The Appalachian
Sept. 13, 2019
everts gives raises a go
4.99% merit-based raise for faculty page 3
Latinx students growing Greek Page 5
New store finds its home in historical building Page 6
Bumps and bruises don’t stop these gals Page 9
News
Ringing in 120 years of education
Sept. 13, 2019
Gianna Holiday | Reporter
Moss Brennan | Editor-in-Chief The annual tradition of Founders Day commemorates the first day classes were held at App State, formerly known as Watauga Academy, on Sept. 5, 1899. This year’s festivities celebrated 120 years of classes. In 2018, Chancellor Sheri Everts began this tradition with the first Founders Day celebration at Founders Plaza to honor B.B. Dougherty, D.D. Dougherty and Lillie Shull Dougherty. This year’s celebration of 120 years of history included the induction of inaugural members into the Bell Ringers Society. “For the first time ever, there will be a Bell Ringers Society. We are going to have about 12 people come down and ring the bell 10 times each,” said App State director of communications, Megan Hayes. “They’ve all been chosen for different reasons due to their representation of the history of the institution. They’ll ring the bell 120 times for our 120 years.” Phillip Byers, UNC System board of governors and Bell Ringers Society member, said he is happy to embrace App State’s history. “I’m honored to be with this group, honored to be a part of this university,” Byers said. Byers graduated from App State in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. Another member of the Bell Ringers Society is former Chancellor John E. Thomas, who Byers said helped him graduate. “He was a like a big brother to me and was so kind,” Byers said. “He knew I was always up to mischief, but he made sure I graduated and worked with me.” Everts and Doris Stam, the great-granddaughter of D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty, presented a new
2
statue in honor of Lilie Shull Dougherty. The artwork was donated by William H. Brown Jr., the great-grandson of D.D. and Lillie Shull Dougherty, and sculpted by local artist Suzie Hallier. “I just really wanted to create something that showed how strong she was despite her tiny size,” Hallier said. “She was small but tall.” Last year’s celebration debuted a new double-sided granite sign with the university’s logo on either side, along with additional seating areas and a more prominent location for B.B. Doughtery’s existing statue. Everts also formed a University History Committee, chaired by associate professor in the history department Karl Campbell. Campbell said the committee “collects, studies and disseminates university history through events and curricula.”
You have to know where you’ve been to know where you’re going. “Members of the Doughtery family had been talking to some of us historians and asking if we could do something regarding the history of the university. The chancellor re-
sponded by creating the Appalachian State History Committee,” Campbell said. Before the celebration, the App State History Committee hosted an App State history exhibition panel discussion in Plemmons Student Union showcasing research that included poster presentations on education, the evolution of student services throughout the years and ghost stories. All of the posters were created by faculty, staff and students. “The importance of bringing our historical identity back to our community seems like a really important goal. It seems that Appalachian has grown so fast and changed so much, there was a need for students, faculty, the community and alums to reconnect with our identity,” Campbell said. “You have to know where you’ve been to know where you’re going.” Former Chancellor Thomas and previous App State administrators contributed their piece from App State’s historic 120 years by sharing stories about App State from the 1970s and 1980s. “We all come in and find our place at Appalachian State, but after you’re here for a while, you start to try to figure out how your piece fits into the big story,” Campbell said. “You realize that you’re part of something bigger, and you realize that you are part of a community with shared goals, and I believe that really adds depth to your experience.”
Chancellor Sheri Everts, local artist Suzie Hallier, and Lillie Shull Doughtery’s great-grandson William H. Brown Jr. stand together in front of the newly dedicated statue that was unveiled at the Founders Day ceremony. The statue depicts Lillie Shull Dougherty. Moss Brennan
News
Sept. 13, 2019
Everts announces merit-based faculty salary raises Hayley Canal | Reporter
Chancellor Sheri Everts announced the reallocation of state funds to provide merit-based salary increases for faculty at the first Faculty Senate meeting of the school year Sept. 9 The promise of raises comes after Faculty Senate passed a resolution April 8 that pressured the administration to bring faculty salaries to the 80th percentile of peer institutions by 2021. At Everts’ request, Provost Darrell Kruger, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Paul Forte and Vice Chancellor J.J. Brown examined App State’s budget over the summer for a way to develop a 4.99% pool capable of funding the salary increases. The group found room in the budget through the reallocation
of state funding from student affairs to academic affairs. Administration did not commit to reaching the 80th percentile in three years at the meeting. In an email to Faculty Senate Sept. 7, Chair Michael Behrent reiterated the raises are based on reallocation only — not new state appropriated moneys. He also reminded the senate, as a merit-based raise, department guidelines will dictate the base pay increase per faculty member. Everts addressed the changes to Faculty Senate at the beginning of the meeting. “With four years of no merit-based faculty salary increases before my arrival on campus, I recog-
nize there is a lot of catching up to do in this regard,” Everts said. Last year, Everts received a 4.99% raise from the UNC System board of governors while faculty and non-faculty members, unsupported by the State Human Resources Act, did not receive raises. This prompted a series of actions by Faculty Senate. On Feb. 11, Faculty Senate body created an ad hoc faculty salaries committee in response to the salary crisis. The committee's 11 members met at least four times over the summer to discuss the potential for App State’s administration to commit to 80th percentile faculty salaries compared to institutional peers. The Faculty Senate Budget
Committee commissioned a report on faculty salaries in March that showed the App State faculty members’ salaries had declined relative to their institutional peers and cost of living in Boone. “We really took seriously the comments from faculty and from senators about why this is a crisis,” Richard Rheingans, chair of the sustainable development department and a member of the ad hoc committee, said at the Sept. 9 meeting. “And we really tried to focus on three dimensions of this.” The three dimensions he referred to were financial hardship, salary inversion and compression, and the threat uncompetitive salaries pose to faculty recruitment and
retention. Rheingans and fellow committee members made recommendations on how to achieve and maintain the 80th percentile goal in three years. “To attain this goal in three years, we’ll need an infusion of significant merit-based salary dollars to remain committed to attaining this goal and compensate our faculty,” Kruger said. He added that uncertain factors, such as the availability of internal and external resources and the parameters provided by the state for faculty merit-based salary increases will determine the feasibility of this goal.
