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The Appalachian

September 22, 2016

THE TEAM Carl Blankenship @carl_r_blank EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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

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

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

Olivia Wilkes @theappalachian ADVISER

CRIME LOG CAMPUS

SEPT. 19

SEPT. 18

2:31 p.m. | Trespassing Greenwood Trail Under investigation.

1:39 p.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol East Hall A student was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol.

3:08 p.m. | Vandalism Rivers Street West Tunnel Leads exhausted.

SEPT. 18 2:28 p.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Belk Hall A student was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol.

SEPT. 18 1:31 a.m. | Underage consumption of alcohol Doughton Hall A student was arrested for underage consumption of alcohol.

SEPT. 18 12:50 p.m. | Larceny Greenwood Parking Lot Under investigation.

Maleek Loyd @maleekstuff VIDEO EDITOR Sydney Spann @spannooo GRAPHICS EDITOR Braxton Coats @brxcoats22 WEB MANAGER

Lee Sanderlin @lee_sanderlin ENTERPRISE EDITOR

SEPT. 19

Dallas Linger @dallingerphoto PHOTO EDITOR

SEPT. 17 1:38 p.m. | Drunk and disruptive Kidd Brewer Stadium A man was arrested for being drunk and disruptive.

SEP. 11 1:55 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Frank Hall Student referral.

SEP. 10 1:54 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol East Hall Cleared by arrest .

SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

WHAT TO DO VISITING WRITERS SERIES The Fall 2016 Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series will take place with craft talks and readings. Book sales and signings will follow each event. • Oct. 6: Poet and Essayist Bruce Weigl, 2-3:15 p.m. Craft Talk in Table Rock Room, PSU. 6-7:15 p.m. Pre-Reading Reception in Price Lake Room, PSU. 7:30 p.m. Reading in Table Rock Room, PSU. • Nov. 3: Graphic Novelist Carol Tyler, 12:30-1:45 p.m. Craft Talk in Three Top Mountain Room, PSU. 7:30 p.m. Reading in Turchin Center Lecture Hall, TCVA-1102. • Nov. 10: Novelist Robert Olen Butler, 2-3:15 p.m. Craft Talk in Table Rock Room, PSU. 7:30 p.m. Reading in Table Rock Room, PSU.

GET PUBLISHED Calling all artists, writers, desginers, musicians! The Peel Literature and Arts Review is accepting submissions for review and possible publication. Submit before Sept. 30 for feedback on your submission. Final deadline is Nov. 1.Visit thepeelreview.com for info!

EBONY STEWART & LYRIC OPEN MIC Ebony Stewart is spoken word poet from Central Texas slam poetry scene and theater arts community. She is the only adult female threetime Slam Champion in Austin, Texas. Lyric is Appalachian State’s very own spoken word poetry club. This open mic is a one-time free event that welcomes you to share your own poetry work as well as experience the powerful words of Ebony Stewart. It will be held at Legends on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 6-9 p.m.

STORY SLAM The Creative Writing program will sponsor

the first ASU Story Slam in Crossroads Coffeehouse on Thursday, Sept. 22, starting at 7 p.m. The Slam will be hosted by Ray Christian, ASU adjunct professor and host of the new podcast “What’s Ray Saying?” Ray Christian is also an award-winning storyteller whose stories have been heard live on stages, podcasts, and radio across the country, including the NPR shows The Moth and Snap Judgment. A Story Slam is an open mic competitive “story telling” event, in which members of the entire ASU community are invited to tell true personal stories without notes. For information, email weinbergsc@ appstate.edu or call (828) 262-2871.

SNCURCS The Office of Student Research would like to personally invite you and your students to submit abstracts of research and creative endeavors (performance, plays, readings, exhibits, displays, etc.) for presentation at the 2016 State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) to be held at North Carolina Central University on Saturday, Nov. 5. To submit an abstract or for more information please visit www.sncurcs.org.

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) 262-

8284. More information at legalclinic.appstate. edu.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER Stop by our contact tables for one-on-one time with a Career Counselor from our Career Development Center to have your resume reviewed. The tables will be set up in Plemmons Student Union Sept. 12-23 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Career Development Center also has drop-ins everyday 2-4 p.m. on the third floor of the JET Building, or make an appointment with your Career Counselor on Career Gear. CareerFest will be held Tuesday, Sept. 27 1-5 p.m. Over 100 organizations will be recruiting at this event in Holmes Convocation Center. Professional dress and Appcard required. Open to all majors.

WEEKLY LYRIC OPEN MICS A free and open event for all, Lyric hosts weekly open mics oriented around poetry and other word based art such as music, story-telling, etc. Join every Wednesday from 8:30-10:30 p.m. at 3rd Place.

VALUE OF A TREE CONFERENCE Join in with featured speakers from a variety of background to discuss the value of trees in our lives. Free to all, this conference will be Saturday, Sept. 24, from 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m., in the PSU, fourth floor. Lunch will be included for conference registrants so we ask that you register at http://rieee.appstate.edu/events/appalachian-workshops-environment-value-tree For more information, contact Dr. Eric Marland at marlandes@appstate.edu

UNIVERSITY WRITING CENTER

fers free services to students, faculty, and staff of Appalachian State University and the Boone community. Anyone who would like to discuss a piece of writing with an informed, sensitive reader is welcome. We are here to work with writers on a wide variety of projects: papers for academic courses; masters and senior thesis chapters; personal essays for job, graduate school, and law school applications; creative writing projects; grant or project proposals; and course syllabi. We work with writers at any stage of the writing process, from inventing topics to editing at the sentence-level. Please note, if you are working on a group assignment, all group members must be present. The UWC is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday. Visit writingcenter.appstate.edu to schedule an appointment.

STUDENT MEMORIAL PROGRAM On Saturday, Sept. 24 at 11 a.m. in the lobby of the BB Dougherty Administration Building, Student Development will be hosting their annual Student Memorial Program. The program began in 1990 and honors the memory of Appalachian students who died while they were enrolled at Appalachian. Name plaques for all of these students are on the Memorial Board in the lobby of the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building.

Members of the university community are invited to attend this program. If you have any questions, please contact J. J. Brown, dean of students and associate vice chancellor for student development, (828) 262-2060.

