TECHNICIAN MARC H 24, 2022
VOL . 102 | NO. 24
WINNING TRADITION PUTTING THE ‘W’ IN WOLFPACK See page 12
Contents
2 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
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IN THIS ISSUE: page
Women Inspire 03 Inspiring Me art gallery
WHAT YOU MISSED: A quick look at the headlines in and outside of NC State
Women’s swim team member breaks record in backstroke On March 18, junior Katharine Berkoff unofficially broke the American, NCAA and U.S. Open record for the 100-yard backstroke. Berkoff is the first woman to finish the event in under 49 seconds.
NEWS page
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SOURCE: TECHNICIAN
Wear your feminist label with pride
Taylor Swift writes new song for NCbased film ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ On March 22, Taylor Swift announced that she wrote a new song, “Carolina” for the new film, based on the 2018 book, “Where the Crawdads Sing.” Part of the song can be heard in the movie trailer released on March 22. The full song will be released shortly.
SOURCE: THE NEWS & OBSERVER
OPINION page
08
WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit returns, raises money for student radio station
12
NC State women’s basketball entering program-defining stretch
SPORTS
Israeli woman repays a familial kindness dating back to WWII by assisting two fleeing Ukrainian women Lesia Orshoko and Alona Chugai, Ukrainian refugees and cousins, are fleeing to Israel to take refuge with Sharon Bass. Bass is repaying a decades old kindness as Bass’ Jewish grandmother was taken in by Orshoko’s grandmother during the Holocaust. Bass, who heard tales of her grandmother’s rescuer all her life, didn’t hesitate to reach out to provide assistance to the family when the war broke out in Ukraine last month.
Events to keep an eye on for the week of March 24
TREATS IN THE SUITE Thursday, March 24, 4:30-5:30 p.m. TALLEY STUDENT UNION Free If you need a break from the impending doom of finals season, head over to Talley for Treats in the Suite, a wellness event hosted by the Student Government Wellness Department. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to enjoy snacks and conversation about self care.
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2022 Friday, March 25, 12-4 p.m. STAFFORD COMMONS Free Enjoy the nice weather this weekend by joining other students at Stafford Commons for the International Festival, hosted by the Office of Global Engagement. You’ll get to know individuals of different backgrounds and enjoy performances, a wide range of booths and engaging activities.
BIKING TO THE STATE FARMERS MARKET Saturday, March 26, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. NC STATE FARMERS MARKET $10 for students, $15 for members If you need any fresh produce, look no further than the Farmers Market. Join fellow participants in a refreshing bike ride this weekend and buy all of the fruits and vegetables to your heart’s content.
COFFEE CHAT CLASS Monday, March 28, 8-11 a.m. VIRTUAL EVENT Free Learn more about the Jenkins MBA while sipping on your morning brew from the comfort of your own desk. Jenkins MBA business professor Chris Hitch will lead a discussion and answer questions regarding the program, curriculum and the NC State network.
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST Editor-in-Chief Jaylan Harrington
323 Witherspoon Student Center, NCSU Campus Box 7318, Raleigh, NC 27695 Editorial Advertising Fax Online
In response to the Walt Disney Company’s reaction to the “Don’t Say Gay” Florida bill, workers decided to walk out in protest. According to NPR, workers feel like the company’s response to the bill did not accurately reflect the impact the bill would have on people of the LGBTQ+ community.
SOURCE: NPR
CULTURE page
Disney employees walk out due to company’s response to ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
THE RADAR
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News Editor Avery Davis
Design Editor Ann Salman
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Managing Editors Caryl J. Espinoza Jaen Tristan Tucker
Assistant News Editor Abigail Ali
Copy Desk Chief Allie Remhof
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Assistant Culture Editor Myra Bari
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Culture Editor Sam Overton
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Assistant Sports Editors Wade Bowman Bryan Pyrtle Photo Editor Mollie Mitchell
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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.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MOLLIE MITCHELL
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Inspiring Women Inspire Me
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
WOMEN’S CENTER HOSTS ART GALLERY FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH Abigail Ali
Assistant News Editor
Through March 25, NC State’s Women’s Center hosts a gallery called “Inspiring Women Inspire Me,” which features images of women from the past 30 years who have made an impact in their respective fields. Amber McNally, a third-year studying psychology, and Amanda Sheehan, a fourth-year studying microbiology, are student programming interns at the Women’s Center. They designed the gallery as part of the center’s celebration of International Women’s History Month. “I did a huge gallery for International Women’s Day at the Women’s Center, highlighting 25 women over the past 30 years who have made impacts in sports, activism, entertainment, science and politics,” Sheehan said. “Amber and I decided to create a program that was passive that everyone at Talley could engage in at the Women’s Center based on that program.” Sheehan said the purpose of the gallery is for students to relate to the women showcased to find ways to be as inspiring as them.
“Inspiring Women Inspire Me is a way for students to engage by recognizing featured women in the gallery and explaining or putting a Post-it note on the wall of what they resonate with of these women and how it impacts them and what inspires them to be great as well,” Sheehan said. McNally said finding ways to relate to the inspiring women can help people recognize good qualities in themselves. “I feel like it can be hard for us to reflect on the good things about ourselves and seeing other people emanate those qualities can help us recognize that,” McNally said. The Inspiring Women Inspire Me gallery can be found on the windows outside the Women’s Center on the fifth floor of Talley at room 5210. “We have a bunch of Post-it notes and pens next to the posters of the women, and anyone can engage as they walk by or they can, or you can even come into the center, treat yourself to some free coffee or tea, get stickers or anything like that,” Sheehan said. “We’re always open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.”
COURTESY OF AMANDA SHEEHAN
Updated mask requirements cause mixed reactions
Cameron Rhinehardt Staff Writer
NC State announced a change for students and staff that would affect campus life a few weeks ago. For the last two years, students have gotten used to having a mask handy for all buildings and spaces on campus. However, the new mask mandate, put into effect March 7, allows students to enter most campus buildings with no mask, including classrooms. Students and staff have expressed mixed
feelings about the mandate, many concerned yet excited about the big change. Some students express concern about the timing of the mandate, as it was put into effect the week before spring break. “[The mandate] is nice, but it was weird timing with spring break,” said Jasmine Robertshaw, a first-year studying elementary education. A lot of students have only experienced campus life with masks, and many students are excited about the first time experiencing a maskless campus. Saja Sabha, a first-year
GRAPHIC BY SHRADDHA MISHRA
studying biology, said she has no negative feelings about the new mandate and likes being able to be maskless with the warm weather. Robertshaw said she feels as though her college experience has been better since the new mask mandate. “I feel like I am getting the real college experience with the mandate change, as well as social distancing rules being more lenient,” Robertshaw said. “I feel like I am able to connect with professors and classmates better.” Students who have experienced the University maskless before COVID-19 are relieved to feel like they are back to normal campus experiences. “I remember college before wearing masks, and it felt like wearing masks put my college experience on pause, so I feel like I am back in college again in a way,” said Zac Miles, a third-year studying computer engineering. Students still share concerns, however, about the University being careless with the new regulations. “It makes me a little nervous about people being reckless with COVID,” said Maddie Pietras, a second-year studying biochemistry. “Just because the numbers are down doesn’t mean it is completely gone, and I am scared of getting COVID because the new mandate makes people more reckless.” Students also expressed difficulty with the transition and how quickly the change
happened. “The transition was weird, and going from wearing masks to not wearing them took getting used to,” said Noor Asfour, a firstyear studying business management. The University still urges students to get vaccinated in an attempt to keep cases low on campus but no longer requires testing for students who aren’t vaccinated. Pietras said she wishes they didn’t take that away, and it is concerning to not require tests for unvaccinated students and staff. Miles said testing unvaccinated students is a good way to keep cases down, especially because many students who aren’t vaccinated are less likely to test. “The people who aren’t vaccinated are the ones who don’t want to get tested, even if they have COVID, which is scary,” Miles said. Some students are still wearing masks in class, and some professors are still asking students to wear masks in classes while others were quick to ditch the mask. Sabha said most people don’t wear masks in her classes, and Miles said for his classes, if a professor doesn’t wear a mask then most students don’t wear one either. Overall, students express excitement about the mandate, despite the big changes that it brings. Many expressed it gives students the feeling of a real college experience and allows students to make better connections with professors and other students.
