Issuu

FEB.

16 2017

CAPTURING APP STATE PAGES 8-9

TEXTBOOK RENTAL FEES RAISE PAGE 4

C. SHREVE, THE RAPPING PROFESSOR PAGE 7

OPED: THE SCIENCE OF LOVE PAGE 14

Feb. 9, 2017

THE TEAM Carl Blankenship @carl_r_blank EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EDITORIAL MULTIMEDIA BUSINESS

Aleah Warner @aleahwarner MANAGING EDITOR Victoria Haynes @victoriahayness CHIEF COPY EDITOR Sammy Hanf @sammyhanf NEWS EDITOR

Jacob Oller @ollerifyouhearme BUSINESS MANAGER Jordan Boles @jorddb MARKETING DIRECTOR

Halle Keighton @halle_keighton PHOTO EDITOR Maleek Loyd @maleekstuff VIDEO EDITOR Braxton Coats @brxcoats22 WEB MANAGER

Katie Murawski @murawskikm A&E EDITOR Jason Huber @_jasonhuber SPORTS EDITOR

Sydney Spann @spannooo VISUAL MANAGING EDITOR

Olivia Wilkes @theappalachian ADVISER

Angelo Errico @angeloerrico821 OPINION EDITOR Lee Sanderlin @lee_sanderlin ENTERPRISE EDITOR

CRIME LOG CAMPUS FEB. 13

FEB. 9

7 a.m. | Vandalism Peacock Hall Parking Lot Leads Exhausted

4:55 p.m. | Vandalism Rivers Street West Tunnel Leads exhausted

FEB. 13

FEB. 8

12:30 p.m. | Larceny Garwood Hall Further investigation

12:49 a.m. | Vandalism Peacock Hall Leads exhausted

FEB. 12

FEB. 6

11:00 p.m. | Possession of Marijuana Hardin Street Cleared by arrest

11:30 a.m. | Possible sexual assault Campus Residence Hall Further investigation

FEB. 11

FEB. 5

12:30 p.m. | DWI Intersection of Hill Street and Rivers Street Cleared by arrest

1 a.m. | Possession of Marijuana Cone Hall Cleared by arrest

FEB. 9

FEB. 4

8:07 p.m. | Underage Possession of Alcohol Cannon Hall Further investigation

9:10 p.m. | DWI - Alcohol and/or Drugs Rivers Street Cleared by arrest

SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

WHAT TO DO STUDENT MEDIA LEADER APPLICATIONS Applications for 2017-18 editor-in-chief of The Appalachian student newspaper, editor-in-chief of The Peel Literature and Arts Review and business manager of The Appalachian are now available on The Appalachian and The Peel AppSync portals under “forms.” Applications are due Mar. 10. Email wilkeso@appstate.edu for any questions or concerns.

APPALACHIAN STORY SLAM A Story Slam is an open mic storytelling competition in which participants are randomly chosen to tell a story that fits the theme in five minutes. Our theme this winter is “Love Hurts.” The Slam will begin at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16, at Crossroads in Plemmons Student Union. Because names are chosen randomly you might not get to perform. Arrive before 7 p.m. and respond to the call for volunteers. The Slam will be hosted by Ray Christian, ASU adjunct professor and host of the new history/current affairs podcast, “What’s Ray Saying?” Ray Christian is also an award-winning storyteller whose stories have been heard live on stages, podcasts and radio across the country, including the NPR shows The Moth and Snap Judgement and at the National Storytelling Festival Story Slam in Jonesborough, Tennessee. This event is sponsored by the Creative Writing Program. For info, contact Susan Weinberg: weinbergsc@appstate.edu.

professional staff and graduate students from a variety of backgrounds. They are experienced leaders and are passionate about coaching our next generation of great leaders. Leadership can take place in the classroom, in campus clubs and organizations, in the community or in the workplace. Any ASU student who is currently in a leadership role or is interested in enhancing their leadership abilities is eligible! Please complete the AppSync form to express your interest in Leadership Coaching. If you have questions about Leadership Coaching, please contact Dr. Jim Street at streetjl@ appstate.edu.

APPLY TO BE APPALCORPS LEADER Calling all Mountaineers! The last day to apply to be an Appol Corps leader is fast approaching! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow as a leader, positively impact the lives of new Mountaineers and make lasting friendships and memories as an Appol Corps leader. Submit your application and reference by Thursday, February 16 and don’t forget to sign up for an interview (in DD Dougherty lobby) by 5 p.m. that day as well! Interviews will be conducted February 20-23 from 4-9 p.m. We are looking for passionate, motivated Mountaineers who want to help welcome new students to our wonderful campus. Sign up and secure your interview time today! http://appstateorientation. wixsite.com/appolcorps

on a concept called “Lollipop Moments.” Each of us does things on a regular basis that impacts others, either positively or negatively. Have you ever allowed yourself to really take notice of the good you have done for others? Participants of this workshop will be able to recognize the impact they have had on others, learn to appreciate and value the impact they have had on others and recognize that it is not bragging and start the process of paying it forward to those who have had a positive impact on them. Snacks and drinks will be provided. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Crystal Weisner of the Center for Academic Excellence at weisnercm@appstate.edu or ext 3040. The workshop will take place Feb. 20 from 10-11 a.m. in Hubbard Room 222 of Anne Belk Hall.

STUDY ABROAD The Education Abroad Office is still accepting applications for 2017 Appalachian faculty-led programs as well as summer/fall/academic year partner programs. For more information about program options, deadlines, and how to get started please visit the Education Abroad web page at https://international.appstate.edu/ education-abroad.

W.H. PLEMMONS MEDALLION NOMINATIONS

Mrs. Heather Lippard of the Learning Assistance Program will be offering a workshop for faculty and staff that will focus on the value of recognizing your own good deeds and the good in others through an interactive activity based

The W. H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion, named in honor of Dr. William H. Plemmons who served as the second president of the University from 1955-69, 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

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

FRIDAY, FEB. 17

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

Resume Clinic

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Contact Tables, PSU

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Screening

Social Justice Coffee Hour: The R-Word

Black Students, Faculty & Staff Mixer

LEADERSHIP COACH Leadership coaching is an opportunity for you to define your current skills and enhance your leadership ability. You will meet one-on-one with your Leadership Coach on a weekly or bi-weekly basis for one hour. Our coaches are

LOLLIPOP MOMENTS

5 - 7 p.m. Room 421, Belk Library

7 - 9 p.m. Parkway Ballroom, PSU

Appalachian Story Slam

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Screening

7 p.m. Crossroads, PSU

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Screening

development educators and staff who exceed their peers in providing leadership that enriches the quality of student life and advances the education of students. Nominations for this award will be accepted through Feb. 17 by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Development. Nominations can be submitted electronically at https://plemmonsmedallion.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.

