Technician Wrapped — Technician 04/18/24

THE RADAR

Events to keep an eye on for the week of Apr. 18

EBONY HARLEM

AWARDS CEREMONY

Sunday, April 21, 6-8:30 p.m.

HIKE AT LAKE RALEIGH

Friday, April 19, 10-11 a.m.

LAKE RALEIGH, PARK ALUMNI CENTER Free

Join NC State WellRec on a hike through one of the university’s 10 hallowed places to escape the classroom during this 2-mile hike.

TALLEY STUDENT UNION, PIEDMONTMOUNTAINS BALLROOM Free

Annual and uplifting celebration of Black excellence at NC State — students, staff and community will be recognized, and dinner will be provided to attendees.

DISC GOLF SINGLES TOURNAMENT

Friday, April 19, 5:45 p.m.

CENTENNIAL CAMPUS

DISC GOLF COURSE

Free, register on IMLeagues beforehand

Compete against your fellow students in a singles disc golf tournament at Centennial.

MADTECH ANIMATION FEST

Monday, April 22, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

WITHERSPOON STUDENT CENTER, CAMPUS CINEMA Free

The Department of Media, Arts, Design and Technology at the College of Design will hold an animation fest featuring budding designers and senior capstone students’ animation and game work.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Class of 2024 reflects on college with COVID, first graduation ceremony

Matthew Junkroski Correspondent

Four years have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic’s onset in 2020, upending NC State freshmen’s lives and sending them home weeks into their first year of college. This spring, the class of 2024 will walk across the stage in-person. The occasion will be the first “normal” graduation for many.

For students in the class of 2024 who started at NC State during the fall semester of 2020, COVID-19 forced them back home and to complete classes online shortly after arriving on campus.

For students like Alienor Hedlund, a fourth-year studying molecular biology and French, the move off-campus was predictable but disappointing.

“I definitely knew we were gonna get kicked off,” Hedlund said. “But I really wanted the college experience, as much as I could, even if COVID kind of hindered that.”

Skylar Schenck, a fourth-year studying psychology, said the return home was especially difficult for her as an out-of-state student.

“I’m from New Jersey,” Schenck said. “So that kind of made it a little different for me, because I came here knowing absolutely nobody, except for the girl who I was going to live with in a dorm who I talked to on Instagram. And so that sucked, because she was from North Carolina. So she had her other friends here and stuff. I didn’t know anybody.”

In the spring of 2021, students returned to campus, but it was far from normal.

Hedlund returned in the spring semester and said most students expected for the University to send them home.

“People were like, ‘I’m not coming back for spring semester,’” Hedlund said. “‘I’m just gonna stay home. We’re gonna get

kicked off.’ We didn’t get kicked off. I got my own dorm room. And back then I had a great time, because I like my alone time. Though I do have to say I was very isolated, and it definitely played a role on my mental health. It was hard to make friends freshman year, it really was.”

Schenck also said for her, COVID-19 complicated meeting people and making friends.

“It was really hard to get out and meet people,” Schenck said. “So it was a lot of loneliness, just not knowing anybody and not being familiar with the area aside from being here, because my sister went here. And in terms of school, I felt like it wasn’t really learning that much.”

Hedlund said she realized she didn’t get that experience of the on-campus community.

“I wanted that sense of community, if that makes sense,” Hedlund said. “I feel like it’s

CRIME ON CAMPUS

NC State’s weekly log of major incidents across campus

LARCENY

April 15, 2024, at 10:27 a.m. Ocracoke Hall

A student reported his front tire was missing from his secured bike. Next to the bike was a secured front tire from another unknown bike. It appears the two stolen items were combined to create one functional bike. The approximate value for both stolen items is $700. A report was taken.

BREAKING AND ENTERING

April 15, 2024, at 4:11 p.m.

Sigma Kappa Sorority

A student reported her unsecured vehicle was entered in the parking lot behind EMS Station 11. The approximate value of the items stolen is $2500. A report was taken.

only in retrospect that I’m able to see that. There really wasn’t much sense of community here.”

Even for students who didn’t start during 2020, school became more difficult. Adam Malik, a fifth-year studying computer science, said COVID-19 affected classes for him initially, however, the return for the fall 2021 semester went back to normal.

“I was able to see people, I was able to go outside again, even if sometimes it was cold,” Malik said. “And I had gotten an E.S. King Village apartment for school housing. And it was just really nice to be back there.” Malik said it was hard to adjust mentally while getting acquainted with online learning.

“I guess part of my experience with COVID-19 is getting a deeper understanding of ourselves and how some people go through life,” Malik said. “As much as it really sucked, I definitely learned from that

experience.”

Hedlund and Schenck both didn’t receive normal graduations in 2020, making this year their first time walking down the aisle without COVID-19 restrictions.

Schenck said she’s looking forward to graduation after everything her class has been through.

“I’m excited for it,” Schenck said. “It feels a lot more rewarding. Definitely, because not only am I getting through college academically, but I’m getting through the mental challenges of going through COVID-19, and figuring out how to study and figuring out who I am as a person.”

Schenck said with this graduation, her class finally gets closure.

“We didn’t get that,” Schenck said. “Not that high school is the same thing as college, but we didn’t get that closure. I feel like we didn’t get the same closure with the graduation that we had.”

All incidents in the crime log are according to the University’s daily crime log published online in compliance with the Clery Act.

BREAKING AND ENTERING

April 12, 2024, at 2:17 p.m.

Achievement/Centennial Pkwy

A vehicle was found with a broken window. The vehicle was locked and did not appear to have anything missing. Upon inspection, what looked like a bullet fragment was located in the passenger door panel. The bullet was retrieved and the vehicle was processed for fingerprints.

TRAFFIC VIOLATION

April 10, 2024, at 11:22 p.m. Western Blvd/Avent Ferry Rd

A non-affiliated individual was stopped after being observed driving with an expired vehicle registration on Western Blvd. During the stop, he was dressed and equipped to appear to be a police officer. A search of the vehicle was conducted and two handguns, three rifles, one shotgun, six handcuffs, police tape, communication devices and 826 rounds of ammunition were recovered. He was arrested on multiple charges.

GRAPHIC BY MATTHEW JUNKROSKI

Summer courses at NC State and beyond

Savannah Woodman Staff Writer

Whether students are interested in switching majors, adding a minor, building a stronger GPA or retaking a course, summer classes at NC State provide a myriad of opportunities to best suit students’ needs.

NC State offers three, five and 10-week summer sessions through both in-person and online formats.

Summer courses are open for enrollment until the first day of the session, though a late registration fee will be added after April 18 for Summer Session I and May 28 for Summer Session II.

Shorter summer sessions, such as the three-week Maymester session or the fiveweek session, offer students the chance to fulfill required credits while still leaving the majority of the summer open for other opportunities.

For Gracie Stepanian, a third-year studying business administration and finance, taking classes over the summer helped alleviate the stress associated with taking excessive credit hours during the school year.

“I can’t really have a good semester if I’m above, I’d say 15 credits,” Stepanian said.

“So I mainly just did [summer classes] to lighten my load, and so I can still graduate on time.”

Shawn Smith, assistant vice provost for Enrollment Management and Services at NC State, said another benefit is smaller class sizes that allow students to cultivate stronger relationships with their peers and professors. Graduation rates also show the benefit of taking a summer class.

“Just based on our most recent cohort, 83% of the NC State undergraduate population graduated in five years, and if a student took a summer course, this percentage increased to 88%,” Smith said. “If a student did not take a summer course, this percentage declined to 72%.”

While NC State offers many different courses and programs over the summer, some students choose to take classes at a local community college.

Grace Blackwell, a second-year studying bioprocessing science, took Physics I online last summer at NC State.

SUMMER COURSES continued page 5

Student aid packages delayed by FAFSA miscalculation

The Department of Education, which oversees the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, recently made a technical error when estimating its applicants’ aid eligibility. The error will require the resubmission of over 200,000 applications for financial aid this spring. As a result, financial aid offices at universities across the country, including NC State, are extending their timelines for college decisions and application processing.

