The Appalachian January 2023

The Appalachian is the award-winning, independent student-run news organization at Appalachian State University, published since 1934. The student staff maintains all editorial discretion, and there is no prior review by university faculty, staff or administrators. The Appalachian strives for accuracy in newsgathering and reporting. If you think we have made an error, email editor@theappalachianonline.com.

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ANDREW RICE

ETHAN SMITH

BRIONNA DALLARA

Allergy-conscious students left with few options, go hungry

The university’s Campus Dining seeks to serve all students through informing and assisting students with food allergies involving intolerances and special diets, according to Campus Dining.

Even so, Ember Jones, a freshman biology major, has to buy most food from the on-campus markets and from Walmart with her own money, “which is not ideal,” Jones said.

Jones has lived with celiac disease for years and said she cannot eat a bit of gluten, even the smallest amount. She said she has a hard time securing the necessary dietary

accommodations needed for her to safely dine on campus.

“The food has been giving me stomach aches and I am not really sure what to do about it,” Jones said.

Before the start of the school year, she said she met with a registered dietitian on campus and was reassured gluten-free students from previous years have encountered little issue.

Regardless, she said the Weekly 14 meal plan she purchased has not been accommodating her dietary needs, yet she said she sees no alternative.

“It is not like I can just waste my money and stop using my dining hall plan that I paid thousands of dollars for, which sucks,” Jones said.

This fall, Campus Dining debuted the All You Care to Eat meal plan model, which aims to give students the flexibility to choose their own meal plan according to their financial and lifestyle needs.

The switch in plans this fall resulted in fewer allergy-friendly options for students than years prior, Jones said.

Jones said she originally purchased the all-access dining hall plan, then later made the switch

to a lower-tier dining plan after discovering few options. Including in the allergy-friendly station which Jones believes “is lacking” and often runs out of options.

The special worry-free stations at each dining hall include a separate fridge stocked with dairyfree and gluten-friendly foods, as well as its own toaster to prevent cross-contamination, according to Campus Dining.

In order to utilize her dining meal plan, she eats yogurt and fruit from the dining hall for breakfast.

“I am aware that there is a risk of cross-contamination, but I cannot

really do anything about that,” Jones said. “I need to eat.”

Megan Gilmore, a junior theater education major, said she has a hard time getting the accommodations she needs. Gilmore said she has more dietary restrictions than the average person. Her main allergens include gluten, dairy and soy, then oregano, thyme, pepper, cinnamon, pork and beef.

Gilmore said she met with the executive chef of Campus Dining, Jules Bott, and found, after walking through her options, there were not a lot available.

“In the allergen section they

Georgia Dixon | Reporter

The entrance to the closed McAlister’s Deli in Plemmons Student Union. Photo by Evan Bates.

always have chicken and some sort of grain, like rice or quinoa, and a vegetable that’s pretty plain,” Gilmore said. “But he said eating like that every day would not be great.”

With the new style of dining introduced this year, which include meal swipes and dining dollars, Gilmore said she now can eat only from the upper level of Roess Dining Hall and from Trivette Hall, which she said has few options that meet her dietary needs.

Dining Dollars are limited per semester and are required at every location except Rivers Street Cafe in Roess Dining Hall and Park Place at the Pond in Trivette Hall, which both use meal swipes.

“I talked to the head of dining and she said next year they are going to try and expand the allergen section for next year, and make things more accessible for finding the ingredients and things,” Gilmore said. “That is helpful for next year, but not helpful for me here, right now.”

Originally left discouraged, Gilmore, who lives on campus and says she lacks the capacity to prepare meals, is now perplexed.

“It was frustrating not knowing what I could do, and now still frustrating knowing there is no way they can help me,” Gilmore said.

Gilmore said she did not receive a solution for her dietary needs at first request, and bounced between Campus Dining and The Office of Disability Resources, finally receiving an answer from dining.

With diagnoses by doctors of irritable bowel syndrome and gastritis, Gilmore said she meets disability eligibility requirements and therefore is eligible to receive necessary accommodations.

“Through working with ODR and dining they exempted me from needing one next semester,” Gilmore said. “Because they have found that they really cannot accommodate me.”

Next semester, Gilmore will be without a campus dining hall plan and is unsure how she will

compensate. Still, she said she cannot get sick due to crosscontamination.

“If I try to eat from the other sections even if it is gluten-free, or dairy-free, or free from whatever I need, it still has the chance of being cross-contaminated with other things in the kitchen,” Gilmore said.

While Gilmore said the allergy resource staff is helpful, they are sometimes hard to track down. She said the other campus dining hall staff in regard to allergy requests are “not so helpful.”

Elizabeth Riede, executive director of Campus Dining, said Campus Dining staff are trained “internally” in addition to completing training and obtaining a certification through the National Restaurant Association.

Students may schedule a consultation with Bott to discuss allergens and potential cross-

contamination. Riede said the consultation is focused on options available to students, as well as how to access information on ingredients and cross-contact during preparation.

“Items marked ‘GF, V, V+’ are not cooked on cross-contact surfaces,” Riede said.

In order to prepare allergen-free foods Campus Dining staff use a “variety of techniques,” Riede said.

In order to continue to accommodate students with special dietary needs and save items for them, signage is posted for students. The signage includes statements such as “ensure there are items here for students that need them,” Riede said.

Campus Dining advises guests with food allergies, intolerances and special diets to consult a staff member wearing a purple allergen resource lanyard. Those managers

and supervisors are trained to share information on potential allergens and ingredients, “as well as provide a comfortable environment for students to request service from backstock or if something needs to be handled in a particular way,” Riede said.

Maranda Maxey, director of the Office of Disability Resources at the university, said ODR works with students to understand their disability and eligibility to receive accommodations through accommodation requests.

“Our team works closely with the Campus Dining team to determine such individualized modifications on a case-by-case basis to ensure students have access to equitable dining options,” Maxey said.

Read more online:

- Ember Jones

“I am aware that there is a risk of crosscontamination, but I cannot really do anything about that.”

The entrance to Urgent Care at the end of the business day. Photo by Evan Bates.

Burst pipes in Finmore apartments causes flood, damage

Jenna Guzman | News Editor

Two roommates were in their hometowns for the holidays when they each received a call from a neighbor. It was a call no one wants to hear: their apartment had flooded.

On the night of Christmas Eve into Christmas Day, pipes burst at The Finmore, an off-campus student housing apartment complex, causing some residents’ apartments to flood.

In a Dec. 25 email sent by The Finmore to residents, tenants were advised to check on their units as soon as possible for water damage. However, the email did not indicate which units were affected. Some residents were told which units were impacted Dec. 30.

Roommates Will Terrell and Jake Keogh said their apartment was one of the units flooded. They said if it weren’t for their neighbor notifying them, they wouldn’t have known of the incident itself until the email was sent late in the day Dec. 25, and wouldn’t have known their specific apartment was affected.

The Dec. 25 email also stated The Finmore’s office would be available to answer any questions Dec. 26 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. However, the two roommates could not get into contact with any staff that day.