News
4 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
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Alma mater change comes after years of advocacy
GRAPHIC BY ANN SALMAN
Heidi Reid Staff Writer
The NC State Board of Trustees approved removing the word “dixie” from the alma mater and replacing it with the word “Southern.” This issue was first brought up in 2014, but was only resolved recently in February of 2022. According to Karen Bullock, professor and head of the School of Social Work, she and other previous members of the Faculty Senate began advocating for the removal of the word in 2014. Bullock graduated from NC State in 1990, and upon returning as a faculty member she felt that very little had changed in terms of recruiting and retaining Black students. “When I was a student here, it was reportedly about 6% Black students, and then when I returned as a faculty member, it was still about the same percentage,” Bullock said. “So that’s my reference point for little change.” Bullock had always been concerned that the alma mater, which is supposed to reflect the values of all alums, was not inclusive of
I think that if we’re honest with ourselves, and we’re serious about being representative of all the people, why would we want to include something as hurtful as that? — Stacy Nelson
all people. According to Bullock, she felt it was her duty and obligation to Black alumni as well as future students and faculty members at NC State to raise this issue. “When I returned as a faculty member, this hearing and singing of the alma mater just didn’t feel welcoming; it didn’t feel like it should be happening in the 21st century,” Bullock said. “We were holding on to these antiquated Confederate messages, because for many white people in the South, the Confederacy means something very different than it does for Black people in the South. The language of the Confederacy is not warm. It’s not welcoming.” According to Bullock, although the issue was first raised in 2014 and became stagnant for a period, there were faculty senators and other faculty members who continued to encourage the pursuit of this goal, regardless of the disinterest others were showing. “Then came COVID-19, the pandemic, the racial unrest, the killing of George Floyd and many other Black men and women, mostly men,” Bullock said. “A shift occurred
in terms of the recognition and acknowledgement. While we were all standing still, sheltering in, we had not much else to distract us from the racism that was occurring right in front of our eyes and the racialized violence. Many of my white colleagues have said, for the first time, they realized that there was racism. It created the perfect storm to try to usher in this conversation again. And so the University returned to this discussion about that Confederate term that’s in our alma mater.” Stacy Nelson, the interim associate dean for diversity and inclusion and professor in the College of Natural Resources, was also a member of the Faculty Senate who pressed this issue. Faculty Senate adopted a resolution in favor of updating the alma mater in 2016, but the results were never acted upon according to Nelson. “That was brought on by just a number of different individuals, different groups, feeling that ‘dixie’ was just highly offensive at a very celebratory time [graduation] to be standing in full awe and pride of the
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THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
Our Wave raises awareness, provides healing for sexual assault victims
Karsyn Westerbeek Correspondent
Editor’s Note: This article contains mentions of sexual assault Our Wave is an online platform that aims to facilitate support and healing to survivors of sexual assult. The organization provides a safe space for people to share their own stories, engage in community and receive individualized assistance to ease their trauma. One in three women and one in five men experience sexual assault within their lifetime, said Kyle Linton, an NC State graduate and executive director and co-founder of Our Wave. “We created Our Wave to be a place where people can share stories anonymously and to connect with other survivors,” Linton said. “And through these communities find anonymous healing and hope.” After graduating from Poole College of Management in 2014, Linton had the idea for the platform in 2018 after someone in his life had their own experience with sexual
We created Our Wave to be a place where people can share stories anonymously and to connect with other survivors. — Kyle Linton
University and the accomplishments of our graduates and to be singing that word, ‘dixie,’ as part of our alma mater and taking such great pride in that level of iconography,” Nelson said. “And so the Faculty Senate brought it forth and voted on it as a resolution to have that removed, however, it was never acted upon.” When Bullock initially raised the question of whether to change the alma mater in the Faculty Senate, she was met with a lack of interest in the subject from her peers. According to Bullock, other faculty members felt that there were more serious matters to be addressed than the alma mater, and were concerned with upsetting and alienating the oldest alumni and legacies with this change. “The legacy alumni aren’t people who look like me, because the legacy alumni are those people who have had generation after generation of family members who have graduated from NC State,” Bullock said. “And because we weren’t allowed to enter this university until so late, we’re not at the point of being like legacy. They didn’t want to alienate the people who have
assault. Following a collaboration with Brendan Michaelson, co-founder and chief technology officer of Our Wave, the online platform for survivors launched September 2020. “This collective story base that we have together is really exciting for us because it’s one centralized place where all these different individuals are sharing what has happened to them and where we can raise awareness,” Linton said. Along the way, the team picked up volunteers from all around the world to spread the impact of the organization further than Raleigh. One of these was Alexa DeFalco, an NC State graduate student studying higher education administration, who is now director of development at Our Wave. “I feel so honored when folks come up and tell us about their own personal experiences,” DeFalco said. “I think that’s a really special opportunity to connect with people and see the impact.” With stories from over 20 countries and tens of thousands of views on these stories, the impact of Our Wave has reached hundreds of thousands of people from different backgrounds, cultures and locations since the time it was created. “Having a place where people can go no matter where you are or what language you speak is really exciting for us,” Linton said. Our Wave also has partnerships with other organizations such as the #MeToo movement to spread the word of their mission and help as many people as possible. According to DeFalco and Linton, these partnerships, as well as events to raise money and awareness for their cause, have been
been here the longest, who have given the most resources, and the concern was that of changing or removing ‘dixie.’ It has no other meaning that we can find other than the association with the Confederacy and the divisiveness and the racism and oppression of people of color.” According to Nelson, at the last faculty general assembly meeting in 2021, the Chancellor said that the University’s copyright to the word “dixie” would expire in early 2022 and appropriate action would be taken then. “‘Dixie’ was not a welcoming and inclusive ideal for African Americans in the South,” Nelson said. “‘Dixie’ represented a barbaric iconography of a land at a time when African Americans were brutalized. And it was held in high esteem for those folks that felt connected to a time and a heritage that did not promote inclusivity. And so, I think that if we’re honest with ourselves, and we’re serious about being representative of all the people, why would we want to include something as hurtful as that?”
COURTESY OF ALEXA DEFALCO
crucial to the growth of the organization. Since Our Wave is a non-profit organization, volunteers work hard not only for the success of the organization, but also the funds that they raise. “It’s all volunteer based which I think is really powerful,” DeFalco said. “It’s people who really care about this and who really want to be here.” Naishadha Peri, a fourth-year studying business management, has been working with the organization since the beginning of the semester and has fond memories of her time so far. “My favorite part [of volunteering] is knowing that I’m doing a little bit of something in order to help,” Peri said. “Knowing
that you can be a part of trying to help and get out information out about sexual assault and things like that has been really impactful in my life.” Even though Our Wave has already reached across the globe and provided healing for so many people, growth is still in the works to raise more awareness for sexual assault. “Raising awareness to the issue is the first and foremost [goal] but second to that our goal is to reach and support as many survivors as possible,” Linton said. To learn more about sexual assault or get involved with the team, visit www. ourwave.org.
Opinion
6 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
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Wear your feminist label with pride
If you asked if I was a feminist a year ago, I would’ve responded with a respectful no. It’s not that I didn’t believe in equality of the sexes, but the thought Lauren of feminism conjured the Richards sterotypical caricature — a Staff Columnist woman who hates all men and would rather die than wear a bra. For me, if subscribing to the feminist movement meant joining ranks with these women, then I wanted out. While there are self-proclaimed feminists who tout these beliefs, I’ve come to discover they don’t speak for the whole of the feminist movement. The truth is being a feminist says more than a pink hat or unshaven legs — it says you’re willing to fight for equality and inclusivity. It’s a label that doesn’t deserve shame, but pride. To understand feminism and combat misconceptions, it’s important to understand its roots. Although women’s rights have been contested for millennia, it wasn’t until the 19th century the feminist movement found its wings. Applying enlightenment and abolitionist ideologies, the first wave of feminism aimed to secure one of the most fundamental, democratic rights for women — the right to vote. After decades of protesting, women in the U.S. finally attained suffrage with the passage of the 19th amendment. Following this major milestone, many feminists hung up their signs and sashes, believing the fight for equal rights was largely won. In the wake of World War I, women’s role in society was brought under question. During the war, women were welcomed into the workplace to occupy positions originally held by men,but were booted back to the home following its conclusion. Countering post-war attitudes, the second wave of feminism sought to expand women’s roles from the domestic sphere to the workforce. Fueled with civil rights fervor, second-wave feminists — largely middleclass white women — focused heavily on
combatting workplace inequalities as well as advancing reproductive rights. Secondwave feminism culminated in significant reforms, such as the Equal Pay Act of 1973 and Title IX, a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational settings. The third iteration of feminism emmerged in the early 1990s. Piggybacking off the success of their second wave predecessors, third wave feminists focused on the intersectionality of womanhood, woman empowerment and sexual freedoms. There is debate about whether or not the third wave is still occurring, and many believe the rise of social media gave birth to a fourth wave around 2012. Today, feminism encompasses a wide array of beliefs and ideologies. Being a feminist doesn’t come with any prerequisites, besides the belief that everyone deserve sequal access to the same rights and opportunities. Feminism isn’t pro-choice nor is it pro-life — feminism is pro-woman, pro-man, proeveryone. Feminism seeks gender equality, it doesn’t imply women are superior or deserve preferential treatment over men. While feminism doesn’t place women above men, it also doesn’t victimize women. Feminism isn’t a competition to gain the greatest amount of power and privileges — it’s about leveling the playing field, so no group has a head start. Because of feminism, vast improvements have been made not only in the realm of women’s rights, but also in virtually every facet of human affairs. When gender equality is prioritized, health programs can be designed to suit the needs of every demographic, there is more inclusive economic growth, and people are more likely to lead satisfying lives. Although feminism has done well to advance human rights, further strides must be made to reach equality. One way to improve feminism is to open up the floor to more diverse voices. Historically speaking, feminism has been dominated by the white, middle-class woman’s point of view. To reap
the full benefits of equality, feminist discussions must make room for marginalized experiences. Men, the group believed to be in the most advantageous position, are also frequently left out of the conversation. Men encounter discrepancies as well, which feminism needs to address. For instance, men are three to four times more likely to die from suicide compared to women. Although feminism often fails to address men’s mental health,
it might be the key to aiding it, as men in gender equal societies experience greater health and well-being. Needless to say, feminism is far from irrelevant. With recent lesgislation in Missouri continuing a dangerous trend in lawmakers barring women’s reproductive rights, there is no better time to be a feminist. There is no better time to defend human rights than right now.
The F-word
Emma Reid, staff cartoonist, first-year in exploratory studies
Parking lots are not the future Raleigh needs NC State is lucky to have many parks, green spaces and trees on campus. As you drive farther from main campus, however, the evidence of Raleigh’s Debra growing urban sprawl Mullis and the environmental Correspondent damage that comes with it becomes more evident. The new parking lot constructed last fall at the State Fairgrounds, adjacent to Carter-Finley Stadium, is one of the most recent examples
of this damage. Beginning in the spring of 2021, the State Fair desperately wanted more parking space for its fall event. Plans for a new parking lot were fast-tracked so the project would be completed by October, even though the new parking lot required the clear-cutting of several acres of trees and would cost $30 million, which would be paid partially by the government through a partnership with the private tech company Bandwidth. Bandwidth already owned the property on Chapel Hill road for its head-
quarters and agreed to expand parking to accommodate the fair. Officials were hoping the fair would be back and better than ever with new parking needs after the State Fair was canceled in 2020. A letter from April from State Fair Manager G. Kent Yelverto to the deputy agriculture commissioner of the NC Department of Environmental Quality, David Smith, confirmed that the 2021 fair was expected to be “the largest ever.” When the 2021 fair ended in October, it reported total attendance over 100,000 under what it was
in 2019. This was after the money was spent and the trees cut for the approximately 2,400 new parking spaces. The new lot on 5900 Chapel Hill road stretches 19 acres. It is in very close proximity to the historic Westover-Mt. Vernon neighborhood and a sensitive part of the Neuse River Watershed. These two facts are what make the quick construction of the new lot so problematic. The Westover-Mt. Vernon neighborhood has existed in Raleigh for as long as the State Fair. Every year residents have to deal
TECHNICIAN 7
Opinion TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
Enrollment prioritization poses as a disadvantage for some students As we embark upon the final month of the academic year, it’s about that time of year again — registration for the fall semester. On the surface, one would Mai not consider this a parListokin ticularly stressful time for Staff Columnist students as they shift their focus towards finals. However, a closer look into the registration process raises a repetitive issue that encumbers thousands of students. While the Enrollment Wizard on MyPack Portal for registration has been open since March 9, students can only browse, plan and organize courses until mid-April. While March 9 may seem to be an aptly early date to start organizing class schedules for the next semester, students can not actually do so until their assigned date and time. And here lies the main issue with many students being assigned extremely late dates, espe-
cially underclassmen with a low number of credits. On one hand, the registration system is organized by class level based on completed credit hours. Typically seniors register first, then juniors, sophomores and lastly freshman. This registration order is for good reason — the urgency is much greater for seniors to enroll in their necessary courses than freshmen who have many more semesters ahead of them. On the other hand, it’s apparent that within the freshman class some students are assigned enrollment dates weeks earlier than others. Official registration for most undergraduate students begins on April 7 this year, but many are unable to enroll until as late as April 15. This consequently leads to issues of space in classes that are already full to capacity by the week of April 15. This clear registration disadvantage results in stressful and frustrating circumstances for thousands of students who now,
once again, have to rearrange their schedule and push back required courses to later semesters and often face the lingering inability to pick necessary prerequisites in order to advance with their major. Some of the more common courses that typically get snatched due to such perpetual credit deficit are social sciences, statistics, economics, English, fitness classes and many other GEPs. The system which gives priority to certain students and not others is based on the number of credits one has as an incoming freshman. This is a recurring disadvantage to those who come from high schools that did not offer AP classes or other sources of credit while teaching on the same or higher level. Students from such schools have no way to accumulate credits before entering college or ever catching up with this deficit that follows them again and again every semester. In essence, those fortunate enough to enter college with more credits to begin with will always be able to register first at
any given year, perpetuating that disadvantage for the rest of the students. One simple solution NC State can opt for is a more randomized system, applied within grade levels to select and assign the registration day and time slots. This system would still prioritize seniors, but allows for students within each grade level to have an equal chance to get an earlier registration slot. Such policy change would even the field for students with different backgrounds as well since out-of-state and international students, who come from completely different school systems that often do not award them any credits but their matriculation certificate. A lottery system that determines time slots for registration is more equitable, fair and does not give an early pass to students throughout their entire degree. While all students aspire to reach the same spot in four years, it does not make sense to penalize certain segments of this student body.
