The Appalachian October 23, 2020

The Appalachian

October 23, 2020

Mountaineers victorious as The Rock hosts fans for first time in 2020 Silas Albright | Sports Editor Connor Davidson | Associate Multimedia Editor

Students decked out in black and gold begin to fill in the student section before Thursday’s game. A crowd of 2,100 people were welcomed back to The Rock to watch the Mountaineers face off against Arkansas State. Masks and social distancing were enforced.

Becca Bridges

Though it may have looked a little different than a normal year, App State football did something for the first time in 2020 during Thursday night’s 45-17 win over Sun Belt foe Arkansas State: play a game at Kidd Brewer Stadium in front of fans.

“It’s just a different feeling when you have fans out there to support you even if it’s 2,100,” senior quarterback Zac Thomas said. “I think it gave us life especially when big plays happened, those guys cheering for us, not only just our teammates but the people in the stands.”

Under Gov. Roy Cooper’s guidelines, The Rock was open at 7% capacity and 2,100 fans attended. The audience was made up of 800 students, 650 season ticket holders, 450 family members of players and 200 others. Most of the student section remained socially distant throughout the game.

“The fans here, that’s what makes this place so special,” head coach Shawn Clark said. “If it was under normal circumstances, I think it would be a sold out crowd, but we’ll take 2,100.”

River Willis, an App State ju-

nior who attended the game, said he was happy to be back at The Rock for the first time this year. He said that although the stadium wasn’t as crowded as it usually is, the overall gameday atmosphere felt “pretty similar” to that of a non-COVID year.

“It felt great to be back there.

Honestly, it had been a little depressing not being able to be there,” Willis said. “For 2,100 people, I thought it was pretty loud. I was proud of everyone for staying there and cheering the entire game.”

In action for the first time in 26 days, App State took care of the Red Wolves behind five total touchdowns from Thomas and a stingy allaround defensive performance on ESPN’s primetime Thursday night slot. App State’s last two games were postponed due to active COVID-19 cases.

Because of the Mountaineers’ long break, a lot of focus in the Sun Belt shifted to Louisiana and No. 25 Coastal Carolina, which was ranked

Food trucks may have to find a new home after town council consideration

Play seeks to change stigma between race and mental health

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News

Oct. 23, 2020

University announces App State announces virtual fall commencement changes to grade forgiveness, Jackie Park | Editor-in-Chief Fall commencement will be hosted online, like this spring’s ceremony, according to an email from Interim Provost Heather Norris Monday.

This announcement comes after App State told spring graduates they could walk in December.

“Last spring, when we were forced by this global pandemic to move to an all-virtual commencement, we felt sure that by December, we would be able to have an in-person ceremony,” Norris said. “We know now that is not the case. We have made the decision to make the December commencement a virtual ceremony.”

Norris wrote that the Commencement Planning Team is work-

ing on details and welcoming suggestions.

“We look forward to the time we can again come together in person to celebrate the culmination of our collective academic success with our graduates, their families and friends, and the faculty and staff who taught, supported and mentored them along the way,” Norris said. “Until that time, please know a dedicated team of alumni, staff, students and faculty are working hard to make December Commencement a celebration to remember for many years to come.”

Commencement will take place Dec. 11 and the Regsitrar’s Office will announce more details in the future, according to the commencement website.

We look forward to the time we

can again come

together in person to celebrate...

An App State graduation cap. Due to the pandemic, fall commencment will be held virtually.

Courtesy of John Park

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withdrawal due to COVID-19 Emily Broyles | News Editor Students concerned about grades after midterms can have renewed hopes with App State’s new COVID-19 related grade forgiveness. The Office of the Provost announced dropped classes will be excused this year because of the pandemic in a campus wide email sent Oct. 16.

The UNC Policy 400. 1.5(R) was recently revised. The policy sets the UNC System standard “for course withdrawal and grade replacement,” according to the email.

Each institution in the UNC System is developing its own process for course withdrawals during certain circumstances. App State was directed to provide students with the option to withdraw from courses in the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters because of COVID-19.

“Our top priorities remain preserving the health and safety of our faculty, staff, and students and maintaining the academic progress of our students,” wrote Mark Ginn, vice provost for undergraduate education. “We encourage our students to continue to stay focused on completing their educational goals and to use the resources available both on campus and remotely, to help them.”

Interim Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Heather Norris also signed the email.

CHANGES TO APP STATE'S DROP POLICY 1.

The last day to drop a class for the fall 2020 semester is Dec. 18 at 11:59 p.m. This is the Friday after final grades are due Dec. 14.

2.

All drops this semester will not count as career drops. Drops this semester, including those that already have happened, will be considered “impacted by COVID-19.” This will also be the case for the spring 2020 semester.

3.

Any course a student is taking during the fall 2020 semester and spring 2020 semester can be retaken for grade forgiveness in a future semester. This will not count as one of the student’s four grade forgiveness courses already provided by the university.

4.

The timeliness of finishing a degree and financial aid may be affected by the drops. The university encourages students to consult with advisers and the Office of Financial Aid before dropping a course.

News

Oct. 23, 2020

Counseling Center creates space for marginalized communities, offers support and recovery Kait Rous | Reporter The Mountaineer community is comprised of 20,0000 students, of which 18% hold racially and ethnically underrepresented identities. To support all individuals’ needs, the Counseling Center and Wellness and Prevention Services have created virtual resources for Mountaineers who may be struggling within the context of their identities.

McKenzie Mack, senior elementary education major with a concentration in diversity studies, shared her personal experiences that result from the lack of representation on campus.

“Coming to Appalachian, although I love it dearly, it’s not a lot of people who look like me,” Mack said.

“Especially in my major and sometimes, you know, as a human you like to be in familiar spaces, and when I’m in class and I’m the only person who looks

like me, I’m the only Black person, I’m the only person of color at all, it can be kind of intimidating.”

Kiauhna Haynes is a wellness trainee and substance misuse counselor.

She spoke with Alex Howard, director of Wellness and Prevention Services, about hosting a space for Black students to be heard and supported. After the meeting, spaces for validation, healing and learning about self-care practices were created for students who may hold various identities.

