Tuesday, March 26 by The Appalachian

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THE APPALACHIAN TheAppalachianOnline.com

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Vol. 87, No. 38

MOVIN’ ON UP App State will reportedly announce conference realignment this week, despite lack of confirmation from officials

by ANDREW CLAUSEN Sports Editior

by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY

Senior News Reporter

Appalachian State University’s time in the Southern Conference may be coming to an end soon as multiple reports claim conference realignment is imminent. A source “familiar with the negotiations” told the Winston-Salem Journal Monday afternoon that App State officials will accept an invitation to join the Sun Belt Conference later this week, possibly Wednesday. The Sun Belt Conference is a part of the Football Bowl Subdivision and will include Arkansas State, Georgia State, Louisiana-Lafay-

ette, South Alabama, Texas State, LouisianaMonroe, Troy and Western Kentucky for football and Texas-Arlington and Arkansas-Little Rock for non-football sports. The Sun Belt will reportedly take in all sports the Sun Belt offers from App State. However, the Sun Belt does include wrestling, men’s soccer and field hockey. Neither App State nor Georgia Southern could confirm or deny the accuracy as of press time. The conferences commented the same. “I’m not aware of any invitations,” said Karl Benson, the commissioner of the Sun Belt. Despite this claim, Chair of Faculty Senate Andrew Koch said the move to the Sun Belt was

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discussed at a Board of Trustees meeting. “I cannot confirm or deny if they made a decision,” Koch said. “I will say one thing, we have received an offer.” SB Nation also had a source confirm that Georgia Southern will leave the SoCon and move up to the Sun Belt as well. According to its source, the Sun Belt wanted to “bring in existing rivals,” and they were “intrigued” by the rivalry. As far as a timeline, things are reportedly still being worked out. However, ESPN reported that App State would be allowed to compete for Sun Belt championships in non-football sports in

see FBS page 2

So long, SoCon: Road to the FBS Aug. 2011

1971

Dec. 2011

A committee recommended to Chancellor Kenneth Peacock that App State moves into the FBS conference.

Appalachian State University joins SoCon.

Oct. 2010

Athletic Director Charlie Cobb announces that App State will conduct a study of the possibility of the university moving from the FCS to FBS.

Intern News Reporter

This year’s annual Appalachian Studies Conference at Appalachian State University marked the largest turnout the conference has ever seen, with a 950 to 1,000-person attendance record. Scholars and activists from across the country and around the world gathered to celebrate and collaborate on topics pertaining to the Appalachian region. The conference lasted from March 2224. This year’s theme was “Communities in Action, Landscapes in Change,” which emphasized issues such as moun-

SGA supports the feasibility committee’s recommendation to move to the FBS after gauging students’ opinion with surveys. “The surveys show that students know what is going on and that we’re behind the recommendation,” said Eric Barnes, the former SGA director of legislative operations at the time. “It helps show what students want.”

Cobb tells The Appalachian that App State could be prepared for a move within 18 months “I think the future is hard to predict right now,” he said. “If I have to give a time frame, I’d say between six and 18 months is realistic.”

taintop removal mining and sustainability for the coming year. Katherine Ledford is the conference chair, the immediate past president of the Appalachian Studies Association and the program director for the center of Appalachian Studies at the university. She was responsible for coordinating the event. “I love Appalachian Studies and it was an opportunity to bring the conference to campus and to showcase our Appa-

see ASA page 2

A map shows Georgia Southern and App State as part of the Sun Belt, according to information from appnation247. com, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

March 2012

Oct. 2011

ASA Conference breaks record by JORDAN MILLER

Feb. 2013

Feasibility committee releases official final study. “The Appalachian State Athletics Feasibility Committee recommends that the Mountaineer football program move to the Football Bowl Subdivision when the university Board of Trustees identifies the appropriate opportunity,” according to the report.

