LGBTQ+ History Month 2021 — Technician 10/7/21 by Technician

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VOL . 102 | NO. 9

LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH See page 3

Contents

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IN THIS ISSUE: page

LGBTQ+ themed classes educate students while providing safe space

WHAT YOU MISSED: Libraries’ workshops highlight expertise of library support system, share resources University Libraries offers a variety of workshops for students and the general public in many different disciplines both virtually and in person. The workshops highlight the expertise of the library support system and bring awareness to the resources available to the NC State community.

NEWS

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It’s time to rethink ‘Think and Do’

New music collective 47 Eyez on Me seeks to create grassroots network for artists

Isabel Amezcua reflects on Hispanic heritage, NC State’s efforts for Latinx Heritage Month

SOURCE: THE NEWS & OBSERVER

Alaska National Park names winner of Fat Bear Week

SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES

Facebook app outage causes uproar Facebook apps including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp were down for five hours on Monday, Oct. 4. Some suggest there was foul play involved as the outage happened in the wake of a testimony to Congress about Facebook’s prioritizing of profits. Users of the apps later praised the five-hour break from social media.

SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST

SPORTS Editor-in-Chief Jaylan Harrington

323 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 Editorial Advertising Fax Online

Three Cary men on Forbes 400 richest in America

A brown bear, named 480 Otis, was named the winner of Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week contest for the fourth time. The contest celebrates the prehibernation weight gain that the bears in the park go through from June to October. Otis is more than 25 years old and estimated to be around 1,000 pounds.

CULTURE

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SOURCE: TECHNICIAN

Three men from Cary have been named on Forbes 400 as some of the richest men in the world. Tim Sweeney has taken the spot as the richest man in North Carolina taking the title from Jim Goodnight after he held the position for over ten years. Both men’s net worths are over $6 billion.

OPINION

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

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Culture Editor Sam Overton

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THE RADAR Events to keep an eye on for the week of Oct. 7

GLBT MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE FAIR Thursday, Oct. 7, 2:30 p.m - 4:30 p.m TALLEY STUDENT UNION Free Searching for on and off-campus resources for LGBTQ+ students? The GLBT Center, Campus Prevention Services and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Wake County chapter teamed up to discuss mental health support resources online and nearby, including Counseling Center services and helpline assistance.

NAVIGATING THE COMING OUT PROCESS Friday, Oct. 8, 3:00 p.m -4:00 p.m VIRTUAL EVENT Free Looking for help navigating the coming-out process? Join the GLBT Center’s latest presentation this Friday, covering the reality of coming out and the underlying risks and benefits.

SENSORY FRIENDLY HOURS Friday, Oct. 8, 10:00 a.m - 11:30 a.m GLBT CENTER LOUNGE Free In need of some rest and relaxation? Head over to the GLBT Center Lounge for sensory-friendly hours to study or chill with friends.

POOLE COLLEGE NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY UNITY RALLY AND WALK Monday, Oct. 11, 4:30 p.m - 6:00 p.m NELSON HALL, HILLSBOROUGH STREET FRONT STEPS Free Grab your friends and head to Nelson Hall next Monday to join the National Coming Out Day Unity Rally and Walk. Organized by the Poole College of Management, NC State Athletics Department and the GLBT Center, the walk will begin at Stafford Commons and end at Wolf Plaza. Technician (USPS 455-050) is the largest student newspaper of NC State University and is published every Thursday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods. Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on the Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC, Copyright 2011 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.

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News

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LGBTQ+ themed classes educate students while providing safe space Esme Chiara Correspondent

As NC State works to create a more inclusive environment for students that are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, the number of classes focused on the community being offered to said students is increasing. These class subjects range from history to literature to film, and are housed primarily in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Elizabeth Nelson, a teaching associate professor with a doctorate in communication studies, teaches WGS 390: Queer Theory. The class examines what it means to be part of the LGBTQ+ community and how various parts of society are impacted by queerness. “Queer theory is a lot of times something you don’t take until graduate school, so it ’s a combination of that, but also just queer knowledge, queer history, queer creators, things that are happening now,” Nelson said. Ray Ward, a fourthyear studying sociology and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, took Nelson’s class last year and described their experience as being a positive one. “It’s a fun topic, also a bit complicated if you don’t have any reference point because we use the word queer in a couple different ways,” Ward said. “It’s used as an identity. It’s also used often for activist purposes, but it’s also a form of academic theory. A really fun textbook for it was called ‘Queer: A Graphic History.’ It was a textbook, but it’s done like a graphic novel, so you get art and things to go with what you’re reading. It was really cool.” Ward emphasized the importance of having a variety of people take the class, as it added to their knowledge of the subject. According to Ward,the students enjoyed the small intersectional community that was formed and looked forward to the discussions the group would have on the readings. Nelson corroborated this idea of having different perspectives in her class and encourages anyone who is interested to take it. “I think that the folks there, at least the folks

that I’ve heard from and then I’ve interacted with, who don’t necessarily hold any of the identities that we talked about in the class, are really gratified to be in empathic relation, to be in community, to be in learning,” Nelson said. “And invariably, there’s stuff for anyone who does hold those identities to learn about ourselves, to learn about each other, right? It’s not a monolith. Everybody’s got lots of different experiences.” John Stadler, a teaching assistant professor of film studies, looked at LGBTQ+ themes through a cinematic lens in his

specia l topics class, ENG 492: Queer Cinema. The class did a deep dive into the idea of queerness in film, starting from early films at the beginning of the 20th century and traveling to the 21st century with films such as 2016’s “Moonlight,” directed by Barry Jenkins. “I think the project of having these classes should be to constantly question received knowledge and knowledge that has been normalized,” Stadler said. “These classes should remind people that what we are given in a society is not the way things have to be, and that there’s always an ‘other’ ... I think these classes should constantly question whatever the normative logic, the normative knowledge structure is.” Nelson and Stadler expressed joy at having the opportunity to teach classes closely related to their fields of interest, something public history graduate student Matthew Champagne did with his HI 369: Sexuality in U.S. History class last spring. The class focused on the idea of sexuality in the United

