Hopscotch 2023 — Technician 09/14/23

TECHNICIAN

THE RADAR

Events to keep an eye on for the week of Sept. 14

CRAFTING AND CONNECTING

Thursday, Sept. 14, 1 - 2:30 p.m.

TALLEY STUDENT UNION 5210

Free

SMOOTHIE BOWL STATION

TAKEOVER

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

TALLEY-STUDENT UNION, MOUNTAINSPIEDMONT BALLROOMS

Free

Enjoy a delicious smoothie bowl at Fountain Dining Hall with NC State Dining and the Dairy Alliance. The station will offer fruit and milk bowls with various toppings.

PAUSE FOR PAWS

MINDFUL MOMENTS — SOUND BATH AT THE GREGG MUSEUM

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2:30 - 4 p.m.

GREGG MUSEUM OF ART & DESIGN

Free

Sit back, relax and listen to a sound bath. In honor of wellness day, Gregg Museum of Art & Design will host a south bath to help students practice mindfulness and focus on the present moment. Registration is required for this event.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 12 - 1:30 p.m.

Join the Women’s Center and the Counseling Center for Crafting and Connecting, a communal healing space for students to connect with peers while tapping into their creativity. Counselors will be available to talk with students seeking support.

D.H. HILL JR. LIBRARY, HILLSBOROUGH ST. PATIO Free

Join Prevention Services for a therapy dog session to relieve stress on the wellness day. Bring a friend and use this opportunity to destress with pets.

THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS

Managing Editor/Brand Manager Emily Vespa technician-managingeditor@ncsu.edu technician-marketing@ncsu.edu

Copy Desk Chief Rachelle Hernandez technician-copydesk@ncsu.edu

Assistant Copy Desk Chief Elliot Johnson News Editor Kate Denning technician-news@ncsu.edu

LAUREN CONWAY

Nick Abele, a sophomore in international studies, happily pets Deliah at Wolf Plaza on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Deliah is a certified therapy dog and visits the students of NC State almost every week. Chris D’Arco, Deliah’s owner and alumni of NC State said, “I remember what it was like to miss family and miss my animals... so everything that happened last year, we just started spending more and more time here, thinking that it was better for the kids.”

Assistant News Editors Ally Tennant Amelia Russell Culture Editors Emilia Rivadeneira Elizabeth Dull technician-features@ncsu.edu

Design Editor Ellie Bruno technician-design@ncsu.edu

Assistant Design Editor Carter McDermott Opinion Editor Justin Welch technician-opinion@ncsu.edu

Assistant Opinion Editor Skye Crawford

Focused Editor Koen Rodabaugh technician-opinion@ncsu.edu

Sports Editor Jenna Cuniowski technician-sports@ncsu.edu

Assistant Sports Editors Erin Ferrare Noah Teague

Photo Editor Ethan Rimolt technician-photo@ncsu.edu

Video Editor Isaac Hernandez technician-video@ncsu.edu

Assistant Video Editor Katherine Wan

General Manager Garrett Gough media-sales@ncsu.edu

BACK COVER BY JEREMY BYRNE

Journey of Hope: Pi Kappa Phi bikes 13 states for The Ability Experience

Amelia Russell Assistant News Editor & Maira Khan Correspondent

This summer, NC State students Jack Agresta and John Bradford embarked on a 4,315 mile, 67 day cross-country cycling trip called “Journey of Hope” to benefit The Ability Experience, Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropy.

With an average of 85 miles a day, Agresta and Bradford raised $9,200 and $12,004 respectively with the help of family, friends, local businesses and more.

Bradford, a third-year studying business administration, said the trip was grueling at times.

“We had to bike 80 miles after doing 135 the day before with 1,000 feet of climbing, which was ridiculous,” Bradford said. “And it was pouring rain for the entire ride. And I just remember being completely, utterly miserable. As everything was soaked, I was freezing cold and my legs hurt, my back, my hands, everything hurt, and you’re just like, ‘Holy crap, what are we out here doing?’”

Even through tough weather conditions, Bradford said his teammates motivated him.

“If you’re starting to struggle, you put the slowest guy in your paceline always up front, and you’re always pushing them to keep digging hard,” Bradford said. “And if you come up to a big climb, [and] they’re slowing down, you don’t pass them because that’s a motivation killer, and you just say, ‘Come on man, let’s go. Let’s go, you know, 15 more feet, 50 more feet.’”

Agresta, a fifth-year studying economics and communications, said the trip’s overarching cause encouraged everyone to keep cycling during difficult routes

“Some of those days, it was like 30 degrees in the morning in the northwest,” Agresta said. “So you have to put four layers on. You’re like, ‘I don’t want to do this. It’s hard.’ But at the same time, I just tell myself, ‘Do I really want to be the dude who doesn’t ride this?’ Just realize what it’s all for.”

Bradford said the trip wasn’t just biking — cyclists joined local organizations dedicated to individuals with disabilities for friendship visits, which included activities such as dance parties, games and sharing a meal together.

Bradford said the money raised goes toward charities that riders visit while on their cycling trip.

“The money goes to both friendship visits in the form of grants and to fund the

organization as a whole so they can fund other projects and also aid people with disabilities,” Bradford said.

Agresta said the friendship visits added a lot of significance to the trip.

“It was really emotional for a lot of people to see how cheerful some of these kids that needed to be taken care of were,” Agresta said. “We heard the next day [from] our project manager they only have a year or two to live, and that really hit all of us pretty hard. So that was really impactful for a lot of us.”

