Thursday, November 21, 2013

The Appalachian 11.21.13

Appalachian State University’s student news source since 1934

Vol. 88, No. 23

Program prioritization draws negative feedback

Post-grads find creative outlet in food blogging

by Chelsey Fisher Senior News Reporter

Editor’s Note: The Appalachian spoke with Neva Specht, the associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences about her reaction to professor’s complaints.

Each college was contacted, either through the dean’s direct contact information or through the dean’s administrative assistant.

The remaining deans at the university were either not available for interviews or did not respond to our requests as of press time.

Some faculty members have expressed concerns with Appalachian State University’s program prioritization, following the Nov. 11 release of the deans’ prioritization of programs.

The program prioritization is the fourth tier of a statewide program, said Lori Gonzalez, provost and executive vice chancellor of academic affairs.

Professors’ reaction Numerous professors have expressed concerns about the amount of faculty involvement in the program prioritization.

Michael Behrent, assistant professor in the Department of History, said he had almost no involvement in the process.

“I attended the general meeting of the College of Arts and Sciences in August, where the matter was discussed in general terms,” he said. “My chair reported on the process to the department. I had no other meaningful engagement with the process.”

Behrent said he thinks the lack of involvement is a serious problem, but acknowledges that administrators probably feel pressure from the state to make these decisions.

Paul Gates, a professor in the Department of Communication, said he thinks that the lack of professor involvement has been damaging to faculty morale.

“I want to stress the faculty role in the curriculum,” Gates said. “With a lot of administrators’ decisions we have input, and should have input, but the curriculum is a particular responsibility.

It’s not just that we ought to have a say, but it’s automatic almost that the faculty should have a significant contribution to that subject because it is so central to what the faculty are about.”

Sheila Phipps, an associSEE PROGRAM PAGE 4

Paul Heckert | The Appalachian

Appalachian alumnus Michael Story prepares a Jamaican-inspired pizza in his kitchen Monday evening to document on his vegetarian food blog. Story started his blog to document the meals he creates, which can be found at dudeshesvegetarian.com, in hopes that it “provides a way for young fellows to impress their veggie ladies.”

by Emma Speckman A&E Reporter

F

or recent graduates, simply finding a job can be hard enough, but finding a job that provides a creative outlet and is tailored to personal interests can be nearly impossible.

Fortunately, in the Information Age, there are a lot of more opportunities for creative release, particularly in the blogosphere.

“There are more than 20 million bloggers in the U.S., and 1.7 million of those are getting paid to blog,” said writer Amy Bell in an article published in Forbes.

“Surprisingly, there’s quite a bit of upward mobility in the won-

derful world of blogging.”

Michael Story never had intentions of creating a blog. Story, who graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.A. in anthropology, has been a vegetarian and an avid cook for 10 years, but it was only three months ago when he decided to share his adventures in the kitchen with the public.

“Dude, She’s Vegetarian” began as Story’s personal archive of his most trusted recipes. A couple of weeks after he started compiling his favorites, his girlfriend Emily Poppen, a graphic design major at Appalachian, revealed that she had been taking pictures of all of the food he made her since they started dating.

Athletics adds field hockey stadium

by Chelsey Fisher Senior News Reporter

Appalachian State University Department of Athletics is building a field hockey stadium at the State Farm fields, said Troy Heustess, associate athletic director of facilities.

The construction for the field began approximately a month ago. The completion of the field will be based on weather circumstances, but Heustess said he hopes it will be ready for spring prac-

tice, which typically starts in a month.

Field hockey head coach Brandi Alexander Kist said the design will be simple at first, but will improve in the future.

“We will have what we need to play there along with some storage for equipment,” she said. “The second phase down the line will include permanent seating, home and visiting team locker rooms and officials locker room, athletic SEE HOCKEY PAGE 3

On her iPhone she had more than 100 photos of Story’s vegetarian fare. Right then, he said he decided to create a blog to share the photos and recipes with his friends and family.

Since its launch in September, the blog has received more than 2,000 hits and people from all over the world – from as far away as China and Uzbekistan – have viewed and shared his page with others.

“I had no idea it would take off like it did,” he said.

Story’s girlfriend is the original “she” in “Dude, She’s Vegetarian,” but the blog really applies to anyone who wants to learn how to cook food that vegetarians can eat.

Some of Story’s favorite reci-

Construction on a new field hockey stadium began earlier this fall.

A&E

Malik Rahili | The Appalachian

A vote has opened on Appalnet for students to voice their opinion on a 24/5 library hour referendum. The vote is open through Sunday.

by Stephanie Sansoucy News Editor

by Joshua Farmer Students can vote through Sunday on a 24/5 library referendum that Appalachian State University’s Student Government Association has put on Appalnet.

At their meeting Tuesday night, the senate voted to extend the time of the voting, which was set to end Friday, due to

SPORTS

Photo courtesy of Will Allen

The Women’s Theater Troupe presents a commentary on women and body image titled “The Most Massive Woman Wins.”

