The Blue Banner issue 4

Volume 50, Issue 4

B

The

B

Thursday, February 19, 2009

www.thebluebanner.net

University of North Carolina Asheville

i m n g2 o c e m

a p g e 9 2 0 0

Ho

E c ho liv e u l B e

g e a 1 p 1 se

Th

meet

rocky!

Rocky photos courtesy of Matt Rose

News Thursday, Februray 19, 2009

Homecoming basketball preview page 15 {The Blue Banner}

homecoming Thursday

2009

(Saturday continued)

12:30 p.m.

Annual Homecoming parade & pep rally

at University Heights

2 - 3 p.m.

Intercultural Center ribbon cutting

Highsmith University Union, suite 114

7 - 9 p.m.

Black Student Association fashion show

(donations appreciated, but not required)

Highsmith University Union, Alumni Hall

2-4 p.m.

Women’s basketball vs High Point

Justice Center

Homecoming court announced during

halftime.

4:30-6:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball vs Coastal Carolina

Justice Center

Halftime events include an introduction of

the 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees and

the official first appearance of the UNC

Asheville’s newest live bulldog mascot,

Rocky I.

6-8 p.m.

Alumni art show reception

Highsmith University Union Gallery

8 p.m.

Oxymorons improv troupe

Highsmith University Union, The Grotto

8-10 p.m.

Alumni gathering

Wild Wing Cafe, 161 Biltmore Ave.

8-10 p.m.

Alumni & graduating seniors reception at

Hookah Joe’s, 38 N French Broad St.

Refreshments provided, cash bar.

Friday

Saturday

10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Homecoming dance

Nashwa, 38 N French Broad St.

Refreshments provided, cash bar. No cost for

entry.

Sunday

11:30 a.m.

Donning of the Stoles 12-2 p.m.

Highsmith University Union, Alumni Hall

Pregame tailgate party

The university honors the contributions of

Karpen Hall parking lot 12 five faculty members.

Bring a grill or stop by the 2009 year marks the 25th year of service at

alumni tent for a free hot dog, hamburger or

UNC Asheville for Dolly and Dwight

veggie burger. Soft drinks and Mullen, Dee and Charles James and

water provided. BYOB (beer & wine

Anita White-Carter.

only)

vs.

Page 2

Tailgating, dancing and dogs kick off Homecoming

By David Milton Staff Writer

demilton@unca.edu

Plans for UNC Asheville’s Homecoming includes tailgating, honoring distinguished professors and revealing a live bulldog mascot, UNCA officials said.

“There is something I’m looking forward to being bigger this year, and that is the tailgating,” said Kevin Frasier, vice chancellor of alumni affairs. “Saturday we kick off with tailgating from noon until two, at the parking lot behind Karpen Hall.”

Now in its third year, tailgating precedes Saturday basketball games and is a successful, new tradition for Homecoming events Frasier said.

The university will offer free hot dogs and hamburgers, but students and alumni can bring their own grills and beer if they wish.

“You are allowed to bring your own beer, but no liquor of any kind, and we will be checking for identification of students to make sure they are of age,” said Sarah Giavedoni, a staff programming intern who is helping coordinate Homecoming events. “I came last year as a student and really enjoyed it.”

Along with tailgating, there will be several other events prior to Saturday’s games.

On Thursday at 12:30 p.m., the Homecoming parade and pep rally runs on University Heights.

The parade will feature floats from the Student Government Association and all three of the Greek organizations, Giavedoni said.

Thursday also marks the opening of a new intercultural center in the Highsmith Student Union. In the evening, the Black Student Association holds a fashion show in Alumni Hall at 7 p.m.

See HOMECOMING Page 7

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 3

Every dog has his day

After almost 30 years, a new bulldog arrives at UNCA

By Aaron Dahlstrom Editor-in-Chief

ardahlst@unca.edu

When Rocky walks out onto the court at the Homecoming game Saturday, he will look a little different than the mascot that students usually see.

This Rocky has a white coat and black spots instead of the solid gray known to most students.

He is also a real bulldog.

The fifth live mascot at the university, Rocky follows in the pawed footsteps of his predecessors.

“The first one was Puck in 1948,” said Kevan Frazier, associate vice chancellor for alumni relations. “He was named after the character in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

There was a second Puck some years later.

Then in the 1960s and early 1970s there was a third bulldog, Chuga-lug. And in the mid to late ‘80s, there was, I think, for only about a year, Winston. So it’s been a tradition that we’ve had, but not one we’ve kept up. So we’re

really excited that we’re going to be bringing the bulldog back.”

The process of acquiring a live dog as the university’s mascot was a lengthy one involving students, faculty and alumni. A student group proposed the idea to the university nearly two years ago, according to Bill Massey, vice chancellor for Alumni and Development.

“That group did a very admirable amount of research,” Massey said. “Very thoughtful care was taken to ensure that a live mascot would be a good thing, not only for the campus experience, but for the dog itself. It allowed us to express some of the values of the institution, such as the care that would be given to the mascot.”

Rocky is actually a rescue dog, adding to the university’s eagerness to provide a suitable environment for a live animal, according to Massey.

“The fact that the dog is a rescue dog means that we have been able to assist finding a very meaningful life for a dog whose former family found themselves unable to continue their good care,” he said.

Rocky originally came from Alabama, where he was

given to a rescue organization.

They sent Rocky to a different rescue organization in Georgia, according to math department lecturer and Rocky caretaker Ed Johnson, who adopted Rocky after finding him on the Web. “My theory is that someone paid probably a good amount of money for Rocky,” Johnson said. “He was probably just so Rocky adorable as a puppy that he lived in someone’s lap and on their couch. As he got larger and larger, suddenly that became unmanageable.”

When Johnson first met Rocky, he immediately knew the dog would be a perfect fit for UNC Asheville.

“It was pretty clear to me that he was an extremely friendly dog, but that he had never had any normal training whatsoever,” Johnson said. “He wasn’t poorly disciplined. He was completely undisciplined.”

Johnson and his wife Alexis, both UNCA alums, share ownership of Rocky, who is a Victorian bulldog.

Victorian bulldogs differ from the classic English bulldog in that they are taller, more athletic and have less health issues than their English counterparts, according to Johnson.

“The Victorian bulldog is a relatively new breed,” Johnson said. “It is an attempt to recapture the athleticism and stature of the bulldogs of the 18th and 19th century.”

Students hoping to get a glimpse of Rocky get their

See ROCKY Page 7

Mascots through the ages 1948 - 1987

Puck I

Puck II

Chug-a-lug

Winston

Photos courtesy of University Publications

Habitat builds futures for families Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 4

By Lorin Mallorie Staff Writer

lmmallor@unca.edu

UNC Asheville joins Habitat for Humanity to combat poverty housing in the community, providing a humanitarian philosophy the university strives to instill in all its students.

“The aim of Habitat is to end poverty housing. Obviously, that’s sort of a utopian notion but, what an idealistic thing,” said Merritt Moseley, UNCA’s Habitat chapter faculty advisor. “If you don’t have some kind of idealism, you never do anything at all.”

Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1983 as an independent affiliate for the national faction. Currently, the chapter is building in the Enka Hills subdivision, which, upon completion, will house 55 Habitat families.

Recently, Habitat mourned the loss of its founder, Millard Fuller, 74. Fuller made his first million before turning 30, and soon after, sold everything he owned, donated all his money to the poor and moved to Africa with his wife, said officials.

There, they began “partnership housing,” working with locals to build simple housing for their poorest neighbors. The Fullers established Habitat for Humanity International upon their return to the U.S. in 1976, according to the organization.

Moseley is a humanities professor and director of the Key Center. Already the Habitat volunteer coordinator at his church, Moseley became faculty advisor Ian Shannon - Staff Photography when a student in his class restarted the Volunteers hammer away at the women-only house at the Enka Hills build site Saturday.

UNCA Habitat chapter a few years ago.

In his 31 years at the university, Mo- things that can take off appendages,” said ing, Bove said. In addition, with chapters and ready to do it again, and amazed that, seley said he mostly teaches Humanities Katherine Bove, 21, a senior Spanish ma- all over the nation, students can stay in- yes, we can do this, ”she said.

124: The Ancient World. Humanitarian jor and president of the organization’s volved with Habitat even when they leave According to Clark, foremen ask workoutreach is evident throughout human his- UNCA chapter.

Asheville. ers to volunteer for each task. tory from Christian morality to ancient “I first got involved in Habitat because “Those are the groups to get involved “We don’t want anybody to go too far Egyptian law, he said.

I recognized the name, and I thought, if in while you’re a student because they can out of their comfort zone but, I do encour“In the ancient world, philosophy I recognize it, maybe it would be a good take you so much farther than university age stretching a little bit, because it’s a wasn’t a thing you thought; it was a way thing to stick on my resume,” she said. campus,” Bove said. good time to try new things,” Clark said. you lived,” Moseley said.

