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The Appalachian

February 19, 2021

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Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.

Campus security fees to double across UNC System Xanayra Marin-Lopez | Multimedia Editor A doubled fee included in student tuition is projected to bring a raise for campus police salaries and improve officer retention at App State, and other UNC System schools. The cost of campus security for each UNC System student currently stands at $30, but with new action from the UNC Board of Governors, the fee will be $60. The cost of attendance in the UNC System includes tuition plus several general fees. Students usually expect to pay

around the same amount of money each year. During a Feb. 17 UNC System budget and finance committee meeting, intentions for the fee were outlined to support: • Campus police officer and telecommunicator salaries • Qualified investigators and hearing officers for serious offenses, such as sexual violence • Safety and security training, coordination and audit functions

• Substance abuse counseling • Title IX and Clery Act compliance coordination A $4 portion of the $30 fee will go directly to the UNC System office. This money will go toward supporting system-wide coordination, training and other shared services relating to campus security. The fee was first introduced in 2015. The Board of Governors proposed the $30 standard this year. The fixed tuition program, created

by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2016, assures that students pay the same tuition for eight semesters. Schools are only able to raise tuition by 3% every year.

App State has no problem capping at 3% – their fee increase was only 1.3% for the 2020-21 academic year. This makes room for the campus security fee to increase. Continued on page 3

Climate leaders brings converstations on intersectional climate change to campus

English, music departments create celebration for Black History Month

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News

Feb 19, 2021

Faculty Senate recommends support for faculty, staff, students who have children Gianna Holiday | Reporter The Faculty Senate raised concerns about a lack of assistance for App State community members who have children during the pandemic. They heard the Faculty Welfare and Morale Committee’s “Brief Faculty Parenting and Caregiving Survey Report,” which outlined future plans for assisting App State faculty, staff and students with children. The main recommendations of the committee’s report aim to provide assistance to parents in the App State community, whether they are faculty, staff or students. Laura Gambrel, an associate professor in Human Development & Psychological Counseling, presented the report. The committee released recommendations as a result of a parenting survey. It is unclear what exactly will be implemented, but Gambrel said she is hopeful that recreational and academic support will be available.

The committee suggested hosting networking events to help families connect with others to accommodate babysitting, tutoring and other needs. They hope to form support groups for families through the Faculty and Staff Counseling Center. Other recommendations include offering COVID-19 testing to families of faculty and staff. “Many parents and children have really been struggling during the pandemic with isolation, lack of academic and social support and the increased concerns about safety and health,” Gambrel said. “Some parents are spending 30 or more hours helping their children with virtual school, which, as you can imagine, makes it difficult to also attend to the increased needs of their students.” The committee hopes to provide an after-school enrichment program for K-12 children and supervised on-

site remote learning centers centers. One of the main concerns addressed at the faculty senate meeting was the need for financial support. This includes raises for faculty, assistance with tutoring, reduction of costs for on-campus child care and providing supplies needed for working from home. The committee’s staff wants to make sure there are formal protections for faculty who may request accommodations without negatively impacting their position. Gambrel said child care issues have been an on-going topic at App State and in Boone the last few years, as there is a lack of available child care in town, especially for infants and toddlers. Virtual schooling and lack of resources because of COVID-19 have created further challenges for working parents. This is because family mem-

bers and babysitters may not be a safe option with social distancing guidelines. “This is not particular to faculty or to App State, but a widespread issue across the country, often with more of a burden being placed on women,” said Gambrel. “It is an issue that we have been focusing on in the faculty welfare and morale committee this year.” Gambrel said that there were already plans to expand the Child Development Center before COVID-19 and that project is continuing. “Many parents have reached out to me to thank me and the committee for focusing on this issue and hearing their concerns, said Gambrel. “Some are also not feeling hopeful that change will occur as a result of this survey and work.” Vice Provost Michael McKenziehas outlined specific action steps he

is taking to try to address these needs as quickly as possible. He is currently serving as the Academic Affairs liaison for faculty affairs. Gambrel said that McKenzie is working with Academic Affairs to create exercise sessions has helped take specific actions with the administration and university as a whole to work towards meeting the requested actions put forth. McKenzie is working with Academic Affairs to create exercise sessions, music education, science presentations and other supplemental academic programming. “We appreciate our faculty and staff who, as they are available, are sharing their expertise with the young children of faculty, staff and students,” McKenzie said. Reat more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Virginia Roseman takes council seat left by longtime member Ethan Hunt | Reporter The Boone town council filled the vacant seat of a long-time council member and former mayor Tuesday night. Mayor Rennie Brantz cast the tiebreaking vote to appoint Roseman to hold the seat previously held by Clawson. Roseman was one of three candidates nominated for the position of council member. The council also appointed council member Connie Ulmer to fill the vacant position of mayor pro tempore, which Clawson left after her Jan. 31 retirement. Roseman will serve on the council until November elections, when Boone residents will elect a candi-

date to hold the council seat for the duration of the term, which will last until 2023. Brantz began the meeting by thanking Clawson on behalf of the council and Boone residents for her more than 20 years of service. He noted her reception of the Order of the Long Life Pine in 2012, North Carolina’s highest civilian award, and enumerated her contributions to the community, such as her work with the Historical Preservation Commission and the Downtown Boone Development Association. “I’m sorry. I’m just all choked up,” said Clawson. “But I love you all. Thank you all so very much.

