have been diagnosed with American Foulbrood, he and the State Department of Agriculture refuse to call it rare because of the highly infectious nature of the disease.

“Even though it might be less than 1%, it has the capacity to spread like wildfire,” Tarpy said.

Regester said NC State’s hives on the agroecology campus are at low risk of infection due to the location and size of the farm.

“It’s fairly well tucked away because it’s a farm in the middle of Raleigh, so there aren’t a lot of agricultural areas

nearby there,” Regester said. “It’s also not as much of a concern for us because we don’t have a ton of bees. If you have a huge apiary with hundreds of hives, then that can be a big problem if one hive gets it and it spreads.”

Tarpy said the vaccine has been conditionally approved, meaning it will not be available for full approval until additional testing.

“I think the data that show how efficacious it is is still pretty scant and limited,” Tarpy said. “It really shows that when exposed to the offspring of primed queens versus unprimed queens, it decreases the likelihood of getting disease by 30% to 50%. So it certainly is not causing total resistance by any means. They also showed it in a petri dish, not in an actual hive, so we don’t know how long this priming effect lasts. We don’t know if it really stops disease at the colony level or just at the individual level.”

Regester said bees are often overlooked for their importance in the agriculture industry, and he is hopeful that the vaccine’s approval will warrant precedent for insect care in the future.

“Even though they are so important, they haven’t gotten the same attention that like cows get,” Regester said. “There’s not a lot of veterinary care for honeybees. There’s not as much research going into medicine for them. Whether or not it is effective, I’m glad that there’s work going on towards creating this vaccine and hopefully others in the future.”

NICHOLAS FAULKNER/ARCHIVE Bees swarm the Freudenberg beehive near Hunt Library on Tuesday, June 27, 2017.

PACK Meal Share program works to resolve food insecurity at NC State

Mark Mikhail Correspondent

NC State’s Academic and Student Affairs offers many food and housing resources to students through Pack Essentials. One of these resources is the PACK Meal Share program, which donates guest meals from students’ meal plans to students facing food insecurity.

The PACK Meal Share program is run in collaboration between Student Government, NC State Dining and the Ombuds program. The program’s goal is to curb temporary food insecurity crises through donating unused guest meal swipes from the Flex Meal Plans offered through NC State Dining.

According to Jennifer Gilmore, director of marketing and communications for Campus Enterprises, the idea for the program came from Student Government in 2018.

“I think that Student Government approached us during that time,” Gilmore said. “We looked at what we could feasibly do and we all landed on the guest meal aspect of the meal plans, and put it in place that year.”

Although the program is very much a collaborative effort, student involvement did not end with the creation of the program. McKenzy Heavlin, a graduate student in electrical engineering and student body president, said students are still a fundamental part of the program’s identity.

“The way that Student Government is connected with this initiative is that we essentially provide the individual support and the volunteer stations,” Heavlin said. “We’ll also go to tables, like the dining halls, and so there’ll be Student Government members at the dining halls who will kind of ask people to donate their guests meal swipes, [and] any questions that students have about the program, Student Government really is trying to facilitate the answer portion of that.”

Heavlin said applying to participate in PACK Meal Share is fairly simple.

“If I needed food, I would go and submit an application [in Pack Essentials], they try to get back to you in 24 hours, at least they’re really really responsive, and once they follow up with you, they’ll have kind of an initial comfort consultation, and then they’ll be the ones to like physically allocate out,” Heavlin said. “It’s a pretty streamlined process, and they do a really good job of making sure to respond to students in a timely manner, especially for food insecurity so that students aren’t going hungry.”

The program is also completely anonymous, a quality that Gilmore said is ex-

tremely important to the students.

“When it’s been programmed onto their ID card, and they can just come and blend in and feel where they can just blend in and eat with everyone else,” Gilmore said. “That’s how we want people to feel that they’re getting that support that they need, but not having a lot of attention drawn to them.”

The donation process is personalized and is easy for those who want to donate as well. Students who are on the flex meal plan and are eligible to donate will receive an email at the end of the semester. The goal of the program each semester is to receive anywhere from 1200-1500 donations a semester. That goal has already been achieved this semester.

Heavlin said he hopes the program also provides students with knowledge about the food insecurity many students experience at NC State.

“That’s the other portion of the program that I really appreciate is it really starts a dialogue between students about what food insecurity is and what it looks like here at NC State, and how they can kind of combat that from their individual stance as a student,” Heavlin said.

For more information about PACK Meal Share, check out dasa.ncsu.edu

LGBTQ Pride Center to hold 14th annual Lavender Graduation

Abigail Ali News Editor

The LGBTQ Pride Center will hold its 14th annual Lavender Graduation, a ceremony honoring students identifying with the LGBTQ community this spring.

Lavender Graduation started at the University of Michigan in 1995 and spread to universities across the country. NC State started holding its own Lavender Graduation in 2008. According to the Human Rights Campaign, lavender holds significance as a symbol of pride within the LGBTQ community. It is a combination of pink and black, which were historically used to discriminate against gays and les-

bians but have since been taken back.

Dr. Charla Blumell, the director of the LGBTQ Pride Center, said the ceremony is a way to celebrate students.

“It’s a way for us at the Pride Center, as well as the campus community, faculty, staff and other students to just congratulate and cheer on our LGBTQ+ students who have [graduated],” Blumell said. “We really just want to show them how proud we are, and how excited we are for whatever they’re going to do next, and it’s just a beautiful tradition and a wonderful way for us to honor our students.”

Grace Szigethy, a fourth-year studying psychology and women’s gender and

sexuality studies, is an intern at the LGBTQ Pride Center. Szigethy is walking in Lavender Graduation and helping plan the event along with other employees at the center. She said the ceremony represents intersectional individuality.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the campus to honor all of the different intersectional identities that we have here,” Szigethy said. “I think typical graduation ceremonies are much more focused on the community and the collective as a whole when Lav Grad has a beautiful way of honoring each individual as they are.”

During Lavender Graduation, the center gives away three awards: the Stafford Lead-

ership Award, Reiman Student Advocacy Award and the Spitz Community Advocacy Award. Blumell said she’s excited to recognize students for their hard work as part of the community.

“I’m just excited about the recipients who are going to receive those, because it’s just like icing on the cake,” Blumell said. “You’re graduating, you’re with your friends, you get to see other staff members and faculty and receive something else to take with you as a part of your experience. I think that’ll be beautiful.”

EMMA SHEPPARD/TECHNICIAN

Students get food at Fountain Dining Hall on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019.

NC State professor explains new requirement for term ‘Product of USA’

Selina Urieta-Garcia Correspondent

Food Safety and Inspection Services released a new requirement on March 6 that only allows products to be labeled as a “Product of USA” if the food’s entire lifespan took place in the U.S.

Before produce and products can make it to the aisles in grocery stores, precautions must be taken to ensure consumers recieve safe food products such as the livestocks, inspections, packaging and labeling.

Dana Hanson, an associate professor in food science at NC State and meat specialist, said the process is to make sure consumers receive safe, affordable and wholesome foods.

“If you can imagine anything in the grocery store, whether it’d be fresh product that is literally cut and delivered, say in the produce section, or a box of cereal, or a gallon of milk, or canned green beans, there’s a lot of science to get it there,” Hanson said. “And so our department [Food, Processing and Nutrition

Sciences] addresses all those different touchpoints to get foods to consumers safe, affordable and wholesome.”