Once she became involved, Bove said Robin Clark, 49, is a foreman for the Foremen are surprised at how steadily A humanities program which provokes she came to deeply respect the organiza- 2009 Women Build project underway at students work because they often finish thought and moves people in the direction tion.

Habitat’s Enka Hills site. Last Saturday, their tasks early, Moseley said. of wisdom should have some impact on “You get to work alongside the people the all-female crew raised the first wall for At UNCA, some humanities instructors student community philanthropy, accord- you’re helping,” she said. the house promised to a young Ukrainian require students to complete service learning to the professor.

According to Bove, recipients of Habi- couple and their children. ing for credit, Moseley said. This semes“There’s a very robust nonprofit sector tat housing have to work “sweat equity Owner of her own renovation company, ter his class plans to volunteer for Manna here,” Moseley said. “If you want to help hours” on theirs or neighbors’ houses, Robin Clark Renovations, Habitat recruit- Food Bank and Greenworks. other people, there’s no reason not to be- serving as a kind of down payment on ed her in the ‘90s for her skills as a fore“A thoughtful person who takes humancause there is somebody working on every their already low mortgage rate. man. ities ought to be provoked into thinking type of project you can think of.”

Another benefit is meeting people in “It’s really neat to see people come who about what human beings owe each other, “It’s really a very welcoming environ- the community, which makes the volun- have no idea what’s going on, and by the See HABITAT Page 9 ment, even though you’re working with teer work good for community network- time, they leave they are so pumped up

COPLAC finds home at UNCA Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 5

By Michelle Peck Staff Writer

mwpeck@unca.edu

UNC Asheville now hosts the national headquarters for the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. A national search committee named UNCA history professor and director of the Masters of Liberal Arts Program Bill Spellman COPLAC’s first full-time executive director.

“UNC Asheville is a founding member of COPLAC, and hosting this national organization will bring new attention to our undergraduate liberal arts mission,” Spellman said. “UNC Asheville will advance its reputation as an important voice in the national conversation about the value of liberal arts education in the 21st century.”

Spellman assumes his duties March 1.

He will be responsible for programming, external representation and communications for COPLAC. “As director, I will be focusing on developing new learning opportunities for students and faculty at the 25 COPLAC institutions,” Spellman said. “These may include study away student exchanges, theme-based summer courses, short-term faculty exchanges and possible undergraduate research conferences.”

Spellman started teaching at UNCA in 1988, serving as UNCA’s campus representative to COPLAC since 2001.

“For me the public liberal arts option represents access and opportunity, the democratization of the liberal arts experience,” Spellman said. “Students should be able to attend public universities that emphasize close student-faculty interaction, small class size, interdisciplinary study, service learning and undergraduate research. The liberal arts college experience should not be limited to the private sector.”

Spellman holds a doctorate in history from Syracuse University.

He received awards including UNCA’s Distinguished Teacher Award and the Ruth and Leon Feldman Professorship for scholarship and service.

“I am hopeful that students will be able to take advantage of semester and yearlong exchanges at member campuses,” Spellman said. “We also plan to develop a COPLAC electronic undergraduate research journal and perhaps sponsor regional undergraduate research conferences.”

Raft Guide School 1 Week Session from Feb. 28 - March 7 or 4 Consecutive Weekends Starts March 14 Local Companies Recruit Our Graduates!

828.713.7666 www.RiverRightInstruction.com

Susan Terry - Staff Photographer

Bill Spellman begins his position as COPLAC’s executive director in March.

Students share Spellman’s enthusiasm on the potential benefits of COPLAC at UNCA. “I would love to be a part of an exchange program with other campuses,” business student John Savard said. “UNCA’s liberal arts requirements can be demanding, but at the same time, it is good for us to have a more rounded education than other schools. I think by COPLAC being here it will give students a better understanding of liberal arts.”

UNCA Junior Maureen McManus agrees with Savard and plans to learn more about COPLAC and its benefits.

“I love that UNCA is a liberal arts

school,” McManus said. “I like dabbling in everything rather than being intensely focused on one thing. Also, I love the interaction rather than just doing research all the time.”

According to students, COPLAC’s plan to increase their involvement on and away from UNCA is hopeful.

“I can use COPLAC to my advantage,” McManus said. “If these institutions are championing the cause of liberal arts education, I think it will help me out in the long run, even after I get out of school. ” Students said they are proud having a UNCA native as a national representative.

Can you feel the Lovefest tonight?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 6

SGA sponsors weeklong love-themed festival

By Rhys Baker Staff Writer

rdbaker@unca.edu

UNC Asheville students participating in last week’s Lovefest enjoyed several events about STD awareness.

Organizations planned Lovefest around Valentine’s Day, with events running for a week.

“It’s about defining love from the aspect of healthy relationships, any form of relationship. Besides healthy relationships, it’s about being physically and emotionally safe,” said Jennie Burrowes, an intern with Hillel, a Jewish campus organization, and president of Peers Advocating Wellness Strategies who provided the ubiquitous condom roses and Hershey Kiss roses during Lovefest.

The kiss is an alternative for those who choose to be abstinent, Burrowes said.

“Lovefest is a week where several organizations on campus put on events and put up tables that deal with student relationships and love. And there are also teddy bears,” said Heather Leah, Underdog Productions intern and president of the campus volunteer group, Get Up & Go! Get Up & Go is a student organization, which focuses on a compassionate atmosphere through volunteer work, According to Leah.

“We made two teddy bears. I had a cat with a raincoat and a dog with a race car outfit,” said freshman Jade-Maeggy Massanga.

On Friday, the organization celebrated National Free Hugs Day and provided blank Valentine’s Day cards at the Sweetheart’s Carnival.

The Sweetheart’s Carnival, in addition to the build-a-bear event, was a U.P.sponsored soiree. Carnival attendees enjoyed carnival games, prizes, a chocolate fountain and the comedic talent of Kyle Grooms, according to junior and U.P. intern Ryan Deal.

“I got to answer questions about STDs, and I got them all right,” said freshman Ivy Chappell about the Lovefest event: Do You Know Your Sexually Transmitted Diseases? She won a rubber duck.

Hillel, Intercultural Studies and SGA invited speaker Scott Fried for a talk entitled “AIDS, Love, and the Secret Lives of College Students.”

“He’s an openly HIV-positive, Jewish, homosexual male,” said Steven Quinn, junior and executive of public relations for SGA. “He did his talk about living with

HIV and how much it affected his life. He shared personal stories and experiences he had. He talked about choices that people make in life based on responsibility in their personal relationships. I feel it gave insight into how much HIV affects one’s life.”

“Sticker a Friend Day” was Quinn’s favorite Lovefest event. There were three stickers representing three sexual practices. A smiling heart sticker represented protected sex, an earth sticker represented abstinence and a heart adorned with squiggles represented unprotected sex.

Using UNCA statistics, SGA and PAWS gave stickers to students in proportion to the number of UNCA students who practice the behaviors. According to the statistics, 45 percent practice protected sex, 30 percent unprotected and 25 percent abstinence.

“We told the students it was national Ian Shannon - Staff Photography ‘Sticker a Friend’ day but we did not tell Cliff Hedrick and Catherine DeBroder, below, participate in Lovefest games. them what it meant until the next day,” Quinn said. ronment, the Western North Carolina AIDS teach women about reducing HIV/ AIDS The first Lovefest occured three years Project, UP, Black Students Association, and sexually risky behaviors. Accordago when Quinn was a freshman. The Student Activities and Integrative Learn- ing to Harnes, the WNCAP serves about original goal of the planning team he ing, Sigma Nu, Alpha Xi Delta, Active Stu- 320 people infected with HIV in Western worked with was establishing a coalition dents and the Student Health & Counseling North Carolina. of organizations for the event.

Center participated in Lovefest.

“I’m known as the rubber man because SGA, The Intercultural Center, PAWS, It is a program of five two-hour sessions we put 140,000 condoms out in the comHillel, Active Students for a Healthy Envi- sponsored by WNCAP and designed to munity last year,” he said.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Homecoming Continued

from

Page 7

Page 2

The Oxymorons, a local improvisational group, performs Friday at the Grotto.

Matt Rose - Contributing Photographer

Rocky poses next to the mascot statue outside of the Justice Gym.

Rocky

Continued

from

Page 3

chance Saturday during the men’s basketball game against Coastal Carolina, where he makes his official debut at halftime.

Other appearances for Rocky are in the works, but the school is planning his use cautiously, not wanting to overexpose him or keep in constantly in the public, according to Massey.

The school kept the mascot a secret until recently, with only the few involved in the process actually seeing Rocky. Still, he made an impression on everyone he met.

“People just break into a big smile,” Massey said. “As soon as you see Rocky, you can’t help but think that having a live mascot is a tradition that just builds on our strength as a university.”

“Friday we’re going to have the alumni art reception at the Highsmith gallery,” Frasier said. “Also that evening we are having alums meet at Wild Wing Café.”

On Saturday, the women’s basketball team plays against High Point at 2 p.m.

