Issuu

FEB.

2017

BEST IN SHOW PAGES 8-9

FOUR CHARGED IN VANDALISM CASE PAGE 5

RIGHT ON Q PAGES 12-13

SUPER BOWL PREDICTIONS PAGE 14

Feb. 2, 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

Olivia Wilkes @theappalachian ADVISER

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

CRIME LOG CAMPUS JAN. 28

JAN. 25

12:00 a.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol White Hall Information report

11:24 p.m. | Possession of Marijuana Justice Hall Cleared by arrest

JAN. 28

JAN. 24

7:00 p.m. | Drug Violation Equipment/Paraphernalia Appalachian Heights Cleared by arrest

2:30 a.m. | Assault on a Female Cannon Hall Further investigation

JAN. 27

JAN. 22

2:05 a.m. | DWI - Alcohol and/or drugs Stadium Drive Cleared by arrest

1:30 a.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Justice Hall Student referral

JAN. 26

JAN. 22

11:00 a.m. | Damage to Property Stadium Parking Lot Information report

2 p.m. | Vandalism Rivers Street East Tunnel Leads exhausted

JAN. 25 2:00 p.m. | Criminal Damage to Property Bowie Trail Leads exhausted

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

JAN. 21 6:35 a.m. | Vandalism Campus Further investigation

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 GET YOUR CREATIVE WORKS PUBLISHED The Peel Literature & Arts Review is Appalachian State University’s student-run literary arts publication. The Peel works to cultivate creative expression in Appalachian’s student body by providing an outlet for students to express themselves. Submit your creative works, including but not limited to poetry, prose, art, video, dance, multimedia, music, sound, fashion, design and more. Our final submission deadline is Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. Visit thepeelreview. submittable.com to submit. For more info visit thepeelreview.com, follow us on social media @thepeelreview, or email us at thepeel.asu@ gmail.com.

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.

W.H. PLEMMONS MEDALLION NOMINATIONS

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/

PROJECT CONDOM FASHION SHOW Wellness and Prevention Services and Appalachian Popular Programming Society Presents our 1st annual Project Condom Fashion Show! Sponsored by Global Protection and ONE condoms, Project Condom is a merge between art and fashion and the promotion of safer sex for college-aged students. Based on the tv show Project Runway, teams of students will have to opportunity to create and showcase garments made entirely of condoms! This year’s theme is “Project Condom: Past, Present, and Future.” The show will be held on March 8 at 7 p.m. in Parkway Ballroom. If your club/organization is interested in participating in this year’s show, please complete the team registration form. Registration will close on Feb. 3 at 11:55 p.m. Contact Saray Smalls, Wellness Coordinator for Student Programs, at smallsts@appstate.edu for additional questions.

INTERSECT SOCIAL JUSTICE RETREAT What is the INTERSECT Retreat? INTERSECT is a three-day immersion retreat aimed at empowering students to take positive action on our campus. The retreat is designed to help educate participants about the concepts of social justice and leadership through exploration of their own stories, the stories of others, exploring issues of oppression and privilege, developing contacts and support networks across campus and developing skills to be an ally to many different groups. INTERSECT participants explore systemic and institutional issues of power and privilege and learn how to apply their knowledge to become effective change agents. Who is it for? INTERSECT is for students who have a basic understanding of diversity and social justice and are now looking to make a difference in their communities. INTERSECT focuses on skills for organizing, activism, and becoming a change agent. Priority will be given to students and club and organization members who are returning to Appalachian State for the 2017-18 school year. Sign up at https://orgsync. com/103643/forms/213371.

SUSTAINED DIALOGUE

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.

Sustained Dialogue at Appalachian is part of the international Sustained Dialogue Institute program that prepares community members to deeply engage in difficult conversations ranging from race, gender identity and religion to politics and various global challenges. The process is deeply grounded in listening and respect and works towards enhancing individuals’ abilities to listen and carry out respectful conversations around conflicting views and global challenges.

THURSDAY, FEB. 2

FRIDAY, FEB. 3

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

“Pete’s Dragon” Screening

Fiddler’s Convention

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

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. PSU

Mipso

“Friday (R)” Screening

9 p.m. Legends $10 advance, $12 door & non-students

7 p.m. Greenbriar Theater $1

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 development educators and staff who exceed their peers in

STUDY ABROAD

The goal for this program at Appalachian is to build a more cohesive, engaged and understanding campus community through dialogue. There are many ways to get involved with Sustained Dialogue, explore sustaineddialogue. appstate.edu to see which Sustained Dialogue offering is right for you.

STUDENT CONDUCT BOARD The position of serving on the Student Conduct and/or Academic Integrity Board requires a commitment of time, energy, dedication and impartiality. Board members play an integral role in educating their peers about their rights and responsibilities as members of the Appalachian community, upholding community behavioral standards, and implementing the Code of Student Conduct. Applications are available now at https:// orgsync.com/97536/forms/233770. Due Feb. 6.

CLUB COUNCIL Club Council is a 30 member Governing Body for the 400+ clubs and organizations at Appalachian. We serve the university as we create programs, resources, and financial opportunities for organizations on campus.Think you can help us #MoveMountains? Apply at https:// orgsync.com/90830/forms/239871 by Feb. 5 at 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

“Pete’s Dragon” Screening 7 and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer $1 advance, $2 door

