The Appalachian 11.14.13
Appalachian State University’s student news source since 1934
Voter turnout fails to turn up Brantz, Peña get four years on town council; Boone shows low voter turnout by Chelsey Fisher Senior News Reporter
T
he Board of Elections finished counting the provisional votes cast during the municipal election held Nov. 5, but the numbers did not change any winners, said Jane Hodges, director of the Watauga County Board of Elections. Of the 117 provisional ballots cast, 94 votes were accepted by the Board of Elections, Hodges said. The percentage of provisional ballots accepted is typical for a municipal election, she said. The added provisional ballots did not change who won any elections, but changed which Boone Town Council candidate won the highest number of votes, according to the State Board of Elections. Before the provisional ballots were added, Rennie Brantz had the most votes for Boone Town Council,
with 1,127 votes, and Jennifer Pena was in second with 1,126 votes. After the provisional ballots, Peña received the most votes with 1,202 and Brantz came in second with 1,191, according to the State Board of Elections. Both Peña and Brantz will have four-year terms. These votes bring the voter turnout for Boone to 11.7 percent. Boone Mayor-Elect and current Town Councilman Andy Ball said he is disappointed with the low voter turnout every year during the municipal elections. “I think what happens at the local level, with town council or the county commission, affects people directly,” he said. “From the quality of your roads, your sidewalks, fire and police protection, public safety – all these things are critical to your quality of life and how you live, work or study somewhere.”
News Reporter
by Nicole Bellamy Intern News Reporter
Ashley Spencer | The Appalachian
by Carl Blankenship Intern News Reporter
SEE PANEL PAGE 2
Molly Cogburn | The Appalachian
Professor in the Department of Computer Science Rahman Tashakkori spoke Tuesday night at a panel discussion based on the book ‘The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam’ by F. E. Peters. Appalachian faculty briefly spoke about their experience with three monotheistic religions and took questions from the audience.
Mountaineer competes in NC pageant by Natasha Bostok Intern News Reporter
Allie Dunn | Photo Courtesy
Freshman hospitality and tourism management major Allie Dunn finished fourth runner-up in the 2014 Miss North Carolina USA pageant on Nov. 9 in High Point. This is Dunn’s second year competing in pageants. She was first runner-up at the North Carolina Teen pageant and went on to win the title of Miss Stallings USA, which allowed her to advance to the Miss North Carolina USA Pageant. “I decided to go into pageants because it was something I was always interested in,” Dunn said. “Competing has opened so many doors – I now have a modeling career. It goes be-
A&E
Campus groups put on events to support hunger, poverty awareness by Gerrit Van Genderen
Panel discusses religion during Let’s Talk About It series Approximately 100 students and faculty attended a panel discussion of the book “The Children of Abraham” Tuesday night in Belk Library. The talk was part of the Let’s Talk About It program series hosted by the library and the Muslim Student Association. The talk featured three Appalachian State University professors: Maria Lichtmann and Alan Hauser from the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and Rahman Tashakkori from the Department of Computer Science. The professors gave introductory statements about their backgrounds in regards to Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and then proceeded to pose several discussion-leading statements about the book before taking questions from the
Vol. 88, No. 21
yond just the title, and it is so much fun.” Dunn’s sponsors include Jim and Barbara Little, Curt and Fran Robertson, Karen Ford, Benita May, Dentistry at Rea Village, Electrical Construction & Design Inc., Griffin Masonry, East Coast Entertainment and The Cheeky Bean. The sponsorship money covered the $1,200 entry fee, wardrobe, spotlight page and any extra costs associated with the pageant, Dunn said. A spotlight page is a page in the program book that contestants pay to have more photos in, giving the judges a better view by providing a variety of pictures, she said. Dunn said she began preparing for the pageant eight
SPORTS
months ago. She completed daily workouts, practiced walking in heels, found her wardrobe and flew to New York City for photo shoots. Dunn said her Alpha Delta Pi sisters encouraged and supported her throughout the entire process. “A group of girls and I got together each night of the pageant to support her through live streaming, best wishes, tweets, text messages and prayer,” Sarah Gulledge, Dunn’s sister in Alpha Delta Pi, said. Dunn said she encourages fellow students to go after what they are passionate about. “If it’s something you want to do, you will regret it more if you don’t go after it,” Dunn said.
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, a campuswide attempt to make people aware of national poverty, hunger and homelessness, will begin Saturday, according to act.appstate.edu. Multiple campus organizations have set up events throughout the week. The Black Student Association is partnering with Western Youth Network and Hospitality House to provide an opportunity for campus organizations and individuals to select one of 15 anonymous local families to send items that meet their personal needs, Aisha Cotton, BSA Public Outreach chairman, said. This is the second year that the association has hosted an Adopt-A-Family event. Cotton said the anonymous families provide the Black Student Association with a list of clothing sizes, interests and hobbies that will help registered organizations or individuals pick out items to package and return to the BSA. “As it gets closer to the holidays, people tend to have a heart of giving,” Cotton said. “We want to provide an opportunity for people to give back and dedicate support to the community.” Package drop-off is Nov. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. in the BSA office, Room 215 of Plemmons Student Union. Registration for the event is open until Friday and forms are available at contact tables in the Solarium foyer. Appalachian State University’s Amnesty International chapter will host three events for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, to help shed light on poverty on a national and local level. Amnesty International works to protect human rights worldwide with approximately 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers, according to amnestyusa.org. Amanda Moore, senior global studies and public relations major, started the Appalachian chapter in April 2012. The three events Amnesty International will host include two film screenings, “Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County,” at 6 p.m. on Monday in Room 114 of Anne Belk Library and “From Place to Place” documentary screening at 6 p.m. on Nov. SEE HUNGER PAGE 3
ON THE WEB Follow our blogs at TheAppalachianOnline.com/blogs. Health & Nutrition
Is Lady Gaga's latest album 'ARTPOP' an art flop? Read what our music critic had to say about the hit maker's latest effort.