The men’s basketball game is at 4:30 p.m. At halftime of the men’s basketball game, Rocky I, UNCA’s new live bulldog mascot, makes his first appearance.

“Rocky I is the biggest new thing,” Frasier said. “He’s a rescue dog who’s about two years old. And he’s got enough training to make his public debut.”

The tradition of live bulldog mascots is not new at UNCA, but it emerges from a 20-year hiatus.

There have been four previous live bulldogs.

The first live bulldog, Puck I, debuted in 1948.

Puck I and Puck II were both dogs named after the Shakespearean character in a Midsummer’s Night Dream, Frasier said. In the 1980s, UNCA discontinued the live mascots.

The last live bulldog was Winston, who was only around for a couple of years.

“We’re looking to do this as a permanent thing,” Frasier said about Rocky I and the future of live mascots at UNCA. There are problems associated with a winter homecoming though, particularly participatory issues that would be fewer with a fall football homecoming, Frasier said.

“There are some challenges to having Homecoming in winter. It isn’t so much that it is Homecoming with basketball, as it is Homecoming in winter,” Frasier said.

However, Frasier and Giavedoni both expect a good turnout, especially for Saturday night’s dance, they said.

Historically, the dance is UNCA’s most popular Homecoming event, aside from the games.

The dance is at Nashwa, a local nightclub, and all students attending the dance are required to ride a shuttle, Frasier said.

“The dance normally draws 400 to 600 students,” Giavedoni said.

Homecoming concludes with the Donning of the Stoles in Alumni Hall on Sunday when UNCA honors Dwight and Dolly Jenkins-Mullen, Charles and Dee James and Mrs. Anita White-Carter, UNCA faculty members.

“Part of the reason I think they may be

Photo courtesy of University Publications

The student mascot Rocky cheers for UNCA at a basketball game.

celebrating mine and my colleagues’ careers is because there are some successful programs started here, particularly by my husband, geared toward African-American students’ retention rates,” said JenkinsMullen, professor of political science at UNCA. One program in particular stands out for recognition, Jenkins-Mullen said.

“We created this program, called the African-American colloquium, which was all the black professors, particularly these five, who worked with these students,” Jenkins-Mullen said. “It was geared toward community building, and in two years our retention went from the lowest to the highest.”

Jenkins-Mullen is glad the university is honoring her career, but acknowledges that diversity is still lacking at UNCA. “There are things I would like to see improve here. I would like to see the diversity increase,” she said. “There are people, such as the admissions director,

that are going to work really hard to improve the school.”

All five faculty members are AfricanAmericans and some of UNCA’s most important faculty, said Frasier.

Dwight and Jenkins-Mullen are both alumni of Atlanta University, a historically black university, and professors of political science.

Jenkins-Mullen teaches American political behavior, urban politics, women in politics and social welfare.

Dwight Mullen teaches African politics, African-American politics, civil rights and similar subjects, Jenkins-Mullen said.

“Nearly everything that has diversity, minority or multicultural in its title, he raised hell to get it,” Jenkins-Mullen said.

Homecoming weekend also includes a Black Alumni Weekend this year.

On Saturday night, One Love, the downtown Jamaican restaurant, is hosting a black alumni reception, according to the Office of Alumni Affairs.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

UNCA encourages urban renewal debate

By Cassady Sharp Assistant News Editor cbsharp@unca.edu

In the middle of a discussion-dense month about Asheville’s downtown master plan and the developing Interstate 26 connector, UNC Asheville utilizes Black History Month as an opportunity to analyze urban renewal’s effect on black communities.

“There are a lot of ways that AfricanAmerican community life is demolished through urban renewal,” said Sarah Judson, associate professor of history at UNCA. “ It feels like the interests of the real estate communities and the developers is what’s put first instead of the community’s.”

Judson’s research of urban renewal’s impact on Asheville’s black communities seems overwhelming, as she peeks out from behind a cavernous box of faded public records dating back to the 1960s.

“Right now I’m reading about a public hearing on the East Riverside Urban Renewal Project, which was actually the largest in the Southeast and had a profound impact on the African-American community,” Judson said.

Local photographer Andrea Clarke communicates this impact tonight in the Humanities Lecture Hall through photos documenting the community life of Asheville’s East End, one installment in a series of black history events focused on urban renewal’s consequences.

Mindy Thompson Fullilove, psychologist and author of Root Shock, discusses the psychological trauma members of a disrupted community experience Friday, also in the lecture hall, and A-B Tech hosts a panel discussion about urban renewal the following Sunday.

“Andrea Clarke is an amazing photographer whose dad lived in the East End,” Judson said. “The neighborhood really blew her away so she started taking photos capturing the community life. She has literally taken thousands of photos in the East End.” Clarke also lived in the Caribbean during a time of strong anti-colonialism. Judson said she hopes Clarke discusses the parallels between the black community on an island with strong anti-colonial sentiments and the East End residents.

“Many of the East End residents, whose homes and businesses were taken out by urban renewal plans, were rental tenants

Page 8

whose landlords were white,” Judson said. “There was a colonial presence felt in that community, as well, because there is an outside white source controlling their resources.”

Judson said the city condemned many homes in the East End because of their poor condition.

However, city officials should hold the landlords responsible for not maintaining and repairing their rental properties, she said.

Once a home is condemned, the city usually sells it to a developer, which is why Asheland Avenue is populated by medical office parks instead of the homes that were once there, according to Judson.

“We know there were problems with home repair, but we’re hearing from people that all they needed was a helping hand to keep up their homes, whether that be a paintbrush or loans,” said Ken Betsalel, associate professor in the political science department.

Betsalel teaches “ReStorying Communities,” a course where students listen to personal narratives from people affected by urban renewal in an effort to honor their struggle.

The class travels to the YMI Cultural Center every Wednesday to hear these stories.

“We’re not trying to rewrite history,” Betsalel said. “We’re trying to understand how history Sulkiro Song - Staff Photographer and politics are perceived by the A neighborhood child plays at Burton Street Recreation Center’s playground. people who actually lived it.”

In its second semester, Betsalel said his nate designs, and will affect homes on Asheville’s aesthetic quality.

This alternate also affects a few homes goal for the course is to maintain continu- Burton Street. on Fayetteville Street, especially if the ity between the students and the commu“This is a low income neighborNCDOT builds a sound-retaining wall. nity. hood. It these neighborhoods were expen“You saw things like this happening in Betsalel said he fears history is doomed sive condominiums, we wouldn’t think the ‘50s with Eisenhower’s Federal Highto repeat itself if the N.C. Department of about knocking them down,” Betsalel ways Act,” Judson said. “The highways Transportation takes 25 homes and a his- said. “These are people who have lived cut right through city neighborhoods to toric church on Burton Street, a predomi- there a long time and each person’s home bring suburban residents into the city to nately black neighborhood, in the depart- is their capsule that will be disrupted.” go to their jobs and then leave.” ment’s proposal for an I-26 connector.

The Asheville Chamber of Commerce According to Root Shock author FulThe proposal has three sections; one supported Section B’s Alternate the interlilove, urban renewal programs implerequiring a widening of Interstate 240, la- state connector proposal, with a bypass mented in the late ‘50s displaced nearly 2 beled Section A. Asheville City Council going under Patton Avenue. million low-income Americans, and city and the Chamber of Commerce continue Richard Lutovsky, CEO of the champlanners replaced only 3 percent of the deto debate alternate designs for Section B ber, said this alternate provides the easistroyed homes with low-income housing. and C. est solution to congested local traffic, reSee RENEWAL Page 9 Section A does not include any alter- duces gasoline emissions and maintains

Asheville blood reserves run low Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Susan Terry - Staff Photographer

Sarah Drum, a freshman from Hickory, donates blood last Tuesday. Blood reserves have less than two-day supplies for some blood types.

Red Cross in desperate need of donations

By Heide Penner Staff Writer

bmpenner@unca.edu

Severe weather across Western North Carolina prevented the collection more than 900 units of blood, placing blood donation banks in critical condition.

“Because of all the inclement weather, a lot of drives were canceled,” said Elizabeth Smith, a UNC Asheville Teaching Fellow and blood drive co-coordinator. “There are blood types that have less than a two day supply. It’s always important to give blood, but especially right now during this very critical time when we’re in desperate need of blood.”

Smith, along with other Teaching Fellows, helps run the drives, which take place four times a year. The blood drive in Highsmith University Union on Feb. 10 collected 125 units of blood.

“Giving blood saves lives,” said Sabine Moses, a Teaching Fellow and volunteer at the drive.

Every two seconds someone needs blood, according to the American Red

Cross.

“A lot of people just don’t want to take the time to do it. I think a lot of people don’t understand how important it is,” she said. “Every time you donate blood you can save up to three people’s lives.”

Certain donor eligibility requirements must be met before a person can give blood, Smith said. Donors must be in good health, at least 17 years old and no less than 110 pounds. A number of restrictions prevent people from donating.

