TECHNICIAN
thursday november
11
2010
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
‘Tunnel Vision’ dominates Roundtable discussion Lana Layton Staff Writer
In light of the recent offensive material spray-painted in the Free Expression Tunnel, five professional panelists and student leaders from campus organizations discussed the material’s tie to the First Amendment. Greg Wallace, a constitutional law professor at Campbell Law School, pointed out that although the nature of the depiction was offensive and racist, it was still protected speech. “The government cannot prohibit speech just because someone is offended by it. The Court has said offensive speech is still protected … [and they] have never created an exception for offensive speech or hate speech,” he said. Associate Director for Student Conduct Turi Plisch talked of how the University is a governmental institution, commenting on the fact that because we are a federally funded university, unfortunate events like racist material is still protected under the First Amendment. “We’re still bound by the Constitution. We’re not going to run contrary to the Constitution … because we are a public institution,” Plisch explained. “[However, this] doesn’t display the values at N.C. State.” Jose Picart, vice provost for diversity and inclusion at N.C. State, ex-
Panelists expressed the concern pressed sadness that N.C. State has experienced yet another example of regarding the promotion of positive hate speech, saying, “As for the tun- campus values as well. “Fundamental education is about nel, I could sleep a lot easier if it were not there. … In practice, in reality, I’m taking our values and shaking them disappointed to say I wouldn’t bring up…but at what cost to those of us on campus? And is it worth it?” Picart anyone to the tunnel.” However, Picart later included his asked. Responding to this question of opinion on whether or not the tunnel should be done away with, saying, “I where the line should be drawn in didn’t say the tunnel should be elimi- challenging values, Wallace advocated nated … [but] I would like to see it for an increase in speech. “The cure for bad speech isn’t less transformed in some way.” Student leaders who attended dis- speech but more speech … there’s cussed what N.C. State should do in great value in that,” said Wallace. Although restriction of free speech response to the incidents during the is unconstitutional, Picart pointed out Roundtable. Many students suggested an in- the problems unrestricted free speech is creating at N.C. creased form of State. security around “Free speech is the tunnel. not free. There Other ideas surare consequences rounded surveys TECHNICIANONLINE.COM [to actions], and asking students See more of what the panelists said sometimes they their concerns, online. Check back later this week for the are very negative campaigns de- entire discussion from Wolf-TV. … [and] they nouncing hate speech and diversity classes that aim hurt our image,” he said. “You can to educate students on the importance do a lot of positive things … but if you do one negative thing, there is a cost. of diversity. Natasha Vos, a senior in animal sci- Somebody paid a price to give us free ence and poultry science, said in order speech. I think we’ve got to start comto successfully move forward, positive municating other values positively.” Tony Caravaro, an N.C. State graduvalues must be reinforced from all walks of campus. ate who served as student body presi“Change needs to come from the dent for two terms, furthered the distop-down and the bottom-top,” said cussion about taking action when such Vos. “Sometimes [people] get so events affect a campus. caught up in how it affects the Uni“Our actions, they matter … actions versity, [they] forget the impact on matter more today than they ever have individuals.” before,” Caravaro said.