“I do think it would be valuable to have an explicit LGBTQ+ history class, as opposed to just a general one on sexuality,” Champagne said. “There’s also a bunch of classes I would be interested in seeing focus on that, even in my department in public history. I would love an interpretation of museums, historic sites, that focuses specifically on interpreting LGBTQ+ people.” Despite the small number of classes currently offered at NC State, there are still options for students to learn about LGBTQ+ themes from teachers who are passionate about the subject and hope to have an impact on our community. “I derive a lot of pleasure from teaching these kinds of classes, because I’m invested in the topic,” Stadler said. “I think that it is an undertaught topic, and I also like learning. I don’t know if teachers talk about this enough, but good teachers are constantly learning alongside you, your teachers are also always students in their own classes. So for me , teaching this class, I’ve only taught it twice, but hopefully I’ll get to teach GRRAPHIC BY ANN SALMAN it more than twice. And each time I LGBTQ+ people, I hope the class even helped teach it, I revise it, I add to it, I subtract, I normalize some fetishes or sexual expressions learned more. … It feels validating.” Though not all of them are available next for heterosexual cisgender people.” While existing classes are successful in semester, students can still learn more about addressing various aspects of the LGBTQ+ these classes by looking at the Enrollment community, both teachers and students iden- Wizard in MyPack Portal. tified a need for more classes. Stadler suggested teaching a transgender cinema class similar to the one he taught while obtaining his Ph.D. I don’t know if teachers “I had, I would say, if not as much as interest in the queer cinema class as in my trans talk about this enough, cinema class, if not more, actually,” Stadler but good teachers are said. “I think students today might have an constantly learning even greater appetite for that kind of a class because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a class alongside you, your advertised at NC State that’s actually about teachers are also always trans people. … Under the gender and sexuality studies programs they probably have students in their own something, but not in these disciplines that classes. aren’t just explicitly about gender.” - John Stadler Champagne highlighted the need for more LGBTQ+ classes relating to his discipline, as well as similar classes focusing on other historically marginalized people. States from the early 17th century to the present day, and Champagne took from his own experiences and studies of the subject when creating the class. “The class was something that was very special to me because basically, the way we crafted it was I created sort of the class I wanted to take but couldn’t when I was an undergrad, just because a class like that did not exist at my university,” Champagne said. “I also felt the class was really important because, while it helps give a sense of history and place and identity to LGBTQ+ folks, the class was on specifically sexuality in U.S. history. So even though I think the majority of the class were also just allies of

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Hispanic Professional Engineers bring community, opportunity to campus Jonathon Eigenmann Correspondent

Since the chapter at NC State was founded in 1996, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) has been providing resources and opportunities to many Hispanic students on campus in an effort to contribute to minority student success in STEM fields. The SHPE at NC State is part of a larger national organization that invites companies to speak, leads career workshops, provides mentorships and sends members to regional and national SHPE conferences to gain connections as well as experience in STEM fields. There are professional and academic development opportunities for all majors and concentrations, whether it be through the national organization or the college chapter. Axel Flores-Roman, a fourth-year studying industrial engineering and president of the University’s chapter of SHPE, said the chapter uses the pillars of the organization in order to emphasize a core fundamental for members: development.

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“We’re trying to make sure that people can transition from student to professional as easy and straightforward as possible,” Flores-Roman said. “So bringing in companies from all sorts of industries, also dif-

ferent functions in life, for them to give us all different types of workshops.” According to Cynthia Rios, a third-year studying electrical and computer engineering and the chapter’s community outreach

chairperson, said she enjoys the meetings because of the environment and people. “It never feels uncomfortable,” Rios said. “We always know it’s gonna be a successful event because we have a really good, relaxed environment. So although we’re getting work done, we’re still having fun.” The involvement of the chapter goes further than just meetings and events that help students academically and professionally; they are also involved in community service events. One community in particular that the club wants to help out is its Hispanic and Latinx students who, due to being the minority on a predominantly white campus, are looking for a place to belong. “We go to a predominantly white university, so naturally, there’s that search for community within a lot of minorities on campus,” Rios said. “We offer students a place where they can be surrounded by others from a similar background.” Armando Rosas, a second-year studying computer science and the webmaster at SHPE, said joining an organization like SHPE not only helps him take steps toward

Increased number of students connecting with Disability Resource Office Amber Detwiler Staff Writer

The Disability Resource Office (DRO) has seen an increase in connecting students, currently serving around 2,000 students. Maggie Faulkner and Leslie Watts, access consultants with DRO, have noted that most of these students continue to benefit from virtual meeting options used during past virtual semesters. “That has been a definite silver lining,” Faulkner said. “I mean, think about a student that travels by wheelchair. … That student would have come to the office, so in a lot of ways, this has really helped with access for our students. Overall, our students did a great job with the transition to things like Zoom and virtual meetings.” Faulkner said while the office has dealt with students who have a documented disability and were also dealing with COVID-19 related issues, the DRO has seen less of these cases this semester. “Obviously, when the pandemic started, we weren’t having any face-to-face meetings with students,” Watts said. “I do think that a benefit of meeting on Zoom is, I think that students have really liked the option of meeting this way. I had a student this week

that hopped out of a class, she met with me on her phone and didn’t have to come all the way across campus. … It actually has created maybe more access than was originally intended. We did it for safety reasons and now, most students are opting for the virtual meeting option if a meeting is needed.” On a national level, Faulkner said around 19% of undergraduate students have a documented disability. “Every accommodation is going to be geared to those students’ functional limitations,” Watts said. “It’s not that with this diagnosis, you get this accommodation. Each disability affects the student differently, and we want to know how that student is being impacted.” Faulkner said students should reach out to the DRO before the semester begins, if possible, but that they work with students throughout the entire semester. She said finals can be an especially busy time. “Once a student provides their documentation and they submit their online disclosure, those two pieces come together and the access consultants make a determination as far as eligibility and a determination as far as what accommodations would be helpful for that student to have access, either online access or classroom or course access,”

NATALIE FOLSOM/AGROMECK

NC State’s Disability Resource Office (DRO) sits in Holmes Hall in suite 304 on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. The DRO helps students with disabilities get their needed accommodations.

Faulkner said. Watts said overall, professors and instructors have been very flexible with their students in offering a variety of learning options. Faulkner and Watts also shared a resource on strategies for online learning that was published by the DRO. “We have worked with students on accommodations, whether it was housing accommodation or an academic request, before the pandemic,” Watts said. “One

benefit that we did have moving to online is [that] I’ve worked with students in the online environment for years. It wasn’t like the shift to the pandemic created a situation that we didn’t know how to handle. Even for disability related reasons before the pandemic, students would decide, ‘It’s going to work better for me if I have some online classes, and then some seated courses.’ So I think that that was a pretty seamless transition for our office.”