“The restrictions are pretty specific and sometimes very strict,” she said. “There are certain countries that you go to and are automatically deferred for your lifetime.

There are some places you go to and are deferred for a year. It’s country specific and also area specific.”

Many of the countries that elicit lifetime deferments are located in Africa and house common blood diseases such as malaria and yellow fever.

People born in different countries typically cannot give blood in America, Smith said.

“I can’t donate blood because I was born in Germany, so I feel obligated to help in some way, so I volunteer,” Moses said. “I’m not offended or anything, because I understand that they need to take precautions.”

Other restrictions are implemented against homosexuals, or people who are thought to be sexually promiscuous, Moses said.

“It’s not necessarily that they’re unclean or anything, but it’s just that they’re at a higher risk to contract an STD or blood disease,” she said.

If one is approved to donate blood, Smith said they should make sure to drink plenty of fluids, eat well and avoid caffeine.

Sarah Drum, 19, said she ran into complications when she forgot to eat properly before giving.

“When I got back to my room, I felt like I was going to faint,” she said. “I ended up not passing out. I just had to continue to eat and drink and try not to get overheated the rest of the day.”

Page 9

Habitat

Continued

from

Page 4

and in particular, to those less fortunate,” he said “Although we tend to sometimes feel sorry for ourselves, college students, and even more, college faculty members, are among the more privileged people in America,” Moseley said. “For the most part, we all have a place to live and food to eat and plenty of free time in the day.

We owe something to other people.”

In addition to local builds, UNCA offers alternative spring and winter break trips, jointly organized by the Key Center and the local Habitat chapter. In March, students travel to Mississippi.

“The spring break trip is incredibly affordable,” Bove said.

With Moseley and a few other faculty members students travel south in buses and large vans, staying wherever organizers can fit them for one week.

Working hard through the day, they are free to explore the city at night, she said.

Here in Asheville, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer for Habitat, Bove said.

E-mail habitat@unca.edu for more information about volunteering

Renewal Continued

from

Page 8

“I want to be clear that the people who are spearheading urban renewal are not conspiring to steal from the black community, but it is a consequence,” Judson said. “They are very well-intentioned and they really think they are improving neighborhoods.”

Betsalel and Judson said the word ‘progress’ causes many to misinterpret urban renewal as positive for everyone in the community.

“All of a city’s people need to be a part of the conversation about urban planning,” Betsalel said. “The city is going through a lot of changes right now, not only with the bridge but also with downtown development. Hearing these stories will help to make that process more humane and to remind us of the various interests involved.”

Arts & Features Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 10

Weekly funk jam hosts all-star musicians

By Taliaferro Pollock Staff Writer

mtpolloc@unca.edu

Each Tuesday night, various artists gather at Asheville’s Emerald Lounge to combine their personal music styles into what is known as The Ashevegas All-stars Funk Jam. Since the artists change every week, the shows bring the audience a new experience at each gathering.

“The great thing about these events is that they are not competitive or pretentious at all,” said Arieh Samson, music promoter and tour manager for Asheville’s Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band. “There is a great sense of a community between the artists, and it’s more like, ‘Let’s all get together and do something positive.’”

The Emerald Lounge is in its eighth month hosting the weekly event, according to Samson.

“We wanted to hold the event on Tuesday nights because we figured it would be a great way for everyone to start off their week,” Samson said. “Not only that, but it gives people a chance to relax, forget about their day and live in the moment.”

The jam provides an escape for those in the audience and for the performers as well, he said.

“All of the pieces that are performed during The Ashevegas All-stars Funk Jam are improvisational, therefore the Ian Shannon - Staff Photographer artists see this as an opportunity Top, Asheville residents dance Tuesday night at the weekly Emerald Lounge funk jam. to really let loose and connect with Bottom, local musicians contribute to the Ashevegas Allstars Funk Band. The weekly other musicians,” said Derrick event attracts musicians from all over the region and from all disciplines.

Johnson, the trombone player for Previous artists and bands that joined in as more of a form of ‘just hanging out,’ Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band and the the funk jam include: Dirty Dozen Brass rather than an organized performance,” Asheville Horns.

Band’s Kevin Harris, The Big Ol’ Nasty Samson said. “The artists don’t have to Whereas many artists in the music Getdown, P-Funk’s George Clinton, Yo be on stage the entire time. They can industry define success through “outMama’s Big Fat Booty Band, members of get on stage, play a number and then go playing” their competitors, the funk jam Galactic, Virgo Jazz Project, Josh Phillips, mingle with the audience for a while until brings artists together, allowing them to Toubab Krewe and many more. they feel like they’re ready to jam more.” contribute to one another, Johnson said.

“We like to think of these sessions The Ashevegas All-stars Funk Jam

“The great thing about these events is that they are not competitive or pretentious at all. There is a great sense of community between the artists, and it’s more like, ‘Let’s all get together and do something positive.’”

--Arieh Samson Music Promoter found the Emerald Lounge to be the perfect venue for their unconventional performances, according to Samson.

“There are some venues in Asheville that are great for very large, organized events, but Emerald Lounge consists of a laid-back, personal atmosphere that totally compliments the scene that we are aiming for,” Samson said.

Although the Tuesday night jams consistently attract new faces, the old faces allow the events to uphold a sense of intimacy, according to Johnson.

“I have been coming to The Ashevegas All-stars Funk Jam for over two months now and no matter who the performing artists are, there always seems to be great chemistry on stage,” said Asheville resident Anthony Visconti. “You can really tell that the audience feeds off of that chemistry, too.”

Depending on the artists appearing each week, the audience can always expect to witness a different genre of music.

“While the funk sessions are all very original, I feel that they do hold a representation of Asheville’s music scene,” Johnson said. “The jams vary from folk, to bluegrass, to jazz and are always open for something new.”

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Student radio station seeks revival

Students grapple with owning pets, poor economy Page 11

By Alyssa Spencer Staff Writer

afspence@unca.edu

Celeste Shadoan - Staff Photographer

Ian Hayes works in the Blue Echo office in the Highsmith Union. Hayes hopes to revive the student radio station with new management and structured programming. He said a new direction will rebuild the Blue Echo’s presence on campus.

By Erin McWhorter Staff Writer emmcwhor@unca.edu

The empty, dark office abandoned in Highsmith Student Union shows The Blue Echo’s absence within the UNC Asheville community this semester, but one student aims to change the future and revitalize the spirit of the station.

“Basically, what’s happened at the Blue Echo is we’ve had a loss of interest by the community,” said Ian Hayes, a multimedia arts and sciences major. “Our listener counts and the enthusiasm of the DJs deteriorated into nothing.”

A disc jockey and junior at UNCA, Hayes’ involvement with the Blue Echo began his freshman year under the management of Alex Bowser. Bowser graduated from UNCA in the spring of 2008.

“When I left, things weren’t the best, but they weren’t dead. It seems dead now,” Bowser said. “I didn’t want to leave it alone, and needless to say, I’m a little disappointed with what happened when I left.”

Bowser began working with the Blue

Echo in the fall of 2005 when it was similar to the station’s current state. He recalled picking it up during a period of inactivity due to previous year’s mistakes.

“I’m not sure what magic happened, but the first year of the Blue Echo’s return was awesome. Everyone was excited about potential and no one was jaded about limitations,” Bowser said. “We threw parties, had more DJs than we could handle, and no one seemed to care if anyone was listening or not.”

Bowser admitted the success of the Blue Echo directly reflected his level of dedication to the station, as shown by the ‘80s dance party hosted by the Blue Echo at the Grey Eagle last spring.

“It was a great selling point during UNCA open house visits,” he said. “You can’t imagine how many people came up and were excited about joining UNCA and being a part of the Blue Echo.”

Bowser compiled an extensive music catalog for all of the DJs to use during shows and organized the station’s involvement in on-campus events, according to Alisha Mae Goodman, former DJ for the Blue Echo “Bowser was really good at what

he did,” she said. “Now, you don’t see anything. You used to see the Blue Echo everywhere; they made it known that they were here.”

Although Bowser did not originally select Hayes as manager of the Blue Echo, Hayes’ experience as a DJ renders him the “perfect” person for the job, according to Bowser.

“Someone needs to step up and keep the Blue Echo running so I won’t feel like the efforts of the last two years of staff were for nothing,” Bowser said.

After a change in management and turmoil among the DJs last fall, the station weakened internally over the past school year, according to Hayes.

“So, what is happening now is myself and a new student are coordinating to redo everything at the Blue Echo,” he said. “We’re working on rebuilding our presence on campus. We going to try to use every penny we have.”

Hayes’ plans include meeting with the faculty advisor as soon as possible and getting started on rebuilding the station’s staff, image and reputation within the

See RADIO Page 12

In the recent economic crisis, pet owners struggle to secure the money to keep their pets. The Asheville Humane Society, a nonprofit organization that fosters animal education, sheltering and adoption, provides programs and information to help prevent this problem.

