Know how to vote — Technician 1/18/24

TECHNICIAN JA N U A RY 18, 202 4

VOL . 104 | NO. 16

KNOW HOW TO VOTE SEE PAGE 3

Contents

2 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

IN THIS ISSUE:

THE RADAR

page

hikes 05 Transportation parking citation fines

Events to keep an eye on for the week of january 18

TEXAS HOLD’EM TOURNAMENT

FEMME-MAKING NIGHT IN THE MAKERSPACE

Friday, Jan. 19, 6 - 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 24, 6:30 - 8 p.m.

WELLNESS AND RECREATION CENTER AND CARMICHAEL GYM, WRC 2150/2158

D.H. HILL JR. LIBRARY, MAKERSPACE Free

Free Join the Wellness and Recreation Center to compete against fellow NC State students in a Texas Hold’em Tournament.

Join NC State University Libraries for Femme-Making Night for crafts, gaming and other activities in a welcoming, open environment.

MARCH LIKE MARTIN: STAFFORD COMMONS TO HARRIS FIELD Friday, Jan. 19, 12:30 - 2 p.m.

STAFFORD COMMONS Free

NEWS

Help encourage activism and honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by participating in the Multicultural Student Affairs’ and African American Cultural Center’s march.

page

we cut the anti07 Can migrant housing rhetoric?

AUTHOR EVENT: ALEX MICHAELIDES Wednesday, Jan. 24, 7 - 8 p.m WITHERSPOON STUDENT CENTER, THEATER Free Join author Alex Michaelides for a discussion on his book, “The Fury,” a thriller about how an ex-movie star’s impromptu island vacation is disrupted by a murder.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

OPINION page

09 By George headlines Lincoln Theatre

CULTURE page

NC State women’s

15 basketball maintains

balanced attack, young talent shines

LILY MCCABE/TECHNICIAN

Left wing Brendan Lemieux punches an opponent during the Carolina Hurricanes game versus the Anaheim Ducks at PNC Arena on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2023. Lemieux was named the third star of the game. Carolina beat Anaheim 6-3.

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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.

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News

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

University IDs valid at the polls

Bastian Hauser, Matthew Junkroski Staff Writer, Correspondent

With new voting legislation introduced in North Carolina, the 2024 election is bound to look different than it has in the past with several new requirements. NC State has worked with the state and local board of elections to make it more convenient for students to vote.

This year, voters must present an “acceptable” photo ID when going to vote. A list of acceptable photo IDs can be found on the NC Board of Elections website. The list includes a North Carolina driver’s license or a state-issued, non-driver ID. Brian Mathis, associate director of Student Leadership and Engagement, is responsible for voting and election engagement efforts at NC State. He said NC State student IDs are acceptable for voting through the University’s effort to craft IDs that meet requirements.

“We’ve worked hard and worked with the state board of elections to ensure that our university ID meets the requirements by law and that were set forth in law,” Mathias said. “And they do. So NC State students in North Carolina, regardless of whether they vote in Talley or they vote in their home county, can bring their North Carolina State University ID to the polls with them when asked to present an ID.” Mathis said he encourages students to consider early voting at Talley Student Union as the best, most secure and easy method to access the ballot. There, students

can register to vote locally by bringing their student ID and proof of address.

Mathis said providing proof of address for students can be challenging, but the University has worked with the Wake County Board of Elections to allow students to get their proof of address through the MyPack Portal.

To access proof of address in the MyPack Portal, students can go to “Personal Information,” click on “Addresses” a nd t hen press

quirements is an expiration date,” Mathis said. “Up until about five years ago, or so, there was no expiration date on the ID because quite frankly, the expiration date really didn’t serve a purpose for NC State.”

The North Carolina Supreme Court in 2022 found the law requiring a voter ID violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the equal protection clause of the state’s constitution.

GRAPHIC BY KATE DENNING

“Print Address Verification Letter.”

The University was already working on validating student IDs as acceptable voter IDs when the original law passed in 2018 and was attempting to determine the requirements to make student IDs applicable for voting uses.

“Interestingly enough, one of those re-

But since the 2022 North Carolina judicial elections, there’s been a Republican majority on the North Carolina Supreme Court. The current court reversed its previous decision in 2023 and ruled that the law requiring voter ID is constitutional.

Mathis said it could pose a problem if students cannot use their student ID to

vote.

“I think we would see some barriers to many of our students who don’t have an existing driver’s license or other form of ID,” Mathis said.

Nearly 7% of registered voters don’t have an acceptable ID. A similar law was in effect during the 2016 election, which resulted in a drop in voter turnout. This has persisted, even with the repealing of 2016 laws.

If you don’t have an acceptable ID, there are still ways to vote. If a voter cannot present an ID, the voter must complete an ID exception form and vote on a provisional ballot.

Voters must still present a photo ID for mail-in ballots by submitting a copy with the ballot.

Students should be aware of other requirements if they want to vote by mail-in ballot, Mathis said.

“In addition, you have to have two witnesses that sign that they witnessed your vote,” Mathis said. “And they have to be over 18, and they can’t be related to you.”

If voters can’t provide an ID, they must fill out and mail in an ID exception form.

For students like Cliff Lin, a third-year studying electrical engineering, this might have an impact.

“I definitely think the mail-in [law] would impact me because last year and the year before I mailed my ballots,” Lin said.

The early voting period for the primary elections at Talley Student Union is from Feb. 15 to March 2.

Playa Bowls opens on Hillsborough Street

Savannah Woodman Staff Writer

Over 100 attendees braved cold and windy conditions to wait in line for Playa Bowls’ grand opening Saturday morning on Hillsborough Street. Despite the weather, the atmosphere was lively, with a DJ and a ribbon-cutting ceremony as the doors opened at 11 a.m.

As the clock approached opening time, customers formed a line down Hillsborough Street which wrapped around the corner and down Pogue Street.

The first 50 people in line received Playa Bowls T-shirts and free smoothie bowls, while the remaining attendees received stickers with the company’s logo and a 50% discount on their purchases.

Ntalani Mahungu, a first-year studying psychology, said it was her first time trying Playa Bowls and she was not early enough after arriving at a huge crowd at 10 a.m.

Madigan Stevenson and Isabelle Noome, third-year students studying elementary

and special education, arrived around 8 a.m. and were third and fourth in line.

Stevenson and Noome were already fans of the restaurant from its other locations in their home states of New Jersey and Connecticut.

“I remember the first time that we saw the sign that it was coming soon, and we were like ‘Oh my gosh, we need to go,’” Noome said. “And then, obviously, we were waiting until the opening day.”

Stevenson said the early opening time of Playa Bowls on weekdays might be beneficial to students on their way to and from class.

The new store is decorated with bright colors, a neon sign reading “Welcome to Pineappleland” and beachy murals handpainted by a team of artists. Even the wall surrounding the outside of the store is painted a bright blue color.

