February 15, 2018

FEB. 15, 2018

PHOTO ESSAY:

MICHAEL BROWN PROTEST PAGE 3

SWING DANCE CLUB TRAVELS BACK IN TIME PAGES 8-9

OP-ED::

ELON MUSK PAGE 13

Jan. 18, 2018

THE TEAM Sydney Spann @spannooo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Wilkes @theappalachian ADVISER

EDITORIAL Victoria Haynes @victoriahayness MANAGING EDITOR

BUSINESS Jules Blaylock @jayblay96 CHIEF COPY EDITOR

MULTIMEDIA

Jonathan Mauldin @MauldinJonathan GRADUATE ASSISTANT

Nora Smith @noraagracee GRAPHICS EDITOR

Halle Keighton @halle_keighton PHOTO EDITOR

Braxton Coats @brxcoats22 WEB MANAGER

Jamie Patel @jptalksfooty VIDEO EDITOR

Q Russell @Q_M_Russell OPINION EDITOR

Ashley Goodman @AshleyGoodman97 A&E EDITOR

Bradley Workman @Brad_Workman BUSINESS MANAGER

Moss Brennan @mosbren IN-DEPTH EDITOR

Aidan Moyer @Aidan_Moyer_ NEWS EDITOR

Cristian McLaughlin @CAMcLaughlin MARKETING DIRECTOR

Brooks Maynard @BrooksMaynard SPORTS EDITOR

T H E COV E R: “White. I wanted to be White” by senior art education major Saleen Vang. Vang’s

portraits are a part of the “Radical Feminists” art show at HOW Space. Read more on pages 8-9.

Mickey Hutchings

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

CRIME LOG

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

CAMPUS JAN. 27

JAN. 26

2 p.m. | Criminal Damage to Property Varsity Gym Closed

11:50 p.m. | Possession of Marijuana Trivette Hall Loading Dock Closed

JAN. 27

JAN. 26

11 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Cannon Hall Closed

5:04 p.m. | Burglary Non-forced Entry Belk Hall Further Investigation

JAN. 27

JAN. 26

4:55 p.m. | Larceny From Buildings Student Recreation Center Further Investigation

11:29 a.m. | Damage to Property Student Recreation Center Disposition

JAN. 26

JAN. 25

1 p.m. | Larceny From Motor Vehicle State Farm Parking Lot Further Investigation

9 p.m. | Possession of Marijuana Living Learning Center Closed

JAN. 26

JAN. 25

9 p.m. | Criminal Damage to Property (Vandalism) Plemmons Student Union Closed

12:30 p.m. | Larceny of Food Sanford Commons Closed

ACROSS 1 Rankles 5 Go higher 10 Burgoo or ragout 14 Harvest 15 Speeder spotter 16 Dance for a lei person 17 Cornstarch brand in a yellow-andblue container 18 String in a kids’ song 19 African antelope 20 Really cheap 23 Baltimore’s __ Harbor 24 Enjoy Vail 25 Podded plant 28 Fountain output 32 Sully 34 Rest area freebie 37 Precisely 40 Mother Nature’s balm 42 “The Glass Lake” writer Binchy 43 Trillion: Pref.

44 Worthless item 47 “Mamma Mia!” number 48 Slow movement 49 Move through muck 51 Kennedy twins?

52 Luthor of the comics 55 Infield fly 59 Economic factor that affects three puzzle answers 64 Naan relative 66 Demand and obtain, as vengeance 67 Adopt-a-Pet pet 68 “Dilbert” intern 69 Comparatively friendly 70 Geek Squad client 71 LGBT Pride Month 72 2017 A.L. MVP José Altuve, for one 73 Zip DOWN 1 Kirkuk native 2 “Seinfeld” episode, now

4 Reproductive bodies 5 Hudson Bay nation 6 Bear’s home 7 One may be called bright when it isn’t 8 “Downton Abbey” figures 9 Forest babbler 10 Christian Louboutin creation 11 Tolls are taken on them 12 Bridge expert Culbertson 13 Candle stuff 21 Easy gait 22 Tubular pasta 26 Summer month in Uruguay 27 Book with 11-Down 29 St. Paul’s feature 30 Minimally 31 Drops, as pounds 33 Part of ACA 34 Scott Joplin’s “__ Leaf Rag” 35 Literary middle name 36 Goes all out

By Mark McClain

38 Downright nasty 39 “Finding Dory” character 41 __ salad 45 Club sport 46 “Around the Horn” channel 50 Strait of __: Persian Gulf outlet 53 With 3-Down, justice since 2010 54 Graph line

56 Hesitation 57 Unmitigated 58 Chemical prefix?

60 Maker of LeBron 15 basketball shoes 61 Delicate handling 62 Pastry prettifier 63 Other, in España 64 British rule in India 65 The Cowboys of the Big 12 Conf.

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:

02/01/18

Feb. 15, 2018

PHOTO ESSAY: MICHAEL BROWN PROTEST Students, faculty, staff and administration participated in a protest on Tuesday against the message of Dr. Michael Brown’s event, “Christian Mistreatment of Homosexuality.” Upon further investigation, a group of students discovered that Dr. Brown’s message was misleading, and claim that he often delegitimizes marginalized groups and movements through his work, such of Black Lives Matter, feminism and LGBTQIA+ activism. Avery Walter, President of Appalachian Social Justice Educators, orchestrated the protest. Walter and other representatives of marginalized and underrepresented groups on campus spoke up against Dr. Brown’s message of what they saw as intolerance and hatred.

Avery Walters and other students metting outside between the student union and the library to protest Speaker Michael Brown on Tuesday at 2pm.

One of the many signs at the protest againt Speaker Michael Brown. The protest was held on campus at 2 p.m on Tuesday.

Mickey Hutchings

People gathering on Sanford with homeade signs to protest Speaker Michael Brown on Tuesday afternoon. Brown spoke at App State on Tuesday night.

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Feb. 15, 2018

The counter inside of health services when you first walk in to sign in or make an appointment. Health services is located on the second floor of the Miles Annas Student Support building.

