THE
APPALACHIAN Cover by Cayley West | Assoc. Graphics Editor Photo by Ava Anzalone | Photo Editor
PG. 10-11, 13
OCTOBER OCTOBER 14, 14, 2026 2026
October 14, 2026
CONTACT & GAMES
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Rocky Horror - Crossword Labs
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Rocky Horror 1
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rocky horror - Crossword Labs
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Rocky Horror - Crossword Labs
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rocky horror
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4. What a weakling weighing 98 pounds may get in his face
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Crossword by Colin Wishneski | Assoc. News Editor
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The newest dairy alternative comes from sweet potatoes Ashton Ahart | News Editor
With a $1.82 million NCInnovation grant on their side and a patented recipe for their milk, Taubman and Parker intend to limit food waste and create a versatile product that can be transformed into “creamers, ice cream, yogurt and other fermented foods such as sweetpotatobased miso and fermented hot sauce,” according wo professors in the Chemistry until he founded the to an Appalachian Today article. Fermentation Sciences Fermentation Sciences Program. “The sweet potatoes themselves Program founded a sweet Fermentation Sciences was later are a very ecological-friendly potato milk startup company, seeking merged with the Chemistry produce. It’s very low in water usage to promote nutrition and combat Department in 2018. He got his start or water requirements,” Parker said. food waste. in fermentation sciences through He compared the sustainability Championed by Brett Taubman, his interests in brewing and meat of their milk to other dairy the director of the Fermentation fermentation during his college alternatives, like almond milk. Sciences Program, and Daniel years. Almonds are typically grown in hot, Parker, the program’s operations In 2005, Parker started his dry climates, such as California, and facility manager, Rootsii seeks educational career at App State which uses around 4.7 to 5.5 million to create a dairy alternative derived as a biology major for both his acre-feet of water per year. from one of North Carolina’s staple undergraduate and graduate years. In addition to lower water crops. He then worked with the Chemistry usage, Rootsii’s milk product seeks to “We’re the sweet potato Department before officially joining solve the issue of food rot by using capital of the world here in North the Fermentation Sciences Program potatoes that are lower than store Carolina,” Taubman said. “So in 2018. His main roles as operations grade. Only the top grade of sweet we account for about 60% of the and facility manager are to run potatoes, U.S. No.1, is allowed to national sweet potato production, the analytical lab, conduct for-pay be sold in retail stores. This leaves and we’re the leading global fermentation testing for different a large amount of potatoes to be exporters of sweet potatoes.” beverage industries and facilitate thrown away, not because they are Taubman has been with App fermentation projects put on by spoiled or rotten but because they State since 2007 and was a faculty students. look unappealing. member of the Department of
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“We estimate there’s upwards of 60 million pounds a year that are left in the ground to rot. Those are the sweet potatoes that we intend to use down the line,” Taubman said. The company is using the standard cured sweet potatoes but has plans to use sweet potatoes that are of a lower grade but still healthy and edible. The process of obtaining these sweet potatoes lies in communication with the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission. Taubman and Parker have also been in contact with farmers in the eastern part of North Carolina in order to set up partnerships and distribution channels. They also plan on building a processing facility in the east as part of a future project. They are working on building a processing facility close to home in Western North Carolina. Along with the sustainability aspect of the product, Taubman and Parker stress the nutritional value of their milk, as it is made not only with the nutritious sweet potato but has blended chia seeds in it for extra protein dietary fiber and to “help to emulsify the solution,” Taubman said. Tay-Tay the sweet potato, an unofficial mascot for Rootsii, displayed on a table in the Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences Service Lab in Mountain Laurel Hall Sept. 30. | Photo by Noah Williford | Photojournalist
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“Sweet potatoes are absolutely loaded with starch and dietary fiber and vitamins and minerals and nutrients. And that’s exactly what you want for a plant-based milk, is to be able to transfer that from the plant material into solution,” Taubman said. Though Rootsii is still in its early stages and the product has not yet hit shelves, Taubman and Parker continue to grow their company as they nurture connections with students involved in the Fermentation Science Program, the farmers of North Carolina and lovers of sweet potatoes.
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October 14, 2026
NEWS
2026 midterm voting guide and sample ballot
Savannah Buchanan | Reporter
2026 Midterm Election Day is set for Nov. 3, with early voting starting Oct. 15. Watauga County has a total of 16 local, state and federal races on the ballot this year. Bray’s policies include lower Foxx’s policies include cutting taxes and federal spending, economic taxes, lowering energy costs, and technological innovation, expanding energy production, Michael Dublin – Green Party and protecting constitutional and strengthening border security, Dublin is a retired public school property rights, according to his increasing military funding, teacher from Raleigh. He served campaign website. expanding parental rights and in the Marine Corps for two years promoting conservative values, and led a prison ministry for more Michael Whatley – according to her campaign website. than two decades. He previously ran Republican Party unsuccessfully for the United States Whatley was raised in Robert B. Luffman – House in 2024. Blowing Rock and graduated from Libertarian Party His policies include campaign Watauga High School. He formerly Luffman worked as a truck finance reform, voting reforms served as chairman of the North driver for 25 years, a career that and a Green New Deal focused on Carolina Republican Party and the allowed him to travel through nearly addressing climate change through Republican National Committee. He every U.S. state. economic reform and reduced now serves on the Federal Emergency Luffman’s policies include military spending, according to his Management Agency Recovery reducing political division, giving campaign website. Efforts Review Council. Whatley people more of a voice and putting is endorsed by President Donald citizens before party politics, Roy Cooper – Democratic Trump. according to his campaign website. Party Whatley’s policies include Cooper began his career in strengthening law and immigration Chuck Hubbard – North Carolina state government enforcement, supporting domestic Democratic Party in 1986. He served two consecutive energy, protecting conservative Hubbard is a Wilkes County terms as the state’s 75th governor priorities such as Second native who worked as a local from 2017-2025. Before becoming Amendment rights and abortion journalist for many years. He has governor, Cooper served as North restrictions, promoting election remained active in the community, Carolina’s attorney general and was integrity and supporting Hurricane serving on the boards of Wilkes elected to both the State Senate and Helene recovery efforts, according to Recovery Revolution, the Wilkes House of Representatives. his campaign website. Child Abuse Prevention Team and Cooper’s policies include the Wilkes Prison Ministry. Hubbard lowering the cost of groceries, health previously ran against Foxx in the care, energy and utilities, childcare 2024 U.S. House election. and housing, according to his Hubbard’s policies include campaign website. fighting corruption, prioritizing Virginia Foxx – working families and small Republican Party Shannon W. Bray – businesses, supporting public Foxx is the incumbent Libertarian Party education, building a better economy candidate for North Carolina’s 5th Bray is a U.S. Navy veteran and affordable health care, according Congressional District in the U.S. from Louisiana. He describes to his campaign website. House and is running for re-election. himself as a “cybersecurity She serves as chairwoman of the professional.” After years in this House Committee on Rules. Before field, his professional experience entering Congress, she held several plays a large role in his campaign. administrative positions at App State.
US Senate
US House of Representatives 5th District
NC Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 1
Anita Earls – Democratic Party Hearings, Superior Court, the Court Incumbent candidate Earls of Appeals and the Supreme Court. was first elected to the court in His policies include due process, 2018. Before joining the Supreme fairness and giving everyone involved Court, Earls founded the Southern in a case an opportunity to be Coalition for Social Justice and heard. He believes cases should be served as deputy assistant attorney decided according to the law, without general in the Civil Rights Division favoritism or outside influence, of the U.S. Department of Justice according to Byrne’s campaign under former President Bill Clinton. website. Earls’ policies include access to health care, protecting civil rights, John Arrowood – a clean environment, fairness in Democratic Party the criminal justice system and the Incumbent candidate Arrowood equal right to vote, according to her first assumed this position in 2017. campaign website. He also previously served as a special superior court judge in 2007 Sarah Stevens – and worked as a partner at James, Republican Party McElroy & Diehl, P.A. Stevens has served in the North In a questionnaire reported on Carolina House of Representatives by The News & Observer, Arrowood since 2009, representing District 90. said he supports equal justice, the Before entering the Legislature, she rule of law, constitutional rights and practiced law for more than 30 years judicial independence. and served as president of the Surry County Bar Association. Steven’s policies include child welfare, protecting children from sex offenders, strengthening victims’ rights and improving the North Carolina Social Services system, according to her campaign website.
