THE APPALACHIAN April 19, 2019
The old way isn’t always best. App State adjusted its communication protocol for student death in 2015. We found out why and how university administration made the change. PAGES 2-3
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April 19, 2019
Student death: how App State communicates after tragic events Moss Brennan | @MosBren | News Editor Editor’s note: This article explains App State’s protocol for releasing information about student deaths. However, the article discusses mental health and suicide, which may trigger some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to the Counseling Center at 828262-3180 or call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-2738255.
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he 2019 spring semester has not been without the loss of life on App State’s campus. Three students have died. In the 2014-15 academic year, App State sent out campus-wide emails if a student died. That year, nine students died. In 2013-14, seven. The year before that, eight. “We just did what we had done before,” Chief Communications
Officer Megan Hayes said. “And what that year taught us is that we can’t afford to do that.” Hayes said App State communications after a student death are intentional and the university needs to understand the implications of those communications. During the 2014-15 academic year, App State started to review the policy for when a student dies. That summer, App State created the Student Death Protocol.
The old way isn’t always best
“We got a ton of calls from people saying, ‘Why are you sending me this information?’” Assistant Dean of Students Alan Rasmussen said. “‘You just made my day horrible’ or ‘This just reminded me of my cousin who passed away.’” The Dean of Students office received similar calls after campuswide notifications of a student’s death were sent to students. Rasmussen said students walked into the office crying even if they didn’t have a relationship with the student; they still felt the impact. The decision to stop sending campus-wide notifications was based on student safety and how App State wanted to remember its students. Another intentional decision Hayes said they made is not stating the cause of death. “We made a choice Moss Brennan | @MosBren to define students by Coordinator for Student Mental Wellness Elisabeth Cavallaro and Coordinator for Student Social what they contributed in Wellness Kyra Patel pose at the Wellness and their lives, and that’s how Prevention Services table during a fundraiser. Cawe’re going to talk about vallaro helped create the Student Death Protocol after the 2014-15 academic year. the students,” Hayes
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Efrain Arias-Medina Jr. | @eam.creations
The Student Memorial Plaque is located on the first floor of the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building. The plaque lists the names of App State students who have died.
said. “That was a really important choice for us to make, and we all felt very, very strongly about that when we were developing that protocol.” Hayes said the only person who can determine the cause of an unattended death in North Carolina is the medical examiner. Hayes said that if anybody is in potential danger on campus, they will be alerted immediately. “Sometimes it might have typos in it because that’s how fast they’re getting it out,” Hayes said. “They care about letting people know immediately.” When a student dies, the way App State communicates is intentional for safety reasons. “If a person gets a message about someone that they didn’t know, that can tap into some of that person’s own fears or concerns or own background and life experiences,” Director of the Counseling Center Christopher Hogan said.
Those communications, and media coverage, can lead to an unintentional effect called suicide contagion. “Suicide contagion, in a nutshell, is when we have a highprofile death by suicide and it’s reported in the media in a glorifying way or a dramatic kind of sensationalized way,” Coordinator for Student Mental Wellness Elisabeth Cavallaro said. “It can then lead to more suicides in that community.” Cavallaro was part of the team that created the Student Death Protocol. She stressed that suicide contagion affects people with suicidal ideation. “The memorializing death can be very scary and create a safety risk for those that are actively engaging in suicidal ideation or at risk for suicide themselves,” Rasmussen said. “Any type of death, the memorialization broadcasted can lead to a completion. And that’s the scariest part. That’s what we
mean by safety.” Instead of sending out a campus-wide notification, the university now sends a notification to people who Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs J.J. Brown calls the “ripple effect.” Those connections could include siblings, roommates, clubs and organizations the student was involved in, and students in their majors. “That’s a phrase that Megan (Hayes), and other folks, have heard me say for a long time. So what I mean by ripple effect is, what are those connections? “We pull in the department chair of which they were majoring in because a lot of times, there’s connections, as well and again thinking about the department where that student may know individuals and the faculty in that department.” The student’s connections are compiled in a Student Postvention Response Team meeting, convened by the Dean of Students Office.
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April 19, 2019 The Student Death Protocol
The 16-page protocol outlines who to contact when a student dies and what to do in the postvention meeting. When a student dies on campus, App State Police secures the location and begins the investigation. It also notifies the Counseling and Psychological Services Center or the on-call counselor. “We get notified usually as soon as possible just because...we are often involved in a response,” Hogan said. Hogan said staff from the Counseling Center go to the residence hall if the death happened there, and are present when students are informed. App State Police also notifies the university chief of police, the State Bureau of Investigation and the Dean of Students on-call staff person. The Dean of Students then contacts eight primary contacts “as soon as possible” and nine secondary contacts “as soon as practical” across campus. The Student Postvention Response Team convenes as soon as possible after the Dean of Students Office is notified. “As soon as we can in a reasonable amount of time, that’s where we discuss—as a team—the response,” Cavallaro said. During the postvention meeting, Hayes said she thinks of how she can support those who provide direct services to families. “I go into those meetings thinking, ‘How can I help them do what has got to be the hardest thing in the world to have to do?’” Hayes said. A Dean of Students Office staff member typically notifies and works with the family. Brown, former Dean of
Students, worked with families whose child died while they were an App State student. “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever navigated, working with families and thinking about the loss of a parent, by far,” Brown said. Brown said helping parents process their loss is rewarding. “I’ve worked with J.J. (Brown) for a long time, and I just have an incredible amount of respect for the people who provide these direct services to families,” Hayes said. “It’s not a job I could do. It’s a job that I want to support.” For Brown, thinking about his children gave him the passion to help and work with the families. “I think about if I were the one receiving that phone call and what is that like and what does that mean,” Brown said. “I think that’s what drives our compassion and our attempt to be compassionate and caring for wherever they are.” Once the postvention team maps out connection points, notifications, which detail oncampus resources are sent to those groups. If it is an oncampus death, the Counseling Center, Dean of Students Office and University Housing meet with residents of the residence hall. Once those meetings take place, a care team sets up a grieving room in the Plemmons Student Union. “There is a grieving room that’s available for students where they can go if they don’t want to meet with a counselor in the Counseling Center,” Cavallaro said. The grieving room is a space for faculty, staff, students and members of the deceased’s family to gather and grieve. The room is also staffed with at least one counselor from the Counseling Center.
“It’s a space to have counselors available that’s outside of the Counseling Center,” Hogan said. “For some students, it might be that they just need a little bit of space.” Hogan said counselors don’t necessarily engage with those in the room, but they can share information about the grieving process and resources. The grieving room is closed to all media. After a student death, the dean of students places a memorial book outside its office. “Any students, staff, faculty can sign it,” Dean of Students Jonathon Hyde said. “It’s intentional that it’s out in front of our office because if somebody seems really impacted, they can come right in and get support and meet with one of our case managers.” The dean of students office offers the book is then offered as a gift to the parents of the student. The university invites family members of a student who has died to the annual Student Memorial Program. The student’s name, if the parents
wish, and a statement from the parents are read at the memorial. “It becomes a pretty powerful weekend too, for those families that, unfortunately have been coming for many years, get to meet a newer family and make a connection that is very powerful and very hard to imagine,” Rasmussen said. On the first floor of the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building, a memorial plaque lists the names of students who have died. Parents must give permission for their child’s name to be included. “People, I think, walk by it and don’t notice it, but gosh, that day it really becomes the center of the administration building, and it’s very visually powerful,” Hyde said. The memorial program is typically in September or early October, but the memorial plaque remains in the building all year. While no response to a death is the same, the protocol allows for consistency when the campus needs it. “I think that is one of the most important things. So, no
matter the circumstance, we respond by doing the same things every time, no matter what,” Brown said. Cavallaro said a consistent protocol also helps keep people out of “panic mode.” “When people are in crisis mode, their brain is going to be working a little bit differently,” Cavallaro said. “So, that’s why you want to have that plan in place when you are able to think rationally.” Often, the relationship between the student’s family and the university goes beyond the notification. “There’s the short-term component and then we often stay connected for a very long time depending on what their needs are,” Rasmussen said. The Dean of Students Office supports the family if they return to Boone. “We want to make sure that they know they’re always welcome on campus, and if they ever need us for anything, we’re here,” Rasmussen said. Read the full story online at theappalachianonline.com
Dean of students contact: Primary
Secondary
1. App State Police
1. University Advancement
2. University Housing (if deceased is a residential student)
2. Office of Student Financial Aid
3. Office of the Chancellor
3. Office of the Chief Information Officer
4. Academic Affairs
4. Office of Student Accounts
5. University Communications
5. Student Health Services
6. Counseling and Psychological Services
6. Office of the Registrar
7. Director of Athletics (if deceased is a student-athlete)
7. Campus Bookstore
8. Office of International Education and Development (if deceased is
8. General Counsel
Contact as soon as possible
an international student or student studying abroad)
Contact as soon as practical
9. Others as appropriate
Student Postvention Response Team: This team consists of individuals identified by the Vice Chancellor for Student Development and may include representation from the Vice Chancellor of Student Development, the Dean of Students, App State Police, University Housing, Counseling and Psychological Services, Chair of Department of deceased student or, in the case of an undeclared student, the Vice President for Undergraduate Education, CARE Team, University Communications, Director of Prevention, Provost Office, and the Suicide Prevention Program Coordinator.