SEE MASSIVE WOMAN ON PAGE 6

SEE FOOD BLOG PAGE 6

SGA extends referendum vote

Managing Editor

Nicole Debartolo | The Appalachian

pes are bizarre pairings, including spicy cheese and chocolate mini muffins.

“There’s something about a mini muffin,” he said. “It’s a one-bite flavor explosion.”

Nina Montalto graduated from Appalachian last year with a degree in technical photography, and has since tried to make it on her own in the blogosphere.

The aptly named “The Grassroots Couple” is run by Montalto and her boyfriend Josh Trusler, who works as a chef in Charlotte.

A global studies minor and a frequent traveler, Montalto was fascinated with taking photos of

difficulties at the start of voting Monday.

Students can vote for or against a referendum in favor of paying $10 more in tuition in order to reinstate the “24/5 library hours” that were cut during the 20112012 academic year due to budget restraints.

SGA President Dylan Russell said that students voting on the referendum will help make a powerful statement to administration that there is a need for the

change in library hours.

“What it does is it gives us a little bit of ammo if you will,” Russell said. “The more students that vote the more powerful our statement is when we go to the administration.”

SGA’s director of academic affairs Arianna Bonner said that the association is trying to find out if students want the $10 increase in tuition in order to have SEE LIBRARY PAGE 3

ON THE WEB

Adam Jennings | The Appalachian

Mountaineers ready for their final game as a member of the Southern Conference, while also preparing to face off against Western Carolina for "The Battle of The Old Mountain Jug"

SEE GAME DAY ON PAGE 7

Last month’s Mountain Oasis festival in Asheville showcased performances by some of the notable names in contemporary music. Experience the three-day event from the perspective of Appalachian State University student Zion Greenfield with additional artist interviews by members of Paper Tiger and Mount Kimbie.

Check it out on youtube.com/TheAppOnline

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Thursday, November 21, 2013

IN PHOTOS: ACAPELLAGEDDON

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

ACAPELLAGEDDON

Students from nine a capella groups performed at the sixth annual Acapellageddon music competition Nov. 17 at Legends. The event featured co-ed, female and male ensembles on campus and they performed a variety of musical styles and numbers. The group Enharmonix won first place for best co-ed and best ensemble overall. All proceeds from ticket sales went to the nonprofit organization Mountain Alliance.

Photos by Maggie Cozens, Senior Photographer

NEWS

Thursday, November 21, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

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Students join international fight to end human trafficking

by Laney Ruckstuhl Intern News Reporter

The International Justice Mission chapter at Appalachian State University held a One Step One Voice event Tuesday to encourage students to call their congressional representatives and ask them to sign the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act. International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that works to rescue victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.

Members of the chapter held the event in the Watauga River Room of Plemmons Student Union and encouraged them to call from there, as well as handing out fliers around campus and encouraging students to call on their own.

This event was held in more than 500 other schools around the world.

Lindsay Poe is a member of Appalachian’s International Justice Mission chapter who helped organize the event.

Poe said she believes if this bill were passed in the U.S., it would also set an example for

HOCKEY

LIBRARY

training space, storage, concessions and restrooms.”

There are numerous benefits for the team with the new field, Kist said.

The new field will have a faster water-based surface, which is preferred for field hockey, Kist said.

This allows players to play at a higher speed.

The new field will also allow more home games for field hockey.

“Our student athletes will miss less class, they will be less travel-weary through the season and we spend less on our travel budget,” Kist said.

“More home games also allow more opportunities for our fans to attend games and cheer on our Mountaineers.”

the library open 24 hours a day, five days a week.

“It is necessary for the university to provide the means for students to have to study and to research to do the things they need to do to make the grades they need to make to stay at this university,” Bonner said.

Russell said that the $10 would be added to students’ tuition, which creates a problem because President Thomas Ross of the UNC system has mandated that there be no tuition increases.

“If the student body really wants this, we should have numbers of upward of 50 percent of the student body voting,” Russell said. “The ball is in the students’ court, it’s time for the students to decide do we want this enough that we want to go take the time to vote on Appalnet for it.”

SGA’s director of legislative operations John Secrest said that the association has been working on the referendum since 2011 when the 24/5 library ser-

FROM PAGE 1

FROM PAGE 1

other countries internationally to put an end to human trafficking.

Rachel Cheek is also a member of the International Justice Mission’s Leadership team, as well as their treasurer. Cheek said that Asheville and Greensboro are some of the biggest hubs in the world for human trafficking, despite popular belief that this is a mainly international issue spanning outside of the U.S. “In my personal experience, I think the oppression of any human in this world is not OK,” Cheek said.

Jessie Wilson is the president of Appalachian’s International Justice Mission chapter.

More than 100 Appalachian students made calls to Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan and Representative Virginia Foxx asking for their support for this bill, Wilson said.

Burr and Hagan officially signed on to co-sponsor this bill due to calls made Nov. 19.