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NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1 Michael C. Byrne – Republican Party Byrne has built his legal career as an administrative law judge. He has represented clients in proceedings before the North Carolina Office of Administrative
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Graphic by Cayley West | Assoc. Graphics Editor
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NEWS
Businesses voice frustration over Howard Street split
October 14, 2026
Kai Luglan | Reporter
Trivia night Sundays, piano bar tapered around meal periods. William Barnes had his own Mondays, crafts and cocktail class “It’s busy, but it’s only busy for difficulties with the Howard Street Tuesdays, R&B Wednesdays, jazz an hour and a half, whereas it should construction. Barnes is the owner of jam and karaoke Thursdays and be busy for 3 hours,” Forrester said. Willy B’s Grill, a food truck business open-mic night Fridays — there’s Even throughout the project’s previously operated out of a parking not much more FizzEd can do, coconstruction, the decline wasn’t lot on Howard Street. Barnes has owner Amy Forrester said. Despite typical. FizzEd showed massive since relocated his food truck to the ample efforts to promote their growth during this period, Forrester parking lot of Lil Rudy’s Mountain establishment, Forrester and her said. However, the new traffic pattern Tapp. husband are down 28% in sales since restricted visibility of the restaurant “It’s been way better since I Aug. 5, the business owner said. and forced the typical traffic flow to moved here,” Barnes said. That date marks the day take an unprotected left turn in order When the construction began, Howard Street, where the restaurant to access Howard Street from King Barnes’ business was a few months sits, transitioned to a one-way traffic Street. This limited the restaurant’s old, and he hadn’t seen the project pattern as part of the Town of discoverability by tourists, which coming. Once construction began, it Boone’s Revitalization Project. The FizzEd relies on for new business. would often leave his truck blocked effects of the change could be clearly “Regulars can’t keep you afloat in and unable to move from the lot. seen over the weekends, Forrester with the kind of expenses that we In such instances, he’d have to pay said. The perpetual rush that was have in this area,” Forrester said. to park in a separate lot elsewhere typical of the weekends noticeably downtown, couriering his dishes to
The Local’s sign outside of its restaurant on Howard Street Sept. 31. | Photo by Jackson Snipes | Photojournalist
The FizzEd bar on Howard Street Sept. 31. | Photo by Jackson Snipes | Photojournalist
and from the truck parked within the Snack Bar, on the other hand, bring construction. in more consistent foot traffic and At times, he’d have private greater exposure. events to cater to that he wouldn’t “You can’t really drive in Boone be able to attend because his truck without passing this at some point,” was stuck; at others, he’d run out of Barnes said. propane. Unable to move his truck to This limited foot traffic is one refill, he would have to shut down. of the problems the Revitalization “I asked the construction Project aims to fix, according workers to be able to move the truck to Lane Moody, the downtown and got laughed at,” Barnes said. development director for the Town The construction workers were of Boone. reliable customers, though, he said, Moody is overseeing the project. and would often order from him if he She frequently walks the site of opened before lunch. construction, sometimes four times a “Those guys love some burgers,” day, and calls each worker by name. Barnes said. Whether it’s the conspicuous brick Aside from the construction, pavers and above-ground work or Howard Street posed some inherent the serpentine channels of conduits, difficulties. Howard Street is a “back stormwater lines and sewage that road,” as Barnes sees it, and limited run beneath, Moody is excited by it in foot traffic, especially come all. summer when the students are gone. She hopes that businesses will Lil Rudy’s, where Willy B’s Grill reap the project’s benefits in the is parked, and the adjacent Lily’s
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The FizzEd menu on Howard Street Sept. 31. | Photo by Jackson Snipes | Photojournalist
The FizzEd sign on Howard Street Sept. 31. | Photo by Jackson Snipes | Photojournalist
long run but recognizes it has been a tough process. “Is it a perfect project? No. But nothing really is perfect,” Moody said. New sidewalks have already been put in, which Moody expects to bring in more pedestrian traffic. To aid this, landscape additions and public art pieces are to be installed along the strip. Moody pointed particularly to an alleyway located between Off the Rack vintage store and Alumni Hall, historically known as Ice House Alley. Josh Johnson’s Hellbender mural, located at the Howard Street entrance to the alley, is to be expanded, and an additional mural is proposed to be installed at Off the Rack. “I’m hoping that we can encourage people to use that alleyway because it drops you right in the middle of Howard Street,” Moody said. The installation of new conduits will also provide additional power for events. When it’s finished, Moody expects Howard Street to become a “parallel corridor” to King Street. In order to best serve the businesses in the meantime, her aim is to communicate as best she can. Prior to the initiation of the project, Town of Boone staff and Downtown Boone Development Association board members met with Concord Municipal staff, who had just completed a streetscape project of its own. In the meeting, Concord members gave advice from their own experiences on how to communicate with the businesses. Moody took their advice and every Friday afternoon throughout construction has sent emails to businesses and delivery drivers detailing project plans for the coming week. She said the
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plans sometimes change, but the emails help the recipients prepare nonetheless. Moody also announces updates once a week on the Downtown Boone website and twice a week over the radio. Aside from communication, the Town of Boone was limited in ways to help the businesses, Moody said. It was able to expand grant funding for facade renovations to some businesses but were otherwise restricted on grants due to statutory requirements. “There’s a lot of times where your hands are tied on how you can support businesses,” Moody said. Once the project is completed, Moody said it may be beneficial to sit down with some of the business owners and discuss how to handle a similar project in the future. “I totally get business’ frustration,” Moody said. “I feel like there’s some opportunity for feedback.” Following grievances from Forrester at a Boone Town Council meeting Sept. 8, the Town of Boone put up temporary signage directing passersby to FizzEd’s section of Howard Street. Moody said the Interim Town Manager William Perkins also put in a request to the Department of Transportation for a protected left turn signal onto Appalachian Street. Forrester said she appreciated the responsiveness, but it may not be the solution. Permanent directional signage would be necessary and she’d like to see it implemented before the project is completed, she said. “I’m hopeful and optimistic,” Forrester said about the project. “But when it’s your livelihood, you really do have to take it very seriously.”
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October 14, 2026
NEWS
App State’s New York loft has
shut its doors, faculty speculate its future Emma Ross | Reporter
App State paused student and be passed on to the students,” faculty use of its loft in New York Marking said. City for the fall 2026 semester, Marking contacted New York cancelling some trips to the city universities, other institutions and and leaving its prospective visitors friends before finding the hostel. to speculate as to what could have Beth Davison, professor in the caused the sudden change. Department of Interdisciplinary The decision came from “a Studies said, “I think it’s very number of changes in housing disrespectful to all the instructors regulations in New York City, like Martha to pull out at the including Local Law 18,” a 2023 last minute and leave them ordinance that placed restrictions scrambling.” on short-term rentals, App State The sudden closure of the wrote in an email. Continuing to loft occurred three years after write, “modifying the space” for Local Law 18 took effect. Alex internships or other long-term Holcomb, a professor in the stays. Department of Finance, Banking Without access to the loft, and Insurance, said during many departments cannot afford those years, the loft had a legal New York travel, including a exclusion. semesterly trip for creative writing “That’s what academic affairs majors that began last spring and told us, that we were operating a long-standing networking trip in under a special exclusion that the the Finance Student Association. city had granted to other schools In the Department of Theatre that had similar situations like and Dance, one semester-long this and that the city attorney class ends with a New York trip contacted them sometime in the to see Broadway shows. Students spring and told them that they enrolled in this class when the were rescinding that,” Holcomb loft visits were paused but will said. now stay in a hostel, according to Professors have a couple of professor Martha Marking. theories as to what might have “Academic affairs is chipping caused a change in the loft’s in money to defray the extra cost. legality. One is that the loft But in the future, they are not was identified as a roadblock to going to do that, so that cost will affordable housing in New York. “They were blaming Airbnbs
for higher rents and saying all these apartments should be rented out to locals— I mean, a lot of the ways that we complain about it in Boone,” Holcomb said. However, Mark Powell, a professor in the Department of English, said the loft does not affect the price of housing. “We own it. The money that we pay isn’t affecting rental prices; it just goes back to App State to maintain it,” Powell said. “I think the loft got caught in this net, and it just needs to get extricated because it’s not the kind of thing they’re trying to crack down on.” Another theory suggests the loft was detrimental to neighboring residences. Adam Newmark, a professor in the Department of Government and Justice Studies, said short-term rentals could bring property values down. “Let’s say I wanted to move and sell my house, and it might be hard for me if I know that a potential buyer is going to look and be like, ‘Wait, there’s a university operating a hostel or a hotel right next door,’” Newmark said. Newmark said this was the case with App State’s property
in Washington, D.C., known as related purpose,” the slide reads. the App House. The App House Davison wonders why that accepted long-term stays for a statement was not opened up to period, then was eventually sold. students. “We just sort of phased it out,” “So I want to know, if faculty Newmark said. “And I think there and alumni without paying can were some budget times, and so stay there less than 30 days, why selling that probably helped us can’t a class stay without paying budget-wise.” for less than 30 days?” Davison Currently concerning the said. loft, a slideshow update from However, some professors are the faculty senate contains a skeptical about the possibility of proposed workaround to the using the loft for student travel restriction on short-term rentals. again. “Technically, faculty (or “To me, it’s already gone, alumni) CAN stay for less than even if we haven’t sold it,” 30 days, but they can’t pay rent Marking said. “Because it’s not and it has to be for a university- usable for our purposes.”
