The Nude Party Review
App State bye week
The Nude Party covers new ground while sustaining its style with its second and most recent album “Forbidden Fruits.”
see PAGE 3
The Daily Gamer
App State football is using its bye week to prepare for the next five games of the season before they get another break.
The Daily Gamer, which provides Appalachian students with the latest news, reviews and opinions on the happenings of the gaming industry.
see PAGE 6
TheAppalachianOnline.com
The Appalachian 09.11.14
Appalachian State University’s student news source since 1934
Vol. 89, No. 6
Students and faculty march for Michael Brown by Thomas Culkin Intern News Reporter
A
ppalachian State University students and faculty participated in a Black Lives Matter march Wednesday night in memory of Michael Brown and the recent events that have taken place in Ferguson, Missouri. The Black Faculty and Staff Association and the Black Student Association planned the event. Before the walk began, Everette Nichols, the assistant director of student development, spoke to open the march. “Some of us are marching for Mike Brown and for justice,” Nichols said. “Others are marching because it just as easily could have been one of us.” The march began in front of the Yosef statue near Trivette Dining Hall and ended on Sanford Mall. The procession was held in absolute silence to show respect for the Brown family. After the walk concluded, numerous students and professors addressed the crowd. One of the goals of the march was to raise awareness of the tragedy in Ferguson. “This moment really
Students from the university and the Black Student Association participating in the Black Lives Matter Walk Wednesday evening. The walk began at the Yosef statue and ended at Sanford Mall.
Nicole Debartolo constitutes the beginning of a movement, that we are part of something bigger,” attendee and assistant professor of leadership and education studies Stephanie Troutman said.
BSA president Aisha Cotton read a long list of African Americans who have been murdered because of racial persecution over the years, beginning with Emmett Till, ending with Trayvon Martin,
and containing dozens of names in between. “What happened with Michael Brown is a travesty, and it’s a recurring problem,” Rebekah Richardson, a sophomore art management
major, said. Cotton said the turnout greatly exceeded expectations. BSA anticipated around 50 people to participate. The turnout was close to 100 people.
Anna Smith’s parents suspect she was assaulted Staff Reports Anna Smith’s parents and family representatives held a press conference Wednesday at the Fairfield Inn on 321 in Boone to address her disappearance. Family representative The Rev. Dana McKim said the family believes Smith was assaulted before Labor Day weekend. McKim said the nature of the believed assault is not known to be sexual or have taken place on the university’s campus. Smith left her electronics in her residence hall room, in-
cluding her cell phone and laptop. She is believed to only have had a red purse and blue backpack when she disappeared. Smith was last seen Sept. 2 and was reported missing on Sept. 4. The investigation is still underway, though police previously said there is no evidence thus far to support foul play in Smith’s disappearance. On Sept. 9, a campus email from University Police was released indicating a sexual assault that took place on Aug. 29 was reported on Sept. 8. Read the full updated story at theappalachianonline.com.
Wallace discusses Smith, assaults at SGA meeting by Nicole Caporaso News Reporter
The Student Government Association held its first senate meeting of the year under Student Body President Carson Rich and Vice President Daniel Tassitino on Tuesday evening in the Linville Falls room of the Plemmons Student Union. Cindy Wallace, vice chancellor for student development, spoke at the meeting to deliver a message to the senators and cabinet members who represent the student body. Wallace said she went off script from her intended speech because of the recent events on campus, regarding sexual assaults and Anna Smith, the Appalachian student who was reported missing. “In my 31 years at Appalachian, I have never had a missing student situation that we have in front of us right now with Anna Smith,” Wallace said. “You guys have been wonderful about helping us tell the world that we need their help.” Wallace said the search to find Smith has been widespread. “We have had over 300,000 Facebook reaches across the country,” she said. “We
SEE SGA PAGE 2
Rachel Krauza
CAP building renamed Sen. John A. Garwood Hall by Kaitlan Morehouse Intern News Reporter
A dedication ceremony for the Chemistry, Astronomy and Physics building will be held in honor of Appalachian State University alumnus and North Carolina senator John A. Garwood on Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m. Director of External Affairs Susan McCracken said the CAP building has never actually been given an official name before now. Garwood was a Wilkes native and 1957 graduate who played football at Appalachian. He was a member of the North Carolina legislature, served on the state General Assembly’s education committee and served on the Board of Trustees. He passed away Nov. 30, 2010 at the age of 78. According to the Wilkes Journal-Patriot, Garwood was a former Wilkes County commissioner, member of the Public School forum, the Health Foundation Board of Directors and the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors. “He Rachel was a Krauza steady
The CAP building on Rivers Street will be renamed after 1957 graduate Sen. John A. Garwood Hall on Sept. 25.