The chapter is still awaiting a response from Foxx.

“The purpose of passing this bill is to make ending modern day slavery and human traf-

vice was cut.

Secrest said that since then the association has deemed the 24/5 service “essential to the academic well-being of students here at Appalachian.”

“Administrators have held the position that the service was underutilized and thus not worth the cost while other programs are also being looked at to be discontinued,” Secrest said. “Jake Cox formed an ad hoc exploratory committee to look at the issue more in-depth and found that students were open to the idea of funding the library with a student fee.”

Secrest said he drafted the referendum to gauge student interest.

“The intent of Student Government is to persuade administrators that this service is something that students are asking for and are willing to fund it by instituting a fee that they themselves would pay,” Secrest said. “With a referendum we can show administrators quantitative data of support for this service that many have missed these past few years.”

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LEGENDS

ficking a priority within our government,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that this is the third political action Appalachian’s International Justice Mission chapter has taken on campus in an effort to see an end to human trafficking.

“We often underestimate the voice we as students have, and this was an excellent opportunity to use that voice,” Wilson said. “We as college students have a voice, a voice our politicians should and do care about, a voice that can create real change within our world.”

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NEWS

Thursday, November 21, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Student turns passion for monogramming into business

by Nicole Caporaso News Reporter

An Appalachian State University apparel design and merchandising major has started her own business she named ASU Like It Monogramming.

Lanie Crawford, a junior, said she started her business in September when she could not find a job that would work with her class schedule.

Her solution: Monogramming.

“I had been doing monogramming for myself, my friends and [sorority] sisters,” Crawford said. “My mom told me I could really sell this stuff and I decided to give it a chance.”

Crawford’s website, asulikeitmonogramming. com, features her products, which range from $5-$22 and includes monogrammed buttons, embroidery add-ons, pocket T-shirts and Greek letter tees.

Crawford said she believes about 50 percent of the orders that are placed are from people she knows, but not all of her shipments are local.

“I’ve had about 50 orders so far,” Crawford said. “We’ve shipped as far as Michigan and Florida.”

The money Crawford has made is more than she expected. She said she originally had low expec-

Maggie Cozens | The Appalachian

Junior apparel design and merchandising major Lanie Crawford started her own monogram business this fall. Her company takes custom orders and has shipped products as far away as Michigan and Florida.

tations.

“The money varies on a weekly basis, but the most I have made in a week is $400 off of a big group order,” Crawford said.

To keep her business running, Crawford said

she spends at least 10 hours a week monogramming, but it varies based on the shipment orders she has to fulfill.

“To make a letter shirt it takes about two hours and that is probably

the lengthiest process,” Crawford said. “Pocket T-shirts take around an hour to make.”

Although the business is solely Crawford’s, she credits Kelsey Stryker, her roommate and Delta

Zeta sorority sister, for helping out.

“If I have a lot to do, Kelsey will pick up some stuff for me and I’ll pay her for her work,” Crawford said.

Crawford plans to ex-

pand and add new items for sale.

“Right now we’re working on hair bows and monogrammed stockings for Christmas,” Crawford said. “Those are supposed to be up next week.”

Search committee decides on chancellor candidate requirements

by Nicole Bellamy News Reporter

The Chancellor Search Committee finalized and published the Chancellor Search Leadership statement Nov. 13, which lists requirements for potential candidates.

The document, which can be found on the official website of the Chancellor Search Committee, gives a description of the role of Appalachian State University’s chancellor, a summary of the university’s makeup and a list of specific candidate requirements.

PROGRAM FROM PAGE 1

ate professor in the Department of History, said she thinks if there was more involvement, the program prioritization would look much different.

“It is sad when a university that began as a school to train teachers now lists education programs at the bottom of their priorities,” she said. “I think that reflects the opinions of those who administer faculty more than the people who actually do the teaching, who actually think about how to educate the population, who actually have to stand in front of the classroom and strive to get students to think for themselves and to learn what they will need to be productive and responsible members of society.”

Deans’ response Neva Specht, the associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, said with this situation, there is always room for more people to be involved.

Each department completed prioritization reports, and Specht said almost every department had faculty involvement in that stage.

“We have over 600 faculty members in the college, and I think we have to sometimes use representatives to make things work,” she

“This is an exceptional opportunity for an outstanding chief executive officer to elevate a unique, successful institution to even greater levels of accomplishment and service,” according to the statement.

Michael Steinback, committee spokesman, said that the finalized list of requirements was made after executive search firm Baker and Associates LLC and the committee narrowed down common recommendations made by the committee and those who participated in a survey solicited through the chancellor search

said. “We also had a very short timeline, so it was important that we tried to reach out as much as we could, and that process may have varied within different departments, but we left that up to the chairs.”

Specht said she hoped everybody would be able to have input at some point in the process.

“We certainly have tried to be as open and as transparent as possible, and we certainly appreciate faculty input,” she said.