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his goals for the future, but also makes him feel welcome in a space where others can relate to him. “This really allows me to kind of overcome the imposter syndrome that a lot of us students have here at the college and university,” Rosas said. “It really has allowed me to build my skills and public speaking [and] just my overall confidence in how I carry myself. I [also] did not have a resume before joining SHPE. Through SHPE, I was able to build my resume which then translated over to career fairs, as well as applying for internships and things of that nature.” According to Flores-Roman, an important part of the club is giving Hispanic students the opportunity to come together as a familia. “It is important just because it’s a good source to find a space here on campus, to make sure that you’re not alone,” FloresRoman said. The club is looking to expand its membership for all students, and they want

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more people to join their familia. “It’s a great place to be,” Rosas said. “It’s a place where everybody wants to be at and really where the Latino and Hispanic community can come together. It’s not exclusive to Hispanics, it’s not exclusive to just engineering students. However, the community is like no other. It’s the place where we all come together, congregate and build each other professionally, as well as building bonds outside of our academics.” As of right now, there are 250 members receiving the weekly newsletter from the club, but SHPE is looking for more members to join and attend events. If students are interested in learning more about SHPE, they can go to the NC State SHPE chapter website for more information. The president, Flores-Roman, can also be reached at ajflore2@ncsu.edu or shpencsu@gmail.com. Students can connect with SHPE on Instagram and can also subscribe to the weekly newsletter subscription by reaching out to any of the club’s officers.

Libraries’ workshops highlight expertise of library support system Amber Detwiler Staff Writer

Every year, University Libraries offers anywhere from 100 to 200 workshops on a variety of topics ranging from digital embroidery to citation management to Python programming language. Natalia Lopez, lead librarian for data instruction, said while many workshops have moved in person again, for others, the virtual format has been beneficial. According to Lopez, most workshops are open to the public. Lopez said the workshops also act to highlight the expertise of the library support system and bring awareness to the resources that are available to the NC State community. “We offer quite a number of workshops every semester that support a variety of needs around data analysis and methods for our student body and for our researchers,” Lopez said. “The goal of the workshop series is to introduce our community to a variety of information literacy needs, whether it’s around specific things like citation management [or] hands-on learning. So whether you’re using Makerspace technology or data for your research needs, the idea is to holistically support research across the board.” Depending on how one-on-one a workshop is, Lopez said attendance can range from anywhere from four to over 30 people and moving the data and visualization workshops online has actually significantly increased attendance. “Our Hunt and Hill folks often have to pick and choose which campus, and we have such demand from both populations, [moving

online] has been really helpful,” Lopez said. “[For] the other departments or other series, it’s more helpful to be in person for some of the technologies. But it’s been really helpful for a lot of people to experiment and sort of see the kinds of things that we can offer.” Tisha Mentnech, research librarian for life sciences and research metrics, said she has been teaching workshops for four semesters. “The [workshops] that I teach focus on research metrics and research impact,” Mentnech said. “So how does the work that researchers, students, faculty and staff, whoever, get used within their fields and disciplines? I help them figure out what metrics to look at and track, as well as where to look at them, where to keep track of them themselves, and finding a way to leverage those to give the best image of themselves.” Mentnech said they usually see graduate and postdoctoral attendees, with some faculty, staff and external attendees as well. “[Moving online] has gone better for me, actually, because people are able to join more easily,” Mentnech said. “So with the graduate students and faculty and staff who would come in, it was harder to leave their labs or their research or whatever they’re doing. Since it’s online, it’s easier for them to join and come.” While a lot of workshops are taught by University Libraries staff, Shaun Bennett, research librarian for business, education and data literacy, said the Peer Scholars program allows graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to teach workshops as well. He said this program began in fall 2017, and while the Peer Scholars work-

SOLYNNA CROWNSON/ARCHIVE

Jaliyah Scott, fourth-year studying industrial engineering and global perspective, works at the desk of the virtual reality lab at D.H. Hill Library on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.

shops are online this semester, they may move back to in person next semester. “The library’s workshop program is really incredibly diverse in what it offers and who it’s being offered by,” Bennett said. “Peer Scholars fits into this because librarians don’t necessarily have all the expertise, we don’t necessarily have time to become experts in everything. So what we do is we seek out grad students and postdoctoral scholars who have a skill or a talent or a tool … and then we work with them for the teaching process, so it gives them teaching experience, and we pay them a stipend for the workshop, which is unique to Peer Scholars. Then they can go in, teach this workshop multiple times in a semester and share that expertise with the campus.” Bennett said Peer Scholars workshops have included in-depth literature review studies, MATLAB sessions and National Science

Foundation grant writing workshops. He said students from every college except for the College of Veterinary Medicine have participated. “One of the strengths of the program is that we’re inviting grad students and postdocs to teach about the things that they thought were difficult in their own area,” Bennett said. “We always encourage folks if they say, ‘Well, I’m not sure what I want to teach, but I know I want to be part of the program,’ we typically say, ‘What was a stumbling block for you? What part of the program was maybe not so great? How can you help alleviate that in the people that are coming after you?’ And it always works.” To learn more and register for the workshops offered by University Libraries, students can view workshops by series and sign up for semesterly email updates.

Opinion

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It’s time to rethink ‘Think and Do’

A Motivating Motto

Pearl Knight, a third-year studying art and design

At NC State, three words pervade and haunt our lives more than “possible COV ID-19 ex posure.” From T-shirts and banners to brochures and speeches, “Think and Do’’ underlies and represents all things Lauren Wolfpack. But for a leadRichards ing research institution Correspondent that touts excellence in several disciplines from engineering to business, such a simplistic mantra may be doing more harm than good. In all fairness, the complete slogan reads “Think and Do the Extraordinary,” a detail unknown to many students. Though the condensed version rolls off the tongue better than its longer counterpart, the omission of two words sacrifices so much clarity. As a result, NC State’s mission suffers. Slogans are powerful components of a brand’s identity. Unlike the brand name itself and logos which only reveal so much about a product, slogans must tell what a brand is about and what makes it special. More importantly, slogans serve to increase brand awareness and position the brand in a way that distinguishes it from its competition. On the surface, “Think and Do” is hardly unique, and it reveals little about NC State’s mission and values. But after a quick dive into NC State’s website, the meaning be-

comes more apparent. According to the About page, the mantra represents how students and faculty match thought — “big, bold ideas” — with action — the research. Projects and start-ups that manifest those ideas into a reality. With this understanding, the motto seems less vague, and, quite frankly, the rationalization behind it is perfectly valid. Yet, without putting effort into investigating the deeper meaning of “Think and Do” — as most of us likely won’t think about doing — the message just falls flat. The main problem with “Think and Do” is that it applies to virtually every situation, whether it be blazing trails with groundbreaking research or going to the bathroom. Anyone and everyone can have a thought with an intended purpose and carry out that purpose through action. Because a slogan is so powerful in shaping perceptions, crafting a profound one is important, especially for a university which promotes creative and critical thinking. For this reason, I believe the over 35,000 students who pay at least $20,000 a year for their coveted spot on NC State’s campus deserve something more than “Think and Do.” NC State is not the only university with a motto. Mottos are commonly employed among higher education institutions, and many are written in Latin if not English. Though a motto does not need to be in Latin to be good, it should at least convey

