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2 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
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Canine influenza outbreak temporarily shuts down Wake County Animal Center
THE RADAR Events to keep an eye on for the week of Nov. 9
NEWS
EDITORIAL: North
Nov. 13-15, 1-4 p.m. CYMA RUBIN VISUALIZATION GALLERY, D.H. HILL JR. LIBRARY AND TEACHING & VISUALIZATION LAB, HUNT LIBRARY. Free Join University Libraries in the third annual Library Staff Art Show, which showcases the enormous talent, creativity and skill found among Libraries staff.
Friday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. STEWART THEATRE $10 for NC State students Come listen to joyful gospel ballads, soul anthems and musical theater tunes at Stewart Theatre.
FALL DANCE CONCERT
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LIBRARY STAFF ART SHOW
NC STATE LIVE PRESENTS TREY MCLAUGHLIN & THE SOUNDS OF ZAMAR
IN THIS ISSUE:
Nov. 16-17, 7 p.m
SMRITI RAVINDRA FICTION READING
STEWART THEATRE
Wednesday, Nov. 15 7:30-9 p.m.
$5 for NC State students Featuring performances by the Panoramic Dance Project and the State Dance Company, the concert will showcase works choreographed by guest artists and student choreographers.
CALDWELL HALL LOUNGE Free Join author Smriti Ravindra in a reading of her first novel, “The Woman Who Climbed Trees.”
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
07 Carolina Republicans’
gerrymandering antics screw voters again
OPINION page
A lifetime in an hour:
10 ‘What We Grew Up With’ tells multigenerational story
CULTURE page
14
The ACC’s new 17-team plan won’t last LILY MCCABE/TECHNICIAN
Members of the Vietnamese Student Association dance during the VSA Charity Gala in Talley Student Union on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. The Charity Gala is an annual event hosted by the Vietnamese Student Association, which raises money for charity through a date auction. Proceeds went to the Rock Paper Scissors Children’s Funds, an organization that supports underprivileged students, specifically girls living in rural Vietnam.
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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 2022 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.
FRONT COVER BY HALLIE WALKER BACK COVER BY CATE HUMPHREYS
News
TECHNICIAN 3 Canine influenza outbreak temporarily shuts down Wake County Animal Center
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
Matthew Burkhart Staff Writer
The Wake County Animal Center announced it will extend its closure until the end of November due to a local canine influenza outbreak. Meagan Thomas, community outreach manager for the Wake County Animal Center, said the center started recording cases at the end of September and closed Oct. 6. She said upper respiratory infections and kennel cough commonly break out in shelters, but the center knew it had a bigger problem when two owned dogs at the shelter died. “We’re over max capacity, we’ve got dogs coughing and sneezing, it’s everyday here,” Thomas said. “When we all of a sudden had a couple of dogs come in that were owned dogs from our community who then went on to pass away — that was not normal. When it all came back canine influenza, we knew we had a bigger issue on our hands just because of how quickly that virus can spread.” Sandra Strong, a professor of veterinary medicine and the animal services director at Orange County Animal Shelter, said there are two strains of the virus: H3N8, which has been in the U.S. for decades and H3N2, a newer strain that first arrived in the country in 2015 and the variant that is now spreading across the Triangle. Strong said the major difference between the two strains is the shedding period, or the time in which dogs remain infectious. H3N2 has a longer shedding period and is particularly concerning in animal shelters, where dogs are close and spread disease more easily. “Once it gets in a shelter, it’s really worrisome because dogs there are closely confined, they’re already stressed, which can interfere with the immune system,” Strong said. “H3N8 only sheds about seven to 10 days, so you can quarantine and then be done with it; whereas, this H3N2 canine influenza sheds for 21 days.” Kimberly Ange-Van Heugten, a professor of animal science, said canine influenza shares similarities with the human flu. Dogs infected with the virus may experience symptoms of runny nose, crusty eyes, coughing, reduced appetite and fatigue. In severe cases, the virus can lead to pneumonia and require medical care, especially for young, old or immunocompromised dogs. Thomas said the dogs who introduced canine flu in the shelter were not strays, but dogs who were out in the community regularly and were visiting for the center’s services. “That really alerted us that this wasn’t necessarily a shelter problem — of course, it became a shelter problem once those animals came in and shed that disease and spread it
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to our population — but the much bigger concern was that this is in our community,” Thomas said. “Not only do we need to shut down our operations to save our population, ... we need our community to know that this is out there so that they could discontinue going to the dog park, going to doggy daycare [and] that doggy daycares and boarding places could be aware that this is in our community now.” The virus primarily spreads in social settings with noseto-nose contact among dogs. However, Strong said the virus can survive on objects for up to 24 hours and she discourages the use of communal water bowls. To prevent the spread of the virus, Strong said she recommends temporarily avoiding taking dogs out to public places, shelters, dog parks and grooming facilities, as well as being aware of where dogs interacting with your dog have been. Vaccines are available for prevention, but they are not part of the routine vaccine schedule for dogs. Additionally, Strong said vaccine availability might be limited due to high demand. “We’re not recommending people bring their dogs to the shelter because we’re more worried about a pet dog introducing the virus to the shelter,” Strong said. “If you have friends and you’re used to your dogs all interacting and playing, that’s great. Just be aware of where all the dogs are going and what they’re doing.” Thomas said the biggest help the center can receive from
the community is assistance with fostering dogs. Once a dog has been quarantined with a foster for two to three weeks, rescue agencies are more likely to adopt them into their program and assign them a long-term foster home. Thomas said community members can be proactive by joining lost and found pet groups on social media, to help lost pets find their homes during a time when the center is unavailable to hold lost pets. Strong said although this is the largest outbreak the area has seen, pet owners should not be terrified of the virus. “Most dogs, even if they get influenza, it’s just like most people with the flu,” Strong said. “They’re gonna get sick, they’re gonna not feel well, but they’re gonna get better. … If you are worried that your dog is sick, call your veterinarian.” Leasing article by Ally and Amelia Resources to help the center can be found on the organization’s website. Funding requests and canine influenza updates are regularly posted on the center’s Instagram @wakegovpets and Facebook page WakeGov Pets: Wake County Animal Center K9 influenza by matthew burkhart
Culinary world cup by sarah
News
4 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
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Construction on campus affects accessible parking Matthew Junkroski Correspondent
Marissa Fahy, a fourth-year studying English, said last spring she was asked to move her car from her accessible parking spot for construction workers to use. Fahy said a construction vehicle then parked there for over 40 minutes, rendering her unable to move her car back before her next class. Fahy said this is just one example of difficulty she has experienced regarding finding accessible parking at NC State. Accessible parking spaces are spaces marked for use by people with disabilities. These spaces are meant to ensure ease of access. However, for students like Angel Morales, a first-year studying graphic and experience design, finding accessible parking has been difficult, as these spaces have been further away than normal. “There have been some times when I tried to go where I thought there would always be a parking spot, close to where my classes would be, and then I’d find all the construction equipment there,” Morales said. “And I wasn’t able to park there, and I had to find other accommodations, or I had to drive back around, making me late to class, even though I got there early enough.” Fahy said she’s had similar experiences, and her commute has grown longer because of it. “I was having to come to school 20 minutes early so I could find a handicapped parking spot somewhere, which defeats the whole purpose of it because it’s to give me the shortest route possible to the building,” Fahy said. “And I was having to park two buildings away and walk over, which is feasible for me on some days, but there’s some people who that’s never feasible for them.” Demar Bonnemere, communications manager for NC State Transportation, said with construction occurring more often at NC State, construction workers may require these parking spaces.