Nova and Comet — Vote for the G.O.A.T.
Pearl Knight, staff cartoonist third-year in art and design
with the increased noise, lights and traffic from the fair. The clear-cutting of the pines destroyed the barrier between their homes and the fairgrounds. Previously, residents used the wooded area to hike, walk their dogs and enjoy the fresh air. When machinery rolled in in May 2021, many residents said they were unaware the project was even getting kicked off. A meeting on June 3 for public comment was canceled once the city learned the neighborhood hired an attorney to represent their interests, according to Spectrum News. Beyond being a barrier from fair activity each fall, the tree line surrounding the Westover-Mt. Vernon neighborhood helped to curtail damage from heavy winds and
storms to their historic properties. There will also likely be an increased heat island effect from the parking lot, making this summer more brutal for residents. A 2015 reform to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) bolstered by Republicans in the General Assembly allowed the State Fair to construct the parking lot with little public comment or a full exploration of the environmental impact of the project. This January, the full damage of the project came into focus. It was discovered that discarded dirt and rock were illegally dumped into an unnamed stream that feeds into Richland Creek and the Neuse River. Richland Creek is classified as Nutrient Sensitive Water, which means there is a
possible overgrowth of micro and macro vegetation. Restoration of the deposited sediment will be expensive and time-consuming because heavy machinery cannot be used in the sensitive ecosystem. The Neuse River has a 50-foot buffer zone to protect its waters, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The buffer has now become slimmer with the parking lot’s deforestation, and the river may now be more vulnerable to stormwater runoff and powerful winds. There are meaningful alternatives to new parking lots and for good reason. Tanglewood Park in Winston-Salem created a walking trail filled with native grasses where they formally had plans to construct
a parking lot. The area sits along the Yadkin River watershed. Instead of possibly creating harm to the existing ecosystem, the trail is now beloved by birdwatchers. The State Fair and the NC Department of Agriculture should have considered promoting ridesharing or improving public transportation options to the fair before constructing such a permanent, expensive and environmentally-damaging parking lot. Instead, GoRaleigh cut shuttles for fairgoers last fall under the stress of the bus driver shortage. Hopefully, attendance to the State Fair in future years will rise to a level that justifies the harm caused to nearby residents and the environment by its unnecessary parking lot.
Culture
8 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit returns, raises money for student radio station Jaylan Harrington Editor-in-Chief
For the first time since the pandemic began, WKNC’s Double Barrel Benefit rocked downtown Raleigh, raising over $3,000 for NC State’s student-run radio station. The 18th edition of the benefit ran from March 11-12 for a quartet of performances each night. Maddie Jennette, general manager of WKNC and a fourth-year studying computer engineering, said the benefit typically provides about 8% of WKNC’s revenue. Jennette said she started preparing for the benefit last October, settling on The Pour House as the venue before contacting artists, finalizing payments and creating promotional materials. Jennette said she went to the 17th Double Barrel in February 2020 as a DJ, and that looking back on previous benefits helped her plan this one. “I wanted to focus a lot more on non-men artists,” Jennette said. “I remember the Double Barrel show in 2020 had a lot of male art-
JERMAINE HUDSON/TECHNICIAN
Sweet Home guitarist Kelly Bridges strums the guitar during the first night of Double Barrel Benefit at The Pour House Music Hall on Friday, March 11, 2022. Double Barrel Benefit is an annual concert fundraiser for WKNC 88.1.
ists — which was probably not intentional, sometimes they might have wanted to book a female artist but they weren’t available — but I really tried to focus on bringing a lot of like female and non-male talent to to the show, and I think I did a pretty good job with that.” The event showcased diversity in gender, but also in musical style. Enlisted artists included Basura, a grindcore band, Permanent, an electronic artist, Elijah Rosario, an R&B artist, and NunAfterHours, a genre-bender who mixes rock and rap. An NC State alum, NunAfterHours said she was honored to be invited to perform. Her set, which came during the final day of the benefit, provided one of the more electric moments of the night as she performed “ROCK$TAR PU$$Y,” her favorite song to perform. After the concert, she said the energy and feedback from the crowd stood out. While the benefit was created to raise money for WKNC, it also provides a platform and
WKNC continued page 10
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Learn how donors strengthened the areas you care about most by going to dayofgiving.ncsu.edu.
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Culture TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
‘The Batman’ stays true to mythos, provides intrigue, incredible acting
GRAPHIC BY ADAM DEHUS
Caroline Wilbourne Correspondent
The newest Batman flick is the hottest film to hit theaters since “Spiderman: No Way Home.” Although its runtime is nearly three hours, it doesn’t feel that way. The pacing is actually pretty perfect, despite its length. There are a lot of beautifully shot scenes, and it’s arguably one of the best movies of 2022 so far. “The Batman” takes a different turn than in “The Dark Knight” trilogy or “Justice League.” Pattinson’s narration and the quiet gloominess of the film make it more like a neo-noir, which definitely makes it appealing, even if you’re not a big DC fan to begin with. Despite being filmed in the U.K., the setup of Gotham City in the film gives off New York City vibes. The plot is definitely unpredictable. Though the structure of the film is pretty straightforward, it begins in media res, no flashbacks to the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne and no young Bruce Wayne training to become a vigilante — just a
young, inexperienced Batman plunged into solving a murder-spree of the Gotham City elites. The only backstory given throughout the film is what is immediately essential to the Riddler’s plot. It’s super interesting to watch how Batman interacts with Catwoman and the Penguin to help bring down the Riddler. Every new crime the Riddler has done is so intricately thought out, planned and part of an overarching grand plot which shakes the core of the city. It’s scary how brilliant Matt Reeves’ writing is. “The Batman” follows these crimes one by one and emphasizes Batman’s talent as a detective as he takes down the Riddler which is why it’s so riveting to watch. Robert Pattinson’s performance as Batman is amazing. Although many people were questioning whether or not he would be good since most moviegoers remember him from his role as Edward Cullen in the Twilight series, seeing him in the Batman suit definitely blew those thoughts away. It was clear to see how perfect he is for the role. Pattinson brings this fitting, sad and
gloomy vibe to Bruce Wayne’s character. Plus, Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman and Pattinson’s Batman have good chemistry on screen. It’s super encapsulating to watch them work together, and even in off-screen interviews, they seem like great friends. Rounding out the performances of the main characters, let’s talk about Paul Dano as the Riddler. His interactions with Batman are both super entertaining and anxiety-inducing — the Riddler has this weird obsession with Batman. It seems like everyone in Gotham plays a part in his plans, even the man in the mask. Dano is so captivating to watch in this movie because he’s so unpredictable. As someone in the audience you have no idea what he has planned next. The cinematography, done by Academy Award-nominee Greig Fraser, is just breathtaking in its use of shadows, minimal lighting and warm color grading. There are so many good scenes, from action ones to ones with Batman and Catwoman, and many more that are truly breathtaking to watch. The opening shot in particular is phenomenal — it does a great job of presenting the
setting and the characters, and sets the scene well enough to where you’re locked in and ready to see the story that’s about to be unveiled to you. Michael Giacchino’s score in this movie is truly something that really sets the tone with every scene. Catwoman’s theme does this especially well. It starts off with this eerie piano that really draws you in and then comes in with a soft and serene collection of string instruments that turn it into something romantic. It’s super fitting for scenes that she shares with Batman because it helps you feel all the raw and beautiful emotions that they’re feeling on screen as they interact with each other. And when Giacchino isn’t called upon to score the film, the use of Nirvana’s “Something’s In The Way” is masterful. The ending to this movie was crazy intense and leaves the audience wanting more and anxiously anticipating what will happen next in this saga. ‘The Batman’ is definitely one people will be talking about for a long time, and thankfully there’s already talk about a sequel too.
