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February 23, 2017

Page 1

FEB.

23 2017

GET INKED FOR A CAUSE PAGES 10-11

INCREASES IN 2018 BUDGET PAGE 4

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH PAGES 8-9

HAMPTON EXCELS PAGE 17


Feb. 9, 2017

THE TEAM Carl Blankenship @carl_r_blank EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITORIAL MULTIMEDIA BUSINESS

Aleah Warner @aleahwarner MANAGING EDITOR Victoria Haynes @victoriahayness CHIEF COPY EDITOR Sammy Hanf @sammyhanf NEWS EDITOR

Jacob Oller @ollerifyouhearme BUSINESS MANAGER Jordan Boles @jorddb MARKETING DIRECTOR

Olivia Wilkes @theappalachian ADVISER

Angelo Errico @angeloerrico821 OPINION EDITOR Lee Sanderlin @lee_sanderlin ENTERPRISE EDITOR

CRIME LOG CAMPUS FEB. 18

FEB. 14

7 p.m. | Drug Violations Equipment/Paraphernalia Bowie Hall Cleared by arrest

3 p.m. | Larceny Student Recreation Building Leads exhausted

FEB. 18 10:19 p.m. | Using Marijuana Bowie Hall Student referral

FEB. 17 11 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Justice Hall Student Referral

FEB. 15 10:45 p.m. | Larceny Belk Hall Further investigation

FEB. 15 10:50 p.m. | Bicycle/Pedestrian Accident Behind Belk Hall Information report

Halle Keighton @halle_keighton PHOTO EDITOR Maleek Loyd @maleekstuff VIDEO EDITOR Braxton Coats @brxcoats22 WEB MANAGER

Katie Murawski @murawskikm A&E EDITOR Jason Huber @_jasonhuber SPORTS EDITOR

Sydney Spann @spannooo VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR

FEB. 14 9 p.m. | Larceny Student Recreation Center Leads exhausted

FEB. 14 11:30 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Justice Hall Cleared by arrest

FEB. 13 7 a.m. | Vandalism Peacock Hall Parking Lot Leads Exhausted

FEB. 13 12:30 p.m. | Larceny Garwood Hall Further investigation

FEB. 12 11 p.m. | Possession of Marijuana Hardin Street


SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

App News is a service of the Division of Student Development. Email wilkeso@appstate.edu 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.

WHAT TO DO STUDENT MEDIA LEADER APPLICATIONS Applications for 2017-18 editor-in-chief of The Appalachian Student Newspaper, editor-in-chief of The Peel Literature and Arts Review, and business manager of The Appalachian are now available on The Appalachian and The Peel AppSync portals under “forms.” Applications are due March 10. Email wilkeso@appstate.edu for any questions or concerns.

STUDY ABROAD The Education Abroad Office is still accepting applications for 2017 Appalachian Faculty-Led programs as well as summer/fall/academic year partner programs. For more information about program options, deadlines and how to get started please visit the Education Abroad web page at https://international.appstate.edu/ education-abroad.

FREE LEGAL ADVICE The Student Legal Clinic, in Suite 324 in Plemmons Student Union, offers confidential advice, information and referrals provided by a licensed attorney. The attorney can meet with any currently enrolled Appalachian State student and can advise students on any issue that is not directly adverse to the university. Make an appointment by calling (828) 2628284. More information at legalclinic.appstate. edu.

CAREERFEST CareerFest is Appalachian State University’s largest and most comprehensive career event. Serving students and alumni of all majors and skills, the event is host to many companies, non-profits, healthcare and government agencies that are ready to network with students

and introduce them to valuable internship and job opportunities. The event will take place March 1 from 1-5 p.m. in Holmes Convocation Center. For more info visit AppSync.

is eligible! Please complete the AppSync form to express your interest in Leadership Coaching. If you have questions about leadership coaching, please contact Dr. Jim Street at streetjl@ appstate.edu.

CALL FOR LEADERSHIP NOMINATIONS Each year, The Divison of Student Development recognizes student leaders for their service and leadership to Appalachian State University. These awards are presented at the Student Leadership and Legacy Award Ceremony sponsored by the Division of Student Development. This year’s ceremony, “Celebration of Leadership and Legacy,” is scheduled for April 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the Parkway Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union. Leadership, Service and Legacy Awards nomination process will begin Thursday, Feb. 16 and are due to the Office of Student Development electronically on March 10 by 5 p.m. The link for the nomination forms for the Leadership, Service and Legacy Awards: https://studentdev.appstate.edu/student-awards.

LEADERSHIP COACH Leadership coaching is an opportunity for you to define your current skills and enhance your leadership ability. You will meet one-on-one with your leadership coach on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for one hour. Our coaches are professional staff and graduate students from a variety of backgrounds. They are experienced leaders and are passionate about coaching our next generation of great leaders. Leadership can take place in the classroom, in campus clubs and organizations, in the community or in the workplace. Any ASU student who is currently in a leadership role or is interested in enhancing their leadership abilities

STUDENT PHILANTHROPY DAY A mini club-expo for service organizations to showcase what they have been doing for the Appalachian and Boone community! Join us in celebrating Student Philanthropy Day on March 1! Student Philanthropy Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Grandfather Mountain Ballroom of Plemmons Student Union. Many clubs, organizations and departments will be in attendance, so make sure to come check out what they’re about! Interested in having a table? Go to AppSync to register your club, organization, or office to participate! This will be a great opportunity to recruit new members and volunteers, fundraise for your organization, and promote any upcoming events or programs that you will be sponsoring! Please email appsync@ appstate.edu or stop by Club Hub if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

Resume Clinic

Resume Clinic

Dance Marathon

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Contact Tables, PSU

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Contact Tables, PSU

10 p.m. - 1 a.m. Legends

Polar Plunge

“To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar” Screening

“The Edge of Seventeen” Screening

“The Edge of Seventeen” Screening 7 and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

Battle of the Bands 9 p.m. Legends $3 advance, $4 door & non-students

The Department of Accounting in the Walker College of Business offers a free tax help lab for students, faculty and staff beginning Feb. 7 until April 12. Individuals can drop into Peacock Hall Room 4015 on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings between 5-7 p.m. Don’t want to wait? Get started now at: www.myfreetaxes.com. For more information, contact Dr. Mary Ann Hofmann at hofmannma@appstate.edu

Appalachian State’s Dance Marathon is an annual fundraiser, started 14 years ago, that culminates in a 15-hour dance party in February! All the money raised benefits children in the High Country through two local non-profits; Western Youth Network and Parent to Parent Family Support Network. Last year, Dance Marathon at Appalachian rasied an incredible $35,000 for our two amazing nonprofits! Our Mission is to encourage Appalachian

FRIDAY, FEB. 24

7 p.m. Greenbriar Theater $1 door

FREE TAX HELP

2017 DANCE MARATHON

THURSDAY, FEB. 23

3-5 p.m. Duck Pond

students to look beyond themselves and our campus community and advocate for the present and future wellbeing of kids and families in the High Country of Western North Carolina. Each student participant is asked to raise $150 ($10 for every hour of the event) through various fundraising activities throughout the year, which will all lead up to the day of the event when students will dance for 15 hours to celebrate the lives of children! We need YOU and the help of ALL students across campus to make Dance Marathon a continued success! TO REGISTER and for more information, please visit our website at: act.appstate.edu/dm.