The University Writing Center (UWC) of-

THURSDAY, SEPT. 22

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23

SATURDAY, SEPT. 24

SUNDAY, SEPT. 25

Spoken Word with Ebony Stewart

“Star Trek Beyond” screening

Value of a Tree Conference

Roller Derby Bootcamp

7 p.m. Legends

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

8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. PSU Room 420

10 a.m.-1 p.m. Skateworld

Story Slam

Student Memorial Program

7 p.m. Crossroads Coffeehouse

11 a.m. B.B. Dougherty Lobby

“Star Trek Beyond” screening

Healing Arts Yoga

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

10:15 a.m. TCVA Mayer Gallery Free for students, $10 for non-students

“Star Trek Beyond” screening 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. I.G. Greer Auditorium $1 advance, $2 door

MONDAY, SEPT. 26

TUESDAY, SEPT. 27

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28

THURSDAY, SEPT. 29

Flu Clinic

Careerfest 1-5 p.m. Holmes Convocation Center

“Scooby Doo and the Ghoul School” screening

“The Legend of Tarzan” screening

5-7 p.m. Newland Hall

App Sits Meditation Club

Tai Chi

5:15 p.m. Linville Falls Room, PSU

5 p.m. TCVA Mayer Gallery Free, students only

7 p.m. Greenbriar Theatre $1 door

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

Zoso Lyric Open Mic 8: 30 p.m. 3rd Place

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

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

Sept. 22, 2016

BEAT THE HEAT

Maggie Sugg won a grant this past summer for her continuous work on the North Carolina Heat-Health Vulnerability Tool. Sugg is a professor in the Department of Geography and Planning at Appalachian State. HALIE HAMILTON NEWS REPORTER

aggie Sugg, a professor in the Department of Geography and Planning, is working on a tool to predict heat related emergency department visits. She was awarded a grant from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for $10,356 to continue her three years of research on the North Carolina Heat-Health Vulnerability Tool. The NC HHVT is designed to predict whether emergency department visits will increase or decrease due to heat related illnesses. Heat-related illnesses are easily 4

preventable through hydration or relocating to a cooler environment, so there is no reason to see so many in NC, Sugg said. The NC HHVT can be found at www.sercc.com/hhvt and is available to everyone. Users can choose specific demographics on the website: a county, a model (rural or urban) and a date. Sugg started working on this tool with her advisor as part of her dissertation at UNC Chapel Hill. Charles E. Konrad, director of the Southeast Regional Climate Center, said Sugg worked with the Southeast Regional Climate Center while she was in graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill and her research played a key role in

developing the tool. “My research found some interesting relationships, so we were hoping to make a tool that the general public could use to mitigate these illnesses,” Sugg said. Konrad said this is by far the climate center’s largest and most successful informational tool. A full team worked on the tool, with Sugg providing the models that predictions are based on. “The idea is that local public health officials or emergency managers can look at this tool and see if they need to prepare for a heat event. Do they need to have more beds, more cooling shelters and do they need to have warnings for the general public,” Sugg said.

This tool is unique to North Carolina. Sugg said North Carolina has a unique emergency department dataset which allows the models to be created. “I’m passionate about this tool because I like to see my research actually being used, making a difference somewhere and being applied,” Sugg said. The website is still in its first iteration but there are plans to improve the formatting to make it more user friendly. Sugg said the tool is mainly used by public health and emergency management officials and is more popular on the eastern side of the state because of the higher rate of heat illnesses. Photo Credit: Halle Keighton

Sept.22, 2016

MOUNTAINS-TO-SEA TRAIL HALIE HAMILTON NEWS REPORTER

ppalachian State’s

Delta Sigma Phi helped clear the site for a major new bridge on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail on Aug. 24. Gregory Merzigian, vice president of Delta Sigma Phi, said the Mountainsto-Sea Trail is North Carolina’s premier hiking trail that stretches from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks. The bridge will be 80 feet long and will remove the need to wade through knee deep waters to traverse the trail. About 20 members of Delta Sigma Phi participated in clearing the site. Merzigian said they mainly moved tree trunks and branches the National Park Service had cut up into the woods.

“We had to move many trees that had been cut, so moving them was the hardest thing, mainly because there was so much physical labor involved,” Merzigian said. Andrew Hanley, service and philanthropy chair of Delta Sigma Phi, said it was a pleasure to help out the community in any way possible and he can’t wait to see the bridge when it is finished. Randy Johnson, task force leader for the Mountains-to-Sea trail in the area, said everyone can find their own way to maintain our trails, with plenty of opportunities for light maintenance work that fit within a student’s schedule. Once the trail was cleared, a helicopter airlifted components out to the

Boone Fork Trail for the bridge that will be finished in the next two to three weeks, Johnson said. “We did see one couple with their dog that had to cross the river, it seemed really complicated for them to do and the dog was definitely struggling a little bit to get across,” Merzigian said. “If the bridge had already been there they wouldn’t have had that problem, so it’s nice to see the problem that we will be fixing.” The trail has a few popular access points in the area like the Blue Ridge Parkway along Grandfather Mountain, Shulls Mills Road between Foscoe and Blowing Rock and Holloway Mountain Road. Johnson said that for about three

years now Delta Sigma Phi has continually reached out to him to participate in fixing or cleaning up the trials. “We always try to do some kind of event like this, but this event was without a doubt the largest and most impactful one we have done,” Merzigian said. Johnson said that Appalachian State students give a lot back to the area’s trail system. “I really hope people make an effort to go out and experience the trail,” Merzigian said. “It truly is beautiful and it will make anyone appreciate living in such a wonderful state.” To help get involved in clearing up trails, email Randy Johnson at ranjohns@aol.com.

ASU’s Delta Sigma Phi fraternity contributed to the operation for a work day by clearing out thousands of pounds of tree limbs and trunks that had fallen to make way for the project last spring. Behind the fraternity members is where the bridge will be built, spanning across the Boone Fork stream to atop the cliffs.

