WELCOME The Appalachian presents the 2016 Orientation Guide
INSIDE 5 6 9 10
11 12 13 15 16 17 19 21
Social media accounts to follow Navigating the AppalCART Club sports What’s a Chaco? A list of colloquial vocabulary words to know in Boone What I learned in college Dorm days Live music venues Preventing the freshman 15 Beeping: How to get around when you’ve been drinking Best places to hike Appalachian State bucket list Best of Boone 2016 highlights
Welcome to Appalachian State University! Whether you are transferring or starting your college career fresh this year, you are now part of a long tradition of Mountaineers. The Appalachian has been the voice of the students of this campus for 82 years. You will find all the most important news about your peers and the school in our pages and on our website. We are the place to go to keep up to date on breaking news, sports and local arts & entertainment. Look for us on newsstands in buildings across campus and Boone and check our website for the most up-to-date news. Congratulations on your acceptance and good luck with your career as a Mountaineer.
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Editor-in-Chief Carl Blankenship Managing Editor Aleah Warner Enterprise Editor Lee Sanderlin Copy Editor Victoria Haynes News Editor Sammy Hanf A&E Editor Katie Murawski Opinion Editor Abbi Pittman Sports Editor Jason Huber Graphics Editor Sydney Spann Photo Editor Dallas Linger Video Editor Maleek Loyd
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Appalachian State University @AppState Her Campus at Appalachian @HCAppState Appalachian Sports @AppStateSports Greek Organizations @AppStateGreeks
The Peel Literature and Arts Review @ThePeelReview Club Council @AppStateClubCouncil App State Fitness @AppStateFitness
University Recreation @AppalachianUREC Turchin Center for the Visual Arts @TurchinCenter
The Appalachian @TheAppalachian
NAVIGATING THE AppalCART
by Celia Calhoun, A&E Reporter photo by Dallas Linger, Photo Editor
If you don’t have a car in Boone, it is difficult to know how to get to some destinations in town and around campus. Thankfully, the AppalCART provides transportation to a lot of these destinations and some that you never knew you wanted to go to.
Red
Red Route is arguably the most useful route for people living on campus. It runs every day of the week. It travels down U.S. Route 321, passes the Watauga Medical Center and is the main bus used to get to and from Walmart and Boone Mall. Red Route goes past Walmart and makes a loop going in the opposite direction toward the hospital, which adds another six minutes to the trip. To avoid this extra amount of time, stop at the Boone Visitor’s Center and walk through the parking lot. Riders can get to the Boone Mall by exiting the bus at New China Buffet. Another noteworthy stop on this route is the stop at Furman Road, which is close to the main entrance of Boone’s greenway. Other popular destinations on this route include Goodwill, 10 High Country Lanes bowling alley and Los Arcoiris Mexican Restaurant. Students can catch the bus at College Street Circle and runs from 7:25 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, it operates from 8:25 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays it operates from 3:55 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Orange
Orange Route operates Monday through Saturday. It goes by Papa
John’s and Zaxby’s and passes by the Medical Center where Urgent Care is located. Orange Route is a good route to ride to get food. On this route, there is the Speedway Gas Station, Bojangles and Subway. Another interesting place Orange goes is Brookshire Park, which has multiple soccer fields, including one where Appalachian State’s soccer teams play. Part of the greenway also goes through this park. The New Market Shopping Center is another destination on this route, where Lowes Foods, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Great Clips and Regal Cinemas Boone 7 are some of the main attractions. One of the final stops on Orange is at Earthfare and Boone Drug on King Street before the bus returns to College Street Circle. Orange Route runs Monday through Friday from 6:55 a.m. to 9:48 p.m. On Saturdays, it operates from 8:55 a.m. to 4:48 p.m.
Pop 105
Pop 105 is one of the longest AppalCART routes. The bus runs Monday through Saturday. It goes through most of Boone, stopping by various dining establishments like McDonald’s, Sunrise Grill, Hilltop Drive-In and Galileo’s. It also passes multiple recreation-focused stores including Ski First Tracks, a scuba store and Kung Fu
academy. Other stores that Pop 105 passes by include Corner Consignments, Goodwill on NC Hwy 105. The bus also goes down part of King Street and turns right before Cilantro’s, a Mexican restaurant within walking distance of campus. Pop 105’s hours Monday through Friday are from 6:55 a.m. to 10:06 p.m. On Saturdays, it runs from 8:55 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. The main bus station is the Raley Traffic Circle.