CAREERFEST CareerFest is Appalachian State University’s largest and most comprehensive career event. Serving students and alumni of all majors and skills, the event is host to many companies, non-profits, healthcare and government agencies that are ready to network with students and introduce them to valuable internship and job opportunities. The event will take place March 1 from 1-5 p.m. in Holmes Convocation Center. For more info visit AppSync.

SUNDAY, FEB. 19

7 and 9:40 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

Second Chance Prom 8 - 11 p.m. Solarium, PSU

MONDAY, FEB. 20

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 22

THURSDAY, FEB. 23

Lollipop Moments 10 - 11 a.m. Classroom 222, Anne Belk Hall

Resume Clinic

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Contact Tables, PSU

Resume Clinic

Free Tax Help

“The Edge of Seventeen” Screening

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Contact Tables, PSU

5 - 7 p.m. Room 4015, Peacock Hall

7 and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

Guided Meditation

“Audrie and Daisy” Screening

12 - 1 p.m. Wellness and Prevention Services Conference Room

5 p.m. Greenbriar Theatre, PSU

Animal Welfare Club Meeting - Make Birdfeeders! 5 - 7 p.m. Watauga River, PSU

Battle of the Bands 9 p.m. Legends $3 advance, $4 door & non-students

Feb. 16, 2017

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT RETURNS TO APPALACHIAN STATE AFTER TRAVEL BAN STAYED SAMMY HANF NEWS EDITOR

resident Donald

Trump’s January travel ban sparked protests across the country before it was stayed by a federal appeals court. The order suspended visas for anyone with a travel document from seven Muslim-majority countries. Ahmad Al Homsi, a junior creative writing major at Appalachian State, was stuck in the United Arab Emirates due to this provision. Al Homsi said he went to the UAE due to a family emergency and heard about the ban while he was on the plane. Once in the UAE, he said family matters took precedence over his ability to re-enter the U.S. for the first few days, but when he attempted to return his Syrian passport precluded his ability to buy a ticket to America. Al Homsi said he was able to return on Feb. 5, but not before he spent several days fruitlessly trying. When he first heard about the ban Al Homsi said he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to return. “When they told me I couldn’t return I was like, ‘OK then, I don’t want to anymore,’ but my brother he kept insisting and he took me to the airport every single day and we would try every day,” Al Homsi said. Finally he heard the ban had been lifted, so he went to the airport but most airlines refused to sell him a ticket because they had not heard official word of the change. He eventually found an airline that let him buy a ticket at his own risk but was stopped by a U.S. customs officer who told him he hadn’t heard about the ban being lifted. “To be honest it completely depends on the officer themselves because some of them, they were hateful and disrespectful but some of them, like when I was coming back the officer when she

saw my papers and saw that I was Syrian she told me welcome back home and then she said I’m sorry for everything that had happened to me,” Al Homsi said. Al Homsi said he tried to explain he had to get back to the U.S. for school, but it fell on deaf ears and he ended up missing that flight. Two hours later Al Homsi got a call from the airline and was told the ban was officially lifted, but had to buy another ticket to return. Al Homsi said when he finally managed to get on a plane to the U.S. all he really wanted to do was sleep. “When I came back my friends were like, ‘aren’t you angry, aren’t you mad?’ and I’m like I’ve been mad for ten years you know,” Al Homsi said. “It’s too late to be mad, I got numb to it.” During the period of uncertainty before the stay was issued, Al Homsi said he was in close contact with the Office of International Education and Development, who provided him with up to date information from different government agencies and helped to accommodate his absence from classes. “We want them to be able to make the most well-informed and complete decision based on the total package of information that they have available,” Adam Julian, director of International Student and Scholar Services & Outreach, said. Al Homsi said most of his professors were very understanding about his situation. “It was funny telling my teachers because like no one had any idea when the ban would be lifted so we tried to see if I could take my classes online and we tried that but thank god I came back,” Al Homsi said.

Junior Ahmad Al Homsi. Al Homsi could not reenter the country during the travel ban. Chancellor Everts said in a statement that Appalachian’s international students greatly enrich the campus and that administration will continue to dedicate their energy to ensure their safety and well-being. Al Homsi said that while he’s happy to see people protesting Trump’s travel ban, but he feels that people were ignoring the issue before. “The ban is not a new thing, the ban was there a long time ago it’s just that now it became official, because before if you’re Syrian or Iraqi or whatever it’s really really hard to get a visa from the start,” Al Homsi said. “There was a ban before but it was in a different form.” Al Homsi said he believes he was allowed in the country on a student visa because he was born in the UAE, not Syria. “My brother applied maybe three times and he got rejected every single

time and they would tell him because you’re Syrian,” Al Homsi said. Al Homsi said that while he does not support Trump or his policies, he’s almost thankful that his bluster and ineptitude have brought popular attention to U.S. immigration policy. Al Homsi said at the end of the day he was not as negatively affected by the ban as many others were and hopes this is the last of it for their sake. “I just hope he doesn’t do the ban again because maybe I wasn’t affected, but like I told you, I know a lot of Iraqis and Iranians and they’re not as privileged as me and it was really bad for them,” Al Homsi said. Al Homsi said that he still loves Boone and is happy to be back home. “I was really happy when I got back, I wasn’t happy to come back to Trump’s country but I was happy to come back to Boone,” Al Homsi said.

APP STATE TO INCREASE TEXTBOOK RENTAL FEE BEN SESSOMS NEWS REPORTER

he textbook rental fee will see its first

increase since 2013, jumping from $140 per semester to $148 by May 2018, according to bookstore director Lorraine Childers. The textbook rental program allows students to pay a flat fee every semester that covers the cost of textbooks available for rental. This allows students to save a

substantial amount on textbooks each semester, Childers said. Childers said the fee increase is due to increased textbook prices and a new option given to students that allow them to opt out of the rental program. “We have to be able to cover our costs if there is a percentage of students who choose to drop out,” Childers said. Childers said the ability to opt out was federally mandated by the Department of Education on July 1, 2016 to

allow students to seek more competitive pricing. Most of the students who opt out are studying abroad or taking internships, Childers said. Childers could not answer how many students would have to opt out for the program to be inoperable, but said that they were nowhere near that point. Along with the fee increase due in the coming semesters, online access codes lost coverage under the program

beginning Fall 2016, Childers said. Vice chancellor for business affairs, Paul Forte, spoke highly of the program. It is a great program and he doesn’t foresee its future existence to be in any kind of jeopardy, he said. “I really feel like the rental program is extremely beneficial to students, and it is the best value or one of the best values in the tuition that students pay,” Childers said. “We work very hard to see that we keep those prices low.”