The helicopter of “Pirate Airlift” transports materials out to the Boone Fork Trail. Construction workers guide the pilot of the helicopter lift components of the bridge to transport out to the Boone Fork Trail. Courtesy of: Randy Johnson

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Sept. 22, 2016

CONSTRUCTION DELAYS ON THE STANDARD DISPLACE STUDENTS FINN HALLORAN NEWS REPORTER he Standard, a planned student housing development originally slated to open in early August, is still standing unfinished. Students who signed leases starting in August now have to wait until Oct. 13. Landmark Properties began construction on the complex in 2015 and said in a July press release that a tight labor market and unpredictable weather conditions caused the delays. Landmark Properties said delays were largely caused by unusually high amounts of rainfall halting construction in the summer months. In the month of June precipitation was about 1.49 inches below the

monthly average. In July rainfall was about 2.04 inches below the monthly average. Displaced students are being compensated with a room in a hotel and half their prorated rent for every day the complex stays unfinished. If temporary housing is not required students will receive double their total rent during the delays. Living in a hotel room means living without the same amenities offered by an apartment. “I can’t cook,” L.B. Passey, a sophomore recreation management major, said. “They gave me $250 which is cute, they thought $250 was going to last a college student eating for three

weeks and I think my card was declined yesterday.” Clare Milburn, a junior sustainable development major, said the hotel where she is staying doesn’t feel like a home. “Nobody understands how terrible it is to live in a hotel,” Milburn said. “I don’t have a home, you know? Everybody has a place they want to go to at the end of the day but I don’t feel that way.” Grant Demarest, a junior marketing major, said he can’t be too upset about living in a nice hotel until construction is complete. Sarah Mills, a sophomore anthropology major, said she is looking on the

bright side. “I’m not really fired up about it, I feel like it’s going to work itself out,” Mills said. “It is inconvenient, but for me, I get financial aid, and the Standard’s rent is really high, and my financial aid is going to cover like some extent of the year if I was in the Standard, but since I’m in the hotel, rent is half. My financial aid is going to cover rent all year. That’s a perk for me and it’s not something I’m ignoring. Even though it’s a mistake, it has its pros and cons, you know.” Landmark said the project will be done by Oct. 13.

STUDENTS, FACULTY SPEAK AT FORUM ON DIVERSITY SAMMY HANF NEWS EDITOR

A little over 70 people crowded into room 421 of Belk Library last Friday to discuss diversity initiatives as well as the larger campus climate. Michael Behrent, associate professor of history, said he was concerned about the anonymous nature of the bias incident reporting system and its possible effects on academic freedom. “The understanding of bias extends not just to what you might call markers of identity but to opinion,” Behrent said. “For instance, one of the categories for bias is political affiliation and a number of us are concerned that terms like that could be used to limit academic freedom in classroom discussions.” Jalyn Howard, Student Government Association president, said other attempts to combat bias have been stymied and asked faculty what else can be done to address the issue. Martha McCaughey, professor of sociology, said anonymity on both ends would still allow for meaningful discussion to take place without turning into a witch hunt. Amy Dellinger Page, professor of sociology, said that the system won’t

be able to work as effectively with full anonymity. “The purpose of an institution of higher education is to have education and we realized that some folks really do unintentionally say things that are harmful to other people sometimes and the point was to be able to have a conversation and to start a dialogue,” Page said. “[They want] to have education take place and you can’t do that if you have truly anonymous reporting.” Nicholas Gilliam, SGA chief financial officer, said that bias reports are often not entirely anonymous on the students end because there might be only two or three students of color in a class. McCaughey said that disciplinary systems without oversight often end up hurting the wrong people. “Even well intended programs, if they’re not rolled out correctly when they don’t have the buy in and they don’t have the checks and balances for due process end up getting taken advantage of by the very groups that don’t want to see the diversity that we’re finally seeing at Appalachian and other

state universities.” McCaughey said. Recent chalking incidents on campus were still fresh in the crowd’s mind. Eliana Rodriguez, a junior studio art major, said administration wasn’t clearly drawing the line between freedom of speech and bullying, to the detriment of students. Yasmin Ayala-Johnson, a sophomore psychology major, said she had to make a point to not look at the chalk messages while walking to class. Howard said he was concerned that chalking incidents could lead to violence if confrontations like last Wednesday continue to occur, adding that administrators have more power to solve the systemic problems faced by minority students. “This is a systematic problem that we’re asking to fix here and it’s seen as frustrating I think because you’re asking us to fix a systematic problem and it’s not possible because we’re not the power players at this university whatsoever,” Howard said. “So these constant things we’re doing, it’s like we’re doing it for no reason because we know it’s not going to work.”

Dayton Cole, general counsel to the university, said the university has little leeway in restricting content of speech and can only impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions. “If we say we value freedom of speech to a large degree we have to acknowledge that we will tolerate all kinds of speech from both ends of the political spectrum conservative, liberal [and] everything in between,” Cole said. “Even though we may dislike that speech very much.” Willie Fleming, chief diversity officer, said that students of color are vulnerable to unfair or inappropriate treatment but he has seen cause to be encouraged by the reaction by the campus community. “A very wise man said to me and a wise woman said to me ‘the remedy for speech we don’t like is more speech’ and for the last several days I’ve noticed that many of you are now chalking and you have your voice and you’re saying things and that is a very immediate and practical response to this,” Fleming said.

Sept. 22, 2016

SHOWING SCHOOL SPIRIT

(Top) App State cheerleaders are all smiles during the pep rally on Sept. 16.

(Top) App Stateâ€™s marching band plays the fight song. (Bottom) Locals showing their school spirit while dancing to Soul Benefactor.

(Top) Guitarist Chip Cannon of Arson Daily playing at the pep rally. (Bottom) Students getting custom balloons.