Regardless if it’s fresh produce or processed foods, both products are still regulated through different agencies.

Gabriel Harris, professor in food science and co-director of the undergraduate food science program at NC State, explained the difference between products regulated by USDA and FDA.

“USDA is really in charge of raw meat products, hamburgers, those kinds of things,” Harris said. “Something like a Slim Jim or something at a convenience store, that would be more FDA territory.”

In the USDA department, the Food Safety and Inspection Service is responsible for following safety and inspection regulations on raw products such as meat, poultry and eggs.

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Services, the public has petitioned to revise “its regulations to define the conditions under which voluntary claims may be used on the labels of meat,

poultry, and egg products, as well as voluntarily inspected products, to indicate that the products are of U.S. origin.”

Hanson said although various animals are born, raised and processed in the United States, there’s still a demand to import meat products from other countries due to the size and population of our country, as well as to fulfill fast food restaurant ingredients.

“Demand for hamburger is high, so we may not have all that carcass ground, but there’s a lot of McDonald’s, there’s a lot of In-N-Out, there’s a lot of other demand for those products that we need to fill in the gaps oftentimes with imported products,” Hanson said.

Countries like Brazil have way more products than their population uses, Hanson said.

“Brazil has a huge livestock industry, crop industry, and they export a tremendous amount of their product, partially because A: they’ve got a lot of it, and B: they produce more than the population can consume,” Hanson said.

GRAPHIC BY WYLIE PHU

Even if animals are born in other countries and are brought to the U.S. to be raised, Hanson said consumers do not need to worry about the process because the animals are under the guidance of the U.S.

“Unequivocally, we have the safest, most abundant and affordable food supply in the world,” Hanson said. “And in vain, to be processed in the United States, we’ve got food safety regulations … frontline inspectors in all food processing plants.”

“It’s really not an issue because the cattle that come from Canada are raised in a responsible manner, but once they come in the U.S., they’re under our guidance from even the live production side, but certainly in the food processing arena,” Hanson said. “So it’s not like we’re bringing inferior products in from other countries and trying to pass it off as lesser quality or less wholesome products.”

LAVENDER

continued from page 4

Blumell said Lavender Graduation comes at a special time this year as the LGBTQ Pride Center celebrated its name change and 15th anniversary in January.

“This is going to be, not only part of that 15 year celebration, but this will be the first class that gets to celebrate in conjunction with us being the LGBTQ Pride Center, and that’s awesome,” Blumell said.

Szigethy said this will also be the first year Lavender Graduation is back in full swing after having to plan around COVID-19 the past few years.

“It’s kind of the first year we’re back to normal since

PRODUCT

continued from page 5

Harris said that products imported to the U.S. would still need to follow regulations in order for it to be sold here, and companies would need to be sure they are following proper legal requirements.

“If you’re selling from the U.S. to wherever, or if you’re

COVID,” Szigethy said. “We’ve been able to enjoy a lot of the big programs and events that we had freshman year on campus like Packapalooza, so I think this year it’s gonna be like Lav Grad’s return to campus.”

Szigethy and Blumell said Lavender Graduation is open to everybody, including students not affiliated with the LGBTQ Pride Center or who graduated in the fall or summer.

“I think people don’t realize how inclusive and open to everybody it is,” Szigethy said. “One thing we do, because we can only have Lav Grad in the spring, any summer or fall graduates within the past year are welcome to join and walk in Lav Grad. … It’s not like a college graduation ceremony because it’s hosted by the Pride Center. We can be a lot more flexible and help you in that sense.”

Blumell said she is proud of the students graduating

a company selling from any place to the U.S., you’d have to do the same thing and ask what are the U.S. labeling laws. And make sure that they are followed because if not, then there’s a strong possibility that you would not be able to sell the product,” Hanson said.

Mary Margaret Hanna, a graduate student in English, said she buys products from the U.S. “I personally buy from the farmers market, so those are things that are coming from the U.S., but I know that that’s not economically feasible for everybody,”

and is excited to cheer them on.

“I think, just for me, this is an amazing achievement,” Blumell said. “Graduating from college at any level is an achievement that a student can be proud of, and I think it is a huge deal for us to celebrate each other when these huge milestones happen. We as a community have had a lot of loss. In this last year at NC State we’ve had some obstacles, folks have been experiencing a lot of pain in different ways. And it’s beautiful when we get to kind of come together for something celebratory.”

Lavender Graduation will be held April 19 at 6 p.m. in Talley Student Union’s Coastal Ballroom. Szigethy said any students interested in walking in Lavender Graduation next year, or who are curious about it, can stop by the center or send them an email for more information.

Hanna said.

MJ Kiadii, a non-degree student, said it doesn’t matter where his meat products come from geographically and focuses more on the environment of how meat products are made.

“I don’t really care, geographically where it’s from, moreso, if it’s from an ethical place that it’s made in,” Kiadii said. “I don’t really want to eat meat that I know is coming from somewhere where people and things are treated really badly.”

GRAPHIC BY ANNA LEE

Artificial Intelligence innovation is inevitable, but we must regulate it

Like with every major technological advancement, the new online chatbot known as ChatGPT has sparked controversial debates about the potential risks it poses to humanity and society. While it may seem that this new technology could cause more harm than good, technological innovation is inevitable.

Emilia Rivadeneira Staff Columnist

In a recent Technician column, staff columnist Amelia Russell said AI technologies such as ChatGPT could exacerbate economic inequality and job displacement. While I agree with Russell’s perspective on how AI could potentially cause harmful consequences in the workforce, I also think that people will eventually get back on their feet.

I’m not trying to disregard the mas -

sive effects a new technological revolution will have on our lives — there will be plenty. Similar to what occurred when the United States shifted from an agricultural to an industrial economy during the Industrial Revolution, the transition to AI will bring significant economic repercussions, but we can and will recover.

But if we’re being warned of the impacts of implementing AI, why do we continue to develop these technologies?

Curiosity is a fundamental drive in human behavior that has led to research that makes an invaluable contribution to technological advancement.

AI will occur one way or another. As Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said to the New York Times, “Technology happens because it is possible.” Until we’ve depleted our curiosity, technology will continue to grow.

However, while our curiosity can’t be

limited, our creations can be regulated. In the case of AI or ChatGPT, the solution isn’t that we shouldn’t use it at all — it’s that we need to ensure it’s being used properly.

A few days ago, AI specialists submitted a petition requesting a six-month halt in AI development to explore the introduction of standardized safety rules for advanced AI design among laboratories and independent experts.

If this petition is successful, experts could also consider the potential impact of ChatGPT on the job market since it’s widely claimed that automation would result in job displacement. While this can be true, automation can also be beneficial for employees as it increases productivity and efficacy.

It can also encourage reskilling in areas that are less susceptible to automation, such as activities that involve managing and developing or where ex-

pertise is applied to decision-making, planning or creative work. So, while ChatGPT will change jobs, it won’t fully take over our professional lives.

The main issue experts should discuss are the steps that need to be taken to ensure workers aren’t unfairly displaced. While a solution may not be immediate, there are safety nets that could reduce AI’s negative impact on the workforce. For instance, job retraining programs could help workers that might be displaced by AI gain knowledge in other areas within the business.

Besides considering whether AI will have a bad or beneficial impact on our daily life or the economy, we should recognize that we can’t halt technological advancement forever. That being said, we should begin developing safety standards to assure that hazards associated with AI will be managed in the future.

