The Appalachian 10/31/19

The Appalachian

Oct. 31, 2019

Fall festivities fill the air and leaves fall everywhere

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Lights, camera, class time

Appropriation or Appreciation?

Latest stop for record breaking guard

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News

Oct. 31, 2019

Neighboring counties GEAR UP for new App State admissions program Gianna Holiday | Reporter

Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs will grant high school students in 11 Western North Carolina districts automatic admission to App State, provided they meet certain criteria.

GEAR UP is a federally funded college access program meant to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

Since 2015, App State has partnered with school districts to provide college preparation to 15,000 middle and high school students and parents.

“With an enrollment goal of 20,000, Appalachian is in an excellent position to admit more qualified students than ever before,” said Cindy Barr, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management.

GEAR UP funds college scholarships to low-income students, according

to the Department of Education.

“The college application process can be cumbersome, confusing, time consuming and oftentimes, costly for students, making it more challenging and less likely for students in under-resourced communities to go to college,” said Corrine Smith, senior associate director of GEAR UP. GEAR UP is meant to improve access to and enrollment in postsecondary education.

“An important piece of what we do in Appalachian GEAR UP is not only to expose and educate students about the ways to successfully complete the process, but it’s also very important that we identify ways to make the process less confusing,” Smith said. “The GEAR UP Guarantee is just one of the things we are doing to help with that.”

Alexis Pope, director of admissions, said App State has conducted re-

search within the GEAR UP districts and found students competitive for admission to App State who do not apply.

“Appalachian believes that the GEAR UP Guarantee will increase the number of students entering Appalachian that are prepared to succeed, while also not significantly changing the academic profile of students from these counties,” Pope said.

This will not impact the chances for admission for students who reside in non-GEAR UP districts.

Counties eligible to participate in this program include Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Clay, Graham, Madison, Rutherford, Swain, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey.

Barr said the project came after discussions with App State and Watauga County Schools’ Superintendent Scott Elliott.

“We share a goal to ensure stu-

dents and their school districts know we recognize their potential for success in college,” Barr said.

Barr said now was the right time to create this program.

“Our first Appalachian GEAR UP cohort is in the midst of their college search, so the time is ripe to launch a program that honors and builds upon the work and investments made in these students and their school districts,” Barr said.

The Department of Education describes GEAR UP as a discretionary grant program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared for postsecondary education.

“We have been working with these students since they were in middle school and have helped their districts prepare them for postsecondary education and to create a culture of

post secondary educational attainment in their schools and communities,” Barr said. “We want these students to have the confidence to apply to Appalachian and know they can succeed here.”

Eligible students must apply for admission to App State by Nov. 1 to be considered.

High school students must also have a minimum weighted GPA of 3.5 and meet specific academic prerequisites required by the UNC System.

“Fundamentally, access to education for rural students was the driving vision of BB, DD and Lillie Shull Dougherty and is the reason Appalachian State University exists today,” Barr said.

for Thought talks and its most recent event, the Community Feast, a near-zero waste event that aimed to create conversations about sustainable food around a table on Sanford Mall.

AppalFRESH hosted this year’s Community Feast on Oct. 22.

Ramsdell said the events are meant to emphasize the importance of food systems in relation to conservation efforts.

“Food, I think, is underrepresented in our discussions about energy efficiency and as an energy source,” Ramsdell said. “Food is really energy, and so we should be managing it as responsibly as our fossil fuels and all of our other streams.”

Grace Plummer, who works in the Appalachian Energy Center and The Research Institute for Environment, Energy and Economics, said what people eat has an impact on the environment.

“I think that food is a really immediate and impactful thing that we could do day to day that have posi-

tive or negative impacts on the world around us,” Plummer said.

App State purchased 25.71% of its food from local sources during the 2017-18 academic year in an effort to make food offered on campus

more sustainable, according to Campus Dining’s website.

Chancellor Sheri Everts, who attended AppalFRESH’s Community Feast, said sustainable eating is an essential part of App State’s campus.

“(Sustainable food) is just part of our DNA, anything associated with sustainability is part of Appalachian, and this is a fabulous display of exactly that,” Everts said.

AppalFRESH creates conversation about sustainable food Ansley Puckett | Reporter

A table as long as Sanford Mall with utensils and plates brought from different homes was the backdrop AppalFRESH, a research collaborative for sustainable eating, used to create conversation about food systems and conservation efforts.

Appalachian Food Research for Equity, Sustainability and Health was formed by faculty across campus who work in sustainable food systems, which create a direct relationship between food producers and consumers.

Carla Ramsdell, a pre-engineering adviser who works with the group, said AppalFRESH aims to promote a better understanding of sustainable food systems and create a conversation about them.

“We just try to figure out how we can have some impact on people’s perspectives about food systems and how we can envision a future food system that’s more equitable and sustainable,” Ramsdell said.

The collaborative holds different events each year, including Food

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Sanford Mall became home to AppalFRESH’s massive feast on Oct. 22, as students and community members packed the long table down the pathway.

Ansley Puckett

News Winter market keeps local farmers in business despite the cold Oct. 31, 2019

Hayley Canal | Reporter

In the basement of the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center, a woman picks up her walkie-talkie. She requests an order of winter berries for the woman waiting in the doorway, microgreens and honey for the man conversing in the hall and bread for the student sitting across from her. It’s another busy Wednesday at the High Country Food Hub, a local online food market open through the winter. Despite the weather, the local food economy won’t freeze over for the next few months.

The weekly King Street Market closed Oct. 29, and the Watauga County Farmers’ Market will reduce

its hours before closing in December until May next year.

The year-round High Country Food Hub and the seasonal Winter Farmers’ Market provide space for local producers to continue distributing and selling food indoors.

“It’s small and cramped, but you learn to love it,” said Michelle Houston, who works with the Food Hub through the Volunteers in Service to America program. “That’s the kind of interaction you need when you’re trying to educate people on local food.”

The winter market was created five years ago by Preserve Heritage, Agriculture and Regional Markets

Now, a Boone-based nonprofit focused on providing grants for organizations without 501(c)(3) recognition.

“We worked for two to three years trying to talk the vendors into being able to do it. They didn’t think they had enough products to get through the winter,” said PHARMN treasurer Laura Graham.

Graham said many local producers extended their growing seasons in recent years, some in direct response to the winter market opening.

Season extension is achieved through greenhouses or hoop-house technologies, which trap heat and provide light for produce to thrive. Once a rarity,

off-season markets now frequently feature winter produce.

“You have spinach, arugula, spring salad mix, even though it’s not spring salad mix, it’s winter salad mix, but they just continually call it spring salad mix,” said Rebecca Brown, a junior sustainable development major and regular volunteer at the hub.

Three years ago, Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture took on the responsibility of the Winter Market.

This season is the first year the market will occur every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Watauga Agricultural Conference Center. BRWIA also oversees High Country Food Hub.

Beyond supporting producers and purchasers throughout the winter, the Food Hub helps F.A.R.M. Cafe maintain its provision of fresh, local food.

F.A.R.M. Cafe is a nonprofit “pay-what-you-can” restaurant located on King Street.

Elena Dalton, program director of the cafe, said they work with about seven local farmers, purchase coffee beans from local roasters and try to buy regional honey. F.A.R.M. Cafe sources ingredients from the Food Hub more in winter months to keep the same menu every season.

North Carolina environmental quality secretary visits App State

Jackie Park | News Editor

Students with hopes of working in a national park or preserving Earth’s climate filed into Adjunct Instructor Tom Randolph’s Environmental Education class Oct. 24 to hear from North Carolina’s Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, Michael Regan, about his career path and the state’s challenges with climate change and the economy.

“The reality is, our climate is changing, and North Carolina is being impacted more. Not only are we seeing environmental consequences in the state, but we’re also seeing impacts to our local economy,” Regan said.

Regan discussed the several “500 year storms” North Carolina has experienced in recent years and the damage they caused to coastal economies. He said the coastal economies “just can’t get back on their feet.”

Gov. Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 80 last October to consider how to adapt for future storms and reduce carbon pollution, which

makes the impact of climate change worse Regan said.

Regan said his office has traveled across the state and spoken to professors, business owners and local governments to formulate a plan in response to the executive order.

He told students it was up to them to ensure the planet is turned over to their children and family in better shape than they inherited it.

“I’m at the tip of the spear trying to get this party started,” Regan said. “The reality is that you all will be the ones that inherit it.”

Regan also spoke about the connection between civil rights and environmental protection. He said his office created the Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board, made up of people of different races, genders, ages and academic backgrounds, to act as a “sounding board.”

“Before, you would have environmentalists focused on protecting nature, less of an emphasis on people and human impact, and you would have a lot of social justice groups

frustrated. We’re trying to put that on equal footing,” Regan said.

Maggie Rumley, a member of Climate Action Collaborative, said she thought the idea of the board was “huge.” “(I’m) very grateful that he decided to come here and spend his time talking to students. I think that’s really important for making changes: building rapport with students,” said Rumley, a senior recreation management major.

Regan said he encourages students to follow their passion in choosing a major, and said if they’re passionate about what they’re studying, that will show through their job choice and performance.

Right out of college, Regan worked for the Environmental Protection Agency. After a few years, he left to work for a nonprofit. He said his parents thought he was crazy.

“I would encourage students to think outside the box and be a little bit adventurous. There’s nothing wrong with taking a calculated risk,” Regan said.

Regan said he was grateful for the opportunity to speak with students.

“This was a great experience, the ability to get outside of Raleigh and leave the noise and talk to stu-

dents who are still trying to figure out their future … it’s invigorating,” Regan said.

Michael Regan is the Secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. Regan visited App State to speak to a class of students on environmental policy and being an active voice in the fight against climate change.

Jesse Barber

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News

Oct. 31, 2019

Faculty Senate passes climate neutrality resolution App State proposes classes in Appalachian Theatre Cameron Stuart | Reporter

After a unanimous vote, Faculty Senate voted to pass a resolution urging the university to be climate neutral by 2035.

The resolution was written primarily

by Brian Burke, an assistant professor in the Sustainable Development Department, while faculty senate chair Michael Behrent, and members Scott Marshall and Susan Doll assisted with the procedural and revision processes.

The resolution, passed Oct. 7, is a revised version of a tabled resolution from last year.

Doll, assistant sustainable technology professor, and Marshall said they both voted to table the first resolution.

“When the resolution was introduced, the topic was important and widely supported,” Doll said. “It was a resolution that we all wanted to support, but it didn’t have enough focused language, so we rewrote it.”

She said the overall objective to get the university to commit to climate neutrality re-

mained the same, but the language concerning why and how that would take place was altered.

Doll said an important first step in the resolution is creating a committee to develop tangible steps toward climate neutrality by making specific recommendations for the university. The committee would also create a timeline for completing goals.

Doll said they wanted to create something concrete that wasn’t “a bunch of words.” Forming the committee and hiring an energy manager were important ways to monitor progress.

Burke, the creator of the resolution, said rehiring an energy manager is a no-brainer.

“When we had an energy manager and a fully-staffed energy efficiency office, the work they did reduced greenhouse gas emissions rapidly and paid for itself in a couple years,” Burke said. “It’s financially irresponsible as well as being climate irresponsible.”

While important, Burke said most

greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity purchased, energy generated, transportation, the university’s food footprint and the carbon footprint from supplies purchased.

To combat emissions from each sector, Burke said the university should shift entirely to non-polluting sources of electricity and self-generated energy, and ensure that other purchases are fully renewable or that the university is offsetting those purchases with carbon sequestration.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website.

“From an institutional perspective, we’ve built this brand around sustainability, and if we don’t walk the talk, we will eventually get called out as hypocrites,” Burke said.

“It is something we care about, and so we want to live our values.”

Bonjour from Boone

Partnership gives students international classroom experience

Erin O’Neill | Reporter

From Boone to Belgium, students across the world are improving their language skills one Zoom video call at a time.

Students in French 1050 are participating in the Conversation Sections, a partnership between students at App State and students at Université de Mons-Louvain in Mons, Belgium.

The Conversation Sections provide students with an opportunity to practice their French and English skills with one another. The sessions began the week of Oct. 7, and students will meet weekly in groups over Zoom, a video conferencing website, until the week of Nov. 18 and discuss a different theme each meeting.

“We picked themes that are going to create conversation,” said Jean-Francois Fournier, the professor for the French 1050 class.

The topics of discussion include tourism, politics, questions of identity, taboos, the environment and education issues. Each group of students reads an article, in either French or English, related to the theme prior to the video conference.

Hannah Leopard, a sophomore journalism major with a French minor, wrote in an email that the partnership allows students at App State to make connections outside of the

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country.

“This is such a valuable experience because not only are we practicing our French, but we’re able to do it with people our own age who use that language throughout every day, and it’s useful for them because they get to practice their English, as well,” Leopard wrote.

The Conversation Sections is also a way for students to create networking opportunities and have an “authentic learning experience” with native French speakers, Fournier said.

“It’s simply to practice a conversation in a natural setting as if they were in the country, without buying a plane ticket,” Fournier said.

Regan Booth, a sophomore public relations major with a French minor, said the conversations are a good opportunity to improve her French skills, but can be difficult at times because the students in Belgium are more advanced in English than students in her class are in French.

“The most challenging part is asking questions in French about the articles because the topics are even difficult to discuss in English, and so then when you have to ask it in French and you forget the words, it’s re-

ally stressful,” Booth said.

Another obstacle students face is the time difference between the two locations.

Mons is five hours ahead of Boone.

“What is complicated is, obviously, it’s not the same time zone, but I think that because they know that they are going to have a good time, it’s not seen as work,” Fournier said.

Leopard said the students laugh a lot together, discuss what Belgian students think of Americans and talk about their college experiences.

“The most interesting part is getting to know some French lingo that they use that we are not taught in French class. Especially, it coming from teenagers because they have very similar phrases to what we would use, and these are things our French teacher would never be able to teach us,” Leopard wrote.

Although the Conversation Sections are a mandatory part of class, the partnership is meant to be more of a cultural experience than an academic one, Fournier said.

“It’s not a question of GPA, it’s a question of opening up a window of the world to meet people,” Fournier said.

Josie Barnes | Reporter

Class at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country would trade traditional desks and white boards for the red carpet, stage, lights and popcorn machines.

Paul Forte, vice chancellor of business affairs, requested the allowance of the B1-zone Appalachian Theatre to be used for U1 zone purposes at the Oct. 17 Boone Town Council meeting.

B1 zones are intended for central business and are the “core of downtown,” Forte said while U1 zones are for university purposes.

“In the spring, we plan to have two to four classes, and we’ll use that period to evaluate the effectiveness of the theater for classroom usage, and also get the facilities fit for us,” Forte said.

Classes would take place from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

Forte’s presentation caused concerns regarding parking and the impact on local businesses.

“I think anticipating parking needs is critical,” said Lynne Mason, town council member. “Even with the health science building, there are numerous parking problems for a number of businesses and for the town.”

Mason said she believes students park downtown because it is a cheaper alternative to university parking permits, despite the possibility of a parking ticket. She also mentioned its proximity to campus.

“We’ve worked really hard to develop a vibrant downtown,” Mason said. “We need to make sure we protect parking for downtown businesses.”

Town Council member Sam Furgiuele suggested the university prohibit students from parking on King Street during class time under threat of academic discipline.

“The town would identify the violators, but it would be the university who actually would have to take penal action. The town couldn’t be giving out tickets, especially to students,” said Allison Meade, town attorney.

Forte said he believes students will continue to park downtown and walk to their classes.

“We don’t anticipate there’s going to be this huge drive of students for one class to sort of take over the town,” Forte said. “I think together we can offer more parking in that area and, hopefully, it will benefit the downtown area in the long term.”

Lililu on King employee Rachel O’Hare said she hopes the larger classes will create an increase in traffic to downtown businesses.

“I think there’s already a pretty good amount of student traffic on King Street during the day. I think it would definitely create more of a destination for students rather than just passing by everything to and from,” said O’Hare, a junior public relations major.

Cheryl Roberts, an employee at Hands Gallery, said she thinks the foot traffic may help the business. She said students could walk over and possibly purchase a gift for someone.

At the meeting, the council voted to send Forte’s proposal to the planning committee. The proposal will then go to a public hearing and be sent back to the council for a final vote.

News

Oct. 31, 2019

Reich College of Education brings Nia Robinson to Top of the Rock Emily Broyles | Associate News Editor When her family paid $65 for her application to App State, Nia Robinson cried. Four years later, she found herself crying again, front and center at Kidd Brewer Stadium as this year’s Top of the Rock.

“To know that a 19,000 student university voted for me? From freaking Kannapolis, North Carolina? I didn’t even want to go here my first year,” said Robinson, a senior middle education major. “It’s so awesome.”

Robinson was one of eight students selected for this year’s homecoming court after an application and interview process. Appalachian Educators, a club of education majors passionate about serving the community of App State and neighboring schools, nominated Robinson.

Now, she’s Top of the Rock, but Robinson has always been involved from the ground up.

“Our club, every year, goes the hardest for homecoming. My sophomore year I was on homecoming committee, and my junior year I was the president, so I guess there’s a deep tradition,” Robinson said.

Robinson said this year was different.

“They give you your sashes, and you get to ride in these really cool Jeeps, and the sun was setting; it was just beautiful,” Robinson said. “I was in the car with (Lauren Hempen) and I told her, ‘I don’t even care if I win now.’ It was the most Appalachian spirit I had.”

Robinson said her favorite memory of homecoming was talking with two little girls under the bleachers, both saying they wanted to be “just like her.”

Robinson said she never pictured herself in this role, especially after being uncertain of App State her first year.

“A lot of first-year students struggle and don’t know if it’s for them,” Robinson said.

Robinson said she cried happy tears when she won because she “was

just thinking back through everything” that got her to Top of The Rock, especially the James Center in the Reich College of Education.

“They have given me job opportunities. They have done so much for me just from being there, just from me keeping my heart open to the university and what it can do for you,” Robinson said.

Tracy Smith, a professor in the department of curriculum and instruction, said Robinson is making a name for middle grades education, one of the smaller programs in the college of education.

“She’s able to be an ambassador to our program to young adolescents who are so stereotyped, and she’s been a champion for those students, as well,” Smith said. “We’re so proud of her.”

Robinson is an ambassador for the RCOE. In this position she gives tours of the building and helps peers in the James Center.

“I just think you see her a lot. She raises her hand, she volunteers, she shows up,” Smith said.

Kari Riddle, an alumna of App State, met Robinson through Appalachian Community of Education Scholars. Riddle said while Robinson has become a close friend over the years, she has always known her potential as an

educator.

“She’s so much of a leader,” said Riddle, a third grade teacher at Parkway Elementary School. “She just has that personality that you want to be around her.”

Riddle said Robinson’s energy in everything she does will speak volumes in the classroom.

“Whoever her students are, they’re going to be blessed for sure,” Riddle said.

Robinson’s roommate, Kristin Kirk, said Robinson is the same person everywhere, whether it’s listening to their “song of the day” at home or leading an orientation group as a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leaders.

“She’s honestly a positive light wherever she goes,” said Kirk, a senior special education major. “She just gets to sprinkle herself all around these different places at App, and I think she does a great job at it.”

Robinson said she’s thankful for the homecoming court opportunity and even more so for the support of her friends and parents, who usually only visit Boone to move her in and out of her residence halls.

“I just felt all of the love and support, that even if I didn’t win, I would have been happy,” Robinson said.

Senior middle grades education major Nia Robinson is this year's Top of the Rock, reigning victorious over the eight other homecoming court members. Robinson is not only a passionate and leading student in the middle education program, but also an ambassador for the RCOE. Emily Broyles

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A&C Spooky Duke 2019

Boone community dresses up and runs to help High Country families Camryn Collier | Reporter People dressed up as pineapples, jellybeans, butterflies, superheroes, villains and Yosef to run and walk alongside over 300 people in the Spooky Duke 5K and 10K Oct. 26.

The event was sponsored by Parent to Parent, a Reich College of Education program. Its mission is to work with families with children with special needs to “provide information and resources,” said senior psychology major and Parent to Parent volunteer Kayla Frey.

App State alumna Jennifer McClure created Spooky Duke as a 5K in 2011 for a social work project, said Parent to Parent director Kaaren Hayes.

With the hopes for growth, the former dean of the college of education, Charles R. Duke sponsored the race. The event was named in honor of him and the Halloween season, Hayes said.

Over the years, Spooky Duke became both a 5K and 10K run/walk, along with a costume march and silent auction.

“We realized that there were a lot of people who wanted to make it accessible for anyone who wanted to participate. That’s really important to us,” Hayes said.

“So, (it’s important for) having the option to walk or run or participating in any way they can, making sure that

Locals and students filled the streets of Boone in their costumes to participate in the Spooky Duke 5K / 10K on Saturday. The event serves not only as a run/walk for the community, but also as a fundraiser for Parent to Parent, which is a program under the Reich College of Education.

Megan McCulloh

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you can include people who may need child care, and making sure there are even things for the kids to do. We want it to be a family event.”

Along with adding more events, Spooky Duke increased in team runners. These teams are made up of organizations like Blue Ridge Vision, Kaleidoscope and Appalachian Educators.

The implementation of teams, as well as the expansion of the event has increased participation over the years, Hayes said.