Efrain Arias-Medina Jr. | @eam.creations
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News
April 19, 2019
OASIS hosts red flag workshop for bar owners Anna Dollar @ ׀Anna_Carrr ׀News Reporter
Red flags include: Somebody being too drunk Giving a person that is significantly more drunk unwanted attention • Aggression toward others • A person attempting to get somebody drunk while they are not drinking • Someone insisting that a person go home with them An employee can help by walking up to the situation and asking everybody if they are OK, according to OASIS. “We have the ability to kind of insert ourselves into situations,” Sullivan said. “Even just going up to the table and making sure everything is OK and putting more face time in with the people and making them aware that you could potentially help them if things got out of their control.” In a difficult situation, Sullivan said staff at The Cardinal try to make guests feel more comfortable. For example, if a woman is drunk and needs assistance, a • •
Anna Muckenfuss @ ׀MuckenfussAnna
OASIS held a session asking that local restaurant workers intervene when they witness inappropriate or dangerous behavior. The Horton Hotel and The Cardinal were amongst several local institutions that attended.
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t least half of all student sexual assaults involve alcohol, according to Alcohol.Org. OASIS held a session at Harvest House for local bar and restaurant owners about intervening when they witness inappropriate and potentially dangerous behavior from intoxicated people in their businesses. “We learned what it means to
be an active bystander and what kind of things we should watch out for as red flags,” co-owner of The Cardinal Seth Sullivan said. An active bystander bartender is aware of their surroundings in their bar and intervenes when they see a potential red flag. Participating businesses collectively decided what red flags to look for in a setting where people are drinking.
younger female staff member will help her. “It’s all about awareness,” food and beverage director of The Horton Hotel Hunter Hallmark said. “Just what to look for as far as scenarios that could potentially feed into a dangerous situation to prevent it from getting to the point where it becomes dangerous.” Emma Start, junior sustainable development major and volunteer at the Women’s Center, said she has worked in restaurants since she was 16 years old. Start said she appreciates what OASIS, the bars and the restaurants in attendance were doing, though she is disappointed it had to happen in the first place. “I would say this speaks a lot about society and how we feel about and treat women,” Start said. “It speaks to our greater culture and that we don’t care enough, and we have to have these seminars and lectures with how to prevent issues.”
At her former job, Start said she experienced sexual harassment and dealt with men acting inappropriately. In one instance, Start said a drunken man made snide comments to her. Start said she was so flabbergasted that she had to ask the male bartender to cover her table for the rest of the night. “He just kept calling me ‘sweetie,’ ‘baby,’ and he would even make noises at me,” Start said. “It’s even more uncomfortable because I’m working, so I have to maintain a certain attitude and respect for the customer even when I don’t want to because they aren’t respecting me.” Start said she thinks some men should go to lectures to learn what is and is not appropriate to say to a woman. “The more information people have and the more support they have around these kinds of issues, the more comfortable they will be inserting themselves into situations,” Sullivan said.
Women’s Center hosts Rape Culture Awareness Week Cameron Stuart @ ׀cameronlstuart ׀News Reporter
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n April, the Women’s Center hosts events that give sexual assault survivors a platform and a voice while working to spread awareness of rape culture at App State. In 2019, Rape Culture Awareness week is from April 9-26 due to Easter break. The week takes place during national events like Take Back the Night and Denim Day, which support solidarity with sexual assault survivors. Katie Wynn, junior public relations major, said Take Back the Night gives survivors of sexual
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assault a chance to speak on their experiences and raises awareness of resources for students. Wynn is a member of the planning committee for Rape Culture Awareness Week along with Emma Start, junior sustainable development major. “We started it as a way to explain what rape culture is because we felt that people didn’t understand it,” Start said. “People aren’t really familiar with the concept as a term, but they are familiar with the ways in which it manifests in everyday life.” Rape culture is the concept of
how a society’s attitudes and beliefs lead to the normalization of sexual violence and assault, according to Harvard University. Start said she does not think people realize that society perpetuates rape culture. “I hope we reach a lot of people that we haven’t before,” Start said. “I hope that we’re sparking conversation, and that people are learning and thinking about what we’re doing, and how it impacts everyone else.” Zoe Pugh, freshman women and sexuality studies and interdisciplinary studies double
major, said a focus is placed on a prevailing aspect of rape culture each year. In 2019, the focus is on intersectionality. Pugh is on the planning committee for Rape Culture Awareness Week. Start said it is important to recognize all aspects of oppression and all identities that are oppressed, because experiences are not universal. “We are an inclusive center and we preach inclusive things,” Start said. In addition to the changing themes, the Women’s Center plans
different events each year. Wynn said in the past, the week was more internal, but in 2019, the Women’s Center is reaching out and partnering with other groups. Wynn said she hopes that in the future, the event could last a month and partner with more diverse groups on campus. “The Women’s Center is a space on campus that people don’t realize how much it can be utilized. We are trying to be a safe and welcoming space for everyone,” Start said.
News
April 19, 2019
Providing resources and a welcome space Title IX office aims to alleviate concerns for students discriminated by gender Jackie Park @ ׀jackiempark ׀Associate News Editor
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n the bottom floor of IG Greer Hall lies an important, but often unknown resource: the Office of Title IX Compliance. “Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination prohibited under Title IX,” according to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. “What we now primarily focus on is providing resources and support to those who may feel like they’ve experienced harms associated with their sex or gender,” Title IX Coordinator April Baer said. Baer said the office also provides training sessions and informative talks to groups on campus. Baer trains Red Flag Educators to look for signs of interpersonal violence in their peers. A main goal of the Title IX office is connecting students with resources, like the Counseling Center or App State Police, Baer said. “We help students who are navigating those concerns to get connected with free counseling on campus to ensure that they have the resources and tools that they need to meet their academic and personal goals,” Baer said. Baer said the office supports events and organizations in App State’s community when it can like the Women’s Center and the LGBT Center’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month events.
“We really want those offices to be safe places for students, so we are as present and as active there as students feel comfortable,” Baer said. “We don’t want to be in a space and it maybe make someone feel shy to show up; we try to be really conscious about that.” Bailey Sparks, junior elementary education major, started a project with a friend for a class in the fall called #YouAreNotAlone, which aims to spread awareness about sexual assault at App State and in Watauga County. Baer and the office have supported the project since its beginning by attending events and providing guidance, Sparks said. Sparks said she did not know much about Title IX before her project, and she thinks that is the case for many App State students. Despite this, Sparks said she is appreciative of Baer and her office. “I think it’s great that Appalachian State University has so many resources for survivors of sexual assault, and we’re very lucky to have Dr. Baer and the Title IX office to support students,” Sparks said. When a student approaches her with a concern, Baer said the Title IX office does a risk assessment to ensure it can prevent the student’s problem from continuing. It also looks at the student’s concerns. “Are we talking physical, financial, emotional, psychological? What type of harms have they been exposed to? Is their home a safe place? Are there people in their immediate circle of friends that are safe people to talk
Brendan Hoekstra | @BrendanHoekstra The Office of Title IX Compliance is on the bottom floor of IG Greer Hall, where it works to uphold Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity.
to?” Baer said. Baer said the office also encourages students to connect with the Counseling Center and OASIS, a rape crisis and domestic violence resource center in Watauga and Avery counties. Baer said the office also looks for changes that immediately alleviate concerns for a student in a bad situation, whether that includes a day off from classes, a change in their housing situation or a change in their class schedule. “Of course we empower anyone to make decisions that serve them well, so if they want to be in connection with local law enforcement about a concern, we
are happy to bring officers from University Police to come over to help answer questions,” Baer said. Baer said the office wants to empower people by sharing information about resources on and off campus. “It’s our hope that through that process, whatever they have endured can be remedied in some way, and hopefully that student is able to continue to achieve their academic goals at Appalachian, in spite of whatever may have happened,” Baer said. Baer said the office’s discreet location is an asset. “If someone were to come into this office, someone might
assume, ‘Oh they have an academic class in (IG Greer).’ There is a meeting room upstairs, so maybe they’re here for a meeting, maybe they’re just here to check out an academic department,” Baer said. Baer said the last thing App State wants as an institution is for students to feel isolated, without hope or help. “College is hard; growing as a scholar is not easy, and growing as a human is also not easy,” Baer said. “If a student has any concerns, there are so many resources on this campus available to them with the genuine desire to help.”