Photo Credit: Braxton Coats

Sept.22, 2016

THE BEST DEFENSE IS A GOOD OFFENSE

Senior mid-field Jordan Melia takes control of the ball against USC Upstate last Tuesday. App State won 3-1. JOHN ROBERTSON SPORTS REPORTER

fter playing three

years on defense for the App State soccer team, senior captain Jordan Melia made the switch to offense for his last season in a Mountaineer uniform. Melia is not your typical App State student athlete. After growing up in England, he moved to Boone his freshman year of college to play soccer, leaving his family behind to begin his journey at App State. It was English assistant coach Chris Whalley who helped Melia land an opportunity to play soccer in Boone. Whalley and Melia had some of the same soccer connections in Manchester, England, which helped the two connect with one another and begin the recruiting process. “Chris knew the guy that I was trying to come over through, so I got recommended and things worked out and I ended up coming to App State,” Melia said. Melia has been a huge defensive presence for the Mountaineers since he arrived as a freshman. In his first two seasons, Melia made an appearance in 23 games and made 17 starts. During his junior season, he started all of his career-high 18 games and helped lead the defense to five shutout victories. As soon as 16 year coaching veteran Jason O’Keefe arrived to take over the head coaching job at App State, however, Melia was moved to the offensive side of the ball. “I watched video, spoke to other coaches, and once I got here and saw his attributes I knew he could help us a great deal up the field,” O’Keefe said. “I knew he was a leader amongst the team, we needed that leadership on Photo Credit: Halle Keighton

offense.” Melia was able to test his offensive ability during the spring, using the offseason as a trial period for his new position. “It’s been difficult sometimes but soccer is soccer. If you can play you can do a job at any position you play,” Melia said. “It’s different because I’m used to seeing everything in front of me. It’s little adjustments, but I’m slowly getting there.” Even though he has spent all of his time in the backfield, Melia managed to put one shot in the back of the net during the course of his first three seasons. The Mountaineers have only played eight games this season and Melia has already been able to score twice. “It’s a different feeling,” Melia said. “I’ve never really scored many goals to be honest, but it is a good feeling.” Making transitions on the soccer field is tough, but it’s something that O’Keefe is asking from all of his players. “I’m asking everyone to do different things and that’s a challenge, but I think it’s going to help us grow and make them better in the long run,” O’Keefe said. Melia has handled the move to offense very well, O’Keefe said. His determined work ethic, resiliency and mind for the sport of soccer has aided him in making a smooth transition in something that most would find as extremely difficult. With O’Keefe’s 16 years of coaching experience, he brings with him a unique coaching philosophy focused on helping these young men grow not only as soccer players, but in all areas of life. “Getting results in college soccer is hard, but it’s preparing you for life,”

O’Keefe said. “The challenges faced during this time period help these young men grow and be more prepared for the future.” Through all of the on-field success for Melia, it’s been the brotherhood shared amongst the team that has been the most rewarding experience for him during his time in Boone. He has been

able to develop lifelong relationships with his teammates and coaches. “Just a chance to be on the team has been the highlight of my soccer career so far. These guys are genuinely like my brothers,” Melia said. “I came over on my own even though all of my family is still back home. This is my family away from family.”

Senior mid-field Jordan Melia runs down the field.

Sept.22, 2016

HIGH ENERGY, HIGH REWARD

(Top) Gilchrist on the field during the Mountaineers game against Old Dominion in week two. Gilchrist already has 27 tackles on the season. (Bottom) Gilchrist gets back into coverage during the game against Old Dominion. He has seven solo tackles on the season. COLIN TATE SPORTS REPORTER

t’s a late night on the first

of September in Knoxville, Tennessee. Over 100,000 people pack the stands of Neyland Stadium, watching anxiously as the Appalachian State Mountaineers take the ninth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers into overtime. It’s third-and-goal, and the Vols line up in the shotgun formation. Tennessee senior quarterback Josh Dobbs takes the snap, fakes the handoff and runs around the right side. At first, he looks to pass, but then he sees a hole to run through. There was only one thing that stood in Dobbs’ way: Kennan Gilchrist. Gilchrist, a senior linebacker for App State, was out in coverage and saw Dobbs approaching. “The first thing I was thinking was, ‘I see this all the time,’” Gilchrist said. “Everybody, when they try to score, they stick the ball out.” What Gilchrist did not expect was Dobbs going airborne. He expected for the senior quarterback to attempt a juke or dive to get by. When Dobbs jumped, Gilchrist had one goal: make sure the ball didn’t cross the line. What happened next could have been the single greatest play in Appalachian State athletic history. The keywords are “could have been.” Gilchrist launched into Dobbs with enough force to dislodge the ball forward and throw the quarterback 10

backwards. “I was impressed that Kennan [Gilchrist] was able to get a good shot on the quarterback,” defensive coordinator Nate Woody said. “There had been so many games on film that I had watched Dobbs make people miss against SEC players that are going to play in the NFL.” After the hit, the crowd gasped. The ball was live in the endzone. A pile of players went for the ball. To the dismay of Gilchrist and the Mountaineers, the Volunteers recovered, scoring what would go on to become the game-winning touchdown. “It is what it is,” Gilchrist said. “I told my guys after the game that we had no reason to hold our heads down, because, at the end of the day, we gave it all we had. The game of football is all about inches. You can’t get too high and get too low. It was a great hit, but I had to move on from it and be ready for the next game.” Gilchrist has been ready for all three of Appalachian State’s games this season. He is currently second on the team in tackles with 27, which is 10 more than third place. But aside from statistics, Gilchrist has brought quickness and energy to the defense. “You have to find something that you’re good at,” Gilchrist said. “At the end of the day, I might not be the hardest hitter on the field. I might not Photo Credit: Dallas Linger

Sept.22, 2016

Gilchrist on the field during the Mountaineers game against Old Dominion in week two.

get the most sacks or the most interceptions, but I’m going to make sure that nobody in the country can outrun me.” Gilchrist said that each and every play, he will give 110 percent. “When they turn on the film, they say, ‘You’re right. Nobody in the country can do what Kenny Gilchrist does. He’s running from sideline to sideline,’” Gilchrist said. Woody called Gilchrist a “never-ending ball of energy.” He said that the energy Gilchrist gives off is invaluPhoto Credit: Dallas Linger

able because everyone on the defense has to keep playing until the whistle blows. That is something Gilchrist does naturally. “If you talk about Kennan, everybody would agree that he’s going to give everything he’s got until he falls down on the ground,” Woody said. While the energy is natural, Gilchrist said it was patience that he had to learn in his first four years as a Mountaineer. “It took four years for me to get to where I’m at right now,” Gilchrist said.

“I learned from a lot of guys who came before me. I have been patient and I understand to be the best that I can be, I have to go hard every play. I have to learn the game and how to study.” Gilchrist attributed his growth and maturity to Woody, and said that the coach was the reason he has been all over the field through the first three games of this season. While the defense has played two standout games against Tennessee and Old Dominion, it is Gilchrist who

has been a major factor for Appalachian State, and the team hopes it will continue. Gilchrist said he is blessed and thankful for the opportunity to be a Mountaineer. “This has been a dream come true to play here for four years and I love it,” Gilchrist said. “I thank God for putting me in this great opportunity and for putting me with these great coaches. And, when it’s all said and done, I’m going to miss it.”