Culture
10 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
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Upcoming ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ proves endless possibilities for multiverse films Allie Remhof Copy Desk Chief
It can begin to feel like there are endless movies from endless universes about all the endless possibilities. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” has unexpected matches made in Marvel heaven and “Space Jam: A New Legacy” had a whole catalog of Warner Brothers Easter eggs to pelt itself with. But unlike any of these intellectual property-driven multiverse films, directing duo Daniels’ new film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” has zero source material and thus, an infinite potential for the unexpected. The premise of this film is pretty different from ever-popular Marvel entries into the emerging multiverse genre. There are infinite versions of Evelyn Wang, played by Michelle Yeoh, and through doing increasingly weird acts, she can harness the powers of those other Evelyns to defeat the ultimate villain. The film ends up following the other Evelyns as well and showing how she could have become any of them. There’s also a definite philosophical aspect, slowly ruminating on the meaning of our lives and how we spend them and just how much those things matter. This existential contemplation becomes the strongest part of the film, anchored by all other delightfully bizarre choices by the filmmakers. Yeoh and Stephanie Hsu star as distant mother and daughter Evelyn and Joy. Yeoh is fantastic, showing off her action skills learned from her career as a prolific Hong Kong action star as well as her subtle acting prowess. Hsu, in short, is a star in the making. Hsu has had small roles in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of
the Ten Rings,” but nothing quite like this role, and she delivers. This role requires a lot of Hsu, and she is able to pull off that and more. The most interesting cast member, however, is Ke Huy Quan. Quan might be more recognizable as his stage name Jonathan Ke Quan as Data from “The Goonies” and Short Round in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” both big roles for a child actor, but was pushed into obscurity afterwards. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is Quan’s big return to screen and ended up being one of the best parts of the film. I was worried Quan would be a one-sided character and just a fun person to have grown up and on screen again, but he proves he is so much more than his childhood screen time. What some current multiverse movies lack is the actual value of filmmaking; even when exploring a universe completely unlike their own, settings in these other multiverses look the same. Directors of these films have little variation in their techniques even in the most opportune of scenarios. “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” in contrast, is eclectic in every sense and every craft of the film. Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert use an incredible variety of filmic techniques, including animation, imitations of auteur directors and practical and special effects alike. Tones vary throughout as well, from crudely comedic to soft and tender. They utilize ever-changing aspect ratios, interesting cinematography and editing techniques I’ve never seen before. The elements to take the greatest notes on are the costuming and editing. Because
this film takes place in a cosmic number of universes, there’s a completely different look to each universe explored, including and especially the costumes. The editing between these universes is additionally masterful and creates a very clear sense of unity in what could be an incredibly messy film. There are also clear delineations between each universe; because of the directors’ visual techniques, it’s hard to get lost in the time and space of it all. Recent multiverse movies, in my opinion, have leaned towards the camp of “I understood that reference” being thought by the audience throughout, and therefore the audience must have liked the movie because they “got it.” This isn’t a true error of these films; a lot of Marvel movie fans enjoy them for their self-referentialism, but for me, it gets tiring. Although there are cues to other movies, that sentiment isn’t the basis of the movie. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” is based on the meaning and meaninglessness of life, not hundreds of comic books. With this basis Daniels break a long line of soulless multiverses built on castles of intellectual property and instead make infinite possibilities unexpected, stylish and eccentric. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” releases in theaters everywhere on March 25, 2022.
Staff Writer
The Gregg Museum of Art & Design at NC State is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and admission is free to the public. Although the programs are currently virtual, people can visit the museum and view exhibitions in person. The “Frank Lee Craig – Near Distance” exhibition is on display from Feb. 11 to Aug. 20 and features work from the late artist, architect and NC State College of Design graduate Frank Lee Craig. The exhibition was cocurated by his wife, Margret Kentgens-Craig, and Gregg Museum director Roger Manley. “This is an exhibition of a lot of collage,
some painting, some assemblage, which is like the sculpture version of collage,” said Christina Wytko Marchington, the Gregg Museum educational programs and communications coordinator. From Mar. 31 to Nov. 12, “Across the Threshold of India – Photographs by Martha Strawn” will be on display at the Gregg. The exhibition will also feature some objects from the museum’s permanent collection. “It’ll feature her photographs — some are in black and white with some beautiful contrasts — and then some have some amazing great colors,” Marchington said. “A lot of the photographs focus on women and their domestic life, and these were taken across a
WKNC
It’s just always crazy to think that there are people who listen to us and will support our shows. — Maddie Jenette
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The Gregg Museum of Art & Design invites community to new exhibitions
Olivia Winston
opportunity for attendees to experience local acts they continued from page 8 otherwise wouldn’t. Jennette said the Greensboro-based band Black Haüs drove over an hour to play during the benefit’s first evening and made a huge impression. “All the [day one] artists were great, but Black Haüs really blew everyone away,” Jennette said. “I had multiple strangers in the crowd come up to me and say, ‘Great job getting them to play. They were amazing.’ I was like, ‘I know.’ Like, ‘They were so good.’ Everyone was dancing to their set and having so much fun.” The largest group to perform at the benefit, Kenny Wavinson headed a five-person band which brought a different groove to the stage. Wavinson said the band’s booking happened somewhat by chance, as he reached out to WKNC to get some songs on the radio and Jennette had a spot she needed to fill for the benefit. With Preston Edwards on the drums, Logan Moss on keyboard, Warren Davis playing guitar and Holden Edwards playing bass, the ensemble provided a standout experience on the final day of the benefit — and it did so in its first performance as a group. Each member of the quintet said they fed off the energy of the crowd and their chemistry with each other, and that they look forward to future performances together.