Courtesy Felipe Gomez

Feb. 16, 2017

BEST DISSERTATION HALIE HAMILTON NEWS REPORTER

aroline Federal, a

2012 Appalachian State anthropology alumna, was awarded Best Dissertation in the Masters of Science in Comparative Politics program at the London School of Economics. Federal won the award for her thesis, “Mind the Gap: Gender in National Elections in Varieties of Capitalism.” “I have been interested in politics most of my life, my parents always encouraged us to be civil participants,” Federal said. “Politics control our life, that encouraged me to get more involved in it.” Tim Smith, App State’s Department

Name

of Anthropology chair, said Federal’s thesis was exciting in its ability to bring together political science and anthropology. “What makes her dissertation topic unique is that she was bringing a sociocultural eye to the study of voting trends, patterns in electoral politics as they pertain to gender disparities in western nations,” Smith said. After graduating from Appalachian state with an undergraduate degree in anthropology, Federal was selected as an Americas Program Intern at the Carter Center. Federal wrote briefings for Carter and senior staff, one of which was for the Colombian Peace

Conference. Federal then moved to New York where she was an intern for Clinton Global Initiative and was later hired on as a logistics coordinator. Federal said she was drawn to the Clinton Foundation because of her admiration for Hillary Clinton. She also volunteered for her presidential campaign. From there she went on to graduate school at the London School of Economics. “I knew I was going to do something with gender and political economy going into the program,” Federal said. Now, Federal works at MIT in Cam-

bridge, Massachusetts at the Solve Initiative, where she works to make sure innovative solutions to global issues are met with the resources necessary to make them a reality. Federal started off as an international business major at UNC Charlotte but decided to change her major and transfer to Appalachian due to an eye-opening experience in her freshman seminar. “It is a huge success story that can demonstrate to students and future students that there are multiple pathways to measuring success and the degree to which students can make use of their undergraduate training,” Smith said.

Feb. 16, 2017

Signs and protestors from the march on Saturday. Signs voiced grievances over reproductive rights, police brutality, healthcare, representation in state and federal government, and other issues.

APPALACHIAN STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN MORAL MARCH SAMMY HANF NEWS EDITOR

housands marched on down-

town Raleigh for the North Carolina NAACP’s 11th annual Moral March. Among them were Appalachian students and Watauga residents bussed down by the Watauga NAACP Chapter. Todd Carter, Watauga County NAACP president, said the county was well represented at the Moral March, with 40 students and close to 150 people overall. “I was emboldened to be marching

side by side with community members ages 14 to 84,” Carter said via email. “The unconstitutional tyranny being inflicted upon us in Raleigh and D.C. must not go unchallenged. As Rev. Barber extolled from the stage, ‘Bowing down is not an option, we must stand up and stand together.’” Nick Colebaugh, a Watauga NAACP intern, said via email that he will never forget his experience standing in solidarity with other students and protesters. “It gave me a sense of pride for

standing up against political injustices,” Colebaugh said via email. “Reverend Barber’s words served as a call for everyone to make themselves heard and to stand up, not down, when our rights are being threatened.” The News and Observer reported that organizers of the event did not have a precise headcount, but said there were more in attendance than for any previous year. Speakers articulated a vision of resistance against Republican domination in Washington and Raleigh, with

healthcare and immigration being recurring themes. Calls for repeal of the controversial HB2, also known as the “bathroom bill,” were also prominent. Rev. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP, said in his address to the marchers that a dangerous extremism has taken over our government and that it must be resisted. “Bowing down is not an option,” Barber said. “Standing down is not an option. The guy in the White House is a mortal, not a god.”

Carl Blankenship

Feb. 16, 2017

C. SHREVE THE RAPPING PROFESSOR

C. Shreve the Professor is the founder of the hip-hop collective Free the Optimus and a senior lecturer at Appalachian State University. MAKAELAH WALTERS A&E REPORTER

estled in the back

of a classroom at the Holmes Convocation Center is the office of Christopher Shreve. He is a senior lecturer in the Health and Physical Education Department by day, and an underground rapper, C. Shreve the Professor, by night. Shreve has been rapping original material since he was around 22 years old. His background in sports exposed him to hip-hop and rap early on. Shreve said before he was a rapper he was just a fan. “I played sports pretty heavily through college and when that was over I felt like I needed to do something to not be a jock,” Shreve said. “I was always a fan of Tupac and various artists. I could recite a Biggie verse but I didn’t have any original material, so I decided to try my hand at it.” Growing up, Shreve felt like an outsider to the world of hip-hop and rap. It seemed as if rapping was not something he could aspire to do. Now 35, with a wife and a 6-year-old son, Shreve is able to make music how and when he wants. “Our generation, being a ‘90s kid, it didn’t seem as accessible,” Shreve said. “I never thought I could be a rapper. It was always me on the outside looking in.” Shreve said he still has to try and stay in the loop when it comes to new artists. “I can’t keep up with everyone who’s making music because it’s a constant surge coming through, but I find value from Chance [the Rapper] all the way back to Rakim,” Shreve said. Shreve was 15 years old when Tupac and Biggie died. He said he tries not to be the old guy that doesn’t embrace the new. “I have some young rappers I work