force to gather support for this area,” McCracken said. The Wilkes Journal-Patriot also reported that Garwood supported the $3.1 billion higher education bond referendum in 2000, provided funds for construction of
Belk Library and Information Commons and the addition to Rankin Hall at Appalachian. Steve Metcalf, a 1957 Appalachian graduate and former co-chair of the education committee with Garwood said he wrote a letter
requesting Garwood’s nomination. “[Garwood] made service to Appalachian and higher education a priority,” Metcalf wrote in his nomination letter. “While a member of
SEE CAP PAGE 2
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NEWS
Thursday, September 11, 2014
The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
Biology professor creates digital plant database by Thomas Culkin Intern News Reporter
Appalachian State University biology professor Zack Murrell is heading a multi-state project to create a digitized database of roughly 15 million plant specimens from across the Southeast. Murrell started the project, which recently received a $2.545 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The project, titled “The Key to the Cabinets: Building and Sustaining a Research Database for a Global Biodiversity Hotspot,” will allow citizen scientists across the nation and the world to study specimens that before could only be observed in museums. “Ultimately, the exciting part
about this is taking the information that’s in these cabinets and making it available for modelers to do all sorts of things from,” Murrell said. The modelers are scientists who would use the plants to study biogeographic issues. “The data [we’re] assembling can be used by researchers to study the effects of climate change, identify and prioritize important areas for conservation efforts and investigate the impact of habitat loss,” said Joseph McKenna, a biology graduate student involved in the project. The southeast is unique because it is one of the most biologically diverse regions in North America, containing 233 herbaria, or collections of plants, and over 15 million
CAP
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the N.C. Senate, John aggressively advocated for higher education and consistently supported legislation that provided funding for major capital improvements and programs at Appalachian.” Metcalf said although the two were members of opposing political parties, they shared many ideals, and Garwood was often considered bipartisan. “While he was in the state Senate, he was really advocating for more money for Appalachian,” Metcalf said. “We had so much in common. One of the things we had a lot in common was our appreciation and love for the
plant specimens. Murrell said the most exciting aspect of the project is the way that it will unite the scientific community. By taking numerous physical collections and moving them online where anybody can study them creates an online community for scientists interested in natural history. “We already have a virtual community of experts,” Murrell said. “We want to connect that community with a broader community of amateur scientists that want to take part [and] make them full partners. Our hypothesis here is that we sustain our community effort by helping people understand they’re fully involved in this virtual community.” Murrell said he acknowl-
university. We both cared for the institution.” Metcalf said Garwood was a man who spent his entire life dedicating time to the university. “John was just a dear man who loved Appalachian, and all of the things Appalachian does for our students, our region and our state,” Metcalf said. “I’m just really happy for John and his family that the university is recognizing him and his services.” Board of Trustees member Martin Lancaster said they knew each other due to the time they shared serving on the senate together. “I am pleased he is being honored this way,” Lancaster said. Lancaster will be speaking briefly at the dedication ceremony.
edges that society has become much more global since the arrival of the Internet, and feels like this database will be a major step for the scientific community in joining the globalization. McKenna said the most positive impact of the database will be to make information about regional flora available to both researchers as well as the general public. The creation of this database is many years in the making for Murrell, and is the culmination of years of dedication and hard work. The roots of the project began seven years ago, when he founded the Southeast Regional Network of Expertise and Collections, or SERNEC, with a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.
SGA
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 have had calls from up and down the east coast, so that is very much an active investigation.” Wallace said that the most recently reported sexual assault on campus was brutal and unusual for those typically reported on the university’s campus. “It was the kind of sexual assault that we do not read about or hear about or seldom experience on our campus,” Wallace said. “That is a very important investigation that is also going on right now.” To wrap up the talk on a more inspirational note, Wallace reiterated
Now, SERNEC is partnered with five other organizations on this project – Symbiota, an Arizona-based group; GEOlocate, from Tulane; Notes From Nature, a group-based out of the University of Florida; the Adler Museum in Chicago; and the Texas Advanced Computing Center. The most recent grant of $2.545 million will be split between Appalachian and the other entities involved in compiling the specimens. Approximately $1.545 million will go to the five programs for collecting and compiling the specimens. The remaining $1 million will be given to Appalachian for hiring a project manager, student workers, software developers and purchasing the required technology.
the importance of speaking up and doing the right thing. “The message is that it’s up to me, it’s up to every one of us to reach out and be that important voice in our community,” she said. “For you guys, as elected representatives of your student body, it is hugely, hugely important.” Rich, a junior advertising major, said SGA was very happy to have Wallace at their first meeting of the year. “We all know this past week has been rough on Appalachian and it was nice to have someone there who is truly the epitome of an advocate for the students,” Rich said.
