Out For Tiger Blood — Technician 9/23/21

TECHNICIAN S E PTEM B ER 23, 2021

VOL . 102 | NO. 7

OUT FOR TIGER BLOOD

See Page 12

Contents

2 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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IN THIS ISSUE: page

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Student Health Services answers questions about COVID-19 testing across campus

WHAT YOU MISSED: A quick look at the headlines in and outside of NC State

Circle of Sisterhood donates $10,000 grant to Africa Development Promise This year, the panhellenic philanthropy group chose to donate to the Africa Development Promise for its yearly $10,000. The Africa Development Promise helps women in Rwanda and Uganda fund their businesses and improve their and their families’ lives.

NEWS

SOURCE: TECHNICIAN

THE RADAR Events to keep an eye on for the week of Sept. 23

CHAT ‘N CHEW: LATINX HERITAGE MONTH EDITION Thursday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WITHERSPOON STUDENT CENTER, AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, ROOM 356 Free

page

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Maybe we should get off the freshman hate train

On Tuesday, Wake County’s school system moved to start a voluntary COVID-19 testing program for students, staff and faculty at K-12 schools. According to school and health officials, however, the school system faces various challenges with staffing a COVID-19 testing program beyond school administrators.

OPINION

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Wake schools to start voluntary COVID-19 testing program

SOURCE: THE NEWS & OBSERVER

Poole College of Management unveils Latinx Heritage Month mural

The Villa Park Community Focus on Unifying Neighbors Commission (F.U.N.) in Chicago is attempting to organize the largest dog wedding ceremony. It is hoping for 178 canine couples to attend the event to be bound in the holy bonds of matrimony.

Dogs without significant others can attend a round of speed dating before the ceremony takes place.

SOURCE: NPR

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Wolfpack football looks for upset win over No. 9 Clemson at home

Japanese sisters, age 107, certified as world’s oldest identical twins Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama were certified as the oldest-living twins since Sept. 1, according to a statement by the Guinness World Records. The two twins lived apart throughout most of their early life, then reconnected later on through weddings and funerals.

SPORTS

Friday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.

WITHERSPOON STUDENT CENTER, STUDENT CINEMA Grab your friends and head on over to Witherspoon to watch Coco, courtesy of the Wellness, Outreach, Leisure and Films (W.O.L.F.) Committee.

Students can catch screenings at 7:00 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.

HOWL AND CHILL: MOVE WITH THE PACK Tuesday, Sept. 28, 6 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

COURT OF CAROLINA Free In need of some rest and relaxation?

Join Wellness and Recreation in partnership with the University Activities Board to participate in some outdoor cardio to get your blood pumping.

PAUSE FOR PAWS Thursday, Sept. 30, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

HARRIS FIELD Free Students can unwind by heading over to Harris Field for some cuddles with therapy dogs as part of Healthy Campus Week.

SOURCE: CNN

Editor-in-Chief Jaylan Harrington

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Culture Editor Sam Overton

Sports Editor Nicholas Schnittker

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Assistant Video Editor Elle Bonet

Managing Editors Caryl J. Espinoza Jaen Tristan Tucker

Asst. Culture Editor Myra Bari

Assistant Sports Editors Wade Bowman Bryan Pyrtle

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News Editor Avery Davis

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FRIDAY FILMS: COCO

Free

Chicago organization attempts to break world record for largest dog wedding

CULTURE

Join the Multicultural Student Affairs at their first Chat ‘n Chew, focusing on Latin heritage and culture. Students will have the opportunity to engage with peers and leaders in the community.

technician-copydesk@ncsu.edu

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Design Editor Ann Salman

Opinion Editor Shilpa Giri

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Brand Manager Mallory High

Technician (USPS 455-050) is the largest student newspaper of NC State University and is published every Thursday throughout the academic year from August through May except during holidays and examination periods.

Opinions expressed in the columns, cartoons, photo illustrations and letters that appear on the Technician’s pages are the views of the individual writers and cartoonists. As a public forum for student expression, the students determine the content of the publication without prior review. To receive permission for reproduction, please write the editor. Subscription cost is $100 per year. A single copy is free to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. Additional copies are $0.25 each. Printed by Triangle Web Printing, Durham, NC, Copyright 2011 by North Carolina State Student Media. All rights reserved.

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News

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Yik Yak brings entertainment to students, concerns to University

Logan Serino Correspondent

Yik Yak, the anonymous location-based social media app, has made a return to campus after a four-year absence. Despite its immense popularity at NC State when it was first popular, the app was infamous for enabling cyberbullying and hate speech.

As Yik Yak begins to be used once again by NC State students, many campus officials are anticipating the issues it brought about years ago. Drew Sykes, director of the NC State Social Media Strategy Hub, outlined some of the challenges the University faced with Yik Yak previously.

“I think the big challenges were related to the downside of Yik Yak, and people occasionally using it to speak inappropriately about various things happening on campus,” Sykes said. “I was very happy when Yik Yak disappeared and so were other people in other institutions of higher ed.”

One of the most important facets that makes Yik Yak unique, and one of the largest draws to the platform, is its anonymity.

As Yik Yak puts it, “The most popular celebrity on earth appears exactly the same as an average person.” Despite the benefits of an anonymous forum, Sykes explains that it can also be a breeding ground for hate speech.

“When used improperly, the anonymous angle can unfortunately invite people to feel empowered to say anything they want to say,” Sykes said. “And obviously, that can open up problematic conversations.”

Sykes goes on to say how Yik Yak’s five-mile radius, within which users can talk to each other, creates a unique situation as to how users on campus are able to communicate.

“Yik Yak is also unique because it has a different presence on college campuses than it does in shopping centers or other parks and things, because it is a lot more personal when it’s [in] a confined space with people that are consistently there,” Sykes said. “So, you think about a shopping center, or a mall, or a park, it’s always different people coming through.

Here at NC State we have 35 to 36,000 students; it’s the same people in the same radius all the time. So that can open up different

GRAPHIC BY SHRADDHA MISHRA/TECHNICIAN

levels of personal feeling about what might be posted.”

Many students, however, see Yik Yak in a different light. Nikki Roane, a first-year studying food science, said she uses Yik Yak somewhat often. She praises the new Yik Yak policies — called the “community guardrails” — as she believes the app would foster hate speech if it weren’t for them.

“I probably check it once per day, just because there’s always so much stuff going on there,” Roane said. “I probably post every once in a while too. I appreciate their policy on slurs and stuff. … I think it helps prevent a lot of hate speech on the app because there would absolutely be hate speech if they didn’t do that.”

Maddie Smart, a first-year studying biological sciences, appreciates the overall comedy of the platform.

“It’s not really negative because you can’t tell who’s saying it,” Smart said. “So this person could be random, it doesn’t matter. It’s just funny.”

Sykes said that previously, the University did a lot of monitoring of Yik Yak to check for any threats or hate speech.

“Different departments around the Univer-

sity would monitor it from time to time, just to kind of keep an eye on things, to make sure nothing got out of hand in any way,” Sykes said. “Just kind of making sure that there wasn’t any sort of action that might be taken based on a post. So it was relatively passive, but we did pay attention.”

As the app increases in popularity once again, Sykes said the University plans to take a similar approach to monitoring the platform that they had used before.

“With Yik Yak, what we’ll plan to do and what we’re doing is monitoring it to see if we do receive any major threats of violence or cyberbullying,” Sykes said.

Yik Yak itself has touted its new “community guardrails,” which are meant to prevent some of the issues that plagued the platform during its initial phase of popularity. Sykes hopes that users are aware of one of the biggest changes to Yik Yak’s policy, which promises to report user information to the appropriate authorities if violence is threatened using the platform.

