Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Appalachian 10.31.13

Appalachian State University’s student news source since 1934

Vol. 88, No. 17

Mayoral Candidates who will YOU vote for?

OCCUPATION

PLATFORM

WHY RUN?

ANDY BALL

JENNY CHURCH

BRAD HARMON

-Member of Boone Town Council -Server and Bar Manager in Blowing Rock

-Senior political science major at Appalachian State University

-Manages Harmon's Dixie Pride Shop on King Street

-Owner of Haircut 101

-Water access availability -Environmental protection -External relations, particularly between the county and town

-Increase conversation between the county and the town -More university involvement in town issues

-Looking at alternatives to water access availability -More transparent local government -Environment preservation

-Downtown Boone revitalization -Sustainable mixed-use neighborhoods -New River water intake and conservation -Storm water runoff mitigation

“I met folks locally who were working in the community and the environmental sector or the nonprofits here.

All these groups were in the community and were supporting progressive, forward-thinking candidates for local office. And I got really excited about knocking on doors and decided I wanted to do that in some realm.”

“I am the youngest of the candidates and I’m trying to make a life in Boone, which is really hard to do and make any money. So, I would benefit most from the economy growing and higher paying jobs. I still have a little brother in school here, so I would benefit most from reaching out to the schools and finding a way to improve them.

I have family here. So I want it to have a good future for them.”

“[I have] knowledge of Boone and its past mayors and the love, care and devotion to this area. I’m not really concerned about being paid or anything. It’s an honor to serve humanity and the people of Boone. I want to give them a chance to have that.”

“I’ve got kids that I’ve given them their first haircuts and sent them off to college and doing their hair for their weddings. And so you know, it’s a community and that’s what I want to drive home – that we are a community.

We all live together. We work together, play together and do it synergistically.”

Infographic by Ashley Spencer

Stories by Chelsey Fisher

Photos by Molly Cogburn

Senior Graphic Designer

Senior News Reporter

Staff Photographer

JOHN MENA

-Andy Ball-

-Jenny Church-

-Brad Harmon-

-John Mena-

Sept. 11, 2001 changed Andy Ball’s perspective on being in public office.

At the time, Ball was a freshman at Appalachian State University, and after hearing about the attacks, immediately became interested in making a difference. “[The Sept. 11 attacks] changed this campus, it changed the state and it changed the world,” Ball said. “I felt even more pressured to get involved.

So, I went to the College Democrats meeting and the student government meeting and began to ask about how to get involved. [I] decided the best way to do that was to take some leadership roles.”

Twelve years later, after earning a seat on Appalachian’s student senate, joining numerous committees in Boone and spending four years on

Jenny Church considers herself a doer.

When Church, a senior at Appalachian State University, decided to major in political science, she said she began to see the corruption within governments, something that she didn’t like.

“I’m one of those people where if I see injustice, I’m like ‘Oh, no. This can’t happen. I have to dispel all the corruption,’” she said.

So instead of just discussing the corruption in her classes, Church decided to do something about it, she said.

Church is the write-in candidate running for mayor of Boone in the 2013 municipal elections.

Church decided to run for mayor not because of her major, but because of her love for Boone, her hometown.

“It’s just because it’s my home,” she

When it comes to most decisions, Brad Harmon looks to the wisdom his grandfather taught him when Harmon was a boy.

“To give an example, the man was extremely honest with people, never would lie, he didn’t care who you were,” Harmon said.

Working as a doctor, Harmon’s grandfather helped build both the Appalachian State University and Boone communities during his life, Harmon said.

His grandfather’s love for the community was instilled in Harmon, and this love has inspired Harmon to run for mayor of Boone in the 2013 municipal elections.

Harmon, who manages Harmon’s Dixie Pride Shop on King Street, said he officially decided to run after he heard of the other groups running, he

John Mena remembers the attitude his father, who was in the army, had while he was growing up.

“You could never tell my dad you couldn’t do something,” Mena said.

“He’d say, ‘You can do it and you will do it.’”

Mena has used this philosophy throughout his 25 years of owning a business in Boone, and thinks it is what the local government in Boone and Watauga County needs.

“I think we need to look at a problem, come up with a solution and implement it,” he said.

And so Mena has decided to run for mayor of Boone for the 2013 municipal elections.

Mena ran for the office once before in 2009, but lost. This time is different, he said.

“The last time I ran, it was a last-

SEE ANDY BALL PAGE 4

SEE JENNY CHURCH PAGE 4

SEE BRAD HARMON PAGE 4

SEE JOHN MENA PAGE 4

A&E

SPORTS

ON THE WEB

Adam Jennings | The Appalachian

Katy Perry's newest album isn't quite the "Roar" our music critic had expected.

SEE REVIEW PAGE 7

The Appalachian State Mountaineers try to carry their success last weekend forward as they face one of the SoCon's top defenses Saturday against Chattanooga

SEE GAME DAY PAGE 8

Want to know more about the mayoral candidates? Watch video coverage of the candidates as they talk about their platform and reasons why they decided to run for mayor of

See TheAppalachianOnline.com

2

NEWS

Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Addition of sales tax causes increase in meal plans Students with a meal plan will see an increase in their plan’s bill starting next semester after a state sales tax was added to campus food items.

The sales tax will be 6.75 percent and was changed after the N.C. General Assembly made changes to the Sales and Use Tax Code during its 2013 General Session, said Art Kessler, director of food services.

The money from the sales tax goes directly to the state and affects all universities in North Carolina.

“It is just unfortunate that students will now be assessed sales tax on food sales,” Kessler said. “Any increase is always unwelcome news.”

Changes: Meal Option: Low: Standard: High: Super:

Current Price: $895 $1,120 $1,295 $1,580

Ryan Freeze | The Appalachian

Source: Appalachian State University Auxiliary Services email Information compiled by Chelsey Fisher, Senior News Reporter

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‘A new light’s coming to town’: Physical Plant adds LED lights

by Chelsey Fisher Senior News Reporter

The Physical Plant will replace all of the exterior lights on campus with more efficient Light Emitting Diodes.

The LED lights purchase was a part of a $16.5 million energy savings contract with Pepco Energy and will replace more than 1,100 lights on campus, including all pathway and parking lot lighting, said Mike O’Connor, director of the Physical Plant.

The 13-year energy savings contract with Pepco will examine all aspects of campus energy use. Its goal is to lower energy use on campus, according to a Pepco press release.

These changes will save the campus approximately $53,000 a year in electricity and approximately $30,000 in labor a year, since the current lights have to be replaced so often, O’Connor said.

The new lights will last approximately 100,000 hours, or 10 to 15 years, O’Connor said.

The current orange-colored lights on campus only last between 10,000 and 12,000 hours.

The new lights will also improve visibility on campus, which increases safety, he said.

“Another cool thing is the lighting,” O’Connor said. “The lighting is so much better. Before you had the really orange lights, which is really hard on our eyes.

Orange light really washes out the color. It makes everything look kind of orange and is prone to shadows.”

The new lighting will also be beneficial to students using the observatory on campus, O’Connor said. The current lights cause a lot of light pollution, meaning there is glare from the lights visible in the sky.

The new lights will reduce that glare, making it easier for classes to observe the sky at night, he said.

“It’s just a great project,” O’Connor said. “We’re doing all of this and we’re saving money in the process.”

The new lights will also de-

crease energy consumption on campus, said Jerry Marshall, the energy manager on campus.

“The new lights will provide the same amount of light as the old ones, but with 65 to 70 percent of the energy use,” he said.

Marshall said the university has an obligation to use funds from a source in an efficient way to save money, especially with the rising cost of energy.

The new lighting will also save energy, which will reduce carbon, he said.

The Physical Plant received the first shipment of lights this week and is waiting for New River Light and Power, the university’s power company, to install them.

The Physical Plant is waiting on another shipment of lights, which are being custom made in Hickory, O’Connor said.

The changes will completely alter the way the campus looks, O’Connor said.

“A new light’s coming to town,” he said. “So campus is going to be quite different.”

From darkness to light: Candlelight Vigil emphasizes resilience

by Carl Blankenship Intern News Reporter

The Appalachian State University LGBT Center held its fourth annual Candlelight Vigil on Monday to honor those who have committed suicide as the result of bullying.

Approximately 90 people gathered on Sanford Mall for the event.

Dean of students J.J. Brown, SGA President Dylan Russell and Boone Mayor Loretta Clawson spoke on bullying and fair treatment, as well as the night’s theme of resilience.

The Quaker Student Association and Hillel participated in the vigil by offering reflections specific to their religions.

A Sanskrit prayer was also recited and a capella group Ear Candy performed.

“I think it’s important for students here to have someone come out and show their support, because I believe support is very, very important to these students,” Clawson said. “We want to continue as a town to be very supportive of all students.”

Russell said that the message of the night was to have hope.

“We all have the ability to be a light, not just in our own lives but in each other’s lives too, and when we all join together with all these candles out, we can finally see and we’re no longer in the darkness,” Russell said. “The message is to move from darkness into light, and to do what we have to do it together and it has to be a conscious and intentional choice to do that.”

Sarah Magness, the graduate assistant for the LGBT Center, said the vigil was put together completely by students in the LGBT Center.

Brown said that he wants campus to be welcoming and that the vigil helps spread the message that students are not alone.

“This event is so special because everybody has a story, and one of the beautiful things about this event is that it highlights that everybody’s story is beautiful, no matter what it may be, in any way, shape or form,” Brown said. “[I] hope to let folks who may be struggling from being bullied to being harassed that they’re not alone and that there are resources and people that are here to help them and care about them.”

Carson Hager | The Appalachian

The Ear Candy a capella group sings during the Candlelight Vigil held on Sanford Mall on Monday night.

PUMPKIN CARVING

Thursday, October 31, 2013

IN PHOTOS: PUMPKIN CARVING

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

3

Appalachian Popular Programming Society hosted a pumpkin carving and painting gathering on Sanford Mall on Wednesday. Students were offered the chance to come out to participate in creating a pumpkin to take home for the holiday.

Photos by Carson Hager, Intern Photographer (Immediate Right) APPS members show off their pumpkins on Sanford Mall on Wednesday afternoon at the pumpkin carving event.

(Far Right) Sophomore elementary education major Gerri Luther carves off the stem of her pumpkin in preparation to remove the seeds.

(Below) Sophomore management major Kendal Kulp throws away seeds while carving the design on his pumpkin.

(Right) Sophomore dance and global studies major Lea Vosberg prepares her pumpkin for carving by digging out the seeds during the APPS pumpkin-carving program.

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4

Thursday, October 31, 2013

ANDY BALL FROM PAGE 1

town council, Ball is running for mayor of Boone.

While the Sept. 11 incidents made Ball more interested in serving Appalachian, the sense of community within Boone is what first drew him into running for elected office.

“I met folks locally who were working in the community and the environmental sector or the nonprofits here,” Ball said.

“All these groups were in the community and were supporting progressive, forward-thinking candidates for local office. And I got really excited about knocking on doors and decided I wanted to do that in some realm.”

The sense of community within Boone also made Ball interested in running for elected office.

“I got up to Appalachian and really understood a sense of community that the university was trying to build and felt a sense

of community on campus and a sense of community in town,” he said.

Ball, if elected, wants to improve town and county relations.

The Democrat-led Boone Town Council, on which Ball has served since 2009, and Republican-led Watauga County Board of Commissioners have been feuding due to partisan issues, Ball said, but he feels as though it could get better.

Ball has also been working diligently against what he calls the voter suppression laws for students that have been enacted by the Watauga County Board of Elections.

“I think it’s a very negative thing being on the national news for this reason, and it’s negative getting calls from across the country for the past two or three months ‘Hey we hear you’re running for mayor of Boone that’s great, but what’s going on there with your BOE?’” Ball said.

APP NEWS Despite all the negativity in the area, Ball said it’s the people of Boone that keep him going.

“I know it will get better, because there are more people looking out for the average, working person, the average student or resident, than there are folks who are trying to take away rights,” Ball said. “So, if you back away from a challenge or refuse to fight and let these things happen and let only these people have a say in public life and governance, then they win.”

His family has also been a huge support, Ball said.

“They’ve seen me work local elections for over 10 years,” he said. “So they’ve seen the passion I have for my community and supporting folks and working for what I believe in.”

Maggie Pearce, a junior special education major, is working toward getting Ball elected.

She currently serves

Mayoral candidate Andy Ball (center) sits in on a Preserve Heritage Agriculture and Regional Markets meeting with Ben Loomis (left) and PHARMIN board member Susan Miller (right). PHARMN is an organization that supports the Watauga County Farmers Market and local agriculture. Ball gave his opinions on future PHARMN partnerships within the community.

as the financial director for the Watauga County Democratic Party, and while she has only known Ball for a few months,

she has always supported him.

“As a former ASU student, you know he really cares about the university

and town,” she said. “I really believe in these candidates, which is something that I don’t think happens very often.”

JENNY CHURCH

care if you tell me it’s impossible, if people want to make this happen we will make this happen,’” she said. “I don’t see barriers, I don’t really see in dollar signs, I just kind of think ‘Oh this is something that needs to get done, we need to find a way to get there.’”

Being a student and running for mayor is a lot of work, Church said, but the race has been exciting.

“It’s been kind of fun, in a fulfilling way,” she said.

“Because it’s not fun in a ‘Let’s go to Carowinds’ kind of fun. It’s rewarding fun.”

Church will graduate in December, so if elected, she will not be a student when the term starts in January. If she isn’t elected, Church said she plans to graduate and find a job.

Instead of having a committee, Church has used her friends to help her with the campaign.

“My friends are really my network,” she said.

“Everyone asks me what my committee is like, but I don’t really have a committee. It’s just everyone I know is my committee.”

One of those friends, Anne Pearcy, has known Church for close to three years and is helping with the campaign finances.

Pearcy, a senior sociology major, said she really believes in Church’s message for the future of Boone.

“I think she is the most knowledgeable on what needs to be addressed,” Pearcy said.

Pearcy said Church is courageous for attempting to run for mayor and thinks Church is extremely dedicated for her decision to run.

Even as a write-in candidate, Church knows she’ll make an impact.

“I just felt like there was room for a new voice,” Church said. “And if there isn’t room, I’m going to make room.”

FROM PAGE 1

Write-in mayoral candidate Jenny Church (left) helps freshman psychology major Ivy Beth Abernethy (right) register to vote on Appalachian State University’s Sanford Mall. Church, a senior at Appalachian State, stood on the mall helping passing students and faculty register to vote in Boone as a part of her campaign strategy.

BRAD HARMON FROM PAGE 1

said.

“I knew Andy Ball was running,” Harmon said.

“And I didn’t think it was in the right interest of [Boone’s] founding fathers, who I happened to know very well growing up.”

Harmon’s grandfather was one of the few doctors in Watauga County during his life, Harmon said. He grew up knowing many people important to the university and to Boone.

Harmon also learned about sustainability and preservation from his grandfather, which is still important to him. Harmon said that his family owns approximately 150 acres of land on the south side of Boone.

“We don’t allow any type of pesticides or anything like that to come

onto our property,” Harmon said. “We believe in preserving it.”

Harmon has worked in both the corrections and as a firefighter, and he said he thinks his experience with security and safety would make him the best choice.

“I hope the students will overlook the ticket name that I’m under and look at what I’m actually trying to do for them,” he said.

Harmon’s grandfather also instilled the idea of openness to Harmon, who hopes to use that if elected.

“We’re going to have open meetings, discuss things, because that’s how my grandfather was,” Harmon said. “He would sit down, get the facts, talk with people, because that’s how you get things solved.”

Harmon and his grandfather didn’t agree on

everything, though. Harmon said he thinks his grandfather would not like the idea of him running for mayor.

“My grandfather, on the other hand, was a quiet man and wouldn’t like the publicity,” Harmon said.

Harmon has always had an interest in history and collecting items. His shop contains numerous artifacts from Watauga County, and even a section of Star Trek items Harmon has collected.

“People say ‘How in the world can you have [the Star Trek collection] in an historical store?’” Harmon said. “And I tell them ‘You have to know your past before you know your future.’’’

If elected, Harmon said he plans to take off some time working at the shop.

Bill Jamison, a friend of Harmon, said in a post on the “Brad Harmon for Mayor” Facebook

Mayoral candidate John Mena, who is the owner of the hair salon Haircut 101, cuts the hair of sophomore exercise science major Adam Pinkerton.

JOHN MENA

FROM PAGE 1 minute thing,” Mena said. “The incumbent was running unopposed.

I just didn’t see any changes, and I haven’t

seen any changes in the last 25 years. And that’s what really got me into running again.”

Mena, who owns Haircut 101 on Depot Street, moved to Boone to open a hair salon in the 1980s

and fell in love with the town. When a business partnership fell through, he opened Haircut 101 in 1989.

“I felt at home here,” Mena said. “I felt comfortable here.”

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

said. “I have no real aspirations to be in politics the rest of my life. Being in politics doesn’t really pay and I’m never going to be a lawyer.”

Church feels like she has a large stake in Boone’s future because it’s where she hopes to settle down.

“I am the youngest of the candidates and I’m trying to make a life in Boone, which is really hard to do and make any money,” she said. “So I would benefit most from the economy growing and higher paying jobs. I still have a little brother in school here, so I would benefit most from reaching out to the schools and finding a way to improve them.”

Church said she considers herself more of a visionary compared to the other candidates.

“I’m more of a ‘I don’t

Mayoral candidate Brad Harmon converses with Bill Parish, the owner of the shop Highway Robbery, about his platform and intentions for Boone if he were to be elected as mayor.

page that he has known Harmon since they were in college together and thinks he is the best candidate for the position.

“As a veteran myself,

I stand behind Brad for mayor of Boone 100 percent,” he said in a post.

“Boone needs traditions it once had. I am an Afghan War veteran and proudly

support Brad in his run for office. Not speaking just as a veteran, Brad and I have been friends since college. He is truly the man for the job.”

Mena said his job gives him the opportunity to understand the problems citizens of Boone face.

“I talk to people every day,” he said. “I have people sitting in my chair that are far leftwing and far right-wing and they’ve been clients for years and years. And we’re not gonna come eye-to-eye on a lot of issues, but we do converse, we can talk to each other about it and agree to disagree sometimes about what’s going on in this country.”

If elected, Mena said he will take more time off from working.

“My business is at a point where I feel comfortable taking some time off,” Mena said. “I love working. I work six days a week and I enjoy what I do. I’ve got a terrific staff that can pick up the slack, and I would

like to dedicate a couple days a week to working for the Town of Boone.”

Bishop Glover has worked at Haircut 101 for two years and works as campaign manager for Mena.

She said she knew immediately she wanted to be involved in Mena’s campaign. “[Mena’s] role as my boss played a major part in my desire to be a part of his campaign, not because he asked it of me as an employer - which he did not - but because I know first-hand what an amazing and efficient leader he is,” she said.

Glover said Mena’s openness and understanding is what makes him the best candidate.

“As a leader [Mena] fosters an environment in which the individuals on his team are able to showcase their talents

in order to get the most accomplished for the whole,” she said. “I think that sort of sums up his vision for our town. He has such appreciation and recognition for the people of this area and understands what a rich and diverse talent pool is available for our town to draw from when looking for solutions to problems.”

The sense of community within Boone is something Mena thinks needs to be recognized.

“I’ve got kids that I’ve given them their first haircuts and sent them off to college and doing their hair for their weddings,” he said. “And so you know, it’s a community and that’s what I want to drive home – that we are a community. We all live together, we work together, play together and do it synergistically.”

Opinion Thursday, October 31, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Staff Opinion

Staff Opinion

Students should speak out against Belews Creek plant Cory Spiers Opinion Editor

Take U.S. 421 from Boone, drive a mere two hours and you will be in Stokes County.

Stokes County is home to less than 50,000 people, but now it has a claim to fame that is unfortunately not a positive one.

Belews Creek Steam Station, located in Stokes County, emitted approximately 12.1 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2012, which is equivalent to the emissions of 2.5 million cars operating for a year, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

The power plant, owned by Duke Energy, is No. 16 on the list of top plants in the U.S. in greenhouse emissions, ac-

cording to the Environmental Protection Agency.

It does not make me happy to think that there is a plant with such a bad reputation so close to where Appalachian State University is located.

The Supreme Court recently agreed to review a legal challenge to an effort by the EPA based on the Clean Air Act that would set new standards to stationary sources like power plants and refineries, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

Efforts like these are commendable, but as North Carolina residents, we should hold Belews Creek accountable for the mark they have made on the environment.

The federal efforts are good places for change to begin.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy is optimistic about the efforts of President Barack Obama and the EPA together.

“EPA is supporting Presi-

dent Obama’s Climate Action Plan by providing the high-quality data necessary to help guide common-sense solutions to address climate change,” McCarthy said in an interview with the WinstonSalem Journal.

But movements in North Carolina can send a loud message to Belews Creek until the national changes take effect.

A public policy poll of North Carolina voters during the recent government shutdown found that 70 percent of those polled would oppose a government shutdown that interferes with developing carbon pollution limits.

It seems that a lot of residents of North Carolina have the right idea. Now it’s time to make our voices of opposition heard.

Appalachian Voices, has praised the Belews Creek’s two active, lined landfills as

models of coal-combustion waste containment.

Appalachian Voices should let Belews Creek know that their current practices need to change for the sake of our environment.

Other students should, too.

North Carolina has recently been under fire for its voter laws, public education system and unemployment rate. We don’t need more problems making national headlines.

While the changes are put in motion at the federal level, students at Appalachian should spread the word about Belews Creek; the plant that is doing so much environmental damage just two hours away.

Let this North Carolina plant know their practices are not acceptable.

Spiers, a junior journalism major from Charlotte, is the opinion editor.

Editorial Cartoon

NC leading nationally... in an unfortunate category

Andrew Cox | The Appalachian

Staff Opinion

Legends not being transfer site is detrimental to voters Elizabeth McMichael Opinion Writer

As the election draws nearer, those eligible to vote eagerly await the chance to make a choice in our local government.

However, due to a decision made by the Watauga Board of Elections, Legends will no longer be a transfer station and will instead be a polling place for students living in dorms on east campus and those with a provisional ballot. If you live on west campus, you will be voting at the Watauga County Agricultural Center if you do not have a provisional ballot, according to an Oct. 23 article in The Ap-

palachian.

This creates some serious problems for Appalachian State University employees and students who live off campus. They will have to vote in whichever precinct they are assigned to or fill out a provisional ballot in order to vote at Legends.

It shouldn’t be that complicated on Election Day. The provisional ballot adds its own complications, as it needs to be verified by the BOE before it can be counted.

And according the article, having the transfer station requires no extra cost from the county.

So why is it being taken away?

It seems illogical, especially since this will be the last year a transfer station is available.

According to an article in the Winston-Salem Journal, with

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the new voter ID laws enacted, transfer stations will be done away with and provisional ballots cast in the wrong precinct will not be counted.

Also, in a September meeting of the board, Chairman Luke Eggers voted to have the polling station moved from the student snion to Legends, even though Legends has complications such as not having backup power and being prone to flooding.

Yet the vote in September was in favor of moving the polling station to Legends.

For many students, this will be the first time voting outside of their normal precinct, in some cases their normal county.

Unfortunately, the added complication of having to go to a voting station off campus or the filling out of a provisional ballot to vote on campus is just more

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to deal with.

And those who live off campus will have to vote at other polling places that may force them to travel to the site rather than simply voting on campus.

The decision to exclude a transfer site also prevents teachers from voting on campus.

They must somehow schedule a time to go to their specific polling place while managing classes and other duties, as well.

All of this makes no sense in terms of voting convenience.

If voting is something we as citizens should do in order to have a say in what happens in our government, why is it being made more complicated for students than it has to be?

McMichael, a freshman chemistry major from Raleigh, is an opinion writer.

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

NC should alter judge selection process Kevin Griffin Opinion Writer

A large part of the reason many Americans feel so disconnected from politics is a belief that the government is unresponsive to popular will.

That impression is unfortunately accurate, and we need to look no further than our own state to see it.

The New Politics of Judicial Elections - a 2012 report about campaign spending from the organization Justice at Stake, the New York University Law School and the National Institute for State Politics - revealed some startling facts about the 2012 Supreme Court race in North Carolina.

These sources found that a total of $4.4 million was spent in that race, $3.8 million of which consisted of outside donations. This amount places North Carolina fourth highest in the nation for donations in judicial elections.

Holding judicial elections presents multiple problems in and of itself. Why should we have elections for an office intended to be an impartial arbiter of justice in society?

The problems are only multiplied when we throw enormous amounts of money into these elections.

The Justice at Stake report notes that the judicial elections have become “alarmingly indistinguishable from ordinary political campaigns.”

It should make us uncomfortable that the lines between judge and politician are being blurred, and so much of this money is from out-of-state contributors.

Academic research indicates that money might not have the great effect in politics as many people believe.

A 2013 report in the American Economic Journal states that “the empirical literature has had mixed success in finding systematic evidence of an effect of contributions on policy outcomes.”

Still, we can oppose the way that judicial elections in our state play out.

The best solution would likely be a move away from elections to some type of appointment or merit system, which would eliminate concerns of campaign finance issues along with the other potential problems with electing judges, whose roles should be as removed from politics as possible.

I certainly do not believe that we will see positive change in this direction with the current government, but altering the way we choose judges in the state, and thus the influence that outside parties can have on them, should be the goal.

Griffin, a sophomore journalism major from Madison, is an opinion writer.

Letters to the Editor The Appalachian welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and include the author’s name, ASU Box, phone number, classification and campus affiliation, if any. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments.

Letters should be submitted electronically via our Web site or e-mail. Letters may also be mailed to “Letter to the Editor,” The Appalachian, ASU Box 9025, Boone, N.C. 28608. Letters may also be brought to the newsroom, located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.

6

Thursday, October 31, 2013

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The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

A&E

Thursday, October 31, 2013

On Stage

Author Marya Hornbacher speaks at Appalachian State

by Meredith Warfield

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

On Screen

Appalachian heritage celebrated in moonshine documentary ‘The Last One’

Intern A&E Reporter

by Lovey Cooper

he Appalachian State University Counseling Center and the High Country chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness welcomed Marya Hornbacher, an award-winning journalist and bestselling author, to the university Monday night.

A sufferer of several mental ailments, including an eating disorder that hospitalized her at 52 pounds, Hornbacher has written five books reflecting on mental illness, the first of which was published when she was 23 years old. The book, titled “Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia,” has been translated into 16 languages and read around the world.

“She has been there,” said Laura Anne Middlesteadt, board member of NAMI and program associate for Reich College of Education. “She’s been in the trenches with mental illness, and yet she’s accomplished so much.”

Hornbacher’s presence at Appalachian was intended to be an opportunity to bring hope and awareness to students who may be suffering or know someone who is suffering from a mental disorder.

“The college age, 18 to early 20s, is really ground zero for mental illness beginning to manifest,” Middlesteadt said.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, one in five Americans experiences mental illness at any given year. Hornbacher underlined this statistic during her talk and pointed out the need for this demographic to stand up and speak out for better recognition and treatment. “[The U.S. Constitution states] all men are created equal, but do we believe that about people who are mentally ill?” she asked the audience.

Hornbacher touched on the recent attention mental illness has received in the media connected with violence. Just be-

Senior A&E Reporter

T

Laura Middlesteadt | Photo Courtesy

Marya Hornbacher

cause the shooter at the Navy Yard last month was mentally ill doesn’t mean that all people with mental disorders are violent, she explained.

Hornbacher spoke about the need for more government funds to go into research for mental illnesses, and that the only way to make that happen is for victims to take action.

“Healing starts here,” Hornbacher said in closing.

Sufferers find inspiration in Hornbacher’s stories, but they also find hope by seeing how someone with a mental illness still has the capability to be successful and follow her dreams.

Sarah Cooke, a board member at NAMI who introduced Hornbacher to the stage, was one of the many people who were strongly affected by Hornbacher’s writing.

“She’s been a huge inspiration since I stumbled across her book when I was 18,” Cooke said.

7

The Appalachian Heritage Council of the Appalachian Popular Programming Society presented ‘The Last One” on campus Monday night in hopes to shed some light on the unique history of the region.

The documentary, released in 2008, chronicles the final batch of moonshine distilled in the mountains of North Carolina by lifelong maker Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton.

The Appalachian Heritage Council brings cultural events to campus in order to “promote and celebrate the culture of the Appalachian region,” said Annie Baldwin, advisor of the council. Whereas the council has previously hosted mainly music and dance events, they hope to branch out this year through more educational and thoughtprovoking programs.

“People come to App for the football games, the music

program, the art program and everything, but I feel like a lot of people forget where this whole place got started, and that’s with the heritage of Appalachian,” said Tyler Peterson, chairperson of the Appalachian Heritage Council and organizer of the event.

He attributes moonshine runners and the connection to stock car racing as significant in forming today’s mountain culture and atmosphere.

“Moonshine is one of the bigger reasons why Appalachia is what it is,” Peterson said. “It’s a founding trait of this area.”

The Emmy awardwinning film follows the involved process of moonshine production, from building the site to bottling the high-proof whiskey, using the craft style of traditional distilling passed down through generations of mountain families. Through interviews with notable mountain journalists and novelists, the stereotype of the hillbilly moonshiner is unrav-

eled.

Sutton, featured in the film, was a notorious modern bootlegger who made a career out of the illegal process, gaining underground popularity after escaping federal convictions in the 1970s and 1990s.

The “Last One” was released in 2008, before his 2009 suicide to escape further punishment for growing federal convictions.

“I think it’s important to celebrate where this region has come from, what goes on in this region, what historically has made this region what it is,” Baldwin said. “While [moonshine] is illegal, it’s a unique aspect of what this [region] is today.”

Peterson noted that some of the heritage council members are actually from the same area as Sutton.

“This area is just steeped in culture, and it’s a big part of why this university is here,” Peterson said. “It needs to be brought to the forefront of people’s minds.”

Review

Katy Perry’s ‘Prism’ is both different and more of the same Let’s back up to 2008.

“I Kissed a Girl” is annoyingly ubiquitous and will soon become the 10th best-selling single of all time.

The single was the calling card for one Katy Perry, a former Christian-rock starlet whose new faux-lesbian gimmick was an obvious attempt at provocation. She followed it up with a handful of cookie-cutter singles like “Hot ‘n Cold,” but nothing suggested an enduring pop star.

Strangely, the novelty of “I Kissed a Girl” has given way to one of the most universally known female singers the world has yet seen. That’s not an exaggeration; Perry’s “Teenage Dream” is the second album in history and the first by a woman to contain five number one singles.

As much as those formu-

laic songs grate and bludgeon – “Firework” and “California Gurls” are particularly unpleasant – this is no small feat. Perry’s bubblegum maximalism and sexualized image may be hard to take, but it’s all carefully calculated and has paid off enough that Perry can now do essentially whatever she wants.

What she wanted this time around was to break from the obvious pop formula of “Dream” and make something with intricate, modern production and emotional resonance a la Sweden’s Robyn.

Truth be told, “Prism” is a commendable attempt at this.

The album is full of emotive power ballads about codependency matched with colorful, often idiosyncratic musical backdrops.

This is a major pop album

Katy Perry ‘Prism’

where shameless rave piano sits next to - perhaps shameful - Indian tablas, glittering New Wave synthesizers and Daft-Punk-like vocoder solos.

Perry’s lyrics are similarly all over the map, ranging from in-

H LLOWEEN WEEKEND EVENTS Haunted Horn in the West The “Circus of Souls” themed event will be held 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31 at Horn in the West. The trail features strobe lights, fog machines and a dark, challenging hike through the area. The event is sponsored by Appalachian Educators in conjunction with the Southern Appalachian Historical Association, with proceeds supporting the Appalachian Educators’ projects for children in Watauga County and a fundraiser for Horn in the West. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for students.

Crankies with Anna and Elizabeth The show, to be held 7-9 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Solarium of Plemmons Student Union of App State, brings attention to old ballads, tunes, hymns and stories. The free event is sponsored by APPS Heritage Council.

Halloween Open Mic 7 p.m. Oct. 31, room 114, Belk Library, App State. Presented by The Peel, the student-run campus literary arts journal, and Lyric, App State’s poetry group. The event features prizes for best poem and best costume, and performers of any skill level are encouraged to attend.

Halloween Ball The costume-encouraged dance will be held 8-11 p.m. Oct. 31 in the Blue Ridge Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union, App State. Prizes will be awarded for six costume categories and one prize for dancing the night away. All prizes are donated by local businesses. Free food and free photo booth. Admission is $5 in advance, $7 at the door. Sponsored by the Pagan Student Association.

Don Winsley’s Electric Halloween Concert features costume contests. 9 p.m. Oct. 31, Legends. Admission is $4 in advance, $6 at the door.

Hillside Horror The haunted trail opens at 8 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 3111 Redtop Road, Wilkesboro.

Admission is $8, or $5 for children ages 10 and younger; cash only. For more information, go to sites.google.com/site/hillsidehorror.

Halloween Monster Concert 8 p.m. Oct. 31, Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall, App State. Featured during the evening will be Bach’s “Toccata and Fague in D Minor” with audience participation, the singing of pumpkin carols, a silent movie with organ accompaniment, free candy and costume contests. Costumes are encouraged. Free and open to the public.

Downtown Boone Boo The event begins at 4 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Watauga County Library, with crafts and activities for children. At 4:30, a parade will go from the library to the Jones House Community Center, followed by trick-or-treating with merchants in downtown Boone until 6 p.m. For more information, go to downtownboonenc.com.

Banner Elk Trunk or Treat 3-8 p.m. Oct. 31, Historic Banner Elk Elementary School. Trick-or-treating will be held 5-8 p.m. and face painting from 3-7:30 p.m. There will also be a pet costume contest and a children’s costume contest.

Newland Trunk or Treat Trick-or-treating will be held 4:30-7 p.m. Oct. 31 in downtown Newland. A costume contest at the Guy-Braswell Annex, open to all ages, will begin at 6 p.m.

Trick-or-Treat for Tots 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31, East Campus residence halls and Legends, Appalachian State University. Open to ASU faculty and staff, and community families. Children of all ages are encouraged to dress in costume to go trick-or-treating through Hoey, Cannon, Lovill, East, Doughton, White, Summit and Cone residence halls. ASU students will be handing out candy and the hall lobbies will have activities for all ages. Parents and children will need to check in at Legends to receive maps and instructions. Parking is available in any eastside faculty/staff parking lot.

Fall Festival 5:30-8 p.m. Oct. 31, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 3505 Bamboo Road. Featuring a family friendly evening of food, games and fellowship. No scary costumes.

Trunk or Treat 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31, Howard’s Creek Baptist Church, 240 Howard’s Creek Church Road.

AppalFest!

The event will be held noon-4 p.m. Nov. 1, Sanford Mall, and features an inflatable slide, bungee trampoline, wax hands, face painting and a petting zoo. Free pizza will be provided by SGA. Presented by APPS Special Events. Free and open to the public.

Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train and Halloween Festival 7:30-11:30 p.m. Nov. 1-2, Tweetsie Railroad. Featuring ghost train rides, haunted house, Halloween shows, 3D maze, trick-or-treating and a freak forest. Admission: $28. For more information, go to tweetsie.com.

Valle Crucis Haunted House 7 p.m. Nov. 1, Valle Crucis Schoolhouse (behind Mast General Store). Admission is $5 per person.

Film screening The 1984 film “Nightmare on Elm Street” will be screened at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 in Greenbriar Theater, Plemmons Student Union, App State. Admission is $1.

Costume contests • Oct. 31 at Murphy's Restaurant & Pub, 747 W. King St. Live music will be provided by NOMADIC. • Halloweenth show and costume party, Oct. 31 at Nth Degree Gallery, 683 W. King St. Light refreshments will be served.

• Halloween bash, begins 10:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Boone Saloon, 489 W. King St. Costume dance-off and music by Bafoodus. Cover charge: $5.

• Oct. 31 at The Rock Sports Bar & Grill, 276 Watauga Village Drive.

• Oct. 31 at Char, 179 Howard St. Ages 18 and up.

• Oct. 31 at Bayou Smokehouse and Grill, 130 Main St. East, Banner Elk. Featuring the Phillip Daniel Trash Bash.

• Nov. 1 at Nick’s Restaurant and Pub, 4527 Tynecastle Highway, Banner Elk. • Nov. 2 at Twigs, 7956 Valley Blvd., Blowing Rock. Live music will be provided

by Doesn't Madder.

flated confidence in the opening “Roar” to spiritual pep talk in the closing “By the Grace of God.” Admirably, “Prism” shoots for a maturity and quality control that does bring to mind the best efforts of Robyn. Unfortunately, Perry achieves this cohesion by squashing all of her would-be idiosyncrasies into bland, prepackaged forms.

This is certainly more inviting music than Perry has made in the past. The opening swell of “Roar,” the twinkling synthesizer bleeps in “This is How We Do” and the vocal syncopation on “Legendary Lovers” and “Unconditionally” are all interesting ear candy.

But “Prism” never stops reminding you that you’re listening to a “big mainstream album.”

It does this most spectacularly on “Dark Horse” when Juicy

J – the sole guest on the album – arrives sounding thoroughly perplexed at the minimal beat around him and promptly delivers a similarly clumsy verse.

These random attempts at extreme pandering – take Perry’s affected “It’s your birthday” whisper as another example – detract from the more genuine expression of maturity the album’s power ballads shoot for.

As a result, the carefully stitched together segments of “Prism” quickly unravel upon close inspection. It’s mostly a collection of decent singles dressed up as an album with a distinctive gimmick. In other words, another formulaic hit for the inexplicably persevering Katy Perry.