Hayley Canal
An Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Radio Station of the Year Finalist
Your college Your station Provost Darrell Kruger shares his report with Faculty Senate at their first meeting of the school year. The report included updates on faulty salary increases and new recruitment strategies to be used to attract a more diverse body of faculty. Hayley Canal
Your music
3
News
Sept. 13, 2019
Student government association senate
Freshmen Class Senators Malia Easler Trey Blackwood Jacquez Johnson
General Senator Seats Alysia Quinones Camryn Adams
Naz Kebe Kylas Starr Ronnie Pugh
Sophomore Class Senators Aiyana Willoughby Devin Mullins
Silvanna Curtin *Open Seat
Emily Hogan
Elizabeth Serrano Zannah Kukral Aiyanna Brooks *Awaiting Petition
Aaron Hunt Jason Turcios Sam Gass *Awaiting Petition
*Awaiting Petition *Awaiting Petition
College of Arts and Sciences Jeremy Doblin
Brianna Vonderhaar
Cameron Thompson *Open Seat *Open Seat
*Open Seat *There are open seats available for the senior class, transfer students, Greek life, sports, special interests and service initiatives, and constituent appointed seats for organizations. *If you are interested in filling an open seat in the Student Senate, please email The Director of Elections, Jalyn Degraffenreid, at degraffenreidja@appstate.edu or stop by their office on the second floor of the Plemmons Student Union.
Yeimi Chavez-Gonzalez
Reich College of Education Senators: *Open Seat
*Open Seat
College of Fine & Applied Arts Senators: *Open Seat
*Open Seat
Beaver College of Health Sciences Senators: *Open Seat
*Open Seat
Hayes School of Music Senators: Jay Gibson
*Open Seat
University College Senators 4
Alex Banton Chloe Glasgow
Walker College of Business Senators:
Junior Class Senators Michael Maldonado-Melgar Alex Larocca
These seats require 50 signatures for a successful petition. Check with the Director of Elections to see if seats are available.
Benjamin Gonzalez Jr.
*Open Seat
News
Sept. 13, 2019
Lactation Lounge gives breastfeeding mothers a private space on campus Hadasa Rivera Marin | Reporter Women no longer face the struggle of finding a comfortable place on campus to execute a function of the female body from the beginning of time — breastfeeding. App State now has a lactation lounge available for students, faculty and campus visitors to use as needed. Located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union, the lounge offers three private pods with soft seating, a lamp, foot stool, table, sound machine and outlets to charge electronics. The space also includes a common area with a sanitized microwave, used for breast milk, a sink, drying rack, and a freezer and fridge with individual lock boxes for milk bottles. Melanie Turner, graduate assis-
tant for the Women’s Center, said the lounge is a great response to the “societal confrontation” some feel about breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding is a natural process that has been frowned upon because females’ breasts have been sexualized,” Turner says. Turner said the creation of the lounge has called attention to the need for spaces conducive to breastfeeding. “As a society, we’re increasingly becoming in tune to needs and where our shortfalls are,” said Jeff Cathey, director of the department of student engagement and leadership. Turner said the lounge gives women the opportunity to have normal work and school schedules. Cathey said this is a result of App
State’s response to the ongoing goal to accommodate students’ needs across campus better. He said he believes it’s a part of the “inclusiveness priority” on campus. In Turner’s eyes, the Lactation Lounge’s biggest contribution is increasing discussions about gender equality. “Equity comes down to us giving that extra step, providing that lactation lounge, recognizing that breastfeeding mothers need this extra resource to be productive, and that’s not weakness, that is equity,” Turner said. For more information about the Lactation Lounge, visit the Women’s Center or make an appointment at a PSU information desk.
A lactation lounge on campus is open and ready for use. It is located on the second floor of the Plemmons Student Union near McAlister’s Deli. Brendan Hoekstra
Multicultural Greek Council brings more diversity to App State Greek life Emily Broyles | Associate News Editor With Hispanic Heritage Month beginning, the sisters of Corazones Unidos Siempre Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc. look to a successful inclusivity and diversity project within the Greek community: the Multicultural Greek Council. “Being in Greek life on this campus, you see mostly all the organizations being predominantly white,” said Kimberly Paramo, interim president of MGC and junior biology and Spanish double major. “For some people, they don’t necessarily fit in or connect to that kind of thing.” Paramo explained CUS was associated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council when the Beta Chi chapter of CUS was founded at App State in 2015. Paramo said, while her chapter was embraced by NPHC, she felt it didn’t quite define CUS. “Just in our sorority, we’re already different from others,” Para-
mo said. “So, from there, it’s finding like-minded organizations that have that.” Being a newer organization on campus, Paramo said CUS didn’t have much say in creating its own council. It wasn’t until another Greek
I also want to use this council as a voice for, not only our organizations, but for people who might identify with however we identify... organization, Lambda Sigma Upsilon, a Latino-oriented fraternity, expressed an interest in creating the Sacbe chapter at App State that MGC became possible, Paramo said.