Foghorn Stringband 7:30 p.m. Legends $5 students, $10 non-students

MONDAY, FEB. 6

TUESDAY, FEB. 7

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 8

THURSDAY, FEB. 9

Vagina Monologues

6:30 p.m. Parkway Ballroom, PSU $12

“House Party (R)” Screening

“Loving” Screening

7 p.m. Greenbriar Theater $1

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

Feb. 2, 2017

APPALACHIAN STUDENT TAKES HOME AICC GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARD HALIE HAMILTON NEWS REPORTER

organ Batley,

a senior graphic arts and imaging technology major, won the best graphic design portion of the 2016 Student Packaging Design Competition of the AICC. Her design was originally made as a final project and Mandy Wu, assistant professor of graphic arts and imaging technology, picked the best project in the class to be entered into the competition. “I spent all of reading day last spring recreating it, making sure it was perfect and fixing every little detail on it,” Batley said. “I sent it off and didn’t hear anything for about six months when I got an email saying I had won the graphic design portion of the competition.” Wu said that Batley put a lot of thought into her graphic designs and that they fit the theme of the competition well. “Our students can do really good if they put in a lot of effort, I was lucky to get Morgan because she put in a lot of work,” Wu said. Batley said the Student Packaging Design Competition is a national competition where different schools from around the country create a tailgating party pack for homecoming. Batley wanted her design to have a flat top which allows for it to be stacked easier on shelves or displays, she also added a bottom compartment to hold plates. “Everyone else had the chips or drinks and didn’t think about adding any plates or napkins to it, but the whole point of the bottom was to open it up to put plates and napkins in it, I think that is what set my design aside from other students and everyone else in the competition,” Batley said. The inside of her party pack has two separate holders, one for chips

The “Party Pack” for App State homecoming was designed by senior Morgan Batley, a graphic arts and imagining technology major. It was entered into the Student Packaging Design Competition of the AICC where it won first place in the graphic design category. and snacks and another one for drinks. Batley said she wanted to make sure all the items included were held in a secure insert so that the contents wouldn’t get moved around or crushed during shipment. “The hardest part was figuring out how to get the inserts set and what material to use without it bending or breaking when you went to lift something out,” Batley said. “My favorite part was making all the graphic design

pieces for it because essentially each panel was a different file I created and it definitely helped that I was an intern for App State Athletics so I get access to all those nice pictures.” Batley received an all expense paid trip to Orlando where she met with the other winners and received her award at AICC’s SuperCorrExpo last October. After the awards ceremony, Batley was able to network with different

companies in attendance. She met printers who expressed interest in working with the graphic arts and imaging program and got offers from software companies to use their programs in the graphic design program. Wu said Batley helped secure another software donation from Arden Software called Impact CAD. Bratley’s party pack will be in a national competition next month after qualifying in the AICC competition.

NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING PLANNED AT BROYHILL AS PART OF MILLENNIAL CAMPUS BEN SESSOMS NEWS REPORTER

pp State is planning

to replace the recently demolished Broyhill Inn with an academic focused facility, according to acting chief of staff Hank Foreman. While it has not been determined what will be built in the Broyhill Inn’s place, Foreman said that it will be driven by the academic need and mission of the university. The new facility will be part of the millennial campus and will make use of public/private partnerships, also known

as P3. P3 projects allow App State to construct university buildings through private contractors who then lease them out to the school. Student Government Association president Jalyn Howard, while not against these partnerships completely, said he is concerned with whether or not these contractors care about the best interest of students or if they’re “just worried about filling beds.” “When we do this, are we doing what’s best for students and getting the

best quality for students?” Howard said. Howard said he sees the appeal of P3 from a cost perspective but feels that the university needs to be sure it’s making the right decision for students, not just the bottom line. Foreman said any partnerships would be driven by academic need. “Some of the things that get confused,” Foreman said, “Is that a public/ private partnership and privatization are two different things in most settings, so I think ours would be looking for partners who can provide revenue through either

leasing or those kind of things that are connected to that academic endeavor.” Foreman also said that they would not be working with random partners and there are many options for the process. Leasing opportunities, according to Foreman, would be a revenue stream for the university. Foreman also mentioned the possibility of a facility in the place of Broyhill Inn as something that might allow better community access due to ease of accessible parking in the area.

Photo Credits: Hallie Hamilton

Feb. 2, 2017

(Top Left) Elizabeth Prier, 22. (Top Right) Hannah Seay, 21. (Bottom Left) Julia Grainger, 22. (Bottom Right) Taryn Bledsoe, 22.

FOUR ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO INAUGURATION WEEKEND VANDALISM STAFF REPORTS

rrests were made fol-

lowing the investigation into the string of vandalism that occurred along King Street early last Saturday. Boone police said in a statement that four individuals were each charged with

seven counts of Misdemeanor Graffiti Vandalism and one count of Misdemeanor Damage to Personal Property. The arrestees are: Taryn Bledsoe, 22. Julia Grainger, 22. Elizabeth Prier, 22. Hannah Seay, 22.

The statement said the arrests were made through information provided to High Country Crime Stoppers from the public. Lt. Chris Hatton said in the statement the department took the case very seriously and worked long hours to collect

evidence and gain confessions from the suspects. Damage from the vandalism was estimated to be $10,000. The arrestees each received a $1,500 secured bond and are scheduled to appear in Watauga District Court March 1.

CANDIDATES FOR VICE CHANCELLOR OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCED STAFF REPORTS

hree candidates for

the position of Vice Chancellor for Student Development have been selected to interview on campus by the university’s search committee. The candidates are Cathy Akens, Trae Cotton and J.J. Brown. Each of the candidates will visit campus for a two day period to give presentations and interview for the job. According to the search committee’s website the Vice Chancellor for Student Development is responsible for a staff of

more than 250 and a $46 million budget. Cathy Akens is currently the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Florida International University, where she also received her doctorate of education in higher education. Akens’ CV said that while she was at Florida International University she created and implemented a bias education response team, opened a student food pantry and secured a $300,000 grant to fund a campaign that aimed to reduce sexual assault.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Boone Police Department

Akens is scheduled to visit Feb. 1516. Trae Cotton is currently the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Winston-Salem Sate University and received a doctorate in philosophy from Walden College. Cotton is scheduled to visit Feb. 1617. Cotton’s CV said that he was responsible for a budget in excess of $13 million, was a member of the Chancellor’s executive team and was charged with providing leadership to several offices

that oversee student life. J.J. Brown is currently the Dean of Students at Appalachian State, where he has served since 2010. He received his masters of education from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. During his time at Appalachian Brown has established an on call protocol, is responsible for the Campus Awareness, Response and Education Team and developed the It’s up to Me/Us AppCares campaigns. Brown is scheduled to interview Feb. 22-23.

Feb. 2, 2017

People making their way down King Street during the Peaceful People’s Parade. The parade was on Jan. 23 and it started at the public library.