Graphic by Mady Helt | Senior Visual Reporter
Watauga Farmers’ Market is first in state
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Kait Honeycutt | Reporter Graphics by Mady Helt | Senior Visual Reporter
Watauga County Farmers’ Market was in the top three in the North Carolina category for America’s Farmers Market Celebration run by American Farmland Trust. It’s a chance for any farmers market in the country to be nominated and invite the community around them to vote for a chance to gain national recognition. The farmers market just celebrated 53 years of being open, originally beginning in 1974. The market runs every Saturday morning from April through November, and vendors start setting up before dawn so the public can come shop for local produce or crafts. Michelle Dineen Smith, the market director, said the market has Patrons of Watauga County Farmers’ Market shop for flowers Aug. 29. | Photo by Sydney Willis | Photojournalist been self-governed and funded by the vendors who have kept it going Dineen Smith said the whole and farmers” who come to the Alexis Hartsell, a vendor who for generations. The market has been market and they deserve recognition attended App State, started selling at a producers-only operation for years market has taken it upon itself to because “we all work so hard so that the market when her friend opened and hosts donation stands for groups campaign for this honor. During everybody can have an amazing Resupply, a company that sells refills like Casting Bread, FARM Cafe and the duration of the poll, Watauga experience.” of shampoo, conditioner and soap Hunger and Health Coalition. They County Farmers’ Market has run Dineen Smith said the thought to locals made with homemade also accept electronic benefit transfer closely against the nearby Black Mountain Tailgate Market, which of winning is something that would products. She bought the company stamp cards from community won the North Carolina category be honoring to all the generations a couple of years ago and has been members who want to buy fresh last year. Dineen Smith said they’re of farmers, vendors and volunteers running it ever since. meats, dairy, pastries, fruits and coming back as the defending who have collectively built the Hartsell received feedback from vegetables. champions, but it’s all in friendly market into what it is today. She the community that it could be hard “We’re so grateful to be able competition. also said the market has received a for them to bring their refill bottles to do those partnerships,” Dineen Rachael Salmon, a vendor at the lot of incredible support from the to the market on Saturdays. She Smith said. “It hugely impacted market, started visiting the farmers community and visitors along the then sought to open up a brick-andfamilies being able to utilize those way. mortar store, Boone Fillery, that just benefits and bring home more local market in 2003. She started selling as a vendor the next year. Salmon “We’re by the community, for celebrated its second anniversary. food.” sells local photography and said the community, which is something Hartsell said the farmers market she loves getting to talk to the local we can take pride in because our deserved to be No. 1 in North community and tourists about Boone vendors have created this market and Carolina and winning would be such and the market. made it what it is,” Dineen Smith a proud moment for them. Salmon said being nominated said. “Boone is one of a kind; our is a “blessing to all of the artists farmers market has been around
for over 50 years now,” Hartsell said. “There’s a lot of history here in addition to it being such a great farmers market, so I think we’re a Boone staple.” Terena Cheesman, a community patron, started attending the market a year ago after her family moved from Texas to Boone. She said she enjoys the farmers market because of the seasonal flowers, calm atmosphere and the chance to catch up with friends she hasn’t seen in a while. Cheesman also said the market has so much to offer visitors, like handicrafts, a variety of produce and all kinds of food. She notices the sense of community between vendors and patrons that makes the market stand out. “I think it would represent North Carolina in such a wonderful way. The spirit of community and all the wonderful things here are incredible,” Cheesman said. “Where else do you get to see all of this in one spot?” The voting period ended on Sept. 30 as Watauga County Farmer’s Market came into first place for the state’s category, officially holding the title of North Carolina’s favorite farmers market.
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SPORTS
October 14, 2026
App State football earns strong grades on early season report card
earn a spot. With the Mountaineers Sandstrom is cementing himself been unable to find their footing, unlikely to receive an at-large bid, as a key pass rusher with 5 of the with seven of 14 teams without a Mountaineers’ 9 sacks, as they’ve positive record. The biggest test will the conference championship is Offense: AThrough the first five games of struggled to create pressure. be Oct. 22 when App State welcomes vital. Multiple other Group of Six Senior quarterback Malachi App State football’s season, the team The defense has given up about James Madison University into Kidd champions will need two losses as Singleton has led the charge with sits at 3-2. The Mountaineers’ 3-0 well, which is highly unlikely. 20 points per game. Part of this is the Brewer Stadium. The Dukes sit at start was the best since they were 7-0 impressive numbers. The Purdue Bowl Game Probability: A 6-0 and have received votes in AP in the 2019 season before their lone University transfer has 1,278 yards, 7 Black and Gold’s secondary, as the Needing just six wins to almost loss to Georgia Southern University. touchdowns and a 65% completion deep ball has been very effective for Top 25 polls. guarantee a bowl game, the Black its opponents, allowing at least a 25College Football Playoff Head coach Dowell Loggains is percentage. and Gold are in the best possible spot yard reception in all games. Possibility: F His favorite target is another trying to erase the pain of last year’s with a positive record through the They struggled to stop the run With two losses, the transfer, sophomore wide receiver 5-8 record behind a high-octane Mountaineers are almost guaranteed first game of conference play and offense and aggressive defense. The Sam Pickett III. Pickett is averaging against ODU and NC State. The start of the year is reminiscent of last 64 yards per game, seeing action in Monarchs rushed for 207 yards and to miss the college football playoffs. facing some struggling competition. If App State continues this play, the Wolfpack had 206. A bid is reserved for the highestseason when the team had the same all but one. it should be set for a game in Teams are averaging 198 passing ranking Group of Six conference Sophomore running back record through five games. December. champion. If they can win the Jaquari Lewis’ production has been yards and 138 rushing yards. First Five Games: B+ Dowell Loggains: B+ remainder of the games and the Football graphic by Mady Helt The Black and Gold cruised past good despite a crowded backfield. | Senior Visual Reporter Loggains has bounced back conference championship, they could Maine University in a tune-up game, The team totals 672 rushing yards, after a disappointing first season scoring 55 points and recording 647 with Lewis accounting for 261. with the Mountaineers. He had a The inability to establish the yards of total offense. It is not easy to defeat two rival run game was a big issue against the full offseason to recruit, prepare and schools in two weeks, especially with Wolfpack, as App State rushed for 62 build his team for his style. The team started off very strong yards. a largely new roster. However, the in the first four games of the season Despite this, the offense is still Mountaineers did just that in the averaging nearly 28 points per game. with a balanced rushing and passing weeks that followed, defeating East attack. However, against ODU, the The Mountaineers tend to start Carolina University and UNCgames slow, scoring just 1 touchdown Mountaineers were just 7-27 on Charlotte in close games. pass attempts and ran the ball just Their first loss came against an in the first quarter against Maine. Atlantic Coast Conference opponent If they can put points on the board 28 times. In all their wins, they ran early and play from ahead, it could the ball an average of 39 times and in North Carolina State University. threw it an average of 35 times. create more comfortable wins. The Black and Gold started the In losses, they threw it an This can be seen with App State game slowly, finding themselves down outscoring NC State 31-27 after the average of 33 times and ran it on 28-10 at halftime before surging average 25 times. back and tying it at 31 with less than first quarter. An early touchdown When the team allows the run could have completely shifted the 10 minutes remaining. Ultimately, attack to be a main component, good game’s initial momentum. The Mountaineers fell short but things have happened. Defense: B still proved David could hang with Remaining Schedule’s The defense has been very up Goliath. Difficulty: C+ and down early in the season. The Following the bye week, App Sun Belt play should not be a senior pairing of linebacker Colton State fell 10-3 to Old Dominion Phares and defensive lineman Caleb problem for the Mountaineers if they University in a rain game where it Sandstrom has dominated in the first can continue this level of play. The struggled to move the ball with 158 four games. Despite playing with an stumble against ODU is an outlier yards of total offense. The defense injury, Phares has 35 tackles, one and as it came off a bye week and was allowed 207 rushing yards. played during a downpour. Many a half sacks and an interception. of the teams in the conference have Max Schwanz | Sports Editor Report card graphic by Liz Townsend | Visual Managing Editor
SPORTS
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Florida boys to Mountaineer men: Jaquari Lewis and Treyaun Webb have an unbreakable bond Dylan Shepherd | Reporter Graphics by Mady Helt | Senior Visual Reporter
When App State football running backs Jaquari Lewis and Treyaun Webb aren’t busy scoring touchdowns for the Mountaineers, they’re raising children, impersonating coaches and creating lasting memories together. Their connection goes all the way back to when they were “Florida boys,” as Webb put it. Webb, a senior, grew up in Jacksonville, while Lewis, a sophomore, was raised less than five hours away down I-95 South in Fort Lauderdale. Both were introduced to football at a young age, with Lewis getting his start at just four years old. “My dad threw the pads on me and had me in the backyard hitting a tree,” Lewis said. “Once I started doing that, I just fell in love with it.” The two enjoyed plenty of success in high school in the Sunshine State. Webb won consecutive state championships in 2020 and 2021 at Trinity Christian Academy, while Lewis accomplished the same feat at Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in 2023 and 2024. While they never played each other, their respective schools played for the 2A championship in 2020, with Trinity Christian coming out on top 25-22. That shared history made it so they knew each other before they ever officially met at App State.