It’s time tech companies are held responsible for dangerous content

The U.S. government has been embroiled in debates surrounding social media companies for years. Most eyes have turned to Congress’ recent grilling of TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. But in the last month, the Supreme Court has deliberated the future of Section 230 and the liability social media companies have for the content published on their sites.

Koen Rodabaugh Correspondent

a company owned by Google, did not publish the content — ISIS and its members did. In effect, Google claimed liability protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Under this law, tech companies are immune from liability for the content posted by their users.

internet companies have a part to play in limiting the publication of terrorist content?

The two cases, Gonzalez v. Google, LLC. and Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh, surround the same set of facts. In 2015, Nohemi Gonzalez was killed in one of many terrorist attacks in Paris. In the day following the attacks, ISIS released a written statement and a YouTube video claiming responsibility.

The father of the victim sued Google, Twitter and Facebook for aiding and abetting acts of international terrorism by allowing the terrorists to use their platform to “recruit members, plan terrorist attacks, issue terrorist threats, instill fear, and intimidate civilian populations.”

Google’s response was that YouTube,

Under Section 230, internet companies can limit what content is published on their site but are not ultimately liable for the content itself. As Michael Barbaro described on “The Daily” podcast, tech companies get to be both newspapers and a bookstore but with the protections of the bookstore.

Section 230 was instrumental in fostering the growth of the early internet. With protections in place, companies could expand their reach and accessibility to the general public. However, there were no algorithms at the time promoting and curating content for their users like there are today.

In Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh, the central question is whether Twitter did enough to remove terrorist content on its site, thus aiding and abetting international terrorism under the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act.

With all of this in mind, what should the future of Section 230 look like? Do

I certainly don’t believe that companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook are acting with malintent or are intentionally aiding and abetting terrorism. But, it seems ridiculous that these companies have no legal responsibility to reject terrorist content.

In Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said to the lawyer representing Twitter, Seth Waxman, “You knew that ISIS was using your platform,” to which Waxman agreed.

If a company is aware of such a user on its platform, it should be expected to remove that person, especially if they’re using the platform to further terrorist goals. Beyond the legality of such an act, it’s just basic common sense.

We hold plenty of other widely-available services, such as banking, to such a standard — an argument that Justice Elena Kagan mentioned. Terrorist propaganda is something that must be diligently weeded out. Failure to do so is extremely dangerous and negligent.

What seems apparent from both cases though is that the court is reasonably skeptical of scrapping Section 230 entirely but is open to the idea of changing

its interpretation to a certain extent. As Kagan noted, Section 230 was made before algorithms existed and the Supreme Court is by no means the ultimate expert on the internet.

As with many things, the solution is in the middle. Social media holds a unique space in the world of publication and algorithms are useful tools for organizing and presenting pertinent information to users. However, an algorithm’s existence as a tool for all content from cooking videos to terrorist propaganda clearly lends itself to problems.

Terrorists should not be making content, but more importantly, internet companies should not allow terrorists to publish on their sites. Algorithms currently feed off of human insecurities and tribalism. Failure to adjust to these trends can lead to violence, polarization and terrorist recruitment.

We can have protections for social media companies’ content while making exceptions for clearly illegal and dangerous content. If a user decides to post a defamatory video or post, the internet company doesn’t need to be involved. However, we must draw a line at international terrorist propaganda as something that internet companies should actively remove and denounce.

Retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Harrison Burstion, Staff Cartoonist

A second-year studying art and design

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

A second-year studying art and design

Cloudwatching

Lucy Osborn, Staff Cartoonist

A second-year studying art and design

Season’s Pickin’s: Rhubarb

Wylie Phu, Staff Cartoonist

A second-year studying art and design

Laundry

Sophie Gabriel, Staff Cartoonist

A second-year studying art and design

Childhood Memories

Avery Szakacs, Staff Cartoonist

A second-year studying art and design

Nova and Comet: Skaterboy

Pearl Knight, Staff Cartoonist

A fourth-year studying art and design

Dog and its Reflection

Harrison Burstion, Staff Cartoonist

A second-year studying art and design

Mental Health Journeys: Positive change doesn’t rely on a diagnosis

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

was not impossible. Women are significantly underdiagnosed at a rate of nearly four to one.

that left me exhausted.

Jordan Birkner Correspondent

I have struggled with socializing and focus as long as I can remember. Trying to blend in with normative expectations has always felt exhausting to me.

I knew I struggled with mental health during middle and high school, but traditional therapy and psychiatry didn’t help significantly. It wasn’t until college that I had the opportunity to explore my own unique experiences in a different context. It’s not that my family didn’t do their best to be supportive, but a lot of the challenges I faced were difficult to recognize at home.

My freshman year, my roommate told me they suspected I had ADHD. Common symptoms like difficulty focusing and bursts of energy did fit my behaviors, so I began to research strategies those with ADHD use to face these challenges. I discovered the positive impacts organization can have for ADHD symptoms and put additional effort into controlling my space to see if it would benefit my work and focus.

My efforts to change my behaviors before receiving a diagnosis improved my stress and productivity. A few months later, I mentioned the possibility of ADHD to my psychiatrist and, as it turns out, my roommate’s guess was spot on.

Later that year, another friend said I might be autistic. This condition seemed less likely to have gone unnoticed until adulthood, but

Knowing that a diagnostic label would not change who I was, I applied to a waiting list for an autism spectrum disorder evaluation. If I truly did have autism, receiving a formal diagnosis would enable me access to additional resources and accommodations that I hadn’t realized were relevant.

The waiting list for an evaluation often takes a long time, sometimes even two to four years. However, I decided to use this waiting period to explore more about what autism spectrum disorder was and learn strategies that individuals can use to help manage some of its challenges.

I was accepted to the Critical DAMN Studies Lab my sophomore year, where data access and solidarity for the Autistic Community is a core aspect of the project. The more I researched, the more I recognized methods that could be beneficial to me, regardless of the outcome of my evaluation.

Even with the help of ADHD medication, I struggled with engaging in work I was not passionate about. This encouraged me to apply for NC State’s Self-Design program, enabling me to select interdisciplinary classes to form a degree relevant to my interests and goals instead of following a pre-set course track.

I was also finally able to admit to myself that I am an introvert. My efforts to engage with others in the past had usually left me drained, and to try and overcompensate for these difficulties, I had just tried harder. But, I learned to advocate to my friends and family how I needed time to myself to recharge and set clear boundaries without feeling like a buzzkill. I no longer forced myself to endure hours of socializing

Additionally, I looked into other potential challenges of autism, such as difficulty relating to others. I became actively aware of the impact of my own words and actions; making additional efforts to ask for and provide clarity in conversation can help avoid any implied confusion. I didn’t need to mask in conversation and pretend I understood social contexts when I didn’t.

Examining these and other aspects of my experiences opened my eyes to strategies that would assist me with obstacles I faced everyday. I didn’t self-diagnose and claim to be autistic before my evaluation, but understanding autism spectrum disorder better helped improve my relationships with everyone in my life. Regardless of labels, I finally found tools that helped where traditional therapy and medications hadn’t.

After months of waiting, I finally received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis as a junior in college — validating the struggles I’ve had throughout my life. I also was able to file accommodations with the Disability Resource Office and receive relevant academic support.