THE PEACEFUL PEOPLE OF BOONE ASHLEY GOODMAN A&E REPORTER

ollowing a giant,

handmade paper mache fox, almost 200 Watauga residents marched through downtown Boone on Jan. 23 in the Peaceful People’s Parade. The attendees gathered together, despite gray and rainy weather, to walk in honor of climate and social issues and to bring attention to their concerns in the face of the changing political atmosphere. The parade was organized by Boone Rising, a local grassroots community organized to push water and environmental conservation movements. Originally fostered in support of Standing Rock water protectors, Boone Rising organizes events in the area to create conversation and solidarity. The Peaceful People’s Parade was coordinated as a response to a call to action from the People’s Climate Movement. This call to action was to orchestrate 100 “actions” in the first 100 hours of the new administration, including parades, marches and teach-ins. This parade was joined by nine other actions in the state of North Carolina alone. The event involved handmade art, posters and paper mache, along with performances from local bluegrass group The Major Sevens and a call to action delivered by Boone Rising organizer Sarah Kellogg. Participants donned costumes and carried handpainted posters while chanting and singing through Boone before returning to Watauga Public Library to take an oath to, “honor the web of life, practice values of compassion, equity and inclusion, and to stand for justice, particularly for those who have been most harmed,” Kellogg said. People of all ages and backgrounds

took part in the festivities, from toddlers to seniors, students and farmers. Among App State students were activist organization members and local artists who came together to celebrate social justice and stand up against climate denial. One such attendee was Boone resident Mark Henson. Henson heard of the organizations putting the event together but only found out about the parade the morning of and said he went solely because he believed in the cause. Henson has done his own part in the way of environmental activism by living his life with as little of a carbon footprint as possible. He uses clean solar energy to power his home, and has picked up earth friendly habits and hobbies of composting, beekeeping and urban farming. “We all have to do something. Even if this is all you do, we all have to do something,” Henson said. Henson used the march to voice his concerns about Boone’s natural environment, especially as affected by climate change. The droughts in Pigeon Forge and Blowing Rock have recently led to devastating forest fires in Watauga County and have become a topic of trepidation for many Boone residents due to the proximity, Henson said. Such close to home threats make discussion of climate change all the more real to Watauga citizens such as Henson. Parade organizer Ricki Draper discussed the message of the event more universally. “This is about justice. It’s about racial justice, economic justice, social justice. We’re here to proclaim all of those things and lift up the art and the creativity of our community,” she said. A member of Boone Rising, Draper hoped the event would help to unify the

social justice community within Boone. “We’re filling this niche in Boone, there are all these amazing community organizations,” Draper said. “We see it as being a grassroots social justice organizing group, budding community power. Definitely hosting events like this is important, but so is organizing long term transformative change.” Boone Rising hopes to incite deeper social justice analysis, recognizing and reminding the community of those peoples who are disproportionately affected by the current political climate and environmental injustices. The group also plans to push the town of Boone to consider environmental injustice and climate change as they invest in different alternative energies in the future. Working with Boone Rising in urging divestment from fossil fuels is the Divestment Students’ Network. Earlier that day, the DSN held a walkout on Appalachian State campus in which students met on Sanford Mall to advocate for divestment, marched across campus and into the administration building, where they presented ASU with a letter encouraging the university to divest from fossil fuels. As an intern for Appalachian’s Office of Sustainability, DSN member Samantha Smyth, a sophomore studying hospitality and tourism management, said she knows both the triumphs and shortcomings of the university’s clean energy efforts. Smyth lamented the chasm between the sustainable, green energy App State claims to strive for on its campus and the fact that the university is still participating in and investing millions of dollars in the fossil fuel industry. She said the DSN seeks to ask App and other universities

to “stand up for us in this very turbulent time.” “Today has been the largest national day of action in [DSN’s] time of being a movement. There have been 50 universities across the United States and Canada that have put on protests just like ours,” Smyth said. This community activism seems especially louder within today’s political climate. Draper says that Boone Rising has been coordinating these events before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, noting that his election is only a symptom of current societal issues rather than the problem. She said, however, that Trump is “introducing unprecedented destructive policies” and the increase in activism and discussion as a result of his election is “a response to capitalism and what it has done to people.” “There’s so much more at stake than ever before,” Smyth said. “Trump and his cabinet of climate deniers are putting so much at risk and chipping away at the social justice and moral feats that we’ve made, that the climate movement as a whole has been built upon.” In a time of great political unrest, public discussion is louder than ever. The week following Trump’s inauguration has been filled with protests, marches and speeches in response to social issues faced by the country’s citizens. With events like the Peaceful People’s Parade, organizations like Boone Rising and the DSN are working to do their part in inciting conversation and activism in the community. Boone Rising will hold an interest meeting on Feb. 5 to further expand the group and discuss events for the future. The meeting will take place at 171 Grand Blvd. at 5 p.m.

Photo Credit: Braxton Critcher

Join. The Appalachian student newspaper is looking for writers, photographers, videographers, illustrators, cartoonists, designers, sales representatives and more! Join a desk to gain real world experience and get published. We have software, equipment and press passes we want you to use! No experience needed.

Email managing@TheAppalachianOnline.com

Feb. 2, 2017

(Left) Maddie is a 4-month-old mutt and she won Cutest Mix Breed as well as the grand prize. (Right) Owner Christiana Phlox and friend Owen with her dog Yuba, the mini Australian shepherd who competed and won Best Wiggly Butt.