Forum Series
Morris Dees “With Justice for All” WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 7PM SCHAEFER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 733 RIVERS STREET, BOONE, NC Free and Open to the Public
Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, won a series of groundbreaking civil rights cases that helped integrate government and public institutions and cripple some of America’s most notorious white supremacist hate groups. Dees, named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by the National Law Journal in 2006, has authored three books: A Season For Justice, his autobiography; Hate on Trial: The Case Against America’s Most Dangerous Neo-Nazi; and Gathering Storm: America’s Militia Threat.
www.universityforum.appstate.edu Sponsored by: University Forum Committee and University College with additional support from the Joan Askew Vail Endowment and the Office of Multicultural Student Development
A&E
Thursday, September 11, 2014
The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
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Events
Stick Boy Bread Co. celebrates 13-year anniversary by Casey Suglia Intern A&E Reporter
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esidents of the Boone area ventured to Stick Boy Bread Company on Tuesday for Free Cookie Day, where 3,480 cookies were given away to celebrate the local family-owned bakery’s 13th year of being in business. “It has been a great 13 years and we still love what we do,” said Michelle Bollman, manager of Stick Boy. The bakery, which is located adjacent to Appalachian State University’s campus on Hardin Street, has given away cookies in celebration for their anniversary every September. It bakes artisan breads, breakfast pastries, wedding cakes and various desserts, including cookies, according to stickboybread.com. “We are blessed to live in a wonderful community that has loyally supported our business
since day one,” Bollman said. “We love sharing our baked goods and making people smile, so once a year we do it for free.” The bakery made 3,700 cookies Monday night in preparation for the event. Bollman said the company’s German oven with five stone decks can hold over 400 cookies at once, but that the company realistically bakes approximately 150 at a time throughout the day. “We mix the cookies ahead of time and scoop them so they are ready to bake,” Bollman said. “Just for the cookies we gave away [Tuesday], we used over 100 pounds each of butter, chocolate chips and sugar.” Senior music performance major David Marvel has been coming to Stick Boy’s anniversary celebration every year since enrolling at Appalachian. “A great local business like Stick Boy celebrating its
birthday is really awesome because they’re giving back to us,” Marvel said. Bollman said the company is always happy to give back to the community. “Seriously, I think our cookies are great and people like eating them, especially for free, but hopefully it is more than that,” Bollman said. “Hopefully Free Cookie Day at Stick Boy is an event that creates community and shared joy bigger than the 3,700 free cookies. Seeing groups of students, local friends and long time customers hanging out eating cookies, laughing and smiling is what makes it special to us.” Undeclared sophomore Kyra Kapsaskis (left) and freshman exercise science major Alaina Swick (right) enjoy free cookies Tuesday afternoon at Stick Boy Bread Company to celebrate 13 years of business.
Carson Hager
Preview
Annual Hispanic Heritage Festival comes to Legends
by Kelsey Hamm Intern A&E Reporter
The Hispanic Student Association will hold its annual Hispanic Heritage Festival at Legends on Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 16. The festival is held in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. This year the event also acknowledges the 50th anniversary of race integration at Appalachian, said Aneisy Cardo, the president of the Hispanic Student Association and a senior mathematics major. “The festival will feature Latin American poetry, dance performances, food, games, a jalapeno eating contest and a
soccer dribbling contest,” Cardo said. “There will also be dance lessons and a dance party at the end of the night and PowerPoints with information about different Hispanic countries.” The introduction to the festival will be done in both English and Spanish, Cardo said. The club teamed up with Appalachian Popular Programing Society’s Cultural Awareness and Student Engagement Council to book the event at Legends. The council assisted the club with advertising for the event, said Karissa Goff, the council chair and a senior psychology major. “This is a great example of our mission statement, which is primarily to work with minority groups on campus
On Stage
The Local hosts poetry slam
Carson Hager
and the events that they have a real passion for,” Goff said. “We want to reach out to [the] Hispanic population in Watauga County as well.” Sophomore biology major Angela Benitez said she is looking forward to the event. “Last year the jalapeno eating contest was very intense, and just for that I will go again,” Benitez said. “The festival has an admission fee this year, but it’s worth it to have the event at Legends.” Cardo said that the festival is not about the profit. “We are trying to make the festival as informational as possible,” Cardo said. “This is our biggest event of the year, and we are happy to be partnering with APPS. We do this for the community
and the students.” Hispanic students currently make up 4 percent of the Appalachian State University student population. Cardo said she hopes for a turnout of more than 100 people at the festival. In addition to the Hispanic Heritage Festival, the Hispanic Student Association holds one Latin dance night during the fall semester and two in the spring semester. Members of the club work with Hispanic students at Watauga County High School and Hardin Park Elementary School, Cardo said. The doors to the festival will open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $3 in advance and $5 at the door. The proceeds from the event will go to APPS.