Although the cycling trip came with challenges, Bradford said the genuine value of the trip was making friends during the friendship visit.

“I worked with a man [at one of the friendship visits], and he never gave me his name — he just said, ‘Call me your best friend’,” Bradford said. “As soon as I got there he pointed to me and said, ‘You’re my best friend.’ And so the entire day we just ran around outside, and it was like, 102 degrees. We were sweating, we were tired, but he just wanted to go, go, go.”

Bradford said he gained valuable experience and insight on the trip.

“Getting to work with people of all sorts of disabilities was a new challenge, specifically helping with people who are more medically fragile or nonverbal,” Bradford said. “But over the course of the summer, I got a lot better, and so I think I’d feel a lot more comfortable working with the disabled community. But it also showed me that these people are the kindest, most bighearted, fun people you’ll ever meet. None, not a single one of them, ever says anything negative, and they never judge you for what you’re doing or who you are. They’re just there to have a great time.”

NC State students advocate for gun control after UNC-Chapel Hill shooting

Autumn Walser Correspondent

After a shooting on nearby UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus Aug. 28, NC State student Amelia Wilmoth was compelled to take action. The day of the shooting, she started a Students Demand Action chapter at NC State.

Students Demand Action is a coalition of student activists pushing for gun control legislation across the country. Members lead protests, voter registration drives and endorse “gun sense candidates” on all levels of government.

Wilmoth, a third-year studying history, said the proximity of the UNC shooting was her primary motivation for starting the chapter.

“I have a bunch of friends who go [to UNC] who were in the building where this was all unfolding,” Wilmoth said. “It really hit me hard. For years I’ve been saying ‘Enough is enough. We need to do something.’ But when it affected me personally, I just couldn’t do it anymore, and I knew something had to change. We need to work on having universal background checks, minimum age restrictions and open carry

regulations.”

Members of NC State’s Students Demand Action chapter will protest in collaboration with March for Our Lives at the North Carolina General Assembly and encourage activism.

“We’re passing out flyers letting people know it’s time to register to vote,” Wilmoth said.

GUN CONTROL continued page 4

COURTESY OF JOHN BRADFORD

GUN CONTROL

continued from page 3

“We’ll be going to the Capitol and talking with our representatives in the North Carolina government. We’ll be doing projects with UNC’s chapter.” Steven Greene, a professor of political science, said although changes to gun control laws are unlikely in the current political climate, organizations such as Students Demand Action can still make a difference.

“The truth is, right now, people who are in favor of gun rights have the upper hand politically,” Greene said. “People who favor more permissive gun laws tend to have more intensity. An intense minority trumps an apathetic majority every time. It needs people being organized on the issue and having organizations that have the same level of intensity that the NRA does.”

Greene said he believes being involved in these groups is a vital way for students to voice their opinions and enact legislative change.

“I think it is reasonably likely to see stricter gun laws in my lifetime, and it’s going to be because of the youth of today,” Greene said. “The reality of gun laws in this country and the unique role of guns in our culture means it’s going to be a long, hard effort to make meaningful change. But nothing changes when people are just like ‘I give up’ or ‘Oh, it’s just too hard.’ It’s an important step to have an increasing number of young people taking these steps.”

Greene said organizations like Students Demand Action can help drive change.

“If gun laws are going to change, it needs people feeling strongly on the issue,” Greene said.

For more information on Students Demand Action, visit studentsdemandaction.org. Follow the NC State chapter on Instagram @studentsdemandncsu.

Campus cooking: What experts have to say on food safety for students

Navigating the kitchen and cooking safely are new tasks to NC State students who are not on meal plans, live off-campus or are simply interested in making a home-cooked meal. Before new chefs get started in the kitchen, it’s important to understand the basics of food safety for a good meal and a healthy school year.

Hand washing

One of the most important steps for food safety is hand washing.

Department Head of NC State’s Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, Ben Chapman, said hand washing — especially after restroom use — prevents the

spread of foodborne illnesses. Hand washing also prevents cross-contamination, which occurs when bacteria or other microorganisms are transferred from one surface to another.

According to the CDC, one of the most prevalent foodborne illnesses, norovirus, is highly contagious and can spread when an infected person prepares or cooks food. The virus particles are spread through human fecal matter as well as vomit, so hand washing is extremely important in preventing the spread of the virus.

College students are particularly at risk for getting norovirus because of shared living spaces and close quarters.

“Once someone gets [norovirus], it’s really easy to pass on to someone else, especially if they’ve been around where they vomited,”

Chapman said.

Lee-Ann Jaykus, William Neal Reynolds distinguished professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, said other common foodborne illnesses can be caused by bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter.

Outbreaks of bacteria like salmonella and E. coli are often reported across multiple states, occurring when animal fecal matter contaminates a product during production or processing. This contaminated food is then distributed to grocery stores, restaurants and campuses, Jaykus said.

However, foodborne pathogen-causing bacteria always has the potential to be present in raw meat, poultry and fresh produce.

“There’s always a chance that bug could be present,” Jaykus said. “And then if you

didn’t adequately wash your hands or you inadvertently touched a surface and didn’t decontaminate it, the bug would be present there and could pose a risk of making somebody sick. So that’s the major reason that one of the recommendations for USDA is always wash your hands and decontaminate surfaces like cutting boards when you’re handling raw meat.”

Avoid the “Danger Zone”

Don’t leave perishable food in temperatures between 40 ° F and 140 ° F, known as the “Danger Zone.” Between these temperatures, bacteria grows rapidly and makes food unsafe to eat.