Terrell, a senior sustainable technology major at the university, said he and his family drove back up to Boone to assess the damages Dec. 26. He said no staff was present even though they were told they would be in the email.

“No one showed up, no one answered any of our calls or any of our texts,” Terrell said. “There was just no responses whatsoever.”

Terrell, who has lived at The Finmore for almost a year, said he did receive some form of communication: emails stating his rent was due.

Keogh, who has lived at The Finmore for two years, also received emails about the rent, and he too said he felt he shouldn’t have to pay.

As of Dec. 31, the property manager, Maria Gallo, had yet to respond to Terrell and Keogh’s questions or concerns. Terrell said the only people who have been trying to handle the situation are residents who also work at The Finmore, and an insurance company.

Upon arriving at his unit, Terrell said he saw damaged walls, damaged floors, 4 to 5 inches of standing water, icicles forming in and outside his room, and all of his belongings “ruined.”

Keogh, a junior geology major, said water was coming out of his speaker, guitar amp, guitar and Xbox

system. His laptop was “ruined,” there were water stains on the wall, water was built up on the couch and there was brown water in his bathtub. Although he has insurance, Terrell estimates there are thousands of dollars in damages.

“Some of the stuff there is kind of irreplaceable,” Terrell said. “I feel like if I had known exactly when it happened when it was going down, I could have at least salvaged some more stuff, but there was just no contact from The Finmore.”

Terrell and Keogh were told their unit was one of the ones affected Dec. 30, almost a week after it had occurred.

“I knew that it was damaged, about three or four days before they even told me that it was damaged,” Terrell said.

From the time of the incident until Jan. 3, Terrell and Keogh were left uncertain with what would become of their living situations for the spring semester. With the start of the new semester being only two weeks away, the roommates had questions but were given no clear responses.

Terrell said he received an email to the residents Jan. 3 stating that they would be placed in a hotel until the repairs would be done by February. He also said he is still responsible for paying rent.

“I had a full kitchen and everything and now I’m just going to be living in, like, the La Quinta at best,” Terrell said.

In addition to the damages, Terrell said all the doors were left unlocked in his unit, and all the other doors in the hallway were as well.

The roommates said in the past, they’ve both had issues of management not fulfilling its duties.

“The only people you can get to ever respond to you are the student people who live in The Finmore that work for The Finmore,” Terrell said. “And most of the time they’re just kind of like, ‘Oh we can’t really help you with that.’”

According to The Finmore’s website, the rate of rent for a twobedroom apartment at The Finmore is $1,049 or $1,099 per person. Terrell said given the situation and how it was handled, alongside the price of rent, he will be trying to find a new place to live after next semester.

Finmore property management did not respond to multiple attempts to contact for comment by the time of publication.

Pipes are used to pump hot air into the building, snaking their way up the stairwell for each floor. Photo by Evan Bates.

Only part of The Finmore was damaged, as other apartments were left undamaged. Photo by Evan Bates.

“No one showed up, no one answered any of our calls or any of our texts.”

- Will Terrell

Local progressive activist finds endorsement success in Boone elections

Will Hofmann | Enterprise Editor

On March 3, 2020, though in the midst of the pandemic, North Carolina’s Democratic Primary was well underway.

For Bill Toole, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, the day would lead to defeat. Toole, an environmental lawyer, lost his primary, placing fifth and sending Yvonne Holley to the general election.

Toole failed to place first anywhere in the state except for Watauga County; a county he did not visit nor spend advertising money in.

Toole, whose campaign included uploaded videos of him cooking “yummy gazpacho,” had been seen as “not having a ghost of a chance of winning anywhere,” said Pam Williamson, local progressive activist, and creator of Pam’s Picks.

Despite his unlikely candidacy, Williamson, after reading his campaign information and researching other candidates, endorsed Toole for the Democratic Primary for lieutenant governor in Pam’s Picks.

“You know, you got to pick the candidate that most espouses what you believe, or has demonstrated that, and that was that guy,” Williamson said. “So, I endorsed him.”

When Toole ended up winning in Watauga, Williamson said she received a phone call from the Toole campaign where Toole asked “what happened?”

“I said, ‘Well, I got your story out,’” Williamson said.

Pam’s Picks are a set of conclusions and endorsements of candidates in upcoming elections. They are solely developed and researched by Williamson, and do not necessarily reflect a party preference.

Bright yellow pamphlets indicating her picks are often handed out in front of polling sites in Watauga, along with her picks being available online.

Every year since around 1990, and sometimes twice a year, Williamson releases Pam’s Picks, identifying her preferred candidates from President of the United States to county Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor.

For almost every primary, general, midterm and municipal election, Williamson compiles Pam’s Picks alongside a questionnaire for candidates to answer. If candidates chose to answer the questionnaire, they are included in consideration for Pam’s Picks. If they do not answer, then Williamson will not choose that candidate; despite whether she agrees or disagrees with their politics.

Watauga County voters turned out for federal, state and local elections, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections. Out of those, Williamson believes Pam’s Picks might help those who are undecided on local elections.

The bottom of the ballot is typically where non-partisan elections occur, which includes positions like Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor and Board of Education; positions voters may know the least

Additionally, Pam’s Picks don’t reflect the official stances of the Watauga County Democratic Party, of which she is a member. Williamson says her assessments are not part of any larger political party or movement and makes sure readers know such in a short statement prior to her picks:

“Pam’s Picks is simply one person’s opinion about the 2022 General Elections Ballot,” Williamson wrote of the 2022 election on her website.

“I am a progressive Watauga resident and have long held interest in local politics and issues.”

Rather, Williamson contends her service acts as both a possible guide, and as a place for voters to know what candidates stand for.

“The main reason I started Pam’s Picks in the first place was that there was no real place to find any information about the candidates; other than what they themselves say,” Williamson said. “But not how they actually acted or voted.”

For some candidates, Williamson’s endorsement can be seen as a sign of coming victory and may even lead to candidates doing less campaigning, said Jon Dalton George, one of Boone’s town council members.

In the 2022 midterm, almost 23,000

about, Williamson said.

The positions of Boone Town Council, Boone Mayor, Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor and Board of Education, are all nonpartisan elected positions, meaning the ballot does not indicate what party each candidate belongs to.

By examining endorsements made by Williamson alongside election winners, research by The Appalachian indicates candidates selected by Pam’s Picks have made up nearly 80% of the non-partisan elected officials for the past 14 years.

Only statistics from “competitive races,” where more than one candidate is running, were used to analyze this data. Since data on Pam’s Picks only currently dates to 2008 on Wayback Machine, an online internet archive, only the last 14 years of general, midterm, and municipal elections were analyzed. Pam’s Picks is limited to the Watauga and Boone area for non-partisan elections.

Over 80% of endorsed nonpartisan candidates have won their election.

Since 2008, 43 endorsed candidates won their election, making up nearly three-fourths of the 56 candidates

elected. In total, Pam’s Picks endorsed 53 of the 104 non-partisan candidates running in various Watauga County elections.