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News
April 19, 2019
Bernice King visits App State to speak about diversity and inclusion Emily Broyles @ ׀em_broyles ׀News Reporter
Lynette Files @ ׀lynettefilesphotography Bernice King spoke at App State's Diversity Celebration: World of Excellence on April 11.
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hen Bernice King is introduced, “youngest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.” usually follows.
King, however, said she is just a black woman living in the United States who wants equal living for everyone. King is the CEO of The
King Center, which advocates for nonviolence. She spoke at App State’s Diversity Celebration: World of Excellence on April 11. The Multicultural and LGBT centers, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and other organizations supported the event. King shared how her family legacy has made her into the independent peace advocate she is today. King said her mother told her growing up, “You don’t have to be your father, you don’t have to be me. Just be your best self.” King said discussing living together peacefully is important in a climate that “cancels people,” or does not listen. She said a university—a place where students learn more about inclusivity and working with others—is
the best place to talk about peace. King explained that inclusion, especially at a university, does not always mean mixing different ethnicities together, but learning from one another through language. “Inclusion is honestly more than a notion,” King said. “It’s more than bringing people of diverse backgrounds together.” King said it is time to start living inclusively, not just celebrating or recruiting for diversity. She said people sometimes think of inclusion as doing someone a favor, instead of standing with them. “There’s another level we have to push past because even that can be a little bit superficial,” King said. King said Americans face
the challenge of forming real, inclusive relationships and connections with others. “It’s hard work, and it’s heart work,” King said. “At the end of the day, in order to conquer the issues in our society, it’s going to require some heart work and not just analytical work.” When asked what App State students can do in terms of inclusivity and diversity, King said it all starts with a mindset of respecting people’s worth and place in society. “I don’t think it’s as much about whether we end up at the same place ideologically, as much as it’s about whether we end up in the same place in terms of understanding our humanity— understanding people want to be valued,” King said.
Campus budget presentations prioritize renovations and faculty salaries Erin O’Neill @ ׀erinnmoneill ׀News Reporter
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ampus improvement and renovation, diversity and inclusiveness, and faculty salaries were some of the most talked-about topics at the fourth annual campus budget presentations on April 12. Faculty, staff and students gathered for presentations on budget priorities and accomplishments from the 2018-19 academic year from deans and vice chancellors. App State held its first public budget presentations in 2016 to engage campus in the budget process, Provost Darrell Kruger wrote in an email. Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs Paul Forte said a “key issue” for App State, and one of the Chancellor’s Strategic Initiatives, is acquiring the necessary funding for a university of 20,000 students. Calculations from a UNC board of governors special committee
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found a funding deficit of around $20-22 million for App State. “A lot of things that were appropriate for a 10,000-student campus are not appropriate on a 20,000-student campus,” Forte said. Forte said handicap accessibility and advising are areas the school has not been able to spend money on, but could if a new funding model was approved. A funding model determines the amount of money the board of governors allocates to App State. Forte said with a new funding model, App State could “step up and become the kind of worldclass institution comprehensively that we are in the academic area.” The presentations also discussed improving academic facilities, like the upcoming renovation of Sanford Hall. “We recognize that in order
to have a high quality education and the academic spaces that we should have to have excellent teaching, we have to do something about Sanford Hall, which is one of our biggest academic buildings,” Forte said. Forte said one of the challenges to funding upgrades on campus academic buildings is students’ fixed tuition, meaning that tuition rates are frozen for four years once a student starts at App State. Forte said, as an example, a 1% increase in tuition for students would generate about $1 million for the school, but this can only be done every four years because of the Fixed Tuition Program required by North Carolina General Statute § 116-143.9. Several of the budget presentations were followed by question and answer sessions, in which many people commented on fac-
ulty salaries. “I hope it’s clear that what we’re concerned about is ultimately the experience for our students and the reputation of the institution and the ability to attract and retain quality faculty, and we can’t do that without competitive salaries,” sociology professor Martha McCaughey said. McCaughey said she and fellow faculty and staff are concerned with how money is allocated because they are dedicated to App State. “I think it seems like we’re so concerned with our salaries, but faculty salaries are a sign of how the university is doing and what its priorities are,” McCaughey said. Faculty and staff salaries were also included on the list of the Chancellor’s Strategic Initiatives, Forte said. The University Planning and
Priorities Council concluded the presentations by sharing a list of priority actions based on the needs expressed by budget presentations from different departments. In the list, the UPPC identified the following as common concerns: • New scholarships • More interdisciplinary courses • Increasing resources for research • Engaging in experimental learning opportunities • Making campus equally welcoming for all • Focusing on sustainability • Uniform support and raises for faculty and staff salaries Associate news editor Jackie Park contributed reporting for this story.
News
April 19, 2019
Local sixth-grader DoorDash comes to Boone, to compete in Scripps other delivery services say National Spelling Bee
Anna Muckenfuss @ ׀MuckenfussAnna ׀News Reporter
they are not worried Cameron Stuart @ ׀cameronlstuart ׀News Reporter
A Anna Muckenfuss @ ׀MuckenfussAnna
Sam Nystrom, a Hardin Park sixth-grader, will travel to Washington, D.C. in May to compete in the National Spelling Bee after winning the regional spelling bee.
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Hardin Park School sixth-grader will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in May, after winning the 79th annual Winston-Salem Journal Regional Spelling Bee on March 24. Sam Nystrom competed at the regional spelling bee for the first time when he was in fourth grade and was the runner-up for the Watauga County Schools district-wide spelling bee when he was in fifth grade. Nystrom said his favorite word to spell is “blurb” because it is fun to say. “I like the challenge of spelling things and like trying to figure out what it might mean and stuff, or how it’s spelled,” Nystrom said. “I read a lot, so I learn a lot of words through that.”
To prepare for the spelling bee, Nystrom said he uses a consolidated word list that he studies for 10-15 minutes each day. Nystrom said his goal is to make it to the final round of the National Spelling Bee and win. “It’s just been exciting to see him each time that he’s won a new level, it’s been a surprise,” said Jennifer Nystrom, Sam’s mother. “His goal is always just to make it to the national bee, and he achieved his goals.” Sam Nystrom said his achievements will be fun to use when playing the game “two truths and a lie” with new people. “I don’t know if there are any spelling bees beyond eighth grade, but I do want to continue spelling through them,” Sam Nystrom said.
s DoorDash enters the delivery service market in Boone, other delivery services are not worried about a shift in dynamics in the industry. Other delivery services in Boone include Boone Delivery, which launched in July, and Bite Squad, which bought Boone Takeout in May. Lee Hornish, owner of Boone Delivery, said his business is different from other delivery services in Boone because all parts of the business, from the workers, to attorneys, to its main office, are local. “Our local base is really solid,” Hornish said. “People seem to really receive and want local.” Bite Squad director of communications Liz Sniegocki said Bite Squad hires drivers as part of the company instead of as in-
dependent drivers. “We’re always looking to offer a very wide selection of high quality local restaurants. We focus in on independent local restaurant operators,” Sniegocki said. “We do work with national chains, as well, but we love to provide service to the community.” DoorDash officially launched in Boone on March 20. DoorDash is “a technology platform that connects people to their favorite local businesses,” according to a DoorDash spokesperson in an email. DoorDash offers delivery from over 65 restaurants in Boone. The spokesperson also wrote that DoorDash is located in more than 3,300 cities in North America, and the company works to deliver meals in under an hour. Hornish said he has not
noticed a difference in business since DoorDash came to Boone because Boone Delivery’s business has grown monthly. Sniegocki said she does not expect any drop in business since DoorDash opened due to Bite Squad’s solid restaurant selection and low booking fees. Hornish said he does not think competition is important in the delivery market, though people should decide for themselves where they want to order from. Contrarily, Sniegocki said competition is important and makes Bite Squad look good. Competition can highlight the difference between services, Sniegocki said. “A lot of kids depend on these services to eat,” Hornish said. “They could go somewhere, but with inclement weather or time, there’s a lot of factors.”
