Nubian Message

Break The Silence

When asked if they knew someone who is or has been in a violent relationship, many people in the room raised their hands much to the surprise of many in the crowd. However, according to a recent study, the issue is a lot more prominent than what people might think. The study reveals that one out of four women (25%) will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Last Wednesday, The Movement and The Women’s Center hosted Crossing the Cultural Barriers Panel Discussion, as one of the events coordinated by the groups to raise awareness during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
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Greeks Unite For A Cause

The activity room of Bragaw Hall was packed September 29, 2009 as students and faculty gave fifteen minutes of their time to save lives. The American Red Cross held a community-wide blood drive through the sponsorship of Chi Omega Sorority, Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated. “There’s a nationwide shortage of blood, especially in Wake County,” said Jacobi Smith, a senior in Psychology and member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. Smith said, “Our goal is to reach 150 donations today, and I definitely think we can do it.”

The mood in Bragaw was very relaxed, as pop music played on one side of the room and a movie shown on the big screen television on the other.  The majority of donors sat and watched TV, listened to their iPods, or even read the Technician during their donation process. Katie Anderson, a senior in Business, mentioned that it was her second year of coming to donate at a Red Cross blood drive. In the past she was unable to give blood because of low iron levels, however, she has returned this year to try again. “I’m a little nervous, but I want to do this anyway. It’s for a good cause,” said Anderson.

According to Joe Noah, Supervisor and Collection Specialist with the Triangle Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, donating blood is a fairly painless process. “It feels like a shot in your arm. After that, all you have to do is lay there until you’re done,” said Noah. Donors typically give one pint of blood during a donation. Noah encourages donors to eat a meal before donating in order to avoid feeling dizzy afterwards, and to stay hydrated, drinking water as opposed to sodas and other carbonated beverages that shrink up the veins, making it harder for trained staff members to locate a vein in the arm during donations.

Noah said all blood types are needed and accepted during Red Cross blood drives; however O-Negative is the most coveted. “It’s a universal blood type and can be given to anyone,” said Noah. There is always a shortage in blood types O and B, which African Americans tend to have more than other populations. This is why Scott McGregor, senior in Computer Science and member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, said his fraternity thought it was important to get involved with this cause. “We need to have an equal amount of donors from every ethnicity,” said McGregor. McGregor believes, “With a pool of different races, minority patients have a better chance of finding their match.” He added that he will be donating his blood as well. As the day progressed, more and more stacks of boxes filled with pouches of blood lined the back wall of the activity room, serving as a symbol of the many lives that will potentially be saved due to the efforts of all the donors.

The Raleigh Blood Center, 100 N. Peartree Lane, accepts donations Mondays from 2:30PM-7:00PM and Thursdays from 7:30AM-1:30PM. In addition, the Cary Blood Center is open Monday through Saturday. For more information on how you can donate, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543), or visit www.trianglearc.org.

Dress Code: No Plain White Tee’s, No Wife Beaters, No Blacks

There are always those last second concerns that go through a person’s head when they are about to go out to the club. Some may include… What will I wear? Should I skip my 8:05 class in the morning? I wonder if it is going to be free before 11:00 again? These are pretty typical thoughts. Worrying that you might be publicly discriminated against…not so typical. It is an experience that no one should have to go through, but people do. I did this past weekend and I would like to share my experience with you.

This past weekend my roommate invited me out to the club “LC’s” Downtown. I heard from friends that it was a predominantly white club, which should not matter because I was out to have a good time regardless of the demographics of the club. We took the Wolf Prowl bus service to the club, and became friends with another group of student on the bus.  As a group we exited the bus and made our way to the club. I was one of the first people to enter and eagerly awaited my friends’ arrival. We were all about to enter the club when I noticed that one of our companions was missing. I went back outside and noticed he was standing out of the line talking to one of the three bouncers. I walked over to him and asked why he was not joining us. “Apparently I don’t meet the dress code, I think it’s because I’m black.” He sighed. “What, no way! I’m sure that’s not the case,” I tried to assure him. “No look, I didn’t believe it either, just look.” I paused and observed the crowd. The next person up for entry approached the bouncer. He was wearing a striped polo, khakis, flip flops, and had white skin.“Can I please see your ID?” demanded the bouncer, “Thank you, have a good night.” The next guy was wearing a striped polo, khakis, flip flops, but unlike the first guy who was white, had brown skin… “Sorry you don’t meet dress code, I’m sorry but please step out of line.”