ZEROING THE ZIPS The Mountaineers look to bounce back after a rough loss against No. 25 Miami with a road match against Akron. This will be the fifth time ever that App State will face a Mid-American Conference team. The Mountaineers are 2-2 in their last four games against MAC opponents, including their win against Ohio in the Camellia Bowl.

FIND THE OLD TAYLOR: While quarterback Taylor Lamb did a solid job managing the game against Tennessee and Old Dominion the first two games, he was non-existent last week against Miami. He only has 404 passing yards on the season after throwing for over 2,300 the last two seasons, and has thrown for only two touchdowns, making him way off pace of his 31 last season. For the Mountaineers to get a confidence booster in a win over Akron, Lamb will have to play his best game of the season. He will have to have the likes of a 200-yard game with a couple touchdowns for App to gain more confidence. Running back Marcus Cox left the game early last week with a lower body injury and if he is not 100 percent this weekend, Lamb will be under even more pressure to return to last seasonâ€™s form.

FIX THE SECONDARY:

NO BIG PLAYS:

One weak point for this Mountaineers team has been with the secondary defending their man. It seems that the formations that have been taking place are man-to-man and have not worked as well. While the secondary is young, including true freshman Clifton Duck, more players need to step up, such as A.J Howard, Alex Gray and Tae Hayes. Part of the reason App lost to Tennessee was because of misread passing coverage, and the same thing happened with Miami. The Zips are a passing first team as their quarterback Thomas Woodson already has over 800 passing yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Even though App is the better team, their secondary cannot overlook the passing game that Akron has heavily relied on in the first three weeks.

The reason App State suffered such a hard loss to Miami is because of too many big plays being allowed. Starting with an 80-yard touchdown run and a couple of 60-yard passes, the Mountaineers did what head coach Scott Satterfield said is their second biggest peeve: allow big plays. Akron has offensively been a solid team this year and has also faced a ranked team in Wisconsin, so they will not be afraid to go for risky plays. The Mountaineers will have to communicate better in order to prevent the big play that puts them behind.

BY JASON HUBER SPORTS EDITOR

PIGSKIN PICK EMâ€™

JASON HUBER Sports Editor The Appalachian 8-6

APP STATE VS. AKRON RON PITTSBURGH BURGH VS. CHAPEL EL HILL

#12 GEORGIA EORGIA VS. #19 OLE MISS #19 FLORIDA DA VS. #14 TENNESSEE EE #8 MICHIGAN STATE VS. #11 WISCONSIN

CARL BLANKENSHIP Editor-in-chief The Appalachian 10-4

SHERI EVERTS Chancellor App State 9-5

JAYLN HOWARD President SGA 9-5

GREG CALARCO Sports Dir. WASU 11-3

TRAVIS STANLEY Apps Sports Bar Host APP TV 7-3

GAME DAY GAME 4 | SATURDAY, SEPT. 24 | 3:30 P.M. | INFOCISION STADIUM-SUMMA FIELD | ASN/ESPN 3

UNIVERSITY

1-2, 0-0, SUN BELT

OF AKRON

2-1, 0-0, MAC

2016 RUSHING YARDS PER GAME

180

128

PLAYER TO WATCH

#11

2016 TIME OF POSSESSIONS

404

24.0 38.67 MAKE OR BREAK K STAT

PASSING ATTEMPTS PER ER GAME

22.33 31.67

LAMB

3 TOTAL TOUCHDOWNS

33:55 22:04 2016 OPPONENTâ€™S S POINTS PER GAME

TAYLOR

113.13 PASSING EFFICIENCY

TOTAL PASSING YARDS

Sept. 22, 2016

REVIEW: SPLENDOR AND MISERY

Spendor & Misery 2016 CARL BLANKENSHIP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

couple of weeks

ago experimental hip hop group clipping. dropped their sophomore project “Splendor and Misery.” The group is known for a special combination of industrial instrumentals that sample every horrific screeching noise you can imagine, as well as easily recognized sounds like clattering pans and an alarm clock, and tightly constructed, dense verses delivered by “Hamilton” star Daveed Diggs. The group has been treading similar ground over their last couple of projects. “Splendor and Misery” still sounds unmistakably like a clipping. album, but with a enough new elements and thematic differences to make the album unique and not

resigned to the bin of well constructed but similarly noisy tracks the group has put out over the past few years. How it stands apart is the greatest triumph of this album. While the group has been putting out solid work over their lifespan, it has begun to blend together. “Splendor and Misery” manages to sound familiar track by track but stands apart as a whole. This time around the project has given us a concept album, a tortuous space odyssey. The character in the album is a prisoner going on a jaunt through the cosmos and sees some horrific things on the way. They present a string of events instead of a constructed plot, a series of occasionally contemplative but often chaotic scenes in space. The record also never has a moment where it climbs to the top of a proverbial mountain to exclaim “This

is what I’m saying!” a la “Crime of the Century.” The concept behind the record is not the most compelling thing you’ll ever hear, but it functions and manages to add interest to the music rather than take away. It rides the line of being present without being excessive tactfully. At 16 tracks, many of which only last about a minute, and a brief 37 minute runtime, this project takes no prisoners. It blitzes through a string of traditional clipping. tracks with unexpected bits of musical theater thrown in bold contrast. There is even a three minute gospel track, “Story 5,” toward the end of the record that references their mixtape “midcity.” The lyrics and instrumentals are everything you would expect from a clipping. album: excellent. They’re

tight, noisy, often challenging and occasionally catchy. The track “Air Em’ Out” is an idiosyncratic banger anthem that combines lyrical themes you would expect on a mainstream hip hop album with the looming threat of an alien force invading your world, and it works better than it should. This is a solid record for people who like clipping. It still isn’t incredibly accessible music, but it has some genuinely catchy tracks and it doesn’t make the mistake of retreading old ground too heavily. It would have been disappointing to hear the group drop another predictably noisy album that could have been blended into a playlist with their other material and left out to dry. This record won’t change your life, but it’s a good listen if you are interested in this kind of music.