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Arts and Culture
April 19, 2019
Christine Dudley @ ׀chridud ׀Senior A&C Reporter
Brendan Hoekstra | @BrendanHoekstra Locals celebrate after the Pride Shabbat service on April 12. About 40 people gathered to commemorate the LGBTQ community on Judaism's weekly day of rest.
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he last of daylight seeped through 10 blue and purple stained glass windows, engraved with the Ten Commandments. By 6:15 p.m., about 40 people gathered in the Temple of the High Country on April 12 for the third annual Pride Shabbat to celebrate the LGBTQ community on Judaism’s weekly day of rest. Senior philosophy major Marisa Fernandez, wearing a multicolored yarmulke, led the congregation in prayer and song with help from other students in Hillel, App State’s international Jewish organization. Fernandez made the service as inclusive as possible by using “siblings” in place of “brothers and sisters,” and when it was time to stand, they said, “Rise as you are able,” physically or spiritually. Senior exercise science major Samantha Lew said she appreciated the inclusion and affirmation of the LGBTQ community in the prayers. One of the English readings, “Ma’ariv Aravim” by Rabbi Reuben Zellman, described everyone as “Twilight People” that are “many identities and loves, many genders and none.” “That’s not something you see very often in different religions and different services,” Lew said. To add energy to the service, Fernandez gave the congregation drums and tambourines to play during some of the songs. Fernandez said Hillel celebrated Pride Shabbat in the Plemmons Student Union for the past two years because it is a neutral space, and they were unsure whether older congregants would be comfortable with celebrating Pride Shabbat in the temple.
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Because Hillel held the event in the temple, it included more Hebrew in the service like a typical Shabbat. Knowing that switching back and forth between the siddur and program would confuse people, Fernandez indicated page numbers to help congregants. “I definitely had a hard time keeping up with the Hebrew,” Lew said. “The siddur was something I was very unfamiliar with just because it goes back to front, and not front to back.” Lew, marketing and publicity chair for the Presbyterian Episcopal Campus Ministry, said she enjoyed participating in a faith tradition different than her own. Lew said she also enjoyed everything after the prayer service, the Kiddush, HaMotzi and the meal. Fernandez said one of their favorite parts of Shabbat is HaMotzi, when the congregation blesses and breaks bread. Everyone either touches the bread or touches someone touching the bread. “We all come together physically and touch the challah and form a web of community,” Fernandez said. Fernandez’s mother and non-Jewish LGBTQ friends attended Pride Shabbat to support Fernandez. “Having these special people, to me, in the audience means a lot,” Fernandez said. “And that I can be supported by my religious community, as well, while leading something that’s very obviously queer is really an awesome feeling.”
PEOPLE OF
BOONE
Third annual Pride Shabbat encourages LGBT inclusivity in the Jewish community
Deiva Motley Christine Dudley @chridud Senior A&C Reporter
When I was in high school, I created fake email accounts for my parents, so if I ever got in trouble in class or got a notification about report cards, I would respond as my one of my parents. My mom or dad got emails about me going to detention a couple of times for tardies, failing a few tests and report cards being sent out. Whenever they had a question about when certain things were supposed to come up for school, I would just make a believable excuse so that they would forget about it. But they never knew about any of those things because I was getting those emails and responding to them pretty much my whole high school career. I didn’t show them the email accounts until the day after I graduated high school, so I wouldn’t get in that much trouble. They laughed it off and told me that I was really lucky they didn’t find out themselves sooner.
Arts and Culture
April 19, 2019
Nonprofit hosts K-12 talent show to benefit Watauga County Schools
Mericlaire Williams @ ׀TheAppalachian ׀A&C Reporter
Daisy Tucker @ ׀TheAppalachian ׀A&C Reporter
PHOTO COURTESY ׀Gabby Crosson
Lynette Files@ ׀lynettefilesphotography The cast of Shooting Stars 2019 takes a final bow on stage. Over 70 acts tried out for the talent competition, which took place on April 12 at The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.
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udiences were treated at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts with a wide variety of acts including a jump rope routine, a magic act, choir ensembles and a rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” The occasion was Shooting Stars on April 12, the Watauga Education Foundation’s main annual fundraising event. The event showcased Watauga County student talent from all grade levels, and all proceeds went to the Watauga County School System, Watauga Education Foundation president Don Presnell said. “We’re a local nonprofit devoted to helping the teachers and students of Watauga County Schools,” Presnell said. The Watauga Education Foundation also raises money for grants made for teachers. Grants fund workshops, graduate classes or conferences. In 2019, the Watauga Education Foundation increased its allocations for teacher grants from $20,000 to $30,000. “We took a big leap of faith—if you will—because we just wanted to do that for teachers and the students,” Presnell said. “And we did it, and it worked out really well.”
As producers, Cassandra Steffen and Erika Hudspeth organized and conducted the visual and performing portions of the show. This was Steffen’s first year as producer. Teachers and principals recommended students to the producers, Steffen said. Initially, producers reviewed 81 acts, and through a four-day audition process, a panel of anonymous judges chose 28 acts. They made special considerations to include a variety of acts from every school. “Our youngest contestant is in kindergarten and our oldest is a high school senior,” Steffen said. “I like to make the comment that someone’s talent can be in a different spot than someone else’s, but that everyone is at a talented level and not a professional level. Talent is courage and it’s bravery and it’s persistence.” All contestants go through the process on their own, without parents or mentors. “Even the youngest kindergartners are walking in by themselves with this courage to come out and perform,” Steffen said. “And their parents are trusting us that we’re going to take care of them, and then they’re going to be able to get on stage by themselves with a bunch of people they don’t
know, which is a huge step in their performing arts journey.” Thirty-two visual artists were also part of the show. “The selected visual artists for Shooting Stars are chosen by a panel of judges made up of local artists and/or those with strong ties to the art community,” Hudspeth said. “Videotaped interviews will show at the event, and selected artists are recognized on stage.” The producers said their main focus is on the students and their creative ventures. “These children don’t all have to be professionals. They’re still working in their process of being a performer, and for them to feel heard and feel powerful and seen, I think, is the biggest goal of ours,” Steffen said. “Of course, there is the aspect that we want to bring in money so that we can give back to the community, but also take and encourage our community to be creative and to be performers.” Creative learning is essential to a full learning experience, Presnell said. “It gives you means to extend the classroom,” Presnell said. “You know, you’re not confined by walls and the arts is just an extension of it.”
Gabby Crosson Every two weeks, Gabby Crosson cycles out old hairstyles by shaving their head and dyeing designs, like multicolored geometric shapes, on their hair. Crosson, a sophomore music therapy major, tests the limits of fashion by not dressing according to gender roles. Living on the Newland Hall ASUnity floor for people of diverse sexualities and gender identities helped Crosson experiment with fashion. Crosson said being in the LGBT community lets them explore their true identity. Being around like-minded individuals who support Crosson inspires them to explore wild fashion choices. The biggest trend Crosson picked up from the people they lived with was incorporating glitter in outfits and makeup. “I was surrounded by so many different people, looks and identities. That’s when I was like, ‘OK, I’m non-binary. I don’t have to fit into this one thing,’” Crosson said. Coming out as non-binary opened up new ways for Crosson to dress; they realized fashion had few restrictions for them. Crosson combines feminine, masculine and androgynous looks that embrace a variety of patterns and color, including pink, which they grew to love after removing its feminine connection. “I never thought I would be this invested in clothing and fashion, but it’s so much more than putting on an outfit,” Crosson said. “Every look I put on is a different feel and a different expression, and so it’s an outlet to fully express myself and test the limits of my identity.” Crosson wears dresses one day, and trousers, a button-up polo shirt and backward baseball cap the next. Crosson said every outfit they create empowers them because they are true to how Crosson feels. “It’s hard to describe my style because it’s so many different things,” Crosson said. “But that’s what I’ve realized over the past year or so—that it doesn’t have to be one thing or one aesthetic. I don’t have to keep it consistent; I can just make looks I feel good in and I’m proud of.”