However, this new label didn’t change much else. Diagnostic evaluations are a long process that are not easy to access. I didn’t wait for an ADHD or autism diagnosis to start utilizing strategies, support and self-advocacy. I also didn’t need to self-diagnose to explain to those close to me that patience, space and my interests were aspects of my life I had neglected previously.

I am grateful that people in my life were able to open these conversations to me about my mental health in a new light. I was able to reflect

and discover what I could try in order to improve aspects of my life I had never considered as vital before.

If anyone is struggling with mental health without a diagnosis, I encourage them to try similar techniques. See what resources are available to provide support for certain difficulties, regardless of ties to labels and psychiatry. If you are struggling, it may not be obvious from the inside what aspects in your routines contribute to challenges you face. Regardless of your identities, being willing to try things differently and you may impact your life for the better.

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.

Make equity — not just equality — the classroom standard

great. If some people can’t reach the apple in the tree, then giving everyone a ladder seems logical. The thing is — not everyone starts at the same height, meaning that some people will still be more disadvantaged than others.

treated differently from anyone else.

Lauren Richards Staff Columnist

Growing up, equality was something we heard about all the time. We’re made to believe that it’s an ideal, a priority. In college, it’s no different. For instructors, equality may be ensuring everyone has equal access to the opportunities, resources and tools they need to succeed. While this all sounds well and good, there is a better principle instructors should uphold — equity.

Equality and equity often get conflated with one another, but they differ in very important ways. Equality is a one-size-fits-all approach — it’s about treating everyone the same, regardless of whatever their experiences may be. On the outside, equality sounds

Equity, on the other hand, takes a step further. Not only does it mean treating everyone fairly but it also comes with the understanding that everyone has different experiences. In other words, equity is about treating people according to their unique needs. It’s not just about giving everyone a ladder, but making sure that everyone has a ladder suited to their level. Only this way can you ensure that everyone starts on equal footing.

For example, something many instructors love to drive home in their classes is the classic “no late work, no excuses” rule. In this case, the equal approach to a student asking for an extension would be a hard no. Regardless of the reason given, whether it’s a family or mental health emergency, the student wouldn’t be

On the other hand, an equitable response to this situation may look like working with the student to find a deadline that’s optimal for their circumstance. From an equitable lens, being fair means recognizing the student wouldn’t be operating on the same level as everyone else. Because they may be experiencing something serious, the work they end up turning in likely won’t be a good measure of their actual abilities.

Yes, the idea of accepting late assignments or accommodating for some other unforeseen circumstance isn’t necessarily ideal. No doubt, these things place added pressure and stress on instructors. Furthermore, being able to meet deadlines and fulfill other classroom obligations are essential skills for the workplace.

However, life happens no matter what setting you’re in. Whether you’re working a fulltime job or attending college, things come up

that we can’t control, things that sometimes have to take priority over other aspects of our lives. Ultimately, college is important for preparing us for a future, and if something happens that needs our attention now, we should be given the flexibility to attend to it.

Showing grace is especially important at this moment in time. Given the recent student deaths, we’re more than deserving of some support. While this doesn’t have to come in the form of handouts, it should at least start with compassion and empathy. Aiming for this mindset can only serve to benefit students’ mental health.

Creating an equitable learning environment should be a priority for all instructors. With almost 35,000 students attending NC State, it makes no sense for instructors to offer broad solutions. The only way we can reach true academic equality for all students is when professors start recognizing all unique experiences.

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

Where’s Waldo? In Talley, apparently

Amelia Russell Staff Writer

We all have our favorite campus figures. Some think fondly of their favorite One Earth cashiers or PCJ baristas. This year, there’s a new on-campus character taking NC State by force. He’s come straight from the pages of your favorite waiting room magazine: that’s right, it’s Waldo.

Every week, at seemingly random times and locations, a mysterious individual dressed as the titular “Where’s Waldo?” character appears on campus, clad in distinctive red and white stripes.

According to Mary Lynch, a second-year studying human biology who spoke to Waldo, the only thing he wants is for students to answer his icebreakers.

Lynch said the character sat down at her table one day with a bag of questions for her and her friends to answer. The questions included: “Do the ends justify the means?” “What is your biggest pet peeve?” and “What’s your dating life like?”

“I thought it was a joke at first, but I enjoyed it,” Lynch said. “It was really funny.”

It seems Waldo has achieved celebrity status. Even students who have never talked to

him — or even seen him — seem to know who he is.

“It’s definitely something for people to talk about,” said Laynie McCall, a third-year studying criminology. “Like, have you seen Waldo?”

McCall said she thought there was a possibility Waldo could be doing what he does as part of a psychology or sociology class. For others, however, Waldo is a harmless character who inspires a bit of fun.

“If there is a hidden agenda, it’s really hidden,” said Will Beeson, a campus pastor for Every Nation NCSU. “I guess he might have some personal reasons, which could be considered an agenda, but I don’t think he’s working for somebody.”

Despite Waldo’s notoriety, there’s still the burning question of his true identity. No one spoken to had an idea of Waldo’s real name, status or purpose. Just like the fictional character, NC State’s Waldo bows to no schedule, has no identifying information and disappears right when you need him the most.

True to the Waldo brand, it was incredibly hard to find the character. I was on red-alert just in case I spotted him, until one fateful day in Talley.

First, I asked what his real name and pronouns were. He responded with: “Waldo, Waldo.”

Waldo was also tight-lipped about his major, giving a relatively vague answer.

“A good question, important for everyone to be able to answer,” Waldo said. “A question that a lot of people ask. I get it all the time. Next question.”

He let me take a gander at the bag. I found that the slips of paper did not just contain icebreakers, but QR codes, quotes, tasks and more. Waldo said that all the questions came from his own mind, fueled by heterogene ity — the concept of dis similarity.

“If I have questions, I’m just questioning,” Waldo said. “If it’s just questions, it could get boring.”

When asked why he chose to im personate Waldo out of all characters, Waldo seemed offended.

“Your question seems to imply that I am a person wearing a Waldo costume and I am not actually Waldo,” Waldo said.

After a very eventful hour-and-a-half interview — which included Waldo trying to set me up with a stranger and the offer of a can of Cheerwine he pulled from his left boot — I asked Waldo if he had any final pieces of wisdom to share with NC State students.

Waldo had one thing to say: “Don’t become too comfortable in your way of think-

GRAPHIC BY ELLIE BRUNO

Sean Paul, Usher and EarthGang light up Dreamville Festival’s first day

moved seamlessly between tracks including “Give it Up to me,” “Shake That Thing” and “Temperature” without letting his pace up for a second.

Despite a late start due to inclement weather, the third iteration of J. Cole’s Dreamville festival brought attendees from all over to Dorothea Dix Park for the first day of the festival on Saturday, April 1. The festival opened its doors at 3 p.m. with an expansive lineup featuring performances from EarthGang, Usher and more.

Spread across Dix Park’s 300 acres of greenspace, Dreamville attendees passed several photo opportunities before even reaching box office lines, including the massive sign spelling out “Dreamville” Hollywood style. Once past the long lines for wristbands, attendees had access to the merch tent, ferris wheel, bar and food vending with plenty of photo opportunities and seating.

