The Appalachian, February 2024 edition

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@THEAPPALACHIAN | THEAPPALACHIANONLINE.COM Jenna Guzman, Editor-in-Chief Editorial

editor@theappalachianonline.com

Ella Adams, Managing Editor Vivian Parks, Chief Copy Editor Siri Patterson, News Editor Madalyn Edwards, Assoc. News Editor Briley Turpin, A&C Editor Abby Buckner, Assoc. A&C Editor Leah Boone, Opinion Editor Bella Lantz, Assoc. Opinion Editor Ethan Smith, Sports Editor Chance Chamberlain, Assoc. Sports Editor Visual K. Slade, Visual Managing Editor Pruett Norris, Multimedia Editor Ashton Woodruff, Photo Editor Emily Simpson, Assoc. Photo Editor Kaitlyn Close, Graphics Editor Rian Hughes, Assoc. Graphics Editor

Business Ethan Batchelor, Business Manager business@theappalachianonline.com Kayla Masterman, Distribution Manager Marketing Julia Woodring, Director of Marketing/PR Chloe Jenkins, Assoc. Director of Marketing/PR Ella Wilson, Director of Audience Engagement Dr. Allison Bennett Dyche, Adviser adviser@theappalachianonline.com

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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Contributions are welcomed via email to editor@theappalachianonline.com. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the news organization overall. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The Appalachian editorial board.

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Comic by Yakira Gurganus

See answer on page 13

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Letter from the Editor: To be understood My love for The Appalachian and App State runs deep.

Regarded as one of the best North Carolina colleges for journalism, I knew I found my place nestled between the protective mountains and flourishing wildlife.

Now, as The Appalachian enters its 90th year, I am pleased to welcome our paper’s third installment of our Black History Month edition. Inside, you will find a curated section designed to amplify Black voices and diverse programs on campus.

My time here at App State began with COVID and a protest. Adorned with masks and passion, Black at App State led a peaceful demonstration on campus to demand their voices and, above all else, their presence to be seen, heard and understood. My second story at The Appalachian covered the aftermath at a university town council meeting, in a space where faculty and students gathered to reflect on the community we occupy.

App State said Fall 2023 enrollment was the most diverse in the last 124 years. 19% of the university’s total population is “racially and/or ethnically underrepresented students.” according to Appalachian Today. Our Mountaineer family continues to expand but meaningful recognition for achievements made by marginalized communities can feel stagnant. We all have the right to feel celebrated; and to truly see ourselves within our Appalachian community.

I have the opportunity to use my voice, to use my position in a way that matters. Diversity is not a numerical quota to achieve and pocket for later use. It is a commitment to the people. It is respect for everyone in our community. It is placing value on the voices that have been historically disenfranchised.

Blackness, just like any identity, is not restrained to a month.

We should be acknowledged and understood; daily, monthly and yearly. I have the privilege of dedicating a section of our February newspaper to see that Black students, faculty and community members are celebrated by App State and the outer Boone community.

I thank every editor, artist, writer and photographer who used their talents to create this edition. Journalism is a collective effort and ensures every person on our campus can see themselves reflected in an outlet for students by students.

I have always said the place to be understood is within journalism. Word possesses truth, either personal or objective.

Words have power. We have power. It is about how we use it for ourselves and others.

I have found my truth at The Appalachian and at App State. I have found inspiration and guidance. And, I can only hope that every reader of The Appalachian finds themselves within our pages. I want all of our readers, especially during this Black History Month, to be understood.

Graphic by Kaitlyn Close

K. Slade Visual Managing Editor 2023-24

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App State faculty recommend approaches, resources for Black history education Siri Patterson | News Editor

As of Feb. 9, there have been 65 bills introduced in 25 states opposing diversity, equity and inclusion programs, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Of the 65 bills, 22 have been tabled or vetoed and eight have been passed into law.

With increasing legislation being introduced against diversity, equity and inclusion programs nationwide, some App State faculty and staff members said they have concerns about education on racial literacy and relations within college campuses and the greater community.

Leslie McKesson, an adjunct instructor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, said she feels legislation against DEI programs will tighten the vice grip placed on K-12 teachers by state legislators and has begun to interfere with higher education curriculum.

“You know, we’ve seen in states like Florida where there are actual pieces of legislation that are governing what’s taught in some of the higher education institutions,” McKesson said. “You see things happening in the broad political arena here in North Carolina that are affecting the university system.”