described Lewis as “a light in “Coming here, I already he has with Lewis. Whether the room” — someone who knew about him a little bit it’s through developing a secret brightens the mood of everyone handshake, pranking coaches, through high school football,” around him and can flip between raising kids or just being in Webb said. “We had crossed paths a couple times, and it kind fun and serious when he sets his each other’s company, it’s clear mind on a goal or task, like a of just came full circle.” they’ve become incredibly close switch being turned on and off. The Florida bond goes friends. Together, they’re a “He’s goal-oriented,” Webb dynamic duo that has lit up the beyond high school accolades. said. “If he wants something, Coming from the same state highlight reels; through the first he’s going to do the extra work allows them to understand four games of the season, they’ve to get to where he wants to go.” combined for 6 touchdowns. each other better, push each Lewis described himself as other and have the same tough, They’ve helped each other “sometimes chill, sometimes hard-working mindset that grow not just as athletes but as goofy.” helps them excel on the field. men and role models. “When it’s time to lock in, It also allows them to “keep it I lock in and focus, but when real,” Lewis said; they often it’s time to have fun and kick it have conversations about their personal lives and what each of with the guys, I’m the guy to be them is going through, and they there,” Lewis said. That was made evident will call each other out on their when they discussed some fun behavior. activities they’ve been up to, They’re raising kids as which included impersonating well, as each of them have a coaches during a recent practice young son and are growing a to mess with head coach Dowell family. With children comes Loggains. a bigger picture, and they “We made impressions, echoed the same sentiment: Set coach D-Lo was calling them, a good example for the future and he just turned around like he generation. was about to wet the bed,” Lewis “Once I had my son, that Webb said he wants to be said. just made me go harder, so I better for Lewis, as he knows “It was funny because he come out here and give it my all Lewis looks up to him. Lewis every day and make sure I do the turned around so fast,” Webb strives to constantly improve said. “He was locked in; it was little things right,” Lewis said. and sets high goals for himself Webb’s family helps him stay fun. We did impressions of coach because his family, his coaches Matt, coach Higgins — we just grounded and focused. and Webb all know what “My son, he helps keep me like having fun because we’re he’s capable of. That’s the going, keeps me working hard,” up here like 14 hours a day mindset that lets two “Florida Webb said. “My fiancée — she’s consistently, so we try to have boys” create a lifelong bond up here with me right now. She fun with it to help smooth things with each other in Western keeps me grinding and keeps me over.” North Carolina and keep that Lewis called Webb his “big humble.” connection wherever life takes brother,” and Webb said he’s Beyond family life, Webb them next. “enjoying all the little moments”
Sophomore running back Jaquari Lewis runs the ball down the field at Carter-Finley Stadium Sept. 26. | Photo by Ava Anzalone | Photo Editor
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SPORTS
Dakota Anderson has field hockey in her DNA
October 14, 2026
Clara Preski | Reporter
For App State senior goalkeeper can stop the ball before it reaches the changes this season, with transfers who helped influence her decision to Dakota Anderson, field hockey has cage,” Anderson said. joining the Mountaineers in the come to Boone. always been part of her life. Dinsmore said Anderson’s spring and freshmen joining in the Although much of the team has Anderson has been surrounded biggest strength is consistency. fall. changed since Anderson first visited, by field hockey for as long as she can “She makes the simple saves “Getting to know the new the experience has remained positive. remember, with her mother playing but also makes the difficult saves players has been easier because “It’s still just as amazing as it was at the University of Iowa before look easy. Her ability to focus and of how much the team values its when I first came here,” Anderson becoming a coach. execute in high pressure situations is relationships,” Anderson said. “We said. Although she tried nearly every what makes her a great goalkeeper,” all want to be close. We all want to be Anderson has been able to share sport growing up — including Dinsmore wrote. supportive of each other.” her experience with a team that is softball, tennis, swimming, track and Anderson’s teammates have also The team’s relationships have still developing. Dinsmore said the soccer — field hockey was the one noticed the difference she makes helped it handle the changes to the Mountaineers have continued to that stuck. during games. Senior midfielder roster. improve and fight through difficult Anderson started playing around moments throughout the season. 8 or 9 years old when her team’s “As a team, we have grown goalkeeper didn’t show up for a each game and have battled through game, and when the coaches asked adversity,” Dinsmore wrote. “Our if anyone wanted to play, Anderson team has shown a lot of fight and grit volunteered. in tough situations.” “I ended up loving it,” Anderson The Mountaineers are working said. “And I just have loved it ever toward earning a spot in the Midsince.” American Conference tournament As a goalkeeper, Anderson has and making a run once they get a different role from the rest of the there. Anderson said the team team. While she is responsible for also wants to win the conference making saves, she also spends much and make an NCAA tournament of the game communicating with the appearance. defense and helping teammates know While the team continues to where to be on the field. work toward those goals, Anderson’s “I just try to put them in the best Sophia Baxter, who has played “The biggest strength of this focus is also on enjoying her final position possible as a play develops,” with Anderson since their freshman team is our love for each other and season. Anderson said. year, said Anderson has grown our determination to improve for “My most successful games have Head coach Emily Dinsmore tremendously this season. each other,” Baxter said. “Good or been the ones that I’ve enjoyed most, has seen continued improvement “This season she has stepped bad, we have each other’s backs.” win or lose,” Anderson said. in how she communicates with her up in big ways,” Baxter wrote. The team has found different For Anderson, field hockey has teammates. Dinsmore said because “Finally having her time to shine as ways to build connections outside of been a family tradition and a sport of Anderson’s position behind her the starting goalie, she has shown practices and games. Before games, she has played for most of her life. teammates, she can see everything great confidence and leadership the players dance together in the Now, as a senior, she is using the on the field and help communicate throughout the season.” locker room and have a tradition experience she has gained to help to the field players where attacking Anderson’s play also gives the of doing a “Just Dance” routine lead a new group of Mountaineers. threats can be minimized. rest of the defense more confidence to “Rasputin” by Boney M. After “Dakota loves her teammates Anderson has also become more when the team is facing pressure. home games, the team dances to and cares for them well,” Dinsmore comfortable handling the mental side “She keeps us in games,” Baxter “Mountain Music” by Alabama. wrote. “She is selfless and wants to of the position. said. “She’s always making crazy When she first visited App see the success of the entire team.” Senior goalkeeper Dakota Anderson moves to block a shot by Wake “Being goalkeeper can be saves, and it really gets us going as a State, Anderson connected with the Forest University at Dr. Jan C. difficult because of the pressure that defense.” coaches and players. Her host was Watson Field Sept. 13. | Photo by comes with being the last player who The team has undergone several a former goalkeeper, Claire Grenis, Parker Lunn | Photojournalist
App State’s veteran NFL punter finds his way back to Carolinas
SPORTS
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Parker Egeland | Assoc. Sports Editor
When Sam Martin returned to Kidd Brewer Stadium Sept. 5 for the first time in over a decade, he noticed how much it has grown. “When I was there, there was still a track around the field. It was big for FCS, but it still had an FCS feel to it,” Martin said, referring to the Football Championship Subdivision. As a soccer player in high school, Martin didn’t start playing football until his senior year, when he decided it would be a fun opportunity to kick field goals and play with his friends. Soon, App State took notice of his ability.
