Issue 4 | Vol 64 by The Blue Banner

IN THIS ISSUE:

SUSTAINABILITY PG. 4

ARTIST GETS NOTICED PG. 14

GUN POLICY PG. 5

T h e st u d en t vo i c e o f U N C As h ev i lle | t h eb lu eba n n er.n et

FINDING A WAY: LIFE AND TIMES OF TRAIN KIDS

Issue 4, Volume 64 TUESDAY, FEB. 9 HIGH 31 째 LOW 18 째

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THEBLUEBANNER.NET

NEWS 2 FEBRUARY 9, 2016

The Blue Banner Spring 2015 Editorial Board

Section Editor: Larisa Karr lakarr@unca.edu

Editor-In-Chief James Neal, jneal@unca.edu News Editor Larisa Karr, lakarr@unca.edu Sports Editor Harrison Slaughter, jslaught@unca.edu Arts & Features Editor Phillip Wyatt, pwyatt@unca.edu Copy Desk Chief Barbie Byrd, bbyrd1@unca.edu Layout & Design Editor Makeda Sandford, msandfor@unca.edu Photography Editor Johnny Condon, jcondon@unca.edu Multimedia Editor Neve Pollard, npollar1@unca.edu Social Media Editor

Meredith Bumgarner, mbumgarn@unca.edu

Voice Editor John Mallow, jmallow@unca.edu Copy Editors Shanee Simhoni, ssimhoni@unca.edu Rebecca Andrews, randrew1@unca.edu

Photo by Josh Alexander PENSIVE: President Maya Newlin, Chief of Staff Tayler Williams, Vice President Mark Flack, and ASG Liason Charlie White preside over Wednesday’s meeting.

Advertising Manager Amber Abunassar, aabunass@unca.edu

Conﬂict between The Blue Banner and SGA comes to a head last Wednesday

Distribution Manager Carson Wall, cwall1@unca.edu

CHARLES HEARD News Staff Writer cheard@unca.edu

At Wednesday night’s weekly Student Government Association assembly, distrust between The Blue Banner and SGA led to conflicting perceptions of the night’s events. Before the SGA opened its session, Maya Newlin, student body president, and non-SGA students held a meeting next door, to which Larisa Karr, the Blue Banner’s news editor, was denied entry after inquiring

corrections The Blue Banner would like to correct, and apologize for, several consecutive errors printed about the Student Government Association and SSB 015-026 University Decree on Diversity and Inclusion in our third issue on Feb. 2:

why the separate assembly was being held. A third meeting, comprised of UNC Asheville administrators, SGA members and students, was held in the Highsmith Grotto after SGA convened its weekly session. This meeting was held behind locked doors and with napkin-covered windows. The only explanation given to Blue Banner staff was that it was unrelated to SGA and was not a public forum. On Thursday, a post was made on the SGA’s online page that in the future, members of

the press planning to attend the Wednesday evening assemblies needed to notify Newlin and student body vice president Mark Flack a day in advance. According to Matt Ketcham, a senior Economics and Political Science student and SGA senator, the association’s reluctance to cooperate with the student press may have arisen from the Blue Banner’s prior misrepresentation of SGA legislation, including SSB 015-026, Student Decree on Diversity and Inclusion, that was drafted last November.

It was falsely stated that SGA is a student organization and has had issues completing community service hours. SGA is not a student organization, nor is their funding bound by community service requirements. According to campus administrators, SGA completed 38 hours in Fall 2015 and 18 hours in Spring 2016.

It was written, falsely, that SSB 015-026 University Decree on Diversity and Inclusion sought the abolishment of criminal background checks on university faculty and staff and would allow sex offenders to work on-campus. Factually, the legislation never mentions the abolishment of criminal background checks,

“It’s sort of arbitrary where you want to start the timeline, so I’ll just start it at when I read the initial article,” Ketcham said. “That’s sort of where the tension began as it relates to what happened Wednesday night.” Bill Haggard, vice chancellor for student affairs at UNC Asheville, described the miscommunication and ensuing animosity as the result of emotions and events colliding simultaneously. “Because of that article, beRead more on page 16

does not deal with sexual assault, but instead sought to further diversity and inclusion. As an advocacy group, SGA has no power to “hold UNCA accountable” for the environmental bill, or any other legislation. The Blue Banner apologizes for any distress these errors might have caused our readers.

Faculty Adviser Michael Gouge, mgouge@unca.edu

Staff

Callie Jennings, Josh Alexander, Charles Heard, Eli Choplin, Bryce Alberghini, Drew Heinz, Lee Elliott, Will Quanstrom, Megan Authement, Erika Williams, Roan Farb, Ayneric Assemat, Calla Hinton, Nick Haseloff, Phillip Carwane, Emily Henderson, Joshua Shuford, Forest Lyons. Follow Us: Twitter: @TheBlueBanner Facebook: The Blue Banner Instagram: @uncabluebanner

Have a news tip? Send to jneal@unca.edu The Blue Banner is UNC Asheville’s student newspaper. We publish each Wednesday except during summer sessions, finals week and holiday breaks. Our office is located in Karpen Hall 019. The Blue Banner is a designated forum for free speech and welcomes letters to the editor, considering them on basis of interest, space and timeliness. Letters and articles should be emailed to the editor-in-chief or the appropriate section editor. Letters should include the writer’s name, year in school, and major or other relationship to UNCA. Include a telephone number to aid in verification. All articles are subject to editing.

THEBLUEBANNER.NET

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Sunday, Feb. 14 is

V A L E N T I N E S HAPPENINGS Tuesday Noon, Karpen Hall 139 - Laurel Forum Bobby and the Blue Ridge Tradition Concert 8 p.m., Lipinsky Hall 125 Jabali Afrika Concert Wednesday 6:30 p.m., Sherrill Center 306 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 7 p.m., Highsmith Union 159 Alumni Hall Valentine's Day Dance Thursday 11 a.m., Highsmith Union 106 - Lobby Self Love Crafts - Swannanoa Lobby Workshop 10 a.m., Reuter Center 102A Lenny Bernstein Book Talk 8 p.m., Highsmith Union 159 Alumni Hall TBT Movie: Zoolander Friday 3 p.m., Reuter Center 102 Symphony Talk with Daniel Myer Noon, Highsmith Union 106 Lobby Build-a-Bulldog 8 p.m., Highsmith Union 143 Grotto FNF: Breakfast at Tiffany's Saturday 9 a.m., Sherrill Center 321 WBB Shootaround Sunday 2:30 p.m., Reuter Center 102 Autumn Players Readers Theatre 5:30 p.m., Reuter Center 206 Carolina Nature Photographers Association Monday 6:30 p.m., Highsmith Union 221 Monday Night CONNECT

"Racism is a three-headed hydra":

D A Y

Discussions about diverse curricula at UNC Asheville continue ERIKA WILLIAMS News Staff Writer ewillia6@unca.edu

UNC Asheville staff and students filled the Laurel Forum to discuss diversity on campus during “Starting the Conversation: A Keywords Session” on Thursday, Jan. 28th. "A lot of people don't like having hard conversations like this, but we still have issues on multiple levels," said Tiece Ruffin, assistant education professor and Diversity Outreach coordinator at UNCA. A panel comprised of six UNCA faculty members across disciplines sparked the conversation about diversity by identifying a keyword important to each discipline. Fifty-five students and staff members attended the discussion. Ruffin, a conversation moderator, said her interest in equity and inclusion began when she

worked with special education students in Hawaii and Ohio in the late ‘90s. "I learned that disparities existed along racial lines with an underrepresentation of black and American Indian students in gifted programs, and an overrepresentation of those same students in special education," she said. "I knew we needed to have an authentic conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion here if we expect to lessen the inequalities, without sugar-coating the issue." Ruffin was raised in Washington, D.C. where she said she experienced distress when witnessing the marginalization of some groups right in the shadow of the Capitol. "Even in Asheville, people are being displaced and told their opinions do not matter because of their race,” Ruffin said. “Racism is institutional and systematic. This is what we

Stalking shocks students LINDSAY MILLER Contributor

Stalking, whether physical or online, remains common on college campuses, and many students say they are surprised by its presence and unsure of how to handle it. “When we start to sit down to look at their options and their safety plans, it’s not uncommon for those students to not want to do anything,” said Jill Moffitt, associate vice chancellor of student affairs and Title IX administrator at UNC Asheville. There were two reported cases of stalking during the fall semester, according to UNCA crime statistics. Moffitt said courses of action

are always based off of what the complainant wants. “They typically remain open because I touch base with these students regularly to see ‘How’s it going; has your situation changed,’ reminding them that they can get law enforcement involved, and that’s kind of how it works,” Moffitt said. “Most of our stalking cases remain open until we feel pretty confident that the complainant is safe, secure, the stalking has stopped and that just takes a while.” Even if a student does not want law enforcement or the criminal justice system involved in his or her situation, administration still urges stu-

are trying to dismantle through having these conversations." An example of marginalization in Asheville can be found on Burton Street, where plans to build the Interstate 26 connector through a primarily African-American community have been initiated, Ruffin said. "Many UNCA graduates are going to be involved in some aspects of health care, housing, teaching or social work in the future," Ruffin said. "These are all areas in which marginalization or lack of equity can occur. We want to inform not only teachers, but the wider student body." Ruffin said the university has already taken many steps to inform students about being respectful and breaking down barriers in regard to diversity of all kinds. UNCA is making progress by requiring students to take a diversity intensive course and engaging students in