HEALTH SERVICES CATERS TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS A Dylan Austin│

ccording to a 2016 study performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, 4.4 percent of Americans went without obtaining “needed medical care due to cost.”

Dr. Leigh Beasley of M.S. Shook Health Service said students are able to be seen for typical physicals, as well as more specific needs ranging from orthopedic to sexual health, which can be especially important during the college years.

“We encourage guys and girls to have STD (sexually transmitted disease) screenings whenever you have a change in partner,” Beasley said.

Beasley reiterated that sexual health was nothing to be taken lightly and that even apparently healthy individuals 4

should be proactive.

“A lot of STDs have no symptoms,” Beasley said.

“Even with women who have sex with women, and men who have sex with men, there are STD screening recommendations.”

Beasley said it is recommended that any sexually active couple or individual use a combination of medicated contraceptive, such as birth control pills or other medicated pregnancy contraceptives to protect against pregnancy and condoms that protect against the contraction of STDs. During any visit to Mary S. Shook Student Health Service, students have access to free condoms in the waiting room or patient rooms. Students can also order “a variety of male/external condoms, female/internal condoms, dental dams and lubricants,” from The Condom Fairy.

According to its Facebook,

@DylanPAustin│News Reporter

The Condom Fairy is an organization that works to remove the stigma when learning about HIV/AIDS and the ways in which to prevent contracting either. Much like a clown hired for a child’s birthday party, The Condom fairy can be hired to come speak at events to talk about sexual safety in a more relaxed setting than most public school sex education classes.

The Condom Fairy also provides “discrete distribution for those who want it” by allowing individuals to order various forms of lubricants and condoms.

In addition to reactive services and treatments, health services offers a wide array of proactive benefits. One service that is possibly overlooked by students is the Pap smear which screens for cervical cancer. The CDC recommends women to start receiving Pap smears annually at the age of 21.

Sydni Loudermilk, a sophomore electronic media broadcasting major, said that she goes to health services and Appalachian’s Counseling Center frequently.

“I found out this past week that the women’s center offers menstrual products and condoms and other resources for women that the rest of the university does not offer,” Loudermilk said via email.

She said that despite the inconvenience of such items not being available across campus, it is helpful that the school does offer them for free.

“I honestly took a risk and just went to the health center one day after looking it up because I had a concern with my health freshman year,” Loudermilk said. “I went in hoping they could help and through that I have discovered what they offer assistance in.”

Adult nurse practitioner Karen Goodman said that

skepticism comes from students who may have been told by their parents to go see “a real doctor.”

Goodman said that other students may avoid health services for fear of their parents finding out what they were seen for. Goodman said students who voice these concerns do not need to be, as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 prohibits the disclosure of medical information to outside parties without written consent of the patient.

And though prescriptions processed through a family insurance will indicate what medications were covered, students have the option to pay cash for most prescriptions at the campus pharmacy.

“Every one of us, all of our providers, graduated from universities and colleges that are reputable,” Goodman said. “There’s nothing not real about any of us.”

Halle Keighton

Feb. 15, 2018

SPREADING LOVE WITH CAMPUS CURSIVE Mariah Reneau│

rom hanging anonymous love letters off of the trees on Sanford to putting encouraging labels on coffee cups, Campus Cursive is an organization that spends their Monday evenings spreading love and words of affirmation in any way they can.

Beginning as a campus chapter of the larger organization The World Needs More Love Letters, Campus Cursive App State was started by App State graduate Emily Bradley and senior social work major Andrea Santoya back in 2015.

“My freshman year, there were nine suicides on campus, and although all of those instances were sad, I also saw this community lifting each other up,” Santoya said.

Santoya had already been a fan of the organization The World Needs More Love Letters as well as its founder Hannah Brencher.

“I just think that Hannah Brencher standing up for bringing happiness to strangers is so inspiring,” Santoya said.

The World Needs More Love Letters is a worldwide organization that is represented in 73 different countries and all 50 states and is devoted to spreading positivity and love through anonymous letters.

The club focuses on randomly placing words of affirmation anonymously throughout App’s campus.

“When you’re with your friends, it’s really easy to lift people up you know really well because you know their characteristics and who they are as people,” Santoya said.

“That positivity is important, but I always think that hearing words of affirmation from a stranger is empowering in such a different way.”

Since the App State campus chapter was created, many events have become staples to the campus.

“During our meetings we write letters, work on events such as Positive Post-It Notes day and the giving tree, where we hang letters from

@reneau2│Senior A&E Reporter

F

Halle Keighton

Junior officers of the club Campus Cursive Hannah Higgins, Cara Pace and Hannah Reimer. The club meets every Monday at 6:15 p.m. in Beacon Heights.

trees on Sanford and create Letter Bundles for specific people that have reached out to us who are in need of nice words at the time,” junior anthropology major Cara Pace said.

The group’s largest achievement came last February when the club organized bringing the founder of The World Needs More Love Letters to campus to give a talk. Through a series of conversations with Brencher’s team and with Appalachian Popular Programming Society, the group was able to bring Brencher to campus for a Valentine-themed talk.

However, it is not just the receivers of these anonymous letters who gain from this organization.

“It definitely impacts me personally, because if I’m having a rough or stressful week, I know I can go to a meeting and feel refreshed.

I take the feeling and think, ‘well I know I’m going through stuff, so other people have to be going through something too,’” junior commercial photography major Hannah Reimer said.

It also allows individuals to put their own frustrations in the letters they are writing to others.

“I think it’s really beneficial to write letters because when I’m going through a hard time, it’s a really good channel. I can throw myself into it and talk about what I’m going through in the letters and say, ‘I’m not alone.

I’m going through a hard time right now. We can get through this together,’” Pace said.

Part of the reason for the benefits gained from writing these letters comes from how the club members find inspiration for their letters.

“One thing we tell people who come to these meetings is, ‘Write a letter you’d like

someone to write to you.