The Appalachian State football team traveled to Athens, Ga. for an SEC battle against Georgia. The Mountaineers lost 45-6.
SEE LADY GAGA PAGE 4
SEE GAME DAY PAGE 8
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NEWS
Thursday, November 14, 2013
The Appalachian wants videographers
The Appalachian is currently looking for videographers. Work for your student-run newspaper and gain valuable camera and editing experience while producing videos that get seen by the community. No equipment necessary, some experience preferred. Contact Video Editor Jackson Helms at helmsjl@ appstate.edu for more information.
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PANEL
FROM PAGE 1
audience. The discussion primarily focused on the acceptance and understanding of similarities between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Tashakkori emphasized that many of the problems that arise between religions are the result of misinformation and misinterpretation. “Many things are translated between languages very differently,” Tashakkori said. Lichtmann said she was surprised by the turnout to the discussion. “I’m really impressed and very gratified that people were interested enough to come and hear about these three religions together,” Lichtmann said. “There’s that much interest in learning about each other.” She said there needs to be more face-to-face
168 Boone Heights Dr. Boone, NC Issued 11-14| Expires 11-21
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Molly Cogburn | The Appalachian
Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion Alan J. Hauser speaks at a panel discussion based on the book ‘The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam’ by F. E. Peters on Tuesday.
encounters between religions. “We sat at a table with a Muslim and we heard about what it means to be in dialogue with Muslims and I think we need a lot more of it,” Lichtmann said. “So the more opportunities we
can have like this the better.” Allan Scherlen, a librarian at Belk Library, organized the event. Scherlen said that the talk exemplified what the Let’s Talk About It series tries to do. “They talked about
building compassion and understanding other religions, and this whole series is for that purpose, so students can learn about other religions than their own as we become a much more global community,” Scherlen said.
CORRECTION: An article in the Tuesday, Nov. 12 issue of The Appalachian titled “Appalachian alumna wins Broadcasting Personality of the Year at CMA Awards” incorrectly labeled the radio station as 97.5 WQDR-FM when it is actually 94.7 WQDR-FM. The Appalachian apologizes for the error.
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NEWS
Thursday, November 14, 2013
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The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
REI invites guest speaker from local organization to Fall Forum in this room excited about energy efficiency and about conserving energy,” McIlmoil said. He said there is a difference between energy efficiency and energy conservation and encouraged students to partake in both practices. “Energy efficiency is, for example, taking an incandescent light bulb and replacing it with an LED light bulb in your home or dorm,” McIlmoil said. “Energy conservation is turning your light off, turning the heat down or turning it off when you’re not in the room.” McIlmoil said his goal was to encourage students to join and support REI. “It’s amazing to see the progress REI has made and they really need your support as they move forward to make ASU a more sustainable campus,” McIlmoil said. Croft said the group chose McIlmoil to speak because he has a wide variety of strengths and is a great teacher and activist who can set an example for students. “REI really wanted to find someone that understands economic development and environmental impacts and also someone that really captures our mission and has a professional back-
by Nicole Caporaso Intern News Reporter
Appalachian State University’s Renewable Energy Initiative held its Fall Forum on Monday night in the Solarium to discuss what students can do to become more energy efficient. Rory McIlmoil, the Energy Policy director for Appalachian Voices and guest speaker at the event, spoke to the approximately 100 students who attended. Appalachian Voices is an awardwinning, environmental nonprofit agency based in Boone that is dedicated to advancing a cleaner energy future. “[McIlmoil] is known for his work in energy policy and as an energy economic analyst for Appalachian Voices,” said Zoe Croft, the public relations officer of REI. “He has traveled around the southeast working to help promote alternative and sustainable economic development in Appalachia through policy and research.” McIlmoil said his message to students is that there are things students can be doing as individuals to reduce the energy they are using. “My No. 1 goal is to get everybody
HUNGER
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2013
NOVEMBER
22 in the Three Top Mountain room of the student union. “Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County,” will explore the world of children who reside in discounted motels within walking distance of Disneyland, living in limbo as their families struggle to survive in one of the wealthiest regions of America, Moore said. “From Place to Place,” is a documentary that tells the story of the “invisible children” who grow up in America’s foster care system, Moore said. The third event is a seminarstyle discussion, titled “Given the Benefit of the Doubt: Dissecting Privilege and Oppres-
sion,” at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Room 114 of Anne Belk Library. Cameron Lippard, professor in the Department of Sociology, will run the discussion. Moore said Lippard will explore the notions of privilege and oppression through various social identities, including race, social class, gender, sexuality and being able-bodied. “I hope attendees will get a sense of the power of privilege and how it shapes the discussions of homelessness, hunger and poverty,” Lippard said. “While I think folks understand in some ways that they are better off than others, they don’t necessarily understand how they got these privileges. I want folks to see their privilege but to also understand
sunday
Nicole Debartolo | The Appalachian
Rory McIlmoil, energy policy director for Appalachian Voices, gives a speech about renewable energy for the Renewable Energy Initiative’s Fall Forum. The forum was held in the Solarium in Plemmons Student Union on Monday.
ground,” Croft said. REI is a student organization that is run and funded by students. Each Appalachian student pays $10 per academic year in tuition and fees to
that context can contort or even erase privilege and push them toward the other side of privilege – discrimination.” All three events are free and open to the public. Moore said she hopes the events will spread awareness and encourage individuals to become involved and engaged in some form of helping address poverty and homelessness. “It might seem small, but every little action helps,” Moore said. “We want to show that poverty is not just something that happens in Africa or Southeast Asia, but it is here at home and you can do something about it now.” Appalachian’s Student Government Association will also participate in the week of awareness. SGA has planned two events, a Food Initiative
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fund the REI program. This funding has allowed the school’s program to be an example to other colleges and organizations around the nation, said Josh Brooks, chair of REI.