96% of endorsed municipal candidates have been elected.

Boone’s municipal elections include the positions of Boone Town Council and Boone mayor.

Out of the 26 elected municipal candidates since 2008, 24 had an endorsement from Pam’s Picks. A 2019 election for BTC marks the only election where a municipal candidate with a Pam’s Picks endorsement lost, and only by a margin of 15 votes.

For the past 14 years, every candidate Williamson endorsed in mayoral races won. There have been four elections for mayor.

General and midterm elections show less endorsement power, more candidates.

General and midterm elections include the non-partisan races of Board of Education and Soil and Water Conservation supervisor. These are county-wide elections.

Out of the 30 candidates who won their election during competitive general and midterm elections, 19 were endorsed by Williamson: making up roughly two-thirds of the elected candidates in Watauga’s non-partisan positions in general and midterm elections.

Read more online:

You got to pick the candidate that most espouses what you believe ...”

- Pam Williamson

Sample ballot courtesy of pamspicks.net

Sculpture center crew pour hearts out into local art

Brionna Dallara | Associate Arts & Culture Editor

Located south of Boone in Happy Valley, a renovated school gymnasium has been cast into the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center and Park.

Joe Bigley, App State alum and professor in the art department, founded the Western North Carolina Sculpture Center in 2019 with co-founder Zack SmithJohnson, a Boone native.

“I just enjoy putting together a community of artists,” Bigley said.

Bigley acquired a painting degree at the university, but his artistic interests peaked after taking a sculpting class. He said that after taking the sculpture class he was hooked on the craft.

Bigley’s interest to start a sculpture center was solidified after his time as an artist at a sculpture garden in Minneapolis. When he came across the old Patterson School gymnasium in Appalachia, his plans of starting a park came to fruition.

Bigley had known Johnson for the better half of a decade and after his time teaching in Atlanta the pair reconnected and teamed up for the project.

“When I found this abandoned gymnasium, it was just kind of screaming to become a studio, and it was a beautiful location,” Bigley said. “Luckily the people who run the former boarding school were open to the idea, and we were just foolish enough to try it out.”

The Patterson Boarding School was originally a private, nonprofit boarding school located in Caldwell County and opened in 1909 as an agricultural and industrial school for the “fine minds of mountain boys.” In 1994, the property was almost sold when a Patterson heir reclaimed the land through a purchase agreement and reopened the school as a newly formed non-profit Patterson

School Foundation. In 2009, after a century of operation, Patterson ceased to exist as a private school, but the foundation still carries a rich Appalachian history that centers around education and agriculture.

Outside of the converted gymnasium lies the sculpture garden itself. What was once just 13 sculptures in the park has grown to almost 80 works over the past three years; there’s even a trail lined with sculptures tucked away in the woods.

Bigley said the center typically gets its traction from social media and joining Facebook groups centering around iron casting and sculpture. The primary source for upcoming events is their website.

Bigley said since the center is a nonprofit, artists volunteer their time to help out, help build structures and provide artistry to raise money for events. In return, the artists get equipment access and dedicated workspace.

The Sculpture Center itself was founded just six months before the COVID-19 pandemic. Bigley said it was a “challenging” time to begin a nonprofit, especially considering that they are fully independent and rent from the Patterson foundation. The foundation encourages and supports donations to the WNC Sculpture Center.

In the front of the workspace lies the breezeway gallery, used for events to showcase dozens of works that bleed out to the front of the building.

The number of artists at the center has also increased alongside its works.

Emma Rose is a Boone local and studies art education. Rose applied for a summer internship in 2021 with no previous experience and it ignited her passion for the art.

“When I started here, I had no sculpture experience, I had no

metal experience, none of that,” Rose said. “And I definitely fell in love with it.”

Rose said the center has given her the space to experiment with art and do things she never imagined she’d be able to do.

Rose’s focus for the Halloween event was on ceramics and mugs made to sell.

Early on, Bigley said there were about three to four artists working at the center, but they gained more sculptors after starting an

artist residency program, where artists are invited from all over the country every summer. The furthest traveler they’ve had was an artist from Ontario, Canada who ventured to the High Country and resided near the center for a

couple weeks to make molds and to cast into iron.

“It’s kind of an organic entity where the works on the park are constantly changing,” Bigley said. “And people are making work on-site, which is a nice addition to what’s going on here.”

Bigley said several artists journey to the center for their pours. With guests traveling from distances as far as Orlando, Florida, Ohio, Greensboro and as close as Asheville and Boone.

The center plans on doing another monthly music concert series with plans starting in April and ending in November. They

had Andrew Massey do a fireside performance Dec. 3 as their final event for the year. This year there will be an all-day music festival on Oct. 7 and Bigley said they would be open to considering student bands and will be accepting performance inquiries through their email. The next iron pour is planned to take place on March 18.

Read more online:

Popular campus reads

Abby Buckner | Reporter

A good read is a great way to romanticize and de-stress your life. Here are some recommendations of popular books amongst students to add to your reading list.

The Song of Achilles Verity

by Colleen Hoover

“‘Verity’ was so good, I read that book in one day,” freshman exercise science major Mya McClarty said. Colleen Hoover is one of the most popular authors both in the media and on campus. A psychological thriller you won’t want to put down, this story follows a struggling author who is offered the incredible opportunity to finish a famous book series in lieu of its original author who is medically unable to finish her series. She agrees to move into the author’s home, but quickly discovers there is more to the story than what meets the eye.

The Midnight Library

by Matt Haig

This science fiction pick is a popular read on campus, Whitney Bevill, humanities librarian at Belk Library said. A young woman named Nora finds herself between life and death in a large library. She is given the opportunity to change her life as she travels through all the lives she could have lived, while searching within herself to find purpose.

by Madeline Miller

Miller will win your heart and break it at the same time with her adaptation of “The Iliad.” This myth retelling follows the perspective of Patroclus as he and Achilles grow up. Together, they face the challenges and demands of Ancient Greece to create a story that is sure to satisfy any Greek mythology obsession.

I'm Glad My Mom Died

by Jennette McCurdy

“‘I think we have five copies which have been constantly checked out since the book’s release. It is definitely the most popular nonfiction leisure book right now,” Bevill said. The memoir by the “iCarly” star Jennete McCurdy shares her experience as a child actress with in-depth details of her career. She focuses on her complicated and heavy relationship with her now deceased mom, who pushed McCurdy toward a career she never wanted.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

by Sarah J. Mass

This popular “Beauty and the Beast” retelling is one of the star stories of BookTok. The first book of the series starts off the ongoing series with strong female characters, romance and self discovery. Mass takes the reader through unexpected twists and turns, telling the story of a 19-year-old huntress brought away to a magical land where secrets and dangerous Fae reign.

Photos courtesy of Randy Knauf.

Student business owner celebrates Black beauty through paintings

Brionna Dallara | Associate Arts & Culture Editor

A fifth-year studio art major has her own art business with designs emulating her experiences as a Black woman, as well as, personable stories and commissions.