FOOD continued page 5

HALLIE WALKER/TECHNICIAN

Flowers, candles, letters and a copy of the Daily Tar Heel pile up at a memorial for Zijie Yan at the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower at UNCChapel Hill on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. Yan, a professor at Chapel Hill, was killed in an on-campus shooting at Caudill Labs.

Savannah Woodman Correspondent

continued from page 4

For those who meal prep, Jaykus says students can portion their leftovers or future meals before putting them in the fridge to prevent food sitting in the Danger Zone.

“What you’re better off doing is to piecemeal or to portion [the food] into smaller tupperware containers so it’ll cool down a little bit faster,” Jaykus said.

Clean all kitchen items

While hand washing is one of the most important rules in preventing the spread of

foodborne illness, the cleaning and sanitizing of kitchen items is necessary, too.

“Our research team a couple years ago did some work where we asked people to prepare turkey burgers from ground turkey,” Chapman said. “As part of that recipe, it included using spices. And the most surprising and prevalent place that we found the pathogen surrogate afterwards was on a spice container.”

To avoid cross-contamination, one solution is to prepare your spice mixture ahead of time. The same rule applies to produce: Preparing fruits and vegetables prior to handling any raw meat products can prevent cross-contamination.

It’s also important to clean and sanitize

any other surfaces that might have been touched after handling raw meat products with a single-use paper towel followed by a commercial disinfectant. “Disinfectants become less effective when they have been exposed to filth or dirt,” Jaykus said.

“It’s about the surfaces of my hands, and what else did I touch — the faucet of the sink, the trash container, the refrigerator door, thinking about all the things that I might touch after I’ve handled raw meat can be sources of cross-contamination,” Chapman said.

Purchase a meat thermometer

Just because a food looks cooked, doesn’t

mean it is safe to eat. To ensure food safety, Chapman recommends students invest in a digital thermometer.

“You can still have meat that looks like it is fully cooked that has not reached 165 degrees or meat that looks pink that has [reached 165 degrees],” Chapman said. “So the only way to really know is to measure with a thermometer. To me, if I was to provide advice to students on the most important tool that I would have for food safety in my kitchen, it would be a thermometer.”

For additional food safety questions, check out the podcasts “Risky or Not,” and “Food Safety Talk,” hosted by Chapman and Donald Schaffner, Department Chair of the Rutgers Department of Food Science.

GRAPHIC BY VY HOANG

Who was behind the smiting of the new scoreboard?

Editor’s Note: This is a work of satire. It should not be taken seriously or applied literally.

has to offer: the first kickoff of the year at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Dame, it would be hard not to suggest that God had a hand in things.

Will LaMarche

Staff writer

We all know where we were when amid a torrential lightning storm, the brand new, $15 million Carter-Finley Stadium scoreboard shorted out. While some sources and videos show the lightning off in the distance, we all saw what really happened. While there are plenty of possible explanations, I’m here to offer you the most reasonable and sound ones.

Explanation 1: Otherworldly aliens?

I know it sounds completely improbable, but hear me out. Our scoreboard is believed to be the 11th largest scoreboard in college sports, and is the second largest in the ACC. Certainly, a scoreboard so big would attract the attention of extraterrestrial visitors. As we have learned from the summer’s congressional hearings, aliens are without a doubt not only real, but have likely touched down on our planet. They were sure to have been watching the biggest annual event Earth

Like a moth to a flame, these visitors would have been fascinated by the enormous screen. They were probably confused why thousands of people sat in a massive stadium, watching the rain fall.

Surely, when they beamed a nearby NC State student up and interrogated them, they were infuriated. $15 million dollars, money that could have paid at least 1,600 in-state students’ tuition, spent on a glori fied TV?

They were outraged, so they shot down our beautiful scoreboard. Or they just thought it would look cool.

Explanation 2: An act of God?

The last thing I’d want to do is suggest NC State wouldn’t be applicable for the Act of God insur ance clause. With a school like Notre

Being a Catholic school, Notre Dame most certainly had God on their side, and I don’t think he would have appreciated all the smack talk about Notre Dame. Or maybe God just isn’t an NC State fan. As such, it is entirely possible that the big man upstairs wished to exercise his omnipotent might on Carter-Finley. Or maybe God is a member of the Pack and was just as frustrated by the red-andwhite’s inability to catch a football or string together an offensive drive. If the latter, it doesn’t seem like the team got the message. Alternatively, I don’t see it as impossible that God was angry at our hubris. A scoreboard that expensive (again, $15 million, enough to cover a month’s worth of groceries for nearly 50,000 people), surely would be seen as offensively luxurious — perhaps this is

the greed they talk about in the Bible. Would it be too much of a stretch to compare the scoreboard to a false idol?

Explanation 3: Was it students?

Consider the following: a cohort of upset meteorology students seeking revenge on the University. Why? Easy: The new scoreboard cost $15 million. That funding could have been allocated to each of the 12 colleges. Do you know how many thermometers that money could have bought? Barometers? Weather balloons?

I wouldn’t put it past the English majors, either. I suspect a disproportionately high percentage of them grew up in the Percy Jackson fandom and therefore know more about channeling the Greek pantheon than they let on.

Certainly, they would have also felt the sting of not receiving any of those funds. Even if the College of Humanities and Social Sciences had only received $1 million, that could have bought about 8,700 textbooks. Maybe we’re better off not knowing. Maybe it doesn’t matter if the lightning actually hit the scoreboard. Maybe the more important question to ask is: Who spends $15 million on a scoreboard?