“We hope that that policy is something that folks are aware of, and that maybe even this story will help more people be aware of the fact that if violence is threatened via Yik

Yak in any way, the platform will report that IP address to the appropriate parties,” Sykes said.

If any students are experiencing cyberbullying or hate speech through Yik Yak, or any other social media, Sykes recommends reporting the situation to the Bias Impact Response Team, which is an on campus resource which handles bias-related incidents which impact others on campus.

“There’s a form there that folks can fill out if they see anything that could be potentially hurtful or offensive, or if they feel like they need to elevate something to someone within the University,” Sykes said. “That’s a way to at least get things on record and make sure that there are eyes on situations.”

Sykes also recommends the Counseling Center as an important resource if any student needs a safe space to talk about any issues or hate they may run into, on social media or elsewhere.

“We have a wonderful Counseling Center here, so if there’s any level of searching for encouragement or a safe space to speak [about] mental health, or even physical health, I think our Counseling Center is wonderful,” Sykes said.

News 4 TECHNICIAN Student Health Services answers questions about COVID-19 testing across campus THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Abigail Ali

Correspondent

COVID-19 testing across NC State’s campus has left many students with questions about surveillance testing, weekly testing, vaccination cards and more.

Tyler Pearce, the assistant director of Student Health Services, focuses on community health in regards to NC State’s campus.

“We’re still doing a lot of testing on campus,” Pearce said. “So far this semester, starting on around the ninth of August, until now, we’ve done about 35,000 tests. Over the summer, we did probably 23,000 tests, so we’ve really crushed that number. Testing is free and available all over campus, pretty much. We have four sites running everyday, at least.”

Grant Eubanks, a first-year studying engineering, went through surveillance COVID-19 testing at the Witherspoon Student Center testing site.

“You’re sort of elevated in the line and when you get your information processed and get your test, you go into this sunken testing area where there’s about four testing stations and it feels like you’re in a gladiator ring, but instead of fighting, everyone is just sticking stuff up their nose,” Eubanks said. “After that, I didn’t really know what to do. I was a little disoriented, but

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you sort of just go through and get funneled out and drop your test into a bin and get rushed out of there, and that was it.”

Pearce explained that enforcement of weekly testing is done through University Housing.

“If you are required to get tested weekly and you miss your first one, typically, you will get a common email reminder,” Pearce said. “After two missed weeks, I believe [University Housing] goes and tries to talk to the individual in-person to make sure they know, and then, once we get to three or four weeks, students will go through Student Conduct and disciplinary action can be taken.”

Student Health Services’ coronavirus FAQ page and COVID-19 resources email, covidresources@ncsu.edu, are great ways to get more information about testing and resources regarding COVID-19 on campus.

“We try to keep our FAQ pages as up-to-date as possible,” Pearce said. “The COVID-19 resources email is a pretty good point of contact for individuals. In all the FAQ pages, there are a lot of links to other FAQs, so if you have questions specific to [University Housing] or isolation and quarantine, it’ll link from all the other FAQs to those specific ones, and those sites will have email addresses.”

Due to the number of uploads, processing

GRAPHIC BY KYLE HOWE/TECHNICIAN

vaccination documentation has proven to be a challenge for Student Health Service staff members.

“Vaccination cards have been a bit of a stumbling block,” Pearce said. “Kudos to all of the staff here at [Student Health Services]

because we have gotten through a ton of documents that people have uploaded...”

Visit technicianonline.com to view the entire article.

Andaiye Qaasim joins African American Cultural Center as assistant director Avery Davis News Editor

On Aug. 31, Andaiye Qaasim joined NC State’s African American Cultural Center as its assistant director. After a year-long search, the center found its perfect fit and is now fully staffed.

Andaiye Qaasim attended Spelman College, a historically Black, all-female university for her undergraduate degree and received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in anthropology of music.

She is interested in how different aspects of culture can be integrated into the student experience.

“I’m really passionate about intersecting community with higher ed and arts and culture,” Qaasim said. “I think these are all domains that should be integrated and working together. So that’s kind of how I think about this work and envision this work. I’m so excited to be a part of this team here who’s super dynamic and creative.”

Qassim said her experience growing up as Black student led her to the field of higher education.

“I was often one of very few Black stu-

dents,” Qaasim said. “So that experience of having to navigate what we call predominantly white, or historically white, institutions was challenging. I had to do that since I was a preschooler. So I think that really stuck with me ... going through those challenges really made me passionate about also helping other students, particularly Black students, or students of color, or any student, really develop and navigate those institutions, and really thinking about how we not just reform or add on to things in institutions, but actually transform [them].”

Qaasim’s role as assistant director means she is responsible for helping plan big upcoming events like the center’s 30th anniversary celebration, Harambee, and collaborating with other centers on campus.

“We don’t want to be siloed or isolated away,” Qaasim said. “So the beauty about this campus is that I think there are a lot of people across the campus cultural centers, who would love to, and do, collaborate.

So also thinking about new ways in which we can forge those partnerships, and really expand our presence across campus and expand that work across campus … I

CONTRIBUTED BY ANDAIYE QAASIM/TECHNICIAN

would say that’s what my work pretty much will be.”

Angela Gay, the center’s director, said Qaasim’s love for students is evident and is what makes her such a great fit for the center.

“You have to love students, no matter

who they are, no matter how they identify, whether they’re Black or nonblack,” Gay said. “If a student walks in the center, I don’t care who they are, we need to treat them with love and hope, grace and compassion.

QAASIM continued page 5

News

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Students can find essentials and a strong community in the Feed the Pack pantry Esme Chiara Correspondent

As food insecurity continues to be a prevalent issue for college students, Feed the Pack works to ensure that members of NC State’s community do not go hungry.

Feed the Pack is a student-run food pantry available to students, staff and faculty that provides food items free of charge in order to combat food insecurity across campus. The pantry is set up like a grocery store, lined with shelves and refrigerators containing fresh produce, canned goods, pasta, pre-made meals and personal hygiene products, amongst other items.

Anna Gessner, a third-year studying nutrition and pantry manager for Feed the Pack, explained how the pantry system is set up to keep track of what is highest in demand while still maintaining the privacy of its users.

“All you have to do is swipe your campus ID,” Gessner said. “And we don’t connect how much you take or what you take with your campus ID; we really just use it purely for diagnostic purposes of figuring out demographics of our patrons and for a very general aggregate data form. We take the email addresses, and we do use them ... to contact patrons to get them to complete an intake form asking them what they’d like to see in the pantry that isn’t already there, asking them other types of questions so that we can just better understand the people that we’re serving.”

Gessner echoed a 2017 survey conducted by Dr. Mary Haskett, psychology professor at NC State, which found that about 14% of NC State students experience food insecurity. Out of the 34,000 combined graduate and undergraduate population, that is around 5,000 students, about the size of the class of 2025.

These numbers shot up during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a repeated survey taken in 2020 found 23% of students experienced food insecurity a month prior to their responses.

Since Feed the Pack first opened in 2012, over 300,000 pounds of food has been distributed, Gessner said. Furthermore, the success of the pantry has shot up in recent years due to the pandemic.

“We found in 2020 alone we distributed 116,000 pounds of food,” Gessner said. “So quite a lot by the end of 2020, over half of what we distributed from the time that we started to December of 2020 was just in that year alone.”

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Andaiye is all of those things. And because we are the African American Culture Center, and our focus is specifically on the Black experience, and it’s important to note that she does love Black folks, and it’s evident in her research and her practice, and her consulting work.”