Jelonnie Smith said she has always been a creator of art, but was finally able to officiate her artistry business in 2020 during the pandemic. She curated a website for her business jelonniesmith.com, which is currently under construction, obtained an LLC and started getting more supplies for her start-up.

“It’s definitely near and dear to my heart, because it’s something I’ve always thought about doing and I’ve been doing art forever,” Smith said. “So now that I actually have the chance to make something out of it and pursue it, it’s going to be really interesting.”

Smith said she was inspired by her mom’s local business Eye Creations by Caj. Her mom has always been a big supporter of her art and with her being an entrepreneur, it gave Smith the encouragement to begin her own business.

“Seeing her do it and having that support made me think, ‘Why not?’” Smith said.

Smith is also inspired by the Black community and has alluded to historical stories in some of her paintings.

“I love Black people, especially Black women,” Smith said. “I am a Black woman, so it’s a ‘paint what you know’ type thing.”

Smith said the impact of her art resonated after she gave a presentation on her work and had a peer share that they were already following

her art’s Instagram @jelonniesmith_. Her classmate is a local in Watauga County and said she doesn’t normally see a lot of Black representation and hasn’t been previously introduced to art similar to Smith’s.

“America’s not the best whenever it comes to speaking on behalf of Black faces and Black voices. So a lot of my stuff has to do with, like a ratio of Black history,” Smith said. “Just giving some of the stories a different perspective.”

In December 2021, Smith did a mini-series for her studio seminar course about wrongful incarcerations in the past three centuries. The miniseries consists of a couple 30-by-40 paintings.

One of the paintings shows a woman in an iron mask. It’s about the story of Anastasia who was said to be the first Black person with blue eyes, this was the result of her mother being sexually assaulted by her slave owner. When word spread about the slave owner being the father, his wife became jealous of her beauty and forced her to wear the iron mask, only allowing it to be taken off when she ate. Despite her abuse and trauma she was still regarded as an incredibly kind

The second painting was inspired by the story in “Green Mile” and depicts George Stinney Jr., who was accused at the age of 13 of killing two girls. He went to jail two counties over from where his family was and the trial lasted at most 10 minutes. The court sentenced the teen to the electric chair and he became the youngest person to have that punishment in the 19th century. The case cleared up decades later, proving the boy wasn’t physically capable of committing the crime being the size he was.

“I can talk about it but I feel like a picture’s worth a thousand words,” Smith said. “So just me painting it, that’s me getting it

In August 2021, the publication Shoutout Atlanta

did an interview with Jelonnie and included a gallery of her works. The publication focuses their articles and interviews on entrepreneurs, small business owners and independent artists in efforts to spark conversation in the community and promote local businesses.

“I really just want to jump on as many opportunities as possible, entering into shows and all that, just whatever comes my way really,” Smith said.

She most recently had work displayed in NC State’s African American Cultural Center that ran from August to October 2022. The art exhibition was “HerBlackHand: A Conversational Piece” by writer, author and spoken word artist Alexis Lawson. Lawson had invited Smith to display her work in the gallery. The exhibition was described by Lawson in the article published in NC State’s paper the Technician as an exhibit that explores “the molding, shaping and refining of a Black woman, who is me - the true conversational piece” and was an opportunity to “create spaces and create platforms for Black artists to be showcased.”

“She got artists from wherever she found them and she put their work with her writing,” Smith said. “She’s a really talented writer, by the way.”

Smith’s overall goal when forming her business was “to make people happy.” She said there have been countless times she’s brought people to tears from personable art commissions she fulfilled.

“That’s what makes it art. If it evokes emotion or gets a reaction out of you, that’s what makes it good,” Smith said.

Tia Green is a customer of Smith and a long-time supporter of her art. Green said she has watched Smith’s art grow through the years, having gone to her art shows in elementary school and supporting her private showings.

“Most of her art pieces are relatable to my culture and I love that.” Green said, “I love the realistic aspects, the

Smith said one of the most sentimental moments she experienced was after doing a commission as a present in December 2021. The client requested a painting for her husband of his brother that passed away when they were younger. The reference picture had her brother-in-law posing with their children and other family members. When Smith gifted the painting to her client she was in tears at the sight of her brother-in-law.

There was another time where she gifted a client a huge graduation picture of herself which led to more tears of joy.

“I just want to make people happy,” Smith said. “If I can make one person smile then that’s all that matters.”

Smith said she hopes to one day be her own boss and be supported by her art, while pursuing other passions on the side.

She’s currently immersing herself in works geared toward her future art career. She has begun to create works highlighting her individual life roles encouraging more intimate expression.

“I started doing stuff about being the eldest daughter and kind of taking on

Pricing of Smith’s paintings depends weeks to complete depending on size. Greene said Smith is professional, approachable and very attentive to the needs of her customers.

Smith’s art has been shipped and traveled to different states including Kentucky, South Carolina and Florida. She’s also gained traction where her dad lives in California and has had customers from the West Coast.

Smith recently shipped paintings to Texas after receiving recognition from one of her social media platforms.

She said one thing making her business unique is her own personality seeping into it.

“I feel like the hard work and love, as cheesy as it sounds, that I put into everything is really unique in itself,” Smith said.

Jelonnie Smith poses with her favorite pieces Feb. 24, 2022. Her most recent project focuses on wrongful incarceration, featuring the two larger portraits pictured.

Smith painted that she said was She’s also previously designed a tattoo of a hand crossing fingers

Photo by Evan Bates.

Boone’s booming bands:

rising High Country artists

If you’re looking for a new band or sound to follow, there is one out there for you. Boone has an array of bands a part of the local live music scene, each with different sounds for various types of music listeners to enjoy. From balancing day-to-day life and making music these artists give the Boone community a place to experience new and upcoming bands up close.

The metalcore music scene includes Ely Yancey, guitarist; his brother Jackson Yancey, scream vocals; Garret Dayton, clean vocals and guitarist;

and Brayden Robinson, drummer, who make up the band, Felspar.

The Yancey brothers and Brayden have been friends for 15 years, and met Dayton in high school.

Having spent copious amounts of time together, the band members have discovered this helps them musically as well as playing off each other.

Along with making music together, they all attend the university.

“It’s usually pretty difficult at times but we try to put school first,” Ely Yancey said.

Balancing school as well as providing entertainment for the music scene in Boone makes them one of many in the area juggling both music

and outside responsibilities.

This alternative pop punk band met through mutual friends from other bands, members Jake Owens, lead guitarist; Jack Dunphey, drummer; Xander Wood, bassist; and Bobby Cnare, vocalist and guitarist, formed to make SLOTHH. Formed in 2021, they have since played at Legends, Ransom and Howard Station. Along with playing in a band together they also share a living space.

“It definitely helps the creative process because we’re always around each other and able to talk about what direction we want to go,” Wood said.

Despite their busy schedules being both students and musicians, they love to perform.

“I’m content to study and do homework all week long if Friday night I

have a show I can play,” Wood said. Their main goal is to be able to form a community with their performances and music.