How are you feeling today? What would you like to hear?’” Santoya said.

This ability to relate to one another as students is particularly helpful during an event called Love Letter Ninjas, where the club members deliver handwritten letters to strangers in the library during finals weekend.

“We dress in all black and pass out letters in the library while people are studying for finals. We usually get really weird looks, but it’s nice anyways,” Pace said.

To spread the word about activities as much as possible, the club uses social media, including the hashtag #CampusCursiveASU, which is placed on many of the sticky notes and coffee cup labels the organization creates.

“We always encourage people to use our hashtags #CampusCursiveASU, so we put our hashtag on the sticker and a lot of times we’ll see that on social media,” Santoya said.

Campus Cursive’s social media efforts are managed by Reimer, who serves as the group’s social media coordinator on the executive board.

“Being a photography major, I love those platforms, so it’s super fun to be in the background of creating events and the look of events,” Reimer said.

As the group continues on, the goal is to sustain moreso than grow the organization.

“We can do what we can to spread the word, but we also need people to show up and support,” Santoya said.

However, no matter the size of the organization, the group is encouraged with whatever impact they make.

“It’s such a little thing, but I think that little thing can make such a big impact on one individual or a group,” Santoya said.

If you are interested in joining Campus Cursive, the club meets at 6:15 p.m. every other Monday night in room 417 Beacon Heights in the Plemmons Student Union.

5

Feb. 15, 2018

TOP 30 SEARCHES ON SOUNDCLOUD 1. XXXTENTACION 2. GODS PLAN DRAKE 3. NBA YOUNGBOY 4. LIL UZI VERT 5. KODAK BLACK 6. DRAKE 7. MIGOS 8. LIL PUMP 9. TRIPPIE REDD 10. LIL PEEP 11. CHOPPA DAMU BRAZY 12. GODS PLAN 13. LIL SKIES 14. DRAKE GODS PLAN 15. BAD BUNNY 16. OZUNA 17. 21 SAVAGE 18. TAY K 19. ROLL IN PEACE 20. CARDI B 21. POST MALONE 22. YOP STICKZ 23. GUMMO 24. SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD 25. GUCCI GANG 26. LIL XAN 27. PNB ROCK 28. CULTURE 2 29. KEKE 30. FUTURE

6

BOONE RAPPERS AND INDEPENDENT MUSIC Angela McLinton│

In the past year there has been a rise of recording artists now signed to major labels that started off on SoundCloud, notably rappers.

Post Malone uploaded his debut single “White Iverson” onto the site, attracting millions of hits and leading to a contract with Republic Records. Lil Yachty is now the face of Nautica and Urban Outfitters. Lil Uzi Vert’s “XO Tour Llif3,” a Billboard Top 10 single, began as part of a SoundCloud playlist whose streaming numbers launched it to the top of the charts.

Renowned artists can stem from anywhere now and still make it big—including Boone.

Founded in 2008, SoundCloud is an online platform and streaming service that allows users to upload, record and share sounds, from mixtapes to podcasts. “(SoundCloud) is a way for artists to directly provide music to their fans. It also inspired a lot of music genres that wouldn’t have else been created,” freshman communication sciences and disorders major and SoundCloud rapper Quinn Albrecht said. “I think a lot of artists wouldn’t be anywhere if Soundcloud wasn’t a platform. Some artists that come to mind are Chance the Rapper, Lil Skies, 6 dogs and Ugly God.” Many users and music critics believe the site has created a venue to experiment with genres. For example, Lil Uzi Vert categorizes his work as “Alternative Rock” on the site. “Emo rap” or “sad rap” is considered a new phenomenon, combining common hip-hop beats with more emotional, personal lyrics.

“In high school I was really interested in punk and ‘90s alternative rock, while all of my friends were interested in rap music. While listening to music with them I drew a lot of parallels from the three genres,” Cole Funk, a Boone local and SoundCloud rapper, said. “I saw a really cool opportunity to be a part of counterculture.”

Funk tries to stay conscious of his place in the rap

@theappalachian│News Reporter

scene and wants to spread awareness of the roots of the genre.

“My stage name, or rather my persona, Yung Sludge, portrays the things I hate about the genre. I’m extremely aware of how white I am and that there is a stigma around being a white rapper. I’m not saying the stigma is unearned, because it certainly is. Hip-hop is not white music,” Funk said.

“Yung Sludge is the embodiment of the grimiest, dirtiest and worst parts of hip-hop.”

Funk listed hyper-masculinity, encouraging drug abuse and violence towards women among the worst parts of the genre.

“I think SoundCloud is so popular because it’s very easy to get on and use,” Trivette market employee and SoundCloud rapper Angus Faulkner said. “Once you make an account, even for free, you get up to I think an hour of free time to post.

So it’s very accessible. It’s also like the ‘mainstream meets underground’ because everyone from a no-name rapper to world famous musicians are on there.”

Faulkner believes the accessibility of content-sharing platforms like SoundCloud or YouTube encourages usage.

“I guess I’ve always used it for its simplicity; I’m not the most tech-savvy person in the world, so a few clicks and it uploaded was appealing to me,” Faulkner said.

Some artists believe SoundCloud’s accessibility compensates that it is difficult to make money off of.

“I started on SoundCloud because it was free, easy, and I felt cool. But places like Spotify and iTunes are nice because you can make money off of them,” sophomore marketing major and SoundCloud rapper Aaron Barnhart said. “...But the likelihood of being discovered and turning into someone like Lil Pump … is slim to none. But it happens. I always have my hopes.”

Barnhart and other local musicians said they utilize the service to at least cultivate creativity and express themselves, if discovery never occurs.

“Music at this point is an integral part of my life,” Barnhart said. “When I think and when things happen to me, I think in terms of music and how I could get my ideas out there and express what I need to. If this turns into a career, I’m more than open to that. But if not, I’m not even sure if I’d call it a hobby because it’s pretty much who I am.”

Like Barnhart, other local artists have grown with music as a part of their lives.