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University striving to be climate-neutral N.C. State has committed to being climate-neutral by 2050. To achieve this neutrality, N.C. State’s campuses will have to emit greenhouse gases equal to or less than the amount that they remove from the atmosphere. David Dean, outreach coordinator for the sustainability office, said that this goal stems from an agreement signed by former Chancellor James Oblinger. The agreement, the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, is a pact between institutions of higher education to reduce and counteract their greenhouse gas emissions. ACUPCC’s web site states that institutions that sign up agree “to set a target date and interim milestones for becoming climate neutral.” Tracy Dixon, director of sustainability, pointed out that this is one way N.C. State is “locally responsive [and] globally engaged.” “This is just another example of how N.C. State can be a leader,” Dixon said. “Sustainability and climate are global issues, and how N.C. State responds can make a difference.” Currently, the University is developing a plan to work toward climate neutrality. “What’s going on now … is to determine how to reach that goal,” Dixon said. Meanwhile, the University is taking steps to reduce its emissions. “Right now, the sustainability plan is looking at how we can reduce our impact over the next five years,” Dixon said. Dixon stressed that it is difficult to plan for the distant future. “This will have to be a living plan,” Dixon said. “We cannot possibly know what things will look like in 40 years.” A baseline was established by a greenhouse gas emissions inventory taken last year, whichh summarized the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted by the University in 2008. For ease of comparison, the sum of all emissions was reported as metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. According to Dixon, the University emits around 270,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. For comparison, “one metric ton of
carbon dioxide equivalent is about the average energy use that a household would use in a month,” Dixon said. Using that conversion, the University emitted the same amount of greenhouse gases as 22,500 households in 2008. For larger buildings with different functions, one ton of equivalent can be released over a much shorter time frame. “[One metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent is] about a day and a half of energy usage at Holladay Hall,” Dixon said. The majority of energy use on campus is in buildings and transportation. “Somewhere between 75 and 85 percent is building energy and the rest is commuting and transportation,” Dixon said. These numbers are not “climate neutral,” but N.C. State emits less than some peer institutions. According to the 2008 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, N.C. State emits less carbon dioxide than UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Maryland, both of which have also signed the ACUPCC. Although it is early to speculate on the ultimate success of this endeavor, the University is also making progress toward other environmental goals. Dean cited the effort to reduce landfill. “N.C. State has set the goal of 65 percent of our waste diverted from the landfill by 2015,” Dean said. “Currently, we divert roughly half of the waste that is generated on campus.” The results of N.C. State’s efforts will be seen in the next greenhouse gas inventory. Some worry about the cost of becoming climate neutral, such as Campbell Dean, a freshman in psychology. “It’s obviously good for the environment, but ... cost-efficiency probably would be my biggest concern,” Dean said. Many students, Dean included, have not heard of the climate neutrality goal. Adam Ward, senior in environmental science, did not know about the program. “I’m not familiar with their goal or with their plan,” Ward said.
STUDENT DESIGNED T-SHIRTS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, NOV. 12 @ 10am $2.00 from the sale of each shirt benefits Pack Promise Student Scholarships
KEVIN COOK/TECHNICIAN
Greg Wallace, a constitutional law teacher at Campbell Law School, jokes with Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Jose Picart and Student Media Production Assistant Tyler Dukes, while entertaining a question from students attending the Tunnel Vision panel discussion. The panel was held prior to the Roundtable in the Student Senate Chambers of Witherspoon Student Center Wednesday.
Freshmen grateful for orientation
VETERAN’S DAY
As semester winds down, newest freshmen reflect on New Student Orientation. Brooke Wallig Staff Writer
KEVIN COOK/TECHNICIAN
Wesley Templeton, a sophomore in aerospace engineering, stands guard at the Bell Tower for a vigil in honor of American veterans and fallen soldiers. The vigil “lasts all night into tomorrow morning, and is a long-lasting tradition,” William Stephenson, a sophomore in sports management, said. Members of the Air Force ROTC rotate shifts guarding the Bell Tower, which was built as a memorial to honor N.C. State alumni and the unknown soldiers who were killed in World War I.
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Panelists, student leaders meet to discuss how to deal with Free Expression Tunnel incidents.
? ? NC State Bookstores
2010 Basketball Preview See Insert.
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The process of transitioning between high school and college is complex and time-consuming, and there are several University organizations that try to alleviate some of the stress associated with this process. One such organization is New Student Orientation. According to the New Student Orientation Web site, the program is mandatory for all incoming freshmen because it introduces them to the ins and outs of college life. “Orientation introduces students to information and resources that prepare them for their first semester at N.C. State University,” the NSO reported on its site. “It also provides time-appropriate messages to students, understanding the importance of delivering messages to students when they are most likely to be heard and impact behavior.” The orientation helped her understand exactly how college life would be different from life in high school, Caitlynn Filla, a freshman in zoology, said. “I was glad to have the opportunity to be on campus and learn about some of the future opportunities I could have before actually moving in and plunging into it all,” Filla said. “I feel the orientation prepared me for what life would be like on campus [and] how it would be different from high school, from a lifestyle standpoint.” Michael Yarboro, a freshman in human biology, said while the orientation provides a lot of needed general advice about attending the University, the prime benefit of the orientation is to begin the social transition from high school
FMEN continued page 3
MEET THE AUTHOR LAUSHAUN ROBINSON Friday, Nov. 12 12pm-2pm
NC State Bookstores Catalyst Bookshop http://brokensilencethebook.com/
Author of
Broken Silence of the Elite
SIDNEY’S SAVIORS?
Trio poised to live up to hype see page 4