I stood beside my friend a few more seconds before approaching one of the bouncers for questioning. “I’ve noticed that you haven’t been letting the majority of the African American men into the club. “ I said. The bouncer then said, “The only people we are not letting in the club are people that don’t meet the dress code, it’s a private party so tonight dress code is especially strict.” I stood beside the reluctant interviewee a few more minutes observing the crowd. “Why didn’t he get in when he was wearing the exact same thing as that other guy?” I thought to myself . Finally in his frustration, the bouncer blurted out “We have the right to be selective”. In my astonishment I could only muster a simple “Selective?” He quickly averted his eyes toward the sky as if desperately searching for a response before engaging in hurried conversation with the cop insuring the ‘order’ of the crowd. I was angry, angrier than I have been in a while. I looked around at the minorities. Some unknowing, some hurt, some angry;all discriminated against. Some were gathered around the entrance before quickly being dismissed by the cop, while others made their way up to the ESS Lounge, another club up the street. There was a crime being committed. For some reason when I think of crime I thought of 911. Then I thought of the cop standing there, observing this act of discrimination, allowing this, not doing a single thing! Throughout my life I have been exposed to many different kinds of racism ranging from subliminal racist remarks to un-ethical jokes directly or indirectly against me or my peers, but this was by far an all time low. This was a nightmare, it was so un-real to me.

I stood there immobilized with emotions until my friends, equally disgusted, suggested we go back home on the bus. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to riot. I wanted to do something…anything. “I need to do something about this, I can’t let this go, I won’t let this go,” I told my friends. They were supportive but at the same time, they insisted that giving in to your anger would only make things worse, and that they’re other more effective ways I could handle the situation than acting hostile here. They were right. I was not going to change anything by lashing out. Absolutely appalled, I followed my friends back to the bus. As I sat there an overwhelming emotion swept over me. Disgust. I detested the cop, the bouncers, but above all I detested the crowd. The crowd, composed of people that were aware of the situation and dismissed it because it wasn’t their problem. They weren’t black so why should they care? They didn’t have a friend that couldn’t gain entrance because of the color of his skin so why should they care, but it’s this selfishness that allows racism to live on today. There are so many crises going on today. Gglobal  warming, poverty, diminished natural resources, unemployment, and diseases are just a couple that pop into my head. People are barely making enough money to feed themselves and provide for their families, why should oppression even be a factor. I don’t believe it should. It’s 2009. Is it not about time that people start recognizing that the color of one’s skin is not a determining factor for the value of a person’s worth?

Stephanie Spivey

For A Good Cause

As students walked by the Free Expression Tunnel, one curious bystander stopped and asked what was going on. This past Sunday, members of The Movement, an organization here at NC State consisting of both men and women whose goal is to end interpersonal violence, came together and decided to spray paint the Free Expression Tunnel to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The purpose of the event was to paint the tunnel with statistics about current studies about domestic violence. “We want people to remember people who have and survived and for people to advocate against domestic violence,” said Lauren Brookshire, a senior in International Studies and one of the coordinators for the event. The event is one of three this month hosted by the Movement to include the discussion panel on October 21^st in Talley from 7pm to 9pm; the panel will discuss the experiences of domestic violence within the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender), African-American, Latino, and college communities.

The 2009 Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant

The brothers of the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, held their annual Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant on September 21, 2009, crowning Kateria Poe as the 2009 Miss Black and Gold. Contestants competed in 4 categories: swimsuit, talent, evening wear, and a question and answer session. The seven contestants included NCSU students Melissa Young, Jasmine Stockton, Kendra Obimah, Kateria Poe, Naomi Drake, Mia Andrews, and Shakaela Webb. The women, adorning silver dresses to match the show’s “Ice Angels” theme, introduced themselves to audience members while performing an opening dance routine to “Halo,” by Beyonce. “This is something that we do annually to provide both scholarship money and a venue for African American women on campus to show their intelligence, confidence, and beauty,” said Christopher Webley, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