Sept. 22, 2016

THE KAVA AND KRATOM CRAZE A

Zach, an employee of Noble Kava, pours a cup of kava before topping it with a pineapple wedge, which serves as a chaser for this specific strain of kava. The lounge offers a small cup for free to first-time customers new to kava. CELIA CALHOUN A&E REPORTER

colorful chalkboard

sign outside of Noble Kava states that they are open, and welcomes customers inside, advertising the specials for that day. There is a bar in the back as well as several tables and couches spread around the lounge area. People talk with freshly ladled kava and kratom drinks in their hands while others quietly do work. Kava is a root from southern Asia that relaxes and calms the nerves of its consumers. According to Noble Kava employee Dion Cooper, the beverage can relieve symptoms of anxiety, stress, restlessness and sleeplessness. As a legality for work, Cooper said it is generally a safe beverage to consume, but people should not drink alcohol 24 hours after having kava. “Kava specifically has a very relaxing, I almost say ‘melt into your seat’ experience,” Cooper said. Since kava has a reverse tolerance, new customers get their first shot for free. Cooper said that it usually takes about two weeks of regular kava drinking in order to feel the full effects and that the first time people drink it, they are unlikely to feel different because not enough of the root has been built up in the person’s system. Cooper has worked at Noble Kava for over a year and a half now. Before he got the job, he was a regular at the bar and would help the manager out periodically. Cooper likes the kava bar because it serves as an alternative space for people 18 years old and older to visit and hang out. “I think kava is a really good unwinder,” Cooper said. “It’s good to drink after Photo Credit: Dallas Linger

you’ve had a stressful day at work or if you just want to take a load off and relax. In my opinion, it’s a much better alternative than drinking alcohol or anything like that.” Quan Forney, a sophomore computer science major, tried kava for the first time a month ago because some friends convinced him to. “It tasted like dirt mixed with water, but it looks like Yoohoo,” Forney said. Forney was glad that he tried it, but said that he would not have it again. He did not feel any effects from the shot that he took, and did not understand why people would drink it regularly. Unlike Forney, freshman criminal science major Shay Kallam felt some of the effects from kava after drinking it for the first time over the summer. Kallam does not consider herself to be a regular at Noble Kava. She said she only drinks it when she has nothing else to do and wants to try something different. “[I think people drink kava because] it has a nice after effect and makes you feel calm,” Kallam said. Sophomore international business and economics major Eli Schwarz has been a regular at Noble Kava since the first week of his freshman year. Schwarz likes kratom much more than he likes kava. “I don’t know why people drink kava,” Schwarz said. “They say that kava will give you an effect if you drink it enough, but I have never felt one before. It just tastes bad.” Kratom is another popular drink that Noble Kava serves, and has different effects than kava does. The difference

between the two is that kava is made from the roots of a plant, whereas kratom is made from the leaves of a different plant in Asia. There are different veins of kratom that are served. The white and yellow veins typically give people energy, whereas the red veins calm consumers down. “I get energy and I feel more talkative,” Schwarz said. “If I have a social event, then I will drink the white vein so I can feel more relaxed. For presentations with my club, a lot of times I will drink the yellow or white vein.” Schwarz was able to feel the effects of kratom immediately after he drank it. Unlike kava, kratom does not have a reverse tolerance. “I prefer kratom because I feel more from it,” Kallam said. Kratom has not been FDA approved and will be illegal in the United States starting Sept. 30. Since there has not been enough research conducted about the product, companies are not able to disclose the side effects people typically feel after consumption as factual. “People use [kratom] a lot while studying,” Cooper said. Schwarz is upset about kratom becoming illegal, and said that he will probably stop going to Noble Kava, but is willing to try their new alternatives to the beverage. Cooper is also upset about kratom becoming illegal, and said that he typically drinks a cup of white vein kratom every morning. “It’s definitely going to put a hamper on things,” Cooper said. “We’re first and foremost a kava bar. We have a bunch of

other products. We’re actually going to be looking into getting some other products that have similar effects to kratom so that way we are not completely out of that thing.” Although Schwarz is upset that kratom will be illegal, he believes that the FDA and pharmaceutical companies need to research kratom more before making it legal again. Every night, Noble Kava has different specials and events. Sundays are board game nights and Wednesday nights serve as study hall. Thursday nights are open mic night and live music is on Friday nights. People who participate in the different events each night are eligible for specials they are running. For example, people who perform at open mic night get buy one get one free kava shots. Schwarz liked seeing all of the recurring customers, the different people, Noble Kava’s selection of board games, and the free Wi-Fi, which provided him with a setting besides the library to do homework in. Noble Kava is planning on moving into a larger piece of property at Winkler Square across from Hardee’s on 114 Clement St. Although Sept. 15 was supposed to be Noble Kava’s last day in their location on King Street, they reported on Facebook that they made a deal with their property manager and will remain open a little longer before they move. Although kratom will soon be illegal, kava will remain in Boone in the foreseeable future. Kallam believes that it is something that people should try at least once in their lives.

Sept. 22, 2016

PRINTMAKING CLUB MARY ELIZABETH MYRICK A&E REPORTER

Members of the Appalachian Printmaking Club hang up T-shirts with their designs on them. Paint-splattered, denim-clad students trickled into Wey Hall room 108 on Aug. 31, at 6:30 p.m. The studio room quickly became crowded, and many students lined the perimeter, attending the first meeting of the year for the Appalachian Printmaking Club. Founded in fall 2015, this is the start of Appalachian Printmaking Club’s second year on campus. As a club within the visual arts department, it focuses primarily on a printmaking process called relief and screen printing. Club president and current senior Erina Schultz is one of the many artists on campus that is passionate about printmaking. Schultz, along with other club members, hopes to see more people becoming involved in the club and learning more about the medium. “A lot of people don’t know about printmaking. It’s kind of sad,” she said. In response to this lack of awareness, a group of students who were invested in this art medium formed the club. The Appalachian Printmaking Club is fully student run, student taught and student led. One aspect that makes the learning experience within printmaking club valuable is that there is “no professor grading you,” Schultz said. Along the lines of a “grade-free” learning space, Printmaking Club hopes not only to inspire arts majors, but also students and community members from all backgrounds. At the interest meeting, attendees’ majors ranged from political science to biology to dance. In order to have studio access for printmaking, students are required to be a visual arts major. However, by joining Printmaking Club, students are able to gain studio access during club 16