Hillary Teoyotl, senior political science and Spanish double major, said she hopes the cultural partnering will serve beyond Greek life. “For me, the council is to be a resource for Latinx students, to be able to see us and reach out if they need help,” Teoyotl said. “Oftentimes, because of who you are as your identity, you’re like, ‘Wow, they can’t help me because they can’t relate.’” Teoyotl, chapter vice president of CUS, said the six-member council is finalizing a constitution for MGC. “I know it’s going to get bigger,” Teotyl said. “(We’re) making sure that everything we do is going to benefit whoever comes after us.” Teoyotl and Paramo said they hope the council serves the community and creates a space for Latinx students and everyone on App State’s campus. Anahí Peña-Neri, junior politi-
cal science major and MGC member, said she looks toward the bigger conversation and picture the council has to offer. “I also want to use this council as a voice for not only our organizations, but for people who might identify with however we identify, because people like us may not have a voice on this campus,” Peña-Neri said. “I want people to see that we are trying to do what’s best for people who are similar to us.” Antonio Austin, coordinator of fraternity and sorority life, guided CUS and LSU through the creation of the council. Austin said because he was affiliated with NPHC during his undergraduate years, he understands the strides CUS and LSU are making. “Any type of culturally-based organization on campus, they are very pivotal, especially within communities of color or communities that have
been historically marginalized,” Austin said. “When you’re at a (predominantly white institution,) everyone wants to have that safe space, a place where they can be themselves.” Austin said he looks forward to the social and educational events MGC will host and knows they will provide a safe space for minority students and first-generation students. “They are very motivated, they are very excited, and they are very tenacious when it comes to their experience and making sure that they establish this council,” Austin said. “They are small in number but very strong in their might.”
5
A&C
Sept. 13, 2019
Giving ‘handmade’ a voice:
Common Good Co. opens on King Street Camryn Collier | Reporter 685 W. King St. has housed the visions and dreams of many owners since its creation in the 1920s. The three-story building was a men’s warehouse, a dress shop and many other stores over nearly a century. Now, the building houses the visions and dreams of couple and App State alumni owners Jacob Daniels and Melina LaVecchia. Their new artisan store, Common Good Co., opened on Aug. 1. Walking in, customers are welcomed with black and white tiles, spelling out “Good Day” before being met with bright white walls, which house a collection of purposely chosen pieces of art, Daniels said. Common Good Co. has all types of art, including leather work, pottery, prints, paintings and jewelry.
“We’re giving handmade a voice; we’re giving it a platform. We’re trying to be conscious about how we curate visual products so we know exactly where it’s coming from,” LaVecchia said. Every art piece is local, student-made or a fair-traded creation and comes from around the United States and other countries, like Ghana and Germany, LaVecchia said. Forage Candle Co., a local family business that makes all-natural and cruelty-free vegan candles, sells at Common Good Co. The leftover wax is used as a lotion, employee Hannah Avery said. Daniels and LaVecchia are artists themselves. Daniels specializes in painting, and LaVecchia works on ceramic arts.
“We were always around the dinner table, and my mom was always curating a beautiful table setting,” LaVecchia said. “So, I concentrate on this heritage of homemaking and being able to share a beautiful piece of pottery with a beautiful meal.” With their shared love for the arts, Daniels and Lavecchia dreamed of a store for a long time, LaVecchia said. The couple has supported local artists since graduating from App State earlier this decade. Daniels and Lavecchia began their journey with Common Good Co. by creating a traveling marketplace for local artists called the Artisan Market Boone in 2014, LaVecchia said. The market occurred every couple of months for about six years,
but “the market life had its ups and downs,” and Daniels and Lavecchia wanted something more stable for themselves and the artists, LaVecchia said. The couple bought the store’s location to kick-start their dream, but the building needed restorations before it could be all they wanted, Daniels said. “If you can imagine, it was 100 years of people adding stuff, and more stuff, and more stuff,” Daniels said. “Our whole process was taking everything away and putting it back to the original walls and floors. There were four or five layers of flooring. It was definitely a labor of love.” Since opening Common Good Co. in early August, the store has had success with its “new perspective” of
art on King Street and welcomes both familiar and new faces, Avery said. Common Good Co. currently utilizes two of the three floors. The first floor is dedicated to retail, while the second floor houses a gallery of emerging artists and Daniels’ work. Daniels and Lavecchia plan to open the third floor in the winter or early next year to offer workshops, classes and a rentable space when it opens, LaVecchia said. The store goes through an application and curation process every other month to feature new art. The application is on their website.
(Left) Sarah Littauer checks out a customer at Common Good Co., the brand new brick & mortar on King Street. (Right) Opening in August, the establishment uses its three story building to interact, share and create art for the Boone community.
Aron Herba
6
A&C
Sept. 13, 2019
BOONE
PEOPLE OF
Quinn Fischer (they/them)
I have a story that I’ve been working on; I’m 100,000 words in. I come from a home (where) we weren’t good for each other for a long time. I lived with a lot of anger, and I had untreated depression and anxiety. But, I could write this fantasy book, and it’s like everything was cool there. Then, as I started to grow and learn a lot about racism and intersectionality, it helped me work through my own gender identity and through my own depression. Once I was in an environment where I wasn’t needing to cope, that’s when (my story) became a dark fantasy. A lot of bad things happen, but the message is still good, because I do think even though I have severe depression, there is hope for me at the end of the tunnel. I can live a happy life. Despite the fact that I have my own traumas, I’ll be OK. Everyone else will (be), too, and I want to tell them that. I take comfort in the fact that I am just one of almost eight billion people, and we all have such similar, pure wants and even though people can be ugly sometimes, they’re just so beautiful.
