Issuu

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Middleton leads App State

Boone-based Rainbow Kitten Surprise makes top 24 in VH1 Instagram music video contest.

see PAGE 3

The Daily Gamer

Early on, App State football is looking to junior defensive back Doug Middleton for leadership on and off the field.

The Daily Gamer, which provides Appalachian students with the latest news, reviews and opinions on the happenings of the gaming industry.

see PAGE 6

TheAppalachianOnline.com

The Appalachian 09.09.14

Appalachian State University’s student news source since 1934

Vol. 89, No. 5

STUDENT YOSEF CLUB DRAWS FIRST BLOOD SYC collects 40 units of blood in its first blood drive ever

by Nicole Caporaso News Reporter

blood drive was hosted Monday by the Student Yosef Club, an organization that supports Appalachian State University’s

Morgan Cook

student athletes and aims to increase Mountaineer spirit. The event was from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Linville Falls of Plemmons Student Union. Kenneth Taylor, a team leader from the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, said

the 10 staff members ended up with 40 units of blood from about 50 blood drive participants. “It’s important to give blood because it’s one of the few things we can’t manufacture, we can’t get it from another

country,” Taylor said. “We can only give this life saving blood from ourselves to other people to save their lives.” Ginny Thompson, the athletics development assistant for the Student Yosef Club, said this was the club’s first blood drive, but it will not be its last. “The Student Yosef Club decided to host this event in order to increase SYC memberships, as well as increase the impact the SYC has on campus life,” Thompson said. “We would like to help with a cause much greater than our own.” Thompson planned the event along with Billy Singvongsay, an SYC intern and Matt Riley, the account executive of Appalachian IMG Sports Network. Thompson said the goal set in mind for how many participants they would like to donate blood was 50. “We were so humbled to see our goal reached by the students here at App,” she said. “It is yet another example of how wonderful the Appalachian family is.” Nathan Koconis, a senior psychology major, said he heard about the blood drive

Recording studio added to Belk Library by Nicole Caporaso News Reporter

Belk Library and Information Commons’ newest addition is an audio recording room that allows Appalachian State University students to have access to a soundproof room to create music and audio in. According to library.appstate.edu, the equipment includes two microphones, a mini keyboard, double-screen computer monitors, a multi-track mixer, audio interface, headphones and connections for instruments and microphones. The software available in the room includes Adobe Audition, GarageBand, Logic Pro X and Pro Tools 11. The room opened Aug. 28 in the lower level of the library. Wil Cummings, a library technology support analyst, said he estimates that including the soundproofing of the room, the room roughly cost the university $10,000 to $12,000. “The purpose of the room is to offer music and audio creation for all users, not just music majors or people that are focusing on this,” Cummings said. “It’s an open resource for people who might want to try it or might want to go play.” Cummings said the library’s digital media studio has had several requests for this room. The digital media stu-

ASU Student hit by car

Missing student investigation underway by Carl Blankenship News Reporter

Rachel Krauza A new recording studio has been installed on the lower level floor of Belk Library and Information Commons.

dio is located on the third floor of the library. “We couldn’t offer this on the third floor because it’s a quiet floor, so we put it on the first floor and did sound proofing to allow people with instruments to record it,” Cummings said. “The room allows for comfortably about three peo-

ple, depending on the instrument too.” The room’s hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, according to the library’s website. Students can reserve a time slot using the library’s Book At Study Room page at www.library.appstate.edu.

Winkler mixed-use property approved

by Laney Ruckstuhl News Editor

An Appalachian State University student was struck by a vehicle Saturday just after 1 a.m. on Blowing Rock Road, according to Boone police. The student was identified as Charles Oliver Simmons, a junior international business major. Police said in a press release Monday that Simmons ran into the roadway and was struck by the vehicle, suffering serious injuries. The accident occurred just south of where the road intersects with Rivers Street, near the location of Parthenon. Simmons was transported to Johnson City Medical Center on Saturday. No charges have been filed and the incident is under investigation.

and figured he might as well participate. “It makes me feel good to go and give blood because it makes me feel like I did something worthwhile today,” he said. “Having an unusual blood type, I know that if I give blood it means I can probably end up saving someone’s life.” Koconis said he is either O+ or A/B+ and that within about a week the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will inform of what type he has. Lauren Sigmon, a junior elementary education major, said it was her third time giving blood. “I don’t see the point in not giving blood because it helps save people’s lives, and if you have the time you might as well just go ahead, rather than waste your time doing something else,” Sigmon said. Thompson said although people donate blood for different reasons, the donations that are made are vital for helping others. “Despite all our medical advances, there is no good manmade substitute for human blood, this is why donations are so vital,” she said.

Rachel Krauza by Carl Blankenship News Reporter

On Sept. 4, the Boone Board of Adjustment approved a Special Use Permit to build a mixed-use project where the now defunct Library Pub and Restaurant cur-

rently stands. The permit was applied for by John Winkler of local property developer The Winkler Organization. According to the presentation at the

SEE WINKLER PAGE 2

Last night, an Appalachian State University press release announced that the State Bureau of Investigation and other agencies are now classifying Anna Smith “as a missing and possibly endangered person.” According to the press release, “Anna is possibly carrying a bright blue LL Bean backpack that contained a blue ENO hammock. Anna was possibly last seen wearing a red or orange top and black leggings. Anna typically carries a red purse as well.” Chancellor Sheri N. Everts also sent out an official statement in an email Monday, addressing the issue and concerns surrounding Smith’s disappearance. “Anna’s safe return is first and foremost on our minds at Appalachian,” Everts said in the email. “As Chancellor, the safety and well-being of our students is my top priority. University Police, other law enforcement agencies and First Responders have participated in the search and I thank them for their critical support.” The email also said the most recent information regarding the search can be found at appstate.edu/missingstudent. Everts asked that everyone remains alert and on the look out for Smith. According to the most recent press release, authorities are now using means including “interviews, forensic examination of records, surveillance video analysis” and more. On Sept. 6, officers and First Responders searched wooded campus areas for clues. Smith has been missing since Sept. 2 and was first reported missing to the police on Sept. 4. “Smith is 18 years old, has short

SEE SMITH PAGE 2

NEWS

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Kiwanis Club hosts first Rocky Knob Triathlon by Kaitlan Morehouse Intern News Reporter

The Boone Kiwanis Club is inaugurating the first-ever Rocky Knob Triathlon on Sept. 20 to raise money for its Eliminate Project, a movement that fights to vaccinate neonatal tetanus in expectant mothers worldwide. The triathlon starts at the High Country Fairgrounds with an eight-mile run, followed by a four-mile kayak on the New River and a 19-mile bike ride back to the highway, up and down Rocky Knob and back to the fairgrounds. The route will be marked. Registration is open at $75 for individuals, $110 for a team of two and $150 for a team of three. Students from ages 18-24 are offered a special $50 signup deal. Mike Varner, a current tri-

athlon committee member and incoming president, said the committee encourages teams to participate. Kiwanis International is a civic organization dedicated to the welfare of children, according to kiwanis.org. For approximately $1.50, thirdworld mothers can receive three injections to prevent the neo-natal tetanus death of their children. The goal of the triathlon is to fund a $10,000 commitment to Kiwanis International’s Elimination Project. Kiwanis International has completed half of its projected $110 million goal. Triathlon committee member Gerry Staninger said he has been a part of the Boone Kiwanis Club for 15 years and currently serves as its secretary. The triathlon was started by committee Chair Sonny

Sweet, but Staninger has been filling in for him due to illness. “[Sweet has] been giving us good advice,” Staninger said. “He has been our guiding influence.” Staninger said the club has received permits, raised funds, designed T-shirts and received permission from landowners and the county to use Rocky Knob Park, a mountain bike park located just outside of Boone town limits off of U.S. 421. “Our committee is doing all of these various things to make the triathlon a success,” Staninger said. The triathlon committee is working with the Boone Kiwanis Club in order to promote and establish the event, Staninger said. Dev Looper, the volunteer coordinator for the event, said the Boone Kiwanis Club is

pooling a wide variety of volunteers from the community in order to support the triathlon. “The most notable is the ASU Circle K Club, which is a branch of the Kiwanis [Club],” Looper said. The university’s Circle K Club’s president, Alyssa Nardi, will be bringing a group of Appalachian students to help set-up, break down and clean up the event, Looper said. Volunteers will be there to assist as necessary at Wahoo’s Landing, Todd Island, Rocky Knob Park and at key points along the route with water, Band-Aids and snacks. Police officers will monitor highway crossings and EMT personnel will also be available. The competition is sponsored with volunteers by ASU Circle K Club, Watauga High School Key Club, Blow-

Students host second annual hackathon: AppHack by Nicole Caporaso News Reporter

AppHack, a 12-hour event in which students joined together to utilize technology to play games, create, socialize and learn, occurred Friday night in the Chemistry, Astronomy and Physics building. Approximately 70 students gathered in various rooms of the CAP building beginning at 7 p.m. and most remained until 7 a.m. the next morning. Sina Tashakkori, a computer science graduate student who has planned the last few AppHack gatherings, said the event is a collaborative space for attendees to learn outside of the classroom and contribute to their personal professional growth. “AppHack is a hackathon, and hackathons were developed by big companies like Google and Facebook to increase productivity of their employees by giving them a chance to contribute to the company and to be creative,” Tashakkori said. “Gmail

was created in a hackathon and so was the Facebook ‘like’ button.” Within the first few hours of the gathering, there were several guest speakers who presented to the AppHack participants, including James Wilkes, the chair of the Computer Science Department, David Sprague, the executive vice president of ECR Software Company and Appalachian professors Erich Schlenker and Mark Nystrom. “There’s a lot of people listening to talks and playing video games,” said Alek Ratzloff, a junior computer science major. “There are people playing Dungeons and Dragons, video games, board games and card games, and then there are people doing computer programming.” Prior to AppHack, there was a similar event held on campus. Tashakkori revolutionized the event this past spring. “I created AppHack, but it is not novel,” Tashakkori said. “Before AppHack was here its predecessor was called Sedex. Ap-

pHack is like Sedex, but with a better engine. This is like the twin turbo.” AppHack is interdepartmental and gets more students connected, which is why Tashakkori said it differs from Sedex. One of the inclusions of AppHack is a programming contest, in which students worked on creating some type of software to be judged by a voting committee that will choose the winners at the next Association of Computing Machinery meeting. The first-place prize is $100 and a 3D printed trophy, while the second-place prize is $50 awarded to the best programmer or group. Tashakkori said the voting committee is made up of computer science professors, associated sponsors and ACM members. “I hope that a lot of people come back learning something new, whether it be from a talk or from coding,” Ratzloff said. “I hope people are finding out something new and getting excited about something. I like watching people get excited about programming and computer science.”

ing Rock Boy Scouts and the Watauga Aktion Club, which is a part of Watauga Opportunities. “Our main sponsor is Appalachian Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine,” Varner said. “The other sponsors are Alray Tire, Wahoo’s Adventures, M-Prints, Pepsi and Magic Cycles.” Looper said the Blowing Rock Boy Scouts, under the direction of Kevin Clark, are camping out on the river and providing security for the kayaking portion of the event. Watauga Opportunities, a service program for developmentally challenged adults in the local community, put together the packets and designed the T-shirts. For more information, visit www.rockyknobtriathlon.com or www.facebook/rockyknobtriathlon.com.

WINKLER FROM PAGE 1

board meeting, the property will be a mixture of retail and living space with 42 bedrooms and 7,100 square feet of retail space. According to winklerorganization.com, their mission is to build student apartments, primarily for Appalachian State University students. The proposed property is planned to be 42.5 feet tall. The 25-foot elevation difference between the property and the neighboring residential area and plans to plant evergreens in the area surrounding the development are part of the plan to mitigate noise and light issues.

King Street hosts first Art Crawl of the fall semester

SMITH

FROM PAGE 1 red hair, blue eyes, is 5-feet 9-inches tall, slender build and has nose piercings, a black and white sunflower tattoo on her upper right chest near her collarbone and Latin lettering over her lower left ribs,” according to the original university press release from

YOU BUY Rachel Krauza

Sept. 4. Volunteers are distributing fliers with a photo of Smith and a University Police contact number. Crime tips can be submitted online anonymously at: police.appstate.edu/ crime-tip-submission-form Crimes and emergencies can also be reported to University Police via telephone at: 828-262-8000.

I FLY! FREAKY FAST

™

A&E

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

On Stage

Rainbow Kitten Surprise makes top 24 on VH1

by Casey Suglia

Intern A&E Reporter

oone-based band Rainbow Kitten Surprise has never had a headlining show at Legends. It has written and produced two albums, but only played locally when the opportunity arises. However, this past summer led the band to play for some of the biggest names in the music industry, all because of a 15-second video on Instagram. The band, which consists of Appalachian State University juniors Samuel Melo, Darrick Keller, Jess Haney, Charlie Holt and former Appalachian student Ethan Goodpaster, entered in VH1’s Make a Band Famous contest in May. According to www.vh1.com, the contest was a competition in which unsigned artists and bands submit an original live music video of no longer than

15 seconds via Instagram. Out of the 3,600 bands that entered the contest, the pool was narrowed down to 60 where fans were instructed to vote on who they wanted to stay in the competition. Rainbow Kitten Surprise made it to the top 24 before being eliminated. “We saw an advertisement for Make a Band Famous on Instagram so we did it, tagged ourselves, didn’t think anything of it and a few months later we get a message from VH1 saying we were in,” said Goodpaster, a communications major and guitarist for the band. “When we found out we were in the top 60 we were happy with that. Another month or two passes and they tell us we made it to the final 24 and we’re going to New York City.” As part of the top 24, Rainbow Kitten Surprise got to play for 60 seconds for record

executives and famous musicians such as Tyson Ritter of All American Rejects and pop star Natasha Beddingfield during a live broadcast on VH1’s website. “We were panicking because we are five musicians and we have to take a load of equipment up to New York and no one has a vehicle big enough for all five of us and all of our stuff,” said Melo, a dance studies major and the band’s lead singer. The band was given the rock star treatment for the few days they were in Manhattan. “They gave us a personal assistant,” said Keller, a psychology major and guitarist for the band. “It was very interesting. We thought it was going to be more about the music, but it was a bit more of a looks competition. We weren’t the image – we were just a bunch of cool looking nerds.” The competition ended for

Rainbow Kitten Surprise after its performance due to a lack of votes. “There were some bands who were already kind of famous and so many people who had been together [as a band] so much longer than us,” Goodpaster said. A record deal with Republic Records and an exclusive feature in VH1’s You Oughta Know, a campaign where the network tries to push lesserknown band into the mainstream, was on the line. “As soon as the competition was over, we knew that wasn’t what we wanted,” Goodpaster said. “We figured out that that kind of route was how we didn’t want to get our music out there. We didn’t want to just instantly be out there. We wanted to work and get our music out there due to hard work.” For the past three years, Rainbow Kitten Surprise has

Lockn’ Music Festival

been producing its albums with the same equipment and Apple Macbook laptop since recording their first album, “Mary” in Appalachian’s Bowie Residence Hall. Their time in Manhattan gave them a glimpse into the reality of the recording industry. “I think its something that everyone knows, and until you see it with your own eyes, it’s a different beast,” Melo said. After Manhattan, the band returned back home to start working on new material. The band is currently writing and putting together their next album, which is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year. “This next album is going to be the album that makes the band famous,” Keller said. Rainbow Kitten Surprise’s music is currently available to stream on Spotify, where its song “Devil Like Me” has 24,000 plays. It is also available for purchase on iTunes.

Lockn’ Music Festival attracted tens of thousands of music lovers from around the country to Arrington, Virginia this past weekend to celebrate acts including Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, The Allman Brothers and The String Cheese Incident. Daytime concertgoers and all-weekend campers danced in the heat of the sun for a four-day streak of live music and fun. Despite an hour long rain delay that forced Phil Lesh and Friends to an early exit on Saturday, the event carried out in full-sail for the duration of the weekend. Overall the second annual Lockn’ was considered a success by Arrington, critics and fans alike. Visit www.locknfestival.com/ for more information.

Review

Student hosts new podcast ‘Students For Liberty’ by Lovey Cooper Senior A&E Reporter

Senior appropriate technology major Zoe Little will provide the voice and driving personality behind SFL On Air, a new bimonthly podcast run by international libertarian nonprofit Students For Liberty. The show, which is broadcast live through a web seminar program and then later available for free on iTunes, is geared toward young intellectuals and encourages audience participation. Little is the voice that leads discussion between crowd-sourced experts on the topic of the week and student leaders across the country. The first podcast was broadcast Sept. 3, setting the overall tone of the series with the topic of “Millennials, Politics, and the Modern World.” The show featured discussion with Emily Ekins, who did a poll on millennials that was highlighted in the cover story of The New York Times Magazine and SFL Executive Board member Matt

La Corte. Little’s involvement with SFL began her sophomore year at Appalachian State University, when she decided last minute to tag along with libertarian friends to a conference at UNCChapel Hill. “I was pretty apprehensive about it because I really didn’t know what to expect from a crowd full of libertarians,” Little said. “I didn’t know more than three or four at the time and I knew they were all all right people – but I was pretty sure that there weren’t any other all right libertarians out there.” However, she ended up encountering a network of young people with diverse interests that aligned with her own – in areas other than just taxes and the Second Amendment, Little said. The next spring she became a campus coordinator for Appalachian’s campus chapter of the organization. Last year, the executive board selected Little to revamp the organization’s webinar series, which brought in guest profes-

sors, authors and other experts to speak on a topic related to liberty and take questions from the audience. “It was a lot of fun for me, but it wasn’t really getting the turnout that we had hoped because it wasn’t always a great experience for the audience, even though we had some really awesome speakers,” Little said. Seeing this gap in SFL’s public image, she decided to take on the project of rebranding the series in a new format of an engaging, youth-oriented podcast. “When I got involved with the webinar series last year, one of the reasons I was recommended was because people thought that I had an interesting and unconventional perspective on libertarianism,” Little said. “As the host of a podcast, it’s important not just to have good guests and content but to be a personality that people are interested in, whether they are in agreement or not.” Little cites her location at Appalachian one of the reasons she first got involved in politi-

cal activism, which started with a protest she helped organize for Eustace Conway, when the city government tried to shut down the Turtle Island Preserve in 2012 due to violations of building codes. Little’s protest drew over 50 participants from across the country and attracted media attention. “That experience with doing really successful activism and mobilizing the community made me want to get more involved and be available as a resource to help students elsewhere do similar things for members of their communities,” she said. The initial podcast was as far-reaching as intended for the international organization, with higher hopes for powerful future broadcasts and publicity through the Internet. “With social media, no geographic distance is too far to be a participant in events like this, especially because it was online,” said Chance Davies, a college student from Canada who provided the audience question

for the initial podcast. “I believe that both Canadian youth, as well as American youth share very similar political views, and I don’t see regional differences to be very evident.” For now, the podcast is all about using the Internet in generating buzz and sparking thoughtful discussion amongst a politically strong generation, wherever or whoever they may be. “If you put a cover on a book that says ‘Taxation is Theft and I Own 100 Guns, and I Kind of Support Marijuana Legalization and Gay Marriage,’ it’s hard to get people who care about social justice, environmentalism and corporate capitalism to pick it up,” Little said. “We aren’t trying to convince anyone to vote a certain way or have the same beliefs, but to engage in a conversation about relevant issues from a perspective that might be new to them.” For more information, check out www.studentsforliberty. org/sfl-on-air or www.facebook.com/sflonair.

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

App Submit announcements

App News is a service of the Division of Student Development. Email dycheab@appstate.edu at least two weeks in advance. Submissions should not exceed 100 words and must include the event title, date/ time, location and cost, other pertinent information and a contact(s) (email, phone and/ or URL). Announcements will be edited as needed and will run as space allows. Tom Robbins Week Sponsored by Appalachian State University Libraries. Internationally-renowned novelist and Blowing Rock native Tom Robbins returns home with a new book, “Tibetan Peach Pie: A True Account of an Imaginative Life.” • Screening of “Even Cow Girls Get the Blues,” 10 p.m. Sept. 9, room 114, Belk Library. First three people get free popcorn and free copies of Robbins’ new book • Talk with Tom Robbins on his new book, 7 p.m. Sept. 11, Rosen Concert Hall. Tickets are free and available on a first come, first served basis. Call the Schaefer Center box office at 828-262-4046. MAP-Works Survey New freshmen and transfer students are reminded to take the MAP-Works survey and view the Student Outcome Report. The survey is open Sept. 10-30. Mandatory Homecoming meetings To participate in Homecoming, student clubs/organizations must send a representative to one of the two mandatory meetings.

• 8 p.m. Sept. 8, Calloway Peak, PSU • 6 p.m. Sept. 9, MacRae Peak, PSU Film screening Filmmaker Lily Keber will present a free screening of “Bayou Maharajah” at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10, room 114, Belk Library. The film explores the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker. Oudoor Education Certifications The certifications begin in September. • Sept. 13-14 and Feb. 2122, Wilderness First Aid • Oct. 17-19 and April 10-12, Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification • Nov. 1-2, Leave No Trace Trainer • Dec. 5-7, American Mountain Guide Association, Climbing Wall Instructor • Dec. 14-22 and March 7-15, Wilderness First Responder • Feb. 5, Epinephrine Administration • Leave No Trace Master Educator, Aug. 10-14, 2015 Creative Writing welcome party 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 17, third floor Faculty Lounge, Sanford Hall. Open to new and returning transfer and non-traditional students interested in Creative Writing. Meet creative writing faculty and other transfer student writers and learn more about writing course offerings in the English Department. Find a student writing partner, enjoy conversation and refreshments from Stickboy Bread Co., hear a short read-

News ing by recent NC Poet Laureate and Creative Writing professor Joseph Bathanti, and win door prizes. Family members and children are also welcome. RSVP to weinbergsc@appstate. edu. The Wellness Workshops Presented by the Counseling Center presents the series of workshops with the theme “Feelin’ Good in the Neighborhood.” • 7 p.m. Sept. 17, Stress Less Workshop for College Students, Mountain Laurel room, PSU • 1 p.m. Sept. 24, Sanford Mall, Diversity Awareness Challenge • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 9, Test Your Mood: Mental Health Screening Day, Calloway Peak room, PSU • 12:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Survive and Thrive: Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper, Three Top Mountain room, PSU • 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Being Real: The Value of Vulnerability, Three Top Mountain Room, PSU Morris Dees: With Justice for All Kicking off this year’s University Forum Lecture Series, Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, will present “With Justice for All” at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Schaefer Center. The event is free and open to the public. The University Forum Lecture series is one of the longest running such series at Appalachian State University and it provides opportunities for the students, faculty and staff at the university and for people in the surrounding region

to hear some of the most stimulating speakers in the country. Fall ASE programs Fall ASE (Alternative Service Experience) programs provide a 4-day service and learning experience Oct. 1619 in the southeast. Experiences are led and created by trained student Peer Leaders and involve direct service to a community. Required pre-travel and post-travel meetings. Total cost: $100 (includes: food, housing and transportation). Sign-up date beginning 7 a.m. Sept. 17, ACT Outreach Center. Chords for Cora The a cappella competition is a fundraiser for the Bryk family, a local farming family whose daughter was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. Hosted by ASU VoiceMale, the event will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20, Schaefer Center. Tickets: $5 students; $8 general admission. Walker College of Business 2nd Annual Business Connections All day, Sept. 24. More than 150 employers and industry executives are expected to attend. The day allows students studying business the opportunity to learn from and engage with the business world through workshops, discussions, panels, practice interviews, a career fair and a networking social. The sharing of knowledge and experiences focus on career concerns, current industry trends and issues, and professional development. For information, contact odomah1@appstate.edu or 828-262-8119.

Educational Media Master’s Degree or Certificate Appalachian State offers an Educational Media Master’s Degree and Certificate programs. The program is entirely online and includes a range of courses involving media and technology. Students develop the technical, aesthetic, and intellectual expertise and perspectives needed to analyze and develop online environments using new media and online networks. For more information, go to http://edtech.appstate. edu/. Policy updates The University of North Carolina has adopted theFostering Undergraduate Student Success policy to be implemented fall 2014. The policy includes several changes that affect all new, continuing and returning undergraduate students. The updates are to the Course/Repeat/ Grade Forgiveness policy, the Academic Standing policy, and the Course Withdrawal policy. For more information, go to http://registrar.appstate.edu/records/fosteringstudentsuccess.html. Broadstone facility info The Broadstone facility is now run through University Recreation. Broadstone can be reserved at a nominal fee for all types of groups on campus. It’s available for retreats, meetings, workshops, trainings, cookouts/picnic, celebrations and kickoff/end of the year events. For more information, go to http://broadstone.appstate. edu/.

September

sunday

monday 7

tuesday 8

Mandatory Homecoming Meeting for Student Organizations, 8 p.m., Calloway Peak, PSU

wednesday 9

Mandatory Homecoming Meeting for Student Organizations, 6 p.m., MacRae Peak, PSU

10 ARTSpectrum Lecture: South African Visiting Artist Gordon Froud, 6 p.m., Turchin Center, free

Evening of Encores, 8 p.m., Rosen Con- Bafoodus concert, 9 p.m., Legends, cert Hall, free Tickets: $5-$9 “Even Cow Girls Get “The Deer Hunter” the Blues” screenscreening, 7 p.m., ing, 10 p.m., room Greenbriar, PSU, $1 114, Belk Library, free “Bayou Maharajah” screening, 7:30 Make Your Own Koozies, noon, PSU, p.m., room 114, Belk Library, free free

16 Hispanic Heritage Festival, 6-9 p.m., Legends, $3 advance, $5 door

17 Creative Writing welcome party, 6 p.m., third floor faculty lounge, Sanford Hall

Koontz, Borkowski, and Bartlett concert, Morris Dees: With 8 p.m., Rosen Con- Justice for All, 7 cert Hall, free p.m., Schaefer Center, free Agave Baroque/ Guest Organ/Early Music Recital, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free “Kramer vs. Kramer” screening, 7 p.m., Greenbriar, PSU, $1

friday

thursday 11 Tom Robbins: A True Account of an Imaginative Life, 7 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free

saturday 12

Suzanne Wilkison (NC Association of Biomedical Research) presentation, noon, room 224, I.G. Greer, free

13 “22 Jump Street” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door

Gallery Tour with Gordon Froud: South African Visiting Art- “22 Jump Street” ist, 6 p.m., Turchin screening, 7 p.m. Center, free and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, “22 Jump Street” $2 door screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. “The Deer Hunter” Greer, $1 advance, screening, 7 p.m., $2 door Greenbriar, PSU, $1

Guest Concert: Gremlins Duo, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free

18 Rodney Reynerson: Faculty Piano Recital, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free “X-Men: Days of Future Past” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door

19 “X-Men: Days of Future Past” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door “Kramer vs. Kramer” screening, 7 p.m., Greenbriar, PSU, $1

20 “X-Men: Days of Future Past” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door

Opinion The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Staff Opinion

Changing culture, technology alter definition of privacy Kevin Griffin Opinion Writer

The recent celebrity hacking scandal combines two prominent elements of society, celebrity culture and technology, in a way that reveals a great deal about the evolution of privacy. While many people understand the violation of privacy that has taken place, there is nonetheless a fascination with the leaked images. It is this type of contradiction that presents a great dilemma about privacy rights in our generation. Under the law, privacy rights are linked to social expectations of privacy. The Supreme Court established in the 1967 case Katz v. United States that

a reasonable expectation of privacy is one which the larger society recognizes as such. The combination of social media and the level of selfdisclosure it requires and the broad cultural fascination with the lives of celebrities goes a long way toward eroding expectations of privacy. In the case of the hacked celebrity photographs and videos, it can be argued that the impact is trivial since they are only celebrities and the disclosures will not really harm them. That is true enough, but what ultimately suffers is our wider idea of privacy. We live in, and in large part support, an increasingly voyeuristic celebrity culture that enjoys having access to the intimate details of celebrity lives. Also, we use social media that requires a great deal of disclosure to use the media

for its intended purposes of connecting with old and new friends, communicating with others and networking. All of this becomes critical when it affects our civil liberties. As the Washington Post reported, the NSA has been collecting the data of ordinary citizens’ Internet usage for some time now. Naturally, this issue has raised quite a bit of concern about privacy rights. However, how convincingly can Americans argue for their privacy rights while they simultaneously support this type of celebrity culture and use social media with the level of disclosure that they often do? Of course, the right to privacy does deserve protection, but a number of these cultural and technological factors do undermine or at least alter the nature of privacy. The type of concerns that

insecure privacy rights spawn pose problems for a democratic society. Following NSA revelations in 2013, many writers in the United States reported that they had censored themselves as a result of NSA activity, according to PEN America. Although the subject does require more research, an August 2014 study by an MIT researcher indicated that Americans were censoring their own web searches in response to surveillance revelations. This is likely a problem we will be facing for sometime, and it will take some effort on the part of Americans to ensure their privacy rights are secure. It is an effort that is well worth making because of the importance of privacy to our democratic society. Griffin, a junior journalism major from Madison, is an opinion writer.