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Arts and Culture
April 19, 2019
Local coffee shops use beans from around the world to bring unique tastes to Boone Georgia Privott @ ׀TheAppalachian ׀A&C Reporter
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verything has a story, even the beans that make up your morning coffee. Local roasters at Hatchet Coffee and Local Lion are passionate about making quality coffee from farms they trust. When choosing farms to buy from, Local Lion primary roaster David Tatum said he always chooses smaller farms that work hard and support their communities. Tatum buys from Direct Trade, a group of small coffee farms in Nicaragua that prioritize sustainability. “Direct Trade uses organic practices, but they were spending all their money on things like a school for their workers’ kids and we wanted to support that,” Tatum said. Hatchet Coffee owners Jeremy Parnell and Jeremy Bollman said they see the importance of shaking the farmer’s hand. “We use an importer called Cafe Imports. They spend a lot of time investing in smaller farms to increase the wages for the farmers,” Parnell said. Parnell said Cafe Imports is transparent about work conditions and how they grow the beans. The farm has invited Hatchet workers to visit origin countries, which are regions 20 degrees north and south of the equator that grow coffee. “I went down to Peru, the other Jeremy went to Mexico and Guatemala, our social media rep went
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to Guatemala, our manager went to Colombia, and we are sending one of our baristas to Brazil,” Parnell said. Hatchet sends its workers to origin countries to see how the coffee is made and how the farms treat workers. They also bring coffee back with them, Parnell said. Many decisions, like where the coffee is grown and how the beans are processed, affected which roasts employees brought back to Boone. “You can kind of tell how the coffee is going to taste just on the region,” Parnell said. “Africans are fruity. Central and South Americans are breakfast coffees, so they are more chocolatey. Sumatra and Indonesia are more earthy tasting.” The region determines the taste of the coffee and how the beans were processed. Once they pick the coffee “cherry” off the tree, workers use either a natural or washed method to get the seeds out. “If you have access to a lot of water, you can wash all the slimy stuff off,” Parnell said. “A natural (method) is after you pull the cherry off, you dry the cherry so the seed inside will take on the cherry characteristics because it is fermenting in there,” Parnell said. The natural method makes coffee beans sweet and the washed method produces a crisp taste, according to the National Coffee Association.
Brendan Hoekstra | @brendanhoekstra (Left) David Tatum siphons through coffee bean sacks behind Local Lion’s roasting station. Tatum is the primary roaster at Local Lion Espresso Bar. (Top right) Tatum empties out freshly roasted beans for the shop’s espresso blend. (Bottom right) Coffee shops typically curate a variety of beans for their brews, which vary in their country of origin as well as flavor palette.
After the farm processes and dries the beans to the desired taste, exporters ship the beans to the East Coast. Local Lion works with two warehouses in New Jersey and Florida, which store the beans until he can roast them, Tatum said. Tatum said he is constantly creating new blends by combining two or three varietals together. He will mix different tastes like nuttiness from Brazil, peachiness from Peru and the chocolate flavor from Guatemala to create the final cup. Varietals are beans from a single origin country such as Ethiopia or Colombia, and blends are a mix of varietals, such as a house blend or a morning blend, according to Roast Magazine’s Daily Coffee News. “Our drinks are more cocktail-inspired. We can get really playful with our drinks, it’s not standard cof-
fee so it’s good for bringing new coffee drinkers in,” Parnell said. Parnell said Hatchet released a year-round brew of “magic blend,” which combines naturally dried Brazilian and Ethiopian varietals and a washed Ethiopian varietal. Roasting coffee is about experimenting to create new blends for customers to try, Tatum said. “Once we find which one we like, we will give Shelly (Parsons) a sample, and she will then pick which ones will be sold in the stores,” Tatum said. Parsons manages Wired Scholar and Crossroads Coffee House on App State’s campus and works with Tatum to supply coffee for the shops. “There is coffee that is $50 per pound, but I can’t sell that to a college student,” Parsons said. “What I do is pick a coffee that I am happy with the practices, has a great taste and fits
within the price margin.” Parsons said she works with Tatum to train baristas in Crossroads Coffee House and Wired Scholar. “It’s a combination of the best coffee we can buy, the most affordable price, the best-trained barista and at the quickest pace,” Parsons said. An untrained barista can alter the taste created through washing, drying and roasting the beans. Boone coffee shops have a sense of connection through their shared love of coffee, Tatum said. “(Local Lion) is not professionally affiliated with Hatchet Coffee, just personally affiliated,” Tatum said. “That’s what I love about the coffee industry, is that there is enough demand around that we aren’t competing with each other. I prefer collaboration over competition—it can only increase the knowledge and the value of what we are all doing together.”
App News
April 19, 2019
What to do Submit Announcements App News is a service of the Division of Student Affairs. Email editor@theappalachianonline.com for submissions with subject line: APP NEWS PAGE. Submissions should not exceed 100 words and must include the event title, date/time, location and cost, and a contact email, phone and/or URL. Announcements will be edited as needed and will run as space allows. Preference is given for events that are free or have a nominal cost.
Lavender Graduation
This event is open to all LGBTQ+ students—undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral—at App State who will graduate in the 2019, whether in May, August or December. Lavender Graduation is on May 1 at 6 p.m. in the Solarium in the Plemmons Student Union.
WEB MANAGER WANTED!
If you have experience with WordPress or running a website, apply to be web manager for The Appalachian. Experience in content management and coding is preferred, but not required. Interested? Contact brennanmp@appstate.edu for more details and an application.
design the Appalachian
Want to lay out this paper? Have a flair for graphic design? Email editor@theappalachianonline.com to express interest! Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) preferred but not required. Opportunities available for student designers of all skill sets.
Friday, April 19
Saturday, April 20
Sunday, April 21
Monday, April 22
Volunteer at The Latino Fair 3:30-6 p.m. Watauga High School
Town of Boone Galleries Open 11-4 p.m. King Street
Town of Boone Galleries Open 11-4 p.m. King Street
Bike App! 1-4:30 p.m. Rivers Street Skywalk
Taste of Dialogue: “The Laramie Project” 6-8 p.m. Plemmons Student Union
Town of Boone Planning Commission Meeting 6 p.m. Town Council Chambers
“La Dolce Vita” 7-9 p.m. Greenbriar Theatre
Tuesday, April 23
Wednesday, April 24
Thursday, April 25
Friday, April 26
Bike App! 1-4:30 p.m. Rivers Street Skywalk
Cap Decoration 12-2 p.m. Plemmons Student Union
Decal Drive-Thru 12-5 p.m. Plemmons Student Union
Pride! The Colors of Spring 1-5 p.m. Sanford Mall
Community Appearance Commission Meeting 5:30 p.m. Planning and Inspections Conference Room
Club Sports Council Meeting 5-6 p.m. Student Recreation Center
Take Back the Night 5:30-8:30 p.m. Plemmons Student Union
Trombone Studio Recital 6-7 p.m. Rosen Concert Hall
Hayes String Trio 7-8 p.m. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Guitar Orchestra 8-9:30 p.m. Rosen Concert Hall
“The Ugly Duckling,” Appalachian Young People’s Theatre 7-8 p.m. IG Greer
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Sports
April 19, 2019
Hoerner leads turnaround for App State softball Silas Albright @ ׀SilasAlbright ׀Associate Sports Editor
W App State Athletics Shelly Hoerner is in her second year as head coach of the softball team. The team is 27-14 overall with 10 games left in the season.