Faculty play Rosen Concert Hall
Maggie Cozens
The restaurant formally known as Char, The Local has made changes to its live performance showings. To kick off their name-change, they hosted a poetry slam on their newly furnished stage Tuesday night.
School of music professor Douglas Miller plays his clarinet Tuesday night performing during An Evening of Encores at the Rosen Concert Hall.
Review
‘Forbidden Fruits’ adds a psychedelic touch to Boone music
by Casey Suglia Intern A&E Reporter
Boone and Appalachian State University-based band, The Nude Party, delivers a fresh sound on their second and newest album, “Forbidden Fruits.” The Nude Party embodies their self-described genre, “psychological rock,” and with a mix of early 1960s surf rock and modern day influences, “Forbidden Fruits” is a foray into bringing the psychedelic movement of the 1960s and 1970s into the millennium. As a staple in Boone’s live music scene, The Nude Party is no stranger to playing music that people want to dance
The Nude Party
‘Forbidden Fruits’
to. Starting off as a band that played fully nude, they have gone on to recreate that sensual, carefree experience on their new album. The per-
formance aspect of their live shows translates almost perfectly through their production. On lead track “Sweet Shops,” lead singer and junior electronic media broadcasting major Patton Magee’s vocals sounds reminiscent of a young Mick Jagger’s. The song is a staple at their live shows and is a perfect way to kick off their first full length album – it’s upbeat, it encompasses the entire vibe and sound and tells you exactly what The Nude Party is going to bring for the rest of their tracks. A considerable amount of the album’s energy comes directly from lead guitarist Shaun Couture and keyboard-
ist Zachary Merrill. The duo’s talents are on full display during the track “Maybe Baby,” which is described by the band as “the closest thing to a love song they’ll ever write.” Both have solos that stand out amongst the vocals, with percussion drawing audiences in for a ride make “Maybe Baby” one of the strongest songs off of “Forbidden Fruits.” Couture and Merrill show their strengths again on track “King Bee,” one of the most cohesive songs off of the album. Magee’s vocals sound eerily similar to Jim Morrison’s from The Doors, making the psychedelic throwback throughout the album espe-
cially powerful. The middle track, “Nude Party” is a repeat off of the band’s first EP from 2013. The first copy is younger sounding and less polished, but on “Forbidden Fruits,” however, it’s stronger – benefitting from the time between the albums and performing it live. This is the band’s first time recording with local recording studio, Wet Bandit Audio. The production is excellent – it makes “Forbidden Fruits” a cohesive, modern throwback to psychedelic music. It takes The Nude Party out of the basement scene and into the living room, letting audiences know that they should be taken seriously.
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The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
Thursday, September 11, 2014
App Submit announcements
App News is a service of the Division of Student Development. Email dycheab@appstate.edu at least two weeks in advance. Submissions should not exceed 100 words and must include the event title, date/ time, location and cost, other pertinent information and a contact(s) (email, phone and/ or URL). Announcements will be edited as needed and will run as space allows. Tom Robbins Week Sponsored by Appalachian State University Libraries. Internationally-renowned novelist and Blowing Rock native Tom Robbins returns home with a new book, “Tibetan Peach Pie: A True Account of an Imaginative Life.” • Talk with Tom Robbins on his new book, 7 p.m. Sept. 11, Rosen Concert Hall. Tickets are free and available on a first come, first served basis. Call the Schaefer Center box office at 828-262-4046. MAP-Works Survey New freshmen and transfer students are reminded to take the MAP-Works survey and view the Student Outcome Report. The survey is open through Sept. 30. Students to complete the survey and review their individual Student Outcome Report. Students who complete the survey and review their Student Outcome Report enjoy higher GPAs, better retention rates, and many report the chance to think reflectively about their personal behaviors and habits, as they relate to academic success.
Oudoor Education Certifications The certifications begin in September. • Sept. 13-14 and Feb. 2122, Wilderness First Aid • Oct. 17-19 and April 10-12, Wilderness First Responder Re-Certification • Nov. 1-2, Leave No Trace Trainer • Dec. 5-7, American Mountain Guide Association, Climbing Wall Instructor • Dec. 14-22 and March 7-15, Wilderness First Responder • Feb. 5, Epinephrine Administration • Leave No Trace Master Educator, Aug. 10-14, 2015 Creative Writing welcome party 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 17, third floor Faculty Lounge, Sanford Hall. Open to new and returning transfer and non-traditional students interested in Creative Writing. Meet creative writing faculty and other transfer student writers and learn more about writing course offerings in the English Department. Find a student writing partner, enjoy conversation and refreshments from Stickboy Bread Co., hear a short reading by recent NC Poet Laureate and Creative Writing professor Joseph Bathanti, and win door prizes. Family members and children are also welcome. RSVP to weinbergsc@appstate. edu. The Wellness Workshops Presented by the Counseling Center presents the series of workshops with the theme “Feelin’ Good in the Neighborhood.”