When filling out a financial aid application, students must list their assets. This data system feeds into the Student Aid Index, a way for colleges to determine how much money should be given to students. All student aid packages that were delivered before March 21 had an inaccurate calculation of what a student could contribute.

Krista Ringler, associate vice provost and director in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, provides leadership and strategic vision for the department. She said the office was notified of the miscalculations soon after receiving information on student aid eligibility.

“March is when we started getting anything of substance that we could work with, to communicate to students what they might receive, but shortly after that is when we were notified we’ve got records with data integrity issues, incorrect records,” Ringler said.

In other words, the Student Aid Index was lower than expected. The index determines how much aid a student receives through grants, work-study and loans. The lower it is, the more money students are eligible to receive from the University. Financial aid officers detected the error because of how low the indexes were on average.

“In reviewing records we received, the

SUMMER

continued from page 4

data did not appear to be in congruence with what we knew the formula calculation to be,” Ringler said. “This was recorded, and our office detected it while looking through and scrubbing the records we had received.”

Since the error was discovered, student applications have been separated into two groups. One group is those whose applications will not need to be approved for data integrity issues because they align with a list provided by the United States Department

COURSES

However, this summer, she plans on taking Physics II at a community college.

“Community college is also cheaper, which definitely catches my eye,” Blackwell said. “If I’m going to take [a summer class], it’s nice to take a cheap class.”

However, not all community college credits can be transferred over to NC State. Smith suggested students speak with their advisor to ensure the class credits will transfer over.

NC State’s transfer course equivalency website is also available to assist in the search for summer courses.

“I came the spring semester of my freshman year, and

of Education stating that their application is acceptable. The other group of applications must now be reapproved by the University because they were affected by data integrity issues.

Jamie Pendergrass is an associate director at the Financial Aid Office and oversees all loans for the University. He oversees the Pell Grant program, helps with enrollment reporting and runs the IT operations of the NC State financial aid offices.

the first semester I was at a community college at home,” Stepanian said. “And I had some trouble with transferring those credits over — they transferred over, but it wasn’t what NC State wanted it to be weighed as, if that makes sense. And so I just mainly took [classes] through NC State to avoid that happening again.”

Credits transferred from a community college do not count toward a student’s GPA and a grade of C or higher is required for credit.

Summer registration opens in the fall so students can plan ahead, but new classes continue to be added through the spring. Smith suggests checking your student email and the registration portal over winter break to look for any newly added classes.

When deciding what courses to offer during the summer sessions, Smith said Enrollment Services take into ac-

“The Department of Education provided us with what they called a fastball,” Pendergrass said. “UUID is a unique indicator … they provided two lists of those IDs and we just matched them to one of the passwords that we received.”

Since some students depend on financial aid to attend college, the prolongation of this process can delay their decision processes. These “unforced errors,” as described by an administrator at the National Association of Student Financial Aid, are another roadblock delaying students’ higher education progress.

College financial aid officers can only work with valid data that is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, so school officials cannot do their job if provided with the wrong numbers to work with.

“We’ve been in close collaboration with our undergraduate admissions office to send communications to students and parents,” Ringler said. “We’ve offered some opportunities for assistance with FAFSA completion through FAFSA completion events. The biggest thing that we’re doing is trying to figure out if there are groups of students that we can move forward on.”

This year’s application cycle has been delayed once already. The application opened in late December instead of October as it usually does. These delays have prompted NC State to extend the decision deadline for prospective students from May 1 to May 15.

“The University is willing to work with individual students who don’t receive financial aid and offer enough time for them to decide,” Ringler said.

NC State, among other universities, is making its way through the reevaluation of applications flagged by the Department of Education. For financial help from a counselor at NC State, visit Enrollment Management and Services.

count classes that are typically waitlisted or in high demand during the fall and spring semesters. While many offered courses remain the same year to year, new classes are always added, especially for GEP credit.

Summer session housing, excluding the Summer Start program, is available in Wolf Village and Wolf Ridge. Students are eligible for summer housing if they are enrolled in summer classes at NC State, are working for NC State over the summer, have an internship in the area or are required to be on campus for NC State Athletics.

Students can visit the Summer Sessions FAQ page or contact studentservices@ncsu.edu for additional information.

GRAPHIC BY ALLY TENNANT

Sarah Hoffer Culture Editor

How administration works at NC State

JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN

Alexus Livesey Correspondent

As the 2023-24 academic year comes to a close and students begin to prepare for summer, NC State’s administration continues to work to ensure the University’s success.

One of the most essential figures for the functionality of a university is the chancellor. The chancellor has duties that consist of being the spokesperson for the University, working and budgeting finances, planning for the future and providing resources to faculty and staff to help them succeed in their positions.

The UNC Board of Governors selects the chancellor, who reports to the president of the UNC System and the Board of Governors to keep them informed on any major issues related to the institution.

The chancellor is also responsible for addressing and executing policies, whether they’re policies of the Board of Governors, the UNC System president, the University’s

policies or any legislative actions that might come from the General Assembly.

NC State’s chancellor, Randy Woodson, became the chancellor in April 2010. Woodson said being the chancellor is like being the CEO of a large company and also like being the mayor of a large city.

Paula Gentius, chief of staff and secretary of the University, said the chancellor is also responsible for academic programming at NC State.

“One other point that is very important is that the chancellor is the official medium of communication between the president, the deans, administrative officers, faculty, members, students and employees of the institution, and so he is the spokesperson for the institution and we take that very, very carefully — very closely pay attention to that,” Gentius said.

Since the chancellor’s role encompasses a vast amount of varying responsibilities, there is a University cabinet that works to support the chancellor and help him facili-

tate and execute the tasks.

Gentius said individuals on the cabinet oversee areas such as legal matters, finance, administration and university advancement, which includes philanthropy, development, alumni affairs, special events, human resources, research and innovation, board affairs, academic affairs and institutional equity and diversity.

“All of these categories and individuals representing those categories of areas pulled together to help support the chancellor successfully do this job,” Gentius said.

Another vital role in administration are the college deans.

NC State has 12 deans who cover all disciplines of the University. One dean is Mark Hoversten, dean of the College of Design, who said supporting faculty is a large part of a dean’s role.

“Identifying all the ways we can to support instruction, research and engagement by finding the resources to support them and communicating that as clearly as pos-

sible and then thanking everybody for the hard work they do,” Hoversten said.

Hoversten said most deans start as assistant professors, achieve tenure, then have success with a combination of research or teaching and take leadership classes to work their way through the line.

“As much as possible, we are still professors,” Hoversten said. “So often I stop all my meetings at three in the afternoon and just talk to students in the studio, ask them about their projects and work.”

Hoversten said he finds the dean role to be a wonderful job where you can really make a difference.

“Another aspect of being a dean is making sure that the administration is as effective as it can be,” Hoversten said. “So communication is a big part of our job. We represent our students, our faculty, our staff and our industry to a lesser extent to the General Assembly.”

Ms. Wuf and Chancellor Randy Woodson fist bump during PrideFest at Stafford Commons on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. PrideFest is an annual celebration to recognize and honor the LGBTQ+ members of the Wolfpack.

Culture 37th annual Take Back the Night reclaims campus

Sarah Hoffer Culture Editor

Every April, the NC State Women’s Center and partner groups observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During this time the center hosts workshops, events and dinners involving their leaders, advocates, activists and survivors who work together to provide community and create a safer campus.

The lobby at Talley Student Union was occupied Thursday, April 11 by Take Back the Night, an annual event organized by the NC State Women’s Center and The Movement Peer Educators.

Take Back the Night is an international event that has been hosted by universities nationwide for over 50 years. It was organized to raise awareness of sexual violence on campus and show survivors that there is a community that supports them.

The Movement is a student-led collective group that works to educate themselves and others about interpersonal violence. They have workshops throughout the year to address sexual violence, while emphasizing an anti-oppression framework.

“[Take Back the Night] takes this night and in of itself is a way to reclaim the night for survivors on this particular campus,” said Bhavana Veeravalli, a fourth-year studying graphic design and member of The Movement. “In general, it’s allies, survivors and people that want to advocate for knowing that there’s a community out there.”