Lute began his soulful performance in the late afternoon at Rise, one of the two stages located on the sprawling festival grounds. The artist started off with mellow hit “Sleep Deprived” from album “Revenge of the Dreamers III,” transitioning into quicker beats with “Flossing,” “GED (Gettin Every Dolla)” from his 2021 album “Gold Mouf.” Lute closed his quick 20-minute set with “Juggin” and Dreamville classic “Under the Sun,” rapping to a spellbound crowd.

SiR brought the R&B with his smooth vocals and energy. The crowd was right there with him through his entire 40-minute set featuring some of his most popular songs such as “John Redcorn,” “Nothing Even Matters” and “Satisfaction.” He slowed it down a bit for “Ooh Nah Nah,” bringing a fan from the crowd on stage with him to sing and dance. He closed the set with “Hair Down,” the top hit off of his last album “Chasing Summer.”

Alternative rap duo EarthGang lit up the festival with an infectious set at the Shine stage, amid stills from the duo’s music videos. The performance featured hits like “Westside Like Gatsby” from the album “Mad Men,” “Swivel” from Earthgang’s third studio album, “Mirrorland” and track “Top Down.”

Sean Paul brought one of the most energetic sets of day one with constant movement to match his fast-paced rapping, Jamaican flag waving behind him the entire time. Paul

City Girls performed their biggest hits, from the 2018 song “Take Yo Man’’ to “P--- Talk,” while headed over by the stage’s DJ. After rapping tracks “Where the Bag at” and “Said Sum,” the performance was intersected by a brief dance break from the group’s background dancers, featuring Coi Leray’s “Players” and other tracks. The duo performed “Jobs” with JT and Yung Miami ending the set with the hits that launched them to stardom, “Act Up” and Drake’s “In My Feelings.”

As one of the headliners for Dreamville this year, the crowd went absolutely wild for Usher’s set. Usher was the last performer of the night, with his setlist including tracks like “Caught Up,” “U Don’t Have to Call” and “Burn.” Highlights from the performance included an April Fool’s joke on the audience with Usher pretending to bring out Beyoncé, alongside a surprise performance of “Good Love” with City Girls. Usher ended his iconic set with an electric rendition of “Yeah,” complete with backup singers and clad in a bright blue outfit.

The festival’s branding brought back its recognizable flower focus, making particular use of stylized sunflowers appropriate for Dix’s iconic sunflower field. Rainbow lighting around the perimeter of the park enhanced the dreamlike atmosphere as the sun went down. Merchandise designs also tipped their hat to North Carolina with the inclusion of cardinals on several sweatshirts and hats. Despite the time commitment of standing in the merch line, the fun, unique designs as well as the range of options available made it worth the wait.

Kat Challawar, a graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill, said the set up and branding was one of the highlights of day one for her.

“I love the way they do the flowers and have a bunch of little spots to get food and bars,” Challawar said. “The way they set everything up is really nice.”

Both Challawar and East Carolina University undergrad Simrun Walia are most looking forward to day two’s headline of Drake and J. Cole, but said today’s lineup was also a draw despite some minor sound issues.

“Of course [I’m looking forward to] Drake, but I think the whole lineup this year is pretty good,” Walia said.

JERMAINE HUDSON /TECHNICIAN EarthGang members WowGr8 and Johnny Venus rap during the Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Multiple artists including Usher, EarthGang, City Girls and Ari Lennox performed on the first night of the festival.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN Usher sings into the microphone while pointing towards the crowd during the Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Usher headlined the first day of the festival.

Myra Bari

Culture Editor & Jameson Wolf

Assistant Culture Editor

Drizzy at Dreamville: J. Cole, Drake thrill crowd on Dreamville’s final day

Shine stage with “Who Dat,” a track from his debut album, followed by a more recent hit, “MIDDLE CHILD.” At moments during “Power Trip,” Cole toned down the instrumentals, which highlighted the sound of the immense crowd resounding through Dorothea Dix.

The second and final day of J. Cole’s Dreamville festival began with sunny weather and high anticipation for the night’s headliners, Cole and Drake. This year’s festival was the largest yet, with over 100,000 attendees who experienced an exciting evening characterized by surprise appearances from Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne and 21 Savage.

At 5:45 p.m., J.I.D began his upbeat performance at the Rise stage with “NEVER,” and frequently hyped up the lively crowd.

J.I.D performed hits such as “Raydar,” “Crack Sandwich” and “Down Bad,” each complete with colorful, slow-moving graphics projected behind him. He mainly used a DJ to project instrumentals rather than live instruments, but another musician on stage closed out “Dance Now” for him with a live feature on a Keytar synthesizer.

Attendee Victoria Sullivan, who traveled from Boston for the festival, said she hoped to hear older songs from Cole’s discography on day two. Her favorite artist from the previous day was Sean Paul.

“I love throwbacks, so we got to dance and sing and have fun,” Sullivan said. “I just feel like everyone was vibing along.”

Summer Walker took the stage early in the evening with her song “Constant Bull---,” returning to the stage for the first time after giving birth to twins in January.

Although Walker faced technical difficulties early in the set, she entertained the crowd by briefly freestyle rapping until the audio was restored. Walker played “Unloyal,” “Body” and a crowd-favorite, “Playing Games,” before she brought surprise guest 6LACK onstage.

6LACK performed his popular track “Pretty Little Fears” and his triple-platinum song “PRBLMS” before playing the song “preach” from his latest album, “Since I Have A Lover.”

After 6LACK performed, Walker transitioned to the second half of her set, punctuated by hits including “Girls Need Love” and “No Love.” Walker used her set as an opportunity to confirm the release of her upcoming EP, “Clear 2: Soft Life” on May 19.

Attendees sat on blankets — although one attendee stood out on an inflatable bean bag chair — to stake out a spot for Cole’s set well in advance. Cole began his set at the

During Cole’s set, he brought other members of the Dreamville label on stage. The group closed the set with their popular song, “Stick,” which J.I.D had also performed earlier that day. Although the crowd was clearly excited to hear “Stick,” the anticipation for Drake had reached its peak and the audience was ready for Cole to lead his label off stage to make room for Drizzy.

Before Drake took the stage, Cole ran through shortened versions of fan-favorites “Villematic,” “G.O.M.D,” “Wet Dreamz” and “Love Yourz.”

Drake began his set with “SICKO MODE” by Travis Scott behind a wall of heavy fog and white lights on stage. The Toronto native opted for a Dreamville and Gonzaga baseball jersey and black gloves. The crowd was giddy as Drake followed with “Over,” “Headlines,” “HYFR,” “Started from the Bottom” and “Energy.”

Drake said he hasn’t been to North Carolina in years and wanted to put on a memorable performance, which he certainly did — he brought out a variety of big industry names, most of whom were not advertised in the lineup.

First, Lil Uzi Vert shocked the crowd when they joined Drake onstage to perform “XO Tour Llif3” and “Just Wanna Rock,” featuring a few of Uzi’s signature dance moves.

After Uzi’s short performance, Drake reclaimed the stage by performing a considerable amount of tracks from his older albums, “Nothing Was the Same” and “Take Care.” Members of the crowd were thrilled when he played the highly requested song “Marvins Room,” followed by “Wu-Tang Forever.”

During “The Motto,” Drake surprised the crowd when he revealed the second special guest of the night, Lil Wayne, who joined him to perform the second verse and some select songs, including “Uproar.”

Drake’s final guest was 21 Savage — a predictable appearance given the success of their recent collaborative album, “Her Loss,” but the crowd was not disappointed and enthusiastically sang “Rich Flex” along with the duo.