Silver
Silver Route operates Monday through Friday and travels to a variety of interesting places. Some of the attractions include Domino’s Pizza, Town Tavern, Recess, Goodwill and the Treasure Mountain Gem Mine. Silver also drives by Highland Commons shopping center, where Ingles grocery store and Barberitos are located. One of the highlights of this route is Caldwell Community College. Even if you are not taking classes there, the parking lot houses one of the most gorgeous views of the mountains. It is a good place to go have a picnic or watch the sunset. Silver runs from 7:03 a.m. until 9:33 p.m. and can be caught at the Raley Traffic Circle.
Pink
Pink Route operates Monday through Friday. It goes up to Horn in the West, which is where the park, arboretum and farmers’ market are located. It also passes by a variety of places to get food such as Papa John’s and Zaxby’s, as well as Which Wich in Winkler’s Creek Crossing shopping center. Pink Route goes up to University Hall, which houses some student services. Pink runs from 6:55 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. and can be caught at the Raley Traffic Circle.
Green East
Green East operates Monday through Saturday, with a similar route to Orange. It stops near the Dollar General, Tuesday Morning and Boone Bike on U.S. Route 421. It passes Watauga High School and drives for a while alongside the New River. Green makes a stop at the Hospitality House of Boone and then turns around. It goes by the Kangaroo Express and Brookshire Park. The route goes through the Watauga Industrial Complex, which is where the FedEx is located. Bojangles, New Market Shopping Center and Earthfare are some of the final destinations of the bus before returning to College Street Circle. On Monday through Friday, it runs from 7 a.m. to 9:50 p.m. On Saturdays, it operates from 9 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.
Green West
Green West is a great route to take for traveling up and down King Street. It operates Monday through Saturday and has multiple stops in the downtown area. Some attractions on King Street include Appalachian State apparel stores like Mountaineer Mania and Appalachian Tee’s. There are a wide array of dining options as well as eclectic shops that sell jewelry, music, books and clothing. Some of the most popular stores include Anna Banana’s, a consignment shop, the Boone Rock-n-Roll Emporium, Mast General Store and Footsloggers. Students enjoy eating at Our Daily Bread, Capone’s,
Macado’s and Hob Nob Farm Cafe located on King Street. It arrives on campus at College Street Station and operates from 6:55 a.m. to 9:50 p.m. on Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, it runs from 8:55 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.
Express
Express is a useful route for students when Red is running late or full. It runs Monday through Friday following a similar route to Red. The difference between the routes is that Express travels in the reverse direction, passing by the other side of U.S. Route 421. Dining options on Express Route include McDonald’s, Which Wich, Burger King, Come Back Shack, Local Lion, TApp Room, Klondike Café and Subway. Some other important stops Express makes include Greenway Business Park and Walmart. The bus also goes down King Street starting at Cilantro’s. It arrives on campus at College Street Station and runs from 7:10 a.m. to 6:19 p.m.
Purple
Purple Route operates Monday through Friday. It goes down U.S. Route 321 and travels past the McDonald’s, China Buffet, Applebee’s, Chili's, Chick-fil-A, Makoto's and Which Wich. If you get off at the Boone Visitors Center, you can walk to Walmart and the surrounding shopping center. Purple is one of the two routes that will get you to the mall. Get off at the New China Buffet stop and then walk through the parking lot to enter the mall. Purple arrives on campus at Raley Traffic Circle and operates from 6:55 a.m. until 8:14 p.m.
Teal
Teal Route operates Monday through Saturday. The main purpose of the Teal Route is to shuttle residents to and from The Cottages of Boone. However, there are some other worthwhile stops that the bus makes. For food, Teal passes Domino’s, Town Tavern, Troy’s Diner and Sunrise Grill. There are several recreation opportunities on the Teal Route such as First Tracks, Recess and Magic Mountain Mini Golf. The Goodwill on NC Hwy 105 is also accessible on this route. Teal arrives on campus at Raley Traffic Circle and runs on Monday through Friday from 7:18 a.m. to 10:04 p.m. On Saturdays, it operates from 9:18 a.m. until 5:04 p.m.
Blue and Gold
These two routes drive around the entirety of campus. Blue and Gold Routes are especially useful for long walks when Safe Ride is not running. Gold Route goes around the entire campus and runs every day. Gold arrives on campus at College Street Circle and runs from 6:50 a.m. until midnight Monday through Thursday, and from 6:50 a.m. until 9:53 p.m. on Friday. Blue Route only stops at the Student Recreation Center, Living Learning Center, Mountaineer and Appalachian Hall. It also stops at the baseball field and wind turbine. Blue arrives on campus at Raley Traffic Circle and runs Monday through Friday from 7:20 a.m. to 5:49 p.m.
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CLUB SPORTS by Jason Huber, Sports Editor
Appalachian State’s Club Sports Program and Intramural Sports gives students a variety of sports not offered in the varsity programs and allows students to compete on a team if they are not able to make the time commitment that a varsity sport requires. For club sports, App State’s campus offers four men’s sports, six women’s sports and 11 co-rec sport teams. Teams offered for both men and women are lacrosse, rugby, soccer and ultimate Frisbee, and the additional two women’s teams are basketball and volleyball. Co-rec sports include Alpine ski, archery, baseball, climbing, cycling, equestrian, fencing, ice hockey, snowboarding, swim and triathlon. Intramural sports offer up to 25 sports and competition teams that vary from single gender to co-rec teams. Students who would like to join an intramural sport team have the option to play on one single gender and one co-rec team when available. This allows students to participate on a max of two teams per sport. To register for a team, students have to create an IM Leagues account on their website, find Appalachian State University under schools and choose the sport they would like to sign up for. Students have the option to join any two available teams. Anybody can join a team and should receive equal playing time. To create a team, the IM Leagues website will provide instructions and require attendance at a meeting to discuss information to run a team throughout that sports season. Students can also go to the intramural sports website, go to registration forms to find the responsibility of a team captain and their sign up rules. Any others info can be found on the IM Sports website. Unlike intramural sports, teams in the Club Sports Program compete against other institutions of higher education from local and regional areas on a non-varsity level. A club team is a registered organization that provides instruction, organizes practice and schedules competition in a specific sport. It is a student-run organization that is also administered, developed and coached by students. Intramural sports take place on campus and go off of the campuses set game and match schedules where club teams may travel. Students must be enrolled in six or more credit hours and pay a student activity fee to participate in a sport. Faculty and staff are also welcome to participate depending on
different leagues. On average, practices are two to three times a week in the evening with games or events on some weekends. You can participate in fall and spring and it is recommended teams travel to compete at least twice a semester. All teams have dues ranging from $25 to $1,500. There are no cuts, but students are not guaranteed playing time depending on team policies. Students must have personal equipment, and other equipment is dependent upon what the team has accumulated over the years. Students can join a club team by signing into AppSync with their ASU UserID and find the club organization they are interested in. The university’s goal and mission is to have a playground for ASU students developing strength in body, mind and character. To create a club team, students can meet with the assistant director of University Recreation Club Sports and they will provide all the information needed. Those interested in participating in a sport or club aside from varsity sports can visit the club sports and intramural websites for more information to get started and have fun with the sports they enjoy. To register or find more info, go to clubsports.appstate.edu.
by Dallas Linger, Photo Editor
WHAT’S A CHACO? A list of colloquial vocabulary words you should know in Boone. by Paul Heckert, former Business Manager & Charlotte Wray, former Managing Editor
photo by Laura Brewer
Slackline – Walking across campus you may see what looks like a tightrope strung between two trees. A tightrope is exactly what it is. Often, shirtless men will be attempting to cross these on Sanford Mall when it is warm outside.
The parkway – If you are not from North Carolina, you can be forgiven if you do not know what this is. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a mere 20 minutes away from campus and provides a plethora of amazing views and hikes for all abilities.
Chaco – A Chaco is a type of strappy sandal used for outdoor activities like hiking. Boone has the highest per capita Chaco ownership of any city in the country. When it gets cold outside, you may see what is called a socko (wearing socks with your Chacos).
Safe Ride – This is a service provided by Appalachian that will come pick you up from anywhere on campus and take you to any destination on campus between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., seven days a week. The drivers are usually students and are often pretty cool people.
ENO – This is the name of a company – short for Eagles Nest Outfitters – that manufactures a lightweight nylon hammock that is perfect for relaxing in trees between class. They are referred to as an ENO. Central – Before it was renamed Roess Dining Hall, it was called Central Dining Hall. To avoid looking like a freshman, understand that when upperclassmen say “Central,” this is what they’re referring to. B for D – This stands for breakfast for dinner. It is a Thursday night staple in the dining hall when you can get eggs, bacon, waffles and French toast sticks. Bean Boot – This is a boot manufactured by L.L. Bean. They are a staple on Appalachian’s campus during the fall and winter months. ODB – This stands for Our Daily Bread. It is a sandwich shop full of goodness on King Street across from Mast General Store. E-News – This stands for Espresso News. It is a Boone coffee shop tucked behind Footsloggers on Howard Street.
First Friday – Otherwise known as Art Crawl, this takes place on the first Friday of each month. Art galleries, as well as some restaurants and shops downtown, stay open late and many have special opening activities. 24/5 – This refers to the schedule on which the library operates. It is open 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Sanford Mall – This is Appalachian’s quad. It is the grassy bit in front of the student union where students can be seen throwing Frisbees, hammocking and laying out in the sun. Hippie Hill – Located on King Street across from the Turchin Center, this hill is home to an eclectic group of people who can often be seen hula-hooping, juggling and enjoying the sun on a warm Boone day. On special nights, one can drive by and see fire juggling and hooping. Taco Wednesday – TApp Room, located across the street from the Convocation Center, is home to a $2 chicken and barbecue taco and drink special on Wednesdays. This deck is the place to be on a sunny day.
WHAT I LEARNED IN COLLEGE by Dylan Dow, former Web Manager
Going to events equals free food, avoid the freshman 15, you will change your major half a dozen times, coffee is your friend, and so on and so forth. While important, these are all things you have probably heard a million times before ever stepping foot on campus. As a result, I would be doing a great injustice regurgitating the same old, true or not, “top 10” Buzzfeed-esque tips and tricks that you know by heart. Instead, I would like to focus on some often ignored and overlooked things that I and others have learned while in college. Plus, if all I learned was where to get free food, then I did something absolutely wrong. First, you get out of it what you put into it. In my time at Appalachian State, I have found this to be true in nearly every situation I have been in. Whether it be in classes, sports or nearly anything else – the only way to get the results I wanted out of my experiences was to put the work required into it. There will be parts of college you love and parts you hate. While this may seem obvious, far too often people complain about things like poor grades when they rarely attended classes or failed to do homework. While you have newfound freedoms, don’t expect to always skirt by your responsibilities necessary to do well. Just like how a football player needs to go to practice to do well in a game, a student needs to study to do well in class. Second, mental health is still, and will always be, important. Always take time out of your day to do the things for yourself that make you happy. You cannot be happy if you do not allow yourself to be so. Do not fail to take the time needed to nurture yourself. While you need to put the work required into doing well in classes, you also need to do the work required into doing well yourself. Classes are important, but so are you.
Third, the friends you make freshman year do not need to be your friends forever. You will meet a lot of people your freshman year that you will enjoy hanging out with, others not so much. Fear not. You are not, nor will you ever be, stuck in the friendships you make. You will have plenty of opportunities to meet other people who better fit your hobbies and personality. Stay with the people who make you happy, put distance between you and the ones who do not. Fourth, come into college with an open mind. Your beliefs, thoughts and knowledge will all be challenged. Be ready to learn and experience new things that may be originally outside of your comfort zone. Believe it or not, there will be people that come from different backgrounds than you in a university setting. Do not only surround yourself with people who share the same views as you. This will not allow you to learn more about others of different beliefs and backgrounds. On top of that, not everybody needs to have their opinions changed – agree to disagree and move on. Respect them and they, hopefully, will respect you. This leads into my fifth and possibly most important point: The person you are when you enter college will not be the same person that leaves. For better or for worse, you will be more educated. You will have experienced new things. Your horizons will have expanded and your thoughts more articulate. I have learned that college is indeed a place to learn, both in and outside of class. Surprising, I know. Yes, you will learn where the free food is found. You may find a love for coffee and also put on a bit of weight. Still, college is a time when you will learn so much more about yourself and others if only you allow yourself to. You will grow and develop through classes, friends and a multitude of experiences. Again, you will get out of college what you put into it.
DORM DAYS by Carl Blankenship, Editor-in-Chief
Dorms are an alien place: small and empty, dorm rooms can be a sad sight when you arrive at one.But never fear, dorm life can be pleasant or even a lot of fun if you approach it the right way.
Preparations
Make sure to check the university’s list of what to bring and what to leave at home when you move into your dorm. Pay special attention to what not to bring. That list includes some obvious things like weapons, high explosives and things that produce large open flames but also has things like electronic cigarettes, nails and extension cords. Double check that you have the essentials before you leave to move in so you don’t have anything to worry about for the first few days. There’s nothing more frustrating than rolling up in Boone to set up shop only to discover you forgot to bring sheets and deodorant. Some dorms only have heat. Find out if your dorm has AC and bring a fan if it doesn’t. It will be hot when you get there.
Roommates
The most important thing to know about roommates is that you don’t have to be best friends. You only need to be on good terms with them. If you don’t know your roommate you might end up being great friends with them, but trying to force a close friendship with someone will only annoy them. Remember to address problems with your roommate quickly when they come up and compromise. Similarly, keep an open mind and listen if your roommate has an issue with something you’re doing.
Decorating
The floors of the dorm are usually tile. If that isn’t to your liking you can check around at local sales for dorm furniture, like the Big Sale at Legends that happens at the beginning of fall semester. You can usually find some kind of rug at these sales or bring one with you. Posters, flags, and lights are all fair game to hang on the walls as well.
Cooking
Cooking in a dorm. The immediate response may be something along the lines of: don’t. Ramen may be the name of the game for a lot of college kids but all the dorms have kitchens. A single kitchen usually, for the entire building. If you do want to cook in your dorm, remember that there is no guarantee someone else won’t be using the kitchen and that you should plan on making things that will stay good for a few days without being cooked in case you find the kitchen occupied.
Pro Tips
There are a few markets on campus. These are basically small grocery stores that sell brand -name foods, lighters and overthe-counter drugs. You can buy food from the market with money on your meal plan, so if the cafeterias are closed you aren’t out of luck. Keep your windows closed at night if the dumpsters are on your side of the building. Garbage trucks are incredibly loud and will wake you up before your alarm does. Respect quiet hours. You have a test at 8 a.m. and you are awakened at 4 a.m. by someone yelling out in the hallway, your first reaction may be to contemplate how tired you are immediately followed by anger over the person’s lack of self-awareness and respect for their peers.
The Internet
Every dorm has wifi and data jacks. Most dorms have ethernet cables for the wall but certain older buildings will have DSL. For those of you who have ethernet, the ethernet (and the wifi, for that matter) is comically fast in most dorms. The UNC system is on the North Carolina Research and Education Network. NCREN only serves academic institutions and is exceptionally speedy. The DSL connections unfortunately aren’t the best but they get the job done.
LIVE MUSIC VENUES
by Dallas Linger, Photo Editor
by Katie Murawski, A&E Editor
Students looking to enjoy Boone’s music scene have no shortage of options for venues, as Appalachian State is surrounded by plenty of places to see local shows and performances. Each venue brings a wide variety of music within walking distance of the campus. Legends, located on Hardin Street beside Cannon Residence Hall and Hoey Residence Hall, brings in live acts from wellknown bands like Cherub and Holy Ghost Tent Revival to local acts like From Bears, Kate Rhudy and contra dancing. The venue is available to anyone 18 years and older, but those 21 and up can bring their own beer to the show. Tickets for Legends shows can be bought on the first floor Plemmons Student Union. Appalachian Popular Programming Society (APPS), a club on campus, plans the entertainment acts that come to Legends each year. Klondike Cafe and The TApp Room provide music on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Klondike and TApp are located on Blowing Rock Road, right across the street from the Holmes Convocation Center and Durham Park on east campus. After 10 p.m. both Klondike and TApp are only open to those 21 years and older. The music includes live alternative rock music, hip hop performances and DJs who play EDM. TApp room periodi-
cally hosts trivia and a hip hop DJ performance on Tuesdays. QUARTz, a local DJ duo, frequents TApp Room and had an event every Thursday called TRApp Thursdays. Even though TApp is 21 and up most nights, The UNDRGRND, a local event planning service, holds shows that are 18 and up. The Local is located on Howard Street, just a short block or two away from the west side of campus and was voted best place to dance in The Appalachian’s Best of Boone 2015 issue. The Local hosts “Throwback Thursday” nights where they have a DJ play hits from the past. The Local also hosts live local bands like Funkelstiltskin and Unaka Prong, and other out of the area bands like Supatight and Nomadic on Friday and Saturday nights. The shows are usually only open to those ages 21 and older. Black Cat Burrito is a restaurant during the day, but becomes a music venue on the third Friday of every month, open to anyone 18 years and older. It is located on Depot Street, adjacent to King Street, and features live music and dance parties starting at 10 p.m. Black Cat has hosted well-known bands like The Nude Party and Way Das, and was voted best live music venue in The Appalachian’s Best of Boone 2015 issue.
I CAN’T BELIEVE I DID THAT! The Fraternity and Sorority Life Community invites you to join us for three great events in August.
Actually,we likely did that, too. So what! Nobody’s better than anyone else. We love Jesus, genuine friendships, and beer doesn’t scare us, either. Come as you are. Let’s connect.
*
Welcome Weekend Cookout
8/13/2016 7:30 p.m. on Sanford Mall *
Club Expo
8/15/2016 2:30 p.m. on Sanford Mall *
Meet The Greeks
8/24/2016 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Duck Pond Field
@appstategreeks greeks.appstate.edu
GO! MAKE! TEACH!
PREVENTING THE FRESHMAN 15 by Noah Gerringer, Sports Reporter photo by Dallas Linger, photo editor
Roess and Trivette dining hall are both places where, with only the swipe of your App card and the transaction of “monopoly money,” you can fill up on as much ice cream, donuts, steak and Chick-Fil-A as you want. This is the place where you buy both items if you can’t decide which option to eat because money is no problem at the beginning of the year. But this power must be handled responsibly. The freshman 15 is every college student’s worst nightmare as they enter an entirely new world, and with the new ability to eat whatever and whenever you want, the nightmare can sneak up on you before you have a chance to prevent it. Habits become routines and routes to and from the dining halls become hardwired in your brain. The question is: How do you put off the putting on? Here at Appalachian State University, there is no need to fear stepping on the scale. Even if you aren’t an avid hiker, mountain climber or skier, there are plenty of indoor facilities that make staying in shape, whatever shape you prefer, possible. Scattered throughout campus there are three main gyms: the Student Recreational Center, Mount Mitchell Fitness Centre and Quinn Recreation Center. The SRC is located in the farthest corner of campus behind Walker Hall. The long walk is definitely worth the haul as the SRC is two and a half times larger than Quinn Center and incomparable to Mount Mitchell. Inside, the SRC is a world of its own. Along with the normal weight room area, basketball courts and an indoor walking/running track, the SRC provides Appalachian with a fully stocked smoothie bar,
a 50-meter swimming pool, a cardio theater and a 50-foot climbing wall. Located inside are the University Recreation offices and the Outdoor Programs’ Outing Center. If you still can’t find a reason to visit, join an intramural or club team and play basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and much more on one of the many courts available to students. The SRC is open every day and specific hours can be found on the University Recreation website. The other gym on the west side of campus is the Quinn Center. The Quinn is another popular spot for intramural sports. Indoor football and soccer, volleyball and basketball are all held in the gyms of the Quinn. Zumba classes are also very popular in the Quinn as is traditional weightlifting with plenty of racks no matter the exercise. For the east side students, a shorter walk to the gym is available in Plemmons Student Union at Mt. Mitchell. They provide equipment for both cardiovascular and weight training, and have a large number of treadmills. In a separate room connected to the fitness center is a multipurpose area for a variety of aerobic classes for students and faculty. Mt. Mitchell is open Monday through Thursday and their hours can be found online on the University Recreation website. No matter where you end up living in the fall, there are no excuses to not being able to make it to the gym. The freshman 15 may be a fear but it does not have to be fate. Try out the gyms at App more than the dining halls and decide your own destiny. Do not let what seems like an endless amount of meal plan money take over your freshman year.
BEEPING
How to get around when you’ve been drinking. Story and photo by Paul Heckert, former Business Manager Appalachian State University has a unique way that many of its students choose to travel, called beeping. This is defined as a student receiving a ride from another student for approximately $2 per rider. “Beepers,” or the student drivers, post their phone numbers on a Facebook page called Boone Student Beeper on the nights they choose to beep. I spent the second semester of my freshman year beeping to make some extra money. There are several things to be mindful of if you choose to beep or be beeped. The law sees beeping as an illegal taxi service. You cannot collect money for rides without a business license. Much like Uber, beeping can be considered “ridesharing” and the money given to drivers is a “tip.” But technically, you cannot charge money for the ride or you are breaking the law. If you are beeping and you put more people in your car than you have seatbelts, you can be pulled over and ticketed for being over capacity. Not only is this an unsafe practice, but it will get you an expensive ticket that could lead to further complications because you are breaking the law giving people a ride for money. Your personal auto insurance policy does not cover any riders in your car who are paying for a ride. Be aware of this. If you
are in an accident and your insurance chooses not to cover a rider you will be personally liable and you can be sued by an injured party. Beeping will take a toll on your vehicle. Driving on curvy mountain roads takes a toll on your car under normal conditions. When it’s filled to capacity, this wear and tear will multiply. I had to replace the rear shocks in my vehicle the summer after I beeped nearly every weekend. North Carolina has no law regarding anyone over the age of 16 years old riding in a truck bed. But if you practice this regularly and allow people to ride in the bed of your truck, you are counting down a time bomb and can kill someone in the event of even a minor accident. If you call a beeper and get in their car, remain mindful that you may not be covered by the driver’s insurance if you are in an accident. Remember that these people are doing a service to you and tip accordingly. Don’t make a mess and if you do, tip extra to make up for that as well. Beeping fades into a gray area with regard to the law. It is a service that keeps drunk drivers off the road, and that gives it great value. But you could still be penalized under state law. The best thing to do is be smart and be safe.
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BEST PLACES TO HIKE by Laney Ruckstuhl, Former News Editor Celia Calhoun, A&E Reporter
In and around Boone, there are plenty of places to get outside, explore and enjoy the views. From mountains to waterfalls, here are some places Appalachian students like to hike.
by Justin Perry, former visual managing editor
Rough Ridge
Voted by The Appalachian’s readers as the best overlook, best trail and the best place to take a selfie, Rough Ridge is a staple hike for all. The hike is a bit rocky and steep, but is less than a mile and offers 180 degree views of gorgeous scenery and the Linn Cove Viaduct. To get there, just take the Blue Ridge Parkway, approximately 20 miles from campus.
Elk Knob State Park
Although this trail is not as well known as many off of the Parkway, it offers incredible views at an elevation of 5,520 feet. Located off Meat Camp Road in Todd, this trail is 1.9 mile hike to its summit. There are two lookout points, where you can see Pilot Mountain, Mount Jefferson and Little Phoenix from one and Grandfather, Beech and Sugar from the other.
Linville Falls
For a glimpse at some rushing waterfalls not too far from Boone, take U.S. Route 221 to Linville or the parkway if you’re looking for a scenic route along the way. The Falls Trail is an easy 1.6 mile round trip, with the best view of the falls from Erwin’s lookout.
Beacon Heights
Just past Rough Ridge, Beacon Heights is a short hike and a great place to see the stars or watch the sunset. Ending at a large chunk of protruding rock, its view includes Mount Mitchell — a great stop in under a quarter of a mile.
Flat Top Mountain Fire Tower
This trail is fairly close to Boone in Moses Cone Memorial Park, leading up to an old fire tower where you climb winding wooden stairs to the top. Visit the Cone Manor on your way and then hike a brisk 2.8 miles to the tower.