Thank you council, I love you all.” Roseman moved to the area in 1997. She moved within Boone town limits in 2007 where she now lives with her husband, cousin, motherin-law and youngest daughter. Roseman said Clawson inspired her activism in the community after the two met while Roseman worked for the Southern Appalachian Historical Association. “I met Loretta and Velma (Burnley) and I found out how to become active, how to be a person who has a voice and to be heard,” said Roseman. Roseman served on the Tourism Development Authority from 2011

to 2015 and the Board of Adjustments from 2011 to 2016. She served on the Board of Adjustments again from December 2020 until Tuesday night’s appointment. Roseman said she hopes to improve pedestrian travel in Boone by making sure bike lanes and sidewalks connect, as well as improving crosswalk function. She also wants more free nighttime travel options, like a bus that runs 24/7. Roseman believes that improving pedestrian travel will help resident safety as well as promoting sustainability. Roseman also supports protecting green spaces in the Boone area, one of Clawson’s former initiatives.

Though she will see just nine months of work before her seat is up for grabs, Roseman isn’t ruling out running for the seat in November. “It’s on the radar for sure, definitely on the radar,” she said. After Roseman’s appointment, the town council voted on a resolution to ban the presence of anti-homeless architecture, like handrails on benches. The resolution was proposed by Dalton George, the founder of the Boone Fair Housing Task Force. Council member Sam Furgiele motioned for the resolution which passed 4-1, including a vote from Roseman. Ulmer did not vote to pass the resolution.

News

Feb 19, 2021

Continued from page 1 Association of Student Govern- campus,” Johnson said. ments campus liaison JaQuez JohnJohnson is against the board of son represents more than 20,000 governors’ push for the fee increase. App State students alongside student Isaiah Greene, ASG President representatives from other UNC and representative from UNC AsheSystem schools. They meet monthly ville, doesn’t support the fee increase with the UNC Board of Governors, either. He said he and other students making Johnson the one to update in the system spoke with campus poApp State’s SGA lice chiefs and the What we’re really system’s chief fion the police fee increase. nancial officer, doing is we’re “The Board Jennifer Haythrowing money at good. of Governors’ raa problem that we tionale behind it From these was that we al- have no agreement talks, he said ways need campus there is no consecurity,” Johnson on what the problem sensus on how the said. “Even if a is and expecting a money will solve campus is not dithe problem of ofsolution... rectly telling us ficer training and that we need the money for it.” retention. He calls the fee increase Johnson also reports to the UNC “financially irresponsible.” System with updates from campus. “What we’re really doing is For example, SGA just made its di- we’re throwing money at a problem rector of diversity and inclusion po- that we have no agreement on what sition permanent. He brought this to the problem is and expecting a soluthe attention of the rest of the UNC tion will be found when everyone System and is working to get this es- doesn’t know what that solution is,” tablished system-wide. Greene said. Due to COVID-19, Johnson He would rather schools receive said that schools have used a majori- individual guidance on their campus ty of their fee increases toward well- security. ness programs and health services. To this, board of governors’ He said Elizabeth City State, UNC budget committee chair James Greensboro, Winston-Salem State Holmes Jr. said he has confidence and UNC Charlotte are at a thresh- in each chancellor’s ability to alloold with their funds and will have to cate funds. make budget cuts once fee increase “I don’t think we’re in the busiis approved. ness of practicing consensus-buildHe said that student leaders in ing,” Holmes said. “We’re in the the UNC System feel the extra mon- business of empowering campuses ey toward campus security should to solve their issues.” come from the general assembly and According to a UNC System not from tuition. meeting agenda, 78% of campus seJohnson has not heard of stu- curity officers are “paid below the dents “marching around” in favor of market rate for their classification their student dollars being used for and competency level.” An increase policing and campus security. in salaries for officers would also “But they have been march- benefit officer retention and create ing and talking about things like in- more competition in the job market creasing wellness and increasing di- for campus versus local officers. versity and inclusion within our App State is unique in that it

offers the Appalachian Police Officer Development Program. Regardless of major, students can enroll in a two-year program as cadets and graduate with a law enforcement certification. This program aids in officer retention. In response to the Black Lives Matter movement and Black at App State’s presence on campus, Johnson calls the extra dollars toward policing a “slap in the face.” One of the many goals of Black Lives Matter is to defund the police. Budget committee member W. Marty Kotis III says the increase is needed due to massive criticism he says the police have recently faced. “They’ve been vilified,” Kotis said. “Their profession is not one most people want to take on these days both for the public, negative attention as well as the risk of life.” During December of last year, 21 people at UNC Chapel Hill, Duke and App State were arrested in connection to a large drug ring. Kotis said more funding and better officers can aid in instances like these. The UNC System created the Racial Equity Task Force in June 2020 after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police. A final report of the group’s findings was submitted to the UNC System Board of Governors Chair and President, adopting six regulations. One of them was campus policing. Culturally responsive policing, crisis and de-escalation training and strategies on how to respond to diverse populations were some ideas brought forth to help combat racial inequity in policing. The Appalachian reached out to App State Police, but did not hear back in time for publication.