“I used to sing a lot and I thought I was pretty good, but once my voice started to change I kind of lost it. Once I lost my singing voice I started taking interest in rap, mainly T.I. and Lil Wayne at first,” junior media broadcasting major and SoundCloud rapper Mason Stuart said.

Stuart praised the opportunities the platform allows.

“Literally anyone with the ability to upload a file can post a song, and that’s an amazing thing. Sure there’s a lot of awful music on there, but it’s given so many people opportunities that they never would have had before. I mean, before SoundCloud, artists had to get their songs on Pandora, or iTunes or the radio, which is just inherently more difficult.”

Stuart went on to compare SoundCloud to other platforms, but thought it best for musicians as it is focused on audio.

“YouTube is great too, but it’s just so overly saturated with content that it’s easy for it to get lost. SoundCloud is similar, but it carries a more legitimate connotation with it,” Stuart said. “Even when people trash on SoundCloud rappers they still tend to go check out the music. I think big artists understand that too and that’s why they invest back into the site.”

Perhaps the most notable event of a big artist investing back into the site would be from Chance the Rapper, who, having gotten a lot of notoriety and financial success from SoundCloud’s exposure, continues to support and promote the platform.

Many believe that the rapper “saved” the platform from alleged financial collapse,

which is unconfirmed.

Despite its prominence in present-day music, SoundCloud had a rough 2017 financially. In July, it laid off 173 employees, fueling the rumor the platform only had enough capital to make it through to the end of the year by doing so.

In October 2016, Billboard began counting domestic SoundCloud plays in its Hot 100 calculations.

In cases like that of rapper Lil Pump’s, many songs and content are exclusive to SoundCloud still.

“Ideas can flow really easily from one person to another and genres have the opportunity to change, grow and even evolve into completely separate sub-genres,” Funk said. “On the other hand, it gives less than savory voices the same opportunities and that’s not always ideal.”

Content isn’t always that premium or of the best quality, however, Funk said. Funk accuses “Hype Beasts” and “Clout Crusaders” of being artists who don’t really have a message or an original concept.

SoundCloud currently has over 75 million active users.

All 50 of the top 50 ranked songs on SoundCloud are rap songs, with no appearances from other genres. Numerically, it would be difficult to stand out on the platform.

Statistics, Funk said, should not be discouraging for artists.

“I think it’s a great place for anyone to have a shot at their musical dream,” Funk said. “It’s a hell of a grind to the top, but it’s way easier than how it used to be.

You used to have to know someone, have connections and really fight for attention. Now all you’ve got to do is make good music and be consistent.”

Albrecht said that despite rapping not being his profession, he has found a purpose in posting to SoundCloud.

“It’s just a hobby right now, although I have made some money doing it,” Albrecht said. “But in the end I just want my music to make people feel something whether that be one person or thousands of people.”

Graphic by Sydney Spann

Feb. 15, 2018

Lily Moore, the club’s secretary and sophomore elementary education major, and Max Heiche, a recreation management major, dance at a typical swing club get together. The club at App State meets every Monday and Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Great Hall of the LLC.

Subhead

A BLAST FROM THE PAST: SWING DANCE CLUB Savannah Nguyen│

very Monday and Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., you can swing down to the Varsity Gymnasium and Lindy Hop back in time with the Appalachian Swing Dance Club. The student-run club brings the flavor of Harlem Lindy Hop and the West Coast swing to the mountains.

Lily Shaw, a senior sociology and Spanish major, said that the nature of the dances are meant to bring people together.

Shaw grew up playing soccer and said she was never able to feel a sense of community in the sport, something that she was able to

E

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find in dance, particularly in Lindy Hop. Shaw, who said she found an immediate love for the art, has been to over 30 competitions, has danced swing in Costa Rica and has even studied swing in Sweden. From her time in Costa Rica, Shaw said she remembers being being able to promptly find a Lindy Hop community.

“When I went there, I knew a fair amount of Spanish, but even the times when my words failed me and I didn’t know what to say, it didn’t really matter because we were just there to dance. It’s just about this place of sharing what you love,” Shaw said.

@theappalachian│A&E Reporter

The same can be said for the swing club community here at Appalachian.

Elizabeth Bowen, president of the club, said she believes that the expressive nature of dance tends to bring people together, letting normal inhibitions melt away.

“Some people have problems expressing themselves,” Bowen said. “I’m not very good at communicating well, so I enjoy dancing as a form of expressing myself. Even in terms of my mood, if I’m feeling goofy, sad, happy, excited, there are so many ways to express yourself with your style. Sometimes people get tired of a

persona that they have adopted for themselves, so dance gives them a platform to try out something new, a different character if you will.”

Bowen said swing dance is known as being similar to having a conversation with your partner.

“I like thinking of it as a language,” Bowen said. “When you dive into partner dancing, you’ll find that it is a conversation with someone you may not know, or maybe you’re friends and you get to express different things through that form of communication.”

However, like a conversation, things can either go

very well or one can have a “word fumble,” as Bowen likes to call it.

Asher Daniels, a senior broadcasting major, has been involved with the club for three years and said he still remembers the first and only time he has ever dropped a dance partner.

“I’m a huge fan of doing dips,” Daniels said.

“The only time I’ve ever dropped a follow was actually doing dips on the beach. The sand had caught me. It was a really awkward spin. I couldn’t get my footing. It’s something I pride myself in, a lot of people trust me about it, but I have failed before.”

Coutesy of Elizabeth Bowen

Feb. 15, 2018

(Top) Nate Patterson and Caroline Church dance Lindy Hop during a one of the clubs themed events. The club puts on other dances in addition to the Lindy Hop like the West Coast Swing and the Blues. (Right) Justin Kissenberger and Delaney Marion dancing lindy hop.

In addition to learning swing as a skill, Daniels first saw the opportunity as a great way to meet people, particularly girls.

“Initially, it was my freshman year. I had just broken up with my girlfriend, so I thought, what better way to meet girls than to go dancing?” Daniels said.

