Tuesday, January 26

Jan.

26 2016

The Appalachian

INSIDE

REDEFINING THE GAMING CLUB

VETERAN FARMING

Page 6-7

MEDIA NEEDS A CLIMATE CHANGE

Page 4

STORY’S THE NEW STORY Page 8

Page 10

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C E T E R A

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

Charlotte Wray @_charlottewray MANAGING EDITOR Aleah Warner @aleahwarner CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Ignacio Martinez-Alvarez @theappalachian BUSINESS MANAGER

Carl Blankenship @carl_r_blank NEWS EDITOR Katie Murawksi @murawksikm A&E EDITOR

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Chris Warner @chriswarner2293 SPORTS EDITOR

CRIME LOG CAMPUS JAN. 23

JAN. 21

2:55 p.m. | Drug violation LLC Three students were arrested for possession of marijuana.

10:58 p.m. | Drug violation Rivers Street A student was arrested for possession of marijuana.

JAN. 22

JAN. 20

10:23 p.m. | Drug violation Hoey Hall Two students were arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

JAN. 22 3:11 a.m. | Underage possession of alcohol Doughton Hall A student was arrested for underage possession of alcohol.

JAN. 22 3:17 p.m. | Vandalism Doughton Hall Leads exhasuted.

8:23 p.m. | Drug violation bowie Hall A student was arrested for possession of a Schedule II drug.

JAN. 19 5:22 p.m. | Drug violation Coltrane Hall A student was arrested for possession of marijuana.

JAN. 19 4:26 p.m. | Drug violation Hoey Hall A student was arrested for possession of marijuana.

Justin Perry @justincperry PHOTO EDITOR Carson Fletcher @theappalachian VIDEO EDITOR Dylan Dow @zen_dow WEB MANAGER

N E W S

Corey Bryck walks through a crop field at his farm. New Life Farm is certified organic and raises livestock and produce.

FROM FIGHTING TO FARMING VETERAN STARTS ORGANIC FARM WITH THE HELP OF APPALACHIAN STATE

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BY SAMMY HANF NEWS REPORTER

ransitioning back to civilian life can be a tough prospect for veterans. Returning from combat zones overseas and having to navigate choices that were previously made for them can be daunting, even to those accustomed to putting their life on the

line.

Corey Bryk, the owner of New Life Farm, said he found himself confused and overwhelmed by his newfound freedom after serving for eight months in the Al-Anbar province of Iraq.

He said he started gardening so that he and his health conscious wife could eat the organic produce they couldn’t always afford to buy. From there he found himself learning about the challenges and rewards that come with growing your own produce.

Bryk kept on learning by talking to local farmers and through online resources before eventually graduating with a degree in sustainable development from Appalachian State.

Anne Fanatico, a professor of sustainable development at Appalachian State, is currently working with the National Center for Appropriate Technology to create online modules to help people like Bryk pick up the skills they need to produce food for their communities.

“We need a lot of new farmers as we try to rebuild local and regional food systems,” Fanatico said.

Fanatico said that more smaller scale farms are crucial and she is particularly excited about working with veterans.

“I’m excited for veterans in particular because agriculture need them, and they need agriculture,” Fanatico said.

The NCAT also offers weeklong training courses for veterans, called Armed to Farm, which aims to impart the knowledge necessary to start a farm and build support networks of local veterans.

Margo Hale of the NCAT said that participants often stay in touch long after the training and that the group dynamic among the 30 participants is often the strongest of any of their programs.

“Sharing that common bond and those common experiences does a lot for the group and just naturally builds some relationships that aren’t as easy to come by in other beginning farming groups,” Hale said.

Hale said the sessions focus on imparting business sense, allowing veterans to meet with local farmers and talk about what works best in their specific region.

Hale said that there are also plenty of opportunities for hands-on experience, which can be supplemented by other workshops more specifically tailored to a skill.

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Photo courtesy of Corey Bryk

The NCAT also has a plethora of publications for prospective farmers and Hale said many participants come in with their own game plan.