WINTER PAWS DOG SHOW SHELBY FRIDAY A&E REPORTER

Dog lovers near and far gathered in Blowing Rock for the annual Winterfest event, the Winter Paws Dog Show, on Jan. 29. According to event announcer Chris Bensen, about fifty pups of all shapes, sizes and breeds lined up to compete for a variety of titles: Most Unique Looking Mix of Breeds, Best Wiggle Butt, Most Clever Dog Trick, Cutest Looking Dog in the World, Best Winter Fashion Wear and Most Crooked Smile. This was the fifth annual dog show put on by the Watauga Humane Society. Watauga Humane Society’s vice

president Steve Duprey said all of the proceeds from the dog show went to the Watauga Humane Society. The variety of dogs was diverse, from a small French bulldog named Otis to two towering Shiloh shepherds named McKinley and Sundance Kid, it was a day for all dogs to compete and show what they were made of. First up was the dog with the best wiggly butt. Eleven-month-old mini Australian Shepherd, Yuba, strode in with her owner and friend and wowed the judges with her wiggly butt. “Yuba is named after the Yuba River

in California,” owner Christiana Phlox said. “It’s a magical place, energetic and majestic, and so is Yuba.” Yuba’s friend and special helper Owen has also dedicated a YouTube channel to her and her talents, ProjectYu. Yuba’s moms run an Instagram account also in her name with the same username, ProjectYu, where they post fun pictures of Yuba’s adventures. Yuba’s other mom, Kellee Morgade, is in the graphic design program at Appalachian State. Dog owner Marcel Wiseman Valencia came from Avery County and

brought along her two purebred pomeranians, 6-year-old Bairen’s Bonnie Prince and 14-year-old Mon Coeur “Man of My Heart.” Valencia said she loves her dogs like they are her children and she cooks for them everyday. Competing in their first ever dog show were two Siberian huskies: 8-year-old, Gypsy and 12-year-old, Nirriti. Nirriti is a purebred and Gypsy is half-German Shepherd, half-Siberian husky. They both came from Salisbury with their moms, Maryja Mee and

Photo Credit: Rachael Graham

Feb. 2, 2017

(Top) Owner Ben Henderson with dog Izzy (aka mischievous) who competed in the Cutest Dog and Best Wiggle Butt categories (Bottom) Owners Linda & David Liddle with their two shiloh shepherds, McKinley (right) who competed and won Best Crooked Smile and Sundance Kid (left) who was just here to make friends this year but won Best In Show five years ago. Tamara Sheffield. The duo was decked out in their coziest winter clothes competing in “Best Winter Fashion Wear.” The busiest dog of the day was a half-[omeranian, half-long haired chihuahua named Minnie who came with her twin brother Mickey. The 3-yearold pup competed in every category. Minnie’s family also brought along their one-year-old purebred border collie named Murphy. Murphy competed in four out of the six events and gave everyone a handshake. “She’s very smart,” Murphy’s owner, Sean Ecker said. “She has every-

Photo Credit: Rachael Graham

thing down.” A 2-year-old pekingese, Bella, and her owner Kim Brackett competed for Best Wiggle Butt and Best Winter Fashion Wear. Though they left without any blue ribbons, Bella’s owner Kim said she was still a happy puppy. Mark Hiatt came with his two adorable dogs, 6-year-old Labradoodle with “a little extra poodle” as Hiatt described her named Lulu and 3-yearold mini Labradoodle named Layla. Lulu competed in best trick and Layla competed in Best Wiggly Butt. “Lulu’s a hugger,” Hiat said. “She

gets it from her dad.” Brownie, Chewy, Sprout and Grady were a quartet dog group competing for Best Winter Fashion Wear. Brownie is a three-legged 6-year-old purebred chocolate lab, Chewy is a 13-year-old terrier chihuahua mix, Sprout is a 2-year-old Russels Griffin and Grady is another three-legged terrier mix. Event co-chairs Steve Duprey and Cindy Bensen were very pleased and proud of all the dogs who came out and competed in the Winter Paws Dog Show and said they cannot wait for

the 2018 dog show for even more furry friends to showcase their talents. Duprey also encouraged everyone to come out and adopt an animal and give them a forever home. Animals like the handsome and lovable 8-year-old black lab mix named Quazar are eager to find loving families. The Watauga Humane Society is located off of Highway US 221 at 312 Paws Way. Duprey said they are always welcoming volunteers and would love for people to come by to adopt a furry friend.

Feb. 2, 2017

HIGH LIFE TAKES OVER EXPRESSIONS MYLES TOE A&E REPORTER

xpressions, a local business which has been in Boone for more than 30 years, has recently been bought out by High Life, a fellow smoke shop company. Expressions was a smoke shop and piercing studio that sold pipes, incense, posters, tapestries, studs and gauges of all kinds. It was Boone’s largest selection of body jewelry and smoking accessories, according to their website. It was started and owned by Kenneth Gottfried, former CEO and Boone native. He opened Expressions in March of 1988 as a $400 investment, which he then turned into a multi-million-dollar corporation, Gottfried said. It grew from the small store on Howard Street to the now location of his second business venture Go Postal Inc., located in New Market Center. Gottfried expanded his territory with an addition of six stores. The stores contained a massive number of products from pipes to sex toys. Expressions was put up for sale in 2007, according to a disposition on public record. The chain was then sold to One Love smoke shop and in 2008 a fellow smoking accessory company. Because of legal issues concerning One Love and the original owner, the company was then sold to High Life in 2016. “With the change from Expressions to High Life, the more frivolous items were replaced with a more professional

High Life is a smoke shop located on Howard Street in Boone and they recently bought out the piercing place called Expressions.

group of products,” Nicole Kinnamon, manager of Speakeasy Tattoo shop and close friend of Gottfried’s said. High Life now offers vaporizers and glass pieces that were not a part of the old franchise. “Not only was it a smoke shop, it was a lifestyle store,” Donnie Lee, former manager of Expressions and current

manager of High Life, said. Lee has been involved with Expressions since 2007 and remembers the store at the height of its success. “Expressions had new and returning clients come in all the time. The old clients love the new change and many have said they don’t even notice the difference,” Lee said.

With the entrance of the new Boone location there are now a total of 21 stores, the largest chain of smoke shops in the south east. “I grew up with it man, I got my very first piercing at Expressions,” Lee said. “I’ve been shopping longer than working here. To lose its name and connotation was kind of sad, but everything that has been replaced has been extra positive.” When High Life took over, Lee became the new manager and said he loved the changes. Other locals are saying the same thing. “Boone changes over the years and I feel this is a positive change,” Kinnamon said. “The only thing I don’t like is the color scheme. It feels too 1990s.” Many residents of Boone haven’t even noticed the change and accept High Life as though it’s been there for a long time, Kinnamon said. “Business is going strong,” Lee said. “So far there’s been nothing but praise. Prices went down, policies got better and products got more broad.” Some residents of Boone were sad to hear about the departure of Expressions. “Expressions was a part of the community, it’s been here forever. It was sad to see it go,” Jack Hertzfeld, a junior environmental science major, said. But to Lee nothing really has changed beside new ownership. High Life will stay, have its own piercing studio and still offer the smoking accessories Boone residents love.

