August 25, 2012

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THE APPALACHIAN TheAppalachianOnline.com

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Vol. 87, No. 08

No more students on sexual misconduct boards Following questions raised during a student conduct case last year, a dedicated board will handle these cases by ANNE BUIE

Managing Editor

Back in August, Chancellor Kenneth Peacock approved a 29-page addendum to the Code of Student Conduct in regards to sexual misconduct. Now, at Friday’s Board of Trustee’s meeting, it was announced students serving on the student conduct board would not be allowed to be involved in sexual misconduct cases. Instead, a sexual misconduct board, composed of three members, will handle these sensitive topics, according to the WinstonSalem Journal. “These are highly com-

plex issues and challenges, and it puts our students in a very difficult position to process it and process it as peers,” Dean of Students J.J. Brown said in The News and Observer. An investigation process has been created for “complaints or reports of sexual misconduct,” according to the Watauga Democrat. Sexual misconduct is defined as any sex act against someone’s will, without his or her consent or when he or she is unable to freely give consent, according to the updated Code of Student Conduct. Consent has now been defined in the code as “explicit approval to engage in sexual activity demon-

‘Dry spell’ of crime allows time for extra training

strated by clear actions or words. Non-verbal consent is not as clear as talking about what you want sexually and what you don’t want. Consent to some form of sexual activity cannot be automatically taken as consent to any other form of sexual activity.” “We have gone to this investigative model,” Brown said in Watauga Democrat. “We assign an investigator to cases of sexual misconduct.” Last year, the university was criticized for its handling of the sexual misconduct cases involving two females students and two former football players. Although District Attorney Jerry Wilson chose

not to prosecute the ath- seriously as anyone in the letes, the university con- state, and that’s something tinued to take we will consteps to ensure tinue to do.” the situation But this “These are highly would not hapchange is complex issues pen again. only one and challenges, At Friday’s of the few and it puts our meeting, Chanchanges the students in a very u n i v e r s i t y cellor Kenneth Peacock said difficult position to has begun “we’re serious process it and pro- making this about finding cess it as peers.” a c a d e m i c out when these year. things happen, J.J. Brown, Dean of Students The imand when they plementawill happen.” tion of a “When I say that, peo- task force was announced ple think I’m taking it back in June, which will lightly,” Peacock said as be co-chaired by Brown quoted in The Charlotte and Director of Equality, Observer. “I’m not taking Diversity and Compliance it lightly. I’m taking it very Linda Foulsham. seriously…We take this as The task force will focus

on examining the university’s harassment prevention programs’ efficiency. Most recently, The Red Flag Campaign, sponsored by the Sociology Club and the OASIS Sexual Violence Prevention Committee, has been part of a year long campus campaign. The bystander intervention trains people to recognize “red flags” and encourages them to say something. Sometime this fall, a survey about sexual misconduct on campus will distributed, according to the Watauga Democrat. “It’s going to take all of us to truly move this initiative forward,” Brown said in the Watauga Democrat.

Appalachian sororities welcome new sisters

by KASI MITCHELL News Reporter

Both the University Police and Boone Police Department are currently increasing their crime, firearms and qualifications safety training. “There’s not really too much going on in Boone right now,” Cpt. Andy Le Beau, commander of investigations, said. “We’re kind of in a dry spell when it comes to crime.” Due to their “extra time,” the Boone police department is specifically increasing their crime and firearms training, Le Beau said. Joe Knapp, senior police officer for Boone Police Department, said they are aiming to maintain a 75 percent accuracy score on their firearms training this year, with the state requiring only 70 percent. However, the Boone Police Department’s SWAT Team has scored with 90 percent accuracy, Knapp said. Boone PD is also training with their Canine Unit, Knapp said. “We go to vacant buildings and have two of our guys hide while wearing bite sleeves and protective clothing,” Knapp said. “Then we go in and storm the building with the canine’s and see how fast we can find them.” Boone Police Department is hiring for three different positions and will be training for them soon as well, Knapp said. Officer K.C. Mitchell, lieutenant of investigations for University Police, said this was the first year they were able to have firearms training twice in one year. “We usually are only able to hold firearms training once in the spring, but this year we have the extra opportunity for the fall,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said each of their officers will have a 10 to 12 hour day at a firing range in Lenoir, North Carolina beginning Oct. 4 through Oct. 9. “Our goal is to keep our 80 percent accuracy score on firearms with rifles, pistols and shotguns,” Mitchell said. Next month, University Police will also have qualifications and safety training, as well as situational crime training. “It’s good for officers to have more time for crime training and are able to gain experience in various situations, rather than what is only required from the state mandate,” Mitchell said.

Julia Spring | Courtesy Photo

New sorority members celebrate after recieving their bids on Sunday afternoon at Duck Pond Field. The event concluded rush week for sororities with over 300 bids extended. “Through the process you make a connection with people, and you want to be part of their group,” Alpha Omega Pi Lake Richmond said. The sororites celebrated finding their new homes by parading around campus with their newfound sisters.

Former student and army veteran honored at memorial service by JOSHUA FARMER

nadore secured the plaque with Terry Varnadore’s name on the Veteran’s Memorial. A memorial service was held “It means a great deal to me Saturday afternoon for a former that they have this for Terry,” university student who died April Casey Varnadore said. “Terry ab23, 2011 while deployed in Af- solutely loved it [at Appalachian]. ghanistan. He would always tell anybody Army Chief Warrant Offi- that the time of his life was here at cer 2 Terry L. Varnadore II died Appalachian, and the best friends of wounds when the helicopter that he ever had were made here.” he was piloting Appalachian crashed last year. alumnus David Members of Smalls was Var“This is a ceremony nadore’s roomthe university’s that we don’t want. ROTC opened mate for two years But things happen the ceremony by while they attendraising and lowed Appalachian. and we want to be ering the flag to “It’s about resure we remember half-staff while this wonderful fam- membering who the national anily and the service of he was and not them was played. forgetting what Terry Varnadore.” “This is a cerhe did,” Smalls emony that we said. “He had his Kenneth Peacock, Chancellor don’t want,” military career, he Chancellor Kenhad his time here neth Peacock said. at App. What I “But things happen and we want wanted to shed a light on was to be sure we remember this won- who he was here for us.” derful family and the service of Varnadore was a good friend Terry Varnadore.” to everyone and loved life, Smalls Peacock said he keeps a picture said during the ceremony. of Varnadore in his office. “He would sometimes come “I want to be reminded I’m into your room, sit down, look not just here free because it hap- at you and ask ‘How’s it going?’” pened,” Peacock said. “Someone Smalls said. “We ask people that put himself in harm’s way...for the every day, but when Terry did benefit of all of us.” it, you knew he meant it and he Varnadore’s widow, Casey Var- wanted to know.” Intern News Reporter

OIivia Wilkes | The Appalachian

Chancellor Kenneth Peacock stands by widow Casey Varnadore and her daughters Leila and Ava of former student Terry Varnadore who died while deployed in Afghanistan. A memorial service was held for Varnadore Saturday.

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August 25, 2012 by The Appalachian - Issuu