Graphic by Maggie Watts

News

Feb 19, 2021

Climate leader joins students and faculty to discuss the intersectionality of climate issues Jake Markland | Associate News Editor App State students and faculty facilitated an event with a leading voice in the climate movement to ask questions about how to resolve the climate crisis and not leave anyone behind along the way. Ayana Johnson is the founder of a climate think tank, co-host of a climate solutions podcast and co-founder of a campaign to promote feminist climate leaders. One major focus of the event was the anthology “All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis,” which Johnson co-edited. “A Conversation with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson” was hosted virtually Feb.11 by sustainable development students Omiah Mitchell, Sophie Fox and Justin Sykes, and two instructors, Laura England and Cara Hagan. “If you care about the people that you care about, you need to take care of them and that means making sure we have a world where we can keep living,” Johnson said. Johnson, a marine biologist with a doctorate from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, spoke about ways to resolve the climate crisis, many of which revolved around the need for a Blue New Deal in addition to the Green New Deal resolution introduced by Democrats in Congress in 2019. The Blue New Deal, which Johnson created while advising Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign, calls for additional focus on the ocean within the Green New Deal. Johnson argues this is a necessary component given the impact coastal communities have on the American economy and the hit the ocean has already taken due to climate change. “Renewable energy offshore and regenerative farming in the ocean

and protecting U.S. coastal ecosystems are massive opportunities,” said Johnson. “And if we leave them out, we’re just blowing it.” The intersectionality between climate change and race is also a focus of the Green New Deal and Johnson’s recent work. Johnson said that people of color and low-income communities are disproportionately “getting screwed” by climate issues. “But focusing just on who is being harmed is a missed opportunity to talk about who should be leading,” said Johnson. After the murder of George Floyd, Johnson wrote on op-ed – “basically a letter to white environmentalists” – saying that the environmental movement will fail unless it is inclusive and builds the biggest team possible. In addition to actually “winning” the fight to save the planet, Johnson said racial and ethnic minorities care more about the climate crisis. A 2019 poll from Yale and George Mason universities found that Hispanic/ Latino Americans are 69% more likely to be concerned about the climate crisis, and Black Americans 57% more likely, than white Americans. Johnson also focused on feminism within the climate movement, both in her work and at the event. In the opening section of her book, she states that the climate movement should seek leaders that are “more characteristically feminine and more faithfully feminist.” All of this culminated into Johnson’s argument that “the climate crisis is a leadership crisis.” “The climate crisis is the result of social, political and economic systems that are widely skewed to benefit those who already have so much,” Johnson read from the opening of her

book. “To transform society this de- to see if she could come and speak. cade, the clear task science has set England wanted the event, before us, we need transformational which 250 people attended, to be stuleadership.” dent-run and asked her sustainable To solve the development climate issues classes for volthe world facunteers, all of ...Focusing just es, Johnson says whom are readon who is being there needs to be ing Johnson’s harmed is a missed book in class this a “right” and diverse set of leadopportunity to talk semester. ers but overall, “I didn’t about who should be want to miss an more leaders. Laura Enopportunity to leading. gland, founder talk to such a of Climate Stopowerful leadries Collaborative, was looking for a er in the climate change movement way to “grow and deepen” the cli- and in the Black Lives Matter movemate conversation on App State’s ment,” said Justin Sykes, one of the campus and reached out to Johnson student facilitators. several months ago, “a source of inGrace Ruffin, a junior public spiration” and “climate hero” for her, health major, said it was one of the

most impactful events she has ever attended. She said Johnson’s words and research made it clear that the connection between social justice and climate is “undeniable.” Sykes, who wants to do social justice work after college, said he hopes the event will make people more aware of the intersectionality of climate change and racial justice work. Likewise, England wanted the conversation with Johnson to serve as a space where anyone passionate about climate could come together, regardless of their current knowledge of it. “No single one of us can fully understand or have all the answers. It takes the we,” said England.

Ayana Johnson, left, speaks with students and instructors virtually Thursday. Johnson is the founder of a climate think tank, co-host of a climate solutions podcast and co-founder of a campaign to promote feminist climate leaders.

Jake Markland

A&C

Feb 19, 2021

Review Hayes School of Music celebrates Black History Month Hayley Williams: in virtual showcase “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos” Aubrey Smith | Reporter

Lloyd Oppong reading his poem, “Hammurabi’s Code,” during the Hayes School of Music’s Black History Month celebration. Oppong, a sophomore, heard about the opportunity from his English professor and said it was an opportunity he could not pass up.