SUNDAY, FEB. 26

7 and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

“The Edge of Seventeen” Screening 7 and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

MONDAY, FEB. 27

TUESDAY, FEB. 28

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 1

THURSDAY, MAR. 2

Glow Skating

Free Tax Help

Student Philanthropy Day

“Sing” Screening

5 - 9 p.m. Legends Free

5 - 7 p.m. Room 4015, Peacock Hall

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Grandfather Mtn. Ballroom, PSU

7 and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

LGBT+ Music Therapy Group

Careerfest

7 - 8 p.m. Room 407, Broyhill Music Center

1 - 5 p.m. Holmes Convocation Center

Free Tax Help 5 - 7 p.m. Room 4015, Peacock Hall

“Lilo and Stitch” Screening 7 p.m. Greenbriar Theater $1 door

Mandolin Orange 9 p.m. Legends $15 advance, $20 door & non-students


Feb. 23, 2017

CANDIDATES FOR VICE CHANCELLOR OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT GIVES PRESENTATION TO STUDENTS, FACULTY SAMMY HANF AND FRANCISCO DELACRUZ-HERNANDEZ NEWS REPORTERS

wo candidates for the role of vice chancellor for student development visited Appalachian State last week to hold forums and presentations explaining why they would be a good fit for the job. According to the search committee’s website, the vice chancellor of student development is responsible for more than 250 staff members and an annual budget of $46 million. Trae Cotton, current vice chancellor for student affairs at Winston-Salem State University, is one of three final candidates for the position. Cotton said his overriding priority in student development is supporting the academic mission of the university and to that end he believes it’s important to have staff who are engaged with that mission. “See, we get to sit and have some of these fancy meetings and fancy meals

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and go to these different places but the boots-on-the-ground folks are the ones that are truly day to day making a difference,” Cotton said. Cotton said he wants to find a way to innovate while still retaining the unique character of Appalachian State. “We can’t stay where we are. I know there is this rub, right now, within this university of how do we continue to honor our heritage and history as an institution in Appalachia, and we should never, ever forget that history and heritage,” Cotton said. “But times are changing and the question in front of all of us is how do we continue to change with the times while we continue to honor this history and heritage of the institution.” Cathy Akens, current associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Florida International University, held her forum and presentation on Feb. 15. Akens said she believes account-

ability and transparency are incredibly important, stressing a mutually trusting relationship between administration and students. “I want to use an inclusive and collaborative leadership,” Akens said. “There are people here who own information that’s valuable, the perspective, the ideas, the suggestions and the feedback that’s valuable to the process when someone comes in new and tries to figure how we keep moving forward.” Jewell Ward, a senior representing the search committee, led the forum discussion and asked Akens about how she would move social justice and sustainability efforts at the university forward. Akens said there is a need to encourage formal opportunities for dialogue and workshops around both issues and that any vice chancellor would have to create and maintain conditions for a sustainable campus. “As vice chancellor of student devel-

opment, I understand that my role is to advocate for what’s in the best interest for our students,” Akens said. J.J. Brown, current dean of students at Appalachian State, will be visiting campus on Feb. 22-23. Mike Mayfield, chair of the search committee, said he thought the forum went very well and that the search yielded three excellent candidates who all have very different strengths. Leroy Wright, interim vice chancellor for student development, said that the chancellor’s cabinet had met with all three candidates and that the person selected would have to be an excellent student advocate who can foster student success both in and out of the classroom. Bob Ellison, director of Student Health Services, said as a member of the search committee for the position he was excited to see so many people attending all of the forums and presentations held for the candidates.

BELK LIBRARY HOLDS FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN READ-IN AIDAN MOYER NEWS REPORTER

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University held its first ever African American read-in last Wednesday in the atrium of the Belk Library. Jennifer Natale, a liaison librarian, said the read-in is part of a larger national effort by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers to bring people together and share works by African-American authors. “It allows us to learn about historical events, allows us to look at things

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from a different perspective,” Natale said. Natale said she hopes the read-in will inspire attendees to read authors they were not familiar with before and place current events in a deeper historical context. “Speaking the words aloud gives it power, and sometimes it’s just reminding ourselves that we have a voice,” Natale said. The read-in focuses on an individual’s personal favorite choice of an

African-American author, and how that author has influenced them. Kelly McBride, coordinator information literacy and instruction, said reading the poems aloud was a reminder that everyone has a story to tell. McBride, who has met Maya Angelou, said she read her poem “Phenomenal Women” because it talks about womanhood in an inspiring way. “It makes me feel powerful and more importantly lets me participate in that history,” McBride said.

Glenda Johnson, assistant professor of human development and psychological counseling, said the read-in was meant to shine a light on how African-American authors are able to impart wisdom about today’s problems. Johnson read from Nora Zeale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Johnson said she hopes that by hearing their words people will understand that others are still facing injustice.


Feb. 23, 2017

ECOPOLIS AN INTERACTIVE TALK ON SUSTAINABILITY MYLES TOE A&E REPORTER

riter and performer Jeff Biggers joined Lee Ball, Appalachian State’s director of sustainability, to talk about his roots and what drives him to fight for a more self sufficient future last Friday. “Self-sufficiency is something we lost as a people,” Biggers said. “We have lost our sense of self-sufficiency, a sense of place regeneration out of our own communities.” Biggers was raised in southern Illinois, but has deep roots in Appalachia. Biggers said his family lived there during the Civil War but soon after migrated west. “You can’t understand America until you understand Appalachia because it has undergone so many changes and shifts,” Biggers said during the podcast. His love for Appalachia started as a young man when he dropped out of the University of California Berkeley to hitchhike across America back to the

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Appalachians, where he began to work on farms learning to be self-sufficient. His experiences working the farm gave the inspiration to create the Climate Narrative Project, a subsection of the university of Iowa, director of sustainability and podcast host Lee Ball said. “Our goal was to use arts and storytelling to envision another world and reality to fill in the gaps and go beyond data,” Biggers said. “We use visual art, sculpture, dance and all narrative modes to tell a better story in sustainability and climate action.” Using art and a sustainability narrative, Biggers then constructed “Ecopolis” which is a multimedia event featuring live music and presentations. It was an interactive talk on sustainability and on what Biggers calls a “regenerative city.” It took place on Feb. 17 in the Grandfather Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union. “‘Ecopolis’ helps envision what Boone would look like in the year

2030 as a regenerative city,” Biggers said. “We used to live in a agropolis, a circular world of sufficiency reliant on growth, and then after the war we became a petropolis, cities that rely on petroleum, now we need to become an ecopolis, a city based upon self-sufficiency through modern technology.” “Ecopolis Boone” began with Alexa Rose, App State alumnus and local musician, playing her guitar. She sang about Boone and the love she has for this city. “It says a lot that this room was full, it says a lot about our community even people in this community who already sort of reiterate that message through the work they do,” Rose said. As a sustainable development major and recent grad, Rose said she feels as though she’s giving back to the students of Appalachian and to the university. Biggers’ show paints a picture of a Boone that unites to become self sufficient after being rocked by a drought in

2017. “It made me want to go out and start a garden. I wanted to go out and make a change,” Savannah Nguyen, a junior global studies major, said. The show was packed with both Boone locals and students alike. Faculty members from the Office of Sustainability were in attendance as well as members from the Divest Appalachian movement. “Appreciate this community while you’re here and take advantage of it and get involved and volunteer,” Rose said. “Come to events like this.” Biggers concluded the show with a message of hope and said he feels the show was a success. “Through storytelling, through arts and through film is a way to get people to really see what life would look like if we didn’t depend on a coal mining plant or petroleum,” Biggers said. “And if this is the vision, we must simply find the road map to get there.”