meetings, which generally involve getting right to work on projects and hands-on learning within the studio. Along with this studio access and work time, Schultz believes that Printmaking Club is a beneficial opportunity for anyone who is interested, even if they are inexperienced because “it allows people to join and see if it’s the right process for them,” Schultz said. When joining the club, dues are $15, which helps cover costs for materials and projects. Additionally, the club is already discussing events for the upcoming semester and year to be funded by these dues. At the meeting, members discussed their past fundraising ideas and involvements. One of Printmaking Club’s most successful events last year involved organizing a timeframe in which students across the campus could bring any garment of their choice – including T-shirts, bags, patches, hoodies or anything of that nature – and have the club print a design on it for a cost of $5. The club printed on each item with black ink and allowed students to choose from an array of different designs. When the club held one of their T-shirt printing events in October 2015, it was so successful that they had to stop taking requests, but offered students a selection of pre-printed tees and a promise of future events. Along with this particular event, the club has frequently sold donuts, coffee and various prints to raise money for supplies and necessities involved in the printmaking art form. Eliana Rodriguez, a club member, explained the relevance of printmaking club to her.

“For me, as an artist, printmaking club is really important to me because I’m able to do what I love and share that with others,” Rodriguez said. “Printmaking is one of the lesser known mediums so finding other people who do printmaking isn’t easy. Through the club, I’m able to meet other printmakers and introduce printmaking to people that may have never known what it is.” Famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Francisco Goya, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Andy Warhol all had a hand in printmaking. Warhol is attributed for being an extremely influential printmaker. During the 1960’s, some of his most well-known works are recognized as pop-culture icons, such as his prints of Marilyn Monroe. Schultz mentioned that many people don’t realize how many renowned artists were printmakers. “Most really well-known artists have done printmaking, like famous painters; they have all done the process of printmaking,” Shultz said. With a primary focus on relief printing and screen printing within the club, these two processes allow differing results and experiences. Screen printing typically involves using stencils and layering different colors and stencils on top of one another. As a whole, screen printing allows for livelier colors in comparison to relief. Screen printing is used for printing on clothing, but also can be used for various items such as decals and balloons. In contrast, relief printing often includes techniques such as lithography, engraving, drypoint and etching. Items such as woodcuts and linocuts have often been historically used for moveable type processes and

illustrations, amongst others. The club aims to attend SGCI, which stands for the South Graphics Council International. The yearly conference, held this year in April 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia, is the largest printmaking conference in the nation. At the conference, printmakers from across the country showcase their art, network and learn more about the processes at hand. As a whole, Printmaking Club prides themselves on being not only a place for artistic expression, but a place to learn more about an ancient but ever-expanding art form. In Appalachian Printmaking Club’s own words, courtesy of their Facebook page, “We are the best club you’ll ever be a part of.”

Courtesy of: Appalachian Printmaking Club

Sept. 22, 2016

ASU THEATRE CLUBS HELP STUDENTS FIND THEIR PASSION ADRIENNE FOUTS A&E REPORTER

The company of Appalachian Musical Theatre Ensemble’s production of Urinetown in fall of 2014.

or some students,

it may be intimidating to try to get involved with an activity in a department that they are not majoring in. However, there are many clubs on campus that allow and encourage students to participate regardless of their fields of study. Appalachian State’s theater department is no exception to this. With several opportunities for students to get involved in acting, backstage work and other aspects of theater, anyone with a passion for or even a slight interest in theater will find a group they fit in with. Three of these on-campus theatre groups are the Musical Theatre Club, Playcrafters and the Women and Inclusive Theatre Troupe. While each club’s main purpose is to perform plays or musicals, their choices in plays are different and their overall focuses are unique. “Musical Theatre Club is not only a performing outlet for anyone, but also a club where we come together as people with similar interests and build friendships,” Savannah Bennett, junior biology major and public relations officer of the Musical Theatre Club, said. Founded in 2012, the Musical Theatre Club usually produces one fulllength musical each year. In the past, they have performed musicals such as “Rent,” “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Chicago,” and are currently in the rehearsal process for “Legally Blonde.” File Photo

“We try to do a variety of shows, but we always select shows that we feel are more catered to a college audience, or shows that we think people have heard of and would like to come see,” Bennett said. In addition to the full-length musical, the club also holds seasonal performances, such as the annual Halloween Masquerade Ball to benefit the Hunger and Health Coalition. During these performances, club members perform songs that fit the theme of the holiday. Although “Legally Blonde,” the musical for fall 2016, has already been cast, students are still encouraged to join the Musical Theatre Club and take advantage of their other opportunities. “A lot of times if people aren’t cast, they become discouraged and stop coming to meetings,” Bennett said. “But we really, really want to reach out and make sure that everyone who has a passion for performing finds that outlet.” The Musical Theatre Club meets every other Friday at 4 p.m. in Chapell Wilson Hall; if students are interested in participating, they can show up to a meeting or join the Appalachian Musical Theatre Club Facebook page for more information. Playcrafters is a thespian society that focuses on all aspects of theatre, including acting, directing, lighting/sound and playwriting. “The most interesting thing about Playcrafters is that it’s all student-run,

especially our two big events during the year, the 24-Hour Play Festival and New Play Festival,” Kenny Petroski, senior theatre performance and English major and president of Playcrafters, said. “Those two events are student directed and acted and the plays are actually written by students too.” Playcrafters also has workshops and special guests on different topics throughout the year, including acting and resume workshops. “We encourage theatre and non-theatre majors alike to explore and challenge themselves,” Petroski said. “This gives students not only the opportunity to get involved on campus, but also gives them the opportunity to discover a passion for something within the theatre community.” Playcrafters meets every first and third Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. in Chapell Wilson. For more information, those interested can visit the Playcrafters page on Facebook. The Women and Inclusive Theatre Troupe is a theater organization on campus with a more specific focus. Founded four years ago and previously called the Women’s Theatre Troupe, WITT always focused on women’s issues and how to call attention to them using theatre performances. Recently, WITT’s goal has been to bring forward even more diverse voices in the theatre, said Rachel Scherer, junior theatre design and technology major and president of WITT. These