“Over and over I’m hearing ‘I’ve read all these books, I’ve read all your publications,’” Hale said. “Beginning farmers these days are quite educated and have done lots of research. Oftentimes they just need that little bit of encouragement to jump in.”

Fanatico said a big part of that process, for veterans in particular, is finding someone in the community who can mentor them through the sometimes rocky beginning stages.

This is a role that Bryk is looking to fill. He said he is currently talking with career services to find veterans in the area who are looking to get some farming experience under their belt.

“I’m trying to find more veterans who think they might be interested in farming,” Bryk said. “Hopefully I can employ them and pass along the skills and knowledge they need to perhaps pursue farming themselves.”

Bryk said he likes working with veterans because they are more disciplined and don’t see an agrarian lifestyle with the same rose-tinted glasses so popular among some transplants to farm life.

“I think a lot of people get into farming with this romantic notion ... then reality sets in and you realize that this is hard work,” Bryk said.

On top of the grueling physical labor, Bryk said that simply producing strong crops is only half the battle. He also wants to teach strong business practices and stresses the importance of keeping good books and marketing effectively.

Overall, Bryk said that farming can be a stressful gig and he wants to do what he can to smooth out the learning curve for first generation farmers like himself.

Despite the challenges, Bryk said the feeling of producing something as essential as food lends a sense of pride that is difficult to take away.

Hale echoed that sentiment, saying that many veterans like the idea of contributing healthy, life building produce to their community.

Bryk said he likes the environment, which lets him lead the kind of lifestyle he wants.

“I really want to be close to my family. I didn’t get married and have kids so I could spend the vast majority of my time working a job I don’t like,” Bryk said.

He also said he is cautiously optimistic that, despite the large interests behind big agribusinesses, there will still be a call for small farms like his.

“There is, I believe, an educated and passionate consumer base that supports farms like mine and dictates whether we exist or not,” Bryk said.

A R T S

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

‘BATTLEFRONT’: A NOSTALGIC SHOOTER FOR A NEW GENERATION

BY MICHAEL HEBERT A&E REPORTER

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ll true "Star Wars" fans remember watching “Episode IV: A New Hope” as a kid. That iconic opening scene with Darth Vader began it all. The curiosity, excitement and fear viewers felt as children still resonates today.

How could the filmmakers fit so much into such a small scene?

This is how “Star Wars” fans feel with the new video game, “Star Wars: Battlefront.” It was released on Nov. 17, 2015 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, and was reviewed on a PlayStation 4. For such a small package, the developers managed to fit in fantastic content that succinctly and successfully gives players the feeling of being in a “Star Wars” movie. From flying snowspeeders above Hoth to taking down AT-STs on Endor, every match seems specially crafted with an acute attention to detail.

The detail doesn’t stop with gameplay. The worlds are gorgeous, each having their own persona and style. Hoth’s battlefields are vast and flat while Tatooine’s are close and tight. The immaculate textures on walls, rocks or snow will make the player stop mid-game to stare at the detail. The maps are so intricate and precise that any unloaded area or texture stands out like a Tusken Raider on the Death Star. For the most part, however, these instances are few and far between as the game runs quite smoothly, only stuttering occasionally.

Aside from the stunning graphics and licensed content, “Battlefront” is a solid shooter in its own right. One of the things that EA delivers is a sense of personalization. For example, Star Cards are items that players can activate midmatch to help gain an edge over the enemy team.

From grenades to sniper rifles to even a short range jetpack, which is beneficial to use during combat, Star Cards can change the way a battle is won. A well-timed personal shield can save the player from certain death. Star card power-ups and basic control settings help the player feel they chose how to play each match.

Like the Star Cards, the camera settings provide an unlikely tactical decision for players to make. Players can switch between first and third person perspectives on the fly to suit their skills or needs. Most often players control their soldiers in first person. Off the ground and in the ships, however, third person made flying much easier. Zooming around the skies in an X-wing above a battle was incredibly satisfying, but first person made the controls feel clunky and severely limited vision.