“

Anything that brings attention to violent behavior is always going to move our agenda to eradicate sexual violence,” Jill Mofﬁtt

dents to talk to someone if they are experiencing problems. “What I see is students don’t report problematic behaviors that are leading to stalking until they’re fearful,” Moffitt said. “And once they’re fearful, usually it’s something that’s happened, that one incident that’s made them fearful. That’s when they go to campus police.” Garrett Griffin, sophomore history student, said he experi-

"Even in Asheville, people are being displaced and told their opinions do not matter because of their race. Racism is institutional and systematic. This is what we are trying to dismantle through having these conversations." Tiese Rufﬁn

conversations about diversity, Ruffin said. "We are different in meaningful ways," said Jeremias Zunguze, panelist and assistant professor of Africana & Lusophone studies. Zunguze said the keywords important to him are “differRead more on page 17

enced unwanted attention from his ex-girlfriend last semester. “Just, you know, cyber stalking me, continually contacting me through text message after I told her not to, getting other people to contact me through text message or messaging me on Twitter, befriending people I was friends with exclusively so she could talk about me, stuff like that,” Griffin said. Gov. Pat McCrory declared January to be Stalking Awareness Month in North Carolina, in an effort to raise awareness to both physical stalking, as well as the cyber version. “I never knew anyone that Read more on page 17

THEBLUEBANNER.NET

4 FEBRUARY 9, 2016

NEWS

Sustainable food initiatives seek to reform campus food culture LEE ELLIOTT News Staff Writer lelliott2@unca.edu Members of the faculty and campus community take action to change attitudes toward food consumption and production, according to sources in the Student Environmental Center. “There’s been a lot of energy around understanding ecological agriculture, understanding community engagement around food, and also ‘Where does that food go to,’ and ‘Who is it impacting,’” said Carolina Arias, senior at UNC Asheville and co-director of the SEC. The SEC’s multifaceted approach focuses on growing food in the many campus and community gardens, educating students on the impacts of their choices and also providing outlets for the waste and uneaten food around the university, Arias said. Last semester, the SEC partnered with local non-profit Food Connection to distribute uneaten food from Brown Hall to those in need in the Asheville

Photo by Josh Alexander UNC Asheville students line up to grab food at Brown Hall.

area, according to Sonia Marcus, director of sustainability at UNCA. “Dining services is really centrally involved in this partnership with Food Connection to get our uneaten food out to people in the community,” Marcus said. The SEC recently distributed free

compost bins for food waste to allow interested students to collect their own compost in dorms and elsewhere, which can then be deposited at the various new collection sites around campus, Marcus said. UNCA alumna Emma Hutchens works as regional coordinator for the Read more on page 17

weather

Asheville likely to experience more snow KELLY DOBECK Contributor

El Niño brings increased chances of snowstorms to Asheville, according to experts. Carl Schreck, research associate at the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites-North Carolina, said El Niño results from unusually warm water along the equator in the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean. Typically, the strongest thunderstorms occur in the Western Pacific, and during El Niño, these strong storms affect weather around the world by impacting the jet stream. “These two storms that were becoming pretty intense as far south as they were into the southeast.

Photo by Megan Authement Two weeks ago, the botanical gardens were a winter wonderland.

There had to be an active subtropical jet that’s feeding energy into the storm, so there’s no doubt that those were the result of an El Niño setup,” said Douglas Miller, professor of atmospheric sciences at UNC Asheville.

Miller said these subtropical jets are more active during periods of El Niño, producing more storms, and bringing more moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico. El Niño influenced the snowstorms that began the

evening of Jan. 21, said Kyle Noel, a junior atmospheric sciences student at UNCA. “This winter storm was likely intensified a bit more than normal moisture-wise,” Noel said. Miller said El Niño was a huge contributor to the storm, along with other forces, resulting in increased storm and snow potential. “A lot of studies have shown that, in general, winters tend to be more mild, but that’s if El Niño is the only thing acting,” Miller said. “Sometimes, we get other things that are going on, like with this winter, where you get an Arctic oscillation that brings cold air down from the North.” El Niño happens every Read more on page 18

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THEBLUEBANNER.NET

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Veterans struggle to ﬁnd comfortable environment upon returning to American universities BUCK BOWMAN Contributor

Photo by Simon Taugwalder Foreign exchange students Matthias Zernatto and Aymeric Assemat load an ammo clip at shooting range.

Public forum on gun policy in WNC sparks vivid conversation WILL QUANSTROM A&F Staff Writer

Gun policy in North Carolina was the topic of Carolina Public Press’ monthly Newsmakers Series at the United Way building in downtown Asheville, Jan. 28. Frank Taylor, managing editor of CPP, said the forum came from public discussion to change gun policy following mass shootings such as the one in San Bernardino, California. The discussion panel comprised the Buncombe County sheriff and three state representatives, all of which are democrats. “We don’t have a partisan goal,” Taylor said. “The invitation list was bipartisan.” Taylor said multiple republicans were invited to join the gun policy forum and that republicans previously joined the CPP for other discussions. The forum included a Q&A section. In response to one audience member’s concern, Rep. Brian Turner said little funding and knowledge exists for research on gun control. “President Obama asked for a mere 10 million dollars to be appropriated to the CDC for a study after the Sandy Hook shootings and the House of Representatives refused the

funding,” Rep. Susan Fisher said. Milton Ready, retired UNC Asheville history professor of 32 years, said his dad gave him his first rifle around the age of 10 or 12 and he continues to shoot today. “He gave them (guns) both

“He gave them (guns) both to me, he poured me three ﬁngers of Jack Daniels, my ﬁrst drink, gave me $5 and told me to get the hell out of his house,” Ready said. to me, he poured me three fingers of Jack Daniels, my first drink, gave me $5 and told me to get the hell out of his house,” Ready said. Ready said in Texas, where he grew up, everyone hunted. He learned to skin and cook squirrels, rabbits and deer at an early age. In 2015, Ready published an essay, “Guns, God and Glory,” in the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Ready said he was immediately labeled as a left-wing liberal Read more on page 18

The UNC Asheville chapter of the Student Veterans of America met on campus two weeks ago to find solutions for communication failures within their ranks. The officers gave out mission details, and the group adjourned — not to prepare for war, but to make it to their next classes on time. “We’re already fighting an uphill battle, being veterans at a public liberal arts campus,” said Andrew Scott, a former Marine. “We are a growing student organization, and it’s always difficult, especially as veterans at this campus. We get a lot of crap, whether it be in class, or passive-aggressive bullshit with the administration.” Veteran students in SVA chapters across the country depend on the initiative for support, funding, and advocacy. "The Veteran’s Alliance was

small and kind of dying out. Last year, me and Mike, we told the old leaders that we wanted to get more involved, and ended up sort of taking the reigns. Last semester, we became a Student Veterans of America chapter, and we’ve just been trying to build back up,” said Ryan Crostic, a junior at UNC Asheville and former Navy corpsman. Just before his four-year contract with the Navy ended, Crostic was deployed to the Gulf of Oman. “That camaraderie that we had in my little shop there for those nine months was the most brotherly feeling I’ve ever had,” Crostic said. “It’s weird coming from that type of close group to a school where everything is unstructured. You don’t know anybody, you’re in a new place; it was just kind of a new weird experience.” The SVA’s primary initia-

tive is to provide veterans who chose to pursue higher education after their service with a resource and support system. “It’s mostly just a place for us to get together, but the SVA has all sorts of scholarships, and it’s a good place to meet potential employers,” Crostic said. Marine Cpl. Karl Hill and Army Spc. Sal Kopanski have only months left on their enlistment contracts. Childhood friends and North Carolina natives, they have discussed college careers and are both looking to UNCA as an option. Chad Seger, former Marine, said his experiences were worth waiting to attend college. “I was 17, wanted to be a man, I couldn’t afford to go to school and I wanted to travel the world. I got to do all those things, and I get to go to school now. I have no regrets, none,” Seger said. Read more on page 18

College students encounter newfound responsibilities BENJAMIN COHN Contributor

Students at UNC Asheville must do something they have never had to do: assume complete control over their lives, according to university faculty. Enrolling in a college or university represents one of the most challenging things a person can do, said Jay Cutspec, director of UNCA’s Health and Counseling Center. “If you wanted to pick a stressful time in a person’s life, that (transition from high school to college) would be one of the most stressful,” Cutspec said. Several other factors, including the student’s temperament, play into the effect of stress on students, Cutspec said. “Some of us are wired differently,”Cutspec said. “Your temperament lends some to be

stressful versus laid back.” Additionally a student’s self-expectations create individualized levels of stress tolerance, the mental health administrator said. “There is a huge range from, ‘I have no expectations of myself,’ to ‘I must get straight A’s,’” Cutspec said. Students with low expectations of themselves would stress less over poor marks than ones who expect excellence, Cutspec said. Rebecca Vines enrolled this year as a freshman at UNCA. The music business student said grades do not cause her much stress. “I was pretty pleased with my grades, but they were a result of pretty consistent hard work,” she said, adding negative emotions like anxiety and stress are present in academic life, but they are expected.

“I don’t necessarily feel only positively about my grades,” Vines said, “but I know that to do it well is time-consuming.” Students experiencing stress have trouble seeking the help that would save them from poor grades, according to Cutspec. “They just don’t feel capable of that. They don’t want to go to the professor. They’re resistant to asking for help,” Cutspec said. “They don’t want to go to the writing center, the math lab or to tutoring. It goes into that whole self-expectations thing.” Students view seeking help as a sign of weakness, and feel that they should be able to do the work themselves, Cutspec said. “In high school they can get by with doing as minimal as possible. Then, all of a sudRead more on page 18

THEBLUEBANNER.NET

6 FEBRUARY 9, 2016

voice

Section Editor: John Mallow jmallow@unca.edu

The Blue Banner, not its staff, is your voice. As much as we endeavor to inform you, we would never presume to speak for you. But we can ensure that you have the right to speak uncensored within legal limits. Voice is your section, without dedicated staff writers, to speak, to disagree, to be sure that even the most minor voice has a platform to be heard. Submissions from students, faculty, staff and the community can be sent to jmallow@unca.edu or jneal@unca.edu

Commentary

Beating hearts in still graves Getting to the root of gang violence

JOSH ALEXANDER News Staff Writer jalexan1@unca.edu

The teen lay dead in the parking lot. Blood dripped from bullet holes, onto sizzling asphalt. I was driving home during my senior year of high school. The neighborhood of the school was and is a known gang and drug haven, and I lived on the perimeter. I heard shootings happen, saw guns pulled and saw crime scene tape plastered around the run-down buildings. This was something different. Moments earlier, as I drove down the twisted back road behind my school, I had seen the sun flash off of something. It was a flash from the light hitting a pistol, held by a man in his 30s or 40s, who stood in the middle of the road. I stopped and felt the blood pumping fast through my temples. As the man leveled the gun at me, I swear my heart stopped beating. A wave of relief poured over me as he lowered the gun and stepped aside. I drove fast toward the intersection and turned left. That’s when I saw him, the dead kid, leaking blood in a gas station parking lot. I later learned why the man was standing in the road with a gun. The neighborhood was on high alert after the shooting an hour or two earlier. The kid who was killed, whose name I will never know, was only 17 years old. A kid his own age shot him. The shooter had just been released on bail after being arrested for armed robbery. We need to consider these things more seriously. We hear about the shootings and record-high murder rates in Chicago, the gang

gangs.

did you know?

violence in Detroit, and we shrug it off. We’ve become immune to the state that our fellow human beings live in. There are places in America that are truly war zones, where people are afraid of what lies around the next corner — places where there is a constant fear of death.

There is a problem, America. This isn’t white guilt, this is reality. This is the blank stare of a dead child reﬂecting the death and destruction around him, as his friends and neighbors ﬁght for survival in a world that has done nothing but screw them over.

Drug deals and homicides are simply a symptom of the disease. You can call it what you want, but the fact remains that we’ve ignored our fellow Americans for far too long. Gang violence is a symptom. Gangs are not the first problem that needs to be dealt with. The reason they form is underfunded schools in poor neighborhoods. The reason they form is the food deserts, where the closest fresh food is 20 miles away. Policy makers at both the state and federal levels are to blame just as much as the average citizen who locks their door and drives faster. The reason the majority, white people, turn a blind eye to the endless violence we’ve forced our fellow human beings to endure is that we don’t want to acknowledge the consequences of our subconscious racism. We see a “black-sounding” name on a job application, and we turn it down. Read more on page 18

Some 33,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs with about 1.4 million members are criminally active in the U.S. today. According to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment report, gangs are responsible for an average of 48 percent of violent crime in most jurisdictions, and up to 90 percent in others. FBI

Photo by Dylan Cromer Andromeda Galaxy, as seen through telescopes at Lookout Observatory.

UNCA looks to the stars ALLISON BARDES

Contributor The Astronomy Club of Asheville and the UNC Asheville physics department will host another stargazing event at Lookout Observatory at dusk on Feb. 12. “Who knows, maybe somewhere down the line a student discovers an exoplanet that has never been detected before. That’s an exciting possibility, and the observatory allows us to have that kind of dream,” said Brian Hart, physics administrative assistant at UNCA. Hart said the events at the observatory are doing far better than anticipated. Both physics and astronomy students get to use the observatory for research. Last year’s students were the first to work with the equipment, conduct research and test its limits. Bernard Arghiere, former president of the Astronomy Club of Asheville, said the club’s mission is to share the wonders of astronomy with

the community. One night Arghiere said he looked up at the sky and realized after four years of college, he still had no idea what was going on above his head. Observers may see four to 12 celestial objects on a given night, Arghiere said. The nearest galaxy Andromeda is magnified before Asheville’s very eyes. Planets, moons, and stellar nurseries, like the Orion Nebulae, attract people of all ages to the observatory. “We’ve had people bringing infants up there,” Arghiere said. “Anywhere from an infant, to kids under 90.” Hart said monthly stargazes fill up quickly, so people should register ahead of time. If the Feb. 12 event is full, people can sign up for the waitlist. Hart said studying objects in space also helps to uncover more about our own planet. “It’s not just about learning what’s up there,” Hart said. “You can learn things about what’s down here as well.”

THEBLUEBANNER.NET

The Banner Voice: Free speech is no laughing matter

German corner

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

About the Germans, in German, for our German students.

By Jana Mader, Professor of German, Department of Modern Languages and Literature

JAMES NEAL Editor in Chief jneal@unca.edu

A common joke among mass communication students and faculty, is that despite majoring in communication, we often fail at it. The lack of communication between The Blue Banner and Student Government Association led to a confrontation this week that was further exacerbated by the mistakes in an article we printed last week. In defense of the free speech and government openness, The Blue Banner was prepared to hold SGA responsible for a mistake they never made. Why? We thought that our community’s public officials were, in secrecy, retreating behind closed doors. Not to plot, but out of a well-intended but misapplied sense of protectiveness that created a safe space for those who society margin-

alizes. Safe spaces create a place where minority opinions can be heard, but at the expense of silencing opposition. What our generation seems to forget, is that free speech guarantees us the right to be offensive, and to be offended, but not the right to be safe from offense. While we may face consequences for what we say, we have the right, the responsibility, to say what we want. Excluding the voice of opposition in turn allows the opposition to exclude your voice of reason. When The Blue Banner launched the Voice section, we did so with the words that even “as we endeavor to inform you, we would never presume to speak for you.” We sought to create a space that you, the community, could use to “speak to one another, to disagree, to be sure that even the most minor of voices has a platform to be heard.” Disagreement is a sacred element of free speech, as it is the only element that denies the majority the right to silence those who speak against the status quo. Without a voice of dissention, a one-sided presentation becomes nothing more than propaganda.

Folge 22: Die Deutschen und das Fahrrad Deutsche fahren sehr gern Fahrrad. 80 Prozent der Deutschen besitzen ein Fahrrad. Vor allem im Norden Deutschlands wird viel geradelt, denn dort ist es ﬂacher als im Süden. Als fester Begleiter des täglichen Lebens unterliegt das Fahrrad Modetrends. In den 1990er-Jahren waren Mountainbikes populär, vor ein paar Jahren entdeckten modebewusste Großstädter klassische Rennräder mit den nach unten geschwungenen Lenkern. Der letzte Schrei: minimalistische Eingang-Räder mit nur einer oder ganz ohne Bremse: Fix-Gear-Bikes. Für genau das Gegenteil stehen Hollandräder, mit denen immer mehr junge Leute fahren: Mit hohem Lenker und weichem Sattel ausgestattet, bewegt man sich komfortabel durch die Stadt, manchmal sogar schneller als mit dem Auto und ganz sicher ohne das Problem einen Parkplatz ﬁnden zu müssen.