6
Hayes School of Music professor earns Quality Matters certification Marlen Cardenas | Reporter Students typically feel they have to have a lot of self discipline when taking classes online, but the same goes for the professors. “You have to be very self motivated, you have to be someone who can get yourself on a schedule and not be afraid to ask questions,” Hayes School of Music professor Reeves Shulstad said about online courses. Shulstad teaches a section of MUS 2023, Music and Gender, during the spring semester and a section during the summer sessions. Music and Gender is one of the first classes certified by App State’s Quality Matters. Quality Matters is an international, United States-based nonprofit organization, said Director of Learning Technology Services for the Center for Academic Excellence Tom Van Gilder. “It started as a federal improvement grant with Maryland Online, where a group of faculty and educators and administrators went together and just kind of had the belief of quality online education,” Van Gilder said. Van Gilder said Quality Matters is focused on professional development and setting quality online standards. “I knew what Quality Matters was, and I knew that I would have an opportunity to work with the learning technology people,” Shulstad said. “I wanted this team to have a whole, focused look on this class and put together particular things that had to do with accessibility and making sure that I had all my bases covered.” Professors interested in certifying their courses must complete an application that includes a letter of recommendation from their department chair. If chosen by the Center of Academic Excellence, professors work with a team from Learning Technology Services to improve their course. Afterward, it is sent to an off-campus group from Quality Matters to make sure it
Dr. Reeves Shulstad is a professor in the Hayes School of Music who teaches MUS 2023 Music and Gender. The course is one of the first classes certified by App State’s Quality Matters, a non-profit organization that focuses on professional development and standards in online education. Courtesy of Dr. Reeves Shulstad
meets the international standards. “A lot of faculty, probably over 100, are doing some different form of Quality Matters, workshops and other professional development opportunities,” Gilder said. “It’s taking it to the next level, going through these standards and saying, ‘Oh, this is really what I need to focus on.’” Gilder said the process is rigorous; about 80-100 hours of work are put into improving the courses, on top of their normal workload. “I found it a very rewarding experience,” Shulstad said. “I got good feedback from my colleagues on campus, and I got good feedback from the reviewers.” In addition to Shulstad’s course, five other courses were certified this spring, including Personal and Family Health, Nature of Autism, Integrating Literature and Media into Instruction, Mass Media and Society, and College Algebra with Applications. Gilder said the university is trying to certify six courses each semester. “This is the industry gold standard
for online education,” Gilder said. “This looks really good professionally, and it is recognizing to App State faculty and students that this is a stellar course by one of our stellar faculty members.” Shulstad has taught her course online since 2014, and it earned the Quality Matters certification this spring. “This class deals with music from an intersectional perspective thinking about not only gender, but race and class and ability and things like that,” Shulstad said. “We look at a variety of different topics through those lenses, and think about how the music reflects those different aspects.” Shulstad said her favorite part of teaching is getting to know the students
This looks really good professionally, and it is recognizing to App State faculty and students that this is a stellar course by one of our stellar faculty members... and gaining a deeper understanding of how they interpret music. “Dr. Shulstad was one of my favorite professors,” senior exercise science major Samantha Lew said. “I was really nervous about the class at first because I knew nothing about music. She definitely made it understandable, but also interesting because it was discussion-based.” Lew said she enjoyed the deeper relationships she formed with students in a way that doesn’t happen in most courses. “I feel like I closed a lot of loops with making the class accessible to a variety of learners,” Shulstad said. “I’m using open-access materials in the best way, in the spirit of the way they were intended to be used. It’s providing a model for how I want to teach all of my classes.”
7
A&C
Sept. 13, 2019
App State Hoop Troupe flows with all skill levels Noelle Charles | Reporter
The High Country Hoop Troupe provides an outlet for students of all skill levels to express themselves through the art of hula hooping. The club was formed in 2015. Becca Bridges
At App State, students express themselves through conventional recreational activities such as running and biking, as well as other more obscure activities, like as hula hooping. Formed in spring 2015, High Country Hoop Troupe welcomes flow artists of all skill levels. Flow art engages various movement-based practices using movement-based props. Hula hoops, staffs, and poi, which are strings with spherical objects on the ends, are rhythmic props club members use to express the “flow” of the movement. Senior psychology major and club member Maddie Rozics said flow arts are individualized and include “any movement, dance or tricks involving an item.”
The High Country Hoop Troupe is also involved with a community club called the Inspiral Fire Tribe, who performs at TApp Room on Tuesday nights with fire in its flow arts acts. Senior sustainable technology major Summer Gee is president of the High Country Hoop Troupe and heard about App State’s flow art community as a freshman. Gee said she has made many memories with the club, like “just being able to sit with my friends in a non-judgmental space, where there is a lot of big support and just beautiful people.” During meetings, members listen to music, enjoy each other’s company and learn new tricks. “We are about providing a space
to be open,” Gee said. Vice President Sarah Durst, a junior sustainable development major, said the practice is very relaxed. “Really, it’s about asking for help where you need it. Beginners are always welcome. So, even if you’ve never even picked up a hula hoop before, you’re welcome to come to the club,” Durst said. Gee encourages anyone curious about the High Country Hoop Troupe to get involved in flow art.
GET INVOLVED!
High Country Hoop Troupe meets every Sunday in Plemmons Student Union Room 137A from 8:30-10 p.m.
AppSpeaks hosts second Spoken Traditions event Ebony Foster | Reporter On Sept. 4, students, faculty and community members flowed into the Plemmons Student Union Solarium for AppSpeaks’ event, Appalachian Spoken Traditions. AppSpeaks is a student organization focused on promoting student voices on campus. The event began with sophomore electronic media and broadcasting major Michael Edgerton getting the audience comfortable by playing off the microphones’ technical difficulties and introducing the first speaker. Each speaker introduced themselves and bared their souls to the audience with written pieces. Senior English major Lauren Hempen read her poem on discovering love in the hills of Appalachia and her painful experiences of heartbreak. Edgerton followed, sharing a short story titled, “Blood Moon Blues.” Jay Butler, a graduate student, recited his picturesque character poem about an escape artist and briefly mentioned the importance of writing as an outlet. He described it
83
as not only a way of discovering, but also recovering. Similarly, Anna Muckenfuss, a junior journalism and electronic media and broadcasting double major, spoke about journalism as a form of storytelling by presenting a child’s tale of “The Three Little Pigs” and flipping it into article form — a skill that did not go unappreciated, given the chuckles and applause following her conclusion. She asked the audience to find the positives in the negative stories that may scare or anger them when they encounter news. Jay Phillips, a creative writing major, said, “Coming to App has changed the mindset that I enter when I start writing.” Phillips opened up about relating to the struggles of bipolar disorder and OCD before reading their poem and open letter. The evening concluded with author and keynote speaker Silas House’s speech about how his experiences throughout his life influenced his writing and how important the stories happening around him were.