APP STATE BUDGET INCREASES IN 2018 BEN SESSOMS NEWS REPORTER

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pp State’s budget

for fiscal year 2018 is projected to see fee increases in both athletics and Health Services, continuing a six year upward trend for athletics. If confirmed, the annual fees for athletics and Health Services would be increased $22 and $31 respectively. Athletics remains the highest fee for students at $755, according to budget reports. Vice chancellor for business affairs Paul Forte said that the athletic fee increases are due to additional athletic scholarships, counseling positions, salary increases and travel costs. Future athletic fee increases will be dependent on the financial demands of the department, Forte said. The original fee increase request from health services was $21, but this request was increased to $31 due to student input, Forte said. “It’s a delicate balance,” Forte said. “We have a pretty democratic, let’s say collaborative process with students.” According to the fee request form from Health Services, the justification for the request was to have at least three months of operating expenses. “This fee will prevent us from having

Graphics Credit: Nora Smith

to reduce services in Health Services, the Counseling Center and Wellness and Prevention Services,” the form said. Despite the fee increase, Health Services will not have enough money for three months of operating expenses. They will have just above two months of operating expenses with the $31 increase, Forte said. SGA president Jalyn Howard said that he has concerns about the future of Health Services at App State. “If our Health Services keeps functioning like this, it will not be viable within five to ten years,” Howard said. Forte said that the school is working to expand health services, citing the renovation of the Miles

Annas Building as an example. According to previous budget reports, the Health Services fee remained stag-

nant from fiscal years 2013 to 2015. The budget will likely be finalized by August, Forte said.

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Feb. 23, 2017

FOGGY PINE ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CELIA CALHOUN A&E REPORTER

ight months ago,

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Appalachian State alumna Mary Prewitt was presented with the opportunity to own and operate a bookstore in downtown Boone and took it. Foggy Pine Books, located on 444 W. King St., is a small 425 square foot bookstore with books from a variety of genres to choose from. Along with current best-sellers, Pruitt has a large selection of books by local authors and independent publishers. “I have always wanted a bookstore to be downtown,” Prewitt said. “I had an opportunity to do that so I jumped on it.” Prewitt believes it is important for a bookstore to be a significant and visible part of the community. Being downtown helps Prewitt achieve this goal and keeps her actively involved. “Being downtown increases accessibility for everybody in the community,” Prewitt said. “It also increases accessibility here for the college students as a resource to buy books for their classes, do research and [it is] also a place to come chill and come around and look at books.” While most people were excited to see an independent bookstore open, there were some who were skeptical. Prewitt said that some people were surprised to see Foggy Pine open because they believed that all bookstores were going out of business. “When you look at the statistics, the large box bookstores are closing, but the independent bookstores the past five years have increased over 15 percent,” Prewitt said. Prewitt believes that Foggy Pine being a local business has helped its success thus far. She thinks that residents respond well to people they know in the community, and that the appeal of local business is having a presence that does not exist in chain stores. “I 100 percent believe in the power of local business,” Prewitt said. Along with selling books, Foggy Pine hosts a slew of events every month. One of them was an author signing and reading by Judith Richards, author of “Thelonious Rising,” that took place on Feb. 16. Foggy Pine hosts a book club in their store that meets on the last Saturday of every month at 7:30 p.m. There is no general focus of the book club. Prewitt said she is also working on starting another book club alongside their current one, which would meet at Hatchet Coffee off of Bamboo Road. The first book they are reading is the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” screenplay. Prewitt also partners with publishers to receive advanced readers’ copies of books that people in the community can sign up to read and participate in. The advanced copies are free as long as the participant writes a review about the book in return. “I really want Foggy Pine Books to be a literary community center,” Prewitt said. “I want to be a place where people come to appreciate the literary arts.”

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Foggy Pines Bookstore features local authors and their books, and is hosting a book signing on Feb. 16 in conjunction with The Local. In the future, Prewitt wants to host clubs that focus on social justice, activism, books and music, books and movies and activities for children. She also hopes to host a writers’ group that meets monthly. “Ultimately, I would really like to move to a larger space so I can house all of that,” Prewitt said. “But, for the time being, we’re just going to make it work with what we have.” Prewitt is proud of the progress she has made since opening Foggy Pine, but has ultimate goals that she is working towards. “We really support the community and as many aspects of the community there are,” Prewitt said. “We want to be here to reflect you.” Members of the community are welcomed and encouraged to request books and events that they want to see in Foggy Pine. She hopes to see the community become more involved and engaged in the bookstore and for it to become a focal piece of the High Country. “It is a business, but I want to be here to serve the community,” Prewitt said.

Boone resident Kay Blackburn likes shopping at Foggy Pine because of how willing Prewitt is to help. Along with the store’s contemporary fiction section, Blackburn likes that the store has women’s and children’s book sections. “I know it’s cheaper on Amazon, but still, I like the friendliness there,” Blackburn said. Although Prewitt is the only employee of Foggy Pine Books, she is starting a program called Foggy Pine Ambassadors. Ambassadors help promote the store by writing reviews for books or the store itself and volunteering in at least one event every six weeks. In exchange, ambassadors will receive a 10 percent discount at the store and one advanced copy monthly. Prewitt hopes this program will further her goal of serving the town of Boone. Shari Smith is a local author who also wanted to open an independent bookstore in Boone. “The theater was being renovated,” Smith said. “I worked with a lot of musicians and songwriters. I figured it was perfect and I could work with the

theater.” However, Prewitt opened Foggy Pine before Smith was able to move to Boone. Smith said that she did not think Prewitt was happy to see her when she walked into the bookstore for the first time. Smith was hesitant about Prewitt at first, but grew to really like her after they met. Smith helps Prewitt bring authors to Boone and connect with other local independent bookstores as well as publishers. “She’s smart,” Smith said. “She’s hardworking. She wants to make a real success of it.” Smith believes it is very important to have an independent bookstore in Boone because it helps foster a community that is not present in chain stores. “I think it says we read and we care about the art of the written word,” Smith said. “The fact that we have a store and support it means we’re a community that supports words and stories.” Foggy Pine Books is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 12 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

Olivia Leopard


Feb. 23, 2017

THE AETOSAUR PROJECT NEARS COMPLETION

The students of the intermediate advanced sculpting class lead by Travis Donovan created this dinosaur sculpture. MYLES TOE A&E REPORTER

he semester long

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Aetosaur project is finally coming into fruition. The three-dimensional model has been sculpted by Travis Donovan and his intermediate advanced sculpting class as a collaboration between the art and the geology department. The life-sized model is a representation of the Gorgetosuchus pekinensis, an armored reptile related to, but more primitive than crocodiles, said vertebrate paleontologist and geology professor Andy Heckert. When the model is fully completed and cast in bronze it will sit in the rock garden behind Rankin North. Heckert and his colleagues named the unknown animal Gorgetosuchus pekinensis because of the physical description of the animal. “Gorgetosuchus comes from the French word gorget which is a term used for a medieval knight’s collar. Suchus is the Greek term for crocodile,” Heckert said. “The species name pekinensis is from the set of rocks were the fossils were found called the Pekin formation. So, the creature’s full scientific name means a neck armored crocodile from the Pekins.” The Gorgetosuchus pekinensis is a part of the Aetosaur family which is a branch of prehistoric reptiles that can only be found in North Carolina. In the spring of last semester Lauren Wa-