“Because (our identities are) seen within a marginalized realm within the context that we live in, having community is a really big part of joy and support, ” Haynes said.

The gatherings include the Black Student Connection space, meeting next on Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m., the LGBTQ+ Student Connection Space,

meeting next on Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. and the People of Color Connection Space meeting next on Oct. 20 and Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.

The Collegiate Recovery Community is hosting the Black, Indigenous and People of Color Recovery Support Space every second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 4-5 p.m. These meetings will continue to be hosted in the spring.

Currently, the gatherings are being held through Zoom and the links are accessible on Wellness and Prevention Services’s website as well as on Engage.

Mack attends the Racial Trauma Healing Space and the Teacher Ed Black and Brown Student Connection meetings.

“Being a minority in a majority school is just tough. So, meeting

up with people who get it, I feel like a weight is lifted off my shoulders when I leave the space,” Mack said.

Julia Montminy, graduate assistant for Leadership and Outreach in the Appalachian and the Community Together office, has attended the LGBTQ+ Connection Space.

“I am appreciative that there is a spot for people in the community to connect, especially during this time when people need community support,” Montminy said.

The virtual communities provide validation and normalization of what students may go through on a daily basis. In addition, laughter and the sharing of good experiences are heavily encouraged. ” In these spaces, students can share their voices from any location, even from the comfort of their home. Stu-

dents in the meetings have the opportunity to discuss anything that is pressing to them.

Haynes said these spaces are not meant to be a substitute for therapy or counseling, but are a place where students can connect with peers, listen to one another and share their experiences.

“In a time where different identities you hold might feel invisible or invalidated, just stay true to who you are and connect to your people,” Haynes said. “Know that there are people on campus who really want to support you and even just talk, if that’s what you’re needing.”

Town council considers banning food trucks downtown, truck owners frustrated and concerned Jake Markland | Reporter

Ethan Hunt | Reporter

Instead of walking a few minutes down King Street, Boone community members may be forced to travel across town for their local-food fix. The Boone Town Council is considering a measure to ban food trucks from operating in the downtown area.

The action, put on hold in March due to COVID-19, was addressed again in a council meeting Oct. 13 by Chelsea Jackson, one of the owners of Howard Station Bar and Barbecue.

Lane Moody of the Downtown Boone Development Association filed an action request for the Boone Town Council’s Oct. 15 meeting.

The DBDA argument stems from a survey put out to downtown business owners in February to gauge the opinions of food trucks. They received 68 responses, two of which were from food

trucks.

Ashley Leon, who owns El Tacorriendo food truck with her husband, Alex, and Craig Jennings, co-owner of Smokin J’s food truck with his wife, Marlo, both said they were not invited to participate in the survey. Jennings communicates with other trucks often and said neither Loaded Biscuits, The Cardinal nor Betty’s Biscuits received an inquiry.

“This was not a fair survey. A survey should be of the public, the community, the businesses, students and ourselves,” Craig Jennings said.

In the survey responses, restaurants argued that food trucks take away their customers, do not have the same expenses they do and take up parking.

“We do, not need this g*psy clutter in our town,” one respondent said.

Smokin J’s and El Tacorriendo pay rent at the physical buildings they park in front of and have private parking spaces options, as is required by Town of Boone parking regulations.

Those in favor of food trucks on the survey said they provide a quick meal option and bring more visitors to the downtown area.

Since opening Smokin J’s, Craig Jennings has reported harmonious relationships with other businesses and the town council. He said that changed Oct. 13 when a customer called him saying Jackson, Howard Station co-owner, had “name dropped” his truck during the meeting.

“We feel like they’re taking the council and weaponizing them to get rid of us,” Craig Jennings said.

Devon DiStefano, a graduate stu-

dent, said it is “idiotic” to ban food trucks and doesn’t belive they are taking business away from anyone else.

“I don’t see how a food truck that pays for its spot, that has all the necessary paperwork filed, harms the city in any way,” DiStefano said. “For a business like Howard Station to say that a food truck that isn’t even on King Street every day is stealing their business is pretty funny.”

Howard Station, which “name dropped” Smokin J’s, declined The Appalachian’s request for an interview, but provided a statement.

“We have no problem with Boone having food trucks, but the location is important to consider for many reasons in the direct downtown area,” said Jackson and Cody Estes, owners of Howard Station.

Estes and Jackson said their biggest concern is consistency within Town of Boone policies. They said they want people to realize the impact that food trucks have on brick-and-mortar establishments, including parking limitations and the difference in advertising capabilities.

Donna Nicastro has owned restaurant Boone Bagelry with her husband, Tony, since 1988. She said that food truck action is necessary because she believes it will help parking options, and says the ban is a “community-minded” opinion.

“I don’t want to be a jerk, because it’s not that I dislike the food truck industry. I just think they are more suited elsewhere,” Nicastro said.

Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

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News

Oct. 23, 2020

Green Appal certification demonstrates students’ individual sustainability efforts Gianna Holiday | Associate News Editor

The Office of Sustainability is moving forward with another year of Green Appal certifications, a program for on-campus students who want to monitor their individual impact on the environment.

“A lot of time students feel like they’re kind of powerless on campus when it comes to sustainability stuff,” said Rebecca Walton, outreach coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. “What’s really cool about Green Appal is that they can have a direct impact through how they live on campus.”

Students can participate in the program by filling out a form that evaluates their habits relating to things such as well-being, food choices, energy usage, transportation methods and involvement on campus. The form’s purpose is to show students their impact right now and give them ideas to do better.

Walton said this often exposes students to sustainable opportunities they

weren’t aware existed, like watching what foods they eat. She emphasized it isn’t just a questionnaire, it’s a way to start conversations.

Walton said students ask about big-picture initiatives, but don’t realize how much they can do at an individual level. She said that many small actions can make a big impact.

To promote more sustainable efforts within residence halls, each hall council elects an “eco-rep” to serve on their hall council.

“They become kind of the expert in their dorm on (sustainability) so that they can run events and programming that teaches other students in their residence halls about sustainability on campus,” said Sophia Kirn, eco-liaison for the Residence Hall Association.