ith just 10 regular season games remaining in 2019, the App State softball team already surpassed its win total for each of the past six seasons. “It was a buy-in from the players. From day one, they knew it would be a process. They stayed the course. They trusted in us, and they trusted in themselves,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “They just play for each other. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit, and I think that’s what has made us successful this year.” In Hoerner’s first season in 2018, the team went 17-35 overall and 4-20 in the Sun Belt Conference. In 2019, App State has gone 27-14 overall and 11-6
in conference play, which puts the team in third place behind No. 11-ranked Louisiana. Before the 2018 season, athletic director Doug Gillin was looking for a coach to help bring a winning record for the first time since 2013. “I liked his vision, and I think we are very similar in a lot of ways,” Hoerner said. “We want to win, but we want to do it the right way.” Before she took over at App State, Hoerner coached at Georgia Tech for four seasons. She also coached at College of Charleston for eight seasons, Division II Barry University for five seasons and DII Valdosta State University for one season. Before she became head coach at Valdosta State, Hoerner was an
assistant coach at Barry for four seasons and played there from 1993-94 before transferring to DI Canisius College for her final two years of eligibility. Throughout her 23 years of coaching experience, Hoerner has learned that each player has to buy into their specific role. “What your role on the team is just as important as anyone else’s. It doesn’t matter if you’re picking signs or you’re the starting pitcher—your role is just as important,” Hoerner said. “I think everyone buying into their role has helped our team be successful.” Assistant coach Shane Showalter said he noticed Hoerner connecting with her players. “The one thing I’ve really
noticed about her is her ability to really relate to the girls and get them to buy into her and what she’s doing,” Showalter said. “When you come into a new program it’s always, ‘We got to change the culture.’ (Hoerner) has done that in a very short amount of time because of how she treats them and how she carries herself.” Hoerner has recorded over 500 wins in her coaching career, but said she cares about more than just wins and losses. “She’s kind of like a second mom to me,” junior right-handed pitcher Kenzie Longanecker said. “She cares about me on and off the field, no matter what I do. I think she’s always there for me, and she’s a very encouraging coach.”
elderkin accepts four-year contract extension Brooks Maynard @ ׀BrooksMaynard ׀Sports Editor
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fter leading the women’s basketball team to a 22-win season in 2018-19 from only eight wins in 2017-18, head coach Angel Elderkin has accepted a four-year contract extension. Athletic director Doug Gillin announced the extension on April 8 after the university board of trustees and Chancellor Sheri Everts approved it. The extension runs through 2023. “I want to thank the Board of Trustees, Chancellor Everts and Doug Gillin for
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their confidence in me and our program,” Elderkin wrote in a press release. “I’m excited about the future of this university and the team.” Elderkin started at App State in 2014 and coached the Mountaineers to their best season since 2011-12, culminating in the program’s second Women’s Basketball Invitational Championship on April 3. The Mountaineers also appeared in the semifinals of the 2019 Sun Belt Tournament, their deepest run since joining the conference.
The turnaround from eight wins to 22 is fifth-best in the NCAA 2018-19 season, according to App State Athletics. Twentytwo wins is the seventh-highest win total in program history, and the Mountaineers’ 14-3 home record is a program best. “We are very excited to have Angel continue to lead our women’s basketball program,” Gillin wrote in a press release. “Under Angel’s leadership, our student-athletes are excelling in the classroom, in the community and on the court.” Elderkin’s team also
finished No. 6 in the country and No. 1 in the Sun Belt in the Play4Kay Free Throw Challenge in February, raising over $3,200 for cancer research. Elderkin credited every member of her program for its success and her continued stay at App State. “This is a reflection of the commitment and hard work from an incredible group of student-athletes as well as the most dedicated coaching staff a head coach could ever hope for,” Elderkin wrote in the press release.
App State Athletics Women’s basketball head coach Angel Elderkin signed a four-year contract extension following her 22-win season with the Mountaineers.
April 19, 2019
Women’s tennis claims first regular season Sun Belt championship Brooks Maynard @ ׀BrooksMaynard ׀Sports Editor
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or the first time in program history, the App State women’s tennis team won the Sun Belt Conference regular season championship, securing the title with a 4-1 victory over Texas State on April 14. With the win over the Bobcats, the Mountaineers finished the regular season with a 15-5 overall record and a 9-1 Sun
Belt record, losing only to the University of Louisiana Monroe. “We’re so proud of this group and all the hard work they’ve put into this season,” head coach Blake Mosley wrote in a press release. “All the credit goes to the ladies and their dedication to a growth mindset.” It’s been a growth process for women’s tennis, who went
App State Athletics The App State women’s tennis team huddles in preparation for a match. The team won the Sun Belt Conference regular season championship for the first time in program history.
5-19 in Mosley’s first season in 2016. Since then, the Mountaineers have won over 60% of their Sun Belt matchups, including a Sun Belt tournament game in 2018. Seniors Jeannez Daniel and
Rebecca Morse finished the regular season with a 9-1 record in doubles competition, including an undefeated record in the Sun Belt. Sophomore Teodora Sevo picked up her 10th singles win of 2019.
The team will travel to Peachtree City, Georgia, to compete as the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Championships. The championships take place April 18-21.
Swope leads women’s tennis to successful season Zack Antrum @ ׀zantrum17 ׀Sports Reporter
T App State Athletics Senior Heidi Swope finished the regular season with a 12-3 record and a 4-1 Sun Belt record.
ennis may be an individual sport at times, but a successful team needs players who will step up and get the job done. The App State women’s tennis team has that in Heidi Swope. The senior from Weddington has had an excellent campaign in her final year as a Mountaineer. The Mountaineers ended the regular season with a 15-5 record, including a 9-1 record in the Sun Belt Conference that earned them the regular season conference championship. “The past few years we’ve
done well, but we haven’t been playing at the level we all wanted to at the same exact time,” Swope said. “This year we’re coming out and just killing it in conference, and everyone is firing at all times, and the energy has just been really great.” Swope has performed consistently for the Mountaineers, earning at least five singles wins in each of her previous three seasons. In 2019, Swope earned a 12-3 record while appearing in the No. 5 and No. 6 slots. Along with her partner sophomore Maria Jose Zacarias, they picked
up doubles wins in three consecutive matches to close out the season. On senior day, Swope and Zacarias won their doubles match and helped App State beat Texas State. Even though she will celebrate with the team, she still knows there is more work ahead. “Personally, the perfect ending would be for us to win conference, get some rings and play NCAAs,” Swope said. “Just the opportunity to win conference with as well as we’ve been playing would be the icing on the cake for me.”
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Opinion
April 19, 2019
WILLIAM BARR IS TRYING TO DISTRACT US
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he first round of the NBA playoffs has begun, but Attorney General William Barr had the best head fake you will see when he appeared in front of the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 10. “I think spying on a political campaign is a big deal. It’s a big deal,” Barr said at the senate meeting, referring to unsubstantiated claims that the FBI illegally surveilled the Trump campaign in 2016. “I’m not suggesting that those rules were violated, but I think it’s important to look at that,” Barr said to the committee. When a senator asked Barr if he believed spying occurred, he answered: “I think spying did occur, yes. I think spying did occur.” When pressed, Barr appeared to contradict his original statement: “I am not saying that improper surveillance occurred. I am saying I am concerned about it, and I am looking into it. That is all.” Yes, the FBI surveilled the Trump campaign during the 2016 election cycle. The Washington Post reported in July 2016 that the FBI began surveillance on a Trump campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos. They received a tip from a foreign diplomat that Papadopoulos could have information about Russia’s efforts to hack the Hillary
Tommy Mozier @ ׀TheAppalachian ׀Opinion Writer
Clinton campaign to benefit Trump. The FBI also intercepted communications from another Trump campaign aide, Carter Page, under probable cause that Page was acting as a foreign agent for the Russian government. A Foreign Intelligence Surveillance court warranted both investigations. Former FBI director James Comey, whom Trump fired over “this whole Russia thing,” oversaw the operations. “I really don’t know what he’s talking about when he talks about spying on the campaign,” Comey said at a conference on April 11 after Barr’s appearance in front of Congress. “It’s concerning because the FBI and the Department of Justice conduct court-ordered electronic surveillance. I have never thought of that as spying. . . If the attorney general has come to the belief that that should be called spying, wow.” Barr’s use of the term “spying” is massively important. By portraying a legitimate, warranted investigation into possible illegal activity between a presidential campaign and a foreign country as something sneaky and nefarious, he, yet again, is attempting to protect the president. First, Barr is attempting to throw into question the legitimacy of the Mueller report, which the attorney general still has not released as of April 16. If the full, 400-page
report does not clear the president, as Trump has claimed, using the term “spying” and suggesting an investigation of the investigators gives Trump loyalists a chance to decry the entire Russia investigation as illegitimate, which they already do. The conservative news media jumped on “spying did occur.” Fox News ran that portion of Barr’s quote in huge letters on every news program. The second part of the quote, that Barr is not suggesting the surveillance was illegal, merely posing the question, fell by the wayside. “Spying” grabbed viewers’ attention. It acted as reassurance for Trump and his supporters as the Mueller report looms and gave further “evidence” of a deep state. Finally, Barr creates a new investigation, a new scandal, to distract from the one whose findings he may be subpoenaed for, as members of the Mueller team have already expressed displeasure about Barr’s four-page summary of the report, claiming he misrepresented or left out important findings. A calculated head fake to distract the public from the real scandal. Barr once again shows where his loyalties lie. This is the reason Trump appointed him.