“Personal stories are being shared and some people are really struggling to keep their pets,” said Brandi Hand, director of communications at the Asheville Humane Society.

The Asheville Humane Society created the Safe Pets Program to ensure that pet owners experiencing hardships will be able to keep their animals in a safe place. The program began in honor of Anna Marie Goodman, a homeless woman who died after refusing to seek shelter on a winter night because her dog could not follow her inside.

“Asheville Humane Society believes that a human being in need should never have to choose between personal safety and the well-being of their companion animal,” Hand said. “The Safe Pets Program is available to people in crisis with an urgent and immediate need for safekeeping of their pet while they are in a shelter or hospital; potential candidates for the program include victims of domestic violence, homeless persons and persons with mental illness.”

People feeling the effects of difficult economic times also struggle between keeping or getting rid of their animals.

“I have had moments where I seriously considered giving my cat up for adoption,” UNC Asheville senior Katie Goodman said. “With my other expenses, taking care of her is often financially problematic.”

The Asheville Humane Society shelters nearly 8,000 animals and spends ap-

See HUMANE Page 12

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Campus Events

Movie Night

W. Highsmith 104 Friday, 7 & 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, 7 & 9:30 p.m.

Tailgating

Lot 12 Behind Karpen Hall Saturday, 12 p.m.

Mardi Gras Mask Workshop Dining Hall Tuesday, 12 p.m.

Wacky Wednesday: Photo Bobblehead HU Lower Lobby Wednesday, 4 p.m.

For more campus activities, visit: www.unca.edu/ barker/

Humane

{The Blue Banner}

proximately $12,000 on food annually.

As a result, it takes $3,560 a day to run the shelter, said Hand.

“We rely heavily on donations. We receive funding through donors, programs, county contracts and city contracts,” Hand said.

Owners surrendering pets make up 38 percent of the animals that end up in the humane society. Owners give up pets primarily because of financial struggles or pet behavior problems. Stray animals comprise 61 percent of the animals at the shelter, while wildlife and seized animals each account for 1 percent, according to Hand.

The Asheville Humane Society’s available capacity is approximately 100 dogs and 100 cats, although the shelter also houses birds, reptiles, livestock and wildlife.

“We take in any animal that needs us; we find room for everybody,” Hand said.

The humane society provides several services besides shelter and adoption, including a lost and found, referral service for behavior problems, boarding, animal education and humane euthanasia.

“The 2008 total for dog and cat euthanasia was 4,475,” Hand said. “We request euthanasia for animals that are severely injured or ill, or animals that are extraordinarily and unmanageably aggressive.”

The number of adoptions from the shelter each month ranges from 100 to 180.

Continued

from

P a g e 11

Susan Terry - Staff Photographer

The Asheville Humane Society houses 100 cats and 100 dogs. They count on local donations to keep a clean and comfortable environment for animals.

Walk-ins, word of mouth and outside Internet adoption referrals are the primary ways animals receive adoptive homes.

“I have a friend who does volunteer work for an animal shelter, and she mentioned the huge number of animals that come in needing a good home,” UNCA junior Laurelle Gonzales said. “When it came time for me to get a dog, I went to the Asheville Humane Society. Animals that come from shelters are more well-behaved and have fewer medical problems than animals people buy at pet stores.”

To help save the lives of homeless and unwanted animals, five actions can contribute immensely to the well being of an

Radio UNCA community.

“Right now we’re not functioning.

We’re aiming to get back up and running the week we get back from spring break,” Hayes said. “Really it’s just about pumping the Blue Echo back up; it has deflated into this pathetic nothing.”

The Blue Echo is developing a new Web site, ready to begin streaming, as part of the effort to revive the station.

However, Hayes intends on keeping the logo the same.

“The identity needs to be changed,” he said. “I’m trying to organize it so people will feel dignified and excited to be a part of the Blue Echo.”

Future plans include organizing events sponsored by the Blue Echo, highlighting student musicians and slam poets and popularizing the station’s DJs.

Page 12

animal. These include spaying and neutering pets, adopting from a shelter, fostering, seeking medical attention for wild cats and training pet dogs to socialize and learn good manners, said Hand.

“Please support the Asheville Humane Society,” Hand said. “Adopt, donate, volunteer, foster, spread the word about our needs, help us find homes and spread positive energy about the shelter and the good things that happen here.”

Send any donations to the Asheville Humane Society’s Administrative Office, located at: 55 Shiloh Road, Ste. 6, Asheville, N.C., 28803, or visit www. ashevillehumane.org/donate.

Continued

“What we’re really trying to do is throw events on campus and bring artists more into the spotlight,” Hayes said. “We’re trying to really promote our DJs and have them as icons or symbols on campus that people recognize.”

The selection process of the DJs is another aspect of the station that Hayes plans to change. Before scheduling shows, Hayes plans on conducting surveys and gaining insight on students’ music and time preferences.

“Typically, at the beginning of the semester, DJs will come, they’ll talk about what kind of shows they want, we’ll hire them and then we put them at whatever time they want if it works. We can’t afford to do that anymore,” Hayes said.

“We’re going to block our schedule very tightly so people can expect to hear stuff

from

P a g e 11

at certain hours of the night or day.”

As manager of the Blue Echo, repairing equipment, scheduling DJs properly and organizing events is all part of the job, according to Hayes.

“We’re trying to build some positive momentum for the future, because I think the Blue Echo is at the point where they might drop it if it doesn’t go anywhere,” Hayes said.

In aiming to rejuvinate the Blue Echo, Hayes’ efforts center on re-identifying the station with the UNCA community and having it serve as an outlet for students.

“No one should go to a public university and not have the opportunity to take part in some form of college radio,” Bowser said. “It says a lot about your community, or lack thereof, if there’s no college radio.”

New technology steadily replacing old devices Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 13

By Nick Robinson Staff Writer

nhrobins@unca.edu

The technological changes coming to UNC Asheville and college campuses across the nation in the next decade will “simply be phenomenal,” according to Mike Honeycutt, a technology support specialist for the university.

“There is really no way to grasp 10 years out what it’ll be like,” said Honeycutt, who works at the Center for Creative Retirement at UNCA. “All I have to do is rewind 10 years and go back to 1999, then rewind 10 years before that to 1989, and the changes were nearly beyond my imagination, as far as this campus goes and what’s available.”

Honeycutt in his 26th year as a UNCA tech employee.

“I was actually involved with the wiring of the dorms (for Internet access),” Honeycutt said. “It was a huge decision because the state basically right now pays somewhere around $100 every time Susan Terry - Staff Photographer a new Ethernet port is put in. There’s Left, Freshman Drew Glover uses a landline telephone in his dorm room. Sophomore Kyle Rodal answers his cell phone actually a big discussion on the Internet in the University Dining Hall. Students adapt to increasing changes in various forms of technology. now whether or not we should put wires in another room on my hall, I still had to won’t even need a computer, simply it online the next day.” in the new dorms at all.” because it will have all been melted into Honeycutt said that even the most A proposal to potentially cut wired get back there.”

However, Glover was not using this one device that you carry around,” basic factors of the university have connections from new dorms is directly his telephone as his only means of Honeycutt said. changed dramatically since he started his from the amount of personal and public communication.

Landline phones are not the only career. computers with wireless capabilities.

“The Internet was probably my primary technology quickly becoming obsolete “In the old days, obviously you didn’t “It’s a tough decision, and it’s an method,” Glover said.

“I use it less and by this generation’s standards.

Web sites register online for classes with OnePort. expensive decision,” Honeycutt said. less now, though, because the Internet is like Hulu.com allow users to watch their You got something called a ‘class card’ The university, which faced over just kind of like a bigger landline.

I’ve favorite network television shows for from your advisor. You took that to the $900,000 in budget cuts last October, is never used the Internet while walking free, in exchange for watching one brief registrar, and there’s a room full of data looking to save money wherever possible, around.” commercial. entry people who are feverishly trying to and the elimination of old and wasteful Sean Coughlin, 19, another freshman “Before I actually started using Hulu get you into the class,” Honeycutt said. technology may be key in that. at UNCA and a friend of Glover’s, also a lot, maybe about 70 percent of the time “If a mistake happened or you changed “The university is actually going to recently upgraded to a cellphone.

He and I would watch it on TV and only miss your mind, you take your card back be saving huge amounts of money by Glover share a family plan.

However, he shows because of important things,” said and go get another.

And we had these eventually getting rid of the landlines did not use his landline exclusively.

Anna Bottcher, a freshman at UNCA. situations where students were hiking in the dorms,” Honeycutt said. “Last I “I was using a Tracfone, a pay-as-you“When I started using Hulu, it’s gotten across campus desperately trying to get heard, it was like $20 a month per room go cell phone last semester, but I found it to be almost the exact opposite.

I figure into a class.

I can’t imagine going back to have the landline in there.” was useful having a landline just because I don’t have to watch it on TV anymore, to that.”