Cole closed the festival by thanking all the performers and attendees for a great weekend and performed “No Role Modelz” as the final track of the festival. Colorful fireworks went off as the crowd took it in and began the difficult and slow search for an exit.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN

Rapper Drake engages with the crowd during the Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Drake was the headliner for the final day along with J. Cole.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN

Rapper J. Cole talks into the microphone during the Dreamville Festival at Dorothea Dix Park on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Cole was the headliner for the final day along with Drake.

Heidi Reid

Assistant News Editor & Emily Vespa

Assistant News Editor

Student-written play ‘Muse’ explores grief in University Theatre’s Studio Series

struggling to balance his research with his relationship.

or less talked about. And as a scientist myself, I was just really thinking about that.”

After spending over a year in production, “Muse” was performed at the Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre from March 30-April 2. Written by Gaven Bell, “Muse” is a modern retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The play follows Finn, a microbiology post-doc student, as he learns how to live with the loss of his love and muse, Eurydice.

“Muse” features only three actors with an eight-person crew. The play features Will Godby, a fourth-year studying psychology who previously appeared as Caldwell in “Urinetown,” as Finn, Mary Margaret Hanna, a graduate student in English, as Eurydice, and Mackenzie Cayco, a thirdyear studying biological sciences, as Dr. Brook, who also appeared in “The Crucible” as Sarah Good in the fall.

The play follows Finn as he moves between appointments with his therapist, Dr. Brook, to flashbacks of memories with his wife Eurydice. “Muse” explores the intense and raw process of grief, as Finn must grapple with the death of Eurydice and guilt over

Gaven Bell is a fourth-year studying biological sciences, and is also a two-time winner of the NC State Creative Artist Award. Her first winning play, “A Case of Salt,” was produced and performed in 2021.

After winning the NC State Creative Artist Award for theatre in 2022, Bell’s play underwent a semester of revisions before being produced by University Theatre this spring under Mia Self, the assistant director of acting and directing at University Theatre.

Although Bell’s studies lie within the STEM field, she has extensive experience with University Theatre, acting as a stage manager, lightboard operator, actor and playwright over her four years of involvement.

For “Muse,” Bell drew inspiration from Greek mythology, both the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice as well as the myth of the nine Muses, and her own background within STEM and the arts.

“When we think about the Muses, we’re thinking art, we’re thinking literature,” Bell said. “There were also muses for history and science, and I think they are often forgotten

“Muse” is different from most of University Theatre’s productions this season, with a smaller cast and crew and a less intense technical process. University Theatre’s production of “Muse” focused most on the script itself.

Self said the production is part of the studio series, focused on the play itself and the performance.

“And we’re just looking for just enough production support to clarify those things,” Self said. “So it’s not about the beauty of the set, it’s about the functionality.”

Working with a student playwright also provided Self with the ability to discuss the play with the writer, an opportunity that is typically not possible with commercially written scripts.

“Now I understand how to better serve the play, because I’ve got the playwright in the room talking about the actual intention of the work with the published play,” Self said.

Even with limited sets, props and costumes, “Muse” presented an evocative presentation about the journey of grief. Godby’s emotional performance as Finn heightened

the already powerful play, with him tearing up at points along with many of the audience members. Godby and Hanna’s chemistry added a strong romantic element that served to deepen the impact of Eurydice’s death.

In “Muse,” sound effects and lighting changes became artful transitions as Finn moved between memories throughout his time with Eurydice and his therapy appointments with Dr. Brook.

Even with limited technical elements, the lighting and set design worked to enhance the performance. “Muse” handled its heavy subject matter with grace, becoming an especially impactful work for its acceptance of the oftentimes messy process one must go through to overcome loss.

The Studio Series will continue as production begins for the 2023 winner of the NC State Creative Artist Award, Kiran Soma, a third-year studying chemistry. Soma’s play, “What We Grew Up With,” will begin its development this spring, with readings at the Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre on April 7 and April 21.

EMILY PEEDIN/TECHNICIAN

Mary Margaret Hanna (left), a graduate student in English, as Eurydice makes brownies with Will Godby (right), a fourth-year studying psychology, as Finn during the performance of “Muse” inside Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.

Campbell Depken Correspondent

NC State’s annual Powwow event makes comeback to celebrate Native cultures

Selina Urieta-Garcia Correspondent

For 35 years, NC State has hosted Powwow events on campus to celebrate Indigenous cultures throughout North Carolina and recognize them and their tribes.

Powwow is a cultural celebration that originated from the past to bring all Native American tribes together through socialization, dances, drumming and various foods. Although NC State hosted Powwow for all Native peoples, each Native tribe celebrates Powwow in their own way during different months.

“I feel like a lot of people see [Native Americans] as in the past, like our history ended with a Trail of Tears and that was it, nothing else after,” said Lee Chavis-Tartaglia, a member of the Lumbee Tribe and second-year studying history and anthropology.

Chavis-Tartaglia also serves as vice president of the Native American Student Association and a Powwow committee member.

“Being able to show the students here on campus that we still exist today in a variety of forms is very important since there’s been issues on campus with people not knowing who we are and not knowing that we’re still

alive today,” Chavis-Tartaglia said.

Powwow at NC State is an event where Native American students are able to show the people on campus a part of their different cultures and who they are in today’s society.

NC State’s Native American Student Association and American Indian Science and Engineering Society hosted the 32nd annual NC State Powwow Saturday, April 1 inside Carmichael Gym. Over 500 participants joined the social gathering that included Native jewelry vendors, clothing vendors, drum groups, dance competitions, raffles and Native foods.

Nathan Campbell, a third-year studying computer science and member of the Lumbee Tribe, is head of the Powwow committee and has worked on the event since November 2022.

“The history of Powwow is something that is ingrained in our culture,” Campbell said. “Like the same way certain people go to events every year, this is our event. This is our home base. This is where we branch off from. It’s a celebration, and that’s the biggest thing.”

Along with the importance of Powwow, the main goal of this event was to present the various cultures of Native peoples to the NC State community.

“I think there’s a big misconception with a lot of people who think that Native cultures and tribes are the same,” said Mya Lowry, a member of the Lumbee Tribe, second-year studying political science, Native American Student Association member and Powwoww committee member.

Lowry echoed this idea, adding that this misconception leads to stereotyping.

“When people think of Native Americans, a lot of people think of one standard stereotype, but when you come to a Powwow you get to see many different tribes and you get to see the differences between cultures and how people do things differently,” Lowry said.

This year’s Powwow logo, which was created by Chavis-Tartaglia, included the words “Resilience” and “Existence.” ChavisTartaglia said they envisioned it through stories they have been told.

“Part of the logo design was me thinking, ‘what are stories that I knew of or I’ve been told,’” Chavis-Tartaglia said. “I knew I wanted a wolf involved, since dogs were very important to Native peoples across the continent even during colonial times. I was told that crossing arrows was a sign of friendship and circles are a very important iconography because it represents the con-

stant flow of life. I wanted to show people who come to our Powwow they’re coming into a welcoming space.”

Chavis-Tartaglia is also a self-taught beader who participated as a vendor at the event for their beading business.

“I got into beading because I wanted to be closer to my culture,” Chavis-Tartaglia said. “I’ve always grown up in my culture, but just something about crafting really brings you closer. I guess it connects you more.”