COURTESY OF MARISSA FAHY
“You know, sometimes there is work being done in areas where there may be some accessible spaces, and we have to take them offline,” Bonnemere said. “But we do find, in essence, we replace those spaces. So if we have to take two accessible spaces offline, we will find an area to put two more that have a comparable accessibility to the buildings.” Some accessible parking spaces are taken up by objects other than cars, such as trash bins. Fahy said she has seen these bins placed in accessible parking spaces for long periods of time, and NC State Transportation may not realize this.
“You just get the idea that they haven’t been in the Carmichael parking lot to see the trash bins that have been taking up the closest handicap parking spot to the building for over four weeks,” Fahy said. If spaces are not taken offline, construction vehicles can use a parking pass, although Fahy said in certain instances she has seen construction vehicles not use these. “I pulled into the Carmichael parking lot, and two cars next to me was a giant loading van parked in a handicapped spot with nothing saying that they could do so,” said Fahy. Accessible parking spaces are larger than traditional parking spaces in order to safely allow room to retrieve mobility equipment. Morales said parking in spaces not designed to accommodate people with disabilities can be dangerous. Fahy said there are alternatives to using accessible parking spaces for construction vehicles. “All of what I saw is that there were a lot of non-handicap parking spots that were put for the use of the construction workers here in this particular building, which is the Caldwell area,” Fahy said. “And they were using those, but they were spilling into the handicap parking.” Morales said construction workers and the administration should have been more thoughtful and chosen other spots for workers, even if it was inconvenient. “Inconvenient and painful for one person as opposed to inconvenient for another person are two different things,” Morales said. Fahy said she wants to see more accountability from the administration. “It feels like they’re treating handicapped people as unimportant or second-class citizens,” Fahy said. “Why aren’t [construction workers] being suitably punished for breaking the rules? Is it because NCSU has told them they can park there? … They should also be held accountable for the mistakes that they’re making that are being ignored.”
Experts share tips to secure a solid lease Ally Tennant and Amelia Russell Assistant News Editors
The 2024-25 leasing season is in full swing, and students across campus are racing to secure coveted off-campus housing leases. Technician asked experts in the industry for tips on what to look out for in your lease. Slater Beck, community leasing and marketing manager at Stanhope, said students should read the entirety of the lease, no matter how long and dense it is. “The main thing would be to look for what utilities are included, what’s not and how much must you pay for it,” Beck said. Beck also said students should consider parking options and the length of the lease to avoid misunderstandings. “I know that many places around here will offer parking; I would get on it because it can be limited,” Beck said. “Lease term dates as well — with student housing, a lot of people think it’s a 12-month lease, but it’s a little bit less than 12 months and typically starts in
August or middle of August and then goes into the end of July of the following year.” Michael Avery, staff attorney for Student Legal Services, said before securing a lease, students should look for their future home through a trusted source, such as the NC State off-campus housing website, which vets all landlords listed. “I would just generally discourage students from using Craigslist or any of the Facebook off-campus housing options because anybody can make one look official,” Avery said. Avery said students should be wary of any leases that ask for electronic payment or payment before documents have been signed. “Several scammers ask students to pay on the Wells Fargo app, Cash App,” Avery said. “When you see these things like Wells Fargo app, Cash App, Venmo, Zelle, it should raise a red flag in your head, right? Because those are untraceable funds.” Once a student has secured a lease, Avery said he always recommends students send
GRAPHIC BY AMELIA RUSSELL
their leases to Student Legal Services’ review service, where a lawyer will review a student’s lease for fraud or suspicious activity. The service is free, confidential and an
easy way for students to protect themselves against potential scams.
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News
TECHNICIAN 5
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
Culinary World Cup brings global cuisine to campus
Sarah Hoffer Correspondent
The NC State Global Training Initiative held the semifinals for its new event, the Culinary World Cup, on Nov. 1-2. The Culinary World Cup is a cooking competition in which students are placed on teams with peers of different backgrounds and experiences to diversify the cuisine. Madison Sinclair, international programs specialist and co-creator of the Culinary World Cup, said the event aimed to bridge the gap between international and American students. “We were hoping it would reach international students or internationally minded students,” Sinclair said. “They sign up on their own individually, … so none of them have ever met each other outside of this competition.” The competition was created by the Global Training Initiative, an organization at NC State focused on navigating cultural differences, international student success and developing communication skills between different cultures. “I think our goal is to not only get our name out to NC State students but also to have a way for international students and NC State students to bridge the gap,” Sinclair said. “Sometimes [international students] get in their own international bubble, and it’s hard for them to break that. … We really try to help them get out there and meet other NC State students.” The competition was held at the NC State Teaching Kitchen, a culinary space in Carmichael Gym. The teaching kitchen helps people develop organizational and communication skills. Each round, competitors face a secret ingredient they must incorporate into their dish. The teams then have 50 minutes to complete their meal and plate their dish. In
Leasing article by Ally and Amelia
COURTESY OF MADISON SINCLAIR
the first round, the secret ingredient was an orange. Meals ranged from French toast to Asian-fusion tacos. Laci Gore, a first-year studying biology, was a competitor at the event and said her experience correlated with the competition goals. “At home, I am usually by myself, but I do like cooking with a team because it doesn’t feel like all the stress is on me to finish something, like in time for supper for anybody,” Gore said. “I like cooking with the secret ingredient because it kind of broadens the field a little bit. It makes things more creative.”
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“We always encourage students to go ahead and contact us before they sign anything,” Avery said. “With these leases being 30, 40 or 50 pages, I’m not expecting a student to go through all that with a fine tooth comb.” Avery said students should check the lease language for a written notice of termination dates. Usually, leases require tenants to tell landlords they are ending their lease 30 or 60 days in advance, even if the end date is pre-specified in the lease. Failure to do so can mean students get stuck in their leases for additional months or even a year. “I look at the written notice of termination because if it’s unusually high, it might indicate other things in that lease that I don’t like,” Avery said. “I see 90 days, probably not an issue, but I start to see 120, 150, 180 days — who knows 180 days in advance at the end of the lease that
In the preliminary round, 12 teams were narrowed down to four. Just two teams remained after the semifinals Nov. 2. The NC State Dining executive chef, the sous chef at Fountain Dining Hall and the Nutrition and Special Events coordinator judged meals on creativity, visual appeal, taste and texture, use of special ingredients and cleanliness. The winner of the Culinary World Cup will have their recipe featured in one of the campus dining halls. “It’s really been interesting, Sinclair said. “… We just posted a bunch of the recipes that
they will be leaving?” After signing a lease and moving in, Avery said the most important thing a tenant can do is complete a move-in inspection report, in which the tenant details the condition of everything in the apartment in writing and with pictures. “There’s an issue — say there’s a scorch mark on the counter — you want to note it in that report, and you want to take pictures that correspond to that report,” Avery said. “Let’s say that after you move out, you’re waiting for the landlord to return your security deposit, and they make all these claims … you can go, ‘Hey, landlord, here’s my move-in inspection; here’s my pictures. This is what it looked like when I moved in. It’s no different.’” Avery said students should keep a copy of their move-in inspection and provide one to their landlords to protect their deposit. If the landlord does not provide an inspection upon move-in, Student Legal Services can provide a sample.
they used last week, and they’re only given 50 minutes, but they’ve come up with the most creative things. You can see them bring their culture to the table.” K9 influenza by matthew burkhart
The final round of the Culinary World Cup will be Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. and can be livestreamed on Panopto. Culinary world cup by sarah
Many students choose to sublet their rooms after moving in if they unexpectedly need to move. However, Avery said subletting doesn’t absolve the student of responsibility; if the subletter refuses to pay, the student can still be on the hook for rent and other charges. “If you know before you sign that lease that you want to be out before the lease ends, ask the landlord to amend it before you sign it,” Avery said. “Even if it causes a small increase in the monthly rent, it will probably be better than having to pay the other two months or be subject to the whims of the subtenant.”
