The Appalachian
TheAppalachianOnline.com
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Vol. 86 No. 13
‘Roofies’ suspected after student is hospitalized by MEGHAN FRICK Associate Editor, Editorial Content
by JUSTIN HERBERGER Editor-in-Chief
The Boone Police Department is working with Char Restaurant and Bar after allegations of suspicious activity were reported by patrons last month. Senior graphic design major Rachel Johnson and junior criminal justice major Kaylynn Prough believe they may have been exposed to Rohypnol, GammaHydroxybutyric (GHB) or a highproof grain alcohol Friday, Sept. 16
at Char. Johnson and Prough said they went to Char around 11 p.m. after consuming about four alcoholic beverages each. Prough and Johnson each purchased a shot of Southern Comfort and lime sometime after arriving. Each said she experienced unusual symptoms almost immediately after taking the shot – blacking out and becoming incoherent much faster than one typically would from alcohol consumption. A third friend, who accompanied
Prough and Johnson, drank a bottled beer instead of a shot and did not experience unusual symptoms. “As soon as I took the shot and it was all kind of starting to gray out for me, is when I blacked out,” Johnson said. “And [our friend] didn’t take the shot and she had her Bud Light and she didn’t black out.” Johnson woke up later at home, after vomiting and “crying uncontrollably” throughout the night. She checked her phone and saw a text message from Prough, which asked why she was in the
hospital. Prough said she woke up at Watauga Medical Center with respiratory tubes, an IV in each arm and a bracelet reading “Jane Doe.” She had been admitted to the hospital without identification. “It was terrifying,” Prough said. “I mean, and the last thing I remembered was dancing at Char.” Boone Police said that although there are no cases in which a victim has been tested for Rohypnol or GHB, they are taking the threat of a predator seriously. “We’re certainly examining the possibility that it could be
happening, but at this point we don’t have any confirmed cases, and in the cases we do have there has been a lot of drinking involved,” Sergeant Matt Stevens said. Char is working with the police department to tighten security and keep bar staff and patrons aware of potential dangers. “They had a couple reports where some people made some claims,” said Colton Lentz, Char General Manager. “They were clear that nobody had tested positive, but they wanted to kind of get ahead of see Char, page 2
Bomb squad detonates ‘suspicious device’ at Physical Plant from STAFF REPORTS
A Above: A Boone Policeman directs cars away from the Physical Plant Monday. Left: Chancellor Kenneth Peacock talks with Physical Plant Director Michael O’Connor after learning that the ‘suspicious device’ was not an explosive. Below: A remote controled bomb disposal vehicle sits outside of the Physical Plant after a controled detonation.
bomb squad detonated a suspicious device in the Appalachian State University Physical Plant around 6 p.m. Monday. University Police issued an “all clear” for the area surrounding the Physical Plant at 6:02 p.m., “when it was determined that the device was not harmful,” the university said in an email. The device – at one point believed to be an inactivated bomb – was discovered in a staff locker at the Physical Plant around 2 p.m. Monday, Chancellor Kenneth Peacock said. “The number one thing is campus safety - the safety of faculty, staff and students,” Chancellor Peacock said. “We closed off State Farm Road property and the physical plant. We’re worried it could impact student cars and the buses that drive through there.” The area surrounding the Physical Plant, which includes the State Farm Parking Lot, was evacuated after “a suspicious device” was found within the premises shortly before 2 p.m., according to a university email sent at 2:10 p.m. Chancellor Peacock later characterized the situation as a “bomb threat,” and said a bomb squad was responding in an announcement given around 3:25 p.m during a Faculty Senate meeting in I. G. Greer. The campus’s emergency condition was listed as “Guarded” during the ordeal, meaning “there is some credible general threat information that may affect the university,” according to appstate.edu. The State Farm Parking Lot was closed for several hours while law enforcement assessed the situation, and Appalcart buses traveling to State Farm Parking Lot were cancelled. A university email urged students who needed to use a vehicle in the State Farm Parking Lot to “make alternative arrangements.” The Wilkes County Sheriff ’s Office later determined that the device was not an explosive device. Officers on the scene referred The Appalachian’s reporter to University Police. University Police declined to comment.
Photos by Nathan Cullitan | The Appalachian
Shortly before 2 p.m.
Campus notified of evacuation; email states there is no threat to the main campus
2:10 p.m. Suspicious device reported; Physical Plant area evacuated
Chancellor Kenneth Peacock announces that there is a bomb threat near State Farm Road; a bomb squad is sent to respond
3:25 p.m.
Timeline of Events
4 p.m.
Wilkes County Sheriff’s Office detonates device and determines it is not an explosive device
5:47 p.m.
3:25 p.m. Campus notified via email that access to State Farm Parking Lot will be restricted for several hours
Peacock tells The Appalachian reporter that an inactivated bomb was found in a staff locker in the Physical Plant
6:02 p.m.
Campus notified of “all clear” for the Physical Plant area
University Police issue “all clear” for the Physical Plant area
6:16 p.m.
Source: University News
AHO men’s club rugby team suspended Chili’s request for AppCard use denied Team member: Club ‘kept in the dark’ regarding club’s status can really ruin the whole season for the other guys,” he said. News Editor Lewis also said he felt that the The Appalachian State University club had been “kept in the dark” by AHO men’s rugby club has been the university. A post on the team’s Facebook suspended following allegations page, dated Sept. 8, of hazing, according said that a match team member Harris with NC State had “Basically, Lewis. been cancelled “due to Lewis, a sophoa couple of circumstances outside more, said the allegarookies got way of AHO’s control,” and tions stemmed from too drunk and a Sept. 19 post said that an incident that occurred at an annual one got alcohol all matches had been cancelled “until further club cook out. poisoning and notice.” “Basically, a couple claimed we Though Lewis said of rookies got way he didn’t know who too drunk and one were hazing” the two were, an arrest got alcohol poisoning report from the Boone and claimed we were Harris Lewis Police Department hazing (which we Sophomore AHO stated that a 19-year-old don’t and have never member freshman was arrested done). The other for breaking or entering one wandered into someone’s house and fell asleep in and consuming alcohol under 21 at their daughters bed,” Lewis said in 10:48 p.m. on Sept. 1. Police found the student lying a post on his blog, owlharris.tumblr. in bed in a house on Wintergreen com, in September. Lewis said the two had come to Lane in Boone, according to the the event without identification but report. “[The student] stated that he had said they were of age. “It is unfortunate that two people entered the residence after leaving a by HANK SHELL
Rugby party nearby and was looking for a restroom when he entered the home,” it said. The student had thrown up on the stairs leading to the second floor of the house, and told the Magistrate that he “had several cups of beer at a Rugby club meeting” before entering the residence, the report said. J.J. Brown, associate vice chancellor and dean of students, said in an email that he could not “confirm or deny anything regarding an investigation with the Rugby Club.” Brown added that Student Development would take any information regarding alleged hazing “very seriously and would engage in discussions with a student organization and/or its members.” Rugby club President Randy Akerman, a senior, did not respond to an email from The Appalachian, sent two weeks ago. AHO won its first two Southern Conference Rugby titles in 2009 and 2010. They also made it to the Final Four of the Division-II see Rugby, page 2
by KELLI STRAKA
Senior News Reporter
Appalachian Food Services will not allow students to use their AppCards at Chili’s Boone, despite a request from the restaurant to do so. Appalachian State University does not have permission from the state to allow a system with Chili’s, Food Services Director Art Kessler said. “It is not just the restriction that the state puts on the use of the student meal cards,” Kessler said. “Meal card usage is meant for students to dine on campus.” Food Services is receipt-driven and does not receive any state funds, which means they are non-profit and selfoperated, Kessler said. “Buying local and keeping the money in the local economy has always been a request of our students,” he said. “Adding outside businesses dilutes the money available for us to pay our bills and improve on our infrastructure on campus – all for the good of the students, faculty and staff of this university.” An increase in requests from students prompted Chili’s request to establish the system, Chili’s Service Manager Sean McGough said. McGough, who has organized systems between restaurants and universities before, said he has found little issues with the arrangement. Chili’s General Manager Eric Gilbert said the arrangement would “add more choices” for students. “The university could use it as more of a draw,” Gilbert said. “You can utilize the entire town and not just McAlister’s Deli and Chick-fil-A. I’ve already gotten the okay from our company. It’s whatever has to happen on the see Food Services, page 2