Program prioritization history Program prioritization was first mentioned to faculty senate in December 2011, when Gonzalez presented a slideshow titled, “What higher education leaders are saying about program prioritization,” according to the minutes.

Over the next months, various meetings were held by the provost, deans and the Board of Trustees, according to irap.appstate.edu.

The tiers began being implemented in fall 2012. During that time, each college and department used various methods to start the program prioritization.

For example, in the Department of Communication, which is in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, each

website.

“We feel we did a very transparent, comprehensive development and understanding of what [the committee] felt were their priorities and what was most important,” Steinback said.

Steinback said the search committee is made up of 21 members including faculty, students, staff, administration, trustees, alumni and the community.

“It was very much a shared exercise,” Steinback said.

The statement, which took months to develop, lists re-

concentration wrote a statement that justified and elaborated on the program, Gates said.

At the Oct. 14 faculty senate meeting, Gregory Reck, a professor in the Department of Anthropology, proposed a resolution, which asked that any changes with the curriculum be done with consolidation to faculty involved, according to the faculty senate meeting minutes.

The resolution also asked any changes to the curriculum be submitted for approval by the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, according to the laws in the Faculty Handbook.

“After a proposal for curricular or structural change has been acted upon by a college or school and after the dean of that college or school has submitted the proposal to all other necessary groups, the dean will then present the proposal to the Academic Policies and Procedures Committee,” according to the handbook.

The AP&P Committee typically gives the provost, vice chancellor and chancellor the final recommendations for these changes, according to the handbook. The resolution was passed by faculty senate unanimously, Reck said.

“Faculty control of curriculum is long-honored tradition, not just at Appalachian,” he said. “If that resolution is ignored, I think it would lower faculty morale significantly.”

quirements such as strong leadership skills, proven fundraising skills, the demonstration of skills to live and work in a small university town and a forward and innovative thinker.

Steinback said that the description would help the committee screen prospective candidates accordingly, but that the statement was not just for the committee’s use. “[Candidates] have access to this leadership statement,” Steinback said. “They can also begin to understand what the expectations are.”

Steinback said the university went public with advertising and promoting the position about three weeks ago and the committee is under a general timeline.

“Our expectation is the search committee will meet Dec. 17 and at that time will review a grave number of candidate resumes and will work together to narrow that down to somewhere between eight and 12 candidates, at which time we will conduct interviews off campus with those eight to 12 candidates the third week of January,” Steinbeck said.

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Opinion Thursday, November 21, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Staff Opinion

Staff Opinion

Challenged book should remain in Watauga school Kevin Griffin Opinion Writer

Within education there is always potential tension between truths one is taught and values that one holds. Education is a process of challenging the way people view the world by exposing them to new ideas.

For the past month, Watauga County schools have been dealing with this conundrum in the fight over the teaching of Isabel Allende’s “The House of Spirits.”

Objections from parents over the graphic portrayal of sexuality and violence in the novel have led to an effort to have the book removed from the curriculum, an effort that was rejected by a committee in late October, ac-

cording to the Watauga Democrat.

An appeal has since been filed to continue the process of challenging the book. It should be noted that the school has agreed to offer “Moby Dick” as alternate reading, the Watauga Democrat reports.

In some ways, this is more difficult than other education controversies. With backlash against the teaching of evolution, for example, we have hard science to answer the protest.

Literature is different. It is by nature more subjective and value-centered, so shouldn’t parents be able to exercise control over what their children are exposed to?

To a limited degree, but if we indulge it too far, we have an education system that does not fulfill its purpose.

Any book worth reading and studying is likely to be offensive

to someone. Such books provide opportunities to discuss values and ideas, and why it is that the books can be offensive.

“The House of Spirits” has been particularly acclaimed for the way it deals with these themes, and for the sophistication of its prose, as measured by the Lexile Framework for Reading.

An unsettling element to the discussion came up at a recent joint meeting of the county commissioners and the school board.

Commissioner Perry Yates said during a hearing on the matter, “As a Christian, as a believer, as a morally decent human being, that would not be read or taught in my house, and I don’t feel like it should be taught in Watauga County Schools,” according to the Watauga Democrat.

Another commissioner, Da-

vid Blust, expressed a desire to have a rating system in place for books.

This view of education is much more detrimental to education than anything in the book.

Education is about broadening the range of ideas students explore, and the way they discuss them. This should certainly be the case in high school English classes.

Narrow views such as those expressed by the commissioners and those opposing the teachings of the book are working against that key purpose of education.

Students have been offered an alternative book. The appeal against the book should ultimately fail.

Badenchini, a freshman journalism major from Apex, is an opinion writer.

Staff Opinion

Underwhelming voter turnout is unfortunate Elizabeth McMichael Opinion Writer

Recently, Watauga County held its municipal elections in order to elect the local government leaders for the next term.

Unfortunately, the amount of people that actually exercised their right to vote was underwhelming.

According to the North Carolina Board of Elections, only 11.7 percent of registered voters actually voted in Boone’s municipal elections.