For more information on how to get a lease checked by Student Legal Services, visit its website. Leasing article by Ally and Amelia
Opinion
6 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
Republicans need to right their ship A
fter chaos in the House of Representatives regarding the selection of a speaker last month, Pierce we finally have someone Bruns to lead. But who is House Correspondent Speaker Mike Johnson, and can he truly do any better than Kevin McCarthy? Johnson is not a tenured Congressman — he has served for less than a decade. However, he has a long track record as a constitutional lawyer, working in litigations against some interesting cases — including gay marriage, which he admitted in an interview with Sean Hannity. He was also pivotal in creating the formal legislative allegations against the 2020 presidential election. Steven Greene, a political science professor at NC State, said Johnson was the “intellectual architect” of Republican members of Congress not certifying the election. Johnson has also engaged in conspiracy theories regarding immigration, claiming the Democratic Party has a plan to turn illegal immigrants into voters. His evidence regarding this ploy was a proposal to allow non-citizens to vote in only municipal elections in New York City, and not one to allow non-citizens to vote in national elections. The new speaker related this to the policy on the border, claiming the Democrats are pro-immigration to get votes from immigrants. The immigration crisis, while certainly an issue, should not be considered an intentional plan
by Democrats to get voters, especially considering their support for border security funding increases in the Senate earlier this year. Such theories have led to criticism of the speaker for hinting at things like “great replacement” theory, a fringe theory that immigrants are being brought in to replace white people. This was a motivational theory behind a shooting in a Buffalo supermarket in 2022, as well as the violent 2017 Charlottesville protests that included members of the Ku Klux Klan. Though not saying immigrants will replace us, playing into the idea of an intentional plot by members of the federal government to replace white Americans is extremely concerning and divisive. “It’s not like he’s an outlier,” Greene said. “These are becoming talking points. He was approved by his Republican colleagues. He serves at the pleasure of his party.” Yet it is a party divided — one that faces an identity crisis. NC State political science professor Andrew Taylor said Johnson was elected out of exhaustion. “There’s not a great deal of patience for what he might do wrong,” Taylor said. Of course, Johnson still attests to traditional conservative values that have defined Republicanism since before Jan. 6. He has been especially expressive of this after being elected Speaker of the House. “Now that he’s speaker, he’ll sort of downplay those kinds of things,” Taylor said in regard to Johnson’s claims. “He probably wishes he hadn’t said those
things now that he’s speaker.” Yet these qualities still linger in the background. Of course, you see a push from the left to play up these qualities to alienate the speaker before election season, and so these more divisive traits of Johnson’s might not play into his job as he attempts to hold together a House divided. “His great virtues in this is that he’s relatively new — he hasn’t made any enemies as Jordan, McCarthy and Scalise had,” Taylor said. Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy and Steve Sca lise were former House Spea ker candidates, who failed to get voted in multiple times — McCarthy was the first speaker in American history to get ousted from the job. Johnson could turn out to be a great collaborator in the House and perhaps bring an end to the chaos. Maybe his claimed faith in the system will lead to him righting the ship. He is also relatively young, a refreshing sign as our representatives get older and older. Regardless, his election as speaker is a sign the Republican Party in its entirety is having to play into conspiracies to get anything done. Despite Johnson’s claimed allegiance to traditional conservative values, the Republican Party isn’t the party of conservatives anymore. Rather, as its power keeps running further to the right, it is increasingly led on a leash by a tin foil hat. What does it say to the moderates? Refusal to work across the aisle is part of the reason we’re in this situation in the
first place. There was an option to keep the House together, and it failed due to partisanship. This historical lack of collaboration shows how the institution has already been heavily undermined. It is in need of change. For the United States to have a functioning role in the world, and for the government to have a functioning democracy, the parties need to work together. As Republicans continue to tear themselves apart, they lose their credibility with moderate voters who would win them the elections. To a moderate person, the sole difference between the Democrats and Republicans is that the Democrats can at least keep it together — they don’t even have to market themselves in the next election as moderate voters just seek for a quieter political scene. The ousted speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy once said “there is no room in the Republican party for white supremacy.” However, these claims keep getting deeper and deeper roots in the party — McCarthy’s firing is symbolic of these theorists and supremacists taking hold. Conspiracy theories have no place in politics when we have other issues to deal with. The Republican Party has the opportunity to fix itself in the coming election, but it requires it to turn about, and get back to what it has historically been — a socially conservative party of small government voters — and away from the cliques.
ike Johnson was just elected speaker of the House for the United States. In his first remarks, he made it clear Jake that he believed God was Pekar Correspondent behind his v ictor y — “Scripture, the Bible, is very clear: that God is the one who raises up those in authority.” Countless outlets ridiculed the speaker’s Christian nationalism. Each of his reactionary positions came under scrutiny, from his record on LGBTQ+ rights to his stance on abortion, and rightly so. However, Johnson’s theocratic tendencies are not the biggest problem with his speakership — his stance on the 2020 election is. In an increasingly polarized nation, it
is not ideal that such a figure has gained prominence in the Republican Party. Nevertheless, Christian theocrats have been a branch of American politics for almost 200 years. Radical wings like this have existed on the left and the right, and will remain as long as free speech persists. Such views are precisely the types of unpopular speech the First Amendment must protect. Pessimistic though it may be, many Americans agree with Johnson on each of his controversial beliefs. In fact, 45% of Americans support the theoretical Christian nation that forms the bedrock of Johnson’s views. On the subject of abortion, around four in 10 Americans agree with Johnson once again. The same is true for his views on creationism. What’s more, each of these issues have always had supporters on both sides, for better or worse.
Of course, condemnation of Johnson’s absurd socio-political views is prudent. However, their popularity within the electorate is undeniable. The only view held by Johnson that would shock most Americans of generations past would be his rejection of the results of a free and fair election. After all, such a transgression strikes at the heart of our most important institution — the electoral system. Even strong disagreements are typical for United States democracy. The system is designed to be f lexible and to withstand any number of fringe positions. What is not typical is refusing to accept the results of United States democracy. Refusing to play by the rules is the distinguishing feature of modern Republican populism that sets it apart from all other modern American political movements. When Hillary Clinton lost, she con-
ceded the next day, complying with the process. Her objectionable venting came afterward. When Al Gore lost an extremely close election in 2000, he conceded and complied with the process, even while he may have truly been victorious. When Donald Trump lost, he refused to concede, while doing everything he could to overturn the election. Even years later, he demanded articles of the Constitution be suspended to put himself back into power. Johnson was in support of him every step of the way. The one topic that requires every elected representative to be on the same page is the peaceful transfer of power. Without that, everything collapses. There is one unique threat posed by Johnson and his movement, but it is not Christian nationalism — it is opposition to democracy itself.