This leads to the various game modes that “Battlefront” offers, and also to some issues with the game. The core modes are Walker Assault and Supremacy. These allow players the full range of abilities, vehicles and hero options during gameplay.

In any given game, players can spawn in underneath massive AT-ATs on Hoth as Stormtroopers determined to crush the rebellion.

Above them is a lumbering behemoth that could devastate any form of rebel turret or stationary defense. Above that is the sky, filled with

X-wings and TIE Fighters zipping around at incredible speed exchanging blaster fire and missiles in an intricate tango where the slightest misstep means failure. Rushing ahead, players pick off rebel fighters with a small group of other Stormtroopers.

The game culminates when heroes clash. For example, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader could have a lightsaber duel in the middle of a battle, each being assisted by their team on the ground and in the air as a climactic end to an epic fight. Experiences like this are common in “Star Wars: Battlefront.”

Players can pick up Hero power-ups which spawn at set intervals in certain places throughout the match.

Then they choose between three Heroes that are unique to their faction, rebel or empire, from a total of six Heroes in the game. Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo are for the rebellion. Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and Boba Fett are for the Empire. Although the Hero selection is light in the base game, there are more advertised in future DLC content. Choosing these Heroes requires the gamer to play either Walker Assault, Supremacy or other smaller game modes.

There aren’t many other game modes of value in “Battlefront.” The less interesting game modes range from poorly executed to ill-conceived. For example, Droid Run is a mode that requires players to run around maps securing neutral moving droids for their team to win. At the end of the time limit, the team with the most droids wins.

But the droids can be captured fairly quickly, so a team can hold all three the entire game but still lose because of a bad last minute of gameplay. It’s modes like this that make “Battlefront” feel smaller than it actually is. Players can feel like part of the game is being locked out to them because of bad design choices.

The main criticism and weakness of “Battlefront” is its repetition. “The whole effect will depend on how long you can sustain the thrill of being in Star Wars,” Keith Stuart from The Guardian wrote. Once the nostalgia wears off, the player is left with a lot of customization options and gorgeous maps to play on, but they get old quickly. The main source of this is the lack of content after players reach the maximum level. There is not a solid single player experience to speak of, so players can’t finish a campaign.

After players unlock all the Star Cards and skin customization options, “Battlefront” sort of, stops. There is not much more content making players come back for more. Games like “Call of Duty” excel in this area, with their prestige mode and seemingly endless unlocks always leaving something to strive for. When you reach level 50 in “Battlefront” there is a sweet sense of accomplishment, but little else.

That said, there are four expansion packs announced for the game. Each promise to add new Heroes, planets and game modes. Maybe more content will be added for players that want to experience more in the Star Wars universe, but for the time being, the base game and its many problems are all players have.

“Star Wars: Battlefront” is a beautiful game that was masterfully crafted. Gorgeous maps, tight controls, interesting Heroes and a real attention to detail make this game great. The lack of endgame content and quality game modes makes an otherwise solid game lose steam quickly. “Star Wars” fans should definitely play this game.

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A R T S

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

PLAYING TO WIN:

THE APPALACHIAN STATE GAMING CLUB TAKES ON REGIONALS

BY MICHAEL HEBERT A&E REPORTER From humble beginnings in 2005, the Appalachian State Gaming Club has grown to 400 members strong today. The club facilitates this through online gaming sessions, where members can play together from their own homes and through weekend events in the Grandfather Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union, where competitive and casual players alike can have fun through gaming.

“We have a bunch of different games played there, there’s something for everyone,” ASU Gaming Club vice president Alex Holler said. “We have teams of competitive players but the majority of our members are there for fun.”

There are numerous tournaments throughout the United States and Canada for competitive video gamers. With the rise of online play and faster internet speeds, this type of gaming is finally possible, where 15 years ago it was simply a dream.

The ASU Gaming Club has recently won regional attention. The club sent three teams to compete in a gaming tournament called Clash of the Carolinas on Jan. 16-17 at North Carolina State in Raleigh. The tournament achieved attention from over 1,000 people from dozens of North and South Carolina colleges, according to WNCN News.