“I began to write like my life depended on it. I haven’t really stopped,” House said. House held the audience’s attention by telling a brief tale of his youth in Appalachia and recounting his life experiences, and the influence those experiences had on his books.
I think these are fantastic spaces for students to express themselves express their work, to get ideas out... House wrote his first book, “Clay’s Quilt” in 1993, saw it published in the early 2000s, and watched it soar to the best-seller list.
House has spoken five times at App State. This was his first time as an AppSpeaks guest speaker. House met Matthew Richards, the faculty advisor and dialogue coordinator for AppSpeaks, at an Appalachian Studies conference about six months ago. Richards invited House to speak at the Appalachian Spoken Traditions event. This was the second year Appalachian Spoken Traditions was held, and Richards said he hopes to host it annually. Michael Corts, sophomore music education major, attended the event after recently discovering an interest in spoken word. “I didn’t know spoken word was a thing until I got here,” Corts said. “It’s awesome to hear so many different stories being told. There’s so much diversity up on that panel, too.” House said he “loved how unique each of (the student speakers) were, and how different they were. To be their age, to get up there (and) to seem so confident on stage is
impressive.” Richards said he encourages students to come out and not only enjoy the events AppSpeaks hosts, but to take a risk and become a part of them. “I think these are fantastic spaces for students to express themselves, express their work, to get ideas out,” Richards said. “I want students to use them. If other students have ideas for different events or different mediums, AppSpeaks is a group that is always trying to develop new events, new ideas, so there’s space for that, too.” Anna Muckenfuss is a member of The Appalachian Editorial Board.
INTERESTED?
Contact AppSpeaks at appspeaks@appstate.edu.
Sports
Sept. 13, 2019
Appalachian Roller Derby provides safe environment Silas Albright | Sports Editor For Rebecca Tobiassen, roller derby is worth all the bruises the physical nature of the game causes. “I would say it changed my life, really,” Tobiassen said. “I’m a mom of two, and so, it’s really great to have the team. You become friends with them, and it’s just a great release, all the physicality. I need it to help keep me sane.” Tobiassen is the Appalachian Roller Derby president and “fresh meat” training program coordinator. Appalachian Roller Derby is “an 18+ all-female, skater-run flat track roller derby league based in Boone,” according to its website. The team started in 2010 after an App State student made a post to Facebook about creating a team. Tobiassen, or “Bam Bam Becca” on the derby track, is starting her third season with the team and has become close with many of her teammates through all the work they put in together. “You work out with them outside of practice; you end up talking about your lives in general,” Tobiassen said. “The losing, and the winning, and just constantly practicing with them, and spending time with them. We all work at it together.” Junior biology major Shannon Pate, or “Strawberry Burn,” said how important the team is to her and what it adds to her life. “I’ve gained supportive friends that are there for whatever you need,” Pate said. “I’ve gained positive role models and sources of positive energy.” App State graduate Brianne Armstrong, or “Bullyt (sic) Bri,” has also formed close relationships with her roller derby teammates. “They’ve given me a second family that I know I can be around and not be judged,” Armstrong said. Appalachian Roller Derby isn’t associated with App
State, but the school does have a roller derby club and some students are members of both. ARD is split into two teams: the Appalachian Roller Derby is the “A” team and the ARD Booneshiners are the “B” team. The basic objective of the game is for the jammer to get through or lap the other team’s blockers to score a point. Both teams have five players on the rink at a time, usually four blockers and one jammer. The blockers often use physical force to try to prevent the jammers from scoring. Sometimes, the jammer will try to physically break past the blockers. Other times, the jammer will try to use speed and agility to get past the blockers and score a point. Both teams practice and play at the Youth Outreach Skating Rink in West Jefferson. On Aug. 17 in West Jefferson, the “A” team beat a Charlottesville, Virginia, team 178-166 and the Booneshiners beat a team from River City, Virginia. It was the last bout of the season for the ARD and the Booneshiners. “Sometimes you’re able to do it with sheer speed and talent just by kind of flying through around the outside,” Tobiassen said. “But, generally, it’s pretty physical.” Games consist of two 30-minute halves and an overtime period if the score is tied. “We are required to wear helmets, mouthguards, wrist guards, elbow pads, knee pads and then you can wear whatever equipment other places,” Tobiassen said. The ARD hosted its annual boot camp on Aug. 25 and is gearing up for its upcoming season. The schedule has not been released. “It’s a great sport; it gives you a great workout, and we try to be as welcoming and open to all different sorts of people. It’s just a great thing to do,” Tobiassen said.