Chloe Strong, the eco-rep for Lovill Residence Hall, said her position means a lot to her. She sees it as an opportunity to teach others about sustainable efforts.

“This program is a way for me to educate others on what is going on in the world and how to personally help out the world,” Strong said. “It’s necessary to teach the people around you.”

Kirn, a sustainability ambassador, said she can view student responses on the form which allows her to reach out to certain eco-reps based on their dorm’s needs. In doing so, the office can help residence halls tackle specific issues by recommending programs to the dorm’s eco-rep.

“Students are not powerless in terms of sustainability on campus because we all have an impact when we come here,” Walton said.

Considering COVID-19 related risks, App State is not allowing in-person programming within the residence halls this semester, Walton said.

To fill the gap, the office is considering emailing Green Appal-certified students weekly sustainability tips.

Walton said the office will have

“It gives students an opportunity to get out there and get their hands dirty and maybe learn something,” said Jim Dees, data and assessment specialist for OOS. Students can also earn service hours through volunteering for organization or for classes they are a part of requires them.

President of App State’s Gardening Club Katelynn Erm, said the purpose of these opportunities is to show members of the community the big picture of why the traditional food system is “not sustainable.”

Mass-producing food and transporting it long distances can be expensive and harmful to the environment.

Dees said growing your own

food is the ultimate form of sustainability – an art that has been lost due to technological advancement.

“If you expect someone else to do the work of feeding you, you are shifting the burden of your existence to someone else, which opens the door for injustice to invade the most basic of human endeavors,” Dees said. “You can cheat a farmer once or twice but the farmer cannot cheat the Earth for very long.”

Erm said she was inspired to join the team in part after working with a catering company in Charlotte before coming to App State.

“I would go into our walk-in fridge and see all the cases of produce and food we would get in a single day.

Students celebrate being “Green Appal certified.” The program helps students living on campus to be more sustainable.

Courtesy of App State Office of Sustainbility specific forms for the different residence halls in the future. Each residence hall poses different ways that students can be more sustainable, given that things like air conditioning vary dorm-todorm.

In the 2019-20 academic year, the

Office of Sustainability awarded 373 Green Appal certifications to students.

In the fall 2018 semester, nearly 100 rooms were certified, according to the university sustainability website.

Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

It got me thinking – how are we able to get this food to us all year round?”

Erm said. “What is this agricultural practice doing to our land, water ways, ecosystems and our planet?”

The OOS garden team is composed of four people: Jim Dees, interim garden manager; Anne Fanatico, faculty sponsor for the SD garden; Brandon Turlington, a sophomore; and Erm, a senior.

Throughout the week, team members take note of what needs accomplishing and decide if volunteers are needed. Dees said some of these responsibilities can be time consuming for one person, but can be easily attained with many hands at work.

The food grown in the campus

gardens is distributed widely throughout the App State and Boone community. Portions go to the Mountaineer Food Hub, F.A.R.M Cafe, Hunger and Health Coalition and free food boxes outside the gardens.

“Wherever there’s an opportunity to put some food in front of hungry mouths -that’s what we do,” Dees said.

The Office of Sustainability also works alongside the sustainable development department and the Sustainable Development Teaching and Research Farm in Ashe County. Erm said working in the campus gardens is a great opportunity for students who don’t have a class at the farm or those who want to learn more about agriculture on a medium scale.

Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Office of Sustainability hosts regular volunteer workdays in campus gardens to educate and give perspective Jake Markland | Reporter Freshman Sam Eisen was up early on Oct. 16 volunteering in the rain at the Roots Garden on Howard Street. Eisen has aspirations to live off-the-grid after college and wants to start learning how to be self-sustainable now.

“Sustainability is really important to me. And (so is) being self-sufficient. So the more I learn now, the more I can apply later,” Eisen said.

Most Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., students can go to the Roots Garden on Howard Street or the Sustainable Development Garden next to the Living Learning Center and help Office of Sustainability representatives pull bad crops, establish paths and transition season to season.

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Politics

Oct. 23, 2020

Watauga County continues record voter turnout Moss Brennan | Political Editor With less than two weeks until Election Day, North Carolina has already surpassed half of the total votes casted in 2016.

As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday night — two hours before polls closed — 35.9% of registered voters in North Carolina have cast their ballots either in person or by absentee ballot.

Over 2.6 million people have casted their ballots so far while 4.7 million casted their votes in 2016.

“I just want to thank the over 25,000 election administrators who have been doing this work day in and day out,” said Damon Circosta, chair of the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

In Watauga County, over 14,700 people have voted — nearly half of the total votes in 2016.

The App State campus voting site — the

Blue Ridge Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union — has seen the most votes with over 3,000. The next highest early voting site in Watauga County is the administration building in Boone which has seen over 2,600 voters.

Watauga County is matching the statewide voter turnout so far in 2020.

To date, 33,34% of registered voters in North Carolina have voted while 32.81% of registered Watauga County voters have voted so far.

Much of the increase is due to absentee voting. In Watauga County, 2020 has seen nearly triple the number of absentee ballots than it saw in 2016.

There is just over a week left of early voting which ends Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.

State board offers new service for voters with reduced vision Abi Pepin | Senior Political Correspondent Voters who are blind or have low vision can now vote using an accessible absentee ballot online.

Voters can request, receive and return their accessible ballot online through a system that is compatible with screen readers.

The portal was added last month after a federal court required the state board to offer online voting for voters who are blind or have low vision.

“The portal makes it easy for voters who are visually impaired to privately and independently mark their ballots,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the state board of elections.

Voters with limited vision can request an absentee ballot using the online absentee-request form. If the voter requested a mailed absentee ballot but has not returned it, they can request a new accessible ballot.

Voters can request an accessible absentee ballot through the Absentee Ballot Online Request Portal before Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.

After a request is submitted, it can take several days to process and for the data to be sent to the portal that generates the ballot, according to the state board. After the portal generates the ballot, the voter can access it.

A witness is required for absentee voting and is a part of the online ballot process.

Voters can vote and return their absentee ballot online by Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.

The state board created a webpage for more information about accessible absentee voting.

If a person with low vision is not registered to vote, they may not complete an accessible absentee ballot online. However, they can register and vote in person during early voting.