“We placed first, second and sixth in our three games out of 13 total teams,” Holler said. “It was pretty cool for our first time there.”

The competition is not just for fun, there are also cash and material prizes that professional gamers can win. The ASU team won first prize and $650 worth of headsets and keyboards. There are more events scheduled for the future and with the rising public opinion of games, the prize pools are only getting larger.

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Photos courtesy of Alex Holler. Front page photo courtesy of James Dixon.

Tanner Veltem is the captain of the Gaming Club’s Counter Strike: Global Offensive team, a military shooter and strategy game.

Clash of the Carolinas was his first competition with his team.

“I only started playing last summer, but now we have a team of six that can compete in competitions,” Veltem said.

Veltem was proud of his team’s accomplishments. He said he is excited about the opportunity this offers them and what that means for their future.

A popular company that helps facilitate these competitions is called the eSports Association, also known as TeSPA. TeSPA provides college students access to other colleges, competitions, big name video game developers and scholarships for playing games.

TeSPA began as a student organization at the University of Texas at Austin but exploded onto the scene in 2012 when they hosted a “StarCraft II” invitational that attracted professional players of the game. In 2013 the organization went national, and now they host events with thousands of participants and spectators. This nationalization has attracted companies like Blizzard and Riot Games to help promote the growing eSports community.

“TeSPA is our connection to the community,” Holler said. “We love them and the support we get.”

With the help of organizations like TeSPA, the gaming club at ASU can reach a much broader set of collegiate teams and thus compete on a national scale.

“They split you based on region, then place you based on your skill,” Veltem said. “We’re in a league of about 60 colleges.”

Holler said his vision and mission for the ASU Gaming Club is to be a safe place that fosters social interaction and enjoyment of play with its members.

“To me, this gaming club has become more than just a fun space. It has morphed into a way to have a positive impact on my community for a group that is ignored by most other organizations,” Holler said. “In a time of growing interest in games and video gaming, catering to a group that is unrepresented and less involved is the greatest purpose of the club.”

The Gaming Club wants to capture this global phenomenon of community and fun through games for students at ASU. Holler and Veltam both agree these sessions do more than bring people together, they create lasting friendships.

The next group play session will be at Grandfather Ballroom in the PSU on Jan. 27.

"In a time of growing interest in games and video gaming, catering to a group that is unrepresented and less involved is the greatest purpose of the club."

Alex Holler

S P O R T S

MADI STORY

STORY HAS BEEN THE STORY FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Madi Story drives to the basket against a Richmond defender. Story’s offensive performance has made her a powerful asset to the Mountaineers this season.

BY MONICA CRAWFORD SPORTS REPORTER

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ophomore guard Madi Story has been a consistent player for the App State women’s basketball team since the beginning of the season, but in the past few weeks Story has proved just how important she is to the team. She had the best game of her young career against the Texas State Bobcats on Jan. 9 and has continued to be a force to be reckoned with for the Mountaineers in the month of January.

Story scored a career-high 31 points to help the Mountaineers earn a 90-71 victory over Texas State — the first time someone on the women’s team has scored 30 points at Holmes Convocation Center since Maryah Sydnor did so in 2014. Story also shot 11 for 15, a whopping 73.3 percent, from the floor, shot 8 of 13 from the charity stripe and was a lockdown defender on the opposite end of the floor.

“I thought it was a great performance for [Story],” head coach Angel Elderkin said. “She’s the type of player that brings her best effort every single day to practice, so to see her have that on the court was really exciting for our team.”

While the Mountaineers were unable to pick up a win in their games against Little Rock and Arkansas State, Story posted back-to-back double-digit scoring performances, shooting efficiently from the line and crashing the boards. In the Little Rock game, Story led the team with 12 points and shot 8 for 10 from the free throw line.

Story was also one of the top scorers in the Arkansas State game as well, notching 10 points.