Faculty Senate votes ‘no confidence’ regarding provost and vice provost by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY Senior News Reporter

The faculty senate voted “no confidence” Monday in the leadership of Provost Lori Gonzalez and Vice Provost Tony Carey. Voting by paper ballot, the senate sided against Gonzalez and Carey 22 to 21 and 26 to 17, respectively. With Gonzalez and Carey “there has been a pattern of disregard for academic freedom” as well as “the due process rights of faculty members have been ignored by these same administrators,” according to

the petition “Tenured Faculty Call for Accountability for Administrative Failures.” Gonzalez and Carey have also denied faculty governance and have been “non responsive to and dismissive of questions and concerns of faculty members,” according to the same petition. The motions were brought about by a petition received by the Faculty Senate Executive Board March 4, according to the

see Senate page 2

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Tuesday, March 26

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ASA

Continued from page 1 lachian Studies faculty and students and our center for Appalachian Studies,” Ledford said. “The Appalachian Studies Association has roots on our campus” The first Appalachian Studies Conference was held in 1976 for the retire-

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ment of Cratis Williams, one of the direct founders of the field of Appalachian Studies, Ledford said. “I love that it brings so many diverse people together, this is not a traditional academics conference,” Ledford said. “What is really exciting to me at this conference is the diversity and the exchange between the academic world and the people who are on the

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ground in communities in the region making change happen.” Rodney Sutton, an independent folklorist from Boone, who participated in the conference, explained his observation about the popularity of Appalachian Studies. Sutton said that he has been a part of the Green Grass Cloggers, a dancing group from Greenville, since 1972 and has since

made many friendships with some of the leading dancers and musicians of the Appalachian regions. “It seems like now there is this new wave of young people, college age folks that are interested in [Appalachian culture] again,” Sutton said. “Keeping those connections and networking amongst people, just getting a chance to do that makes it all worthwhile.”

FBS

Continued from page 1

Positions are available for the 2013-14 Editorial Board of The Appalachian.

the 2014-15 school year. Football won’t be able to compete for the Sun Belt football title and bowl games until 2015-16, but there is the possibility that the Sun Belt could allow football to participate in just the regular season games in 2014. App State football will still play SoCon teams next season even if they announce the move this spring. They will, however, not be able to compete for the FCS football championship. If the move to the Sun Belt is announced, App State will have to pay a $600,000 exit fee for leaving within two years after giving notice. App State is scheduled to play Michigan in 2014 and McNeese State in 2014 and 2015. McNeese State said they “absolutely” would still want to play App State even if they move. Michigan could not be reached for a comment. “As far as we are concerned, those games are still a go,” said Matthew Bonnette, the assistant athletic director for McNeese State. The Sun Belt will have a 12-member basketball league. App State is 6-4 in basketball against the 2013-14 Sun Belt members, according to ESPN. App State football is 6-3 alltime against the eight remaining members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Renting now for Spring/Fall 2013 Efficiencies, One, Two, and Three Bedroom Apartments, Houses, and Duplexes

Bowen Jones | The Appalachian

Chair of the communication department Janice Pope addresses the faculty senate on Monday afternoon. The senate enacted a vote of no confidence in Provost Lori Gonzalez and Vice Provost Tony Carey.

Senate

Continued from page 1 agenda summary of the March 25 Faculty Senate meeting. Eighty-eight tenured faculty members at the university signed the petition about Gonzalez and Carey, said Andrew Koch, the chair of faculty senate. “No one really knows for sure what happens next,” said Donna Lillian, the director of women’s studies. “The faculty senate has expressed an opinion but no one is bound by that opinion, we aren’t the boss of the provost or the vice provost.” The chancellor and Board of Trustees will be the next to decide if they take any action regarding the

provost, Lillian said. Lillian said with no other motions before the senate she hopes that “the faculty administration will meet with the administration and try to find some way of having a dialogue.” The close vote on confidence in Gonzalez shows that there are a lot of people on campus who are concerned, Lillian said. “I think it sends a bad message to the whole community about where we are at as a university,” Lillian said. “I think especially in tough times we need to stick together.” Chair of the communications department Janice Pope addressed the faculty senate at the start of the meeting and said, “no matter what you do, if you vote ‘confidence’ or ‘no confidence,’ we’re in trouble and we’re in trouble as an institution.”