THEBLUEBANNER.NET

SPORTS 8 FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Section Editor: Harrison Slaughter jslaught@unca.edu

Photo by Drew Heinz

Dylan Smith making a layup

Bulldogs sweeps Charleston Southern DREW HEINZ

Staff Sports Writer dheinz@unca.edu

Endurance seemed to be key for UNC Asheville men’s basketball team victory on Wednesday against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. Both teams went back and forth with the lead to eventually end up with a tie 27-27 in the first half. Sam Hughes, senior guard for

the Bulldogs, was having an off night and struggled to get past the Buccaneer defense. “It was hard getting our guards to get in the post,” Hughes said. “I guess I wasn’t doing my job to making a clean pass. It was kind of tough for me to shake them a little bit.” In the second half, both teams continued neck and neck with the score. The teams seemed to be almost evenly matched.

The Bulldogs made the final four minutes of the game count by going on an 11-1 run. Dylan Smith, UNCA freshman guard, stepped up and made 5 of those 11 points. “I like to try to get my teammates involved,” Smith said. “I try being a better point guard and leader, so I felt like scoring a lot to be the leader tonight.” During the final 20 seconds of the game, the Bulldogs made

a key play assuring their victory. Before the Buccaneers could cross the backcourt, Ahmad Thomas, UNCA sophomore guard forced a steal and passed to Hughes who then made a slam dunk. Hughes wanted to finish the game strongly regardless of how much time was on the clock. “I looked up and there was open floor and so I took it,”

Hughes said. “It was more of me being frustrated from the game. I was not actually playing the way I wanted to. I finally get an opportunity to take out a little frustration.” Charleston Southern only made 37.9 percent from the field and 5 of 10 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs won 63-55.

THEBLUEBANNER.NET

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Bulldogs bring home eleventh conference win in this year’s annual Pink Game EMILY HENDERSON Sports Staff Writer

UNC Asheville women's basketball defeated the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers with a shocking last quarter comeback and strong overtime. The Pink Game, presented by Mission Health, Expo and Belk, raised over $700 from the silent

and live auction. The proceeds will be divided between Kay Yow Cancer Fund, Mission hospital and Buncombe County health and human services’ Ladies Night Out. The first period concluded with the Bulldogs in the lead 18-14 with the Chants following close behind.

The second period rolls around with heightened enthusiasm from both teams, closing in on each other at 23-22. The Bulldogs returned from halftime with determination to lead the Chants by 13 points in the third period. Coastal Carolina Chants fought back and with four min-

Bulldogs fight off Camels PHILLIP CARWANE Staff Sports Writer pcarwane@unca.edu

The UNC Asheville Bulldogs traveled Saturday to Campbell University and won their third straight game to remain alone in first place of the Big South Conference. The Bulldogs held off a late surge by the Fighting Camels and pulled away to win 81-71. “This is a very good team we came up short against today,” said Kevin McGeehan, Camp-

bell head coach, in a post game interview. UNCA not only tops the Big South Conference standings in wins, it also plays some of the best defense in the country. The Bulldogs executed a half-court trap and swarming defense that caused 19 Campbell turnovers, 16 of which were UNCA steals. The Bulldogs rank in the top 10 in the nation in steals. The Camels led much of the first half thanks to Asheville’s own turnovers and Campbell’s

9-0 run at the ten-minute mark. The Bulldogs responded with its own run and led at halftime 34-32. “I’m impressed with the way Campbell has played in the first half,” said Kyle B. Kallander, Big South Conference commissioner. Kallander spoke about the upcoming conference tournaments, including the women’s tournament in Kimmel Arena at UNCA. The Bulldogs also rank in te top 10 nationally for 3-point

utes left in the game led by 7 points. The women Bulldogs staved off a possible loss on their court by fighting hard in the fourth period to enter overtime with the score 63-63. While the teams huddled up, Rocky the mascot and helpers flooded the court with energet-

ic cheering to ensure the crowd held strong with our team in the last moments of the game. The Bulldogs made 75 percent of their attempted field goals during overtime and added two 3-pointers by Chatori Major, junior guard. Fans screamed at the top of

defense and it showed as the Camels struggled to hit 1-of10 3-pointers in the first half. UNCA made a third of their first-half 3-pointers and shot 47.8 percent from the field. In the second half, the Bulldogs turned up the defensive pressure and built a double digit lead. Sam Hughes, senior forward, scored his 17 points by the eight-minute mark. Four other Bulldogs finished the game with double digit point totals; Dylan Smith, freshman

guard (17), Kevin Vannatta, sophomore guard (16), Will Weeks, redshirt junior (12) and Ahmad Thomas, sophomore guard (10). Chris Clemons, Campbell freshman and one of the highest scoring freshmen in the nation, brought the Camels back to life after a Vannatta 3-pointer gave UNCA its largest lead of the game 67-54. Clemons scored, got a steal and hit two free throws coming out of a time-

Read more on page 20

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10 FEBRUARY 9, 2016

SPORTS

UNCA can redeﬁne sports fan PHILLIP CARWANE Staff Sports Writer pcarwane@unca.edu

Super Bowl Sunday holds a special place for the American sports fan. Visions come to mind of overweight forty-something men yelling at screens large enough to fill an entire wall and their buddies dripping beer and nacho cheese as they laugh at the prospects of winning their friendly wagers. Guilty. I am one of those guys. I watched my favorite football team, the Carolina Panthers, and yelled at every incorrect call and laughed when things went my way. But I didn’t watch simply because I am a sports fan, I watched because it allowed me an opportu-

nity to hang out with my friend and his two sons and bond as part of a community. I haven’t always seen sports as an opportunity for community and I wasn’t raised in a sports-loving family. I played some sports but they were merely pastimes, and as the uninspiring coaches and disappointing aspects of sports piled up I stopped playing. I could have been completely done with sports in 1987. In 1988, two things happened. Charlotte received an NBA expansion team and one of my best friends played basketball for the state champion, A.C. Reynolds Rockets varsity basketball team. I became a fan to support my friend and for the first time I had essentially a

hometown pro team for which to root. North Carolina sports fans were becoming a community. In the fall of 1989, I attended UNC Chapel Hill and quickly became a Tarheel fan and just as quickly began hating Duke. That combination becomes its own language for sports fans and alumni across the state and the world to share as it binds them together. As a student of the humanities, thanks to UNC Asheville, I can reflect back and see the inherent othering that sports causes. I can reflect back to the time I was cut from the basketball team and felt left out. Also, there are valid complaints about sports fans and players. Idiots killing opposing fans and vi-

olent acts against women are definite reasons to not be involved with sports, but I think UNCA can redefine what it is to be a sports fan. UNCA sports are not in the limelight the way UNC CH teams and professional teams are. They don’t attract the meathead sports fans; therefore, there is a void that can be filled by a new kind of fan, a fan that is there to support its community. There is an opportunity for fans that are there to applaud diversity and support equality of the sexes. There is an opportunity for fans that want to connect with all of their fellow students, not just one or two small groups. There is an opportunity to support the opposing teams for their efforts and not fall into

the trap of othering. This may seem ridiculous, but sports can be a positive aspect of college life, and you shouldn’t let the stereotype of what it means to be a sports fan keep you from participating. When I go watch a Bulldogs basketball game, I can’t leave the fact that I’m forty and overweight at home, but if you come and outnumber the guys like me, you can change what it is to be a sports fan at UNCA. Only you’ll know why you’re there but being there will send a message of community. As a bonus, the men’s and women’s basketball teams are both playing very well and are quite entertaining.

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FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Bulldogs soar higher than Eagles PHILLIP CARWANE Staff Sports Writer pcarwane@unca.edu

UNC Asheville women’s basketball team defeated the short-staffed Winthrop Eagles, 67-59, for their first win in Rock Hill, SC since 2011. The Bulldogs’ Monday night matchup with Winthrop University looked to be a huge mismatch. UNCA carried with them a three-game winning streak and sat atop the Big South Conference standings in a tie with Liberty University. Winthrop inhabited the lastplace spot after losing their last two games and nearly half of their team to injury, including the conference’s leading scorer, junior forward Erica Williams. “We’re just trying to hold together with bubble gum and barbed wire,” said Kevin Cook, Winthrop head coach. The Eagles suited only six players against a UNCA team with Big South player of the week, junior guard Chatori Major who torched the Eagles for her career high of 28 points in the season’s earlier meeting,

but the win wouldn’t come easy. “Winthrop is one of the toughest places to play in the league and they have continued to get better despite injuries throughout the season,” said Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick, UNCA head coach. The Bulldogs led quickly after winning the tip-off and junior guard Tianna Knuckles knocked down a 3-point shot in their first possession. UNCA hit nine 3-pointers for the game; their average hovers at 5.8 per game. Junior guard Ja-Da Brayboy scored a jumper capping the Bulldogs first quarter scoring , but the Eagles scored just before the buzzer to bring the score to 22-17 Knuckles opened the second quarter with another 3-pointer, Bronaza Fitzgerald, UNCA’s sophomore center, scored six points on three put-backs and freshman guard Sonora Dengokl showed her skills by driving and scoring from the field and the free-throw line. The UNCA lead grew to 44-28 at halftime.