Forum that will be held Sunday and an Oxfam Hunger Banquet on Monday. SGA Senator John Queen worked to organize the Food Initiative Forum, which will include two speakers – Queen and Jim Atkinson, head of Watauga County Social Services. Queen said Atkinson will speak on poverty and hunger in Watauga. Queen will speak on the Food Initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to establish permanent food receptors on campus to create an ongoing food drive, Queen said. The food will be donated to local food banks. “Our hope with this first part is that it will one day become an Appalachian food bank,” Queen said. The initiative will also real-
thursday
locate $20 of the $2,940 that students pay in student fees toward a “Food Initiative Fee” to be used by the university to purchase food and vaccines for local food banks, Queen said. The reallocation would amount to $340,000 annually to be given to food banks, Queen said. He said the forum is part of the process of implementing the initiative because in order for SGA to pass a bill calling for a referendum, for students to vote on the initiative there must be an indication that students are interested in the initiative. “We feel that the Food Initiative lines up perfectly with the academic and social responsibilities and goals of Appalachian State,” Queen said.
friday
14 Make Your Own Totebag, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., PSU, free “The Other Son” screening and discussion, 5 p.m., Greenbriar Theater, free
saturday 15
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“Kick-Ass “Kick-Ass 2” screening, 7 and 9:30 2” screening, 7 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 “GoodFellas” Mipso concert, 9 screening, 7 p.m., Greenbriar Theater, p.m., Legends, $4 advance, $6 door $1 Savion Glover’s “STePz,” 8 p.m., Schaefer Center, tickets $10-$20
“Kick-Ass 2” screening, 7 and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 Parrot Head Beach Party, 9 p.m., Legends, $4 advance, $6 door
monday 17
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Food Initiative Forum Opportunity, 6:30 p.m., Blue Ridge Ballroom, PSU
Oxfam Hunger Banquet, 6:30 p.m., Parkway Ballroom, PSU
Roundtable Discussion Series - Economics in Brazil, 4:30 p.m., New River Room, PSU
Given the Benefit of the Doubt: Dissecting Privilege and Oppression Seminar, 6 p.m., room 114, Belk Library
“Homeless: The Holocaust Film Kids of Orange Series: “Schindler’s County” documenList” screening & tary screening and discussion, 2 p.m., panel discussion, 6 Greenbriar Cinema, p.m., room 114, Belk PSU, free Library
“Sultana’s Dream: Feminist Consciousness Through Kwanzaa Celebraa Bengali Muslim tion, 6 p.m., ParkLens,” 5 p.m., room way Ballroom, PSU 114, Belk Library Appalachian Food “Tapped- A Docu- Services ThanksAcappellageddon, The Tibet Quesmentary on the tion discussion, 7 p.m., Legends, giving Meal, 10:30 $3-$7 4:30 p.m., New River Issue of Bottled a.m.-2:30 p.m., ASU Water in America,” Room, PSU dining halls 7 p.m., room 114, Concerto-Aria Belk Library Recital Competi- “Paragraph 175” Teddy Kumpel tion, 8 p.m., Rosen and LGBT ExperiLoopestra/Guest Brass Choir, 8 p.m., Guitar Recital, 6 Concert Hall, free ence in the HoloRosen Concert Hall p.m., Recital Hall caust, 6:30 p.m., Belk Library
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21 Roundtable Discussion Series: Your Black Experience with Prof. Raymond Christian, 4:30 p.m., Linville Gorge, PSU Film screening of Hannah Arendt In Celebration of World Philosophy Day, 7 p.m., room 114, Belk Library Fall Appalachian Dance Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Schaefer Center, $8-$15
The Hunger Games canned food drive, 5 p.m., Duck Pond Field, Stadium Drive “From Place to Place: Changing the System That Raised Them” documentary screening, 6 p.m, Three Top Mountain, PSU Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, 9 p.m., Legends, $7 advance, $10 door “World’s End” screening, 7 and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1
23 Football: ASU vs Western Carolina, 3:30 p.m. kick-off, Kidd Brewer Stadium, tickets required “World’s End” screening, 7 and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1
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A&E
Thursday, November 14, 2013
The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
Campus
Jazz guitar professor shines on stage and in the classroom
by Meredith Warfield Intern A&E Reporter
A
fter traveling parts of the world, performing on cruise ships and journeying across the United States with a theater tour, the mountains drew Andy Page back to the High Country. Page, an active local musician and a father of two, is a jazz guitar professor in the Hayes School of Music. “Boone is a small town, but for the size of the town, it’s got a lot going on,” Page said. “And the university brings in people that are my heroes, like Derek Trucks.” Page earned a degree in music performance at UNC Wilmington and a master’s degree at University of Tennessee in the jazz studies program. Page said his main goal was to continue improving as a musician. Page has made himself a well-known member of the Boone community and the Appalachian family by playing jazz several times a week in local res-