A&E

The Appalachian

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Screening of ‘Make Hummus Not War,’ possibly first ever in US, to be held Tuesday

by EMMA SPECKMAN A&E Reporter

he Appalachian State University Humanities Council will screen “Make Hummus Not War” Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Belk Library and Information Commons as part of the Muslim Journeys series. “Make Hummus Not War” is a documentary centered around the one thing that binds warring nations in the Middle

East together, even in times of crisis: a regional love for hummus. Documentary filmmaker Trevor Graham takes the audience into the kitchens of self-proclaimed hummus masters of Pakistan, Lebanon, Israel and New York. Allan Scherlen, the librarian in Belk Library responsible for organizing the events for Muslim Journeys, said that the attendees might be the first people in the United States to ever see “Make

Hummus Not War.” “When we asked for a copy of the DVD, they didn’t have one for our region,” Scherlen said. “This may be the first showing of this film in the U.S.” The screening is the third event in the Muslim Journeys series, which aims to promote positive interactions with other cultures and bring people together, Scherlen said. “Appalachian State University and Boone are so isolated,” Scherlen said.

“There is little opportunity to have much positive interaction with other cultures. The goal is to gain a deeper appreciation for the Muslim people.” After the two-hour documentary, political science professor Curt Ryan will lead a discussion on the film and the conflict over the holy land in the Middle East. Lena Aloumari, president of the Muslim Student Association, said the club played a large role in choosing the film and go-

ing about the process of getting the rights to show it. The next event in the Muslim Journeys series is a book and film discussion on the graphic-novel-turned-movie “Persepolis” on April 23. Translated from French, Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” tells the coming-of-age story of Satrapi as a young woman growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution, and the struggles she had to face along the way.

Fiddlers and square dancers show off their moves for ASA conference attendees at Legends by EMMA SPECKMAN A&E Reporter

Old-time fiddlers, storytellers and square dancers joined Appalachian Studies Conference attendees, Appalachian State University students and members of the community in celebration of Appalachian music Friday and Saturday night at Legends. The two events were held as part of the Appalachian Studies Association’s annual conference, which the university hosted this weekend. Friday night kicked off the festivities with a jam session of local fiddlers. Several more musicians and storytellers performed Saturday and then led the audience in a square dance toward the end of the night. Appalachian Popular Programming Society’s Appalachian Heritage Council hosted both events. “We wanted something that showed who we were,” said Appalachian Heritage Council chairperson Josie Hoggard. “We really wanted to bring community, school and conference-goers together to do awesome things. It’s been really cool.” The Appalachian Heritage Council often hosts similar dances and concerts, as well as workshops and the annual Old Time Fiddler’s Convention, but Hoggard said Saturday’s event was one of the largest due to the influx of people from the ASA conference. The lineup for Saturday’s concert began with Orville Hicks, a master storyteller who is “worldrenowned” for his jack-tales, Hoggard said. Next, musician Rick Ward played banjo and sang for the audience. “Aside from being the Chuck

The Laurel Creek String Band provides accompaniment for square dancers Saturday night at Legends. The event was part of the Appalachian Studies Conference and featured solo musicians as well as storytellers.

Norris of Appalachian, he [Ward] is one of the only people in the world who plays double-knock banjo,” Hoggard said. After Ward, musician Mary Greene sang and played dulcimer and guitar. Greene was one of the first people to ever graduate with a master’s in Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State. Following Greene’s performance, legendary flatfoot dancer Robert Dotson took the stage. Dotson turns 90 years old in May. There was an instructional square dancing event Saturday night. Phil Jamison and Rodney Sutton led around 50 participants in a few easy square dances, while

Cecil Gurganus and the Laurel Creek String Band played music. “If you know your left from your right and you can walk, you can do these dances,” said Mark Freed, the music director for the conference. Freed is an Appalachian Studies graduate student at the university. He moved to the area 10 years ago to pursue a degree in Appalachian Studies and to play banjo. “The real reason was playing the banjo,” Freed said. “The degree was auxiliary. A degree sounded like a better reason to tell my parents I was moving to North Carolina than ‘to play the banjo.’” Freed said that the turnout for the events was about one-third

conference-goers, one-third community members and one-third students. He said the university’s Appalachian Studies program and the campus’ location within the central region of Appalachia is why the conference was such a success. Appalachian is the only university that offers both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in Appalachian Studies. “People interested in Appalachian Studies are interested in places like Boone,” Freed said. This is the third time Appalachian has hosted the Appalachian Studies Conference, which is now in its 36th year.

