Inappropriate illustration The photo illustration used to accompany Wednesday’s article on the Duke Lacrosse scandal demonstrated absolute ignorance and idiocy on the part of anyone involved in allowing it to go to print.
Whether true or not, the rape allegations highlight the disturbing prevalence of sexual assault against women. Displaying the body of a “stripped” woman without any personalized, humanizing features (such as a face) reduces all women to sexual objects. This perpetuates exactly the kind of thinking that leads to instances such as that discussed in the article.
Way to be part of the problem.
Carrie GoodsonSeniorMicrobiology
Respect religious diversity The half-page everystudent.com advertisement printed in yesterday’s Technician made me wonder about the sincerity of our school’s effort to promote diversity. The Technician chose to print an ad listing the almost 140 faculty and staff that signed their names to an insert persuading students to make a new beginning by accepting and knowing Jesus. Last I checked, N.C. State was a religiously unaffiliated university, and I fail to see the use of printing something that distracts from the idea that all students are free to practice whatever religious beliefs they choose.
As a Jewish student, this obvious attempt at blatant proselytizing made me feel uncomfortable and ostracized. The fact that this campus houses so many different cultures, religions and beliefs helps to make this school an excellent place to learn, but I have no doubt that if one of the professors on the list was one of my own I would feel apprehensive in returning to their classroom.
This is not a Christian school or a Christian newspaper, and although I encourage our students to follow whatever religion they choose, I prefer to not feel like I don’t belong when I pick up the school paper.
Jessie RosenbergJuniorSocial Work
University needs to keep consistent with politically correct termsOver the years, I have grown used to hearing the terms “Christmas Break.”
How thankful I was that when I got to college it was known as “Winter Break.” No longer did I feel uncomfortable being one of the few not celebrating Christmas. But because the term “Spring Break” was already taken we have to resort to the few days off for Easter as “Spring Holiday,” to still incorporate as many non-Christians as possible. This year is a rarity, in that the spring holiday that I celebrate (Passover) actually falls at the same time as the Holiday Break. However, this is not usually the case, and there are plenty of other students not celebrating a holiday, but are still thankful for these extra days off. But there is not consistency on campus.
Inside of Fountain Dining Hall, there is a flyer posting the hours for “Good Friday Break.” This title, which is NOT the official term used by the University, should not be used by any branch of the University, including University Dining. Although any Friday off is a good Friday, this sign is obviously making mention of the Christian observance of Good Friday, the Friday that always precedes Easter Sunday. This title must not be allowed to be used with University Dining, nor should it with any branch of our University that truly supports student diversity.
Ben MazurSophomoreStatistics
Langley will make a difference Throughout the election for student body president, there has been a degree of controversy unparalleled by any other election for as long as one can remember. The pointing of fingers has taken away from the true meaning of the election, which is to vote for and elect a student body government. Such adolescent behavior has morphed this election into a complete and utter mockery (just take a drive down Fraternity Court…).
The degree to which some students have gone in attempts to mar the image of Will Langley has, in fact, done nothing other than dumb down the character of his opponent and his respective organization. Instead of pointing out all the faults of a particular candidate, as others have so graciously done, it is time for us to recognize the positive aspects of our candidates. We all need to take a step back and assess the situation for what it is. And before we are so quick to judge the candidates for SBP, we should realize that, while it is their choice to run, it is our right to vote and to vote for whom we believe will be the greatest asset to N.C. State.
Will Langley said in his campaign that he is “not promising to save the world” (although it sounds as though that is the expectation), he is just promising “to make N.C. State better.” So when voting, keep in mind who you are supporting and what he is supporting: his own wellbeing or the wellbeing of the school? In electing Will Langley, we are ensured a voice of the students, a person who loves NCSU, and a student body president who will get the job done.
Brittany BlairJunior Textile and Apparel Management
Lindsay ParinaJunior Textile and Apparel Management
Clean up our act I think that Kate is right on target when she talks about how disappointed she is in how other students treat this campus by spitting and blatant littering. I lived in Wood Hall for two years while I was at N.C. State, and the littering there was absolutely horrible. There was a bunch of fleas and animals that came to rotting fast food residing in the parking lot (I almost threw up when I saw that). Why someone would throw food on the ground is completely beyond me. I think NCSU is one of the messiest campuses in the state. Student groups have to get involved and take a stand against all this disgusting littering. First we need to get together and clean up all the existing litter. Second, someone needs to clean the yucky gum wall and remove all of the gum! There is no aesthetic beauty in looking at gum that people chewed years ago.
