Feb.
9
2016
The Appalachian
YEAR OF THE MONKEY Page 8-9
INSIDE MAKING HISTORY Page 5
PLAY = CLASS Page 6
SOFTBALL STARTS UP Page 11
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THE TEAM Malik Rahili @malikrahili EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITORIAL MULTIMEDIA BUSINESS
Charlotte Wray @_charlottewray MANAGING EDITOR Aleah Warner @aleahwarner CHIEF COPY EDITOR
Ignacio Martinez-Alvarez @theappalachian BUSINESS MANAGER
Carl Blankenship @carl_r_blank NEWS EDITOR Katie Murawski @murawskikm A&E EDITOR
Stephanie Sansoucy @stephsans DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Allison Bennett Dyche @allisonbdyche ADVISER
Chris Warner @chriswarner2293 SPORTS EDITOR Kevin Griffin @theappalachian OPINION EDITOR
CRIME LOG CAMPUS FEB.8
9:00 p.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Hoey Hall A Student was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol.
FEB. 7 12:01 a.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Lovill Hall A student was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol.
FEB. 5 12:39 a.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Lovill Hall Three students were arrested for underage consumption of alcohol.
FEB. 5 5:10 p.m. | Larceny State Farm Parking Lot Under investigation.
FEB. 5 5:59 p.m. | Larceny Frank Hall Under Investigation.
FEB. 5 11:24 a.m. | DWI Coffey Street A man was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
FEB. 4 10:02 p.m. | Drug Violation Greenwood Trail A student was arrested for possession of marijuana.
FEB. 4 11:41 p.m. | Drug Violation Eggers Hall A student was arrested for underage consumption of marijuana.
Justin Perry @justincperry PHOTO EDITOR Carson Fletcher @theappalachian VIDEO EDITOR Dylan Dow @zen_dow WEB MANAGER
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Practitioner-in-Residence Brent Summerville works on the measurement system. Summerville said the system will collect data for about a year.
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES
FACULTY MEMBER INSTALLS WIND MEASUREMENT DEVICE FOR ARMY CORPS
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BY TOMMY CULKIN SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
rent Summerville, a sustainable technology Practitioner-in-Residence at Appalachian State University, recently installed a wind measurement system at the Kerr Scott Dam and Reservoir in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The purpose of the measurement system is to determine whether it is a viable location for a wind turbine. Summerville was hired by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and worked on the project with his graduate assistant, Robb O’Brien. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wanted to test the wind resource available at the Kerr Scott Dam because their hope is that they would put vertical wind turbines there,” O’Brien said. “They wanted to make sure that the energy generated would warrant the costs of putting wind turbines on the dam.” They installed the system on the top of a bridge leading up to the intake tower of the dam. The custom system consists of a 15-foot tower, with anemometers at varying heights to measure wind speed, a wind vane to measure the direction of the wind and a thermometer for gauging the temperature. The installation is connected to a solar powered data logger that will transmit the information to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Multiple anemometers were added to increase the reliability of the data. “It’s always good to have two sensors to measure the differences at the differing altitudes, but it’s also useful to make sure they are functioning,” Summerville said. “For instance, if the upper one malfunctions, we wouldn’t know it as quickly unless the bottom one is giving drastically different results.” O’Brien said the ideal wind speed for a turbine would be around 12 miles per hour. “Ideally, you like to shoot for 12 to 15 miles per hour,” O’Brien said. “Can a wind turbine work with less, like 10? Sure, but it’s going to take a lot longer to make up for the costs. And
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this is just my opinion, but if you’re getting anything less than 10 miles per hour, there’s a better way to invest your money.” Summerville said it should take about a year to determine whether it would be worthwhile to build a wind turbine on the dam. “Obviously with things like this, the longer you compile data, the better your results will be,” Summerville said. “But of course you have to stop at some point, so it’ll probably be around 12 months.” It took Summerville and O’Brien about two weeks to build the measurement system, and the process was sped up because of their ability to work together. “We’re a good team,” O’Brien said. “Obviously, he’s the teacher and I’m learning from him, but there are also some parts of the process that I have more experience in.” Scott Graham, the interpretive park ranger for the Wilmington district of the USACE, said the project is part of an effort to adopt alternative sources of energy at many of their federal parks. “We’re always looking to increase our sustainability efforts,” Graham said. “If we can install those wind turbines then we’ll be able to use those to power a lot of lighting in the dam and around a walkway.” Graham said the location makes it a likely spot for wind turbines to be effective. “We’re at a high altitude and it’s right there on a lake, which is good for wind, but right now we’re not entirely sure,” Graham said. Summerville said it is important to be sustainable so that others might follow your example. “We are here as stewards of the environment,” Summerville said. “Part of our task is to train and to show people how they can implement the resources they have to generate clean energy, just for the livelihood and sustainability of the human race.” Maleek Loyd
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The United States Post Office in downtown Boone was recently designated as a historical landmark. The Historic Preservation committee examined 110 properties to be designated.