Some past workshops included How to Say No, Navigating Conflicts in a Relationship and Supporting Survivors. The members of this group seek to create a community for survivors through education and advocacy.

“We’re able to hold the heaviness of it because a lot of us in this space are survivors,” said Kiara Bush, a fifth-year student and member of The Movement. “At the same time, I love the expressive workshops because it’s not just the heaviness, but it’s also just figuring out how to express that. It helps you take in the

NC

Sarah Hoffer Culture Editor

message in a different way than just hearing it and helps you engage your emotions with the process as well.”

During the event, Ladies in Red, an allwomen and non-binary-identifying a capella group, performed while the attendees visited the organization’s tabling. These groups included the Women’s Center, Campus Health and many more.

Valeria Gonzalez, a third-year studying zoology, is a member of The Movement. Gonzalez values the community one can get by being involved with the group and is passionate about the work they do.

“We rely on our community members to drive our mission forward and see the effects of our work on campus,” Gonzalez said. “It has an intrinsic value to be able to connect people in such a diverse and interconnected way because a lot of people don’t get to see

what we do until they step into the Women’s Center. We’re trying to get people to kind of know more, not only about the resources that we offer but also the community that we offer.”

Later, speeches by staff at the Women’s Center and members of The Movement illustrated the effect of sexual violence on victims, expressing personal stories and a communal statement.

Delana Epps-Avery, director of Intimate Partner Violence Services at the Women’s Center, said in a speech that the event is a call on the Wolfpack community to create a campus that supports survivors.

“We honor the bravery of survivors who have shared their stories, knowing that their courage ignites the spark of change,” EppsAvery said. “We stand in solidarity with those who are still finding their voices, offering our unwavering support and understanding. As

we march tonight, our footsteps echo with determination and hope. Together we will shine a light on the darkness, dispelling ignorance and apathy one step at a time.”

To learn more about the Women’s Center and its resources, visit their website https://diversity.ncsu.edu/womenscenter/

If you or someone you know is experiencing relationship violence, sexual violence, stalking or any other form of interpersonal violence and need advocacy services, the NC State Women’s Center has trained advocates available to offer crisis intervention, emotional support, resources and referrals. Students can contact the 24/7 Sexual Assault Helpline at 919-515-4444 or email ncsuadvocate@ncsu.edu to schedule an appointment with an advocate.

State Motorsports speeds to end-of-year race

Every year, the NC State Pack Formula Motorsports Society of Automotive Engineers team and the Baja SAE team work to build race cars to perform in a race against over 100 other schools nationally. This year’s event will take place in Michigan on May 8.

The Pack Motorsports FSAE has over 50 active and returning members, and over 200 prospective members without design positions, who learn the ropes during the first year. The returning members are usually

juniors and seniors who have more experience. Members’ creativity, knowledge, team skills and engineering imagination are all challenged during the year they build the year’s car.

Scott Davis, a fifth-year studying mechanical engineering, is the co-captain of the Motorsports SAE team. He enjoys the real-world experience of being on the team and the competitiveness of a sport. The upcoming competition will be his sixth in five years, and he said he’s excited to give it one last shot.

“I think our goal is to win, but at least for me, as one of the seniors, [the goal is] to just leave the team in a good place,” Davis said. “That’s always been a challenge. It’s a student organization, so people are always leaving and you might have a good group of people that are here for four years, and then they leave and then it’s like, ‘Well, now what?’”

The Baja SAE team, while very similar to the Formula team, has an offroading and obstacle focus, while the Formula team races on the tarmac. Hayden Purcell is a secondyear studying mechanical engineering and

is a member of the Baja Motorsports Team, where he is the suspension lead.

“We’re all very like-minded individuals, we all have the same passion,” Purcell said. “It’s cool to be around a group of equally passionate people who all like the same thing and who work together and struggle with it because it’s not always easy. Struggling with it together, working on it together and coming up with unique solutions can be satisfying.”

VIOLET BEESLEY/TECHNICIAN

Iremide Adejayan, a third-year studying polymer and color chemistry, chants while holding a sign with a friend during Take Back The Night which marched around Main Campus on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Take Back The Night is an annual event that is held to honor survivors of sexual assault.

The legacy of Jim Valvano

Riya Kannan

In 1983, Head Coach Jim Valvano led the NC State men’s basketball team to the top, bringing home a national title against all odds. “Survive and advance,” he coined. Valvano instilled that motto into his team and lived by his words both on and off the court. He is undoubtedly one of the most notable coaches in college basketball history, but his legacy extends far beyond the game.

Valvano, who died in 1993 after being diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1992, received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards less than two months before his death. In his acceptance speech, Valvano told life stories and announced the V Foundation for Cancer Research’s launch.

Jamie Valvano, Jim Valvano’s daughter, said her father recognized the importance of funding cancer research and launched the V Foundation for that reason.

“After my dad was diagnosed, he was given about 10 months to live,” Jamie Valvano said. “He had a vision of what he wanted to do, and that was he wanted to fund cancer research. He felt like that was what needed to be done.”

13 years after her father’s death, Jamie Valvano was diagnosed with cancer herself.

“I had inherited a genetic mutation from my dad, and the mutation had not even been discovered yet when my dad was diagnosed,” Jamie Valvano said. “So 13 years later, after

his passing, I found out I had breast cancer at the age of 33 … and it was only through cancer research that they knew about this mutation.”

Jamie Valvano credits cancer research and the work of the V Foundation for saving her life, noting her father’s ESPY speech as being not just inspirational, but truthful.

“In the ESPY speech, my dad said the words, ‘It may not save my life, but it may save my children’s lives,’” Jamie Valvano said. “What a lot of people don’t know is that cancer research did save my life. I’m an 18-year survivor now and it’s because of research.”

Valvano had a “zest for life,” as people such as his 83 players and family members to those who met him in passing would describe. Jamie Valvano said her father’s extraordinary care for people was unique and a true display of his character.

“When I meet someone who has met him, they always talk about how he took the time to stop and talk to them,” Jamie Valvano said. “He loved people, he loved learning about people, remembering names and stories and such. I think that that was, really is, so different.”

Jamie Valvano recalled her father’s efforts to write letters and respond to people sending him well wishes while he fought cancer. She said his value of other people was evidence of his genuine spirit.

“One thing that impacted me is when someone wrote my dad a letter when he was coaching, he always wrote them back,” Jamie

Valvano said. “And when he was sick, and he got letters from all over the country, as long as he could and he was healthy, he would write those people back. People mattered to him.”

The V Foundation was established to fund cancer research that couldn’t save Valvano himself. His effort to help people throughout his life resulted in people helping him launch the successful cancer research organization and continue his legacy through it.

“He knew that it wouldn’t save him,” Jamie Valvano said. “But he was doing it for other people. I think there’s just this intangible element that he had where people felt his humor or his zest for life, his ability to make people laugh and make them believe in the impossible.”

This year, the NC State men’s and women’s basketball teams had historically successful runs in the NCAA tournament, both making it to the Final Four championships and bringing to the Pack some of the same spirit seen in 1983.

Ben and Sarah Riedlinger, NC State alumni, realized they lived near Oakwood Cemetery, where Valvano is buried. They visited his grave to pay their respects before NC State played UNC-Chapel Hill in the ACC Tournament.

“We’re familiar with that area … but we had no idea that Jimmy V was buried there,” Ben Riedlinger said. “So before the UNC game in the final, that day, I just said, ‘You know what, let’s just grab some flowers, go

check it out, pay our respects and maybe a little bit of magic from Jimmy V will be able to rub off on us to help us with this game, the final, and get us our first title in the ACC in a number of years.’”

The couple and their two young daughters visited Valvano’s grave before the game against the Tar Heels and continued to visit throughout the tournament. The couple’s three-year-old daughter inspired the family to return to his grave a second time, creating a family tradition that Ben Riedlinger said he anticipates continuing next year.

“My eldest, Olivia, was actually the catalyst for us to go a second time,” Ben Riedlinger said. “We were at Trader Joe’s shopping for groceries, and there were flowers up front, she said ‘I think Jimmy V would like these flowers.’”

Sarah Riedlinger used to be a high school math teacher abroad and said she would show her classes Valvano’s ESPY speech, emphasizing his influence beyond basketball.