Not only is that grossly unsightly, it’s also unsanitary. I urge the students to get together over this Easter break and spend time cleaning up this campus. It can quickly be done with the help of fellow students and housekeepers. Also, students who are caught littering should face a $50 fine for every single offense (just look at how harshly littering is handled in Singapore, but it is one of the most beautiful countries on this earth).
Praveen SriramAISSenior
Crimes on campus It is such a sad thing that so many students on this campus are arrested for committing crimes against the community. Just look at the bunch of students who were arrested for the robberies and the shooting of another student last month. And look at the guy from Alexander Hall who thought it was funny to set the Free Expression Tunnel ablaze. It is beyond me how these people happened to become students at a well-respected university. Grossly immature people who commit these acts against others and against property are definitely not college material. It is a tragedy when you have students who do these kinds of things to their campus. They deserved to be expelled and work their way from the bottom at a horrible minimum-wage job. I am tired of students who treat their campus community this way.
Praveen SriramAISSenior
Don’t pass judgment Praveen, I enjoy reading your spirited submissions to the Technician’s Viewpoint page, but I can’t ignore your commentary about the Duke men’s lacrosse team. You stated that “[they] should be punished,” yet you failed to insert the obligatory “if they are guilty” statement. Monday’s revelations notwithstanding, we do have the notion of “innocent until proven guilty,” and you ignored that and just passed guilt immediately.
It’s a shame that the coach was forced to resign based on the unfounded allegations of a lying stripper, but such is the norm in a nation where the accused are assumed guilty of rape until it’s proven the accuser has a motive. Even then, of course, the shadow of suspicion remains.
Bryan BurroughsSeniorComputer Science
Professing religion Dr. Rodman, I have a hard time understanding what your colleagues have to be ashamed about for pooling their money and purchasing an advertising spot in the newspaper. Their views on religion have just as much of a right to be heard as do yours. Their status as professors does nothing to change that. If they want to pool their own money and time to say “God loves you,” then let them.
As long as they don’t do it in class.
Bryan BurroughsSeniorComputer Science
Everybody loses In regards to the allegations posed by Will Langley that Sigma Chi forced their spring pledge class beyond their own free will to participate in Will Quick’s campaign is completely unfounded and a purely political move. I applaud the Technician for going out of their way to let me contact the article’s writer and let me include the fact that Sigma Chi is completely innocent in regards to hazing. It shows the true character of the Technician’s leadership and the fact that they are a truly genuine student voice to go out of their way to ensure the real facts were made evident for the sake of students.
Secondly, I just wanted to make it clear that nobody benefited from the recent incidents that have plagued this election. Specifically, Sigma Chi now carries a great stain made by unfounded and ill-motivated actions that, despite the most sincere efforts, will take a long time to overcome. It is truly unfortunate that the great men of Sigma Chi will have a majority of their year’s hard work overshadowed by these completely erroneous hazing allegations. Mr. Langley claimed to make these allegations to Student Conduct for the best interest of the men in question. I strongly question whether he truly cared about these young men’s welfare since he neglected to contact myself or the Department of Greek Life about the hazing suspicions. Regardless of his motives, I don’t think he was aware of the weight of his actions and I only hope that during the remainder of his collegiate career he will feel the burden he has cowardly shifted to other men.
Furthermore, for the two men remaining in this election, one will win and his term will already be soaked in defeat by the altercations that will be the trumpet of his inauguration. The student body is continuing to lose faith in their most powerful student resource — their elected representatives — and the more these childish actions continue, the weaker the N.C. State student experience becomes. I wish whoever wins the voice of the student body the best of luck to right the wrongs and attempt to save a student experience that is flat lining and shows no signs of revival.
More importantly, I challenge the future of this University to succeed where we (the upperclassmen) have failed. Everybody loses when situations like the current state of affairs predominates our student affairs. NCSU’s student experience is by far one of the worst in all of the collegiate world, and unless somebody unselfishly exerts leadership to change it, we’ll all lose every day and will continue to lose the essence of the college experience. Chris MangieriIFC President