VOTING SITES IN WATAUGA COUNTY Early voting takes place from 8 a.m. to 7:30p.m. throughout this week until Oct. 31. On Oct. 24, polls are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Oct, 31 – the final day of early morning voting – polls are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

App State Plemmons Student Union Blue Ridge Ballroom Blowing Rock Town Hall

Deep Gap Fire Department High Country Vacation Homes Foscoe Western Watauga Community Center Watauga County Administration Building Commissioners’ Board Room

5

Politics

Oct. 23, 2020

Boone community pillar appointed to state board of elections Abi Pepin | Senior Political Correspondent Now, Eggers is a practicing attorney at Eggers, Eggers, Eggers and Eggers, a family law firm opened in 1950 by Eggers’ grandfather. His father and aunt worked at the firm, too.

Similar to the rest of the family, Austin, Stacys Eggers’ brother, also practices law and is a professor at App State.

“Four is an exceptionally intelligent and reasonable individual, and he is very knowledgeable in the subject of North Carolina election law,” said Austin Eggers.

Austin Eggers said he believes his brother will do a “superb job” serving on the NCSBE. Stacy Eggers previously served on the Watauga County Board of Elections for eight years.

For a short period, Stacy Eggers was a member of the Bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement for the state board, but the board was dismantled.

Shortly before Gov. Roy Cooper defeated former Gov. Pat McCrory, McCrory passed a law that limited the governor’s power in the appointment of the board members. Cooper filed a lawsuit and the law was overruled in 2017 by a three-judge panel of Wake County’s Superior Court.

A month later, a new law was passed by the General Assembly that overturned Cooper’s veto. Cooper sued again and the same three-judge panel dismissed the lawsuit for lack of jurisdiction.

Stacy Eggers said there has been growth on the state board staff that now allows for more resources and information.

Stacy Eggers said he is excited to “hit the ground running” as a member of the NCSBE. “I’ve worked with all but one of the current state board members,” Eggers said. “We’ve all been able to have very civil and collegial relation-

ships.”

In North Carolina, the governor appoints members from a list of nominees that is submitted from the state party chair of the two political parties with the highest number of affiliates. The NCSBE cannot have more than three members of the same political party.

The board handles the election administration process and campaign finance disclosure and compliance.

Eggers said one of his first tasks was a hearing to determine whether two county board of elections members have to be removed due to rules and restrictions relating to electioneering and campaigning. Eggers will also be responsible for certifying the results from county elections.

“I grew up always around lawyers and talking about law and politics,” Eggers said. “I’ve always joked that I don’t have any other skill set to do anything else.”

Stacy “Four” Eggers of Eggers law firm in Boone who was appointed to the state board of elections. Eggers is an App State graduate of 1998.

Jesse Barber A Boone native and App State alum was once involved with the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Two years later, Stacy “Four” Eggers is now the newest member of the state board.

Eggers is a lawyer and the manager partner of Eggers, Eggers, Eggers and Eggers Law Firm.

Growing up in Boone, Eggers has been involved in the App State community for as long as he can remember.

“It’s a wonderful place,” hesaid.

“I grew up going to the theater, concerts and other student performances, so it was a nice introduction to action around the community.”

Eggers said in elementary

6

school he would get off the bus and go straight to the Plemmons Student Union to go to the candy shop, which is no longer there.

“Anyone who knows Four understands that his Appalachian roots run deep and that he is a tireless advocate for his alma mater,” said Matt Snyder, Watauga County director of elections.

Snyder said Eggers approaches each opportunity to serve with a timely sense of civility.

After graduating from App State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in history, Eggers attended the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University and graduated in 2001.

The old App State candy shop which Eggers would go to after getting off the bus when he was a kid.

Courtesy of App State Library of Archives

A&C

Oct. 23, 2020

I felt a great sense of

Responsibility

Fashion of Boone

Solo play seeks to break stigma around race and mental health Aubrey Smith | Reporter App State’s Multicultural Center and Women’s Center partnered to host “Resilience,” a solo play written and performed by international award-winning writer and solo performer Mia Raye Smith.

The Oct. 14 show focused on a Black woman trying to find the perfect therapist for her anxiety disorder, and contains an array of different characters. The play tackles race in a therapeutic setting and the “strong Black woman syndrome,” Smith said.

“All of my shows are autobiographical, so everything is from my own perspective,” Smith said.

Smith anchored her show in mental health through the performing arts.

“Once I started touring, and I went around to different college campuses and theater festivals, is when I realized that there is a problem,” Smith said. “I felt a great sense of responsibility as an artist and as a Black woman to really use my platform to speak about mental health.”

Often, society sees Black women as strong, Smith said. But, she feels she has always been the opposite. Smith believes it’s important to change the narrative around strength.

“I think you can be strong and still go to therapy,” Smith said.

“Strength doesn’t always mean you have to carry the burden alone.”

Smith feels most comfortable using theater as a medium to speak about mental health, and said she feels it is a powerful tool to combine the performing arts with mental health.

After Smith’s shows, she engag-

COVID-Conscious Halloween Costumes Rebecca Parker | Reporter With Halloween approaching, now is the time to think about costumes, which may be a little tricky given new COVID guidelines. While Halloween parties won’t be a thing this year, keeping your social media updated always will be, so here is a list of COVID-conscious Halloween costumes that will cleverly hide or incorporate that mask of yours.

Sheet Ghost This costume is super easy to create; all you need is a white flat sheet and a pair of scissors. Cut two holes for eyes and drape it over your head and voila! You’re a classic ghost. TPlus, sheet ghost photoshoots are trending on TikTok, so get out there and take some spooky socially-distanced pictures with your friends!

Mia Raye Smith performed her solo play on Oct. 14 in partnership with the App State Women’s Center and Multicultural Center. Smith seeks to create a conversation around mental health and race with her play.

Courtesy of Mia Raye Smith es in dialogue with the audience. After the show, she answered questions from audience members via Zoom. It’s one of the most important things, she said.

“That is really impactful when you’re talking about mental health,” Smith said. “Not just focusing on the performance aspect, but having dialogue with the audience.”