Tristan Watson, a senior economics major, has been dancing for 3 1/2 years and teaching dance for two. Watson was initially inspired by his brother to pick up dancing.

“My brother was the man in high school. He did salsa, tango, bachata, he did anything. He had girls lining up with him to dance,” Watson said. “It’s definitely more than that though. I joined to meet people. These people are my friends too.”

Traditionally, in the 1920s and the 1930s when swing and Lindy Hop were just emerging, men were

typically leads, and women were follows. Today, Watson said, swing breaks stereotypes, and traditional gender roles do not apply.

“Historically, men led and women followed, but the truth is, no one really cares about that anymore,” Watson said. “We have a lot of women that lead, especially because there are so many more girls than guys.”

Despite the reception that the Appalachian Swing Dance Club has received in recent years, Watson is still begging for men to join.

“Just come and show up.

That’s all you have to do,” Watson said. “The same happened with me. It’s really hard to break that feeling of ‘everyone’s looking at me. I have no idea what I’m doing.’ The day that I stopped leaving because I felt awkward was the day that I started getting really good, really quick.”

Coutesy of Elizabeth Bowen

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Feb. 15, 2018

APP’S OLDEST CLUB SPORT: FENCING

(Left) Fencers have to constantly remain in a crouching position known as en garde. Team members meet every Tuesday and Thursday night in the 4th court of the Dwight W. Quinn Recreation Center. (Right) Fencers pair up together according to the weapon of their choice.

Amber Grant │

A

ppalachian State Fencing, a club sport established in 1899, welcomes new members of all skill levels to participate. The oldest club sport on campus holds weekly practices in the Dwight W. Quinn Recreation Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 8 p.m. and lasting until around 10 p.m. Fencing equipment is also provided to members.

The fencing club holds practices through the year as well as competitions in surrounding states. In order to practice weekly with gear and weapons, all members must pay a fee of $30, while those wishing to compete against other college fencing teams must pay $60.

Partick Arsena, the recently elected club treasurer and a junior computer science major, has been fencing competitively for eight years.

“Most of the members of 10

the club do fence competitively, but we do have a few members that just come to the practices to learn how to fence or to improve on their skills,” Arsena said. “The dues go towards buying new equipment when needed, and the competitive dues go towards paying for hotel rooms when we travel. One of the best parts about fencing is being able to go all around and compete against the other teams. I love to make new friends with other fencers.”

The competitions give fencers a chance to show off their skills against other schools. Every competitive fencer must have a United States Fencing Association membership in order to compete.

Having a USFA membership allows fencers to be ranked according to their skill level in order to have fair matches against other competitors. USFA memberships also help encourage fencers to rank up in

@am_the_writer│A&E Reporter

level and practice more to do so.

App State Fencing’s next competition will be held on Feb. 24-25 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

During competitions, there are three types of blades used: foil, épée and sabre. Each weapon has its own set of rules and specific areas on the body to hit in order to earn points.

“The type of weapon really depends on the fencer’s fighting style,” Sean Bowerbank, one of the club’s competitive fencers, said.

“I prefer épée because the weapon is typically used for taller people who have a sizeable reach. Foil is more about precision more than anything, and the fencer can only hit in the chest or neck.

Sabre is definitely for those who prefer speed, and you can hit the opponent anywhere waist up.”

During competitions, the fencers are hooked up to machines that track how many points they make by

measuring if the hit was solid against the opponent.

During the club’s practices, fencers pair up together to fight and earn as many points as possible. People using the same weapons always pair together.

During the fights, fencers are always in the en garde pose and are constantly squatting and lunging at the opponent. The en garde technique is sometimes difficult for fencers to master. Injuries can occur as expected, but the the club’s leaders try to ensure that they are minimal.

Junior exercise science major Maria Cilenti is the president of the fencing club this semester. As one of the leaders, she ensures that her players are learning and staying safe during the practices. During the matches, she walks around and observes her teammates to advise them on their techniques and stances, and helps them improve their fighting skills.

“I’ve been fencing for around eight years, and my favorite thing to see is other teammates improve, especially during the tournaments,” Cilenti said. “I came down to App from New Jersey and didn’t know anyone coming down here.

Being a part of fencing was like instantly gaining a bundle of friends. We all support each other and are friends and that really helps during competitions.”

Ian Brundige, another one of the team’s competitive fencers, said, “A big part of being a member of the fencing club is making friends you normally wouldn’t make on your own. Fencing kind of forces us to interact with each other and become friends.

Everyone on the club has at least one interest in fencing and that allows us to connect with each other. Fencing is also a great thing to do for anyone who wants to get in some exercise from time to time.”

Courtesy

Feb. 15, 2018

JOHNSON MAKES HIS MARK Michael Pigg│

ophomore Jordan Johnson will always be remembered for his single jump that landed him in the record books of App State.

Johnson broke the school long jump record with a distance of 25-2.00. The previous school record was held

by Michael Hanks, who held it for 31 years with a distance of 25-1.25.

“Sometimes you have those jumps where you feel like you broke your own personal record,” Johnson said.

“For the school record I did not think anything about it, but when I looked back and saw where I landed I knew it would be close, and when the numbers flashed on the board I was just in shock that I broke the record.”

Breaking the record for long jump has brought many individual awards John-

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son’s way but he said none were more important to him than being named the men’s Sun Belt Field Athlete of the Week.

“This award means a lot to me. I thanked my coaches and my parents for getting me where I needed to be to be named athlete of the week,” Johnson said. “This gives me extra motivation because now I have to reach higher for other goals.”

It has not always been a career of record breaking performances for Johnson; he had his own personal struggles of transitioning to the intensity of college sports.

“Having that extra year under me has helped me more than anything else. I could tell my mentality has changed drastically,” Johnson said. “At the end of my freshman year I was dealing with an injury and knowing

@MDotPiggy│Sports Reporter

that I am completely healthy translates to my success.”

With Johnson’s injury at the end of his freshman year, head coach John Weaver knew that shutting him down for the rest of the year would be the perfect healing strategy.