Mental Health Journeys: You are more important than you could ever know

Depression and anxiety — to many, these are just nouns. However, these illnesses used to define me. For as long as I can remember, I have taken medicine to combat these disorders. I was lucky.

One of the many perks of being the son of a psychiatrist is that I could get help early. My father was able to see the anger and contempt I used to have and correctly identify my issues.

For a large part of my life in high school, I had suicidal intentions. I was jealous of how easy it was for other people to socialize and make friends, and I processed this jealousy in many ways, none of which benefited me. I would transfer my anger to others, or I would binge eat to feel the happiness that came with eating.

These responses created cycles of negativity that became apparent in my self-image. This negative self-image and a very unhealthy rela-

tionship with death made my depression even worse. Though I am only 20 years old, I have experienced more deaths than people twice my age. I have no grandparents left. I’ve seen cousins die, uncles die and my brother’s best friend, whom I idolized like a big brother, die.

All these deaths, coupled with a mentality that was already negative, created a feeling that I was cursed. I became comfortable in my depression, and I didn’t believe there was any way out.

However, after starting therapy, I finally recognized that I had free will. I realized I was more than my mental illnesses and I became a different person.

During the summer of 2022, I was finally the man I always wanted to be.

I spread positivity by volunteering and donating to charity. I began to be more empathetic. I made friends with ease because my attitude was always positive.

Still, even in these moments of comfort, life’s unpredictability usually wallops you the worst. On Sept. 18, 2022, I lost my best friend. He was one of 14 student deaths that our school had last year. It’s a day that haunts my mind. I remember every detail of the day. I heard tears from people I never saw get up-

set, let alone cry.

After his death, I acted maturely and put on a facade to deal with it. I had lost so many other people. Why would this time be different?

I was arrogant. I tried to be the light for other people, but I hadn’t helped myself first. It wasn’t until after the funeral that the gravity of my situation hit me; I’d lost one of the most important people in my life. I had known him since I was eight years old. We played soccer together. We became men together.

His death felt like it broke me. My old, depressive state came back to me. The suicidal thoughts came back, but I had no suicidal intent. I floated in a realm between life and death. I wanted to die, but I understood that I couldn’t die because I couldn’t let anyone else feel the grief that came with death. The same grief that I became used to.

With this feeling came negligence. I no longer cared what happened to me. My relationships with other people worsened. I didn’t want people to be associated with me because I seemed to bring pain to others. I acted out, and I lost many relationships that I had with people because of my pain.

One day, however, I looked at myself in the mirror, and I told myself that the death of my best friend would either break me or make me. Breaking was never an option. It would bring dishonor to my friend’s legacy if I broke. With time, a lot of therapy and self-care, I am drawing closer to the version of myself that existed before his death.

Believe it or not, my story isn’t meant to be a trauma dump. I do not need your sympathy, nor do I desire it. I wrote this because I want you to do better than me. I did not have to ruin relationships if I was just honest about my situation.

Although I wish I could’ve figured it out under different circumstances, I learned many lessons from his death. I learned to be honest with myself and understand that I have limitations.

The most important thing I learned is how interconnected each person is to others. You may feel alone, but you aren’t. I know for certain there were points in my friend’s life where he felt alone. At his funeral, however, there were more than three hundred people. So many people care about you and would be damaged by your death. You owe it to them to keep on going.

Mark Mikhail Correspondent

Editor’s Note: This article contains reference to suicide and mental illness.

GRAPHIC BY EMILY VESPA

Little Fox Avery Szakacs, Staff Cartoonist

A third-year studying art and design

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

Hopscotch brings big and small artists to downtown Raleigh

Elizabeth Dull Culture Editor & Emilia Rivadeneira Culture Editor

With indie melodies drifting through downtown streets and folks hopping from City Plaza to Moore Square, Raleigh’s annual Hopscotch Music Festival created an electrifying buzz in the city this weekend.

Despite the typical indie-rock genre of the festival, this year’s diverse lineup attracted a wide variety of attendees. Rapper Denzel Curry, who headlined Friday evening, had a set that differed from others at the festival.

Curry was one of the many artists to travel from out-of-state to perform at Hopscotch, and he expressed his gratitude for being in Raleigh to the crowd.

“It feels good to be back in the South,” Curry said.

Other artists also showed their enthusiasm for performing in the City of Oaks.

Pavement’s lead singer, Stephen Malkmus, told the crowd, “It’s always nice to come to this region,” and psychedeliccountry singer-songwriter Margo Price said, “Carolina is a good place to be.”

Musicians who once called Carolina home were excited to return and play in a familiar Raleigh summer heat. Indie-rock artist Sam Evian delved into his psychedelic soft-rock tunes at Moore Square, telling the crowd he was “trying out new stuff and having fun in the sun.”

“I just performed a heat experiment on my band since it’s like 100 degrees, but it was really nice to play, and it’s good to be back in my home state,” Evian said.

Artists who found their roots in Raleigh also spoke on how rewarding it is to play at the city’s staple music festival.

Travis Harrington, singer in the NC State-originating, four-man-band Truth Club, was grateful for the opportunity to play at City Plaza this year.

“We’ve been lucky enough to play three times now,” Harrington said. “We played our first time [at Hopscotch] when our band formed in 2017 at Neptunes, and last year we played at a club show at the Pour House, and then this year we got to play on the mainstage, which is most truly unbelievable.”

Truth Club’s progression to the main stage at the festival showcased how Hopscotch invests in smaller, local artists, helping them broaden their audience.

“That’s what is cool [about the festival], the people who are involved in organizing Hopscotch are in tune with [highlighting smaller artists],” Harrington said. “I feel like [the organizers] care a lot about younger artists who are starting out. They definitely want to nurture that for sure. … They’ve invested a lot in us in terms of letting us grow and helping us grow by giving us these opportunities.”

The main stages isn’t where all the fun happens, though. Attendees were eager to hear more from the underground music scene and flocked to day and night parties held at local businesses.

At Kings, a downtown live music venue, lengthy lines for performances showed concert-goers’ appreciation for independent artists.

The venue welcomed back folksy-duo Wye Oak for an intimate performance with a full house. Jenn Wasner, of Wye Oak, expressed how great it felt to be back at the lighthearted festival.

All artists seemed at ease on the stage and appreciative that the festival’s laid-back environment made space for more explorative performances.

“I think that artists who aren’t from here come here to play, and they have an understanding of how cool and special Hopscotch is,” Harrington said. “It probably puts a lot of these artists at ease [when performing], at least the ones that are more on their touring regimen.”

That experimental environment invited listeners to let go and experience authentic, artistic expression.

“Hopscotch is a very, very unique festival,” Harrington said. “It’s very intimate. … You can really kind of dig in and let yourself go somewhere. You can just wander around and truly find something, and it’s normally at a cool place.”

This year’s Hopscotch music festival will

go down in history as a landmark event, providing a stage for local and out-of-town musicians to perform for a community that shared the same enthusiasm and energy for the event.

“It’s been amazing so far,” said Tomas Torres, a third-year studying zoology and attendee of the festival. “This is my first ever music festival, my first ever concert really, and it’s been awesome.”

REILLY WITTE/TECHNICIAN

Dan Hoerner of the band Sunny Day Real Estate performs during the Hopscotch Music Festival at Moore’s Square in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023. Hoerner is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band.

GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN

The artist known as KHX05 performs in Neptune’s Parlor during the Hopscotch music festival in downtown Raleigh, NC on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. KHX05, pronounced “Chaos,” is a Durham based rapper and trans-rights advocate.

Culture Leading by Design exhibit highlights 75-year history of College of Design

Reese Wilson Correspondent

The College of Design is celebrating its 75th anniversary with the Leading by Design exhibit at the Gregg Museum.

The exhibit was put together to highlight the history of the College of Design. Jennifer Peavey, project manager for the 75th year celebration of the College of Design, said the event is a culmination of the history of the college.

“We are looking at the 75th anniversary of the college as one of the big tenets of the celebration, looking back at our history and having a more accurate description of our history,” Peavey said. “Part of this exhibition is being able to share that history with the public.”

Mary Hauser, interim director of the Gregg Museum, said a combination of different types of artwork from the archives of the Gregg and the College of Design are on display.

“The pieces on the view are from the Gregg’s collection, with a few loans from Special Collections at the library and the College of Design itself,” Mary Hauser said.

The collection includes physical and digital displays created over the years and highlights the variety of art from the College of Design. All the work was created by alumni of the college, and many come from the Gregg Museum’s own collection.

The physical collection includes paintings, sculptures, sketches and models

of buildings as well as a display of the drawn plans and the physical model of Raleigh’s own Dorton Arena.

Along with the collection on display, the College of Design created a digital slideshow based on its archives to include work that could not physically be in the exhibit.

“The digital component was compiled by Kristen Schaffer and folks at the College of Design,” Hauser said. “They have been doing research in the archives and special collections about the College of Design and its history, and they found images during that process and have used those to help fill out the areas that our collection can’t explain.”

Founded in 1948, the College of Design, previously called the School of Design, has changed dramatically since its opening.

“I think it’s interesting to see the development of something we are currently a part of,” Hauser said. “A lot about the college is similar, but a lot of it’s different just in terms of size of the student body, the types of technologies they use, the types of majors they offer. It’s evolved, you know. There’s a connection, but it’s also different.”

The exhibition also looks to the future of the college. Peavey said the exhibit and its history is about “looking towards our future and building onto the past.”

The name “Leading by Design” is being used for all of the College of Design’s 75th celebrations, connecting design to

leadership.

“I think that being a leader, having a design thinking background, helps me in a way that is maybe not expected,” Hauser said. “So for me, ‘Leading by Design’ is about combining design thinking and design skills with leadership.”

In addition to giving a glimpse into the history of the College of Design, the exhibit will allow for recognition of the college’s impact on the NC State community, Raleigh and beyond.

‘Abstractum’ promotes multiculturalism through contemporary Iranian music

Matthew Burkhart Staff Writer

The upcoming multimedia project “Abstractum” will showcase contemporary Iranian music and dance that transcend cultural boundaries.

Scheduled to take place in Stewart Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 17, the event features compositions by Iranian composers, accompanied by piano, flute and a student dance performance.

“Abstractum” features Kelariz Keshavarz, assistant professor of flute at Western Carolina University, and Olga Kleiankina, teaching professor of piano at NC State, performing their most re -

cent album, “Abstractum,” composed by Iranian composer Alireza Mashayekhi with other works by Reza Vali and Amin Sharifi.

Photography by Nesam Keshavarz and a student performance by State Dance Company member Ariana Fajerman will accompany the event.

“Abstractum” is a part of Kelariz Keshavarz’s larger mission to expose Western audiences to Iranian contemporary music.

‘ABSTRACTUM’ continued page 12

ANIRUDH KULKARNI/TECHNICIAN

Portraits hanging in the Leading by Design exhibit in the Gregg Museum of Art & Design on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. The exhibit celebrated the 75th anniversary of the College of Design.