“He’s a lot more than just a coach who had a successful run at NC State,” Sarah Riedlinger said. “He had several successful runs, but it’s more just who he was as a person. … It sort of didn’t matter what teams you cheered for or whose side you were on. He was an inspiration to a lot of people, and his ESPY speech I think is just good overall morals of what life is about. … It gives people who maybe are going through things motivation to stay positive and keep fighting.”

MOTORSPORTS

continued from page 7

The competition is judged based on design instead of who wins the race, so the clubs have to present their build and network of subsystems to a panel of judges who will determine which teams are elite. Some of the subsystems they are judged upon include the chassis, engine system, structure and electronics.

“All of [the design process] is taking stuff off of last year’s car and implementing new designs, whether that be little things like, this broke for this reason, we need to fix that, change that this year, or it’s performance-wise,” Purcell said. “We take a lot of alumni help and use a lot of resources, we’ll take scholarly articles and a lot of stuff to try to throw it all together and put our spin on it.”

The motorsports teams give members the closest thing to industry experience that they can get while being a student. Funds come from big companies who hope to see the programs grow, and it is important to the current members to leave the team in a better place than they found it.

“We’re trying to have as many people involved from the college … just so they can actually see the tangible product that we’ve completed, and that we’re not just siphoning all their money into some black hole,” Davis said.

On April 20 at 2 p.m. in the Hunt Library Auditorium, both racing teams will present their competition cars. The teams will give a presentation of their builds, fol-

lowed by an overview of their design philosophy. The cars will be set up outside, where they will be unveiled and discussed further.

“I think that’s kind of a secondary goal, to just continue to knowledge transfer and continue the documentation so that the team can be successful even after a certain group leaves,” Davis said. “Because it’s very often when

we go to competition, you’ll see a team that was good one year and then they drop off the face of the earth the next year.”

To learn more about Pack Motorsports and Baja racing, visit their website, as well as the NC State MAE events page.

COURTESY OF SCOTT DAVIS

Technician Wrapped Our best coverage of the year

Kate Denning Editor-in-Chief

From the closure of Poe Hall to two Final Fours, there was no shortage of news to report this year here at Technician. As the semester wraps up, and a new volume of Technician begins, here’s a list of our best coverage of the last nine months.

Technician reporters wrote a total of 10 articles regarding the closure of Poe Hall this year, earning its very own section on our website. With the closure first announced in mid-November, the bulk of Technician’s Poe Hall coverage took place in the spring semester. During that time, Technician was able to sit down with both University administrators and leading PCB experts to get the full scope of health concerns surrounding the closure.

Technician published eight breaking news reports this year, a standout being a report about a former NC State football player found responsible for two violations

of sexual misconduct, who posted on X that he received an offer to return by the University. The report was published using a document Technician obtained through a public records request.

Other breaking news reports by Technician included the College of Education’s vote of no confidence in Chancellor Randy Woodson and Provost Warwick Arden. The vote was concerning the chancellor and the provost’s response to the discovery of PCBs in Poe Hall and its subsequent closure.

One of Technician’s greatest honors and greatest trials of the year was our coverage of the men’s and women’s historic basketball runs. March and the early days of April consisted of very little else for Technician staff besides 24/7 basketball coverage, but it was such a privilege to see the way the student body and beyond looked toward Technician’s coverage during those weeks.

Our team of sports editors took on the challenge with the utmost care and dedication, traveling all over the country to be able to say, “Technician was there.” Thanks to our work on the special print issues throughout the runs, Technician was on the receiving end of media coverage when ABC11 visited our newsroom to highlight our night as we prepared the Final Four issue.

Political affairs

Technician reporters were able to cover a number of presidential visits and a Q&A with Gov. Roy Cooper. As we barrel toward a presidential election, it’s important that Technician has a firm grasp on covering political and national issues that affect the Wolfpack while maintaining objectivity and a sense of how national and local elections relate to the student body.

Meanwhile, Technician also covered international affairs like the Israel-Hamas war while emphasizing how those issues impact the campus communities. When continuing to cover political affairs, it’s imperative that Technician continues to amplify student voices as we did during this coverage.

What was once a Technician mainstay in the early 2000s, “Focused” found its way back to our newsroom this year. “Focused” is a joint effort between our news and opinion sections, and it’s meant to look at a big issue in an in-depth way while offering multiple perspectives.

Technician published six “Focused” issues this year, reporting on everything from the struggles faced by graduate students to our latest deep dive into the 2024 gubernatorial election. “Focused” will continue in Volume

105, and I can’t wait to see the new ways we utilize this hybrid format to present big ideas to the student body.

Public records

The bow on top of Technician’s reporting this year is due to our reporters’ fearless commitment to public records requests. A significant portion of our coverage was enhanced by or simply wouldn’t have been possible without documents obtained through these requests.

Notable stories using public records include “North Carolina’s public universities stall on releasing sexual misconduct records” and “New details emerge about controversial University welcome packets’ short lifespan.”

A special nod must go to Emily Vespa, our very own public records princess, resident jester and Volume 104 managing editor. Vespa alone submitted 87 of Technician’s total 94 public records requests this academic year, and she took Technician’s reporting to new heights through this work.

Technician has seen the power that access to public records possesses and the way that they can be used to inform our reporting. There are no plans for our newsroom to cease use of the public records law or NC State’s NextRequest portal anytime soon.

Hey, Vol. 105. Same time next year?

Jameson Wolf

Editor-in-Chief

LETTERS FROM THE EDITORS

That’s a wrap Humans of Technician Vol. 104

Since moving onto campus four years ago, I’ve gone through three majors, given myself a lot of mediocre haircuts, gotten a tattoo, did a lot of math, decided never to do any more math, read a lot, wrote a lot, forgot things, eaten a lot of Cheerios and a lot of frozen peas, sent a lot of emails, received even more, sang some karaoke and climbed the 46 stairs to the third floor of Witherspoon Student Center upward of a thousand times.

Witherspoon 323 has been my home for the past year and a secondary one for the three years before that. Today, I climbed those stairs for the last time as Technician’s Editor-in-Chief.

Serving in this position has been the most humbling experience of my life. It has tested my work ethic, my morals, my patience, my communication skills and showed me endless areas for my own improvement.

It has also given me purpose, intention, guidance and more laughter than I experienced in my first 18 years combined.

The people I have had the privilege of working with through Student Media have changed the way I see the world and think about collaboration. They are driven and sharp, and anything I have accomplished at Technician is thanks mostly, if not wholly, to them.

With that said, I’ll keep the thank you’s brief. Expect a gushy letter from me soon.

Ethan, it’s only in retrospect that I understand the weight of the chance we took on one another, and I am endlessly grateful to you for your hard work and passion. I can’t imagine beginning to take on EIC without you. I think we did alright.

Emily, thank you for the laughs, the

endless knowledge, the public records, the popcorn, the energy and some of the finest student reporting I’ve ever seen. Follow your dreams. Never quit.

Ben, thank you for the listening, the supportive shoulder, the pep talks and the reality checks.

Patrick , thank you for making Student Media what it is, for making every one of us feel valued.

Ellie , thank you for making the paper. Every week. And the 2 a.m. rides home. Every week.

To the entire Vol. 104 e-board, thank you for pushing me to be a better leader. You are the heart and soul of this publication, and it has been an honor to see your dedication and creativity.

The 201 girls , thank you for being my family, for welcoming me instantly and for loving me endlessly.

Clara, Zoe and Harrison, thank you for the rides and the knowledge that no matter how bad my day was, I had a home to go back to where my best friends would give me a hug or a shoulder or an ear or a laugh or a meal or all five at once. There are so many ways I would not be who I am without you.

I’m looking forward to regaining my Sunday evenings and Tuesday nights and all the time in between. I’m looking forward to sleeping without stress dreams about the paper. I’m looking forward to sleeping, period. But most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing the great work I know Vol. 105 will do next year. It’s gonna be a big one, but I have every faith that next year’s team is up to the challenge.

Kate, Ethan and Justin, y’all got this. The horrors prevail, but so will you.