“Resilience” is one of the many events the Multicultural Center is hosting this year. Located in Plemmons Student Union, the center has hosted events for students, staff and faculty since its establishment in 1995.

Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Surgeon/Nurse Grey’s Anatomy fans unite with this super simple costume! For this, you will need scrubs and a surgical mask, both of which you can buy at any department store. Halloween is guaranteed to be a beautiful day to save lives in this costume.

Cowboy For this, you’ll need a cowboy hat, flannel shirt, cowboy boots and a bandana. Use the bandana as a face covering, and for extra coverage, go ahead and wear that mask underneath!

Bank Robber This is another really simple costume; you’ll need any outfit of choice, perhaps a black and white striped shirt with black pants and a ski mask. You could also carry a pillowcase to hold your “money.”

Creepy Clown Most Halloween and department stores sell costume masks that you wear over your head. The great thing about these is that they cover your whole face, so you can still hide a mask underneath. This costume is a classic and can be used to scare your friends or family.

Mummy This is another simple costume. You can wrap yourself with toilet paper or strips of cloth to achieve this look. While not practical, it is unique and creative, a real winner for a homemade costume contest.

Purge Member You only need a slashed T-shirt and the iconic smiley mask for this costume.

Cat Another classic, but instead of drawing the nose and whiskers on your face, draw them on a mask! This means no stained skin and you’ll be protected by the mask. This idea can be used in multiple ways: feel free to draw a silly face, or just have fun with it!

Halloween this year may look a little different. If you decide to celebrate with friends, wear a mask and social distance. Try one of these costumes to incorporate a face covering into your look!

7

A&C

Oct. 23, 2020

PLAYLIST THE SOUND OF APPALACHIA OF THE WEEK App State graduates involved in curation of award-winning film’s soundtrack

Kait Rous Reporter

Ansley Puckett | A&C Editor

ly, who move away from their home in dition that Appalachian music has. eastern Kentucky to Ohio during the “I like that this music comes from Great Depression. As time passes, Ab- the heart and has been handed down ner wishes to return to his childhood through generations,” Susan said. “I home, the place where his passion for like that the sound has been lovingtraditional mountain music began. ly honed over time and it’s almost imThe film features a number of possible to replicate without being immusical performances by cast mem- mersed in the tradition and culture bers, with McKenzie composing the around the music. I really like that score for the rest of the film. The com- there’s an element of improvisation poser said it was gratifying to add and making the tradition your own.” depth to a scene McKenzie has “I like that the sound been playing music without music. has been lovingly honed since he was 8 years “It was kind of a rewarding thing over time and it’s almost old and studied Apto record a piece impossible to replicate palachian history in of music and then without being immersed high school. Those watch a scene back studies helped him in the tradition and that ... basically just culture around the music discover App State. had nature sounds “I found out with it before,” McKenzie said. “Then about this school who (sic) had a hillyou can watch it back, and it sort of billy as a mascot, but they were proud would bring the scene to life even more of it,” McKenzie said. “It was a place with music in the background, and it where mountain people had originalwas sort of a thrill to get to do that.” ly come to become educated and beFilm producer and App State come teachers and educators, and I graduate Susan Pepper wrote in an didn’t apply to another school. I was email that she enjoys the sense of tra- just like, ‘this is the place I’m going.’”

During his time at App State, McKenzie explored his passion for Appalachian history and its music, cultivating the interest that would prepare him to compose the “The Mountain Minor” soundtrack.

“There was so much music here and so many great faculty and community members, all interested in Appalachian history,” McKenzie said. “That’s kind of what brought me to Appalachian and eventually brought me to the job I have in the archives there now.”

Pepper said her time at App State helped her gather resources that she used when working on “The Mountain Minor.”

Lucas Pasley, Susan Pepper and Trevor McKenzie playing their instruments. The three App State Read more online at graduates were each featured on “The Mountain Minor” soundtrack.` www.theappalachianonline.com Photo courtesy of Fred Anderson TODD, N.C. – A group of people sit nestled in a cabin in the middle of winter. A screen, several microphones and the sound of an overworked heater surround them. Among this group are two App State graduates focused on recording a soundtrack for an award-winning independent film.

“The Mountain Minor,” originally released Aug. 24, debuted its soundtrack Oct. 2019. The soundtrack comprises 39 songs of traditional Appalachian music, some of which are performed by App State graduates.

The soundtrack features a mix of cast-performed music featured in the film and a score composed by Trevor McKenzie, a musician, App State graduate and faculty member.

“There’s a lot of Appalachian connections that I’m excited about,” McKenzie said. “It’s just neat to think they got all these musicians together, and it’s cool for me cause it’s an intergenerational soundtrack.”

“The Mountain Minor” tells the story of Charlie Abner and his fami-

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Graphic by Camryn Collier

As foggy nights and cool air make their way up the mountain, many of us find ourselves driving down saturated streets needing the perfect tunes to accompany us. Whether alone or with friends, driving on drizzly cold nights can be a lonely experience. This week, we’ve curated a playlist to brighten those dark nights.

Whether driving home from work, the store or the parkway, tune into “Rainy Autumn Nights” and let music fill the space the warm summer air left behind.

A&C

Oct. 23, 2020

Local band gets creative with COVID-friendly house shows after disappointing beginnings L

ocal pop rock band American Scream experienced a promising start to their career from their inception in late 2019. By March of this year, they had organized the group, wrote, recorded, mixed and released some singles and an EP. Then they looked to perform live. Little did they know, the pandemic was at the country’s doorstep, and live performances would no longer be a reality.

“We heard of stuff going on in China, but then it hit,” said Isaac McCready, lead singer for American Scream. “It was this big ‘failure to launch’ feeling. We were ready to start chasing shows and even had a summer tour planned.”

Isaac McCready said he brought a large, blank calendar before the band with plans to cram it with music production, marketing and reworking live shows. With sullen hearts, the band went back to the drawing board for the summer.

American Scream’s philosophy is putting diligence first, and that’s exactly how they used their time during quarantine due to the pandemic.

“We’ve been putting everything we can into the Internet and marketing,” Isaac McCready said. “‘Katie’ was the first single that we put out.”

“Katie” has garnered over 9,000 streams on Spotify since its release on Sept. 4.