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“We dug ourselves too big a hole,” Cook said. The Eagles never gave up and played the second half looking to grab the upset. UNCA scored only 12 points in the third quarter, six from the free throw stripe. The lead decreased by three, 56-43. In the fourth, Knuckles and Major each hit early 3-pointers to push the lead back to fifteen and despite a valiant effort, the Eagles never truly threatened as the Bulldogs ran out the clock. “Our team was in and out of sync this evening,” Kirkpatrick said. “Getting a road win is always a good thing in this league.” Knuckles and Major scored 14 points and sophomore guard Khaila Webb added 12. Fitzgerald nearly notched a double double with ten points and eight rebounds. The Bulldogs play Coastal Carolina at Kimmel Arena Saturday 2 p.m. The Chanticleers look to improve on their two Big South Conference wins to date.

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12 FEBRUARY 9, 9, 2016 2016 12 FEBRUARY

Arts & Features

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Section Editor: Phillip Wyatt pwyatt@unca.edu

“When you see bum trash and tags everywhere, that’s where you sit and wait for the train”:

a look inside the eternal American train-kids culture

LARISA KARR

News Editor lakarr@unca.edu

“It was kind of gross, but the craziest thing I had to [do] was use the restroom, number two, so I straddled two cars [trains] and just pulled my pants down and shit.” Ask somebody who has been riding rails across the country for years about their craziest experience, and answers like these are bound to pop-up.

ROAN FARB

A&F Staff Writer rfarb@unca.edu

amongst this shunned group is treated more like an unspoken agreement, a community that looks out for each other, helps each other, supports each other, and guides each other along the rails. One such hallmark aspect of this community is busking. “Well, I just do networking with a bunch of friends. I know a lot of people

Photo by Larisa Karr A rail-rider who did not wish to be interviewed or identiﬁed did, however, want to be photographed.

Dalton, originally from Houston, is an experienced train-hopper who has criss-crossed the lower 48 for years. Looked down upon by many in the modern world, train hopping is a culture that still exists, and while it has changed since last century in many aspects, there are still many individuals who consider themselves deep in this culture roving the streets of Asheville. The sense of community that is forged

in this area, and, one of them’s gonna give me a new branch for my mandolin, and the other’s gonna me new strings,” said Crow, a Boston native who has been travelling for 3 years. Crow cautions, however, that life on the rails is definitely not for the naive, nor the faint of heart. “I try to keep myself out of those situations. I’ve had to tell kids to kick rocks, to get outta here before, y’know?,” Crow

said. “Cause I could tell they were NOT ready to hitchhike or ride trains with me, y’know? We woulda ended up fightin’ and it woulda gotten ugly, especially on a train.” Crow went on to tell why, aside from those he dubs “old-school cats,” he doesn’t ride trains with many people now. “Some people will steal from ya, beat ya up, some people might even do worse stuff, y’know? Throw ya off a train.” Boxcars, Crow says, can be especially risky. “I don’t do boxcars ...the thing I hate is people die out there, man, lots of nasty ways, man, sometimes you’ll get caught under the wheel. Sometimes, you’ll get caught under the knuckle of the trains. Sometimes, you can even get locked in a boxcar.” Communication amongst the train kids is predicated on, and rooted in, trusting your gut. Some don’t even need to use words in order to read each other. “Yeah. We all take care of each other and you know, we all have instincts and sometimes we speak to each other with our minds because we can sense there are other train hoppers who are, like, some really bad people, who will just kill you for no reason,” Dalton said. “So we have to watch each other’s backs, and stuff like that.” Robbie, a drifter from Memphis who has been travelling with Dalton for some time, went into further detail about the need to exercise protection. “Some of us carry around smileys and weapons, whatever you got, you know? I personally haven’t, which is probably a bad idea,” he said, laughing. “I don’t know. I should probably get on that.”

Spots frequented by train kids are often stamped with markers from previous travellers with the intent of helping oth-

“We all take care of each other and, like, you know, we all have instincts and sometimes we speak to each other with our minds, because we can sense there are other train hoppers who are, like, some really bad people, who will just kill you for no reason. So we have to watch each other’s backs, and stuff like that.” -Dalton ers on their forward sojourns. “When you’re hitchhiking, on the Interstate, there’s a sign that says how long you’ve been there, so to alert people if it’s a shitty exit so they can walk by,” says Alanna, a traveller from Asheville who currently prefers the name “Pez.” She went into detail about one particular incident in Fort Worth, Texas. “In the Fort Worth train hop-out, there

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is a bunch of notes written all around the yard,” she said. “They were building other train tracks for years, and they finally switched stuff and they fucked everybody up because there were police there.” It’s common practice for train kids to often band together, forming squat houses throughout the country. “I even got friends outside of New Orleans, so we would’ve had housing to stay with, but I like squatting there and really the aspect of community that we have. You know, there’s a lot of kids who get really violent. There’s a lot of people who just have this pretentious little grudge,” says Dalton. “We set up our own houses in abandoned rooms and shit and we get furniture given to us from the neighbors.” According to Robbie, New Orleans serves as a mecca for travelling kids, particularly on Halloween and Mardi Gras. In fact, Crow and Robbie specifically cite the Louisiana city as one of their most unforgettable stops. “Aw man, it was like paradise and hell, all wrapped in one,” Robbie says. “The Big Easy,” says Alanna, wistfully. “Yeah, the Big Easy,” Robbie says, with a similar sense of remembrance in his voice. “I mean, it’s a crazy town,” says Crow after answering that it’s also the craziest place he’s ever been to. “There’s alotta alcohol. People are drunk in the middle of the street, it’s, it’s amazing and plain crazy at the same time.” One of the most rewarding aspects of being a traveller, drifting to new places, is meeting up with old friends in cities thousands of miles away from each other. “We all know our friends are going to

train-kids

anna, Dalton and Robbie, it became apparent that there is a common language, a language that train kids pick up on the road and constantly employ. Road-dogging is one such word. “When you’re on the road with somebody, you can only spend so much time with them before the tiniest thing they do just makes you snap. It’s like a relationship,” says Crow. “If you guys are road-doggin’ it, you’re together ALL the time.” “Yeah, it’s very much what made me so content with this lifestyle. You know

“Well, uh, I’ve got a million: Hippie-Jedi, Mama Bear, whatever. I hate ‘em. So I try not to have those names,” Robbie says. “But, you know, traveller kids see me and they’re like, ‘Hippie-Jedi! What’s up, man?’” “I’ve been called Richie. I’ve been Pokey. I’ve been called Smiley. I’ve been called young Guitar Guy, whatever,” Dalton says. “So those are all the names I’ve had and I’m just going by the real name now, my birthname.” Crow doesn’t ride trains as much anymore but still ascribes to the unpredict-

Photo by Larisa Karr Crow, a Boston native who has been riding the rails for three years, says he doesn’t ride trains as much anymore.

the second I got out, you run into a few kids, and they can tell you’re in the same situation, and they’ll just [be] like, this is my road dog,” Robbie says. “We just become road dogs and just hit the road,

able lifestyle of a traveller. “This one time I caught a ride outta New Orleans. This [was] a guy I knew and he just saw me on the side of a road and he’s like, ‘Hey man, where you try-

FEBRUARY 9, 9, 2016 2016 FEBRUARY

form to sit down on, and riders have to be careful about how they position their body, as they are completely exposed to the elements. “It’s like a train with no bottom. You’re t ailored with no bottom. You just sit there and look at it,” Dalton says. “It’s like maybe having a little platform, and if you fall asleep, the tracks can bump and you’d fall and then it’s over,” Robbie says. For now, Crow, Robbie, Dalton, and Alanna have found brief sanctuary in Asheville. “Yeah, I don’t like to stay in towns too long because especially if they’re not welcoming, it’s just like, get out,” Dalton said. As a musician, if I stay in a town long enough to play one or two good shows, then they always want me to come back. If I stay there long enough, I’ll just become ‘Oh, this guy again.’” One place in particular that has achieved a notably romantic level of remembrance is the Icehouse in West Asheville. Alanna, who was remained relatively blank throughout the interview, springs to life upon recollection of this notorious building. “It was by the big warehouse by the bridge over the river. There used to be that huge warehouse that was like three/ four stories tall and it had all that graffiti and it used to be the hop- off for getting off the train,” she says. “So when I was 14, I think that’s probably what made me want to come check it out, because I’d always wanted to do it anyways.” Even though the pre-World-War II building was demolished by the City Council, train kids continue to find harbor on the streets of Asheville. Walk around downtown on a crisp fall day, and you will notice them linger-