Cameron Morris, a third-year studying electrical engineering who serves as the public relations coordinator for the pantry, said Feed the Pack does more than providing necessities; it serves as a place of advocacy as well.

“The mission statement of Feed the Pack is to serve our community with dignity and respect,” Morris said. “We try to be a food pantry, but also [are] talking about the stigma around food pantries and talking about food insecurity on campus.”

Morris encouraged the usage of the food pantry, emphasizing that any reason to visit is a valid reason.

“Everyone is welcome,” Morris said. “Food insecurity looks really, really different for everyone. So whether it’s, ‘I have no idea where my next meal is coming from,’ as opposed to ‘My meal plan isn’t enough to support me in the food that I need,’ or ‘It’s a really stressful time, and I don’t have time to go to the grocery store;’ there’s a million and one different reasons you should use a food pantry. All you have to do is swipe your ID card, you take your food and you’re on your way. And people are really, really nice, and it’s just not really much of an ordeal. It’s really simple. Really easy.”

Outreach coordinator Keya Pothireddy, a fourth-year studying economics, said that her favorite part of working for Feed the Pack is working with her fellow staff members.

“I think the team is my favorite part,” Pothireddy said. “There’s five of us, and we’re all super passionate about the cause. When you’re working on a project as important and impactful as Feed the Pack, working with others that have the same passion and same drive makes a huge difference. So I get really excited to be able to come into the office every day, and know that I’m going to be working with people who care just as much, if not more, about this issue than I do.”

Gessner said she also likes the community aspect of Feed the Pack, especially when it comes to the Monday evening shifts she spends repackaging products.

“I love being able to hang out with the volunteers and getting to know different ones better,” Gessner said. “Each week, there’s normally a new group of volunteers and I get to see what’s going on in the pantry.”

Feed the Pack is not currently accepting new volunteers for the fall semester, but Pothireddy encourages students, staff and faculty to parti-

cipate in some of the events coming up.

“I really like Feed the Pack percentage nights where we partner with different restaurants around Hillsborough Street and close to NC State,” Pothireddy said. “That’s a great way for you to get delicious food and support Feed the Pack at the same time. … We’re also starting up pop-up food pantry events starting Sept. 29, so those will be monthly pop-up events. Our first one is in the Brickyard, and you can stop by, see what kind of food we carry, learn a bit about Feed the Pack.”

Feed the Pack’s Chipotle Night is Oct. 12 from 5-9 p.m. Students can go in and say they’d like to donate and some of the proceeds made that night will go towards helping the pantry purchase supplies.

Morris said another way to get involved is to participate in Pack the Shelves, which is a campus-wide food drive where NC State departments and organizations choose shelves to keep stocked and then collect a monthly donation for that shelf.

“There’s just a lot of diversity of food in the food pantry because there’s so many cool departments that get involved and really try hard

to support us,” Morris said. “It’s super fun.”

Pothireddy also highlighted the need for food and monetary donations, particularly in light of COVID-19.

“While demand has gone up for the food we have, the intake of donations hasn’t been at the same pace,” Pothireddy said. “Right now we’re giving out more food than we’re getting in, and now we’re required to buy food to fill in that gap.

So even if you don’t have physical donations, monetary donations can help us buy the food that we need to fill this gap.”

Feed the Pack is located in the Quad Commons Building at 2221 Dunn Ave. As patrons, students can visit the pantry once a week on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 12-6 p.m., or on Fridays from 12-4 p.m.

Though volunteers are currently not needed, students can check back during winter break and during the spring semester for any openings. For more information on volunteering, donations and advocacy, visit Feed the Pack’s website or follow Feed the Pack’s social media accounts. You can also sign up for its newsletter for updates on events and volunteer opportunities.

Qaasim said the African American Cultural Center is important because it provides a space to affirm students who may not get affirmation in other areas on campus.

“This center is so important, because for most anyone, anyone who’s lived as a Black person in the United States, you know that you’re not necessarily maybe affirmed when you enter a space, or maybe it’s not conscious,” Qaasim said. “So spaces like this are so important, because you’re centered.

Your history is centered, your needs, your identity, your culture, and again, being Black, being African American, being African, being Caribbean, you know, there’s many, many identities under this umbrella; we’re not a monolith. I think that’s super significant, particularly on a campus where in your day to day, as a student going from class to class, you may not necessarily see that visibility of other Black peers or staff or faculty, but we’re here.”

Gay said she is excited to have Qaasim join the center’s team and had a hard time finding the words to adequately describe Qaasim.

“I don’t think these words are going to do justice to what I’d really like to say, but I’m gonna go with: dreamer, enthusiastic and gentle,” Gay said.

Students can find more information about the African American Cultural Center and its upcoming events on its website.

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Anna Gessner, a first-year studying nutrition science, organizes a section of canned food at the Feed the Pack pantry in the Honors and Scholars Village Commons on Jan. 10, 2019.

In the Commons, people are able to donate items such as canned foods, fruit cups, rice and more.

Opinion

6 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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Taking classes outside major requirements can be beneficial in many surprising ways Each semester of college is unique in that we take various course loads toward our degrees. Especially as underclassmen, we have the luxury of choosing from a wide variety of Emily electives and GEP courses Cooney Staff Columnist within our degree programs. It’s important that we choose these seemingly miscellaneous classes with the intention of expanding our knowledge further than what may be confined to our major.

There are many different ways to organize your schedule, but the best advice I can give as a fourth-year student is to balance out your course load as much as possible each semester. When choosing your GEP requirements or electives within your major, enroll

in classes you think will be interesting or entertaining. This will help you create a schedule that will allow you to handle the stresses of your more challenging and demanding courses.

These miscellaneous classes can lead to so much more than checking off another requirement. Additionally, if you are still even slightly unsure about what you want to major in, these classes are the perfect way to find out what you are passionate about pursuing.

Additionally, classes that may be considered random to certain majors such as social science courses like psychology, or health and exercise studies like ballet, can lead to genuine hobbies. Perhaps taking general psychology leads to an interest in mental health documentaries or taking ballet leads to joining a dance group on campus.

Personally, some of my favorite courses

have been random ones that I needed to choose to fulfill a requirement. Anthropology, art history and game studies are just some of the courses I found to be surprisingly eye-opening and intriguing. Game studies in particular has served as the perfect, interesting but stress-relieving course this semester to contrast my other more difficult classes.

If you have any remote interest in a subject that may or may not be related to your major and it meets a requirement, why not take it and see what happens? You could find a new calling or passion, challenge your mind, or just be able to enjoy a class without excessive stress.

It is also crucial to not underestimate any class you take during your college career as there is always something to take away from each course. Although taking a required math or literature class may not be your

preference, try to find courses that contain concepts that somewhat interest you. Perhaps taking a general French or Portuguese course may lead to a minor or the trip of a lifetime. The possibilities are endless as long as you have an open mind.

Many students can experience academic burnout throughout college, but this can be avoided. With a more positive mindset and conscious balance of classes when creating our schedules, we can cultivate our own academic and personal success.

It can be so easy to lose sight of the joy of learning new things and being open to more than just the main concepts required for your major. Through the constant grind of classes to reach graduation, we must appreciate the wider knowledge and enjoyment we can get from miscellaneous courses within our requirements.

The T-shirt industrial complex on college campuses needs to stop With the sheer amount of new free T-shirts that pop up at NC State every year, you would think part of the endowment was invested in screen printing.