On Thursday, Story provided another double-digit scoring performance, tallying 16 points. She also broke another career best, pulling in eight rebounds — seven of which came on the offensive end. Oh, and she dished out a team-high four assists in the 80-75 loss.

In just her second season, Story said that she has taken it upon herself to step up and be a leader for the team this year as a sophomore.

“I started off being point guard last year,” Story said. “I think since Maryah Sydnor was really our big leader last year, now we have to fill everything she gave us last year. So I need to step up.”

With just one full season under her belt as a Mountaineer, Elderkin said she has seen Story grow tremendously as a player and teammate, something that has manifested itself in the past two weeks. “[Story] has just made leaps and bounds,” Elderkin said. “I think that she has become much more consistent for us, and she’s become a scoring threat for us night in and night out. She’s also really been a defensive stopper for us always assigned to the other team’s best player. She just commits on every possession and gives it her best.”

With notable performances in the Delaware State University, University of North 8

Carolina at Chapel Hill and University of Richmond games, Story has been playing consistently all season long. She had a career high of 20 points in the Mountaineers’ game against Furman University that took place on Dec. 20, 2015, and then broke that record against Texas State. She hopes that this positive momentum will help her continue to make her statement as a key player for the team.

“I just need to build off of that and keep moving forward and not take a step back,” Story said.

According to Elderkin, with the intensity that Story is playing and practicing with now, she will play a key role in helping the Mountaineers fight their way through the rest of the Sun Belt schedule.

“We can just continue to see a better Madi Story every time she steps on the floor,” Elderkin said. “She really is our hardest worker, and she’s always looking at ways to improve her game. I hope that this will continue to give her confidence and that she’ll be able to build off of that and have the confidence to battle through this tough Sun Belt schedule.”

Justin Perry

S P O R T S

A NEW FACE

JASON O’KEEFE SELECTED AS NEW MEN’S SOCCER HEAD COACH

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ppalachian State men’s soccer will have a new face leading the charge this fall with the hiring of the 12th head coach in school history, Jason O’Keefe, a 16-year coaching veteran who was most recently an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

App State director of athletics Doug Gillin announced the decision last Wednesday and the press conference for new coach O’Keefe was held that Thursday where he met the media and student athletes for the first time.

“This transition period has not been easy on anybody but the student athletes have handled it gracefully,” Gillin said.

O’Keefe has been in the collegiate coaching business for a little over 15 years now. He began his career as an assistant coach at Greensboro College, his alma mater, where he earned a bachelor's in history and received a United States Soccer Federation “A” license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America advanced national diploma.

“I've envisioned this moment for 15 years and you guys, [media and student athletes], set a tone for what I can expect from App State and our athletic program of men’s soccer,” O’Keefe said.

O’Keefe was a student athlete himself at Greensboro and helped lead the Pride

BY JASON HUBER SPORTS REPORTER

to a 1996 South Region championship and the 1994 Dixie Conference title.

One of the main things Doug Gillin found in the hiring of O’Keefe was the well-polished resume he showed.

“We aspire to compete in the NCAA tournament. As we started looking for our next head coach, the four letters NCAA is something in coach O’Keefe’s bio quite a few times,” Gillin said. “That is somewhere we wanted to get back to and some of the history and success we have had here at App State.”

O’Keefe’s most crowning accomplishments have come over the last two years at UNC, where he helped the Tar Heels finish in the top 10 twice and helped recruit the current No. 1 class for 2016, according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.

“I was able to grow at UNC and develop and continue to build on my philosophy to prepare me for this day,” O’Keefe said.

But even without UNC on the resume, O'Keefe has flourished seemingly everywhere he's gone. As an assistant coach at Saint Louis from 2010-13, O'Keefe helped lead the Billikens to two Atlantic 10 Conference Championships in 2012 and 2013. The team was also ranked No. 1 in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region during those years. O'Keefe was named NSCAA's Mid-Atlantic Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2012 season, and in 2013 was tabbed as one of the top-15

Photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics

coaches in the nation by CollegeSoccerNews.com O'Keefe was also an assistant coach, and then associate coach, at Elon University from 2007-09, where he helped lead the Phoenix to their first regular season SoCon Championship in 2008. He also recruited Chris Thomas, the 2009 SoCon Freshman of the Year, as well as the 2010 and 2012 SoCon Player of the Year.