The swim suit contest was the first portion of the show, and many of the contestants wore one piece suits in colors ranging from electric red to pure white. Contestants were able to showcase their creative side in the talent competition. Contestant one, Melissa Young, exhibited her vocal range by singing “Super Woman,” by Alicia Keys. Contestant two, Jasmine Stockton, performed a hip hop dance routine to “Radio” by Beyonce, which showed off her flexibility and versatility in rhythmic movement. Contestant three, Kendra Obimah, performed an African cultural dance in traditional African attire, gaining a large applause from the crowd with her “dutty wine.” Contestant four, Kateria Poe, brought the audience to its feet as she recited a powerful self-written poem entitled, “Strong Black Woman No Longer,” with the purpose of encouraging young black women to defy the stereotypes of a strong black woman and create new, more positive ones for themselves. Contestant four, Naomi Drake, demonstrated her passion for her marching band as she performed a very unique drum major routine, surprising the audience with a backbend all the way down to the floor. Wearing an all black leotard, contestant six, Mia Andrews, performed an emotional lyrical dance routine to Sara Bareille’s “Gravity.” Contestant seven, Shakaela Webb, remixed a favorite poem of many, Langston Hughes’ “Dream Deferred,” by letting the audience know about her dream to become a doctor.

Throughout the competition there were various student performances. Rakita Henry and Marquis McCullough wowed the crowded, opening the show with the singing of the Negro National Anthem. Janice Cooley delivered her poem, “Black Before I Knew It,” which discussed the struggles of being labeled as “Black” in America. A local up and coming artist known as M-Bass sang a self-written song dedicated to the beauty and strength of black women. An NCCU and former NCSU student, Heather Gavin, left the audience in awe of her vocal skills as she sang her rendition of “At Last,” by Etta James. In addition, NC State’s very own Black Finesse Modeling Troupe wrapped up the performances as they strutted around the room in all black attire, with a performance one could only describe as futuristic, grabbing the audience’s attention with triple spins and lifts on stage.

One of the major deciding factors in choosing the competition winner was the portion of the show when the contestants came out in their evening gowns and answered questions, which gave both judges and audience members a closer look at the enthusiasm, poise, and intelligence of the women. Questions ranged from ways in which the winner plans to benefit the African American community with her crown to the contestant’s opinion on universal healthcare. According to Judge Courtney Simpson, this is the portion of the show that helped determine her vote for Poe. “Overall, all the contestants did a wonderful job…One thing that stood out for me when judging Ms. Poe was the passion that she has for her school, her community, and herself,” said Simpson. “As Miss Black and Gold, her passion can help push the community to another level.”

Contestants waited anxiously as the results were read by hosts April Gaddy, crowned Miss Eta Omicron in 2008, and Kornelius Bascombe, a member of Eta Omicron. Naomi Drake was awarded the third place trophy and crowned “Miss 1971,” representing the year Eta Omicron was chartered.  The runner-up position, given the title “Miss Eta Omicron,” was awarded to Mia Andrews, and the coveted “Miss Black and Gold” crown was presented to Kateria Poe.

“I was confident that I could positively represent Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated,” said Poe. In the future, she plans to use her crown to highlight obstacles she feels the black community faces at NC State University and worldwide by hosting her own program with the brothers of Eta Omicron. The next step for Poe is to compete in the Miss Black and Gold district competition held in Durham, NC, and she hopes to bring another crown back home. Poe states, “I look forward to competing, and until then, I will be perfecting my speech, talent, and overall stage presence.”

- Crystal Clark

The 2009 Sprite Step-Off

This past Saturday, Sprite hosted the Sprite Step-Off qualifying Round right here in Raleigh at the Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion; Raleigh was one of many qualifying rounds around the country. Hosted by Saint Augustine College, the competition is not only the largest step competition to hit the area, but is also the largest step competition in history with a pool prize packet that reaches $1.5 million dollars. Sprite will be traveling all over the country to find talented Greek step teams at various colleges that will first compete in numerous qualifying rounds that will take place in September and October, then the regional semifinals and regional finals in the months of October and November. The national finals will take place in Atlanta, Georgia on January 19, 2010; the overall winner will appear in Stomp the Yard 2. Saturday’s competition featured 5 teams, three fraternities and two sororities, from all over North Carolina, including the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc from NC State.

Even though it was gloomy day and the rain was coming and going as the day wore on, it did little to stop the people at the Sprite Step-Off from having fun. The “audition stage” show kicked off the festival; during this phase of the competition, the teams showed off their skills to judges in hopes of moving on to the next round. However, since there were only five teams and a total of eight teams (four fraternities and four sororities) qualify, all the teams were eligible to move on. The second round took place at the main stage; the first group to perform was the Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc from Elizabeth City State University. They were followed by the Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc  from NC A&T, whose performance theme was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that even included the “Carlton” dance; they concluded their performance by stepping blind-folded. Up next was the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc who drew a lot of cheers and support from the NC State students that were in attendance; they opened up their show, like in the Back 2 School Jam, by throwing money into the audience and were able to “revive” the crowd with their performance. The Gamma Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. from St. Augustine’s was next, and even though they only had two members perform, they were able to hold their own against the other teams. The Gamma Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., also from St. Aug. was the last act to hit the stage and ended the step competition on high and energetic note.