Cheers, Jameson

Elizabeth Dull Ex-Culture Editor, current chaotic senior, future corporate pushover

I’m writing this because Riya Kannan, current News Editor of Vol. 105 and former Assistant Culture Editor, said, and I quote, “Please tell me you will write a letter to the editor.”

So here I am, heart on my sleeve, moments before I bid adieu and move onto 401k investment pastures, giving thanks to each human of Vol. 104.

To my lovely Culture section writers: Thank you for listening to and laughing at my yap sessions to myself, filling the silence during our meetings. I don’t recall anything I’ve ever said.

To Jameson: Thank you for inferring that I read “Chrysanthemum: A First Day of School Book for Kids” as a child. I feel so validated and seen!

To Ethan B.: Thank you for the constant exposure to sports on the office TV; truly the education I needed.

To Emily: Thank you for the Shania Twain lede — she deserves a Pulitzer Prize.

To Kate: Thank you for sending me the Father John Misty mosh pit meme. I think about it every two to three business days.

To Ally: Thank you for equipping me with a fair and balanced viewpoint of Elvis Aron Presley.

To Matthew: Thank you for keeping me updated on current events, such as but not limited to, the Baltimore bridge collapse.

To Colby: Thank you for writing subtly-sexy sports headlines. They are what we’ve all been thinking but are too afraid to admit to ourselves.

To Noah: Thank you for your Twitter food reviews and Mac n’ Cheese. Drop the recipe, King!

To Erin: Thank you for being the coolest, most chill girl ever who also happens to like sports.

To Amelia: Thank you for every graphic ever.

To Riya: Thank you for trusting me to drive you to Priscilla after we crashed. (Not my fault!)

To Justin: Thank you for Crime Crab. He will see the light of day!

To Skye: Thank you for bringing sweetie pie Rumpel to E-board on Sundays. He is everything to me.

To Koen: Thank you for sparking the deep, philosophical thoughts within the depths of my consciousness every Tuesday night in Witherspoon Student Center — to me, it’s a form of therapy.

To Ethan R.: Thank you for dealing with me when I was oblivious that I needed to send visuals to Photo via email. I don’t know how you survived that one!

To Cate: My queen. Thank you for listening to Arcade Fire with me after the Young Life-esque concert.

To Issac: Thank you for listening to Emilia and me pummel you with ideas at the beginning of the school year. What can I say, the girls were overambitious!

To Katherine: Thank you for telling me I’d look good with a bob — delusional thinking.

To Rachelle: Thank you for liking every single one of my close friends story posts. If I had a No. 1 fan, it would be you; if you had a No. 1 fan, it would be me.

To Elliot: Thank you for bringing the handmade beanie baby into the office.

To Ellie: Thank you, God!

To Carter: Thank you for being able to destroy any person in the group chat through a singular niche meme. It’s a talent only a few have, really. Please stay in touch. And check in on Riya if she ever suggests she wants to go to law school!

The warmest kindest bestest regards, Muppet Fearer

Dear STEM majors, please drop the superiority complex

Sophia Robertson Correspondent

Ifyou’ve ever been in a room with a STEM major, maybe you have heard their unoriginal, snarky remarks about students studying English, history or any non-STEM field, accompanied by a maniacal laughter similar to Pennywise’s cackle in “It.” Maybe you’ll even admit to being one of these people.

But STEM majors, I’m here to tell you that the superiority complex needs to be dropped.

A student’s choice of major isn’t a measure of intelligence, as you might assume. You don’t have to be a STEM student to have more than two brain cells, so shaming someone based on their major is illogical and, frankly, ridiculous.

You don’t need to take your insecurities about failing organic chemistry out on others. I hate to break it to you, but constantly reminding people that your classes are harder than theirs isn’t going to change your lacking grades.

Don’t get me wrong, I respect you for what

you endure. Trust me, I’ve taken enough chemistry classes to know being holed up in a dorm room learning chirality while your friends are blasting Rihanna and Justin Bieber throwback hits a few doors down isn’t the best way to spend your Friday night. Nonetheless, there’s no excuse to put down non-STEM majors.

STEM couldn’t exist without the arts, humanities and social sciences, and it works the other way around too. This interconnection gives each of our majors value. Where would you be without your teachers and politicians, and where would we be without our mechanics and doctors?

Although you frequently argue that many non-STEM degrees are useless, there’s a reason universities offer the majors they do. Some may be more niche, but there are hundreds of jobs out there for all of us, from engineering majors to film students. If it takes a little more time for us in smaller fields to find a job, we’ll pull up our bootstraps and keep searching. In choosing to pursue a career path that we love, we’ve accepted this challenge.

Even in a more practical sense, consider the music you enjoy. What do you think Lady Gaga studied, mechanical engineer-

ing? Now consider the shows and movies you watch every day. Do you think Meryl Streep majored in animal science? No, but I bet you’ve watched (and likely enjoyed, I might add) “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Mamma Mia!” or any one of her blockbuster films.

More important than that, think about the writing, filmmaking, advertising and other aspects that go into movies and anything else you watch on TV. Breaking news: Spike Lee and Steven Spielberg do not have physics degrees.

Graphic design majors thoughtfully articulate the websites that allow us to access our course materials, political science graduates form policies affecting our rights as Americans and criminology majors hunt down and prosecute criminals.

I could go on and on about the importance of non-STEM degrees, but because that would take too long in 800 words I’ll address one group that receives the brunt of the jokes: philosophy majors.

I mean, what can you do with a degree in philosophy? Well, as it turns out, a lot. Some philosophy majors go into law while others become writers or business analysts. These days, many jobs don’t require a spe-

cific major, and philosophy teaches a kind of critical thinking you’re not going to get memorizing formulas.

STEM students, I understand you’re stressed from your classes, but to be quite honest, I don’t want to hear about how long your biology lab lasts or how annoying your physics teacher is for the hundredth time.

If your main grievance is that students with other majors have things “too easy,” then please take your complaints elsewhere. Being upset about having to take more difficult classes is no reason to hate your nonSTEM counterparts.

Let me be clear: I’m not opposed to occasional teasing, but at a certain point, repeatedly hearing the same jokes becomes insufferable.

While 30% of NC State students are enrolled in the College of Engineering, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is the second largest program, followed by the Poole College of Management. We all got into the same distinguished university, so whether you study history or computer science or anything in between, let’s respect one another.

Let’s tackle the barriers to adopting sustainable lifestyles

Katie Howell Staff Writer

As college students, many of us are living on stiff budgets with limited free time and plenty of responsibilities. When it comes to our groceries and other purchases, we no doubt aim for lower prices and more convenient options.

At the same time, our demographic happens to be heavily influenced through social media, leading to rampant consumerism. We’re often guilty of buying into microtrends which pass quickly and result in massive amounts of discarded goods.

In other words, our natural instincts and learned habits make college students a sustainable lifestyle’s worst enemy — but only at first glance.

A sustainable lifestyle involves making conscious decisions to minimize a person’s environmental footprint. From the food we

buy to the energy we use, we make decisions every hour which impact the environment. We don’t have to kick every bad habit at once; however, we should be interested in reshaping our mindset, aiming to cultivate more eco-friendly lifestyles.

The approach to spreading interest in these more sustainable habits has to be tactful. We typically don’t give our time and energy to things we don’t find value in. So, that’s the angle we have to take when recruiting others to pull their weight and help to leave a healthier home behind for future generations.

Each student’s unique set of values make their environmental goals, or lack thereof, unique as well. In the general population, NC State faculty are conducting studies to analyze the feedback loops between infrastructure and human behavior as it relates to sustainability.

“If [individuals] are more economic focused, they would respond to an increase in

their water bill, versus if they’re more environmentally focused, then they’d respond to the comparison of your water bill to your neighbors,” said Emily Berglund, a professor in NC State’s Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department. “If that’s important to me, then I’m going to reduce my water use in response to that.”

Before even considering new practices, take a look at the everyday things you often don’t think twice about: the plastic bags you get from the grocery store, the three minutes you leave your water running while you brush your teeth or the lights and fans you keep on in your apartment when you leave for class.