taurants and teaching at the university. He is also part of a band called Bafoodus, who played their seventh annual Halloween show at Boone Saloon last month. Bafoodus plays an eccentric mix of spontaneous funk, pop and a little bit of jazz with influence from artists such as Stevie Wonder and The Police, according to its website. Page also writes his own songs for Bafoodus. “My lyrics are really twisted,” he said. “I grew up reading a lot of horror novels.” The band’s songs are often times embedded with darker meaning but presented in a silly, “tongue-in-cheek” kind of tone, Page said. Being a musician and a professor is a big commitment, Page explained. When he’s not spending time with his wife and two children, he’s out supporting other bands or playing his own gig. “It takes a lot of sacrifice,” he said. Bafoodus has played at Legends with acts including Victor Wooten and
The Movement. Their next show is with The Broadcast at Boone Saloon in early December. Page regularly showcases his flair for jazz at Joy Bistro, Casa Rustica and Blowing Rock’s Canyons. He frequently plays alongside Todd Wright, a fellow professor and skilled saxophonist in the Hayes School of Music. The two have been playing together on a weekly basis for approximately 15 years. Page makes appearances on campus often, including a past performance with guitarist James Schaller at Crossroads Coffee House in Plemmons Student Union that will consist of swing guitar and gypsystyle acoustic melodies. Page said his position at Appalachian allows him to share and grow his love for music. “When I’m teaching my guitar lessons, I get better, too,” he said. “It’s a mutual learning environment.” Andy guides his students to be whatever kind of musicians they want to
Andy Page | Photo Courtsey
Andy Page (left) performed with guitarist James Schaller (right) at Crossroads Coffee House in Plemmons Student Union on Monday night.
be. He puts priority into each individual’s musical interests and incorporates respective elements into all of his lessons, said junior music industry studies major Westin Gillis. “He’s a forgiving professor, but at the same
time he’s rigorous,” Gillis said. “He’s made me more well-rounded. I can play a lot of styles now.” Page said he takes pride in seeing his students improve and succeed. Many of his students say they enjoy being able
to see their professor play live, demonstrating the technique and dedication he teaches. “He tells us that if we have an opportunity, then we’ve got to go out and get it,” said freshman music industry studies major Matt Letchworth.
Review
Lady Gaga calls her album ‘ARTPOP,’ but she is good at neither There was a time when Lady Gaga didn’t take herself so seriously. Mostly on “The Fame,” but also on choice tracks from “The Fame Monster,” the eccentric star sounded like she was enjoying herself even while her songs were obvious pop trifles. Say what you will about her lyrics about disco sticks and “bluffin muffins,” but Lady Gaga circa 2008 could lay down a good hook and ignite a dance floor. Unfortunately, her obsession with shock value and need for worship from her cult-like fan base took its toll. By the time of 2011’s preposterous “Born This Way,” Gaga had become a massively self-indulgent poseur who believed her own ridiculousness.
Ripping shamelessly off Madonna and the worst kind of arena rock, Gaga made a tragically hour-long opus that undercut her message of selfacceptance with a completely contrived presentation. Gaga has receded from the spotlight since “Born This Way.” By titling her first album in two years “ARTPOP,” she clearly wants to reclaim her old notoriety. Although the brash, almost offensive pose of “Born This Way” is less present here, “ARTPOP” still suffers from self-seriousness. An attempt to craft a definitive marriage of dance-pop fodder and heady conceptualism is bound to fail at least partially, especially when the content of the songs themselves fail to live up to any ideal of both “art” or “pop.”
Lady Gaga ‘ARTPOP’
Aesthetically, “ARTPOP” does work. The production is crystal clear, maximalist, arpeggiated and hyper-compressed. Gaga’s vocal performances resemble the sleazy crooner on collaborations like “Telephone” and Kendrick
Lamar’s “B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe” than the false prophet of “Born This Way” or “Edge of Glory.” Some of the songs on the back half of the album hit on a colorful, effervescent vibe – notably the title track, “Mary Jane Holland,” and closer and lead single “Applause.” On its best tracks, the album is overstuffed in a playful way, with dozens of small elements colliding energetically. That said, the first half of the album is a depressing slog. Songs like “Venus,” “G.U.Y.,” and “Sexxx Dreams” are all hollow gimmicks that sound even more contrived than the radio-bating singles on “Born This Way.” There’s also a noticeable lack of memorable hooks, as in the meandering opener “Aura” and the rap-by-the-
numbers “Jewels ‘N Drugs.” More often than not, these songs sound forced and formulaic. The music’s sense of importance – the distinction of being capital-A “Art,” if you will – feels artificial instead of organic. There are brief glimpses of the Lady Gaga that once used her classical music background to write strange, silly pop tunes on a piano very quickly. Perhaps one day this spontaneity will come back to pop music’s old queen of provocation. For now, though, “ARTPOP” is an indistinct, badly paced trek through the mind of an artist who no longer knows what to do with her own ego.
