The Appalachian
TheAppalachianOnline.com
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Vol. 86 No. 27
AppalCART cuts hours for State Farm route by ABBI PITMAN Intern News Reporter
AppalCART has cut hours for the State Farm route on weeknights through the end of the semester, AppalCART officials said. From Monday to Friday, the State Farm bus now runs until 10:24 p.m. instead of 11:24 p.m. Weekend hours have not changed. State Farm is the last of the ten in-town AppalCART
routes to be shortened. The new hours went into effect Jan. 17. AppalCART’s operating budget lost $77,000 and other financial sources did not increase funding, Transportation Director Chris Turner said. “We have had federal cutbacks before, but this is the first time we’ve had a cutback in this particular program,” Turner said. Both federal and state government programs fund AppalCART, Finance Director Mike Norwood said. He added that cuts to the State Maintenance Assistance Program, which
provides funding for transportation systems in urban areas, resulted in AppalCART’s “biggest hit.” The new AppalCART shuttle hours will save money because they reduce fuel and mechanical costs, and shorten drivers’ and dispatchers’ work hours, Norwood said. Turner said there is not typically a high demand for the State Farm shuttle after 6 p.m. Students who need service to State Farm lot after AppalCART’s hours can use Safe Ride, which operates from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Freshman takes semester off to campaign against Amendment One by MEGAN WRAPPE Lifestyles Reporter
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reshman Ian O’Keefe won’t be in school next semester - he’ll be busy fighting for marriage equality. O’Keefe, a political science major, plans to take the semester off to campaign against the proposed amendment to the state’s constitution as the deputy director of campus outreach for Protect NC Families. “I got my start on the state level when organizers from Protect NC Families came to Boone, and we were able to discuss the first stage of the effort to fight the passage of the amendment,” O’Keefe said. The amendment, which was passed by the North Carolina House and Senate Sept. 14, 2011, proposes a constitutional ban on samesex marriage within the state of North Carolina. The amendment is up for a vote in May - but for now, O’Keefe will travel across the state to coalition-sponsored events, trying to raise awareness on college campuses. O’Keefe said he feels the amendment, which only recognizes marriages between men and women, limits the rights of some United States citizens. “Those unable to marry or avoiding marriage are treated as second-class citizens, with the inability to receive healthcare coverage for loved ones, have rights to children, or receive domestic violence protections,” he
said. For his friends - including his roommate, freshman theatre arts major Luke White O’Keefe’s work with the coalition has been an encouragement. “Ian and I met toward the end of senior year,” White said. “I had heard that he was going to App and that he was the president of his high school GSA. I’m gay, and I wanted a roommate that was cool with that.” “Now that he’s working with the coalition, I think it’s so cool that my roommate is fighting for my rights.” O’Keefe also works as an ally in the LGBT Center. “Ian came in early first semester after club expo,” said Mark Rasdorf, the center’s graduate assistant. “He was very dedicated and volunteered for one or two events. This job with Protect NC Families is a great experience for him in his early career.” If Amendment One passes after the May 8 vote, O’Keefe said he believes serious consequences are in store for North Carolina citizens. “The passage of this amendment would spell out the fact that the great state of North Carolina believes one group of people is better than another,” O’Keefe said. “We as voters will get to decide on May 8 if we will impose the will of the majority on the minority. I think that if passed, it would show the world that we are too fearful of difference to embrace the diversity of our neighbors.”
Courtesy of Ian O'Keefe
Senior political science major Lia Poteet, junior political science major Katherine Patterson and freshman political science major Ian O'Keefe participate in the 2011 College Democrats and College Republicans debate. O'Keefe is taking this spring semester to work with Protect NC Families, an organization campaigning to register individuals to vote against Amendment One on May 8, 2012.
CASCADES RENOVATION STUDENT RESPONSES Cascades Cafe opened Jan. 11 after undergoing renovations. Since the new renovations, Food Services has seen additional sales in Cascades - part of the reason it was renovated, Food Services Director Art Kessler said. Additionally, with the new updates and renovations to Freshens, six student shifts were added. Jessica Paratore, junior electronic media broadcasting major, prepares a smoothie in the newly-renovated Cascades Cafe.
Kelli Straka | The Appalachian
“I’m really happy about Cascades reopening. It’s definitely more spacious and it’s good they replaced Scoops with something a little more hip and healthy.” Lucy Ballard, sophomore religious studies major “I like the colors and the food is still good as last semester, and I’m pumped to try the new frozen yogurt.” Liz Pray, sophomore nursing major “I really can’t see that big of a difference. Everything else pretty much seems the same, but the yellow does make it brighter. And the On-The-Go sign is pretty cool.” Jordan Laws, freshman undecided major “I think it feels more open and that’s nice, because it can get crowded in there - especially during lunch time.” Jordan Hall, sophomore undecided major “I like it and at the old Freshens, the line used to get long and where it is now prevents it from getting too crowded.” Emily Martin, senior urban planning major Information compiled by | Kelli Straka
housing CONTEST
ON CAMPUS
2012-2013
Students recall encounters with arrested door-to-door magazine salesperson by ANNE BUIE Senior News Reporter
After Boone Police received complaints about magazine salespeople using “overbearing, high-pressure sales tactics,” several Appalachian State University students have come forward to speak about their experiences with the door-to-door solicitors. Salesperson Jerad Michael Arnold was arrested Wednesday, after police received numerous complaints about salespeople acting suspiciously Jerad Michael and refusing to Arnold leave residences when asked. A female resident reported Wednesday that Arnold refused to leave her residence unless she either submitted to drug use and sexual activity or bought a magazine subscription, according to police. There has been an increase of complaints about door-to-door solicitors over the past two weeks, Sergeant Matt Stevens said. “The victim in the case contacted the police and she knew his name,” Stevens said. “She had purchased a subscription to get him out of her house, so she got a name and a good description. Then police officers got another call about a suspicious person selling magazines and they were able to catch him.” During the last week of November, senior healthcare management major Lindsay Mayer was in her room when she heard an exchange between her roommate, Caldwell Community College student Alisha Koepf, and two magazine salespeople. After seeing a news article about Arnold’s arrest on Facebook, Koepf now realizes one of the men was Arnold. The two men gave Koepf a spiel
about magazine sales and said if they sold a certain amount, they would get to go on a cruise. Koepf said she immediately felt uncomfortable. “Someone selling something after 5 p.m. seemed really sketchy,” she said. Koepf tried to close the door several times, but the men wouldn’t leave until she slammed the door in their faces. “I was lucky they were only pushy about magazine sales and not anything else,” Koepf said. Mayer said she heard the men knocking on doors all over her apartment complex. Arnold continued trying to make magazine sales up to the week of his arrest. Junior public relations major Erin Wood was alone in her apartment Tuesday, when Arnold knocked on her door. Wood said he looked “like a normal college student” in a flannel shirt and jeans. “I’ve had neighbors knock on doors to borrow stuff, so I didn’t think much of it,” she said. Arnold first told Wood he was a new student and was trying to meet the neighbors. Eventually, he changed tactics and told her he was trying to gain points to win a trip to the Virgin Islands. Arnold told Wood he could gain points by selling magazines. “That’s when I kind of caught on that it was more of a sales pitch than him really trying to meet people,” Wood said. “I told him I’m a college student and I don’t have a lot of extra disposable income, so I wasn’t able to buy any.” Arnold became more persistent after Wood turned him down, so she chose to shut and lock her door. Wood saw the news articles about Arnold’s arrest on Facebook and realized it was the same man who had tried to sell her magazines. “I was very, very shocked that I had opened the door on someone who tried to have sexual advances with other girls,” Wood said. “I’m really lucky.”
Enter for a chance to win guaranteed ON CAMPUS housing for 2012-13. HOW TO ENTER: 1. Like “The Appalachian” on Facebook 2. Post of a picture of yourself in your residence hall showing your best school spirit 3. We’ll contact the winner prior to the Tuesday, February 14th edition of The Appalachian Go the facebook.com/TheAppalachian for complete contest rules.
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News
• January 24, 2012
Peace Corps at App State The job market is global. You should be too. Life is calling.
How far will you go?
800.424.8580 peacecorps.gov
Find out how you can gain personal and professional experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Wednesday, Jan. 25 Information Table Internship, Volunteer & Student Leadership Fair Student Union Grandfather Mountain Ballroom 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Contact Meleia Egger at megger@peacecorps.gov
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National Weather Service recognizes Appalachian as StormReady university by CATHERINE HAITHCOCK News Reporter
Appalachian State University was declared a StormReady University Jan. 18, by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Blacksburg, Va. Only three other universities in North Carolina have gained StormReady recognition: East Carolina University, UNC-Greensboro and UNC-Wilmington. Appalachian is the 101st university in the nation to receive the StormReady title. In order to be recognized as a StormReady university, many qualifications must be met, said Phil Hysell, warning coordination meteorologist at the NWS. “A university must have multiple means to receive multiple services of lifesaving warning and also had to have multiple means to moni-
tor weather conditions around the campus,” Hysell said. “They must also have several means to disseminate lifesaving weather information across the campus and also have to hold community preparedness talks to educate those around the area about the importance of being prepared for significant weather events.” Seth Norris, director of environmental health, safety and emergency management at Appalachian, approached the NWS last Spring regarding the application to become StormReady. “We had about 90 percent of the qualifications completed when we began the application process,” Norris said. “When I started working here two years ago I was aware of the StormReady process, so as I was able I would add another com-
ponent. So, I was familiar with all the requirements before I started the application process.” The StormReady designation will last for three years. “We are more prepared than the majority by way of this designation,” Norris said. “We have prepared the plans, the policies and the necessary equipment that will notify us. At the same time, when we say we’re ready, it really relies on every faculty, staff and student to think about it a little themselves and think ‘if this situation is to occur, what actions will I take to respond?’” A recognition ceremony will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Calloway Peak Room in Plemmons Student Union, where NWS officials will present StormReady signs to university officials.
SGA senators work to bring Redbox to campus by ANNE BUIE
Senior News Reporter
The Student Government Association (SGA) recently began surveying students to determine whether an on-campus Redbox movie vendor would be a practical option for students and a fiscally beneficial move for Redbox. White Hall senators Alexandria Volger and Jill Wagers began working together in November, after hearing multiple students voice their desire for a Redbox. “There are a lot of students that say they don’t go to Redbox because it’s all the way at Wal-Mart and if you’re all the way
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on campus and you don’t have a car, you can’t get to it easily,” Volger said. SGA Vice President Mattie Hardin started working with Redbox two years ago to decide if getting a box on campus would be possible. At the time, Redbox was not interested in the idea. “Redbox told me that they were already overloaded and swamped by trying to fulfill their major contracts with places like Wal-Mart and other grocery stores,” Hardin said. “Because of that, they weren’t interested in a single contract with our school.” Redbox is more interested in smaller venues now because they have
upped their price to $1.20, Volger said. “Redbox is looking to expand where they have Redboxes and we’re hoping that expansion includes college campuses, but we have no way of knowing – that’s just a guess,” Wagers said. Having a Redbox on campus would involve a 12 month contract. That’s why Redbox is hesitant to install Redboxes on college campuses, Wagers said. “They look at the whole year and whether they will get traffic for the whole year,” Wagers said. “Obviously on a college campus, during December and summer time, campuses aren’t high-traffic areas.”
Volger and Wagers haven’t decided when they’ll cut the survey responses off. As of now, the senators said they have not received a survey from a student who does not want a Redbox. However, the surveys do not represent any promises. They are simply a way for White and Volger to present data to Redbox and for Appalachian to discuss the pros and cons. “This is not a guarantee,” Volger said. “A lot of students have messaged me and said ‘so we’re getting a Redbox?’ Even though you’re filling out the survey and whatnot, there’s not a guarantee that Redbox will allow it or the school will allow it.”
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January 24, 2012 •
Angela Davis to speak at Appalachian by EMMALEE ZUPO Senior Lifestyles Reporter
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Madelyn Rindal | The Appalachian
Senior global studies major Cidney Tiggett will introduce one of her heros, activist Angela Davis.
his year’s 28th MLK Commemoration, sponsored by Appalachian State University’s Multicultural Center, will feature keynote speaker Angela Davis. Davis is a civil rights advocate and a member of organizations like the Black Panthers, the Communist Party USA and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Davis has been on a list of prospective candidates for the event for years, said Gus Peña, interim director of multicultural student development. “She has been able, in some ways, to push even beyond what some of the original leaders were working for,” Peña said. “She’s one of those folks who has been able to take something to the next step.” Senior global studies major Cidney Tiggett will introduce Davis at the event. Tiggett urged students to take advantage of Davis’ appearance at Appalachian as a way to commemorate “our heroes.” “It’s important to acknowledge who she is as a part of American history – not just black history,” Tiggett said. “This is not exclusive. It’s for everybody, just like App is for everybody,
and we should be excited and proud for her to grace our presence.” The event will include a book signing afterward to give students a chance to talk to Davis, Peña said. Davis has written books on varying topics, including social class, race, gender and more recently, the prison system. In addition to commemorating Martin Luther King Jr.’s achievements, the event will feature speeches by Chancellor Peacock and Rev. Shelley Wilson of Boone’s United Church of Christ, a performance by Appalachian’s gospel choir and a spoken tribute delivered by SGA Treasurer Glenn Steadman. Steadman, who has attended every MLK commemoration hosted during his time at Appalachian, said it’s important for students to recognize what people like King have accomplished. “I think the only way you can get that motivation to do more is to look at how far and how much improvement we’ve made, and I think that this school is a perfect example of that improvement,” Steadman said. “If we can just build on that, then the sky’s the limit on race relations and society in general.” The commemoration will take place Tuesday, at 6 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium.
Students write blogs to further studies, experience by CASEY SUGLIA Lifestyles Reporter
It’s no secret that the blog world has exploded in popularity. Blogs hosted on Wordpress are viewed by over 3.16 million people every month, according to wordpress.com. Those who use Google’s service, Blogger, publish a combined total of 270,000 words a minute, according to googleblog. blogspot.com. Contributing to those statistics are some of the students of Appalachian State University - many of whom keep blogs on a variety of topics. Junior public relations major Megan Ternes started her fashion blog, ASULike it, last September. After trying her hand at music blogging for five years, she wanted a way to “capture our generation through style.” “Fashion had always been a big inspiration for me and has been in tandem with my music,” Ternes said. “I noticed that there wasn’t something around town that really captured our generation, what we wear and the style.” So she started ASULikeIt, which features photos of students’ styles around campus and has received over 10,000 hits in less than a year. These days, Ternes carries business cards specifically for the blog - but said she didn’t expect it to gain popularity so quickly. “I know that there really isn’t a blog like mine out there for Boone, so I figured maybe somebody would pick up on it,” Ternes said. “I didn’t think I would get any regular readers from it. I was floored.” Senior journalism major Jeremy Lucas started blogging in 2006 through MySpace. Back then, he used blogging as a way
Olivia Wilkes | The Appalachian
Junior public relations major Megan Ternes started ASULike It, her fashion and style photoblog, in September to showcase fashion trends around campus and in town. To view ASULike It, visit asulikeitnc. blogspot.com.
to talk about sports, as well as his “expanding and changing interests.” Six years later, Lucas runs his own site- randomindependent. com - where he touches on controversial political subjects like censorship and the bank bailouts. The blog, which averages 20 to 30 hits per day when new content has been posted, has garnered some notice for Lucas. Andrew Sullivan, a writer for The Daily Beast and Newsweek, linked to one of Lucas’s posts on his own blog. The post - titled “Hypocrisy & the Death Penalty” gained 20,000 views the first day it was
posted. “At first I was shocked, but then I was just thankful toward the people that sent it in and published it,” Lucas said. “It really allowed my writing to get a lot of exposure and readers it wouldn’t have otherwise.” While some students blog to capture trends or express views, others do it for more personal reasons. Senior Spanish education major Savannah Parris created her blog, keepcalmteachspanish. wordpress.com, three weeks ago. She’s planning to document her experiences as a student teacher. “It’s a good way for me to look back next year when I have my
own classroom and remember small lessons I learned this semester during my student teaching,” Parris said. Ternes said she encourages bloggers who want to get recognition to “be consistent and relevant with content.” Lucas advised student bloggers to stay the course. “The Internet is littered with failed blogs of people that started, then gave up after a few months,” he said. “If you be yourself and stick with it, I think it’s only a matter of time before you gain some sort of following, even if it does consist of a very supportive family and/or group of friends.”
Student contributes to charity through unique design by JOSIE WOOD Intern News Reporter
An Appalachian State University student is partnering with sororities to provide custom recruitment dresses while helping charities. Junior advertising major Kate Steadm a n started
her business, Frill, after a bad job experience under a clothing designer. “I did not like the way my employer did business,” Steadman said. “The clients weren’t satisfied and the clothes were not well-made, so I decided to branch out and start my own business centered around customer satisfaction and giving back to charity.” Steadman started the business with a previous coworker and said giving back to the community is something her whole team values. “Charity is a big part of our business,” Steadman said. “Make-a-Wish sent me to Disney World when I was little because I had leukemia, so I wanted to give back to these organizations.” The concept of the business is simple: sororities work with Frill to design a custom dress for recruitment. Frill produces the dresses and, after payment is received, writes a check for a percentage of the profits to the sorority’s philanthropy.
Tucker Adams | Special to the The Appalachian
They plan to donate around $5 per dress. Chi Omega President Clara Chandler said she liked the concept. “Recruitment can be such a busy time that we forget that one of the main focuses of our sorority is philanthropy,” she said. “Frill seems like a great way to fulfill our needs for recruitment, while giving back.” The custom aspect of the business is something sororities will value, Steadman said. Kappa Delta Recruitment Chair Tiffany Tyler said she likes the customizable aspect of Frill. “The dresses would show the new members our personality, while affirming our support for our philanthropy because ultimately, we are recruiting new members to further our philanthropy and bring new ideas to the chapter,” Tyler said. Steadman hopes to partner with Appalachian sororities in the coming year. Interested organizations can contact Steadman at designsbyfrill@gmail.com.
Sophomore undecided major Emily Stroud models Raleighbased Kate Steadman’s clothing line No Frills, which is for sororities.
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Review:
Local metal band launches ‘strong’ EP by WILL GREENE Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Editor’s Note: The following reflects the opinion of the author.
Local metal act and Split Rail Records signee Dreaming in Color started the new year off with the release of their latest EP, titled “...This Small Endeavor.” The Boone-based metalcore act is set to release the EP, their second, sometime within the next week. It’ll be distributed via physical copies and iTunes. “It was a lot of fun recording this thing,” lead vocalist Ben Dunlop said. “It was a long process, but we’re really happy with the way it turned out.” The band members are not the only people who are excited for the EP’s release. Students - including sophomore computer science major Matt Uschelbec, who heard about the band from a friend - are as well. “I heard the song ‘My Mistake’ and was instantly hooked,” Uschelbec said. “I can’t wait to see what their new project sounds like.” “… This Small Endeavor” includes songs from the band’s independently released debut EP, “Friendships and Fatalities,” which was released in 2011. It also features a handful of new songs. At first listen, the production quality is impressive for a band with limited studio experience. The overdubs of clean vocals and screaming, performed by guitarist, vocalist and senior psychology major Pat Tarpey, is well-mixed for a band on such a small label. The production rivals the quality of commercial metal bands like Killswitch Engage and A Day to Remember. But for both diehard metalcore fans and occasional metal listeners, “… This Small Endeavor” doesn’t fall far from the familiar tree of modern day metal. Although technically proficient, Dreaming in Color seems to lack a sense of identity. The thing this album has going both for and against it is its commercial appeal. “… This Small Endeavor” sounds sweet in a way that metal should not. On the other side, there is a mass market for the genre of metalcore that, like this release, has music that sounds over-produced and sweet. The album differs from other, similar efforts in the way “… This Small Endeavor” ties together as a whole. Modern-day acts like As I Lay Dying or Lamb of God seem to neglect the fact they’re making an album and simply throw together a group of songs with no relevance to one another. But while listening to Dreaming in Color, the listener gets the sense that they’re listening to a complete project. “… This Small Endeavor” is filled with brutal breakdowns and riffs paralleled by piano interludes (“Everything”) and acoustic instruments (“My Mistake”). The EP is a gapless album with songs that go together flawlessly. The listener never gets the sense that they are listening to a set of songs that the band threw together to make a profit, which is clearly something Dreaming in Color is not interested in doing. “We want to make this a career if possible and we have an incredible passion for the music we make,” Dunlop said. “We are only going to make the music we want to make.” The songwriting on “… This Small Endeavor” ranges from apocalyptic themes in “Grindclock” to tales of murder and religion in “My Mistake.” “We put a lot of thought into the lyrics,” Tarpey said. “They are just as important as the music.” In the second song, “Grindclock,” the titular lyrics appear. “We named it “… This Small Endeavor” because this is kind of like our small endeavor to a bigger thing to come,” drummer Drew Merritt said. As a whole, “… This Small Endeavor” is a strong project, especially for a second release.
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• January 24, 2012
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An evening with Angela Davis
Appalachian State University’s Office of Multicultural Student Development presents the 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration with “An Evening with Angela Davis” today at 6 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium, followed by a book signing and dessert reception. This event is free and open to the public. Davis, renowned political activist and scholar, is the author of eight books. She has lectured throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America. In recent years, a persistent theme of Davis’ work has been the range of social problems associated with incarceration and the generalized criminalization of those communities that are most affected by poverty and racial discrimination. Through her activism and her scholarship during the last decades, Davis has been involved in the nation’s quest for social justice. Her work as an educator – both at the university level and in the larger public sphere – emphasizes the importance of building communities of struggle for economic, racial and gender equality. Her appearance is part of the university’s Diversity Lecture Series and is co-sponsored by Appalachian’s Office of Multicultural Student Development, Department of Government and Justice Studies, Women’s Studies Program, Office of Equity Diversity and Compliance, and Arts and Cultural Affairs. For additional information, contact Augusto Peña, interim director of multicultural student development, at 828-2626252 or email penaae@appstate.edu.
SDR helps you with involvement
Each student at Appalachian State University has an official co-curricular transcript. Involvement, leadership positions, on-campus employment, awards, leadership programs etc. can be listed on the transcript. Visit www.sdr.appstate.edu to see what your options are for involvement. Start building your experiences today.
Need help getting involved?
The Center for Student Involvement and Leadership is available for advising appointments. Schedule a time today to talk with a professional in the office to determine your best plan of action. Get out, meet people and make a difference. Call 262-6252, or visit the CSIL website at www.csil.appstate. edu, drop by Room #219 for more information.
Spring Counseling Center groups
Understanding Self and Others Group: Issues commonly addressed vary from depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, issues of family conflict or abuse, etc. Students who want to resolve specific concerns as well as those seeking personal growth are welcome. This can be a good time to get peers’ perspectives on various issues, and to recognize that you are not alone. Four groups are available: Mondays 1:30-3 and 3:30-5; Tuesdays 3-4:30; Wednesday 3-4:30; Thursdays (with dog) 3-4:30; Fridays 10-11:30.
Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Therapy Group: This group will present an opportunity for gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals to explore life challenges. It will provide a safe environment in which to address a variety of issues (e.g., coming out, spirituality, family relationships, depression, selfesteem, abuse, etc.). Goals of the group include: reducing isolation, finding support and making changes. Tuesdays 5-6:30 and Fridays 1-2:30.
Painful Pasts, Promising Futures Group: This group is designed for those who have experienced traumatic events in their lives or who come from backgrounds in which they did not feel safe. Members will learn how their past experiences and their biology are affecting their lives now. More importantly, they will learn what to do about it! Members will learn important insights about their patterns in relationships and skills to better manage their emotions and relationships. Thursdays 3:30-5 and Fridays 3-4:30. (For information contact Amber Lyda: 262-3180 or lydaam@appstate.edu). Transgender Therapy Group: This group is similar to the “Understanding Self and Others” group in that a variety of issues will be explored in a safe and supportive environment. Some of the issues will be unique to gender-variant students. Goals of the group include: reducing isolation, finding support and making changes. Wednesdays 4:30-6. (For information contact Sheri Clark: 262-3180 clarksl@ appstate.edu).
WISE Women, Image, & Self Esteem: This group is designed for any woman interested in changing how she values herself. If you’d like to feel better about yourself and less controlled by appearance, food and what others think, this group may be for you. Thursdays 2-3:30 p.m. (For information contact Denise Lovin: 262-3180 or lovindm@ appstate.edu).
An Introduction to Mindfulness Group: Mindfulness involves stepping out of “auto-pilot” reactions and learning to pay more attention to our present experiences. Activities in this group will help participants cultivate a mindful approach to their lives, which can decrease stress, create emotional balance, and allow a person to take actions more in line with their values. Thursdays 2-3:30 (For information contact Chris Hogan: 262-3180 or hogancj@appstate.edu). To get started with a Counseling Center group, come to the Counseling Center during Walk-In Clinic, call 262-3180 or visit the website for more information at www.counseling. appstate.edu. If you are interested in group but these times do not work for you, please get in touch with Chris Carden at 262-3180 or cardendc@appstate.edu.
Career resources available at ASU
Come explore the resources on campus here to assist you with your career planning and job searching needs. Is choosing a major causing you stress? The Peer Career Center can help! Choosing a major is one of the many decisions you will have to make during your college career. Do not take it lightly. The average person spends 86,000 hours working in his/her lifetime. How many hours are you going to spend choosing your career? We offer assistance in finding a major and career that matches your interests, abilities, values and experiences. Call 262-2029 to schedule an appointment or drop by our office located on the 2nd floor of the Student Union, beside McAllister’s Deli. Visit us at www.peercareer. appstate.edu. The Career Development Center offers many resources to assist you in your job and internship search skills. Career Counselors will help you build a professional resume, cover letter, and help develop your interviewing skills. Students can utilize Career Gear, (careergear.ap-
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A Service of the Division of Student Development
pstate.edu), our new and improved career management system, to schedule career counseling appointments, post resumes, search for jobs and internships, sign up for on campus interviews, research employers, identify employer mentors and stay up to date with career center events and fairs. Learn about all of the great resources in the CDC at careers.appstate.edu.
by the women who kept their “hands on the freedom plow.”
A licensed attorney is available to answer your questions, provide advice, and make referrals. This service is offered free of charge to any Appalachian State University student. Contact the Student Legal Clinic if you have a traffic ticket, a minor criminal charge, a question about your lease or the conditions in your off-campus apartment -- or any other issue or problem that you need legal help with. The Student Legal Clinis is located in Room 221of the Plemmons Student Union. Call (828) 262-2704 for an appointment. It’s fast and easy! Appointments can usually be scheduled within a few days.
The Office of Student Financial Aid has scheduled a Financial Aid Information Day for Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Plemmons Student Union form 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Stop by the contact table to obtain financial aid information for summer school 2012 and the 2012-2013 school year and study abroad. Financial Aid counselors from the Office of Student Financial Aid will be on hand to answer general financial aid questions durthing this time.
Free, confidential legal advice
Financial Aid questions?
Parents and students with financial aid questions are encouraged to visit our website at financialaid.appstate.edu and their AppalNet account. The Office of Student Financial Aid is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., except for University observed holidays.
Get ready for 2012 fall housing
Did you know that most students begin considering their options NOW for Fall 2012 housing? In order to get your preferences (location, cost, roommates, amenities, etc.) you should begin now, too. University Housing, the Office of OffCampus Community Relations, and the Student Legal Clinic have partnered to help explain the process and timeline by offering a 60-minute program called “Find Your Match!” to walk students through the process of exploring housing options and securing housing for Fall 2012. The program will include issues related to both on- and off-campus housing, including timelines and procedures for obtaining housing, cost, location, utilities, contracts, roommate choices, etc. To register for “Find Your Match,” go to www.offcampus. appstate.edu. All programs take place in the Watauga River Room in Plemmons Student Union, from Noon to 1 p.m. on the following dates: Jan. 23, 24, Feb. 1 and 3. For more information about on-campus housing, contact University Housing at 828-262-6111 or visit housing.appstate.edu. For more information about off-campus housing resources, contact the Office of Off-Campus Community Relations at 828-262-8284 or visit offcampus.appstate.edu.
Do you have SOUL?
Interested in working with Orientation as a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader? SOUL is a paid leadership position and includes: supervising testing, leading group discussions, guiding tours, performing in a skit, serving as an orientation resident assistant, and assisting an academic advisor with new student academic planning. Are are looking for students with strong leadership potential and a desire to help new students. Learn more about the position and apply online at http://www.orientation.appstate.edu/soul. Applications and references are due Friday, Feb. 3.
Spring Diversity Speakers Series
The Office of Multicultural Student Development has announced the Spring schedule for the 2011-2012 Diversity Speaker Series. We hope that you will take advantage of these unique opportunities to see, hear and learn from some of the leading experts on diversity and social justice. All Diversity Speaker Series events are free and open to the public. In addition to the university’s 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration with “An Evening with Angela Davis,” set for today at 6 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium, the series includes: Heather’s Mommies Get Married: Homophobia, Censorship and Family Values, Tuesday, Feb 21, Blue Ridge Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union, 7 p.m. Author Lesléa Newman discusses her classic children’s book, Heather Has Two Mommies: why she wrote the book, how difficult it was to get it published, the controversies that arose as it became one of the most controversial books ever published. She then discusses the rights of gay and lesbian families and delves into the history of the LGBT marriage movement. This presentation includes a slide show (with photos from Lesléa’s own wedding!) and video. Leslea Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children’s book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children’s books on lesbian and gay families. Ms. Newman is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and three Pushcart Prize Nominations. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists. Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in the SNCC, Tuesday, April 24, Blue Ridge Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union, 7 p.m. Much has been written about the courage and tenacity of the male ministers and activists of the Civil Rights movement: Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Julian Bond, Stokely Carmichael, and others. About the role of women we know less. In Hands on the Freedom Plow, the personal stories of fifty-two women–northern and southern, young and old, urban and rural, black, white, and Latina are shared. Two of the book’s six editors, Faith Holsaert and Marsha Noonan, will present a sweeping personal history of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Since the women spent time in the Deep South, many of the testimonials describe how they risked their lives through beatings and arrests and witnessed unspeakable violence. These intense stories depict women, many very young, dealing with extreme fear and finding the remarkable strength to survive. The women in SNCC acquired new skills, experienced personal growth, sustained one another, and even had fun in the midst of serious struggle. Readers are privy to their analyses of the Movement, its tactics, strategies, and underlying philosophies. The contributors revisit central debates of the struggle including the role of nonviolence and self-defense, the role of white people in a black-led movement, and the role of women within the Movement and the society at large. Each story reveals how the struggle for social change was formed, supported, and maintained
Faith S. Holsaert lives in Durham, North Carolina, is a teacher and fiction writer and has remained active in lesbian and women’s, antiwar, and justice struggles. Martha Prescod Norman Noonan, community organizer, activist, homemaker, and teacher of history including the Civil Rights Movement, lives near Baltimore, Maryland.
Financial Aid Fair set for Feb. 25
Student Leadership Fair set
Get involved this semester at the Student Leadership & Volunteer Fair on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Plemmons Student Union, on the first floor. Come check out the possibilities, including: SOUL, SGA, RHA, Leadership Educators, ACT, The Appalachian and much more. Free cookies and hot chocolate will be available.
Help identify mountain sports stars
ASU Outdoor Programs wants your help to identify the High Country’s young mountain sports stars and role models to be recognized through the second annual A4 initiative. As part of their honorary slection, A4 winners will receive recognition on stage at the BANFF Mountain Festivals and a generous selection of prizes from project sponsors. The deadline for nomination is Jan. 31, and the winners will be announced at the BANFF Mountain Film Festival in Boone. To nominate or for more information, go to op.appstate.edu.
Outdoor Programs offers ski shuttle Outdoor Programs at Appalachian State University offers a ski and snowboard shuttle to Beach Mountain. Included in the $20 trip price is lift tickets. Shuttle riders will also get discounts on rental prices if they need equipment. You must register at Outdoor Programs in the Student Recreation Center. The shuttle service will repeat every seven days until Friday, Feb. 24. Dates and times are: Thursday, Jan. 26 and Feb. 2, 9, 16, and 23, from 5 until 11 p.m. For more information contact Keith Crawford at 262-4700 or email crawfordtk1@appstate.edu.
Sustainability film series to begin
The sustainability film series at Appalachian State University enters the third year with films that focus on environmental and economic issues and social justice. A feature-length film will be shown in Greer Auditorium each month during spring semester. All films begin at 7 p.m. and are shown free of charge. A 30-minute panel discussion will follow. Visit www.sustain.appstate.edu/2012filmseries for more information. Sponsors of this year’s series are the Office of Sustainable Development, Appalachian Popular Programming Society (APPS), Belk Library and Information Commons, and Appalachian’s Renewable Energy Initiative and Energy Center. The film series schedule is as follows: today, “Addicted to Plastic”; Tuesday, Feb. 21, “Economics of Happiness”; March 20, “The Last Mountain”; April 17, “Wasteland”. The series is hosted by Appalachian’s Office of Sustainability and Department of Geology. For additional information about the film series, contact Brian Zimmer in the Department of Geology at zimmerbw@appstate.edu.
Carbon is subject of presentation
“My carbon, your carbon, their carbon, our carbon,” a presentation by Gregg Marland, Research Professor, Research Institute for Environment, Energy and Economics is scheduled for Friday, 3-4 p.m. in Room 421 Belk Library and Information Commons. Central elements of the discussion of global climate change are the increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and how we might stop or slow this increase. But how much carbon dioxide is being released to the atmosphere, how do we measure this, how well do we know it, who is responsible, and how well are we able to monitor and verify what others are doing? This is a discussion of carbon accounting and its implications by one of the pioneers of carbon accounting. How is the accounting done, who does it, how good are the numbers, should we believe the numbers? What are the data issues, the accounting issues, the political issues, the equity issues? If we agree that carbon dioxide emissions are bad, why don’t we stop? What is my role and what is your role? We raise lots of questions and offer a few answers. Dr. Marland joined the Appalachian faculty in May 2011 from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory where he served as Distinguished Research and Development Staff. He has served as a member of the National Research Council Committee on Methods for Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions, co-chair of the United State Interagency Carbon Cycle Science Working Group, and National Research Council Committee on Global Change Research. He recently served the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) where he was lead author on several reports including Guidelines for National Emissions Inventories (2006), lead on for the Special Report on Carbon Capture and Storage. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Environmental Science and Policy Journal and editorial advisory board for the Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change Journal.
Biology seminar set for Wednesday The Department of Biology invites you to the first seminar of its Spring Seminar Series scheduled for Wednesday at 4 p.m. in 183 Rankin Science West. Dr. James Wilkes, Department of Computer Science, will be speaking on “Sweet Connections: Honeybees and Computer Science.”
Alternative Spring Break on tap
Alternative Spring Break 2012 is scheduled for March 10-17. Instead of going on the routine vacation, engage in experiential learning and join the alternative break movement to explore and serve a community different from your own. This year we are offering 16 programs! Whether you are on a program down the street or on the west coast, you are certain to encounter new cultures, social issues, and opportunities for learning. All Alternative Service Experience Programs are drug and alcohol free. Pick up your Lottery Packet NOW in the ACT Community Outreach Center (Plemmons, next to McAlisters). ASB Lottery is Sunday, January 29th at 7:00pm in Blue Ridge Ballroom. Make sure to bring your $100 deposit with you (check made out to ACT). Visit act. appstate.edu/alternative-service-experience for more info!
Opinion
“Fashionably Broke in Boone” Learn how to look stylish while working out your New Year’s resolution
at TheAppalachianOnline.com
The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
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JUSTIN HERBERGER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
HANNAH POMPHREY ASSOCIATE EDITOR, ONLINE OPERATIONS
January 24, 2012 •
Staff Opinion
Rising class size hinders learning environment
MEGHAN FRICK
ASSOCIATE EDITOR, EDITORIAL CONTENT
JASON SHARPE
ASSOCIATE EDITOR, PRODUCTION OPERATIONS
HANK SHELL
JAKE AMBERG
NEWS EDITOR
SPORTS EDITOR
ZACH DRECHSLER MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
MICHAEL BRAGG
LIFESTYLES EDITOR
Contact EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (828) 262-6149 BUSINESS OFFICE (828) 262-2157 FAX LINE (828) 262-6256 Associated Collegiate Press
Our Mission
Kat Gruss Before coming to Appalachian State University last fall, I’d only experienced one big class. Most of my high school classes were kept to around 25 students. My 45-student chorus class was the largest class I’d ever experienced. That’s one of the many reasons I chose Appalachian: its small class sizes. On its website, Appalachian states that the student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1, with an average
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 reader's opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff, and community interests; and to remain independent, exercise and insure its First Amendment rights.
Staff Opinion
Gingrich can’t be trusted as president
Meghan Frick After last week’s GOP primary, I’d argue that one element of this strange Republican race is looking a little less set in stone: Mitt Romney as the inevitable frontrunner. It may be time to consider Newt Gingrich as an actual possibility. If Gingrich somehow manages to snatch the nomination from Romney, I have one piece of advice. Whatever you do, don’t vote for him. Full disclosure - I’m a Democrat. I wouldn’t vote for Gingrich anyway, because I disagree with most of his programs and policies as I understand them. But I have a deep problem with him that has nothing to do with any of that. I’m deeply uncomfortable with the idea of the president Newt Gingrich, because the man Newt Gingrich is a hypocrite. Gingrich has divorced two of his wives. His first wife was struggling with cancer during the divorce; his second with multiple sclerosis. And although he’s denied the charges, Gingrich’s second ex-wife, Marianne, has claimed he asked her for an “open marriage.” Apparently, he wanted to continue a relationship with Marianne and with his current wife, Calista. There are two sides to every story and people deserve forgiveness. Beyond that, I’m not a proponent of electing presidents based on character rather than policy. But more than anything else, I cannot abide a person who holds everyone else to one standard of morality, and themselves to another. Gingrich, like every other conservative Republican, has anchored his campaign with talk of morality and family values and the sanctity of marriage. “I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman,” Gingrich told the Des Moines Register. One man and one woman? That doesn’t sound like the accommodations he was requesting from his second wife. And leaving one woman in the middle of a health crisis to start a relationship with another doesn’t sound like strong family values. I’m not offended by Gingrich’s beliefs. I’m offended by the obvious disconnect between his beliefs and his actions. And I’m flabbergasted by the fact that Republicans in my home state of South Carolina didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. You can believe whatever you want. I embrace that. I celebrate it. But if you’re going to hold everyone else to a certain standard, you had better hold yourself to it as well. That’s why, in an already-starving GOP field, I’d be less comfortable seeing Newt Gingrich as president than anyone else. Because no matter what Gingrich says he’ll do for our country, I can’t trust him to do it. What Newt Gingrich says and what Newt Gingrich does are two separate and unrelated things. Frick, a senior public relations major from Columbia, S.C., is the associate editor for editorial content.
of around 25 students per class. I thought the small class size would be universal. I thought I wouldn’t have trouble connecting with my professors in the classroom setting. But thanks to budget cuts and the loss of faculty positions, that’s not the case. The number of students has increased in English 1000, English 2001, Freshman Seminar and other lowerdivision courses. For a select few classes, I can understand the need to keep things on the larger side. Classes like Communication 1200 need to be bigger because it’s a prerequisite for application to the Department of Communication. On the other hand, a
basic-level sociology class doesn’t need upwards of 60 students. Even if there is a classroom that can accommodate that size, it doesn’t mean the classroom should have every seat filled. Classes with larger enrollment have begun to take a toll on the professors who teach them. On the first day of my economics class, my professor told all 70 students that he couldn’t allow makeup tests because there were too many students to schedule retakes for both sections. If students in my class happen to be sick on two test days, their grade will suffer because of the enlarged class size. To fix overcrowding, Appalachian should find a way to create more sections of basic-level classes. The ad-
ministration needs to commit itself to increasing university funding enough to get back to the average of 25 students per class. I’d be more comfortable speaking out in class if I wasn’t struggling to be heard by my professor. I want to let my professor know I’m not an empty body sitting in a chair. That’s difficult to do if nine or 10 other people have their hands raised. Appalachian needs to find a solution to this problem, or students will have their ideas, comments and questions permanently sealed inside their minds.