While the judges were busy tallying up the final scores, Sprite kept the crowd alive with other forms of entertainment. A local music group performed their hit “Million Dollar Man”, a song that is being played on the radio stations here in North Carolina. A group of high school steppers named Rho Alpha Gamma graced the stage next and showed their moves to the audience; the black modeling troupe from Saint Augustine College, BJMT, followed and showcased their modeling skills. The last two acts, Embrace and Beatnam Veterans (both hip-hop groups), performed songs that had people in the audience jamming along with them, especially two songs dedicated to the ladies that caught the attention of many women in the audience.

However, the judges were not quite done with the results so people decided to create their own fun. Lines were forming as people did the Cupid Shuffle and the Cha-Cha slide and jamming to some of their favorite songs like “Poison” by Bell Biv Devoe. There was even a battle between St. Augustine and NC State students to see who could get the most “hyped” in which NC State slightly edged out the St. Augustine students. Soon after, the results were ready; for the sororities, the Gamma Xi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. came in second place and the Delta Chi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. came in first place. For the fraternities, the Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. came in third place and won $1,500, the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. came in second place and won $3,000 and the Gamma Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. came in first and won $5,500. All teams, except the first place teams, will be competing in South Carolina on October 17^th for the regional semi-finals. The first place teams get to go straight to the regional finals in Charlotte, to be joined by the winners of the semi-finals.

Following the revealing of the results, the DJ Battle took place, which was sponsored by McDonalds. Each DJ represented one of the three popular burgers of the popular food chain: DJ Prince was the double quarter pounder with cheese, DJ Scholar was the Big Mac, and DJ DY Nasty was the Angus Third Pounder. DJ Prince’s style was throwback hip-hop music that had many in the audience nodding their head from side to side. DJ Scholar’s style was current and past club hits and the recent dance songs that have swept the country in a dancing craze like “2-step” by DJ Unk. DJ DY Nasty had a style that was more laid back and even included a couple of the late Michael Jackson’s hits. The battle went on for three rounds and the audience had a chance to vote for their favorite DJ by sending a text to a specified number with the name of the DJ; DJ Prince won the battle and will be moving on to the next segment of the DJ competition.

Before the headliner act, Lupe Fiasco, came out, Vistoso Bosses, who currently have a song and video out entitled “Delirious”, treated the crowd to an eclectic performance. The group provided a rock/hip-hop tone to them that many people were able to vibe to. Finally, after a much anticipated wait, Lupe Fiasco came to the stage which immediately drew a large roar from the crowd. Lupe did not disappoint and rocked the crowd with songs like “Superstar”, “Go-Go Gadget Flow”, “Paris, Tokyo”, and even treated the audience to a song off his upcoming album. Mr. Fiasco, in a move to show love for his fans, gave a girl in the audience his bottle of water when she exclaimed that she was thirsty. Following the show, he took pictures with several of the Greek organizations and members of the media. Video cameras were on the scene to capture footage which will be aired on national television in an “American Idol” type television show so keep an eye out for the teams competing in the show because they will be popping up on your TV screens in the coming months. The Sprite Step-Off has successfully been kicked off and will only grow bigger from here. For more information go to: http://spritestepoff.com/

- Lauren Gayden

A Taste of Latino Culture

In an atmosphere that was filled with good spirits and the smell of home-cooked food, the sixth annual El Salsabor once again provided the NC State community with a glimpse inside the Latino culture.  “The purpose of El Salsabor is to showcase the uniqueness and diversity within the Latino culture and kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Nicole Machado, a junior in Textile and Apparel Management and president of Mi Familia. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15^th through October 15^th. The event, which was hosted by Mi Familia and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), attracted a diverse crowd that congregated in the Talley Ballroom. A quarter of the entrance fee went to support Stop Hunger Now, an organization that coordinates the distribution of food and other life-saving aid around the world.

There were several acts that gained the attention of the audience and kept them entertained throughout the entire event. The first act to come to the stage was Alex Joyce, who recited a poem about mothers; Anna Murillo, a senior in Biological Sciences and Ana Alvarado, a senior in Business Administration, performed a Mexican folkloric dance that included the presentation of the Mexican flag that drew applause and cheers from the audience. Afterwards, Sube Ritmo, a Latin dance group here at NC State, came to the stage and awed the crowd with their moves. Grande Gato, a Reggaeton artist and alumnus of the university (Class of 1994), laced everyone with his rhymes.