This means that only 11.7 percent of people in Boone had to speak for everyone in elect-

The Appalachian The Editorial Board

MICHAEL BRAGG

CORY SPIERS

JOSHUA FARMER

ANDREW CLAUSEN

ABBI PITTMAN

MALIK RAHILI

Managing Editor

Opinion Editor Sports Editor

Chief Copy Editor

Production & Design Editor

News Editor

Photo Editor

STEPHANIE SANSOUCY ALEXANDER MCCALL A&E Editor

JUSTIN PERRY

JACKSON HELMS Video Editor

Contact Information EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (828) 262-6149 BUSINESS OFFICE (828) 262-2157 FAX LINE (828) 262-6256 Associated Collegiate Press

The Appalachian reserves the right to decline publication of any letter and to edit letters for the purpose of clarity and space.

Opinion Writer

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

Andrew D. Cox | The Appalachian

and hope that the newly elected officials will do what we want them to.

This phenomenon is not exclusive to Boone. According to a report on voter turnout from the Bipartisan Policy Center, some 93 million eligible citizens did not vote in the 2012 presidential elections.

What is the point of having the right to have a say in our state and federal governments if we choose not to exercise those rights? A report from ABC news suggested the theory that the reason people don’t vote is because they don’t see the effect of their vote.

“As aggregate, voting matters,” Michael Magdzik, a political science student at Yale University, said in an interview with ABC. “But for any one in-

Erica Badenchini

dividual, one vote rarely matters.”

But each vote counts in making a difference because it is another drop in the bucket of what you and other people want. With the mindset that one vote doesn’t matter, we have more and more people sitting out in the election process.

So, we can stand by and let whoever does vote decide for us, or we could choose to vote the next time there is an election.

The only way we’re going to get the representation that we seek is by taking the step to elect people we believe will do what we need them to.

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

McCrory struggling in rising sea of disapproval

ing officials that will directly affect various aspects of our community.

It is particularly important to encourage voting on a college campus. Starting to exercise your duty to vote at an early age is a good idea.

According to civicyouth.org, people between the ages of 18 and 29 make up 21% of the voting eligible population in the U.S. That is a large portion of the population that should start to vote more.

The lack of turnout also means that we cannot be certain that the changes being made will reflect the wants and needs of everyone in Boone, because a small percentage had their say in who was elected.

Instead, we will have to sit

NC museum should be open to sea level rise discussion

The director of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences has successfully prevented the screening of a documentary focusing on the effects of sea-level rise in his museum’s Science Cafe, according to indyweek.com.

“Shored Up,” directed by Ben Kalina, deals with the struggles coastal communities face due to super storms and rising sealevels. The N.C. Coastal Federation, a nonprofit, hoped to show the film at the Museum of Natural Sciences during their weekly talks about science and technology.

That is, until director Emlyn Koster decided to veto the idea.

His reason? According to emails the museum provided to INDY week, Koster wrote, “We want to engage the public… rather than focusing on an hour-long film in a theater.” He went on to say that the museum needs to “ensure a science-centered approach.”

This would be fine, if the film was not firmly rooted in science.

Coastal Federation officials told INDY week that the science in the documentary is backed up by research.

It seems to me that Koster has a different motive to preventing the screening of “Shored Up,” one that is quite possibly based on politics.

In 2012, North Carolina legislators passed a law that prevents the scientifically sound measuring of sea levels along the state’s coast. This law places restrictions on state agencies, making it difficult to prepare for sea-level rise, according to INDY week.

The same article states that the result is that developers are free to build in low-lying, weak areas along the coast free from additional regulations.

This law seems to allow developers to scam real estate buyers.

Coastal Federation officials admitted that the documentary does not allow the opposing parties to rebut this argument.

However, the film was reviewed with museum management, and it was decided that a panel discussion would be held after the movie to allow those with differing points of view to express their ideas, according to INDY week.

According to the report, Koster would not even allow this and canceled the screening.

It is hugely disappointing that the director of the museum, who vocalizes his desire to teach factual science, does not advocate a film that does just that.

I can appreciate that the museum wanted to share opposing views, but preventing the movie from showing altogether is a blow to freedom of speech.

If Koster is concerned about the reputation of his museum, I think he has more to fear by preventing “Shored Up” from screening.

Editorial Cartoon

Editor-in-Chief

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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.

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.

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A&E

Thursday, November 21, 2013

On Stage FOOD BLOG FROM PAGE 1

food and comparing different food cultures around the world.

The couple got the idea for their blog after attending a farm-totable dinner party in Vilas.

After a meal of farm-fresh meat and vegetables, Montalto and Tusler went home with a pile of food and created their first recipe: a pork belly, chorizo and chicken thigh gumbo dish. Photos and a recipe went online only a few days later and the blog was born.

“It helps us be creative outside of a job,” Montalto said.

“We looked at a lot of other blogs and got an idea of what would be appealing.”