Courtesy of the Hayes School of Music Lily Kincaid | Reporter In honor of Black History Month, the Hayes School of Music and the English department are joining together to hold three virtual concerts this month to showcase Black music and literature. “We hope this will be the first of many opportunities for the Hayes School of Music to open the doors and showcase more artists and more composers from underrepresented populations,” said James Douthit, dean of the Hayes School of Music. “It’s time to do that. We hope to be leaders in that work.” At each of these concerts, the music faculty will be performing an array of music from Black artists and composers. These composers include Scott Joplin, Mary Lou Williams and Billie Holiday. The songs chosen represent Black artists from the late 19th century to today. The English department will have representatives reading poems from authors like Langston Hughes, Ted Joans and Rita Dove. Douthit said the Hayes School of Music has been working towards creating a more inclusive community over the last few years. The school has been trying to be “responsive to cultural needs” by emphasizing inclusivity in their curriculum and professional practice.

While the concerts will include a lot of work from the Harlem Renaissance and the Black Arts Movement, the faculty involved want to include young, contemporary voices. This led them to include student voices within the program. “We want to hear from their experiences,” said Leonardo Flores, chair of the Department of English. “We want to hear their creative work.” Three App State students, Tiffany Green, Oprah Whitfield and Lloyd Oppong, will also read their own original poems at the concerts. There is space reserved in the last two concerts for more students to share their voices, and students who may want to share their work are encouraged to reach out to the English department. Oppong, a sophomore, heard about the opportunity from his English professor and said it was an opportunity he could not pass up. Oppong read his original poem “Hammurabi’s Code” at the first recital. “I love to write,” Oppong said. “I’ve always been infatuated with words and how to twist them and turn them, and just make them make someone else feel something.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Hayley Williams has come a long way since starting with rock band Paramore in the early 2000s. Taking an acoustic change of pace with her solo career, long gone are the overpowering strums of electric guitars and the heavy clashing of drums. Her latest album, “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos,” is a beautifully crafted bouquet of Williams’ most personal and vulnerable songs, an ode to all the pretty and ugly moments in life. Fans were shocked when Williams took to Twitter Feb. 4 to announce the album for the first time, which she created entirely throughout quarantine. Fans were even more shocked when Williams announced she would release the album that night. The 14-track surprise album is relatively instrumentally bare, and Williams mostly focuses on her vocals with accompanying guitar. While it is overall softer than her debut solo album, “Petals for Armor,” it is never boring. Williams’ instrumental simplicity highlights her excellent songwriting skills, where she is able to deliver an album of hauntingly beautiful confessions. She cradles tales of heartbreak, relationship issues, grief and significant memories with her soft vocals and guitar in the nearly 40-minute record. The lyrics are entrancing, and Williams’ ability to make the listener feel every emotion is one of a kind. Tracks “First Thing To Go” and “HYD” are the best displays of Williams’ pairing her powerful lyrics with simple instrumentals, a combo that creates a hauntingly beautiful result. Both of these tracks are two of the most memorable on the album. In the chorus of the opening track, “First Thing To Go,” Williams repeatedly confesses her fear of losing some-

one. Setting up the record, Williams is struggling to remember key things about a person she once knew, singing, “The first thing to go was the sound of his voice.” The beautiful guitar accompanying Williams’ vocals in this track hugs the lyrics perfectly, creating a passionate combination. On “HYD,” the 10th track of the album, Williams reminisces about someone she lost. Still, with only a faint guitar accompanying her, she sings, pondering how someone she used to be close with is doing. The track closes out with a simple question: “How you doing?” The writing is the most significant and remarkable aspect of the singer’s sophomore album. Written and performed all herself, the record feels personal and intimate. “My Limb,” the second track on the album, stands out from the rest. The light drums and fast-paced strumming of the acoustic guitar give the song an edgy and lingering swing to it, reminiscent of Williams’ track “Simmer,” the first song of her debut album. While there was hardly a rollout for the album, Williams creatively exposed “My Limb” to the world by delivering a copy of the single to a fan’s mailbox for her to leak. The veteran performer did not need a promo or a rollout for “FLOWERS for VASES / Descansos.” The album speaks for itself, just listening to the record tells you everything you need to know.

The album cover for Hayley Williams’ new solo album “FLOWERS for VASES / descansos.”

Courtesy of Atlantic Records

A&C

Feb 19, 2021

Review

Late to the party: “The Lord of the Rings” For anyone who hasn’t read the lengthy “The Lord of the Rings” books by J.R.R. Tolkien, or who was too young to watch Peter Jackson’s film adaptations of the trilogy in the early 2000’s, the extra free time brought by the pandemic has presented the perfect opportunity to do so. This is all the more appropriate, as Jackson’s trilogy turns 20 this year. Bingeing the books is more of a marathon than a sprint, but with consistency and breaks it can be done in around a month and a half. It’s good practice to read “The Hobbit” before “The Lord of the Rings” as a preface. It was, after all, Tolkien’s first venture into his world of Middle Earth and establishes the setting prior to “The Lord of the Rings.” Though do be warned, the jump from “The Hobbit,” a tightly written children’s fantasy book, to “The Lord of the Rings,” a three-part fantasy epic, is like going from Goldfish to caviar. The first third of “The Fellowship of the Ring” can be difficult to get through with its extensive descriptions of forests and poetry, but, adopting an air of admiration, the reader can get through it fine. Once the fellowship is united, the story and pacing are pretty solid, albeit slow at times, through “The Two Towers.”