“I hope it brings people together because in the end community is a big thing,” Owens said.

Another band within the punk scene is The Coyotes. This post-psychedelic punk band consists of members Joseph Heiston, guitarist; Edwin Thomas, singer and guitarist; Jacob Hastings, bassist; and Noah Shonuker, drummer. These musicians are passionate about their music and the songs they put out.

“We’ve always known that we were going to be in bands in this time in our life. Making music is not really optional for any of us,” Thomas said.

Having met through their love of music and playing together, Hastings,

band has only grown.

“When we played together it felt completely different, especially in the last couple of years,” Heiston said.

These musicians say they want people to connect and get a bigger message from their music.

“I want people to be able to listen to our music and say ‘Wow, that has volume and matter to it’ and they’re getting something out of it,” Shonuker said.

Passionate not only about their music but as well as their production is the band The Dune Sea.

The current members of the band are Spencer Underwood, guitarist; Jack Dunphey, drummer; Zach Carter, bassist; and Jake Kremer, guitarist and producer.

Arianna Bennett | Reporter

Thomas and Heiston eventually met and recruited Shonuker at a local show. Since then these members’ passions for their

Alvin Carlisle III performs at Ransom alongside his other bandmates in Funkelstiltskin Oct. 31, 2022. Photo by Mayesivy Carlson.

Kremer and Underwood began their band in 2018 and since then members have come and gone with them.

Although they enjoy playing for an audience, Kremer hopes for more.

“I hope people get a lot more out of the recorded stuff, personally, because I like putting in a lot of thought and effort into the production,” Kremer said.

Going off the regular path of alternative music is the band Educated Guess. This band brings a unique funk jazz fusion sound to the scene of Boone. Alvin Carlisle, bassist; Nick Williams, keyboard; and Kendrick Davis, drummer, started their band in February 2022.

“We met playing together at Cornerstone Summit Church in Boone,” Carlisle said.

They spend as much time with each other as possible despite one of the members living in Greensboro.

“Our social bond is definitely very important to the vibe of us being on the same page as people and the kind of music we make,” Carlisle said.

Along with their social bond, they hope their audience is exposed to a different sound.

“I want them to have a different experience with our music than some of the usual bands you would see around

here,” Williams said.

Also bringing a new sound is the band Kiss It Make It Better formed by Sam Haffey, guitarist; Julia Lynn, bassist; Brayden Robinson, guitarist; and Brendan Martini, drummer and singer. They all met through mutual friends and had a connection through music, leading them to form their group. All recently graduated from the university, except for Robinson who is a senior political science major, and are continuing to play music in local shows.

“It’s something I really like to do, so if I’m not working to make money I’m mostly doing music,” Martini said.

Their music style is inspired by shoegaze and indie rock, which is a collection of obscured vocals, guitar distortion and effects combined with overwhelming volume.

This four-piece band has played in local spots such as Ransom, Legends, Sanford Mall and Howard Station.

Some bands are still discovering their sound such as YesDude. Band members include Milo Kenny, drummer and singer; Holden Ausborn, guitar and singer; and Wells Whitman, bassist and singer. Whitman and Ausborn have been friends since sixth grade, later meeting Kenny in an American Literature class.

“I think it’s integral to form most

relationships, within a band, that makes everything run smoother and it’s more fun that way,” Ausborne said.

Although having a full schedule is stressful, performing is something they still enjoy.

“It’s worth it in the end,” Ausborne said.

Many of these bands have members who have known each other since childhood, such as Cigarettes @ Sunset.

Members Ryland Bagbey, lead guitarist; Owen Yawn, drummer; Garrett Dellinger, singer and guitarist; Wells Whitman, bassist; Sarah Vann, violinist; make up this alternative rock music band. They have been friends for quite some time having grown up in Banner Elk.

“When we first started we called ourselves a collective,” Dellinger said.

They gathered people for the enjoyment of music and have recently started playing live shows around the Boone area.

“This past summer is when we began playing shows which we didn’t expect,” Dellinger said.

Their live shows are where they enjoy seeing the crowd respond to their music.

“I want to see people banging their heads when I hit that crash,” Yawn said.

App State cinematographer shoots for a Super Bowl

Sam Vanolinda | Reporter

As the football program has risen over the past 10 years at the university, becoming one of the most successful Groups of Five teams in the nation, so has the video team that creates content for App State Athletics.

In 2021, Max Renfro’s uniform reveals caught the eye of the American public, receiving millions of views through various social media platforms, and in 2022, another Mountaineer cinematographer is in the spotlight, Will Allen.

A junior electronic media/ broadcasting major, Allen was student director of creative media for App State football during the 2022 season. He oversaw the creative process of the three-time SAVVY award-winning video team, helping produce and direct uniform reveals and hype videos alike.

Allen’s efforts in Boone have caught the attention of the NFL, and now he finds himself flying out on Sundays and shooting games for NFL Films around the country. Allen has one goal when it comes to his work for the NFL:

“A Super Bowl with NFL Films, that’s the top of the top,” Allen said. “You get a Super Bowl with them, you are doing something right.”

Allen’s road to being a Mountaineer cinematographer started with family inspiration.

“My brother went to App from ‘12 to ‘16,” Allen said. “He was one of the fans with the striped overalls, facepaint, the whole nine yards; he would always be in the videos because App State likes to capture the fan environment.”

Watching his brother appear in those videos inspired Allen to make some of his own.

“I went to a high school that was really good at football. I asked our athletic department ‘Can I make these videos?’ showing them App State’s,” Allen said. “I started on a little iPhone 6 and a GoPro 2, and I haven’t put it down since.”

A couple of years later, Allen found himself on the sidelines of Mountaineer football games, sprinting around trying to produce the best shots possible. One of his most popular videos came from the lastsecond Hail Mary against Troy Sept. 17.

Allen called this shot, paired with the wrap-up compilation video he made of the entire weekend, including College GameDay in Boone, up there with the best in his career so far. App State Nation agreed, with the video of the Hail Mary receiving 10,751 likes and 194,400 views on Twitter.

“That whole day was mindboggling,” Allen said. “From waking up at 7 a.m. to go shoot GameDay and being around Luke Combs, and then the game happens and ends on a .01% play that we accomplished; the play came right at me, and it was one of the craziest things I’ve ever shot.”

Allen took over the reins from Renfro, who recently graduated from the university, another Mountaineer who has done work for the NFL in the past year, shooting for the NFL Draft and NFL Honors in 2021.

During their time together with the university video team, Renfro noticed Allen’s camera skills becoming better and better. He said Allen used to text him for advice, but now he tells him “I think you have surpassed me, I don’t know if I can offer you advice anymore.”

The Coyotes practice at the home of band member Noah Schoenacher before a show Oct. 31, 2022. From left to right: Jacob Hastings, Noah Schoenacher, Edwin Thomas Jr. and Joseph Heiston. Photo by Mayesivy Carlson.

From promise to heartbreak; What went wrong for the Mountaineers?