Jesus? Sure. Election denial? No thanks. M
TECHNICIAN 7
Opinion TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
EDITORIAL: North Carolina Republicans’ gerrymandering antics screw voters again The unsigned editorial is the opinion of Technician’s editorial board and the responsibility of the editorsin-chief.
A
s the state gears up for municipal elections this week, state Republicans are already preparing to invalidate North Carolinians’ votes this time next November. Yes, here we go again. After the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled previous maps violated guarantees of free elections and redrew the maps in 2022, state Republicans have again adopted maps that disproportionately favor their party. For the last election cycle, North Carolina had maps that amounted to a 7-6-1 split for House of Representatives seats — seven districts favoring Republicans, six favoring Democrats and one true toss up. Unlike the previous version, which gave Republicans a definitive 10-3 advantage, these court-mandated maps actually represented the state’s political makeup. Unfortunately, the last election also flipped the state Supreme Court toward a conservative majority, who promptly threw out the old ruling. This has enabled Republicans in the General Assembly to pass new maps that will likely give the party 11 seats in the House — four more than were elected last year — and give them an eight seat edge on Democrats. North Carolina is a true purple state. In the last four elections, we have thrice voted for a Republican presidential candidate, twice elected a Democratic governor and most recently sent an even split of House representatives to Congress. During the 2020 and 2022 elections, North Carolina held 16 federal and state races for statewide office — not a single candidate in any of them won more than 54% of the total vote. The state is almost perfectly split in partisan affiliation. Nothing about these new maps come close to properly representing North Carolinians. In the last election, North Carolina was an emblem of genuine democracy and acted as a national model for how a purple state should be represented. It was a perfect example of how a republic should operate — with a fair process that enables all voices to be heard and ably represented. We were left with one election period before a tyrannical political entity found an opportunity to seize complete and unadulterated control. The state is constantly labeled as a battleground and swing state. Political advocates often push for more national involvement in North Carolina elections, with our partisan makeup creating the prospect of us being the quintessential battleground of democracy. Over and over again, this prospect is robbed of us by North Carolina Republicans. These new maps will not only have national political implications, but will crucify our local voices. The newly enacted districts will systematically remove Representatives Jeff Jackson and Wiley Nickel from Congress, two of the most notable Democrats in the state. Nickel’s 13th District is currently the state’s most competitive district and encompasses much of southeastern Raleigh, Johnston County and all of the area south of Centennial Campus, representing many NC
GRAPHIC BY MAX ALSOP
State students. This district will now arbitrarily include four counties north of the University and Wake County, somehow cementing its status as a Republican stronghold. The adjoining Raleigh-Durham district will pack more blue voters into a condensed area, diluting the effect of most NC State voters. The same effect extends to maps for the state’s General Assembly. The updated maps solidify the Republican Party’s supermajority status, with incredible drawings that stretch the imagination in defining representation. For example, the new Senate District 2 stretches from Warren County, which borders Virginia in the Piedmont region, to the southern coastal county of Carteret. It is unlikely that one could travel from one end of the district to the other while staying within its boundaries without taking several ferry rides outside the district. What common characteristics do these areas have that necessitate they share the same representative? Nothing, and that’s not what’s important to the map makers. What is important is that the district splits historically Black communities and dilutes their capacity to elect their favored representatives. This is the farthest thing from what a functioning, representative democracy looks like. Time and time again, North Carolina Republicans not only systematically manipulate the electoral system, but flaunt that manipulation openly. This is corruption. It’s the epitome of why people believe the system is broken and refuse to get involved in politics. It is a disgraceful disservice to the NC State community and
all North Carolinian voters. This matter is the most fundamental to a modern democracy. Without fair maps that accurately resemble communities, the people cannot be accurately represented. Simply put, these efforts are the most egregious form of recognized politics and should be called for what it is: a crime that spits on the essence of our constitution. It is agonizing that again and again and again we have to run through this sequence. As journalists and political watchdogs in North Carolina, it feels as if we are Sisyphus pushing the boulder of untampered democracy. And pushing to absolutely no avail. An even more disparaging sentiment is saying the only way to achieve change is through voting, the very freedom being taken away. The most practical action is to recognize that the game is rigged. There is no hidden curtain, no puppet master with only strings visible. The whole picture is plain to see — state Republicans have mastered the manipulation of the board and have no intention of relinquishing their power for the betterment of our state. On a matter as simple as free participation in electing our representatives, something central to our rights as voters, we have been entirely disregarded. Leave your affiliations at the door and see the bigger picture. No political matter affects every other one like this does. Without upholding this principle and acting in accordance with it, everything else is sure to fall apart. The NC State community needs to recognize this truth and mobilize for the sake of our state.
Opinion
8 TECHNICIAN The wolf on the Hill THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
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The true story behind the speaker fiasco Editor’s Note: This article is satire. It should not be taken seriously or applied literally.
Justin Welch
Many have been following the drama of the House speaker election. Few know the true story. For weeks, Congress has been embroiled in chaos. Since the unprecedented, historical ousting of Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Republican Party has been tearing itself apart. News of screaming matches behind closed doors, mafia-esque ideological bouts and death threats to representatives and their families painted a dim outlook for the party, Congress and the entire nation. Out of nowhere, an unfamiliar name rose out of the ruin: Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Unless you’re a political junkie and a buzzkill at parties, it’s likely you’ve never heard of him. A swift ascension from anonymity to the second most powerful figure in Washington — after weeks of bickering and infighting, the solution appeared so plainly and with unanimous support from Republicans virtually overnight. Where did he come from? While DC may seem far from campus and a far cry from impacting NC State, insider sources on the Hill tell Technician that the speaker saga hits much closer to home than Opinion Editor
one might think. Representative Tuffy M. Wuf, I-N.C. — hailing from North Carolina’s premier red-and-white district — was an integral part of the behind-the-scenes drama. Aides from both sides of the aisle claim Wuf was poised to become the next speaker, before the ultra-conservative sect of the House engaged in a number of eleventhhour backdoor dealings to ensure Johnson took the office instead of Wuf. Wuf, a long time veteran of the House, graduated from NC State with a bachelor of arts in political science. The only independent in the House, Wuf has gained plaudits for his middle-of-the-road politics and capacity to compromise. These sensible and simple characteristics were beginning to draw like-representatives from both parties to his nomination. Unfortunately, hardline Republicans took issue with the balanced, calm and potentially productive Congress a Tuffy tenure could bring. Many have said Johnson’s most noteworthy experience was his support for overturning the 2020 Election, described as a “key architect” of the effort to deride President Biden’s victory. For starters, of course, a hefty amount of Republicans found refuge in a speaker who will fight tooth and nail for a cause with no premise. Representative Matt Gaetz, perhaps the most notorious character in pushing the speaker drama, is rumored to have been
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offering members bribes to solicit votes. His primary mechanism of payment was through Venmo, a platform the representative from Florida is intimately familiar with. Representative Jim Jordan, who failed in his bid for the speakership right before Johnson, has stood idly by while Johnson’s candidacy unfolded. Jordan notably has experience with sitting on his hands in the workplace while headline-worthy events occur. Majority leader Steve Scalise, another former candidate for the speakership, was also enticed to throw his weight behind Johnson. The self-described “David Duke without the baggage” was assured that Johnson’s zealous religious political ideology aligned well with his own personal values. By siding with Johnson, it appears some Republicans are more comfortable with his terribly homophobic positions than, say, a rational representative who doesn’t believe
in criminalizing gay sex. In several instances, some Republicans sold their souls to evil deities in order to corral the outstanding votes needed to appoint Johnson — though this maneuver proved to have a minimal effect, as most high ranking members of the caucus had already dealt their eternal soul. These representatives coalesced the night before Johnson’s candidacy. Though the divisions between House Republicans continue to be deep and ever-widening, they were able to agree that a sensible candidate with experience and the capacity to bridge gaps for the betterment of the institution and country was a non-starter. With the blocking of Tuffy and the promoting of a homophobic election denier, who knows where this Republican Party will lead us next. Perhaps we would’ve been better off with an empty chair and a figment of our imagination leading our country.