We may not have water bills that denote our neighbor’s usage like Berglund mentioned, but making the small adjustments to cut back on excess usage also cuts back on expenditures. We can all see our utility bills dwindle and feel good about it for more than one reason.

The best starting block is general awareness. It is the fuel that can drive compounding lifestyle changes. Just vocalizing what changes you are trying to make, or are interested in, can inspire someone else to do their own research. If it’s not in your wheelhouse to be starting the conversation, that’s fine, but make it a point not to end the conversation either.

Another barrier to getting people interested in pulling their weight is the joke that is made out of being eco-conscious. I’m not talking about a crack here and there. I’m talking about the use of humor to degrade people for having different goals and priorities. Not to mention, it diffuses how important the issue is and exempts others from feeling the need to care.

Not being that person is a contribution itself.

A few simple habits I stick to are stocking my car with reusable bags for grocery trips, being intentional about recycling and keep-

Opinion

Callous cars on Clark Avenue

I hate to brag, but I live a five-minute walk from campus, and I’m not paying an arm and a leg in rent. My gas bill is kaput compared to when I lived in the suburbs of Charlotte. Although I love my Volkswagen, I’d rather spend a little longer getting to the grocery store so I can watch the cold air suck the life out of the leaves. I do not, however, want the life sucked out of me by an F-150 because I dared to use a crosswalk.

Since moving into my walkup on Clark Avenue, I have learned how precious life is.

If I had to estimate, I’d guess that I’ve had 17-25 near-death experiences using crosswalks in the past eight months.

We all know how car-dependent Raleigh is. Do we think consistently driving 20 or more miles over the speed limit in residential areas might contribute to that?

Now, I don’t mean to assume, but it seems that people might not be aware of the state law that states crosswalks without a signal give pedestrians the right of way. I’m led to this assumption based on the many encounters I’ve had with drivers who have honked at and even scolded me because I neglected to thank them for having mercy on my life.

This does not create a welcoming environment for folks who want to try an alternative form of transportation, such as a bike or scooter. Even worse, this phenomenon poses a dangerous risk for people with health conditions or impairments who especially deserve safe and accessible neighborhood streets.

I spoke with my council member for District D, Jane Harrison, who is the liaison for the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee and typically commutes to work daily by bike. She grew up biking in Columbus, Ohio, a city she said is similar to Raleigh’s regarding its car culture.

Harrison learned to get around on a bike from her dad. This early education was vital to understanding how to safely bike in cities not designed for cyclists.

Not everyone has someone to teach them the little things; unfortunately, these lessons are often learned through bad experiences. However, I’m not sure we should accept bodily harm as a necessary part of learning to bike around a city.

Even Harrison herself has had two accidents while riding her bike. The first was when she was ten years old, and the second was while she was working towards her Ph.D. at Oregon State, even though she attests Corvallis, Ore. is the most bikefriendly city she’s ever lived in. Obviously

ing a reusable water bottle on me. If you’re looking for inspiration or to find others with similar goals, check out student organizations such as Eco + Pack and NC State

the combination of her vast experience and a strong bike culture does not mean she is invincible.

In a city like Raleigh that, until recently, was far from urban, it’s understandable that long-time residents or people from rural areas are not accustomed to sharing the road with cyclists and pedestrians. Additionally, not everyone wants to live in a densely populated urban area where they can walk to their daily conveniences. I mean, how awful it is not to have car insurance bills, right?

The post-WWII economic boom incited the dominance of car culture. At this point, it is the default mode of transportation. This is evident in data on how Raleigh residents commute to work. Before the pandemic, 80% of commuters drove to work alone. This

Sustainability Stewards.

You can start by taking a look at your weekly consumption and decide what can be minimized. Get creative in giving a sec-

number has dropped to just under 60% as the number of individuals working from home has increased.

Fortunately, Raleigh City Council is committed to prioritizing alternative transportation methods alongside road infrastructure improvements.

I will say we are quite spoiled in the Triangle with our bus system. Around this time last year, I took the GoTriangle bus from D.P. Dough all the way to Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, and I didn’t pay a dime. However, we must exercise these options, if we expect our public servants to write grants asking our legislature to pay for them.

Fortunately, my council member has been doing just that. Harrison told me about an exciting new program coming to Raleigh

ond life to products that have served their original purpose. What’s arguably most important is to not become so overwhelmed with the task of sustainability that you can’t

this summer to make biking more accessible.

The Raleigh e-bike incentive program will give every Raleigh resident over the age of 18 the opportunity to apply for a $500 voucher, and those with incomes of 80% or less of the Area Median Income will be eligible to apply for a $1,500 voucher.

Attentive driving is vital to keeping our neighborhood streets safe. Harrison said we must watch out for other vehicles on our roads besides cars. This initiative is a great way to promote that mindset. This doesn’t mean you have to give up your glorious gas guzzlers and take an escooter to Trader Joe’s, but please do me and the NC State retention rate a favor by stopping for pedestrians at crosswalks.

even approach it. Start somewhere simple. Just be sure to hit the lights on your way out.

COURTESY OF JANE HARRISON

Rocky

Robin Catry reflects on growth, found family after bittersweet senior day

Ethan Bakogiannis Managing Editor

Senior Robin Catry sat down and leaned against the fence on the center court of the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center after his senior day ceremony.

He quietly cried into the shoulder of an NC State men’s tennis communication assistant after she showed Catry his goodbye tribute video featuring head coach Kyle Spencer and his family back in France.

It was the bittersweet culmination of five years of hard work, life-changing experiences and found family.

The Wolfpack’s leader, top player and fanfavorite finished his quiet moment and rose from the court. He slowly walked over and poured out over his senior day celebration and five years at NC State.

“I just cried; I just laughed; I just had so much fun with my guys,” Catry said. “And right now the only thing that’s going through my mind is that I’m so glad I made this choice to come here.”

For Catry, that decision might have seemed like it was yesterday, but it had come five years earlier when he committed to the Wolfpack at just 17 years old while still living in France. As one of his first recruits in his tenure in Raleigh, Spencer took a flier on a young Catry, a player he said he might not have taken a chance on today.

“We took a chance on him,” Spencer said. “He probably wasn’t at the level — you know, we probably would have passed on him now — the way the program is and the recruiting process is.”

While not always a smooth process, Catry said his acclimation to his coaches, his team and NC State slowly and surely changed his life. Spencer put Catry to work, implemented and encouraged a sense of belief, belonging and dedication into his recruit.

“And they molded me into this, into their belief system, their processes,” Catry said. “And I think I’m a good reflection of their work now because I’ve been here for so long. And I was very young when I came in, so they got me at the right time. I’m so glad I made this decision to come here.”

Catry has turned into a leader and role model — not just for his team, but as an athlete on campus. Aside from his accomplishments on the court, which include numerous All-ACC accolades, two ACC Player of the Week awards and the command of court one for the Pack in 2024, Catry’s made strides in his physical and personal growth.

Catry put in the work and transformed himself into a physically imposing player who uses his 6-foot-6 frame and impressive wingspan to reach any and every ball, control the pace of play and put opponents away with his tower-

ing serve. Meanwhile, Catry’s engaging and energetic personality shines through on both matchday and training days. To top it all off, he also earned a spot on the 2023 All-ACC Academic Tteam.

“He’s just grown,” Spencer said. “He’s figured his way out, his way through this world and what’s important to him. And then he’s really dedicated, physically and mentally, to his tennis and his level of professionalism, and everything is at its highest point. So I can’t say enough good things about him.”

During the early years in Raleigh, Catry was taken in by his teammate Joseph Schrader and his family in Asheville, North Carolina. Over 4,000 miles away from his home in Lille, France, Catry found a second family who supported him in his journey.

“Joe was my teammate freshman, sophomore and junior year, and my very first Thanksgiving I spent with him,” Catry said. “At his home, he welcomed me, his whole family welcomed me to spend Thanksgiving with them my first semester, and that’s where it all started. I love where he lives. I love how warm and understanding his family was.”

Schrader’s parents walked out with Catry to start his senior day ceremony. As he joined his teammates and coaches, he embraced his found family while receiving a standing ovation from the crowd.