Photo Credit: Halle Keighton

Feb. 2, 2017

KEE TO SUCCESS

SETBACKS TO DOMINANCE, JUNIOR WRESTLER HAS BEEN MAJOR “KEE” TO APP STATE’S WRESTLING PROGRAM

Junior Nick Kee pins his opponent down during a home match. TYLER HOTZ SPORTS REPORTER

mbrace the grind

and expect the fight. For many Mountaineer wrestlers, this is more than a mere statement, but it is the creed that governs all the countless hours on the wrestling mat. According to head coach John Mark Bentley, this idea can put his team “a cut above everybody else.” While the grind has led his team to a record breaking season so far, there was one App State wrestler who had to fight even harder to push towards his goals. After four seasons on the Mountaineer wrestling team, redshirt junior Nick Kee has seen many opponents line up against him, but the hardest opponent may have been one he could not have seen coming. Following the NCAA tournament this past season, Kee realized that he would have to undergo knee surgery, which would end up taking him away from wrestling for a month. Though Kee’s knee injury was anticipated, he did not foresee a shoulder surgery that would cost him some valuable time from the mat. “Right at the end of wrestling camp, the training staff approached me and told me that he would require shoulder surgery,” Bentley said. “It was a big blow, and he was a big component of this team.” At the beginning of August, Kee underwent shoulder surgery, and it was questionable as to when the 174 pound weight class standout would return. Bentley thought that he would have one of his most consistent wrestlers ready to go, but with Kee’s injury happening

Courtesy photos

close to start of the season, Bentley had to explore other options. With three Power Five conference teams in their first four matches, Bentley was missing one of his most consistent wrestlers in the lineup. “If I had known he was going to be out, I’m not sure I would have scheduled the way that I did,” Bentley said. “It ended up working out, and we have a really strong team.” With the Mountaineers excelling, Kee kept pushing himself behind the scenes. To speed up his recovery, Kee began physical therapy as quickly as possible, sometimes even having sessions twice a day. Because the junior could not participate in wrestling activities until getting recovering, Kee stuck to an intense cross-training workout pattern to get in shape. Not only did Kee shave off time from his recovery, but he also shaved off time from his preseason running times, recording the fastest marks in his career. “There are a couple of times he really has amazed me,” senior Denzel Dejournette said. “He didn’t miss a beat and this guy is really mentally tough.” Pushing himself constantly for four months, Kee knew that his time to suit up was on the horizon. Taking precautions, the coaching staff decided to keep him out a few extra weeks to make sure he could go all seven minutes. Returning on Dec. 3 against Davidson, Kee showed that no amount of setbacks could slow him down, quickly pinning his opponent. Since his return, Kee has continued to dominate, winning eight of nine dual matches.

“My teammates and my coaches were there for me, coming in [and] working out and supporting me,” Kee said. “They helped me get stronger in certain situations.” The season is winding down and Kee has placed his thoughts about his injuries on the back burner. Ahead lies a chance at another conference championship, and the opportunity to individually chase success in the NCAA individual tournament. A year ago, Kee made it the furthest of any of his Mountaineer teammates.

Supporting him along the way, many wrestlers have been priming themselves to achieve individual glory. Even with the setbacks, the goal remains the same for Kee. Embracing the grind of two surgeries, he will only continue to take the fight to every opponent. “The big thing is having more self-confidence and believing in myself that I can perform at a higher level,” Kee said. “I can be a national champion this year. If any year is my year, it’s this year.”

Feb. 2, 2017

RIGHT ON Q

In her first eligible season at Appalachian State after transferring from George Mason, redshirt sophomore Q Murray has made a swift impact on the court this season. JASON HUBER SPORTS EDITOR

whole new look

was expected for the App State women’s basketball team entering the 2016-17 season as they were just a year removed from bringing on four transfers to the team. Three of the transfers were prepping to play in their first eligible season for the Mountaineers. Head coach Angel Elderkin set up two home exhibition games to build game time chemistry for the new additions before the regular season began. The only problem was that one of the players was unable to play. Redshirt sophomore guard Q Murray fell ill and decided it was best not to dress for the first exhibition game after a redshirt year and a whole summer to prepare playing with the team. “After the summer she kind of emerged,” Elderkin said. “When she

was sick for the exhibition I was kind of like ‘dang’ because I knew I had a lot of bodies who hadn’t played and when we lost that opportunity to see her play I felt bad.” Murray returned for the team’s second exhibition game against Lenoir Rhyne and struggled to get anything going, scoring only three points on onefor-six shooting from the field. Since then, Murray hasn’t had anything hold her back averaging 9.6 points per game, ranking third on the team and leading the Mountaineers four times in scoring this season. Standing out on the court is nothing new for Murray. Basketball has been a love for Murray since she was six years old and shooting hoops in a little plastic goal. Murray’s mother, Cescili Hopkins, was also a basketball player for UNC Greensboro, where Murray was born. “I played lacrosse and soccer some,

but being on the court was just my natural habitat,” Murray recalled. “I liked it the best.” Moving to Maryland at the age of 8, Murray attended Milford Mill Academy and shined, averaging 19 points a game and leading the team to a state championship. Spending her first collegiate season in 2014 at George Mason University, Murray made the move to Boone with fellow guard Cydni Cole after the two felt GMU was not the best fit. The two guards met in the sixth grade and played against each other in high school while playing as teammates for AAU. Murray played in 29 games for the Patriots, averaged 4.9 points per game, was second on the team in assists and tied for second in steals. In Boone, Elderkin was in her first season as the new App State head coach

and continued to take notice of Murray and Cole. Elderkin had recruited both of the players just two years prior during her stint as an assistant coach for St. John's. “I always loved the way Q competed on the court,” Elderkin said. “You can see it now with the energy and intensity she brings and the level of toughness. We really liked her at the guard position and after the first year we heard they were players wanting to transfer, I recruited and brought her over here.” Elderkin said she remained interested in both Murray and Cole. When she found out they both wanted to continue playing with each other and she could sign both of them, it was a done deal. “At the time we weren’t certain if they wanted to come together and I was one of the coaches who wanted to bring them together,” Elderkin said. “They are quiet kids and you really have to get