“There was a lot of planning pre-Katie,” said Ryan Wilson, bassist for American Scream. “The preliminary work was what brought it. We all came together and shared the load.”

The group’s commitment to quality is not only due to their persistent work ethic, but also drawing from the expertise each member has to offer.

Isaac McCready’s brother, Elec McCready is the band’s synth player and primarily created film projects before he got involved in music. He now plays a large role in the band’s music video production.

American Scream’s music videos are another hallmark of their commitment to high production value, relying primarily on self-taught skill and a doit-yourself budget. The entire band sits in on storyboard sessions for each video to give input until the final product is perfect shot-for-shot, Isaac McCready said. The “Katie” music video attained over 4,000 views on YouTube since the single’s release.

The group also spent ample time considering how they could continue performing live shows. They believed that seeing live, worthwhile performances are crucial to people’s well being even in a locked-down world.

“Our mental health and our spirits depend on live interaction,” said Isaac McCready.

“It’s why you hear so many people talk about frustration with Zoom and video calls. It’s convenient, but there’s something in us that says, ‘This is not in person.’”

For American Scream, the solution was socially distanced, outdoor house shows. They determined that smaller shows and mask-wearing attendees shouldn’t stop them from providing people with intimate entertainment.

The band’s first show in early September, while different from a typi-

David Brashier | Reporter

...we didn’t want to stop playing shows altogether. It was the gas we needed.

Elec McCready, Isaac McCready, Jackson Valentine and Ryan Wilson performing as American Scream. The band performed their socially-distanced outdoor house show on Sept. 8 in an effort to entertain audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photo courtesy of Danielle Belch

cal college house show in nature, was nothing short of eye-catching. It was held in a wooded area near Wilson’s home, using the forest floor as their stage and hanging multicolored flood lights from the trees. Danielle Belch, an attendee, said less than 15 masked concert goers were able to enjoy the concert and stay socially distant.

“We have a few people in our friend group that have to be aware of COVID who are immunocompromised, so there was a consciousness of that from the beginning,” Wilson said.

“But we didn’t want to stop playing shows altogether. It was the gas we needed.”

For American Scream, the safety precautions were nothing short of the inclusive spirit they aim to bring to all of their shows, Isaac McCready said. The band gives away earplugs to fans attending their shows with noise sensitivity.

“We don’t want there to be any reason that people couldn’t come enjoy this with us, even if that reason is sensi-

tivity to loud noise,” Isaac McCready said. “Our sister is sensitive to noise, and having someone like that who is your family member, you’re automatically used to thinking of those things for people.”

Their sensitivity paid off, and the experimental show was well-received by attendees.

“I thought it was really cool with it being outside, it felt like we were deep in the woods,” said Amelia Lundgren, an attendee. “American Scream are just great performers, so whatever show of theirs you go to is going to be a really fun time.”

Post-pandemic, the group seeks to perform as many house shows as they can to build their audience.

American Scream’s next outdoor house show is on Oct. 31 at Wilson’s home, with the location to be announced on the band’s Instagram in the near future. They will perform another show the following week at Lake Hickory Haunts in Hickory on Nov. 6, and their latest single, “A Little Bit More,” will be released the same day.

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Sports

Oct. 23, 2020

Continued from page 1 “You lose in this conference, basically you’re out of the running,” senior defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor said. “We just felt like we needed to show that we’re still the reigning champs. Everybody’s not talking about App State, they’re talking about Coastal, Lafayette, everybody else, but you still gotta come through Boone.”

Coming into tonight’s game, Arkansas State had scored over 50 points in back-to-back wins. The Mountaineers limited the high-powered Red Wolves offense to just 2.1 rushing yards per carry and 4-for-16 on third down conversions.

The App State defense also totaled six sacks, 12 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two interceptions— both by Junior linebacker D’Marco Jackson.

“Our defense was lights out tonight, and they really came to play,” Clark said. “That’s a high-powered offense we faced tonight and our guys did a great job of keeping things in front.”

Along with Thomas’ five touchdowns, junior running back Daetrich Harrington rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Senior wide receiver Malik Williams hauled in six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt freshman Christian Wells caught both of his targets for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Seven Mountaineer receivers caught passess in the game.

A third down sack by App State senior defensive end Caleb Spurlin forced the Red Wolves to punt it away on the opening possession, setting up the Mountaineer offense to drive 85 yards for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead. Wells capped off the scoring drive on a 46-yard TD reception over the middle for the second score of his career.

Wells said coach Clark was hounding him all week about stepping up and making a bigger impact for the offense.

“I just told myself, ‘OK, I gotta step up,’ and I just took that with me,” Wells said. “I kind of had a chip on my shoul-

der for this game.”

The Red Wolves’ offense answered back on their ensuing possession with a touchdown of their own. On fourth down in the red zone, Arkansas State redshirt sophomore quarterback Layne Hatcher scrambled for a first down to extend the drive, setting up redshirt senior running back Jamal Jones for a game-tying 8-yard rushing score with 6:26 to go in the first quarter. The App State defense would hold the Red Wolves scoreless for the remainder of the first half.

The Mountaineers regained the lead on their next possession, when Harrington got around the edge and turned on the jets, sprinting 55 yards for the touchdown to put App State up 14-7.

With less than 11 minutes left in the second quarter, senior tight end Mike Evans caught the first touchdown of his career, a 5-yard pass from Thomas to push the Mountaineer lead out to 21-7.

On the ensuing drive, Arkansas State wide receiver Jeff Foreman threw an interception to junior linebacker D’Marco Jackson on an attempted trick play, for his first career pick.

The Mountaineers gave it right back to the Red Wolves on the next play, an interception Thomas threw. Arkansas State had a chance to put more points on the board with a 24-yard field goal attempt, but kicker Blake Grupe missed the try wide left.

After App State got the ball back, senior running back Marcus Williams broke free for 53 yards before Arkansas State forced a fumble and recovered at the 27 yard line. Williams did not receive another carry in the game.

After stopping the Red Wolves on fourth down, App State senior kicker Chandler Staton hit a 39-yard field goal to give the Mountaineers a 24-7 lead with 4:39 left in the first half. App State scored once more before halftime on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Williams that gave the team a 31-17 advantage heading into the second half.

