TECHNICIAN
technicianonline.com
Raleigh, North Carolina
Vandalism in Becton affects Quad
CHASS announces new dean
Carving Confederate flag in stall wall led to charge for all who entered building Feb. 24 to 26
Interim dean takes up permanent position
VANDALISM TIMELINE Feb. 24 Key fob access extended to include entire Quad.
Alex Vaughn & John Cline
Feb. 27 9:30 a.m. Resident advisor reports vandalism. Campus police investigate.
Staff Writers
University Housing is charging all students who live in Becton Residence Hall for repairs following an incident of vandalism to a men’s bathroom Feb. 27. Due to the expansion of key fob access to the entire Quad Feb. 24, all students who used their fob to enter the hall between 5 p.m. Feb. 26 and 9 a.m. the next day are being charged as well. At about 9:30 a.m. Feb. 27, a resident adviser in Becton contacted Jordan Luzader, community director of the Quad, and showed him the vandalism, which a Quad-wide e-mail revealed consisted of a Confederate flag and the words “the South will rise again” carved into the door and wall of a stall in a second floor bathroom. Director of East Campus Housing Aris Mosier said Luzader and the RA followed protocol by calling Campus Police to determine whether the message carved was threatening. “The police decided it was just vandalism,” Mosier said. Facilities staff attempted to repair the stall the next day with sanders and a heat gun but were not satisfied with the result, he said, and a work order was placed to replace both walls and the door. The cost of replacement is about $1,100, and will result in a charge of $5.10 added to each student’s account, Mosier said. The RA who found the vandalism was not identified, and Carol-Ann Osterhoudt, an RA in Bagwell Residence Hall, said the Housing staff received an e-mail explicitly telling them not to speak with Technician on the issue. Luzader said his position did not allow him to comment on the situation either. But the incident has caused a stir among residents of the Quad affected by the charge, as many are concerned about the handling of the situation “Stuff happens — charging everyone isn’t the right solution,” Steven Rodriguez, a junior in mechanical engineering who lives in Berry Residence Hall, said. “It would be a whole different story if Jordan [Luzader] went door to door and asked everyone for a $5 bill — it would seem like a lot more.” Residents are specifically concerned that Facilities determined the carved graffiti couldn’t be repaired and was considered grounds to replace the vandalized struc-
Feb. 28 Facilities staff attempts to repair stall. Work order for replacement door and wall sent. Mar. 9 10 p.m. Residents of floor where vandalism took place hold meeting. Deadline of Mar. 15 given for student to claim responsibility. Mar. 11 Anonymous student repairs stall. Mar. 12 Quad residents informed of incident and actions by Jordan Luzader via e-mail. Mar. 15 Deadline for student to admit to vandalism passes, all residents and students logged as entering the building before the vandalism was discovered held responsible. SOURCE: JORDAN LUZADER E-MAIL, STEVEN RODRIGUEZ, TIM DANNENHOFFER
DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN
Ali Thomas-Hollands, a sophomore in animal science, opens the door to Becton Hall with the fob device in her bag. Fobs are a method of electronically unlocking doors that replace manual keys. Because of recent vandalism in Becton Hall, Universiy Housing is charging everyone who was recorded accessing the building with their fobs.