Spirit Family Reunion debuts at Legends The Appalachian: You guys recently played SXSW and had a pretty positive response. How was that experience? Stephen Weinheimer: “South By Southwest was real hot and intense, but we had a great time playing in front of every audience while we were in Austin.”

Michael Spencer | Courtesy Photo

The Brooklyn-based folk band Spirit Family Reunion will play at Legends on Tuesday. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets for students are $7 in advance.

by COLIN MOORE A&E Reporter

The Brooklyn-based folk band Spirit Family Reunion make their Legends debut Tuesday. The band was praised for their recent South By

Southwest performance in Austin, Texas, and is touring for the rest of 2013. Paste Magazine listed the band as one of “The 25 Best Acts We Caught at SXSW in 2013,” describ-

ing their sound as “pure Appalachia.” The Appalachian had a chance to chat about music festivals and upcoming shows with Stephen Weinheimer, who plays washboard for the band.

TA: What other festivals have you played? SW: “We’ve played Newport Folk Festival, Floyd Fest, Shakori Hills, Clearwater Festival, Whispering Beard and a bunch more I can’t remember.” TA: If you had to boil it down to a few artists, what are your influences? SW: “I’d say Hank Williams, Big Kitty, Karen Dalton and Roger Miller.” TA: What was the process behind your most

recent album, “No Separation?” SW: “We spent years going around, playing our songs and slowly gathering them up until we felt we had the right amount to make an album. We went down to Virginia to record a few songs with our buddy Adrian, and then recorded the rest in New York City with our friend Angerhan.” TA: What are your shows typically like? SW: “They involve fast foot stomping and slow heart crushing.” TA: What other plans do you have for the year? SW: “We plan to travel across the country and play in front of as many people as possible.” Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets for students are $7 in advance and $10 at the door. The event is BYOB with proper ID.

Correction: In the Thursday, March 21, issue of The Appalachian, a photo caption incorrectly identified Ear Candy as Treble Attraction. The Appalachian apologizes for the error.

March 26, 2013 |

Review: ‘Muchacho’ is an excellent, moody slow-burn by COLIN MOORE A&E Reporter

Editor’s Note: The following reflects the opinions of the author.

“Muchacho” is Phosphorescent’s sixth full-length album and fourth on the excellent independent label Dead Oceans. Matthew Houck, the songwriter behind the Phosphorescent project, wrote much of the album after a stressful tour for his 2010 record “Here’s To Taking It Easy.” At that point, Houck was unsure if he wanted to make another Phosphorescent record, but something clicked when he spent some time in Mexico and checked out of his daily routine. The result is a nuanced, beautifully constructed album that stands as a definitive artistic work from Houck. “Muchacho” breaks free of the “alt-country” genre typical of Phosphorescent albums, synthesizing elements of indie folk, electronica and beersoaked classic rock into a cohesive whole. Engineered by John Agnello, whose credits include Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth and Dinosaur Jr., the album has a warm, lived-in sound, incorporating subtle electronics as easily as barroom piano and tasteful horn arrangements. A sort of sunny ambience is explored right off the bat with synthesizer-led “Sun, Arise!” a palette-cleansing opener much like its cousin and closing number “Sun’s Arising.” In between these bookending pieces, Houck explores a variety of moods, though the arrangements are always lush and inviting. Lyrically, however, “Muchacho” is quite dark, calling to mind the lonely character studies of The National as much as the road-trip tales of redemption penned by the recently deceased Jason Molina. The lyrics here feel personal and confessional, transcending cliché with smart, vivid imagery and impressive narrative scope. Musically, Houck rarely rocks out, choosing instead to let his songs meander through dreamy vamps. Much of “Muchacho” is a slow burn as a result, and though some of the numbers tend to drift, the highlights here are tremendous. The two long-form songs, the six-minute “Song for Zula” and the epic “Quotidian Beasts” are simply fantastic, both great examples of the power Houck’s intense poetry has when backed by his rich, widescreen music. Some of “Muchacho” blends together and few moments are as distinctive as “Zula” or “Beasts,” but as a mood album, it’s excellent. Ending optimistically, “Muchacho” points to a very bright future for the Phosphorescent project. While a little more focus might benefit his albums in the long run, Houck’s keen ear for atmosphere is just as rewarding in the long run.