Profile Trail
The profile trail climbs the rear of Grandfather Mountain, with its start located in Foscoe off of NC Hwy 105. Offering various views, the trail is easier at first and becomes strenuous and rocky toward the top. More seasoned hikers can climb almost 2,000 feet to an amazing view at the top where it meets with the Grandfather Trail.
Boone Fork Trail
The Boone Fork Trail is a relatively flat five-mile loop, with some steep hills and slopes along the way. It is considered to be one of the most diverse trails in the High Country because it crosses a wide variety of terrains. Boone Fork passes Price Lake, cuts through camp grounds, winds through sprawling cow pastures, crosses streams and emerges at waterfalls. It can be accessed at mile marker 295 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. A few miles up the parkway, the Upper Boone Fork Trail goes around the Boone Fork Trail headwaters. This hike is mostly flat, with only two moderate inclines. The trail goes along a lake, and has multiple places people can access the river from. During the warmer months of the year, people swim in the waist-level water. The trail ends at the Calloway Peak scenic overlook parking lot.
Windmill Trail
Residents do not need a car in order to go hiking in Boone. There are several hiking trails accessible by the Greenwood Parking Lot located behind Appalachian Heights Residence Hall. One of them is a trail in the biological preserve on cam-
pus that leads to the wind turbine on campus. The trail is only about a mile long, and fairly easy to hike. It goes in a loop and does not have any scenic overlooks. The trail cuts through a forest, so hikers are surrounded by nature that has only been mildly altered.
Boone Greenway
Students do not need a car to hike this trail. Several of the AppalCART Routes stop at various places along the Greenway. The most popular and easily accessible entrances are at the Watauga Recreation Complex and Clawson Burnley Park. The core part of the trail is about 3.5 miles. Red route goes to the Watauga Recreation Complex entrance, but Orange and Green go to other, less popular accesses. The Greenway goes from one end of Boone to the other. It is mostly paved, but there are some areas that are covered with gravel. The trail is almost completely flat, and perfect for beginners. There are a lot of beautiful views along the way and different paths to take. It follows the New River and goes through forests and meadows. by Dallas Linger, photo editor
APPALACHIAN STATE BUCKET LIST This list was compiled by members of The Appalachian’s Editorial Board.
Get a picture with Yosef.
Walk across the swinging bridge at the top
See campus from Howard’s Knob State Park.
of Grandfather Mountain.
Slackline and/or hammock on Sanford Mall.
Go skiing and/or snowboarding.
Hike Rough Ridge and take a photo of you on the edge
Pull an all-nighter in the library (it is inevitable).
of the rock.
Eat breakfast for dinner on Thursday nights at
Get involved! Join a club or organization and sink your-
Roess Dining Hall.
self into participating.
Tailgate at stadium lot or duck pond field for a football
Go swimming at one of the High Country’s many
game.
swimming holes.
Paint on the expression tunnel.
Wear Chacos to class.
Get a picture with the chancellor.
See a show at Legends.
Watch the sunrise or sunset on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Volunteer in the Boone community.
Take over the Appalachian official Instagram account.
Go kayaking or canoeing. Go to a First Friday Art Crawl for a taste of Boone culture.
BEST OF BOONE 2016 Highlights For the past two years, the readers of The Appalachian have voted for their favorite places, people and things in Boone. Here are some of this year’s Best of Boone winners. Best Pizza- Capones Pizza & Bar Best Taco- TApp Room Best Breakfast- Melanie’s Food Fantasy Best Brewery- Appalachian Mountain Brewery Best Place to Eat with your Parents- Dan’l Boone Inn Best Vegitarian Menu- Black Cat Burrito Best Place to Take a Selfie- Blue Ridge Parkway Best Ski Mountain- Sugar Mountain Best Day Trip- Asheville
Best Place to Buy Appalachian State University Merchandise- Mountaineer Mania Best Rental Company- The Winkler Organization Best Hotel- Courtyard by Marriott Best Meal on Campus- McAlister’s Best Club- Appalachian Popular Programming Society (APPS) Best Fitness Class- Yoga Best Residence Hall East Side- Summit Hall Best Residence Hall West SideThe Living Learning Center
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