Campbell said it’s essential to have Powwows at NC State in order to recognize the Native peoples and their cultures on campus.

“It’s important for us to come together and do something that’s not school, do something that gets close to our culture, because if we don’t keep our culture alive, who will?” Campbell said.

Follow

KAELA BELINGON/TECHNICIAN

Dancers in the Women’s Red Dress Special wait to be judged during the 32nd Annual NC State Powwow in Carmichael Gymnasium on Saturday, April 1, 2023. The attire worn by the dancers is called regalia and is often spiritually significant.

Follow the Native American Student Association’s Instagram @ncsu_nasa to learn more about Native cultures.

Chavis-Tartaglia’s beading Instagram @lumleesbeads to support a Native business.

MLB Pack Pros: Big seasons ahead for former Wolfpack standouts

ber roster, and anything but a championship would be a disappointment for Philadelphia.

offseason.

Big seasons loom for all three MLB Pack Pros as two look to live up to their offseason paydays and one looks to capitalize on an opportunity to become an everyday starter. With some familiar faces in new places, let’s look at what we can expect from the former Wolfpack standouts.

Trea

Turner – Philadelphia Phillies, SS

After one of the best seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Turner cashed in, signing an 11-year, $300 million deal with the Phillies. This was a much-deserved contract for the do-it-all shortstop, who’s coming off a 100-RBI season while also stealing 27 bases.

Turner is considered one of the best shortstops in the league and is now on a team that was two wins away from the World Series last season. The Phillies saw Turner as the missing piece for their championship-cali-

What has Philly fans so excited for Turner is the performance he just put on at the World Baseball Classic, which earned him the nickname “Captain America.” Turner was clearly the best player on Team USA, which was stacked with superstar players, hitting five home runs and driving in 11 runs in six games.

Turner will look to carry the momentum from the World Baseball Classic into his first season with the Phillies.

Carlos Rodón – New York Yankees, LHP

It pays to be a Pack Pro. Rodón had the best season of his professional career last season with the San Francisco Giants, which earned him a sixyear, $162 million contract with the New York Yankees in the offseason. Rodón bet on himself last season, signing essentially a one-year deal with the Giants and waiting for a payday just like this for the 2023

Just like the Phillies, the Yankees have massive expectations going into the 2023 season, but that’s nothing new for the 27time world champions. The Yankees already had an excellent pitching rotation, and adding Rodón arguably gives them the best rotation in the MLB.

In 2022, Rodón recorded career highs in innings pitched, strikeouts and wins. Rodón now gives the Yankees one of the best onetwo punches in the league alongside Gerrit Cole.

Unfortunately for Rodón, he won’t be able to hit the ground running as he suffered a forearm strain in spring training and was put on the injured list. The injury should not cause much concern as Yankees manager Aaron Boone expects him to make his pinstripe debut later this month.

Andrew Knizner – St. Louis Cardinals, C

Knizner is in a very different situation than the two Pack Pros mentioned above

as he is in a prove-it year with the Cardinals. With the retirement of legendary catcher Yadier Molina, it looked like it was Knizner’s time to become the everyday man behind the plate for the Cardinals, but St. Louis signed three-time All-Star catcher Willson Contreras in free agency.

The Contreras signing signaled that the Cardinals were not sold on Knizner as their everyday starter, and now he has to prove himself by beating out the veteran catcher. Knizner is coming off a season with a career-high 96 games played but did not impress with a measly .215 batting average and just 25 runs batted in.

One thing that could keep Knizner as the starting catcher is the rapport he has already built with the pitching staff and his knowledge of each pitcher’s arsenal. In that sense, Knizner has the upper hand, so if his offense can come along there is hope for Knizner in St. Louis.

If Knizner does not capitalize on his starts, he will be looking at another season as the backup catcher in St. Louis.

RYAN PARRY / ARCHIVE

Sophomore shortstop Trea Turner throws to first base for an out against Villanova at Doak Field at Dail Park on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. The Wolfpack beat the Wildcats 14-3.

Colby Trotter Staff Writer

NC State gymnastics reaches new heights

Wolfpack gymnastics saw its season come to an end on March 30 after a postseason run that failed to live up to the hype of its regular-season performance. The 2023 season saw the program reach new heights, including the highest score in a home opener in program history (196.375), the most-consecutive scores of 196.000-plus at seven and the best score in program history since 2000 coming on March 4 against Rutgers (197.225).

The Pack was led by a pair of seniors all season in Chloe Negrete and Emily Shepard. Negrete more than returned to form after missing the entire 2022 season with a ruptured Achilles, posting career highs on beam (9.950), floor (9.975) and tying her career best on the vault (9.900).

Shepard — who is already a decorated athlete having won Region 5 Gymnast of the Year and EAGL Gymnast of the Year in 2021 — kept up the flawless execution. Shepard also saw new career highs, earning a 9.950 on her floor routine against Rutgers that contributed to her career-best 39.550 all-around score.

Other gymnasts on the team, such as senior Alexis Ortega and sophomore Lauren Rutherford, contributed to a group that elevated the team score for the floor exercise all season, with both women setting career highs in that event.

Rutherford, who competes in every event except beam, was a breath of fresh air all year long. She steadily improved all season

— all of her scores of 9.900 or higher on the floor exercise came in the back half of the season. Rutherford has proven to be a capable anchor when necessary and will almost certainly fill that role when the time comes.

The Pack was no stranger to injuries but

was truly able to adopt the “next woman up” mentality to keep the season going. Head coach Kim Landrus was forced to change the rotation early in the season after losing junior Madison Benson and graduate student Meredith Robinson to injury.

Landrus also made an effort to get younger gymnasts involved this year with a handful of first- and second-year gymnasts getting the opportunity to compete in exhibition. Sophomore Hailey Merchant proved to be a candidate for next year’s floor routine lineup, and freshman Meg Adler came on late, joining the vault lineup for the last two meets of the regular season.

NC State saw big wins over UNC-Chapel Hill, Rutgers, Temple and Pitt that heightened the Pack in its record and overall national ranking. NC State also got the opportunity to compete against top programs in Auburn, Florida and Oklahoma — witnessing what it takes to get to the next level. Despite the success, the red-and-white had some untimely poor performances. The pinnacle of underperformance came in the final meet of the year, which saw the Wolfpack get bounced out of the postseason after finishing below the 196.000 mark. NC State also finished with a 194.775 on Feb. 10, placing third in a quad meet.

The 13-11 finish is a slight step back from last year’s 16-10 record, but the final postseason result of a second-round regional championship exit is ultimately the same. This era of NC State gymnastics is coming to an end with Shepard, Ortega and Negrete having one year of eligibility left, but fans shouldn’t worry with Rutherford, Adler and Merchant still fresh into their respective collegiate careers. Next year will be telling of where the program is headed under the leadership of Landrus and her coaching staff.

DANIELLE MEYER/TECHNICIAN

Sophomore Macy Jennings performs her beam routine during the meet against UNC-Chapel Hill and Western Michigan at Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. NC State won the meet with an overall score of 196.275.

Griffin Cunningham Staff Writer

No. 7 NC State women’s tennis looks to make history in rivalry weekend

This rivalry weekend, it’s all hands on deck for No. 7 NC State women’s tennis. With the Wolfpack set to square off against its fiercest rivals, No. 1 UNC-Chapel Hill and No. 6 Duke, there are major postseason implications and bragging rights on the line.