Rating:

3 out of 4 stars

| March 26, 2013

The Appalachian

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OPINION

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The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com March 26, 2013 | 5

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THE APPALACHIAN Your student newspaper since 1934

STAFF OPINION

McCrory’s plan for education in need of balance

MICHAEL BRAGG Editor-in-Chief

CHELSEY FISHER Managing Editor

ABBI PITTMAN Copy Editor

JOSHUA FARMER News Editor

R. SCOTT MORRIS A&E Editor

KEVIN GRIFFIN Opinion Editor

ANDREW CLAUSEN Sports Editor

PAUL HECKERT Photo Editor

MALIK RAHILI Graphics Editor

LIBBY DALLIS Video Editor

Contact Information EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (828) 262-6149 BUSINESS OFFICE (828) 262-2157 FAX LINE (828) 262-6256

KEVIN GRIFFIN In the few months he has been governor, Pat McCrory has shown a great willingness to target education in his desire to cut the budget, a willingness which was further evident last week when McCrory’s budget included $138 million in cuts to the UNC system, according to The Herald Sun.

Now, some representatives have brought up the idea of closing down one or two campuses in the UNC system to afford the cuts. The purpose of these measures is ostensibly to cut down on waste in the system and to increase efficiency, wral.com reports. However, simply cutting from a university system that has already seen $400 million cuts in the past years without a greater consideration of the available options is not a good way of increasing efficiency or eliminating waste. UNC President Tom Ross said he worries that the cuts might have an

impact on the quality of education in the system. The challenge is finding ways to balance the real need to reduce waste in the system with the need to continue to provide quality education. One of McCrory’s suggestions for compensating for the loss in funds is increasing tuition for out-of-state students by 12.3 percent at certain schools, according to The Herald Sun. The primary advantage of this plan is that it would take some burden off of in-state students, but could also easily dissuade out-of-state students from coming to any of the schools in the

UNC system. What is needed is a more nuanced view that locates areas of waste and cut those, while also looking outside education to find ways to deal with budget issues. For example, McCrory’s budget included no tax increases, not even any that would primarily affect only the wealthy. In fact, his budget includes a provision to repeal the estate tax, a tax that tends to affect the wealthy most. Perhaps a process could also be set up where areas of system-wide waste could be examined, isolated and something could be done to cut these out.

The UNC system is among the most revered education systems, and it makes many notable contributions to the state in terms of the economy and research fields. It is also one of the largest parts of the budget and should not necessarily be untouchable. However, great thought should go in to what should be cut, and alternative means of dealing with problems should be investigated before doing things that could affect the great system we have cultivated for so long. Griffin, a freshman journalism major from Madison, is the opinion editor.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Associated Collegiate Press

Our Mission The Appalachian, a student-run publication at Appalachian State University, strives to provide fair and accurate news for the campus community; to inform, entertain and create a forum for ideas; to provide an outlet for reader's opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff, and community interests; and to remain independent, exercise and insure its First Amendment rights.

Letters to the Editor The Appalachian welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and include the author’s name, ASU Box, phone number, classification and campus affiliation, if any. The Appalachian reserves the right to decline publication of any letter and to edit letters for the purpose of clarity and space. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments. Letters should be submitted electronically via our Web site or e-mail. Letters may also be mailed to “Letter to the Editor,” The Appalachian, ASU Box 9025, Boone, N.C. 28608. Letters may also be brought to the newsroom, located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.

STAFF LIST

Andrew Cox | The Appalachian

STAFF OPINION

Obama must back up speech in Israel with actions

Senior Reporters Stephanie Sansoucy Lovey Cooper Kaitlyn Thruston

Senior Photographers Olivia Wilkes Courtney Roskos

A&E Reporters Colin Moore Emma Speckman

Sports Reporters Jesse Ware Jordan Davis James Ashley Matt Smith

Opinion Writers Austin Mann Kent Vashaw Tyler Spaugh

Editorial Cartoonist Andrew Cox

Photographers Joey Johnson Aneisy Cardo Justin Perry Amy Kwiatkowski

Videographer Jackson Helms

Graphic Designers Ashley Spencer Erin Gallahorn

Intern Reporters Nina Mastandrea Nolen Nychay Chella McLelland Krista Loomer Jessica Lyons Hannah Magill Jordan Miller Michelle Pierce Jess Lyons Natasha Bostok