Just as a disclaimer, this Debra article is not against anyMullis Correspondent one who wears a shirt they got for free every now and again. My problem is with all of the event organizers and leaders who go through the logistics of an event and think “T-shirts, we need T-shirts.” Everyone already has more shirts than they can ever wear, and each new shirt comes with both a fiscal and environmental cost.

Each stage of life brings on a barrage of new T-shirts. You need a shirt for every club you were in, every event you volunteered for, 5K you ran or candidate you voted for. This problem is exacerbated in college, where there are large events every week and hundreds of clubs. Not to mention the worst offenders, sororities and fraternities, who seem to make a new set of Panhellenic shirts every month.

It may be cliche, but nothing is free. Most of the shirts you can get for free on campus will come out of one of the student fees you pay with tuition or from club dues.

It’s important to think about what else that money could go towards that is more valuable than a shirt. But when T-shirts are of-

fered, of course, people take them because they’re free, and who doesn’t like T-shirts?

Your overstuffed pajama drawer doesn’t like T-shirts. The reality is, one person can only wear so many shirts, or will even want to. The majority of shirts are worn the day of the event and maybe a few other times in the outside world, and then they are relegated to the pajama drawer because there is some sentimental value attached to it, so you can’t just get rid of it. By then you’ve probably gotten a new T-shirt anyway. A few years go by until your pajama drawer is filled and you decide to donate it.

Your local thrift store doesn’t like Tshirts either. As a frequent Goodwill shopper, I can’t tell you how many “Class of 2015” T-shirts and other personal shirts I see for very low prices. Would you ever wear a band trip shirt for a school you didn’t attend and a band you didn’t play in? Probably not, and with all the daily donations to thrift stores, no one else does either.

This cycle has a terrible environmental footprint. It can take up to 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton shirt. That is enough water to cover a person’s hydration needs for a whole year. Cotton also needs more pesticides and insecticides than other crops, which can pollute waterways and decrease air quality, according to the World Resource Institute. Many of the unpurchased shirts from thrift stores

Free Shirt Fiasco

Pearl Knight, a third-year studying art and design

may be recycled for insulation or furniture cushioning, but this does not negate the initial poor environmental impacts of the initial production of the T-shirt.

I don’t hate T-shirts. I have lots that I wear all the time, but if I am being honest with myself, I have enough shirts to last me the next 10 years. It’s fun to match with your friends and have a way to represent your favorite organizations, but with all of the shirts I have seen offered on campus in the first month and a half, it’s probably

true that most NC State students will never need another T-shirt for their entire college life.

I don’t think it’s the responsibility of the average student to limit the number of shirts they take. At that point, the damage has already been done. Campus organizations just need to be more conscious about evaluating how necessary an order from Custom Ink really is. There are plenty of ways to build community that do not involve taking up closet space afterward.

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Opinion TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Maybe we should get off the freshman hate train

There is nothing like the chaos and thrill of the first year of college: roommates who like the temperature hot when you like it cold, merciless deadlines that constantly ride our tails and the roller-coaster Lauren journey to independence.

Richards Though the freshman expeCorrespondent rience resonates with many of us, year after year members of the incoming class face the same condemnation from higher grade levels, whether justified or not. While a majority of jabs are pretty lighthearted, sometimes, they can be unnecessarily hurtful and unfair.

Don’t get me wrong — this is not meant to be a plea for mercy on behalf of all first-years from the wrath of upperclassmen. During high school, I also participated in my fair share of freshman slander. As a matter of fact, it was one of the things I looked forward to being able to do.

I believe this is part of the reason why this annual tradition has become so ingrained into our academic culture. As first-years, we are objects of constant ridicule and blame, so when it’s time to renounce the title in the late spring, we feel justified in inflicting the same treatment on next year’s fresh batch.

Of course, not every freshman is an angel.

There are many first-years who display annoying and immature behavior, sometimes in the hope of seeming cool. As a result, the whole class is reduced to the negative image perpetuated by those individuals, pushing those less troublesome to conceal their freshman status.

Because the anti-freshman attitude has become so prevalent in our campus culture, even some first-year students make the declaration of selfhate. However, there is nothing inherently wrong with being a freshman. The title merely denotes the first phase in the college process, and someone is not less worthy by virtue of their freshman label.

There is no denying that college is hard, regardless of the grade you are in. But it’s especially hard

Fresh(man) Scapegoat

Pearl Knight, a third-year studying art and design

for those new to the experience. For many of us, this is our first time navigating life without the emotional and monetary support of our loved ones — our first time meeting the harsh demands of college courses — our first time “adulting” and living autonomously.

Since college life is so vastly different from our lives beforehand, mistakes are inevitable. Sometimes, those mistakes will seem annoying to more experienced students. However, it’s important to note that at one point, many of us were the irritating and insufferable freshman we love to bash.

One method that may reduce negative attitudes

towards first-years is perspective-taking. Perspective-taking refers to the process of understanding the world through the lens of others. When we take on another person’s viewpoint, we expand our version of reality, foster respect and empathy and grow as individuals.

Seeing that a majority of students on campus have walked the road freshmen are currently on, it should hopefully come as no challenge for those individuals to see the world through their eyes.

This ability to take someone else’s perspective could be especially useful in assessing whether mockery is necessary in a given situation. Though

it may be tempting to make fun of the first-year who asked a silly question, before you do, take a moment to envision what it would feel like to be in their position.

Look, I get it, poking harmless fun at freshmen can be amusing. However, when the taunts cross over to insults or unfair generalizations, it may be time to reevaluate why we are doing it in the first place. At the end of the day, we are all college students trying to survive and find our place in this jungle called NC State, and who knows, we may learn something by opening our hearts as well as our minds.

Dabney Hall — home to (mostly) men’s restrooms

Classes at NC State are sometimes sparsely located in some very weird places.

For some, this means having a GEP in a random hall on North Campus. A Mariana friend of mine told me her Fabian class is actually held in a CAssistant store. Despite the majority Opinion Editor of my classes being held in Tompkins or Caldwell, I was surprised to find out that my FLS 333: Sounds of Spanish class was held in Dabney Hall. Of course, every floor is different, but imagine my shock when I found that the floor my class is held on has no women’s restroom.

That was not a typo. There is a floor in Dabney Hall where there is no women’s restroom.

I figured this out one day where I really had to pee and after doing several circles on the third floor, I gave up and went to the second

floor to a similarly outdated women’s restroom. In said restroom, there is one stall and one lone toilet that had no stall doors. These bathrooms are not only weird, but they’re also incredibly annoying when more than one person has to use them — which is very frequent on the second floor of Dabney.

Dabney Hall is home to the NC State Department of Chemistry, which means I have stayed far away from this building. Of course, NC State prides itself on its STEM-heavy course loads. While STEM began as a heavily male-dominated field, this is not so much the case anymore. As the stereotype rigidly goes away, many women engage in STEM degrees here at NC State. There is even a living and learning village called WISE, which was created to aid first and second-year women in STEM. According to the chemistry department’s current faculty page, more than one-third of faculty are women.

While the lack of women’s restrooms may seem like a very minor convenience to some, this disproportionately affects all women students who use this floor. It may come as no surprise that this issue exists as it was built in 1969, according to NCSU Library Archives. The building has had its fair share of work done and continues to be fixed up, but I don’t see this problem at the top of anyone’s lists.

If I’m completely honest, I think the issue is so overlooked that people just forgot about it since it’s the third floor of Dabney. However, even though it may not get the same traffic flow as the first and second floors where the larger lecture halls are located, I know numerous people who have had problem-solving and recitation classes for certain courses like calculus held there. It’s frustrating that there’s a men’s restroom that is easily accessible, yet, I have to walk downstairs and circle

the building just to find one decent restroom.