“The Return of the King,” in its first two thirds, is exciting to read but hard to follow. At this point, there are so many characters in the ensemble that it’s hard to tell who’s who and where everyone is located. While the climax is rewarding to read, the resolution is an additional 50 pages, adding an unnecessary plotline to the end of a book that already had a good ending. Tolkien of course knew what he was doing with this sequence as it wraps up a number of themes brought up earlier in the story, but for a newcomer reading the books in one go it can be exhausting. While it seems from this review that the books are a drag, they are rewarding to read and have much to offer in re-reading them. When willing to enjoy Tolkien’s descriptions of natural beauty and his poetic way of con-

Lord

Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.

of the

veying this fantasy, the story is truly a sight to behold of the English language. However, there is nothing more rewarding after reading Tolkien’s epic than basking in the beauty that is Peter Jackson’s faithful adaptation of the trilogy. Going in blind after two decades of hype from fans, it makes for all the more exciting a viewing experience. Never before has a film adapted a book with so much effort put into every area of its making. Nearly every aspect of the story is explored and given the attention it deserves. The casting is perfect. The cinematography is gorgeous. The filmmakers used real sets, practical effects and costumes anywhere possible, minimally utilizing computer-generated imagery. It truly feels like the creators wanted this dense fantasy world to be brought wholly to life on screen – and they did it. For those who took the time to read the whole of Tolkien’s books, it is highly recommended that fans watch the movies’ extended cuts. While difficult to complete in one sitting, they are jam-packed with loads of extra details for fans that took the time and effort to read the source material. In pandemic times when the world can seem pretty bleak, one of the healthiest ways to use your extra time is to get lost in a world like Middle Earth, whether on page or screen

PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK Camryn Collier Reporter

Graphic by Camryn Collier

Between the pages of the “Harry Potter” books, a sprinkle of magic resides. Arguably one of the most popular series of all time, Harry Potter’s popularity partially resides in its immense world-building. From Hogsmeade to Malfoy Manor, the Ministry of Magic and beyond, the series takes readers across a fully-developed wizarding world on adventure after adventure. Yet, perhaps the most magical, nostalgic and iconic location in the series is the wizarding school Hogwarts. The place where Potter grows up and finds his role within the magical world, Hogwarts acts as an integral foundation of the book series. With so much to explore, put on your wizarding cloak, grab your Marauder’s Map and cast a lumos spell. Let’s take a trip through the dark, secretive and magical hallways of Hogwarts at night.

Sports

Feb 19, 2021

After interrupted seasons, baseball, softball excited to slide into action

Members of the App State softball team convene in the infield during a game against Oakland last season. Before the pandemic interrupted their season, the Mountaineers were 13-9, including a 1-0 shutout of Virginia to open the year.

Courtesy App State Athletics

Courtesy App State Athletics Jayson James | Reporter

Ben Brady | Reporter When App State softball head coach Shelly Horner arrived in Boone in 2017, she joined an organization that had gone 14-34 and 2-22 in conference play just a season before. As the 2021 season commences, she leads an experienced team composed of seven returning seniors that has recorded a winning record in two straight seasons. Hoerner understands the benefit that comes along with having an experienced group of leaders on her team. “They have been the rock of this program,” Hoerner said. “It makes it simpler for myself and our staff, they know the expectation of what I (want) and how I want it done.” With a solid incoming group of freshmen on this season’s roster, Hoerner appreciates the relationship that the newcomers and tenured leaders have developed. “It’s been a good transition with those 11 freshmen,” Hoerner said. “I asked the team, ‘Who’s made an impact on you and who have you made an impact on?’ There are freshmen that say the seniors, but there are also seniors that say the freshmen have made an impact, so

After its 2020 season was cut short right before they started Sun Belt play, the App State baseball team is ready to get back out there. “It means a lot to kind of do it over and run it back one last time,” senior first baseman Robbie Young said.

I feel we’re doing things the right way.” The infield has an advantage in experience, as each position returns. Keri White, Caylie Kifer and Sidney Russell each return as fifth-year seniors among a solid group of underclassmen. Fifth-year senior Gabby Buruato, who led last year’s team with a .339 batting average, returns to a dynamic outfield as a starter, alongside junior Mary Pierce Barnes and sophomore Emily Parrott. With the addition of freshmen Shelby Cornett, Abby Cunningham and Kayt Houston, Buruato is prepared to take on her role of being a mentor. “I think a big thing on our team is that you have to know your role,” Buarato said. “I try to be there for anybody that doesn’t know what our program expects.” Senior leader Baylee Morton and redshirt sophomore Taylor Thorp return as catchers, and versatile freshman Shelbi Tucker, who can also play second and third base, rounds out the group. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