a sense of significance. For instance, the University of Oregon’s motto “Mens agitat molem” translates to “Mind moves matter” or “Mind moves mountains” in a colloquial sense. UNC-Wilmington’s motto is “Discere Aude,” meaning both “Dare to learn” and “In order to discover the truth firsthand, be courageous.” Both of these mottos provide insight into what the university stands for, and are unique to their respective institutions. Oregon’s mantra reflects the mountainous scenery of the state as well as the university’s value of knowledge, while UNCW’s tagline was personally crafted by former Wilmington College President Dr. William Madison Randal and presents a challenge to students. For NC State, one simple reworking of the mantra that could replace “Think and Do” is “Do the extraordinary.” Not only does the latter extend a powerful invitation to students but it also eliminates the potential for jokes. In a time where colleges are practically brands themselves, pouring time and money into getting students to spend thousands of dollars in tuition for their products and services, NC State could use an edge on the competition. A good place to start is with the mantra that gives an impression of what the University is about. While a complete rebranding is not necessarily in order, it may be time for NC State to rethink “Think and Do.”

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It’s time we fix the drainage system at NC State Day after day, students walk to class in sunshine, wind or rain. It doesn’t matter if a student has a 20-minute walk uphill or if they have a short amount Julianne of time between classes, they are expected to arBriggs Correspondent rive on time and ready to learn. Therefore, students map out their routes and plan how to get to class on time. However, during heavy downpours and torrential rains, pathways to classes may be inaccessible due to the poor drainage system on campus; a common student experience is the flooding of the tunnels. The drainage system of NC State’s main campus is a major area of concern for the University, and with the reevaluation of the campus and the announcement of a new 10-year plan, this issue is more important than ever.

When students walk through the Brickyard on days with heavy rain to grab lunch at Atrium, study at D.H. Hill or attend classes, there are pools and streams of water everywhere and have no way to avoid getting completely drenched. After attempting to maneuver through the water and still getting our shoes soaked, we then have to go inside soaking wet where we will listen to hour-long lectures, participate in labs, or awkwardly squeak our way to a seat in the library. This is an experience no student wants to have, but it is currently unavoidable. “Walking to class in the rain is very inconvenient,” said Krista Jackson, a fourth-year studying biology. “I’ve even seen students trying to dry out their shoes in class.” Jackson also explained the effects an improved drainage system would have on public transit. “When it rains buses are completely packed,” Jackson said. “I think students

would be more likely to walk if the drainage system was fixed.” Wolfpack 2030 seeks to find areas of NC State’s campus that could be improved and other areas that could be built upon. On Sept. 10, students received an email about a survey regarding their experience at NC State. This survey functions to assist the administration in finding the structural problems on campus that students regard as a high priority, which will be used to formulate the new physical master plan. If you have not taken or completed the survey, I challenge you to list your concerns and the problems you see on campus. While my main focus for this column was the drainage issue, there are numerous other small things that could be affecting students, like lack of decent bathrooms in certain buildings or even concerns regarding how the University is handling the pandemic. I also encourage students to bring up their

concerns directly with NC State’s Office of Finance and Administration. This is the office responsible for managing business operations across the University and oversees numerous operations like NC State’s budget, transportation, physical facilities, construction and renovation projects, among others. In short, it is in charge of all sorts of administrative issues affecting students, so it is worthwhile to contact them. In fact, it has a “Submit an Idea” option on their website, which students can easily fill out to let NC State know about any ideas for improvements they may have. No matter what your concern is, no matter how small it may seem, it is still important to bring it up so NC State can start planning to improve that issue as it works on its plan for the next 10 years. Students’ voices deserve to be heard, so I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities and let the University know of any concerns you may have.

Concerts + crowds = COVID-19

Is ‘normalcy’ like attending concerts again worth the risk of catching COVID-19? There is no doubt that COVID-19 is still a pressing issue. We see this with the many rules and regulations placed around campus to help keep us protected. Life is nowhere near back Karsyn Westerbeek to normal, even if we pretend it is. However, Correspondent we are making huge steps forward to get back on track with the time lost. One example is the multitude of concerts that are starting to occur. We love to see it, but have we stopped to think about if it is the safest thing for us to do right now? Think about it, thousands of people gathered in a confined space. That seems like a COVID-19 nightmare to me! Yes, we all understand that logically, concerts shouldn’t be starting back, but sometimes it’s a matter of doing it anyway. People are sick and tired of the lifestyle that we have been forced to live for the past two years. We want to be normal again. And one way to do that is to restart big gatherings. It’s the same with football games. The student section is jam-packed and goes against all the protocols that NC State and North Carolina as a whole are attempting to enforce. But we are college students seeking a good time. So we go and we do just that — have a good time. The same goes for concerts, we just want to have fun again.

Live Concerts

Emma Reid, a first-year in exploratory studies

In my case, I have a concert coming up in October that I would give the world to go to. With rescheduling after rescheduling, I’m coming up on my second year of waiting for this show and honestly, I would get COVID-19 a million times over just to go. The same reasoning applies to other people, the risk is worth the reward. It might be sad, but it’s our world. Fortunately, though, artists are taking extra steps to ensure that these events are as safe as possible. Many artists are requiring either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to attend, and other artists, as well as venues, are making

masks mandatory. PNC Arena, for example, has required face masks, encourages social distancing, has cashless payments and fully digital tickets, and has upped its cleaning policies. It all sounds great, but when you pile thousands of people into an arena, there is legitimately no way to ensure that everyone always keeps their mask on over their nose and mouth. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’ve seen so many live performances happening at outside venues. Whether it be music festivals or an artist on tour, the appeal to outside venues is that more people can go

and attend in a safer manner. Even if it still isn’t the safest, it is much preferred to an enclosed space where social distancing is nearly impossible. While the rules that venues have placed on shows sound good and effective, the truth is that not everyone is going to follow them all the time. For example, I had many friends who went to the Luke Combs concert at PNC a few weeks back, where masks were required. However, I saw through social media that virtually no one wore them, at least correctly. We have to understand that even with all of these rules being put in place to let us return to concerts, not everyone will follow them. It is a personal choice as to whether or not you feel comfortable attending. Concerts obviously aren’t the safest thing right now, but they provide the experience and memories that people have been missing out on for almost two years. But is the risk worth the reward? After weighing out the pros and cons, yes, it’s worth it! Would I go to a concert every weekend? No, but there are ways to attend these events in a safer way. One being following the regulations that venues and artists have put in place. Wear your mask at all times and get vaccinated! If possible, choose concerts at venues outside or in more spacious settings so that social distancing is possible. It might not be ideal for concerts to start, but when looking back to the times we’ve had, it’s something that people need to experience in order to feel normal again.