News • 7 p.m. Sept. 17, Stress Less Workshop for College Students, Mountain Laurel room, PSU • 1 p.m. Sept. 24, Sanford Mall, Diversity Awareness Challenge • 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 9, Test Your Mood: Mental Health Screening Day, Calloway Peak room, PSU • 12:30 p.m. Oct. 28, Survive and Thrive: Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper, Three Top Mountain room, PSU • 7 p.m. Nov. 5, Being Real: The Value of Vulnerability, Three Top Mountain Room, PSU Morris Dees: With Justice for All Kicking off this year’s University Forum Lecture Series, Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, will present “With Justice for All” at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Schaefer Center. The event is free and open to the public. The University Forum Lecture series is one of the longest running such series at Appalachian State University and it provides opportunities for the students, faculty and staff at the university and for people in the surrounding region to hear some of the most stimulating speakers in the country. Fall ASE programs Fall ASE (Alternative Service Experience) programs provide a 4-day service and learning experience Oct. 1619 in the southeast. Experiences are led and created by trained student Peer Leaders and involve direct service to a community. Required pre-travel and post-travel meetings. Total
cost: $100 (includes: food, housing and transportation). Sign-up date beginning 7 a.m. Sept. 17, ACT Outreach Center.
using new media and online networks. For more information, go to http://edtech.appstate. edu/.
Chords for Cora The a cappella competition is a fundraiser for the Bryk family, a local farming family whose daughter was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. Hosted by ASU VoiceMale, the event will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20, Schaefer Center. Tickets: $5 students; $8 general admission.
Policy updates The University of North Carolina has adopted theFostering Undergraduate Student Success policy to be implemented fall 2014. The policy includes several changes that affect all new, continuing and returning undergraduate students. The updates are to the Course/Repeat/ Grade Forgiveness policy, the Academic Standing policy, and the Course Withdrawal policy. For more information, go to http://registrar.appstate.edu/records/fosteringstudentsuccess.html.
Walker College of Business 2nd Annual Business Connections All day, Sept. 24. More than 150 employers and industry executives are expected to attend. The day allows students studying business the opportunity to learn from and engage with the business world through workshops, discussions, panels, practice interviews, a career fair and a networking social. The sharing of knowledge and experiences focus on career concerns, current industry trends and issues, and professional development. For information, contact odomah1@appstate.edu or 828-262-8119. Educational Media Master’s Degree or Certificate Appalachian State offers an Educational Media Master’s Degree and Certificate programs. The program is entirely online and includes a range of courses involving media and technology. Students develop the technical, aesthetic, and intellectual expertise and perspectives needed to analyze and develop online environments
Broadstone facility info The Broadstone facility is now run through University Recreation. Broadstone can be reserved at a nominal fee for all types of groups on campus. It’s available for retreats, meetings, workshops, trainings, cookouts/picnic, celebrations and kickoff/end of the year events. For more information, go to http://broadstone.appstate. edu/. Suicide prevention training In this game-based simulation, learn how to determine when someone needs help, how to talk to them, and where to turn to for help. To access the course, visit kognitocampus.com/login and create a new account. Students should enter the enrollment key: appstate828 and employees should enter the enrollment key: appstate592. Free for App State students and employees.