The high participation number is important for Spooky Duke and Parent to Parent because the event is completely grant and fundraiser supported, said volunteer and former Parent to Parent intern Olivia Cullipher. “(Spooky Duke) is where we get a large portion of our funding from.

This money is how we help our families with our support groups and programs,” such as workshops and emotional support, Cullipher said.

If the run/walk raises $10,000, the Health Foundation in Wilkes County matches every dollar raised, Hayes said. In 2018, Spooky Duke raised over $21,000 for Parent to Parent.

At the registration booth, Cullipher estimated about 375 people participated in the 5K and 10K. Charlena Townsend, a second grade teacher at Parkway Elementary School, brought her daughter to run in the 5K with her friends.

“There are a lot of needs, and I see a lot of it everyday in the classrooms. A lot of these parents need the support. It’s easy to give money to a race that’s for such a good cause,” Townsend said.

Oct. 31, 2019

Rocky Horror Halloween Ball combines creativity with creepy

Party-goers took to the floor to show off their best moves at the Rocky Horror Halloween Ball on Oct. 26. The Pagan Student Association hosted the ball.

Becca Bridges

Noelle Charles | Reporter This Halloween, freshman Wynter Clemmons decided to take a gruesome route with her “Alice in Wonderland” costume. She paired her light blue dress and white apron with a bloody slash mark she applied to her neck with makeup.

The interior design major said she has experimented with cosplay makeup for six years, and her gore makeup took six hours to complete for this year’s Rocky Horror Halloween Ball.

The Pagan Student Association hosted the ball in Plemmons Student Union Grandfather Mountain Ballroom Oct. 26. The musical horror film “Rocky Horror Picture Show” inspired this year’s theme.

Sierra Smith, sophomore psychology major and PSA public relations representative helped organize the event. She said PSA wanted a unique theme for its Halloween ball.

“We haven’t done it before, and with Halloween, there are only so many that look like repeat ones. So we were like, ‘This one is a festive one that we haven’t done yet,’” Smith said.

The ball included a costume contest featuring homemade costumes and gory makeup inspired by various spooky characters. Clemmons’ costume won first place in the competition.

“I really enjoy the horror aspect to (my costume),” Clemmons said. “I did the cut in the neck to (show an) ‘Off with her head’ kind of thing.”

The ball also had a dance competition, where attendees watched others take over the dance floor in costume.

Senior studio art major Anna Kirk participated in the costume and dance competitions dressed up as Beetlejuice. In previous years, Kirk said she was swamped with school work, making it impossible to participate in Halloween events. This year, Kirk said she was able to embrace the spooky season and attend the Rocky Horror Halloween Ball with friends.

Oct. 31, 2019

Defining cultural appropriation through fashion “Culture, not Costume” evokes sustained diologue

TOP 10

A&C

HALLOWEEN MOVIES Halloween: the time of year when the veil between worlds thins, the darkness is embraced and being scared is fun. Halloween isn’t complete without a list of scary movies to choose from, for both the meek and daring. Whether you’re starting off slowly or jumping right in, this list features a selection sure to please everyone. So, dim the lights, grab some snacks and prepare to have a wicked good time.

Appalachian Popular Programming Society held "Culture, not Costume" on Oct. 23, which was a fashion show and discussion to minimize cultural appropriation this Halloween season. Multiple student organizations came together to partake in the event, including the Muslim, Hispanic and Native American Student Associations.

Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.

Georgia Privott | Reporter App State student organizations collaborated to celebrate Halloween with a fashion show for planning costumes appropriately — not for the weather, but to minimize cultural appropriation.

Appalachian Popular Programming Society hosted “Culture, not Costume” on Oct. 23 in Plemmons Student Union. The annual event also included a sustained dialogue to teach students about cultural appropriation.

During the fashion show, different multicultural campus organizations showcased examples of significant and religious garments to reduce their misuse.

According to APPS, appropriation is when one group takes over another’s practices or artistic forms, while appreciation is when elements are used to honor their cultural sources.

The Muslim Student Association’s representative dressed in a traditional hijab. According to MSA, “The hijab is a symbol of modesty in the Islamic religion.” The association also presented a keffiyeh, a checkered scarf worn

by Muslim men.

The Hispanic Student Association provided an example of La Catrina, which is sugar-skull makeup and attire, and a popular symbol worn during the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead.

During the fashion show, the Native American Student Association provided examples of cultural appropriation of Native American regalia.

“Our members either didn’t have any regalia or didn’t have regalia that they (felt) comfortable wearing,” said Tori Hunt, social media chair for NASA and junior chemistry major.

Hunt explained common misuses of Native American regalia sold on King Street and campus include dream catchers, white sage and non-native made jewelry.

“Buy from native people. Try and make sure that it comes from a native person because that way, you can make sure that what you’re wearing is OK for you to wear,” Hunt said.

In order to ensure jewelry is native-made, Anya Walsh, NASA member and sophomore English major, said Native

Americans put their native tribe on the jewelry.

There is a difference between appreciating and appropriating a culture. Regarding Native jewelry, Hunt said, it is cultural appreciation if it is made and sold by a native, appropriation if not.

Businesses like Walmart selling sombreros and ponchos for costumes is a prime example of cultural appropriation, said Audry Patterson, chairperson for Cultural Awareness and Student Engagement Council for APPS. Three years ago, Patterson helped create “Culture, not Costume” to start the conversation about appropriation on campus.

Patterson said cultural appropriation during Halloween is common, especially at a predominantly white institution.

Patterson said to ask, “What do you mean by that?” when someone makes a problematic statement or is wearing a potentially offensive costume, and to use ‘I’ statements when having a controversial discussion.

“It’s all personal experiences. A sustained dialogue isn’t meant to change your opinion about something. It is for each other to see every single individual’s human experience,” Patterson said.

After the fashion show, students discussed what they learned and their experiences with cultural appropriation.

Aayanah McCreary, junior film studies and East Asian studies major, said she often sees white students on campus wearing dreadlocks.

“There are specific hairstyles that we can’t wear because it’s unprotected, seen as unprofessional. For other people in another culture to just wear our hair as a costume, it makes us feel like a costume,” McCreary said.

If it weren’t for the sustained dialogue, David Hernandez, freshman management major, said he would have never known how much he could hurt a marginalized group. “‘Everyone could be a little bit more aware of their surroundings,’ I said in the group discussion. Just using social media and trying to get out (of) my dorm and coming into this, I can learn so much about political issues or topics that someone may have gone through,” Hernandez said.

The Thing (1982) - Directed by John Carpenter

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) - Directed by Wes Craven

Halloween (1978) - Directed by John Carpenter

The Exorcist (1973) - Directed by William Friedkin

Insidious (2011)/The Conjuring (2013)- Directed by James Wan

The Return Of The Living Dead (1985) - Directed by Dan O’Bannon

Evil Dead 2 (1987) - Directed by Sam Raimi

Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2011)-Directed by Eli Craig Ghostbusters (1984) - Directed by Ivan Reitman

Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988) - Directed by Stephen Chiodo

7

Sports

Oct. 31, 2019

GAME DAY

Game 8 | Thursday, Oct. 31 | 8 p.m. | ESPNU | Kidd Brewer Stadium | Boone, North Carolina

No. 21 App State (7-0, 4-0 Sun Belt)

VS

Georgia Southern (4-3, 2-1 Sun Belt)

Game Notes:

After their seventh straight win and moving up a slot in the rankings, the No. 20 Mountaineers will host rivals Georgia Southern. If App State wants to remain undefeated to keep their New Year's Six Bowl hopes alive, they will have to stop Georgia Southern’s run game, which averages 259.9 yards per game.

Rivalry Week

Looking Ahead:

Mountaineer Run Game:

This is more than just another game on the schedule for the Mountaineers. Georgia Southern is App State’s biggest rival and there’s more than just an undefeated streak at stake. Last year, the Mountaineers suffered a 34-7 loss the week after being ranked for the first time and will look to even out the series on Thursday. App State leads the all time series 18-14-1.

As the Mountaineers work through the second half of their conference schedule, there’s still one non-conference game left.

On Nov. 9, they will travel to Williams-Brice Stadium to take on South Carolina in what could be big for App State’s New Year’s Six bowl hopes. A strong showing against Georgia Southern this week and a few extra days of recovery over the weekend could be just what the Mountaineers need to pick up momentum before heading down to Columbia. As head coach Eliah Drinkwitz says about his players, they are only focused on going “1-0 each week.”

Since taking the reins from Jalin Moore last season, junior running back Darrynton Evans has played a huge part in the success of the Mountaineers. Evans has rushed for 722 yards and has 10 rushing touchdowns on the year and should expect a lot of touches on Thursday.

POINTS PER GAME

41 OPP. POINTS PER GAME

19

YARDS PER GAME

439.6

OPP. YARDS PER GAME

8

326.6

PLAYER TO WATCH

#21 Akeem Davis-Gaither Senior Linebacker Georgia Southern might limit its pass offense, but its run game is something the team has been very successful at this season.

Averaging over 250 rushing yards per game, the Eagles will look to stick to what they know and the Mountaineers will look to Davis-Gaither to help clog up the run game.

Davis-Gaither is no stranger to high expectations, as he leads the team in total tackles with 51.

POINTS PER GAME

25.1 OPP. POINTS PER GAME

28

YARDS PER GAME

308.8

OPP. YARDS PER GAME

342.3

Oct. 31, 2019

Sports

The Journey of Ronshad Shabazz

possible and did everything they could to convince me that I was making the right decision, and they were going to help me better myself to play at the next level.”

His senior year, Shabazz was offered the opportunity to play at Huntington Prep, a high school consistently in the top 10 national basketball rankings and known for producing both collegiate and NBA talent.

Shabazz was initially skeptical about attending the prep school, but he said his experience taught him how seriNBA draft hopeful Ronshad Shabazz brings the ball up the floor during a Mountaineer home game. Shabazz finished ous basketball was, and pushed his career ranked first in App State history with 712 field goals made and second in points with 2,067. him to separate himself as a Lynette Files player through the daily grind Kaiden Smith | Reporter on the court and in the classroom.

The College Park Skyhawks selected App State alumnus Ronshad “I was a little scared once he went to that school. I’m like, Shabazz with the 13th pick in the first round of the 2019 G League draft.

‘There’s no way we will get him because so many other people The G League is similar to the minor leagues of baseball— a league to will see him,’” said App State assistant coach Jason Allison. help younger or less developed players work on their skills while competing Despite grabbing the attention of multiple high major basat a high level to help prepare for the NBA. The G League is a direct afketball teams like NC State, Pittsburg, Maryland and Oregon, filiate of the NBA, and the Skyhawks are a direct affiliate of the Atlanta none of them offered Shabazz a scholarship his senior year. An Hawks. Shabazz graduated in 2019. This story was originally published ankle injury limited his playing time at Huntington, and App online on June 3.

State’s early interest paid off. Allison said Shabazz was a steal, and if he wouldn’t have hurt his ankle and waited until the efore Ronshad Shabazz became one of the most decorated spring of his senior year to sign his scholarship, App State had basketball players in App State history, he was a kid worno chance of getting him. ried for his life, moving back-and-forth from South Bend, IndiThe day Shabazz stepped foot on App State’s campus, the ana, and Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Mountaineers played a pickup game after the team’s first meetShabazz said growing up, people around him would find ing. His teammates could immediately tell that he was something themselves in life-threatening situations. He remembers a time special. when he could not sleep for a week, being kept up by the fear of “I could tell right away. I was like, ‘Wow, this kid is definitelosing his own life after a family friend lost hers. ly a top notch freshman; he’s definitely the future of this pro“I remember when I was 9 or 10, I was like, ‘Man, I don’t gram,’” Holley said. know if I’m going to live to do all of the things I want to,’ and at Shabazz averaged 11.9 points per game at App State that that time, I didn’t care about basketball, I was just trying to live,” year, the highest in school history for a freshman since the 1990-91 Shabazz said. season. He had various signature moments during his freshman After living in two cities with high crime rates, Shabazz’s campaign, including his favorite, a 21-point outing against No. 7 mother moved the family to Raleigh when he was 12. This is UNC-Chapel Hill. Shabazz was also featured on SportsCenter’s where he not only got a fresh start, but where his basketball caTop 10 for a posterizing dunk over the Tar Heels’ Brice Johnson. reer began to flourish.

“I had some big games, and I had some bad games, but I “Not many kids make it out from what he had to make it out feel like freshman year is where I was like, ‘OK, now from here of, and it just shows how much of a hard worker he is and how on out, there’s no more excuses,’” Shabazz said. determined he is to reach his goals. He’s a one-of-a-kind kid,” After his freshman year, Shabazz took a major leap that set said Bennett Holley, former teammate of Shabazz. the tone for the rest of his career. From that point forward, he led Shabazz was a standout player in high school, averaging the Mountaineers in scoring and reached over 500 points in each 25 points per game at Knightdale High School. That was good of the following seasons. enough to finish second in scoring in North Carolina. Despite “He could’ve left and transferred to a lot of schools, espethese numbers, he received no high major college offers and incially after his sophomore year, if he wanted to,” Allison said. stead signed to mid-major college App State his junior year.

“Being from Raleigh, he played for the elite CP3 and Nike teams, “I chose App because they were consistent,” Shabazz said. so he’s a popular name, and we played a lot on TV, so a lot of “They came to see me as much as possible, called as much as

B

people got to watch him.”

Shabazz established himself as one of the best players in school history. He ended his career with the school record for field goals made with 712, second all time in points with 2,067, third all time in 3-pointers made with 269 and even put his name on the all time points list for the Sun Belt Conference, where he is ranked sixth.

“For him to graduate in four years, to be three-time all conference, not have one ounce of trouble and to be kind of the face of the program, it’s a story that you don’t just see every day,” Allison said.

Despite his success, Shabazz still feels like he is overlooked as a player, he said when compared to other players, what he has accomplished and continues to work at on the court is disregarded.

No matter why people doubt him, Shabazz said he uses the doubts as motivation to pursue a career in professional basketball. Shabazz said when he tells people that he plans on playing professionally, the first thing they do is assume he’s playing overseas, completely ruling out the NBA. “What they fail to realize is there’s people that score a lot, but I can score with the best of them,” Shabazz said. “So, at the end of the day when it comes to things like that, you think in your head, ‘Dang, when I finally get my opportunity, that’s when everybody’s going to realize.’”

Shabazz’s opportunities started to come as he has had workouts with NBA teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers and Charlotte Hornets.

“I know he’s going through these workouts with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove something,” said former teammate Kevin Kerley. “So, I mean with his work ethic and that drive he has, I think that he has a shot.”

Allison said of his 15 years as a Division I basketball assistant, Shabazz is one of the top three hardest workers he’s ever seen.

“That kid grinds harder than anybody,” Holley said. “The amount of workouts and time he spends in the gym is just insane.”

Holley said during the season, there were days where Shabazz would work out on his own an hour before practice, an hour after practice and at night around 10 p.m.

“Shabazz is one of the most resilient individuals that I have ever met in my life. He has such a unique background and he has been through a lot of things, and I am so immensely proud of him,” said Jamie Inlow, the former director of As-U-R, a program in the student learning center, and former academic mentor to Shabazz.

Despite Shabazz’s professional basketball dreams being right in front of him, he has not forgotten about this background and uses it as inspiration moving forward.

“As a child, it was rough, I really didn’t have much of the common things everybody else would have growing up, and I have everything I want now,” Shabazz said. “I do what I want.

I don’t really have to worry about whether I’m going to live or die. I eat on the regular. Just stuff like that, that’s what keeps me motivated.”

9

Sports

Oct. 31, 2019

Swales leads crew of international players for Men’s soccer

game day grades 30-3 Overall team grade: b-

App State’s defense had their most dominating performance of the year and the offense capitalized on enough drives to come away with the 30-3 win over South Alabama. The defense held the Jaguars to 139 yards of total offense and 1-for-15 on third down conversions. South Alabama was unable to get in any sort of groove while the Mountaineers rushed for 349 yards on the day. Junior running back Marcus Williams Jr. picked up 94 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and freshman WR/RB Raykwon Anderson finished with 99 yards and a touchdown on four carries. Anderson broke free for a 67-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Junior quarterback Zac Thomas went 16-for-28 with 132 yards and a touchdown.

To read the full grades go to www.theappalachianonline.com

Quarterbacks

B-

Running backs

a-

Wide receivers

A-

Tight Ends

C+

Linebackers

B-

a

A

b-

Offensive line

12

Defensive line

Special Teams

Courtesy of App State Athletics

Sophomore forward Kelan Swales dribbles past a defender from American. Swales is originally from England and is serving as a leader on the field for the crew of international players on the men's soccer team.

Clay DeHart

Zack Antrum | Reporter Year after year, hundreds of athletes transfer schools for different reasons. Some players crave more playing time, some transfer for personal reasons and some just find a program that’s a better fit.

For Kelan Swales, a member of App State’s men’s soccer team, he’s found a program that is a great fit for him, and the team has welcomed him with open arms. The speedy midfielder from England hit the ground running for the Mountaineers, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“Transfers are one of those things where something hasn’t worked out in the first school they’ve chosen,” head coach Jason O’Keefe said.

“With Kelan, it was something where he was excited about what we were building (and) felt like he would be a vital part.”

Before moving to the High Country, Swales played one season at Marshall, where he scored two goals and registered a team high six assists.

He has carried these performance levels to his new school, where he is currently tied for first in goals with four and second in assists with two.

Despite only starting three games, he has managed to create big moments for O’Keefe’s squad on several different occasions. Swales scored a game-winning goal against the UAB, and turned in a two-goal performance in a 4-2 win against UNC-Greensboro.

Swales’ off-field transition has been just a smooth as his on-field transition. He said he felt

welcomed to the team right away.

“The lads are a family, and they accepted me into the family right away — from the coaching staff to the staff behind the scenes,” Swales said. “The transition was very easy, and they made it very easy for me.”

The team is sitting on a 9-5-1 record, with two games to play and has surpassed last year’s win total of eight. Currently, it is also tied for first in the Sun Belt with a 2-1 record.

Along with Swales, graduate student Alex McGrath is from England and freshmen Kelvin Mulinya and midfielder Mayola Kinyua both hail from Kenya. Sophomore midfielder Dimitris Moristakis is from Greece and has experience with the Greece U17 National team.

O’Keefe and his staff work to ensure newcomers from both the United States and overseas feel a part of the program at App State.

“It’s something we’ve been building on every day, every week, every month for several years,” O’Keefe said. “Culture means everything and without it, you can’t win anything.”

As the Mountaineers look to make a run in the Sun Belt Tournament, and potentially the NCAA tournament, the diverse backgrounds and previous playing experiences can give them an advantage.

Sports

Oct. 31, 2019

Baseball welcomes new AstroTurf system to Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium Silas Albright | Sports Editor The Mountaineer baseball program has a new addition: an allnew AstroTurf Diamond Series RBI System. The new turf replaced the FieldTurf system in use since Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium opened in 2007.

“It’s going to be something not only that our baseball program is extremely proud of, but it’s going to be something that our entire athletic department and university are proud of,” head coach Kermit Smith said.

The new turf provides a new look at the stadium with vibrant shades of green, replicating the mowing pattern of many famous baseball stadiums, such as Wrigley Field in Chicago or Fenway Park in Boston. The turf features a nearly 90-foot tall App State “A” in center field and gold and white App State logos behind the batter’s box and pitcher’s mound.

“Whether you’re watching on TV, or whether you’re at our place,

you’re going to get a sense of our logo and our branding, which is really important to us,” Smith said.

According to AstroTurf ’s website, over 50 NCAA Division-I baseball programs currently use its systems.

Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio State and Duke are just a few of the programs that use the turf systems.

The turf can withstand rain and other elements better than grass and dirt baseball fields. Weather in Boone is often unpredictable, making it difficult to prepare for games after or during rain. It also requires much less maintenance, as the turf does not grow or need cutting.

The new turf comes on the heels of a breakthrough season in which the Mountaineers made program history.

App State finished last year with its most wins in a season since 2013, with a 22-31 overall record and a 1316 mark in the Sun Belt. It was the

first double-digit Sun Belt win total for App State since joining the conference in 2014. The Mountaineers also made the Sun Belt Tournament for the first time, securing the No. 9 seed in the 10-team tournament.

App State returns 10 position players who made at least 10 starts and six pitchers who threw 20 or more innings from last year’s squad. The Mountaineers also welcome 11 newcomers to the program.

Junior outfielder Tyler Leek, who hit .323 with 32 runs and 23 RBI’s last season, said he and his teammates are thrilled with how the finished product turned out. “(The turf) is amazing; it’s really kind of like a blessing to have,” Leek said. “Just looking at it, you can tell it’s a really nice product, and it plays really well.”

My last

word

Men’s basketball is getting turned around Brooks Maynard | Columnist Early Oct. 26, former Mountaineer shooting guard Ronshad Shabazz was selected No. 13 overall in the NBA G League Draft by the College Park Skyhawks, the G League affiliate of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks.

To me, this is one of the first signs that App State men’s basketball is headed in the right direction. While Shabazz’s success is nothing new to App State fans after he was named to All-Sun Belt rosters three times during his college career, the Mountaineers haven’t had a lot of success on the professional level, and this is an important first step toward that goal.