In his lone season at Cincinnati in 2006, O'Keefe helped lead the Bearcats to a Big East Conference Championship, their first in school history.

Appalachian State, arguably known for its football, has O’Keefe ready to try and make Mountaineers men’s soccer a sport to be talked about on campus. He said that he has already seen the word being spread in a positive way.

“People are writing, tweeting, posting and messaging about Appalachian State men’s soccer. We want to keep that momentum and give people positive things to write about,” O’Keefe said.

Possibly one of the most intriguing parts of coaching the Mountaineers for O’Keefe was hearing they have the highest GPA for male student athletes at App State.

“This is a big stepping point. I’ve never worked with a men’s soccer program that has the highest GPA on campus for male student athletes, so I am hoping to raise the bar even more,” O’Keefe said.

Communication, commitment, gratefulness, energy, caring and consistency are the main goals that O’Keefe continually mentioned as his vision and pillar for Mountaineer soccer.

“We want to compete for championships. We want to win everyday, compete everyday, one day at time,” O’Keefe said.

“It's not going to be built tomorrow but it will take consecutive days of hard work.”

He is hoping he will be able to show some of the current players traits that they may have never known they had before.

“I'm hoping that some of these guys have things inside of them that they had no idea was there and I can help them bring it out,” O’Keefe said.

Recruiting may not be O’Keefe’s main focus at the moment, but he knows once the process begins, he will be able to positively speak about Appalachian.

“Its an unbelievable campus and community," O'Keefe said. "The academics and relationships attract people.”

The brand of soccer for the Mountaineers is expected to change with O’Keefe at the helm, and with a foundation of hard work, O’Keefe said a winning brand is right around the corner.

“It's going to be a hard working, blue-collar brand [of soccer],” O'Keefe said. “You have to work unbelievably hard and it will be an evolution over the next few months.”

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O P I N I O N

MEDIA MUST STRESS THE CURRENT EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

THE ARTS CAN HELP US TALK ABOUT RACE MORE EFFECTIVELY

BY KEVIN GRIFFIN OPINION WRITER

BY LAUREN MERRILL OPINION WRITER

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ast week's East Coast blizzard received the enormous amount of media coverage that one would expect for an event of that magnitude, occurring in one of the most populated and prominent areas of the country.

However, the intense coverage paid to a massive weather event like this only underscores the mainstream media's problems with covering another nature-related story, likely the most important story of our time: climate change.

The need now is not just coverage that highlights the problem, but that makes the necessary connections to show people how climate change is already affecting their lives.

We are in an interesting time when most Americans profess a belief in climate change, but relatively few see it as a major problem.

A November ABC News-Washington Post poll found that 63 percent of Americans considered climate change a serious problem, a fall of 6 percent from the previous year.

In addition, the 47 percent of Americans who believed the federal government should be doing more also represented a drop from 2008 polling data.

While it is encouraging that many Americans believe in climate change and see it as problem, the fact that a notable minority does not means that we need to continue to find ways to hammer home the severity of the phenomenon.

A big part of the problem is that climate change is too often discussed in abstract terms that make it seem like a future problem, when in fact we are seeing our lives being affected by climate change right now.

The 2014 National Climate Assessment provides one of the most useful resources for seeing how climate change has already created problems for us, down to the regional and state level.

North Carolina is in the high range for states which have endured natural disasters causing more than $1 billion in damages between 1980 and 2012.

The state had between 36 and 44 of those incidents, according to the report.

The report takes a broad approach, showcasing how weather events like heat waves and flooding are having negative effects on agriculture, sea level and human health throughout the country.

All of these things are happening right now and while the effects are different for people in different areas, the evidence shows the effects to be real.