Photo Credit: Halle Keighton

Feb. 2, 2017

Sophomore guard Q Murray looks for an open player to pass the ball to during a game against UT Arlington. to know them to earn their trust so it was interesting.” North Carolina was not a foreign territory for Murray since it was where she was born when her mom played basketball at UNC Greensboro. She also grew up a UNC Chapel Hill fan. “I always looked up to [Tar Heel] Tyler Hansbrough,” Murray admitted. “He always worked hard and was relentless on the court.” Now Murray is a basketball player in North Carolina herself at Appalachian State. Due to NCAA transfer rules, Murray had to sit out as a redshirt in 2015 giving her an opportunity to be a spectator of the game. “It is always different when you are watching rather than being on the court,” Murray said. “I learned about how my teammates played and how they react to things. I could learn the

Photo Credit: Halle Keighton

system and how my coaches coached and envision where I fit in.” Redshirting gave Murray a chance to sit back and observe after going through the immediate transition of high school basketball to college. Murray had to learn on and off the court in very little time. “It was different,” Murray recalled. “It is more intense with waking up early, having class and then practice and weights and so on. [In] high school it was class and practice but it was a lot different.” One thing that did remain the same was class. “Class is class,” Murray said with a laugh. “The only thing different is finding my classes. There wasn’t anything drastic.” Murray began to find chemistry with her new teammates during her redshirt year and she also took advantage of the

time with spending hours in the gym. A lot of the time was spent shooting with former Mountaineer and current professional basketball player Frank Eaves. “When she came here she didn’t shoot lights out at George Mason, so we worked on 3-point shooting,” Elderkin said. “What a lot of people didn’t know is that her and Frank Eaves used to shoot in the gym a ton last year.” A junior at the time when Murray arrived, senior guard Joi Jones took notice almost immediately of the hard work ethic Murray brought to the gym. “I just saw she was a competitor,” Jones said. “She is a really good scorer but she knows how to facilitate and looks for her open teammates before she scores and makes sure they have a better shot first. She is a very unselfish player and that is good from a guard's perspective.” The injury bug hit the Mountaineer

guards early in the season with sophomore Kaila Craven tearing her ACL and Cole, who was playing backup point guard, missing an extended period of time led to Murray being forced to take on a bigger role. “She is forced to play some point but there are still some growing pains,” Elderkin said. “We have some players coming back but now she has experience with the play against the Sun Belt.” Murray scored in the double digits her first three games of the season and scored a career high 22-points against UNC Asheville in December. Over the last seven games, Murray has scored 10 or more points in five games. “When I am out there, granted I always get nervous. That’s my love for the game, but when I get going it just comes naturally,” Murray said. “I don’t think too much and just do what I have been doing since I was 6 and have fun and make an impact.” The impact has already been made for Murray but one of the down sides of transferring is not having her family in the stands every game as they were at George Mason. “My mom and grandma come to one Saturday game every month,” Murray said. “But with a lot of our games being on ESPN3 they can watch a lot and if they can't they will listen. It’s different with all the traveling now.” Still somebody who is very quiet and may not be the first person to greet you at the door, Murray has become someone the whole team enjoys being around. “She is still very quiet, but with the team she is not,” Elderkin said. “She is a really good communicator and when she does say things like speeches, she is very powerful.” With the opportunity to fill in as the lead point guard next season with Jones graduating this year, her teammates already have confidence in her. “Being a point guard is hard. You get a lot more reps and have to dial in more mentally to start the offense and keep the tempo of the game,” Jones said “She is the perfect person to do it. I have complete confidence in her and I know the team does too and she is only a sophomore so the sky's the limit for her.” From Elderkin's standpoint, Murray can be one of the best point guards in the league. “She is a sophomore eligibility wise and a freshman in our system,” Elderkin said. “Her three ball and her mid-range shot have gotten so much better and you can’t say enough about her defense. We just have to continue developing her.” Murray has finally found her home in Boone. Once somebody who was quiet and only familiar with Cole on the team, Murray has opened up and found her niche. “I would tell [those thinking of transferring] to go to all your visits and talk to the players and not only the coaches to get a feel of your teammates because coaches will get on your nerves sometimes,” Murray said. “And make sure if you didn’t want to play basketball anymore, would you still want to be here. Be sure that is where you want to go. Be sure you get to know everyone.”

OFFENSE

TOTAL TDS THIS SEASON . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 PASSING YARDS PER GAME . . . . . . . .269.2 RUSHING YARDS PER GAME . . . . . . . . 117

DEFENSE

TOTAL YARD PER GAME ALLOWED . . . . . . . 326.4

TOM BRADY MATT RYAN QUARTERBACK QUARTERBACK

JULIAN JULIO EDELMAN JONES

WIDE RECEIVER WIDE RECEIVER

MALCOLM VIC BUTLER BEASLEY

CORNERBACK OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

PASSING YARDS PER GAME ALLOWED . . . 237.9

BRAXTON CRITCHER

TAYLOR STORY

junior public relations major from Huntersville, North Carolina If you haven’t realized by now, Julio Jones is one of, if not the best receiver this season. Every team the Falcons have faced this season focused their game plans on trying to stop the Matt Ryan-Julio Jones connection, and many have failed. This game will be about an unsung hero that many overlook. 5’8, 165 lb receiver from Abilene Christian University Taylor Gabriel, he tallied 579 yards and six touchdowns this season on 35 catches. My prediction is that Gabriel will make the game-winning touchdown grab with under 30 seconds remaining to give the Falcons the win over Brady’s Pats, 35-30.