Courtesy

with that really stay on what’s new and they know everything that’s new and really try to put me on to it all,” Shreve said. For Shreve, keeping up with every artist fresh on the scene takes a backseat to carving out a space for making his own beats and crafting his own music, something which he said good friends and the internet have allowed him to do. “I watched in ‘05 as YouTube kind of exploded,” Shreve said. “You started to see people take the internet and run with it.” Shreve said he had a close friend who pushed him to freestyle every day because of the conception that you need to be a rapper in the closet for a while, so after two or three years of just writing, Shreve figured himself out. Because of this, Shreve happened to be caught in the midst of a resurgence of the indie approach to making rap music. Shreve released his first online project in 2009. “It worked out well for me,” Shreve said. “I was right behind that wave and I saw how you could create your own momentum using Soundcloud and BandCamp and various modern things to do it yourself.” Shreve admits that he thought releasing his mixtape in 2009 would, “scratch the itch” he had to put out some music. “When we had [my son], it was the ultimate creative stimulator,” Shreve said. “To see a little child see the floor for the first time or a tree made my art brain work, and I’ve pumped out music ever since then.” Now having access to real producers and a home studio in his basement, Shreve has been able to move away from rapping over Lil Wayne or Snoop Dogg

instrumentals and onto larger projects. “I’ve found my own voice and made connections with producers and since then it’s been all original beats and all original music,” Shreve said. Shreve said the only struggle from here was figuring out what it was he wanted to use his voice to say. He realized that part of being C. Shreve the Professor is teaching. “People like it as a joke, but it’s part of what my angle is,” Shreve said. “I teach health promotion and a lot of public health is about being socially conscious and recognizing disparities, and making action steps toward creating equality in places where it’s not.” Shreve rationalizes living the life of both a professor and rapper to his students by explaining to them the fundamentals of hip-hop. “The ‘hip’ is to be hip to your surroundings,” Shreve said. “That’s why I teach them the stats of what’s going on in their world. And the ‘hop’ is the action, the preventative action plans that we put in place to deal with it, whether it’s obesity or police brutality, it’s a little tricky.” Shreve, averaging 60 shows a year, tours with Free The Optimus, a hip-hop collective based out of Asheville, North Carolina. FTO consists of C.Shreve the Professor, DJ Jet and Mike Greene, who DJ’s under the name DJ Mike L!VE and Good Shep. Greene described their relationship as a brotherhood and said that they value each other’s talents and capabilities. Greene has known Shreve since 2013 when they met after a show. “He’s a great friend. His music is very passionate, bold and authentic,” Greene said. FTO has taken their music all over

the East Coast, from New York to New Orleans. “If I was to plot out FTO as a goal for myself, I’d love for rap to be enough to literally free me from my job. I’d lie if I said that’s not part of the goal,” Shreve said. Shreve said that he also has to remind himself to be realistic. “I have to ask myself ‘what does success mean?’ If I never blow up, does that mean I’m unsuccessful?” he said. Shreve said that the remedy to a single that doesn’t blow up or a video that doesn’t go viral will always be to just write another one. Shreve’s new album “Twenty Sixteens” was released in May 2016. FTO’s first release of the new year is a music video for “Catacombs,” the fifth track on that album. Greene said he is a big fan of the metaphors Shreve used to reference Michael Jordan. Greene said he really loves the beat and the opening line. “The particular style he uses the first line is usually the hook, and you won’t know until the end,” Greene said. “Even if he’s not saying the most profound thing, it really sticks.” Alyssa Nardi, a senior actuarial science major, describes the track as cool and fun. Nardi has taken three of Shreve’s courses even though they are not required in her major, something that speaks to how great Shreve is at his work. “He talks to students on a level that they can understand, and it just makes sense that he is a rapper,” Nardi said. Shreve’s music can be found on Spotify, YouTube and Bandcamp.

Feb. 16, 2017

F/STOP CAPTURES APPALACHIAN STATE CELIA CALHOUN A&E REPORTER

n the first and

third Monday of each month, commercial photography majors, minors and photography enthusiasts gather in Katherine Harper Room 121 for an F/stop meeting. F/stop is a part of the commercial photography major, and is open to anyone interested in learning more about photography, regardless of their major. “It’s an extension of the commercial photo program,” Kristen Brown, a sophomore commercial photography major, said. “It’s open to majors, professionals, whatever level you’re on. It’s kind of like a learning

experience and a way to get into knowing the business of photography.” Throughout the year, the club hosts and participates in a wide variety of activities ranging from listening to a guest speaker to taking photographs in a campus wide scavenger hunt. “It’s always different things,” Sam Cooper, a senior commercial photography major, said. “We don’t have a set activity that we do [or] the same thing every week. It’s always changing.” F/stop is also commissioned to take pictures three times a year at campus and town events. Members take headshots at CareerFest in Holmes Convocation Center and photograph kids in Halloween costumes and with the

Easter bunny at Boone Mall. “At the bunny shoot at Easter, we go to the Boone Mall and one of us dresses up in the bunny costume and do the typical ‘go to the mall and take your picture with the Easter bunny,’” Cooper said. Brown and sophomore commercial photography major Abigail Wallis agreed that their favorite memory from the club thus far was seeing National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry’s work at a gallery in Hickory last year. “I loved Steven McCurry because I’ve never seen his stuff in person,” Wallis said. “I’ve always loved his stuff, but seeing it in person is totally

different and that was really cool.” Brown said she has always been a huge fan of McCurry’s work and agreed that seeing it in person was a great experience. “Getting to see his huge prints was awesome,” Brown said. “We just went in two cars and it was so much fun getting to hang out and grab coffee.” Another event Brown, Cooper and Wallis enjoyed was going to the Greenway Trail one night and lighting it up using speed lights the club rented. “I just thought it was fun that there were a bunch of these photography students running around like crazy taking pictures and just having

Members of the F/Stop Club, Darbey Younce and Sam Cooper, strike a pose at the annual Halloween Shoot in Boone Mall.

Courtesy

Feb. 16, 2017

fun in the middle of the night on the Greenway,” Cooper said. Although the club did not have many meetings last semester, they hope to hold more this coming semester. “Last semester we weren’t able to do a lot of meetings or a lot of photo stuff,” Wallis said. “I think this semester we are trying to plan a lot of fun things.” F/stop is focusing on working with astrophotography and drone photography this semester with the help of two professors in the commercial photography department. Along with those two main events, F/stop is planning smaller

activities for their other meetings. They are going to create a bulletin board in Katherine Harper Hall with photographers who inspire them and watch short films that Appalachian State graduates have created. F/stop is also thinking about doing another gallery visit and getting another guest speaker to come talk to them. “The club is changing this semester,” Cooper said. Brown and Wallis think that F/stop is a great place to learn different photography skills and practice. “You have people there who are older than you, who have gone through more of the program and love photography too,” Brown said. “You learn so

much from going to the meetings and doing the activities. It’s not the type of club where you have to go to every meeting to be involved. You can go to a few of the events a year and still learn so much.” Wallis has enjoyed being a part of F/ stop because it has allowed her to learn new photography skills and practice even though she was unable to take any commercial photography classes this semester. “Even though I don’t get the chance to do stuff during class, this club gives me a way to shoot and get out there,” Wallis said. As a commercial photography major, Cooper said that she does not get to

work on personal projects very much and that the club allows her to take pictures outside of assignments. “I kind of feel like the club adds that fun aspect sometimes,” Cooper said. F/stop also provides a space for photography majors and enthusiasts to get to know each other. “It’s a good way to make friends within the program and not in the program and just in general I think,” Cooper said. F/stop costs $5 a semester to join and the club meets on the first and third Monday of every month in Katherine Harper Room 122 at 7:30 p.m.

(Top) One of the F/Stop members poses in the bunny suit for the club’s annual Easter Bunny Shoot at Boone Mall. Parents bring their kids for Easter photos and students get experience at a real shoot with clients and studio equipment. (Bottom) F/Stop’s first meeting of the semester was held on Feb. 6. They meet every first and third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in Katherine Harper Room 122.

Courtesy and Olivia Lepard

Feb. 16, 2017

RECKLESS ARTS PROVIDES STUDENT ARTISTS WITH SPACE

Hannah Malone and Sara Scott pose in front of one of Malone’s eight feet figure paintings. Malone is a junior studio art major and the director of residents at Reckless Arts. MAKAELAH WALTERS A&E REPORTER

oticing that Boone

was lacking in creative spaces for artists and musicians, three students founded Reckless Arts, a nonprofit music and arts residency program dedicated to the sustainability of art in society. Reckless Arts, located on King Street, opened Jan. 1. Sara Scott, a sophomore history major, Hannah Malone, a junior studio art major and Zach Reck, a philosophy major, founded Reckless Arts and have been working to mold it into the institution they imagined. The original vision for Reckless Arts has been evolving since its opening. “Whenever we formatted what this place could be, we just saw it as another art gallery, but it quickly became more than that,” Scott said. After seeing the way that young artists in the community quickly gravitated toward Reckless, Malone, Reck and Scott decided to shift their goals. Scott, who is the executive director of Reckless Arts, said the response was overwhelming. “We have decided that this is our goal now: to provide an inclusive, creative space for people, particularly young people, to grow as artists,” Scott said. “Everything Reckless Arts does is a facilitator. We’re just giving people the space.” The immediate positive response from the community speaks to the desperate need for spaces like this in Boone, Scott said. She said she has always seen the need for somewhere special for creative people to express themselves in the ways they choose, and though there are other places to do that in Boone, they can be expensive. “Starving artist is, unfortunately, a very true stereotype, but there’s so much talent in this community that needs to be seen,” Scott said. For that reason, both Scott and

Malone said that it is important that Reckless is affordable. Thus, Reckless Arts is overseen by a board of several volunteers and only one employee, as opposed to a full paid staff. The board is important in making decisions more democratic and ensuring that young people who are artists and visionaries can volunteer their time if they want to. “As a nonprofit, we have the option to do that,” Scott said. “If we’re a business no one is gonna do that. No one’s gonna volunteer their time if they aren’t being paid.” John Pipes, a local professional artist along with Bob and Joann Harmon, the owners of the building, are the only non-millennial board members, something Scott said makes Reckless Arts unique from any other program on the East Coast. “We are founded and mostly run by millennials so we have very millennial ideas about how we want to operate,” Scott said. A reflection of the ideas of a generation, Reckless Arts functions very much on the principles of accessibility and affordability. Reckless Arts is open to anyone at any time and offers opportunities to that are vital to an artist’s career at an affordable rate. “My personal experience is that other spaces are very closed and more exclusive and intimidating,” Malone said. “We are always open and there’s always art up on the walls.” Not only is this mindset a reflection of the millennial minds who run the gallery, but it also makes Reckless Arts more sustainable. “We’re 100 percent sustained on the residencies of the artists who create here, ” Scott said. “We don’t need to host events or sell art to be open and give people a space to create.” In this way, Reckless Arts continues to give more opportunities to more people.

Sophomore art and visual culture major Sami Desotelle is one of six artists who are a part of Reckless Arts’ residency program. When Desotelle first visited Reckless Arts, her intention was not to become one of the residents. “I just walked in one day,” Desotelle said. “I knew it was a gallery before, but I didn’t know it had been turned over to Reckless.” Desotelle is currently working on a collection of five pieces that will eventually be displayed in the gallery. Working with Reckless Arts as a notfor-profit entity has allowed Desotelle to work at her own pace and has given her more autonomy over the way she produces her art. “A lot of galleries are very particular about what they put up, and that censors an artist,” Desotelle said. “As students we should be encouraged and Reckless is a format that provides for that need.” Desotelle’s collection portrays several different women with blue hair. She said the art is meant to be calming and reflect a time of renewal or moving on. Reckless Arts is working with Jeana Klein, an art professor at App State, to lend its space to students who are graduating from App’s art program. These exhibitions can serve as a trial run for senior exhibitions. “It’s the first time a lot of us will be able to do that,” Malone said. Had she asked for opportunities like this elsewhere, other galleries would laugh at her because she is so young, Malone said. A student and artist herself, Malone is using the space to find herself as an artist away from the expectations from the university. One of Malone’s more abstract paintings hangs behind Reckless Arts’ coffee bar. Upstairs, Malone occupies one of the studios that residents use to work on their art. Malone’s space is small and mostly taken up by an 8-foot figure

painting she has been working on. “I’m a bit of an interdisciplinary artist, but I’m a painter at heart and I’m also a fibers artist. I do a little bit of everything,” Malone said. Reckless Arts provides a space for an array of arts, including visual arts, music and dance. Scott said they are very open to the idea of a night for salsa dancing or yoga. Malone said they have blues dance nights every Thursday 9-11:30 p.m. Scott said Reckless Arts’ music residency program can be one of the harder concepts for people to understand, but what it entails is a practice space and music recording capabilities for musicians. “The musicians that pretty much exclusively play here in our house band for our gallery events are also our residents, so they have opportunities for performance as well,” Scott said. Because music is essential to selling art and vice versa, Scott said it’s vital that Reckless Arts incorporate both and it’s a “magical combination.” “We work better together than apart,” Malone said. Reckless Arts will be hosting several events in the future including open mics, figure drawing and “beer and schmear,” where participants paint using Ramen Noodles. “Beer and schmear is basically what would you do when you were drunk to create art,” Malone said. Reckless wants to remain geared toward teaching new processes for creating. Every event they host is inhouse, which means they are taught by the residents. “We definitely consider ourselves an institution,” Scott said. “We’re working together and learning from each other all the time and we want to continue to do that for the community.” Reckless Arts currently has 13 residents and looks forward to working to expand its program beyond Boone.

Lindsay Vaughn

Feb. 16, 2017

THE RETURN OF A HEALTHY BRIAN BAUK MICHAEL PIGG SPORTS REPORTER

ith the hiring

of head coach Kermit Smith, the Appalachian State baseball team is hoping for a new culture. But one thing that the Mountaineers hope to remain the same is senior Brian Bauk’s energy, which he has brought to practice and games for the last three years. A career .231 hitter, Bauk has 78 career hits, 32 career RBIs and 16 stolen bases to solidify himself as an MLB prospect. Now in his last year, Bauk hopes to use this as motivation to not let anything slip away. “Last year waking up at six in the morning, you hated it, but looking back at it, I took it for granted,” Bauk said. “Even practicing in the snow on some days, I am going to wake up and miss this. I just want to go out there and have one more good year.” The Mountaineers are hoping Bauk finishes off his career with another strong season. As of now he will be hitting in the cleanup spot and primarily playing right field, though nothing is officially finalized, Smith said. Last year, Bauk took on roles that he wasn’t used to. The Mountaineers used him as a relief pitcher, something Bauk wasn't comfortable with. “Brian is extremely competitive. If we ask him to do anything, he is going to do it because he wants to win,” assistant coach Justin Aspegren said. “This year we are keeping him at right field so we expect a more productive Bauk.” Bauk has the mentality to win at all costs, which caused his relationship with Smith to start off a little bumpy. “Me and Brian have a interesting relationship, but right out of the gates I could tell he was passionate about what he wanted,” Smith said. “Once we strengthened our relationship, we enjoyed being around each other.” When Smith arrived at App State, he leaned on Bauk to help provide and take on the leadership role to show Smith the ropes. “We are trying to learn from each other and it is kind of a daily education,” Smith said. “I had to make sure he knew my expectations and what he wanted me to bring to this organization, and I think we are still learning.” Bauk is enjoying the fact that he gets a fresh start under Smith, and from the first practice in 28 degrees and snow, it is apparent that Bauk is re-energized. Not only are the Mountaineers getting a more confident Bauk, they are also getting a healthy one. “Brian kind of got caught by the injury bug last fall – they were lingering injuries that you could play through, but you knew that Brian wasn’t 100 percent,” Aspegren said. “I think all

File Photo

Senior Brain Bauk takes a swing at the ball during a home game last season. Bauk is a career .231 hitter. the coaches would agree with me that it’s just nice to see Brian healthy out there.” Teammates rally around Bauk, and he is the glue of this team just by listening to the coaches talk about him. “Brian has done it all for us,” Aspegren said. “He has hit in the middle of the order and he has led-off a couple

times. He has also pitched in the ninth inning and if the game is close, you want Brian on your team. He will battle until his last strike.” Two things Bauk is teaching the younger guys are to seize the moment and not take anything for granted. “I just keep telling the younger guys to have fun,” Bauk said. “You get to do

what you love at the collegiate level, so don't complain about early practice because time is going to fly by and you are going to miss it.” The Mountaineers will travel to Wilmington Feb. 17 to take on VMI, where they begin their season with a long road trip. Bauk hopes to finish his senior season off strong.

Feb. 16, 2017

POSTING UP KINNEY MAKING MOVES AS A VETERAN

Junior forward Griffin Kinney prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against Belmont Abbey in the 2015-16 season.

ADAM HOTHERSALL SPORTS REPORTER

ppalachian State

men’s basketball has had their ups and downs throughout the 2016-17 season so far, but one constant has been the play of center Griffin Kinney. Kinney and Jake Babic are the two juniors on the team, and with forward Matt O’Boyle being the only senior on this inexperienced team, Kinney has to put leadership front and center. “The learning curve is over for me personally understanding the offense and defensive schemes,” Kinney said. “I’m kind of taking that veteran role and helping other guys learn what is going on.” Babic, a guard for the Mountaineers, was a part of head coach Jim Fox’s first recruiting class with Kinney, and no one has noticed the improvements of Kinney on and off the court more than him. “He brings the intensity every time. He’s a guy who is very blue-collared,” Babic said. “He likes to do everything by example, so if people aren’t doing what needs to be done he’ll drag them along with him.” Babic also explained the big difference with Kinney compared to their freshman and sophomore seasons is the improvement of him vocally on the court

and showing his young teammates where they need to be and when they need to be there. Kinney’s high school background out of Delaware, Ohio is very unique with him attending Fork Union Military Academy where a strict layout helped mold the leader that he is today for this program. “Living away from home and going to that military school really helped him out and he has grown tremendously as a leader,” Babic said. Not only have the strides of Kinney come from his leading, but his play on the court speaks for itself. Offensively, not being a huge factor his first couple of seasons averaging 3.5 points per game as a freshman and 6.3 as a sophomore, his offensive game has blossomed with his defense staying consistent and bringing the interior intensity needed to protect the paint. Kinney is second on the team in scoring with 9.7 points per game, second in rebounds per game with 6.3 and second in field goal percentage at 51 percent. A much-improved interior post-up game from Kinney has been the real improvement for him offensively forcing defenses to foul him and send him to the

free throw line at a high rate, where he leads the team in free throws attempted. With that being said, Kinney is shooting 64 percent from the charity strike and hopes to continue improving that aspect of his game along with his 3-pointer. “Throughout the season, free throws aren’t where I want them to be right now, and that top of the key three,” Kinney said. “That’s another aspect I want to add to my game.” The offensive game has grown for Kinney but it leads to more opportunities for his teammates with his great passing ability and it’s rubbing off on sophomore forward Tyrell Johnson. “I know if I look for him, Griff is going to look for me," Johnson said. "I think he is an excellent passer and he’s great to play side by side with." Johnson, who is a year younger than Kinney, has looked up to him as a mentor in going through the growing pains of being a young player, similar to the way Kinney looked up to former Mountaineer Tommy Spagnolo when he was learning to play at the collegiate level. “I had a veteran in Tommy Spagnolo when I was a freshman, someone I looked up to and tried to immolate parts of my game off of,” Kinney said.

This role has also been present with Johnson who has changed his style of play since first entering college basketball as a freshman. “I think when I first came here I always played fast, but working out with Griff, he taught me how to slow down and take my time in the post,” Johnson said. “Griff has definitely taught me a lot.” The season for the Mountaineers is quickly heading towards the end already being in mid-February, but Kinney has high hopes for his team heading down the stretch and will continue to lead his team into later March. As the postseason approaches Appalachian has hit a little hot streak after starting 1-10 in conference play. The Mountaineers have won their last two games, defeating first-place Georgia State in thrilling fashion 77-72 along with beating Georgia Southern on Feb. 13 led by Kinney’s career-high 25 points and nine rebounds in only 26 minutes of play. “We need to get hot at the end of the year,” Kinney said. “All of our goals are still right in front of us with that conference tournament, anything can happen.”

Halle Keighton

Feb. 16, 2017

THE NEXT GENERATION OF MOUNTAINEERS

Football recruit Jermaine McDaniel discusses with App State play-by-play announcer Adam Witten why he committed to Appalachian State. BROOKS MAYNARD SPORTS REPORTER

ational Signing

Day took place on Feb. 1 and high school football players from all over the country signed their letters of intent, cementing their verbal commitments. On that day, App State signed 18 new recruits, the 104th ranked class in the country. Just like last season, two early-enrollee recruits were in the class: cornerback D’Andre Hicks and defensive end Jermaine McDaniel. Hicks comes to App from Charlotte High School in Punta Gorda, Florida. He is rated as three-star recruit by 247sports. com and scout.com. He is one of three commits in the class from Florida and has the second longest distance from home. “I loved it. I loved the people here too,” Hicks said. “It was just a great fit. I

loved the coaches and they like to win.” One of last season’s early enrollees was also a cornerback: Mountaineer fan favorite, Clifton Duck. Duck used his head start to great advantage, finishing the season as the team leader in interceptions, fifth in tackles and was named the Sun Belt Conference freshman of the year, as well as earning a spot on the USA Today Freshman All-America team. “[I wanted to] get ahead in my academics and football. It will be cool to have a semester over everybody and I’ll be closer to my degree,” Hicks said. When asked if he thought he could live up to Duck’s performance, Hicks stayed modest. “We’re gonna see,” he said. Jermaine McDaniel comes to App from Dillon High School in Dillon, South Carolina. He is rated as a threestar prospect by ESPN.com, 247sports.

com and as a two-star by rivals.com and scout.com. He chose App State over Georgia Tech and Coastal Carolina. “The thing about Boone is that it felt like home when I visited,” McDaniel said. “It felt like I could be acclimated quicker and that I’d like to spend four to five years here and call it a second home.” McDaniel kept earning his degree at the front of his mind. “My major is actually International Business, so if a fifth year comes I wouldn’t be sad about it because I can get my major in and apply what I learn to the real world and work,” McDaniel said. Head coach Scott Satterfield talked about finding the right type of players for the program. “So many things can be said about a talented player, here or there, throughout the country,” Satterfield said. “For us,

it’s always been about fit. We’ve got to find the right kind of person that wants to come play here, that wants to come be a part of championships.” The Mountaineers lost some key talent at cornerback and defensive end this past season with the departure of seniors Mondo Williams and Nate Norwood respectively. App State has had freshmen make their mark early before, most recently with Clifton Duck, but also with players such as Eric Boggs, Marcus Cox and Armanti Edwards. Satterfield is confident that this new set will only add to history. “I really think this is going to be an outstanding class. I think a lot of these guys are going to play next year and that’s just because I think they’re that good,” Satterfield said. “I think they’re going to be that competitive, and that type of player to help us win.”

Football recruit D’Andre Hicks discusses what attracted him to Appalachian State, as well as what qualities he brings to the football program. Chris Deverell

Feb. 16, 2017

Freshman center/forward Bayley Plummer attempts to block a pass during the game against UT Arlington.

PLUMMER OFF TO A QUICK START COLT JENSEN SPORTS REPORTER

hen Bayley

Plummer arrived on campus this fall, she already had a long history of athletic success. In high school, Bayley was an all-conference performer in golf, softball and basketball, and an all-state performer in both basketball and softball. While Plummer was very successful as a three-sport athlete, basketball is where she truly excelled. She was a four year varsity starter at East Davidson where she played center, and in her senior season of high school she averaged nearly a triple-double, averaging 18.5 points per game, 16 rebounds per game and 8.1 blocks per game. When it came to choosing a college, Appalachian State was already a top contender. The university had previously helped Anna Freeman, another East Davidson alumni, find success at the collegiate level. “I had heard of Appalachian. Anna Freeman went to the same high school as me, and Appalachian was close to home,” Plummer said. “My first unofficial [recruiting] visit was the first time I had actually been up here. I liked that it was close to home. I liked the atmosphere up here, and I also had some friends from high school that came up here.” Once the decision to come to App was made and Plummer arrived on campus, she continued the hard work that gave her so much success in high school. “She’s one of the first people in the gym every single day,” Mountaineer's assistant coach Kate Dempsey said. That hard work is already paying dividends for Plummer who has already had the first double-double of her college career, and has led the team in rebound-

ing six games this year. “I think her natural athleticism and her build have helped her [transition so quickly to the collegiate game],” Dempsey said. “That, along with her dedication to wanting to be better and wanting to expand the growth of her game have really helped her.” Despite all the success Plummer has found so early in her career, one would never know it by taking to her. Plummer is quick to give the credit for her success to teammates and coaches, and uses that humble nature to help her game grow. “Bayley is a really great person. I know that sounds generic to say, but Bayley is a hard worker and is excited to be in the gym every single day,” Dempsey said. “You can see her progression from when she arrived on campus till now. She’s an exceptional person to be around, and she really loves her teammates.” Not only is Plummer a positive person to be around with the team, but she makes sure to study the game and become more knowledgeable, which only furthers her game. “Bayley is very attune to film and making adjustments that help her and her team,” Dempsey said. “She has worked very hard, and is going to work very hard to be an impact player for this program.” Senior forward Bria Carter also attributed much of Plummer’s success to her confidence. “She came in and wasn’t afraid to play,” Carter said. “She’s been going hard getting to the boards and getting her points, and she’s made a big impact on this team.” Even though opposing teams are starting to take notice of the freshman center, Carter believes the success Plummer has found so early on in her career will continue long into the future.