The Wordpress blog features recipes passed down in Montalto’s family, given a modern twist by Trusler. Occasionally she cooks, as well. In a recent entry, the couple staged a cookoff and each adapted Mon-

talto’s grandmother’s eggplant caponata recipe. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, the competition was considered a draw and the entry ended with a plea for reader submissions of family recipes to add to the project.

Initially, Montalto and Trusler were attracted to the idea of a human-interest food blog. They felt that traditionally cookbooks and online recipe archives were too cut-anddry and uninspiring and they wanted to change that by creating blog that reads more like an ongoing story.

“The Grassroots Couple” presents artistic, filtered photos that show the cooking process as well as the final product. The recipes are written in a style that is simultaneously flowery and instructive.

“Blogs are gaining popularity because they’re accessible to millions of people,” Montalto said. “Given time and money, we would look into publishing a cookbook.”

Besides serving as a cre-

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

Paul Heckert | The Appalachian

Appalachian alumnus Michael Story cuts his finished Jamaican-inspired pizza after preparing a meal in his kitchen on Monday for the food blog he has run since September.

ative outlet for post grads, the two blogs share one important thing in common: A passion for the community aspect of food. On their “About Me” section, “The Grassroots Couple”

said, “soul food is not just fried chicken and collard greens; it is anything that is made with love.”

“I have a love for food and sharing food with people,”

Story said. “Anyone could get a flour tortilla and microwave some cheese on it, but it’s about emitting feeling while you’re cooking and reciprocity with food.”

Film

Short film festival ‘by, for, about women’ comes to Boone

by Sam Lineberger Intern A&E Reporter

LUNAFEST, the popular film festival “by, for, about women,” comes to Boone on Thursday and Friday.

Thursday, the nine short films will be shown in Greenbriar Theater, and the event will continue at the Harvest House on Friday.

The LUNAFEST organization, founded in 2000, is a nonprofit group dedicated to serv-

ing women’s needs. This year, LUNAFEST will travel to more than 150 cities.

“All the proceeds will go to charities,” said Appalachian Women’s Fund member Kayla Hott.

Not only does LUNAFEST support the Breast Cancer Fund on a national level, but it gives to local charities, too.

This year marks the festival’s second visit to Boone, and proceeds benefit Girls on the Run of the High Country and

the Appalachian Women’s Fund.

All nine short films will run at each showing. The films are varied in subject matter, including an all-women basketball team in their 70s and an animated film about a woman adapting to love her body as she ages.

“I’d describe the films as uplifting and creative,” said Mary Horine, interim director of Appalachian State University Health and Human Services. “They cover a wide

range of topics and are appropriate for all ages.”

Following the Thursday showing will be a Q&A session for anyone who wants to learn more about some of the ways women are able to succeed as leaders in the Appalachian community. Last year’s panel featured five community leaders to guide discussion.

Marshall Daniels, Harvest House venue manager, said that the films are “excellently

produced, thought-provoking women’s awareness projects that bring women’s issues to the community in a relatable way.”

At 5:30 p.m. before the Friday showing at Harvest House, attendees are welcome to a business and informational fair featuring local artists and businesses.

Both nights will also feature Bra-Va to raise money. Local businesses, clubs and individuals submit creatively deco-

rated bras to be voted on by attendees. They will be auctioned off Friday to support the Breast Cancer Fund.

Last year about $600 was raised in total, but much more is expected this year thanks to new corporate sponsorships from LifeStore Bank and Earthfare.

Tickets are available for $10, or $7 for students, at Earthfare and lunafest.org. The films will show both nights at 6:30 p.m.

Community

On Stage

Women’s Theater Troupe debuts first show

Write-Ins help students combat writer’s block

by Lovey Cooper

by Casey Suglia

Senior A&E Reporter

Intern A&E Reporter

The newly founded Appalachian Women’s Theatre Troupe presents its first production, “The Most Massive Woman Wins,” this weekend to promote the club’s pro-female message by exploring modern women’s issues with their own bodies.

The play follows the journey of four unrelated women waiting in line at a liposuction clinic and the individual stories as to how they got there, exploring dominant themes of unhealthy relationships with food and other people.

The play represents a first attempt by the club to promote more female-centric and female-positive roles on campus, a realm that some students see as ignored by the department’s main stage shows.

“More older shows were written by men and they tend to have stereotypical aspects – you may have a leading lady, but she’s the housewife, or she ends up dying in the end but the man saves the day – and we’re very dependent on the man in the show,” senior theatre arts major and actress Melissa Moede said.

“Massive Woman” utilizes these usual stereotypes and reexamines them from a female perspective.

“It’s not going to show you the silver lining – it’s going to show you what’s wrong,” director Savannah Core said.

The club’s goals are not only to spread positive messages, but to provide more practical theater experience than other shows with fewer female characters that tend to group all women into certain archetypes.

“It’s just a good way to open your eyes to the world, as well as bring roles in that if you are going into acting or working in the arts, you can use,” Moede said.