Sometimes a lot of what we do is getting people to think outside the box and push their expectations of what art or design means. — Christina Marchington
“All I want to do is to be able to play music with my boys for a living,” Wavinson said. “That’s all I want. Whether it’s on a big level, small level, or whatever it is, two to three people, as long as I get to do it with them. I’m totally happy.” With over 300 attendees across the twoday benefit, this year’s Double Barrel marked a smashing return of live music and was a reminder of the impact student radio creates. “It just feels like very much a thing that you and your friends do, but you have to remember that the entire other part of it is the listeners, the base; there are people out there listening to us, too,” Jennette said. “In my mind, I pictured DBB just being a lot of my friends here. But looking out into the audience last night, it’s just a ton of people that I don’t know, which is crazy. It’s just always crazy to think that there are people who listen to us and will support our shows, who I don’t even know before. And so I’m just very grateful that people decided to come out for the show.”
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THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
Textiles student Meredith Howell changes the game with fashion house Maison de Laflare Elyse Boldizar Correspondent
Maison de Laflare, launched in October 2021, is a luxury fashion boutique that features original designs by Meredith Howell, a fourth-year student studying fashion textile management. Howell began selling her handmade garments in 2020 during the pandemic after photos of her creations blew up on Instagram. Since then, Howell has launched a fashion house that has already taken the industry by storm. Howell’s designs include handmade, quality pieces like shorts and pants made from vintage tapestries, screen-printed T-shirts and hand-crafted puffer coats. Some pieces are a part of a larger collection, others are made individually for clients. What stands out are the lush patterns and innovative edge that each of Howell’s pieces exudes. “I typically take inspiration from pieces in my closet,” Howell said. “I’ll see them and be like, ‘This is great, but this could be so much better.’” Howell sells primarily through Instagram and, more recently, has experimented with TikTok. Her clothes can also be found at pop-up shops throughout Raleigh, Charlotte, Durham and Winston-Salem. “If you’re going to have a garment, especially of mine, I do want it to be one of your favorite pieces,” Howell said. “And that’s what I love when I see people with my clothes and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, I wear this all the time.’ That’s what my mission is.” The seeds of Howell’s career were planted in seventh grade when her science teacher
encouraged her to go into the fashion industry for her interest in material technology. However, it really bloomed in high school after Howell participated in NC State’s Summer Textile Exploration Program (STEP). Howell said STEP was the first time she had seen a studio where people were “really making clothes.” Her first sewing project was a blue fur coat, lined with a Picasso silk scarf. She said she didn’t use a pattern and it was not fully functional, but it still remains one of her favorite pieces. Maison de Laflare may be a new brand, but it’s already making big waves in the fashion industry. In 2021, Howell collaborated with her friend Axel Nyembwe, the style curator for NBA All-Star Zion Williamson. Howell created custom anime-themed pieces for Williamson to wear at the first round of the NBA Draft in 2019 and again in 2021. Photos of Williamson in the clothing went viral and were shared by major outlets like SportsCenter and Complex. Since then, Nyembwe and Howell have kept in touch and hope to collaborate again in the future. “She’s the future,” Nyembewe said. “She’s just the future of the new design perspective that’s coming up about designers. Not even just designers, but women designers, Black women designers. How many Black women designers are there out there?” As a full-time student, Howell was forced to learn how to balance school and running a business. “I had to grow up, immediately,” Howell said. “Having a business is its own thing. It’s not a liability, it’s definitely an asset, but
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In 2017, the old Chancellor’s Residence was renovated for its new purpose, housing the Gregg Museum of Art & Design. Along with a new addition of over 15,000 square feet, the museum has multiple galleries along with spaces for classes and private events.
few decades. … A lot of them were taken in the ‘80s and ‘90s in India.”
Many of the photographs focus on rangoli, which is an art form that is placed at the
COURTESY OF MEREDITH HOWELL
you have to actively work yourself to make sure that it is an asset. That takes a lot of learning to do. It takes a lot of inner work as well as understanding exactly what you want to do.” According to Howell, this is just the beginning of Maison de Laflare. She hopes to develop more in-house manufacturing with a full team. Ultimately, she dreams of sharing her designs at Paris Fashion Week. “I definitely want to make an impact, I want people to see my clothes and feel inspired cause that’s what life is about,” How-
ell said. “I want to do that on a large scale, I want everyone around the country to think about my clothes and think of luxury, comfort, but also I’m sustainable. It’s just like adding to the world’s beauty and the higher vibration of it all.” Howell plans to release more collections this coming spring, with a return of her popular tapestry-woven shorts. Maison de Laflare is also set for a new logo and branding coming soon. Follow the brand’s Instagram and website to stay updated on all that’s to come.
threshold of the home during celebrations. “Oftentimes they are made with flour or flour that has been dyed with other spices like turmeric, sometimes rice,” Marchington said. “And they drop the materials on the ground to create these really intricate patterns.” The Gregg Museum will display work from Chapel Hill artist Eric Serritella in “Eric Serritella – Trompe l’Oeil Ceramics” from April 14 to Dec. 3. The French term Trompe l’Oeil translates to “trick of the eye.” “He creates really intricate ceramic sculptures that look just like tree bark, and they are really amazing,” Marchington said. “I am really excited to see them in person.” In early June, there will be an exhibition based on Egyptian-inspired objects from the museum’s permanent collection. “It will feature a very large tent — I want to say it’s 16 feet in diameter,” Marchington said. “So that will kind of be the main focus of the exhibition.” The Gregg Museum has a permanent collection of almost 40,000 objects, which is the largest collection of artifacts in North Carolina.
“Sometimes a lot of what we do is getting people to think outside the box,” Marchington said. “And push their expectations of what art or design means, rather than just a very traditional ‘This is a painting, so that must be art’ kind of thing.” According to Manley, the Gregg’s primary goal is to support NC State’s academics. “Our major aim is to make this a resource for professors and students to be able to work with real objects or investigate subjects that can be told through objects,” Manley said. Although the Gregg Museum strives to serve both the NC State and Raleigh communities, the staff especially encourages NC State students to visit and enjoy the museum. “I want people to come to this museum, particularly students, to feel inspired,” Manley said. “To come out of there thinking … ‘This gives me an idea for something I could make. It’s within my reach.’” The Gregg Museum of Art & Design also sells catalogues based on exhibitions and offers virtual tours of some current and past exhibitions. For more information about the Gregg Museum, visit its website.
Sports
12 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
NC State women’s basketball entering program-defining stretch
Ben Ellis
Senior Sports Editor
As it prepares for yet another Sweet 16, the NC State women’s basketball team faces what is perhaps one of the most important stretches in program history. In the past five seasons, the Wolfpack has qualified for four consecutive Sweet 16s, won three straight ACC Tournament championships, and this year won the ACC regular-season championship. It has been a historic run, to say the least, and this year’s senior class is one of the most accomplished in school history. The only thing that this senior class and team needs now to forever cement themselves as NC State legends is to win a national championship. As the Pack knows all too well, however, doing so is extremely difficult, and it will be no different this goround. The competition this year is as tough as ever. To start out, NC State plays its Sweet 16 game against Notre Dame, who handed the Pack its only loss in ACC play this season and is coming off an absolute beatdown of Oklahoma in the second round, winning 108-64. If it makes it past Notre Dame, the Pack will play the winner of No. 3-seeded Indiana and No. 2-seeded UConn. NC State beat Indiana earlier this season on the road, but the Hoosiers handed the Pack a heartbreaking loss in last year’s tournament and has the exact same starting five.