FROM DESIGNATIONS TO DIGITIZATION
THE HPC AIMS TO PROTECT BOONE’S HISTORY
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STORY BY SAMMY HANF NEWS REPORTER
he Historic Preservation Committee recently submitted the results of a survey that examined 110 properties in the Boone area to the Boone Town Council, aiming to designate those found to be significant for protection. The survey was commissioned by the Town of Boone and overseen by Carolina Historical Consulting LLC. Eric Plaag, the founder of Carolina Historical Consulting, said his work on the report was done on a volunteer basis. Plaag said he got involved to give back to the town and get the ball rolling on what he feels is an important process. “So much has disappeared from downtown Boone just in the last 30 years, and I’m fearful that Boone will lose its character,” Plaag said. The designation requires that any changes to a property or district considered historic be approved by their preservation commission to ensure that any modifications do not negatively affect the area’s historical character. The process of designation takes place on a local level, being authorized and reviewed by the town council. The town also conducts a public hearing on the results. Mayor Rennie Brantz said he believed the designation was very important and is excited about the progress being made, including plans to recognize downtown Boone as a historic district. “The HPC made very important steps in capturing and preserving the historical record of Boone,” Brantz said. Brantz also said that the groundwork for the survey was done by Appalachian students. Bettie Bond of the Watauga Historical Society said she is excited to see barriers preventing the renovation or demolition of key historical monuments, an all too common story for many historic areas. The designation makes the property owner eligible for an annual federal property tax deferral of up to 50 percent, providing the important historic features are maintained. Historic designation for landmarks and districts aren’t the only efforts being made to preserve the history of the High Country. The society is also working on its Watauga County Digital Project to preserve the personal stories of the people that worked and lived in those historic buildings. Plaag said he put together an exhibit of postcards donated by Watauga native BobSammy Hanf
by Brendell to show what Digital Watauga was accomplishing. The exhibit consists of postcards from Brendell’s expansive collection, organized into several different themes for display. Plaag said the postcards can be eye opening for those that are unfamiliar with how they were used in the early 20th century. “I like having the opportunity… to do an exhibit and get them thinking differently about what they already know,” Plaag said. Plaag previously worked with the University of South Carolina’s collection of natural science specimens, using them to recreate the Cabinet of Curiosity, a 20th century practice of displaying exotic specimens most people had only heard tall tales about. Plaag said the exhibit was masterminded by himself, Paul Fuller, Maria Hale and Charles Watkins with labels provided by the graduate students of Kristen Deathridge. The postcards range from idyllic mountain scenery and the churches that dot Watauga’s corner of the Appalachians to pictures of downtown Boone and Appalachian State, including a postcard from the school bearing a date that appears to be 1922. Paul Fuller, who graduated the University of Massachusetts at Boston with a graduate degree in history, said his favorite postcard was a picture of Daniel Boone lifting a dead bear. Fuller decided to volunteer for the exhibit to build interest in small town historical societies, something he said was ubiquitous in New England. “I just think that local historical societies, and history, is very important to a sense of community,” Fuller said. Bond said Digital Watauga is also working to preserve other personal records like diaries, journals, photos and other remnants that show what life in Watauga was like in the past. Bond said that the project simply digitally scans anything someone has a desire to preserve and allows them to keep the original physical copy. The document is then put in a database that can be publically accessed. “This becomes part of the North Carolina public record, it’s all digitally accessible,” Bond said. Brantz said the exhibit shines a light on key parts of the town’s past and that he’s impressed by the energy and passion displayed by those trying to keep Watauga’s history alive. 5
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VIDEO GAME DISCOURSE: ONE OF ASU’S NEWEST CLASSES BY MICHAEL HEBERT A&E REPORTER
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idden in the class registry was a small selected topics course from the communications department called video game discourse. It was approved last semester and is in its first few weeks on campus. Taught by professor Mark Bentley, the course is designed to examine the social impacts on discourse of video games, more specifically the medium compared to other types of media. One future topic Bentley mentioned discusses how the themes of capitalism and war are represented in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” and what those themes mean for the people playing it. An academic class at its core, Bentley takes video games seriously and views them as deserving of the same respect and analysis that mediums like movies or books receive in academia. “Video game studies is a legitimate academic field,” Bentley said. “The response from the department was great when I proposed it.” The enthusiastic response that Bentley received from the department indicated to him a shift in the way video games are viewed in society. “Nerd culture is pop culture,” Bentley said. “It wasn’t that way when I was a kid.” The reason video games have grown in popularity now is because the parents of today grew up with video games and are sharing them with their children. The way generations have shared books or movies is the same way video games are being shared now. As a result, video games are pervading society in a way never before seen, Bentley said. “Video games used to be seen as a child’s toy,” Bentley said. “Now everyone plays them.” It is because of this acceptance that video games can be studied academically in a way that other children’s toys cannot, and what led to the creation of this new course. There are other classes offered at ASU that have video game themes or core ideas, such as the education department’s narrative, new media and gaming, but none where it is the central defining aspect. This certain type of course inspires a certain type of research. Bentley does research specifically in video game studies, with a focus on how games are influential in their messages and their delivery of those messages. For example, his past research explores how religion and politics were represented in “Bioshock: Infinite” and how the game got its message of political secularism across. Video games are entirely based on the audience’s interaction, whereas in film there is only a one-way stream of information to the audience. Two people can play the same game but have wildly different experiences and outcomes. This effect is also present in the class. Students have said they are taking this course for different reasons. One such student is Shae Donohue, a junior video game art and design major, who is interested in studying the effects of video games. Why are they so popular? How can something so new be so incredible at creating something so engaging? Donohue said
Professor Mark Bentley, teaches the new Video Game Discourse class in the communications department. she wants to study these questions during her time at Appalachian State. “[Gaming] is revolutionary,” Donohue said. “We’re still learning what we can do with the medium.” Donohue’s career interest lies in working in the industry with developers. The degree she seeks will allow her better knowledge of the field and insight into the ways it works, better preparing her for the future, Donohue explained. Donohue is excited about her career, future and hobby in gaming. “In the future, everyone is going to game,” she said. Bentley’s class does more than explore the Scott Rice theories behind video games. The format of the class is simple. Weekends consist of playing through a selected game, on Tuesdays students discuss that game and its relation to previous readings and on Thursdays students read academic articles and theories relevant to next week’s game. Edward “Teddy” McDaniel, a junior communication studies major said that playing video games as homework is novel and very fun, something he can’t get in other classes. “I’m interested in the class because it introduces me to new games,” he said. “I knew [Bentley] would open my eyes to games I wouldn’t have played otherwise.” McDaniel isn’t interested in pursuing a career from video games, but enjoys them as a recreational outlet the same way someone would read books or watch movies for fun.