Night Shift
Max Alsop, Staff Cartoonist A third-year studying anthropology and paleontology
Burst of Nature’s Colors
Wylie Phu, Staff Cartoonist A third-year studying art and design
TECHNICIAN 9
Culture TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
Cheat code or learning aid?
NC State professors share thoughts on ChatGPT Will LaMarche Staff Writer
The growing presence of ChatGPT on college campuses has sparked discussions among students and faculty on its origins, purpose and ethical use. These discussions have been at the center of debate, and while students may appear to be leading the it, faculty members also have something to say. Laura Bottomley, the director of the engineering education program, said artificial intelligence didn’t come into being as of recently. “It’s been around actually for many years,” Bottomley said. “In fact, artificial intelligence is all around us. If you type something into your computer and there’s a spell checker, that’s used there.” While AI might not be something new, the infiltration of ChatGPT within classrooms is new for many professors. Roy Schwartzman, a communications professor, said the process of using ChatGPT is iterative. “Think as if you’re training an intern,” Schwartzman said. “If an intern doesn’t do something correctly the first time, you don’t just quit and give up or fire them. What you do i s ,
then you continue the conversation; you continue the chat, and you say something like, ‘I would like you to add to your response.’” In a way, ChatGPT is acting as a student’s personal intern, offering solutions to STEM and humanities majors alike. “It’s really almost like a brainstorming partner, David Rieder, an English professor said “It will help [students] generate content that they could paraphrase or even quote from. These chat models are really nice for fast tracking your connection to a topic, getting to a more nuanced and sophisticated engagement with the topic.” For STEM, Paul Franzon, electrical and computer engineering professor, said ChatGPT can be helpful in solving coding issues. “You can put an English description of the function you want, and you’ll get back code,” Franzon said. “You can also put in code and describe a bug, and it might suggest improvements that might be useful [or] might not be.” There are still internal limitations with ChatGPT, its generic tone being one example. “It’s very generic,” Reider said. “By telling ChatGPT, for example, ‘Imagine that you’re a professor of rhetoric. Imagine that you are this kind of person or that you have this kind of feeling or attitude,’ then the response is going to be written differently.” This shows ChatGPT is far from a perfect tool, but more than anything that it can’t do homework all by itself. “It doesn’t have any context for things like the class discussions, the full readings of the course, what this specific instructor has been saying or focusing on,” Schwartzman said. “It’s like, you know, handing the assignment to your roommate and saying, ‘Here, do this.’” Bottomley demonstrates to her students in class how AI can even be used to contradict itself. “What I was desiring to demonstrate to them was that it is a
tool,” Bottomley said. “It’s not necessarily a 100% reliable tool, and so we need to be able to understand what its limits are, what its capabilities are and we need to teach that to our students as well.” ChatGPT also has the potential to confabulate, meaning to create information that isn’t true but instead resembles information that has been given to the chatbot. Schwartzman said that when asking ChatGPT to write his biography, it came back with a strange stew of fact and fiction. “It seems to be able to pull information that you can verify on the department’s website, but then it kind of goes crazy,” Schwartzman said. “And each time I would prompt for this, it would tell me I earned my Ph.D. from a different university, none of which after like half a dozen passes was correct.” Schwartzman also said this will change how assignments and class interactions happen. “I think that this is a wake up call for all instructors to consider how to construct assignments and to have interactions with students that are more deeply stimulating than just these kinds of mechanical tasks,” Schwartzman said. With AI not going anywhere, both college professors and students are continuing to explore this new technology to better understand how to use it. “We will find new places and new ways to use it which we hope will be guided by an ethic that we are developing and considering in inculcating at the same time,” Bottomley said.
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10 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
A lifetime in an hour
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‘What We Grew Up With’ tells multigenerational story
Following an immigrant family’s experiences in a post-9/11 society, “What We Grew Up With” tells a multigenerational story in an hour that leaves audience members thinking about society as they walk out of Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre. Kiran Soma, a fourth-year studying chemistry and communication, won the 2023 Creative Artist Award in Theatre for “What We Grew Up With,” and was given the chance to turn the script into an on-stage production. Before opening night, Soma said he attended a reading of the Creative Artist Award-winning play his first year on campus, and it felt like a full-circle moment. “It’s just kind of surreal thinking that I sort of started my college experience by going to a reading of that play and then getting to see what it looked like when it was produced,” Soma said. “And now it’s my play that’s going through the same process.” “What We Grew Up With” tells the story of an immigrant family navigating life in America in a society that views them as the other, treating them like terrorists in the aftermath of 9/11. The story is presented over the lifetimes of the main characters Advit and Divya, progressing from their childhoods to adulthood. Soma discussed the vulnerability of presenting this story to the greater campus community on account of the sensitivity of this subject.