tures. parently that’s not the important thing,” “Apparently it’s scratched into a door, Dannenhoffer said. w h ic h, to me , Housi ng sta f f means the fix is you called a floor meetputty over that, and ing March 9, and then maybe if you residents were given want you get like until March 15 to a $2 can of paint come forward and and cover it up so claim responsibility. it looks like the rest Mosier said no one of the door,” Tim admitted to the carvDannenhoffer, a ing by that date. sophomore in apAn unidentif ied plied mathematics student ma naged and aerospace ento repair the stall gineering and Becthrough his ow n anonymous note left at scene of ton resident, said. means March 11, vandalism incident “That fix is like $5 leaving a note behind and 15 minutes, and that’s pretty much stating, according to Rodriguez, “It’s an how [it] should really be fixed. But ap- insult to call us an engineering school if
“It’s an insult to call us an engineering school if we can’t come up with a simple and easy solution to a problem like this. ”
we can’t come up with a simple and easy solution to a problem like this.” Mosier said that even though he was glad a student took the initiative to fix this problem himself and that he heard it looked fine, the work order had already been sent and couldn’t be cancelled because “the wheels [were] already in motion.” Rodriguez said he did not understand the need to replace the stall. “It’s already fixed. It looks pretty good — there’s only a slight dull gray spot,” he said. “It doesn’t bother anyone. It’s not fair to charge everyone.” Dannenhoffer said he also disagreed with the group punishment. “It sounds like first grade to me. It’s really almost juvenile,” he said. “No one’s happy about how it’s been handled.” According to the Housing guidelines online, “Charges for loss or damages, which cannot be assessed to a particular individual will be charged against the residential unit (f loor or suite) responsible.” The charging of all who entered Becton hall, though, was covered in Luzader’s initial e-mail to Quad residents announcing the approval of FOB continued page 3
Atrium food court to get second face lift Renovations to expand dining area, eventually lead to more restaurants Anastasia Astrasheuskaya Correspondent
After renovations to the exterior of the Atrium created a safer and more pleasant patio area for dining, University Dining and Business and Financing are looking to expand the Atrium’s interior to accommodate more students as well. Students were asked which changes to the Atrium they would support last year in a survey, and one of the most common suggestions was creating a larger inside dining area. Last month, Peter Barnes, student center president, and Jay Dawkins, student body president, discussed renovations with Vice Chancellor of Finance and Business Charles Leffler and Director of Dining Services Randy Lait. The meeting was held at the Atrium during its busiest time
in the afternoon in an effort to convey to the administration students’ biggest complaint with the food court - not enough seats in the dining area. Seated at a corner table, the group began discussing the next steps toward renovations. “Atrium renovation is an ambitious goal,” Dawkins said, referring to the realistic, but he and the administration are exploring ideas they would like to try. After seeking out a consultant, the group has planned to enclose the covered area of the patio, move the bookstore further to the front and explore a more efficient way to use the Atrium’s space. The financing is still being discussed, as the University will pay for rebuilding the Atrium through both dining sales and student fees. The goal is to have the Atrium rebuilt in 2010, as planning the design and collecting fees should take place during the fall of 2009 with construction beginning shortly after.
Jessica Hall Staff Writer
Jeffrey Braden, interim CHASS dean for nearly a year, will officially take on the duties of dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, effective April 1. Antony Harrison, head of the English department, said he has a very positive outlook for his colleague considering Braden’s personality and performance as interim dean. “He’ll be a great dean,” Harrison said. “He’s done a good job this year and he’s a very fast learner, which he’s had to be because he’s never been the department head and his only administrative experience was for one year as associate dean for research.” Harrison said the necessary learning Braden did serving as the interim dean better prepared him to take the position permanently. “It’s been a kind of steep learning curve, but he’s done a great job of it and he has by far the best interests of the college at heart,” he said. Jonathan Ocko, head of the history department, echoed Harrison’s sentiments on Braden. “I think he’s learned a lot on the job,” Ocko said. “One of his best attributes is that he recognizes when he has made a mistake, which is always an attractive quality in an administrator and I think he is deeply committed to the College and its role in the University, so I have very positive expectations for him in the future.” According to Douglas Gillan, head of the psychology department, while Braden hasn’t had as much experience as deans are typically expected to have, his participation in other opportunities and jobs that have more than prepared him for this job. “He has a wide variety of experience,” Gillan said. “He started off as an elementary school teacher, he’s worked with chimpanzees, then he got his doctorate and went into academic teaching jobs, and he’s worked in Florida, Wisconsin and San Jose Street and here, so he’s had a wide variety of experience that I think will help him a lot,” CHASS continued page 3
ATRIUM RENOVATION QUICK FACTS
VIEW MORE
Overall plan includes: s More interior dining space s More space in kitchen hallway s More food variety s Intended completion in 2010
TECHNICIANONLINE.COM
Watch a slideshow of Alpha Zeta’s Agriculture Awareness Week on the Brickyard.
SOURCE: JAY DAWKINS
Beyond expanding the Atrium’s exterior, students asked for a more spacious hall inside the kitchen and a larger variety of food choices. Both of those issues will be discussed at a later date. Dawkins said University Dining will start the discussion about having more food choices only after the Atrium is rebuilt, though students like Rodney Cavazo, a graduate student in history, already have suggestions for the new dining options. “They don’t necessarily have to be franchises,” Cavazo said. “I would be happy to have some Mexican food, or at least a salad bar.”
insidetechnician
Students respond to budget proposal
See page 6.
DAVID MABE/TECHNICIAN
Sophomore in psychology Laurel Deluca buys a Chick-fil-a grilled chicken sandwich at the Atrium Tuesday.
viewpoint business & money classifieds sports
Root, root, root for the Wolfpack! NC State Bookstores
4 5 7 8