– Colin Moore, Senior A&E Reporter
On Stage
Active Minds hopes to raise mental health awareness through artwork by Casey Suglia Intern A&E Reporter
Active Minds will host an Expression Night on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Whitewater Room of Plemmons Student Union. The event aims to bring awareness to mental illness, showing how it affects people and how those individuals cope using art. Artwork will be on display throughout the night, along with music and writings created by students. A capella group Enharmonix will also perform. Juniors Sara Lackey and Shannon Wright, co-found-
ers and presidents of Active Minds, wanted to raise awareness about mental health and mental health issues, as well as the stigma surrounding them. “We both had had experiences with knowing people with mental illness and we are both really passionate about it,” said Lackey, a junior political science major. “There were a lot of people passionate about it, but there was nothing like it on campus so we felt the need to put it there.” Active Minds is a nonprofit organization started by a student at the University of Pennsylvania in 2003. As the group
became larger, the demand for it on college campuses began to grow, chartering to more than 400 universities, with Appalachian State University being one of them. “Our purpose for the expression night is to just have one night where people can come out and learn about mental health and just to have a really fun night where people can come out and just show off their art in various forms,” said Wright, a junior psychology major. Both women hope the event will become an annual tradition that students will look forward to.
“I want them to take away that there are people here for them and there are ways that they can cope positively instead of negatively,” Wright said. “There are a lot of things you can do that aren’t the best for your mental health so this is the night that you can come out to see that there are a lot of positive ways to deal with it. Whether it be painting or drawing—whatever you choose to do that you can focus on and can help you in a positive way.” Both Lackey and Wright have experience dealing with mental health issues and family members and friends who
have suffered from mental illness. “I don’t think I would be able to get through some of the stuff I’ve had to get through without the drawings or paintings or writing that I’ve done,” Wright said. “It is very therapeutic. I just think art is really great for anyone trying to get through something.” In addition to the performers and displays, there is an open mic at the end for those who want to get up and share their story or writing pertaining to the stigma against mental health and illness. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.
Opinion Thursday, November 14, 2013
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Staff Opinion
Staff Opinion
Misplaced sustainability efforts should be canned Cory Spiers Opinion Editor
When it comes to helping the environment, I am generally a proponent of many different, even bold, ideas. I’ll recycle plastic, paper and glass products. I’ll even make an effort to turn off lights when I leave a room. But some things just go too far. The newly formed ASU Think Outside the Bottle Campaign is an initiative that aims to force our university to go free of bottled water, according to a Nov. 6 article in The Appalachian. The campaign was formed through the Sustainable Development Student Alliance, which allows students to initiate sustainability projects, according to the article.
Katelyn Mudgett, a sophomore sustainable development major, started the campaign Oct. 9. “I had already learned a great deal about how the bottles are harmful to the earth and had recently discovered that buying bottled water also supports the larger issue of global water privatization where water has become a commodity to be bought and sold,” Mudgett said in an interview with The Appalachian. I applaud the efforts of a fellow student. However, it seems sustainability efforts should be focused elsewhere. According to the article, Mudgett conducted research that found other public universities are also banning bottled water. That’s certainly a feel-good story, but such efforts likely won’t seriously dent the sales and production of large companies that sell plastic water
bottles. Will the efforts of some universities, including our own, be enough to significantly deflate the nationwide sale of brands like Dasani, Aquafina and Fiji? It seems to me that is highly unlikely. In fact, companies seem to be ultimately aware of the mark they are making on the environment. We should be picking our battles in a more effective manner. When it comes to an issue as large as bottled water, it’s best to let consumers make their own choices. Environmental responsibility has always been a matter of choice, and one that can be encouraged by offering consumers responsible options. Let students choose containers for their water. As college students, we are capable of understanding the implications of our actions. Efforts focused on pushes to reuse plastic bottles, or to
generally reduce the number that students use, would be very understandable. A complete ban could make students bitter toward the idea of plastic bottle use. This would be a big change for students to make all of a sudden. Easing students toward a complete elimination of plastic bottles would seem to be a logical step before a complete ban is put into place. Start first with efforts to reduce the total usage. I hope that the Sustainable Development Student Alliance allows for the creation of other student initiatives that can have various positive effects on our environment. However, a complete ban of water bottles does not seem feasible for our campus at this time. Spiers, a junior journalism major from Charlotte, is the opinion editor.
Editorial Cartoon
New recycling initiative is shining light on plastic bottles
Bridget Mundy | Photo Courtsey
Staff Opinion
Chancellor search committee should not be private Kevin Griffin Opinion Writer
The chancellor search committee voted to have a closed search for the university’s new chancellor Oct. 15, according to Appalachian State University News. This means that students and faculty will not know who the new chancellor is until that individual is chosen by the UNC system, the Watauga Democrat reports. Chairman Mike Steinback argues that closing the search is beneficial because the “confidential process is intended to improve the quality of the pool of potential candidates.” It should be noted that an
open search does not necessarily mean revealing all the candidates, but could be a way for the top three candidates whose names will be submitted to the system to meet with groups on campus. Finding the best possible candidate is important, but there is no reason to believe that this could not be achieved with an open search while also providing needed transparency. When the university last conducted a chancellor search a decade ago, an open process was allowed and things worked out. Paul Gates, a current faculty senate member who argued for an open search during the last chancellor hearings, said he believes that an open search is beneficial because it allows “the campus community, includ-
The Appalachian The Editorial Board
MICHAEL BRAGG
CORY SPIERS
JOSHUA FARMER
ANDREW CLAUSEN
ABBI PITTMAN
MALIK RAHILI
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Opinion Editor Sports Editor
Chief Copy Editor
Production & Design Editor
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JUSTIN PERRY
JACKSON HELMS Video Editor
ing Faculty Senate and Staff Senate, to meet with dozens of the people who could be chosen to lead.” “[Closing off the search] starts the new chancellor/administration off in a difficult spot in his or her relationship with the campus,” Gates said. The centrality of the chancellor role in university life demands that the final candidates be exposed to those working and learning at the university. It is hard to see, given the limited nature of what is being requested in the open search, that a confidentiality breach would affect potential chancellor candidates’ decisions to participate. This should not be much of a problem since all that is being proposed is that the final three candidates be known, not all who are considered.