However, this rivalry is a bit different from other NC State sports teams with their Triangle rivals. The Pack has had success across the board in its past several seasons under head coach Simon Earnshaw, all except for beating its rivals, especially UNC.

In fact, NC State has only beaten the perennially excellent Tar Heels once in program history, nearly a quarter of a century ago in 1999.

“I always remember when Roger Federer was really at the top of his game … people would ask Andy Roddick about the rivalry between him and [Federer],” Earnshaw said. “He said: ‘I’ll tell you about it once I beat him.’ We haven’t quite done that yet, although we’re getting closer.”

Both Roddick and Earnshaw have a point — it’s not a rivalry until you beat them.

For Earnshaw and the Pack, if a national championship title is the team’s crowning achievement, beating UNC is the next best thing. The Wolfpack has come close to it, suffering multiple 4-3 losses to the Heels in the last 10 years, but until NC State finishes the job, it’ll stay in the shadow of the best women’s tennis program in the country.

“We’re running out of firsts that we need to achieve,” Earnshaw said. “But this is definitely one of them, that’s for sure.”

The No. 1 Heels currently sit at an undefeated 24-0 on the season and are a full 30 points ahead of the No. 7 Wolfpack in ITA’s rankings. With the best squad in the nation comes some of the best players, including the country’s No. 1 singles player, Fiona Crawley.

However, no matter how talented the UNC or Duke rosters may be, if Earnshaw and his team aren’t ready for the challenge now, they won’t ever be.

“I think that this is easy to get ready for — this is far easier than many of our other matches,” Earnshaw said. “I mean at this point in the season, if we’re not ready, then what the heck are we doing?”

Graduate student Alana Smith, the No. 13 singles player in the nation, seems to be on the same page as her coach. To her, these matches are no different than the next, even if these are the ones she’s had circled on her calendar for months.

“I go into every match the same: I’m not going to overexcite myself on that date when we’re playing,” Smith said. “I think everyone has to take the same approach to every match.”

While UNC is a behemoth all on its own, the Pack’s match against the Tar Heels is only the start of its toughest stretch of matches in 2023. The No. 6 Blue Devils, No. 11 Texas and No. 9 Virginia are all on the horizon for the Wolfpack, making the team’s final matches of the season the most important ones yet. While the Pack has shown it can beat those teams in the past, it’s still chasing the white whale that is UNC.

“We need to convert in this area — making deep runs into the postseason and winning some titles at some point,” Earnshaw said. “[Winning big matches] is probably going to be a stepping stone towards making that a reality, so we have got to make it happen.”

For now, though, NC State is taking it one match at a time, putting all its focus on what would be a historic win on Thursday, April 6 against the Tar Heels. For Smith, and the rest of the team for that matter, a win over UNC would likely be the program’s most memorable victory in recent memory. NC State has the ability to conquer Carolina, but it will need every part of its lineup to play at a near-perfect level to beat the Heels for the first time in 24 years.

“It’s a rivalry, but it’s not a real rivalry until you beat them,” Smith said. “Yes, we beat Duke, but that was one time. Definitely getting a win against UNC would be a highlight of my career.”

It all starts at 5 p.m. at the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center in Chapel Hill where the red-and-white has a chance to upset the No. 1 team in the nation.

ONY OTIOCHA/TECHNICIAN

(Left) Junior Abigail Rencheli and graduate Alana Smith high-five during their doubles match against East Carolina University at the Dail Outdoor Tennis Stadium on Friday, March 31, 2023. The Wolfpack beat ECU 7-0.

ALEKSANDRA SENYUKOVA/TECHNICIAN Graduate Alana Smith serves the ball during the match against Syracuse at Dail Outdoor Tennis Stadium on Friday, March 31, 2023. NC State beat Syracuse 6-1.

Ethan Bakogiannis Sports Editor

NC State softball’s outlook heading into April

NC State softball is still well below .500 on the season, and while there’s been some good, there has also been plenty of bad and ugly.

It’s safe to say, the Wolfpack has had lots of struggles recently. With a long homestand coming up, let’s analyze just what is going on and how the team can improve while here in Raleigh.

The Good

Every position player except for one has recorded at least one homer this season for the Pack, contributing to the offense with the long ball. The team even recently recorded four home runs in its win against North Carolina A&T March 29.

Leading the charge is graduate left fielder Katlyn Pavlick with eight homers on the year. The Pittsburgh transfer has already beaten her record of five dingers from last season. Her homers have led to 16 RBIs on the year, third on the team.

Freshman catcher Amanda Hasler leads in RBIs with 22 and is unique to NC State

in that she calls the pitches. Her knowledge of the sport has been noted by assistant coach Carson Shaner, calling her a nerd of the game. Hasler also leads the Pack in onbase percentage, using her IQ and awareness to get on any way she can. One way she has gotten on base is through hit-by-pitch; setting a program record for all freshmen with 10 HBPs this season.

On the mound, redshirt junior righthander Aisha Weixlmann has been hot lately. In the game against NC A&T, she recorded a season-high seven strikeouts, and she leads the Pack with 64 total Ks. She is also the best pitcher in opposing batting average with .283.

Freshman right-hander Madison Inscoe has the most starts for the Pack and has seen the most action on the team. She has the lowest ERA with 3.82 and is personally chasing a .500 record at 7-9. She will likely get a majority of the starts remaining in the season and provide consistent innings for the Wolfpack to try and score.

Finally, junior right-hander Brooklyn Lucero has made some appearances since receiving a pacemaker in April of last year. She has pitched in two games thus far and

appeared to pinch hit several times, even recording a hit in the game against Radford. It is unclear how her role will change, but it appears she has recovered enough to play.

The Bad

At home, NC State is a positive 10-8 this season, even sweeping a series against Boston College. However, the Pack continues to struggle primarily with road games, only winning three out of 19 played away from Dail Softball Stadium. The team will travel to New York for its next series against Syracuse, but then will enjoy a 12-game homestand. If the Pack wants to break .500, it will have to capitalize on the home advantage Raleigh brings.

As far as hitting is concerned, only one member of the Pack has a batting average above .300 — sophomore third baseman Hannah Goodwin at .308. While a few batters are close to that mark, there are a few batters who do not get hits often. As a team, the batting average is only .234, which, combined with getting out-hit by its opponents, is why the Pack has such a low win percentage.

The Ugly

Out of the Pack’s 24 losses, the team scored one run or no runs in 13 of them. Four of the losses came from the Pack’s most recent trip to Louisiana in the LSU Tournament. The Pack offense has faced some tough pitching from opponents like Arizona early in the season and No. 14 LSU just recently, but offensive production has to be the spotlight for the coaching staff with about a month left in the season.

Up Next

The Pack faces Syracuse in upstate New York before hosting that 12-game homestand in Dail Softball Stadium. While every game is important, the series against North Carolina is extra essential from April 21-23. Last year, the Pack lost the series 2-1 against the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill but has homefield advantage this season as NC State tries to continue its apparent dominance against its rival.

NC State hits the road for the last series of the season to face Pitt in Pennsylvania. The matchup will be personal for Pavlick but paramount for the Pack in terms of ACC Tournament seeding.

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN

Graduate outfielder Katlyn Pavlick runs to first base during the game against Elon at Dail Softball Stadium on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. Pavlick scored one run. NC State beat Elon 11-3.

Bryan Danner Staff Writer

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