UConn is the preeminent powerhouse of women’s college basketball, having won 11 national championships, and is once again one of the best teams in the country this season with reigning national player of the year Paige Bueckers. Plus, NC State would be playing in UConn’s backyard of Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the Huskies would likely have a home crowd advantage as the No. 2 seed. Simply put, NC State has a tough road ahead if it wants to reach its first Final Four since 1998. The Pack cruised by its first two opponents of the tournament, but there are no easy games from here on out. Every team is going to give the Pack hell, but if NC State wants to win a national championship, that’s what it’s like; it’s hard as hell. The Pack has a lot riding on this NCAA EMILY PEEDIN/TECHNICIAN Tournament. On top of the team wanting Senior center Elissa Cunane hugs sophomore guard Madison Hayes after the ACC championto cap off this historic five-year run with ship game against the University of Miami on Sunday, March 6, 2022 inside Greensboro Coliseum. NC State won the game 60-47. a national championship, NC State fans are also desperate for a national champi- women’s basketball team in the Bridgeport nior center Elissa Cunane and the rest of onship. NC State has not won a national region with UConn despite being a No. 1 the senior class. Every game, every minute championship in a major sport (football, seed. Truth be told there’s only one way to and every shot from the previous five years led to this. men’s basketball, women’s basketball, base- gain that respect, and its winning it all. What happens next will define the proAt a certain point, the Pack is going to ball) since 1983, and with every win, the pressure mounts for the Wolfpack women have to break through. This year it’s going to gram. NC State has proven the last few be tough, but it’s tough every year. If there’s seasons that it is a good program. Head to end the drought. NC State sports fans have also complained any Wolfpack team that has been capable of coach Wes Moore has done a remarkable job getting the program back to national about a lack of respect shown by the NCAA breaking through, however, it’s this team. This could very well be the last season prominence. However, if NC State wants to and the national sports media, which has been exacerbated by the NC State baseball in the foreseeable future that NC State has elevate its status from a good program to a team’s exit from the 2021 College World a legitimate shot at winning the national great program, it has to win it all. Series and this year’s decision to put the championship. This is the last run for se-
Pack wrestlers earn All-American honors at NCAAs
TEAM PLACES 10TH, HAYDEN HIDLAY, TRENT HIDLAY, TARIQ WILSON MAKE DAY THREE Jaylan Harrington Editor-in-Chief
One of just three schools to qualify its entire lineup for the NCAA Championships, No. 4 NC State wrestling finished 10th overall after three days of wrestling. The placement marks just the sixth time in program history that NC State finished inside the top 10 at NCAAs. Three wrestlers attained All-American status and made the final day of the tournament: graduate 174-pound four-seed Hayden Hidlay, redshirt sophomore 184-pound three-seed Trent Hidlay and graduate 149-pound two-seed Tariq Wilson. Just two wrestlers made the semifinals, the Hidlay brothers. After a 5-3 decision over fifth-seeded Michael Kemerer of Iowa in the quarterfinals, Hayden Hidlay
drew the top-seeded, undefeated, Carter Starocci and the Nittany Lion lived up to his record and reputation as defending champion. Starocci was just too much of a load and he kept coming through all three periods, taking a 10-3 decision. Hidlay was unable to get any offense going, with all his scores coming from escapes. Still, he bounced back on day three of the tournament, taking out six-seed Dustin Plott 8-2, then Kemerer again, this time with a dominant 12-4 major decision, to secure third place. The match brought an end to one of the most storied careers in Wolfpack wrestling history, and cemented a fifth year of All-American honors for the elder Hidlay. Trent Hidlay took out Oregon State’s sixth-seeded Trey Munoz in the quarterfinals before running into a Nittany Lion of his own. Faced with two-seed Aaron
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Redshirt sophomore Trent Hidlay celebrates his 2-1 decision victory over Virginia Tech’s Hunter Bolden in the 184 pound match. The Wolfpack won the home wrestling match against the Virginia Tech Hokies 21-10 at Reynolds Coliseum on Feb. 20, 2022. The Wolfpack also received the 2021-22 ACC dual champion trophy.
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Defense powers NC State women’s basketball to fourth straight Sweet 16 up against one of the best post players in the country and she did a phenomenal job on the defensive end and then was able to Managing Editor score the ball as well,” Moore said. “And so, again, it’s great to have this much talent and depth that you can, you know, rotate and somebody gets in foul trouble, somebody’s Nicholas Schnittker having an off night, we got a lot of people Sports Editor that can step in and we don’t miss a beat.” Matching up with Lee, who set the NCAA The No. 1-seeded NC State women’s basrecord for points in a game earlier this seaketball team defeated No. 9-seeded Kansas son, would be a daunting task for any player. State 89-57 in the NCAA Tournament on Hobby, however, was ready for the moment Monday, March 21 inside Reynolds Coliseand ended the game with eight points and um to advance to the team’s fourth straight helped get Lee into some foul trouble of her Sweet 16. own, as the All-Big 12 first teamer finished The Wolfpack (31-3) opened up a big lead with just 12 points, well below her season in the second quarter and never looked average 22 points per game. back, capitalizing on a lengthy field-goal “She has a lot of confidence,” Moore said. drought from the Wildcats (20-13). “And she wants to have a bigger role, obvi“Just couldn’t be prouder of these young ously, she will. But how many kids are going ladies,” said head coach Wes Moore. “Every to do what she’s done? In the modern times challenge that’s put before them, they just of transfer portals and all that stuff, how step up and are unbelievable. Off the court, many kids are going to sit there and say, ‘You know what, I’m just going to keep working and loving my teammates and being prepared,’? And you know, there’s been a lot of games that we wouldn’t have won without Camille Hobby. So it’s just a blessing to have her.” Despite the fact that Cunane played just under four minutes in the first half, NC State came away with a 43-27 lead by halftime and five players had at least five points in the period. “I was worried about it,” Moore said. “I didn’t know how we would respond. We also played this team earlier in the year. So I was worried about, you know, are we going to be a little complacent. Worried about, are they going to get emotional about it being the last game in Reynolds. And all that stuff. Like I said, none of that phased them.” The Pack’s defense was also a major factor in its lead-building run, holding the SARAH COCHRAN/TECHNICIAN Wildcats without a field goal for a stretch The NC State Women’s basketball team celebrate its ACC Tournament championship victory of eight minutes and 23 seconds between over the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday, March 6, 2022 in the Greensboro Coliseum. The Wolf-
the first two quarters and forcing seven firsthalf turnovers. NC State continued its ridiculous offensive domination through the second half as a double-digit lead continued to stretch, completely blowing out the Wildcats for the duration of the game. With six different players scoring in the third quarter, the Pack extended its lead, outscoring Kansas State 23-12 in the third and shooting 62.5% from the field in that period. Similarly to the first-round game against Longwood, NC State was able to unload its bench in the fourth quarter which carried the Pack to the finish line, giving NC State the 32-point win. Playing in their final game in Reynolds, Cunane, Perez, graduate guard Kai Crutchfield and Jones were all given standing ovations as they exited the court one last time. “When they came in here, they took a leap of faith,” Moore said. “We weren’t in the top 10 year after year, whatever. And so they took a leap of faith to come to NC State and to build something. … It’s not easy jumping from high school to this level. It is tough. And so sometimes they don’t understand, but what they have done is unbelievable. They deserve a lot of curtain calls. Like I said, I have been riding their coattails now for a few years, and I may need to see if I can graduate this year, I don’t know. We’re going to miss them.” Next up, NC State travels to Bridgeport, Connecticut for the Sweet 16 to take on fifth-seeded Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are responsible for one of the Pack’s three losses on the season. That game will be played on Saturday, March 26. As for today’s game, Reynolds was packed and as loud as it has ever been, giving the departing players a deserved sendoff. “It was amazing, just to hear how loud they were and just to leave on that note,” Jones said. “As a senior, I mean, it was a great feeling. And I’m sure all my teammates can say the same. To come out with a win like that, it was amazing.”