The Appalachian Roller Derby team practices at the youth outreach center in West Jefferson. Roller derby consists of five players from each team on the rink at a time. The goal is to a jammer lap the blockers for a point. Connor Davidson
9
Sports
Sept. 13, 2019
Volleyball goes 2-4 in two invitationals to start season Dan Davidson | Reporter
Sophomore left side Victoria Wilform has 42 kills through the first six games. App State is 2-5 with wins over Samford and Wofford so far. Courtesy of App State Athletics
Out in Arizona, the App State volleyball team took part in the season-opening “Cactus Jack” tournament hosted by No. 24 Arizona, along with Loyola Marymount and Samford. The Mountaineers began the tournament against the Wildcats of Arizona, which lasted three sets, all won by the Wildcats. App State accumulated 23 errors to Arizona’s seven across all three sets. “We did not play well against Arizona at all,” head coach Matt Ginirpo told AppStateSports.com. “Whether it was the early morning, or just playing against a really tough (Pacific)-12 opponent, we didn’t play well at all.” Senior middle hitter Emma Longley had a game-high 13 kills, and junior middle blocker Kara Spicer was second on the team with six kills. Junior libero Emma Reilly had a game-high 20 digs and true freshman setter Sam Bickley accrued a game-high 25 assists in her first official collegiate match. The Wildcats finished opening day a perfect 2-0 but fell to Samford on the final day of the tournament. Later that day, App State defeated Samford in a fiveset thriller that ended with a 15-13 victory in the final set. Left side sophomore Victoria Wilform, Longley and Spicer tied for the team lead with 12 kills each. The 12 kills were four off from Wilform’s career-high. Bickley played another outstanding match, notching 39 assists. Reilly, once again, led the team in digs with 19. Samford lost to both App State and Loyola Marymount before defeating Arizona to finish 1-2 in the tournament. “I’m proud of the team for bouncing back against Samford and picking up that win, especially in five,” Ginipro told AppStateSports.com.
On the final day of the tournament, App State took on Loyola Marymount. The match lasted four sets, ending with a 3-1 defeat for the Mountaineers. Aside from the first set, the match was tightly contested with scores of 25-21, 25-22 and 25-21. Spicer had a game-high 16 kills, which tied the preseason All-West Coast Conference senior outside hitter Savannah Slattery of Loyola Marymount. Bickley only increased her numbers in the final match of the tournament, putting up another game-high in assists with 42. Loyola Marymount finished the tournament 2-1, only falling to No. 24 Arizona. “Going 1-2 at that tournament, with those opponents, I feel is a pretty good start to the season,” Ginipro told AppStateSports.com. After a six-day break, the Mountaineers traveled to Durham for the Duke Invitational on Sept. 6 and 7. They fell to UNCW 3-2 and swept Wofford 3-0 on the first day. On the second day, they fell to the Duke Blue Devils 3-0. Following the Duke Invitational, Longley has a teamhigh 71 kills, and Spicer is a close second with 70 kills. Spicer also leads the team with 19 blocks. Reilly recorded her 1,000th career dig in the 3-0 win over Wofford. Bickley has already set up her teammates often in her short career. Six games into her freshman season, she has a team-high 223 assists. She is also second on the team in blocks with ten. Through its first six games, App State volleyball is 2-4. The Mountaineers will face Power Five opponents Iowa State on Sept. 13 and NC State on Sept. 14 at the Appalachian Invitational.
men’s soccer enjoys early season success, sits at 4-1
Zack Antrum | Reporter
Despite its opening season loss, the App State men’s soccer team has gotten off to a hot start and is showing similar form to last season’s squad, which started off 4-1. After a 2-0 loss to St. Johns Aug. 30, the Mountaineers evened out their record with a 2-1 win against Loyola Marymount on Sept. 1, a 2-0 win against George Mason on Sept. 6 and continued the streak with a 1-0 win against American on Sept. 8. The win against Loyola Marymount was a special occasion, as two players scored their first career goals for the Mountaineers. Freshman forward Nick Rogers and sophomore Marshall transfer Kelan Swales both found the back of the net within two minutes of each other in the second half of the match and showed they could make an immediate impact with the squad. The matchup against George Mason was a stalemate in the first half, until junior defender Zeiko Harris broke the deadlock with a header, and forward Alex Hernandez
10
scored his first goal of the season two minutes later. “Alex put a great ball in, and I just attacked it,” Harris said. “We started off pretty rough (for the first) couple games and we’re just getting into it, but it’s important, as we get into conference play later in the year, just having the feeling of winning and continuing on.” Last season’s leading scorer sophomore Camden Holbrook scored late in the first half to earn his first goal of the season against American. It was also the second straight clean sheet for the Mountaineer defense and for redshirt freshman goalkeeper Jacob Madden. Head Coach Jason O’Keefe’s squad has shown it’s not only diverse off the field, but on the field, as well. The squad currently has five different goalscorers, four players have registered at least one assist and 23 different players have seen game time throughout the season. “We talk about it every day. It’s a ‘we’ mentality,” O’Keefe said. “If we share the ball, we’ll get what we want. Ultimately, we want to achieve things as a team, and I think
guys have checked all their egos at the door every day and play for the team.” The Mountaineers will play the last of five consecutive home games when they take on High Point, Sept. 14. They will follow up with back-to-back road games against Elon and UNC Greensboro.
Junior forward Juan Hernandez slides to save the ball from going out of bounds in corner field. Hernandez scored in the 2-0 victory over George Mason on Sept. 6. Megan McCulloh
Sports
Sept. 13, 2019
game day grades App State (2-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) vs. Charlotte (1-1, 0-0 C-USA)
Overall team grade: C The Mountaineers were able to get the job done and move to 2-0 with the win, but the game hinted that the App State defense might not be as good as fans have seen in recent years. However, it’s early, and it wouldn’t be shocking for the defense to work out the kinks and still have a strong 2019. The good news from the Charlotte game is that the offense looked unstoppable and found the end zone six times, with special teams accounting for two touchdowns. Darrynton Evans looked like the reigning Sun Belt offensive MVP he is. Expect Evans to continue his strong production, but the four touchdown, 234 rushing-yard performance he turned in is unsustainable and cannot be relied on to win every game. The Mountaineers have an off week before taking on the Tar Heels, giving them two weeks to correct their week two defensive struggles and get as many guys as healthy as possible.