Culture 8 TECHNICIAN The ultimate bucket list for spooky season THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2021

Shilpa Giri

Opinion Editor

With the weather cooling down and fall break unfortunately coming to an end, it is officially starting to feel like fall in dear old North Carolina. For many of our students, this might be their first ever fall in Raleigh, so here’s a list of some of the best things you can do to make the most of spooky season without having to spend too much time or money.

Go to the State Fair

The State Fair is by far the most anticipated and loved fall event, so head on over there with your buddies for some exciting rides, fun games, and fair food. The State Fair will last ten whole days, from Oct. 14 to Oct. 24, giving you plenty of time to find a day or two to go and fully enjoy all the festivities. Tickets are already on sale, so go ahead to their website to learn more about ticket pricing as well as some of the free things you can do at the fair! Cheer on the Wolfpack at a football game As someone who is not very into sports and doesn’t understand half the football terminology, I never thought I would actually enjoy going to football games. But,

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turns out I was wrong. Football games, and any sporting event for that matter, are a great way to get into school spirit and have a good time with friends on a budget since all students get free tickets using the lottery. Specifically for the month of October, our next home football game is Oct. 30 against Louisville. Considering the great proximity this game has to Oct. 31, head over to the game in a red-themed costume (or even as a wolf) to combine Halloween with football fever into one hell of a day. Visit the Haunted Forest at Panic Point Is it really a fall bucket list if I don’t include something haunted on the list? Panic Point is located about 45 minutes away from NC State’s campus in Youngsville, NC, but the drive there is honestly worth it. It is an outdoor haunted theme park, with a number of activities and attracAMY GAHAN/TECHNICIAN ARCHIVE tions including a hayride, corn maze and In the afternoon light downtown Raleigh is viewed from Dorothea Dix Park on Tuesday Oct. outdoor spooky walk in the dark. They are 31. The park was purchased by the City of Raleigh in 2015. not open all days of the week, so check Dix hosts an annual market and festival to potential guests to RSVP just so they can out their website for more information celebrate fall, and this year it’s being held get an idea of how many people might be regarding pricing, dates and attractions. Oct. 16. It will have live music and tons of attending. Falling for Local at Dorothea Dix Park If spooky things and haunted houses vendors and food trucks. The best part? It aren’t really your thing, I got you. Dorothea is completely free! They do, however, ask BUCKET LIST continued page 12

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Need some DIVERSITY in your life? We got you covered. Join us in October for these special events from the Campus Community Centers, part of the Institutional Equity and Diversity.

Movie Madness: what’s on your radar? Myra Bari

“Dune” Starring heartthrob Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides amid a star-studded cast, “Dune” (2021) is a wet dream for every scifi nerd. Based upon the 1965 book series written by Frank Herbert, “Dune’s plot is complex to say the least, drawing clear parallels to Lawrence of Arabia, Islamic theology and Arab history, alongside political feuds and fantasy elements. Despite claims of orientalism, the film has reached peak hype on social media, with the trailer sitting at a little over 35 million views on YouTube. Sound intriguing? I’d recommend reading the book first but be warned — the world building can be confusing. “Dune” will be released on HBO Max and in theaters Oct. 22. “The French Dispatch” Film majors rejoice everywhere as director Wes Anderson returns for “The French Dispatch”, featuring Anderson’s trademark pastels and whimsical storytelling. This film pairs Timothée Chalamet with Saoirse Ronan yet again in its ensemble cast, and, in true Anderson fashion, doesn’t reveal much in its trailer, released just prior to the pan-

Assistant Culture Editor

For audiences of any demographic, film can be an immersive experience unlike any other, with the potential to weave an intricate story in a mere two hours or less. From decades-old classics to action-packed blockbusters and international newcomers, some of the century’s most successful films share fantastical worldbuilding, three-dimensional characters, and gripping dialogue. Unfortunately, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 proved to be disastrous for both filmgoers and the film industry alike. Most movie theaters shut down due to social distancing measures and many eagerly-anticipated film releases were put on pause. This fall promises a return to normalcy, with recent box office hits “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” already achieving commercial success. With so many films coming out, it can be easy to forget a movie you might have put on your watchlist. To help out, I’ve compiled a lineup of up and coming releases this year that are worthy of the hype. Whether it be from your couch or local movie theater, you don’t want to miss any of these.

GRAPHIC BY ANN SALMAN/TECHNICIAN

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L-R: Omid Ordoubadi, Alex Tung, Jonny Zemola

PHOTO COURTESY OF JONNY ZEMOLA

New music collective 47 Eyez on Me seeks to create grassroots network for artists Jameson Wolf Correspondent

47 Eyez On Me, a music collective created by NC State students to promote individuality and unfiltered creative expression, is aiming to change the way up-and-coming artists think of collaboration. Jonny Zemola, a third-year studying marketing, Alex Tung, a third-year studying environmental science and Omid Ordoubadi, a third-year studying social work, started the group alongside two of Zemola’s cousins as a platform for artists to collaborate free from the financial restrictions of industry labels. The three are known through their music as Joey Zen, Saturnalias and O, respectively. “We definitely come together and try to make music an activity that is separate from other aspects of life,” Tung said. “Particularly from anything that has to do with financial incentives.” The name of the collective, according to Zemola, comes from the combination of the heart (fourth) and head (seventh) chakras. The name summarizes the collective’s primary goal of encouraging individual growth.

“47 Eyez On Me collectively means to spread love, know that you can do anything you want, have the vision to do that and do it in your own way,” Zemola said. “As soon as those four things are done, then it’s a collective thing and it’s a unison goal that is accomplished.” By bringing together diverse artists and instrumentalists, 47 Eyez On Me strives to emphasize the individual’s role in collaborative creativity. They particularly focus on the process of creating and the connection it requires. “It’s way more important to find people who you connect with versus finding the best player,” Ordoubadi said. “That’s something I feel like it’s really good for any creative to realize there’s always gonna be someone who is more technically proficient at something, but it’s all about tapping into you and bringing that out in the most effective, creative way. That’s what we’re trying to make the platform for. It’s individuality as a part of the collective.” Their main goal, according to Ordoubadi, is to encourage people to explore their highest potential. “A big goal of ours is to bring out everyone’s best,” Ordoubadi said. “Letting

everyone be as creatively independent as possible is the key part of it.” Despite their shared vision, the three members of 47 Eyez On Me have different musical backgrounds. Zemola, who is primarily a rapper, draws inspiration for his lyrics from conversations with those around him. He seeks to relay those conversations through his music. “I do a lot of looking through people’s perspectives,” Zemola said. “When I have conversations with people, I want to know how they’re viewing something that we’re talking about. If we’re having a discussion on a certain subject, I look for what is driving them to think the way that they do and incorporate that into my music in a sense. I’m talking about having discussions through music that will inspire someone to do better in anything besides just music.” Tung, who plays several instruments including guitar, bass, drums and piano, draws inspiration from a wide variety of genres and artists. His music incorporates experimental and shoegaze genres among others. “I’m a bit of an audiophile,” Tung said. “I’m definitely interested in what truly sounds good. Like auditory aesthetics. I

By bringing together diverse artists and instrumentalists, 47 Eyez On Me strives to emphasize the individual’s role in collaborative creativity. They particularly focus on the process of creating and the connection it requires.