It’s also looking up closer to home. First-year head coach Dustin Kerns brings a winning mentality to the mountain, and has experience helping programs rebound from down seasons. In two years at Presbyterian College, Kerns got the Blue Hose from a 6-25 record in 2016, the year before his arrival, to winning 20 games in 2018, including a 9-7 conference record.

Kerns has key pieces to work with, too. Senior forward Isaac Johnson was selected as the Sun Belt’s best rebounder in preseason polls. Junior guard Justin Forrest was second on the team in scoring and assists last season and led the team in steals with 37. They also have an array of young talent, including sophomore Adrian Delph and freshmen Kendall Lewis and RJ Wilson. They even added local talent in freshman and former Watauga High School guard Bryant Greene.

While they may not hang any banners at the end of this season, I think something is starting to stir for App State men’s basketball. One thing, to me, is certain: their future is brighter than their past.

App State’s new baseball turf replaced the original system in use at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium since it opened in 2007. “It’s a great product,” head coach Kermit Smith said.

Courtesy of App State Athletics

11

Opinion

Oct. 31, 2019

The

Tea

mark zuckerberg has a duty to curb fake news Tommy Mozier | Opinion Editor Standing in front of a packed room at Georgetown University on Oct. 17, Mark Zuckerberg looked as pristine as he could. Fit, groomed and confident, portraying himself as the ultimate protector of free speech and expression in America. He went so far as to reference icons of free speech like Fredrick Douglass and Martin Luter King Jr., as if they were watching him, nodding in approval as Zuckerberg single-handedly defended the First Amendment from all attackers.

It was as if Zuckerberg’s social media empire doesn’t give a platform to the fake news that misinforms millions of people. As if Facebook doesn’t intrude on its users’ privacy and sells their data to the highest bidder. As if 47 state attorneys general did not open an antitrust investigation into his bloated empire.

When Zuckerberg possibly stole the idea of Facebook in 2003, he likely did not envision it growing large enough to heavily impact a presidential race. But, it did grow that large. And now, he doesn’t know what to do.

Facebook is not subject to government regulation, but Zuckerberg has made the First Amendment the cornerstone of his platforms. That’s admirable, but even freedom of speech has restrictions. Because of this, Zuckerberg is making Facebook act as its own judge of content, deciding which content is worth removing. And it’s failing. Facebook is not properly balancing free speech with the spread of intentional misinformation.

Speaking at Georgetown, Zuckerberg acknowledged the First Amendment’s limits and that Facebook needs to censor particular content. He mentioned terrorist propaganda, bullying of young people and pornography as content worth removing, but struck a different tone on fake news.

“In general, I don’t think it’s right for a private company to censor politicians or the news in a democracy,” Zuckerberg told the crowd.

That would be true, if Facebook was just another private company. But, unfortunately for us, it’s not. It permeates all parts of internet life. It can change world governments and impacts society and culture in immeasurable ways.

Whether he wanted it or not, Zuckerberg now has a duty to curb fake news and the spread of misinformation. If he can’t do so, it’s time to break up his empire and knock him from his pedestal.

12

Undocumented workers contribute more than they take Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Writer Since his election campaign, President Donald Trump has often stated that undocumented migrants take more from the United States than they contribute. Trump’s assertion is false because migrant workers pay taxes and help domestic producers by taking jobs domestic workers do not want.

During the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy ended the “bracero” program that allowed foreign workers to temporarily work on farms.

According to the Law of Supply for labor, this would lead to higher worker wages due to the absence of agricultural work and an increase in domestic labor.

However, data analyzed by Michael Clemens and Hannah Postel from the Centre for Global Development found that this policy led to a, small, temporary rise in domestic jobs. Yet, while wages initially rose, domestic agricultural jobs continued their decline. Wages also fell during this period, prior to an increase in undocumented immigration during the 1970s.

Even if wages were to rise, there is ample evidence to suggest that Americans would not be willing to work in those jobs. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2017 that many California farms cannot hire domestic workers despite raising their wages to $15 an hour.

The absence of domestic workers willing to work on the fields is not contained on the West Coast.

In 2014, Chalmers Carr from Titan Farms submitted 500 applications for seasonal work paying $2 above minimum wage to a local newspaper near Columbia, South Carolina. Only 31 applicants applied for work, and only six remained. The majority quit or stopped showing up.

Harvard economist George Borjas offered a potential solution to this problem when he suggested that if wages were higher, then more domestic workers would consider working. However, there is evidence to suggest that this type of work would become automated before wages would rise to these levels.

This is due to the increase in marginal cost being higher than the marginal profit, resulting in firms losing money. A rise in wage labor via minimum wage will lead to higher levels of un-

employment for unskilled workers, according to Reed economist Jeffrey Parker. This is due to firms losing money and cutting costs, leaving firms two options: outsource work through machines or a cheaper labor supply, or through producing products with a lower marginal cost.

While marginal costs and marginal revenues are important aspects of business behavior, the supply of workers and employer demand determine workers’ wages. If employers find a shortage of workers, they will raise the wages to attract more workers. The U.S. is currently experiencing a tight labor market, meaning employers are competing to obtain workers. This has a positive impact on the collective labor market as a whole, including low skilled labor.

Eduardo Porter from The New York Times reported in April that lower skilled jobs ,such as brick-layers, are offering wages up to $25 an hour, not accounting for union pay. While this boom may not last, it highlights the unwillingness of domestic laborers to fill these jobs, even with high wages. Raising the question of the impact on domestic workers willingness to take these jobs when wages are lower and when the labor market picks up slack.

Undocumented immigrants are an indispensable part of business behavior, and they contribute towards fiscal expenditures. In other words, immigrants contribute more in taxes than they receive in benefits. According to The Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants contribute $11.64 billion annually. ITEP also reported that undocumented immigrants pay 8% of their income to national taxes, 3% higher than the wealthiest Americans who pay 5%.

ITEP reported that granting legal status to undocumented migrants would increase local and state tax contributions by $2.1 billion annually, an estimated 8.6%. While there may be abuses from certain individuals taking advantage of the system, the majority of undocumented workers are just like American citizens; they work hard and pay their taxes.

Others can argue about granting legal status to undocumented immigrants, but their economic benefits to the U.S. are undeniable.

Oct. 31, 2019

Justin Trudeau created his own problems

Opinion

Ricky Barker | Opinion Writer

After a rough term, Canada’s once well-loved liberal prime minister is facing consequences from his false promises.

In a contentious election, Liberal Party incumbent Justin Trudeau won reelection against conservative opposition. He did so just barely, completely losing the majority in government.

Elections in Canada are split into 338 electoral districts. Districts vote for a House of Commons member, which is essentially a congressional representative. Each member represents a party; there are two major ones and a couple of lesser ones, and are elected after a 40-day period. The party with the most seats selects its party leader as the new prime minister. So, the general public does not vote directly for the prime minister, but rather for a member of a party leader they like.

The most recent election cycle ended on Oct. 22. The Liberal Party

barely had the most members, grabbing 157 of the 338 seats, allowing Trudeau to remain for another term.

This may seem like good news for liberals around the world, but it’s actually a very poor performance for the once immensely popular prime minister. Despite the Liberal Party still having the most seats, the party lost the 170-seat majority in the House of Commons. This may be what Trudeau deserves, considering his behavior during the last two years of his term.

Four years ago, Trudeau was a phemon in Canadian government.