One easy solution would be to create several gender-neutral restrooms throughout Dabney Hall. While this may seem like a difficult feat, many other areas throughout campus already have single-occupancy restrooms. In fact, the GLBT center has a running list of these restrooms including where they’re located and their hours.

I am not expecting Dabney Hall or NC State to fix this issue immediately, but I feel it is critical to keep talking about this. It may be “just a bathroom,” but men might not see the problem because their bathroom has always existed. NC State cannot just keep putting up shiny new buildings on Centennial campus in the name of development.

It’s the little things like making accessible bathrooms for all that can make students’ lives easier and make them feel welcome in a particular environment.

Culture

8 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero’ displays his potential but leaves us wanting Caryl Espinoza Jaen Managing Editor

Lil Nas X is back. Over the past year, the pop provocateur and gay icon has shocked the world with his outrageous singles. In “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” Lil Nas X descends into hell to slay (and twerk on) the devil, sending mainstream media into a whirl. Similarly, “INDUSTRY BABY” caused a storm with the rapper dancing in prison alongside hip-hop heartthrob Jack Harlow, even sparking DaBaby’s ignorant comments on HIV. Now, more than two years since his radio hit “Old Town Road” and its subsequent EP “7,” Lil Nas X’s debut album, “Montero,” has finally been released.

With an outrageous male pregnancy and a completely over the top cover of Lil Nas X’s nude figure floating in a “mystical landscape,” the highlights of “Montero” bleed the rapper’s braggadocious persona. Look no further than lead single “INDUSTRY BABY,” where Lil Nas X raps about his Grammy accolades as he works on making albums. “DOLLA SIGN SLIME,” featuring the ever-iconic Megan Thee Stallion, has both artists take a stab at their haters by highlighting their financial success as rappers and pop artists.

For the most part, “Montero” leans into this hedonic pop persona, with many of the tracks consisting of Lil Nas X — and every now and then the feature artist — bragging about their success, their riches or their reach.

But there’s more to “Montero’’ than just bragging and lead singles. In fact, Lil

Cohesively, “Montero” often repeats the same pop structure across multiple tracks, making a front-to-back listen of the album exhausting, to say the least

Nas X often ref lects on his status as a gay Black man in a society that, despite the many strides it has made in LGBTQ+ equality, still feels discriminating and oppressing. “TALES OF DOMINICA,” for example, has the artist reflect on living in a dysfunctional, often unaccepting family.

“LIFE AFTER SALEM” discusses queer heartbreak after a toxic, rather unsuccessful relationship. And of course, who can forget “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” where t he r apper sings about gay desire and overcoming the shame of internalized homophobia.

“Montero” of ten references Biblica l themes, either directly through its lyrics or indirectly through its infamous music videos and promotional material. Lil Nas X is using these references to reclaim Christian narratives, narratives that are often used to defend homophobia and discrimination.

A nd indeed, t he artist confirmed it as intentional in an interview with TIME magazine.

“I grew up in a pretty religious kind of home — and for me, it was fear-based very much,” Lil Nas X told TIME magazine. “Even as a little child, I was really scared of every single mistake I may or may not have made. I want kids growing up feeling these feelings, knowing they’re a part of the LGBTQ community, to feel like they’re OK and they don’t have to hate themselves.”

Where “Montero” disappoints, similar to Lil Nas X’s previous work, is its sonic diversity. Cohesively, “Montero” often repeats the same pop structure across multiple tracks, making a front-to-back listen of the album exhausting, to say the least. Its

CHARLOTTE RUTHERFORD/VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

production, while clean and never grating, never seeks to experiment or transcend, which is disappointing considering both the album itself and its promotional material fought so hard to subvert society’s deeply ingrained homophobia. Lil Nas X’s lyric work, while fun and memorable, never truly delivers a punch, never truly impacting nor challenging the listener.

And while a feature should never outshine the main artist, all the famous pop stars in “Montero” never pack a punch either. Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, Elton John and Doja Cat, all industry giants,

deliver forgettable features, with nothing.

It’s a shame, considering all these artists have shown the ability to make truly outstanding feature verses too.

Regardless, “Montero” serves as an improvement for Lil Nas X’s craft, with the album’s highlights shining brighter than “Old Town Road” breaking the Billboard charts in 2019. Listeners should look forward to Lil Nas X’s artistic output in the near future, because while “Montero” is just alright, Lil Nas X has the potential to shake up the pop sphere beyond his braggadocious persona.

Culture

TECHNICIAN 9

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Tailgating is back and it’s survival of the fittest Shelby Bryson Correspondent

After more than a year-long hiatus, Carter-Finley Stadium is finally seeing some action again. For attending crowds, it’s been greatly missed, with the COVID-19 pandemic taking its toll on colleges across the nation canceling athletics across the board.

Bleakness descended over campuses, leaving many students feeling empty and disconnected.

“It was terrible,” said Ellie Hanks, a second-year studying recreation. “I felt no sense of community. No culture, no fun, nothing.”

Her roommate Jessi Graham, a third-year education major, seconded Hanks’ sentiments.

“I didn’t even feel like a student,” Graham said. “I’m a transfer and last year was my first year here and I didn’t get to do anything. Having sports back makes me feel like I’m finally a student here.”

And back they are.

For NC State’s matchup with Furman,

ubers began pouring into the Carter-Finley parking lot shortly after noon, dropping off only the most committed tailgaters. By 2:30 p.m., the tailgate was in full swing already, with tents painting the horizon along a sea of red. Except for one.

One brave man showed up last Saturday wearing a lonely baby-blue Jordan jersey.

He seemed to walk the plank as State fans showered him with deafening boos while he walked by. Someone must have taken pity on him, because the next time he was seen, he had donned a plain red T-shirt.

One thing’s for sure, COVID-19 or not, tailgates are serious business and you can’t show up unprepared.

For some attendees, it doesn’t seem all that different compared to pre-COVID-19.

One parent, Scott Clark, echoed this sentiment, explaining that not much is different, with his family setting up more-or-less in the same spot.

“This lot is for people with season passes, so not much has changed, at least from what

Energy Week A week of events Sept. 27 – Oct. 1 to increase visibility of the university’s energy use, research and opportunity to shape a clean energy future.

Register for events at

go.ncsu.edu/EnergyWeek

TAILGATING continued page 11

Electric Vehicle Showcase

9/27, 11 am - 2 pm Learn about and experience electric vehicles

Extreme Weather and the Grid

9/27, 3:30 - 4:30 pm Panel discussion about resiliency of the grid

Energy Entrepreneurs: Now Is The Time 9/27, 7 - 8 pm Panel discussion with energy entrepreneurs

Centennial Campus Utility Plant Tour

9/28, 1 - 2 pm Behind-the-scenes looks at campus energy

Electricity 101: The U.S. Grid Explained 9/28, 3 - 4:30 pm The grid today and how we can decarbonize

Energy Pitch Competition Finale

9/28, 7 - 8 pm Final round of judging to select pitch winners

crossed kalunga by the stars

Energy Research: Spark Talks

& other acts of resistance

9/30, 2 - 3 pm Showcase of lightning talks on energy research

On view through March 12, 2022 Curated by Tosha Grantham

Reverse Pitch: Careers in Energy and Cleantech

Renée Stout, The Time She Saw Too Much, 2010

9/30, 5 - 6:30 pm Learn more and connect with employers

Culture

10 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

Poole College of Management unveils Latinx Heritage Month mural Myra Bari

Assistant Culture Editor

The Poole College of Management unveiled a new mural this weekend representing artist Bryant Parroquin’s Mexican American heritage as part of Latinx Heritage Month.