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2021 Sidewalk Symposium shows off undergraduate research through art Emily Vespa Correspondent

Undergraduate student researchers presented visual representations of their research projects using colorful chalk art at the 2021 Sidewalk Symposium. Researchers drew eye-catching drawings and diagrams outside of the Hillsborough St. entrance of D.H. Hill Library and discussed their projects with students and faculty. Catherine Showalter, the associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, explained how the Sidewalk Symposium was an opportunity for researchers to share their projects in an interesting way. “The Sidewalk Symposium is a way for students to creatively represent their research, perhaps in a way that they haven’t really done before, or just in a different type of outlet,” Showalter said. “So for many of them, dissemination, or sharing research, is going to be presenting at a conference, or publishing a paper, or presenting a poster, or something like that. I think it’s one of the few times that you really get to show your research in that artistic way rather than just speaking or writing about it.” Billy Fryer, a third-year studying statistics and Spanish, was excited to portray his work in a creative way. “It’s just the coolest way to express your research outside of just a traditional poster,” Fryer said. Students sat on the ground as they drew detailed illustrations of animals, plants and diagrams to make their presentations visually interesting. Mellow music played in the background while students and faculty perused the rows of chalk art. In front of the event, a chalk sign that said, “ask us about our research,” invited attendees to engage in conversation with the undergraduate researchers, who were eager to discuss their work. Kelci Cox, a fourth-year studying biology

like a very experimental approach. I’m really inspired by putting things together and seeing what works and what doesn’t.” Ordoubadi, who was in orchestra throughout middle and high school, now plays the bass in several bands in addition to his work with 47 Eyez On Me. “I get a lot of inspiration just from the people around me,” Ordoubadi said. “I try to be around a really diverse amount of people both culturally and musically, people who listen to all types of music and come from different backgrounds.” The three’s diverse tastes and musical backgrounds as well as their emphasis on

EMILY PEEDIN/TECHNICIAN

Jason Rhodes, a fourth-year studying chemical engineering and paper science and engineering, points at the molecular structure of cellulose on Sept. 30, 2021 at the Sidewalk Symposium outside of D.H. Hill Library. He partnered with Tom Zarszynski, a second-year studying chemical engineering and paper science and engineering, on this project.

and art and design, sat beside her vibrant drawing of an eggplant and explained her ongoing research to students. She said that she appreciated the opportunity to present her work from an artistic approach. Students who passed by the event were attracted to the lively atmosphere. Brittany Valentine, the program coordinator of the Office of Undergraduate Research, said that the event was structured to draw student interest. “It’s more of a fun environment and it brings more people, I think, to show them that undergraduate research is more than

… somebody in a lab coat in a lab,” Valentine said. “Some people are more drawn to a visual interpretation of something than seeing a bunch of words and formulas clustered on a piece of paper.” The event was sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research, NC State University Libraries and the Crafts Center. Showalter said that working with the Crafts Center to combine art and research showcased the possibilities that undergraduate research has to offer. “I think being able to see that [student research] can be viewed and represented

in a different way than what most students think is a good way to draw in, hopefully, more student researchers and get more undergraduates wanting to participate,” Showalter said.

the individual allows them to create unique music that defies classification by any single genre. “As we continue to grow, people will genuinely struggle to classify us,” Ordoubadi said. “They’ll try to because it’s easier to package us, but we will continue to break all that because when you have people who have an experimental background mixing with someone who’s really good at making Afro beats and then also a jazz trumpet player, that makes really unique music. We’re just 47.” As they grow, the collective is constantly looking for more artists as well as instru-

mentalists from the community to bring in and expand their network. “Unfortunately, especially in this area where we live, you really have to make your way in terms of getting out there artistically,” Tung said. “There are not a lot of institutions that actually support grassroots-level art or help you broaden, so you really do have to build it from the ground up. We’re doing that.” In the meantime, there’s plenty of new music on the horizon. In early October, Tung will release his first album. Toward the end of October, the group will have their first named release under 47 Eyez On Me: a

two song EP called “Pieces.” They are also planning to participate in several artist showcases throughout the school year. We’re gonna let people have spaces in music to really shine,” Ordoubodi said. “It’s not for one person, it’s for the art.”

For more information about the Office of Undergraduate Research, visit undergradresearch. dasa.ncsu.edu

Updates and news for 47 Eyez On Me can be found at joeyzen.com.

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demic. Although being put on pause for more than a year, “The French Dispatch” paints a pretty picture, casting household names like Owen Wilson, Tilda Swinton and Adrien Brody in an ode to print journalism of the past. “The French Dispatch” will debut in theaters Oct. 22. “Spencer” Perhaps one of the most unexpected castings this year is “Twilight” star Kristen Stewart as the late Princess Diana and yet, “Spencer” has already garnered an impressive amount of attention online. A biopic that’s already received rave reviews by critics, “Spencer” is a hauntingly sad detailing of Diana’s imagined 1992 three-day struggle with her failing marriage, ending in her fateful divorce to Prince Charles and eventual abandonment of the British royal family. According to a BBC article, Stewart was left feeling alive after playing her part in the film. Diana had “an undeniable penetrating energy,” Stewart said.

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“The late princess made everyone else feel accompanied and bolstered by this beautiful light and all she wanted was to have it back,” Stewart said. Among a sea of Diana biopics, “Spencer” spins a new take on the deceased royal’s melancholy. “Spencer” will premiere Nov. 5 in theaters only. “House of Gucci” If someone asked me to describe Lady Gaga, I’d probably use the word duality because how else would one characterize someone who can sing and act spectacularly? After giving a jaw-dropping performance in the Oscar-winning film “A Star is Born” in 2018, Lady Gaga has been cast for the highly anticipated biopic “House of Gucci” alongside Jared Leto and Adam Driver. “House of Gucci” is based on a true story, spanning multiple generations of love and scandal for Patrizia and Maurizio Gucci, eventually leading to Maurizio Gucci’s death in 1995. “House of Gucci” is already making waves on social media due to the film’s stellar casting and intricate costume design. Keep an eye on “House of Gucci” for a thrilling look into one of fashion’s most criminal dynasties. “House of Gucci” opens in theaters Nov. 24.