Playa Bowls Raleigh franchise owner David Pokorny said that the beach-in

PLAYA BOWLS continued page 5

CONTRIBUTED BY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

News

4 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

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What to know about studying abroad

Sarah Hoffer Correspondent

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,577 students went abroad, the most popular destinations being Prague, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and France. The Study Abroad office at NC State hopes to send nearly 2,000 students abroad by the 2030-31 year with the goal of empowering students and giving them a broad view of the world.

With over $500,000 offered in scholarships and expert advising, studying abroad is now more accessible to students than ever.

However, studying abroad can still be intimidating, especially for those unsure of pricing, where to go or how long to go for. The Study Abroad office provides a step-by-step guide on its website, giving students access to resources and information on passports, program types and transfer credit guides. Students can start the process by talking with their academic advisor early on — planning ahead is key.

Mansir Petrie is the assistant director of Study Abroad Advising and directs exchange and abroad programs with the University. He has a passion for travel and is a strong advocate for studying abroad.

“There’s a lot of personal growth that happens, you know, the cliche, ‘Go outside of your comfort zone,’” Petrie said. “There’s a wide variety of programs, and each of those programs offer different benefits.”

NC State offers short-term group programs, such as spring break or summer sessions, which are led by a professor. Semester-long programs are more studentoriented. What students choose depends on what they want out of the program, whether it is a focus on academics, destination or cost.

Because the financial aspect of studying abroad is a common concern among students, the program has advisors dedicated to walking students through the process of paying for their time abroad.

“Essentially, our office is all about making sure that study abroad is seen as a part of one’s experience,” Petrie said. “I think in the 21st century, it’s so clear that that just needs to be a part of the experience. So we try to demystify it, clarify it and make sure it works with the individual academic plans for each student.”

NC State has an overseas facility called the NC State European Center in Prague, which students pay tuition and recieve credits for the same as they would for a semester in Raleigh. Other programs may be direct enrollment, meaning students pay tuition directly to the institution they are studying at.

The transfer credit database is a key resource when deciding where to travel because certain universities have a more applicable course catalog for particular paths of study. The database allows those considering studying abroad to see classes students have taken before that they were able to transfer over.

Additionally, if there are courses that students are unsure about, academic advisors are able to look over the syllabus and confirm if they will transfer. Some classes are pre-approved by the University, while others may need to go through an approval process within the student’s individual college.

Tessa Bowers, a second-year studying political science, studied abroad at Oxford in England this past summer.

“It was the first time crossing the pond, if you will, and I mean, I did it [the] summer after my freshman year, so I still felt pretty young and like I’ve never done a huge trip by myself,” Bowers said. “For me, it was more comfortable to be able to make friends. You have aspects and chances of doing things by yourself, but also

CRIME ON CAMPUS

COURTESY OF TESSA BOWERS

if you want to do things with friends, there’s that support system and structure.”

The study abroad program’s mission is for students to view the world through a global lens by having a wide range of experiences. Studying abroad is linked to higher academic success during and after the experience and encourages students to interact with people of different backgrounds and cultures.

“I would encourage people to think a little bit beyond just their major, just their professional goals and think of study abroad as, really, an opportunity, maybe the best opportunity you’ll have,” Petrie said. “You know, you’re personally more flexible, and you don’t have family ties as much. This is the time to really explore yourself and possibly develop new interests.”

The Study Abroad office is located on the third f loor of Holmes Hall and offers walk-in advising Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m.

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

NC State’s weekly log of major incidents across campus SUSPICIOUS VEHICLE Jan. 6 at 10:21 p.m.

Sullivan Lot University Police observed a nonaffiliated individual attempting to drive her severely damaged vehicle without success. Investigation led to her arrest for DWI and misdemeanor hit and run.

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY Jan. 8 at 9:37 a.m.

Wolf Village Lot A student reported that her vehicle was keyed while parked at this location.

TRAFFIC STOP

HIT AND RUN

Jan. 14 at 12:43 a.m.

Armory Lot

Jan. 15 at 11:47 p.m.

2600 Yarbrough Drive

A student was stopped for driving the wrong direction on a one way street and referred to the University for possession of alcohol under 21.

University Police located a University truck with damage to the rear bumper parked in this location. Debris was scattered on the pavement. A report was taken and investigation is pending.

News TECHNICIAN 5 Transportation hikes parking citation fines TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

Emily Vespa

Managing Editor

NC State Transportation increased parking enforcement fines for the first time in twenty years. Most fines rose by 50%. One fine, charged for unauthorized parking in any reserved space, lot or area, leaped from $50 to $125.

Chris Dobek, assistant director for Parking Services and Operations, said Transportation increased fines to encourage compliance. Dobek said the goal is to make sure that people who have paid for a parking permit have a place to park.

“Our parking is a limited resource,” Dobek said. “We have 20,000 parking spaces on campus, and the demand has far exceeded the capacity we have on campus.”

To determine the new fines, Transportation compared NC State’s parking citation fines to those at 14 other universities, including UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina University and the University of South Carolina.

“We spent mont hs eva luating t he number of citations that were issued, the types of citations that were issued, the cost associated with those citations and then we prepared a review for our ordinances,” Dobek said. “Ultimately, it’s approved by the Board of Trustees.”

NC State’s previous fines were largely below the average fines at peer universities, according to data collected by Transportation in its research. The new fines bring NC State up to or above the average in most violation categories.

Though higher fines may generate some additional revenue, Transportation only keeps 20% of the money it collects from citations. Dobek said the fine hike wasn’t implemented to pad Transportation’s budget.

“Our goal is not to generate additional revenue for our department,” Dobek said. “Our goal is to gain compliance. At the end of the day, that’s what we want.”

Transportation’s Parking Services and Facility Operations office is primarily funded through parking permit sales, and this money goes toward maintaining current parking facilities and building

PLAYA BOWLS

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spired interior is an important part of his connection to the restaurant.

“I surf, and I scuba dive, and I play beach volleyball — I live at the beach,” Pokorny said. “I go to Costa Rica 50 days a year, and if not Costa Rica, Puerto Rico. So when I went into my first Playa Bowls, I walked in, and I felt like I was literally home.”

GRAPHIC BY MARLOWE HENDERSON

new ones, Dobek said.

“We just constructed a brand new parking lot for resident storage students,” Dobek said. “It’s 453 parking spaces, and it cost us $5 million to construct that. So we don’t have the financial wherewithal just to build additional parking because it is extremely expensive to build and ultimately maintain, which we do.”

Shambhvi Chaturvedi, a fourth-year studying business administration, international studies and Spanish, said she thinks raising parking enforcement fines may force some students to take alternative modes of transportation, which can be more time-consuming than driving to campus.

“For people who have to balance jobs

and school, I feel like that makes it very difficult, especially because we don’t live in a walkable city,” Chaturvedi said. “I think the price increase more than anything is going to be a matter of equity because it’s going to impact people who are busy and who need to work to survive.”