Riya Kannan Staff Writer
“This is something that I’m super nervous about,” Soma said. “This is one of the more vulnerable pieces of writing that I’ve put out there because EMILY PEEDIN/TECHNICIAN it touches on my own experiences and (Left to right) Greta Estefania Perez Cobo, a third-year studying sociology and the experiences that my family and my industrial engineering, Fayaz Shaikh, a fourth-year studying computer engineering, Unnati Bukhariya, a graduate student studying computer science and friends have had. So it makes me ner- Oviya NagarajPrema, a second-year studying art and design pictured in “What vous to put that story out there — but We Grew Up With” in Kennedy-McIlwee Studio Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 2, then again, I am super excited to share 2023. this work with the rest of the campus grants,” Bajpai said. “I think the way the story was wound community.” by Kiran does a good job with that. It talks about family The show’s director, Usha Bajpai, said the story felt per- bonding, it talks about family conflicts, it’s about the feelsonal to her. ings of trying to fit in and be accepted, of being torn apart. “This play is very close to my heart, as I can relate to the Everything is so well-portrayed, and I give kudos and credit story as an immigrant myself,” Bajpai said. “We moved to Kiran for doing that.” here 25 years ago, and you know, what the characters go Bajpai said she hopes the play is thought-provoking to through is very relatable to immigrants — the immigrant audience members. parents and the children born to them. As an immigrant, “For the immigrants or first-generation kids, children you are leaving your family behind, you’re settling into a of immigrant parents, I would hope this encourages them new country with a different culture, different values and to embrace their cultural heritage and to be proud of their different way of thinking from what you have been raised roots,” Bajpai said. “I would also hope this encourages other with. Those challenges are all, in their own subtle ways, people to set aside their prejudices, to live peacefully, to highlighted in this play.” respect other cultures and values.” Bajpai said there were universal elements of the play, even for those who may not see themselves portrayed in the Visit technicianonline.com to view the entire article. production. “I’m sure it will relate to everyone, not just to immi-
Música Mexicana’s global takeover
Selina Urieta-Garcia Staff Writer
In recent months, regional Mexican music genres like Banda and Corridos have surged to the top of streaming charts, including securing No. 1 positions in the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard Global 200 and Spotify Charts. Roma Bustillos, a graduate assistant in Multicultural Student Affairs, said this global recognition has filled regional Mexican music fans with pride. “I’ve been enjoying the way modern artists can turn predominantly Mexican music to be not just appealing to only the Mexico population, but how it can bring different
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communities in or how it’s bringing that attention and also managing to blend in with the different genres,” Bustillos said. Rising star Peso Pluma has conquered worldwide stardom as the first Mexican artist to claim the No. 1 spot on both the Global Spotify Charts and the Billboard Global 200. Pluma’s feature in “Ella Baila Sola” with California-based group Eslabon Armado marked a significant milestone as the firstever regional Mexican song to earn No. 1 on Billboard Global 200 chart and reach top 10 on the Hot 100. This achievement led to his appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, making history as the first regional Mexican artist to perform on the show. Bryan Salazar, fourth-year studying history and economics and president of the Multicultural Greek Council, said he appreciates the representation of Mexican culture on a global scale. “Those are songs that always bring me back home to my roots and remind me of waking up as a kid and my mom telling me to clean,” Salazar said. “It reminds me of moments that you take for granted.” Pluma became the first Mexican artist to perform at this year’s VMA awards. His collaboration with Mexican-American Becky
G in “Chanel” opened the doors for a guest appearance at Coachella, where they performed together. “I really appreciate that he’s been doing what he’s doing,” Salazar said. “I love that he’s repping and being himself still because that’s what our culture is about: being yourself. Like the gritos [on stage] and all that. He did that. He was not shy to be himself, and that’s the type of person I want to be.” In addition to Pluma’s achievements, several Mexican artists are making notable success. Banda artists, Grupo Frontera, Fuerza Regida and singers Natanael Cano, Junior H and Chino Pacas have each secured at least four songs throughout the Billboard Hot 100 and Global 200 charts. Texas-based group Grupo Frontera reached No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 with their song “un x100to,” featuring Puerto Rico’s international star, Bad Bunny. However, this isn’t the first time El Conejo Malo has ventured into the world of música Mexicana. In 2019, Bad Bunny collaborated with one of the Corridos Tumbados pioneers, Natanael Cano, on “Soy El Diablo (Remix).” Since his debut, Cano and fellow Corridos Tumbados leader Junior H have received recognition for paving the way for many artists, including Pluma. “One line that stuck out to me is from the
song, ‘Se Amerita,’ when [Junior H] mentions a guy being his brother, not by blood but by loyalty, and it’s little lines like that that are sprinkled into music that mean so much to me,” Salazar said. Beyond Bad Bunny, other Latin artists such as Maluma, Nicky Jam and Farruko have worked with regional Mexican artists as well as hip-hop artists like Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube. “I feel like it’s an amalgamation of the different genres, voices and ideas that people bring to the table, and I think it’s been just really beautiful seeing how the community of Latinx in general is helping each other out in different forms,” Bustillos said. Música Mexicana artists have also performed in past Coachella concerts. Artists Natanael Cano, Los Ángeles Azules and Los Tucanes de Tijuana have all been invited to perform, growing the influence and appeal of regional Mexican music on an international scale and stage. “I think you see so much of that globalization piece into [the music], where it’s getting a lot more attention because of the artists’ positions,” Bustillios said. Get an introduction to Música Mexicana on this playlist.
Culture
TECHNICIAN 11
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
ST
What it means to be a firstgeneration college student
W hile t he definition of a firstgeneration student might appear straightforward on paper, there’s a lot to the experience of being the first in your family to go to college that is often overlooked. For first-generation students at NC State, the college goes beyond education; it also involves breaking the cycle, bringing pride to family, taking the risk of navigating an unknown environment and showing other first-generation students that it’s possible to make it this far. Nolan Parrish, a fourth-year studying electrical engineering, said in a survey Technician shared on social media that being the first to go to college means making his family proud. “It means so much to me to be first-gen,” Parrish wrote in the survey response. “I have a sense of pride that I am furthering my academic success to levels never seen before in my family. I hope to continue along my path and continue making everybody back home proud.” But with pride comes a lot of pressure. “I feel like my parents and grandparents do a really good job of, you know, every time I come home, or anytime I see them, you know, they’re always proud of me,” Parrish said in an interview. “But yeah, I guess that comes with pressure … because you know, it is kind of uncharted territory, I guess, for my family. I’m the first one to be doing this.” While parents show pride for their children, it is ultimately an unknown territory for them. “I sometimes wonder like, you know, they don’t really get it like, you know, they didn’t go to college; they don’t know exactly what it’s like,” Parrish said. For Ashley Perez, a fourth-year studying sustainable materials and technology, being a firstgeneration college student means paving the way for her siblings while also accomplishing a goal that her parents never could. “For me college was a new chapter, a new world to navigate,” Perez said. “And it’s fulfilling because I’m the first to do it … and nerve wracking because I’m setting the example for my siblings, and I just want the best for them.” Both of Perez’s parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico at 18, and Perez grew up seeing them struggle without papers or education — making her realize the value of highereducation from a young age. “Just growing up, I think immigrant parents enforce that education is the most valuable asset that you can have,” Perez said. “Money is temporary, careers come and go, but an education is forever and I think that’s what’s motivated me to stay through school.” Being the oldest of four, Perez also said she wants to be a support system for her siblings, providing them with the assistance she was never able to get. “Not only am I doing this for my parents, I’m also doing it for my siblings,” Perez said. “When Emilia Rivadeneira my younger siblings, if they decide to, go to college, Culture Editor they can ask me for those resources, or just emotional support that I didn’t have during the application and actual academic process of being in college. I’m just paving the way for my siblings.” Being a first-generation student entails many challenges that begin in the application process and continue throughout college. “I felt like everyone around me who had parents who went to college just kind of thought of it as common knowledge,” Parrish said. “They all have a really good understanding or just an understanding at all of what’s going on. … And so, it all just kind of is news to me. I’m like, I didn’t grow up hearing this, or I didn’t really have that, you know.” Parrish said the significance of being the first person to enroll in college, however, outweighs the difficulties for many, as it serves as inspiration for students to pursue higher education. “I do feel extremely proud to be first-gen,” Parrish said. “It’s definitely something I consider a good part of my identity. I take pride in it. I’m happy for this opportunity, [and] I have to, you know, push myself along a little more.”