September
sunday
monday 7
tuesday 8
wednesday 9
10
friday
thursday 11 Tom Robbins: A True Account of an Imaginative Life, 7 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free
saturday 12
Suzanne Wilkison (NC Association of Biomedical Research) presentation, noon, room 224, I.G. Greer, free
13 “22 Jump Street” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door
Gallery Tour with Gordon Froud: South African Visiting Art- “22 Jump Street” ist, 6 p.m., Turchin screening, 7 p.m. Center, free and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, “22 Jump Street” $2 door screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. “The Deer Hunter” Greer, $1 advance, screening, 7 p.m., $2 door Greenbriar, PSU, $1
Guest Concert: Gremlins Duo, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free
14
15
16 Hispanic Heritage Festival, 6-9 p.m., Legends, $3 advance, $5 door
17 Creative Writing welcome party, 6 p.m., third floor faculty lounge, Sanford Hall
Koontz, Borkowski, and Bartlett concert, Morris Dees: With 8 p.m., Rosen Con- Justice for All, 7 cert Hall, free p.m., Schaefer Center, free Agave Baroque/ Guest Organ/Early Music Recital, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free “Kramer vs. Kramer” screening, 7 p.m., Greenbriar, PSU, $1
18 Rodney Reynerson: Faculty Piano Recital, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free “X-Men: Days of Future Past” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door
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“X-Men: Days of Future Past” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door
“X-Men: Days of Future Past” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., I.G. Greer, $1 advance, $2 door
“Kramer vs. Kramer” screening, 7 p.m., Greenbriar, PSU, $1
“Chords for Cora” benefit a cappella competition, 6:30 p.m., Schaefer Center, $5 students, $8 general admission Make Your Own Recycled Peace Flags, 10 a.m., ASU Child Development Center, suggested donation: $10
Opinion The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Staff Opinion
Staff Opinion
Sexual assault prevention requires change in culture Kevin Griffin Opinion Writer
Appalachian State University is in the process of implementing a broad-based safety initiative that includes an emphasis on sexual assault, according to an article in the Aug. 27 edition of The Appalachian. Sexual assault is particularly difficult to deal with. These are the least reported types of crimes, largely because of the stigma and shame associated with the victims of these crimes. The nature of these crimes means it is necessary that
schools formulate policies that see the needs of victims are met in an atmosphere free of any sort of shame and that the best efforts possible are made to see that justice is done. Appalachian has faced controversy in its handling of sexual assault. The university saw criticism of its handling of a 2012 case involving four athletes. That event prompted the university to make changes in policy. Students were removed from the committee that heard sexual misconduct complaints. Apart from the removal of students, there have been few substantive changes to the university’s policies, according to Associate Director of Student Conduct Jonathan Adams. Adams said the university
clarified language to make it more accessible to students, incorporated the sexual assault policy in the Code of Student Conduct, and changed the policy to conform to federal law. The problem of addressing sexual assault must be multifaceted and include sound policy and a commitment to change cultures within institutions. A July 2014 report of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight reveals a pervasive failure of institutions to adequately address the problem, even though most of the issues the report identified are in some way covered by federal law. Fortunately, there are some signs that we are beginning to take the issue more seriously.
The 2013 UNC system report that prompted our safety initiative hits many of the same points that the Senate report does. The report recommends the establishment of regular climate surveys to gauge campus atmosphere, creation of oversight committees to see that federal law is followed, and place an emphasis on victim care. The university has already met 17 of the 23 specifications in the report. I hope the changes will lead to a stronger response to sexual assault, but it is the job of everyone at the university to hold the administration accountable.
Mullis, a senior Criminal Justice major from Wallburg, is an opinion writer.
Memories of a nightmare: My 9/11 experience Nicole Caporaso News Reporter
Sept. 11, 2001 was a Tuesday. People typically don’t remember a Tuesday 13 years ago, but there are special exceptions all the time: Weddings, birthdays, the first day of school, the day you met your best friend, the day you lose a family member. Sept. 11 is one of those exceptions, and it is an exception for almost an entire nation, perhaps even the whole world. I was in school in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island on that Tuesday, sitting in Mrs. Kleinpeter’s first grade class. Port Jefferson Station is a town of almost 8,000, roughly an hour from New York City. I was wearing blue, a blue similar to the nearly cloudless sky on that day. People would later comment on how exquisitely beautiful it was for a September day in New York. Sitting at my school desk, there was a knock on the class-
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The Appalachian reserves the right to decline publication of any letter and to edit letters for the purpose of clarity and space.
Opinion Writer
Caporaso, a sophomore journalism major from Port Jefferson Station, is a news reporter.
Staff Opinion
coverage, not understanding what was happening, so I asked her. “Your cousin Sean was in one of those buildings,” she told me. My cousin, Sean Fitzpatrick, was working for the Port Authority Police Department and was located in the South Tower on that day. The North Tower, which was hit first at 8:46 a.m., was being evacuated after the plane hit the building and Sean was on his way to help. On his way, the North Tower collapsed and Sean was sent airborne, as a result he was thrown through a drugstore window and was buried under tons of debris. Sean ended up being buried under the debris for about seven hours before he was rescued. Those seven hours were hell for my family. My uncle, Sean’s father and now a retired policeman, had a friend who saw what happened and he told the family that Sean was gone. During those seven hours, my uncle went to almost every morgue in the city, looking for his son. Firefighters were eventually able to find my cousin and
Dewey Mullis
was able to notify the family he was one of the fortunate souls to survive. The same could not be said for his partner. It is strange to use the word lucky in this circumstance, but it is also a blessing to say that luckily Sean’s injuries, while serious, were not as bad as they could have been. He could have been one of the thousands to lose their lives that day. The injuries included burns on his eyes from the fuel abrasions, knee damage that eventually led to surgery and lung issues. Emotional distress as a result of that day is in a category of its own. Sept. 11 is now a day of reflection for my family; it is a day that brings back the memories of a nightmare. Despite my memories of that day, above all, it is a day that I personally am thankful for the brave men and women who were police officers, firefighters, EMS, search and rescue crew members and any others who helped during our country’s time of need.