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Opinion
April 19, 2019
Q’s
I
joined The Appalachian on a whim. My freshman year, someone on my floor mentioned something about the school paper, so I tagged along because it was a Thursday night, and I didn’t have anything better to do. Cut to four years later, and I can’t imagine my life without The Appalachian. For anyone familiar with my work, you’ll know that I’ve spent most of my time here writing angry opinions about all the things wrong with the world. There have been exceptions, but the broader body of my work displayed what could be called an almost excessive amount of vitriol toward the Republican Party, and that’s just what readers saw after edits. In retrospect, I probably could’ve been a bit nicer, but that’s in the past, and I meant every word. Writing this is difficult. How do you sum up four years of memories and experiences in a couple hundred words? I have changed so much during my time working here. When I came to App State, I was a scared kid struggling with my sense of self-worth, desperately trying to find a place in the world. I’m still scared and trying to figure that last part out, but I’ve
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grown more confident, and I’m definitely not a kid anymore. One thing that marked my time at The Appalachian was failure. I tried a lot of things, and I failed at a lot of things. Sure, I had my successes, but working for The Appalachian definitely taught me how to fail with grace and learn from it. I know that, because of The Appalachian, I’ve developed a solid foundation that will propel me forward into whatever career I end up in. The skills I’ve acquired here will last me a lifetime. There are a couple of people I’d like to thank before finishing this thing out. Each one of them has been instrumental to my growth over these last couple of years. I’d like to thank my family for supporting me through thick and thin. Without your support, I’d be nothing. I love you guys so much, and words can’t express the depths of my gratitude. To my professors, especially Carolyn Edy and Scott Welsh, under your guidance, I have grown to be a far better writer than I ever could have been on my own. Thank you for your dedication and your time, and thank you for putting up
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with my inability to keep my mouth shut. I think the person that deserves the most credit for my growth during my time at App State is Christopher Farthing. You’ve been an incredible mentor to me, and a lot of what I’ve accomplished can be traced back to lessons you’ve taught me. Chris, thank you so much for putting up with that incredibly awkward, immature kid and helping him become something resembling a functioning adult. I hope when I’m older, I’m able to be just like you. Finally, I’d like to thank everyone I’ve ever worked with during my time at The Appalachian. Nothing I’ve done here would be possible or mean anything without the hard work you all put in day after day. A special shoutout goes to Tommy Mozier for sticking it out at the opinion desk. I know that it’s going to be rough next year, but I have full faith that you’re going to do great. You’re a fantastic writer, and you have strong arguments. You’ve got this. You know, it may have been a whim that lead me here, but The Appalachian really became my home. I’m going to miss everything about it, for better or worse. It sure is going to hurt when I walk out of that office for the last time.
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April 19, 2019
sydney spann
I
’ve been at The Appalachian for a long damn time. I’ve seen us go through three print redesigns, two website redesigns, office remodeling, three adviser changes, Pacemakers, Pinnacles, numerous North Carolina awards, four different editorial boards, starting podcasts and television shows, moving to new departments and all the drama that ensued. I have been a graphic designer turned graphics editor, visual managing editor, editor-in-chief and then back to visual managing editor. For my sanity, I shouldn’t have come back after I decided not to run for EIC again. I was exhausted. I was beat down and disappointed, as are all editor-in-chiefs, but the thought of leaving this weird little family of mine was much harder to imagine. Malik, Aleah and Katie—thank you for believing in me in a way I never knew someone could. I wouldn’t have grown into who I am without your support. Brooks, Efrain and Moss—Brooks, you have been the best work husband a girl could ask for. Thank you for learning to love me as I have learned to love you. Efrain, your creativity and excitement is what every graphics
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editor comes to the paper with. Don’t lose that. Thank you for showing up when you did. Moss, it’s hard to ignore your passion and talent. Being EIC will be the hardest thing you will ever do, and I have the utmost faith that you will be absolutely exceptional. Natalie—my work wife. We all like to think we are busy and hardworking, and then we meet you. From the moment I met you, you have continued to surprise me. Your sass and tenacity is everyone’s favorite part of meetings. The communication department should build statues in your honor. You say thank you to everyone, but you are the one who deserves all the thanks. Thank you for taking on the job with grace and intensity. Your legacy will live longer than any of us. Reilly—Nora and I’s rock. The comeback queen. My shoulder to complain on. Thank you for believing in The Appalachian. Thank you for coming back and bringing a spark along with you. Your wit and charm amaze me, and your dedication knows no bounds. You took on a role that was long-awaited, and you made it your own and for that, I am more than grateful.
Maleek, Nora and Victoria—I truly don’t know where to begin. Maleek, thank you for literally pushing me to join The Appalachian. Thank you for being my first face I saw on move-in day and for bringing a piece of home with you. Your influence at the paper was silent and unnoticed, but your impact was far greater than anyone will ever know. You waited every night for me to finish the paper even though you didn’t have to, you stood up for those who were unaccounted for, you kept egos in check. Every person you have ever met knows you will go far, including me. You are brave and wonderful and one of my very best friends. I love and miss you. Nora, I am crying. You walked into the office with overalls, and I knew you were special. You came to every meeting and designed whatever graphic I assigned to you. I pushed you into a role I know you didn’t think you were ready for, but the way I have seen you grow in the past year is nothing short of outstanding. I know you will continue to doubt yourself and to that I say: stop. You move mountains. Your impact here is far greater
than any I have seen before. Thank you for your continued leadership and friendship. If I never joined the paper, I wouldn’t have met you, and, damn, I can’t imagine my life without you. You’re the best we’ve ever had. I love you. Victoria, I feel like I have known you my entire life. You appeared when the universe knew I needed you most. You made every person at this paper feel like they were home and that is a characteristic few people have. Thank you for being my drinking buddy, my right hand woman, my dictionary when I’m at a loss for words and my very best friend. Thank you for curing my homesickness, thank you for keeping me in check, thank you for letting me cry, scream and yell. It is hard to put into words what a soul mate brings into your life. I feel lucky that I found mine so early. I love you. I could write novels about these people and this place. Deciding to come back was my greatest decision. Thank you to every person, mentioned or not, for making me remember what is good and frustrating and worth fighting for in this world.
April 19, 2019
brooks maynard reilly finnegan
I
don’t even know where to begin. I obviously knew the day would come when I would have to say goodbye to Boone, App State, The Appalachian and the routine of seeing familiar faces every day, but this is the first of many goodbyes, and it hadn’t really hit me until now. When I came to App State, I did not plan on joining the newspaper, but after a push from my mom my sophomore year, I figured I’d give it a try. I had always enjoyed writing, but what I really loved was editing. When I walked into the newspaper office for the first time, I didn’t even know if there was a copy editing desk. After asking around, I found Victoria Haynes, who was the chief copy editor at the time. Victoria, you immediately welcomed me, took me under your wing, taught me the ropes, believed in me and pushed me to do more. You were the one person I was most comfortable with in the office for a long time. I looked up to you because of your strength and honesty, and ended up following in your footsteps, which I couldn’t have done without your guidance. Thank you for helping me get to where I am today. Sydney Spann, we did not know each other well in the beginning of my time at The Appalachian. In fall 2017, we started spending more time together until I left to study abroad the next spring. When I came back after much deliberation, you were the most excited to see me and made coming back worth it. Your creativity and kindness inspires me. Thank you for laughing at my jokes when no one else does and thank you for always supporting me. Nora Smith, our fearless leader, you have done so much for the newspaper and you deserve way more credit than you receive. I am fortunate to have worked by your side this semester, although it feels like it’s been so much longer. Your passion and unwavering dedication motivates me. Remember to take time for yourself as you approach your last
semester. Thank you for all you have done. Jules Blaylock, you are a strong, hard-working woman. I cannot imagine juggling the demands of graduate school, a position on the paper and another job. Thank you for being someone to laugh with and more importantly, the comma queen we wouldn’t know what to do without. Rachel Greenland, my successor, you will try your hardest to prepare for this position, but nothing can really prepare you for the time and energy you will devote to this role. I promise it will be worth it. I have no doubt that you will be an amazing managing editor. Most importantly, thank you to my parents for your never-ending support and motivation, and thank you, mom for encouraging me to join The Appalachian in the first place. I can’t imagine my time in college without the countless long nights in the union I never thought would end or without the friendships I have made through The Appalachian. I have grown in more ways than I can count. Thank you to everyone on the paper for the memories I will never forget and for the stories I will tell for ages. Thank you, The Appalachian for being an unexpected part of college I am so thankful for now.