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12 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
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Defense dominates in back-to-back upset wins for NC State football
Colby Trotter Staff Writer
After a 24-3 beatdown at the hands of the Duke Blue Devils, there was not much hope surrounding NC State football, and for good reason. The offense looked abysmal against Duke, and the usually stout defense gave up multiple big touchdowns. Something had to change for head coach Dave Doeren’s squad going into the bye for the Pack to revive its season. So what did the Wolfpack lean on to get back on track? The Pack went back to its core, which is a blue-collar and work hard mentality that encompasses what NC State football has always been about. Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson embodies that mentality, and it has rubbed off on his defense in the past two games. Against Clemson and Miami, the defense forced six turnovers, including five interceptions and a fumble. Gibson’s unit has also only allowed two touchdowns in the past two games and none last week to Miami. The defensive domination has been led by none other than graduate linebacker Payton Wilson, who was just named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award. During this two-game stretch, Wilson recorded 24 total tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss. Not only has the captain of the defense been f lying around the field and stopping the run wherever possible, but he’s terrorized opposing quarterbacks in terms of pass coverage. Against Miami, he broke up two passes, but his play of the season came against Clemson when he picked off quarterback Cade Klubnik and took it to the house for his first career touchdown. While Wilson is the engine that makes everything go, the entire defense deserves credit for how it has bounced back. Out of the six turnovers NC State has forced the past two weeks, five were by different players, with junior nickel back Devan Boykin being the lone defender with multiple takeaways. Despite being outgained offensively in its past two games, the Wolfpack has found a way to win and the reason for that is timely stops on defense. This was especially the case against Miami when the red-andwhite limited the Hurricanes to three trips to the red zone and six points. On both red zone stops, Miami was primed to take the lead, but an interception in the endzone by junior cornerback Aydan White and a backfield tackle on fourth down by redshirt junior cornerback Shyheim Battle kept the Hurricanes off the board. It was a different story against Clemson as the Tigers converted on all three of their red zone trips, but stops on key downs propelled the red-and-white to victory. Wilson and company held the Tigers to seven of 18 on third down and one of two on fourth down. That fourth-down stop won the game for the Pack. With just over four minutes left in the game, Clemson had the ball and needed a touchdown to send it into overtime. Klubnik drove his team just past midfield, but that was as far as the Tigers would get — a seconddown sack eventually set up a fourth and long that the Tigers couldn’t convert due to the immense pressure put on Klubnik. Turnovers and clutch stops are key reasons for the Pack’s success, but its ability to make both Miami and
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Graduate linebacker Payton Wilson tackles an opponent during the game against Miami at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. Wilson made 16 total tackles. NC State beat Miami 20-6.
Clemson one-dimensional is what was most impressive. The defensive line held both squads to under four yards per carry and kept them under their rushing averages on the season. Gibson’s dominant D-line forced Klubnik to attempt 50 passes, which is his most this season, and made Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke attempt 38 passes, which is the second most he’s had this year. Both quarterbacks struggled without a run game as they combined for five interceptions and were visibly uncomfortable in the pocket with the defensive line barreling down
on them. It’s already difficult to beat a team when you’re onedimensional, but not being able to manufacture a run game against NC State is a recipe for disaster. The defensive line and linebackers can tee off on the quarterback and the secondary is freed up to make plays on the ball. Just like Michael Jordan, the NC State defense took the Duke game personally and responded with its two best games of the season. Holding an explosive Miami offense to zero touchdowns and a talented Clemson roster to 17 points is as dominant as it comes.
Ethan Bakogiannis Editor-in-Chief Record: 48-22
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Noah Teague Asst. Sports Editor Record: 47-23
No. 3 Michigan at No. 11 Penn State
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Georgia Tech at Clemson
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No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 2 Georgia Duke at North Carolina
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
NC State men’s basketball’s greatest shooter Noah Teague
Assistant Sports Editor
Former NC State men’s basketball forward Scott Wood was born to be a shooting star. With a strong work ethic, excellent teammates and exposure to hoops from a young age, Wood finished his career as the best shooter in NC State history with a program-best 334 triples. The son of a Division 1 basketball player, Wood found himself with a basketball in his hands at a young age. The legend of Scott Wood began at the state fair when he turned heads at the shooting game. “Back when I was under one year old we went to the fair, and I by no means remember this, but this is a story my dad used to tell everybody,” Wood said. “He signed up for us to do that shooting game with the oblong rims … he put me up there and I ended up making two out of three and taking the biggest prize.” Wood hails from the basketball-rich state of Indiana and learned the game early. As a result, he knew from a young age that he wanted to play basketball. “Basketball is pretty much all I’ve ever known,” Wood said. “Growing up in Marion, Indiana, I tell everybody, ‘You could be a farmer or play basketball, and I didn’t want to be out in the field.’” Despite hailing from a basketball haven, Wood pursued college basketball away from home. After growing up watching stars in the Triangle, Wood knew he wanted to come to Tobacco Road to continue his basketball career. “I wore 15 because of Vince Carter, who went to Carolina, and I always grew up a Duke fan — I loved watching JJ Redick when I was younger,” Wood said. “I always wanted to play in the ACC.” During his time in the red and white, there was no doubt that Wood made a positive impact on NC State men’s basketball. As the greatest shooter in Wolfpack history, Woods had a knack for making tough shots. One of Woods’ teammates, former NC State guard Staats Battle, remembers Wood sinking one of his more impressive shots during a game of H-O-R-S-E. “He was up in the balcony watching … Scott was just looking down at us like little chumps,” Battle said. “I was like, ‘Make it right there and I’ll give you my car,’ and I was totally kidding, but he made the shot from the balcony and over the backboard … To this day, he always jokes
that I owe him my car.” Becoming an elite shooter was not an easy process for Wood. He practiced shot after shot until he developed into a sniper on the court. “You just got to put the time in,” Wood said. “Not everybody has a picturesque shot, but if you get in the gym, put in your time, get a lot of shots off and get the repetition, it’ll all work out.” Aside from his impressive shooting ability, Wood was also a strong defender — partially because of his offensive talent. “Obviously he’s a phenomenal shooter,” Battle said. “Him being so smart on offense actually allowed him to [also] be a great defender because he knows what the offensive player is trying to do … His defense is probably the most underrated thing.” Wood wasn’t just great on the court, though. He was also an excellent teammate that made sure both him and his teammates were prepared for whatever might have come the Wolfpack’s way.. During the 2011-12 season when Battle was a walk-on freshman, then-head coach Mark Gottfried implemented drills with scholarship players before the walk-ons, leaving Battle with no idea what to do. Fortunately, Wood had Battle’s back. “When we would go through it, [Wood] would be like, ‘Watch exactly what I do and then I’ll let you sub in for me and do exactly what I did, and you’ll look good’,” Battle said. “I was a freshman walk-on at the time, bottom of the barrel, and he did that for me, which I really appreciated.” With his shooting, defense and selfless play, Wood helped bring the Wolfpack to some of its better moments in recent history, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. For Wood, returning to Raleigh after a pair of wins in the NCAA Tournament and seeing the overwhelming support from the Wolfpack fan base was a highlight of his time at NC State.
Kate Denning News Editor Record: 48-22
Koen Rodabaugh Focused Editor Record: 51-19
Joe Ovies OVIES + GIGLIO Record: 40-30
Joe Giglio OVIES + GIGLIO Record: 42-28
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Ethan McDowell The Wolfpacker Record: 43-27
No. 3 Michigan
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“Coming home after we beat San Diego State and Georgetown, when we came home at the practice facility, there was like 3,000 people,” Wood said. “Seeing the joy on the fans’ faces and knowing that they’d be there to support us as we took on Kansas in the Sweet Sixteen with an opportunity to move on to the Elite Eight is a memory that I’ll always cherish and hold on to.” Now 10 years removed from playing at NC State, Wood remains active in the Wolfpack community. After playing basketball internationally for several seasons, Wood has returned to North Carolina and remains proud to be a member of the Pack. “I appreciate being a Wolfpacker to this day,” Wood said. “I enjoyed my time here in Raleigh and how great NC State fans really are.” JOHN JOYNER/ARCHIVE
Forward Scott Wood takes a shot on the basket during the basketball game against UNC-Chapel Hill in Dean E. Smith Center Saturday, Jan. 26, 2012. Wood finished his career as the best shooter in NC State history with a program-best 334 triples.