Myles Toe

terworth, professor of environmental law, proposed the idea to Heckert as a collaborative effort between the art and geology department. “Last year around this time I just had brainstorm, wouldn’t it be cool if we had a dinosaur sculpture here,” Waterworth said. “So I went to Dr. Heckert and said ‘we should build a dinosaur’ and his response was, ‘I can get onboard with that.’” Through applications for internal grants the geology department was able to secure $1,600 which was enough for the cost of building the model. This task was done by Travis Donovan and his intermediate advanced sculpting class. Donovan is a visiting assistant professor for the art department in sculpturing. The animal was found by Heckert and colleagues in Triassic basins in North Carolina. He and his colleagues from the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh got permission to go into rock quarries that were used as brick plants. “They had found a fossil in a football sized piece of rock,” Heckert said. “In it was armor that looked as though it was wadded up, like someone had left it there.” He took the armor pieces found and constructed three-dimensional models. He then wrote a paper on his findings which was reviewed and confirmed. From there he was able to name the

new species of Aetosaur. “Dr. Heckert had done some three-dimensional printing of the neck armor for the animal that he wanted to look more realistic,” Waterworth said. “He had me paint them and while I was doing so I stumbled on a video of the Peabody museum at Yale that has a big triceratops sculpture and I thought wouldn’t that be cool if we had one of those.” The process of building the sculpture was an interstate venture through previous connection between Heckert and a coworker from The Natural History Museums in New Mexico. Museum exhibit designer Matt Celeskey drew the two-dimensional design for the model and then worked with the intermediate advanced sculpture students to create the three-dimensional model. “After we received the two-dimensional design we then got a program to turn it into a three-dimensional model,” senior art education and sculpting major Hunter Hill, who is also the lead sculpture in the Aetosaur project, said. “After we did that we then exported that into another three-dimensional software designing model that was able to communicate with our C&C router.” The C&C router is an industrial sized three-dimensional printer that was able to split the model into slices. “We then put the slices onto an armature and put the slices together,” Hill said. “The whole process took about a

month and a half.” The next step is getting more funding to have the model cast in bronze. “The big challenge is to have it cast in bronze and that is going to take about 40,000 dollars,” Waterworth said. “So, we have a few grants we are in process of applying for and we are going to have a fundraiser style auction in April to raise money for it as well.” Both departments said they enjoyed working with one another and said that there will be future projects between the two. “It’s hard to communicate with someone about sculpting who really isn’t sculpture minded, but I feel like it was a really good experience for both us,” Hill said. The intermediate advances sculpting class headed by Donovan has created a new proposal for a class that would take on projects with other departments and outside clients. One of the projects include a rock climbing wall that also has a geological information listing, but getting funding for the Aetosaur project is most immediate, Waterworth said. Heckert said he feels that the finished project would not only be a great aesthetic piece for the rock garden, but will also teach students about the world we live in. “I would like people to realize that the planet is really old and it changes and life changes,” he said.

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MAYA ANGELOU A symbol of pride for African American women with her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. A Pulitzer Prize and Presidential Medal of Freedom, winner, journalist, teacher, writer, actor, producer and poet, she was the jack of all trades.

LANGSTON HUGHES Writer of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes has written more than three dozen books. He is seen as one of the major black voices of the 1900s with his poetry, novels, and newspaper columns. He will go down as one of the great authors of the Black Experience movement.

ISHMAEL REED A poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, publisher and editor, Reed challenged the collective consciousness by highlighting political and cultural oppression. He is the author of 30 pieces of work and founder of Before Columbus Foundation.

AUDRE LORDE Dedicating her life to addressing and fighting racism, sexism and homophobia, Lorde’s radical works have continued to change and revolutionize the thoughts and teachings across America.

MALCOLM X While a 10 year term in prison, Malcolm X turned to Orthodox Muslim faith and soon became a minister for the belief. While doing so, he remained a staunch advocate for black power and was assassinated while giving a speech in NYC in 1965.

JESSE WILLIAMS A more current activist, Jesse Williams has created documentaries on Black Lives Matter and school-to-prison pipeline and is seen at many protests for the rights and equal treatment of blacks. His 2016 BET speech combated the unfair patterns of history and social roles against blacks. Source - Who2 Biographies, Poetry Foundation, and NPR


Feb. 23, 2017

APPALACHIAN STATE CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Students gather for the black student, faculty and staff mixer in Plemmons Student Union. The event was hosted by the Black Student Association. MAKAELAH WALTERS A&E REPORTERS

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University commenced Black History Month with a kick-off event hosted by Residence Hall Association at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1 in the Solarium. The month was packed with events in honor of Black History Month sponsored and hosted by various organizations, including the Office of Campus Activities and the Office of Multicultural Student Development. Leroy Wright, interim vice chancellor for student development, said it’s important for all students, not just black students, to engage in Black History Month. “It’s an opportunity to educate all communities on the history of African American culture,” Wright said. Both Wright and Traci Royster, director of staff development and strategic initiatives, attended the African American read-in at Belk Library, on Feb. 15. The read-in hosted in honor of Black History Month began at 11:30 a.m. and was open to all students and staff. Participants were encouraged to stop by and listen to or read literature written by African American authors, including articles, speeches, poems and passages from a novel. Participants could bring a selection of their choosing or choose from a list of selections provided by the library. Choices featured notable figures like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Ishmael Reed and Audre Lorde. On Feb. 17, the Black Student Association and Black Faculty and Staff Association joined together to host a mixer in Parkway Ballroom. The event was hosted to help black students build more connections with black faculty.

Halle Keighton

“I came because I wanted to meet more black professors,” freshman accounting major Trey Farid said. Students and staff alternated between small groups, sharing their name and three facts about themselves. Freshman chemistry major Phillip Martin introduced himself to his group and shared that he likes to make gospel rap music. “I believe it’s my God calling,” Martin said. “I want to talk to youth and lead them in the right direction.” Following this activity was a brief moment of silence in honor of the historical black figures that paved the way for black people. People the lined up for food and gathered around tables to eat and have fellowship. “It’s important to make time for this so black students have a chance to reconnect and remind themselves how special they are,” Wright said. Junior biology major Naomi Ruchugo agreed. “Sometimes it can be draining to be in spaces occupied mostly by white people,” she said. “Events like this and BSA make us feel safe and let us know that there are people here who care about us.” Ruchugo is a member of BSA and Delta Sigma Theta sorority incorporated. Delta Sigma Theta was originally hosting Blacks in Wax, but had to cancel the event because of scheduling conflicts. The event was meant to highlight past and present influencers in the black community by having participants pose as popular black figures of history. As if in a museum, members of the general public would walk around and observe to learn about each figure. Ruchugo said Blacks in Wax is being rescheduled.

Ruchugo also attended a screening of Race, a film about black olympic athlete Jesse Owens. “I learned a lot about his journey to being an Olympian, which was super cool,” Ruchugo said. Junior criminal justice major Faiza Ali also attended one of the movie screenings held in Greenbriar Theater for Black History Month. The lineup for movie showings this month included four movies, all of which have a significance rooted in black culture. “I remember watching ‘Friday’ when I was growing up,” Ali said. Ali said that Black History Month makes her feel a sense of solidarity with her black peers. “Black history month is special and there’s always an opportunity to learn more about our culture,” she said. Wright agreed with Ali, noting how there are always new opportunities to learn about important figures in black history. “There are so many legacies that people don’t know about,” Wright said. Ali said her favorite black historical figure that she’s learned about is Malcolm X. “What he preached is still applicable today and reading his autobiography really shook me up,” Ali said. A portion of Friday night was set aside for students and faculty to dance to Frankie Beverly and Maze’s “Before I Let Go,” a song that junior political science major Shaquira Wilson said is somewhat of a national anthem of the black community. “It’s important that black people can get together, dance and realize how we all come from a similar place, and this song always helps us do that,” Wilson

said. There were several other on-campus events set for the remainder of Black History Month. Feb. 20 the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies hosted an African American writers and religion seminar with Laura Ammon and Conrad Ostwalt, both faculty of the department. On Feb. 21 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity hosted Barbershop Talk at 7 p.m. in Rough Ridge. The following week will begin with The Gospel Explosion, featuring Junaluska Choir and App State Gospel Choir, at 5 p.m. in Parkway Ballroom. On Feb. 27, Black Student Association will host an event on Womanism in McRae Peak at 5 p.m. Black History Month will close with the Black Excellence awards brought by Appalachian Popular Programming Society’s Cultural Awareness Student Engagement committee, Black Student Association and the office of multicultural student development on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in Blue Ridge Ballroom. This event is to recognize black individuals on campus to be recognized for their hard work and achievements. Ali said even though the black community occupies such a small space on campus it’s still important that they are recognized. “It’s like Jesse Williams said, ‘Just because we’re magic doesn’t mean we aren’t real,’” Ali said. Nominations can be made by anyone via OrgSync, and any black student or black faculty member is eligible. Nominees can be awarded for their excellence in teaching, leadership, the arts, athletics and community service.