PASSING YARDS PER GAME . . . . . . . .259.3 RUSHING YARDS PER GAME . . . . . . . . 120.5

DEFENSE

TOTAL YARD PER GAME ALLOWED . . . . . . . 371.2

RUSH YARDS PER GAME ALLOWED . . . . . . . . 104.5

JASON HUBER

junior electronic media broadcast major from Wilkesboro, North Carolina The Falcons, in my mind, are the better team here. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan has arguably the league's best receiver in Julio Jones, and has more weapons to choose from when Jones is not open than any quarterback in recent memory. I still believe Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will win Super Bowl 51. This is a matchup of experience vs. little to no experience. Brady and Belichick are the hardest duo to beat in the history of the NFL. They always have something up their sleeve even when they have the odds against them. Patriots win 35-27..

TOTAL TDS THIS SEASON . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

PASSING YARDS PER GAME ALLOWED . . . 266.7

RUSH YARDS PER GAME ALLOWED . . . . . . . . 88.6

junior journalism major from Huntersville, North Carolina This will only be the sixth Super Bowl where the team that allowed the least amount of points faces the team that scored the most points. The team with the top scoring defense has won four of the last five meetings and this year will make it four of the last six because the Falcons offense will be too much for the Patriots defense. The Pats have only have two elite quarterbacks this season. Matt Ryan is the seasons likely MVP and will hands down be the best QB the Pats have faced. Falcons will take it 31-23.

OFFENSE

MICHAEL PIGG

PREDICTIONS COLT JENSEN

junior political science/economics major, from Boone, North Carolina Brady and the Pats are the Vegas favorites, and Nate Silver is giving them a 61 percent chance to win. The experience Brady and the Pats have makes them the favorites, but Matt Ryan and company have the weapons to pull the upset. The key will be the shifty two time pro bowl running back Devonta Freeman. If Freeman can get the run game going, and take pressure off the passing game things will open up downfield. That will allow the Matt Ryan to Julio Jones connection to take over. That should be the difference as the Falcons win 27-24

TYLER HOTZ

freshman journalism major from Knoxville, Tennessee Finishing 8-8 a year ago, the Falcons only scored over 30 points in a game twice in 16 games. This season, the Falcons have done it 13 times in 18 games. This level of offensive production is unheard of, but if there is any team to slow them down, it is the New England Patriots. The Pats have won nine straight games, and their winning streak will hit double digits, pulling out yet another Super Bowl title. Pats 34, Falcons 28

IAN TAYLOR

junior journalism major from Panama City, Florida Matt Ryan is proving he is an elite quarterback thanks in part to an offense that is by far the most complete one we've seen in years. Trying to stop that is a Patriots defense filled with average starters and big holes at every level. Asking Malcolm Butler to stop Julio Jones is going to work once every few snaps, but Jones has shown he needs one play to win games. At the end of the day, it comes down to the Patriots keeping up with Falcons, which won't happen thanks to Vic Beasley Jr. Falcons win 35-14.

BROOKS MAYNARD

junior journalism major from Raleigh, North Carolina Matt Ryan is behind only Drew Brees in passing yards this season and is having an equally impressive postseason. Julio Jones had the second most receiving yards this year while being only 17th in targets and averaged 17 yards per reception. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are both in the top ten at running back, and Vic Beasley, Jr., this year’s NFL sack champion, leads a defense that everyone said wasn’t good enough to win a ring. Aaron Rodgers leads postseason quarterbacks in yards by nearly 300 and his team lost the NFC championship to the Falcons by more than 20 points. The Falcons win their first Super Bowl 34-21.

NOAH GERRINGER

sophomore journalism and public relations double major from Mebane, North Carolina Tom Brady only had two interceptions on the season while LeGarrette Blount had nearly 300 carries with 1161 yards and 18 touchdowns combined with a great defense that won them their last Super Bowl. Yet, if you haven’t noticed the Falcons’ Julio Jones and Matt Ryan can put up points, that’s a fact. But we can't forget the most important thing. Tom Brady went to Michigan. App beat Michigan. Therefore Tom Brady will not win as long as the Mountaineers are watching the Super Bowl. That’s the only bad thing I could find about the Patriots. Very high scoring game. Falcons win their first Super Bowl 35-28.

FINAL TA L L E Y PATRIOTS 4 FALCONS 7

junior journalism major from Lexington, North Carolina Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's will appear in their seventh Super Bowl together. Many consider Belichick the best coach in NFL history, and after Sunday there should be no doubt about it that Brady is the best quarterback in NFL history. Bill Belichick is known for taking away the other team's number one option, just ask Antonio Brown. They will be able to limit Julio Jones and get pressure on Matt Ryan. Tom Brady will pick apart the average Falcons defense and make no name wide receivers into households names. Pats win 28-13.

ADAM HOTHERSALL

senior journalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina Matt Ryan leads his prolific Falcons offense that led the league in total yards with their balanced attack of playmakers at receiver and two-headed monster at running back. But this game will come down to the Falcons defense with the pass rush of Vic Beasley and the improved secondary the last couple of weeks for Atlanta. My X-Factor is rookie linebacker Deion Jones who’s responsibility is to cover the middle of the field drawing assignments of tight end Martellus Bennett and speedy slot receiver Julian Edelman. Falcons offense too explosive for New England in this game. Falcons 37, Patriots 31.

JAY BOYD

sophomore electronic media/ broadcasting major from Stanley, North Carolina Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will make their seventh Super Bowl appearance on Sunday. The two have never had an issue scoring points, which will be a necessity as they take on the high powered Atlanta Falcons offense. Belichick, the ultimate game-planner, will not allow Julio Jones to beat his team, unlike the Falcon’s previous opponents have. That will be the difference, as the Pats cruise in a 38-20 win.