The App State baseball team will begin its 2021 season this weekend as they take on Winthrop in a three-game series. The Mountaineers open the year with six straight road games: at Winthrop, versus ETSU in a two-game series followed by a three-game home and away series against North Carolina A&T. The home opener against the Aggies is set for Feb. 27 at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium in Boone. App State returns eight of their nine starters and all four starting pitchers. Along with returning depth, this year’s Mountaineers’ squad also features transfers who give the Mountaineers even more experience on the field. “Super excited to get started. Our guys have done a great job during the preseason in every aspect,” said fifth-year head coach Kermit Smith. The Mountaineers won six straight games before last season was cut short due to COVID-19. “We were preparing to get on a plane at 3:30 a.m. to fly to Texas State to start conference play before we got the call that the season was postponed,” Smith said. Although Smith praised how last year

ended, he also expressed some regret about the beginning of last season. “I thought we were a little too amped to start the year,” Smith said. “We expected to win every game, and after getting swept at Gardner-Webb last year to start the season, we kind of took a step back and re-evaluated things as a team and corrected some mistakes.” Smith praised the experience his team has, saying it adds “stability and a sense of calmness. ”They know, and I know, they are here to win a championship.” Smith said he understands there’s time for fun and also a time to get serious. “There’s always time for camaraderie, especially in times when preparation begins and gets serious, and a lot of that stuff happens organically,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of comfort, a lot of stability, and you can really see that come full circle. The preparation has been on a whole different level this year than any other year I have been here.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Opinion

Feb 19, 2021

caleb’s

CONCEPTS Let’s impeach Trump. But not for the insurgency. Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Editor Donald Trump was a terrible president. From refusing to concede the election to his questionable handling of COVID-19, there is never a short supply of controversy following the former president. However, despite his many shortcomings, Trump’s Jan. 6 speech should not be an impeachable offense. Here is why. As an intricate species of animal, our decisions are difficult to interpret and understand. Until recently, fields like economics made predictions about humans based on assumptions of rationality. However, new research in cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics shows that this assumption often does not hold. In his 1994, masterpiece “Descartes Error,” neuroscientist Antonio Damasio proposes a theory that guides decision-making called the somatic marker hypothesis. This process originates through the interaction between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, an important mechanism for formulating positive and negative emotions. The amygdala is located within the limbic system and is responsible for innate reactions to events in our lives. In a complicated chemical interaction, this information is processed by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for reasoning through our emotions, memory and more. To highlight this process here is a paper finding that associations with hot or cold drinks changes our perspective of others. This process occurs because the hypothalamus, the part

of the brain responsible for regulating bodily temperature, is connected to the amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions. This ultimately affected the frontal cortex’s ability to “accurately” perceive an interaction independent of innate response to the external environment. If you’re still awake, let’s observe how neuroscience affects real world decision making and moral reasoning! In his 2012 magnum opus, “Righteous Mind,” moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt gives us this chart depicting the psychological underpinnings of moral and social behavior: (See ref. 1) This model tells us that in the context of decision making, we have a primary intuition that influences our action. This is followed by an after the fact justification of that behavior that is used to influence behavior and can be influenced by discussing this position with other people. To illustrate this point let’s analyze the violent actions of jihadists oftentimes allowing people to make the unfair assumption that Islam causes violence. For example, it is more common to find passages of violence in the Christian Bible, than the Quran which implies that violent passages in a book do not cause violence. Rather, it is the interpretation of Islam by jihadists that results in bloodshed. This has important political implications in the U.S. in today’s day and age. On Jan. 6 domestic terrorists stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn a legally binding election, resulting in the deaths of five people.

Courtesy of Jonathan Haidt’s Book Righteous Mind. Democrats and some Republicans were correctly outraged at the blood shed during the Capitol Insurrection. Begging the question, if Trump accepted the election like an adult then would this event have happened? In October, 13 domestic terrorists were arrested by the FBI after plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Many blamed Trump for this conspiracy because most of the terrorists supported him, yet, Trump never hinted at kidnapping Whitmer. Therefore, Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t cause domestic terrorism. Depicted below is Trump’s speech the source of controversy: “So we are going to, we’re going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue — I love Pennsylvania Avenue — and we are going to the Capitol. And

we are going to try and give — the Democrats are hopeless, they are never voting for anything, not even one vote — but we are going to try to give our Republicans — the weak ones because the strong ones don’t need any of our help — we’re going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country. So, let’s walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.” Observe it is never explicitly stated to enter the building. Yes, Trump is wrong to promote a conspiracy theory to remain in power. However, claiming his rhetoric is responsible for what transpired on Jan. 6 is not grounded in scientific evidence. In his 1949 article, Nicolas Pastore claimed that progressives are more likely to embrace ideas of environment influencing be-

ref. 1 havior, while conservatives believe in a genetic basis. In reality, behavior is a complicated interaction between innate genetics and environmental influences. This is illustrated by evolutionary cognitive neuroscientist Steven Pinker’s classic “The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature.” The arguments Democrats use about Trump’s rhetoric causing the insurrection is based on data decades out of date. This author is not against the impeachment of Donald Trump for impeachable behavior. Trump’s rhetoric is an after the fact justification for unacceptable behavior, not a causal force responsible for what occurred on Jan. 6, thus, not impeachable.