Drew Glover, an 18-year-old freshman As far as what the future holds for at UNCA, used the landline phone in his I needed to talk to people whenever my and I can just catch it on Hulu the next cell phone died or ran out of units,” day.

I hardly ever watch (traditional) TV both the university and his students, dorm room in West Ridge as his only Coughlin said. anymore because of it.”

Honeycutt says it’s almost impossible to phone until recently, when he invested in Units are the Tracfone equivalent of For students like Bottcher, Hulu predict specifically. a cell phone. becomes a substitute for normal TV“My imagination is not good enough “I found myself borrowing my friends’ airtime minutes.

Honeycutt predicts the next watching because its on-demand nature to go beyond five years,” he said. phones more and more often to make technological monoliths to fall, after allows them to watch it on their own One thing Honeycutt is sure of, calls,” Glover said. landlines, are the single-purpose devices time. though, is that the technological According to Glover, the biggest we use on a daily basis.

“It’s happened with ‘Scrubs’ and innovations coming in our lifetimes will problems he encountered using a landline “In three to five years, you won’t own ‘House’ and ‘Weeds’,” Bottcher said. be incredible. were locational.

“Just buckle up and hang on, it’s gonna “Being restricted to my room (was the a camera, you won’t own a cell phone, “I haven’t watched a single episode of you won’t need a GPS. You probably ‘Scrubs’ on TV this season.

I just watch be a good ride,” he said. worst part),” Glover said. “Even if I was

Sports Thursday,

February 19, 2009

UNCA called on to support women’s basketball See page 17 {The Blue Banner}

Page 14

Highlanders sneak past Bulldogs for second time Ryan Burtner Staff Writer

rrburtne@unca.edu

Radford University’s junior guard Amir Johnson went coast-to-coast to score the game-winning layup with 1.5 seconds left Saturday afternoon against UNC Asheville at the Justice Center.

“I didn’t know what would happen,” UNCA Head Coach Eddie Biedenbach said. “We wanted him to go full court, play him man-to-man and make him get the ball up there, but we didn’t want him to take it on the dribble coast-to-coast. That’s something we didn’t want to happen. Seven seconds is a long time.”

Johnson’s layup gives Radford (15-10, 12-2 BSC) its second close win against UNCA (12-14, 8-7 BSC) this season, and its seventh straight road victory against Big South Conference opponents.

There were several controversial calls during the game that were a factor, Biedenbach said. Officials made a call for goaltending against sophomore forward John Williams, but despite Biedenbach’s inquiries, he said he couldn’t get an answer.

“They wouldn’t explain it to me,” Biedenbach said.

As for the rest of the game, Biedenbach said the team played well, showing they can compete with anyone in the league.

“We showed at their place that we’re every bit as good as they are,” Biedenbach said. “We’re a good team, but we need to play a little better.”

Despite having a good game, he said he felt the team didn’t quite play to its potential.

“I don’t think we played to our best ability,” Biedenbach said. “The effort was there. I thought we gave a great effort.”

Biedenbach said the team is strong but they still have room for improvement.

“We’ve come from behind and won a lot of games,” Biedenbach said. “At times we’re inconsistent, but so is the other team.”

No breaks went their way in Saturday’s game he said. According to Biedenbach, when you play good teams, you need that to happen.

Ian Shannon - Staff Photographer

Radford’s Artsiom Parakhouski fouls John Williams on a second half layup.

“I thought we played very well, but the breaks didn’t go our way,” Biedenbach said. “The mistakes we made cost us; the mistakes they made didn’t cost them. It’s just one of those games where you play a great team; you have to get a couple of breaks when it gets down to a one- or twopoint game.”

He said he’s still confident in the team and that they’ll be able to get results in their next three games.

“We’ll recover,” Biedenbach said. “We have three games left in the regular season and we have to put ourselves in a position for the tournament. We face High Point next and that’s what we worry about

next.”

According to Williams, who was 5-10 from the field with 16 points and six boards, controversial calls were definitely a factor in the game.

“A few calls didn’t go our way in the second half, and it shouldn’t have come down to that in the first place,” Williams said. “We should have built it out to a bigger lead, but we just let them crawl back, play by play.”

The Bulldogs lost their chance to secure the win when junior guard Sean Smith missed his free throw with seven seconds remaining.

“We were really hoping Sean would

hit the free throw, but when that didn’t happen we were thinking don’t foul, play good, straight-up defense and don’t allow any three-point opportunities,” Williams said. “But it didn’t go our way.”

He said they are trying to get results in their remaining games and prepare for the Big South Conference Tournament.

“We’re going to go to High Point and at home, during homecoming and against Presbyterian we are going out the same way we go out every night, and that’s going hard,” Williams said.

According to him, the team is finding their groove at the right time in the season.

“We’re taking off pretty well,” Williams said. “From the beginning, the freshmen really developed quickly because that’s what we needed. If they didn’t develop, we would not be where we are. But there is always room for us to get better, and we know that.”

UNCA freshman guard John Primm, who finished 6-11 from the field with 17 points and four assists, said costly errors in both halves left the team empty-handed.

“In the first half, I felt like we came out and did the things we were supposed to do,” Primm said. “We had a few errors: doubling down in the post and leaving the backside man open. In the second half, we did OK. We didn’t rotate well to get the shooters.”

The slump in the second half continued until the buzzer. Even with the lead with seven seconds left, the team believed there was enough time for Radford to win, he said.

“We were saying ‘Hey, there’s still seven seconds left. That’s enough time on the clock, and the game’s not over,’” Primm said. “The game wasn’t over. We had to keep fighting and get a stop. Things just didn’t work out like they were supposed to.”

The only thing the team is worried about now, he said, is preparing for the next three games and positioning themselves for the Big South Conference Tournament.

“If we continue to play well, we’ll have fourth place locked up,” Primm said. “We just have to keep playing hard.”

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

UNCA faces tough opponents for Homecoming Dan Weller Staff Writer

djweller@unca.edu

Women’s tennis wallops Western Randi Kitts Staff Writer

The UNC Asheville men and women’s basketball teams host pivotal Big South Conference matchups for Homecoming this Saturday.

The women (9-15, 6-5 BSC) face off against High Point at 2 p.m., followed by the men (12-14, 8-7 BSC) at 4 p.m. against Coastal Carolina.

rjkitts@unca.edu

Men’s Basketball vs. Chanticleers CCU’s (11-15, 5-9 BSC) recent buzzerbeater victory over second place conference opponent VMI shows the strength of the Chanticleers.

The Bulldogs 26-5 home record over the past two years, however, reflects the advantage UNCA holds at home.

Head Coach Eddie Biedenbach is pleased with how his Bulldogs are progressing through the season, but he knows that there are still improvements to be made.

“We have to improve in our consistency and our ability to finish games and make good decisions. We’ve improved enough that I think we can beat anybody,” he said.

“I’m very pleased with the fact that we’ve gotten to fourth place at this point.”

If the Bulldogs maintain their position in the top four of the conference, they clinch home court advantage for the first round of the conference tournament.

The Bulldogs locked up homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs last season but fell to Winthrop in the championship round.

Sophomore forward John Williams said he gained experience from the ‘08 tournament.

“Last year’s team was experienced, and I knew my role, but this year we are less experienced, and I have to be a leader,” Williams said after an overtime win against Gardner-Webb on Feb. 11.

Williams, the Bulldogs’ second leading scorer with 12.2 points per game, also leads the team in blocks and rebounds, but needs a strong game against the Chanticleers’ frontcourt.

Coastal forward Joseph Harris averages a double-double with 15.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per game, and forward Anthony Breeze averages 10.7 points and 6 boards.

The Bulldogs average 72.4 points per game which matches up well against Coastal’s 69.9. The Chanticleers defense stifles its opponents as it only gives up

Page 15

Ian Shannon - Staff Photographer

The Bulldog’s recent success at home fills the stands in the Justice Center.

“Last year’s team was experienced, and I knew my role, but this year we are less experienced, and I have to be a leader.”

– John Williams 69.4 points per game compared to UNCA’s average of 78.1.

The Bulldogs’ strong play at home gives them an advantage over the Chanticleers who are struggling on the road this year with a 2-8 road record this season.

Women’s basketball vs. Panthers High Point (11-13, 7-4 BSC) is second in the Big South standings, and the Lady Bulldogs are right behind in a tie for fourth place.

A deadlock in the conference standings places five teams within two games of second place, making every game left on the schedule vital for the Bulldogs.

The last time the two teams met, the Panthers pulled out a 59-51 victory in High Point.

The Bulldogs struggled down the stretch and let the game get away.

“High Point is very talented and young,” said Head Coach Betsy Blose.

“We needed to do a better job of getting stops late in the game, and we didn’t do that; we let them hit a couple of threes late, and they were able to pull it out.

Our effort was really good, but we have to do a better job of consistently getting stops.”

Blose also emphasized the need to contain High Point freshman forward Shamia Brown, who pulled down 15 boards and scored 16 points against UNCA the last time they played. Brown averages 11.6 points and leads the team with 6.3 rebounds per game.

A key player for the Bulldogs is senior guard Ana Baker. Baker averages 4.7 assists per game along with 12.7 points. In the first contest against High Point Baker scored 12 points and dished out 6 assists.

Blose is pleased with the way her freshmen have been playing this year.

“Linda Aughburns is starting to step up as a freshman, and Lindsey Thompson is developing a reputation in the league as a shooter and people have to know where she is,” she said. “She’s had some big games hitting threes. Those two have played as well as any freshman I’ve ever had.”

The Bulldogs must break through High Point’s strong defense that is only giving up 63.2 points per game.

The UNC Asheville women’s tennis team brought home their fourth consecutive win Thursday with a 6-1 victory over Western Carolina at Asheville School.

The Bulldogs (4-1) won all three of their doubles competitions, putting them up 1-0 over the Catamounts early in the match.

Junior Leslie Smith lost in a close singles match against WCU’s Izabella Glinska. Glinska won her first set 5-7, and Smith came back in the second to win 6-3.

Glinska stole the victory, however, winning 16-14 in a tiebreak.

Freshman Devon Cavanaugh is one of five players to defeat her opponent in her singles match. Sophomores Nicole Schon and Stephanie Schon also added in wins in their singles matches.

It is the second straight time the Bulldogs collected five singles matches.

UNCA faces Charleston Southern at the Asheville Racquet Club on Saturday.

Comics, Etc...

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 16

Sudoku

Melvin & Mah

The rules to play Sudoku are quite simple. Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Puzzle answers published in the

Comics, Etc

online section weekly at

thebluebanner.net

Campus Voice Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 17

A full tank leaves empty promises UNCA’s

Corn-based ethanol is not the fuel of the future forgotten Bulldogs People often cite corn-based ethanol as 93 cents a gallon for corn ethanol made by an alternative fuel. We can use corn grown in our own country as we decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. It’s a sweet dream, but an ugly reality exists.

In order to make ethanol, the country needs plenty of cornfields. In a recent publication titled The Rush to Ethanol: Not All BioFuels Are Created Equal, the Food and Water Watch organization, Network for New Energy Choices and the Institute for Energy and Environment at Vermont Law School report that if all the corn crops in America produced corn just for ethanol, it would displace less than 15 percent of national gas use. So we should just grow more corn, right?

Sure, farmers can grow more corn, but we live in a finite world capable of producing a limited amount, which means every corn crop must produce ethanol otherwise farmers waste time and energy. But growing corn year after year in the same fields kills the planet.

“Huge mono-cropping doesn’t make sense,” said Brian Winslett, community relations director of Blue Ridge Biofuels and UNC Asheville alumnus. “Small, community-scale projects are the best where you’re transporting short distances.”

By rotating crops, the soil replenishes certain nutrients because of the time off from producing a certain crop. But if farmers only grow corn, they lose the rotation. Since corn requires plenty of nutrients, this only adds to the use of fertilizers so farmers can maintain high yields, according to The Rush to Ethanol.

Fertilizers hurt the water system, according to the publication. Corn takes 40 percent of the fertilizers used in the United States. Of that, 98 percent receive commercial nitrogen, according to The Rush to Ethanol. By using these fertilizers, the runoff contaminates the water supply while also hurting the soil. Ethanol plants use nearly 1 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of ethanol, according to The Rush to Ethanol.

Let’s not forget about gasoline. Of course gasoline use hurts the environment, and by looking at the realities of corn etha-

use of coal, according to the PNAS. So not only does corn ethanol hurt the enviStaff Writer ronment, but the air you breathe as well. tjmclean@unca.edu Instead of abandoning alternative fuels we need an understanding of the fuels.

“We have tons of opportunities in just about every community in the United States,” Winslett said.

In making any fuel, we must remember nol, we should not forget about the costs producers use the means available now for of gasoline. production.

So the issue becomes a matter In a recent study published by the Proof overcoming the impact of fossil fuels ceedings of the National Academy of Scifor the benefits of the new fuel in hopes of ences, a group of professors from different greenhouse gas reduction and lower fuel fields researched the effects of gasoline prices. and different kinds of ethanol.

Society could focus more of its efforts For gasoline, the group found the health on sunlight.

With sunlight, energy converts and climate-change costs running at $469 from light to electricity. If cars ran off of million for every billion gallons made and electricity, then certainly sunlight changes used. Corn ethanol, depending on how things around.

Plug your car into your producers make the fuel, costs from $472 house and then wait for the conversion of million to $952 million, according to the energy so the car fills up. This remains PNAS. a theory, but certainly Initially, corn ethanol requires less energy than made by using natural gas People often cite other fuels. The point puts out less greenhouse gases than traditional corn-based ethanol is, society must focus its attention on alternative gasoline, according to the as an alternative fuels and creative ways PNAS. The study further to decrease greenhouse fuel.

It’s a sweet points out that once farmers convert grasslands into dream, but an ugly gases and emissions.

“We can’t get cornfields, the gain from around the global warmreality exists. the natural-gas production ing issue,” Winslett said. runs into the red because “The more we diversify of carbon emissions. energy sources and transWhen gasoline or ethanol burns, not portation, the better off we are.” only does the fuel produce greenhouse

Products such as gasoline and gases, but also something called fine-parethanol don’t exist naturally.

Refiners ticulate matter, according to the PNAS. produce these products from raw material, Fine-particulate matter stays in the atmosphere as microscopic solids or liquid increasing greenhouse gases and depleting droplets. The particles measure 2.5 mi- limited resources. This vicious cycle concrometers or less, according to the EPA. tinues until no raw materials remain for Although these particles remain small, harvest. No matter what fuel people use, costs always factor in the fuel production. they affect health.

Think globally about the products Some health effects include difficulty you use the next time you fill up. Costs breathing, lowered use of lungs, non-fatal not only come from your pocket, but evheart attacks and increased asthma, acerywhere else. By focusing on every ascording to the EPA. For different kinds of pect of how nature gets converted into a fuel, different particle costs exist. product, we can see what serves as a reaThe fine-particulate matter health costs sonable alternative and what hurts us all in ran at 34 cents a gallon for gasoline and the long run.

By Tom McLean

By Greg Hicks Sports Editor

mghicks@unca.edu

UNC Asheville’s basketball stands stay packed nowadays, for the men’s games, that is. With thunderous dunks from John Williams and 3-pointers from Sean Smith and Reid Augst, who can blame the crowd for showing up?

Many people forget there is another young and talented basketball team playing for UNCA. They win games on last-second shots and rally back to beat teams in overtime, just as the men do.

The women’s basketball team must play for pride and the love of the game because they obviously are not playing for “The Dog Pound,” the fan group that misses many, if not all, of their home games.

“I played four years at Winston-Salem State, and we never really filled the stands until the end of the second half,” said Rachel Troutman, elementary school teacher and former college baller. “And that was only because the men’s game was right after ours; people just wanted a good seat for their game.”

It’s no secret that women’s basketball is not a fan-favorite sport in today’s world.

Tennessee women’s Head Coach Pat Summit recently won her 1,000th game in Division 1 basketball, and all she got was a small 10-minute segment on ESPN. Oh, by the way, she has the most wins in all of men’s and women’s college basketball history.

The women’s team fight hard each and every game because they love the sport and the competition that the game brings. I’m not saying the men aren’t driven and determined, but you must admit, the women are playing with a slight chip on their shoulders.

“I played each game because I love basketball, not to show someone up or prove

See Team Page 18

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 18

Black History Month short, not sweet February, as most people probably know, is Black History Month, but why?

Is there really a need to dedicate an entire month to just one race? Is there really a need to say that, for the month of February, people need to start focusing on the accomplishments and the history of African Americans?

This country was built on the backs of slaves from Africa. The soil we plant in and the ground we walk on is stained with the blood of black slaves. Saying their contributions, whether contributed willingly or not, should be recognized only once a year is absurd.

Some people like to joke that the racist history of this country shines through even when we try to make amends. It is ironic that the shortest month of the year is the one dedicated to black history when you consider just how large their contributions were and still are.

In 1961 the country introduced “Negro History Week” thanks to the efforts of Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard graduate and son of former slaves.

Now recognized as “Black History Month,” the tradition still needs expasion.

There are quite a few different opinions of Black History Month. Every year around this time, editorials, perhaps like this one, appear in newspapers and on blogs across the country and across the world.

There are different groups of people who have varying views on what happens during this month. An argument against Black History Month is that there should be a White History Month and since there is not, it is unfair and perhaps

Team something to myself,” Troutman said. “I played because I love the game, and that’s why I think every woman in college plays the game.”

Many people argue that women’s basketball isn’t as exciting or fast paced as men’s. Those people must not have watched the Bulldogs rally back from 13 down against Charleston-Southern, pulling off a tough overtime victory.