An up-and-coming young liberal politician, good looking and the son of an immensely well-regarded Canadian politician. Trudeau ran on a campaign of big promises.

He focused on environmental protection, government transparen-

cy, indigenous rights, feminism and other social issues. Trudeau made huge gains for the Liberal Party in 2015, changing its measly 37 seats in the House of Commons to 184. Trudeau was immensely popular and had the winds of optimism and change on his back.

However, during his four years as prime minister, the vision he promised cracked. His government purchased the Trans Mountain Pipeline for $3.4 billion in 2018 to ensure its expansion.

Environmentalists, who Trudueu previously appealed to in his first election, quickly criticized the move. Not only does the pipeline cause deforestation and lead to possible oil spills, it also moves through indigenous people’s territory. The move was, to many, blatantly disrespectful to the values Trudeau previously pushed.

In another major betrayal, Trudeau demoted Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould, a major member of his cabinet during his original campaign.

Wilson-Raybould was the first indigenous person to hold that position.

In January, Wilson-Raybould was charging Javelin, a construction firm, for multiple cases of corrupt dealings. Normal punishment for such actions would be a 10-year federal contract ban. But, Trudeau did not want to lose the jobs, and helped pass a law that allowed companies in Javelin’s position to merely pay a fine and continue to work.

However, Wilson-Raybould and other prosecutors rejected Javelin’s request to pay the penalty fine on Sept.

4. Ten days later, Trudeau essentially kicked her out, shuffling her out of the attorney general position to a lesser role, an incredibly bad look for the candidate who promised government transparency.

Finally, on Sept. 18, Time Magazine published an anonymously sourced picture of Trudeau at a par-

ty in 2001. He was wearing full brown face. There was major backlash. If that wasn’t enough, more photos surfaced, and Trudeau gave the careless and insensitive response that he’s always been “too enthusiastic” about costumes in an interview.

After considering all of Trudeau’s major missteps, it’s no surprise that he’s facing consequences in the polls.

Trudeau may still be in power, but right now he’s facing dismal results of his own making. Maybe losing the majority government will give Trudeau the wake up call he needs to stick to his original promises, but that could prove difficult without 170 supporters.

Periods aren’t feminine, they're human

Amy Waas | Opinion Writer

One adjective, “feminine,” has the power to exclude entire groups of people from receiving the care they need.

Pads, tampons and the like are commonly referred to as “feminine hygiene” products, a name that excludes the sizable populations of transgender, gender-fluid and non-binary people who menstruate. But, Always, a Procter & Gamble company that specializes in menstruation products, just took a major step toward inclusive change.

Always is a brand with widespread influence as a primary provider of period care known for its sanitary pads. Its products are available in almost every grocery or convenience store, but the company’s packaging has always been obviously feminine.

Oftentimes, the idea of femininity is associated with having a period,

which leads to a major lack of representation. For instance, most wrappers containing hygiene products have stereotypical “girly” designs, such as pastel-colored flowers, female-geared affirmations and patterns. Always, however, announced that it would move away from overtly gendered packaging by removing the iconic Venus symbol from its products to become more inclusive.

The Venus symbol is a circle and plus sign used to denote the female sex.

Changing the design of something as small as a sanitary pad wrapper may sound trivial, but the support of major companies like Always is essential in the movement toward affordable, accessible and inclusive personal care.

Though Always is not the first commercial brand to move away from

gendered period products, it’s important for inclusive period representation to expand past niche companies and into drug stores, supermarkets and convenience shops. Smaller, online companies can be more expensive, not to mention more difficult to access. Little steps from giant influencers, such as Procter & Gamble, can make all the difference for underrepresented groups.

A change in packaging is not a swipe of a magic wand that creates a world of inclusive hygiene, but it’s a good start. After all, periods aren’t just feminine — they’re human.

CREDIT

13

Et Cetera

Sudoku

Oct. 31, 2019

10/25/19 Answers

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Oct. 31, 2019

What-To-Do PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Thursday Oct. 31st

Volunteer with the Children’s Playhouse 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Children’s Playhouse 400 Tracy Circle, Boone

Football vs. Georgia Southern University 8-11 p.m.

Kidd Brewer Stadium

“The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov 7-9 p.m.

I.G. Greer Auditorium

Election Security Forum 3-5 p.m.

Reich College of Education Gordon Gathering Hall

Treble Choir/Glee Club 8-9:30 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

“The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov 7-9 p.m.

I.G. Greer Auditorium

Will Trail/Student Euphonium Recital 4-5 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

Andrew Hicks/Student Horn Recital 6-7 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

“The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov 7-9 p.m.

I.G. Greer Auditorium

Jonathan Sneed/Student Composition Recital 4-5 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

“It: Chapter 2” Film Showing 7 and 10:10 p.m.

Plemmons Student Union Room 233

“The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov 7-9 p.m.

I.G. Greer Auditorium

“The Vertebrate Genomes Project: Sequencing Life For a New Biology” Talk Part of the Morgan Science Lecture Series 6-7 p.m.

Plemmons Student Union Room 420

Native American Heritage of North Carolina 6-8 p.m.

Legends Lot

Tuesday, Nov. 5

“Insights From Non-human Animals Into the Neurobiology of Human Language” Talk Part of the Morgan Science Lecture Series 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Rankin West Room 183

Volunteer with the Children’s Playhouse 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Children’s Playhouse 400 Tracy Circle, Boone

Wednesday, Nov. 6

Volunteer with the Children’s Playhouse 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

The Children’s Playhouse 400 Tracy Circle, Boone

“The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov 7-9 p.m.

I.G. Greer Auditorium

Friday, Nov. 1 Saturday, Nov. 2 Sunday, Nov. 3 Monday, Nov. 4

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture Heritage Month Event 6-9 p.m.

Plemmons Student Union Whitewater Cafe

Tom Curry/GuestTuba 8-9 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

App News

SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

App News is a service of the Division of Student Affairs. Email editor@theappalachianonline.com for submissions with subject line: APP NEWS PAGE. Submissions should not exceed 100 words and must include the event title, date/time, location and cost, and a contact email, phone and/or URL. Announcements will be edited as needed and will run as space allows. Preference is given for events that are free or have a nominal cost.

WEB MANAGER WANTED! If you have experience with WordPress or running a website, apply to be web manager for The Appalachian. Experience in content management and coding is preferred, but not required. Interested?

Contact brennanmp@appstate.edu for more details and an application.

DESIGN THE APPALACHIAN Want to lay out this paper? Have a flair for graphic design? Email editor@theappalachianonline.com to express interest! Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) preferred but not required. Opportunities available for student designers of all skill sets.

ELECTION SECURITY FORUM The Government and Justice Studies Department and the Department of Computer Science are coming together for the Election Security Forum, a discussion about the United States’ voting systems. The forum will explore topics the security of our election systems and equipment, the risks to our elections’ infrastructure and the steps being taken to ensure election security.

2ND FOR THE 2019/2020 LEASE PERIOD!

BRING YOUR AUDIENCE ANYWHERE.

PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE APPALACHIAN NEWS GROUP BUILD YOUR RESUME. ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO. GET PUBLISHED.

ROOM 217, PSU THURSDAY & SUNDAY 7 P.M. SEE YOU THERE.