“In high school, I only kicked field goals and kicked off. I wasn’t a punter yet,” Martin said. “App State came out; I really wanted to visit, I really liked the campus, a lot of stuff about it. I ended up going there on a whim.” Martin graduated from App State in 2012 with a degree in business marketing, where he spent most of his time as the starting punter, being named Associated Press First-Team All-American in his senior season.
His return to Boone for the Black and Gold’s season opening football game brought back the memories. “The Rock looks completely different, which was cool,” Martin said. “To see the game atmosphere and the stadium and the new dorms, everything. I really enjoyed my time back there, which made me miss it a lot.” After a successful stint for the Black and Gold, Martin was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fifth
Sam Martin walks off the field at Kidd Brewer Stadium Sept. 5. | Photo by Ava Anzalone | Photo Editor
round of the 2013 NFL draft, where he has since carved out a 14-year NFL career. Martin signed with the Carolina Panthers in 2025 as a veteran for the team that had not made the playoffs since 2017. In his first year, he averaged 47.2 yards per punt, the second highest total of his career. The Panthers won the NFC South for the first time since 2015, and Martin got to punt in the playoffs in his first year with the team. “Sam’s fantastic at his job. He’s an excellent punter. He is a very experienced holder as well; he does a nice job counseling our kicker. He helps the whole team through his experience,” said Tracy Smith, the Panthers special teams coordinator. Martin found a home in the Carolinas, signing a two-year contract worth up to $5 million after the 2025 season. The close proximity to App State gave him the opportunity to return to Boone and see if the fans are still the ones he remembers. “That hasn’t changed,” Martin said. “That’s not a bad thing. The App State fans have always been so elite — it seemed the same, just a lot more.” There are challenges to punting in Boone’s weather conditions, which has helped in his stops with the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. Smith attributes Martin’s experience in Boone to growing into the punter he has become. “Would always like our punter to come from App State if possible, want them to be a Mountaineer,”
Smith said. “It helped that he went to App State. It helps him in all the facets of life as a social person, as an educated human working his way through the world.” Smith said he trusts Martin to be the leader of the special teams room, especially with the Panthers starting rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald in 2025, who hit 4 game-winning field goals. “We try to have a rule that only one person can panic at a time. Sam doesn’t get to be on that list,” Smith said. “When we have the big situation, as many people call him as absolutely possible. I try to keep them smooth, Sam is going to do his job.” Martin’s time at App State was the end of former head coach Jerry Moore’s 24-year tenure in the High Country, whom he credits for helping him learn the game of football. “I only played football one year of high school; the whole football culture was new to me when I went to App,” Martin said. “I was lucky to have someone like coach Moore, who was as good as it gets at creating good culture.” Martin learned from the veterans when he was just getting started in the NFL. Now, as a veteran himself, he has to find new motivation to keep him going. “The thing about the NFL, and specifically being a punter, is you’re always chasing your best,” Martin said. “Punting is such a technical position. It’s kind of relative to golfing, where you can always get better.”
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October 14, 2026
ARTS & CULTURE
‘Slavery never left agriculture’: Migrant farmers face dire conditions Alex Wallin and Alayna Day | A&C Editor and Assoc. A&C Editor
Every day, farmworkers across Zavala said under this H-2A also be seen in the working and living hour in agriculture, and in housing, in my rural health class because it’s North Carolina get up and head program, migrant farmworkers’ conditions they experience, both their housing standards are less than really important for students to see out to work long, demanding hours lives are left at the hands of their being barely livable at times. jails.” the labor that is being done, whether in extreme conditions, not knowing employers — or the ones who hold H-2A visas obligate growers to Zavala said the expectations it’s the Christmas trees or the if their paycheck will be enough their visas — allowing exploitation provide housing for their workers. placed on these workers to labor in tobacco farms or the poultry or the to support them and their families and manipulation to thrive, especially They take an additional charge extreme conditions and live in poor landscaping, that there are incredible under federal regulations. since growers have the power from the farmworkers’ wages that ones are attached to a mentality that sacrifices that these migrant workers President Donald Trump’s to revoke their workers’ visas at goes toward their “rent” in a home can be traced back to the principles do,” Mullany said. administration announced last year their discretion. One can go from that is well below living standards, of slavery. HCCH provides workers that it was enforcing regulatory with walk-in clinics requiring no changes nationwide involving appointment, Vela said. The night drastic wage cuts for farmworkers. clinic is open every Thursday from The impact varies by state, with 3-8 p.m. in the HCCH pediatrics North Carolina implementing office, and a farmworker-specific decreases of around $5, making most walk-in clinic is available one Sunday farmworkers’ wages fall to around a month. $11 an hour. Vela also said HCCH has a Derrick Vela, the director of medical mobile unit for farmworkers, farmworker health for High Country where it brings a medical doctor to Community Health, said these new agricultural fields in need. regulations bring uncertainty to “There’s a lot of limited the future of the U.S. agricultural resources already for all of us in rural economy. areas, but it’s exacerbated, I think, “We’ve heard from many farm with farmworkers,” Mullany said. workers that they’re getting to the Zavala said even though point where they don’t know if agricultural work has an immense they’re going to be able to return,” impact on people’s daily lives, the Vela said. “They work here with a respect and support the workers work visa, so they don’t know if they require in a time like this has not will return next year.” documented to undocumented in a Zavala said. Additionally, many of “Slavery never left agriculture,” been met. Looking forward to the El Futuro Es Nuestro is an heartbeat. the comforts non-migrant workers Zavala said. “We still see it. We’ve future, she said the struggle for organization working to educate and “A lot of growers see workers as experience are not extended to continued to see it since it was farmworkers’ rights is a difficult one improve the livelihoods of migrant recyclable,” Zavala said. “They don’t workers under an H-2A visa. abolished.” to pursue, but a necessary effort the farmworkers on H-2A visas, which like a worker, they bring another “The farmworkers do not Access to farmworker health community should be aware of. are work visas allowing growers one in, which is one of the reasons have the right to breaks in North care is more important than ever “We hope that one day to bring in labor they can’t find why we don’t like the way the H-2A Carolina. They don’t have the right because of the extreme conditions farmworkers will have the right to domestically. program is in that sense, because to collectively bargain, so they can’t and long hours these farmworkers breaks, and that will be covered Leticia Zavala, a coordinator really it’s the grower who controls the come together and talk to the grower face daily, said Anna Mullany, an under the minimum wage laws and for El Futuro Es Nuestro, said about visa and controls how the workers are about their working and living assistant professor in App State’s will be covered under the right to 28,000 migrant farmworkers have pressured and forced into doing the conditions,” Zavala said. “They’re Department of Public Health. organize and form union laws and come to North Carolina on these work that needs to be done.” exempt from a lot of the minimum “I have the farm worker that farm work will be a place where visas to fill the roles American-born The idea that migrant wage standards, so some workers can program people with High Country people who enjoy it can actually find laborers have left open. farmworkers are “recyclable” can technically make less than $7.25 an Community Health in every semester dignity in it,” Zavala said.