When I came to App State five years ago, I knew I wanted to be part of the campus newspaper. I’m a journalism major and gaining the experience a student newspaper offers made sense. I attended my first interest meeting before classes even began in August 2014, and I still remember the excitement that I felt walking out of the newsroom. What I didn’t expect the paper to give me is the limitless memories and incredible friends. I can still see myself walking to the football stadium to do interviews for my first story. I still remember the feeling of walking on the field of Ladd-Peebles Stadium after App State won the Dollar General Bowl, and on the court at Madison Square Garden after the Big East Tournament. My time at The Appalachian has given me
some of my favorite experiences of my life, with some of the best people I’ve ever met. Thank you to my former sports desk editors Cory Spiers and Chris Warner, who are friends as well as my newspaper mentors. You made it fun to be a part of the desk, and I genuinely enjoyed working for each of you. I still bring lessons you taught me into The Appalachian newsroom everyday. Thank you to my editors-in-chief, Nora Smith and my newspaper “wife” Sydney Spann. I learned so much from each of you, and you both brought great perspectives to the table, as chiefs and in your other roles. Thank you for your patience with me over the years. I promise to bring honor to my Anger Management award for many years to come. Thank you to our future editor-in-chief and my newspaper brother, Moss Brennan. You taught me so much about this industry, even as a freshman, and I know you’ll do great things for The Appalachian. Thank you to my sports editor predecessor and great friend, Jason Huber. It’s safe to say our relationship has had its ups and downs. Possibly my favorite memory of my time at The Appalachian is our slap fight while I was driving 60 mph down the freeway in Alabama. My apologies to our friends, video editor and photographer Jamie Patel and Lindsay Vaughn, who probably feared for their lives. It’s also true I wouldn’t be here without you. I never saw myself as an editor for this newspaper, but you saw it in me, and you pushed me to achieve it. Thank you for believing in me and showing me exactly how to handle this position. May our friendship and our Twitter wars live on forever. Thank you to the sports desk boys: Zack Antrum, Garrett Wold, Chase Frick, Shane Harvell, Frank Bogle, Kaiden Smith and my successor, Silas Albright. Thank you for all your hard work while I served as editor and for all your friendships. I’ll always be the most proud of how much each of you improved since joining the desk. Lastly, thank you to The Appalachian for making my time at App State better than I ever believed it could be.
17
April 19, 2019
I
always swore to myself that I wouldn’t start my senior goodbye like everyone else does, but I’m finally at the end, and there’s really not much left to say. I can’t believe it’s over. I loved every moment, except for the ones I hated. The Appalachian, as wonderful as it is, would not be in my life if not for the wonderful people there. So, this letter is really for them. And this could not be a love letter if not for the love I received from Sydney Spann and Victoria Haynes. My gals. My confidants. You are truly two of the best friends I ever had, and I’m so thankful to have two strong women to look up to, and trust, and love with my whole heart. You also both taught me the beauty of a Moscow Mule, and for that, I owe you my life. Sydney, getting to work with you as graphics editor and as editor-in-chief is one of the main reasons I could always hang on through the grit and grind of putting out a paper every week. You are the Libra to my Capricorn—keeping me grounded, keeping me laughing, and telling me what I already knew but just needed to hear someone else say. Victoria, you were the first person on staff who I felt completely at peace with. I have always been able to be myself around you, and you have taught me so much about patience and passion. Thank you for always encouraging me, and sitting in my parking lot yelling with me until 2 a.m. even though we had been in production for seven hours already. Reilly Finnegan, thank you for being my righthand woman this semester. Sometimes it feels like you
18
nora smith
and me versus a room of screaming staffers, but you have been there to yell “SILENCE” when we need it most. I’m very glad we were not removed from the union when you got caught holding Hank in the air “The Lion King” style. I love that this place brought me closer “towards” you. Jules Blaylock, the job of a chief copy editor is not easy. You are tenacious, detailed and strong. Harley Nefe, I know you will pick up right where we left off. Natalie Broome, I don’t know how you do it. I have learned so much from you about working hard, loving what you do, standing up to people, dessert, chocolate, ice cream and Taylor Swift. Whoever gets the opportunity to work with you next is so lucky. Mickey Hutchings, I know you will do just as well as visual managing editor as you have as photo editor. I’m so proud of the leader you are, and I know I can always count on you to spit-take all over me because you think my water is vodka. To my desk editors this year, Moss, Mariah, Brooks and Q , thank you for pro-
ducing strong content and for trusting every change this year. I’m so lucky to have had the team I found in the four of you. Moss, never doubt what you can do. You are a strong journalist and leader. Trust your gut, and please leave room to take care of yourself. Efrain Arias-Medina, you are talented and have a good eye for design. I know you’ll continue to be a fantastic graphics editor, just don’t be afraid to break the rules. Jackie Park, Rachel Greenland and Christina Beals, keep killing it. The Appalachian will always need strong lady leaders. Keep your heads held high, you are all going to accomplish so much next year and beyond. I owe much of my success and sanity to people outside of this organization. Dr. Edy, thank you for helping me develop my skills and for encouraging me to believe in myself against all odds. To my roommates, thank you for being awake when I got back from production, and for letting me loudly copy edit in the common space each week. And, of course, because I know my parents read everything I wrote for The Appalachian, know that I couldn’t have done it without you and the rest of our family. I’ve said it so many times, but I’m so lucky. I decided I would stop writing when I started crying, so that’s all I have to say. I’ll see y’all on the other side. Think of me when you wish someone was there to rewrite a headline.
Et cetera
April 19, 2019
OUT OF THIS WORLD BY NEIL AGNEW
Down 1. Lydian and Phrygian, in music 2. Famed American daredevil whose first name is in his last name 3. Seized car, in short 4. Sparking water beverage, with “La” 5. Monitor or Constitution proceeder? 6. Woodwind mouthpiece 7. “Righto” 8. ___ for tat (retaliation) 9. French farewell 10. Govt. intelligence agcy. 17. City in Italy and Florida 18. Blessed 19. Word before ray 20. What many dogs do 22. First letter of the Greek alphabet 23. Lock of hair 24. Shared currency across the Atlantic 25. British McKellen from “The Da Vinci Code”
T H E C OV E R :
26. Cash dispenser, briefly 29. “___ for the course” (typical) Across 1. Roman god of commerce and merchants 8. Trig function 11. Monitor, as a foreman, say 12. Puts a name to 13. Throws out of office 14. Aunt, in Madrid 15. Race in H.G. Wells’ “The Time Machine” 16. Roman goddess of love and desire 21. Third in the sequence of shaded answers, whose day of celebration is April 22 24. Genre for the “Illiad” or “Odyssey” 26. Busiest airport in the U.S. by number of passengers 27. Conventional 28. Selected, for a role 30. “I think; therefore, I am” philosopher Descartes 31. Possesses 32. Greek goddess of the dawn 33. Roman god of war
Our cover this week is black in memory of App State students who have died, on and off campus. The semicolon on the back cover represents a time when someone’s life could have ended, but didn’t, much like a sentence separated by a semicolon. This cover reminds us of the pain of dealing with loss and the hope of perseverance.
NORA SMITH EDITOR IN CHIEF
MULTIMEDIA
IRA DAVID LEVY
VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR
ADVISER
EDITORIAL
SYDNEY SPANN
MICKEY HUTCHINGS PHOTO EDITOR
REILLY FINNEGAN
EFRAIN ARIAS-MEDINA JR.
JULES BLAYLOCK
LOGAN BERG
MANAGING EDITOR
CHIEF COPY EDITOR
GRAPHICS EDITOR VIDEO EDITOR
MOSS BRENNAN NEWS EDITOR
BUSINESS
MARIAH RENEAU
CRISTIAN MCLAUGHLIN
BROOKS MAYNARD
SHELLY BANZ
A&E EDITOR
BUSINESS MANAGER
SPORTS EDITOR
ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
Q RUSSELL
MELISSA ALSUP
OPINION EDITOR
MARKETING DIRECTOR
IN MEMORIAM;
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 any time of day or night or chat online.