Kat Gruss, a freshman journalism major from Harrisburg, is an intern lifestyles reporter.
Editorial Cartoon
“Was MegaUpload framed?”
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. The Appalachian reserves the right to decline publication of any letter and to edit letters for the purpose of clarity and space. 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.
5
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Aaron Fairbanks | Editorial Cartoonist
Staff Opinion
Megaupload seizure: keep calm, stay informed
Casey Suglia When the popular filesharing website megaupload.com was seized by the government, my Facebook feed blew up. According to many of my peers, the removal of Megaupload and Megavideo was the “beginning of the end.” Just one day after the Wikipedia blackout and various internet protests against the
Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the government proved that it was serious about piracy. But with the recent shelving of SOPA a day after Megaupload was shut down, one could argue that responsibility for the demise of Megaupload lies with its users. Downloading pirated content is illegal, plain and simple. Many would argue that simply sharing music isn’t illegal, that Megaupload is just a place to share files. But the fact is that it became a hub for illegally downloaded content, and that needed to be regulated. Students shouldn’t be upset or make this a bigger deal than it is. The end of
Megavideo is not the end of the world. Thousands of file-sharing websites still exist on the internet, and this isn’t the first time the government has cracked down on a site that led to illegal downloading and file-sharing. Just like Napster got shut down in the 90s, Megavideo has followed suit. But another file-sharing, entertainment-downloading site will emerge and people will continue to use it, despite government warnings about being fined for sharing content you didn’t purchase. Without Megaupload and Megavideo, I can no longer watch old episodes of “Gossip Girl” on Sunday
mornings. But so what? It’s giving me an opportunity to go outside, be productive, and stop avoiding the work that’s looming ahead, due on Monday. Take this as a warning sign. SOPA isn’t something we should ignore and leave up to our government. They’re capable of more than we like to think, and we shouldn’t ignore SOPA, PIPA, or any other bills that threaten to stifle our freedom of speech. Take the Megaupload closing with a grain of salt - but stay informed and stay aware, too.
Suglia, a freshman journalism major from Pinehurst, is a lifestyles reporter.
6
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Sports The Appalachian
Check out coverage of men’s and women’s tennis at
TheAppalachianOnline.com
| TheAppalachianOnline.com
January 24, 2012 •
7
ASU indoor track continues to impress Men’s track puts 10 athletes in top three
Women’s track secures 11 top-two finishes
Olivia Wilkes | The Appalachian
Freshman sprinter David Riddleberger gears up for his run last Thursday at the Appalachian Split Open. Riddleberger finished sixth in the 300-meter dash.
by LEIGH ROBERTS Senior Sports Reporter
Appalachian’s men’s indoor track and field teams hosted the Split Open Meet Thursday night, and boasted an impressive ten athletes in the top-three finishers. “I’m running a lot of different people in a lot of different things,” head coach John Weaver said. “We’re coming off of the UNC meet on Saturday, so this is kind of a fast workout to get ready for next Friday and Saturday at East Tennessee.” ASU sprinters owned the field, as junior sprinter Landon Powell crossed the finish line in second place, and freshman Stanley Broaden finished in third place, right behind his teammate in the 300-meter
dash. Broaden - a two-sport athlete who also plays soccer for ASU - was also named the Southern Conference Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. “Things have gone really well,” Broaden said. “It’s all a progression here, which is working toward that final stage, preparing for conference.” With an interesting finish to the 55-meter dash, senior A.J. Dohanic and junior Justin Thomas tied for third place, both with a time of 6.56. The two went on to the 55-meter hurdles to take first and second place, Dohanic with a time of 7.67 and Broaden with a time of 7.70. In the 3,000-meter run, junior Michael Lilley
finished in second place in 8:56.35. While the running events took place in the Holmes Center, the field events were in Varsity Gym. Junior Jared Stalling threw 52-7.25 to win the shot put and put up a new meet best. Senior Caleb Poplin took second place in the weight throw and fellow senior Jack Bell tied for third place in the pole vault. “We’re all doing really well - we’re running some really good times,” Broaden said. “There are some really good teams here and we’re competing against them and putting up some really good times. We have to do really well against our conference teams when they’re here, so we know what to do and what to work on.”
Olivia Wilkes | The Appalachian
A group of women's hurdlers prepare for the start of the 55-meter hurdle Thursday afternoon at the Appalachian Split Open Meet in Holmes Convocation Center.
by LEIGH ROBERTS Senior Sports Reporter
Appalachian’s women’s indoor track team had eleven top-two finishers at the Split Open Meet Thursday. The sprinters were having a solid night all around. Sophomore Kristen Campbell won the 55-meter dash, Breanna Alston won the 300-meter, and junior Shenita Martin finished in second place in the 300-meter. “I did pretty good, but I could’ve done better because I didn’t break my record,” Alston said. In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Breahna Morrison took first place with a time of 59.97. Molly Vaughan finished
in second place in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.57. In the field events, freshman Sydney Cook claimed first place in the pole vault, and junior Meredith Wilson finished in second. Freshman Janet Watson made her debut in the high jump, clearing 5-3.25. In the weight throw, sophomore Ana DeLeon finished in first place, and fellow sophomore Jocelyn Parnell finished behind her teammate in second place. Freshman Jasmine Suydam threw 38-8.25 in the shot put to take second place. “We’re doing pretty good,” Alston said of her team. “We’re just now getting into the swing of
practicing on a daily basis. Right now times are okay, but as the season progresses, I’m sure they’ll get better.” As the Apps look toward the ETSU Invitational, Coach Weaver used this meet to rest some of his athletes. “Some have had aches and pains and we don’t want to promote that, so this is a nice meet to have,” Coach Weaver said. “And some have done very, very well. I’m really pleased with some of them.” The Mountaineers will return to action next weekend for the ETSU Invitational, which will feature more than 30 teams. “East Tennessee will be a very large meet and a good indicator of where we need to be,” Coach Weaver said.
