the stentorian I ncssm
features
august 2008
NCSSM Club Offerings Abound
By Daixi Xu
The easiest way to get involved at NCSSM is
through clubs. There are a countless number of clubs;
you can find almost anything that tickles your fancy.
Check some out at the club fair at 1:00 pm on August
23rd. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you
could always start a club. To receive fimding and a spot
at the club fair, a club must be chartered through the
Inter-Club Committee (ICC). All you need for a club is
a founder, an ICC representative to communicate with
the SG Treasurer, and a sponsor. All leaders of clubs
need to make sure that their clubs have
been re-chartered for the 08-09 school
year. For forms and more information,
please contact the SG Treasurer Joseph
Brown (BrownJS@ncssm.edu).
Cultural
Your cultural group is likely
represented in an NCSSM club. The
best part of these clubs is that you don’t
have to belong to a particular culture
to join its club. Asian Cultures Club,
the biggest club on campus, hosts
Ramen Night in the fall and AsiaFest
in the winter. Like ACC, the Hispanic
Culture Club hosts the entertaining
and lively Latin America Fest. Although
French Cultures Club does not have its
own fest, its Crepes Parties are always
crowded with students. French movie
showings with delicious French snacks
are regular events and a French rave
is in the works. The Jewish Cultures
Club is looking forward to teaching
people about their traditions and holidays with get
togethers and trips to synagogues. The Multicultural
Association For Indian Awareness, or MAFIA, is
hoping to inform our community about their culture
and customs. The newest culture club this year is
the European Cultures Club made to celebrate all
cultures from countries in Europe. Eurofest and a
European Mixer are in development.
Music/Dance
Although Pep Band is also a class, it is also
a club open to everyone. Without the Pep Band’s
rhythmic and lively favorites such as the “Hey
Song,” the basketball games would definitely be less
enthusiastic. Music Club is great for anyone who
would like to showcase their musical talents or play
at nttrsing homes. If you’re,more into gospel music,
the COLOURS gospel choir sings powerful songs
at events such as the Dr. Martin Luther King Day
ceremony and Afncafest. If gospel isn’t your type
of music, but bluegrass is, there is the Pickin’ and
Grinnin’ Club. No matter how much experience you
have, you can dance with the Bhangra Club, Step
Team, or the Dance Ensemble. Or, if you’re type
of dancing can be found in an arcade, join the DDR
Club.
^ :
Activism
You’ll have many opportunities to become civilly
or politically involved through some of our clubs. Our
school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, Spectrum, has events
such as a LGBT Pride Parade and the Day of Silence
planned. Teen Democrats will offer you many
chances to be politically active. Last year, it organized
a trip to see a Barack Obama rally at NCCU. Teen
Democrats along with its Republican counterpart
TARS are bound to have great events planned in this
critical time before the election. If you’re looking help
out organizations such as UNICEF and working with
local elementary schools, join Key Club.
Athletic
These clubs are for fans that are looking for a fun
and chill way to appreciate their favorite sports. The
Freestyle Futbol Club welcomes students of all levels
of experience to its soccer tournaments and game
screenings. Science and Math Ultimate Frisbee, or
SMUF, can get slightly competitive, but nevertheless
still fun. If you want to learn how to play tennis or just
practice your service, check out Tennis Club, which
hosts the aimual NCSSM Tennis Tournament.
Academic
If you’re looking to work out your
mind more than your body, you can
join some of our amazing academic
clubs and teams. Our Robotics team
the Zebracorns brought their creation
to life at competitions. The Science
Olympiad team placed 1st in the state
competition last year. The Science
Bowl and Quiz Bowl teams have
also done well in their competitions.
If you’re more interested in the
environment, you’ll find a place on
our Envirothon team.
Religious
Being away from home does not
mean you have to be distant from your
faith. Young Life is working on an
after-prom party and spiritual hikes.
The Muslim Student Association
brings awareness to their faith during
Ramadan in their annual Fast-a-Thon.
Miscellaneous
Groups that don’t quite fit into
a category don’t have to be left out.
E=LD'^2 is hoping to help students at our school
that have learning disabilities. Indie Film Club and
MUSICALls are hoping to show their favorite films.
If you are looking for career-oriented clubs, be sure
to check out HOSA (Health Occupation Students
of America) and FBLA (Future Business Leaders
of America). If you are one to enjoy activities like
watching grass grow and paint dry, there is even a club
for you called the Society for the Easily Amused. If
you like taking pictures and making slide shows, join
Slide Show Club and help produce the annual End-
of-Year Slideshow.
Picture by Steve Jones
Everyday TLAs and Terms for NCSSM
By Kate Norris
MFC - Multicultural Peer Counselor
The MFCs put on events to expose the average NCSSMer to ideas and
cultures they might not normally come in contact with.
PCC- Peer College Counselor
Your PCCs have been trained to know anything and everything you
might need to know about applying to college.
RLA- Residential Life Assistant
RLAs might be the face of the rules on hall, but that ‘Assistant’ is there
for a reason.
SLI- Student Life Instructor
Like an RLA, but with a car.
ETC- Educational Technology Complex
Don’t call it a theater.
PEC- Physical Education Center
This large structure is located in front of the baseball field and houses
the gym, racketball court, wrestling room and wellness center.
PFM- Performance Food Management
Although the cafeteria’s gone through three or four other companies
since it was last managed by the PFM corporation, the name stuck...
BBR- Bryan, Beall, Reynolds (the main building)
When people use this acronym, they usually mean the residential halls,
not the science departments that are also found in Bryan.
HHR- Hill, Hunt, Royall
Like BBR, but two of them contain Y chromosomes, and all are separate
buildings.
AAG- At A Glance
The NCSSM internal homepage, you will come to love it.
TLA- Three Letter Acronym
We have a lot of these.
Chiba-
A prefecture "on the east coast of central Japan. Also the large field near
the swings where everybody congregates for Happy Half.
Happy Half
From 10 to 10:30 p.m. on the chiba. There are two explanations for the
name: some people say that it’s because it lasts for half an hour, and some people
say because it comes at the time you’re halfway through the night’s work.
A group enjoys a delicious meal in the PFM.
Senior Bench
The large, rickety, two-story bench in front of Hill. Why the seniors
want it is a mystery.