Griffin, a junior journalism major from Madison, is an opinion writer.
Bridget Mundy | The Appalachian
room door and the principal of my elementary school swiftly walked in. My first thought was that one of my fellow classmates was in trouble and I anticipated the drama. Instead, my teacher and principal quietly excused themselves and went out to the hallway for a private conference. I could see their serious exchange through the window on the door. Surprisingly, my school did not release the students early and we completed an entire school day. I was completely unaware of what was going on when my mother picked me up from school. I walked to the car and there were more parents than usual on the sidewalk, waiting for their children. Some of the parents grasped onto their children and others had tears on their faces. I was confused as to why my mother was so solemn when I got in the car and when we got home. She walked straight to the living room and turned on the news, she stood in front of the TV, crying. I looked up at the screen and saw the news
Is ‘welfare weed’ a real problem for America?
The City Council in Berkeley, California passed a new ordinance that mandates all medical marijuana dispensaries allocate 2 percent of their stock to be distributed to the city’s poor, according to FOX News. The law would pertain to individuals earning under $32,000 and families of four with an annual income under $46,000. The ordinance does not change the prescription requirement to receive the medicinal marijuana. The ongoing debate hasn’t changed much since some states legalized recreational marijuana. Some people and organizations hold firm belief that marijuana will someday ruin the nation one brownie mix at a time. Meanwhile, others are cramming said brownies down their throats. Reserving a percentage of pop stock is nothing new for dispensaries. Instead of using FOX’s term “welfare weed,” it has been referred to as “compassionate distribution.” The fact of the matter is that it’s not that different from Walmart offering prescriptions to seniors at the low cost of four dollars. It’s a matter of getting people the medicine they need when they can’t afford it. What makes weed a high concern for many people is the stigma of a substance still classified by the federal government as an illegal drug. The effects are not as dangerous as alcohol and medicines that mimic chemicals, and the effects of marijuana are already on the market. So what is the concern? Stigma. But like any controversial or potentially dangerous substance, there is an increased level of responsibility when it becomes widely available to the public. My two main concerns are that marijuana will be overprescribed, leaving us with an abused system, and that free cannabis will become street cannabis with a hefty profit margin. Marijuana today is not a far cry from alcohol in the early 20th century. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating for willy-nilly joint jamborees or the establishment of designated pot-smoking areas. I’m not even a fan of walking through clouds of cigarette smoke on campus. But, we have to begin accepting a de-stigmatized version of marijuana usage.
Editorial Cartoon
A&E Editor
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Our Mission The Appalachian, a student-run publication at Appalachian State University, strives to provide fair and accurate news for the campus community; to inform, entertain and create a forum for ideas; to provide an outlet for readers’ opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff and community interests; and to remain independent, exercise and ensure its First Amendment rights.
Letters to the Editor The Appalachian welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and include the author’s name, ASU Box, phone number, classification and campus affiliation, if any. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments. Letters should be submitted electronically via our Web site or e-mail. Letters may also be mailed to “Letter to the Editor,” The Appalachian, ASU Box 9025, Boone, N.C. 28608. Letters may also be brought to the newsroom, located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.
Sports Thursday, September 11, 2014
The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com
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Soccer
App State soccer keeping it all in the family
Freshman goalkeeper Sam Steyl (left) and senior defender Nicole Steyl (right) take a moment after a Wednesday morning practice at Ted Mackrel Soccer Complex. The two are teammates as well as sisters. It has been three years since the two played together on the same team.