Ethan Smith | Reporter

For the first time since making the transition to FBS in 2014, The university failed to qualify for a bowl game after finishing the season at 6-6. A team filled with talented players and a veteran quarterback, the Mountaineers seemed poised to compete for a Sun Belt title and return to a bowl game. As the season progressed, it became more clear any expectations for this team were not going to be met.

“I had high expectations for this season given the talent we had returning. It seemed like we couldn’t get consistency in several games,” App State class of 1987 alum Reggie Hill said.

The Black and Gold opened their season with a home-opening sellout defeat to North Carolina 63-61. The two teams combined for 1,231 yards of total offense and the Mountaineers scored 40 fourth quarter points before coming up short on the final plays of the game. Ultimately, the defensive struggles seen in this game would be a sign of things to come later in the season.

After their home opening loss, the Mountaineers traveled to College Station, Texas for what became their first top-10 win since No. 5 Michigan in 2007, defeating No. 6 Texas A&M 17-14. Following the victory, fans rushed King Street and took a victory lap by diving into the Duck Pond on West Campus. The chaos that ensued in Boone would set the stage for ESPN’s College GameDay to come to Boone for the first time for the Mountaineers’ home matchup against Troy.

“You can’t put a price tag on what College GameDay brought to our university, brought to the town of Boone and brought to our university,” head coach Shawn Clark said.

The roller coaster start to the season continued against the Trojans with redshirt senior quarterback Chase Brice throwing a Hail Mary on the final play of the game to lift the Mountaineers over Troy 32-28.

Despite starting the season 2-1,

the early success did not continue as the team went 4-5 over its final nine games.

The Mountaineers blew a 25-point lead to James Madison at home in the team’s fourth game of the season. The university then shutout The Citadel at home for its first shut-out victory since 2017.

On the road, the university lost 3624 to Texas State, a team that finished 4-8 on the season and fired their head coach. The Black and Gold were down 24-3 at halftime and struggled to play consistently on both sides of the ball. This loss was one of the most bizarre games the Mountaineers played this season.

“The one that’s just kind of a head scratcher for me is Texas State. That’s the one that just kinda sticks out in my mind, like how did that happen?”

former Mountaineer wide receiver Thomas Hennigan said.

Following the loss at Texas State, the Mountaineers bounced back with back-to-back wins over Georgia State and Robert Morris. The university stood at 5-3 at this point in the season.

The Mountaineers then dropped consecutive road games to Coastal Carolina and Marshall, marking the first time the team had dropped two contests in a row since 2017.

Heading into the final two games of the season, the team needed to win out in order to keep the consecutive bowl streak alive.

The Mountaineers won the first of those games by defeating Old Dominion 27-14 on Senior Day.

With their season on the line,the Mountaineers traveled to Statesboro, Georgia to play rival Georgia Southern, who was also playing for bowl eligibility. The Mountaineers lost in double overtime, ending the season in heartbreak.

“We have to do a total assessment of our program and see who we really are,” said Clark following the loss.

The first change was made days after the team’s season ended with former defensive coordinator and long-time university coach Dale Jones leaving the program.

The Black and Gold’s defense had been an area of concern throughout

the season. Although the team ranked 37 out of 131 teams in total defense, the university allowed 347 yards of offense per game and opponents averaged 5.31 yards per play against the Mountaineers. Third downs situations were an area of struggle for the team since the start of the season.

“We have to get off the field on third down,” said Clark following the home opening loss to North Carolina. “We can’t get off the field on third down right now.”

Opponents converted 42.3% of third downs, ranking 102nd nationally.

In Sun Belt play, the university allowed 33.25 points per game including 51 to Georgia Southern in the final game of the season. The Mountaineers ranked 60th in passing yards allowed.

The defense dealt with injuries at all three levels throughout the season.

The linebackers had key players miss time such as senior linebacker Trey Cobb and junior linebacker Brendan Harrington missed the entire season after suffering a season ending injury in the first game of the season.

“I think there was injuries, I think there was a lack of depth, and then the lack of pass rush, so it was hitting all three tiers of the defense right there with the injuries in the linebacking core, lack of depth in the secondary and just not enough pass rush for the defensive line,” Hennigan said...

As the season progressed, the offensive play calling became more conservative. Instead of taking shots down the field, offensive coordinator and play-caller Kevin Barbay opted for more run-based and short passes.

“I feel like since the second-half of the James Madison game where we got really conservative and they ended up coming back and we ended up blowing that lead, I think from that point on we got really predictable,” Hennigan said.

Redshirt junior linebacker Nick Hampton missed the final two games dealing with injury.

Mountaineers celebrate after the win with the section of App State fans that made the trip to Kyle Field Sept. 10. Photo courtesy of Andy Mclean, App State Athletics.

App State alum breaking new ground in high-end fashion

Briggs Hudson | Reporter

The realm of pro sports often involves a degree of professionalism and style, aspects often well visualized by the pregame walk into the stadium. Athletes often don high-end or luxury suits, with media outlets typically highlighting the entrance of impact players. However, the custom suit business was not often a unique one. Then came App State alum Mitch Purgason.

Purgason creates personalized custom suits for athletes, celebrities and businessmen under his brand Stitched By Mitch. Purgason now maintains a steady and reputable client base of household names, though the road to success was far from easy.

As a student at the university, Purgason was unsure of what he wanted to do following graduation. As a member of the basketball team, he suffered a hamstring injury in practice his sophomore year that derailed his plans.

“I was so obsessed with it that I never really thought about anything else,” Purgason said. “I didn’t really think about what I wanted to really do with my life.”

However, with a major in management and entrepreneurship, he was able to find some answers.

Required to start a business for a class assignment, Purgason started a clothing business, along with cofounders Ryan Sommerville and Merrick Marquie, aiming to provide cheap, custom suits for students. Despite setbacks and difficulties, the new business saw $30,000 in revenue in the spring of 2015 at the university.

Pregame clothing worn by athletes is something Purgason had paid attention to for years, dating back to the NBA in the early 2000s.

“Kobe started wearing really nice suits, looking really clean. LeBron and Dwayne Wade started making more fashion statements, and it’s just exploded since then,” Purgason said. “So, I sort of paid attention more.”

The idea for the business also

sprouted from Purgason’s time as an athlete, getting ridiculed for a pregame outfit in high school.

“I wore a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, a gray hat, gray Jordan’s like gray everything,” Purgason said. “And I just got s--- on.”

With the business finding some success in Boone, then seniors, Purgason and Sommerville embarked on a trip to Atlanta to present their business to a high-up executive. Instead of receiving a new investor or client, they received some harsh critiques and enough money to get back to Boone.

Instead of growing angry or unmotivated, Purgason said he took the critiques and listened to them. The meeting also provided some insight into working with a new kind of customer; businessmen, celebrities and athletes. All of which are now the primary clients of Purgason.

Purgason graduated in 2015, with that experience paying off only three years later.

Today, Stitched By Mitch has over 75 clients in the NFL, including Christian McCaffery, George Kittle and Josh Gordon. He has also made suits for NASCAR drivers like Bubba Wallace, as well as businessmen such as Mark Cuban and Dan Schneider. In 2022, Purgason appeared on Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30.”