The play was cast on terms of talent, not looks, senior theatre arts major and actress Katie

Appalachian State University graduate and former creative writing major Katie Kehoe always wanted a place to write outside of class while at school.

Having a job and massive amounts of schoolwork made that impossible. But using her knowledge and love for writing, she has since created that space for students and the surrounding community at 3rd Place, located on Appalachian Street.

“One of the biggest things about actually making it in the art world is taking the time to finish your art,” Kehoe said.

“So I wanted to create a community that got the heart of creating art.”

Now on Saturday afternoons, Kehoe conducts writing exercises and workshops and gives attendees time to quietly work, occasionally providing motivation to avoid writer’s block.

Kehoe created the event with 3rd Place at the beginning of September while interning there and working at the University Writing Center, all while applying to graduate school.

She hopes that older writers in the community who have been writing for more than 20 years can teach young writers, while younger writers can keep those people in the community inspired.

“Our mission statement is to create a community of writers that help each other hone their craft through keeping each other accountable, helping each other through projects basically being an intersection for all of this,” Kehoe said.

Photo courtesy of Will Allen

Senior theatre arts major Rachel Leishman acts as Rennie in the production “The Most Massive Woman Wins.”

Hickling said, in a push to cultivate what she and other club members refer to as a group of “skilled trades-ladies” at all levels of production.

The club, which is funded entirely by out-of-pocket student contributions, makes a point to note that while they promote female roles, they do not exclude men and have found great support among male crewmembers.

“It says something to me more than anything I’ve seen come out of the department in the four years I’ve been here,” Hickling said. “It says something and it challenges people, and that’s something as a club that we want to do.”

She says she is proud that this

play in particular is the club’s first, as it sparks a conversation they wish to continue in coming years.

“My dream is that after people see the show, maybe they’ll stop using ‘fat’ as an insult, or they’ll stop assuming that just because someone is thin that they have a good body image,” Core said.

“It’s not just fat women who feel this way, not all thin women feel pretty. All women on some level deal with self image and body image.”

“The Most Massive Woman Wins” is performed in the I.G. Greer Studio Theater on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2. The play is intended for mature audiences ages 16 and older.

Junior creative writing major Cooper Howe is one of the longest attending members of the Write-Ins at 3rd Place, using the time to work on personal writing projects.

“Just being there has helped me,” Howe said. “Talking about writing and relating to other writers going through the process really helps. Practice makes you perfect. Even the grueling process of writing and editing and getting through the muck that you’re trying to get past, I love doing it, because I know it will get better,” he said.

Different students come by to work every weekend, including senior English major and poetry editor for The Peel, Robert Layman, who encourages people to go weekly and get things on the page.

“Because some of the best poetry isn’t known about, a lot of poets don’t know that they have this hidden talent inside of them, and they don’t know that some of the thoughts they walk around with would look really good on the page,” Layman said.

Coffee is offered for free, so Kehoe recommends bringing a mug to 3rd Place and an open mind to suggestions and ideas.

“It’s a great community, we have a lot of people who come every week and there is a lot that you can learn about your own writing and yourself,” she said. “This is a place to just get away and come and focus on my art, but you want to do it with a really supportive and caring community that is doing the same thing with you.

So it’s a really wonderful experience to see all of these writers and to know they’re setting aside this time and it’s okay to set aside this time.”

GAME D Y

Thursday, November 21, 2013

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com

The End of an Era

Matchup

7

The Appalachian State football team prepares for Senior Night and its final bout in the Southern Conference against Western Carolina

vs.

24 - 31

Western Carolina Catamounts vs.

Appalachian State Mountaineers 3:30 p.m. - November 23, 2013 Kidd Brewer Stadium

by Andrew Clausen Sports Editor

How App State Can Win: The Mountaineers shouldn’t have to do too much different in their game plan if they are going to beat Western Carolina.

Compared to the rest of the SoCon, the only statistic that App State has to worry about is their pass defense. The Catamounts are ranked third behind App State and will apply pressure in the secondary.

The good news for App State is that sophomore Kameron Bryant is still No. 1 in the SoCon in pass efficiency (148.5) and he will need to continue his great play if the Mountaineers are going to win and keep the Old Mountain Jug. How WCU Can Win: If Western Carolina is going to come into Kidd Brewer Stadium and get a win, they are going to need to step up almost every aspect of their game.

The Catamounts are one of the few teams the Mountaineers can claim to have a better record than, and it shows statistically.

Aside from their top 3 secondary protecting against the pass, they aren’t ranked in the Top 5 in any category.

Their biggest concern is going to be with App State’s offense. If they can somehow manage to keep them off the field, they stand a small chance of pulling off the upset on the road.

The Bottom Line: This time around, “The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug” is more than just two teams playing football on the mountain; it’s about the end of an era.

This will be App State’s final contest as a member of the Southern Conference and it will be one of the last games against Western Carolina.

While they will likely play in a nonconference matchup later down the road, it will not be as simple as it is now for the Jug to change hands.

Whoever comes away with the prize this time, holds it for a while.

Adam Jennings | The Appalachian

Quarterback Jamal Londry-Jackson runs for a touchdown during the Mountaineers’ 46-14 victory over Western Carolina University during the 2011 season. App State will face Western for their last SoCon game Saturday, looking to keep the Old Mountain Jug for the ninth consecutive year.

by Nick Joyner Senior Sports Reporter

T

his weekend’s game between Appalachian State and Western Carolina will be the last between these two North Carolina mountain schools as Southern Conference rivals.

After Saturday’s contest, App State will no longer be a part of the SoCon as the school prepares for a transition to the Sun Belt Conference.

App State (3-8, 3-4 SoCon) has just one more game on the schedule to finish out what has been mostly a disappointing final season as an FCS school.

A big goal for the team is to finish .500 in conference play and with a win over the rival Catamounts of Western, App State will do just that.

“I think it’s the most important game we’ve played all year,” senior wide receiver Tony Washington said. “It’ll bring us back to .500 in conference within the SoCon, and ending the season off with two wins in a row and having that mo-

mentum is huge.”

The two teams will face off in “The Battle for the Old Mountain Jug.” The winner takes home an old moonshine jug painted with both schools’ mascots, which has been the trophy since 1976.

“Always a big ballgame here at Western Carolina, playing your rivals for the Old Mountain Jug,” Western Carolina head coach Mark Spier said. “These are two very similar North Carolina mountain schools, in the same conference. Being the last time and [Appalachian’s] last game in the SoCon, it adds extra meaning to this game I believe for both sides.”

Although the Catamounts sport a 2-9 record on the season, Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield is not dismissing Western Carolina as an easy win.

WCU has struggled away from their home in Cullowhee, having lost 20 consecutive road games.

They have also dropped eight consecutive against App State, and have not won in Boone since 1984, according to catamountsports.com.

“Their record doesn’t indicate exactly where they are right now, but they are headed in the right direction for sure,” Satterfield said. “It’s going to be a great football game here and it’s the last game for our seniors, and the last game for us in the Southern Conference in the history of the program.”

This Saturday’s senior night will be an emotional night for many on the team, as most will be putting an end to their football careers and moving on.

“It’s going to be tough for me because I love this program and I love this sport,” senior wide receiver Andrew Peacock said. “Just for this to be my last game it’s tough for me right now, emotionally, but I can’t wait to experience this with a group of guys I love and can call family. I wouldn’t want to go out any other way than with them.”

After adding seven more receptions to his career total of 203 in a win against Wofford, Andrew Peacock now has the record for receptions as a Mountaineer.

The senior bumped off cur-

PIGSKIN PICK’EM Weekend Matchups Western Carolina vs.

Appalachian State #12 Texas A&M vs. #22 LSU BYU vs.

Notre Dame #17 Arizona State vs. #14 UCLA #4 Baylor vs. #10 Oklahoma State

rent St. Louis Ram receiver Brian Quick for sole ownership of the record.

“It’s definitely an awesome thing to do,” Peacock said. “Just to be named with Brian Quick and guys like that, those are guys I looked up to when I got here.”

Peacock also became only the fifth player in Appalachian State history with 2,000 career receiving yards, according to appstatesports.com.

After tossing another 300-yard passing performance, redshirt sophomore quarterback Kameron Bryant knows getting a win for his seniors this Saturday at The Rock would mean a lot.

“It’s a big time game for them, you know,” Bryant said. “They’re guys I’ve learned so much from. Just seeing their work ethic and how they carry themselves.

So I am just excited to go and try to go and try to get a win for them and I know it’s a big deal for those guys.

It’s a big emotional night for them, so we just want to make sure we send them out the right way.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

The Sporting Network Poll Week 13

Andrew Clausen

Michael Bragg

Amanda Jacobson

Dylan Russell

Joshua Farmer

The Appalachian (26-29)

The Appalachian (28-27)

APPS (32-23)

SGA (29-26)

The Appalachian (30-25)

Sports Editor

Editor-in-Chief

President

President

Managing Editor

1. North Dakota State 10-0 2. Eastern Illinois 10-1 3. Eastern Washington 9-2 4. Maine 10-1 5. Montana 9-2 6. McNeese State 9-2 7. Towson 9-2 8. Southeastern Louisiana 9-2 9. Sam Houston State 8-3 10. Northern Arizona 8-2 11. Coastal Carolina 10-1 12. Fordham 10-1 13. Montana State 7-4 14. Bethune-Cookman 9-2 15. Youngstown State 8-3 16. South Dakota State 7-4 17. Lehigh Mountain 8-2 18. Charleston Southern 10-2 19. William & Mary 7-4 20. Southern Utah 8-3 * SoCon teams ^ Team transitioning to Sun Belt Conference Source: ncaa.com

Thursday, November 21, 2013

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