Dobek said there are no exceptions for students who may not have the financial means to afford to pay for a higher parking ticket.

“That individual is making the choice to park illegally or park out of the zone or choosing not to pay to park,” Dobek said. “We have ample pay-by-plate parking; we have ample processes in place.

Our system isn’t complicated. We just want compliance with parking. And not

everybody wants to be compliant.”

Chaturvedi said she’s received so many parking tickets, she now opts to take a shuttle to and from campus. She said she thinks Transportation’s parking citations can be excessive.

“I think it’s just unnecessary, especially considering the tuition everyone pays to go here,” Chaturvedi said.

Dobek said parking citations are necessary to ensure people who pay for a parking permit have a spot to park.

“When people start to park illegally, that impacts how our permanent parkers are able to park on campus,” Dobek said.

“We don’t hate students. We don’t hate cars. All we’re asking for is compliance in the parking world.”

Pokorny said his ultimate goal is for customers to share this summertime experience each time they enter the store, both from the product and the atmosphere.

“I hate the winter,” Pokorny said. “So when I come in here, it’s like ‘Wow, okay, I could deal with the winter for another day or two.’”

Pokorny also owns the Durham location, which opened this past summer across from Duke University’s campus.

Pokorny said he also hopes that the growth in the Triangle area will benefit Playa Bowls as well as other businesses.

“What I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is the phrase that rising tides raise all ships,” Pokorny said. “That goes for pretty much anything, right? If a store succeeds, they’re able to make more money. And then there’s more money to spend in the community and things like that. That’s just how I’ve always wanted to be.”

Playa Bowls was created by Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor in New Jersey.

The duo was inspired by the flavors they discovered on surfing trips across North and South America.

The restaurant offers smoothie bowls

with a variety of bases such as açai, pitaya, coconut and chia pudding. Customers can select signature bowls or build their own with personalized toppings. In addition, Playa Bowls offers smoothies, juices and cold brews.

Playa Bowls also has several winter specials for the colder months, including, but not limited to, the “North Pole Açai Bowl,” “Peppermint Mocha Sweet Cream Cold Brew” and the “Avalanche Coconut Bowl.”

Playa Bowls is located across the street from D.H. Hill Jr. Library at 2526 Hillsborough St.

Opinion 6 TECHNICIAN Project 2025: A polarizing path for 2024 THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

O

ve r t he bre a k , LGBTQ+ activ ists assembled in t he LGBT Center of New York City for the “Stop the Coup Mark 2025” rally, protesting the right-wing “Project Mikhail Correspondent 2025” i nit iat ive. T he message was clear — if the ideas coming out of Project 2025’s 1,091-page mandate were instituted, it would not only do irreversible damage to the LGBTQ+ community, but it would also rupture our democratic system.

The activists’ worry is valid; the Project 2025 policy is appalling. The writers of the mandate wish to introduce several draconian measures that would significantly damage non-supporters. The project is meant to be implemented if a Republican candidate won, though it is without a doubt geared towards a Donald Trump return. Here are just a few things the project would like to institute.

The project wants to create a new executive branch centralized under the presi-

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dent. To execute this, these thinkers want to eliminate the independence of the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission. They also want to disband the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. Our entire system of checks and balances would be undone if this plan is implemented.

Why were all these departments chosen? Simple, these institutions attempted to stand up to Trump’s authoritarian aggression.

Although all these institutions the project wants to terminate are essential to the bureaucratic system, none is more crucial than the Department of Justice.

In a broad sense, the executive branch is the branch of government responsible for implementing policy that the legislative branch is supposed to make. Its powers include being commander-in-chief during war, creating treaties and being our representative for foreign countries.

However, these powers have been extended over time, making the existence of the DOJ even more important during our current period to slow this growth.

The DOJ places a check on the president

by being able to prosecute crimes against the presidents as they are in Trump’s recent indictment over insurrection charges. The DOJ is also responsible for protecting our citizens’ civil rights against civil rights violations.

What’s most unsettling about this extremist project is that we have no gauge for the magnitude of its potential political prowess. What we do know about this project is that it has the support of several influential conservative media members.

One of the most influential members of its team is Turning Point USA, a political group that attempts to educate students on conservatism.

There is circumstantial evidence that the project is affiliated with the Trump regime. Paul Dans, the chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management during Trump’s administration, is the director of Project 2025. The project’s associate director, Spencer Chretien, is also a former Trump staffer. Mark Meadows, the leader of the Conservative Partnership Institute, is part of the advisory board for Project 2025 and was chief of staff for Trump. Meadows was indicted alongside

Trump for pressuring electors in Georgia.

How can our government fight off this blatant attempt to dismantle democracy?

It is simple — bridge the current divide by promoting media literacy. Trump holds tightly a deck of lies and half-truths in his back pocket, making him the most alienating politician in our country. To end extremism, we must fight off these falsehoods.

Luckily, programs like the News Literacy Project attempt to tackle this issue; however, their reach is limited. The next step in pursuing the truth is governmental involvement in educating our youth. Our government is to take charge by funding these projects. Then, a bridge will extend to our representatives so they can do something we can all agree on — change our country for the better.

To learn more about news literacy on campus, I would recommend taking a class pertaining to journalism. Not only are there entire segments in the class dedicated to fact-checking, it might also show you your own unintentional bias when crafting your articles.

States takes about two years, during which immigrants cannot vote, the issues presented during this period wouldn’t disappear after an oath of allegiance ceremony.

Nearly half of all surveyed immigrants could not speak English proficiently. Obviously, this presents massive barriers to engaging with the news and learning about the American governmental system.

Furthermore, the study found that onethird of immigrants from the sample struggled to afford basic necessities. If people have to work multiple jobs or long shifts just to live, they certainly don’t have the time or energy to sit down and read the news.

These same issues are not exclusive to immigrants, though it is their voices that are explicitly excluded. Of course there are Americans and DACA recipients who live in poverty or who don’t speak English and can’t engage in politics despite being directly affected by governmental policies.

While voting may be a right, the ability to engage with the entire process is limited to those who have the skills and resources to keep up with politics. And in a year where more than half the world will be voting in some election, making the effort to be politically engaged is more important now than ever. We must speak and act for those who don’t have the opportunity to do so themselves.

It may seem especially draining or upsetting at times, engaging in a more and

more daunting and polarizing political atmosphere, but turning away means passively accepting what comes.

Between increasing voter restrictions and concerns over redrawing district lines, it is a privilege to be able to look away, not just from what’s happening in your home or country but the world as well. Having the choice to willingly disengage from politics and news means, if nothing else, you can be content with ignoring the problems faced by others.

ten are representative of our values, when we start associating them with individual politicians or groups, they become less our own.