To read the full grades go to www.theappalachianonline.com
Quarterbacks
Defensive line
Running backs
Defensive backs: D
B
A+
Wide receivers/tight ends
B+
Offensive line
B-
Lynette Files
D+ D
Linebackers: C
C
Special Teams: A
A
My last
word Brooks Maynard | Columnist
‘Defense wins championships’ is one of the oldest cliches, but it holds true in most cases, and is a tenet App State football has lived by in recent years. On Saturday, however, stopping the football was not high on the Mountaineers’ priority list. While it was a win, it did not go as planned. The 41 points App State allowed to the Charlotte 49ers were the most a team has scored on them since their road trip to Penn State at the beginning of 2018. Last season, the Mountaineers averaged 125.9 rushing yards allowed, but Charlotte lit them up for 230. The performance even drove alumni and fans to Twitter, writing this was the worst App State defense they’ve seen in recent years. What makes all of this significant is the game looming on the horizon. The road trip to face the Tar Heels is one App State fans have looked forward to for years. The Mountaineers have had difficulty against Power Five opponents in the last few seasons, and to get a home-state win would be huge. But, the defensive performance against Charlotte simply will not get it done. While most have expected the Tar Heels to have an off year, they still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves. They’ve got a legend and national champion as head coach Mack Brown; a freshman stud in Sam Howell at quarterback; and their first 2-0 start to a season since 1978. North Carolina has now scored over 20 points against two Power Five teams, including another future App State opponent, South Carolina. I still firmly believe the Mountaineers have the talent on both sides of the ball to defeat the Tar Heels and do it in style. But, Ted Roof and company have some wrinkles to iron out this bye week if they want a chance to come away with a victory.
11
Opinion
Sept. 13, 2019
The
Tea
A C- isn’t good enough, North Carolina Tommy Mozier | Opinion Editor For many of us, growing up, a C- grade in a class might have meant a oneon-one teacher meeting, parents restricting privileges until the grade went up, or taking it upon yourself to put in the extra work to improve. For many public school students in North Carolina, a C- doesn’t cut it anymore because our government has already put us at an inherent disadvantage. Education Week, a non profit publication focusing on K-12 education, gave North Carolina’s education system a C- grade for 2019 in their annual Quality Counts, a comprehensive data-driven analysis of every state’s public education system. Our state’s system currently stands 37th out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The grade is low largely because the state received an “F” in per-student spending, which is 48th in the nation. On the bright side, North Carolina received a “B+” in equity, so we can be assured the government is spending equally insuffiecent amounts on each student. This is unacceptable. Education is the key to success in life and the basis of a strong economy. How many people raised here are left out of shared economic gains because the state provided a below-average education? The North Carolina General Assembly is deadlocked on the budget because Republicans no longer hold a veto-proof majority and Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed their first proposal. Cooper called for raising teacher pay to the “best in the Southeast” and to allocate $29 million for more learning materials for students. Cooper made education a focal point of the budget. Republicans would rather cut taxes on corporations. Republicans released a plan that would give teachers the opportunity to receive a raise, if they create a legislature-approved plan to help students improve in the classroom. Essentially, Republicans are leveraging under-paid teachers to do the legislature’s job for them. The majority of education funding comes from the state government. Although the budget deadlock is primarily over Medicaid expansion, Cooper needs to also put his foot down over education spending. Many parents don’t accept a C- grade as satisfactory. We must hold our government to a higher standard than our parents hold us. We are paying their them, after all.
12
Report Card Student Name:
North Carolina
Subject
Grade
OVERALL GRADE:
C-
CHANCE FOR SUCCESS*:
C+
K-12 ACHIEVEMENT:
C-
SCHOOL FINANCE:
D
EQUITY:
B+
PER-STUDENT SPENDING:
F
Notes *Education Week ’s “Chance-for-Success” index uses 13 factors in three categories: upbringing, school years and adult outcomes, to measure how much education helped a student succeed in life.
Source: Education Week Quality Counts 2019
Opinion
Sept. 13, 2019
Focusing on social justice
hurts individual justice Connor Hughes | Opinion Writer Many people, be it in person or on LinkedIn, like to describe themselves as “social justice advocates” because it sounds good to stand up for something bigger than themselves. App State demonstrates a dedication to the concept of social justice. The University Sustainability Office has an entire web page dedicated to social justice, as does University Housing. Housing goes a step further with the social justice advocate position on hall councils. The phrase “social justice” sounds inherently wonderful, but what does it mean? Casually, some refer to social justice as a way to remedy wrongs committed against marginalized groups, using equitable policies to achieve equality, such as reparations for slavery. Is there something wrong with wanting justice, particularly on a large scale? Social justice operates under the best intentions but relies on flawed logical and philosophical arguments that conflict with the most core principles of our country. In particular, the group-oriented nature of social justice is where the concept falls apart; justice cannot be generalized at the group level, as justice is tied to the notion of individualism. For example, when asked to define justice, many people say justice is about getting what you deserve — emphasis on the “you.” Historical injustices vary greatly within oppressed groups. For example, if someone’s ancestors were marginalized in 1619, looking at the numbers, the injustices they have faced are different than someone whose family was marginalized in 1719. Additionally, differences exist between forms of marginalization within groups. For example, during the Jim Crow era, black people faced different levels of oppression based on their surroundings. Consider how different Alabama was from Maryland in the 1960s. Attempts to say all members of marginalized communities have the same experiences ignores the reality that individuals, by definition, have unique points of view. Oversimplification does not speak to every individual’s treatment within that group. In many cases, it is possible their treatment could be worse than the average group member’s. Let’s take the concept of social justice a step further. If groups, collectively, are understood to deserve retribu-
tion for past harm, then the opposite must be true, as some groups must be held collectively accountable. Consider the following example: say my great-great-grandfather murdered someone else’s great-great-grandfather. The impact of losing a relative can be devastating and deeply consequential — this is undeniable. What if, flying back to the present, a portion of my paycheck went to the descendants of the victim; would you consider that to be truly just? After all, a group I am part of, my family, is responsible for a grave atrocity with generational effects. As it is unfair for a victim’s family to suffer, it is equally unfair to hold people accountable for actions they did not commit. The basic tenets of our nation are clear: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Are individuals truly free when their ancestor’s past actions constrain their current or future opportunities? Similarly, people from marginalized groups may also experience limits based their ancestors identities, which is also a grave injustice, as the effects reverberate today. However, the solutions lie in individual justice, not out-of-date applications of injustice against innocent individuals. The classic eye-for-an-eye approach to social justice is also irrational. The only way to make up for an act would be the act itself. Do we want a society that swaps historical injustices? Historic injustices are unique because they are impossible to define in monetary terms. What is the price tag of marginalization and mistreatment on the mind? It is literally priceless — no attempt at compensation will ever fully equate the horrors committed. Individual justice is a worthy cause to pursue. It is the beating heart of our country, and any injustice committed is an abomination that needs to be fixed. Group justice, however, is something different. A backward concept that relies on radical oversimplification to hold individuals accountable for acts they did not commit. It changes the direction of the country from looking forward to gazing at the horrors of the past that no one wishes to relive.
Super-Hurricanes: a consequence of
Climate Change Keith Rudd | Opinion Writer
It’s back-to-school season and along with first day pictures, Facebook feeds across the southeast were filled with something else: the weather. Over the last week, we’ve watched as Hurricane Dorian made its way up the East Coast after making its initial landfall in the Bahamas on Sept. 1. For the last several years, it’s felt like we always get hit with at least one major hurricane as we settle into a new school year. This year, it was Dorian. Last year it was Florence. Irma the year before that. It wasn’t always like this. There have been 32 Category 5 hurricanes in the Atlantic since the first recorded one in 1924. Of those 32 hurricanes to reach Category 5, 13 have occurred since 2000. Hurricanes pick up pace and power as they form, with the warm air from tropical waters near the equator fueling the storm. As warm air rises from the ocean’s surface, cold air comes replaces it. That cold air warms and rises, and the cycle continues as clouds condense to form the shape now synonymous with the hurricanes we see each fall on The Weather Channel. Because these storms rely on the warm water of the tropics, it’s no surprise that one of the chief contributors to the uptick in major hurricanes is climate change. From the Environmental Protection Agency to the National Weather Service, to NASA: rising temperatures across the globe increase the ocean temperatures, making it ideal for a hurricane to form. The severity of hurricanes is not just impacted by the rising global temperatures, but also decreases in particulate sulfates, which act as the ocean’s sunscreen. More sunlight reaches the ocean, warming up small pockets of water. Humans warm the planet too, as increases in particulate pollution from our cars, houses and factories thicken the ozone layer, warming the oceans as the sun’s warmth can’t escape. It’s really easy to sit at our computer reading articles about houses being destroyed in The Bahamas or parts of Puerto Rico living without power for months on end, but we need to realize some of our responsibility in this. Hurricanes are going to happen, but maybe if we turned our lights off when we leave the room, or walked to class next time it was sunny instead of driving, it would have even a small impact. It may not prevent the next Category 5 hurricane, but it’s a start.
13
Et Cetera
Sept. 13, 2019
The Dinlgeberry Bush
Sorry, I can’t go out, I’m crazy busy
.... Front page caption Provost Darrell Kruger shares his report with Faculty Senate at their first meeting of the school year. The report included updates on faulty salary increases and new recruitment strategies to be used to attract a more diverse body of faculty.
Hayley Canal
EDITORIAL RACHEL GREENLAND
EFRAIN ARIAS-MEDINA JR.
HARLEY NEFE
GRAPHICS EDITOR
JACKIE PARK NEWS EDITOR
CHRISTINA BEALS A&E EDITOR
SILAS ALBRIGHT SPORTS EDITOR
EDITOR IN CHIEF
IRA DAVID LEVY ADVISER
PHOTO EDITOR
MANAGING EDITOR
CHIEF COPY EDITOR
MOSS BRENNAN
BRENDAN HOEKSTRA
TOMMY MOZIER OPINION EDITOR
MULTIMEDIA
MICKEY HUTCHINGS VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR
ANNA MUCKENFUSS VIDEO EDITOR
SADIE MADDOCK NEWS PRODUCER
BUSINESS STEVEN CAUGHRAN BUSINESS MANAGER
SHELLY BANZ
ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER
MELISSA ALSUP MARKETING DIRECTOR
App News
Sept. 13, 2019
Paid Advertisement
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.
WEB MANAGER WANTED!
Heather booth: “Changing the World”
design the Appalachian
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.
A screening of “Changing the World” will take place on Sept. 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. as part of the University Forum Lecture Series. A Q&A with leading political strategist on progressive issues and electoral campaigns Heather Booth will take place after the show.
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, Sept. 13
Saturday, Sept. 14
Sunday, Sept. 15
Monday, Sept. 16
Volleyball vs. Iowa State 6:30-8:30 p.m. Holmes Convocation Center
Bass Day Recital 5-6 p.m. Rosen Concert Hall
Applications open for Study Abroad Spring 2019
Jon Beebe/Faculty Bassoon Recital 8-9:30 p.m. Rosen Concert Hall
Women’s Soccer vs. Florida International University 7-9 p.m. Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex
Volleyball vs. NC State 6:30-8:30 p.m. Holmes Convocation Center Men’s Soccer vs. High Point 7-9 p.m. Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Thursday, Sept. 19
Volunteer with the Children’s Playhouse 10 a.m to 5 p.m. The Children’s Playhouse
Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy” visits App State 7-8 p.m. Holmes Convocation Center
Volunteer with the Children’s Playhouse 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Children’s Playhouse
Joby Bell/Faculty Organ Recital 8-9:30 p.m. Rosen Concert Hall
Heather Booth and Film “Changing the World” 6:30-10 p.m. Plemmons Student Union Room 201B
BE ON THE FIELD
WRITE FOR THE APPALACHIAN SPORTS SECTION PSU 217 AT 7 P.M. EVERY THURSDAY AND SUNDAY
PHOTO: HAYLEY CANAL