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Feb. 23, 2017

FREE TATTOOS FOR THE COMMUNITY

Greg Kinnamon poses outside of Speakeasy Tattoo Company. The tattoo shop is hosting a free tattoo fundraiser on March 4 to help support selected charities.

KATIE MURAWSKI A&E EDITOR

V

arious businesses

in downtown Boone are coming together to raise money for the community March 3-5. Speakeasy Tattoo is spearheading the weekend with their “Free Tattoos for the Community” event on March 4 which offers free tattoos with a minimum of a $20 donation to one of the chosen seven local businesses and nonprofits. According to a press release for the event, from 2009 through 2013, Speakeasy hosted a similar charity day called “Tattoos for Schools,” held on St. Patrick’s Day each year that raised over $5,000 to buy art supplies for Watauga County elementary schools. Greg Kinnamon, owner of Speakeasy and the creator of “Free Tattoos for the Community,” said the event is similar to “Tattoos for Schools,” but they are adding more tattoos and are raising money for more local businesses and nonprofits. These include Wine To Water, Medi-Home Hospice, Watauga Humane Society, Do It Yourself Skatepark, North Carolina Planned Parenthood, F.A.R.M. Cafe and Blue Ridge Conservancy. Each charity has their own tattoo flash sheet with designs that correlate with that charity. Kinnamon said each Speakeasy

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tattoo artist chose a charity they believed in. The charities were not randomly selected. “Instead of just choosing one charity and driving all our efforts for that one charity, we thought that [we would give] each artist here who has their own little mini-business in here, their own following, clients, styles [and] beliefs an opportunity for that day to do something they really believed in,” Kinnamon said. “I think that those charities are a good fit for us.” Kinnamon chose Medi Home Health & Hospitality as one of his charities because he said it was really important to people in the High Country. The people who need it are in the most stressful and scary time in their lives, he said. “Any help that goes to that is really needed because we will all need that at some point in our lives.” He also chose Wine To Water, a charity that installs wells and filters in countries like Nepal, Dominican Republic and Sudan. Being friends with them for many years, Kinnamon said he really believes in what they do. “We are really fortunate in the High Country to be able to turn on the tap and drink super good water,” Kinnamon said. “Wine To Water is doing incredible

things by helping other people in the world drink the same kind of water we do. That is why I chose them.” Kinnamon said there will be about a dozen tattoo artists at Speakeasy on March 4 for “Free Tattoos for the Community.” He said the event is going to be a huge party, especially because he has friends coming from in and out of state solely for the event. “We have done over 200 tattoos in the past on a charity day so we imagine we should do around 500 tattoos that day,” Kinnamon said. Kinnamon recommends that people have a good game plan beforehand. “Generally people will sleep out there,” Kinnamon said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if after the party people come out and sleep out there. At 7 a.m. there should be 50 or more people in line.” The weekend kicks off March 3 at the First Friday Art Crawl. There will be an art show at Speakeasy showcasing all of the available tattoo designs as well as an artist meet and greet from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be free beer sponsored by Pabst Blue Ribbon and snacks from Vidalia restaurant. The free tattooing begins 7 a.m. on March 4 and ends at 10 p.m. that night. Kinnamon said the tattoo artists will do

their best to get to everyone in line and said if the tattooers have enough energy they will keep working even past that deadline. Kinnamon said this event is for everyone in the High Country and Boone area, not just for students. “Although I’d imagine the majority of people coming out will be students, which is rad, it is for anybody,” Kinnamon said. Kinnamon said there are no changes to the size or content of the tattoos and people cannot bring their own designs. There is a limit of up to five tattoos on two different parts of the body. “You can’t come in and be like, ‘I want one on my foot and my other foot and my neck, hand and ribs,’” Kinnamon said. “It will just take all day and it starts becoming about you and not about us making some money for these charities.” Speakeasy does not tattoo the insides of feet, fingers or hands. Kinnamon said there will be no face or neck tattoos, but anywhere else is fair game. “What we already don’t tattoo, we are not just gonna then tattoo,” he said. “We’re gonna put them anywhere but on the neck and face. [It’s] too time consuming to do that stuff.” Kinnamon said the staff does not

Katie Murawski


Feb. 23, 2017

Speakeasy Tattoo Co is having hosting a Free Tattoo fundraiser on March 4th to help support selected charities. mind doing the tattoos, but they do not want to spend all day with one person changing their mind about where they want the tattoos. As of now, the flash sheets that are available on Speakeasy’s social media accounts are Wine To Water, Watauga Humane Society, North Carolina Planned Parenthood and Blue Ridge Conservancy. Kinnamon said they will “slowly roll out” the designs to build hype and mystery. He encourages people to pay attention to Speakeasy’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for pictures of the flash sheets for the other charities.

On March 5, the event will wind down and cap off with a party at Boone Saloon hosted by Booneshine Brewing Company. Booneshine will be doing a tap takeover, where they will bring their own beers and switch them with the ones at Boone Saloon. Wine To Water wine will also have more of their selections available at Saloon. There will be a $5 cover that will also go to charity and there will be prizes and giveaways. The grand prize is a $500 Speakeasy gift certificate, which Kinnamon said is worth about four hours of tattooing.

Skip Sinanias, owner of Boone Saloon, while mimicking President Donald Trump’s voice, said the after-party is “going to be huge.” The party starts at 4 p.m. at Saloon with music from Trevor McKenzie and Royal Nature. It will close with a dance party by DJ Overcash starting at 9 p.m. McKenzie plays old-time music and was a child prodigy, and that DJ Overcash was the DJ for Saloon’s Inaugural party and can throw a “phenomenal dance party,” Sinanias said. Sinanias said he loves the free tattoo event and believes it is a great idea, espe-

cially since it is a whole weekend affair. “We are talking about maybe next year we’d have a little parade,” Sinanias said. “We would call it March Fourth for Philanthropy or a cause; it would be kind of like a May Day situation. In Atlanta we’d have the East Atlanta Strut, where you just kind of strut your shit, whatever you want with no real theme.” Sinanias said the first 100 people at the door will receive a free beer, hopefully Booneshine beer or Pabst Blue Ribbon. “We will have at least three or four Booneshine beers, so we will encourage people to drink their beer,” Sinanias said. The weekend-long events have a unifying effect because it includes businesses up and down King street, he said. “From Boone Saloon to Vidalia, it unifies all of King Street and brings us together for not just one purpose, but for six different purposes,” Sinanias said. “I think that is what King Street needs for a lot of the cool little spots up and down the street. It is a nice kick-ass unifying effect. I think that is the best part about it for sure.” Kinnamon said he felt that with all the people who come in and spend money each year at Speakeasy, they can afford to take one day out of the year and give back. “The whole thing is, when you live in Boone and you are actually a member of the community, you realize that giving back is really important here,” Kinnamon said. “Everybody here is into doing something for their community, it is just mountain life, that is just the way we do it here.” When Kinnamon opened Speakeasy in 2008, he said from day one the community has totally supported his business, the shop and the artists. “They have not only kept us housed, clothed and fed with their businesses, they have allowed us to grow,” Kinnamon said. “We have grown a lot in the last almost nine years we have been here and that is because of the community support. We just feel like it is only right to kind of flip that back and do something for the community.” The Watauga Humane Society is among the seven charities to benefit from the tattoo donations. The flash sheet, displaying designs of mainly cats and dogs, are drawings by tattoo artist Cutty Bage. Some of the tattoo designs include a cat sitting in a crescent moon, a sketched Welsh corgi and dachshund, some varieties of paw prints and a cat astronaut. Karen Keys is a member of the board of directors for the Watauga County Humane Society who is thrilled about the event. “We are so pleased to be chosen to be a participant. It really means a lot,” Keys said. Keys said the Humane Society is planning on coming out to Speakeasy for Art Crawl to showcase the adoptable dogs they have available. Keys said they will also be out on Saturday with the dogs to mingle with people standing in line, however Keys is not sure what times they will be out. Keys said even though she is not planning on getting a tattoo, a fellow board member might shame her into it. “I have gone this long without having a tattoo, but never say never. I might get caught up and get one,” Keys said. She encouraged everyone to come out and “get inked for animals.”

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Feb. 23, 2017

Over Yonder is a restaurant located in Valle Crucis, North Carolina that serves classic Appalachian food.

OVER YONDER OPENS ITS DOORS TO CHEFS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY ALEAH WARNER AND HALEY SHELTON MANAGING EDITOR AND A&E REPORTER

ne restaurant in Valle Crucis is opening its doors to chefs in the High Country, allowing them to take over the kitchen, learn what it’s like to own a restaurant and run the show for the evening. Over Yonder, one of the only restaurants in Valle Crucis, is currently hosting the Rising Chefs of Appalachia PopUp Series as an opportunity for newer chefs to get experience and recognition, and for diners in the area to experience something different from the restaurant’s traditional focus on hyper local, southern Appalachian-style food, owner Andy Long said. Long created the Rising Chefs of Appalachia Pop-Up Series as a collaborative event with other chefs in Watauga County. He invites chefs to come into the restaurant, plan their own menu and serve as executive chef for the night. It’s an educational opportunity and a chance for chefs to get exposure, Long said. “It’s hard when you’re a young cook to get your name out there and to get experience, and sometimes there are really

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talented cooks and they’re working at terrible restaurants and you never know about them,” Long said. A lot goes into the planning of an event like this, Long said. The guest chefs run every step of the evening, with a little guidance from Long if needed. They learn how to create a cohesive menu, market the event, network with other chefs and everything in between. “It’s just giving them our kitchen and saying ‘You can do basically whatever you want’ and so far everyone has stepped up and they’re really eager and doing a really good job,” Long said. The first event of the series was on Feb. 1, with Thomas Butler taking over the kitchen. Butler works as a chef and kitchen manager at New Public House in Blowing Rock, and met Long when the two worked at Story Street Grill together. Butler’s theme for the evening was gluten free, vegetarian dishes. Butler isn’t a vegetarian, but said in the last two years he has become more health conscious, experimenting with meatless and gluten free dishes. “This menu is the dishes I’ve been

working on in the last year or two, stuff that I’ve been playing around with at home and I enjoy eating,” Butler said. “The whole goal behind the menu was to show people, even meat eaters, that you can eat a whole meal without having to put bread or meat in our bodies.” The event helped Butler branch out, and gave him a glimpse into what pursuing a chef career entails, something he has dreamed about since he was 12 years old. Christina Fasanello, a line cook at Over Yonder, hosted “Una Noche Espanola” at the second Rising Chefs event on Feb. 15. The menu was inspired by Fasanello’s Dominican-Italian heritage, including dishes her mother made for her as a child. “One in specific is boccalou, that I’ve been eating since I was a kid,” Fasanello said. “I tried to recreate a dish that has just been a really big part of my life, my culture, and my identity, and I also just really like it.” Fasanello served smaller plates, or pinchos, as Long called them. The menu included some items unfamiliar to Over

Yonder’s Appalachian-style food, including baby octopus, oxtail and churros. “I don’t want to do the same stuff we do here. It’s gotta be something different from what we do,” Long said. Fasanello said the event was a culmination of four menu drafts and a week of prep work, and helped her solidify her future business plans of opening her own tapas and cocktails restaurant. “I think it’s really cool that Andy and the rest of the Over Yonder staff is giving opportunities young chefs such as I to write menus, write prep lists and kind of do what they want to do and get some spotlight,” Fasanello said. Long said the reaction from diners has been good, and the series will continue to showcase the talents of Appalachia chefs roughly every two weeks as long as it generates interest. The next Rising Chefs Pop-Up Series event will feature a Thai food menu hosted by Matt Rivers, a banquet chef at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock. The date is to be decided.

Halle Keighton and Aleah Warner


Feb. 23, 2017

SENTIMENTS Sentiments, winner of Battle of the Bands in 2016, is a local dream pop group founded in 2014 by Sydney Sokoloff, lead vocals and guitar; Andrew Stevenson, keyboard, drums and vocals; after meeting by chance at a show in Asheville. In the fall of 2015, Edward Rojas, lead guitar and vocals; joined, followed shortly by Val DiGiacomo, bass. The group has dates coming up later this semester and a debut album in the works. Sentiments got a chance to play at Legends on Feb. 15 after winning Battle of the Bands last year.

Maleek Loyd

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BATTLING THE WARHAWKS FEB.11 | SATURDAY | 3:30 P.M. | HOLMES CONVOCATION CENTER BY TYLER HOTZ

Game Notes: The Mountaineers pulled off two upset victories in their previous contests at the Holmes Center, knocking off

Georgia State and Georgia Southern in only three nights. Sitting near the top of the conference, the Panthers and Eagles brought much more attention with them than UL Monroe. With App State sitting two games ahead of the last place Warhawks, the Apps are looking to make a late season push to finish higher in the final regular season Sun Belt rankings. History: Entering 3-1 against App State in Sun Belt play, the Warhawks come off of a two-game sweep this past season of the Mountaineers. In the 2014-15 season, the Apps logged their only victory in the series with a 66-43 pounding of the Warhawks at home. That victory snapped a five game losing streak for the Mountaineers and still stands as App State’s largest margin of victory against a Sun Belt opponent. With their fifth contest just around the corner, the Mountaineers look to end their two-game skid against the Warhawks.

LIMITING THE TURNOVERS: Both the Warhawks and Mountaineers come into the game with more turnovers committed than turnovers forced. Struggling to hold onto the ball, turnovers have been a calling card for both sides, especially considering both teams have positive margins in rebounds and assists. Freshman forward Isaac Johnson will be especially important for the Mountaineers, leading the team in steals with 31. On their own side, the Warhawks have five players with 18 or more steals on the season. If the Mountaineers can limit the turnovers on their end and force the Warhawks into some pressure, then they will have a huge advantage to come out on top.

HITTING THE MAGIC NUMBER:

While members of the Bojangles-crazy Mountaineer crowd will say that 75 is the magic number for the Mountaineers, it is actually five points less than that. All but one of the 15 combined victories between the Mountaineers and Warhawks has come when either team has scored 70 or more points. Scoring 70 or more points in three of their past four games, the Apps are 2-2 during that span. Continuing their hot shooting, and keeping UL Monroe under control, will help the Apps gain their fourth conference win of the season. In those past four games, App State has hit 38 3-pointers, propelling their point totals to their ideal mark.

SHARING THE RESPONSIBILITY:

Before App State pulled off upsets against Georgia State and Georgia Southern, sophomore guard Ronshad Shabazz had been the leading scorer or tied for the honor in six of the past eight games. Putting so much of the scoring load on the Mountaineer leading scorer, teams began to key in on the standout sophomore. However, in the past five games, Shabazz has only been the leading scorer once with five Mountaineers leading or tying for the team lead in points. In order for App State to get rolling at the end of the season, they must take the burden off of Shabazz and let other young standouts stuff the stat sheet.