"I hope to see more academic departments offer classes exploring video games as worthy of research in their own right."
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These testimonies show that everyone can get something different out of the course and video games in general. In January, the ASU Gaming Club held a special event where people could gather and bond over games. Members of the club look to games as a means of connecting to each other, to meet new people and have fun. Video game discourse is still in its early stages for becoming a fully recognized course, but Bentley is confident that it will be successful. “The main issue we have right now is a logistical one,” Bentley said. “The faculty is super supportive of having a dedicated class on video games.” In the future, Bentley said he wants to see more academic interest and research on video games. Whether it be through courses or student-faculty projects, more interest is encouraging to him and his students because they believe that video games will have increasing relevance in everyone’s lives. Another faculty member that is interested in pursuing video games as an academic topic and teaching tool is Scott Rice, coordinator of technology services at the library. “I hope to see more academic departments offer classes exploring video games as worthy of research in their own right,” he said. Rice has co-taught courses that explore the overlap between film and video games and has worked hard in creating the Game Development Room in the library. The GDR houses different hardware systems that students can reserve. Faculty can also reserve the room for academic purposes. According to the Electronic Software Association, the video game industry is large enough to rival the movie industry in terms of revenue. With this increase of sales and influence, video games are likely to stay. But of course, only time will tell.
Dallas Linger
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QUARTz’s founding members, Gregg Kaluza, left, Aric Blackledge, right, showing off their DJ personality.
QUARTZ: BOONE’S NEWEST DJ DUO
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BY KATIE MURAWSKI A&E EDITOR
regg Kaluza, senior communications major and Aric Blackledge, Boone local, first met while attending a Paper Diamond concert with mutual friends at Legends in January 2015. After the concert, the two began talking about making their own music. Kaluza has been DJing since he was 17 and Blackledge since he was 19. Thus, QUARTz was born and has been gaining momentum since summer of 2015. The name QUARTz comes from the crystal’s ability to heal negative frequencies. The duo wants to spread the healing power of music, Blackledge said. “Quartz [crystals] heal your DNA at the core, and that is what we want our frequencies to do, and we are trying to spread that message with our music,” Kaluza said. QUARTz began performing at Town Tavern last March, playing every Friday night and then expanding to gigs at house parties. Joshua Scott, QUARTz’s manager, started officially booking the duo last October for Thursday nights at TApp Room, for an event called “TrApp Thursdays.” “Gregg and Aric have been good friends of mine for a couple of years now and watching them progress in their art has been an awesome thing,” Scott said. “Over the past couple of months with the emergence of TrApp Thursdays and the UNDRGRND, we’ve really dialed in a good [electronic dance music] scene in Boone again.” QUARTz uses a digital audio workstation and the program Ableton to make their mixes, which Blackledge said is used by many artists. As far as genre, there is unpredictability. Blackledge said his music could take a turn at any moment. While Scott said QUARTz’s style ranges from electro-funk to trap, Blackledge plays music that no one has heard of, Kaluza said. Kaluza plays oldies funk and popular remixes. “We play good music, and occasionally hug toward sides of genres from rap to dubstep,” Blackledge said. In accordance with their genre unpredictability, Kaluza and Blackledge rely heavily on the vibes of the audience and never plan a set list. QUARTz has since played at River Street Ale House, performed with local hiphop duo Pragmaddix and trap artist Samborghini. QUARTz also joined the concert series and DJ collective UNDRGRND, which launched July 2015. On Jan. 8, they competed in the SOMA Entertainment’s Manic Focus Asheville DJ competition and won a slot opening for the groups Manic Focus and Psymbionic at Katie Murawski
New Mountain Theatre in Asheville on Jan. 15. According to SOMA Entertainment’s Facebook page of the event, it was a close competition between Soul Candy and QUARTz. “Since both artists put up such a fight we have decided to award both artists with an opening time slot,” the post said. To win the competition each DJ group had to create a 30 minute mix, upload it to SoundCloud, name it and then send the link to SOMA Entertainment. The mixes were posted to SOMA Entertainment’s Facebook page and the group that gained the most likes won. Within 24 hours, QUARTz’s mix had over 297 likes, Kaluza said. “The publicity was instant and later we found out we technically lost by five likes,” Blackledge said. After finding success with the DJ competition, QUARTz landed a gig at the Sly Grog Lounge in Asheville on March 5. They have also been invited to play two sets at the invitation-only Hidden in the Hollow Festival on May 20 and 21. QUARTz’s plans for the future include producing music via computer with virtual instruments as well as incorporating live instruments and beat boxing in their mixes, which Kaluza deems revolutionary. They are also working on original songs and looking to branch out more in Boone and Asheville. “We always get good reviews,” Kaluza said. “One time at Ale House this guy was constantly dancing and after the show he came up to us and said, ‘I have been in Boone for almost six years and you guys are the best I have ever heard, no one plays music like you guys do consistently.’” Garet Praska, fan of QUARTz, said their shows are fun and provide the sound of a large venue right in one of Boone’s several tiny bars and have a unique sound. Praska enjoys the “powerful and raw” hip-hop inspired trap sounds QUARTz brings. “Having rappers spit over trap beats is a rarity and a treat. It’s nice to hear the sounds they provide which compliments the ever evolving realm of electronic music.” Praska said, “If you live in Boone and enjoy EDM do yourself a favor and go see QUARTz spin, you won’t be disappointed.” Blackledge said that QUARTz’s following has extended beyond just friends and family, and now the duo meets the majority of their fans at shows. “Every time I see them perform they’re always super energetic and into the music and it’s hard to not dance the whole time they’re performing,” freshman psychology major Chelsea Pipes said. “If you haven’t seen them live, I would highly recommend it because each show is always a different, wonderful experience.” 7
The Appalachian Chinese Culutre Club held its annual Lunar New Year Festival Monday at 6:30 p.m. Attendees watched multiple performances from student groups like NouN and Voice Male. From authentic Asian cuisine to informational presentations on various countries and their cultures, visitors could educate themselves on Asian customs and celebrate the New Year at the same time.
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BY KATIE MURAWSKI A&E EDITOR
ppalachian State students held their own celebration of the Chinese New Year in I.G. Greer on Monday. The festival allowed students and different clubs to showcase their talents and ring in the year of the monkey. The Chinese Lunar New Year began on Feb. 8, 2016, and goes through Jan. 27, 2017. For most people that celebrate, the Chinese Lunar New Year is a time for renewal and the biggest events are those returning home and visiting family, lecturer of Chinese Melvin Ballard said. In China, the Lunar New Year has become the largest annual migration of humans on the planet, Ballard said. The Chinese Lunar New Year Festival is celebrated in accordance with the lunar calendar, which predates the Gregorian calendar. The traditional Chinese calendar is talked about as being the longest unbroken sequence of time measurement in history, Ballard said. The lunar calendar dates back to the 14th century, however, there is hard evidence that it has existed as early as the Shang Dynasty in 1766-1122 B.C.E. “We are on more stable ground by talking about evidence for a calendar exhibited in writings on oracle bones associated with the Shang Dynasty,” Ballard said. The animal associated with the calendar this year is the monkey, who is said to be clever, crafty and cunning. Ballard said that this year stock markets could be problematic and people should be warned about making major financial decisions during the year of the monkey. However, personal relationships with family members or significant others could work out well. “While all of the animal signs have both positive and negative characteristics, it is generally accepted that the year of the monkey could see all sorts of flip-flops in terms of social organization,” Ballard said. Anyone who was born in the year of the monkey will have to take precautions, as any year corresponding to your animal sign is a year that might be fraught with problems, Ballard said. Traditionally-minded people might carry a small protective talisman on them throughout the year. Although the exact origin of animal association for the different years
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is unknown, there has been a suggestion about a yin yang theory. “The concept of contrasting principles is prominent in the fact that six of the animals are domestic, while the remaining six are wild or believed to be wild in the case of the mythological dragon,” Ballard said. Ballard said that there are many stories about the order of animals included in the calendar. The most prominent tale involves a race between a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar. The order in which the animals crossed the finish line determined the years each animal represents. App State CULTr presented a lecture entitled “At Home in the World: Religious Roots of Lunar New Year Customs in Asia and Abroad” given by Cuong Mai, a religious studies professor at Appalachian State. After the lecture, Chinese Culture Club, Asian Student Association, Cultural Awareness Student Engagement Council and Chi Upsilon Sigma held a Lunar New Year festival in the Parkway Ballroom. There was vegetarian fried rice and lo mein noodles provided by China Wok. There were also performances from NouN, VoiceMale and Asian Student Association, as well as poetry readings, a saxophone solo and storytelling by a member of CCC. “This festival is a great opportunity to expand ones knowledge about Chinese and Asian culture,” said Patrick Schwarz, secretary of CCC and freshman international business major. Maxwell Gordon, international business major and president of CCC, said the Chinese New Year’s Festival is one of the biggest and most widely celebrated festivals in Eastern Asia. This year there was a limited amount of performances, “in an attempt to make the event more blatantly educational in nature,” Gordon said, including presentations on different Asian countries’ new year traditions and trivia with prizes. There were informational tables set up for attendees to explore during intermission and special treats for those that stay after the intermission ended. “As a cultural interest and education club, we feel that it is our duty and privilege to spread knowledge and appreciation of this festival to the rest of our Appalachian family,” Gordon said. 9
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ON THE RIGHT ON TRACK
APP STATE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ARE GEARING UP FOR THE SUN BELT INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
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BY MONICA CRAWFORD SPORTS REPORTER
t the halfway point in their season, the men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams are doing everything they can to be ready for the Sun Belt Indoor Champion-
ships. The Mountaineers will travel to Birmingham, Alabama on Feb. 22 to compete in the Sun Belt Indoor Championships, and they are using each meet and practice leading up to the conference to prepare. “We all have our eyes on conference,” senior runner Shelby Howell said. “We want to win the conference. Every single athlete will tell you no matter what the sport, that is what they want to do, especially our team.” The women’s team in particular seems to be setting themselves up for a solid chance at a top three finish at the conference with top three finishes in at least 14 events in the past two meets. The Mountaineers placed first overall in five of the 14 events, earning them a top three spot in at their last meet at Eastern Tennessee State University on Saturday, and placed first in 14 events in their home meet on Jan. 30. The new talent brought in by this year’s freshmen, combined with the hard work that the entire team has been putting in all season long, is what has fueled the women’s success so far this season. “There has been a lot of new talent that has come onto the team that is doing exceptionally well,” senior thrower Brianna Tate said. “For the female team, our coach has talked about how we have a solid chance at competing to be top three in conference this year.” The men’s team has also proved to be competitive, with sophomore runner Ryan Hastings and junior thrower Nathan Milch consistently placing in the topthree in their past few meets. The men won first place in three of the eight events that they placed in at ETSU on Saturday and won 10 events at home on Jan. 30. Despite the fact that the men have been placing well in multiple events each meet, the men’s team as a whole has not had as many top three finishes as the women this season and are not ranked quite as well as they would like to be, graduate hurdler Stanley Broaden said. “We have less than a month until conference and as of right now we can all see the rankings,” Broaden said. “We’re not where we want to be as a team, and I think that’s kind of a motivator for our team right now.” With their focus set on conference, both the men's and women’s teams have had to step up their game in the past few weeks. Hastings said that the athletes came back from winter break ready to compete to their best ability and that now their main focus is staying healthy while still working hard in practice. The conference championship will require both the men’s and women’s teams to compete at a level that many of the athletes are still getting used to. This will only be the Mountaineers’ second year competing in the Sun Belt championship, and this level of competition is of a higher caliber than Tate and her teammates have experienced. “Throws that would have won or taken first place in events in SoCon probably wouldn’t even get top five in Sun Belt,” Tate said. “You have to walk in thinking you’re going to win – knowing you’re going to win.” The teams have two more meets before they head to the Sun Belt Indoor Championships. They will hit the road and head to the Marshall Invitational on Feb. 12-13, and they will compete at home in the App State Pre-Conference Open on Feb. 19. 10
Hunter Welborn
Andrew Spear Courtesy Dave Mayo/App State Atheletics
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ENERGY, EXPERIENCE KEY FOR SOFTBALL TEAM
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BY COLIN TATE SPORTS REPORTER
eading into the second season under head coach Janice Savage, Appalachian State softball looks to rebound from a season that saw them lose 22 of a possible 23 games against Sun Belt conference opponents and finish with an overall record of 14-35. Savage and her players have taken the positives from last season, like their 4-3 victory over University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and applied it this off-season to improve as a team. They hope to be a more competitive opponent this year. “Last year was a learning year,” junior Vanessa Ciocatto said. “We did a really good job coming out in preseason and beating some big teams, and I think that can carry over into this season, especially with a lot of new talent.” While the conference record was much lower than Savage wanted, she said that the non-conference record was one of the best in school history. “We had a big win over Chapel Hill,” Savage said. “We had a big win over Pitt. Big win over Georgia State. Our non-conference accomplishments were pretty good. The big jump to the conference is definitely something we’ve got to do a better job of this year.” Those wins, along with some defeats by wide margins, matured the young team. “We got a lot of experience last year, so we know what we’re facing,” junior Cara Parker said. That experience was not only on the field, but also involved the process of traveling to Sun Belt schools. “We’ve been to half the schools and seen the stadiums and the players and how it works in the home crowds, and then we’ve also hosted some here, too,” Savage said. “That helps a lot for us, but we definitely have to make some changes to some of the things we’re doing and our expectations.” The roster gained 10 incoming freshmen this year, and they will be experiencing it all for the first time. Even with the inexperience, the freshmen are expected to have a big impact. “They all contribute a lot and bring a lot to the table and do a very good job of leading, which I know is hard as a freshman on the field
Photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics
and off the field,” Ciocatto said. The coaching staff has yet to determine how much of an impact these young players will have, as the final roster has yet to be set. “We’re in a position right now where we’re still trying to figure ourselves out,” Savage said. “My lineup card is gonna be different every game for a long time, just trying to piece things together to see who gels better, to see who works better together.” Whatever assortment of players end up making the starting lineup, the team is ready to play any role necessary to achieve their goals. Senior Katherine Johnson said that the team aims to make the conference tournament and do some damage once they get there. They also want to finish in the top half of the Sun Belt conference. To reach those milestones, Savage and her staff have turned up the intensity in practices. “The hard part is continuing to make them realize that, when we’re tough on you, we’re trying to make it better,” Savage said. “I want it to be so tough in practice that a game is easy for you.” The team opens its season Thursday against the Auburn Tigers, who are ranked fourth in the country. Savage said that the team is always eager for the first game of the season, but it being against a high-ranking opponent adds some anticipation, as well as some nerves. The players are ready to get on the field. “Our first game is always exciting,” Johnson said. “It’ll see where we’re at as a team and what changes we need to make.” As they prepares for the start of the season, Savage said she hopes her team will maintain their level of energy as the season continues. “You gotta compete to your best no matter who you’re playing,” Savage said. “It’s easy to turn it on for Auburn. It’s easy to turn it on when the TV is there. It’s easy to turn it on when it’s the big guys. We’ve gotta learn to be our best no matter who were playing.”
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S P O R T S
A NEW SPARK
FRESHMAN GUARD RONSHAD SHABAZZ IS DOMINATING ON THE COURT
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BY JASON HUBER SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER
oming in as a freshman can be a daunting task for many players. App State freshman guard Ronshad Shabazz, on the other hand, has embraced the task and given a spark to the Mountaineers that the team has been lacking. Shabazz has been playing senior-like minutes, averaging 24.3 minutes a game while putting up 11.0 points and 3.7 rebounds a game. “I didn’t expect to be getting a lot of touches, but I’m thankful for my teammates for believing in me,” Shabazz said. One of the focal points in Shabazz’s growth was transferring high schools after his junior year. A Raleigh native, Shabazz averaged 25 points a game, finishing second in the state of North Carolina at Knightdale High School during his junior year. He transferred to national powerhouse Huntington Prep as a senior, which he says helped him prepare for the collegiate level. “Knightdale wasn’t helping me get ready to the point where I am at now,” Shabazz said. “I moved high schools to help me become a better college player. It was a prep school so it helped me grow more as a player and person.” Shabazz was rated a three star recruit coming out of college, and App State head coach Jim Fox saw potential for Shabazz to become a future leader for the Mountaineer program. “While recruiting him and getting to know him and his family, we saw someone with a tireless work ethic who wants to be great, and that’s why I always had confidence knowing he can be a great player for us,” Fox said. As a left hander, Shabazz has a unique skill that is hard for defenders to guard. Senior guard Frank Eaves, App's leading scorer, says having that type of skill set on the court gives him a boost that not all players are fortunate to have in their repertoire. “He just puts pressure on others," Eaves said. "He can shoot the three or he can drive the hoop. You don’t know where he will go because he can perform at all those levels. It makes it very tough on guys defending him.” With key guards on the team like Eaves and Chris Burgess graduating after this season, Shabazz is trying to take in all the information he can learn from them. “They help guide me when things are going my way and when things aren’t going
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Courtesy of App State Atheletics & Chris Deverell
S P O R T S
Still only a freshman, Fox sees someone that will be the leader and future of this team for the next couple of years. “I have no doubt in my mind that he will be the leader of this team,” Fox said. “He is tremendously talented but I think I have been most impressed with his maturity, his leadership, the way he talks to guys and his teammates and the way he is not afraid to be a leader as freshman has been really impressive.” Coming to App was an easy decision for Shabazz. He turned down offers from Bowling Green, Buffalo, Delaware and many other Division I schools. Being from North Carolina and getting to know the Mountaineer coaching staff, he felt Boone would be the best place for him. “Mostly what brought me here was the coaching staff,” Shabazz said. “All of them showed love, and at the end of the day that what matters to me, my relationship with the coaches and teammates.” With Eaves getting a lot of the attention this season, he thinks a lot of his game is helped from Shabazz being such a good playmaker on the court. “He is very capable of getting to the hoop when teams try to guard me or Chris and he can step up and make plays,” Eaves said. Consistency has been something Shabazz has had to work through, but with a career-high of 29 points already this season and averaging 17.8 points a game on 60 percent shooting over the last seven games, the potential is there. “There have been some inconsistencies, but he is a sponge and works really hard and listens very well," Fox said. "That is why he is going to be a great player." Being a left hander, it can be hard to look up to any player in the NBA, but current left handers are the ones that Shabazz follows the most to help his game. “It's hard to look at a lot of NBA players since a lot are right handed, but I like James Harden, he gets buckets," Shabazz said. "Ginobilli is a good left hander also. I look off of them and try to compare my game to them.” While Shabazz said the season can be tough with a lot of losses stacking up, he still has the mindset that the Sun Belt tournament in Louisiana is in reach. “Our main goal is New Orleans," Shabazz said. "We have to take one day at a time.” The Mountaineers have a huge bright spot with Shabazz coming in this season, and if his recent play is any indication, it only looks to be getting brighter.
Photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics & Chris Deverell
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O P I N I O N
THE IMPORTANCE OF MARTIN SHKRELI AND KNOWING HOW TO LEARN WHAT HE DID RIGHT
BY JAMES BRANCH OPINION WRITER
W
alk into the library at any time and you will likely see hundreds of students working on homework, papers and quizzes, with a quiet buzz of hushed whispers filling the air. However you look at it, the library is a hub for students to come to find isles and shelves filled to the brim with information to help them through college. Sadly, a lot of these resources go unused and unappreciated because of our ability to use computers and cell phones to access information that make general education classes go by easier. The first 60 credits of your degree go toward finishing your general education requirements. These classes are normally pretty boring and can easily be passed with the use of Google searches. This presents a problem for students. Being able to quickly and conveniently look up the information can help you pass. However, we are not retaining the knowledge for long term use for quizzes and tests. We also miss the point of taking general education classes. The point of these classes, and knowing how to find answers in books, is that they are teaching you how to learn and look up the answers you need to know in a way that helps you better remember that information. Interestingly enough, the brain is like ordinary muscles in our body in the sense that it needs to be exercised to be used to its full ability. The CEU Group, an organization specializing in the science behind memory, reports that the more effort you put into remembering something, the better you will be able to remember it. So if you are just googling all the answers to your homework, you will get the answers and possibly a good grade, but the information is not staying in the long-term memory, which hurts you over time. A study done through Science magazine in 2011 found that when someone expects to be able to find information later, they were less able to recall it when they needed it without looking it up. If you are not retaining information or listening in class, then what is the point of going? The point of going lies in the drive to be the best, to know the most about the subject so you can go and discover new things and become a leader in your field. If everyone is looking up information on the web, and no one is taking the time to study and write the information, there would be no new findings. The same old information is recycled over and over. By not taking the time to learn about the subject or remember anything about it, we are hampering our own progression of knowledge in all fields of study. This gives us a stagnant pool of information that gets reused while no new information is being made or discovered. That is the importance of remembering and learning information pertaining to what you are interested in. The general education part of the degree is there to help you learn how to study and retain information so when you get to your major classes, you are prepared to use those skills so you can become self-reliant and add to the pool of knowledge. Also the more information you can recall off the top of your head, the more respected and admired you will become in your field, opening up gateways to promotions and raises. If you just slip by looking up all the answers, you could get stuck or left behind in your profession. Balance is needed to achieve a good education. It is not just about learning random bits of information. It is about learning how to learn so you can be better prepared for your major classes and for a fulfilling professional life. Branch, a sophomore journalism major from Brunswick GA, is an opinion writer.
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BY QUENTIN RUSSELL OPINION WRITER
I
t would seem that Martin Shkreli's time in the limelight has yet to fade. Shkreli, the former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, became famous last year when he raised the price of Daraprim, a life-saving HIV drug, by over 5,000 percent. Shkreli appeared before Congress last week to testify about the price gouging. During this time, it would seem that he went out of his way to anger every member of the congressional committee. Shkreli responded to every question by citing his Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself. With childlike tweets and his responses to his critics, Shkreli has certainly earned the moniker of most hated man in America. After leaving the congressional meeting, Shkreli took to Twitter to talk about how “hard to accept” it was that that that these “imbeciles represent the people in our government.” However, his continued antics make the news media focus on him, and most news organizations can’t resist mentioning the Daraprim price hike. He is hailed by many as the “bad boy” of big pharma for his outspoken reaction to the backlash against the Daraprim price hike. This price hike, which raised the price of the drug from $13.50 to $750, occurred back in October as a means for Shrkeli to raise money for Turing. This price hike, and Shkreli’s actions after the fact, have done a good job of drawing attention to the predatory actions of big pharmaceutical companies. Specifically, the practice involved a company buying a generic drug, rebranding it and then selling it at a massively inflated price. Unfortunately, this is a far too common practice and one that many people might not be aware of. A not-so-prominent example of this is the drug albendazole, which was bought by the company Amedra, and had its prices raised to over $150 a pill. Other recent examples of this phenomenon are the drugs doxycycline hyclate, glycopyrrolate and pravastatin sodium, according to the AARP. Doxycycline hyclate, a widely used antibiotic, went from $20 for 500 capsules to $1,849 for the same amount. Glycopyrrolate went from $65 for 10 doses to $1,277, and pravastatin sodium went from $27 for a one year supply to $196. While this practice isn’t new by any means, very few people have noticed it in the past. Shkreli has brought national attention to the topic. In fact, it could be said that Shkreli, in his own twisted way, did a good thing. This was not intentional, however. Shkreli had written to someone outside of his company concerning the price gouging, stating that “almost all of it is profit,” according to the Washington Post. At the very least, this attention has laid the pressure on any big pharma companies that may decide to do anything similar to Turing in the future. In the best case scenario, the attention will call for more and more cries from people to have the government, specifically the FDA, regulate drug prices and prevent this practice from occurring again. Many abuses of the pharmaceutical industry go unnoticed. Shkreli puts an obnoxious public face on the issue, which helps focus attention on the issue and may lead to real change. So in the end, Shkreli may have inadvertently helped out millions of people across America. Russell, a freshman communication major from Charlotte, is an opinion writer.
SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS
App News is a service of the Division of Student Development. Email dycheab@appstate.edu. 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.
A P P
N E W S
WHAT TO DO CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Nominations are being accepted for the W. H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion through Feb. 26 by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Development. The W. H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion, named in honor of Dr. William H. Plemmons who served as the second president of the University from 1955 to 1969, was established by an action of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees in 1996.The award was created to recognize the time, energy, skills, and commitment of students, faculty, student development educators and staff who exceed their peers in providing leadership that enriches the quality of student life and advances the education of students. Students and university employees are invited to nominate a student or university employee for this award. Nominations may be made in the following categories: 1. A student leader who has provided distinguished leadership above that of other student leaders. 2. A Student Development Educator within the Division of Student Development for meritorious leadership in his or her work to enrich the quality of student life and learning. 3. A member of the faculty who has provided meritorious leadership through his or her work with student clubs or organizations, or work that enriches the quality of student life and learning outside the classroom. 4. An employee of Appalachian State University who has provided meritorious leadership that has significantly enriched the quality of student life and learning outside of the classroom. For information, contact Dino DiBernardi,
Chair of the W. H. Plemmons Medallion Committee, at 262-2060, or Rita Wells at wellsrk@ appstate.edu. Visit www.plemmonsmedallion. appstate.edu.
INTERNATIONAL MEET AND GREET The event, hosted by International Appalachian, encourages dialogue between international and domestic students. The event will be 6:30 p.m. Feb. 10, Blue Ridge Ballroom, PSU.
THE WELLNESS WORKSHOPS The Counseling Center presents “The Wellness Workshops: Feelin’ Good in the Neighborhood!” Space is limited. Reservations should be made at campbellha@appstate.edu. Extra credit slips will be made available. Visit counseling. appstate.edu or call 828-262-3180. • Test Your Mood: Mental Health Screening, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 10, Calloway Peak, PSU • Re-shaping your Body Image, 5-6 p.m. Feb. 24, Beacon Heights, PSU • Mental Health: What Stops Us from Talking about It and What You Can Do To Take Care of YOURS, 6-7 p.m. March 23, Price Lake, PSU • What Shape is Your Personality: Learn more about Yourself and How to Relate to Others, 4-5 p.m. April 6, Linn Cove, PSU • Let’s Get Out! Explore the Connection Between Positive Mental Health and Being Outdoors, 5-7 p.m., April 14, workshop will take place outside, email to register
Gunther Doerr, Directory of Public Safety & Risk Management at App State, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 10, room 110, Anne Belk Hall. Hosted by the Appalachian Student Chapter of the American Correctional Association. Free and open to the App State community.
“WHAT I WISH I WOULD’VE KNOWN” The open panel discussion will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in Whitewater Cafe, Plemmons Student Union. The discussion features faculty and staff from around campus answering questions about relationships and dating. The event is intended to be a safe space in which students can feel welcome to share their experiences and frustrations. Hosted by APPS.
OUTDOOR JOBS FAIR The fair will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 17, Plemmons Student Union. Sponsored by the Career Development Center. Go to http://conferences-camps.appstate. edu/adult-programs/2016-outdoor-jobs-fair for more information.
PASTEL PERENNIALS FOR THE BOONE GARDEN
ology Greenhouse, 211 Dale St. Email meyerja@appstate.edu to reserve a space in class. For more information, call 828-262-4025.
VISITING WRITERS SERIES The Hughlene Bostian Frank Spring Visiting Writers Series Events will take place with craft talks and readings in Plemmons Student Union. Book sales and signings will follow each event. • March 3: Poet Ed Madden, 2-3:15 p.m. Craft Talk: Public Voice, Public Work; 7:308:30 p.m. Reading; Table Rock, PSU • March 31 (The Juanita Tobin Memorial Reading): Poet and former Charlotte Observer books editor Dannye Romaine Powell, 3:304:45 p.m. Craft Talk: The Art and Craftiness of the Literary Interview; 7:30-8:30 p.m. Reading; Table Rock, PSU • April 7: Travel and Adventure Writing with Peter Fish and Leigh Ann Henion, 2-3:15 p.m. Craft Talk: Travel Writing; 7:30-9 p.m. Reading; Table Rock, PSU • April 28 (with the Diversity Speakers Series): Poet, Memoirist, and Social Justice Activist Luis Rodriguez, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Craft Talk in Table Rock, PSU; 7:30-9 p.m. Reading in Blue Ridge Ballroom, PSU
SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK
“Shots Fired: Responding to Active Shooters and Other Threats” lecture, presented by Chief
Hosted by the ASU greenhouse and conservatory staff, the free class will focus on the selection and care of hardy pastel perennials for the High Country. This class is taught as part of the “High Country Gardening” program led by Jerry Meyer, a seasoned cold climate gardener and designer. The class will be 9:30-11 a.m. Feb. 20, Bi-
TUESDAY, FEB. 9
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10
THURSDAY, FEB. 11
FRIDAY, FEB. 12
Mardi Gras Feast
“GoldenEye” Screening (1995)
“Hotel Transylvania 2” Screening
“Hotel Transylvania 2” Screening
SAI Valentine’s Day Concert
Build-A-Pet
“GoldenEye” Screening (1995)
Test Your Mood: Mental Health Screening
Holy Ghost Tent Revival Concert
Twice Upon a Prom: Second Chance Prom
All day Rivers Street Cafe, Roess Dining Hall Park Place Cafe, Trivette Dining Hall All items priced individually
App Mixed Presents: Spring MIXer 7 p.m. Price Lake, PSU Free
SAFETY LECTURE
7 p.m. Greenbriar, PSU $1
8 p.m. Recital Hall Free (canned food donations requested)
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Calloway Peak, PSU Free
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door
11 a.m. Grandfather Ballroom, PSU Free 9 p.m. Legends $7-$10
“Chiefs” Screening
The awareness week is scheduled for April 11-16. All are welcome to attend. Those interested in planning an event should fill out a project proposal as soon as possible. For information, email cavallaroe@appstate.edu.
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door
7 p.m. Greenbriar, PSU $1
7-11 p.m. Solarium, PSU Free
6 p.m. Greenbriar, PSU
SATURDAY, FEB. 13
SUNDAY, FEB. 14
“Hotel Transylvania 2” Screening
Appalachian Symphony Orchestra
7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door
Dr. John & The Nite Trippers Concert 7 p.m. Schaefer Center $15-$30
Women’s Rugby Game Vs. College of Charleston 10 a.m.-1 p.m. State Farm Fields
2 p.m. Schaefer Center Free
MONDAY, FEB. 15
TUESDAY, FEB. 16 “What I Wish I Would’ve Known” Panel Discussion 7 p.m. Whitewater Cafe, PSU Free
Spring Sustainability Film Series: “Overburden” 7 p.m. I.G. Greer Free
Symphony Band Concert 8 p.m. Schaefer Center Free
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