But perhaps the most anticipated part of the night was the dance lessons with instructions that were provided by Anthony Tuttle. The lessons required a partner, and even though there were more women than men at the event, people still managed to get a dance partner nonetheless even if they were of the same sex.  Tuttle first started off with the basics and gradually went into more complicated dances to include salsa. Despite the difficult moves and the fast-paced dance lesson, that did little to faze the spectators like Elana Turner, a sophomore in Philosophy. “I’ve had a wonderful time experiencing the culture and felt that it was very festive, especially the dancing part.” Daisy Hurtado, a freshman in Textile and Apparel Management and a member of Mi Familia, loved the “willingness” of the people to learn about the culture, from the food to the music. The night concluded in a free-for-all dance marathon where people were showing off their freshly learned dance moves.

Angela Davies Unites Campus Community

Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Malcolm X are all Civil Rights leaders who have had a profound effect on America. However they are not the only people who have braced America with their philosophical intellect. America got to its present place on the backs of many people. While some of these people have been honored with holidays, songs or just a presence in history books, there are many past and present leaders that have been forgotten by many.

On Thursday, September 17, 2009 in the Stewart Theatre, author, abolitionist, and activist Angela Davis came to give a profound message to the N.C. State community. To prepare for the arrival of Davis, student leaders in the Society of Afrikan American Culture held a program in the Witherspoon Student Center that informed students of who Angela Davis was. The students talked about her involvement with different organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which was founded on the campus of Shaw University. Every student in attendance left the SAAC program with a more profound understanding of the life of Angela Davis, which, was the goal of the coordinators of the program.

“I’m very interested in getting to know more about Angela Davis and hearing what she has to say, after learning about how strong her character is and all that she stands for,” said Jadrien Brown, a senior in industrial and systems engineering after attending the SAAC program. “Miss Angela Davis was revolutionary and she stood for what she believed in,” Brown added.

During her presentation Davis talked about a past, present and future that most have only read about. Her life which consisted of her continued fight for freedom in America for ignored subordinate groups inspired many members of the audience who interrupted parts of her speech with short bursts of applause. Davis spoke of a time when she was on the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted List,” as she fought for freedom and social justice in around America, including North Carolina. While her speech took her in many directions one thing that she made sure the audience understood was that “we haven’t nearly come to achieve racial equality, there is still racism in America…and we have a long way to go,” said Davis.

While the reason for attendance varied between course extra credit, a learning opportunity or just broadening perspectives, the outcome was amazing. Angela Davis’ presence in the Stewart Theatre brought together a crowd that truly exemplified the diversity of the university. During the reception following her presentation students crowed around Davis to thank her for coming, get pictures, autographs, advice and copies of her book.

This event inspired many students such as Brittany Hardy, a senior in Biological Sciences and Africana Studies. “I think we should have more events like this so we can inspire a college aged generation to bring about social change on the social injustices that still exist today,” said Hardy.

One part of Davis’s presentation that resonated in the minds of many students during the reception was when she informed the audience that the “Promised Land” that Martin Luther King Jr. once spoke about was a place that only Martin Luther King Jr. would ever see. “We’ll never reach the promised land,” said David during her presentation. While this is a statement that would encourage some to give up the struggle and wave a white flag, students like Jessica Couch, a senior in fashion and textile management was encouraged by the words of Davis.

“I never through about it in that way, but it only makes sense. No matter how many problems we solve, people will always create more [problems]. There will always be some type of struggle, but we have to come together and see the need to conjugate so that we are aware that there are issues and we can begin the process of self educating ourselves,” said Couch.

While the arrival of Davis might have caused some turmoil for certain members of the NCSU student community, many students have shown gratitude for having the opportunity to meet the woman who aided in the process of making a campus community as diverse as N.C. State possible and they have shown support for events like this one to become for frequent.

- Antoinette Russell

Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month, started in 1968, runs from September 15th to October 15th and celebrates the achievements and showcases the plight of Hispanic/Latinos in America. Although the “month” is really half of two different months, there is a reason. September 15th is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; Mexico celebrates its Independence Day on September 16^th, while Chile celebrates Independence Day on September 18^th and Belize on September 21^st. Many students have misconceptions about the Hispanic/Latino culture and have limited it to farm workers, reggaeton, and Salsa dancing. There are more than 20 Spanish speaking countries with even more local dialects and native languages. The food varies from border to border, as well as the music, dancing, and traditional dress. There’s so much to learn, even for Hispanic/Latino students!

