Best and worst of 2016 at NC State
There’s not enough tequila on earth to forget this year
We can all agree that 2016 was one heck of a year. Gilmore Girls came back, Pokemon Go debuted, basically it was a repeat of the 90s.
It was also a significant year for NC State. We lost important athletes (good luck in the pros Cat), gained a few others (welcome home Y7), and experienced one of the most controversial elections in history on our very own campus.
Here’s a list of the biggest things that happened to the Wolfpack this year.
LDOC festival
Spring semester concluded with a day long festival including food trucks, free t-shirts and a concert that made Country music lovers rejoice. Dan+Shay performed on Stafford Commons and signed autographs for fans afterwards. UAB outdid themselves with this event.
Reynolds reopening
After a long renovation process that served as a major eye sore, Reynolds Coliseum finally reopened in September. A beautiful gala was hosted and hall of famers were inducted in front of a huge crowd of Wolfpack fans past and present.
Crime spree
A female student was stabbed in the Varsity parking lot one Friday in September. Around this same time, there were multiple reports of attempted robberies around campus. No names have been released from the investigations.
GroupMe scandal
NC State made national headlines when a private group chat was shared on Wolfpack Students that contained racial slurs and rude comments. The names of the students involved were made public and the students apologized. Chancellor Woodson also released a statement about the racial climate on campus, encouraging inclusion and kindness.
Black out and sit in
In response to the racial tension on campus, students held a black out and sit in at the following home football game. Over 50 participants held up fists in unison while the National Anthem and Alma Mater were played.
Hurricane Matthew
The 50th Anniversary of Carter-Finley celebration was held on October 8th at the game versus Notre Dame. The Pack pulled a win over the Fighting Irish and finished with a score of 10-3, despite the monsoon-like conditions. This game occurred over Fall Break so the student section was lacking, but the brave souls that stuck it out deserve major props.
Think & Do The Extraordinary
On October 28th, Chancellor Woodson announced a massive campaign to raise $1.6 billion for scholarships, research, programs and facilities over the next five years. The goal is to reach beyond boundaries to make NC State stand out as the prestigious university we already know it is.
Campaign trail
NC State was a vital location for stops along the 2016 Presidential campaign trail. First Lady Michelle Obama visited Reynolds Coliseum and attracted many students when she spoke on the perceptions society has on the Presidential family.
The night before Election Day, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton hosted a midnight rally in Reynolds Coliseum and brought along some famous friends. Lady Gaga and Jon Bon Jovi performed for a packed crowd of Hillary supporters.
Beating UNC
What better way to end the year than destroying our mortal enemies in the last home football game of the year? The Pack upset the Tarholes by one touchdown on their own turf. Raleigh is still on cloud nine because of this surprising win.
And the last event of the year, Commencement. Congratulations to the newest NC State Alumni who graduated yesterday. But in the words of One Direction (whom we miss terribly), “don’t forget where you belong.”