Paul Heckert
Transfer unites brother and sister
Steyl sisters motivate each other
by Jess Lyons Sports Reporter
L
ast season, App State women’s soccer added defender Logan White, a transfer from Rutgers University. White came to App State to continue her soccer career with her brother Walker White, a defender on the men’s soccer team. Logan White left Rutgers University after the 2012-2013 season and joined the Mountaineers in fall 2013. “I transferred because I wasn’t happy at Rutgers, and then I came to App because I thought it would be cool to play at the same school my brother plays at,” Logan White said. “I knew with him being here, it would be easier for me to transition at a new school.” Walker White helped his high school team win the state championship in Texas in 2010 and watched Logan White take the women’s championship in 2011. The brother and sister pair both made appearances at the Disney Showcase for soccer during their high school careers. Walker White did not play last year due to injury and said Logan’s transfer to App State helped him prepare for this season. He said having his sister watch
his games has helped him get an outside perspective beyond his teammates and coaches as a way to improve. Matt Nelson, head coach of the men’s team, said Logan White’s transfer to App State has had a positive effect on Walker White’s attitude and performance. “I think we definitely drifted apart when she was at Rutgers,” Walker White said. “I was happy for her because it’s a good school and she was happy, but I can definitely tell a difference now that she’s here and we’re back hanging out more often than when she was at Rutgers.” The siblings have joint custody of a two-year-old Siberian husky named Wheezy. Walker and Logan White adopted the dog together when Logan White transferred. “That was kind of my bargaining tool to Logan,” Walker said. “Whenever she was talking about leaving Rutgers, I was like, ‘Well if you come here, we could get a dog,’ and then obviously that made her mind up pretty easily.” This will be the first season that Logan and Walker will play for the Mountaineers at the same time.
A sibling duo has been formed on the App State women’s soccer team as Sam Steyl joins her sister Nicole Steyl to play for the Mountaineers this season. The two are the first sibling pair to suit up for the women’s team since Lindsay and Sam McVeigh in 2012. The Steyl sisters both played soccer at the Charlotte Soccer Academy, but were not on the same team. They played on the same team at Ardrey Kell High School and won a state championship together. Sam Steyl, a freshman goalkeeper, graduated from high school a semester early to join the Mountaineers in spring 2014. “She was able to graduate early and come in the spring and get acclimated and really differentiate herself from her sister,” head coach Sarah Strickland said. “She’s a definite leader in the freshman class, so that’s been fantastic.” Nicole Steyl is a senior defender for the Mountaineers as well as a
team captain. Although Sam came in the spring last year, this will be the first full season the sisters will play together as Mountaineers. “It’s wonderful, I get to have my sister with me all the time,” Nicole said. “Sam and I are really close, so it’s really cool to have someone to go to for anything and just know you have someone that has your back.” Strickland said Nicole and Sam Steyl act as leaders and help motivate their teammates, but they always demand a lot from themselves. “I think it’s different more off the field because I feel like, when we’re on the field, the whole team is kind of your family,” Sam Steyl said. “[Nicole] is always there for me if I need to go to her about something soccer related or off the field.” It has been three years since the Steyls have been on a competitive team together. With Nicole Steyl set to graduate in May, this will also be the last season they will play together as Mountaineers.
Football
App State football focuses on defense in early bye week
by Bryant Barber Intern Sports Reporter
Brooks Maynard
Intern Sports Reporter
This week, App State football heads into the first of two bye weeks this season looking to prepare for the next two road games against Southern Mississippi Sept. 20 and conference foe Georgia Southern Sept. 25, a Thursday night game. “Having played two games you kind of get a better feel for your football team and know what you need to work on,” head coach Scott Satterfield said. “Obviously, during the bye week we are going to work on things that we need to work on such as hitting on defense and tackling.” In the 52-14 loss to Michigan in the first game of the season, the Mountaineers gave up 560 total yards to the Wolverines. Against Campbell, App State only allowed 95 yards and shut out the Fighting Camels in a 66-0 thrashing. “We went from a powerhouse in Michigan to FCS Campbell,” junior wide receiver Simms McElfresh said. “We don’t really know where we are right now so Southern Mississippi, who is the same level as us, will be a good gauge for us.” Georgia Southern will be a fa-
miliar foe for the Mountaineers in name only. Under new head coach Willie Fritz, the Eagles now run the triple option, which takes some time to prepare for as they are the only team in the Sun Belt to run such an offense. “We have never had to get back from a game on a Sunday and leave that next Wednesday,” Satterfield said. “We are going to try and keep our guys in physically good shape after we get back from Southern Mississippi. We will be one day in shoulder pads and that’s about it.” App State will have a stretch of five straight games after this week before they have a scheduled week off again. Junior quarterback Kameron Bryant said he didn’t think the Mountaineers would have a problem with that stretch of games. “It is what it is,” Bryant said. “You have just got to get it done. Preseason camp is a long stretch as well, so it won’t be much of a problem at all for us. It’s nothing we can’t handle especially because we have good depth now.” The game against Southern Miss will kick off on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. and will be televised on the new American Sports Network.
Rachel Krauza Co-Offensive Coordinator Dwayne Ledford walks the field as the Appalachian State football players warm up at last Saturday's game against Campbell University at Kidd Brewer Stadium.