“Spider-Man: No Way Home” Maybe it’s because I’m a die-hard Tom Holland fan (that’s my favorite white boy!) but the newest Marvel Spider-Man movies have been given my utmost attention. There’s something intensely relatable about a goofy teenager fighting villains and struggling with his love life, and I adored the first two. The final film in the trilogy, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” has raised the stakes higher than ever before. The trailer features everything from a multiverse to the sudden appearance of Dr. Strange, familiar villains and other Spider-Men (Tobey Maguire? Andrew Garfield?). “Spider-Man: No Way Home” isn’t winning awards for cinematography anytime soon but promises to deliver on hilarity and sheer entertainment value. Catch “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in theaters Dec. 17. This list contains movies of all genres, but they all share an ever-increasing amount of hype. I’m personally looking forward to “Spider-Man: No Way Home” the most, but that’s just a personal preference. Whatever your taste, I’m sure you’ll find something on this list to look forward to in the coming months.

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The return of concerts Live shows and concerts are making a comeback, and a number of artists are stopping by the Raleigh area during the month of October, including Harry Styles and Jenny Lewis Oct. 12 and the Jonas Brothers, also Oct. 12. Seems like someone has a tough choice to make! Latte foam art and tiny pumpkins Hot coffee drinks, pumpkin spice everything, pumpkin patches and carving are all typical fall activities, so I highly encourage y’all to try them out. I have yet to try a pumpkin spice coffee drink or go to a pumpkin patch during my time here in Raleigh, so this can be something we try together. But, according to a friend, the pumpkin cream cold brew is a winner. There are only so many things I can mention in one single article, but the bottom line is that fall is a beautiful time to be in North Carolina. The temperature drops to sweater weather, the bugs finally go away and the leaves turn gorgeous shades of orange and red.

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Isabel Amezcua reflects on Hispanic heritage, NC State’s efforts for Latinx Heritage Month Tristan Tucker Managing Editor

Sophomore Isabel Amezcua has stepped in and stepped up early and often for NC State’s women’s golf team. The second-year golfer from Mexico City, Mexico saw significant playing time last year, appearing in all seven of the Pack’s major events. Amezcua impressed right away and ended the year with a 77.33 stroke average, which ended up as the second-best mark on the team. As Latinx Heritage Month continues its celebration at NC State, Amezcua feels honored to be part of the 1,412 undergraduate students with Hispanic heritage. “Being Mexican and representing my country wherever I go is just amazing,” Amezcua said. “I think being from this country has really shaped the way I am. It really defines why I am the way I am. And I am just always so proud to represent Mexico.” Prior to her stint at NC State, Amezcua represented Mexico well, being rated as the fourth-best golfer in the Mexico Girls’ 1618 Division. Right before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Amezcua earned six top-three finishes in national and international tournaments in the 2019 season. “I’ve been lucky enough as a golfer to travel internationally and still carry the Mexican flag wherever I am,” Amezcua said. “And even when I’m at a turn at a college tournament, I’m still representing the Pack and my country. And it just feels amazing being part of these two teams.”

Amezcua carried that dominance over to the Wolfpack, with one of her best showings coming in the Palmetto Intercollegiate where she notched a 73 in the second round, which remains her best performance in 18 holes. Amezcua also stood out at the Heroes Ladies Intercollegiate, where she put up scores of 76, 74 and 78, respectively, across three rounds. The second-year golfer said getting to play against some of the best schools in the ACC carried significant weight, and she felt like she was playing for something greater than herself. “I don’t want to say Mexico is a small

helped knowing that more Mexicans are coming on the team. And there’s an Argentine on the team, so that also just felt like home at the end.” As for NC State’s efforts toward cultural acceptance, Amezcua said she felt respected by the University and appreciated the events it holds during Latinx Heritage Month. “I think one of the best things I’ve seen was when it was the Mexican Independence Day, Talley was decorated as it would be back at home,” Amezcua said. “Just the little things. Also, being able to speak my differences, knowing that I will not be criticized for where I’m from, and [NC State] made sure that this is a welcoming environment for me to embrace my culture and not be afraid to show who I am and where I come from.” Amezcua and the rest of the women’s golf team have a huge void to fill this season with the loss of Monika CONTRIBUTED BY NC STATE ATHLETICS Vicario, who graduated the program last season after finishing tied for country, but it is a small percentage of ath- eighth place in the ACC Championships. However, according to Amezcua, the letes who are successful and get to college,” Amezcua said. “It’s just amazing, having Wolfpack is well equipped for the task, dethe opportunity to be here and still repre- spite a less-than-stellar start to the season due to the familial aspects of the team. The sent Mexico.” Though the decision to come to NC State Pack will get a chance to start its bouncewasn’t evident at first, Amezcua said com- back campaign at Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel ing to campus for the first time solidified Invitational later this month. “I think the best thing is just being her decision. “[At] NC State, I’ve always gotten a sense welcoming,” Amezcua said. “And there’s of family,” Amezcua said. “Family’s always never been a problem with me being from been so important to me. And it just felt Mexico. Everyone’s just so open to different like home. I walked in, the coaches, the things, and they’re willing to listen and go people, everyone was just so welcoming above and beyond to make you comfortable to me, to my culture. And of course, it and make you feel at home.”

NC State volleyball boasts quality wins, working to compete with ACC’s top tier Ben Ellis

Senior Sports Writer

After starting the season 0-3 in the Tennessee Classic, the NC State volleyball team is now 7-8 overall and 1-3 in the ACC at the midway point of the 2021 season. That record is close to the same pace as the 2020 season when the Pack went 8-7 through its first 15 matches. Following its trip to Tennessee, the Wolfpack went 2-1 in a three-match homestand,

sweeping Wofford and East Carolina. The Pack then traveled to New Jersey where it won the Rutgers Tournament, sweeping Brown and NJIT and winning a gritty fiveset match against Big Ten opponent Rutgers. NC State then returned home for the ACC-SEC challenge in which the team won an exciting 3-1 match against Georgia, but was then swept by Arkansas the following night. The Wolfpack began ACC play by getting

a 3-1 win over Virginia at home and was then swept at home by then-No. 4 Pitt. In its most recent road trip, the Pack fell 3-1 to Florida State and before getting swept by Miami. Midway through the season, NC State has gotten quality wins over Power Five opponents such as Rutgers, Georgia and Virginia but still has work to do to compete with teams in the upper tier of the ACC like Pitt, Florida State and Miami.

The Pack has proved that it can compete with some of the better teams in the conference with a set win against Florida State and keeping one set within just two points against both Pitt and Miami. For the Wolfpack, success is just a matter of finishing sets and putting together three really good sets instead of one. The team is still being led by its two stars,

VOLLEYBALL continued page 15

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Junior kicker Christopher Dunn makes a kick against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Dunn went 2-2 on field goals and 4-4 on extra points as the Wolfpack won 34-27.

La. Tech Takeaways: Special teams and defensive line get back on track Jaylan Harrington Editor-in-Chief

With a 34-27 victory over Louisiana Tech, No. 23 NC State football retained its place among college football’s top 25. As it enters a farewell week before traveling to Boston College, let’s look at some takeaways from the last game: Special teams rebound After an unfortunate performance against Clemson, the special teams unit rebounded against the Bulldogs. Junior kicker Christopher Dunn made both his kicks, a 36- and a 29-yarder, and redshirt junior punter Trenton Gill averaged over 50 yards per punt with two getting downed inside the 20 — one inside the 5. Only one of Gill’s punts went for a touchback, and his performance was impressive enough to earn him ACC Specialist of the Week honors. Defensive line impressing NC State’s defensive line dominated Saturday, with Pro Football Focus rating the unit

the best in the country in week five. Early and often, the line got after Kendall and overpowered the opposing offensive line as graduate end Daniel Joseph, graduate tackle Cory Durden, sophomore end Savion Jackson and freshman Davin Vann combined for 12 tackles, a sack and seven hurries. Even when they didn’t make the play, it was clear that the quartet was simply stronger than its opposition. If that can remain the case in ACC play, this defense will be scary. So that’s what a decent opposing QB looks like Louisiana Tech quarterback Austin Kendall’s been around the block with stops at West Virginia and Oklahoma before he settled into Ruston, Louisiana. Despite the small school, he’s a big-time talent and may be the best quarterback NC State’s faced so far this season. Will Rogers had a day against NC State in Starkville, Mississippi, throwing for 294 yards and two scores on 67% completions, but Kendall blew that out of the water

with 341 yards and three touchdowns on six fewer attempts. While the secondary truly struggled as the game went on, its saving grace was its ability to create turnovers. Rogers didn’t throw a single interception against the Wolfpack but Kendall tossed two: one early to freshman corner Aydan White, who made a spectacular play undercutting a route, and sophomore safety Jakeen Harris, who ended the game by picking Kendall off in the end zone. Doeren was pretty unhappy with the play of the cornerbacks in the second half after the win, but still, the group made enough plays to win the game. Turnover margin One of the greatest indicators for how well a team is playing is turnover margin and with the two turnovers the Wolfpack picked up Saturday, the team now has a season margin of +2. Credit to the defense, it’s doing a solid job of turning teams over, ranking No. 39 in that category, but the of-

fense needs to take better care of the ball. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary is doing his part with 0 INTs in the past two games, and sophomore running back Bam Knight is keeping the rock safe after some fumble worries, but as ACC play continues, it’s imperative that the offense continues to keep the ball safe. Cornerback of the future Aydan White? Freshman cornerback Aydan White is in his second year with the Wolfpack, but he’s always impressive during his time on the field. From last year’s pivotal interception against a ranked Liberty squad to his great play Saturday, White’s definitely got the potential to be something special. Head coach Dave Doeren has mentioned that he sees White, along with Ingram and Smith, as a starting-caliber player. It’s not hard to see why, and given more time to develop, White may be the first secondary Pack Pro member since safety Josh Jones entered the league in 2017.

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senior outside hitter Jade Parchment and graduate opposite hitter Melissa Evans, each of whom are in the top 10 in the ACC in kills per set. Recently, Parchment recorded her 1,000th career kill, joining Evans in that milestone. Improvement may start on defense as NC State ranks 14 out of 15 teams in the conference in opponent hitting percentage as well as ranking 11th in opponent kills and 14th in blocks. The team will also need its supporting players to step up in addition to the continued production out of Evans and Parchment to help ease the load. Another area that the Pack needs to clean up if it wants to be more successful is errors. Thus far in ACC play, NC State has committed 27 more attack errors than its opponents. The Pack will need to become more efficient offensively if it wants to compete with tougher competition. Overall, NC State has the stars. Now it needs consistency, balance and efficiency to be able to compete with the best of the ACC. The Wolfpack now has 14 matches left this season, all of which are conference matches and seven of which are at home, starting with a home match on Friday, Oct. 8 against Virginia Tech in Reynolds Coliseum. That match will begin at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Stanford at No. 22 Arizona State No. 1 Alabama at Texas A&M No. 2 Georgia at No. 18 Auburn No. 4 Penn State at No. 3 Iowa

COURTESY OF RAY BLACK III

NC State graduate student Melissa Evans (3) celebrates a point during the Wolfpack’s exhibition game against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in Reynolds Coliseum on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021. Coastal Carolina defeated the Wolfpack 4-1 in the exhibition match.

Jaylan Harrington Editor-in-Chief Record: 26-14 Rank: 1

Tristan Tucker Managing Editor Record: 23-17 Rank: T-3

Mallory High Brand Manager Record: 23-17 Rank: T-3

Avery Davis News Editor Record: 23-17 Rank: T-3

Arizona State

Alabama

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Penn State

Nicholas Schnittker Sports Editor Record: 21-19 Rank: 8

Wade Bowman Asst. Sports Editor Record: 18-22 Rank: 10

Bryan Pyrtle Asst. Sports Editor Record: 25-15 Rank: 2

Ann Salman Design Editor Record: 23-17 Rank: T-3

Chloe Allen Video Editor Record: 19-21 Rank: 9

Mollie Mitchell Photo Editor Record: 22-18 Rank: 7

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No. 19 Wake Forest at Syracuse Florida State at North Carolina

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Virginia at Louisville

Student banking, made easier. VIRTUAL WALLET STUDENT® Virtual Wallet Student® makes student banking easy. With digital banking tools, features like Low Cash ModeSM to help you avoid overdraft fees, and the option of a PNC Bank Visa® Affinity Debit Card, banking will be one less thing to worry about.

Learn more and apply at pnc.com/ncstate

Visa is a registered trademark of Visa International Service Association and used under license. Low Cash Mode is a service mark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Virtual Wallet Student is a registered trademark of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. Bank deposit products and services provided by PNC Bank, National Association. Member FDIC ©2021 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved.