Thursday, November 19

Nov.

19 2015

The Appalachian

GO NUTS FOR DOUGHNUTS Page 8-9

INSIDE THE MEDITATION ROOM Page 4

‘HIT THE QUAN’ ON ‘ELLEN’ Page 5

CHANGING THE GUARD Pages 13

E T

C E T E R A

THE TEAM Malik Rahili @malikrahili EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITORIAL MULTIMEDIA BUSINESS

Andrew Clausen @guruandrew MANAGING EDITOR Charlotte Wray @_charlottewray CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Ignacio Martinez-Alvarez @theappalachian BUSINESS MANAGER

Carl Blankenship @carl_r_blank NEWS EDITOR Kelsey Hamm @theappalachian A&E EDITOR

Stephanie Sansoucy @stephsans MARKETING DIRECTOR Allison Bennett Dyche @allisonbdyche ADVISER

Chris Warner @chriswarner2293 SPORTS EDITOR

CRIME LOG CAMPUS NOV. 17

NOV. 13

10:08 p.m. | Vandalism

12:06 a.m. | Drug Violation

Quinn Center

Rivers Street

Leads exhausted.

A student was arrested for possession of marijuana.

NOV. 17 9:06 p.m. | Vandalism

NOV. 12

Sanford Hall

9:35 a.m. | Vandalism

Leads exhausted.

Belk Library Leads exhausted

NOV. 15 2:55 a.m. | Vandalism

Bowie Hall

NOV. 11

Leads exhausted.

8:50 p.m. | Drug Violation

Schaefer Parking Lot

NOV. 15

A student was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol

6:09 p.m.| Vandilism

Belk Library Leads exhausted.

NOV. 11 11:26 a.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol

NOV. 14 6:08 a.m. | Vandilism

Belk Hall Under investigation.

Belk Hall A student was arrested for possesion of marijuana.

Justin Perry @justincperry VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR Alex Gates @theappalachian PHOTO EDITOR Jennifer Rhodes @theappalachian VIDEO EDITOR Dylan Dow @zen_dow WEB MANAGER

NOW HIRING VIDEO EDITOR OPINION EDITOR GRAPHICS EDITOR CHIEF COPY EDITOR To apply email your resume and cover letter to: editor@theappalachianonline.com

N E W S

MEDITATION ROOM GETS REMODELED

BY CHAMIAN CRUZ NEWS REPORTER

T

he Rich Mountain Meditation Room located on the third floor of the Plemmons Student Union has been recently remodeled to get rid of the meeting room style environment and instead create a more hospitable place for those wishing to break away from a busy schedule to practice any form of religion, meditation or spirituality.

The meditation room, which promotes the well-being of faculty, staff and students, is one of the few quiet places on campus. The room is open to individuals or even small groups. It has a capacity of holding about 10 to 12 individuals, said Dr. Elaine Gray, president of Still Point and firstyear seminar instructor.

“I believe students need a place that is still and quiet so they can be with themselves or with their spirituality,” Gray said. “As an institution we have to create an intentionally-designed hospitable place where reflection and introspection can occur. My students have told me the loudness in dorms and the stress of their academic life really begs for a space of repose and reflection.”

Still Point is an organization made up of faculty and staff that was recently recognized as official by the university. They meet three times per semester and have about 12-15 active members, although participants vary depending on personal circumstances.

The organization supports and facilitates contemplative pedagogy and inquiry. Contemplative pedagogy is a first person approach to teaching methods designed to create deepened awareness, concentration and insight, according to stillpoint.appstate.edu.

Still Point collaborated with the Student Meditation Club to redesign the room, which now has hardwood floors, softer lighting, stackable chairs, newly painted walls and meditation cushions stored in cabinets.

Stephen Hardee, sophomore finance and banking major, said he first started using the mediation room halfway through last semester for about an hour once a week. He also used the room to hold his fraternity’s weekly Bible study.

“I love the fact that it does not discriminate against any religion, rather it is open for everyone to practice however they please,” Hardee said.

“Truly the only problem I had with the room was size. As our weekly Bible study began to grow, we had to look elsewhere to accommodate our numbers.”

Without the six desks that were in the room before the renovation, there is now room for movement for those performing expressive arts such as yoga, breathing work, deep listening exercises, mindfulness med-

Halle Keighton

itation and reflective journaling, according to stillpoint.appstate.edu.

The renovation process was headed by Jenny Koehn, associate director of student programs, and was fully funded by the Plemmons Student Union. Ginger Bryant, administrative support specialist of student programs, said she chose paint color, flooring, decorations, accessories and gave input on policy information.

In order to make renovations, they had to follow campus regulations and make the room inclusive and considerate of various religious and spiritual practices.

Bryant said after the renovation they put a message box inside the room for people to leave notes on how they use the room and if they have any suggestions.

“So far we have received notes thanking us for the renovations and the existence of the room,” Bryant said. “Also information that the room is being used for daily meditation, personal yoga practice, Islamic and Christian prayer and more.”

Gray said one of the reasons Koehn was so supportive of the changes was because they were changes that needed to be made anyway and were possible to make.

“Everything I asked she said 'yes,'” Gray said. “I was thrilled. I was amazed that she was able to accommodate what we asked and more. She went above and beyond our vision and made it even better.”

Currently, the system works on a daily sign-up basis located just outside of the room. The room remains unlocked and available for prayer and meditation only during weekdays from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and may remain open for longer if the room is not reserved for other use, according to studentunion.appstate.edu.

Eventually the organization would like to see an app developed that allows people on campus to book the room from their phone. As the demand increases, Still Point would ideally like to see other mediation rooms be set up at the library and in all the dorms.

“Quiet hospitable spaces are really hard to find on campus,” Gray said. “Some of my freshman say they sit in the stairwell to get some peace because the dorms are so noisy. Even the third floor of the library can be noisy because all you hear is the clicking of keyboards on computers.”

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A R T S

&

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

ALUMNUS PERFORMS VIRAL DANCE ON ‘THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW’

BY KELSEY HAMM A&E EDITOR

I

n early November, 2015 alumnus Joshua Carr performed on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” live with iHEART Memphis, a crowning achievement for a former “Boonite” relocated to Los Angeles, California.

Carr is one of four dancers who performed the viral choreography to “Hit the Quan” with rapper Richard Colbert. Colbert recently changed his stage name to iLOVE Memphis, according to an article by WMC Action News 5.

Traveling to LA in July allowed Carr to discover a community of passionate dancers, including David Moore, a fellow "Hit the Quan" dancer. This was a critical step in his journey to the DeGeneres stage, Carr said. “Hit the Quan” coordinates with movements similar to other recent sensations like “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” by Silento, he said.

“When I came to LA I did a project with [Moore], who has a pop sound. His video went viral very quickly. When it happened around August we didn’t think anything of it, but one day we got a message from Moore saying he needed some dancers to perform with him on this show. Ellen happened out of the right circumstances and knowing the right people at the right time.”

Performing on the show, Carr said, is a fast process. Television is a glamorous business to the public eye, but participants experience a unique journey.

“We got on set during production and spent the majority of the time backstage,” Carr said. “We had our own room and we talked to the producers about what they wanted, and we shot it in front of a live audience with us trying to engage them. It was very quick and still very fun and the first time I’ve ever been a part of something big.”

While at Appalachian, Carr co-founded Entropy Dance Crew to help provide students with opportunities unavailable in the universities own dance department. Carr attributes much of his skill to time spent in Entropy during college. The group has grown tremendously in size, he said, and completes a large amount of programming in terms of performances and marketing.

“Being out here, I see that Entropy is leaps and bounds ahead of where it should be for a small group. I’ve seen what we’ve done and it’s been astounding," he said.

"I’ve worked with companies beyond anything that I would have professionally previously, and I’ve seen that what we’ve done in our short time and it’s astounding -- the group is incredible."

In October, Carr organized a show called “Invite Only” in LA and danced in a show called "Carnival." For three months he danced with a company called "Mob." Currently Carr is taking time off from dancing to focus on working and moving into an apartment. He hopes to share his experience with students at Appalachian State University.

“It was a very interesting thing to deal with someone else and their choreography and their structure, and hopefully when I return to NC, this is something I can bring back and talk to Entropy and say, ‘Here’s how a professional company does this Photos courtesy of Joshua Carr

and here are the things we can Joshua Carr (second from right) performs with change, and what we definitely iLOVE Memphis on “The Ellen Degeneres Show.” don’t need to change.'"

Many students at Appalachian hope to move out to a big city upon graduation, like Brianne Armstrong, senior English major. It is a constant theme for artistic students to flock to an urban area after graduation in hopes of making a way to their perspective fields, she said.

“I am a big fan of Ellen DeGeneres, and seeing [Carr] perform reminds me of my own future journey to either San Francisco or LA to intern at a publishing company,” Armstrong said. “My heart goes out to him as a fellow artist, because Boone is a supportive community and I’m sure leaving it can be hard.”

Carr “hit the ground running” after his arrival in LA, he said.

“I started immediately with a bunch of dance stuff, for those first three months I was on stage six or seven times, but honestly I don’t think I was prepared for the idea of living out here and living a sustainable life. I’m currently saving up money so I can have things to live on. It’s a very different environment,” Carr said.