ARTS & CULTURE
Spanish Club returns to campus with mission to build community
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Grace Phillips | Reporter
T
he Spanish Club is coordinator, community outreach Spanish Club as an opportunity back at App State after and public relations positions. to cultivate a student-focused disbanding in 2020 due Nila Granillo, a sophomore environment. to COVID-19, once majoring in nursing, was elected “I think this is a much better again bringing students together to community outreach coordinator, way to have it student-led and on a practice Spanish, explore culture and while Tyler Morris, a senior more individual level,” Morris said. build community. majoring in psychology, was elected For both Granillo and Morris, The club was restarted by membership coordinator. taking on these roles is also about Samantha Salvador, a senior Granillo said she was interested ensuring students know the club majoring in political science and in helping the club grow and be exists and feel comfortable joining. Spanish. For Salvador, bringing more involved with the community. “I have time, and I want to Spanish into a student-led space “This is a new club, and I really use it to do something useful. I was an opportunity to make it more am interested in immersing the club wanted to make sure I can make accessible. with the community and getting as it an experience that everybody “Spanish is one of my majors, many members as we can,” Granillo knows about and can participate in,” and I absolutely love language. I said. Morris said. wanted to be able to bring it into an Morris said he originally tried The club is open to all students academic space so we could interact joining the club his first semester, and regardless of their Spanish-speaking with the language,” Salvador said. at the time, it was already disbanded. abilities. Salvador said having an The club is relatively new, He was excited to participate in the environment where students can with members working to establish club and now has an opportunity to. freely practice and learn from each leadership positions and grow the Morris previously attended facultyother is one of its main goals. club’s membership across campus. led Spanish conversation hours but The club holds its own At a recent meeting, the Spanish said the events can be dominated conversation hours two to three Club held elections for membership by faculty members. He sees the times a week, giving members plenty
of time to practice. of Spanish they speak, whether Ava Wilson, a junior majoring they’ve never spoken Spanish or in English, said she enjoys the whether they are fluent, is welcome opportunity to practice Spanish to come,” Lynch said. while learning about the culture. As the club continues to grow, “I think it’s really exciting to Salvador is excited to give students have a Spanish Club that is more a place to connect with others, learn focused on speaking Spanish but also about different cultures and feel doing a little bit of background and comfortable. history,” Wilson said. Wilson was elected as public relations officer for the club and said the club acts as a way to expand one’s cultural bubble. “I’ve always loved Spanish and speaking in Spanish, and I think it really builds community with people you maybe wouldn’t have been able to communicate with before,” Wilson said. Melea Lynch, a sophomore nursing major and club secretary, also said students do not need to be experienced to participate. “Anyone, no matter what level
Club members hard in thought while playing ¡Basta! at the Spanish Club meeting in L.S. Dougherty Hall Sept. 30. | Photo by Heather Pollard | Multimedia Editor
The club’s membership coordinator and senior psychology major Tyler Morris (left) plays ¡Basta! at a Spanish Club meeting in L.S. Dougherty Hall Sept. 30. | Photo by Heather Pollard | Multimedia Editor
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October 14, 2026
ARTS & CULTURE
Students embrace their creative side in college Mady Helt | Senior Reporter
Art comes in many forms, Perry has been able to discover from music to sculpting, painting, how he wants to change and grow graphic design and much more. At in the future. He hopes to build on App State, there are countless ways all aspects of his art by creating students express their creativity, characters and themes he can with many continuing their artistic continue to add depth to as his work endeavors after graduating. progresses. Many students pursue their work Perry often reflects that it may on top of a busy school schedule. not be possible to pursue art as a One example of this is junior career in the current state of the electronic media and broadcasting world, yet he doesn’t want to stop major Logan Perry, also known as creating. “XOC,” a music and visual media “I really believe that’s what creator. makes me feel fulfilled, especially as Perry’s projects combine music, a young adult. I would hope that my script and film creation, and through career takes me somewhere where I them, he said he is able to do what can do that freely or build a career he loves while also giving back to off of that if I could,” Perry said. those who support him. Many students choose to create During his time at App State, art utilizing tactile mediums. Allison Walter, a senior studio art major, does multidisciplinary work, taking the techniques she has
learned and using them to create something unique, including pottery, screen printing, fiber work, painting, metal work and more. Mel Mandle, a recent graduate of App State with a bachelor’s in studio art, uses mediums such as book printing and binding, oil paint, printmaking, screen printing and photography to capture what inspires them. Grace Hice is a senior business management major and the owner of The Cozy Mushroom Cafe. She sells painted vinyl records, turning them into wall decor, earring holders and clocks. She also designs stickers and tote bags. While each of these artists has a different way of expressing their creativity, they share similar career goals: continue their artistic
A painted record for sale from The Cozy Mushroom Cafe business in Plemmons Student Union April 27. Business owner and senior management major Grace Hice paints records, makes earring holders and designs stickers, tote bags and shirts. | Photo by Mady Helt | Photojournalist
journey after graduating. Walter said she has always been a creative person, and nothing motivates her like a fresh idea. Professionally, this is when she does her best work. Since graduating, Mandle has continued to create new pieces while working full time. She said she will work on her creative endeavors as a side hustle until she goes back to school for a master’s program to build on her skills. Hice, on the other hand, is looking to eventually move her business into a physical cafe, where she can advertise her own work as well as pieces from other local artists. Each of these artists has gone through the difficulties associated with creating, including navigating artist’s block and doubting their success. Mandle has reframed her artist’s block, thinking of it as her body telling her to do something other than what she had initially intended. It’s not just inspiration that can Allison Walter, a senior studio art major, in the second-floor lounge of Plemmons Student Union April 29. Walter is a mixed media artist who combines many different forms of creation into each of her pieces. | Photo by Mady Helt | Photojournalist
be a struggle to obtain when creating art; there is difficulty in finding motivation to create, especially when busy with other work. Mandle said since starting a fulltime job, it’s been difficult for her to find the motivation to create. To make it easier for herself, she sets up her home studio so her supplies are readily accessible whenever she feels the desire to make art. Perry said he sets a very high standard for all the work he produces, using famous icons Lady Gaga, Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch and other artists as inspirations to create the best work. He uses everything he sees in media that inspires him as a model for his production, which he recognizes as “ridiculous, but at the same time, it’s a good way to push yourself to try something new when you have crazy standards.” For Hice, she finds joy in the collaboration of doing commissioned work. “I love working with other people, trying to figure out what
ARTS & CULTURE in any form. Some advice for makes them most happy because it navigating those doubts is to doesn’t matter what I want with a advocate for yourself; never assume commission. I want to make sure that whatever they get is exactly what you’re unqualified and just do what you love. they want,” Hice said. Perry encourages anyone There are many doubts that interested in art to “just try to do may arise when pursuing art something, make something, because it’s really rewarding, then you might just find something you really like.”
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Walter said everyone should try said it must exist “like rings on a tree. to get involved wherever they can. You have to start at the center and She recalled her internship where spiral outward in order to get where she helped design an artisanal wine you need to be.” bar alongside an interior designer in Raleigh, an opportunity she said she got after applying despite feeling unqualified. Walter encourages everyone to make “bad art,” which she doesn’t truly believe exists as long as art is made with emotion, to eventually create great art you are proud of. She
Graphics by Mady Helt | Senior Visual Reporter
King Street to bustle with trick-or-treaters Halloween night Jaden Bowman | Reporter
Graphics by Brenna Wilson | Visual Reporter
As the Appalachian Mountains Department and the Downtown starting at 5 p.m., with the lineup turn to orange and gold, the days Boone Development Association. starting at 4:30 p.m. approaching Halloween grow shorter Each organization values “The costume contest is where and shorter. For those looking for a preservation and ensures history, art we shine,” Moody said. She said captivating, kid-friendly activity, the and culture thrive in the community. after Hurricane Helene hit Boone in annual Boone BOO! event is being Participating merchants will be 2024, Walmart was forced to close held in downtown Boone Oct. 31 handing out candy to trick-orits doors due to damage, and it was from 4 to 6:30 p.m. treaters, and King Street will be filled one of the only places in Boone that “We’d love local families to with Halloween music and largersold Halloween costumes. Moody come enjoy our downtown area,” than-life inflatables. said Lane Moody, the downtown The Jones House Cultural development director of the Town of Center will be hosting community Boone. organizations on the lawn, which will Boone BOO! is a safe, familyhave on-theme games, and a kidfriendly event hosted by the Town friendly haunted house. The yearly of Boone Cultural Resources costume contest will be held in front of the Jones House on King Street
remembered that after the hurricane, take a picture with the sculpture. she saw some of the most creatively For children who have allergies, handmade costumes she had ever many businesses, including the seen. Turchin Center, will be handing out The Turchin Center for the non-candy treats as well as candy Visual Arts will be participating that doesn’t contain peanuts. in the event as well. Syd Tidwell, Parking will be available on a junior biology major and staff Queen Street, the lower lot of First member of the Turchin Center, said Baptist Church, App State’s Peacock the center is handing out candy as Lot and in the Watauga County well as providing Halloween-themed Courthouse parking deck. For more arts and crafts for the kids. details on the event, visit the Jones The Turchin Center will also be House website. dressing up its polar bear sculpture, “Tetness, The Polar Bear,” in a spooky costume and encouraging visitors to participate in activities and