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The Appalachian reserves the right to decline publication of any letter and to edit letters for the purpose of clarity and space.
Chris Thaxton, a member of the committee who voted for an open search, understands the merits of a closed search, but believes that an open search would serve “as a possible means for unifying the campus around a common, critical goal.” Above all else, this is what matters most: Creating unity at the campus and allowing the university to see who could potentially lead us in the near future and to do so in a way that will not risk ousting qualified candidates. Closing the search and preventing these individuals from interacting with the people and groups they each could potentially lead is a mistake by the committee. Griffin, a sophomore journalism major from Madison, is an opinion writer.
Our Mission The Appalachian, a student-run publication at Appalachian State University, strives to provide fair and accurate news for the campus community; to inform, entertain and create a forum for ideas; to provide an outlet for readers’ opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff and community interests; and to remain independent, exercise and ensure its First Amendment rights.
USA posters in schools sends a historical, not religious, message Elizabeth McMichael Opinion Writer
Every time we go to the store, pay for coffee or order a pizza with our friends, we use currency that clearly displays the motto “In God we Trust,” on our bills and coins. However, when this motto was recently printed on patriotic signs that were given out to local organizations this month by The American Legion Post 130, the Watauga County school system declined to place them in the schools because it was deemed inappropriate by the school system’s legal counsel, according to the Watauga Democrat. The poster itself is simply a picture of an American flag with yellow text over top reading “In God We Trust.” Underneath is written “The national motto of the United States of America. Adopted by Congress on July 30th, 1956.” Nothing about this poster is specific to religion. When we were taught to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school, many of us were also taught that “one nation under God” could be applied to any religion that involved deities. According to the Watauga Democrat, a representative of the American Legion, Rick Cornejo, spoke with the Watauga Board of Education arguing that the poster had more of a historical significance rather than a religious one. “Students should be more exposed to historical information,” Cornejo said in an interview with the Watauga Democrat. “Other school systems have allowed similar displays.” The Watauga County school system is taking these posters to the absolute extreme of political correctness. Through that political correctness, they are unjustly taking the historical context of the poster and putting it into the context of religion. I can understand playing on the safe side of a seemingly never-ending debate of not only whether or not religion belongs in schools, but also if it belongs in our government and on our national symbols. But, at a certain point, we have to learn to let things go. The school should allow these posters and take a refreshing break from the overbearing and stifling nature of extreme political correctness. McMichael, a freshman chemistry major from Raleigh, is an opinion writer.
Letters to the Editor The Appalachian welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and include the author’s name, ASU Box, phone number, classification and campus affiliation, if any. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments. Letters should be submitted electronically via our Web site or e-mail. Letters may also be mailed to “Letter to the Editor,” The Appalachian, ASU Box 9025, Boone, N.C. 28608. Letters may also be brought to the newsroom, located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.
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Thursday, November 14, 2013
IN PHOTOS: BASKETBALL HOME OPENER
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BASKETBALL HOME OPENER Appalachian State men’s and women’s basketball competed in their first home doubleheader of the season Tuesday night against Campbell University and East Tennessee State University respectively. Both teams played hard against their opponent, however their performances were not enough to secure a win. The men’s team fell to Campbell 73-66 and the women’s team lost 81-72 to ETSU. Photos by: Paul Heckert, Molly Cogburn, Rachel Krauza, and Carson Hager
Sports Thursday, November 14, 2013
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Men’s Basketball
App State’s home opener spoiled, despite furious comeback attempt by Nick Joyner Sports Reporter
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ppalachian State failed to complete a comeback victory in a 73-66 loss to Campbell University in Tuesday night’s home opener. The Fighting Camels (2-0) raced out to a 37-21 advantage at the half after connecting on 5 3-pointers. The Mountaineers’ (0-2) primary downfall was shooting, as the team was just 1 of 8 from the free throw line and 0 of 6 from three at halftime. “We came out really dead in the first half,” junior guard Mike Neal said. “We have to play harder than other teams, especially at home. Our main thing was, obviously, just hit free throws. We shot poorly from the line, we shot poorly from the three.” Neal led the Mountaineers with 20 points. By the end of the game, App State finished just 9 of 22 from the charity stripe, leaving 13 points on the board. “If we hit our free throws, we would have won the game,” Neal said. “As bad as we shot from the 3-point line and as poorly as we played defense, we still would have won the basketball game.” The Mountaineers shot 26-62 from
the field, good for 41.9 percent as Campbell finished 24-49 for 49 percent. After not making a single deepball in the first half, App State tallied 5 3-pointers on 19 attempts. “When you talk about having a 16-point deficit, and cutting that to 6 or 7 with 15 minutes to go in the game, you’re right where you want to be,” head coach Jason Capel said. “I thought we played harder in the second half and that’s not something I’m proud of, you got to play hard for 40 minutes.” Sophomore forward Michael Obacha led the Mountaineers in a 39-36 out-rebounding of the Camels that included 17 team offensive rebounds. Obacha, out of Edo State, Nigeria, posted a career-high 15 rebounds. “I tip my hat to Campbell, but in a game where you come back from such a large deficit that you put yourself in, and you leave 13 points on the board at the foul line is inexcusable,” Capel said. “We will get better, and we will be ready for our next game.” App State is now 0-2 after two consecutive defeats to N.C. State (3-1) and Campbell. The team will travel to Ohio to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats (40) on Saturday. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Paul Heckert | The Appalachian
Junior guard Mike Neal squeezes through the defense toward the basket during Tuesday night’s home opener against Campbell. The Camels beat the Mountaineers 73-66.