Multimedia Interns Matt Abele Allison Clark Bowen Jones Mark Kenna Nicole Debartolo Maggy Boutwell Andre Trowell

KENT VASHAW President Barack Obama’s visit last week to Israel and Palestine is certainly an international step in the right direction, but unless it’s followed up with action, it was meaningless. Israel’s current occupation of Palestine has many negative consequences. Palestinian civilian casualties have outnumbered Israel civilian casualties 10-to-one in the last five years, according to the

Human Rights Center B’Tselem. Also, 72 Palestinians have died due to torture since 1967, according to the Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. The Wall Street Journal reports that discriminatory policies such as separate buses for Palestinians in Israel have been established. Palestinians are tried under military courts with few legal rights. Speaking to an Israeli audience, Obama stressed the need for Israelis to broaden their minds and see the world as Palestinians do, CNN reports. When Obama met with a few Palestinian youths before the speech, he stated that they reminded him of his own children, and that Israeli parents should be able to empathize as well.

While he stressed the fact that the U.S. stands with Israel, and that anyone who believes that Israel can be destroyed is delusional, he also offered words of caution against the extremist Zionism that is present in Israel. He stated that the Palestinian people deserve to have their own nation to be free of oppressive foreign occupation. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that Obama’s tone was “cold and sharp,” as he reminded the Israeli people that Palestinians deserve freedom, too. This is a welcome break from White House rhetoric that has almost only ever offered praise and support for Israel’s actions. Obama’s rhetoric is a step in the right direction. He was criti-

cal of Israeli policies without quite condemning them. However, Obama has yet to do anything to stop Israel from committing these crimes. The U.S. continues to give massive aid to Israel without requiring the cessation of settlements, torture or oppression. Many, if not most, Palestinians saw Obama’s visit as symbolic and unhelpful. There were massive anti-Obama demonstrations in Palestine, Al Jazeera English reports. Whether Obama can actually help achieve peace in Palestine, or whether his words are empty and symbolic, remains to be seen. Vashaw, a sophomore mathematics and creative writing major from Apex, is an opinion writer.

STAFF OPINION

Proposed Social Justice Center needs a grassroots focus

AUSTIN MANNS I have had the good fortune to be a part of Social Justice Week. Many organizations on campus have united to build this week and to support the proposed

Center for Social Justice and Human Rights. However, I am somewhat worried about some issues with the week. The week’s purpose is to raise awareness about social justice so that campus organizations can get people involved to solve problems. There is nothing wrong with this, but I am concerned about the ability of our campus allies to provide meaningful change. I saw the center as a

proactive force that mobilized students for direct action. Amanda Moore, a senior global studies major, said the center is supposed to support campus groups to collaborate and share information. It will provide internships, contacts and opportunities for protests or demonstrations. Moore described the center as a way to create a generation with the leadership skills to become

the next generation of world changers. However, many of the groups involved are nongovernmental organizations. Potential societal change is diminished as grassroots efforts lose manpower and NGOs push a trendy view of activism. Efforts to change society and fix problems are de-radicalized and coopted by NGOs. NGOs that fail to fight the society that causes injustice

are incapable of bringing social justice. Organizations on campus need a place and the center must take an active role in grassroots activism. However, I am still optimistic about the center. The people building it are competent and the center’s positives will make up for possible drawbacks.

Mann, a freshman computer science major from Raleigh, is an opinion writer.

SPORTS

The Appalachian

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March 26, 2013 |

TENNIS

Senior tennis player serves up career season

by JESSE WARE Sports Reporter

urgery can be a scary option, especially to an athlete who is playing some of the best tennis of her career. But after Ellie Linsell had surgery last year to fix a partially fused joint in her ankle – a problem she’s had her whole life – she is playing pain-free for the first time ever. “It was a nine-month recovery, but I never missed a match,” Linsell said. “Now I feel pain-free. I could run 10 miles right now if you asked me to.” As the team’s No. 1, Linsell is consistently given the task of taking on the best each opposing team has to offer. She has compiled a 12-2 record so far this season. Women’s tennis team head coach Colin Crothers, speaks highly of Linsell. “Ellie has just really been able to put it all together her senior year,” Crothers said. “She’s very mature. She’s become a real leader.”