“I advised him not to train for most of the offseason,” Weaver said. “The best thing about the human body is that when we do have an injury, and we let the body rest, it tends to heal on its own.”

Weaver was also the coach for Johnson’s parents, since they are both App State alumni, and Weaver knew the type of athlete he could be.

“He was born with good genes. His mom was a tremendous sprinter and his father was an outstanding jumper, so it is easy to see where he gets his characteristics from,” Weaver said.

“Some children do not fulfill their parents’ pedigree, but that is not the case with Jordan.”

Johnson has continually impressed the coaches, and this started when he first walked through the doors on the first day of practice.

“It is funny when I was recruiting him, I did not see a potential record breaker,” associate head track coach Damion McLean said. “My perception of him changed when I actually got to work with him. Once I saw the elasticity at takeoff, I knew he could be good.”

Being only a sophomore, Johnson could potentially break other records, perhaps even his own record, and he does not want to fall into complacency.

“After breaking a record, some people think everything else is going to come easier to them,” Johnson

said. “That is not going to be me. I am going to come in with more intensity and try to beat my own record.”

Johnson is still very young. For him to take his game to the next level, his coaches know he is going to have to do a lot of dirty work that the fans will not see.

“I would like to see Johnson continue to grow in the weight room,” McLean said.

“Of course he is not going to break a record every time he jumps, but what you would like to see is him take those same kind of steps leading up to a jump.”

Breaking a record highlights the individual over the team, but for Johnson, he is all about the team.

“I want us to win the conference this year,” Johnson said. “Last year we did not place and that is something that drives me to be the best player I can be.”

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Feb. 15, 2018

NEW COACH, NEW YEAR Chase Frick│

fter a disappointing 2017 campaign resulting in a team record of 14-34, the App State softball team has decided to turn in a different direction. Heading into the 2018 season, the Mountaineers are giving the keys to 18-year veteran Shelly Hoerner, who has compiled over 500 career victories. Hoerner has held head coaching jobs at several other schools during her career but none more notable than her last four years with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

It was evident that changes had to be made after the Mountaineers’ struggles in recent years. This is where the 2017-2018 recruiting class comes into play, as App State begins the season with nine new freshmen. With this influx of new young talent, the Mountaineers are hoping to see a change in team performance and culture.

“Really what we’ve done is build the mentality of a family atmosphere,” Hoerner said. “Obviously there’s always talent, but we’ve got to get that mentality that you’ve got to love one another to play for one another.”

The rigor of a full softball season can often seem like a marathon, and it takes its toll on a team. They go through losing streaks, injuries, heartbreaking losses, academic struggles, internal conflict and countless other stresses over the course of a whole season.

These stresses build up and can drive a player crazy if they do not have a strong support group around them.

When the players can go to their teammates and talk about their problems as if they were family, it lets everyone relax and manage their struggles. Hoerner emphasizes family for this reason and truly believes the stronger the unit, the stronger the team.

A

@theappalachian│Sports Reporter

“The expectation is that we win ball games here at App State,” Hoerner said. “It is not so much about hitting home runs as it is about getting on base. It doesn’t matter how it happens, get on base.”

It is fun to talk about team chemistry and family but ultimately, you are expected to win games and you do that with your performance on the field. One of the biggest issues with the team last year, Hoerner said, was the team’s inability to get runners on base. When you are unable to consistently get runners on base, you cannot score, which in turn severely limits your chances of winning.

The 2017 team posted an abysmal batting average of .224 and on-base percentage of only .301, clear indicators to why they won only 14 games on the year. This is the reason Hoerner has stressed the concept of getting on base. When you get on base, you can extend innings, increase pitch counts and give your team more opportunities to score runs and win games. Hoerner and her coaching staff are not concerned about home runs or how you get on base, whether it be via a hit, a walk or hit by a pitch. When you get on base, your odds of winning the game go up tremendously.

The 2018 Mountaineers’ softball team expects to win games and bring some respect to the program. With the leadership of Hoerner, a strong veteran presence and the influx of youth the team has all the tools to make this an attainable goal. Only time will tell whether the program can get back on the path to success or if it will continue to struggle. Either way, 2018 will be an important stage in the development of App State softball and should be a fun story to follow throughout the season.

App State softball players keeping warm by running down the side of the field in the 2017 season. The first spring home game is March 3 at 1 p.m.

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Halle Keighton

Feb. 15, 2018

A REAL LIFE SUPERVILLAIN?

E

lon Musk, the founder and CEO of SpaceX, and Forbes’ 53rd richest person in the world, may not be the person he says he is.

Since Musk follows almost all the criteria for a comic book supervillain, this tech mogul’s schemes for the future should be more closely monitored.

Although the real life Lex Luthor has made accomplishments in launching humanity into an era of electric cars and private space travel, Musk is still just a businessman. No matter how progressive a businessman he is, he will always put profits first.

Musk frequently talks about becoming a “multi-planetary”

Nate Fordyce is a freshman communications major from Chicago, Illinois. species, but could there be ulterior motives behind this space exploration feat? According to Space.com, at the ISS Research and Development Conference Musk said that “another one of his ventures, The

Boring Company, could aid in Mars colonization as well. The Boring Company’s main goal is to construct tunnel networks beneath (and, eventually, between) traffic-choked cities such as Los Angeles, enabling speedier travel. But advanced tunneling technology will also be in high demand on Mars, citing the likely need to mine large amounts of ice and other natural resources.”

If we as humans can take anything away from our time here on Earth, it is that extracting natural resources for fuel is not the brightest idea. The primary reason for leaving our planet right now would be because we have treated ours so poorly that it would become

uninhabitable. The fact that Musk is already talking about repeating history on Mars makes his supervillain persona seem far more realistic.

In September 2015, Musk appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to discuss his Mars colonization project. With witty banter coming from both sides, Musk added that we could transform Mars into an Earth-like planet by simply warming it. Colbert jokingly asked, “What, like with a blanket?” The conversation took a serious turn when Musk said, “There’s a fast way and a slow way. The fast way would be to drop thermonuclear weapons on the poles.”