The professional industry in LA emphasizes community and other factors like appearance, resume and connections, he said.

“There’s an emphasis on how do you look, who you have worked with, what you can do and who do you know. The community is really built around itself," Carr said. "In Boone we built our own, but the community is so old here that you have a lot of the same names creating the same things. To make anything, you have to learn where the community came from and so I’m learning how to navigate the different sides in terms of who you should interact with, how to work certain jobs and intern, and how to have a certain type of headshots.”

LA is not Carrs end game, he said. He plans to return to North Carolina after figuring out how to make LA work in his own terms. In LA it's important to be careful with a product, he said. Many are trying to make it and might take advantage of another’s work to gain opportunity.

“The cool thing in LA is that everyone is trying to get to the same place, so people will exchange talents. Same with photographers -- maybe you have a person who needs headshots for portfolio, and with video it’s really big out here for dancers, so having footage of yourself dancing. There’s a lot of opportunities with collaboration.”

As many performers know, it’s possible to follow your dreams and accept hard work in the process, Carr said.

“Anyone that wants it should go for it. It’s not going to be easy. Especially following Ellen, I feel like it was great but there is this misconception that everything was awesome, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done," he said. "Just go for it and trust yourself to make the right decision and the right move because everything is different when you put yourself on the line for what you want.”

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SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

App News is a service of the Division of Student Development. Email dycheab@appstate.edu.

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.

A P P

N E W S

WHAT TO DO APPKIDS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Shopper and driver volunteers are still needed, to take children shopping on Nov. 20 (alternate snow date: Dec. 4). Sign up online: http://staffsenate.appstate.edu/service-projects/ appkids-event.

AppKIDS (Appalachian Kindness In Donations & Service) is an annual event in which Appalachian faculty and staff, using donated funds, volunteer their time to mentor and escort K-12 schoolchildren on AppKIDS Day as they purchase winter clothing for the children such as coats, boots, and pants.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE BUILDING COMPETITION The competition is to support the Watauga County Habitat for Humanity. The event will be held 6:30-9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Legends. Registration is $25 for teams of up to five people.

Participants and attendees can build a gingerbread house to compete for prizes, buy raffle tickets, listen to music and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. To register, email fisherkg@ appstate.edu.

TCVA 140: THE CREATIVE INCUBATOR The event is an evening of creativity and conversation featuring some of the region’s most innovative thinkers and practitioners: 6:30 p.m. reception, program begins 7 p.m. Nov. 19, Lecture Hall, Turchin Center.

The event is 10 presenters, each talking for 140 seconds. Members of the community, leaders of cultural organizations and other nonprof-

its, artists, Appalachian faculty and staff will discuss ideas and projects in presentations with seven slides each at 20 seconds per slide.

Speakers include Heather Brandon of Food Services, Billy Schumann of the Center for Appalachian Studies, Megan Hayes of University Communications, Caleb Crowell of New Appalachian Foods and Dave Walker of Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture.

HMONG HARVEST FESTIVAL The festival will be held 6-9 p.m. Nov. 19, Parkway Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union.

Free and open to the public.

STUDY ABROAD INFO SESSION “Wines and Vines of the World: Exploring Old and New World Traditions of Growing Grapes and Making Wine” info session on study abroad, 5:30-6 p.m. Nov. 19, Bass Lake Room, Plemmons Student Union.

READING AND BOOK SIGNING Reading and book signing with Jimmy Guignard, 7 p.m. Nov. 19, room 421, Belk Library.

Guignard is the author of “Pedaling the Sacrifice Zone: Teaching, Writing, and Living above the Marcellus Shale.” From the vantage point of a cyclist, in his book Guignard tracks the takeover, pedaling thousands of miles through Tioga and surrounding counties, where he encounters increased truck traffic, crosses pipeline construction on trails, and passes a growing number of flaring gas wells.

Free and open to the public.

SCREENPRINT YO’ TEES Appalachian Printmaking Club is hosting a live screenprinting event, noon-5 p.m. Nov. 20, Wey Hall. Attendees may bring any garment to have one of the club’s designs screenprinted on it in black ink for $5 each.

HUNGER AND HOMELESS AWARENESS WEEK The week is a university-wide effort to bring attention to issues of national poverty, hunger and homelessness.

• The Hunger Games, begins 5 p.m. Nov. 20, Duck Pond Field. Sponsored by ACT. • Leigh Lane Day of Service, noon-4 p.m.

Nov. 21, Attic Window, PSU. Sponsored by ACT. • Hunger Banquet, 6-7:30 p.m. Nov. 23, Parkway Ballroom, PSU. Sponsored by SGA.