In North Carolina, two bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate, HB 607 and SB 364, according to the North Carolina General Assembly website.

These bills restrict state agencies, including departments and facilities, the UNC System and the North Carolina Community College system, from holding conversations about political, social and ideological beliefs with applicants or employees. HB 607 is still awaiting action and SB 364 was passed in June.

“It is making it much more difficult, I think, to have open and intellectual conversations in the way that that used to be encouraged in the university setting, you know,”

Graphic by Rian Hughes

McKesson said.

Dramaine Freeman, a doctoral student advisor in the Department of Leadership and Educational Studies, said Black history education is an important tool to employ in the learning environment so students understand the context of the society they live in.

“If you don’t know the history of the thing, you’re bound to repeat it because you want to be able to discern when certain political moves have been made that’s going to put you

back in the same position,” Freeman said.

A concern Freeman said he has about recent legislation against DEI in education is the potential for increased limitations on resources for students to learn about Black history and cultures.

In the K-12 public schools he has observed, he said he noticed a lack of access to Black history educational material for students. In some cases, the school’s library was their only source for this kind of material.

“We have to figure out a way

to engage our youth, engage our communities, in a way that gets in front of them faster,” Freeman said.

For McKesson, racial literacy is defined not only by the education of history, culture and identities of races and ethnicities but by the approach taken to this education by someone who is not that race or ethnicity.

“I would say racial literacy includes a curiosity and openness to nonstandardized sources, a willingness to critically examine what you thought you knew and a willingness to explore

things that may be uncomfortable,” McKesson said.

McKesson holds Doctor of Education degrees in adult education and educational leadership and is a commissioner for the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. She has also published a historical nonfiction book following the story of her great-great-grandparents titled, “Black and White: The Story of Harriet Harshaw and ‘Squire’ James Alfred Dula.” In November, McKesson won the President’s Award and Historian of Excellence Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians.

Ashley Carpenter, an assistant professor in the Reich College of Education, holds a similar definition and said racial literacy depends on access to and the use of educational resources and the ability to process the information being given.

Carpenter said a strong understanding of race relations and education on racial literacy is important to understanding the institutions of society because “race impacts class, race impacts gender, race impacts sexuality — all those things.”

Carpenter and McKesson said they feel racial literacy has no finite goal or endpoint, saying people build their literacy continuously throughout their lives as they take in new information and perspectives.

Higher education provides opportunities for conversations about Black history, culture and the way systemic institutions in the U.S. may affect the lives or have affected the lives of Black citizens, Carpenter said.

Because people tend to grow up in homogenous communities with people who look and sound like them, Carpenter said, higher education can serve as a forum of identities that students may have yet to be introduced to in their early years.

“Higher education not only allows

5 for us to learn about those different viewpoints, but it also provides us a space to have some of these conversations,” Carpenter said.

Carpenter is currently teaching Diversity in Higher Education, a course offered on demand at App State. She said the class often partakes in conversations about race relations in the U.S. She initiates the conversation by encouraging students to think about their individual identities and how it affects their perception.

“I am a Black woman and so I go through life through the lens and guise of being a Black woman, right?

But, you know, there are situations that happened to my partners and colleagues that are also Black that I don’t necessarily fully — I don’t want to say I fully don’t understand — but they have different lived experiences too,” Carpenter said.

After focusing on individual perspectives, Carpenter said it is easier to shift the conversation toward the general experience of people who share identity traits without stereotyping or tokenizing.

However, Carpenter said, many variables must be considered for these conversations to be productive for all participants, especially at a PWI. When conversing about the Black experience in the U.S., things like tokenism, microaggressions and racism can make the conversation an unsafe forum for students of color, Carpenter said.

Additionally, conversations about Black history and systemic racism may place Black students, involuntarily, into a position of guidance and expertise for white students, McKesson said.

“I’ve had people that actually have told me, in the context of conversations about race, ‘Well, we don’t know what to do. So you’re gonna have to tell us what to do,’” McKesson said. “And that literally takes a second burden, a second bag of bricks, and places it on already broken shoulders.”

One idea McKesson suggested to help conversations about race at a PWI be effective and respectful is for instructors to set guidelines for the conversation. This may look like

addressing the students of color in the room to ensure they do not feel they are being looked at “under a microscope” and they “do not have to provide all the answers,” McKesson said.

Another guideline McKesson said could be installed before a conversation about race is that racism, intentional or unintentional, should and will be called out during the discussion. This duty will most likely fall to the instructor or professor, McKesson said.

McKesson said this guideline is an important piece during conversations about race because if racism is not addressed, “you’re leaving that racist action just out there hanging and leaving it out there to happen again.”

However, McKesson said the way addressing racist comments happens during these discussions is important.

“At this point in the social development of the world, there’s just gonna have to be some humility on both parts,” McKesson said. “I mean there needs to be humility on the part of the white person who says, ‘Well, I didn’t intend that to be racist it wasn’t, you misinterpreted.’ But there also needs to be some humility on the part of the person who heard that comment to say — you know to share — why it was perceived by them as a racist comment.”

McKesson said to place education at the forefront of the conversation and let the conversation lead towards understanding rather than defensiveness, if possible.

McKesson said another key element in learning about Black history and increasing one’s understanding of race relations in the U.S., particularly in regard to Black citizens, is to read work written and produced by Black people.

McKesson suggested those interested in learning more could read books such as “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram Kendi, “The 1619 Project” by Nikole Hannah-Jones and “The Hemingses of Monticello”

by Annette Gordon-Reed.

McKesson said some good authors to read to build knowledge on Black history and Black-white race relations

Graphic by Rian Hughes

in the U.S. are Lerone Bennett Jr., John Hope Franklin and Henry Louis Gates Jr. Carpenter said a majority of her initial learning during her Ph.D. program came from reading work by bell hooks.

Carpenter suggests those interested in broadening their education read “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria” by Beverly Tatum; “White Fragility” by Robin DiAngelo; “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander; “Americanah”

by Chimamanda Adichie and “The Racism of People Who Love You” by Samira Mehta.

“Literacy also doesn’t have to just mean reading, right,” Carpenter said.

“So it can mean listening to a really awesome podcast, it can be going to someone’s really great lecture and it can be watching a TV show that gave you a different perspective about race.”

Freeman said one of his favorite resources for Black history education is a website titled “Black History in Two Minutes (Or So),” created by Robert Smith. Freeman said he likes this resource because it contains information is about lesser-known historical Black figures and events.

McKesson also said Black history education can happen outside of

readings and classroom exchanges and the beneficiary quality of resources like museums and historical sites should not be undervalued.

McKesson suggested visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. and the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.

“Of course now there’s travel, but a lot of museums have an online presence and have some amazing programming that can be completed online,” McKesson said.

She said those interested should look into resources available in North Carolina, such as the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission. McKesson said the commission has completed and is

working on creating projects like Freedom Roads which creates a statewide trail of landmarks of historically significant sites in Black history in North Carolina.

Graphic by Rian Hughes

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App State offers two five-week Summer Sessions with Face to Face, Online, and Hybrid Courses

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Black at App TV spotlights Black community

Jenna Guzman | Editor in Chief

“Where’s the Black people show?” asked Tessa Cokley, a junior electronic media/broadcasting major, when wishing to get involved with AppTV and seeing the options of the shows she could join.

In the Fall 2023 semester, Cokley took it upon herself to create Black at AppTV, the first Black-led and focused program on AppTV. “I was like, you know what? Let me go ahead and start this, make my little mark at App,” Cokley said. “It’s definitely something that I can do.”

The goal of the show, Cokley said, is to highlight the Black community of App State and beyond.

“A lot of the news cycles are negative, especially, like, around people of color,” Cokley said. “So I wanted to focus on positive Black news on and off campus to help.”

After coming up with the idea and getting the approval to air the show, Cokley, producer and co-host of the show, assembled her team. She asked around, turning to classmates and her friends, gaining their interests.

“I thought that was an amazing idea and immediately I wanted to be a part of it,” said Lennie Vaillant, a senior and co-host of the show.

Cokley said not everyone involved with the show had experience in broadcasting and the technical skills to produce a show, so she had to teach and lead others.

“Tessa has been doing such an amazing job as the producer and yeah, she’s just so smart and, like, so talented,” Vaillant said. “When she

puts her mind to something she gets it done and I told her that you know, I believe in Black excellence and that is exactly what she has.”

Cokley said the show’s team meets weekly on Wednesdays to discuss story ideas and plans for the upcoming episode. Then, there is a filming day in which they piece it all together. Cokley said filming days may take a few hours due to setting up the audio and video equipment.