Women’s Basketball
Appalachian women’s basketball team hopes to improve after loss, will look to ‘amp it up’ in preperation for the rest of the season
by Jess Lyons
Sports Reporter
The Appalachian State women’s basketball team fell to East Tennessee State University on Tuesday 72-81, bringing the Mountaineers record to 0-2. App State played an intense action for action, game against the Buccaneers and tied the game up seven times and changed the lead five times throughout the game. Both teams had 11 steals each and 40 total rebounds each and had close numbers in turnovers (25-21), personal fouls (28-22) and 2-point baskets scored (27-25). However, the players and their head coach, Darcie Vincent, were unhappy with the results of the game, overall. “We obviously have a lot of turn overs, we’re not crashing hard, we’re not making good decisions on offense,” junior forward Maryah Sydnor said. “We’re having breakdowns on defense, pretty much any aspect of the game we need to improve on.” Overall, the Buccaneers (1-1) came out with a 51 percent shooting ratio on 2-point
Paul Heckert | The Appalachian
Junior guard Katie Mallow completes a layup in Tuesday night’s home opener against ETSU. The Buccaneers beat the Mountaineers 81-72.
baskets, a 50 percent ratio on 3-point baskets and 66.7 percent on foul shots. The Mountaineers kept close numbers in 2- and 3-point baskets with percentages of 45 and 47.4, but fell short in the percentage of foul shots made with 39.1 percent. The Buccaneers not only had a higher shooting per-
centage of foul shots, but also earned 26 of their points from those shots where the Mountaineers only earned nine. “We have to amp it up, there’s nothing I can do about having freshman or sophomores and there’s nothing I can do about having inexperienced players out on the court, it’s just every day they
have to magnify every practice,” Vincent said. The team gained five freshmen and one sophomore this season and started two freshman, Joi Jones and Bria Carter, and sophomore Farrahn Wood against ETSU, giving the team a different dynamic from last year. Although Vincent believes
in the skill set of the team, their overall performance as a team is something she said needs to improve. “There’s a thing about a concept of being a team, and right now we’re not that,” Vincent said. “So until we can get these kids to care about each other the way that Anne [Freeman] and Kelsey [Sharkey] played for each other and Courtney [Freeman] and Raven [Gary] played for each other then we’re going to stay where we are and it won’t matter what our skill set is.” Junior point guard Katie Mallow and Sydnor both agree that energy is typically the driving component behind the team’s success and that energy lacked against ETSU. “They’re going to have to step up big time,” Sydnor said. “We obviously have 2 freshman starters and 1 sophomore starter, so 3 people that haven’t had that many minutes before so we have to expect a lot from them. We need them out there to just be big because we have to rely on them.” App State will take on LeesMcRae at home Friday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Football
Tony Washington wins National Football Foundation’s National Scholar-Athlete Award, second to win in Appalachian history by Kaitlyn Thruston Senior Sports Reporter
The football falls easily into his hands and he begins to run as fast as his feet will take him, effortlessly passing the defense. It is no surprise that Tony Washington, a senior wide receiver, has gained notice from fans and coaches across the Southern Conference. Washington ranks third in the SoCon with 715 receiving yards and fourth with 51 receptions this season, according to soconsports.com. However, during his time as a Mountaineer, it is not just Washington’s athletic prowess that has gained people’s attention – he is also extremely successful academically. “He works as hard as he possible can in the classroom and he takes the same dedication to the weight room everyday, and he brings it out to the field,” wide receiver coach Justin Stepp said. “It is unbelievably admirable to see that in a kid his age.” Washington recently received one of college football’s most prestigious honors, being named one of 16 recipients of the National Football Foundation’s
Justin Perry | The Appalachian
Senior wide receiver Tony Washington has 51 receptions for 715 yards this season.
National Scholar-Athlete Award. The program, which launched in 1959, is designed to award student-athletes with postgraduate scholarships for their combined athletic, academic
and leadership abilities. “I’m very excited,” Washington said. “To try hard every day, to get good grades and it being acknowledged means a lot.” As one of the 16 recipients, Washington has been awarded an $18,000 scholarship and has a chance of winning the William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the best scholar-athlete in the nation. Dedicating his time between football and academics comes naturally to the architectural design major, as there seems to be certain skills that transfer between football and academics. “Being able to put on my blinders and focus, because in football you need to be able to focus on what you’re doing and I take the same mindset into the classroom by really focusing on what we’re learning,” Washington said. His hard work is something that is noticed by his fellow teammates and coaches. “He takes care of his business on and off the field and does everything he’s supposed to as a student and that’s why he’s set up for the future,” senior wide receiver Andrew Peacock said. “Everything he does I look at it and admire it.”
During the last four years, it is clear to see the growth Washington has made both athletically and personally. “He has become a complete player, being a team player and doing everything he can as hard as he can every single play is the thing he has improved the most on,” Stepp said. Washington has continually made an impact for the Mountaineer offense, and it has become clear that he is a leader both on and off the field. “I want to be a good role model for the kids who come and watch the games and younger players on the team on and off the field,” Washington said. “It’s OK to work hard and make good grades and still be good at football, you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other.” With his senior year coming to a close, he plans to give the NFL a shot but also has a backup plan, which includes applying to graduate schools. Throughout his time as a Mountaineer, Washington said that Appalachian State has been a perfect fit for him. “When I leave, I just really want people to believe that I gave my all to Appalachian and I really love this football program,” Washington said.
GAME D Y
Thursday, November 14, 2013
The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
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Final stretch awaits the Mountaineers
Matchup vs.
31 - 14
Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. Wofford Terriers 1:30 p.m. Gibbs Stadium by Andrew Clausen Sports Editor
How App State Can Win: For the Mountaineers to be able to come out of their slump and finish the season strong, they are going to have to win the game through the air. Wofford is dead last in the SoCon in passing defense, while App State is second. App State should welcome this strategy, being privileged to tout three of the top 10 wide receivers in the SoCon. Andrew Peacock (first), Tony Washington (fourth) and Marcus Cox (seventh) all find themselves on the list. That doesn’t mean that Marcus Cox shouldn’t have a big game as the No. 3 running back in the SoCon, but Wofford’s claim to fame this season is their defense, which is second in the conference. How Wofford Can Win: The Terriers will need to take the exact opposite approach and use their impressive running game to their advantage. Currently, Wofford ranks third in rushing offense and has the second-best running back in the SoCon, Donovan Johnson. Wofford will need to control the clock if they are going to outlast a high-powered aerial attack from App State. Their defense is second in points allowed this year and it’s due to their pressure up front. They have to get to the quarterback quickly, because their secondary is their weakness. The Bottom Line: App State has a golden opportunity to get a road win and get back on the winning track before their final game in the SoCon. Finishing .500 in the conference should be the goal and should be achievable, but they’ll need to take it one game at a time and it all starts in Spartanburg, S.C. A run game against a pass game and clock management versus points-onthe-board, that’ll be the difference for whichever team comes out on top.
Paul Heckert | The Appalachian
Quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson looks at the crowd after breaking through the Terrier defensive line to run the ball in for a touchdown against Wofford in 2012. The Mountaineers lost the game, 38-28.
by Nick Joyner Sports Reporter
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ppalachian State will need to lay the role of spoiler this weekend in Spartanburg, S.C., to take on the Wofford Terriers. With a conference record of 2-4, App State sits near the bottom of the SoCon, while Wofford is tied with Samford for second at 4-2. “It seems like every year they are right there in the thick of things, and this year’s no different,” head coach Scott Satterfield said. “If they win out, they have a chance to possibly have a share of the championship, if Chattanooga gets beat by Samford this weekend.” There is not a lot left to play for as far as records
and championships are concerned, but if the team can manage to win the last two games, it will finish .500 in conference play at 4-4. The primary focus of this Mountaineer team will be taking what they have learned over the course of what has been a mostly disappointing season, and apply that toward next year. “We’re focusing on these last two, Wofford and Western [Carolina], just to try to finish out the season strong so we can carry that momentum into the offseason,” Satterfield said. “For us, it’s going to be huge for us to finish off, and we got a chance to finish up 4-4 in the conference and to carry that momentum into the offseason with recruits, and the winter
[conditioning] program with our kids to know that hey, we finished on a high note.” It will be a battle of contrasting styles when the two teams kick off, as Appalachian State airs the ball out rather frequently, and Wofford focuses more on their rushing attack. App is second in the conference in passing at 275.7 yards per game and is last in the SoCon with only 122.2 rushing yards per game. Wofford, on the other hand, rushes for 262.1 yards per game, which is good for third in conference, and is dead last with just 91.4 passing yards per game. Last week at Georgia, the Mountaineers battled with a traditional powerhouse football program. If App
PIGSKIN PICK’EM Weekend Matchups Appalachian State vs. Wofford Georgia Tech vs. #8 Clemson #25 Georgia vs. #7 Auburn #16 Michigan St. vs. Nebraska #23 Miami vs. Duke
State can sustain that first half effort and carry it into Spartanburg, the team could come back to Boone with its third conference victory. “Appalachian State played great, in the first half especially,” Georgia head coach Mark Richt said. “They had a great plan. They did a very good job with the short passing game. [Kameron Bryant] didn’t hold the ball long, so it was hard to get a sack, and his guys caught the ball and moved the chains.” Appalachian State has failed to defeat the Terriers in the previous two matchups. The team was defeated 38-28 at Kidd-Brewer Stadium last season, and 14-28 in Spartanburg in 2011. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
The Sporting Network Poll Week 11
Andrew Clausen
Michael Bragg
Amanda Jacobson
Dylan Russell
Joshua Farmer
Kenneth Peacock
The Appalachian (22-28)
The Appalachian (23-27)
APPS (28-22)
SGA (25-25)
The Appalachian (27-23)
Appalachian State (23-23)
Sports Editor
Editor-in-Chief
President
President
Managing Editor
Chancellor
1. North Dakota State 9-0 2. Eastern Illinois 9-1 3. Eastern Washington 8-2 4. Sam Houston State 8-2 5. Fordham 10-0 6. Maine 9-1 7. Montana 8-2 8. Montana State 7-3 9. McNeese State 8-2 10. Towson 8-2 11. Coastal Carolina 9-1 12. Northern Arizona 7-2 13. Charleston Southern 10-1 14. Southeastern La. 8-2 15. Youngstown State 8-2 16. William & Mary 7-3 17. Chattanooga 8-2 18.Bethune-Cookman 8-2 19. South Dakota State 6-4 20. Lehigh 7-2 * SoCon teams ^ Team transitioning to Sun Belt Conference
Source: ncaa.com