Prior to creating a suit for a client, Purgason often will ask various personal preference questions, such as favorite colors, sports teams, cocktails, books, movies and more, and incorporate the elements into various aspects of the suit.

“You can combine something creative, something meaningful, significant, very personal, in details on the inside,” Purgason said.

The success Purgason has seen was not without periods of difficulty. Sommerville, who left the business in early 2018, was around to see this firsthand.

“Starting a company is the hardest thing that I’ve ever done in my life,” Sommerville said. “It is so much more

difficult than the public perception would give folks credit for.

While a student at the university, Sommerville also started Beans 2 Brew, the coffee shop in Peacock Hall, and was involved in the Center for Entrepreneurship. Even with his resume and career successes, Purgason’s commitment and work ethic still impresses him.

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MIDDLE: George Kittle, tight end for the San Francisco 49ers, pictured wearing a suit designed by Purgason before San Francisco’s home game vs. the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 3, 2022.

BOTTOM: NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace poses with his wife, Amanda Wallace, wearing his velvet wedding tuxedo that was designed by Purgason.

Photos courtesy of Mitch Purgason.

Robert Tonyan, tight end for the Green Bay Packers, pictured wearing a suit designed by Purgason before the Packers game vs the New York Giants in London, England on Oct. 9, 2022.

Editorial: The Appalachian has moved

AFTER 30 YEARS

The Appalachian has relocated from Plemmons Student Union room 217.

Though we’re just moving down the hall to room 235, the upheaval has been an unexpected goodbye to the room that our staff members have called home for three decades.

On Nov. 29, 2022, our editorial board found out our newsroom would be relocated before the spring semester. Two days later, we held our last full staff meeting in room 217 and informed our staff that this

would be the last time we met in this room.

The first time our PSU location was included inside an edition of The Appalachian was on Jan. 14, 1993, where our front page detailed the end of phase one construction on the union. According to that issue, student organizations such as The Appalachian, SGA, the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, the Black Student Association and Greek life had just moved into their office spaces on the second floor of the union.

For thirty years in room 217, we’ve held hundreds of staff meetings and pulled countless late nights on

Election Day, covered everything from local events to national tragedies, and have had thousands of students find their voice within those walls. Students have discovered lifelong friends, spouses and passions in room 217 that have stayed with them long after college, and for all this, we are grateful.

With this change, we’re fortunate to still have a space in PSU — one that is down the hall nonetheless. Room 217 will become a hub for identity based organizations on campus, and we’re excited to see what these groups do with the space. We hope it treats them as well as it has treated us for so many years.

We’re incredibly thankful for the Plemmons Student Union staff who have helped us immensely during our move. Their work is the reason why so many things on campus operate successfully, and we appreciate their work and kindness.

Though we’ll be in a different office, we’re still focused on getting students, faculty, staff and community members the information they need, and covering important things on campus and in the community. Our inboxes are always open for concerns, questions, story ideas and more. And once the paint dries, our office doors will be open as well.

The Appalachian Editorial Board

Nadine Jallal | Opinion Editor

U niversity faculties often consist of a variety of full-time and part-time, or adjunct, professors.

Universities often hire adjunct faculty on an as-needed basis, usually depending on course availability and an institution’s desire to lower costs and meet their budgets. Hiring adjunct professors may be beneficial for universities, but the ethics of hiring adjunct professors introduces a series of issues with the practice.

According to a survey by the American Federation of Teachers, nearly 25% of adjunct professors have an annual salary below the poverty line. 38% of adjunct faculty also rely on government assistance. Furthermore, only 20% of adjunct faculty report being financially comfortable enough to cover monthto-month expenses. At App State, adjunct professor salaries are as low as $20,000 and can be higher depending on the number of courses being taught.

The qualifications for adjunct professors are a master’s degree or higher, with teaching experience

often preferred. With the cost of a bachelor’s degree being about $80,000 according to App State’s cost of attendance and a master’s being about $40,000, it is unfair to expect people with such costly degrees to settle for a job that won’t pay them what their education is worth. Not only will they not get paid enough, but they will also likely not be presented with benefits such as healthcare. According to the AFT, less than half of adjunct professors have access to employer-provided healthcare. Arguably, any job is better than no job, but when a job requires as many qualifications as an adjunct position does, better salaries and benefits should be available.

The quality of education in universities relying on adjunct professors is arguably lower than those with higher numbers of fulltime faculty. Adjunct professors provide a lot of knowledge and expertise in their areas of study, but expecting someone who is underpaid to give as much time and effort as a full-time professor is unrealistic and unfair. The same issue plagues the K-12 education system as teachers

Adjunct professors deserve better

have been underpaid for a long time. Teachers have become burnt out from their heavy workloads that are met with an unsatisfactory salary and are leaving the profession, causing a national teacher shortage. The treatment of adjunct professors is no different. Both professions deserve better salaries and work conditions in order to provide the best educational experience for students.

When looking at how much money goes into football programs at universities, it becomes apparent the profit from sports is prioritized over quality education for students and the livelihood of faculty. For example, according to the UNC Salary Information Database, head football coaches in multiple universities in

North Carolina make above $400,000 a year. Football is a big part of the American college experience, but academia should remain the forefront of an academic institution’s purpose and mission. The staggering difference in salaries between coaches and professors suggests academia is not many universities’ priority. As universities spend millions of dollars on their football programs, they have adjunct faculty living paycheck to paycheck.

Earlier this year, App State announced a 2.5% salary increase for faculty across the board. While many professors were happy with the increase, some spoke up about it simply not being enough. In a Charlotte Observer Opinion article, professor Jeffrey Bortz argued professors sometimes make less than a full-time pizza delivery driver. With professor salaries accessible

to the public via the UNC Salary Information Database, it is not hard to see how Bortz came to that conclusion.

Education is such an integral part of many people’s lives. Americans are required to go to school for 13 years of their lives. Those who seek higher education should expect quality education from professors who are receiving adequate compensation for their dedication to academia. Many ethical issues are caused by universities’ desire to make education more profitable. Using adjunct professors and getting away with paying them lower salaries with littleto-no benefits is just one of those issues. Adjunct professors deserve better, both for themselves and for their students.

Graphic by Lilianna Rivera

OPINION: Try local restaurants over chains

Bella Lantz | Opinion Writer

When coming to Boone, there’s a variety of new and one-of-a-kind restaurants and cafes, but, many times people like to eat at places that are similar and regularly seen, such as McDonald’s or Cook Out. Instead of eating at these chains, visitors should branch out and eat at the local restaurants. Boone has many options for local restaurants, yet some may not give them a chance, because they want something familiar. There are local places as good, if not better, than chains and should be the first option when finding where to eat. Here are some local restaurants to eat at instead of chain restaurants.

Cracker Barrel vs. Troy’s 105 Diner

Cracker Barrel is known as a familyfriendly restaurant with many different food items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Troy’s 105 Diner has a similar menu plan, which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is a family-friendly restaurant as well.