To convince more people of the urgency of climate change, we have to start talking more about what is already happening, and connecting current problems of extreme weather and human health challenges to climate change.

We have the data. It is up to our media to give this issue the right type of attention.

Griffin, a senior journalism major from Madison, is the opinion editor.

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he arts are one of the most universal, multi-medium languages that every culture has in common. It is important, especially for students who come into contact with people of other races on a daily basis, to learn how to talk about race in an open and understanding environment. This is why the arts play such an important role in the upcoming discussion about race.

Appalachian State will be recognizing Black History Month by using art to inspire conversations about race with a month-long event called "How We Talk About Race in 2016."

On Jan. 31 there will be a staged reading of “A Raisin in the Sun.” Later in February, there will be a production of “Clybourne Park,” according to Stageagent.

“A Raisin in the Sun” focuses on a family dealing with the issue of race by portraying a black mother who wants to purchase a home in a white neighborhood.

“Clybourne Park” spins off of this plot by having a white couple buy a home in an all black community, according to a summary from Stageagent.

As a student, both plays should be seen in order to understand the the similar race relations from different perspectives. Seeing that difference, what happened and how it was handled are important qualities in race that students should understand.

In the upcoming weeks, multiple classes around campus will also be studying both of the plays in advance to their showing.

By understanding the material as a story, it will be easier for students to perceive the themes and take away a substantial meaning from it.

Seeing the plays first-hand will help students feel like they are part of the characters lives in a way. They will be able to hone in on the emotion and relate on a personal level by witnessing how race personally impacts the characters' lives. It is easier to connect with a person's struggles when you see it unfolding right in front of you.

As part of this community, we all need to be a part of this event to not only understand, but to become emotionally connected.

Arts play a huge role in the upcoming month with how we, as students and members of this community, can talk about race. Many issues present themselves when it comes to the relationship between our campus and the plays being shown. Students need to take advantage of the upcoming artistic showings because it is a great way for promoting diversity.

Both plays will be shown at the Valborg Theater on campus. "A Raisin in the Sun" will be shown on Jan. 31, at 3 p.m. "Clybourne Park" will be shown Feb. 24-28. All of the showings will be at 7:30 p.m. except for the Feb. 28 showing, which will be at 2 p.m.

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

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 CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Nominations are being accepted for the W. H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion through Feb. 26 by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Development.

The W. H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion, named in honor of Dr. William H. Plemmons who served as the second president of the University from 1955 to 1969, was established by an action of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees in 1996.The award was created to recognize the time, energy, skills, and commitment of students, faculty, student development educators and staff who exceed their peers in providing leadership that enriches the quality of student life and advances the education of students.

Students and university employees are invited to nominate a student or university employee for this award. Nominations may be made in the following categories: 1. A student leader who has provided distinguished leadership above that of other student leaders.

2. A Student Development Educator within the Division of Student Development for meritorious leadership in his or her work to enrich the quality of student life and learning.

3. A member of the faculty who has provided meritorious leadership through his or her work with student clubs or organizations, or work that enriches the quality of student life and learning outside the classroom.

4. An employee of Appalachian State University who has provided meritorious leadership that has significantly enriched the quality of student life and learning outside of the classroom.

For more information, contact Dino DiBer-

nardi, Chair of the W. H. Plemmons Medallion Committee, at 262-2060 or Rita Wells at wellsrk@appstate.edu., 262-2060. You may also visit www.plemmonsmedallion.appstate.edu.

FINANCIAL AID INFO FAIR Will be held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 26-27, Plemmons Student Union. Members of the office team will be available to answer questions and provide info about topics related to Financial Aid.

SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK The awareness week is scheduled for April 11-16. The first planning committee meeting will be noon-1 p.m. Jan. 26, New River Room, PSU. All are welcome to attend. Those interested in planning an event should fill out a project proposal as soon as possible.

For information, email cavallaroe@appstate. edu.

LECTURE AND BOOK PARTY The TCVA Lecture Series: James Sturm and Student Book Party will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Turchin Center.