voices include people of color, people of different sexualities and people with disabilities, among others. Although the majority of WITT’s plays have focused on women’s issues, including the play for this year, Scherer hopes to include people of many different backgrounds in the troupe and to expand performances to address other marginalized groups’ issues. WITT produces one show each year in either the fall or spring semester; this year’s show is being written by an Appalachian State alumnus and is about female boxers in the 1950s. The troupe also occasionally brings in guest speakers to address the ideals, goals and issues that WITT is passionate about. “We try to find a balance between being a theatre club and a discussion group on the issues that we’re trying to focus on,” Scherer said. Scherer said that any student, not only women, can join WITT, and can visit the group’s Facebook page for more information about meetings. These clubs as well as other theatre groups on campus offer a wide range of opportunities for students to find or feed their passion for theatre, no matter their background. “I am not a theatre major, but the theatre department is so welcoming and I have never felt like I didn’t fit in,” Bennett said. “Everyone is caring and positive, and we all want each other to succeed.”

Sept. 22, 2016

APP STATE FRESHMEN STEAL THE STAGE KATIE MURAWSKI A&E EDITOR

Selkie is a half-human, half-seal mythical creature born out of the folklore of northern Scotland. Selkies have a special pelt that allows them to change from human to seal. On the shores of Orkney Isle, “between the land and sea” is where this story takes place. “Selkie: Between Land and Sea” is a coming of age story about a 16-year-old girl named Elin Jean who “struggles to find a sense of belonging and identity as the secrets of her family are revealed,” according to the press release written by Keith Martin, distinguished professor of theater. Appalachian State’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present this award-winning drama for young adults written by Laurie Brooks on Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 in the Valborg Theatre. The show is directed by theater professor Teresa Lee, who according to the press release “continues the department’s tradition of offering young adult plays in alternating years.” To follow suit, the play consists of only seven characters, three of which are freshmen at App State. Lee said the casting process for main stage productions is challenging because there are so many students who come out to audition. “Although it is a bit unusual for three out of seven cast members to be freshmen, it was a matter of casting the best actors for the roles regardless of their year in school,” Lee said. “So far, I’m very impressed with our incoming class of freshmen overall.” Martin said that this is the largest incoming class in department history, with 65 freshmen and transfer students, bringing the total number of students in the Department of Theatre and Dance to 235. “This marks the fourth year in a row that this record has been broken, with an overall growth rate of one-third just in the last two years,” Martin said. “This speaks volumes to the quality of the program, the excellence of our faculty and staff and the growing reputation of our department across the state and region.” Sophie Weiner, a freshman theatre arts major, scored the lead role as Elin Jean in “Selkie.” This is Weiner’s first lead role and her first play at App State. Weiner said she initially went to auditions to support her roommate and was not planning on getting a part. She received a call back and the next thing she knew, she was among the top three with her roommate. Weiner said that her roommate is very supportive that she got the role and they are supportive of each other. Weiner said that this is her breakout 18

Freshmen Devon Bucey and Sophie Weiner play the leading roles of Tam and Elin Jean in the Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of “Selkie: Between Land and Sea,” by Laurie Brooks. role, but hopefully not her peak. She has mostly done musicals where she was cast as part of the ensemble or “just in the background with only one or two lines,” Weiner said. “This is my first lead I have ever gotten, because I wasn’t necessarily the favorite in high school so I never got any lead roles,” Weiner said. “But this is definitely the most interesting character from anything I have really done.” Weiner describes Elin Jean as strong with a fire inside, yet she is vulnerable within the setting, and said her character longs for people to like and understand her. Playing Elin Jean’s love interest Tam McCodrun is freshman performance

theatre major Devon Bucey. “He is the lover boy of Elin Jean pretty much,” Bucey said. “He starts out making fun of her because she is different, but they end up falling for each other in the end.” This is also Bucey’s first college role. He said that it is not really a lead role like Elin Jean. But, he is happy with his role and his favorite part of his role is learning the Scottish dialect and language. “Learning Scottish was definitely a challenge that has proven difficult,” Bucey said. Madeline Ferguson, freshman theatre arts major, plays Selkie Black, Elin Jean’s aunt. Ferguson said that through-

out the play Selkie Black tries to help her sister Margaret rejoin them in the sea by getting her pelt back from Elin Jean’s father, who forced her to live on land for many years. Even though this is Ferguson’s first college play, she has been in five plays total. In her last years of high school, she played Mary Poppins and Wednesday Addams. “This one actually may be harder than Mary Poppins, because you have to have different movements in the water and you have to make seal noises,” Ferguson said with a giggle. “You also have to deal with the selkie pelt and take on two different characters.” Ferguson said that she was very Courtesy of: Lynn Willis

Sept. 22, 2016

(Top) Freshman Sophie Weiner (left) plays the role of a young girl who struggles to find her sense of belonging and identity as the secrets of her family are revealed. Freshman Devon Bucey (center) plays Tam, “a traveling lad,” and senior Dylan Brown (right) portrays the girl’s grandfather. (Bottom) Sophie Weiner, Devon Bucey and Madeline Ferguson are all freshmen making their college debut to the stage as major roles in “Selkie: Between Land and Sea.” excited to be cast in the show after feeling intimidated coming into auditions because she did not know anyone. “I am just so excited to be apart of it and everything,” Ferguson said. “All these people are awesome and it was a lot of fun to work with T. Lee, the director.” Dylan Brown, senior theatre arts major, plays the grandfather of Elin Jean who also serves as the story’s narrator. Brown describes Grandpa as the audience’s connection to the world, and said Grandpa is the oldest character that Brown has has ever played. Brown has been in nine plays, one for each semester he has been at App, and said this one will hopefully not be the last. “It is the most challenging play I have ever had to do in terms of dialect, which has added a new layer of challenges that we all had to learn as a cast together,” Brown said. “It has been a really fun learning process for all of us, getting to play around with the accent so that we don’t all sound like Shrek.” Brooks describes the play as “dusted with mysticism,” because it combines folklore with traditional storytelling. People who come out for “Selkie: Between Land and Sea” should come prepared to be “transported out of Boone and be taken away from this day and age,” Brown said. “Selkie: Between Land and Sea” opens at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Oct. 2. Tickets are $10 for App State students and $17 for adults.

Courtesy of: Lynn Willis