“It’s a lot of trial and error, like, we’ve only had two episodes out but there’s a lot of work that went into it,” Cokley said.

Some of the show’s segments highlight people, fashion, music and events happening in and around Boone.

Cokley said through this show, she wants to encourage people of color to step out of their comfort zones by trying new things that may be featured in the show.

Before joining the show, Vaillant said she was afraid of speaking in front of a camera. However, the show allowed her to open up more.

“I’m not in the media broadcasting world. I’m in a public health major.

So, like, that’s way out of my field,” Vaillant said. “But I did want to put myself out there.”

Vaillant said seeing herself on TV for the first time was “a good feeling” and that she called her mom when she found out it aired on a television channel.

Currently, the show has about 13 members, something Cokley said she is “super proud of.” She said it “warms her heart” when people create their

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Graphic by Jenna Guzman From left to right, Alec Woods, Lennie Vaillant, Tessa Cokley, and Raya Aughtry take their seats in the studio to film the show Black At App at Beasley Media Complex on Feb. 7, 2024. Photo by Hayden Wittenborn.

own segments and contributions to the show, and when people look forward to seeing those segments.

The show recently entered its second season, and is looking for feedback.

“If people watch the episodes, I would like to encourage people to comment, like, what you think we should do and, like, how we can get more people involved,” Cokley said.

Cokley also said the show wants to feature more people in the community and would like to feature more clubs.

“It’s meant to be really inclusive for everyone. But again just focused on the Black community at App State since it’s so small,” Cokley said. “You just want to get that out there and get that recognition.”

Vaillant said she hopes the show will

go viral in the future, and will be something members of the community instantly recognize when brought up in conversation.

As the show continues with more episodes, the co-hosts hope more people will join and continue on the legacy of the show.

“It’s a show made by us, for us,” Vaillant said. “We created it for us, like, we did not wait for y’all to do something for us. Like, we did it ourselves. So it would show that you know, you can do it, just put your mind to it.”

The show can be watched on the AppTV Youtube channel, Spectrum Charter channel 198, Skybest channel 20 or 1020 or on campus channel 23-3.

“This is gonna out date me,” Cokley said. “People are already joining it and it’s gonna keep going and it’s only going to keep getting better and I’m super excited.”

“I wanted to focus on positive black news on and off campus.”

- Tessa Cockley

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Black Greek members lead on Madelyn Crawford | A&C Reporter Despite proportionally low enrollment, App State’s Black student community is small but thriving. In particular, three individuals within the Divine Nine community of App State’s campus persevere. Their stories offer insight into the experiences and contributions within Black Greek life, highlighting the ongoing legacy of service and the impact on the local community.

“Black Greek life means everything to me,” said Zoe Horton, president of the Mu Omicron chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

Horton, a junior psychology major, has served in the role since May 2023.

As president, Horton said that she could not be happier.

“I think the role added an addition to my life that I can’t get anywhere else with sisterhood, as well as also being able to do things for different communities,” Horton said. “Not even just the Black community, but for rural communities. It’s connected me with a lot of different people across North Carolina who also share the same passions as me.”

Horton described being in her sorority as vibrant.

“You know that you have women that are always standing in your court, and they are always going to support you because you’re supporting the community for the greater good,” Horton said.

Horton said that her sorors, or sorority sisters, pushed her to go beyond her limits in her service, academic and social life.

“When you’re surrounded by the people that have the exact same morals and ideals as you, you’re going to want to continue down that positive path,” she said.

Although Horton said Mu Omicron is strong, its numbers are dwindling. Black student admissions to App State are growing increasingly smaller, and to the National PanHellenic Council in general, this means fewer members.

Out of the 4,227 first-year students

Kylah Atkins is a senior at App State and she is part of the Omicron Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She also serves as the President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Here she poses at her sorority’s plaque.

Photo taken on Jan. 24, 2024. Photo by Hayden Wittenborn

admitted to App State in the fall, only about 120 of them were Black, according to AppAnalytics.

“Because our community is so small on Appalachian State’s campus, and because a lot of our members are Greek, it is really important that we‘re constantly showing up in our community,” Horton said. “And that’s a lot of why I appreciate it so much; because I get the sense of fulfillment for showing up and creating a space for people of my color and just for everyone in general.”