“And every Thanksgiving now we always go there,” Catry said. “So it’s like a tradition. And yeah, we always joke with them that they’re my second family, my American family. And I think they’re proud of that, and I’m very proud of that, too.”

Catry hugged his teammates, coaches and second family on the court as the announcer rattled off his accomplishments over the PA. After pumping up the crowd and looking over his senior day plaque, Catry once again turned to his teammates and coaches, spending time with them until most fans had left the stadium.

Catry’s voice wavered once more as he mentioned his love for them and reflected on his bittersweet senior day.

“I’ve grown as a man with them and as a tennis player, and they’re always here with me,” Catry said. “And my coaches, too — all the work we did together. The atmosphere today was so sick. It’s full circle to see everyone here on a beautiful day like this. … The scenario is perfect, and I couldn’t ask for better.”

With the Pack primed for deep postseason runs, he’s not done adding to his legacy, but Catry’s already made a permanent mark and lasting impression on the NC State men’s tennis program.

Even after the season ends, Catry said he is determined to return to Raleigh to train and spend time in his newfound home as he

starts his professional tennis career, and he’ll be met with open arms from everyone in the building when he does.

“There will always be a special place in NC State tennis and for sure in our hearts, for Robin,” Spencer said.

The senior looked around, took another deep breath and finished his interview echoing the words of the late Jim Valvano.

“I think Valvano said that it’s a full day if you cry and laugh,” Catry said. “Yeah, it’s a full day. And I couldn’t ask for better.”

ALEKSANDRA SENYUKOVA/TECHNICIAN

Senior Robin Catry celebrates a point during the match against Duke at Dail Outdoor Tennis Stadium on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Catry won his doubles match. NC State beat Duke 4-2.

ALEKSANDRA SENYUKOVA/TECHNICIAN

The NC State men’s tennis team poses for a photo with senior Robin Catry in celebration of senior day after the match against Duke at Dail Outdoor Tennis Stadium on Sunday, April 14, 2024. NC State beat Duke 4-2.

Dear Coach Keatts, I wasn’t familiar with your game

Aidan Carlson Assistant Sports Editor

If you asked me a month ago if I thought NC State men’s basketball could make it to the Final Four, I would have laughed — a lot. In my mind, it was out of the realm of possibility that NC State could make a miracle run to make the NCAA Tournament, let alone win its regional championship.

In fact, a little over a month ago when we at Technician were scheduling out who would write what for the upcoming ACC Tournament games, I wrote “Hell nah” under who would write the third-round ACC Tournament recap. I jumped ship after the regular season ended and, like many others, thought it would be best to see head coach Kevin Keatts leave.

A comeback win versus Louisville and a blowout versus Syracuse to start the ACC Tournament was still not enough for me to believe in this team. If you have been a State fan long enough, the phrase “NC State Shit” is a frequently used part of your vocabulary.

From a last-minute Giovanni Bernard punt return touchdown, to the 2021 College World Series team getting the boot from Omaha, my life has been filled with “NC State Shit.” But when graduate guard Michael O’Connell sunk the buzzer-beater versus Virginia after the

Wolfpack was down six points with less than a minute to go, something changed.

It felt as if this was the first team to beat “NC State Shit,” and in the midst of celebrating with my friends at Monkey Joe’s, I began to believe that this team was different — that it could do something special.

Being a kid from Durham, beating Duke and UNC to win the ACC Championship was a chef’s kiss to a tournament run I never thought possible a week ago. Even our biggest rivals couldn’t take the joy away from us because we beat them fair and square.

“Thank you to the ones who have been consistent along the ride, and welcome back everyone else,” said graduate forward DJ Burns Jr. I was happy to be back and even happier now that I decided to come back. Making it to the Final Four and celebrating each win by rushing the Belltower provided me with countless memories I’ll never forget.

With the Cinderella run coming to an end versus Purdue, it gave me some time to reflect on how quickly I gave up on this team and Keatts, and therefore, I’d like to apologize. I know I’m not the only one to have had a change of heart, so I hope those of you who also were doubters, non-believers, tweet-and-deleters join me by filling out this form to apologize to Coach Keatts.

NC State Athletics’ 2023-2024 superlatives

In what was a great year for NC State Athletics, a few athletes separated themselves from the Pack. Our staff has compiled a list of awards for the best athletic performances the Wolfpack had to offer.

Unsung hero - Mohamed Diarra, men’s basketball

There aren’t enough words to describe junior forward Mohamed Diarra. When it was time to perform, Diarra always stepped up, especially when it came to rebounding. Including the ACC and NCAA tournaments, Diarra had a four-game double-double stretch and a seven-game stretch of 10 or more rebounds.

Doing this all during the month of Ramadan shouldn’t be overlooked either. Without being able to eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, the Frenchman still came to play and left it all out on the floor to help NC State reach its first Final Four since 1983.

Most resilient - Brennan Armstrong, football

touchdowns in a 39-20 win over UNCChapel Hill. Instead of pouting after he was benched, he handled it like a “grownass man” — to quote Aydan White — and returned a better player.

Coach of the Year - Kevin Keatts

No other NC State coach received more scrutiny and criticism amongst his fanbase than men’s basketball head coach Kevin Keatts. Following a subpar regular season that ended with a four-game losing streak, many fans wanted Keatts gone after seven seasons in Raleigh. If you need any evidence, just take a look at the backlash one Technician article got that was written in support of Keatts in February.

Armstrong got off to a rough start and was eventually benched for quarterback MJ Morris. When Morris decided to redshirt

Graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong had high expectations coming into the season because he was being reunited with his former offensive coordinator at Virginia, Robert Anae. With Anae, he threw for over 4,000 yards and 31 touchdowns and Wolfpack Nation expected the same production for the 2023 season.

the year halfway through the season, Armstrong was thrust back into the starting role and played the best football of his life. In the last three games, he accounted for nine touchdowns and zero interceptions. Armstrong capped off the regular season throwing for 334 yards and three

Whoever wrote that article obviously must be some kind of genius, because Keatts proceeded to lead his team to five wins in five days at the ACC Tournament for the program’s first ACC title since 1987, then only followed that up with an incredible run to the Final Four, the Wolfpack’s first since 1983. One loss away from being unemployed, Keatts could now run for Mayor of Raleigh and has virtually locked himself into a lifetime contract as head man of the Pack.

GRAPHIC BY AIDAN CARLSON

GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN Graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong celebrates a rushing touchdown during the Wolfpack’s game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. The Wolfpack beat the Demon Deacons 26-6.

Technician Sports Staff

Top 10 moments from NC State sports this year

Ethan Bakogiannis, Colby Trotter Managing Editor, Sports Editor

From Final Fours to football, NC State athletics had a year for the record books. From August to April, the Pack won several ACC Championships, a national championship and made its way to not one, but two Final Fours.

Let’s take a look back at the best moments in one of the best years in NC State sports history.

1. Men’s basketball and women’s basketball advance to Final Four on same day

For the first time in school history, the men’s and women’s basketball teams made the Final Four in the same year. The women took down No. 1 seed Texas in the Elite Eight, and just a couple hours later, the men beat No. 4 seed Duke to advance to the Final Four.

It was an unlikely run for both squads. The men entered the NCAA Tournament as an 11-seed and were the underdog in all their games except one. It wasn’t as surprising the women made the Final Four, given they beat many ranked teams throughout the season and were Top 10 for a majority of the year. But they were unranked entering the season and picked to finish eighth in the conference, so they blew their preseason expectations out of the water.

These squads’ success in the postseason made NC State’s campus the spot to be. Thousands of students celebrated at the Belltower after each win, and the vibes on campus were at an all-time high.

2. Men’s basketball wins first ACC Championship since 1987

While the Belltower was rightfully packed once both men’s and women’s basketball teams made the Final Four, the congregation at the hallowed place was just as momentous when the men’s squad finished off its miracle ACC Championship run weeks earlier.

The Wolfpack defeated conference titan after titan on its way to its first ACC Championship since 1987. While there were several miraculous moments that added to the sheer unbelievability of the run, the Wolfpack beat none other than UNC-Chapel Hill in the final round to win it all.