Aneisy Cardo | The Appalachian

Senior Ellie Linsell backhands the tennis ball during her singles match against the College of Charleston.

Coming to Boone from Southampton, England, Linsell led Cheam High School to the United Kingdom National Tennis Championships her junior and senior seasons. Linsell also earned a top-50 ranking in her native country, according to goasu.com. “We have started a tradition of winning here, and a lot of that has to do with

her,” Crothers said. “We have also been able to recruit better talent to our roster for the future.” Linsell said playing painfree makes tennis feel much more natural. “Being here and being injury-free is just so nice,” Linsell said. “I trust myself more on the court and I can train harder. Back in England, when I was suffering

with such a bad injury, I had to cope. Now, I don’t have to cope anymore and I can just succeed.” In addition to being the team’s No. 1, Linsell is also half of the Mountaineer’s top doubles tandem along with freshman Mackenzie LaSure. Linsell and LaSure hold a record of 8-5 this season. “She’s really experienced,” LaSure said. “It’s hard to adjust to college tennis coming in, but she has really helped me just by being there for me.” Closing in on her final weeks of collegiate tennis, Linsell plans to finish strong. “I’ve always said I would throw away my rackets, but I think that tennis has been such a big part of my life that I’ll always keep playing,” Linsell said. “Competitively, I think I’m going to leave it all on the court these last few weeks.” The women’s tennis team will look to build its 11-4 (3-0 SoCon) record Wednesday when they host Furman at 3 p.m.

LACROSSE

ASU’s women’s lacrosse holds first tournament by KAITLYN THRUSTON Senior Sports Reporter

The Appalachian State women’s lacrosse club team hosted the first Mountaineer Meltdown lacrosse tournament last weekend. “We are able to invite many of our family and friends who usually would not be able to see us on the road,” said Lizzy Lagasse, president of the women’s lacrosse team. “It is also a great opportunity to show the university that we are a very active team and wear our school’s name with great pride.” The women’s lacrosse team (9-6) is part of the Mid-Atlantic Women’s Lacrosse League, a conference with teams across North Carolina. Teams in Appalachian’s conference decided to come to Boone and play, prompt-

ing the Mountaineers to put together a tournament. The tournament was held over two days at Watauga High School, and despite Sunday’s snowy weather, the teams were able to play without interruption. “We were able to pull off the first goal in the game, and that definitely pumped us up for the rest of the match,” team treasurer Emily Ayotte said. “We had the complete Boone advantage – home game and home weather.” App State won two out of three games in the tournament, pulling out wins against Lynchburg (10-6) and NC State (15-3), falling only to UNC-Chapel Hill (2-12). Despite this being the first tournament hosted by Appalachian women’s lacrosse, the team feels that this past weekend was a success and hopes to hold the tourna-

ment again in the future. “It was a really awesome tournament and I was so happy that UNC, NCSU, Radford, Lynchburg, UNC-Wilmington and our alumni were able to make it,” Lagasse said. “It was also cool to have our first alumni game, and I was so happy to see so many of them come back.” The women’s lacrosse team continues to improve every season. Now, with six games left, they reflect on their success. “My freshman year there was such a small number of people on the team and now we have enough girls for almost two teams,” senior Summer Jones said. “We’re not just a team, we’re a family.” Freshman Katelyn Mickelson would agree. “I get to play the sport that I love, make new friends, and I enjoy every second of it,” she said.

Weekend Recap

Friday

March 22

Men’s Tennis App State (4-9, 2-2) vs Georgia Southern (7-5, 3-1) 3-4 (L) Singles Winners: Sebastien King 7-5, 4-6, 7-6; Zach Bost 6-4, 7-5 Doubles Winners: King/Bost 9-7, Jen-Willem Kleynhans/Andrew McKinnon 8-4; Steve Lake/ Steve Karendal 9-8

Saturday

March 23

Baseball App State (12-8, 4-4) at College of Charleston (13-10, 4-4) 2-4 (L) Runs: Callaway, Preston Troutman (1) RBIs: Josh Zumbrook (1)

Saturday

March 23

Softball App State (12-11, 6-3) at Chattanooga (18-15, 3-3) 5-1 (W) Runs: Sarah Warnock (2) RBIs: Loudermilk (3) Information compiled from goasu.com

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