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14 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
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The ACC’s new 17-team plan won’t last
Aidan Carlson
HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN
Staff Writer
NC State runs out of the tunnel before the game against Miami at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. NC State beat Miami 20-6.
The ACC released its new seven-year, 17-team plan as conference realignment continues to reshape college football as we know it. With the additions of Stanford, SMU and California Berkeley, the ACC now includes 17 total teams. Due to these new additions, the ACC has gotten rid of conference divisions, meaning that the two teams with the highest ACC winning percentage will advance to the conference championship game rather than the two divisional champions. Over the next seven years, each team will play each other at least twice, once at home and once on the road. In addition to these changes to postseason play, most ACC teams were dealt out protected matchups for opponents they would play every year until 2030, including NC State. The Wolfpack’s protected matchups consist of UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke and Wake Forest. The Triangle schools were allotted more protected matchups than any other schools, with each getting three while most other schools got two. Teams such as Clemson, Louisville and Georgia Tech got the short end of the stick regarding protected ACC match-
ups — the Tigers only have one protected matchup against Florida State every year, whereas the latter two don’t have any. It’s an interesting move to give two teams zero yearly matchups, especially if your main goal is to create new rivalries and establish the ACC as a conference that is here to stay. Although both teams’ largest rivals lie in the SEC, you would think the ACC could afford to give them one annual matchup even if it is against each other. It’s especially odd that Clemson got the short end of the stick given that it is the only ACC team to have success at the highest level in recent memory. The Tigers have won two national championships in the past seven years — 2016 and 2018 — and they are the only ACC team that have appeared in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff more than once since the format debuted in 2015. With its national success in football, the cash cow of college athletics, and many other sports, Clemson is a school any conference would be over the moon to have. After the ACC’s recent changes, it’s no secret Clemson is looking around trying to find ways to get out of the ACC’s current grant of rights.
Clemson voted against ACC expansion over the summer, and having annual games against Georgia Tech and NC State taken away from it likely only pushed it farther towards a breaking point. Not only is the ACC aggravating current members with the expansion, but at a basic level the decision just doesn’t make logical sense — adding three teams west of the Mississippi to the Atlantic Coast Conference seems rushed and appears to be a decision only made to compete with the expansion of the Big Ten. Stanford, Cal Berkeley and SMU are not schools renowned for their football programs, so adding these schools won’t significantly boost viewership. Although it’s great to add new teams, Stanford and Cal have never played NC State in football before. For that reason, there is zero rivalry to start, and it’s almost impossible to artificially build one when teams are over 2,000 miles apart. These new additions stand to do very little to advance the conference in terms of revenue and viewership while also frustrating a lot of the current schools that bring in all the money in the first place. Florida State, Clemson and UNC were all adamant nays to the expansion,
with the Seminoles being the most outspoken about the issue. NC State originally voted no to the proposition, but Cha ncel lor Ra ndy Woodson was able to be convinced. After changing his vote and therefore the outcome, Woodson has refused to go in-depth on why he changed his mind. At the end of the day, the ACC showed its hand a little too soon once the news of the Pac-12 dissolving made headlines. The ACC should have focused on making its current members happier by negotiating its grant of rights, but instead, its refusal to do so is creating more dissatisfaction. Recently, the ACC has scrambled to make up new schedules multiple times for years to come and ended up changing them on a dime. Both teams and players are demanding more money than ever before in college athletics and eventually, the conferences will have to cave. The conferences are nothing without the teams that make them up, and adding three new teams just creates another wrinkle the ACC needs to iron out if it wants to stay around for the next couple of years, let alone the next seven.
Sports
TECHNICIAN 15
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
NC State women’s basketball captures season-opening victory over UNC-Charlotte Noah Teague and Gavin Gallimore Assistant Sports Editor, Staff Writer
NC State women’s basketball opened the 2023-24 season with a bang and crushed UNC-Charlotte 84-43 at Reynolds Coliseum. From the opening tip, it was clear that the red-and-white outclassed the 49ers in every facet of the game. The Wolfpack scorched the nets in the first quarter, outscoring Charlotte 36-8. The key to this hot start was shooting 6-9 from behind the arc, taking all hope away from the 49ers by the end of the quarter. “Just coming out and setting an example,” said junior guard Aziaha James. “You know people are looking down on us already. We don’t have nothing to lose right now.” James finished the game with a careerhigh 26 points off of 7-11 shooting and five boards. In the first quarter alone, James tallied 19 points, including four triples. James is quickly emerging as a primary bucket-getter for the Pack this season after strong performances in the red-and-white’s exhibition game and season opener. “Really proud of the start,” said head coach Wes Moore. “I thought we came out with a lot of energy and hit some shots, which always helps you with the confidence and the defensive energy.” After a lopsided first quarter, the Wolfpack fell back to earth, only scoring five points in the second quarter. NC State went ice-cold on offense and only made one field goal in 18 attempts. NC State shot 0-10 from deep in the second. “We kept shooting, you know, the first quarter, a little bit of fool’s gold, everything went in and so now you feel like you’re invincible,” Moore said. “So our defense kind of bailed us out there in a stretch where we weren’t scoring at all.” Af ter ha lf time, t he Wolf pack regrouped and returned to playing fundamental basketball. The team viciously attacked the paint and was rewarded with 24 third quarter points. The Pack also made a game-high 12 trips to the free throw line during the quarter and headed into the fourth with a comfortable 65-32 lead.
While it took the Wolfpack until the second half to get going in the paint offensively, the red-and-white’s defense was spectacular all night long. NC State posted 10 blocks throughout the night, utilizing its length to give the 49ers nightmares in the paint. Additionally, the Wolfpack snagged 42 defensive rebounds, just over Charlotte’s total rebound tally. “[We] fouled a little more than I would have liked,” Moore said. “Still a lot of things to clean up, but especially first half we really came out and played well defensively.” With the game out of hand by the start of the fourth quarter, Moore allowed his freshman to rack up significant minutes. While the group stumbled at times, the players improved as the game progressed. To the delight of the crowd, freshman guard Jannah Eissa splashed a corner three and freshman guard Laci Steele hit a transition layup. “It was good for the young players to get some playing time,” Moore said. “They’re gonna have to help us.” One particular freshman that stood out was guard Zoe Brooks, who finished with 12 points, six boards and three assists in 29 minutes of action. While Brooks has room to improve defensively, there is no doubt that the former five-star recruit is an emerging offensive force. “She’s a special player — she makes everyone around her better,” Moore said. “She can get her own shots and she can create for her teammates.” After acing its first test, the Wolfpack will face a significant step up in competition in its next game when it hosts No. 2 UConn at Reynolds Coliseum. This matchup will serve as an early measuring stick for the potential of this year’s squad. “We’re gonna have our hands full; you know it’s going to be a big challenge,” Moore said. “It’s also an opportunity: you got the chance to do something special, and you also are going to get better from it.” The Pack ’s date with the Huskies is set for 3 p.m. at Reynolds Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 12 and will be televised on ABC.
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Senior guard Madison Hayes moves the ball during the game against UNC-Charlotte in Reynolds Coliseum on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. NC State beat UNC-Charlotte 84-43.
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Freshman forward Maddie Cox celebrates the team scoring a point during the basketball game against UNC-Charlotte in Reynolds Coliseum on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. The game against Charlotte marked the beginning of NC State women’s basketball’s 50th season. NC State beat Charlotte 84-43.
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