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OPINION
COLUMN: The paradox of seeking help with ADHD
October 14, 2026
Silas Trethewey | Opinion Writer
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habits, a fair bit of mindfulness and hy is everything students across 24 colleges in nine breeds a wealth of new products all very own ADHD coloring book. terrifying to me? Why countries, concluding 15.9% met claiming to be the one thing that With the transition from analog passion. Deadlines do not care; not about does every moment criteria for ADHD. ADHD is also will fix all of your problems. Not to learning to almost completely digital you or about the million things that carry the weight of the world and independently associated with severe mention, the places where you are interfaces, this problem is only can happen in a day or about your quiet desperation? Why am I so impairment. exposed to these supposed miracles is exacerbated. Instead of following brain and the way it works. They rational, abstract and clearly have Yet the word seems to have generally an algorithm, an ad or any paper with simple instructions, we some intellectual capacity to do gained more traction than the number of social media platforms attempt to learn with instantaneous require a singular, tangible piece of work to be submitted on time. good for something, but religiously condition itself, as people offhandedly carrying pop-up promotions. accessibility to all of the world’s Deadlines do not account for the fall short of the mark? If you find remark about losing their keys and All of these have been shown to knowledge — and its distractions. overwhelming influx of thoughts that yourself asking these questions, being “so ADHD.” Often, this is a have significant associations with There is no magic solution swirl the second you sit down to do you may have attention-deficit/ harmless form of reference for little potentially destructive impacts on our to cure this ailment. Not absurd hyperactivity disorder. This is not the things. But not when it undermines attention spans. amounts of caffeine, not any number an assignment and the grueling hours that follow trying to make something funny, quirky, algorithmic buzzword the very real, dramatic and often Attention span is one of of questionable online cash-grabs, used to describe your rambunctious, life-altering effect of having the ADHD’s central problems, so in this maybe not even clinically prescribed halfway acceptable. The feeling that you would inattentive friends. No, I am talking condition. Like many other things way, the very thing slowly poisoning medication is the solution for some about the grueling nature of the real in the contemporary digital world, us is claiming it has all the resources people. We need to get the attention rather not turn in anything at all if you cannot make something you are thing. ADHD has been commodified. necessary to save us. Just download killer out of our pockets, allow our truly proud of instantly manifests. An inability to face raw boredom The condition has undergone a the app. Get the free subscription. attention to heal and then learn to That, or you intellectually lobotomize — stabbing, prodding, restlessness; sort of digital cultural branding that Get some canned oxygen or your manage ourselves through good yourself and just make sure your knowing something requires your assignments are turned in, regardless immediate attention, yet finding of how empty they may feel. God yourself completely unable to forbid you miss an assignment; the start and branding yourself useless world comes crashing in, and you thereafter; becoming enthralled are suddenly convinced you are a in some random pastime, looking failure and your professors probably up to see the hours have passed has little respect or sympathy for and everything else with them; you. Every possible solution you have an overwhelming sense you are sought out is a time commitment not in control, rather, that you are that requires you to follow through, worthless. Why does it seem so easy and you cannot even get through the for everyone else? basic tasks of the day. In 2023, an estimated 6% of This can make seeking out adults in the United States — about some of the very valuable resources 15.5 million people — had a current around campus very difficult — ADHD diagnosis. A study of adults and we have many, including the with ADHD found 45.7% reported Office of Disability Resources, difficulty focusing while doing special programs like AsUR and schoolwork or school-related tasks. Graphics by Grace the Counseling and Psychological The World Health Organization Sanchez | Assoc. Services center. But what happens Director of Marketing World Mental Health Surveys and Engagement when the mechanisms the university International College Student Project has so finely crafted require the very studied 15,991 first-year college
OPINION These people wouldn’t be there executive functioning skills students It took me a month, maybe sit down with somebody whose job in need lack? longer, to realize I was struggling. is to assess your social and academic to diagnose students, monitor them Brilliant kids, usually quite adept I had to research all of the histories. This way, they can reach an or mandate them but simply to at their most prized passions, fly departments, book an appointment understanding of how confident you inquire, assess and offer help. They can ask questions: What is your totally under the radar in a pulpit of in advance and show up before I academic history? Do you anxious, isolating and emotionally could get the referral I needed. struggle socially? What are volatile days — days that compound And even then, the you scared of ? What into real, long-term detriments, false psychiatrist was are you excited for? ideologies and failed classes. booked for months. Then, I arrived at App State depressed, So a month issues become lonely and uncertain about the of struggling identifiable, and future. The closest thing I had to to succeed the student’s an immediate intervention was academically was awareness orientation, where resources and followed by two grows while departments are made known. more months of they’re being However, being swaddled into a figuring out how offered an room with 300 people and given a to acquire the help immediate wealth of information surrounding I needed. The resources referral to the resources they may your new, entirely foreign life can I needed were there, but it was be overwhelming and not easily agonizing trying to reach them. are, what to expect, what needs work need most. I now have access to most of the accessible, especially with the social Every student should be given and how you can get what you want resources I need, and I am excelling anxieties of the time. the opportunity during orientation to from your college experience.
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universally, which was a far cry from my first semester. But I do know there are probably hundreds of kids with the same story — kids who are intensely invested in education and suffering quietly while plunging themselves further into monetary loss. I was fortunate enough to have the awareness to know I was unhappy and good enough friends to tell me the narratives of my failure were just that: narratives, not reflections of who I was and how useless I felt. But what about the kids that don’t have that? More guaranteed opportunities to meet face to face with guidance professionals could be part of the solution.
Comic by Mady Helt | Senior Visual Reporter
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October 14, 2026
OPINION
Anna Kate’s Takes: Indigenous stereotypes continue to cause harm Anna Kate Mock | Opinion Editor
Editor’s Note: This article contains mentions of sexual violence, assault and femicide. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, call App State Counseling and Psychological Services at 828-262-3180 or the OASIS hotline at 828-262-5035. people in media, writing they are “the only population to be portrayed far more often in historical context than as contemporary people.” Or, as Moniz wrote, “As far as popular media is concerned, the ‘Indians’ did not survive the transition from the Wild West to modern society.” Native Americans are further stereotyped as being aggressive, uncivilized, substance abusers, gamblers and defined by spiritual and mysticized cultural practices. A 2025 study published in the ccording to the U.S. it, the differentiation in cultures Youth and Society journal examined Bureau of Indian Affairs, meant little for their overall cause.” common stereotypes surrounding there are 574 federally Moniz goes on to write, “Each Native American communities, recognized Indigenous tribes in the of these tribes has its differences, comparing responses collected from United States. Nevertheless, society which is a part of why many Native Cherokee middle school students continues to let countless stereotypes Americans have an issue with being with stereotypes listed by white permeate its understanding of considered a ‘race.’” or non-Indigenous individuals. Indigenous culture — largely through In addition to a lack of Within the sample of 212 Cherokee the prevailing desire to group all differentiation between Indigenous adolescents, students reported 304 tribes and individuals together as subcultures, many in the U.S. fail stereotypes. one cohesive set of customs and to comprehend Indigenous peoples Among these reports, 19 main traditions — despite this being as a current or contemporary categories were identified, with categorically false. society. The bulk of individuals’ the top four most frequently cited In her writing “Being Native understanding derives from the long conceptions about their cultures American in a Stereotypical and and brutal history of colonization, referring to ritualistic and traditional Appropriated North America,” Ariel tracing back to when Christopher cultural activities, privilege from Moniz explains how this desire to Columbus “discovered” North and per capita payments, drug or create one amalgamation of what South America — shaping countless alcohol addiction and that Native embodies Indigenous culture “is not stereotypes about the nature of Americans are mean, aggressive much different than assuming that all Indigenous communities. and “savage.” of Europe or Africa consists of one Canada’s center for digital Ward Churchill, an academic set of beliefs, one language, and one media literacy, MediaSmarts, and activist, comments on the way of life. When colonizers came to discusses the common portrayals and ubiquitous stereotypes about America with the intent to conquer misrepresentations of Indigenous Indigenous communities,
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Graphics by Anna Milewicz | Graphics Editor
especially in their overwhelming connection to colonization, arguing, “Dehumanization, obliteration or appropriation of identity, political subordination and material colonization are all elements of a common process of imperialism.” He goes on to say, “The meaning of Hollywood’s stereotyping of American Indians can be truly comprehended only against this backdrop.” Across many discussions regarding the dominant stereotypes surrounding Indigenous cultures, the topic of how popular media represents these individuals is constantly brought to the forefront. In an article from the United Nations titled “Breaking Media Stereotypes with Indigenous Storytelling,” Nikki Iyolo Sanchez, an Indigenous media maker