Brooks, Trent Hidlay had a similarly tough time as his brother, constantly forced to the edge of the mat by Brooks’ pressure and unable to get his usual offense going. He and Brooks know each other well, they met in the finals last year and Brooks won by a point. Things were similarly tight this time around, as Trent Hidlay was down 3-1 entering the third before escaping and using Brooks’ aggressiveness against him. After a shot by Brooks, Trent Hidlay countered and found a takedown of his own, and the match went to sudden-death OT after Brooks escaped to tie things up. De-
Isaac Trumble and junior heavyweight 21seed Tyrie Houghton each lost their tournament-opening matches, won their first consolation match and lost their second. Redshirt sophomore 125-pound 14seed Jakob Camacho, redshirt freshman 133-pound 15-seed Kai Orine and freshman 141-pound 18-seed Ryan Jack all ended their tournaments with losses in the third round of the consolation bracket.
Tristan Tucker
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on the court, I’m just so blessed to be around them. And so I’m just very thankful.” Three different players scored at least 15 points, and every scholarship player scored for the Pack as it held Kansas State to 38.8% shooting and forced 16 turnovers at the other end of the court in a dominant display. Graduate forward Kayla Jones, playing in her final game at Reynolds Coliseum, led the way with 18 points on 8 for 9 shooting, but graduate guard Raina Perez and sophomore guard Diamond Johnson weren’t far behind with 15 points each. Johnson shot a perfect 5 for 5 from deep. The Wolfpack ’s competitive f lame could’ve died down early when senior center Elissa Cunane picked up her second foul of the game in the first four minutes. Instead, junior center Camille Hobby hit one of the biggest buckets of her NC State career, going up against Ayoka Lee, igniting the Pack in Cunane’s absence. “Every time we call on [Hobby], she steps
pack beat the Hurricanes 60-47.
termined to press the issue, Trent Hidlay shot off the whistle in the extra period and Brooks stuffed it, scoring a takedown of his own to return to the finals. The loss sent Trent Hidlay to the consolation bracket, where he lost his first bout before winning the seventh-place match 3-2 over Ohio State’s seven-seed Kaleb Romero. This is Trent Hidlay’s second straight year achieving All-American status. Tariq Wilson and four-seed Ed Scott both had their title races end in the quarterfinals, Wilson falling to Nebraska’s 10seed Ridge Lovett by pin and Scott losing a 5-3 decision to Princeton’s fifth-seeded
Quincy Monday. Monday eventually made the 157 finals. Wilson lost his first match on day three, but dominated five-seed Kyle Parco of Arizona State 14-2 for seventh place. He ends his NC State career with over 100 career wins and four All-American years. In the Blood Round, Scott was dinged for a pin at the hands of 10-seed Peyton Robb of Nebraska, a controversial finish to a stellar start at 157 pounds by Scott. He ended his season just one win short of All-American status. Graduate 165-pound 21-seed Thomas Bullard, freshman 197-pound 15-seed
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Sports 14 TECHNICIAN Women’s swim and dive places fifth at NCAAs, Berkoff shatters American record THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022
Sam Overton
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
JESSE CHILDS/ARCHIVE
Culture Editor
Freshman Kylee Alons swims in the 200-yard butterfly against Virginia at Casey Aquatic Center on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019 with a final time of 1:57.03. NC State women’s swimming & diving was victorious over the Cavaliers with a final score of 167-127.
Although the Wolfpack women didn’t finish quite as high at this year’s NCAA Championships in comparison to 2021, this year’s meet still showed plenty of amazing swims from some of the best talent the swim team’s seen since the arrival of head coach Braden Holloway. The Wolfpack finished in fifth place with 279 points, a mere nine points behind Alabama. The women put their strongest swimmers in the 200-yard medley relay to kick things off on Wednesday night. Junior Katharine Berkoff, senior Sophie Hansson, sophomore Abby Arens and senior Kylee Alons broke 1:33 for the first time in program history to secure the silver medal in 1:32.96, a little over half a second behind Virginia. Berkoff unofficially broke the 50 back American record by leading off the relay with a 22.76, the fastest backstroke split of the field. The Wolfpack faltered slightly in the 800-yard freestyle relay, garnering a 12th-place finish to secure 10 more points for the women. Although no Wolfpack women made it past prelims in the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle during
Thursday’s prelims, both Berkoff and Alons made it into the A-final of the 50-yard freestyle. Both dropped under 0.1 seconds to finish in 21.56 and 21.62, respectively. Granted, their performances were overshadowed by Kate Douglass’ first-place finish — the Virginia junior posted a 20.87 to break the American record. On Thursday evening, Berkoff dropped an additional 0.01 to finish seventh overall. Alons finished a mere 0.13 seconds behind her, both women picking up a total 23 points for the Wolfpack. Later on in the night, Berkoff, Alons, Hansson and Arens finished third in their second relay of the meet, touching the wall in 1:26.37 in the 200-yard freestyle relay to beat out Ohio State for a podium finish. Friday morning’s session was huge for several of NC State’s top swimmers — the 100-yard butterfly, breaststroke and backstroke events proved to be some big swims for Alons, Hansson and Berkoff, respectively. All three women tacked on a bit of time but managed to finish in the top eight to secure a spot in the A-final.
Friday night’s session saw arguably the Wolfpack’s most impressive performance of the meet. Berkoff not only defended her national title in the 100-yard backstroke — she broke the American, U.S. Open, NCAA and meet records by becoming the first woman in history to go under 49 seconds in the event. Although the American and U.S. Open records haven’t existed for long — Berkoff’s opponent, Stanford’s Regan Smith, set both with a 49.16 in 2021 — Berkoff’s records are likely to last for at least a year or so. Although Hansson didn’t perform quite as well, the Swedish native took home bronze in the 100-yard breaststroke finals, touching the wall in 57.01. The following morning, both senior Emma Muzzy and graduate student Kate Moore finished in the top 16 of the 200yard backstroke prelims to qualify for finals. The 100-yard freestyle saw two qualifiers from NC State — Berkoff finished second overall, just 0.11 behind the first-place qualifier, and Alons made the consolation final in 48.02.
Finally, Hansson qualified for the A-final in the 200-yard breaststroke, and freshman Grace Sheble clinched a second swim in the 200-yard butterfly at her first-ever NCAAs. Saturday night saw two podium finishes for the women’s team on the final night of competition. Both Berkoff and Hansson placed third in the finals of the 100yard freestyle and 200-yard breaststroke, respectively. Berkoff gained a bit of time from prelims, but Hansson dropped about a second and a half from her morning swim to nab bronze in the final college championships swim of her career. Some die-hard NC State swim fans may have been a tad disappointed at some of the performances this past weekend, but a fifth-place finish is nothing short of incredible, especially considering Holloway’s path thus far. Even though several of the Wolfpack’s top stars will graduate this May, the 2021-22 season bodes well for the future of NC State’s swim team. The Wolfpack men will return to the pool on March 23-26 for NCAA Championships.
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TECHNICIAN 15
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THURSDAY, MARCH 24 2022
The Murder Mystery
Kiara Bush, staff cartoonist third year in design studies and statistics
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