Feb. 2, 2017

SOUTH DAKOTA’S SWAMP AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR EVERYONE ELSE

his last election,

while most of the world was focused on the fierce presidential race, another fight was happening in South Dakota. Ballot measure 22, otherwise known as the South Dakota Government Accountability and Anti-Corruption Act, was passed by the voters of South Dakota. According to The New York Times, in their post election coverage, the bill was passed with a 52/48 margin. This act, a bipartisan ballot initiative backed by groups such as the Take It Back effort and the national anti-corruption organization Represent.Us, was meant to, as President Donald Trump would say, “drain the swamp.” And boy did the proverbial swamp that is South Dakota’s state legislature need draining. As of 2015, the Center for Public Integrity gave the state legislature an overall F for integrity. Not only that, but South Dakota ranked in at 47th for overall integrity, beating out only Michigan, Wyoming and Delaware. In terms of specific categories, South Dakota received an F in such categories as “Political Financing,” “Legislative and Executive Accountability,” “Lobbying Disclosure” and “Ethics Enforcement Agencies.” With all this in mind, it could certain-

e can’t get on

social media without being bombarded with unfounded opinions, political arguments or, sometimes humorous, political memes. Throughout President Barack Obama’s term he was repeatedly regarded as one of America’s worst presidents, especially by our new leader. However, when you ask someone why they disapprove of the Obama administration the response we receive is often the same -- they lack knowledge of his policies, but they know based on their party or popular opinion that they do not like him. During this transitional period of getting used to how our new president operates, I thought it would be nice to accentuate some of Obama’s substantial accomplishments that went unnoticed. Prior to the Obama administration, little effort was geared toward putting an end to human trafficking. According to Washington Monthly, in 2012 President Obama signed an executive order to strengthen the government’s zero tolerance policy on human trafficking The administration partnered with Humanity United to expand health and legal services to trafficking victims by creating Partnership for Freedom, an organization that’s purpose is to innovate solutions to this issue.

Q Russell is sophomore journalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina ly be said that a law like this has been a long time coming for South Dakota. The specific points of the act are that it would limit monetary gifts from lobbyists and require them to be disclosed to the public, which were previously unlimited and undisclosed. Additionally, it would increase transparency requirements for campaign contributions, establish a watchdog organization to investigate potential ethics violations, lower limits on campaign contributions, prevent certain high-level officials from taking jobs as lobbyists after leaving office, create a public election fund and increase the penalty for bribery by defining it as a felony. A law such as this would fall in line with the a similar executive order from Trump that would ban federal officials from lobbying five years after leaving office.

That said, the passing of the Anti-Corruption Act should be sign of positive change in the coming future right? The people won. Citizens came together in a grassroots movement and managed to get a law passed fighting systemic corruption. Democracy won, the people can celebrate, right? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Instead, the state legislature, with an overwhelming Republican majority, has devoted itself to setting aside the new law using emergency powers. Normally, when a citizen-backed initiative would be repealed in South Dakota, the citizens can propose a referendum to reverse a repeal. However, according to the Huffington Post, were the bill repealed under these emergency powers, the citizens would not be able to reverse the repeal. In addition to all of this, the Huffington Post stated that Circuit Judge Mark Barnett has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the law from being implemented on grounds of constitutionality. This is merely temporary, and should the law survive the upcoming vote, which had initially been scheduled for last week but postponed, the final decision would be rendered by the South Dakota Supreme Court. This raises the question though, why would the Republican legislature seek to repeal the law in such a devastating

THE OBAMA YEARS Cassidy Chambers is sophomore political science major from Hendersonville, North Carolina They have also allocated funds for training to identify and assist victims in each level of government. In a progressive effort, the administration launched the “Counter-Trafficking in Persons Campus Challenge” to promote activism and raise awareness among college students. Furthermore, climate change has become undeniable. While in office, Obama improved the quality of water, increased funding and started new funds for climate research and improved our climate change data recording systems among other initiatives. To start off, President George W. Bush and his administration allowed perchlorate to be exempt from federal regulation. According to PolitiFact, this chemi-

cal can interfere with the production of hormones needed for necessary growth and development. This was later reversed in Obama’s first term, and on top of this EPA administrator Lisa Jackson established regulation preventing 16 carcinogenic chemicals from being present in water. Approved by the House Appropriations Committee, a bill was passed to raise federal funding for national parks and forests. PolitiFact’s “Obamameter” tells us he increased funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This effort allotted money to conserve new parks and public lands with a focus on ecosystems in the Great Plains and Eastern forests. According to PolitiFact, immediately after taking office in 2008, he came through on his promise to support funds to preserve climate data records, including data from the extent of sea ice at the poles to the energy emitted from clouds. To some degree, most of us have participated in some sort of movement for civil rights. We’ve watched Obama lead the march for equal rights for the LGBTQ community, beginning with his repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” for the first time enabling gays and lesbians who choose to serve our country to be open about their identities.

manner? It’s because they’re afraid, they’re afraid that their way of operating is at risk, that they’ll no longer be able to profit off selling their state out to rich donors. As infuriating as this whole situation is, it’s the broader implications of it that should inspire fear and worry. This is a blatant disregard for the will of the people, the duly elected representatives of the people have chosen to ignore the voice of the people in favor of their own interests. It’s an extreme version of similar events happening across the country, and even in the federal government itself. Somewhere along the line politicians forgot about representing the best interests of their constituents, and began devoting their time and efforts to acquiring wealth and personal power. The contract between citizen and state was, at the very least, tarnished, and at the worst, outright broken. At this stage the only recourse that citizens have is to pay attention, to watch for corruption and to fight back against actions such as those taken by the South Dakota legislature. Get organized, take initiative and let those in power who would abuse said power know that they’re being watched, and that any wrongdoing won’t be tolerated.

Moreover, as reported by The Obama White House Archives, Obama signed the first major piece of legislation pertaining to civil rights that protect the LGBTQ community. The Matthew Shepard Act considers crimes against the LGBTQ community to be of hate and Obama amended the outdated 1969 federal hate-crime law. Obama was also a large supporter of the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that classified marriage as the unity between a man and a woman, and gave powers to the states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages. This disallowed couples from receiving federal marriage benefits. President Obama is an underrated president whose service and accomplishments have been widely unknown, largely due to our media. Nevertheless, if you dig deep enough you can uncover some pretty great accomplishments of not just Obama – but former leaders as well. In such a polarizing, divisive time in America it can be enlightening to read about times that our government has come together to bring great ideas, such as these, to life. It restores hope in our politicians by showing that not all their motivations are crooked or bad, and it provides hope that despite obstacles we can continue to build upon the principles that our Founding Fathers set out for us.

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