“I was sick of the old, corporate nine-to-ﬁve. You know, dead-end, going nowhere. I was practically going to work in my car to pay for my car.” -Robbie be there and we haven’t seen anybody in a long time and we want to see them and they’ll more than likely be in Norly for Halloween or New Years or whatever,” Robbie says. Dalton, too, expresses the joy that ensues when drifters cross paths once again. “That’s always one of the best feelings when you run into someone you’ve met thousands and thousands and thousands of miles away, and you just instantly recognize each other with one look and are like ‘DUDE!,’” he says. Initially when interviewing Crow, Al-

you know? Busk, like we do now.” Another aspect of Train Kids culture is the individual monikers they receive along the way. Alanna, who used to go by Sky, now goes by Pez because of a particularly unusual incident. “I had a bunch of Pez and I put a bunch of Xanax in the Pez dispenser,” Alanna says. Crow, whose full name is Andy Crow, prefers to go by and is recognized by his surname name, while Robbie and Dalton both don’t really care about their street names anymore.

na’ go?’ and I told him Asheville. This was like, a year-and-a-half ago. I come here pretty often often and the guy had just fuckin’ stolen a semi-truck and was just, like, drivin’ it around, man.” “We drove mostly back roads, but, like, this dude was crazy, man. Somebody cut him off, and he jumped out of the truck with a baseball bat.” Dalton and Robbie cite riding suicide as one of the scariest but most rewarding risks of a life on the rails. ‘Suicide’ is when a person sits down on the pieces of metal that connect the base of two train cars. It is not, however, a complete plat-

ing with their dogs. On the sidewalks on Lexington, on benches close to the Vance Monument, on Eagle Street, doing what they do best, quietly passing by inside their coded world. “You know when you see bum trash and tags everywhere,” Alanna says. “That’s where you sit and wait for the train.”

The writers would like to give a special thanks to June Bench for her contributions to this article.

Arts & Features

14 FEBRUARY 9, 2016

THEBLUEBANNER.NET

Section Editor: Phillip Wyatt pwyatt@unca.edu

profile

Freshman student gains large audience CALLIE JENNINGS Staff News Writer

Most students come to college in hopes of finding their niche, passions and place in the world. It’s a time to figure out what to do with the skills students develop and learn over the years. For some, it may be a daunting four or more years, yet for others, it can be a place to sharpen, expand and share talents. Josh Coates, a freshman studio art student from Wake Forest, N.C., said he became aware of his passion extremely early in life. “I started drawing penguins when I was back in kindergarten. That’s when it all began,” Coates said. “My mom is an artist, and she’s always created murals and stuff. That’s probably where it all stems from. But I’ve also kind of always believed that I could draw well.” Coates didn’t start truly following those beliefs until high school. He said he gives credit to his high school art teacher for giving him a boost of confidence. “My art teacher was always like, ‘Hey, you have some talent; you should follow this,’ and that’s when I started thinking ‘Wow, maybe I do,’” Coates said. At only 20 years old, Coates’ artwork has been making quite an impact on several of his social media platforms, including his Instagram account, coatesart, where he currently has around 25.2 thousand followers. “I’ve been looking at tons of art accounts on Instagram myself, because it’s great inspiration to see all these different

artists that you’ve never seen before, and it’s great work, including some of my favorite artists like Alex Gfrey or Glen Ronald,” Coates said. “Then one day, an account just came across my work and posted one of my drawings and I got a couple-hundred follower boost just from that. That one drawing, it’s called ‘Vibration.’” Coates continues to surf that initial wave of artistic recognition. “From that moment, I really thought that I could do this and so I just started posting more and more work, and we’re here now, and I have been gaining more and more followers ever since,” Coates said. When some of Coates’ fans began messaging him asking for pieces to be sold, he knew he had to try and expand his work and created a website titled OYM, or Open Your Mind Art and Designs. Now, Coates sells his pieces, takes commissions, runs both the website and Instagram account and has his own small business. “It’s a ton of fun, honestly; it’s super cool,” Coates said. “My dad, I saw him create his own business and run that and on the inside I wanted to do the same. It just fell into place that my art kind of blew up, and I want to be an entrepreneur and they both just fell into one cohesive thing.” Coates describes himself now as a professional who still has a lot to learn. “I definitely consider myself a professional artist, just because I sell a pretty good volume of work. I don’t exactly sell it for the price that I would like to, like other artists who sell their work for hundreds

and hundreds of dollars, and I respect that. But being a college student, I can’t really do that,” Coates said. “I’m also selling a lot to people my age or people a little older than me, and they’re not trying to spend hundreds of dollars either, so I kind of try and work with a budget, which is cool. I am making a decent amount of money but I also have a lot of things to pay for.” Coates came to UNC Asheville in hopes of branching out into other mediums and said he hopes to find some new styles for him to test out. “I don’t want to really fall into one style, per se. I’m not really happy with my style at the moment. I’m almost growing tired of it. I want to have a little more expression and a voice in my work, and it’s kind of difficult to do that,” Coates said. “I never even thought that I’d like sculpting or anything physical, but I realize it’s almost cooler than drawing because I can touch my creation. It’s a whole different aspect to art.” Currently, Coates is in foundation drawing and said he finds it difficult to reach out into different styles. In the past, though, he challenged himself by attempting to draw with both hands at the same time. “I don’t really know how that came about. I was just re-coding myself drawing with my right hand and thought, ‘You know, maybe I can just transfer over to my left hand,’ so I just picked it up and started doing it. It was just like taking a drive from one computer and plugging it into another computer,” Coates said. Read more on page 22

Photo by Callie Jennings Josh Coates, 20, works on his piece “The Mushroom Warrior” in Mills Hall.

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FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Review

Hail, Caesar! or fail Caesar PHILLIP CARWANE Staff Sports Writer pcarwane@unca.edu

The Coen brothers, Joel and Ethan, returned to the big screen Friday with the period piece set around a post World War II movie studio, Hail, Caesar!. The usual cast of characters and character actors fill the quirky story and beautifully-conceived and filmed scenes. The first red flag arises when the viewer looks at the calendar. The winter months after holiday vacations hide bad films like pedestrians in Minnesota. Of the few people who see them, even fewer expect to be pleasantly surprised by what they find. But the Coen Brothers are filmmaking icons, deserving a closer look. For those who love film, a trip through the Coen’s library of movies is a must. Films like Fargo and The Big Lebowski transcend the medium of film and live as part of the American lexicon. Hail, Caesar! pales in comparison to the Coens’ previous works. The film delivers all of the components skillfully, but it’s like a Ferrari with no bat-

tery; can that really be considered a great car? The main story surrounds Eddie Mannix, a studio executive played by Josh Brolin. Mannix deftly handles the daily obstacles of running a 1950s Hollywood studio, cranking out multiple pictures with a stable of stars and their individual proclivities. The setting of the various films in production allows the Coens to shoot scenes in the genres of the era. Channing Tatum plays a singing sailor, about to be shipped out, in a funny musical number akin to South Pacific. Scarlett Johansson plays a bathing beauty in a comedic recreation of Esther Williams and the synchronized swimming routines that once were very popular in film. Alden Ehrenreich plays a singing cowboy who performs lasso tricks but may not be leading man material, thanks to his southern twang. All of these scenes are fantastic recreations of their historical counterparts. The Coens collaborate with Roger Deakins, the best cinematographer in the business, to give the audience a visual artwork worthy of all of their names.

The Ferrari is beautiful. The problem is under the hood. The story turns when Baird Whitlock, George Clooney dressed as a Roman, falls prey to kidnappers. Mannix must fend off nosy gossip writers, twin sisters played by Tilda Swinton, and keep the studio’s productions from getting stalled, all while being headhunted by another large corporation seeking a new CEO. The internal tension of Mannix’s decision tries to make the character more relatable and the farce more real, but it fails the way the external tension of the kidnapping fails--nothing is truly at stake. Mannix must decide between the job that gives him enjoyment and a job offer that will make him filthy rich. The decision provides as much tension as deciding what flavor ice cream to buy, for those of us not lactose intolerant. Jeff Lewis, who seemed to be cast as a guy who wouldn’t intimidate anyone, and Wayne Knight of Seinfeld fame play the lurking extras who drug Clooney’s character, Whitlock, and deliver him to a luxury home overlooking the ocean. He awakens to find himself in Read more on page 23

‘Orange is the New Black actress set to speak on LGBT issues STEPHANIE SMITH Contributor

Lea DeLaria, a comedian and actress, will speak on LGBT issues and her experience in the entertainment industry in Lipinsky Auditorium at 7 p.m., March 30. DeLaria will be the second cast member from “Orange is the New Black” to visit UNC Asheville. Laverne Cox gave a talk in March 2014. Underdog Productions, UNCA’s student-run programming board, takes advantage of opportunities to bring speakers and performers that touch on social justice issues to campus, said Toan To, assistant director of student activities. “We like to do fun things, but there’s no reason why we couldn’t do fun things and informative things at the same time,” To said. Lila Welsh, a sophomore environmental studies student and member of Underdog Productions, said an event is considered successful as long as someone walks away educated and satisfied. In addition to representing the LGBT community, “Orange is the New Black” embraces body diversity. Izaac Bacik, a senior so-

ciology and creative writing student, said while all of the show’s characters have taught him something, he identifies most with DeLaria’s character, Big Boo. “Just having a bigger body type, it’s hard to find that confidence,” Bacik said, “and you rarely see people with a bigger body type on TV in a really human role.” To said he recognizes events regarding social justice issues tend to attract individuals who are already dedicated to the cause. Regardless, he said he hopes all attendees can learn from DeLaria’s experiences. Cox’s talk, “Ain’t I A Woman: My Journey to Womanhood,” explored her identity and struggles as a transgender woman of color. Lipinsky Auditorium filled completely. Bacik said he sees DeLaria’s visit to campus being just as important. “The main message that I think every ‘Orange is the New Black’ character has to give is love and acceptance,” Bacik said. “It’s just really great to hear from a diverse group of people, that same core message.” To said the doors will open at 6 p.m. A Q&A period will follow DeLaria’s talk.