– Colin Moore, Senior A&E Reporter

GAME D Y

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Matchup

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

8

App State to host defensive-minded Mocs

vs.

24 - 32

Chattanooga Mocs vs.

Appalachian State Mountaineers 3:30 p.m. - Boone, N.C. Kidd Brewer Stadium

by Andrew Clausen Sports Editor

How App Can Win: If the Mountaineers are going to carry forward the momentum from their previous win against No. 24 Georgia Southern, they’re going to need to throw everything out the window that happened before that.

Everything they did last Saturday needs to be in the game plan for the rest of the season. Kameron Bryant will need to continue his great play behind center and give his receivers something to work with as they are going up against a great pass defense.

The Mocs’ run defense isn’t quite something to worry about and may allow running back Marcus Cox to have another good game. Cox could be the one to make the difference again for the Mountaineers.

How UTC Can Win: The 6-2 Mocs are good at what they do.

They’re a disciplined team that defends hard on the receivers, moves the ball through the air at every opportunity and doesn’t make many mistakes. They rank third in fewest turnovers and fourth in fewest penalty yards in the FCS rankings.

Their only losses this season have come at the hands of UT Martin and Georgia Southern.

Quarterback Jacob Huesman ranks third in the SoCon with a 143.2 passer rating, 13 touchdowns, four interceptions and 65.9-percent completion. He will need to keep it up against the Mountaineers.

The Bottom Line: Just like the last three games in the series, which were decided by an average of 6.7 points, this game should be close and high scoring.

And, if history plans to repeat itself, App State should get off to a slow start before roaring back into the game.

Look for two quarterbacks who are playing well as both teams’ offenses are peaking. That means, however, the game will most likely be decided by how well the respective secondaries play.

Adam Jennings | File Photo

Wide receiver Tony Washington hurdles over a Chattanooga defender during the Mountaineers’ 14-12 victory over Chattanooga during the 2011 season. Appalachian State will face Chattanooga at Kidd Brewer Stadium on Saturday.

by Nick Joyner Sports Reporter

A

fter a win over rival Georgia Southern last Saturday, Appalachian State University must duplicate the preparation and execution to come out on top against this week’s challenger, Chattanooga.

The Mocs (6-2, 4-1 SoCon) come into Boone this weekend armed with the conference’s top defense, stifling offenses to just 17.2 points per game, according to soconsports.com.

“I think defensively, they are one of the best we’ve played all year,” head coach Scott Satterfield said. “They have a lot of really good players, and they have a great scheme in what they do.”

The Chattanooga defense also leads the Southe r n Con-

ference in yards allowed per game and passing yards allowed.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus during practice over the course of the week will be key for the App State (2-6, 2-3) coaching staff leading up to the game. Satterfield said everyone could tell the Mountaineers were ready to play based on their focus level in practice last week.

Defensive line coach Dale Jones echoed that notion.

“There’s no question, and it wasn’t just the [defensive] line,” he said. “When we came out here [last] Monday you could just see that everybody knew where to go.

You didn’t have to repeat anything.

It just gives you a sense of having a chance [to win].”

The App State defense allowed just 14 points against the conference’s leading scoring offense last week and hopes to carry that momentum forward against the Mocs, who rank third in scoring per game with 30.9 points per game.

After a standout performance on

the field last week, redshirt sophomore quarterback Kameron Bryant was recognized as the Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the first time a Mountaineer has received the award this season.

“It’s just exciting, you know, to finally see all the pieces come together,” Bryant said. “It was a career game by me, but it was more of a credit to the guys around me. If you watched the game, you saw the o-line gave me great time and the receivers made plays. My job is just to distribute the ball, and if you give these guys a chance, they’re going to make plays for you.”

Bryant threw for 381 yards on 27-33 passes, with two touchdowns through the air and two more on the ground.

App State’s main goal is to use the momentum of last week’s win and propel into the rest of the season, said sophomore receiver Malachi Jones, who took the place of former wideout Sean Price.

“I think we can ride this momentum we have after beating [Georgia] Southern,” Jones said. “The offense is definitely going to be clicking more often, and we’re really going to get into a rhythm now.”

This weekend’s kickoff against Chattanooga at 3:30 p.m. is the second to last home game of the year for App State.

The game begins a three-game stretch against the Mocs, Georgia and Wofford, who combine for a record of 15-8, before heading back to Boone for the season finale against Western Carolina.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

PIGSKIN PICK’EM Weekend Matchups

Andrew Clausen

Michael Bragg

Amanda Jacobson

Dylan Russell

Joshua Farmer

Kenneth Peacock

The Appalachian (19-21)

The Appalachian (19-21)

APPS (23-17)

SGA (20-20)

The Appalachian (20-20)

Appalachian State (19-17)

Sports Editor

Editor-in-Chief

President

President

Managing Editor

Chancellor

Chattanooga vs.

Appalachian State Georgia vs.

Florida Michigan vs.

Michigan State Pittsburgh vs.

Georgia Tech #7 Miami vs. #3 FSU

#5 Kameron Bryant

Quarterback 6-foot-1-inch , 210 pounds From Cary, N.C. (Panther Creek) Passing: 146 of 199 passes for 1,744 yards - 73.4 completion percentage - 10 touchdowns - 218 yards/game - 2 interceptions - 161.6 efficiency rating Rushing: 71 attempts for 273 yards - 3 touchdowns - 17.2 yards a game.

Awards: SoCon Offensive Player of the Week