When you don’t actively engage with your own viewpoints, either by challenging your own views or reconsidering the traditional approach to a given issue, it becomes easier to lose sight of them. Further, the practice of politics becomes less of a community practice. Politicians are elected to function as community leaders, not individual thought leaders. Engaging in politics is recognizing that you are voting just as much for yourself as you are for your community.

Talking about politics is about listening and perspective-building. It’s about understanding the world is far more complex than we might initially realize and that politics, conceptually, is far from a level playing field.

When we talk about a law, we aren’t just talking about one governmental rule. We are talking about the interpretation of legal language in a hundreds-year-old system within a complex culture. We are expressing to each other that we have had the opportunity to sit down and spend time understanding the legal happenings. It is far from being just our opinions; it is also our circumstances. And not everyone’s circumstances have allowed them the time and resources to be engaged.

Talking about politics shows privilege I

t’s fair to say many people don’t look forward to engaging with politics, especially with others. It feels like coming home to a mess that gets worse Will every time you leave for LaMarche Correspondent work. And in that vein, talking about politics feels like arguing over whether you should start with the dishes or bulldoze the entire property and flip it.

But I don’t think many people realize that having that discussion is a freedom that not everyone has and that choosing to disengage from politics is far from an apolitical act.

The common perception of engaging with politics is that you follow the news leading up to an election, read some articles, watch the debates, talk briefly with some friends and then eventually vote, staying up entirely too late for a Tuesday to watch the results.

While this is far from what the expectation should be for engaging with politics, it is also much more than what many people in the U.S. can access. A KFF survey of immigrants from last year provides a snapshot of what the American immigrant experience is like.

While the immigration process in the

... talking about politics feels like arguing over whether you should start with the dishes or bulldoze the entire property and flip it.

This is another part of why talking about politics becomes less accessible. I’ve noticed time and time again that in conversations about politics, it often becomes more of a debate over values. While our politics of-

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Opinion TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

Can we cut the anti-migrant housing rhetoric?

I

f you have come across any social media post even closely related to North Carolina — whether it be tourism, foodie accounts Koen or fun-fact videos — you’ll Rodabaugh inevitably find a large colFocused Editor lection of anti-migrant sentiments. Colloquial terms such as the acronym of Cary as the Concentrated Area of Relocated Yankees have become commonplace.

We need to realize this disdain for newcomers in the state is fundamentally harmful to the continual growth and prosperity of North Carolina and does nothing to address the causes and possible solutions.

North Carolina has historically been a home for domestic migrants. As Chris Laws, assistant teaching professor in the Department of History, explained, the early days of the North Carolina colony were dull until domestic migrants came in.

“From about 1715 to 1760, you see the majority of folks coming into North Carolina are coming from other colonies,” Laws said.

“They’re coming from Pennsylvania, from Maryland … because there’s this availability of land that’s not there in Virginia and in the middle colonies.”

Migration in the state has seen spikes and stagnation alike, but with every rise in migration, North Carolina has been the better for it.

For example, Laws noted the influx of Northerners, deemed carpetbaggers, in the 1850s led to higher rates of abolitionist sen-

timents compared to the rest of the South.

“When you’re talking about the political culture, North Carolina is very divided,” Laws said. “Even during the Confederacy, the peace movement that happened during the Civil War was the largest in North Carolina. In some places, it was almost like [its own] civil war.”

Another key migratory moment was the establishment of Research Triangle Park in 1959. At its creation, North Carolina was one of the poorest states in the country with dismal projections for its economic future.

With the development of RTP, North Carolina, which had been largely populated only by those from North Carolina, began to diversify. In 1960, over 83% of North Carolinians were born in North Carolina.

By 2018, just 56% of people were born in North Carolina and the population had doubled from 1960 levels.

With this came an economic boom we are still seeing today, with the RaleighDurham-Cary area significantly above the national average in terms of per capita income. The miraculous economic turnaround in North Carolina is directly attributable to domestic migrants.

Clearly, the mass migration of people outside the state has been crucial in the development and prosperity of the state.

So why are people still blaming migrants for North Carolina’s current issues?

The United States has been wracked with hardships due to a rapidly growing housing crisis. In New York City, a survey of housing and vacancy statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau found 53% of renters in 2021 were

considered rent-burdened — or dedicating more than 30% of their income to housing.

It’s not just New York, though. Boston has a rent-burdened rate of 52%. Chicago’s rate is just over 51%. All of this spells mass migration away from urban centers. While cities like San Francisco house and attract the wealthiest Americans, they drive out others who simply cannot afford to live there anymore.

We need to realize this disdain for newcomers in the state is fundamentally harmful to the continual growth and prosperity of North Carolina ...

People in these cities are being priced out of their homes and must find refuge somewhere else. As the NC Office of State Budget and Management points out, states like California and New York are seeing massive net losses as a result of domestic migration, while states like North Carolina, Texas and Florida are seeing massive net gains.

Here in Raleigh, rental prices grew the fastest of any city in the country in 2022.

While rental price growth has slowed down

since then, the shockwave impact has left many in Raleigh and other Southern cities reeling.

Unfortunately, the City of Raleigh has done more to exacerbate the problem of wasteful spending and capitalist greed than to address the problem of growing demand — which, again, is not the fault of migrants who are already fleeing worse conditions elsewhere.

There are many examples to look at. There is a $350 million project in North Hills for a luxury apartment complex. There is a $1 billion project in “The Exchange” for two mixed-use luxury office and apartment buildings connected via sky bridge. There is a $2.2 billion mixed-use entertainment and luxury housing plan in Downtown South.

Meanwhile, the city continues to bleed affordable housing units, losing 45,000 units over the last ten years. While the city spends hundreds of millions on luxury apartments, it agreed on a measly $80 million affordable housing bond in 2020. That bond has built or preserved only 3,439 affordable housing units since FY15-16, a far cry from the already weak promise of 5,700 units and nowhere near a healthy replenishing rate.

North Carolinians have every right to be concerned about this housing crisis, but the dismal view among the citizenry has led to a worrying rise in anti-migrant sentiments.

We need to stop blaming people for coming in and start rightly blaming the people who have favored developers and the wealthy over people fleeing economic hardship.

Ghoulish Delight

Max Alsop, Staff Cartoonist A third-year studying anthropology and paleontology

Opinion

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Bird Bath

Sophie Gabriel, Staff Cartoonist A third-year studying art and design

As Snug as a Bug in a Rug

Avery Szakacs Staff Cartoonist A third-year studying art and design

Impending Doom

Lucy Osborn, Staff Cartoonist A third-year studying art and design

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

By George headlines Lincoln Theatre

Joel Beebe

Correspondent

After a year of preparation, three bands with roots at NC State took over Lincoln Theatre on Jan. 11 with smiling faces, dreamy arpeggiating guitars and soaring riffs.