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16 FEBRUARY 9, 2016

SGA

Pink Game From page 2

“This meeting is not for you.” Maya Newlin cause of the emotional response to it by SGA, that was layered over this other thing that was going on,” Haggard said. “There was anger and suspicion, and I think it was a perfect storm.” According to Haggard, active communication was a necessary solution to creating a functioning relationship between the Blue Banner and SGA. James Neal, editor-in-chief of the Blue Banner and Newlin met for a discussion mediated by Haggard and Robert Straub, director of international student services. “The two leaders came together to have a conversation to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again,” Haggard said. “It’s all about communication and building relationships.” The main cause of the rift Wednesday evening was the meeting following SGA’s regular assembly. According to Haggard, the meeting was a learning opportunity facilitated by his staff, not at an official student government meeting. “There was an SGA meeting that began and ended,” Haggard said. “The gathering that happened after that was not an official SGA meeting. There was no legislation discussed, there were no votes there was no action taken; there was no business.” This was not apparent to Blue Banner staff present on Wednesday evening. Prior to the meeting’s start time, the room was occupied by student government officials and other students. Around 9 p.m., the students and Newlin went to the room next door and conducted a separate meeting. “I don’t know,” Flack said, when asked about the meeting next door. “We are waiting for our faculty advisor. He’s run-

ning late.” Suspicious, Karr inquired further. After opening the door to the separate meeting, Karr was refused entry. “This meeting is not for you,” Newlin said. At 9:45 p.m., Newlin and the other students who were in the side meeting returned and the official assembly began 45 minutes after its planned starting time. Two bills were passed during the assembly, both of which were resignations. With these bills being the only business on the agenda, the meeting adjourned after 15 minutes. It was at this time that members of the SGA, the other students and the administrators moved to the Grotto. Blue Banner staff questioned multiple students and SGA about the nature of the second meeting, but received no comment, and were restricted from entering the Grotto. Dahlia Hylton, director of UNCA’s Intercultural Center and of Multicultural Student Programs, communicated briefly. When asked if the meeting was a public forum and if it was an SGA meeting, Hylton replied that it was neither. The refusal to comment on the first meeting, the brevity of the primary assembly and the lack of comment going into the second meeting led Blue Banner staff present to perceive these actions as an attempt to circumvent Blue Banner coverage of SGA events. It was not the staff’s impression that the SGA was up to any malicious business, just that they did not trust the Banner to report sensitive material after last week’s incorrect article. Haggard said the grotto meeting should not have been scheduled to immediately follow

SGA’s regular session. “Nothing bad happened and no laws were broken or anything, but there was obviously a perception issue,” Haggard said. “That other meeting should not have happened on the same night as an SGA meeting because of the perception of going into closed session, which is not what happened.” The SGA and the Banner have since met and resolved the misunderstanding. The next step is to repair the relationship. According to Ketcham, such a repair is in the best interest of the student body. “It is water under the bridge at this point, we just want to move forward,” said Ketcham. “I want to be a part of the solution.” Ketcham also said a functioning relationship between the Banner and the SGA is integral to the representatives’ success at reaching their constituents, and will set a precedent that ensures transparency. “Students have every right to know what SGA is doing,” Ketcham said. “Because students are more or less doing their business, going to classes and doing their academics, they’re not going to be able to, each and every one of them, follow up on our activities. So that’s where the Banner comes in.” Ketcham’s point that the students have a right to know what is going on in the SGA was also expressed by Pablo Best, a sophomore student from Charlotte. “It’s super important for you all to cover what they’re doing. Otherwise, who has time to go to their meetings?” Best said. “It’s important that we know what they’re doing because they are supposed to be representing us.”

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their lungs with anticipation as the Bulldogs scored 14 points in the 5 minute overtime period. Tianna Knuckles, UNCA junior guard, led the team with 20 points, followed by Major with 16. Ja’Da Bray-

boy, junior guard, and Bronaza Fitzgerald, sophomore center, each contributed 11 points toward Asheville’s victory. The Bulldog’s will be traveling to Farmville, Virginia to face Longwood University on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Coping From page 5

den, they’re in college and they realize that doesn’t work anymore. So, that means they have to develop study habits that they’ve never had to develop before,” Cutspec said. Jason Wingert, 38, teaches anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology at UNCA. Coping strategies, ones learned and not learned, signify the most important elements of a student’s stress, the associate professor said. “We learn coping strategies by watching our families,” Wingert said. “That might be parents or siblings.” Coping strategies include the ability to see problems clearly and to react rationally. Synthesizing and executing an appropriate response to challenge reflects an ideal coping strategy, according to Wingert, a Washington University alumnus. A student’s social support system presents another important factor. The relationship between faculty and students comprise aspects both professional and practical, Wingert said, including both academic and broader life advice. Wingert said a professor may be appropriate for life

advice but not for counseling, and that college represents a chance to identify personal issues and undergo great personal growth. “In college, there is a counseling center right on campus. A big part of growing is identifying our own weaknesses and taking this opportunity to grow,” he said. Wingert added free resources abound at UNCA for those who seek help,. “There are lots of resources available at a college campus that, quite frankly, aren’t available when a person leaves,” Wingert said. He added many people on campus miss this opportunity to grow. “Many people continue to struggle their whole lives and never address those issues,” Wingert said. The keys to success in college include clear thinking and a receptive mind, according to UNCA faculty. Optimism comes naturally when contemplating the future of UNCA students, Wingert said. “There’s a ton of hope. I feel like this semester I have my best students ever.”

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FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Diverse ence within diversity.” "There has to be recognition of cultural differences without one culture's coercion over another," Zunguze said. Nodding in agreement is not the end-goal of acknowledging diversity — rather, finding comfort within differences, Zunguze said. “As a person of privilege, I have learned much by listening to others,” said panelist Heidi Kelley, professor of sociology

From page 3

and anthropology. Silence became an important concept to Kelley after she suffered a stroke in 1998. Kelley said she realized then how disempowering it is to be silenced as a person. "The world is not static. It is always changing, and you can be confronted with the same old things in a different guise," said panelist Landon Ward, environmental studies lecturer. Ward said he chose to discuss

Stalking had been cyber-stalked before. I guess I knew it was a thing but I didn’t really, get it, I guess? I didn’t understand how it was a thing, or the tactics and things like that,” Griffin said. McCrory’s announcement even came as a surprise to people not originally from North Carolina, said freshman Lila Sheon, a freshman from Washington D.C.

the word assumption during the conversation. In the past, people have made harmful assumptions about him due to the color of his skin. "Racism is a three-headed hydra. You can cut one head off, but they will always grow back," Ward said. The keyword conversation was the third of four sessions funded by a $4,000 grant in order to discuss race and promote inclusion and equity.

“We want to equip you with intellect required to initiate change," Ruffin said. "There is no point in this unless you are willing to act." Ruffin said she experiences a welcoming and supportive atmosphere as a faculty member at UNCA, but she has sometimes experienced microaggressions and resistance from students and peers. "I am very optimistic. I do think the university could do

more in terms of what we can do to promote an anti-racist curriculum," Ruffin said. "One diversity intensive course may not be enough." Ruffin will moderate a discussion following a screening of the PBS production America After Charleston on Feb. 15. The event is organized by the Multicultural Student Programs office.

From page 3

“(McCrory’s announcement) surprises me in a way because he's a piece of shit to women and is passing all sorts of abortion restrictions, but that's actually pretty cool of him,” Sheon said. Sheon said she based her reaction on McCrory’s previous legislation. It’s a step in the right direction, said Moffitt,who, as Title

IX Administrator, is all too familiar with the problem. “Anything that brings attention to violent behavior is always going to move our agenda to eradicate sexual violence,” Moffitt said. To most, stalking remains a problem of the famous, but to Sheon, the harsh reality is that it’s something that could affect anyone.