Though perhaps said in a jest, such a comment should not be taken so lightly. Changing the climate of a planet is not something as casual as Musk makes it out to be, especially in a way that involves nuclear weapons.

Space exploration is both a pivotal and exciting part of humanity’s past, present and future. However, this is no simple task and begs the question of whether space exploration should be left up to the public or not. This is a question that should be taken into careful consideration as we put tremendous amounts of faith into individuals to create what could be humanity’s future home planet.

THE REAL LIFE TONY STARK I

am not saying that Elon Musk is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but I am saying that Elon Musk could probably revolutionize the way we sliced bread if he wanted to.

Musk, who is the founder of companies such as SpaceX, Tesla, Inc., The Boring Company, Neuralink and several others, is the closest thing to a real-life Tony Stark that the world will ever see.

His company Tesla, Inc. is leading the charge in the creation of purely electric cars, with most of the cars created having a near 300 mile range, as opposed to most other electric cars that barely have a range of 100 miles.

SpaceX, another of his

Q Russell is a junior journalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina. You can follow him on Twitter at @Q_M_ Russell noteworthy companies, was recently in the news for its launch of the Falcon Heavy, the most powerful rocket in the world.

The launch was noteworthy for both the fact that SpaceX managed to guide the

first stage rockets back to the launch pad with little difficulty, but also for the fact that Musk attached his personal Tesla Roadster playing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on repeat.

In contrast to these more disciplined approaches to progress, Musk has also been known to begin projects in a rather unorthodox manner.

In Dec. 2016, Elon Musk tweeted that “Traffic is driving me nuts. Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging…”

He followed up this tweet with another that said, “It shall be called ‘The Boring Company.’”

And so he created The Boring Company.

According to the company’s

website, its purpose is “To solve the problem of soul-destroying traffic, roads must go 3D, which means either flying cars or tunnels. Unlike flying cars, tunnels are weatherproof, out of sight and won’t fall on your head. A large network of tunnels many levels deep would fix congestion in any city, no matter how large it grew (just keep adding levels).

The key to making this work is increasing tunneling speed and dropping costs by a factor of 10 or more – this is the goal of The Boring Company.”

Where most people see a problem and complain, Musk does that, but he also dedicates a large portion of his wealth towards solving the problem.

Additionally, Musk is no stranger to having fun. On Jan.

27, Musk unveiled the “Not A Flamethrower,” a fully functional flamethrower being sold for $500 by The Boring Company.

What do flamethrowers have to do with digging tunnels?

Who knows? But Musk is having fun with it.

On the day that the Schrodinger’s flamethrowers were announced, Musk took to Twitter and said, “When the zombie apocalypse happens, you’ll be glad you bought a flamethrower. Works against hordes of the undead or your money back!”

So not only is Musk a visionary intent on shepherding humanity into the next technological leap, but he has also got a great sense of humor.

13

Feb. 15, 2018

THE FALCON HEAVY LAUNCH SPARKS A NEW ERA OF EXPLORATION

merica was recently treated to a special occasion - the first successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, currently the world’s most powerful rocket, and the first rocket of its kind to be launched into space by a private entity.

In his typical fashion, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk added a personal flair to the launch. The rocket carried his vehicle, a Tesla Roadster, along with Spaceman, a crash test dummy, sending them into an orbit of the sun between Mars and the asteroid belt.

This launch is more than just a cool event. It marks the start of the new space race, one pitting private companies like SpaceX against national governments to find the best way to send humans back to the Moon, or, even better, to Mars.

A

14

Eric Cunningham is a senior journalism major from Hickory, North Carolina. You can follow him on Twitter at @ DEricCunningham The Falcon Heavy rocket is merely a stepping stone towards SpaceX’s bigger project, the aptly named BFR; the “B” stands for big and the “R” stands for rocket. NASA’s answer to the BFR, the Space Launch System (or SLS), is also in development. Both NASA and SpaceX hope to send manned missions to the Moon and ultimately to Mars.

In the long run, the Falcon Heavy might be the death knell for the development of the SLS. Lori Garver, a former deputy director of NASA, said that SLS development has cost over $15 billion so far and a single SLS launch will cost $1 billion as compared to the $100 million price tag of a Falcon Heavy launch.

Regardless of what method is ultimately decided on, what is more important is that the Falcon Heavy launch, combined with the recent success of the New Horizons probe’s mission to Pluto, has sparked an interest in space exploration after years of reduced interest.

Now, with relatively good economic conditions, greater attention is being put on space and for good reason. Just like the explorers of old, crossing seas and braving harsh conditions to learn more about

our planet, we are nearing the point where we can start unraveling the mysteries of other worlds.

Rather than rest on our laurels, we are finally starting to reach back out beyond our planet. The question is how best to do it.

While companies like SpaceX offer a compelling and capitalistic business model, SpaceX’s model relies on reusing rockets, therefore saving money. They have yet to launch a man into space.

Moreover, SpaceX has had several notable failures, including the apparent loss of the secretive Zuma military satellite last month.

The role of the government is similarly unclear, with NASA having stuck to lowEarth orbits since the end of the Apollo program and having suffered multiple crew losses in the Challenger and

Columbia disasters.

What is clear though, is that space travel is going to happen. And just like in all of the great technological races, we do not know how or by whom.

Thankfully, the Trump administration seems open to exploration. In December, Trump authorized NASA to create a space program to return Americans to the Moon and, ultimately, Mars. While the amount of funding is unclear and the directive was seemingly intentionally vague, it is an important step for the President to reaffirm our pioneering spirit.

Whether or not the BFR, SLS or some other method is used to propel mankind back to the moon, the Falcon Heavy launch is just the start of the exciting space race to come, and unlike last time, it is not a race between enemies.

Cartoon by Jarrett Carlson

SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

App News is a service of the Division of Student Affairs. 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

CALLING ALL CREATORS! The Peel Literature and Arts Review is App State’s student-run literary arts publication. We are seeking students to submit their creative works for review and possible publication.