The first to perform was the Bell Tower Blues. The group delivered a set of oldies ranging from Prince’s “Purple Rain” to Jimi Hendrix’s “Wait Until Tomorrow,” as well as a few originals. Each player’s precision playing ref lected a dedicated love of music.

After their set, Bell Tower Blues members buzzed about their performance, ecstatically finishing each other’s sentences.

“We won the [Battle of the Bands] competition last April, and the prize was to open up for a band at Lincoln Theatre,” said Justin Cristinziano, a fourth-year studying computer science and the drummer for the band. “And we found out back in November that we were on the bill with The Layaways and By George, two awesome, local, NC State bands, and we’ve been waiting until now.”

After the Bell Tower Blues’ set, The Lay-

COURTESY OF LOGAN DAUGHERTY

aways took the stage and delivered enchanting arpeggios, washed-out chords and smooth, melodramatic vocals. The band selectively sprinkled covers amidst their most original-heavy set to date and

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often dropped to two track tunes, utilizing the beautiful texture of lead singer Camden Willis’ voice over guitarist Oscar Valadez’s chorus-laden tunes.

“That was crazy; that was the first time I’ve been nervous for a show,” Mac Boland, a fourth-year studying forest management and guitarist for The Layaways said. “The first song, I was kind of shaking a little bit. But afterwards, seeing everyone sing back to us the two songs we have released was incredible. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.”

The Layaways have made the rounds at different underground venues in the flourishing NC State music scene — from Greek parties, house parties and Blue Door. But playing at Lincoln Theatre was a different experience.

“I think people-wise we’ve played for more, but this is the largest, most important, biggest venue we’ve played,” Boland said.

The night’s headliner, By George, took the stage after The Layaways. The band started their set with an arpeggiating synth as they launched into their first song of the night, an unreleased original titled “umbrella baby.”

The duo assumed an impressive stage presence with Tyler Ford, lead singer, urging the crowd to sing along and doing his signature crowd surf, later falling on stage before getting up and recovering to deliver two more songs. By George presented catchy hooks and familiar pop-rock tunes, covering songs by their inspirations — including The 1975, Two Door Cinema Club and Neon Trees — and showcased their palette of original songs, which included newly dropped single “vampire social.”

The production was extensive, as was made evident by the punch of the bass drums and the vibrant, f lashing lights.

To execute the performance, By George hired videographers, lighting technicians and a clothing vendor, among others, for the production.

“We realized that a successful musical act is an enormous group of people, but there have to be a couple faces for people to associate with the brand,” Ford said.

“By George is our amazing manager Olivia Robertson, videographers, sound techs, lighting techs. … It’s like a twenty-person group, and all you see is the people on stage.”

By George isn’t new to Lincoln Theatre.

They played at the venue last year with bands Harvey Street Co. and Late Notice and noted their growth since then.

“We played with [Harvey Street Co. and Late Notice] at Lincoln Theater [last year], and we didn’t expect that many people to come and then they did,” Ford said. “We didn’t have a show here — we rented the venue out and then sold tickets, and the venue was like, ‘Oh, you guys do sell tickets.’ This is our first show here.”

For The Layaways’ Boland, the show represented the cycle of inspiration and performance that the music scene at NC State has provided.

“I remember I went and saw By George at Bowstring my freshman year, and I watched them play ‘Freakin’ out on the Interstate,’” Boland said. “Seeing that solo be played, I was immediately like, ‘I wanna play live music,’ and that makes me think there might be someone in the crowd that could come be the next Layaways, come be the next Late Notice, come be the next By George. Watching Bell Tower Blues play today made me so excited to come back and see them in a year … and the bands that will come after them.”

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UAB brings the roller rink to Talley

Patricia Scholle Correspondent

Multicolored tiles placed over the wooden floor in the ballroom of Talley Student Union served as a small skating rink where hundreds of students flocked to roller skate, play cornhole and giant Jenga and enjoy refreshments on Jan. 11.

Aarick Lilly, a third-year studying biology and chair of University Activity Board’s Late Night Committee, said UAB expected 100 people to show up, but the event quickly exceeded its capacity of 300 to 400 people. The line to get in stretched out the door and down the third floor of Talley well before opening.

“We weren’t expecting this many people, but I think being the first week of class and people being back on campus may have had some effect on it,” Lilly said.

Amanda Harb, a third-year studying business administration, said the crowds didn’t take away from the atmosphere.

“It was very crowded, and it made a lot of people fall and fluster up, but it was so fun.” Harb said.

Lilly said the idea for the roller rink came from his team’s initiative to create late-night, student-oriented events.

“We want to make [students’] experience at NC State unique, so a big part of that is making events that are really memorable and become part of the culture of NC State,” Lilly said.

ANNA HANSEN

Justina Moore-Smallwood and Vanessa Juarez, first-years studying animal science, laugh as they support each other during the Roller State event hosted by the University Activities Board in Talley Student Union on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2023. The event offered music and refreshments as students skated in the Talley Ballroom.

Taylor Yang, a second-year studying computer science, was unable to enter due to the event reaching max capacity and decided to put on their own roller skates they had brought and skate around the third floor of Tally Student Union during the event.

“I was just excited to be here,” Yang said. “But even though I couldn’t make it [inside], I know there’s other ways that I can get involved with like roller skating, … and it was just really nice within the University to be sort of offered these opportunities.”

Students who made it to the roller rink said the event was well worth it, despite a long wait.

“It took probably about an hour for us to get in, but it was really fun,” said Kate Myers, a second-year studying business.

Lilly said the Roller State’s overwhelming popularity makes it more likely to be a returning event in the future.

“I would say [the roller rink] is pretty successful now, so there is a high chance of it getting repeated in future semesters,” said Lilly.

Lilly said he hopes events such as Roller State contribute to creating a positive student experience.

“We want the student body to connect with each other, create lasting memories,” Lilly said. “The main goal is just making … events they wouldn’t get anywhere else.”

Students interested in other University’s Activity Board events can locate them on the University calendar and on UAB’s Instagram.

How to combat the cold weather blues Amelia Russell

Assistant Culture Editor

It’s that time of year again: Temperatures drop, the wind howls and the sky stays a semi-permanent state of gray.

Many students struggle to maintain their mental health during the colder months, but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be a challenge.

Lily Palmer, a third-year studying psychology and criminology and the lead student wellness coach at Wellness and Recreation, said students may struggle during the winter months because the cold weather makes people want to stay inside more often, which prevents them from engaging in typical wellness activities.

“I think that that takes a big toll on student wellness, not only for the benefits of being outdoors, but also having access to resources, clubs, friends that they would typically hang out with maybe more in the warmer months, for example, like services or the gym or going to club events, or just doing any activities outside,” Palmer said.

Students may also have to make more of an effort to engage in self-care activities, hobbies and other wellness activities that are logistically easier during warmer months, which may make them feel less enjoyable.