CULTURE CRAWL Hosted by International Appalachian (INTAPP), Culture Crawl is a free two-hour event where international students, internationally focused clubs on campus, and organizations in the Boone community come together to put on various performances as a way to share their culture with students on Appalachian’s campus. The event will be held 7-9 p.m. Nov. 20 in Grandfather Ballroom, PSU. Free.

KWANZAA CELEBRATION The Black Student Association presents Kwanza Celebration, 7 p.m. Nov. 20, Parkway Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union. The celebration features drumming and dancing per-

formances, poetry reading, storytelling, sharing information about African and African American ancestors, and honoring the elders of the community. Free and open to the public.

FACULTY/STAFF BOOK CLUB The fall book club will read and discuss the themes in “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel Pink. The book club will meet at 10 a.m. Nov. 24 in Belk Library.

Book club members will be expected to secure their own copy to read. The book is available in the library system and for sale online.

Email maidenev3@appstate.edu.

APPALACHIAN CLIMATE CHANGE RALLY Hosted by the Office of Sustainability, the rally will be held 1-3 p.m. Nov. 30 on Sanford Mall.

The group will gather together around the issue of climate change. Speakers, including faculty and students, will show how climate change affects people in various ways and why we must fight back. The group will also discuss how to take action against climate change such as making your voice heard for the December UN Climate Talks in Paris.

TUTORING CENTER OPEN Visit room 208 in D.D. Dougherty and fill out a tutor request form. The tutoring lab is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday. Call 828-262-3060 or email apputs@appstate.edu.

THURSDAY, NOV. 19

FRIDAY, NOV. 20

SATURDAY, NOV. 21

SUNDAY, NOV. 22

“Trainwreck” screening

“Batman” screening (1989)

“Trainwreck” screening

Gospel Choir

7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

7 p.m.

Greenbriar, PSU $1

7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

6 p.m.

Solarium, PSU Free

Gingerbread House Building Competition

“Trainwreck” screening

Carnival for a Cure

Guitar Orchestra

7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

6-8 p.m.

Grandfather Ballroom, PSU Free admission, paid games and concessions

2 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall Free

7-9:30 p.m.

Legends $25 to register up to teams of 5

Hayes String Quartet

Rainbow Kitten Surprise Concert Heritage or Hate?: The Confederate Battle Flag in the 21st Century 6 p.m. room 114, Belk Library Free

9 p.m.

Legends $7-$9

Fall Appalachian Dance Ensemble 7:30 p.m.

Valborg Theatre $10-$17

4 p.m.

Recital Hall Free

7:30 p.m.

Valborg Theatre

David Haskins Student Violin Recital 8 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

Concerto Aria Second Round Concert 8 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall Free

MONDAY, NOV. 23

TUESDAY, NOV. 24

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 25

THURSDAY, NOV. 26

Student String Chamber Ensembles Concert

Study Abroad Workshop 101

University Break

University Break and State Holiday

6 p.m.

Recital Hall Free

Wind Ensemble 8 p.m.

Schaefer Center Free

Fall Appalachian Dance Ensemble

Office of International Education and Development Tater Hill, PSU Free

Thanksgiving Day

O P I N I O N

PARIS IS THE ONLY REASON BEIRUT MATTERS

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS, AVOID THE WEIGHT GAIN

BY KEVIN GRIFFIN OPINION WRITER

BY LAUREN MERRILL OPINION WRITER

T

errorist attacks are always more than just tragedies. They are also tests of humanity, our ability to transcend those challenges but showing how much we truly value all human life.

Unfortunately, in the wake of Friday’s Paris attacks, we’re not doing too well on that test.

There is the clear case of the 27 governors, including our own, who have declined to accept Syrian refugees.

As stupid as that decision is, at least it is receiving fairly widespread attention.

There is another sign of our human failure in light of the Paris attacks, and it involved people who probably seem themselves as taking the moral high ground.

Since the attack, there have been a number of criticisms over the way the Paris attack was perceived relative to an attack in Beirut the day before.

Why is the media not covering this? Don’t Lebanese lives matter just as much as French lives? That is the general sentiment behind it.

There is so much wrong with this view and it is dangerous in the way it reinforces those egocentric tendencies it is ostensibly trying to combat.

First off, as Max Fischer points out in Vox, prominent media outlets did report on the Beirut bombings. Fisher went on to talk about the difficulty he and the news organizations he worked for had in generating interest in the acts of violence in the Middle East.

Fisher suggests, quite accurately, that the problem is not the media, or not just the media. It is our society in general that gives preference to Western lives over non-Western lives.