Located in the East Plaza of Nelson Hall, the mural features a brightly colored lotería board illustrating shared traditions and cultural symbolism alongside a heartfelt poem written by Parroquin’s sibling, Geovanne Parroquin.

The event began with a performance from NC State’s only Latin dance team, Sube Ritmo, highlighting several forms of dance from Central and South America. The mural was revealed shortly afterward to an eagerly anticipating audience.

Parroquin explained that he was trying to describe the different identities of Latinx individuals, given their nationalities, countries of origin and being raised in the United States.

“My parents are Mexican, so am I more Mexican or American?” Parroquin said.

“Where do I balance the two cultures? How do I keep my parents’ traditions alive, and how do I still hold on to the traditions here in America and what they do in this country? ... I just want to bring the conversation to anyone from any nationality that might have to balance two identities, two cultures and two lifestyles.”

Tayah Butler, director of diversity and inclusion for Poole College of Management, said that she wanted to create an event that emphasized this year’s Latinx Heritage Month theme, “moving forward.”

“It inspired me to ask [Parroquin] to reminisce on what it means to be honoring his heritage, but also looking forward,” Butler said. “I asked him about a mural, but he came up with the idea of a lotería and his own interpretation of different identity aspects.”

NATALIE FOLSOM/AGROMECK

The Latinx mural is revealed on the side of Nelson Hall on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021. The designer, Bryant Parroquinn who is a graduate of UNC, said “I was excited to introduce my culture and the Latino culture in this design.”

Butler said that she wants the mural to show students, faculty and staff who identify as Latinx or Hispanic that people see them, they value them and they see their contributions to the community as scholars, researchers and students.

“I also want this to serve as a little bit of education to anyone in our community who doesn’t know much about Latin culture, or Latin America, so they can take a little piece of new knowledge with them,” Butler said.

Students in the Poole College of Management that are of Latinx or Hispanic heritage have the opportunity to participate in multiple organizations, including the Association

of Latino Professionals For America, a way for students to hone their professional and personal skills and connect to peers.

Students are also encouraged to visit the Poole Office of Diversity and Inclusion, located on the first floor of Nelson Hall.

“We consider that a safe space for people to just come and relax; they can find me and they can find my team,” Butler said. “They can bring to me ideas and projects that they’d like to see realized, or changes they’d like to see happen in the Poole College of Management, and I can be that conduit right to the administration.”

Parroquin said that students of different

backgrounds can give back to the Latinx community by trying to understand student experiences and by learning about Latin culture and lifestyles.

“That way, other students understand why you do certain things, why you feel like you’re more pressured to succeed in school and why you feel like college is your only option because I feel like, in Latinx culture growing up, you have to get an education, like that’s our only option to make our parents’ struggle worth it,” Parroquin said. “So understanding that dynamic and just understanding your fellow Latino peers comes a big way.”

Finding the best parking spots on campus Caleb Jolley Correspondent

For students with cars, finding parking can be difficult with or without a pass, leading many students to explore different options in their search for the best parking spots on campus.

Parking passes are available to students on a first come, first served basis, with the request period opening up at different times based on a student’s credit hours.

Some of the most sought after spaces are in the commuter parking decks, which offer convenient locations near the heart

WHAT WORKS FOR YOU? of campus.

The Coliseum Deck (CD) permit, appropriately named for its location next to Reynolds Coliseum, is one of the most popular parking spots on main campus.

With close proximity to Talley Student Union and easy access to the rest of Main Campus, students lucky enough to obtain this permit enjoy its many benefits.

“I really like it because it’s actually closer to some of my classes that are over on campus,” said Bailey Thomas, a fourth-

year studying business administration.

“It’s just really nice being able to drive from my apartment and have the option for the Wolf line and parking deck.”

For students wishing to park on Centennial Campus, the Centennial Campus Deck (CC) permit offers a similar convenience.

“This is a great spot if you want to pay 200-some bucks for it at the beginning of the semester,” said Isaac Weber, a fourthyear studying aerospace engineering. “All

of my classes are on Centennial now, so I might as well park over here. … I’ve got no reason to go to Main [Campus] anymore.”

To purchase a CD or CC permit, students must pay a $210 fee and have at least 75 or 60 credits hours, respectively.

These requirements, coupled with a high demand, present a barrier for most students wishing to secure these spots. Luckily, there are other parking options that students can take advantage of to meet their unique needs.

One option students have turned to is

TECHNICIAN 11

Culture TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

had a game in so long so it’s like everybody forgot how to operate.”

Check-in is a perfect example as ticketing issues made getting into the continued from page 9 game unconventional.

I can tell,” Clark said. “My kids “They didn’t even scan my ticket,” still play with the same friends.

Hanks said. “All anyone needed was We still bring food. It feels the to flash their student ID and in they same to me.” went.”

Still, the crowd is baffling.

Hanks said she leaves early. Every For a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, students time. start walking to the stadium 30 “Especially a night game. The thing minutes early, some even earlier is you have to leave before fourth quarto get the best seats. A few come ter because the traffic is so terrible; it just for the tailgate, typically takes like three or four hours to get those who invited non-student out.” friends who didn’t want to buy Similarly, Graham has left around tickets, but most go to the game the end of the first quarter for both of as well. the games she’s attended.

“I have never gone to a tailFor fans that stayed to the end this gate and not gone to the football time around, they saw a crushing win game,” Hanks said. “I know a by the Wolfpack as they clobbered Furlot of people that have and a man into a 45-7 defeat. The Uber app lot of people that do, but I perat the time read, “We are experiencing sonally have always gone into an influx in fares at this time,” as wait the game. Half the time I leave NATALIE FOLSOM/AGROMECK times clocked in anywhere from 45 early, but I at least make it in.” Students tailgate outside of Carter-Finley Stadium before the first football game against USF Thursday, Sept. minutes to an hour.

At the game against USF, 2, 2021.

Committed fans come expecting the crowd at the entrance to that, however, and even if they don’t crowd, the motto is survival of the fittest. the abyss in order to keep hold of her keys the stadium could only be dehave smiles on their faces while waitscribed as a mob. Anyone that’s concerned Friends hold hands so they don’t get sepa- and phone. ing for a ride, they show up bright and early “It’s complete chaos,” Hanks said, “Before at the next tailgate to do it all over again. with COVID-19 doesn’t come, and those rated, ankles are trampled on, and one girl that do have not a care in the world. In this had to intentionally drop her full drink into it was chaos too, but now it’s like nobody’s

TAILGATING

the fringe lot (F) permit, offering parking on the north, west, and south ends of Centennial Campus. For students with a majority of their classes on Centennial, this is a no-brainer, but interestingly enough, the fringe lot serves students who travel to Main Campus as well.

“I was actually super late on getting a parking spot, so this was like my last option, but I like it,” said Hillarie Bara, a third-year studying sports management.

One of the northern fringe lots where Bara parks is located behind Mission Valley Apartments and features a shortcut to the intersection of Avent Ferry Road and Centennial Parkway. From there, students can access multiple Wolf line bus stops serviced by routes 40, 41, and 50, which

have anything on Centennial, or in the library, then I end up taking the Wolf line, which isn’t a huge hassle.

And after 3, I’m allowed to park in the decks.”

Clark is referring to a helpful policy where students with commuter passes, including the CC, CD and W permits, are allowed to cross park in other commuter decks after 3 p.m.

Clark said this is a perk she takes advantage of whenever she can.