Wrestling edges Women’s basketball dominates second half, hands Chattanooga first SoCon loss Citadel 21-19 by TYLER WOOD Sports Reporter
The Lady Mountaineers (13-3, 7-1) defeated Chattanooga (135, 8-1) 62-51 Saturday, thanks to a second-half performance that saw Appalachian outscore the Mocs 34-22. The Apps played some of their best basketball of the season, shooting 48 percent from the field in the second half. “I think we proved tonight that we can come out and play well in the second half,” junior forward Anna Freeman said. “We have been a team that has played well in the first half, but we haven’t been able to finish. Right now we’re more prideful in ourselves, and tonight gives us the confidence we can play well in the second half and we can
move forward from here.” Appalachian trailed for the majority of the opening half, thanks to some early hotshooting by the visiting Mocs. The Mountaineers started cutting into the Mocs’ doubledigit lead when reserve junior guard Raven Gray hit a jumpshot to cut the visitors’ advantage to 23-15 at the 11:43 mark of the first half. The Lady Mountaineers struggled offensively in the first 20 minutes, but were able to scratch and claw their way back, only trailing 29-28 at the half. Freshman forward Maryah Sydnor converted a layup on the Apps’ first possession of the second half, giving the Apps the advantage for good at the 19:33 mark. Syndor, who started her
second straight game for the Lady Mountaineers Saturday, is coming into her own as the season progresses. “I knew I had the potential, and coming into the season I had high expectations of myself,” Sydnor said. “The coaches have been harping on what we need to do, and I have tried to do my best to help execute the game plan.” The second half saw the Apps’ defensive pressure take over the game, as the Mountaineers held UTC to just 34 percent from the field. Freeman contributed 13 points for the Mountaineers, who saw eight players score and nine players play double-digit minutes. “When I first got to [Appalachian State], Chatt
was all over my mind,” head coach Darcie Vincent said. “We have a lot of pride in being the first team to knock them off the top in the last 11 years.” The win pushed the Apps’ winning streak to three games over the historically dominant Mocs. “I hate Chatt,” Coach Vincent said. “You hate them because they are the best, but to be honest I hate everybody. I’m sure if you asked them they would say the same thing.” The Lady Mountaineers will look to extend their new winning-streak to three games when they play Samford at 6 p.m. Monday in the Holmes Convocation Center.
Men’s basketball jumps to second in SoCon North by JAKE AMBERG Sports Editor
After a month of inconsistency, the Appalachian State men’s basketball team (8-10, 4-4) put together perhaps its best game of the season, topping rival Western Carolina (9-11, 3-4) 84-72 Saturday in the Holmes Convocation Center. Despite a disappointing loss to Wofford Jan. 19, ASU showed that it was finally close to “putting it all together,” a term that’s been preached frequently by players and coaches alike. Against Western, Appalachian showed that it’s a talented team capable of matching any opponent. The game was a back-and-forth contest. It started off with a hot-shooting Catamounts team that built a lead by as many as eight with six minutes to go in the first half. But junior forward Jamaal Trice stepped up and erupted for 12 points in the first half, highlighted by five points and a steal in the final 30 seconds. Trice snagged an errant Trey Sumler pass, which turned into a coast-to-coast layup for Trice - who finished through a Sumler foul to give ASU a 33-29 halftime lead. “I had the open shot and let it go and it went in,” Trice said. “I just do what I can on the court to help our team win. We’re all on a mission,” Trice finished with 21 points on 7-11 shooting and added two steals. Along with Trice’s scoring, senior Omar Carter scored 20 for the Mountaineers. Carter was 12-12 from the foul line and converted eight straight to close the game. The senior, who didn’t start the game for
the Mountaineers, was impressed with his team’s performance against Western. “We dialed in mentally and that’s what we have to do to finish games,” Carter said. “Even though they came back and took the lead, we took a big step today. Games before, we’ve let them back into the game and couldn’t close it out and lost.” ASU also received some strong play from the post, as Isaac Butts put together one of his better scoring efforts on the season. Butts, who did not enter the game until late in the first half, scored 11 points in just 14 minutes. The center showed flashes of his talent, using quick footwork to get open layups around the rim. “What we stressed in the pregame meeting was energy,” Butts said. “We got a good lead on them, but we let off the gas a little bit and coach called our number, so as players we have to go out there with some energy and get the lead back.” Along with Butts, senior Andre Williamson had 10 points and 11 rebounds and junior Nathan Healy had seven points and four rebounds. Williamson, who shot 80 percent, was automatic with his onehanded turnaround from inside the paint. Following the game, head coach Jason Capel was thrilled with his team’s effort. “Good win,” Coach Capel said. “Every win is a good win, but for us, we gave maximum effort. Everybody who put a foot on the floor contributed and gave good effort.” On a more comical note, Western starting guard Harona Mutombo wore the number 0 Saturday, after Western left his jersey back at home. Mutombo wore his teammate Tom Tankelewicz’s jersey, while
Amy Birner l The Appalachian
Senior guard Omar Carter powers to the basket during an exciting game against Western Carolina. The men won Saturday afternoon’s game 84-72.
Tankelewicz wore a practice jersey with the number 14. “We had a mess up. We didn’t pack all of our jerseys; the two senior jerseys weren’t there. We did the best we could,” said Larry Hunter, Western’s head coach. The Mountaineers, now in sole possession of second place in the SoCon North, can take over first place with wins this weekend. Appalachian will take on UNC-Greensboro on the road Jan. 26 and will return home to take on Elon Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. in the Holmes Convocation Center. Elon is currently in first place in the SoCon North.
by CHASE ERICKSON Intern Sports Reporter
The Mountaineers scraped by against Southern Conference opponent The Citadel with a 21-19 victory Friday in Charleston, S.C. Appalachian (9-3, 3-0 SoCon) remains undefeated in SoCon matches. “It is really important for us to be undefeated in conference,” head coach JohnMark Bentley said. “We have done a really good job of taking care of business so far this season, and we beat a really good Citadel team tonight.” After Appalachian’s ninth victory of the season, Bentley has the chance to have the most successful season of his coaching career. “The thing that makes this team different than all the other teams that I have coached is maturity,” Bentley said. “During my first two years as a coach, we only had underclassmen on the team, but now we have guys that are experienced and that has made a big difference.” Mike Kessler, 141 pounds, gave the Mountaineers a good start with two takedowns to earn a 4-1 decision. Then 149-pounder Savva Kostis kept his match close, managing two escapes in the second period and tying the score at 6-6 heading into the third. Unfortunately, Seth Vernon’s escape was the only point scored in the final round, and Kostis lost by a score of 6-7. Chip Powell, at 157 pounds, was also in a close match, but he escaped and added riding time for a 5-2 decision victory. Kyle Blevins dominated his opponent throughout his match with a total of five takedowns, finishing with an 18-3 technical fall victory. Austin Trotman gave the Mountaineers a 15-7 lead with a 16-3 major decision. Then freshman Paul Weiss kept it close against Kelby Smith through the first period - but Smith pulled away with two takedowns and defeated Weiss 9-4. In the 285-pound match, Appalachian’s Joe Cummings and The Citadel’s Odie Delaney went scoreless during the first two periods. Delaney came through for the Bulldogs with a pin in the final minute and gave his team a 16-15 lead. With the pressure of his team’s first deficit on his shoulders, senior Tony Gravely dominated his opponent, earning a fall in under a minute and giving Appalachian State a 21-16 lead. “I have been clear minded and I am wrestling the way that I wrestle in practice,” Gravely said. “Last year, I was always really nervous about losing, but now I have a carefree mindset and I am focused on having fun.” With one match left, all the Mountaineers had to do was avoid the pin. Brett Boston managed to only lose by an 8-4 decision. The Mountaineers avenged last season’s embarrassing 7-26 loss with a 21-19 win. Appalachian will host the Appalachian Open Saturday in the Varsity Gym.