Toting the tagline, “Why Not Us?” all tournament long, NC State embraced its underdog mentality more than ever before. After winning five games in its five days of the tournament, the tagline “Why Not Us?” soon turned into “Five wins in five days,” as NC State became the lowest-ever seed to win an ACC title.

3. Michael O’Connell’s ACC Tournament shot

The ACC Championship and Final Four run would cease to exist if it wasn’t for the second-greatest shot in NC State men’s basketball history. With NC State down three, graduate guard Casey Morsell misfired on the tying 3 and Virginia’s Isaac McKneely came down with the rebound.

McKneely went to the line to seal the game for Virginia but missed on the front end of a one-and-one. Morsell came down with the rebound and passed it ahead to graduate guard Michael O’Connell. O’Connell took a couple of dribbles then pulled up with just seconds remaining, launching the basketball into orbit. The basketball was in the air for what felt like an eternity, finally coming down and kissing off the backboard before rolling around the rim a couple of times and falling through.

After he saw it go in, O’Connell just stood there with an ice-cold face and flexed while his teammates mobbed him. What makes the shot even more improbable is that it was the first time all season McKneely had missed two free throws in a game as he had already missed one in the contest. Wolfpack Nation will always be grateful for McKneely.

4. DJ Burns Jr. becomes America’s big man

Every year, March Madness produces a star that all of America falls in love with. This year, it was easy for everyone to root for graduate forward DJ Burns Jr. The big man with impeccable footwork and a big gap-toothed grin stole the hearts of America.

NC State fans already knew about the joy that Burns played with on the court, but when everyone else saw it, they fell in love

just like Wolfpack fans did the first time they saw him. He was dubbed “America’s big man” and was the catalyst in taking the Wolfpack back to the Final Four for the first time since 1983.

5. Women’s basketball beats No. 2 UConn in Reynolds

After a disappointing season the previous year, most didn’t know what to expect from NC State women’s basketball. They would find out early though as it faced then-No. 2 UConn in just its second game of the season at Reynolds Coliseum.

Junior guard Saniya Rivers put her name on the map against the Huskies, dropping a career-high 33 points in a 92-81 win on ESPN. This win set the tone for the rest of the season, showing the Wolfpack was back as one of women’s basketball elites.

6. Football blowout win over UNC

It seemed as though all hope was lost for NC State football’s 2023 season after its blowout loss at Duke in October.

Around a month later, though, the Wolfpack had turned its season around. The redand-white rattled off five straight wins to end its regular season, capping off that streak with a 39-20 rout over the rival Tar Heels.

While the past two seasons’ duels between the rivals had come down to the wire, this one wasn’t even close. Quarterback Brennan Armstrong and then-freshman wideout Kevin Concepcion were firing on all cylinders, stunning the Drake Maye-led Heels as the Wolfpack ran up the scoreboard. By the end, NC State had chased the Tar Heels all the way back to Chapel Hill with its dominating win.

7. Oakland men’s basketball overtime game

The one game Burns wasn’t the most-loved player on the court was NC State’s secondround game against No. 14 seed Oakland. The Golden Grizzlies were coming off an upset win over No. 3 seed Kentucky and guard Jack Gohlke took the college basketball world by storm when he made 10 3s and scored 32 points on the Wildcats.

It was the only game the Wolfpack was favored in, but it ended up being its most hard-fought win. After leading for most of the game, Oakland came back and took the lead with a few minutes left. Down one with about a minute left, O’Connell crossed over his defender and drove to the rim making an acrobatic layup while drawing the foul.

Gohlke hit two free throws on the other end to send it to overtime. Once it got to overtime, Burns took over, scoring or assisting on nine of the Pack’s 13 overtime points. It may have collectively raised the blood pressure of Wolfpack Nation, but NC State got the win and was going to the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine years.

8. Women’s cross country continues dynastic run with third straight NCAA Championship

Few programs across the country have the right to call themselves a dynasty. But NC State women’s cross country has earned that right in every sense imaginable.

Less than a month after notching its eighth straight ACC Championship title, the Wolfpack won its third-straight NCAA Championship title. Senior Katelyn Tuohy, who commanded the Pack’s reign in her time on campus, was unsurprisingly NC State’s top runner and placed fifth overall in the championships.

As a perennial championship contender — and winner — NC State cemented its place at the mountaintop of Wolfpack greatness with its three-peat win.

9. Wrestling ACC Championship

After a dominant regular season, the Wolfpack brought home the ACC Championship trophy for the sixth straight season. The Pack was in a league of its own, posting 116 points, 29.5 points ahead of second place and had seven wrestlers win an individual title.

The championship victory marked head coach Pat Popolizio’s seventh ACC Championship in Raleigh. Popolizio now holds the second-longest title streak in conference history, a well-deserved achievement. No. 2 redshirt senior Trent Hidlay finished his historic, program-elevating season with his fourth straight ACC title.

HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN

Head coach Kevin Keatts takes a photo with fans after winning the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game against Duke at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. Burns led in scoring with 29 points. NC State beat Duke 76-64 to advance to the Final Four.

Sports

SUPERLATIVES

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Rookie of the Year - Kevin Concepcion

Without freshman receiver Kevin Concepcion, there’s no telling where NC State football would’ve finished its season. The freshman phenom put the Wolfpack offense on his back and willed it through much of the season. The Chambers High School product burned opposing defensive backs with his uncanny ability to get open and make game-changing plays.

Concepcion saved his most prolific performance for the Tar Heels. He racked up 131 yards and a pair of touchdowns on seven receptions in the Pack’s 39-20 win over Carolina while also working himself into the rushing game with 55 yards on the ground. Concepcion’s do-it-all ability has him projected as one of the top returning receivers in all of college football.

MOMENTS

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Transfer of the Year - DJ Horne, men’s basketball

After four years away from home, graduate guard DJ Horne returned to Raleigh for the best season of his collegiate career.

Horne spent two years at Illinois State and two at Arizona State where he proved himself a capable player. However, when he returned home, Horne became a walking firework show for the 919, dazzling Wolfpack fans with his scoring ability.

After lighting up the regular season, Horne and his teammates saved their best for last in the postseason. Over a ten-game postseason run, Horne, along with graduate forward DJ Burns Jr., put NC State college basketball back on the map. From a 29-point ACC championship performance to hitting four 3’s in the Sweet 16, Horne brought countless moments and clutch shots to NC State.

10. Gymnastics catches fire, wins ACC Championship

In the first year back with the ACC competing in college gymnastics, NC State dominated on the floor, beam, vault and bars all-

Breakout team - Gymnastics

Finishing the season ranked No. 16 in the country, NC State gymnastics had one of the best records on campus. Going undefeated in ACC play and winning the program’s 8th conference championship, it’s safe to say that there could be a new dynasty team in Raleigh.

Riding on the backs of graduate students Chloe Negrete, Emily Shephard and Alexis Ortega, the Wolfpack set program records left and right. Negrete took home nine straight Gymnast of the Week awards throughout the season along with freshman Katie Harper winning, a few accolades of her own. With seven freshmen on the roster, the Pack will have a young and budding team for a few years to come, but that won’t be something that will hold the red-andwhite back.

Team leader - Sam Highfill, baseball

season long, capping its 2024 regular season conference campaign by raising the ACC Championship trophy.

In college sports, many athletes have benefitted from being granted an additional year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One athlete in particular is Wolfpack graduate pitcher Sam Highfill, and the Pack has certainly benefited from his presence this season. So far this season, pitching has mostly been a shaky aspect of NC State’s game. However, Highfill has done his part to lead the group as he usually serves as the Friday night starter to give the Pack a leg up to get the weekend started.

Some of Highfill’s best baseball came in March when he posted three games in which he tallied at least seven strikeouts. He saw particular success in a seven-inning showing against high-ranked Duke and an eighth-inning performance against Notre Dame in which he did not allow a single run to score. Throughout his collegiate career, Highfull has had to battle injury concerns, however this season he has overcome adversity and provided the team with a reliable leader.

Soon after claiming the regular season trophy with an undefeated conference record, the Pack torched the competition once it got to the championships. Led by graduate students Chloe Negrete and Emily Shepard, NC State brought the program to a new height with its 197.575-point win over Clemson in the title bout.