There will be a presentation on the history of the CCS by the school co-founder, faculty member and graphic novelist James Sturm, followed in the Mezzanine Gallery by a launch party for comic books drawn and written by Senior Art students last semester, in an Art Department class on comics that taught by Craig Fischer with Vicky Grube. Everyone at the event will

be given a batch of these student comics.

SUCCULENT PLANT SALE The sale will be 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 29, Biology Department Greenhouse/Conservatory, 211 Dale St. Proceeds support greenhouse education and operation efforts. Prices start at $1. Cash or checks only.

The one-day sale will feature hundreds of popular, easy care succulents, all grown by student volunteers. Succulents are sun lovers that like to dry out between watering. They also tolerate cool winter windowsills, and grow slowly so need repotting only infrequently.

Contact meyerja@appstate.edu or 828-2624025.

walk-ins are accepted. Appointments can be made by calling 828-262-3144 or by visiting writingcenter.appstate.edu.

FREE LEGAL ADVICE The Student Legal Clinic, in suite 324 in Plemmons Student Union, offers confidential advice, information, and referrals provided by a licensed attorney.

The attorney can meet with any currently enrolled Appalachian State student and can advise students on any issue that is not directly adverse to the university.

Make an appointment by calling 828-2628284. More information at legalclinic.appstate. edu.

PLANT PARENTHOOD

FREE GUIDED MEDITATION

The ASU Biology Department is offering a free class on the vegetative propagation of tropical plants. The class will be 9:30-11 a.m. Jan. 30, in the Biology Greenhouse, 211 Dale St. This class is part of the “High Country Gardening” gardening series offered by greenhouse manager ‘Captain’ Jerry Meyer. The concepts discussed, using tropicals for demonstration, can also be applied to outdoor plants.

The class will include a brief tour of the conservatory, which now boasts 1,000 species of tropical, subtropical, and temperate plants from around the world.

Held noon-12:30 p.m. in Attic Window (room 137C), PSU. Hosted by Wellness and Prevention Services. No meditation experience necessary. Drop-ins welcome.

Benefits of meditation can include a decrease in anxiety and stress, an increase in emotional stability and creativity, increased ability to focus and concentrate, lower blood pressure, a decrease in tension related pain, and improved immune system.

TUTORING CENTER OPEN

The University Writing Center (room 008 in Belk Library) will be open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, during spring semester. Both appointments and

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. For more information about the services offered, go to lap.appstate. edu/tutoring.

WRITING CENTER OPEN

TUESDAY, JAN. 26

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27

THURSDAY, JAN. 28

FRIDAY, JAN. 29

Make Your Own Mug

“Goldfinger” screening (1964) 7 p.m.

Greenbriar, PSU $1

Food Services Behind the Scenes Tour

Ellis Dyson and the Shambles

11 a.m.

MacRae Peak, room 137, PSU Free

Street Eats

TCVA Lecture Series: James Sturm

11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Park Place, Trivette Dining Hall

7 p.m.

Turchin Center Free

The Appalachian Interest Meeting

2:30 p.m.

Roess Dining Hall Free

“Trumbo” screening 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

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

9 p.m.

Legends $4-$6

“Trumbo” screening 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

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

6:30 p.m.

The Appalachian, room 217, PSU Free

INTAPP Recruitment

SATURDAY, JAN. 30

SUNDAY, JAN. 31

“Trumbo” screening

Hunter Cox Student Piano Recital

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

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

2 p.m.

Recital Hall Free

8 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall Free

Initial spring deadline for The Peel Literature & Arts Review

INTAPP Recruitment

“Goldfinger” screening (1964)

5:30 p.m. room 421, Belk Library Free

11:59 p.m.

Submit at https://thepeelreview.submittable.com/ submit

7 p.m.

Greenbriar, PSU $1

MONDAY, FEB. 1

TUESDAY, FEB. 2 Faculty Potpourri Recital

7:30 p.m. room 114, Belk Library Free

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289 Ambling Way, Boone, NC 28607

(828)263-0100

www.universityhighlands.com