The meal prices at Cracker Barrel range quite a bit, but are around $9$13 for a meal. The prices at Troy’s Diner are similar in price ranging from $8-$11. The decor of the two restaurants is the defining difference. Cracker Barrel is known for being a Southern-type restaurant, whereas Troy’s Diner is more of a ‘50s retro-like diner. Cracker Barrel is in an actual building with seating and a store, and Troy’s Diner is smaller in size because it is in an original metal-bound trailer. The dining experience is the same for both restaurants, as both their staff treat customers kindly. Troy’s Diner does beat Cracker Barrel in faster service and with both getting crowded so quickly, Troy’s Diner becomes the better option.

Starbucks vs. Local Lion

Starbucks is the largest coffee chain in the U.S. and made over $32.25 million in 2022. Coffee lovers should give other coffee shops a chance at this kind of success and go to a local cafe called the Local Lion. Starbucks is known for its many different drink options, but the Local Lion also has an amazing selection of freshly brewed coffee, teas and smoothies. They both have pastries and sweets, but Local Lion’s treats are guaranteed to be freshly made that day, whereas Starbucks’ treats come out of plastic bags. The Local Lion is cheaper, while Starbucks’ prices range from $4-$6, the Local Lion’s prices range from $2.50-$5. Not only are the prices cheaper, but the Local Lion is usually not busy and has a shorter line than Starbucks. Also, if you walk into the Local Lion, the space is filled with plants in an old, industrial type of space. It also offers outdoor seating in a covered space filled with plants and cushioned seats. The atmosphere is also calmer than at Starbucks and the workers always seem glad to have you walk in.

Applebee’s vs. The Local

Applebee’s can be a great restaurant if you want to sit down and enjoy a meal that is mid-price-to-expensive but will not break the bank. The Local has a similar concept. This sit-down restaurant is a little bit off of King Street and is well known among the community. The Local’s menu ranges in price from $10-$20 and has many food options. This restaurant has homemade meals and is well-known for its brewery options. The Local is smaller than a standard Applebee’s restaurant, but it has a homely feel when walking in. Both The Local and Applebee’s are very similar in price range and food options, but at The Local, there is a mountain community feel that you will not find at Applebee’s.

Ben & Jerry’s vs. Blue Deer Cookie

Ben & Jerry’s is the second leading ice cream brand with around 181.66 million sales in 2022. Blue Deer Cookies is a smaller, local ice cream shop that has a few flavors. Although Blue Deer does not carry as much variety, they still have classic and seasonal flavors. Blue Deer can still make sundaes with their ice cream, but the item they are best known for is their ice cream sandwiches. Their ice cream is around $4.50 for a cup and $4.75 for an ice cream sandwich. Ben & Jerry’s ice cream prices range due to size and type, but on average a cup or cone can range from $4-$6. Blue Deer may have fewer flavors, but the ice cream and price point make

Watauga County, NC

Graphics by McNeil Johnston

OPINION

OPINION: Moore v. Harper is a threat to American democracy

Megan Koch | Opinion Writer

North Carolina has dealt with gerrymandering since the 1980s, but it has been a relevant problem throughout the states since their establishment.

Every 10 years, states redraw their congressional districts based on the census to create districts that are equally populated and comply with the Voting Rights Act. The problem is, when put in the hands of partisan legislators, they get to choose their voters rather than voters choosing their politicians. Gerrymandering is the practice of redrawing boundaries to give a political party an unfair advantage over the other. In the last decade, Republicans have mainly benefited from gerrymandering but it should be noted that both parties have their hands dirty when it comes to political self-interest.

North Carolina has made national headlines with a slew of discriminatory voter laws. Republican lawmakers have made many attempts to control and silence minority groups with a voter ID law that would have disenfranchised many African Americans from their right to vote and have now gerrymandered a congressional map to further their political agenda.

For a state that trends to an evenly divided popular vote, they managed to illustrate a map that awarded 10 congressional seats to Republicans and just four to Democrats. In February, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that the maps violated the free election clause and were designed with intentional partisans. Unsatisfied with the ruling, gerrymanders are bringing their case to the Supreme Court to reinstate their arbitrary map now known as the Moore v. Harper case.

On Dec. 7, the supreme court heard oral arguments from both sides defending and promoting

the N.C. court’s ruling. Timothy Moore, the speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives, is the leader of legislators defending a blatant misrepresentation of the Constitution’s election clause called the independent state legislature theory. This argues that state legislators get full authority to regulate elections, prohibiting courts and governors from monitoring that power. This theory argues they are legally allowed to violate the state constitution when creating congressional districts and the courts do not have the power to stop them, completely stripping the foundation of American democracy. This dangerous theory would give legislators the power to gerrymander election maps, pass voter suppression laws and even use them as a cover to overturn entire elections. For a party hellbent on protecting the American constitution, they are blatantly violating

relevant to this case. The first is the Presidential Electors Clause which states “Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors.”

The other is the Election Clause which says “The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations.”

The Elections Clause gives congress the power to override abuses of power on the state level that constitutional authors, such as James Madison, were afraid of. The theory also relies on an inaccurate interpretation of the term “legislature” meaning “exclusively the legislature.” One way to understand the dangers of this mindset is demonstrated within the first amendment. The amendment states Congress cannot

religious organizations. By construing the clauses relating to the logistics of polling, we are creating a platform that could question the very basis of human rights and liberties in this country.

North Carolina lawmakers are calling for a Constitution-free control, rejecting the separation of powers that has been long established to protect the American people from corruption. They are using the Constitution to reject the Constitution, a hypocritical manipulation of the document. The theory has been rejected by numerous political actors and historians across party lines, as recently as 2019. Multiple Republican governors and secretaries have all rejected this theory including all 50 chief justices from each state. The only people backing up this claim come from a smaller bipartisan group of radical right-wing conspiracists that have been

misconduct. With the polarization within the nation’s politics being as it is, it should be important to recognize the sweeping agreement against the theory between party representatives. Justices Samuel Alito Jr., Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh have all displayed openness to the theory. This raises red flags about the partisanship of the branch designed to check politicians rather than flatter them. If passed, the floodgates of self-interest will be opened across all three branches of government. Outside of the disrespect to democracy, it would be a logistical nightmare. There would be different rules for state and federal elections ensuring chaos. Election officials would be powerless leaving every small nuance to legislatures who could not realistically address and govern in a time frame as short as an election day. The federal court is not designed to manage the magnitude of our elections. The idea of federalism is established, surprisingly enough, in the Constitution. National governing bodies should respect state governments, courts and lawmaking processes. The theory calls for an intervention of federal courts in the disagreements between state courts and state legislatures on state constitutions, overriding any previous conclusions.

The framers designed separate governing systems to distribute and limit the power of the national government. They are attempting to dismantle the checks and balances of state governments that have long been established. Federalism’s core concept is to bring power to the people while our Republican representatives are working tirelessly to take that away.

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Graphic by Rian Hughes