“I think one of the things that’s hard as a student is [that] self care can feel like a chore sometimes,” Palmer said. “And if self care is kind of viewed as a chore, it’s not as enjoyable. It’s not doing what self care is supposed to do.”

Finding nourishing activities, hobbies and interests outside of school with others is vital to maintaining mental health not just during winter, but year-round.

In addition to solitary self-care, Isabel Tremble, a second-year studying agriculture science, advocates students find an activity they can enjoy with other people that doesn’t relate to their major.

“Your life doesn’t revolve around school,” Tremble said. “You also need to do something that’s more enjoyable than just studying and doing assignments. …

If you can, find a club on campus that is not necessarily related to your major, but something that you just enjoy doing on a regular basis so that you’re not always just dreading the next day of classes.”

However, setting aside that time to nourish oneself is vital. Tremble said setting aside personal time for things she enjoys is an integral part of her routine.

“I take a time out of my day, whether it’s midday or before bed, and do something that I enjoy,” Tremble said. “I like to do painting or read a book, or watch my favorite TV show, so I can settle down from

GRAPHIC BY AVERY SZAKACS

all the school activities and just do what I want to do.”

Liz Aimone, coordinator of Wellness Programs at Wellness and Recreation, said finding clubs or other activities

outside of a student’s major is critical to maintaining a well-rounded sense of balance.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024

NC State alum fights to preserve Ukrainian culture

Riya Kannan

Assistant Culture Editor

NC State film studies alum Darya Levchenko is combining her Ukrainian heritage and her interest and knowledge in film to bring two politically and artistically charged events to campus this week.

Levchenko, a Fulbright Scholar, obtained her Master of Arts in English with a film studies concentration from NC State in 2019 and has used the experience from her time at State to aid in her mission to preserve Ukrainian culture.

She currently works in film festival programming, bringing awareness to global political issues.

“In the course of my [film] studies, I started off first interdisciplinary, and then I kind of slowly went toward the festivals and how film festivals influence cultural diplomacy, and that’s where I’m at right now,” Levchenko said.

“The studies that I did during my Fulbright in the States kind of led me to the career I have today.”

Levchenko works mostly with international projects and is currently focusing on representations of Ukrainian visual arts with a focus on film. She works with several organizations in both the world of arts and humanitarian work, including Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, the annual and only human rights film festival in Ukraine.

“There’s so much art going on, so I’m trying to bring the light there,” Levchenko said. “I’m not the only one doing [this], but I’m trying to put in [work] where my strengths are. It’s building networks, research and trying to kind of build a stronger foundation for sustainability of all those organizations.”

This trip marks Levchenko’s first visit back to the United States since 2019, and she’s committed to making the most of her time in the country, intending to share her research with as many people as possible and bring light to the important issues she deals with daily.

Levchenko said she worked with NC State film professor Marsha Gordon to bring her work back to campus.

“I talked to Dr. Gordon and asked if [this] will be something that the students and NC State would be interested

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“I think that can lead to other paths that still support your overall purpose,” Aimone said. “That includes, interests, volunteering, a sense of belonging and community.”

Nathanael Leclercq, a second-year studying mathematics, said when thinking about wellness activities, students should strike a balance between physical and mental

COURTESY OF DARYA LEVCHENKO

in hearing me speak about, and she said, ‘Yes,’” Levchenko said. “I decided that it [could] be an interesting topic to talk about how programming arts can lead to changes within the society, and how my experience at NC State kind of built into my larger experience programming for arts later in life.”

Levchenko will be hosting two events on campus, the first of which will be a presentation called Programming for Change on Jan. 17.

“You don’t need to be particularly interested in programming or in cultural policy and politics,” Levchenko said.

“If people want to come to [this] discussion with no prior knowledge, they can do that. I think it’s going to be an

exercise.

“I’m a very competitive chess player; I play in a lot of tournaments and working on my body helps me maintain my mind,” Leclercq said. “They go hand in hand. … If you’re only doing exercise, then you’re not going to be engaging in as much critical thinking, and if you’re only doing mental exercise, then your body is gonna get weak.”

Palmer said the Wellness and Recreation center is an inherently social space, which

interesting conversation covering a very broad ground in terms of what Ukrainian arts are.”

The second event Levchenko will host will be on Jan. 18, in association with the Global Film Series. During the event, she will be presenting and screening various animated short films from Ukraine.

“It’s basically my job [to] promote Ukrainian visual arts,” Levchenko said. “We decided on animation short films by young Ukrainian authors to showcase the diversity of Ukrainian talent and also to keep people engaged and interested. I’m bringing in smaller films that have [been] done by students, which we thought would be of particular interest to interdisciplinary students and also [to those who] dabble in animation within visual arts.”

The films Levchenko will present aren’t readily accessible online, making her event of particular value.

“This content, as fascinating as it is, is not very easy to find online,” Levchenko said. “It’s not that accessible. So [this is] a unique opportunity to see Ukrainian animation films [since] there are few resources that feature Ukrainian animation films.”

Levchenko said she believes acknowledging art and global issues is important and that this importance motivated her to get involved in the work she currently does.

“I think the fact that people know what Ukraine is and where it is on the map right now is amazing,” Levchenko said. “Because, in addition to dealing with a particular crisis of life loss, we also deal with the extinction of culture.

The type of genocide that Russia is wielding is focusing on erasing our national identity [rooted] in culture, and I think that people in America generally are not very well acquainted or well aware [of] the diversity, richness and history of Ukrainian talent and Ukrainian arts.”

Levchenko said she hopes the events she will present on campus will help keep attention on Ukraine.

“Bringing the resistance to the forefront … as well as the overview of how engaged and interesting it can be, and how storytelling can be at the forefront of things global,” Levchenko said. “I thought it’d be a good way to keep people’s attention on Ukraine and support it.”

gives students an opportunity to engage with their communities in a way they might not at home.

For any students who may feel stuck inside or are feeling the effects of winter’s gray days, Leclercq said students should reach out to people they can count on and engage in social connection.

“Keeping in tune with how you feel, I mean, no matter the season, is an important thing,” Leclercq said. “It’s important to just maybe reach out to a friend or to a par-

ent or sibling, just someone that knows you and say, ‘I don’t know where I’m at. I need some help. Can you help me work through this?’ And hopefully, they’ll help you.”

For additional resources, the Wellness Center offers four free wellness coaching sessions per semester to all students. The Wolfpack Wellness website has an exhaustive list of wellness resources available to students, and the Counseling Center is also open by appointment.

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Wolfpack football gains highly ranked talent for new offense

HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN

Senior wide receiver Keyon Lesane rushes the ball during the game against Wake Forest at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Lesane completed 27 receiving yards. NC State beat Wake Forest 26-6.

Connor VanDerMark Correspondent

NC State football finished its 2023-34 season with a solid 9-4 record, headlined by a late-season win over UNC-Chapel Hill and a trip to the Pop-Tarts Bowl. But as always, turnover in college football is inevitable.