Opinion

Feb 19, 2021

printed textbooks are superior to ebooks Jean Holman | Opinion Writer

Many colleges are planning to switch their textbook systems to an e-book system where students have access to their textbooks online. Although this would save the schools and students money, online textbooks do not favor well in terms of educating students. According to a study about online reading behavior, readers can obtain information easier when reading printed textbooks than online books. The study also showed that more than 80% of the participants said they took more time scrolling and scanning in an online setting. Scrolling and flipping pages online does not allow readers to “establish a visual memory” for specific words in the text, meaning that it is harder to remember phrases and concepts in an e-book than in a printed book. With printed textbooks, readers do not waste time “scrolling” or looking up key phrases and instead have time to focus on interpreting the texts. Essentially, online reading is more distracting than reading print because actions, such as browsing and opening up another webpage to search a word, draw the reader’s attention away from the actual text. Students will also struggle more trying to understand information in an e-book than in a printed text. Readers may also get easily distracted by other outlets on the internet like YouTtube or Instagram. Similarly, another study showed that readers interpret the text better when reading print than e-books. Considering that more time is spent reading online texts, it is no surprise that readers learn more and at a faster rate while reading printed textbooks. Students are better off reading hard copy textbooks than e-books because they absorb information more effectively.

Reading online can also cause health problems. Researchers found that participants experienced more eye strain when reading on a Kindle Fire than reading printed texts. With most schools currently offering online classes, students already have to use devices nearly every day to complete online assignments. Substituting e-books for printed texts would increase the amount of time students spend online, causing more eye fatigue. Students could become irritated with online reading and may refuse to read for homework assignments to give their eyes a rest. Teachers should make hard copies accessible for their students, such as through a rental system where students could check out-in a book for a short period of time to take a break from reading e-books. Spending time online and reading e-books has also been linked to sleep deprivation. This negatively affects a student’s academic performance, meaning that the push for incorporating e-books in schools could be doing more harm than good in terms of education and health. Schools choosing to digitize their textbooks may be making a smart financial decision, but will end up weakening their education system unless they continue to offering printed textbooks. Students should think about purchasing hard copy textbooks, particularly for more advanced classes, rather than e-books so they can obtain information more efficiently and spend less time online. Teachers should use printed texts too and make them available for students, especially for people who do not have access to a device.

Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.

Small Businesses Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr. Ricky Barker | Opinion Writer After the Super Bowl had ended, late night host Stephen Colbert revealed a big Boone surprise. In an effort to support small local business, the show gave a mock ad to a single small establishment in the country. That place ended up being the Foggy Pine Bookstore. This was certainly cool to see and it instilled some small town pride. However we can’t forget the purpose of the ad, small local businesses are important and we should support them anyway that we can. The benefits that local businesses have on communities is immense. Local businesses sustain communities in several aspects. For every $100 spent in a local shop, around $68 stays in the community’s circulation. Additionally, small businesses are much more likely to rely on other local factors like farms and banks, they have less ecological impact and they employ nearly 77 million Americans a year. Not to mention the cultural impact of such stores, letting communities keep their distinct identity and flavor. Boone residents should know more than anyone else, our town prides itself on the unique stores and restaurants in the area. The mountain town wouldn’t be the same if it was completely filled with large brand names

and corporations. Picture King Street with a Target and a JC Penny. There’s something not right about that image. Personally it’s something I dread happening to this town. Small businesses have a big impact in our state as well. In North Carolina, 1.7 million people are employed by small businesses. That’s 45% of all private workforce jobs in the entire state. Local businesses created around 62,614 jobs in 2019 with a medium income of $22,024. These positions are crucial for our state’s economy and for the United States. The Biden administration has expressed interest in a gradual increase of the national minimum wage to $15. This could potentially lift many Americans out of poverty and help many lower wage families survive. However it could also affect small businesses’ bottom line. Forcing downsizing, layoffs, and even closures. So it’s crucial that now more than ever we show up to support small businesses during this possible transition and support the local culture we love. These businesses will always struggle more than their corporate counterparts but we can ease that with our patronage.