Watch the Gregg Museum’s Leading By Design Opening Reception Here

‘ABSTRACTUM’

continued from page 11

“My aim was to portray the contemporary music scene in Iran through flute,” Kelariz Keshavarz said. “I wanted it to be apart from political or political aspects or relationships of the countries. I just wanted to focus on the art and the music that is being created in that part of the world.”

Kelariz Keshavarz said contemporary Iranian music is not confined to the traditional Persian music that most people associate with Iran.

Contemporary Iranian music is varied.

Sometimes it incorporates Persian folk music, feelings and symbolism associated with Iran. Other times, it is simply composed by an Iranian composer, with no clear ties to pre-existing Iranian musical traditions.

“You see pieces that you hear absolutely nothing about Persian music, and then the source of inspiration of those pieces is also not Iranian or Persian related,” Kelariz Keshavarz said. “Composers in that category, they intentionally want it to be free of any sort of obligation of having anything connected to Persian culture.”

The beauty of contemporary Iranian music lies in its adaptability to tie cul -

tures together in a display of what Kelariz Keshavarz defines as multiculturalism through music.

“So many elements from different cultures, so many musical elements, aesthetics from different cultures, they all get together, and they weave in one piece,” Kelariz Keshavarz said. “And this is more than a collage. This is more than just juxtaposing these qualities, these qualities have some overlaps. And as a result of this overlapping, they create new qualities.”

Kelariz Kleiankina said Mashayekhi’s music echoes ancient Persian tradition, using contemporary instruments.

“I can hear the beautiful nature and

the folk song tradition from Iran, and ancient culture — this culture that goes thousands of years ago,” Kelariz Kleiankina said. “Some of the techniques we use in piano and flute are trying to sound like ancient Iranian instruments.”

Contemporary Iranian music is not structured the same way Western classical music is. Mashayekhi’s difference from Western tradition allows for a more unitary approach to duet music and introduces sounds and feelings that are uncommon to portray through music.

Visit technicianonline.com to view the entire article.

A Raleigh-area thrifter’s guide

Skye Crawford Assistant Opinion Editor

If I had to guess, I’d say about 60% of my closet is thrifted. When people think of thrifting, they might visualize themselves at Goodwill, looking at a few items and deciding nothing’s worth buying. While I’ve definitely discovered some good finds at Goodwill, being a successful thrifter requires moving beyond those familiar blue bins to local stores.

If you’re new to thrifting, feel like you’ve hit a road bump or simply deem yourself too impatient to thrift, you’ll wanna check out these Raleigh-area gems.

North Raleigh Ministries

This organization has multiple locations, but I’m partial to the one off Capital Boulevard. There’s a wide selection of both men’s and women’s clothes available, alongside household items like decorations, rugs, pillows and blankets. Their shoe selection is impressive, with anything from high heels and ballet flats to running sneakers.

Their prices are affordable, with most items ranging from $5 to $8. During weekdays, there’s a wheel at the checkout you can spin for a discount. I’ve gotten 20% off a purchase before.

Moreover, North Raleigh Ministries is a charitable organization committed to helping families and individuals in crises. Their food pantry and financial literacy resources have helped a number of folks in the past year.

The only thing that makes finding a nice Alfred Dunner jacket better is knowing that the price you paid will contribute to a good cause.

Real-Life Works

This is the one I want to gatekeep, but allow me to share the wealth. It’s a new discovery for me and might be one of my new favorites.

This nonprofit organization offers employment opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities and aims to create a respectful, diverse and welcoming environment for employees and patrons alike.

A quaint little building by North Raleigh, Real-Life Works has everything you could want in a thrift shop and more. Board games, children’s goods and furniture are featured in one half of the store, while clothing and accessories are in the other half.

I’m most in awe of their purse collection; I saw a beautiful teal handbag I regret not buying.

Cause for Paws

Cause for Paws is a well-known Raleigh thrift store, but it cannot go unmentioned here.

If you’re looking for fun furniture, this is the place to go. They carry bed frames, coffee tables, wardrobes and couches, just to name a few. Handmade jewelry, colorcoordinated clothing racks and vintage pins are other features of this store that make it noteworthy.

You can also just go for the cats. While the organization takes in both unwanted cats and dogs, only the cats are in-store at the north and south Raleigh locations. They’re up for adoption on-site, but you can also just go in to pet them. It’s a great serotonin booster.

Dorcas Ministries

Dorcas is the thrift shop to be at if you’re looking for something other than clothes. What’s really impressive is their jewelry selection. Tons of unique rings, brooches, earrings, necklaces and bracelets are on display here, and I definitely recommend taking your time to look through the options. They also have vintage porcelain dishes and other kitchenware worth considering.

While this store is in Cary, making for a longer drive, the options are definitely worth the trip if you have the time.

Skye’s Tips & Tricks

In addition to knowing the right places

GRAPHIC BY MARLOWE HENDERSON

to visit, there are some important tips that will make your thrifting experience the most effective.

First, I recommend going with friends. It’s always better to have more than one set of eyes looking through the racks so no item goes overlooked.

Second, it’s best to visit multiple shops in a single outing. North Raleigh Ministries, Real-Life Works and Cause for Paws are all within ten minutes of each other, so it’s easy to hop around.

Third, you should be willing to “have the vision,” as I like to call it. Thrifting requires imagination, and you can make just about any item at a thrift store work for you if you’re able to get creative. At North Raleigh Ministries, I once bought a watering can that I use to hold skincare products.

Finally, avoid taking too many of the essential items like gloves, jackets and beanies. Above all, these stores are for people who need affordable clothing, so leave what you can for others. While there isn’t necessarily a shortage of thrift stores, we should still be considerate of others when hitting these second-hand stores.

NFL Pack Pros: Meyers, Pratt make big statements as the NFL season kicks off

This past weekend was an exciting time for football fans everywhere who had been anxiously awaiting the start of the 2023 NFL season. With many teams trying to make their case for the playoffs, there have been an array of players making a name for themselves as well. This includes a cast of former members of NC State football who shined in week one.

Trenton Gill — Chicago Bears, Punter

The Chicago Bears suffered a frustrating loss to the Green Bay Packers in their season opener. Though some players put up good numbers, a series of untimely mistakes ultimately did the Bears in. Despite the loss, punter Trenton Gill showcased his skills by tallying four punts throughout the afternoon. He averaged 53 yards per boot for a total of 212 yards while also pinning one within the Packer’s 20-yard line.

Jakobi Meyers — Las Vegas Raiders, Wide Receiver

After posting 2,758 receiving yards with the New England Patriots over the past four seasons, wideout Jakobi Meyers departed in free agency this offseason for the Las Vegas Raiders. As a physical receiver with impressive route running and a large catch radius, Meyers will complement star receiver Davante Adams as they catch passes from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the desert.

On Sunday, Meyers made his Raiders debut against the Denver Broncos. Las Vegas stepped up to the challenge in a hard-fought 17-16 win, and Meyers might have been the Raider’s MVP for the day. He compiled 81 receiving yards and two touchdowns — one at the end of the game to help seal the victory for Las Vegas. If Meyers can continue to build chemistry with

Jimmy Garoppolo and the rest of the team, it should be no surprise to see a breakout season from him this year.

Germaine Pratt — Cincinnati Bengals, Linebacker

Much like the Bears, the Cincinnati Bengals did not have a particularly pleasing beginning to the season. In a game marred by heavy rainfall, the Bengals were simply outplayed by the Cleveland Browns. Despite the team’s poor outing, linebacker Germaine Pratt put

overlooked.

He proved to be the most active member of the Cincinnati defense, collecting 11 total tackles which included seven solo takedowns. Those 11 also included two tackles for a loss and a sack.

Since getting drafted by the Bengals in 2019, Pratt has continued to increase his production and has evolved into a centerpiece of the defense. In that time, the Cincinnati defense has quietly emerged as one of the league’s best units.

Russell Wilson — Denver Broncos, Quarterback

On the other side of the aforementioned matchup between the Raiders and the Broncos, Denver suffered a crushing week one loss. Coming off of a very disappointing 2022 campaign, lots of changes were made during the offseason, including many personnel changes and the addition of new head coach Sean Payton.

Last year was a rough season for quarterback Russel Wilson — he struggled to find any form of consistency — and Denver fans will certainly be pleased to see a solid performance from him in week one. Despite only throwing for 177 yards, he played a clean game, completing 79% of his passes and tossing two touchdowns. So far, Wilson is off to a good start and is working towards returning to the production level he had for many years in Seattle.

forth a very solid performance that should not be

DANIELLE MEYER/ARCHIVE PHOTO

In this file photo taken Sept. 18, 2021, kicker Christopher Dunn and punter Trenton Gill celebrate a successful punt during the game against Furman at Carter-Finley Stadium. Gill currently plays for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League.

Gavin Gallimore Staff Writer

NC State football set to take on VMI in get-right game at Carter-Finley

NC State football is scheduled to play Virginia Military Institute in Raleigh this weekend, with the Wolfpack coming off a loss to then-No. 10 Notre Dame. While this matchup is not as exciting as the previous, it is an opportunity for the red-and-white to settle in on offense in a get-right game.

The rainy game on Saturday, which reminded Wolfpack fans of the 2016 matchup with the Fighting Irish, did not end the same way it did seven years ago. NC State allowed 45 points to Notre Dame, while only putting 24 on the board. The conditions were miserable and did not give offensive coordinator Robert Anae the opportunity to execute in the passing game effectively. This week brings a new matchup and hopefully some sunshine.

NC State has not faced VMI since former president Harry S. Truman resided in the Oval Office, when the Pack won that matchup in 1946. A lot has changed since the last time these two teams faced, and the Wolfpack is now the heavy favorite.

The most notable matchup of this week three contest will come at the quarterback position, where graduate quarterback Brennan Armstrong looks to defend Carter-Finley Stadium against VMI quarterback Collin Ironside and the rest of his squad.

While facing weaker competition, Ironside has Armstrong beat in terms of box score through the first two weeks of the college football season. He has a higher completion percentage, more passing yards, more passing touchdowns and fewer interceptions than Armstrong.

However, Ironside will soon be introduced to his toughest test yet — the NC State defense.

The Wolfpack defense has looked strong to start the season despite being heavily outmatched by the Fighting Irish in week two. Graduate linebacker Payton Wilson is playing as strong as ever to start his final year of

college football, and he leads the Pack with 24 total tackles and hauled in the Pack’s only interception of the year thus far. Wilson will have to continue to lead the defensive effort for defensive coordinator Tony Gibson.

The defense has also received substantial contributions from other players on the unit. Junior defensive tackle Devin Vann has emerged as a cornerstone of the defensive line and currently leads the team in sacks. Junior defensive back Devan Boykin has been a force as

well, ranking second in total tackles at 14. These two will also play an important role in slowing Ironside and the VMI offense.

While Armstrong has three interceptions to his name this season, his five total touchdowns prove he’s got the ability to will his team to victory against VMI — and that starts with his production in the run game.

Armstrong has been solid on the ground thus far. He leads the team in rushing yards and has added three rushing touchdowns in only two weeks. It’s a welcomed contribution, but Armstrong often opts to scramble instead of throw the ball. The Wolfpack will need him to air out the football against the VMI defense.

In order to accomplish this, Armstrong will need to use this upcoming week to keep establishing connections with his receivers. Look out for Armstrong to search for senior wide receiver Keyon Lesane and graduate wide receiver Bradley Rozner amongst the Keydets’ secondary on Saturday. Lesane is currently leading the Pack in receiving yards while Rozner has proved his contested catch ability in the past couple weeks.

This matchup against the VMI Keydets is an opportunity for Anae and Armstrong to work on the passing game. It will be important for the Pack to take advantage of these early season match ups as the schedule becomes more competitive once ACC play begins Sept. 22.

The matchup is set to kickoff Saturday, Sept. 16 in Raleigh. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

GRIFFIN BRYANT/TECHNICIAN

NC State students cheer on the Wolfpack during their home opener against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. The Fighting Irish defeated the Wolfpack 45-24.

James Hodges Correspondent

Sports Going global: NC State wrestling’s Matty Singleton shines on world stage

Over 6,000 miles away from home and pushed to the brink of elimination, sophomore wrestler Matty Singleton rallied to earn the bronze medal at the U20 World Championships, a competition that featured some of the world’s top wrestlers.

Singleton was a natural choice for the US national team. Singleton’s high school career included four state championships and a pair of NHSCA national titles, making him a No. 1 recruit in his weight class.

This past year at NC State, Singleton posted an 11-7 overall record and finished fourth in the ACC conference championships, a strong year for a freshman. After that, Singleton was ready to take on a new challenge — international competition.

Singleton took the 13-hour flight from Raleigh to Jordan for the U20 World Championships. After downing opponent after opponent, Singleton suffered a loss in the semifinals and found himself in one final match against Turkey’s Ahmet Yagan with a bronze medal on the line.

“I knew it was all or nothing at that point,” Singleton said. “You either get bronze, get on the podium and get a medal or you lose the match.”

After a strong start to the match with Yagan, Singleton found himself up 6-1. However, in one final challenge, Yagan furiously fought back to even the score at 7. Back to square one, Singleton iced off Yagan at the end for a 9-7 victory, clinching the bronze medal.

“When you go up big, it’s a high-risk match,” Singleton said. “At that point, that guy has nothing to lose, so he’s throwing everything at you.”

To get to this point, Singleton battled plenty of adversity. For starters, he found himself competing in Amman, Jordan — an unfamiliar place on the other side of the globe.

“Anytime you’re in a place like where we were in Jordan … it’s just a lot different there,” Singleton said. “It’s a big culture, and you can’t really read or talk to anyone.”

Adding to the challenge, the four-time state champion from Georgia suffered an injury in March, cutting his first season with the red-and-white short.

“He’s been through a lot,” said associate head coach Adam Hall. “This past year as a true freshman he didn’t qualify for the national tournament, broke his hand

at the conference tournament at ACCs and had to have surgery right after the season.”

Despite the injury, Singleton qualified to make the US national team, but after earning his spot on the squad, Singleton dealt with a second injury.

“He made the world team, and then he broke a bone in his wrist in his other hand and was dealing with that all summer,” Hall said. “He could have elected to miss out on the world championships. … He chose to wrestle through it, wanted to wrestle at the world championships and made the most of it.”

Singleton did in fact make the most of the opportunity, dominating opponents on his way to a bronze medal, starting with Kyrgyzstan’s Denizbek Ulan Uulu 12-2. Singleton followed that up with an impressive 10-0 victory over Hungary’s Nandor Hajduch. While cruising past his early competitors, Singleton used his international training to sharpen and broaden his skills.

“Anytime you’re wrestling or going through a hard training process, it’s gonna make you better,” Singleton said. “It adds more to the arsenal. If you’re able

to be a real, NC State, gritty kind of guy but then you’re also trained to be wellversed in freestyle [the international style of wrestling], you can be really slick with point. If you can put those two things together, then that makes you really dangerous.”

After tackling adversity and adjusting to international competition, Singleton’s success throughout the U20 World Championships showcased the strength of NC State’s wrestling program.

“I think it validates what our program is about,” Hall said. “Trying to be the best, not only in our country, but around the world. We have [six] world medals since 2017, so that’s a big deal.”

With the U20 World Championships in the books, Singleton’s focus has turned toward getting healthy and improving on the mat.

“I don’t know how much you’re going to see of me this year on the mat,” Singleton said. “But I’ll be working everyday with the help of my coaches. … For the 2024-25 season, you can be sure that I’ll be there unlike I’ve ever been before. I’ll be ready to take home an NCAA championship.”

JERMAINE HUDSON/ARCHIVE PHOTO

In this file photo taken March 5, 2023, Matty Singleton competes in the ACC Wrestling Championship in Reynolds Coliseum. Singleton earned the bronze medal at the U20 World championships in Amman, Jordan on Aug. 15, 2023.

Noah Teague Assisstant Sports Editor

Members of the Western Wake Fire-Rescue climb stairs at the annual Carter-Finley 9/11 Stair Climb at Carter-Finley Stadium on Sept. 11, 2023. The event was organized by NC State Fire and Life Safety and NC State Student Veterans Association to honor all the lives lost and sacrifices made during the 9/11 attacks. Over 100 attendees climbed and remembered those that gave everything, paying tribute to the sacrifice made by first responders.