Quarterback Brennan Armstrong completed his final year as a graduate, and wide receiver Keyon Lesane declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Wide receivers Terrell Timmons, Porter Rooks and running back Delbert Mimms entered the transfer portal.

With sophomore wideout KC Concepcion being the only remaining key piece of the 2023 offense, head coach Dave Doeren exceeded expectations with both transfers and recruits, instilling the Wolfpack with new sense of confidence for the 2024 season.

Grayson McCall, QB After much deliberation on his future, graduate quarterback Grayson McCall will call Raleigh home for his final year of eligibility. McCall played at Coastal Carolina for four years and was the driving force behind its success, completing 710 passes for 10,005 yards, 88 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions.

McCall has also proven his capability as a scrambler by taking 350 carries for 1,113 yards and another 18 touchdowns. He is a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year and a four-time first-team all-conference selection. The four-star transfer is expected to be Doeren’s starting quarterback for the 2024 season.

Jordan Waters, RB Graduate running back Jordan Waters will fill NC State’s vacancy at running back.

Waters spent four seasons at Duke but was not the primary back until 2022. Last season, he took 153 carries for 819 yards and 12 touchdowns and hauled in nine receptions for 139 yards. The four-star transfer should add a new dimension to the 2024 offense, especially with the Pack’s rushing attack on the decline for most of the 2023 season.

Jonathan Paylor, WR Incoming freshman Jonathan Paylor was the Wolfpack’s number one target out of high school for good reason. The ‘Swiss Army Knife’ has proven to be one of the most explosive weapons in high school, accumulating an astonishing 3,200 allpurpose yards and 33 touchdowns during

his senior season.

Paylor received offers from over 25 schools, including big names like Alabama and Georgia. However, he narrowed down his schools to the Carolinas and Maryland, eventually choosing NC State. Paylor can line up anywhere on the field and has the ability to be the most dynamic player on the field at any given time. Between him and Concepcion, defenses will have issues both predicting and stopping NC State’s offense.

Terrell Anderson, WR Terrell Anderson is a four-star recruit and was another one of NC State’s biggest targets. After originally being predicted to head to Georgia, he flipped the script by committing to NC State.

Anderson played three years of varsity high school football, turning 180 receptions into 3,269 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Standing at 6-foot-3, he is an expert at tracking and catching the ball in contested situations. His size and aggressiveness adds a new facet to the NC State passing attack that wasn’t present last season.

Noah Rogers, WR Noah Rogers is a four-star transfer wide

receiver from Ohio State. Due to a stacked wide receiver room, he didn’t have much playing time with the Buckeyes. However, he was ranked as the No. 2 wide receiver prospect in high school in his class.

During his breakout junior year, Rogers had 70 catches for 1,432 yards and 22 touchdowns. In total, he ended his career with 141 catches for 3,069 yards and 48 touchdowns, averaging 21.8 yards per catch. Rogers runs a sub-4.5 second 40-yard dash and is excellent at creating separation from his defenders. Rogers adds immense big-play potential, so there is always potential for an electric play anytime he touches the field.

Justin Joly, TE Justin Joly is a four-star transfer tight end from UConn. Though he didn’t get much playing time his freshman year of college, he showed his potential in high school.

Joly played three years of varsity, where he turned 123 catches into 1,827 yards and 19 touchdowns, all within 25 games.

Joly is an elite receiving tight end, but he’s also shown his capabilities as a strong blocker, thus bolstering the rushing attack.

He should provide some consistency in a tight end room that had its ups and downs last season.

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NC State football reels in exciting defensive haul for 2024

GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN

Members of the Wolfpack football team pray together before the Pop-Tarts Bowl between the NC State Wolfpack and the Kansas State Wildcats played in Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023. The Wildcats beat the Wolfpack 28-19.

Noah Teague

Assistant Sports Editor

NC State football will look to continue its tradition of defensive excellence with several new additions in 2024 from both the transfer portal and high schools across the country. While the Pack bolstered all three levels of the defense, it especially improved its secondary.

Ronnie Royal III, DB Out of Alexandria, Alabama, Royal is one of the most exciting prospects that the red-and-white hauled in the 2024 recruiting class. Royal has the versatility to play both safety and nickel back for the Pack. Similar to Pack Pro and Rams safety Tanner Ingle, Royal has a knack for delivering hard hits.

With the nickel back position vacant and safety depth in need, Royal has the opportunity and talent to see the field as a freshman this coming season.

Asaad Brown Jr., DB As a physical defensive back, watch for

the redshirt freshman to compete at either cornerback or nickel back. Brown’s biggest strength is his consistent tackling ability.

After having success with a similar cornerback in Shyheim Battle, the Wolfpack brought in another physical, run-stopping defensive back that will have an opportunity to see the field early.

With three years of eligibility remaining, there’s plenty of time for Cooley to develop.

However, with the starting nickel back job open, there’s an opportunity to hit the field early. Known for his secure tackling, Cooley fits the mold for a quality nickel back.

Corey Coley Jr., DB

While Groves may not see the field much next season, he has arguably the highest upside of any defensive commit this cycle for the Pack. The blue-chip prospect possesses exciting versatility. At six-foot-three, he has the size to rush the pass and stuff the run effectively, showcased by his 15 tackles for loss this past season. Groves also dropped back at times to play safety, rounding out his game with pass coverage. While Groves still needs to bulk up to play linebacker in the ACC, look for him to be an impact player down the road.

With Battle declaring for the NFL draft, the Wolfpack needed a player to compete with freshman cornerback Brandon Cisse for the starting job. NC State landed on Coley, a senior transfer from Maryland with three years of experience and six total starts. The six-foot-two cornerback offers intriguing size that could help him cover taller receivers on the outside.

Tamarcus Cooley, DB Once an NC State commit, the redshirt freshman flipped to Maryland where he spent the first year of his college career.

However, the Knightdale native returned home and joined the Pack this offseason.

Elijah Groves, LB

Wyatt Wright, LB The Wolfpack secured one of the best linebackers from the Juco ranks this offseason with the addition of junior linebacker Wyatt

Wright. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College standout racked up 82 total tackles last season, including a stunning 18 tackle performance. While no individual player will replace Payton Wilson’s production, Wright will have a strong chance of filling into his spot. As a run defender, Wright has the speed to chase down the best running backs.

Justin Terrell, DL In the Pack’s 3-3-5 defense, Terrell projects to play interior defensive line for the red-and-white. Already at 285 pounds out of high school, Terrell has the size to be an excellent run defender. While he doesn’t fill up the stat sheet, Terrell’s impact will be felt in that he takes up blockers and allows others to finish off plays — a key role in the 3-3-5 defense.

With former Wolfpack defensive lineman C.J. Clark transferring to Miami, Terrell has an opportunity to secure a spot in the defensive line rotation behind standout junior defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland.

