College Republicans announces endorsements

We need conservatism in our student government, now more than ever. Facing budget deficits, hiring freezes and spending freezes we need strong conservative principals to reign in and recreate fiscal responsibility. It does not matter how someone feels about abortion, the death penalty or gun rights in a Student Government position. What matters is transparency, fiscal discipline and accountability—the staple values of conservative principles.

The College Republicans believe in low tuition and fees and support candidates who follow that belief. We feel there are many programs to cut and better ways to reduce spending other than charging the student. We also believe in efficiency and using students to solve University problems. We don’t understand how our University constantly ranks nationally in so many programs, yet we do no harness the brain power of our highly trained, enrolled students.

Endorsed candidates include Jim Ceresnak for student body president, Mary Frances Woods for Student Body Chief Justice, Marycobb Randall for student center president and Jay Dawkins for senior class president.

Ches McDowell

sophomore, political science

NCSU College Republicans Chairman

Playboy not welcome at NCSU

I am aware that universities and colleges have benefitted from research activities that show creating a sense of place for their students will be of tremendous assistance in attracting and retaining students who will remain affiliated with “their school.” Those who recruit students and assist them with admissions processes work hard to communicate the strengths of our programs and our University. My program is comprised of perhaps 95 percent women students.

What would the University have me communicate to prospective students regarding the scheduled Playboy “visit?” Should I tell them that in addition to providing the University with their GPA’s and GRE scores, the University thinks it is okay to “apply” for a Playboy “interview” by reporting on their

measurements, that in 2009 we still engage in the practices of objectifying and exploiting women? Exactly what kind of “place” should prospective women students expect the University to be and provide for them in light of this visit?

There is so much information we can offer women that will improve their lives and respect them as human beings as opposed to offering them the “opportunity” to engage in soft porn. Higher education is the ticket to economic well being for students and communities. Higher education is the way out of exploitation for many women. Why does this institution of higher education welcome Playboy?

Erin Kalbarczyk

graduate student, counselor education

Playboy sees women as objects

How many times have you opened up a magazine only to see advertisement after advertisement of thin, made-up models with unattainable proportions? Why aren’t REAL women considered beautiful like these unnatural creatures that we see all over the popular media?  I know I’m not the only woman out there who feels this way. In today’s society, women are constantly pressured to fit a certain mold. Those of us who don’t fit this description don’t receive the title of beautiful. Magazines such as Playboy only encourage this sense of shallow acceptance and rejection.  In a 2004 edition of

Technician that covered Playboy’s last visit to N.C. State, one of the women in charge of the photo shoot and application process said they were thankful that there were no “fat girls” that came out to audition. Most students aren’t aware that to even get an audition with Playboy for their “Girls of the ACC” edition you must first send in a full-figure photo, a headshot, your height, weight, and measurements; it seems as though Playboy is suggesting that if your measurements don’t add up just right you aren’t considered beautiful, desirable, or worthy. This leads us to believe that women are objects, valued only for their bodies and the way that they look. So, as a reputable college newspaper, help fight this. Don’t put up a full-page spread of the finalists like you did in 2004.  Let’s try to value women for more than just the way they look.

Britney Braswell

junior, mathematics education