Submit your art, music, design, poetry, prose, fashion and more at thepeelreview.submittable. com. Final deadline is Feb. 16 at midnight.

Find more information by visiting thepeelreview.com or following us on social media @ thepeelreview.

COLLEGIATE RECOVERY COMMUNITY Every Wednesday and Thursday from 5:307 p.m. the Collegiate Recovery Community meets at Wellness and Prevention Services, located on the 1st floor of the Student Support Services Building (beside the post office).

Collegiate Recovery Community offers support to students who are in recovery from any kind of addiction and/or mental illness including but not limited to, substance use, eating disorders, sex addiction or depression.

This community assists in each individual’s unique recovery by preventing relapse, encouraging autonomy, providing support, increasing academic success and offering a safe space on campus to process, grow and reflect.

The leadership and legacies that are left behind by our exemplary student leaders is important in tellingour Appalachian State University story. Student leaders who distinguish themselves through theirleadership and service to other students, programs, organizations and communities bring recognition to the quality and strength of our student body and institution locally, regionally and globally.

Nominations open Feb. 13 and close March 13. For information and nominations, visit studentaffairs.appstate.edu/leadership-and-legacy-awards.

FASFA NIGHT The Office of Financial Aid will be hosting a FAFSA Night on Feb. 15 from 4:00 pm 8:00 pm in room 265 of John E. Thomas Hall.

Financial Aid Counselors will be helping students file the 2018-19 FAFSA. Students are encouraged to bring FSA ID and 2016 tax information for themselves as well as their parents. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 828-262-2190 with any additional questions.

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SPEAKER SERIES

Leadership Award. Join Patrick and Jim for this exciting lecture where they will share their efforts, challenges and Appalachian’s energy reduction goals for the future.

sages as well as how to reach out and mobilize voters on their campus.

For more information, contact Anderson Clayton at claytonab@appstate.edu.

15 MINDFUL MINUTES

ADVERTISE IN THE APPALACHIAN

Students are welcome to join Still Point’s “15 Mindful Minutes” each Thursday at 3 p.m. in 155 Tater Hill Room, PSU. Skilled meditation leaders within the Appalachian Community will engage you -- literally for 15 minutes -- in mindful practices such as breath work, mind-body integration, guided visualizations, walking meditation and silence.

Look for us on AppSync.

Advertise your buisnesses and services to the student population of Appalachian State University while also supporting the student staff of The Appalachian! Visit http://theappalachianonline.com/advertise-with-us/ or email buisness@theappalachianonline.com with inquiries.

ELECT HER TRAINING Elect Her: A Training Program sponsored

by Appalachian State University’s Student Government Association and the Department of Government & Justice Studies Feb. 16 1-5 p.m.

Elect Her is a program offered through Running Start concentered on training students and particularly women to run for student government office on college or university campuses.

Research indicates women who run for student body elections in college are more inclined to run for office as adults. Elect Her addresses the insurmountable disparity between the low percentage of women in student governments despite their high presence on college campuses. All students are welcome to participate regardless of gender identity.

During this daylong event, college and university students are educated on why more women are needed in the student government setting and are provided with the skills to operate successful campaigns. These individuals acquire skills such as learning how to create and effectively communicate campaign mes-

The Division of Student Affairs is seeking university-wide nominations to recognize individuals for the following student leadership and legacy awards: The Ronny L. Brooks Award for Outstanding Leadership, The Bobby L. Dunnigan Award for Outstanding Service, The Gregory S. Blimling Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Student Development and The Berardino DiBernardi Leadership and Legacy Award.

Feb. 19 from 4-5 p.m. in room 137A of Plemmons Student Union. Free!

Appalachian State’s 45 percent is the highest energy intensity reduction for the entire UNC system; in doing so, the University has avoided $37 million in energy and water costs since 2002-03. Appalachian has recently adopted a 2017 Strategic Energy and Water Management Plan, has a student-led, student-funded Renewable Energy Initiative (REI) that installs renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on campus, and has received numerous awards including the STARS Gold rating since 2012 and the 2015 USGBC’s Climate

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

15 Mindful Minutes

Elect Her Training

Appalachian Wellness Summit

3 p.m.

Tater Hill Room, Plemmons Student Union

1-5 p.m.

Plemmons Student Union

9:30-1:30 p.m.

Parkway Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union

STUDENT LEADERSHIP AWARDS

STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS OIED Study Abroad Scholarship Applications open Feb. 15. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,000. The deadline to apply is March 15 at 11:59 pm.

NOTE: This application requires one letter of recommendation due by the March 15 deadline. Please save your application early enough to allow your recommender adequate time for this. No late recommendations will be accepted.

Study abroad deadlines have been extended! Fall 2018 Applications are due March 1.

Summer 2018 Applications are due March 15.

For more information, essay questions, and how to access the application, visit the OIED Scholarships website.

SUNDAY, FEB. 18

The Peel Final Deadline FAFSA Night 4-8 p.m.

Room 265, JET Building

midnight thepeelreview.submittable.com

Collegiate Recovery Community 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Wellness and Prevention Services

Don’t Let Your Mind Bully Your Body 6-7 p.m.

Room 415, Plemmons Student Union

MONDAY, FEB. 19

TUESDAY, FEB. 20

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21

THURSDAY, FEB. 22

Positive Body Model Call

Hands on Healthy Snacks!

CareerFest

15 Mindful Minutes

1-5 p.m.

Contact Table #5, Plemmons Student Union

4-7 p.m.

Great Hall, Living Learning Center

1-5 p.m.

Career Development Center

3 p.m.

Tater Hill Room, Plemmons Student Union

Collegiate Recovery Community Sustainable Energy Speaker Series 4-5 p.m.

Room 137A, Plemmons Student Union

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Wellness and Prevention Services

Trivia Night 7-9 p.m.

Whitewater Cafe, Plemmons Student Union

Collegiate Recovery Community 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Wellness and Prevention Services

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