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COURTESY OF STRATTON MURPHY

Rowing club combines tough athletics with lifelong friendships Erin Ferrare

Assistant Sports Editor

NC State offers over 50 club sports across campus, from bass fishing to figure skating, but arguably none are as mentally and physically tough as the rowing team. Practicing six days a week at Lake Wheeler, the team consists of students of all ages, majors and experience levels.

Just like varsity sports teams on campus, the rowing club team takes on colleges from across the country in regattas all along the East Coast. Founded in 1988, the club is an organization that is fully run by NC State students.

“We don’t ask that much of our athletes, you know,” said Caleb Knarr, a fourth-year studying animal science. “We don’t do twice daily workouts and there’s no scholarships involved, but we do compete with other colleges. It’s more recreation that we’re there for.”

While many people might think rowing is all about leg power, there’s also a technical side of the sport that goes on behind the scenes. Alex Soto, a fourth-year studying anthropology and sociology, said everyone in the boat needs to be in-tune in order for the whole team to perform well.

“I’m usually the stroke pacer, the second seat,” Soto said. “I’m setting the pace. If [my teammates] are going at a different pace,

we feel it and feel rushed. It’s really rough on our backs. That’s when we turn to the coxswain that’s in front of us.”

While the going gets rough when the pace is off, the pain gets pushed aside when the team works together — like cogs in a clock.

“The thing is that if we push ourselves in setting the pace, then everyone will follow,” Soto said. “Everyone together is like, ‘We have to give our best effort,’ which is what I really love about being there.”

We’re suffering together in it. ... It’s a bonding sport.

- Alex Soto

Rowing is the oldest intercollegiate sport in America, with a match between Harvard and Yale starting the sport in 1852. Since then, rowing has grown exponentially in popularity; universities across the country

have adopted the sport.

“I feel like it’s really cool that even though we’re a club team, we go against other club teams,” Soto said. “They are from throughout the east coast and even the Midwest. It’s really amazing being in that environment, sometimes competing against 50 other colleges.”

When it comes to new members, the club accepts students of all experience levels. RecFest is its main campaigning event throughout the year. With a rowing machine and members decked out in their uniforms, it’s pretty hard to miss the team.

“I’m a transfer student, so I didn’t know anyone,” Konar said. “I went to RecFest with one of my roommates not necessarily looking for anything, and I found the rowing club because they were walking around with oars. I thought that was interesting and went to check it out and talk with them.”

The rowing machines are a huge hit at RecFest, but they are an integral part of the rowing club’s dry land and fitness training.

No one on the team will tell you that the training and racing is easy, but Soto said doing all of it together makes the hard work worthwhile.

“As much practice as you get in is as much as you’re going to get out of it,” Soto said.

“We’re suffering together in it. … It’s a bonding sport. You build your friendships

in hard times.”

Competitions occur all over the Eastern Seaboard in different climates and venues.

Most recently, the team traveled to Chattanooga, Tennessee for the Head of the Hooch Regatta. The men’s A-team placed fifth in the four or more race and the women’s team placed 22nd in the four or more women’s trial. In the mixed races — meaning both men and women are in the boat — NC State placed fifth in the four or more race.

“We get to do activities together, outside of practice,” Soto said. “It’s not just about growing but also about community building.”

Scan this QR code to get connected with the rowing club by following the team’s Instagram page and visiting its website.

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NC State women’s basketball maintains balanced attack, young talent shines

CATE HUMPHREYS/TECHNICIAN

Junior guard Saniya Rivers drives towards the basket during the game against Virginia in Reynolds Coliseum on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. Rivers had seven assists and scored six points for the Wolfpack.

Jenna Cuniowski Sports Editor

NC State women’s basketball has been dominant so far in its 2023-24 campaign, and, despite graduate center River Baldwin’s recent injury, it’s showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. With just one blemish on its record — a last-second loss to then-No. 14 Virginia Tech on Jan. 7 — the No. 4 Pack currently boasts a 15-1 overall record and a 3-1 ACC record.

Here are a couple important takeaways from the Wolfpack’s performance so far this season.

Balanced attack NC State’s balanced attack is the primary reason the team has ranked in the top five nationally for the majority of the season. The Pack has six players averaging double digit scoring — freshman guard Zoe Brooks, junior guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers, senior guard Madison Hayes and graduate forward Mimi Collins — and

a consistent lead scorer has yet to emerge.

Collectively, NC State averages 45% from the field, including 35% from beyond the arc.

The red-and-white’s impressive depth and ability to count on a wide variety of players when it needs a bucket presents a difficult challenge for its opponents. A solid rotation of leaders makes it hard for opponents to craft a defensive game plan because they can’t expect to shut down NC State by taking one or two players out of the game or assigning their best defender to the Pack’s top scorer.

Young talent on the rise An essential part of the Wolfpack’s success thus far has been contributions from its freshmen, specifically Brooks. Most recently, Brooks scored a career high 19 points and led the Pack in scoring in its win over the Cavaliers last week.

In a game against Liberty earlier this season, she recorded the second triple-double in program history with 14 points, 10 assists and 12 rebounds in her first career start.

Brooks has started five of the red-andwhite’s 16 games, averaging 4.1 assists and 10.8 points per game.

Freshman guard Laci Steele has also stepped up her game recently, putting up a career high 13 points in NC State’s win over Virginia.

Freshmen center Mallory Collier and forward Maddie Cox have made an appearance in all 16 of the Pack’s games so far. While they haven’t made as significant of an impact on the stat sheet, they’ve stepped up when the starters needed a break and played solid minutes, which is more than a lot of freshmen are able to do on such a big stage.

Lack of inside presence In the Pack’s Jan. 4 home matchup against then-No. 22 Florida State, Baldwin sustained an ankle injury in the third quarter that head coach Wes Moore estimates will have her sidelined until late January.

Baldwin, an integral piece of NC State’s starting lineup, has been a force in the paint this season. The graduate averages 7.8 rebounds and 11.3 points per game, but

beyond her impact on the stats sheet, her presence in the paint has greatly helped to create scoring opportunities for the Wolfpack’s guards. Standing at 6-foot-5, Baldwin draws a lot of attention when she gets the ball inside, which often leaves NC State’s knockdown shooters open to burn opponents on the perimeter or in the lane.

Without Baldwin’s formidable presence inside, the Pack stumbled against the Hokies last week, putting up its lowest point total of the season en route to a 63-62 loss. Virginia Tech center Elizabeth Kitley dominated inside all day long — the two-time ACC Player of the Year finished the game with 12 rebounds and led all scorers with 27 points, including the game winner.

The red-and-white rebounded nicely with a 93-66 win over Virginia, but a blowout win over one of the worst teams in the conference isn’t a great measure of success.

In order to be successful in its upcoming games against Miami and Duke — in which it will most likely be Baldwin-less — the Wolfpack will need to find a way to limit points from its opponents’ centers.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL See page 15