Arkansas State came out swinging

in the third quarter with 10 unanswered points, courtesy of a 34-yard field goal from Grupe and a 48-yard touchdown run from running back Lincoln Pare.

This cut the lead to 31-17 with 2:08 left in the third quarter. The Red Wolves looked to keep momentum with an onside kick attempt on the next kickoff, which they recovered. However, a sack apiece from Taylor and Shaun Jolly helped force a three-and-out and give the ball back to the Mountaineers.

On the next drive, Thomas hit the gas on third and fourteen for a 60-yard rushing touchdown to give the Mountaineers a 38-17 cushion with 15 seconds left to play in the third quarter.

“It just parted like the Red Sea right there,” Thomas said. “Heck of a job by Malik (Williams) out there out wide, (he) made two key blocks right there.”

This touchdown was the second longest rushing touchdown of Thomas’ career, behind a 62-yard rushing touchdown in 2018, also against Arkansas State.

App State held the Red Wolves scoreless for the remainder of the game, but the Mountaineers found the endzone one last time on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Thomas to Wells with 8:22 left to play, ultimately helping secure the 45-17 win.

“Our players embody what a Mountaineer is and they showed resilience tonight,” Clark said. “I can’t say how proud I am of our players, our program, our coaches to be off for 25 days and people weren’t sure if it was the right thing to do, but we had a great plan.”

Next up for App State (3-1 overall, 1-0 Sun Belt) is a trip to Monroe, Louisiana to take on the Warhawks of ULM (0-5, 0-2 SBC) on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will air on ESPNU.

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Sports

Oct. 23, 2020

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1. App State football players wore pink in honor of Breast Cancer on Thursday night. 2. App State got the Homecoming win against Arkansas State on Thursday night. 3. Fans were able to join from all over as virtual fans. 4. Due to COVID-19, everyone inside the stadium wore masks and made sure to social distance, even in line for food. 5. Coach Shawn Clark had a one-on-one moment with a player after a big drive that kept App State in the lead on Thursday night.

Becca Bridges

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Sports

Oct. 23, 2020

Top-ranked App State football commit excited to be in Boone Dan Davidson | Associate Sports Editor

East Forsyth High School offensive guard Jaden Lindsay (No. 74, pictured left) is a reigning back-to-back 4A state champ. Lindsay committed to App State over Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Charlotte and more.

Courtesy of Todd Willert

Jaden Lindsay, a senior offensive guard at East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, committed to the Mountaineers back in May. The 6-foot-3, 270-pound lineman plans to graduate early and join the Mountaineers for spring practice.

“I was close to the coaching staff, it was close to home, and just the overall feeling. It just felt right, ever since I stepped up on the field, it just felt right and I couldn’t pass it up,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay is the highest-ranked recruit in App State history according to 247Sports, and will be joining an offensive line group known for its success.

The Mountaineers’ offensive line this year includes four Preseason All-Sun Belt players. Three of those players are seniors, including offensive guard Baer Hunter, who plays the same position as Lindsay.

“I’m getting everything down packed so when I get up there, I can show the coaches I’m ready to go,” Lindsay said. “Replacing a guy like Baer Hunter, it’s gonna be hard, but I’m gonna do everything I can to help App State in every way possible.”

Offensive guard isn’t the only position Jaden has played during his career. He’s spent time playing all O-line spots, except for center, during his high

school career.

“He’s played guard, he’s played tackle, he hasn’t played center, but I think he will be able to fit in at any of those spots and not be lost,” East Forsyth head coach Todd Willert said. “He can step in at a lot of different positions up at App State.”

During his high school career, Lindsay grew accustomed to winning.

He started on the offensive line during both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, when East Forsyth won 4A state championships in back-to-back years.

“His sophomore year, we brought him up in the playoffs and he ended up starting for us at right tackle and took over a senior’s spot. He was a major reason we won our first one,” Willert said. “We just felt so confident and then his junior year we moved him to left tackle and there’s no doubt he’s a huge reason why.”

Willert said Lindsay is known for his aggressive play on the field, but he has a softer personality off the field.

“Jaden is just an S.O.B. out there on the field, but then when he’s off the field, he’s a big teddy bear,” Willert said. “He makes you laugh and smile all the time and that’s what it is. He’s one of those kids who can turn it on and off.”

App State offensive line coach Nic Cardwell was Lindsay’s lead recruiter.

Lindsay said Cardwell played an integral part in his decision to come to App State.

“Coach Cardwell, he was just there for me and my family. He was constantly checking up on us, checking up on my mom, my dad, and even my brothers,” Lindsay said.

The Mountaineers’ head coach Shawn Clark played offensive guard at App State during his career and was an offensive line coach for 16 years. This gave Lindsay confidence that he’d be in great hands from the moment he stepped on campus.

“To have a head coach that works with the O-line proves that that group, me especially, means that it’s an important part of football to them,” Lindsay said.

Lindsay will join the team in January and said the App State community has already made a large impact on him and influenced his decision.

“A community backing up a school, it’s just a beautiful sight. I won’t have to go there and worry about anything bad happening,” Lindsay said.

“If I need anything, just to know I have a community there to rely on and help me.”

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Opinion

Oct. 23, 2020

Vote

no matter what.

Stephen C. Leverton II | Opinion Writer Nov. 3, Election Day, is coming up fast.

As of Oct. 17, over one million North Carolinians have cast their ballot for president, governor, U.S. Senate and countless other state and local races.

For centuries, different generations of Americans have been fighting for the right to vote, a fight that continues to this day. The 15th, 19th, and 26th Amendments respectively gave men, women and American citizens over the age of 18 the right to vote. Other lesser-known amendments, such as the 17th, 23rd, and 24th also expanded the right to vote to many Americans. The 17th Amendment allowed for citizens to vote for their U.S. Senator instead of senators being appointed, the 23rd gave Washington, D.C. a voice in presidential elections, and the 24th abolished the poll tax.

Despite these advancements, voter suppression still reigns in this nation. In North Carolina, a voter identification law passed in 2018 when it was on the ballot, but was later struck down by federal and state courts.