The Hispanic population in the U.S. has grown tremendously. Hispanics are now the largest minority ethnic group within the U.S. and North Carolina has had a helping hand in that growing number. North Carolina is a state whose Hispanic population has quadrupled since the 1990’s and NC State University’s Hispanic population has also steadily increased through the years. There are more than 700 Hispanic students at NC State, student organizations have become more abundant and campus offices have begun to focus more on the Hispanic population on campus. The six Hispanic/Latino student organizations on campus are: Mi Familia, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Destino (Bible study organization under Campus Ministries), Sube Ritmo (Dance team), Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. and LASA (Latin American Student Association). All of these organizations have worked diligently to bring Hispanic/Latino students together at NC State in an effort to provide a forum for all students to learn more about the richness of the culture and to provide a welcoming and comfortable learning environment.

Many students have heard of or attended programs hosted by these organizations such as: Salsabor, Somos, and Pi Chi Week. Salsabor is an annual fall cultural show to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month hosted by Mi Familia and SHPE. There are music and dance performances, traditional Hispanic cuisine and dance lessons from Sube Ritmo! Salsabor is going to be held this year on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the Talley Ballroom. The organizations on campus like to work together to show a broad spectrum of perspectives and ideas concerning the Hispanic/Latino community. There are many more events going on during Hispanic Heritage Month that showcase the beauty of the culture and you can get a complete listing of the calendar at http://www.ncsu.edu/msa/downloads/hlhm2009.pdf.

One campus office that has been instrumental in the success of Hispanic/Latino students on campus is the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs located in Pullen Hall. The staff members are very supportive of the Hispanic/Latino student population on campus and are always willing to assist in whatever way possible. The Assistant Director for Hispanic Student Affairs, Mr. Abraham Dones, came to campus in the summer of 2008 from Philadelphia, PA by way of proactive students, like Jezzette Rivera, who diligently pushed for a Hispanic/Latino student advisor. The addition has been a great success to the office and the NC State community and many students have been able to build a relationship with Mr. Dones. He has truly been vital in the success of students, programs, and Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time when ALL students can learn about the rich culture and history of our ancestors and embrace the diversity on our campus. We hope to see everyone at our future events to support and to meet members of the Hispanic/Latino community. NC State is a diverse group of educated students that will hopefully take advantage of all the opportunities to learn outside of the classroom.

By: Nicole Machado

In Search of Our New Chancellor

As a group of about 40 people sat around in Stewart Theater, a panel of 16 administrators including Student Body President Jim Ceresnak was eager to hear input from the students, faculty, and alumni about what they wanted in their next chancellor. Last Wednesday, the Chancellor Search Committee hosted the open forum event.

Various topics were discussed at the forum including wanting a chancellor who is focused on the students as well as the image of the university.  “The next chancellor should be focused on the well-being of the students and understand their prospective as well,” said Beth Miller, a graduate student in Statistics.  Adam Compton, a senior in Agriculture Business, commented that too often students are “shoved” aside and that we (the university) need someone who will look at the students for who they are. Echoing the others before him, one student wants a chancellor to have open communications with the students and not afraid to listen to them either.  One student expressed a need for an individual who is proactive and visible to all, an issue that many felt plagued the previous chancellor.

Others were concerned about the current financial situation here at State and want someone who will be fiscally responsible and figure out how to deal with the cutbacks among classes and professors as well as the cost of  books, tuition and fees, and the financial aid crisis that the university is experiencing.  Another issue that was raised is the need to improve Talley Student Center. As a second  generation alumni from the university elaborated, our student center is the “worst” amongst other universities and unacceptable considering our rival, UNC-Chapel Hill, has  a far better student center than we do.

However, the need for a chancellor who will help State move on from one of the most controversial events in its history, the Mary Easley saga, was echoed throughout the meeting. “Our new chancellor should not dwell on what happened in the past (referring to what happened with Mary Easley and the former Provost and Chancellor) and should focus on how to bring this university together and move forward,” said Kylee Phillips, the President of the InterResidence Council and a senior in Accounting.

After the forum concluded, some of the members of the panel stayed around to talk and listen to the students even further including Ceresnak. “The comments made here today were very valuable and will help me make a good and able decision as a representative of the student body on the panel,” he said. To answer the question that many students have, he went on to explain the selection will take a few months or longer but that it is  in order to make sure that the committee is making the right decision for the university as a whole.