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Staff Opinion

Hagan flexes incumbent muscle in first Senate debate Dewey Mullis Opinion Writer

North Carolinians witnessed the inaugural Senate debate between Republican Speaker Thom Tillis and Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan Wednesday night. The two competitors are locked in a virtual draw in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a Real Clear Politics poll. Hagan came out swinging the punches of incumbency and left Tillis with limited response tactics. While Hagan relied on her experience, Tillis remained steadfast in tying the incumbent to President Barack Obama, who is losing popularity in North Carolina. The topics of discussion were nothing far-removed from the standard debates as

of late: Education, healthcare, ISIS, active-duty military and veterans. Here is a breakdown: The recent cuts to education and the mass exodus of teachers from the state were fuel for Hagan. Tillis pushed the 7 percent pay raise for teachers, but it wasn’t enough to mask Hagan’s bipartisan education legislation history. However, Hagan came close to riding the education issue into the ground as she often flipped the conversation back to education. Tillis opened the discussion surrounding ISIS with his support for immediate action and hounded Hagan for her sluggish support for intervention. Hagan played up her role as the Senate’s most moderate Democrat and reinforced her past pressures on the president to consider viable strategies. Hagan took the clear advantage on healthcare. Tillis stuck

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to the talking points of repealing Obamacare and emphasizing the broken promise of the Affordable Care Act. The return-fire from Hagan was highlighted bipartisan legislation, which restored healthcare plans to North Carolinians; ridiculed Tillis’ massive slash to Medicaid and delivered a hefty blow from the perspective of a woman when it came to contraception. Tillis, like most men, struggled with debating women’s health with a woman. It’s inevitable. Active-duty military and veterans were also strengths for Hagan. Her military-saturated family history and bipartisan legislation pertaining to veteran benefits, including work with Republican Sen. Richard Burr to return benefits to active-duty service people during sequestration gave her the edge over Tillis. When asked about the militarization of police forces, Tillis profusely thanked all

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who serve in state and local law enforcement and reiterated the importance of policecommunity relations. Hagen gave the subject little effort and continued attacking Tilli’s record on education. This lack of enthusiasm was simply awkward. Wednesday’s debate was the first of a three-debate series. With polls having the two separated by only a fraction of a percent, both candidates have to bring their A-game. By nature of incumbency, granted, Hagan has more confidence and experience in navigating debates and hot political topics. Despite a diligent attempt from her challenger, she was able to focus on her own list of accomplishments. At the conclusion of the first debate, Hagan has the advantage in my book. Mullis, a senior criminal justice major from Wallburg, is an opinion writer.

Our Mission The Appalachian, a student-run publication at Appalachian State University, strives to provide fair and accurate news for the campus community; to inform, entertain and create a forum for ideas; to provide an outlet for readers’ opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff and community interests; and to remain independent, exercise and ensure its First Amendment rights.

Students should push through voter suppression Carl Blankenship News Reporter

In August, The Appalachian reported on the State Board of Elections denial of an on-campus voting site for Appalachian State University. The decision to not host an on-campus voting site was made despite the statement that 72 percent of voters in Watauga County went to the former voting site in Plemmons Student Union. The denial of an on-campus voting site is blatant voter suppression and arguments for the contrary fly in the face of that simple statistic that shows the site in the student union was clearly the most popular in the county. I do not believe emphasizing the intent to suppress the student vote will further the cause to return a voting site to the campus because I also firmly believe that everyone involved is fully aware of what the denial of a campus site means and the intent of the decision. I would much rather appeal to the students, Boone and Watauga County residents to consider the importance of the university to the area. The students compose a large piece of the population of the county, and even though students leave after roughly four years, the interests and politics of one generation of students will carry over in some form to the next. The university is undeniably important to the area and the students are the largest portion of the university. Once again, I don’t believe that anyone thinks the views of the students are not relevant to the area, as there would be no reason to deny on-campus voting. But, I do believe there are those who would rather another’s relevant views were passed over in favor of their own. Above all else, I would encourage students to make a concerted effort to vote despite the obvious problems of time and transportation. Turning out to vote and showing that students care enough about being heard to deal with all the inconveniences and simply vote anyway is the only way to cull voter suppression in Watauga County. Blankenship, a sophomore journalism major from Kernersville, is a news reporter.

Letters to the Editor The Appalachian welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and include the author’s name, ASU Box, phone number, classification and campus affiliation, if any. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments. Letters should be submitted electronically via our Web site or e-mail. Letters may also be mailed to “Letter to the Editor,” The Appalachian, ASU Box 9025, Boone, N.C. 28608. Letters may also be brought to the newsroom, located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.

