This semester has definitely not been uneventful, and as finals week has arrived, Technician takes a look back at some of the events that have affected campus.The election brought candidates close to homeWhether it was a visit from now president-elect Barack Obama to Reynolds Coliseum or a speech by then-vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin at the State Fairgrounds, North Carolina’s status as a swing state attracted national attention. And these candidates didn’t visit only once or twice, but continued to make stops in Raleigh, Cary and surrounding areas throughout the campaign season in an effort to bring North Carolina voters to their side. Students and even candidates running for local offices campaigned in the Brickyard and all over campus, hoping to attract voters. Students for McCain and Students for Obama held events, almost weekly, and helped to push voter registration drives. Representatives from both organizations participated in a debate that Technician sponsored.Students, staff and faculty had the opportunity to vote in Technician’s mock election, based on the Wake County ballot. People from England and Brazil came to N.C. State to campaign for Obama in the a state that has voted red since 1976.

The issue of race isn’t going anywhereA toilet paper noose was found in Sullivan Shops in Nov. 2007. That same year, students were having a party and hung up a sign on their door, banning black students from entering. Someone chalked a message on the Brickyard announcing a KKK rally in Sept. 2008.  And the day after Obama was announced as the next president of the United States, four students painted the Free Expression Tunnel with a threat to the president-elect as well as the KKK symbol and a confederate flag. After each incident, students were angered and called for a policy on hate speech. The NAACP got involved in both the toilet paper noose incident and the Free Expression Tunnel incident. The Student Senate held meetings on the issue. The University created a task force to discuss regulations. Those caught had to face Student Conduct. Mandatory diversity courses were discussed. Students said they felt unsafe on campus. Other students argued that the incident was blown out of proportion and painting over the messages were a violation of free speech. No matter what the conclusion, this is just evidence that this issue is not going away any time soon.Tuition and fees are increasing again — huge surpriseThe Board of Trustees voted in favor of the recommendations of the Tuition Advisory Committee and the Fee Review Committee : a $140 increase in tuition for all students except out-of-state undergraduates who would face a $280 tuition increase, and a fee increase of $72.20 (out of a $73.78 maximum) for all students.Two years ago, the UNC Board of Governors put a cap of a 6.5 percent increase per year on all tuition and fees for UNC system schools for a four-year period.The Fee Review Committee also changed the way it votes on fees — campus groups recorded their presentations, available on the University’s YouTube channel to see why certain groups wanted increases.Student groups continued to advocated for their interestsWhether it was the pro-life banners showing what happens to aborted fetuses, or the Student Worker Alliance rallying together and then marching to the chancellor’s office for workers’ rights, the Brickyard has seen its fair share of student-led events. Others include the Unity rally after the Free Expression Tunnel incident from Nov. 5 where students, staff and faculty gathered together to discuss the incident and the University’s response. Yes, the economic crisis will affect students too. Oh, and America is in a recessionAfter dealing with rising gas prices and an increasing unemployment rate, with employers cutting 533,000 workers in Nov., according to the Labor Department, the U.S. is officially declared in the longest recession since 1982.Obama now has the opportunity to deal with the aftermath of the United States being involved in two wars and a failing economy, but he and his advisers are working on a two-year stimulus plan to save 2.5 million jobs, according to Bloomberg.Seeing as none of these topics will be going anywhere soon, Technician looks forward to bringing you up-to-date coverage on these topics and more next semester.