It’s important to note that there are certainly Westerners who have legitimate concerns about the Middle East and have been active in raising awareness of the problem the people in the region face.

But, those people were at work long before last Friday. The recent upswing in appeals to commemorate the Lebanese victims and symbolic changing of Facebook profile pictures to Lebanese flags is not the work of dedicated activists, for the most part.

We cannot say for certain because of how closely the two attacks occurred, but I’m positive that hardly anyone would be making these posts if it were not for the Paris attacks.

For most Westerners, even the ones claiming solidarity, the Beirut attacks would not matter at all if 129 people had not been killed last Friday.

The message the recent appeals to “Pray for Beirut” send is that Middle Eastern tragedies only matter within the context of Western tragedies and the debates that follow those tragedies.

In a twisted way, it seems that the Beirut victims are being used as pawns by some Western liberals to help themselves feel good and claim moral superiority.

After all, saying that we should treasure all lives sounds great. It’s also a good way of positioning yourself to feel morally better; that you’re above the irrationality and hatred we have seen in the wake of Paris.

That is not the case. The recent Beirut bandwagoning is not genuine. In fact, it is thoughtless and defeats any sort of legitimate value those expressions might otherwise have.

T

here is a chill in the air. The leaves are beginning to change and the first semester is coming to an end. This can only mean one thing: The holiday season is upon us.

In the holiday season I definitely have food on the brain, and I am not the only one. But something else I have on my mind is the worry of that supposed stubborn weight gain many of us experience this time of year.

Don’t worry though, this extra poundage all of us stress over is thought to be a seasonal urban legend.

The New York Times and Fox News put out articles on this topic with similar facts. A common misconception is that people gain anywhere from five to 10 pounds over the holidays, when in reality, the average weight gain is only one to two pounds.

If you are still concerned about gaining weight, it is important to assess the main reasons weight is gained and then try avoid to it.

The first thing to be aware of is the red devil on your shoulder saying, “Eat it, we will just work it off tomorrow.” Don’t listen to him, you will just end up having food remorse. And, you probably won’t end up working out the next day either.

Next, do not get sucked into food peer pressure. We all think that if everyone else is doing it, then it is okay for us to do it. Be aware of your surroundings. If your friend grabs that cookie, then you grab the carrot stick. Fight the pressure.

We all tend to break our usual routines over the holidays. Maybe there isn’t a gym readily available to you like there is here at school, or you are traveling a lot and do not always have control of what you eat. Although this is harder to keep up with, don’t be afraid to do some squats and situps before bed or choose the salad instead of the burger.

One of the hardest things for me to pass up during the holidays are those family traditions that I hold so near and dear to my heart. That special secret recipe pie that mom makes and baking cookies for Santa which I always end up eating. These are special things I have been doing since I was a kid and give me the warm fuzzies inside.

This may sound sad to give up, but there are ways to enjoy these fun holiday traditions without breaking the scale. It is okay to eat some of the good stuff, just splurge in moderation. Have one cookie instead of two, eat one piece of pie for dessert on Christmas and avoid eating the rest of it the next day.

Gaining only one or two pound isn’t that bad. But if you want to try and avoid the extra poundage altogether, then be strong and keep on track. This way you can still enjoy the holidays, and most importantly, you will feel victorious when you step on the scale in January.

Merrill, a sophomore journalism major from Chapel Hill, is an opinion writer.

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

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Brennan Miele and Tristan McKee enjoy a box of doughnuts during the grand opening of Boone’s new Krispy Kreme location on U.S. Highway 321.

THE WAIT IS OVER: KRISPY KREME ARRIVES

BY CARL BLANKENSHIP AND ANDREW CLAUSEN

O

n a brisk but tame November night, more than 100 people camped outside the Krispy Kreme location in Boone, all with the hope of winning free doughnuts for a year.

The group, consisting of mainly college-aged doughnut-lovers, gathered tents, heaters, and balloon animals, listened to music and captured the moment at local photography studio Boone Photo Booth on site. The scene was crowded, but the mood was up, despite having to be camped out by 3 p.m.

Monday, to be eligible for the contest.

Free doughnuts at stake were a definite driving factor in keeping the mood up, but the moonshine being passed around certainly didn’t hurt.

Krispy Kreme district manager Nechelle Carey said the first 100 customers through the door received store credit for a dozen doughnuts per month for a year. The very first person in line received a dozen doughnuts for free every week for a year.

Senior accounting major Youssef Amrani, who’s license plate read “McLovin” and who carried around the Hawaii McLovin driver’s license from the movie “Superbad,” won the honor. He arrived to camp out at 11:15 a.m. Monday.

“I just like free things,” Amrani said.

Armani doesn’t intend to eat a full dozen doughnuts by himself every week, though, he said he will give a lot of them away to friends.

The store opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday with periodic roll calls to ensure everyone stayed the night.

“I grew up eating Krispy Kreme doughnuts all the time and now that they’re up here, so why not,” Nick Clavenna said after becoming one of the first 100.

Many people doubt the craze around the doughnuts, but for those who have never had a Krispy Kreme doughnut, here’s what it’s like: When you first open the door you are struck with the sweet aroma of sugar and wheat, hitting your nostrils and telling your lungs to let the stomach know of the heavenly complex carbohydrates that are about to arrive. Rolling weightlessly off of the belt and into the box of a dozen you could never regret buying, you find a seat if you can and prepare for the kreme-de-la-kreme food sensation. Then, after the tension is built and your mouth dry with anticipation, the first bite. And oh, what a bite.

The butterly-slick glaze that melts in your mouth and sends your taste buds to a place they have only ever dreamed of. And as you pull away from the softest fluff that’s in the shape of a ring, and enjoy the eruption of wonder and bliss, you have a moment of anxiety, as you miss the doughnut all ready. Two, three bites max, you savor every chew and nibble, wishing for it to never end.

And as you finish your dozen and go back to reality and the normalcy of life, you dream about the time that you once dipped your toe in the fountain of pleasure. But it isn’t the doughnut itself that you visualize, no no.

It’s something much more powerful: A flirtatious red sign with the words “Hot and Ready” calling you home.

But we also like free things, too.

On the cover: Freshmen Matt Miller (left) and Coyte Kyle (right).

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Images by Justin Perry

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S P O R T S

BOMBARDING THE BUCS

BY CHRIS WARNER SPORTS EDITOR Rebounding App State enters the game reeling from a lopsided 59-93 loss against Alabama that was foul-laden, as both teams combined to commit 62 fouls and shoot 70 total free throws.

The Apps will need to rebound, putting the loss to the Crimson Tide behind them, before taking the floor against a more closely matched Buccaneer squad. If they let the early road loss linger, they’ll end up playing catch up for the majority of Thursday’s game.

Elderkin said in a press conference before the season that the nonconference schedule was meant to challenge the team immensely in preparation for Sun Belt play later in the season. This should allow the team to enter Thursday’s game with a clear focus, knowing that in the end, nonconference scheduling is about more than just a tally in the win or loss column.

Block Party The combination of forwards KeKe Cooper, Ashley Bassett-Smith and Mia Marshall have posted a whopping nine blocks in just two games this season for the Mountaineers.

Solid post defense will allow the team to minimize second chance points, especially against ETSU’s third-leading scorer, center Yamile Rodriguez, while also giving the Apps extra scoring opportunities -- a big focus of Elderkin’s coming into the season.

It also forces the Bucs to become one-dimensional if they can’t get a shot off in the post, allowing App State guards to anticipate pass outs.

Bridge over troubled waters Junior guard Shamuria Bridges will be public enemy No. 1 for the Mountaineers Thursday.

Bridges enters the game having already accumulated 40 points in the Bucs’ first two games, including six 3-pointers. App State guards Joi Jones and Farrahn Wood will be tasked with keeping her under control.

Bridges does have a tendency to jack up a shot from the time to time, evidenced by her 28 shot attempts on the year – 12 more than any teammate – something the Mountaineers can definitely use to their advantage.

If the Apps can force the Bucs to become one-dimensional by locking down the post, Bridges may become her own worst enemy in the game by forcing shots in an effort to gain some momentum.

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Justin Perry

BATTLING THE BUCCANEERS GAME 2 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH • 7 P.M. • HOLMES CONVOCATION CENTER

ETSU

(1-1, 0-0 SoCon)

vss

app state

(0-2, 0-0 SUN BELT)

GAME NOTES FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

41

%

POINTS PER GAME 63.5

%

30

63.0

PLAYER TO WATCH

16

KEKE COOPER

23

3 38%

rebounds

blocks FG%

NEXT GAME FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 SOURCE: APP STATE SPORTS

FAU ARENA INFOGRAPHIC BY MALIK RAHILI

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S P O R T S

CHANGING OF THE GUARD JOI JONES WILL HELP REPLACE THE PRODUCTION OF KATIE MALLOW IN 2015-16

BY CAMERON VAUGHN SPORTS REPORTER

E

xperience is huge in collegiate sports, and for Appalachian State women’s basketball, it's going to be up to returning junior guard Joi Jones to show just how much experience she has.

Jones returns for her third year as the Mountaineers leading returning scorer and in year two of head coach Angel Elderkin's system. With seniors Katie Mallow and Mariah Sydnor, the team’s leading scorers from 2014-15, having graduated, it’s easy to see why some expectation has been placed on Jones to lead this year’s Mountaineer team.

And so far in this young NCAA season, Jones has embraced the responsibility to lead and improve without hesitation.

“Last year she was a scoring point guard and she could break anyone down off the dribble. In the offseason she has worked extremely hard at reading the second defender and being able now to get her teammates involved,” Elderkin said. “She’s really, really grown as a player in a short period of time.”

Aside from working to become a more versatile offensive weapon for App State, Elderkin has also seen Jones improve physically over the course of year one and two.

“Joi plays really hard and so she gets fatigued quickly, and there were games last season where she had to come out and sub, and we weren't as efficient,” Elderkin said. “I really challenged her in the offseason to get into the best possible shape she could and also be a better point guard, and she has really embraced that role.”

Jones has a lot of responsibility ahead of her for the season.

Last year, she averaged 8.5 points per game while dishing out 2.5 assists. As the point guard, Jones' responsibility is to be the floor general, communicating responsibilities and plays calls with her teammates to put them in a better position to succeed.

Despite solid numbers last season, Elderkin believes an expanded role, with more playing time, will only allow Jones’ to increase her totals from last season.

“I think expectations for her are to see an increase in minutes and assist to turnover ratio,” Elderkin said. “I challenged her to put in the extra time to be able to be that player who goes 30 minutes with 12 points and six to seven assists.”

Elderkin hasn’t been the only one around the facilities taking notice of Jones’ improvements. Jones’ teammates, including fellow junior guard Bria Carter, have seen stark improvement in

Justin Perry

her ability to motivate and communicate with others, while also lauding her ability.

“Joi is a really hard worker,” Carter said. “On the court she's a slasher and knows how to get to the basket. She has a really good off-the-ball screen jumper, so she's a pretty versatile point guard.”

And as for the expanded role and new expectations, the allSun Belt preseason third team guard is taking it in stride.

“I’m willing to do whatever my team needs to be successful.

As the point guard, you're pretty much the coach on the floor,” Jones said.

Part of that will be adjusting to the team’s new approach, which will focus primarily on pressuring on the defensive side of the ball to facilitate their offense, she said.

The other part will be continuing to increase her versatility on the offensive end of the floor, specifically by improving her jump shot, something she said was a big focus of hers during the offseason.

If Jones can produce as Elderkin and her teammates expect, then the Mountaineer are in a great position to prove the preseason Sun Belt rankings wrong, as the team was voted to finish eighth in the conference by Sun Belt coaches, ahead of only UL Monroe and South Alabama.

Jones and the Mountaineers (0-2) will take the floor against ETSU Thursday, looking to capture their first win of the early 2015-16 season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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APP STATE VOLLEYBALL DIGGING DEEP APP STATE VOLLEYBALL IS WORKING TO GETTING BACK TO BEING THEMSELVES FOR THE SUN BELT TOURNAMENT

BY NOAH GERRINGER SPORTS REPORTER

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s the Mountaineer Volleyball team heads into the weekend, their final games lie ahead of them. The Sun Belt conference tournament is finally here, beginning with a match against Troy on Friday.

The Trojans, who App hasn’t played since they began conference play in early September, will be coming off of a recent sweep against Arkansas-Little Rock (3-0). The Mountaineers, after losing two straight games to Arkansas State, lost to Little Rock in their final regular season game (3-1). Despite these losses, App State received the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament after finishing 20-6 overall and 13-3 in Sun Belt regular season play.

In the last three games, the Mountaineers have tallied 45 errors, mostly consisting of first ball contact errors. Before these games, it took the Mountaineers eight previous games to match the same amount.

“You’re just not going to win if you’re making that many [errors],” head coach Matt Ginipro said.

After the first loss against Arkansas State, Ginipro said he knew it was first-ball contact and game plan errors, and was confident that they could be fixed. The second match, which was home for the Red Wolves, was a different story.

“They played a pretty perfect match on their side of the net,” Ginipro said.

Luckily for the Apps, the next time they would

Outside hitter Jess Keller prepares to spike the ball during a match against Arkansas State. potentially face off against each other would be in the championship match on Sunday.

Right now, Troy is on the minds of these Mountaineers. Having not played Troy since September does worry Ginipro a bit, but if they can fix their mistakes ahead of time, he is confident with the matchups they have.

For the four seniors, however, fixing their mistakes isn’t what they’re most focused on. In fact, the group as a whole even feels like the errors and subsequent losses may have been a good thing.

“Knowing our own weaknesses before going into the tournament and being able to fix that is better than going in undefeated,” standout setter Paige Brown said.

She went on to say that if a team starts to put pressure on them, they now know how to handle it and what to fix. Outside hitter Jess Keller even went as far as saying it doesn’t worry her one bit.

“Our problem isn’t getting out-killed by our opponents,” Keller said. “It’s our own mistakes and everything in our control. We can control the outcome of the game.”

What these seniors are focused on the most is playing their hardest and leaving it all on the court. Each senior has their own personal goal for this weekend.

For outside hitters Keller and Emily Corrigan, it’s hitting above .250 each game and just being themselves on the court. Libero Meghan Mahoney wants to

play relaxed and “in the moment,” and Brown wants to be that emotional backbone to help fuel the team.

They all mentioned things they need to improve, such as being ready for tips and making it harder for the other team versus for themselves.

Serving tougher, going after every ball on defense and putting up a bigger block are all aspects they believe they are capable of doing this weekend. Mahoney described it as going in with a chip on their shoulder to prove that they are the best team in the conference.

When it comes to coaching, it’s a little different. Ginipro said he likes to think back to the saying, “What’s your why?”

“My why is I want to see them holding the trophy on Sunday,” Ginipro said. He is extremely proud of this squad, especially these four seniors, who have played amazing considering they were initially recruited to play in the Southern Conference, he said.

A common mentality amongst this group is, as Ginipro described it, “getting back to being us.”

Brown called it a state of “abnormality,” while Corrigan said they needed to “Get back to being who we are.”

Keller put it into perspective when she said it was 0-0 from this point on.“Anything we’ve done in the past, good or bad, doesn’t matter anymore.”

Libero Kati Stammen concentrates on hitting the ball during a home match against Georgia State.

14

Malik Rahili

MEN’S TENNIS HOPING STRONG FALL SEASON FINISH WILL CARRY OVER

BY MONICA CRAWFORD SPORTS REPORTER The App State men’s tennis team wrapped up a successful fall season earlier this month and plan on carrying that positive energy into the spring season that starts in January. The Mountaineers competed in four tournaments this fall that helped them prepare for team play in the spring.

This fall season started off with the Davidson Invitational, where they scored 16 total victories. The team continued to maintain a strong presence at the College of Charleston Invitational and the ITA Regionals despite injury and sickness. The Mountaineers finished their season on a high note when they won three out of the five possible titles at the Winthrop Invitational on Nov. 1.

“We started off really well at the Davidson tournament,” senior Jan-Willem Kleynhans said. “In Charleston we ran into some bad luck. A lot of guys got injured. We had a lot of guys who were really sick, so we only had five guys who could play. So that was a bit of a struggle, but I think we really gathered our momentum back towards the end, and we ended on a strong note.”

The Mountaineers finished the Winthrop Invite with 19 total victories and notable performances by Kleynhans, sophomore Scott Webster, and freshman Alex Brea. The success at the Winthrop Invite is encouraging for the Mountaineers as they start to think about the upcoming spring season. “[The Winthrop Invitational] was really good,” Webster said.

“A few of the guys really stepped up, and it was really encouraging for the next part of the season. That’s probably the best part, seeing that we’re coming together as a team."

During the fall season the athletes compete individually in order to prepare for the spring season, where they compete as a team. Webster said that this fall the team has improved their dou-

bles combinations and has also developed its overall chemistry.

The fall also allows the team to get a good number of matches under their belt before the start of the spring season. “[The fall season] allows us to play a lot of matches,” head coach Bob Lake said. “In the fall it’s individual, not a team event. They guys get a feel of where they are and how they’re playing. Once we hit January, it’s a team event.”

With the start of the spring season in mind, the team is hoping to use the positive momentum from the Winthrop Invite to start the season off strong.

“I think that we’ll take the momentum and go right into the season next semester,” Kleynhans said. “[The invite] was a really good way for us to end it off. We got three out of five possible titles, and I think the guys got a lot of energy and momentum from that.

Hopefully we can carry that through.”

The Mountaineers will start off their spring Scott Webster season with what they consider a challenging match against University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

“We usually start with a really good team,” Lake said. “We start with UNCW at their place, and they’re 74th in the nation I believe. So we feel like we have a shot against them every year, and we’ll see how it goes.”

The Mountaineers pick up the spring season with a match against UNCW on Jan. 16.

The Winthrop Invitational was really good. A few of the guys really stepped up, and it was really encouraging for the next part of the season. That's probably the best part, seeing that we're coming together as a team.

Sophomore Scott Webster is 18-4 overall in conference singles play and 12-7 in doubles.

Photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics

15

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