UL

8-18, 3-12 Sun Belt

MONROE 7-20, 1-13 Sun Belt

POINTS PER GAME

74.7 66.9 REBOUNDS PER GAME

37.5

35.6

OPPONENTS PPG

75.8 69.7

GAME’S KEY PLAYER

GRIFFIN

#5 KINNEY 10

79 FREE THROWS MADE

POINTS PER GAME


STOPPIN’ THE CAJUNS FEB. 23 | THURSDAY | 7 P.M. | HOLMES CONVOCATION CENTER BY MICHAEL PIGG

Game Notes: Appalachian State will play host to UL Lafayette on Thursday in the two teams only meeting of the season. As App State struggles losing the past two games, UL Lafayette comes to Boone with all the momentum winning the past four.

History: Being the first game of the season between these two, it could also be considered a rubber match. App State and UL Lafayette split last year’s meeting with each team winning at home.

KNOCK DOWN THE OPEN SHOTS :

Look for UL Lafayette to play a lot of zone defense against App State. App State will have to work inside out against the type of defense having opportunities for the three ball. Look for junior guard Madi Story to capitalize on the opportunities early to get UL Lafayette to come out of the zone.

CONTAIN SIMONE FIELDS:

In UL Lafayette’s four game winning streak, Simone Fields it seems she has been getting any looks that she wants on the court, and shooting a perfect 10-for-10 from the field against Troy. Expect App freshman center Bayley Plummer to come off the bench and have an effective defensive night without getting in foul trouble.

10-16, 5-10 Sun Belt

3-POINT %

37%

31%

TURNOVERS PER GAME

17.4 14.1

UL Lafayette is one of the tallest teams in the Sun Belt, and it is going to take more than the forwards to out rebound them the guards have to crash also. Another big rebounding night from Ashley Bassett Smith will be key, as she was able to grab a career high 12 rebounds against South Alabama last weekend. App State is looking for another night like that to even things up rebounding wise.

UL LAFAYETTE 15-8, 9-5 Sun Belt

GAME’S KEY PLAYER

POINTS PER GAME

62.5 69.0

CRASH THE BOARDS:

#30

ASHLEY

SMITH

6.8 POINTS PER GAME

5.0 REBOUNDS PER GAME


Feb. 23, 2017

MALACHI BACK IN THE HIGH COUNTRY IAN TAYLOR SPORTS REPORTER

alachi

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Jones’ walks through campus are much different now than they were a little over year ago. Walking around last year, Jones was a starting wide receiver for the App State Mountaineers football team, a top target for quarterback Taylor Lamb and a Camellia Bowl victor to finish his career. Flash forward 14 months and Jones is back in Boone as a High Country Grizzly prepping to play for the Grizzlies inaugural indoor football season in the High Country. “Boone is like a second home to me,” Jones said. “It always has been and always will be. I love the people, love the town itself and the people around town have been so welcoming and so supportive of my decision to come back.” After finishing his final season at Appalachian with a victory over Ohio in the Camellia Bowl, Jones left Appalachian a semester early to begin preparing for a future in the NFL. Needing hernia surgery after leaving App, Jones was slowed, but undeterred. Jones received offers from the Oakland Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons after going through the 2016 draft without being selected. Jones chose to stay at home in Georgia and sign with the Falcons, joining a deep receiving corps headlined by Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu. “They needed receivers, guys to back up Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu,” Jones said. “When I heard that, you know it’s a great opportunity right here in my home state. I think the facility was not even 45 minutes away from my house.” However, a few weeks later, Jones found himself without a team when he was released after the team’s rookie minicamp. The Falcons were looking for a different type of player, and Jones didn’t fit their desired mold for playing out of the slot. Graduating early, Jones had previously promised his mother to one day go back to college and get his degree, and he would have received it had he not needed surgery before leaving. Without a team to play for, he decided to plan for a spring return to Appalachian State and finish his degree in graphic arts and imaging technology, the same major that

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Former receiver Malachi Jones silences the crowd as he celebrates their 2015 Camellia Bowl victory. Jones is now a player for the High Country Grizzlies. former Mountaineer Armanti Edwards had. “The first offseason I had, whether I was on an NFL, CFL team or wherever, I was going to come back here and finish up my degree,” Jones said. “If it weren’t for the surgery and the extensive rehab, I would have stayed up in Boone and gotten my degree.” As it turned out, his timing for returning couldn’t have been better. In Boone, the High Country Grizzlies were becoming part of a brand new arena football league called the National Arena League, a developmental league for football players. The Grizzlies had a connection to Boone and Appalachian State not just by location, but by the people who were building the team themselves. One of

the two owners, Bryan Bouboulis, is currently a professor of business at Appalachian. Working alongside him is general manager and director of football operations, William Thompson, who was brought in personally by legendary Mountaineer head coach Jerry Moore. Thompson described that his vision for the Grizzlies began and ended with high-quality players on and off the field, as well as improvement in both facets. “We want the best football athlete that we can find,” Thompson said. “Guys who have integrity, want to change his life, and are willing to do the steps to change his life and win football games to get back to that paycheck in the NFL.” For Bouboulis and the rest of the front office, it was a no-brainer to try and get Jones to come back to Boone.

“We know he has the talent; we just want to groom him and we were like, ‘Come back, let us take care of you. Understand that we have your best interest at heart and we want you to get back into the NFL,’" Bouboulis said. Jones officially signed with the Grizzlies on Oct. 31, 2016. He was later joined by another former standout Mountaineer, Dexter Jackson, who had spent time in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers and New York Jets. Jones sees the opportunity to play arena football with the Grizzlies as not just a way to play football but a way to get better. He described the beginning of the transition as “a complete 180” and admitted that it was rocky but he adjusted well. “If you’re playing, you’re getting better, whether it’s arena football, semi-pro, CFL, NFL, it can be anything,” Jones said. “You’re always learning new things and it can always be applied. It’s a challenge, so once you dominate it and overcome it, it’s just going to make you that much better of a player.” Jones’ return to Boone, and to his football career is yet to be completed. There’s no telling what will happen to him, his career, or the Grizzlies, but Jones has confidence in his future and compares himself to two former NFL players. “I definitely want to write my own story. I think every story is unique, but Kurt Warner, he comes to mind,” Jones said. “Delvin Breaux, he didn’t even play college football. But he started in arena, played four or five games, the CFL called him up, he did his rookie-minimum two years, and next thing you know he’s the starting cornerback for the Saints.” Jones has confidence that through hard work and patience, he’ll follow in the footsteps of guys like Warner and Wake. Like them, the road map of his career is a winding one, filled with stops no one expected, and Jones is not letting anything stop him or his career.

Christopher Deverell


Feb. 23, 2017

HAMPTON EXCELS IN COLLEGE TRANSITION COLT JENSEN SPORTS REPORTER

A

rmani Hampton

never intended to play basketball. Hampton was planning on just sticking with cheerleading, until she attended her first basketball practice. “I actually started [playing basketball] in the sixth grade. I was a cheerleader prior to [playing], but somehow I went to a practice with my best friend,” Hampton said. “I actually didn’t want to play, but my friend’s coach said ‘you’re tall you should play.’ I said didn’t want to play, but he got a hold of my mom. My mom made me go to practice and for the first year I hated it, but began to like it, and I got better.” Since that first practice, Hampton has come a long way. As a freshman on Appalachian’s women’s basketball team, Hampton has played in all but three of her team's games, and has played a big role in those games for the Mountaineers. Hampton has made the most of her minutes vacated by upperclassmen on the injury-plagued Mountaineers roster. Before Hampton arrived at App State, there was quite a bit of work and a few stops along the way. Hampton started playing basketball through the Amateur Athletic Union organization, and then when she started high school she chose to play at Atkins High School in Winston-Salem. “Atkins is a [Division] 1-A school, so they are very small school. They only had a 2-66 record in the time before I got there,” Hampton said. Despite Atkins’ poor reputation before Hampton arrived, the school swiftly become a regular in the playoffs, and Hampton led the team on one of the deepest playoff runs in its school history. “We got to the third round my senior year, which was our deepest playoff run, before we lost," Hampton said. "It was a great experience to see how far the team had come.” Even though Hampton found a lot of athletic success on the basketball court at Atkins, she never played any other sports. “I only focused on basketball. I didn’t run track, or play volleyball. I just played basketball,” Hampton said. That laser-like focus on basketball paid off for Hampton, who used her high school success to become a highly rated basketball prospect with several attractive scholarship offers. When Hampton visited Appalachian, something unique in App State’s team stood out to her. “I’d heard of Appalachian before. My grandpa told me about it, and I had a best friend whose dad ran track at App," Hampton said. "So, I knew about Appalachian but when I got recruited here, I visited and I saw how close the team was. That reminded me of how close my high school team and my AAU team were. I wanted to be a part of a team like that again.”