The same people probably missed Ana Baker’s last second shot to beat Radford 52-50 in the Justice Center. Who can hon-

A new argument against Black History Month originated after Barack Obamas

By Patrick Zarcone presidency. It sugguests that black people Staff Writer accomplished everything that white peopwzarcon@unca.edu ple have and that there is no need to worry about their history since it is constantly evolving.

There are, of course, those who still supeven racist to dedicate February to Afri- port the idea of February as the month for can Americans. Some argue that most of black history. That is not necessarily the the other months celebrate white history, wrong way to think. The thing is, racism with Columbus getting his own holiday, and discrimination are huge parts of this President’s Day and Thanksgiving (white country’s history. Throughout many parts people and their successful conquering of of America there are still shaky relations the Native Americans). between people of difThere are also those ferent races and where who say a month strictly there are these troubles, The biggest for black history is pointthe belief that people problem with less and degrading bestill do not know black cause black people have Black History history may be true. contributed far too much The biggest probMonth is that, at throughout this country’s lem with Black History this point, Febru- Month is that, at this history to have all their accomplishments relegatary has become point, February has beed to one month out of the the token diversity the token diver- come year. They also argue that month. Instead of focusblack history is American sity month. ing on black history and history, and there is no black culture, there is such thing as American some imaginary banner History Month, so why have one for black that says “Everything is OK because this history? month we celebrate African Americans!”

Morgan Freeman, known for his role That is not necessarily the case, though. in The Shawshank Redemption, is one of Not once, to my knowledge, did I ever the more vocal supporters for the erasure learn anything special about the contribuof Black History Month. He famously tions of black people to this country dursaid some harsh things in 2005. He said ing February when I was in elementary, a month for black history is “ridiculous” middle or even high school. What is the and that as long as people see things in point of Black History Month if no black black and white there will be racism in history is discussed?

America.

Black history will continue to be

Continued

from

crammed into the shortest month of the year so long as we all let it. We are all complicit in the propagation of February as Black History Month. Colleges and universities are complicit as well, even at UNCA. Why is the second month of the year the only one in which three or four times a week an African American lectures or reads poetry or performs here at this university? Sometimes it seems as though we accept that black history is only important in February. Not true. It is important to show that we know better.

Hopefully, now that the UNCA Intercultural Center is open, black history (as well as every other kind of race and ethnicity’s history and culture) will become an important part of the curriculum and a consideration when selecting speakers, performers and artists come to our campus.

If not, maybe Black History Month should continue. In that case, an actual focus on the contributions of African Americans to this country is what we need. People should know Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, George Washington Carver and Jesse Jackson. They should also know who Huey P. Newton, Crispus Attucks, Darryl Hill, Medgar Evers, Mae Jemison and Gordon Parks are and their significance.

Possibly, Black History Month served as a barrier to the advancement of black culture and history, instead of a catalyst, and only after Black History Month is gone will there be a true focus on the contributions of African Americans to this country, our society and our way of life.

Page 17

estly say that is not an exciting game to watch?

If you watched a men’s game this year, you might have noticed how the men’s team always seems to surge back in the second half with the help of a loud home crowd. The women could use that same energy to get a boost of confidence.

These women put their heart into every game. They wear Asheville on the front of their jerseys with pride. Maybe we should come to the games and show these players that their work doesn’t go unnoticed.

10 % off your purchase with your Student ID* “The best bagels and sandwiches in town!”

We are expanding into a new space and bringing in an espresso machine with a full line of coffee drinks soon....

333 Merrimon Ave Tuesday-Sunday 7am-5pm Call in for your order. We cater and deliver too!

828 254 2345

*excludes cooler drinks

e K

e s f n

Thursday, February 19, 2009

{The Blue Banner}

Page 19

A Word From Student Government

Smoking ban shows UNCA’s You can’t fight for your rights until you realize what they are commitment to health As an institution dedicated to the intellectual and individual advancement of students, it is UNC Asheville’s duty to encourage the student body to improve their health and well-being. Sometimes, this means curbing individual freedoms by preventing students and faculty from smoking on campus.

When someone chooses to eat unhealthy food or smoke cigarettes, they are making an individual decision. However, these unhealthy options are provided in the first place because of another decision made for a different reason.

Food providers like Chartwells, which supplies the UNCA cafeteria, use unhealthy — not to mention environmentally unsustainable — ingredients because they are cheap. McDonald’s chooses to put addictive and unhealthy food on their menu because it sells.

It’s the duty of the individual to make healthy choices, but it’s also the duty of the establishment to prevent companies from duping individuals into making unhealthy decisions. This is why UNCA is justified

The

in preventing people from enjoying the deliciously cancerous smoke of a cigarette while on campus.

Clearly, freedom of choice doesn’t always lead to good options. Last month, as I drove to Chapel Hill, I had the option to stop and eat lunch at Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s, Bojangles, Hardees or numerous other fast food places. Subway is the healthiest option, but it’s more expensive than the rest. I stopped at Wendy’s instead.

After stuffing my face with foul food from a greasy bag, I had indigestion for the rest of the ride.

It’s partly my fault that I came down with a stomachache. It’s also the fault of poor regulation and government apathy that allow fast food companies to hawk processed crap to weary travelers and make unbelievable profits.

I, for one, am glad that the Highsmith Student Union convenience store no longer hawks cancer sticks to undergraduates.

-Ben Smith

Blue Banner Editorial Board

Karpen Hall 019 (828) 251-6586 banner@unca.edu www.thebluebanner.net Aaron Dahlstrom, Editor-in-Chief

Emily Gray, Business Manager

Jonathan Walczak, Managing Editor

Cassidy Culbertson, Photo Editor

Pam Stringer, News Editor

Cassady Sharp, Assistant News Editor

Dylan Schepps, Arts&Features Editor Sam Hunt, Assistant Arts&Features Editor Greg Hicks, Sports Editor

Matt Starkey, Assistant Web Editor

s em t I Michael Gouge, FacultynuAdviser s Me Egg c i an ge rg Ran O / l ee The Blue Banner is UNC Asheville’s student newspaper. We each Thursday ca publish r Lo F

Jason Herring, Design&Web Editor

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 e-mailed to banner@unca.edu. They should be signed with the writer’s name, followed by year in school, major or other relationship to UNCA. Include a telephone number to aid in verification. All articles are subject to editing.

Fear and terrorism mar our world. People express concern for personal safety and national security, implying that individual liberties and rights will fall to the wayside.

The USA PATRIOT Act was one of the first pieces of legislation granting greater powers to law enforcement at the expense of all individuals in the aftermath of Sept.

11. Yet college students have always been subject to more restrictions than the general population.

It was not until the 1960s that freedom of speech became a nationally recognized right that students could exercise. Following the Columbine shootings and the massacre at Virginia Tech, the public increased pressure on schools to restrict student rights in order to ensure public safety.

Benjamin Franklin said, “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security deserve neither liberty of security.” The original 13 colonies rebelled against British rule because of the abuses and sequestrations in the name of safety.

Our government places limits on power so that individuals may pursue life, liberty, and happiness. The Bill of Rights contains essential, “inalienable” rights for everyone.

But here we are.

Cameras are ubiquitous. Police enter residences without warrants. International phone calls are wiretapped. Recently, our own campus implemented new residence hall security measures and designated smoking areas, which continually fuel debate over safety, rights and freedoms.

Upon entering a college campus, you are subject to immediate restrictions. Those who live in the residence halls sign waivers and contracts agreeing to restrictions of personal liberty in order to live on campus.

But to what extent is the right “of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures” abridged when living on or coming to campus? And when moving off campus, to what kinds of more re-

By Alex Bumgardner SGA Senior Senator

awbumgar@unca.edu

strictive laws might students be subjected?

These are important considerations students should heed. Students should know what protections they have and how to stand up for their rights.

Students must be mindful of the public safety, too. After all, we also have the right to learn, free from the distractions of others.

We live in a world of rules, and when those rules are violated, regardless of whether or not those rules are legitimate and of genuine importance, there are consequences.

What are these consequences? Is the use of marijuana punished more severely than underage drinking? What do we do if a friend becomes sick from alcohol or drugs?

What legal obligations exist in such situations, and for what other liabilities must we prepare?

To that end, education is the solution. It is no panacea, but hopefully it will encourage our campus to become more cohesive, to build community, engender trust and respect between the administration and the students and protect us from misconceptions, misinformation and the harms associated with unruliness.

As part of “Know Your Rights Week,” the last week of February includes lectures from the administration and counseling offices, as well as question-and-answer panels with American Civil Liberties Union lawyers, law enforcement officials and campus housing.

Come and participate, keep an open mind, learn as much as you can and walk away with the confidence that the wisdom of the country’s founders should and can be placed within each of us.

• Local/Organic Menu Items • Free Range Eggs • 10% off with UNCA ID • Juice/Smoothie Bar

640 Merrimon Ave, Suite 102 • www.risenshinecafe.com • 828-254-4122 Open Monday - Saturday, 7:30am – 2:00pm, Open Sunday, 9am-2pm