and decolonial educator, discusses how media is overrun with inherent biases. Sanchez is committed to creating and uplifting content produced by Indigenous individuals and considers how decolonial media serves as a vehicle for education, expression and information dissemination. She comments on how her community continues to be dehumanized and misrepresented in mainstream media, writing, “Indigenous peoples have every right to be as diverse, broad and multidimensional as they choose to be as human beings and it is time that media begin representing them as such.” Kiowa and Delaware descendant and playwright Hanay Geiogamah delves into the impact misrepresentation of Indigenous communities has, particularly on Indigenous children. He writes,
OPINION
“We could transfer that passivity women to experience violence. Perspective on Columbus and that we saw on the screen into our They are two times more likely to Current Events,” Mercedes Annaís own life situations. We saw that we be raped, with more than half of Estévez Cruz, a Dominican York were marginalized, that we were all Indigenous women experiencing storyteller, writes, “Assimilation and the poorest people, that we were sexual violence in their lifetime. The enforced forgetting are insidious treated with disrespect, that we were murder rate of Indigenous women is tools of colonization. She elaborates, not given any kind of equal status. three times higher, with some nations writing, “The quest for gold that It enforced those notions that we experiencing a murder rate at 10 Columbus set in motion in 1492— weren’t worth a whole lot.” times the national average, not to rooted in a belief that everything and The longer we perpetuate mention that these crimes are often everyone can be owned, conquered, harmful and inaccurate stereotypes committed by non-Indigenous men. and extracted for profit—has never and cultural inferiority, the more Every time the U.S.’ history of stopped.” detriment is inflicted on entire colonization and severe mistreatment In a time when diversity, equity communities of people. of Indigenous communities is swept and inclusion cuts are being made, In particular, the representations under the rug or distorted, their education programs are taking hits — or mainly sexualization — of identities and stories are further every day — and even App State Indigenous women are incredibly marred and falsified. itself has removed something as problematic. Moniz writes, “In Every time someone as noncommittal as an Indigenous land the media, the Indian maiden is insidious as Columbus is glorified, acknowledgement from its official beautiful, virginal, and ‘other,’ society contributes to structural websites — people need to keep though in this context her otherness and systemic violence. Columbus, learning and fighting. is an attribute directly tied to her the man whom President Donald Read narratives by Indigenous sexuality. She is to be conquered and Trump characterized as “the original and marginalized communities. assimilated through white patriarchal American hero, a giant of Western Connect with people who may dominance.” civilization, and one of the most not share your same life story. This idea is fed to us as children, gallant and visionary men to ever And most of all, cease buying into perpetuated in Disney films such as walk the face of the earth” — in the notions that the U.S. has long “Pocahontas” and “Peter Pan.” The actuality, was nothing more than a established about Indigenous people, stereotypes are not only disgusting, genocidal and monstrous individual. communities and nations; let them but continue to negatively impact These are not just past mistakes define themselves and amplify their Indigenous women today. the U.S. needs to own up to but voices. There is a “Missing and ongoing and damaging narratives Murdered Indigenous Women and being sustained through society and Girls” crisis occurring. According media. to Native Womens Wilderness, In an essay published by Folger Indigenous women are 1.7 times Shakespeare Library entitled “They more likely than Anglo-American Lied then, They Lie Now: A Native
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October 14, 2026
OPINION
OPINION: Modern society is beginning to reflect past political novels Christa Price | Assoc. Opinion Editor
Editor’s note: This article contains mentions of suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, call App State Counseling and Psychological Services at 828-262-3180 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. October is National Book In Orwellian fashion, the mere Month, and every day it becomes concept of Flock’s existence evokes more important for people to value a similar feeling to the persistent the literature at their fingertips. surveillance that takes place within In a country that has begun to ban the novel’s pages, mimicking the books and diminish education systems overarching, villainous presence of through budget cuts, it’s essential to “Big Brother.” recognize the connection between the The feminist novel “The United States and older novels that Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret warn readers about the dangers of a Atwood involves similar concepts of controlling government. totalitarianism like those in “1984,” George Orwell’s “1984” touches highlighting a dystopian society that on subjects of totalitarianism and prioritizes women’s ability to bear the feeling of constant, unabridged children in response to a fertility surveillance. “1984” has its own crisis. correlations with modern society; Following the overturning of namely, through Flock Safety’s Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, products. people’s right to abortion Flock, founded in 2017, has is no longer federally experienced a surge in negative press protected. in terms of protests — ones that have even spread to App State’s own Sanford Mall — and destruction of its cameras. Flock employs automated license plate reading technology, which uses artificial intelligence to “capture accurate plates and vehicle details in any condition, detect wanted vehicles and uncover leads that help solve and reduce crime.” However, this technology has been the subject of widespread misuse. Police officers have accessed Flock systems in the past for unethical reasons, like in 2022 when an officer used Flock to stalk his estranged wife. In August, 55 known romantic stalking cases where the perpetrator used a Flock device were reported across the U.S.
After this historic day, concern has ebbed throughout the U.S. population. A 2008-2016 study performed at the University of California-San Francisco found individuals who are denied abortions have higher levels of anxiety and stress, as well as lower self-esteem, with the most affected individuals being those who had a previous history of mental health conditions, trauma or abuse. The study also found people who are denied abortions and have to give birth as a result face a risk of birth-
related complications and are more likely to end up living in poverty. As described in Atwood’s novel, the Handmaids are members of a new class system established under the Republic of Gilead after a military coup destroys most of the former government officials. The Handmaids are used as reproductive slaves for high-ranking men, called Commanders, and their wives, who are often infertile. Handmaids are coveted in this society because fertility has become rare. They are under strict social control and
subject to the rules of those who rank higher than them. They are also forced into their reproductive role through dress, education and prayer. One of the former Handmaids dies by suicide following her encounters with one of the Commanders, eliciting a fearful omen about the effects that forcing women to conceive has on more than just their physical health. “Animal Farm,” another Orwell novel, follows a group of barnyard animals who revolt against their human masters. After overthrowing their leaders and setting up their own egalitarian society, they begin following a founding principle: “all animals are equal.”
Graphics by Melissa Grobleski | Senior Visual Reporter
OPINION Exploring the U.S. Declaration of Independence’s founding principle “all men are created equal,” the novel provides a tantalizing narrative about modern conceptions of U.S. equality. The pigs, viewed as intelligent and powerhungry leaders — evoking caricatures of President Donald Trump — form a dictatorship far more oppressive than their original government structure under the humans. Following this narrative, their founding principle quickly shifts from absolute equality to circumstantial equality, quoting, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The animals — or people, in the U.S.’ case — seeking power do substantial damage to those pursuing a fair and equitable society, forcing them into a worse state of living compared to how they were operating before. Orwell leaves us with a timeless, accurate and chilling narrative, writing, “The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.” “Fahrenheit 451,” by Ray Bradbury in an anticensorship stance and in defense of literature, provides a commentary on book bans. The protagonist is employed to burn down homes where books are discovered following the surge of television’s popularity. Members of this fictional society began reading less and then upheld that
books — and learning in general — narration on the complexities of human nature, suggesting humans, created feelings of inequality and and civilization by extension, will unhappiness among their people. experience extensive moral decay From 2024 to 2025, just over 6,700 when societal norms are moved books have been banned in several to the back burner. Eventually, all different school systems people will turn on each other and across the country. The forget any concept of connection books surround a that used to exist. variety of topics, including subjects It’s necessary for society to have a democratic, ethical and about mental health, LGBTQ+ compassionate structure, or it will individuals and delve into the same chaos that the experiences ravaged the group in “Lord of the of Black people Flies.” and other minorities. These novels paved the way for a greater understanding of The U.S. government’s government, including how to actions are beginning to mirror identify when officials the experiences of a fictitious society. overstep into Culture has become obsessed with people’s easily digestible content in the personal form of television, pushing rights and authentic, educated what the lack writing to the wayside of structure can in favor of quick do to a system. entertainment. Banning books keeps “Lord of the Flies” by citizens in the dark, making William Golding ties all of this it significantly easier for states to together with a neat red, white and control them and preventing any blue-hued bow. form of protest because they simply “Lord of the Flies” follows a group of young boys and their experiences aren’t educated enough to fight back. trapped in the wilderness after a plane crash. The boys, who were in the midst of evacuating their homes following the beginning of a war, battle against the wilderness and ultimately, themselves. While struggling to find a trace of balance in a world that has been turned upside down, they grapple with concepts of morality, leadership and civility, and they eventually crumble into chaos as they grow unable to continue leading a modern, affable lifestyle. Golding’s novel provides a satirical
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Comic by Zoey Lyda | Visual Reporter