Halle Keighton

After arriving at Appalachian, Hampton found a teammate in senior forward Bria Carter, who had a very similar skill set to hers and who has helped her develop her game, and is excited by the progress she has made this season. “On the court, I see a lot of me in her. It’s like I’m looking at myself four years ago,” Carter said. “She’s a very good rebounder, and does a good job at getting putbacks. I know her game will grow, but I think she’s doing really well as a freshman.” That type of compliment from a senior leader is something that is rarely received by a freshman, and the coaching staff was even impressed by the player to player comparison. The complement is also impressive because Carter is another player who came in with similar skills as a freshman, and then worked her way into becoming one of the Mountaineers’ most important players. “That compliment just shows how much confidence Carter has in Armani to succeed on the court and continue to grow her game,” assistant coach Kate Dempsey said. “We hope that she’ll put in more work in the offseason, so that she can become a double threat similar to Carter.” While the coaching staff and Hampton’s fellow players see a lot of potential and talent in Hampton, she admits the high school to college transition hasn’t been easy. “My schedule changed because I wasn’t used to having practice in the morning or before class," Hampton said. "Now I have a lot more on my plate because I used to just have one practice and school. Now I have weights and a lot more to do, and time management was a big issue, but now I finally feel like I’ve got that under control.”

Freshman Guard Armani Hampton attempts to score with a layup during the game against UT Arlington. The Mountaineers lost against the Mavericks with the final score being 62-73. Despite having to go through an adjustment period, Hampton has made the most of her time at Appalachian by working to improve her game to better suit the college game. “Armani is an incredible hard worker, and she does everything that she does at full capacity,” Dempsey said. “She’s a really nice kid, and has worked to grow her game and get her game to where it currently is. She’s a product of her own hard work. She’s been able to adapt, fix her footwork and be able to really impact that game when she’s on the court.” Hampton’s hard work has allowed her not only to adjust and become more comfortable at the college level, but also become a regular contributor to the team’s success. “She’s one of our more efficient players when she’s on the floor, and whether

that is two minutes or 10 minutes, she has a great nose for the ball,” Dempsey said. “When the ball is in play she’s going to do everything she can do to get it. Having Armani out there setting the tone has made her teammates better maybe more than they’ve made her better.” As the Mountaineers near the Sun Belt conference tournament, they will need Hampton’s efficiency and contributions more than ever. Appalachian has five seniors listed on this year's roster, so it’s likely Hampton will continue to gain experience quickly and be an impactful contributor for rest of her time her at App State. “Armani already plays at a high caliber speed and has great athleticism that has helped her transition to the college game,” Dempsey said. “I can’t wait to see what she will do.”

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Feb. 23, 2017

“

AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN GREAT

Make America Great

Again,” the campaign slogan of President Donald Trump, can be found emblazoned on the hats and shirts of many of his supporters all across the nation. For many this phrase seems rather nebulous, but what exactly does it mean to “Make America Great Again?” Trump provides an answer in an interview with The New York Times where he points to the ‘40s and ‘50s as a time where he felt America was great. “We were not pushed around,” he said. “We were respected by everybody, we had just won a war, we were pretty much doing what we had to do.” There it is, the answer to making America great again: hold another devastating world war and use the influx of funds from the military-industrial complex to rebuild the economy. What a great plan. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with it (aside from the obvious), there’s no reason America can’t be made great again. Aside from one little detail. America was never great to begin with. The time that Trump thinks was “great” saw the signing of executive order 9066 which authorized the imprisonment of Japanese Americans. According to Reuters, roughly 120,000 Japanese Americans were forced into 10 internment camps scat-

I

Q Russell is sophomore journalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina. tered all along the country under fear of them being enemy sympathizers. These people had done nothing wrong, and yet they had their rights stripped of them and their livelihoods destroyed. In that time the question arises, was America great for them? Absolutely not. Going back further to a particularly dark blemish on America’s “greatness”: the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. A little known, yet incredibly destructive event that ended in the complete annihilation of what many at the time called “the Black Wall Street.” The events which occurred in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma that led to the riot are wrapped in some confusion. According to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum site, there was an

incident between a young black man, Dick Rowland, and a young white woman, Sarah Page, that led to the young man being arrested. The official report states that the two may have been lovers, or they may have barely known each other, but what is known is that the young man was arrested and held for investigation. According to The New York Times, on March 31, 1921, hundreds of armed white men gathered outside of where Rowland was held and demanded he be handed over for lynching. A much smaller group of armed black men arrived to prevent this and a standoff ensued. Eventually a shot was fired, and the destruction of the black portion of Tulsa began. An account from Buck Colbert Franklin, a survivor and witness of the incident, describes planes as flying over the area, dropping burning turpentine balls, literally raining fire. The riot went on early into the morning of June 1, 1921, and led to the destruction of roughly 40 blocks, the loss of over 1200 homes and between 100 and 300 deaths. The surviving black community were all rounded up and imprisoned for up to 8 days, and an all-white grand jury found the black community responsible in court. Overall 10,000 black people had

their lives destroyed and no one remembers. Was America great for them? No, no it wasn’t. Going back even further, a prime example is the Wilmington insurrection of 1898. Literally the only coup d’etat in American history, committed by white nationalists on a fusionist black and white joint government. According to NPR, on Nov. 8, 1898, a mob of white supremacists stormed the Wilmington capital building and forced the resignations of the entire government. They then destroyed as many black businesses as they could and ran off, or killed, as many black residents as they could. So what happened as a result? Nothing, according to the North Carolina Office of Archives and History no action was taken. The white supremacists proceeded to consolidate their power, and the incident was laid to rest and all but forgotten. Again, the question must be asked, how was America great for these people? And again the question is answered: no it was not. So don’t ever say “Make America Great Again,” when America was never great to begin with.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

t seems as though the

topic of free speech resurfaces continually, whether it is related to campus protests, the university chalking policy or the rights of different organizations to hold events on campus. However, many students are unaware of the larger, overarching restrictions relating to campus free speech, which take the form of “unscheduled public speaking areas,” also referred to as “free speech zones.” These free speech zones include Sanford Mall, Durham Park and the Duck Pond Field behind Trivette Hall. According to information provided by the ASU Physical Plant, this results in a total Free Speech Zone area of 0.67 percent of campus property. According to the ACLU’s Student Guide to Campus Free Speech Zones, “Despite their name, campus ‘free speech zones,’ at their best tolerate speech but have little to do with actually encouraging lively and spirited expres-

sive activities on campus. At their worst, by effectively fencing in campus speech and restricting such activity to a closed and limited physical area of campus, they represent a serious threat to the traditional model of a university operating as a quintessential marketplace of ideas.” Therefore, we call upon the Appalachian State University administration to amend its current policies relating to both chalking and the current free speech zones in order to allow university students the opportunity to take part in the free expression of ideas, through the communication mediums of their choosing. Signed, Ryan Hofmann College Republican’s Events Chairman Nick Williams Young Americans for Liberty Co-President

19


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289 Ambling Way, Boone, NC 28607

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February 23, 2017 by The Appalachian - Issuu