Sports Tuesday, September 9, 2014

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Football

App State looks to junior defensive back for leadership Rachel Krauza

Junior defensive back Doug Middleton playing in the football game against Campbell University on Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Middleton has fourteen tackles and an interception return for a touchdown in the first two games of the season.

by Bryant Barbery Intern Sports Reporter

o motivate a team defensively at the start of a new season, there must be a cataylyst for the team around which to rally. For App State football this season, that player has been junior defensive back Doug Middleton. Middleton recorded eight tackles and ended up being one of the few bright spots for the Mountaineers in the seasonopening loss against Michigan on Aug. 30. In the week leading up to the 66-0 rout of Campbell in App State’s home opener Sept. 6, Middleton was looking to improve from the loss to the Wolverines. “I’m just going to focus on my technique and play faster for the game coming up this week,” Middleton said prior to the game against Campbell. “[Against Michigan], I was a little hesitant even though I had eight tackles. It could have been a lot more if I played faster and more physical.” Middleton backed up his words against Campbell, recording six total tackles

and a 53-yard interception return for a touchdown, which extended App State’s second-quarter lead to 31-0. The touchdown was the second of his career. The first came in 2011 during his freshman season with a 97-yard interception return against North Carolina A&T. Middleton was named freshman AllAmerican by College Sports Journal and placed on the freshman All-Southern Conference team, placing 11th in the Southern Conference with 2 interceptions during the 2011 season. “He is an older guy who is very mature and smart in class and on the football field,” secondary and defensive backs coach Scot Sloan said. “He has got good leadership qualities, which leads to respect from the other players on here on the field. To be a leader you have to be able to handle the classroom, training room and being on the field. He has a good work ethic not only physically, but mentally as well.” Middleton is not a stranger to adversity. He started his sophomore season

opener at East Carolina University, only to leave the game early after injuring his ankle, a season-ending injury. He was granted a medical redshirt and continued his success last season moving back into the starting position playing both safety positions. “We don’t have many players the can play both safety positions because they are totally different things,” head coach Scott Satterfield said. “That talks about a little bit about the mental part of the game for him. When you get a player that versatile it’s hard to keep him off of the field.” Middleton’s leadership extends into the classroom as a business management major. He has been on the dean’s list, Appalachian athletics’ academic honor roll and was a member of the Southern Conference’s academic honor roll for the 2013 season. Middleton’s dedication in the classroom shows itself in the way he prepares for each game as well. “He has got a class on Tuesday and Thursday so he misses our positional

meeting,” Sloan said. “He comes over on his own and meets with me one on one to go over what I’m going to go over in the meeting.” From last season to this season, Middleton has improved his gameplay and continues to improve on a weekly basis. The improvement was noticed by his coaches in the game against Campbell. “I’ve gotten a lot faster than last year,” Middleton said. “This summer, I hit the weight room hard with our new strength and conditioning staff and gained a few pounds.” The future appears bright for Middleton as he continues to don the black and gold for this season and the next as FBS play starts up. Opposing offenses will have to include him in their pregame strategies as they face the Mountaineers’ defense. “We hope he continues to get better and better,” Satterfield said. “He has great speed and needs to improve on tackling. He lines on the right and is a great communicator out there. I think the more he plays the better he will get.”

Women’s Basketball

Vincent resigns, search begins for replacement head coach by Jenn Zeleski Intern Sports Reporter

Darcie Vincent resigned from her position as head coach of the Mountaineers women’s basketball team Sept. 5. “I thank the University and the Appalachian State family for the great experience I’ve had here,” Coach Vincent said in a statement from App State athletics. “I wish the young women the best in the upcoming season.” Last season, the Mountaineers went 13-16 overall, but compiled a winning record (10-8) in the Southern Conference and took care of business at home, going 7-4 at Holmes Convocation Center. Spending six seasons in Boone, Vincent compiled a 11775 record and was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011, leading the Mountaineers to the regular season conference title in both years. Her tenure also included four straight 20-win seasons from 2009 to 2013. Vincent graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where she earned respect as a player, being named All-Atlantic 10 three times and collected Kodak All-District honors. Before her success at App

State, Vincent established her name as a coach, leading the California University of Pennsylvania to a national title in 2004, while becoming a fourtime Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. The Mountaineers are scheduled to open up their season with an exhibition against Lees-McRae on Nov. 8 at Holmes Convocation Center before beginning their regular season with a trip to Kentucky on Nov. 14. According to the App State press release, an interim coach will be named as soon as possible, and the national search for a permanent replacement has begun immediately. “I wish Coach Vincent the best in her future endeavors,” Appalachian interim director of athletics Rick Beasley said in a statement from App State athletics. “Our full focus at this point is on the student-athletes in our women’s basketball program and giving them the best opportunity to continue to succeed on and off the court this season and beyond.”

Darcie Vincent resigned as head coach of App State women’s basketball Friday after six seasons with the program.

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