Though voter ID laws sound good in theory, they’re often passed due to the false narrative that voter fraud is in droves. In reality, the rate of voter fraud is somewhere between 0.0003 to 0.0025%, meaning that it’s extremely rare.

Photo IDs are hard to obtain in certain communities, making voters ineligible to vote. So why pass voter ID laws? Because they make it harder for minorities and poor people to vote.

Ever since the Supreme Court dismantled parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 back in 2013, Southern states started to pass problematic voter ID laws. North Carolina tried to join the ranks in 2018 before being shut down.

Because the voter ID law failed in North Carolina, many North Carolinian voters no longer have to have an ID to vote. Early voting has started, so make sure you get out to vote, no matter who you support. President Harry Truman once said: “A vote is the best way of getting the kind of country and the kind of world you want.” Early voting ends October 31st, with Election Day falling on Nov. 3.

caleb’s

CONCEPTS Difference between Data and information Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Editor

If you tune into any news channel, experts will often educate listeners on what the data is telling them, be it COVID-19 cases, inequality, police violence or something else. Yet, what these experts often overlook is that many viewers may not know what data means and how it can be used to explain problems.

In its simplest term, data represents noise, where it exists in a meaningless void of randomness.

Imagine a piece of paper with a random distribution of words. The words have value as numbers have value, yet they do not mean anything outside of their

associated meaning. Take census data: census takers come to your home and ask demographic questions that eventually are recorded for clerical purposes. This data becomes information when the raw data is manipulated to give meaning. In the case of the U.S. Census, its information serves to contextualize demographic data for the United States.

Going back to our previous example, words are to data what information is to sentences. For example, the words “dog,” “the,” “ugly,” and “dumb” can have different interpretations, yet, when combined can have specific meanings like “the dumb dog is ugly.”

Data and information operate under similar rules. The number of children can have many different interpretations by itself, yet, when you add additional data, the meaning becomes more specified. For example, if you wanted to tell how many children live in poverty, you would compare poverty rates with children living in poverty and gain an empirical understanding of the problem.

Yet, the information process doesn’t stop there, you can discover relationships between data variables to find patterns of data behav-

ior. You can compare income with poverty and age to determine if there is a relationship between age and income. Also, mathematical tests exist that determine the strength of the relationship and if the relationship is positive or negative, therefore informing people about different variable relationships.

When the experts speak about data, they are informing you about the questions they asked. For example, statisticians rely on the scientific method to determine the significance of a relationship. Statisticians always test their ideas against an existing null hypothesis and if the data suggests that the null hypothesis does not hold, they reject the null in favor of an alternative one. There are problems to this method, and mathematical bias can impact the severity of the results.

However, any conclusion drawn from data is inherently falsifiable, meaning that the conclusions can be proven false with new information.

That is not to say that the information is wrong, it just means that the data can be proven false if new data is introduced to the data set.

Defunding Reproductive Healthcare Isn’t the Answer to Stopping Abortion Ella Adams | Opinion Writer

Reproductive health care is an issue Americans feel strongly about, especially with the upcoming election. Conservative politicians have a history of fighting to defund providers of reproductive health services, such as Planned Parenthood, because of their religious objections to abortion. Most American women generally agree that reproductive health care is important. Eighty-five %of women polled in a 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation survey support government funding for reproductive health services for low-income women. But when abortion is introduced into the conversation, the numbers are split. In 2019, 38% of Americans said that abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, Pew Research Center . Abortion is extremely divisive and tends to dominate the conversation around reproductive health care. Many politicians and voters alike would like to see reproductive health services “defunded” but what does defunding reproductive health care look like and what does it mean for Americans who need these services?

Planned Parenthood is on the front lines of the debate surrounding reproductive health care and abortion. There are a lot of misconceptions about Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health clinics, so let’s get the facts straight. First, only 3 % of health services provided by Planned Parenthood are abortions. Planned Parenthood doesn’t only provide abortions but also offers services such as birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings, domestic violence support, STD testing, hormone therapy and

more. Second, the federal government doesn’t just write a check to Planned Parenthood. The majority of federal funding the organization receives is through Medicaid and Title X. At least 60% of patients rely on these public health programs. Additionally, federal dollars do not go toward abortions. The Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976, blocks Medicaid from being used for abortion services. Finally, most patients who rely on Planned Parenthood are low-income. Defunding Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health clinics would affect people in rural areas, people of color and those with low incomes. Invasive legislation that targets clinics actively strips disadvantaged people of health care.

Defunding reproductive health care doesn’t make much sense considering access to reproductive health care decreases the number of unplanned pregnancies. Abortion rates have been declining for the past 30 years and fell 20 %from 2011-17. Let’s be clear, abortion rates are not declining because of restrictive legislation. Birth and pregnancy rates are declining in the United States due to many factors, one being accessible reproductive health care. If anti-abortion politicians were really “pro-life” they would actively fund reproductive health care, not defund it.

Even if Roe v. Wade is overturned and reproductive health care is completely defunded, abortions won’t stop. In countries where abortion is illegal, women are still getting abortions,

but they are often extremely dangerous and can result in death. A 2017 global report on abortion by the Guttmacher Institute found that 25 million unsafe abortions are performed annually leading to about 22,800-31,000 preventable deaths each year. When abortion is not accessible, women die.

Conservative politicians are not obviously pro-life if their solution is to outlaw abortion.

The effects of lack of reproductive health care can be seen right here in Appalachia. The closest Planned Parenthood clinics to Boone are hours away, in Asheville and Winston-Salem. The region historically has higher rates of poverty and unemployment than the rest of the country. According to a 2018 CDC report on infant mortality, low-income mothers often do not receive proper prenatal care, therefore increasing the risk of infant death. Low-income communities also have higher rates of unplanned pregnancies often because contraceptives are not accessible. Government funded reproductive health clinics offer affordable and free prenatal care and contraceptives for people in need.

Accessible reproductive health care is important. Politicians who are attempting to defund reproductive healthcare and restrict abortion are not pro-life, they’re pro-control. Defunding these programs, like Planned Parenthood, would do more harm than good.

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Et Cetera

Oct. 23, 2020

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