Opinion

Feb 19, 2021

Raising the minimum wage will be good for America

Ella Adams | Associate Opinion Editor A common argument against raising the minimum wage is “some teenager flipping burgers doesn’t deserve $15 an hour,” which is a ridiculous argument. Why should someone’s age or job decide if they deserve a fair wage? Raising the minimum wage affects workers’ lives – there’s no disagreement about that. It won’t only affect low-wage workers but also the country as a whole. A $15 per hour minimum wage, proposed by the Biden administration, will positively and negatively affect the economy. So does the positive outweigh the negative? Yes. A $15 an hour wage will have a significant impact. As of 2017, 542,000 were earning $7.25 per hour, and about 1.3 million earned wages below minimum wage. Raising and enforcing the federal minimum wage will be good for America. Because both the federal and the North Carolina minimum wage, $7.25, isn’t a living wage, many workers have a hard time making ends meet. A living wage is defined as enough to maintain a decent standard of living, including food, housing, healthcare, clothing and other basic necessities. The last minimum wage increase was in 2009, from $6.55 an hour to $7.25 an hour. Since 2009, the minimum wage has not kept up with inflation. The inflation rate between 2009 and 2021 has increased by 23.89%. Because inflation has increased, the minimum wage must also be increased. Even though minimum wage has remained the same for 12 years, the value of $7.25 has gone down. In other words, $7.25 could buy a lot more in 2009 than in 2021. Combined with inflation, the cost of living in the U.S. is increasing. 47% of Americans say that rising costs of living is the biggest threat to their financial security. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics 2019 report, the cost of health care rose 4.6%, the cost of housing rose 3.2% and the overall cost of living rose 2.3% from the previous year. The cost of living has also been accelerated due to the pandemic. Essentials such as housing and food are still on the rise. From 2019 to 2020, housing prices increased 1.6% and the overall price of food increased 3.9%. Forty percent of low-in-

come workers lost their jobs in March, and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth has flattened. The economic crash as a result of COVID-19 disproportionately affected low-wage workers. The numbers tell us that it’s getting more and more expensive to cover one’s basic needs. A 1.6% increase in housing prices may not seem like much to some, but it certainly is for Americans trying to live off of $7.25 an hour. The $7.25 minimum wage forces many working families to rely on government assistance, funded by taxes, to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. According to a 2016 article by Carey Nadea and Dr. Amy K. Glasmeier of MIT, “a single-mother with two children earning the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour needs to work 139 hours per week, more hours than there are in a 5-day week, to earn a living wage”. By not raising the minimum wage, the government is creating the very environment in which its citizens must be reliant on it. Budgets for crucial public programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, public housing and Medicaid, are at risk or have already been slashed. Americans shouldn’t have to be reliant on the government in the first place. It should be the government’s job to foster the economic conditions for Americans to take care of themselves. Fifteen dollars an hour would allow people to become financially independent from welfare. About 60% of all workers that earn less than $7.42 an hour and 52.6% of those earning between $7.42 and $9.91 an hour receive public

assistance. According to the Economic Policy Institute, raising wages for low-wage workers would reduce net spending on public assistance. Fifteen dollars an hour is enough to live on therefore, lowwage individuals won’t need as much help from the government to cover their basic needs. Raising the minimum wage would relieve taxpayers from carrying the burden of poverty in the U.S. Raising the minimum wage would stimulate economic activity. Consumer spending drives 70% of the economy. A higher minimum wage would mean low-wage workers would have more disposable income. Workers are also consumers, so higher wages means more money to spend on luxuries, like going out to eat or shopping. Raising the minimum wage would increase consumer spending while not increasing state or federal budget deficits. With the economic slowdown as a result of COVID-19, more consumer spending is a positive thing. The pandemic has been especially hard on low-wage workers. Many don’t have the luxury of working from home; therefore, they are at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19. About half of all workers in low-wage jobs are essential workers - that’s 22.3 million people. For example, home health aides are crucial during the pandemic because they care for some of America’s most vulnerable people. As important as home health aides may be, nearly 20% live in poverty and over 40% rely on some form of public assistance. Currently, fast food workers in 15 cities are on strike for a $15

Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.

minimum wage partly due to COVID-19 risk at work. Hazard pay and a living wage isn’t too much to ask for putting their lives on the line. Essential workers should be compensated fairly for risking their families’ and their own lives just to go to work. Raising the minimum wage would help directly fight inequality in the U.S. It would decrease poverty rates, increase the standard of living and help close racial and gender gaps. According to the Economic Policy Institute, “gradually raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025 would lift pay for nearly 32 million workers—21% of the U.S. workforce.” This pay increase would affect the 59% of workers with a total family income below the poverty line. 31% of Black workers and 26% of Latino workers will see a pay raise. Nearly six in ten of workers to receive a raise will be women. Fifteen dollars an hour is far overdue. It’s simply not true that we can’t afford to raise the minimum wage. Productivity has nearly doubled since the late 1960s. The Economic Policy Institute says “if the minimum wage had been raised at the same pace as productivity growth since the late 1960s, it would be over $20 an hour today”. It’s also not true that raising the minimum wage will cause mass job losses or that prices will skyrocket. Experts confirm that increasing the minimum wage doesn’t lead to detectable job losses. Yes, a dramatic, sudden minimum wage increase would cause prices to increase for consumers but the current proposal would raise wages gradually to $15 an hour over 2 years. This would greatly lessen the effects of inflation. Research by the Upjohn Institute in multiple states from 1978-2015 concluded that a 10% increase in minimum wage only accounts for about a 0.36% increase in prices. A 0.36% increase means that a $4 cheeseburger would cost $4.01. I get it, college students are strapped for cash but I think we can all afford 1 cent more if it means someone can have a roof over their head. Raising the minimum wage won’t just affect “some teenager flipping burgers”. It will have widespread positive impacts on American workers, consumers and the economy. It’s about time to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Et Cetera

Feb 19, 2021

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