GRAPHIC BY JOE LINGO/TECHNICIAN For s t u d e nt s liv ing in onall take students to Main Campus. campus housing, “Because it’s super close to that [bus there is an opportunity to purchase a stop], it can get me to Talley really quickly residential permit. While it is not necesand then it’s only a 15 minute walk to sary for these students to drive to class Jordan Hall, so it makes it super easy,” every day, it is still useful to have a place Bara said. to keep their vehicles should they need to The west lot (W) permit is another pop- go anywhere else. ular option among students, providing “I use [my car] mostly like once a week, access to spaces off Sullivan Drive, near I usually take it to go home, or to go to Fountain Dining Hall, as well as spots church, or I’m taking it to the game this north of Greek Village. These spaces re- weekend,” said Kate Nickolson, a firstquire a slightly longer walk to the middle year studying business administration. of main campus than the CD, but noth“I’m the one that drives [friends] around ing more compared to the distance from mostly,” Nickolson added with a laugh.

Sullivan, Lee and Bragaw residence halls.

Residential permits are available de“Generally I like it, it’s convenient,” pending on the area in which a student said Katharine Clark, a graduate stu- resides. There are specific lots for Wolf dent in the food science program. “If I Ridge (RC), Wolf Village (RV), east cam-

pus (RE) and west campus (RW), among others.

Even without a parking pass, students can still park on campus in numerous paylots found throughout the area. Here, students can pay for parking on a daily or hourly basis in notable locations including the Coliseum Deck, the Partners Way Deck on Centennial Campus, outside of Bragaw Residence Hall, and even some spaces in North Campus near the Belltower.

For students who wish to avoid paying, most parking restrictions are lifted after 5 p.m., giving students free reign to park where they please. During this time, employee (C) lot spaces near Talley or Carmichael Gymnasium are quite nice for students, if there is a spot available.

“We’ll come [to the gym] usually and try to find a spot if we can,” said A.J. Beckman, a second-year studying electrical engineering. “Also up in front of Talley and down Cates Avenue, we’ll see if we can find employee parking over there after 5.”

There are also some lesser known spots that become available after 5 p.m. as well, if you know where to look.

“Right by the Belltower, the faculty and staff lot… that’s a good hidden spot,” said Clark. “Otherwise, if I know I’m gonna be in the library all day, sometimes I’ll do parking along like Vanderbilt [Avenue].”

Finding the perfect place to park on campus can be tough. Students must consider factors such as class locations, academic standing, willingness to pay and others. No single spot will work every time, but it’s nice to know there is a variety of options that cater to different situations. When you find your spot, just make sure to keep it between the lines so others can find theirs next to you.

Sports

12 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

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Wolfpack football looks for upset win over No. 9 Clemson at home Will Thornhill Staff Writer

After bouncing back with a win against Furman last weekend, NC State football is set to begin ACC play inside Carter-Finley Stadium. Its opponent is No. 9 Clemson, a team it has lost to eight consecutive times.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” said head coach Dave Doeren in his weekly presser. “Anytime you get to play a team like this that’s been the gold standard in our league, it’s a great opportunity for your football team.”

This is a chance for the veteran Wolfpack bunch to get a massive win in front of its home crowd. The Tigers have not been playing their best, losing their opening game to then-No. 5 Georgia, and barely beating Georgia Tech at home 14-8 in week three.

Coming into the season, new Clemson quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei had lofty expectations put on his shoulders. It’s fair to

say he has not lived up to those quite yet.

Uiagalelei has thrown for just 475 yards and one touchdown in three starts. Expect the Wolfpack to pressure Uiagalelei all afternoon Saturday to try and make him uncomfortable in his first road conference start.

The Tigers have new faces in the run game as well, led by freshman Will Shipley, who NC State heavily recruited but ultimately fell short with. Shipley has four touchdowns so far in his young career and is averaging 58.3 yards per game. Uiagalelei can be a threat to run the ball out of the pocket too. “[Clemson’s] quarterback is a big dude,” Doeren said. “He’s got a live arm, and you can see he’s not afraid to run the football and use his body.”

Helpful for Uiagalelei is his veteran receiving core led by Justyn Ross and Joseph Ngata. Ross leads the team with 14 catches while Ngata is right behind him

with 11 receptions. Both of these players are dangerous with the long ball.

What has been most impressive with the Tigers so far is the play of their defense.

Clemson has yet to give up an offensive touchdown. The only touchdown put up on the Tigers this season was a pick-six in week one against Georgia.

The heart and soul of Clemson’s defense is linebacker James Skalski. He leads the team with 27 tackles. On the defensive line, NC State will need to be wary of defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, a former No. 1 recruit in America. The sophomore leads the team in sacks and is tied for the lead in tackles for loss. “[Clemson] has only given up seven points a game,” Doeren said. “Their defensive front is very, very tough. They’re impressive.”

The NC State offense did not look good earlier this season against Mississippi State, which is its only other game against

a Power Five opponent. This upcoming game will give redshirt sophomore quarterback Devin Leary another chance to prove himself against the best.

A balanced passing and running package with junior running back Ricky Person Jr. and sophomore running back Zonovan Knight could be the key to pulling off the upset in Raleigh.

If the Wolfpack wins, it will be in the driver’s seat to advance to its first ACC Championship game since 1979. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, with the game being televised on ESPN. DANIELLE MEYER/TECHNICIAN

Sophomore running back Zonovan Knight breaks down the field with senior wide receiver Emeka Emezie blocking defenders during the game against Furman on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 at Carter-Finley Stadium. Knight had 11 carries for 104 yards with one touchdown. The Wolfpack beat the Furman Paladins 45-7.

TECHNICIAN 13 Sports Jaylon Scott fills in big shoes at linebacker after Payton Wilson’s season-ending injury TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Ben Ellis

Senior Sports Writer

Perhaps the biggest story for the NC State football team thus far this season has been the loss of redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson for the season due to injury. Arguably the team’s best player, Wilson led the ACC in total tackles in 2020 and entered the 2021 season as one of the best linebackers in the country.

However, a season-ending injury suffered early in a 24-10 week two loss to Mississippi State gave a big blow to the NC State defense, leaving the question of who is to fill such big shoes.

The answer is sophomore linebacker Jaylon Scott, who, prior to this season, had seen action in seven games, with his only start being in last season’s 23-21 loss to Kentucky in the Gator Bowl. In fact, Scott was also filling in for an injured Wilson in the Gator Bowl, so he is not unfamiliar with stepping up when called upon.

“We prepare every day,” Scott said. “We all prepare like we are starters. It’s just a next man up type thing.”

Prior to this season, Scott had tallied a total of 20 tackles and had an interception in last season’s 31-20 victory over Duke.

While Wilson’s injury is very unfortunate, it does give Scott an opportunity to showcase his skills.

“I feel like I’m balanced,” Scott said.

“I know the game, just because I’ve been

DANIELLE MEYER/TECHNICIAN

Junior nickelback Tyler Baker Williams, graduate student cornerback Derrek Pitts Jr., and redshirt freshman cornerback Shyheim Battle celebrate Baker-Williams’ interception during the game against Furman on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 at Carter-Finley Stadium. BakerWilliams gained seven yards on the play. The Wolfpack beat the Furman Paladins 45-7.

here three years. …I do really well setting edges. I like to run the field.”

Scott has talked to Wilson since his injury, and Wilson has given Scott plenty of encouragement. In fact, despite his injury, Wilson stayed on the sideline during the Mississippi State game to help Scott and give him advice. “[Wilson] just told me literally that I’m prepared for this, to just go ball out pretty

much,” Scott said. “He’s a straightforward guy. He’ll tell you if you mess up on something.”

Scott has been thrown into the fire during his time at NC State. He had to step up numerous times during the Pack’s injuryriddled 2019 season, he had to step up and fill in for Wilson in last season’s Gator Bowl and he has had to step up this season in the wake of the most devastating injury

news that the team could have suffered.

“Just being able to be in a big game and not stumble, not f linch,” Scott said.

“That’s what we talk about a lot, just not f linching whenever you get in. I feel like just being in a big game, especially early, it just helps you prepare for the other big games and just not having any drop off.”

He and the rest of the defense will receive their stiffest challenge yet this weekend when the Pack hosts No. 9 Clemson in what is perhaps the biggest game of the year for NC State. While Clemson has not looked great at times on offense this season, it’s still Clemson. The Tigers are very talented at every position, and it will be up to Scott and the rest of the linebackers to make plays when needed.

Scott has performed on numerous occasions, and he’ll have to do it again in one of NC State’s biggest games of the last 10 years. While Scott has big shoes to fill individually, it is up to every player on the defense to fill the void left behind

by Wilson.

“We’re gonna all take the same mentality of this next man’s opportunity, and I know Jaylon Scott will do everything he can,” said head coach Dave Doeren.

“That’s kind of what you have to do. It’s part of not just football, it’s part of life.

We all lose things that we expect to have on a day-to-day basis, and now how you step up around them, you do it as a family. That’s what we have to do as a team.”

Jaylan Harrington Editor-in-Chief Record: 12-8 Rank: 2

Tristan Tucker Managing Editor Record: 11-9 Rank: T-3

Mallory High Brand Manager Record: 9-11 Rank: T-9

Avery Davis News Editor Record: 10-10 Rank: T-6

Nicholas Schnittker Sports Editor Record: 9-11 Rank: T-9

Wade Bowman Asst. Sports Editor Record: 10-10 Rank: T-6

Bryan Pyrtle Asst. Sports Editor Record: 13-7 Rank: 1

Ann Salman Design Editor Record: 11-9 Rank: T-3

Chloe Allen Video Editor Record: 10-10 Rank: T-6

Mollie Mitchell Photo Editor Record: 11-9 Rank: T-3

No. 12 Notre Dame at No. 18 Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

No. 7 Texas A&M at No. 16 Arkansas

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

No. 21 North Carolina at Georgia Tech

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina

Rutgers at No. 19 Michigan

Michigan

Michigan

Michigan

Michigan

Michigan

Michigan

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Michigan

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Michigan

No. 14 Iowa State at Baylor No. 9 Clemson at NC State

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Iowa State

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Baylor

Iowa State

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Iowa State

Iowa State

Baylor

Baylor

NC State

Clemson

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Clemson

Louisville at Florida State

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Louisville

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Florida State

Louisville

Louisvile

Florida State

Louisville

Liberty at Syracuse

Liberty

Liberty

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Liberty

Liberty

Liberty

Syracuse

Liberty

Liberty

Oklahoma State

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Kansas State

Oklahoma State

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Oklahoma State

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Duke

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Kansas

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Duke

No. 25 Kansas State at Oklahoma State Kansas at Duke

14 TECHNICIAN THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Sports TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

NC State football’s linebacker corps exudes ‘Bend, don’t break’ mentality Tristan Tucker Managing Editor

The season-ending injury to redshirt sophomore linebacker Payton Wilson in the NC State football team’s week two loss to Mississippi State was crushing for a number of reasons. For starters, Wilson is a tackling machine, leading the ACC last year and having the kind of swagger teams crave from a defensive leader. But it’s even more crushing on a personal level. Wilson is no stranger to injuries and adversity, but it especially stings that this is his fourth major injury since coming to the Pack.

While the injury is certainly heartbreaking for both Wilson and the Wolfpack faithful alike, NC State’s linebackers are uniquely situated to handle a blow and continue chugging.

Wilson is typically the spearhead for the most talented linebacker corps in the ACC, and potentially even the nation. But Wilson isn’t the only reason for this group’s success. Sophomore Drake Thomas and redshirt junior Isaiah Moore are equally responsible for the fear that this unit instills in opposing teams.

NATALIE FOLSOM/AGROMECK Despite the painful loss at Mis- Freshman linebacker Devon Betty tackles a Furman player in the game on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Carter-Finley Stadium. Betty had 7 total sissippi State, Thomas was a bright tackles. The Wolfpack beat the Paladins 45-7. spot, and it seems like he’s omnipresent on the field. His ability to make his previous season’s tackle mark in seven reps with Scott is freshman Caden Ford- ends on the roster that could switch over reads and stops is almost unmatched by fewer games. In fact, Thomas, not Wilson or ham, who made the transition from safety to the position.

On the other side of the field, the Pack anyone else on the team. In just three Moore, was named to Pro Football Focus’ in the offseason and popped off the page in games this season, Thomas has 43.1% of preseason All-ACC team as an honorable the team’s spring scrimmage. In that scrim- has redshirt junior Vi Jones playing as a mage, Fordham picked off freshman quar- backup in the SAM position. Jones made a mention.

Moore is equally impressive, finishing last terback Aaron McLaughlin for a pick-six, significant impact last season, and though season ranked ninth in the ACC in tackles, and in his most recent game appearance, he’s been quieter this year, he’s a viable insurance option for Thomas. despite missing time. While his numbers he recorded three total tackles.

NC State typically instills a 3-3-5 defense, Between Fordham and Scott, the Pack has haven’t jumped off the page this season, he’s been effective at stopping the run in two extremely physical outside linebackers but with the abundance of ends on the rosWhile the injury is cer- his MIKE role. with unique physical traits. The fact that ter, it could make some level of sense to run Fordham made the transition from safety some packages of 4-2-5 plays. However, it’s But there are several other linebackers on tainly heartbreaking the team who are going to be able to take a is particularly interesting, given that he has extremely unlikely that we will see any such for both Wilson and the step forward and prove why this Pack unit likely retained the lightning-quick speed packages this season.

Wolfpack faithful alike, is one of the deepest on the team. One of necessary to play up in the box. While Ford- Within the confines of defensive coordiis the player who stepped into Wil- ham played in 25 snaps against Furman, nator Tony Gibson’s lineups, the Pack desNC State’s linebackers those son’s role as a WILL linebacker, sophomore most of that came in the second half after perately needs Scott or Fordham to emerge are uniquely situated to Jaylon Scott. the Pack had already secured the blowout. on the weakside. The Wolfpack always runs It isn’t extremely likely that Fordham will a nickel, and the backers on the roster don’t While Scott has limited playing time thus handle a blow and confar, he’s an intriguing outside option that play significant minutes unless something have the strength that Wilson did to line up tinue chugging. in a 4-2-5 defense. recorded a pass breakup against Furman. As goes terribly wrong for the team.

But if there’s anything the coaching staff Outside of that, the team doesn’t have of now, it looks as if Scott will get the start from now on, but will play less snaps than many weak linebacking options. Moore and has learned the past few years, the Pack dehis counterparts in Thomas and Moore. freshman Devon Betty have the smarts to fense can stand to take a punch and keep Against Furman, Scott registered 17 snaps play several positions as middle linebackers, rolling and it will try to do just that when but running them in as weakside backers is the team takes on No. 9 Clemson inside compared to Thomas and Moore’s 27.

The outside option that will be splitting not ideal. There also aren’t many defensive Carter-Finley on Saturday, Sept. 25.

TECHNICIAN 15

Comics TECHNICIANONLINE.COM

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

“Simulation”

Sunshine Chang, a fourth year in design studies

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