“She has a lot of confidence in her game, and she has a lot moves down in the post,” Carter said. “She has finesse, and that’s not easy for other teams to prepare for with a player of her stature. That really sets her apart.” Now that Plummer is fully focused on the playing at the college level, that doesn’t mean her high school accolades are finished rolling in. On Feb. 7, Plummer attended a halftime ceremony in her hometown of Thomasville, North Carolina that was held in her honor where her high school jersey was retired.

“I went down with my roommate. Everyone came out and it was great to see the small city of Thomasville who supported me during my high school games again,” Plummer said. “It was good to be a part of that very special and great honor. Not many people get their jersey retired, and for that to happen to me was really special.” If history holds as any indicator of what will happen in the future based on all the success Plummer has already had, that there's still plenty of big things to be expect from Plummer at App State.

Name

Feb. 16, 2017

THE SCIENCE OF LOVE

veryone knows what love is. It’s a feeling, a sensation from deep inside the soul, an overflowing of emotion and wonder at the very existence of another human being out there for you. Love is a powerful force, capable of driving the strongest person to weakness and the weakest person to strength. It has fascinated human beings since the dawn of time, with many great works being written around the concept. There’s an entire branch of Hollywood dedicated to making movies focused on love, presented either in a comedic or dramatic fashion. Going further back, many of the great stories of old were focused on love, most famously the Greek myth of the Trojan War, a devastating war fought over the love of a single woman. It was Megara in Disney’s “Hercules” who put it best when she said, “people do crazy things when they’re in love.” But why? Why does love drive people to the length that it does, and what happens in the brain that affects people so? The answer to that is chemicals, science and a lot more chemicals. “Falling in love causes our body to release a flood of feel-good chemicals that trigger specific physical reactions,” Pat Mumby, the co-director of Loyola Sexual Wellness Clinic and a professor

Q Russell is sophomore journalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina. in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, said. Specifically the brain releases large amounts of chemicals, such as dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine. Dopamine is what causes the sense of “euphoria” associated with love, while the adrenaline and norepinephrine cause the irregular heartbeat and restlessness associated with love. Love is also responsible for lowered serotonin levels in the brain, which, according to Mary Lynn, the co-director of the Loyola Sexual Wellness Clinic and assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, is common in people with obsessive compulsive disorder. Not only that, but according to a CNN

article titled “How your body reacts when you fall in love,” the brain also releases large amounts of oxytocin, causing it to enter a similar state as the brains of those addicted to drugs (it also affects the brain comparatively to alcohol). Essentially, being in love is the same as being a mentally-ill drug addict who’s had one too many. In short, it breaks the brain. So it would stand to reason that no one should ever fall in love, right? Scientists should stop everything they’re doing and devote all their research to ending this thing called “love,” right? Well, not really. In fact, falling in love is probably the healthiest thing an individual could do for themselves. According to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, marriage reduces the risk of heart attack for both men and women. This study found that unmarried men were 58-66 percent more likely to suffer from ACS , or “acute cardiac symptoms,” while unmarried women were more 60-65 percent more likely to suffer from it. Not only that, but love is also a powerful medicine, capable of aiding survival in case any forms of cardiac problems arise. According to a study by Ellen Idler, a sociologist at Emory University, unmarried, single people who survived the

three-month period following cardiac surgery were 70 percent more likely to die in the five years after than their married counterparts. Love, marriage and committed relationships specifically also cause a reduced production of stress hormones. A team of researchers from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University studied 500 individuals and found that those in committed relationships produced less cortisol than unmarried people. So the question remains, is love worth it? Even with the science of the issue aside indicating that love is worth it, most will say that love is definitely worth it. Having been in love at one point in my life, I can say that it’s a better drug than anyone could possibly conceive. It’s an intoxicating, steady ecstasy of highs and lows and that keeps you coming back for more and more. Its experiencing the entirety of another human being’s existence, their highs and their lows, accepting it and having the same done for you in return. It’s the sheer absurdity of finding this one person amongst the billions of people on Earth who breaks your brain in such a way that only this one, single person is capable of. Love is absolutely worth it.

MEDICAID FOR NORTH CAROLINA here is a provision

in the Affordable Care Act regarding Medicaid that can expand coverage to millions more and improves the already in-place system also known as Obamacare. To some, this seems like a really great plan to help the less fortunate gain access to affordable healthcare. To others, this plan isn’t appealing and seems to be a waste of our tax dollars. To those who fall in the latter, you may have another reason to celebrate being a North Carolinian. According to the News and Observer, when Gov. Roy Cooper took office in January his request to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act was temporarily suspended by a federal judge. This came less than a week before President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Cooper’s goal is to close the coverage gap which is the significant group of people whose income is too much to qualify for Medicaid, but too little for market-

Name

Cassidy Chambers is sophomore political science major from Hendersonville, North Carolina. place premium tax credits. The suspension was to last for fourteen days, which left the decision to the Trump Administration. There have been several studies and polls done on healthcare in North Carolina. According to the North Carolina Justice Organization, 72 percent of North Carolinians agree that there should be a plan made to close the coverage

gap. This would mean branching out to 500,000 more low-income people in the state. Of these 500,000, 60 percent of them have no other health insurance options. With 72 percent agreeing that we need a plan in place, it further proves that our state government – particularly the general assembly – isn’t listening to us. A study done by the Cone Health Foundation and Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust discovered that if North Carolina were to expand coverage 43,000 jobs would be established within four years, and business activity would increase by $21 billion. It found that we’d be able to provide medication for over 27,000 diabetes patients, over 10,000 women would receive screenings for breast cancer, and it could prevent around 1,100 unnecessary deaths each year. Based on these statistics alone, I firmly agree with the North Carolina Justice Organization’s statement that, “The health and fiscal benefits outweigh the ideological challenges.”

Furthermore, Brookings Institution did a study on our healthcare system and provided some very interesting statistics. It’s astonishing that almost a fifth of our adult population (19.2 percent) report fair or poor health status. It can be easy to toss this information aside, especially while enjoying good health, but how easy would it be to forget if it were you or your loved one? Also, we have the sixth highest rate of uninsured in the entire country, while spending less than the United States average on health care. So what does all of this mean? It means it’s time for North Carolina to hold itself to better standards and begin closing the coverage gap by allowing Cooper to expand Medicaid. Healthier people in a society directly reflects its prosperity. There would be more people able to work, which, as noted earlier, would improve the economy and bring North Carolina out of being one of the poorest states in the nation.

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