Chancellor Rallies Campus

During his second-annual State of NC State address, held Tuesday at Stewart Theatre, Chancellor James L. Oblinger celebrated a year’s worth of accomplishments by members of the university community, while also calling upon them to continue NC State’s legacy of groundbreaking research, education and service in spite of the challenging economic uncertainties facing those on campus and beyond.

“When history reflects on NC State’s response to these tough budget times, let us make sure it doesn’t say we sat waiting for a red light to change,” Oblinger told the assembled crowd. “Let us be remembered as an institution, an organization, a team, a family, where ‘Red Means Go.’”

Throughout his 40-minute speech, Oblinger touched on a number of student, faculty and alumni achievements that took place over the last year – stories he said are indicative of the successes that can continue to be achieved on campus in spite a gloomy national economic outlook.

“NC State does things that make North Carolina and the world a better place,” he said. “Each thing we do – each job we create, each program we develop, each student we graduate, each community we help, each example of groundbreaking research, and certainly in this day, each dollar we spend, builds on the history, the accomplishment, the success and the importance of North Carolina State University.”

He also took a moment to remember long-time NC State women’s basketball coach Kay Yow, who passed away Jan. 24 after a long, heroic battle with breast cancer.

“Coach Yow touched so many lives on and off the basketball court,” Oblinger said. “You know that her presence will be felt at NC State for a long time to come.

“While we are sad at her passing, I think I speak for everyone who knew her – or knew of her – when I say the greatest loss is the succession of student athletes and community members who will not get to know Kay Yow.”

2008 was a year in which NC State was guided by five strategic focus areas, highlighted by an effort to raise the university’s energy profile both on and off campus. Join us in a look back at some of NC State’s brightest moments from the last year: