SENIOR GOODBYES The Appalachian Tuesday, April 28,24, 2015 Tuesday, February 2015
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A ‘great tradition’ in music 28th Merlefest annual bluegrass festival bridges tradition and evolution of genre by Laney Ruckstuhl News Editor
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espite chilly temperatures and rainfall throughout much of the weekend, more than 78,000 bluegrass fans attended the 28th annual MerleFest in Wilkesboro. This year’s attendees exceeded last year’s, with the return of the Avett Brothers as the weekend’s most wellknown act, drawing crowds despite weather conditions. Temperatures dropped to 37 degrees on Friday. Other acts included Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn, Mipso, Hot Rize, The Marshall Tucker Band, Trampled by Turtles, Jim Lauderdale and Sam Bush Band along with many others. The festival’s highlights also included the annual Hillside Album Hour, during which the Waybacks played Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA,” as well as performances in the Dance Tent and Pickin’ Place, where separate tents were set up for spontaneous jam sessions. MerleFest has evolved immensely since it was first held in 1988 with a little over 100 people in the crowd. The festival is named in honor of the late Eddy “Merle” Watson, the son of bluegrass legend Doc Watson, who played at the festival every year until he passed away in 2012.
Paul Heckert
Avett Brothers frontmen Bob Crawford (left), Scott Avett and Seth Avett perform on The Doc and Merle Watson Stage on Saturday night at MerleFest, an annual bluegrass festival that takes place on the campus of Wilkes Community College.
Held on the campus of Wilkes Community College, MerleFest benefits the WCC Endowment Fund, bringing in money for scholarships and education at the college. It also provides the region with approximately $10 million in annual economic impact. The Avett Brothers are Concord natives and are
repeatedly drawn back to their home state, having played at MerleFest eight times since 2004. “I think we travel so much that North Carolina’s a great place to come home to,” Seth Avett said. “Within the area that we each love, there’s so many places that we love.” Seth recalled his first en-
counter with the festival’s founder when he was 13 years old and played the piano for Doc Watson for the first time. “I was slower to learn about Doc Watson,” Scott Avett said, “but as we did, we explored acoustic music.” Scott referenced Old & In the Way’s self-titled album,
Bill Monroe and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and, of course, Doc himself, among major musical influences growing up. “Doc seemed to be a bridge between a mainstream world and a very deep-woods world that we understand,” he said.
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Fraternity events draw mass attention ASU student honored with sustainability fellowship by Nicole Caporaso communication we were able to reach that Senior News Reporter
Alpha Sigma Phi postponed their sexual assault awareness walk that was scheduled for Sunday morning to instead tentatively take place Sept. 25. John Price, president of Alpha Sigma Phi, said the postponement is an effect of negative attention that surrounded the fraternity, the event and junior women’s studies major, Julia Grainger. “We felt it necessary to make a compromise with people that had grievances and that was the best way we saw fit for both sides,” Price said. “Through mediation and
compromise.” Grainger and other members of the Appalachian Social Justice Educators club at Appalachian State University posted opinions on their personal Facebook pages about why they believed Alpha Sigma Phi should not be hosting a sexual assault awareness event. Although members of the ASJE, the posts were not affiliated with the organization. Grainger’s post specifically garnered a large amount of social media attention and was featured on national websites, including Total Frat Move and Campus Reform. The
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by Thomas Culkin News Reporter
Allie Garrett, a senior sustainable development major, was recently awarded the Z. Smith Reynolds Fellowship for 2015-2017. Provided by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, the fellowship is paid and is awarded to an individual who demonstrates a willingness to work in philanthropy, public
policy and community service in North Carolina. Garrett said she will primarily be working with grant writers, to help determine which nonprofit organizations to give grants to. “[Reynolds] wants to keep a young voice involved with their grant making,” Garrett said. Garrett said that there are
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ASU students design solar car for competition by Josh Wharton News Reporter
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team of Appalachian State University students and faculty has spent the past year designing a solar-powered race car. They plan to begin building the car this summer in hopes to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix at the end of July. The team also plans to race in the Formula Sun Grand Prix next summer, which will serve as the pre-qualifier for the American Solar Challenge. Senior founding member Dan Blakeley says the team remains optimistic even though they are not sure if they will be able to finish the car for the race in July. “If we make the race, that’s awesome; if we don’t, we don’t consider it a failure,” Blakeley said. “If we don’t race this summer, there’s a 99 percent chance we’ll race next summer.” Blakeley said the team will still attend the race this summer even if they do not have a car to race. “It’s an international
event and, even if we don’t go with a car, we’re going to go to the race to learn as much as possible,” Blakeley said. The team is in the final design stages and preparing to build once they get the materials. The Iowa State team donated a shell of one of their previously made cars. “This is a big deal for us to be able to partner with somebody who has been around for so long,” Blakeley said. “Not only are they partnering with us to give us a car, but also they’re literally a phone call away so we’re able to call them when we run into problems.” The Iowa State team also has extended a shadowing offer to the ASU team, in case they do not finish the car in time to race this July. “Iowa State basically told us, ‘you can shadow us the entire time, be part of our pit crew, and learn as much as you need,” Blakeley said. The team was able to establish its partnership with Iowa State at the Solar Car Conference
Courtesy of Marie Freeman, University Communications
Senior industrial design major Bryon Dollar works on the design of Appalachian’s solar vehicle at a team meeting.
at the University of Michigan in March. They also attended a high school conference on a similar topic in January. Jeremy Ferrell, the team’s faculty advisor, said this project is about more than just racing a solar-powered car. The project aims at raising awareness for solar-power and how feasible it is as an alternate form of transportation. “Transportation is a big user of energy, accounting for about one-third of our
total energy use,” Ferrell said. “We feel like on a very large scale that moving transportation in a sustainable direction such as solar-power is really the way of the future.” The competition aspect of the team’s goals brings in more attention and effort. “Putting a team forward that builds something like this is definitely a platform to talk about these broader issues,” Ferrell said. “People are learning a lot about really important details
along the way like how to build these systems, design work, engineering work, and outreach work.” The team has taken on an interdisciplinary approach, pulling students from many different departments in order to achieve their goals. “With all of our major problems that society faces, we have to go across disciplines,” Ferrell said. “So, a project like this, that is very technologically heavy, needs all of these other skills poured into it.”
ASCACA gives opportunities to criminal justice students by Mary Wood Intern News Reporter
The student chapter of the American Correctional Association at Appalachian State University provides students with opportunities to learn about topics that impact the field of criminal justice. “The purpose of the American Correctional Association is to provide a professional organization for all individuals and groups that share a common goal of improving the justice system,” said freshman Erin Smith, who is secretary of the club. The Appalachian chapter of ASCACA
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 five main components of sustainable development that she will be working with in the fellowship: social justice, environmental, community and economic development, strengthening democracy and education. She said that she is also looking forward to moving towards a focus in social justice, after focusing primarily on the environmental part of sustainable development so far in her career. Garrett credits her experi-
was founded in 2003 and organizes prison tours, internships, community projects and shooting events for members. “We encourage all members to participate fully in all facets of the organization including serving as leaders for the club and providing a forum of activities throughout the year,” Zaitzow said. The ASCACA promotes educational and professional sources and guest speakers that give members and other students a different outlook on the criminal justice system as a whole. “My favorite part of the club is split between the jail tours and the Watauga gun club shooting event, because
ences at Appalachian State University as the key to getting the fellowship, working as a Residence Assistant as well as working with the Renewable Energy Initiative, Appalachian Voices and the Alternative Service Experience as providing her with the necessary skills to succeed in the fellowship. “I got the theoretical skills in my classes, of course, but I also got a lot of experience through my extra-curriculars,” Garrett said. “And that’s what I think made me such a strong candidate.” Garrett said she tries to educate people about the wide
what’s cooler than target practice and seeing prisoners up close?” Smith said. “With guards of course.” Zaitzow said that membership in ASCACA includes membership in the American Correctional Association and the NC Correctional Association, which provide educational and professional opportunities for criminal justice professionals and students interested in those professions. But Smith said that the club isn’t strictly for one type of student. “Anyone can join this club, no matter what one’s major is, and all you have to do is pay the fee and turn in a form to our treasurer,” Smith said.
breadth of what sustainability entails, saying it’s much more than just recycling, like some would believe. “People tend to think that sustainability is just recycling or the environment, but it’s so much about the economy, and people, a million different things.” Garrett said. “I try to get people to understand that it’s all those things intersecting, and it’s just really interesting.” The Z. Smith Reynolds Fellowship is an incredibly prestigious award. Only one person each year is selected. And Sandra Lubarsky, a for-
mer professor of Garrett, said hundreds of people applied for the award. “The competition is really stiff,” Lubarsky said. “It’s such a competitive scholarship, and I’m just so proud of Allie.” Lubarsky said she’s extremely happy for Garrett because she’s so well-suited for the fellowship. “I think that she’ll fulfill all of [Reynolds’] aims and what they hoped for,” Lubarsky said. ”She’s extremely hard working, she’s devoted to these issues, she’s extremely conscientious, and she’s talented - the total package.”
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“I don’t know why that is. That’s an essence of something that I don’t really understand. I think it has a little to do with North Carolina but I think it has a lot more to do with something much more.” Seth added that Watson’s ability to pull influence from the genre without trying too hard to change it or label it is something that the Avetts have taken notes from. “Doc didn’t seem to be overly concerned with being any certain thing or living up to a certain genre,” Seth said. “He just sort of naturally carried on a lot of great tradition in his music.” Seth said that they try to carry on this legacy by staying true to themselves and playing good music without putting too much focus on their genre or being self-centered. Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Peter Rowan, 72, played on stage with the Avett Brothers during their performance and has also played with Bill Monroe, the Grateful Dead, and Doc Watson. He said the evolution of the genre has been positive overtime. “Bill Monroe saw what I was,” Rowan said. “Every time I would try and change bluegrass and do a little something different he would always say I had to keep as much out of bluegrass as I put in it.”
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FRATERNITY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 same reporter who wrote the Campus Reform article last month that caused a stir on campus, “App State dorm bulletin board shames ‘privileged’ students,” is also the author of the article about Grainger and Alpha Sigma Phi. Grainger’s post questioned whether the fraternity is considered “qualified” to host an event as such and cited statistics stating that fraternity men are three times more likely to rape than non-fraternity men. Grainger’s statistic can be found in a scholarly journal published in 2007 by John Foubert, Jerry Tatum and J.T. Newberry, titled “Behavior Differences Seven Months Later: Effects of a Rape Prevention Program.” The subsequent articles written about Grainger’s post became highly shared on Facebook and negative comments were made on each article, some calling Grainger derogatory names. “When they’re sharing an article or a blog post that’s literally calling me the words that they’re calling me and telling me that my dad should be ashamed of me and calling me a feminazi and saying that I should be locked in a basement or that App State brothers should go take care of her, all within the comments, then they’re perpetuating that rape culture, they’re perpetuating the problem and they’re not educating themselves on why it’s wrong,” Grainger said. Some members of Alpha Sigma Phi shared or liked
the Campus Reform and Total Frat Move article, something Price said his brothers have stopped. Additionally, Price said he has “no idea” how Grainger’s posts were submitted to Total Frat Move, but has since asked its author to be removed from the site. “I think a lot of them were disappointed by the opposition and that was kind of their way to vent, which I don’t condone, and they’ve taken it down at this point, it’s not shared amongst us anymore,” Price said. “We are very adamantly against that article, it’s just a terrible thing that bred a lot of hostility, which is not why we put this event on, not at all.” Both Price and Grainger said they became aware of the negative news articles because they were being heavily shared on Facebook and friends began to ask them if they had seen them yet. Navigating around campus became difficult for Grainger afterwards, as she said someone spit in her direction, people yelled derogatory names at her and there were people pointing and glaring. Grainger said she is not opposed to Greek life and she actually believes that Greeks can be very powerful in fighting against sexual assault, however, she feels that for an organization to host an event such as the sexual assault awareness walk, the organization should be fully educated and prepared. In the month of February, Price said Alpha Sigma Phi invited Grainger and a few others to present a panel during the fraternity’s
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chapter meeting. Rachel Clay, a senior women’s studies major and panelist, said the panel presentation was a negative experience for all of the panelists, including Grainger. “I think the issue is that what’s being marketed is we think all fraternities should never even talk about sexual assault, which is not what we’re saying,” said Rachel Clay, member of Appalachian Social Justice Educators and panelist. “The issue is that the president of Alpha Sigma Phi approached us and asked us to host a panel on sexual assault for his fraternity at a chapter meeting and we agreed to do it on the basis that they would then follow up and have Red Flag come to their chapter and host a training in their chapter.” Red Flag training never happened for the brothers of Alpha Sig, but Price said all members have completed a webinar through RAINN, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. “Instead of following through with what they promised us, they decided to host an event, not follow through and have Red Flag come to their chapter and they never requested Red Flag to come because I checked with Ellen Hartman, the advisor,” Clay said. “Not only that, but when we did the sexual assault panel for them I have not felt that disrespected and vulnerable in a very long time. They were vile, they were rude, they argued with us.” Price said he and his brothers took it upon themselves to start a sexual assault awareness conversation in the Greek
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community, which began with the panel, something he said went well. “It struck a personal chord with a lot of us because some of us have had personal experience in the matter and we felt in our hearts that it was something we ought to do to show our support, especially as a group that doesn’t always necessarily show support in the subject,” Price said. “I thought there were a few bumps in the road perhaps, but I thought it was resolved whenever an issue arose and from our end we thought that it was actually very effective.” Grainger and Clay plan to continue their advocacy for social justice focused causes, but said they might gear their message toward a different group and not fraternity men, moving forward. “I think I’m going to continue on business as usual, but I think I’m done centering my focus on fraternity men,” Clay said. Price said since things began to go wrong, he and members of the ASJE have been in communication, which lead to deciding to postpone the event. When the event actually does take place, Price hopes attendees are there for the right reasons. “After the whole Facebook thing, our attendance shot up and I think it was out of spite on a lot of people’s part,” Price said. “I hope people really take into consideration those who were affected by this and I hope this will permeate the conversation into the Greek community in a positive light. I think it’s something that needs to be addressed and I hope that’s what comes of it.”
APRIL 30
10:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. Plemmons Student Union
Price Lake Room 201A
ASU students, faculty and staff are invited to attend free of charge. Fee for community members is $45. Luncheon is included for all registrants.
INTERNATIONAL.BUSINESS.APPSTATE.EDU/CUBA
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Senior goodbyes “It’s been an honor working with this outstanding group of seniors. Though I’ve only had the pleasure of advising The Appalachian since August 2013, that mere year and a half has afforded me so many opportunities to work closely and get better acquainted with these students. It’s been an honor to witness, not only their individual work flourish in their time with The Appalachian, but also see them grow as a team and be a part of what they’ve been able to accomplish. I’m sad to see this wonderful group of students leave App State, but I’m excited to see where their journeys take them, and I’m thrilled to have the chance to see what the younger members of the staff will be able to accomplish in the coming year.” - Allison Bennett Dyche, Student Media Adviser
Joshua Farmer
Gerrit Van Genderen
I spent almost three years working for The Appalachian as a reporter and editor. The experience I gained in that newsroom was, without doubt, worth the price of tuition. I’ve had the opportunity to travel across the country attending conferences in New York and Athens, Georgia, shoot at goodbye the Southern ConReadphotos the full online ference basketball tournament
When I was approached by my editor-in-chief, Joshua Farmer, about stepping into the managing editor position for the 2014-15 academic year, to say I was surprised would be an understatement. With roughly a week left in the 201314 academic year at the time, and I had just completed a full year on the staff of The Appalachian a news repor Read the fullasgoodbye online
Cory Spiers
Emma Speckman
My game is over, it’s been a ride. As I leave the position of sports editor, I can’t help but feel compelled to use a sports analogy. That’s only appropriate, right? Like the two-minute warning or the bottom of the ninth, the end of the line is almost here for me, but I wouldn’t change a thing about the way my game out. goodbye online Readplayed the full
I don’t really like to think about what I would be like today if I never joined The Appalachian, but now that I’m writing this goodbye, I’m thinking about it. So here’s a laundry list of bad character traits I avoided by walking into Suite 217 of Plemmons Student Union three years ago. I’d continue to write with excessive, flowery language that’s hard to rea Read the full goodbye online
Paul Heckert
Jackson Helms
College is a great time. After your freshman year, it’s going to fly by a little quicker than you might think so you want to make the best of it. Surround yourself with like-minded people. You will pick up on habits of those you spend the most time with. Experience all that you can but be mindful those around online you and Read the of full goodbye those that helped to get you this far.
I was introduced to The Appalachian by Matt Abele. He was filming some friends running around the SRC track in business suits for a class project when I introduced myself. It was entirely unrelated to the student paper, but after talking about video he suggested I come to a meeting, to which I agreed. I started an intern videograp Read theasfull goodbye online
Lovey Cooper
Casey Suglia
I’m not going to sugarcoat this (journalistic integrity says not to) – my years at The Appalachian have been exhausting. And for that, I am grateful. I love my job, and all that has come with it. Not many people can say that in college. (Or ever, really.) I am grateful to have spent so long utilizing my full skillsgoodbye to their very maxiRead the online mum, spending late nights and hur-
With the impending date of graduation ahead, I can’t help but get nostalgic over the past three years that I’ve decided to make Appalachian State University my home and write for the paper. Now is where I impart some wisdom. Be kind to yourself.
Read the full goodbye online
TheAppalachianOnline.com
app news
5 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 given for events that are free or have a nominal cost. Expressive Arts Group for Veterans Open to any faculty, staff and student veterans at Appalachian State University. The group’s purpose is to allow for the establishment of community amongst veterans and to offer creative outlets to explore through multiple modes of expression. Email falckms@appstate.edu or call 828-262-2696. Sessions will be held at 5:45 p.m. in room 306, College of Education. The last session for spring semester 2015 will be April 28. Suicide prevention training Learn how to help someone who is showing signs of emotional distress. By the end of this training, participants will know the warning signs for suicide, how to intervene, and where to go for more help. All training sessions will be held in Three Top Mountain, PSU. • 3-5 p.m. April 28 • 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. April 29 National Poetry Month Faculty Author Event and Book Signing Featuring Kirsten Jorgenson and Nathan Hauke (English Department),
3:30 p.m. April 29, Scholars Bookshop, App State University Bookstore. Free and open to the public. Faculty members and local poets Jorgenson and Hauke will be reading from and signing copies of their most recent poetry books. Cuba Answers The one-day conference will be held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 30, Price Lake, room 210A, Plemmons Student Union. For half a century, US/Cuba relations have been frozen in time. Now the icy landscape has changed. Relations are quickly thawing. This change is bringing not just differences in how we perceive each other, but also new rules governing this new relationship. What are the new rules? What are the likely additional changes we can expect? What is a reasonable time-line for the changes to be implemented? How will these changes affect international trade and investment, immigration, education and tourism? Appalachian State University is bringing American and Cuban experts to help provide answers to these questions. Sponsored by the Walker College of Business. For more information, email churchmm@appstate.edu. Free for Appalachian State students, faculty and staff; $45 for non-university participants (includes luncheon). The Peel Spring Release Party The Peel Literature & Arts Review will launch their spring 2015 publication from 6:30-9:30 p.m. May 1 at Shear Shakti, King Street. The evening will feature art, local music, food, poetry readings, and copies of the 2014-2015 issue of The Peel.
This year, The Peel published 60 students and received more than 720 submissions. The editors invite the App State community to join them in congratulating these students and their efforts. The Peel is Appalachian’s studentrun literary arts magazine which works to cultivate creative expression on campus. For information, visit www.thepeelreview.com. Craft sale The annual spring Craft Enrichment student and instructor craft sale will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 1, Katherine Harper Hall. Craft items include pottery, baskets, cards and postcards with local photography, blown glass ornaments, fused and slumped glass, jewelry, drawings, alcohol ink paintings and East Asian brush paintings. For more information, go to http:// craftenrichment.appstate.edu or email craftenrichment@appstate. edu. World Labryinth Day The campus community is invited to walk a labyrinth from 7-9 p.m. May 2 at Cascades, Plemmons Student Union. On Reading Day, a labyrinth walk is an opportunity to: • Quiet your mind before exams. • Remember those students we have lost this year. • Walk the same day with people in other countries and states who are walking as a moving mediation for world peace. The Labyrinth was made possible through a Sustainability in the Arts Grant and a Learning Community Grant.
Biology Department Spring Plant Sale 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 14-15, 8 a.m.2 p.m. May 16; Biology Greenhouse, 211 Dale St. Choose from a diversity of tropicals and succulents, some perennials, vegetables, herbs, and three dozen varieties of tomatoes, all grown by ASU student and community volunteers. Prices start at $1, and proceeds support all greenhouse education efforts. Only cash and checks will be accepted. Volunteers are needed May 12-16, and volunteers receive free plants. For more information, email meyerja@appstate.edu.
Walk, Don’t Work 5K Fundraiser Take a walk in the park, get paid as if you were at work, and raise money for the American Cancer Society, all at the same time. With your supervisor’s permission, faculty and staff can use Community Service Leave and enter the 7th Annual Walk, Don’t Work 5K fundraiser. The race will be held at 10:30 a.m. June 8 in Brookshire Park. Registration packets available beginning at 9:30 a.m. by the picnic table area. Early registration is $15 and ends May 15. Later registration is $20. All the money goes to The American Cancer Society. Refreshments will be served after the race and door prizes will be awarded. Prizes will be awarded for both men and women, as well as gold, silver and bronze medals. For more information, call 828262-7926.
April/May
sunday
monday 26
tuesday 27
wednesday 28
friday
thursday
29
30
Hayes String Ensemble, 6 p.m., Recital Hall, free
Appalachian Chorale, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free
Jazz Vocal Ensem- Cuba Answers, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Price ble, 8 p.m., Rosen Lake, PSU, free to Concert Hall, free Appalachian State “Toy Story” screen- University students, ing, 7 p.m., Green- faculty and staff briar, PSU, $1 “The Imitation Turchin Center Gal- Game” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., lery Talk: Nature’s I.G. Greer, $2 Spirit — A Conscious Balance by Brad Stroman, 7 p.m. Turchin Center, free Jazz Vocal Ensemble, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall
3 Community Band concert, 7 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free
4 Final exams Coffee with a Cop, 6:30 p.m., Belk Library, free
5 Final exams
6 Final exams
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Cornocopia, 8 Last day of p.m., Rosen Concert formal class meetHall, free ing pattern
Tai Chi for students, 5 p.m., Turchin Center, free
Robert DeLong concert, 9:30 p.m., Legends, admission: $15-$18
saturday
The Peel Literature & Arts Review spring release party, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Shear Shakti, King Street “The Imitation Game” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $2 Craft Enrichment annual spring craft sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Katherine Harper Hall
7 Final exams
8 Final exams Music Workshop with Barry Green, 12:30-3 p.m., room 214, Broyhill Music Building, free
2 Reading Day “The Imitation Game” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $2 “Toy Story” screening, 7 p.m., Greenbriar, PSU, $1 2015 Apparel Design and Merchandising Spring Showcase, 3-5 p.m., Harvest House, admission: $8-$10 general admission
9 Spring commencement ceremonies
a&e
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8.5 “Sound & Color” RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2015 RECORDED: 2015 GENRE: Alternative LENGTH: 12 Tracks (47:26) LABEL: ATO Records
by Alabama Shakes
“If you’re looking for an album that has a mellow, sunny day southern rock feel, beautiful and passionate bluesy vocals, and hard-hitting rock instrumentation, then ‘Sound & Color’ is for you.” - Jordan Williams, Intern A&E Reporter
Alabama Shakes still succeeding with bluesy gospel sound by Jordan Williams Intern A&E Reporter
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e’ve all heard the story. An otherwise unknown band from a small town gains huge, international success almost overnight. Despite its familiarity, the story never gets old. We’ve seen it happen for past artists such as The Beatles, Nirvana, Guns N’ Roses and for more current artists like Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar. The story is currently being retold through Alabama Shakes, an alternative band from small town Athens, Alabama. Alabama Shakes, consisting of four southerners with a passion for rock and roll, went from playing in small bars to suddenly becoming the main attraction at festivals such as Coachella and Glastonbury. Their first album, “Boys & Girls,” obtained the No. 6 spot on the billboard charts in
2012. The album’s success can be attributed to songs such as “Hold On,” which was named the best song of 2012 by Rolling Stone magazine, and “Hang Loose,” a groovy, ’70s-inspired rock song that was featured in several television commercials. Now, three years later, Alabama Shakes have released their highly anticipated sophomore album, “Sound and Color.” The new album displays what the band has learned from influences like Led Zeppelin, Otis Redding, The Allman Brothers, and Janis Joplin, while taking new sonic adventures that keep their music fresh and interesting. The album’s first selftitled track, “Sound and Color,” begins with an entrancing xylophone intro brought to life by lead singer Brittany Howard’s raw, bluesy vocals. The song incorporates luscious strings that give it an early Motown feel. Next is “Don’t Wanna Fight,” the first single
for the album. The song acts as a transition from the mellow, smooth first track to the hard, bluesy rock sound that Alabama Shakes are known for. Brittany Howard’s raw, and sometimes psychedelic, twangy vocals perfectly entwine with a funky bass line and sharp guitar licks. Howard’s vocals grow more intense as the song progresses, showcasing her talent as a singer. The track “Future People,” is catchy and southern, and shows off Howard’s beautiful falsetto vocals, similar to that of Aretha Franklin. “Gimme All Your Love,” is next, a slower ballad that features the album’s most intense vocals and raw, jagged edge guitar playing. Howard’s romantic lyrics help give the song it’s own personal appeal: “So tell me what you wanna do/You say the world, it doesn’t fit with you/Why don’t you talk to me for just a little while?/I can only try to make it right.” The song
then transitions into an unexpected danceable jam session, with a backing organ and ‘70s inspired guitar solo. Alabama Shakes can rock, but it’s not until the song “This Feeling” that the band makes an awesome slower acoustic track. Howard’s vocals resemble that of Janis Joplin and Redding, while her lyrics shine with sweet, honey-glazed romanticism. Lead guitarist Heath Fogg’s acoustic picking make the song sound both relaxing and raw at the same time. “The Greatest,” is the band exploring their garage rock roots. The song begins with a “check this out” from Howard. The sharp guitar work of the song and pounding drums go hand in hand with Howard’s reverbed enhanced vocals. “Miss You,” resembles a Redding recording, with dirty, southern soul and gospel instrumentation in addition Howard’s vocal work. “Gemini,” is a six-
minute epic track that features several genres including psychedelic rock, blue rock, and gospel. It showcases excellent psychedelic guitar similar to Norman Greenbaum’s 1969 classic, “Spirit in the Sky.” The bluesy organ and xylophone are accompanied with vocal effects that make the track flow. While this album may contain more slower, bluesier songs, Alabama Shakes pulls it off with incredible ability. The band simultaneously keeps their own hard hitting southern roots whilst exploring a new sonic territory. If you’re looking for an album that has a mellow, sunny day southern rock feel, beautiful and passionate bluesy vocals, and hard-hitting rock instrumentation, then “Sound & Color” is for you. Alabama Shakes are currently on tour and are scheduled to play at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina on June 10.
Design Elevated displays senior industrial design projects by Molly Flinchum Intern A&E Reporter
The Uptown will host Design Elevated: Appalachian State Senior Industrial Design Showcase on May 1. The show will display projects the industrial design senior class has worked on during their four years of college. Chris Brewer, a senior displaying work at this event, says the exhibit will be set up similar to a museum. For the show he created graphic work, making posters and postcards, as well as working on posters for projects that don’t include models. “[The work] ranges from furniture to electronics to humanitarian projects, so it’s a wide range of things,” Brewer said. “We’re
just displaying our work and what we’re proud of.” Projects to be displayed include a pair of gaming glasses, a helmet for avalanche rescue, and a backpack that folds out into a tent. Industrial design is a lot of different skills used together to create and present projects, Brewer said. “We have to do market research and we have to come up with names for businesses and stuff for our projects. We’re not engineers but we still have to sort through the mechanical things with each project,” Brewer said. “For us, you just kind of have to know a lot about everything to be able to make it happen.” Alexander Ravan, another senior industrial design student involved with the show,
enjoys the hands on experience within the major. “Something about seeing my ideas come to life and them having meaning intrigued me,” Ravan said. A lot of these projects focus on humanitarian efforts to better the community, according to Ravan. “What’s really interesting about most of the designers and their projects is the emphasis on issues within the world or community, a number of them being humanitarian based,” Ravan said. “It shows the forward progress we hope to make in the world, starting right here in Boone.” The Appalachian State Senior Design Show is free and open to the public at The Uptown on May 1 from 6-9 p.m.
7
‘Womana Fest’ celebrates on-campus female theatre by Kelsey Hamm A&E Reporter
The women’s theatre troupe hosted Womana Fest on Monday at 6 p.m. to celebrate the voices of female writers, actors, directors and producers on campus. The event included four plays in total and took place in the form of a play crawl, said play director and junior general theater major Katie Foster. “A play crawl means we go from place to place for each performance instead of being in a theater with technical sounds and lights,” said Foster. “The audience is required to move with the actors, and because of this, the plays are very minimalist.” Each play touches on a different issue, including mother and daughter relationships, Down syndrome and a “Coffee Play” that deals with a pregnancy scare and abortion, said Foster and senior theater major
Melanie Lech. “Bodies,” directed by Claire Lindsey, explores a mother’s relationship with her daughter who has Down syndrome. “[The play] is focused on the girl and her inner struggle, she has the capacity to learn much and can’t express that,” Lech said. “Her mom sees her as a daughter with Down syndrome, if that makes sense. It’s about how there are kids who can make it really far but if society sees them as their disorder, it will make a negative impact on the child’s life.” Foster directed the play “Yard Sale” by Marilynn Anselmi. The play focuses on a changing mother and daughter relationship as they deal with a generational gap. Freshman theatre and psychology major Lauren Pavlacka starred as Pickles, the teenage daughter of Effie (Lech). “[Pickles] is kind of a brat, but I think it’s important to the script, which is focused on coming to an
understanding between mother and daughter,” Pavlacka said. “It touches briefly on domestic violence, an absentee father, and how times have changed. Basically, Effie wants to build trust with her daughter and not have the same relationship with her that she did with her own mother.” Lech also wrote “Black Sea” in addition to starring in “Yard Sale.” The conceptfor the play is not entirely set in realism, and instead deals with a girl and the place she’s created for herself. “This piece is a solo piece,” said Lech. “It’s about the things in life that suck and shutting people out, but coming to terms with why you did what you did and then getting through it.” Lech, Foster, and event stage manager Karina Galliano can all speak to the importance of holding this event on campus, and their futures in an industry where females are often marginalized. Foster states that
it’s important to create opportunities for women within a school community first. “It’s daunting and frustrating sometimes but that’s why it’s so important to create that confidence within the university,” said Foster. “The more work you put out with women characters who are not just ingénue, the better. It’s not just women who are an overcompensation in imitating traditionally male traits, it’s everything in between. You won’t get those characters for the most part unless you’re writing them.” Next year, said Lech, the women’s theatre troupe hopes to branch out and create a diversity group to give voices to women of color and LGBT students as well as other storytellers often left out of mainstream theater. “Black Sea” took place at Durham Park, “Coffee Play” at the Local, “Bodies” at Bald Guy Brewery, and “Yard Sale” on Sanford Mall.
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MERLEFEST
Paul Heckert and Laney Ruckstuhl
MerleFest is an annual bluegrass festival that has brought in nearly 80,000 participants in recent years throughout a four-day weekend. The event takes place on the campus of Wilkes Community College and benefits the WCC Endowment Fund. This year’s acts ranged from Americana staple The Avett Brothers to the southern rock legend The Marshall Tucker Band. Growing from humble beginnings, this was the 28th year of the festival founded by folk legend Doc Watson in honor of his son.
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opinion
12
No political party should have redistricting power Kevin Griffin Opinion Writer
The Republican sweep of North Carolina government came at a lucky time for the party. Republicans were assigned the duty of establishing voting districts after the census because of the power the party took in 2010. What resulted from their efforts was a work of abstract expressionism so creative that it garnered national attention. Christopher Ingraham, in his analysis of voting districts for the Washington Post in 2014, awarded three of North Carolina’s districts spots in his top-10 list of the
most gerrymandered districts, more than any other state. The U.S. Supreme Court took notice April 20 when it struck down a December 2014 N.C. Supreme Court decision upholding the districts. The U.S. Supreme Court order directed the N.C. Supreme Court to consider the district lines in reference to another recent Supreme Court case, Alabama Legislative Black Caucus v. Alabama. Racial gerrymandering was an issue in both cases. North Carolina civil rights groups and leaders alleged that the concentration of black voters in a handful of districts allowed Republicans to make electoral gains, according to the Associated Press. The same issue faced the court in the Alabama case, in which the court ruled that the Alabama Supreme Court
had misinterpreted the law in upholding its own state’s districts. While it is nice to see the court order a reconsideration of the current districts, a much stronger action is in order. North Carolina should abandon partisan redistricting in favor of a non-partisan commission. Allowing partisan leaders the power to make a decision that has such an effect on the political process is a terrible idea, even with federal oversight. There are a number of examples of how this practice interferes with democracy. In an October 2014 Duke University study, researchers ran 100 projections in which they kept voting patterns the same and only adjusted the districts in accordance with legal requirements. The researchers found that
an average of 7.6 Democratic representatives would have been elected from North Carolina in 2012. The actual number of elected Democratic representatives, four, did not show up in any of the projections. Shockingly, it seems that the districts drawn are benefiting the party which drew them. This is unacceptable under any circumstance. In North Carolina and Alabama, the practice is particularly egregious in the way that it minimizes the influence of a group that has struggled to have any influence. No political party can be trusted with this task. 2011 should be the last year a legislature in North Carolina gets to make this decision. Griffin, a junior journalism major from Madison, is an opinion writer.
Emily Howard | The Appalachian
Affrilachian poet brings sympathy toward nature Lauren Burrows Opinion Writer
With fracking and mountaintop removal posing enormous threats to our backyard, many environmental activists have been speaking up, but few have brought sympathy as well as Affrilachian poet Crystal Good, who talks about environmental issues through personification and sexualization of nature. CASE and Appalachian Studies presented a special Earth Day reading by the Affrilachian Poets on Wednesday night, open free to students. The three poets in the group highlighted different issues
to speak about, with one very special tribute to the environment by Good. Good moved the audience not only with her beautiful words but by bold literary techniques. Most activists explain the problems humans will face if these harmful environmental practices ensue, and how humans will benefit from stopping them. Good instead focuses on sympathizing with the environment and the mountains themselves, as if they are our peers. One of Good’s poems she recited, “BOOM BOOM,” spoke about strip-mined mountains, but personified the mountains as if they were women who stripped their clothes for money. “I see the mountain as a woman. This poem is about strip mining as much as it is about gender,” Good said, “It’s
hard for a stripper to reclaim her reputation — it’s impossible to put back a stream or a mountain top once it’s gone.” She spoke about mining in her home state of West Virginia in her poem, “Black Diamonds,” where young miners are crushed from the mountains falling under million years of pressure. Her unique diction and creative expression helped listeners to not only sympathize to the miners who lost their lives, but to the mountains that finally fell from the continued assault. Yet another poem, “Mr. Marcellus Shale” personified the natural gas sought after by countless energy companies as a man. Mr. Marcellus, in this poem, was portrayed as a man who “drilled” the mountains continuously, written in a sexual context, showing the drilling as a sexual innuendo for the harmful practice of
fracking that is taking place. This practice of personification and sexualization helps the audience to better understand what they are doing to the environment in ways that they as humans can relate to. Mountains made of rock are now being viewed with blood and flesh, and the response is sympathy for the pain we are inciting upon them. The gap is being bridged between humans and the environment we are dismantling. Poetic environmental activists are hoping that this sympathy will bring justice to our planet that it has so long cried out for. Perhaps if more poetry like Good’s was heard, the resonation felt would soon bring this goal to accomplishment. Burrows, a freshman journalism major from Mint Hill, is an opinion writer.
classifieds
13
CRIME LOG BOONE
April 26 10:04 p.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Hoey Hall An arrest was made for the underage consumption of alcohol. April 26 10 p.m. | Larceny - from motor vehicle Outside Eggers Hall This incident is under investigation. April 26 12:58 p.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Gardner Hall The prosecution was declined for the underage consumption of alcohol.
for the underage consumption of alcohol.
April 25 5:54 p.m. | Criminal damage to property Varsity Gym Exhausted leads led to a closed disposition. April 24 10 p.m. | Larceny of wallet Katherine Harper Hall This incident is under investigation. April 23 7 p.m. | Criminal damage to property Beasley Broadcasting Complex Lot Exhausted leads led to a closed disposition. April 23 6 p.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Bowie Hall A student referral was given
April 20 5 p.m. | Larceny Belk Hall construction site This incident is under investigation. April 20 1 p.m. | Damage to property Lovill Hall This incident is under investigation. April 20 1:30 a.m. | Criminal damage to property (Vandalism) Justice Hall Closed leads led to an exhausted disposition.
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sports
14
Should high school stars be NBA-eligible? Nick Joyner
Sr. Sports Reporter
D
uke has been crowned the national champion, but collegiate basketball will be out of the spotlight until June 25. Every year around April, controversy picks up steam concerning the NBA draft. Should players be allowed to declare for the draft right out of high school? Although we still have to get through the NBA playoffs and the NFL draft, the NBA draft proposes a tough choice to mull over each year. In 2005, the NBA established a rule that, to this day, changes the league as a whole. Any player determined to play in the NBA must be at least one year removed from high school to be eligible for the draft. This phenomenon has become controversial over the years, most notably labeled the “one-
and-done” rule. In the past, some players have shown that the extra year removed from high school is not necessary to be competitive in the NBA. Everybody knows about LeBron James. The 2004 phenom dominated high school competition before becoming the No. 1 pick in the draft. He’s now considered a future hall-offamer. Before him there was Tracy McGrady. And Kobe Bryant. And Kevin Garnett. All of whom may go down in history as NBA icons. The path to success for anyone who thinks they can make an instant impact in the NBA has been laid out. Graduate high school, become a top pick, and begin your legacy. The most recent of draftees without college experience, however, haven’t exactly panned out. Jeremy Tyler was drafted in the second round by the then-Charlotte Bobcats (pick 39) in the 2011 draft, a 6-foot-11-inch forward who decided to leave high school after his junior year. The San Diego-native left the country for his shot at
Check out Thursday’s issue for the Best of Boone edition of The Appalachian
professional basketball, playing in the Israeli and Japanese leagues before becoming draft eligible in 2011. That’s correct, Tyler opted for overseas ball instead of finishing high school and playing at one of the nation’s best universities for one year. He had committed to Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals, but ultimately decided he would be better served in Israel. Tyler hung around the NBA for a few years, but most recently signed a contract with Chinese pro team Shanxi Zhongyu. I’m not saying Tyler was wrong in wanting to go overseas, but bypassing a free college education to go pro in Israel is something most people would think twice about. Brandon Jennings, on the other hand, turned out OK. The Detroit Pistons point guard committed to Arizona University in 2007. Ultimately, Jennings opted out of the free ride and went to Italy for a year, wanting to play pro basketball instead. Unlike Tyler, Jennings never flew off NBA scouts’ radars. The following
year, he was selected 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, and is now a vital part of Detroit’s rebuilding process. Ultimately, if you’re good enough, it doesn’t matter where you go. You don’t have to go to college, or Israel, or Italy to become an NBA player and make millions of dollars. The problem is how do you know if you are good enough? High school basketball standouts should have the option to declare for the NBA draft immediately. If a player thinks he is ready, he should be allowed to throw his hat in the ring. He may not turn out to be KG, but ultimately, it was his own choice. His hand wasn’t forced and he doesn’t have to try to bend the rules. With the current rules in place, players can make some bad decisions. Jeremy Tyler simply left the country after his junior year of high school. If the NBA changed the rule allowing any player to declare after graduating high school, I would find it hard to believe Tyler would have still fled to Israel and Japan.
15
Gerrit Van Genderen
Junior infielder Dillon Dobson follows through on a double against Georgia State in early April. Dobson has hit .406 over the past eight games with seven RBIs.
Veterans provide offensive pop for Mountaineers by Gerrit Van Genderen Managing Editor
Despite a 13-31 (5-18 Sun Belt Conference) record with nine games remaining in the regular season, two of App State baseball’s veteran players have maintained impressive seasons at the plate. Senior infielder Michael Pierson and junior infielder Dillon Dobson, lead the Mountaineers in multiple offensive categories this year in addition to providing leadership to a roster that features 14 freshman; there are only 14 total upperclassmen on the team. Pierson leads the Mountaineers in batting average (.338), games started (44), RBIs (35), walks (36), and on-base percentage (.470). Dobson is the team leader in hits (54), home runs (8), runs scored (36), slugging percentage (.547), and total bases (94). With injuries throughout the season to other top players including junior centerfielder Jaylin Davis (season-ending surgery) and freshman first baseman Conner Leonard, Pierson and Dobson have consistently been paired back-to-back in the App State line-
up or within one or two batters of one another. “It’s great,” Pierson said of having Dobson in front of him in the lineup. “The last couple days I think I’ve had four or five RBIs with [Dobson] on base and it’s just been [a] 2-3 punch that’s working well.” Pierson’s right – four of the five runs Dobson scored during a mid-April weekend series against Georgia State were Pierson’s RBIs, a clearly effective formula at the plate. App State faced Sun Belt-leader Georgia State (26-18, 13-6) at home earlier this month, losing 4-2 in a 12-inning series opener and 1513 in game two before the series finale was cancelled due to rain. Dobson finished the two-game stretch 6-11 with two RBIs, one walk and five runs scored while Pierson 6-8 with five RBIs, three walks and three runs scored. The rampages continued into last week; over the past eight games, including the Georgia State series, Dobson has hit .406 with seven RBIs, four walks and nine runs while Pierson has hit .370 with eight RBIs, eight walks
and eight runs scored. “We’re older guys and a couple [of the] leaders on the team, so my job is to get on base and [Pierson will] do his thing and drive me in,” Dobson said after a 15-13 loss on April 18. “The last couple days we’ve been pretty successful with that and just got to keep it up.” Mountaineers head coach Billy Jones credited the duo, as well as senior infielder Noah Holmes, for being players who always seem to put together good at-bats. “When they’re going good, they’re as good as anybody,” Jones said. “A lot of those guys are playing out of position and you don’t hear them complain – they just go out there and try to be as good as they can possibly be.” Dobson, who has started 42 games total this year, has appeared 23 times at second base and 19 times at shortstop. Pierson has started all 44 games; 21 at third base, 19 at shortstop and four at second base. Pierson, a native of Coral Springs, Florida and Dobson, a native Hamptonville, were both expected to have big seasons for the Mountaineers entering the spring.
Last spring, Pierson led App State in batting average (.343), onbase percentage (.425), runs (41), hits (69), doubles (16), total bases (108), and walks (26) en route to being recognized with first-team all-Southern Conference honors. Dobson also garnered first-team all-Southern Conference honors last season after leading the team in home runs (11), RBIs (39) and slugging percentage (.545). The pair was named to 2015 preseason Sun Belt all-conference teams by College Sports Madness as well; Pierson a first-team infielder and Dobson a second-team infielder. With nine games left in the regular season for App State, pressure is on to fight back into the eighth seed in the Sun Belt – the final spot eligible for the conference tournament. The Mountaineers will need a team effort, including consistent performances from Pierson and Dobson at the plate. “Us being together in the lineup is going to help each other out,” Dobson said, “and it definitely doesn’t hurt to have a guy back there hitting .350 or whatever it is. Hopefully we can keep it up.”
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