Sustainability Real Food Challenge, an organization petitioning campus dining programs to include at least 20 percent “real” food by 2020. “Real” food, according to Hutchens, ideally includes locally- and humanely-sourced, sustainably-farmed, fair-trade organic food, which might seem like a large order for Chartwells, UNCA’s food service provider. “Compass Group, of which Chartwells is a subsidiary, brings in roughly as much money as McDonald’s globally, and nobody has ever heard of them,” Hutchens said. Hutchens worked on the Real Food Challenge while enrolled at UNCA and then became a fellow with the organization before assuming her current role

“I feel like we have this schema that stalkers are creepy men standing in the bushes outside your house when in reality it could be much different,” Shelon said. “To me, the Internet has blurred the lines between what's stalking and what's just, like, looking at people’s profiles.” While it may be common to over share information on pub-

lic profiles, Griffin said he urges people to watch how much they post on their social media. “It’s really easy, and that’s scary. It’s really easy to cyber-stalk someone, which is upsetting because you’d like to think your social media stuff is secure and you can feel safe in what you post, but clearly not,” Griffin said.

From page 4

in the organization. Hutchens and the students she worked with were close to getting a commitment from Anne Ponder, former UNCA chancellor, before her retirement in 2014. With the change in chancellors came the necessity to form new relationships among the university’s administration, slowing progress significantly. Now partnered with the SEC, Hutchens and the Real Food Challenge are working with Chartwells to provide less-processed food options at Brown Hall. “We’ve had a great experience with Chartwells at UNCA; they were always willing to talk to us,” Hutchens said. “They definitely are doing work to source sustainably and mostly

local food.” Despite this, Hutchens said it is important for students to remain vigilant and active about the dining program in order to facilitate actual change in Chartwells’ corporate-structured food program. When reached for comment, all Chartwells staff, including the food program auditor, declined to speak on record due to legally binding confidentiality agreements. “At the end of the day, it’s important that students run the campaign, because you’re the ones spending money on food, and you should decide how that money is spent,” Hutchens said. Photo by Zena Zangwill Nina Hendrickson showing the dorm room compost bin.

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Snow few years, but a major event like the one occurring this year is rarer, according to Schreck. “This winter, the water temperature anomaly was one of the warmest on record, if not the warmest ever, with waters of the Pacific running 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than normal,” Noel said. Schreck and Noel said 19971998 was a good year for El Niño data, which is the only other record of weather similar

From page 4

to the 2016 snowstorm. “Because we only had one such event in the past close to this year's strength, we're in uncharted territory, meteorology-wise,” Noel said. Schreck said during occurrences of El Niño, the Southeastern U.S. typically sees much cooler and wetter weather. “The jet stream usually dips farther south over the U.S., which makes it cooler and also puts us on a common storm

track from the Gulf Coast up to the Northeast,” Schreck said. Noel said these storms are extremely dependent on how much cold air is available. “We're far south, so we need to rely on perfect timing to get major winter storms in Asheville like what we saw this weekend,” Noel said. The jet stream is still moving at a fast rate, and more snowstorms are possible, according to Schreck.

Gun and was sent pictures of hunters posing next to dead animals. “That was old hat to me, but they think that’s intimidating,” Ready said. “But I will tell you I had about a thousand other replies that were very nice.”

Sheriff Van Duncan said he is not a member of the National Rifle Association. Duncan said he received a cold call from the NRA after the Waco Siege in which the caller sympathized with David Ko-

resh, the leader of the Branch Davidians who were raided. According to North Carolina firearm laws, it became legal in 2013 to bring a gun onto the property of a public school in North Carolina if the gun is

inside a locked compartment inside a locked vehicle. Eris Dardha, a senior management student from Albania, said people need special permission to own guns in her home country and believes it

is wrong for it to be so easy to own a gun in the United States. “I think it’s scary, because you never know who you’re talking to,” Dardha said. “You never know what’s going to happen the next day.”

From page 6

skills, I would say my cramming skills, those have definitely improved,” said Kenzie Martin, a member of a Marine expeditionary unit. “I mean, after studying surface warfare and air warfare all in seven months, oh my god, I can learn anything

Gang Violence What happens to that person? That person still needs to make a living. That person still needs to provide themselves and their families with shelter and food. They turn to the only paths available to them in the country we live in. They turn to the gangs that provide them with a semblance of community. Gangs provide a sense of camaraderie and friendship.

the area,” Noel said. Miller said the atmospheric science department also launches weather balloons during winter precipitation events. “When we get these Southern storms, there are a lot of different types of precipitation that we can experience. It’s not really known how the mountains will affect the atmosphere and impact the precipitation type,” Miller said.

From page 5

Veterans Soldiers from all branches of the military funnel into the system as a means of bolstering themselves for their next fouryear engagement. “I feel like I’ve always been a serious student, but as far as [my service] improving my study

“We live in such a marginal area for snow. We have to get the right combination of cold and precipitation,” Schreck said.“If the storm track is too far north, we'll get cold rain. If it's too far south, we'll just get flurries.” Noel said more storms could be on the way. “Since the subtropical jet stream isn't slowing down until this summer, we can expect more storms to come through

in seven months.” William Jackson, a sophomore former Navy crewman, worked with South Korean forces to observe and record North Korean missile launches. “That’s another reason to

join something that you have some kind of association with, because they get you,” Jackson said. “A lot of students on campus, they’re not going to relate to the experiences I have, and the only thing I could relate to them with was high school, and

that was years ago.” Jackson said it is important to find other people who understand where you have been and what you have gone through, especially after being in a such an intense group like the Navy.

From page 6

sense of family and purpose that is lost in the hopelessness and despair that is the reality for so many. In the interest of fairness, I’ve also seen vast kindness and rallying in the same communities. I’ve watched friends and families come together to grieve and to forgive. I’ve seen cookouts and family meals where people make the best of

their situations. The violence is still present, but the people of the communities find hope in the darkest hours. I’ve seen church services where people weep and where people laugh. Things have a peculiar way of working out, and if we join together to fight the police brutality and the gang violence, if we join together to fight addiction and pain, we can rise

above. We can make a difference, but this isn’t about me. This is about them. Until we let their voices be heard and actually listen to what they have to say, nothing will change. I was fortunate to only witness these tragedies. I can’t even begin to imagine having the strength required to live through them.

There is a problem, America. This isn’t white guilt, this is reality. This is the blank stare of a dead child reflecting the death and destruction around him, as his friends and neighbors fight for survival in a world that has done nothing but screw them over.

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FEBRUARY 9, 2016

By Larisa Karr | Features Editor | lakarr@unca.edu

beat from the Street

Many stories lurk throughout Asheville, whether they are behind the Vaudevillian jazz-folk played by buskers around Pritchard Park, the colorful businesses decorated with funky, hand-made crafts or the laughter echoing from a patio as locals and tourists alike enjoy delicious beer. Annie Eodice, 23, waitress at Woolworths, originally from New Rochelle, NY

If you were to describe your style in three words, which three words would you choose? “To be honest with you, I really don’t know. I wear a lot of black because that’s what I have to wear at work, and I actually really like it.” Black is great. “Black is really great.” If you could go back into any decade, just solely for the style and the lifestyle, which one would you choose and why? Mauro Nieto, 37, handyman/ aspiring teacher originally from Guadalajara, Mexico What would you like to teach? “I devoted to teaching environmental science. Are you going to teach in Asheville or some other place? “It would be tricky because it’s very competitive here. People with style don’t get to teach. It’s probably going to be more in the outer areas somewhere here.” Did you here recently, or...? “I moved here when I younger looking. No, just kidding. I moved here 10 years ago, 12

years ago. Yes, when Asheville was cool.” Yeah. Now it’s getting a little bit overrated. “Well it’s still cool. It’s just not as cool.” Yeah. How would you describe your style, like how would you describe this look? “I like to think, I never think about that stuff. Oh my god. See the funniest thing is that, the interesting thing is that I don’t have time to wear different things and to look for things to wear, and so I just find something cool. I have many of these brown pants, like,

Photos by Aymeric Assemat Nicholas Erik Whyte, 25, junior accounting student, originally from Chapel Hill

How would you describe your style? “Goodwill. I mean, I don’t really know if this is a style. I just wear what I wear.” What kind of colors do you primarily like to wear? “I like grey, brown.” So like basic neutrals kind of? “Yeah.” What would you say in terms of creative inspiration like music or art, what do you enjoy or look up to?

“Well, I like music a lot, just like underground. I like classical art, like Monet, and, I don’t know. I like a lot of stuff.” What would you say in terms of a personal motto, if you have one everyday that you wake up and say to yourself in order to get through the day or a philosophy you live by? “Do whatever I want.” Do whatever you want. What is one thing that you hate and is one thing that you like about Asheville? “I hate how built up it’s gotten. I feel like there’s not any locals left really, and if there

are, all my friends are moving out, and what I love about Asheville is all the breweries, just like there’s a lot of shit to do in a small-ass town, a lot of cool bands.” What’s your favorite venue? “I like The Mothlight, and probably, The Grey Eagle used to be, but I don’t really like bluegrass that much though.” Yeah. Yeah. It’s gotten a little, eh, iffy. “Yeah.”