Kylah Atkins, a senior criminal justice major, serves as the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and public relations chair for the Omicron Kappa chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She joined the Omicron Kappa during the spring of 2022 and became president of NPHC recently. Though App State wasn’t Atkin’s first choice, she said she doesn’t regret it.

“Alpha Kappa Alpha has always been on my mind, it’s always been a goal of mine,” Atkins said.

Regardless of where she went to college, Atkins said knew she wanted to be an Alpha woman.

“Coming here has definitely

brought in my understanding of cultures and how to navigate places where people don’t look like me,” Atkins said.

Atkins said she is very fond of the founding charter members of Omicron Kappa.

“To come onto a PWI campus and say, ‘we want Alpha Kappa Alpha here,’ it’s hard,” Atkins said. “They put in the work so that I could wear my letters. And for that, I’m always grateful.”

Atkins said that having the Divine Nine on campus creates a “safety net” for Black students, which is why it is important that the members stay active in their organizations in order to create a safe space for students.

Though the Omicron Kappa chapter was formed in 1987, the founding chapter members still keep in touch.

“They always come for homecoming, and it’s great to see them,” Atkins said.

Tyler Allen serves as the vice president of communications for the NCPH and the president of the Pi Nu chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.

As a senior history education major, Allen works as a student teacher in

Wilkes County. He said the impact his fraternity has on local schools is what keeps him proud.

Some of the initiatives started

by Alpha Phi Alpha, such as Project Alpha, College Life to Corporate Life Initiative and Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College focus on the education of young individuals. As a Black male teacher, Allen said seeing this representation in schools to young Black men in particular is important to him.

“I know first-hand how that can really steer children to a positive life,” Allen said. “I appreciate that our fraternity actually cares to have these programs.”

Allen said he feels a sense of incredible love from being part of the Divine Nine community.

“We all do have the same missions,” Allen said. “It might be worded differently, it might take different ways of getting to the point.

But we’re all here to advocate for the Black community and underserved communities all over the world.”

Although the Divine Nine have the same intentions, the university does not always, Allen said.

“As far as getting more Black people on campus, Sheri can figure that out. We’re trying to tell them that this isn’t a very safe space for Black people to be in. Because we’re on a mountain, we can’t fix that.”

Allen said he feels that there is not enough representation of underrepresented people in the campus Greek offices.

“Since not everyone is as educated on how we run, not everyone knows how to support us,” he said. “They just don’t understand, and part of that is because they haven’t been exposed to it.”

The best way to become educated about Black Greek life on campus is to speak with its members, Allen said.

“Just talking to people who are a part of this life will go miles,” he said.

“We’ll talk about why we joined, what this means to us, and how great it is for us and for our communities.”

Tyler Allen is a senior here at App State and he is part of the Pi Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. He also serves as the Vice President of Communication for the National Pan-Hellenic Council. Here he poses at the plots behind I.G. Greer with his fraternity’s plaque. Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2024. Photo by Hayden Wittenborn

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Letters to the Editor: The impact of Black History Month Nii Okine is an assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Who in Black history has inspired you and why?

Two people in Black history have been particularly inspiring to me.

The first person is Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah was the first African-born prime minister of Ghana. He was a leading figure in the Pan-African movement, and his vision and bold leadership helped Ghana become the first colonized African country to gain independence in 1957. Martin Luther King was inspired by Nkrumah’s leadership and often looked to him as an example of nonviolent activism. On the eve of Ghana’s independence, Nkrumah declared that the event would be meaningless without the total liberation of Africa. He understood that the solution to the unfair treatment of people of Africa and African descent worldwide was for Africa to be politically united and economically successful.The second person is President Barack Obama.

It is widely recognized that his election was a significant moment in U.S. politics, and for Black Americans, it was a milestone of great symbolic importance. Obama served as a positive role model and broke stereotypes for not only Black Americans but for all people of Africa and African descent during his two-term presidency.

If you could meet your Black history hero, who would you meet and what would you want to ask them?

I would love to meet both Nkrumah and Obama.

With Nkrumah, I would like to ask him how African unity can be achieved in present times. Africans are not able to travel freely from one country to another, there is no common currency and economic problems are getting worse. With Obama, I would like to ask him how his positive and counter-stereotypical image as an African American affected his policies. I come from a family where I am the first to accomplish certain things, so I understand the pressure that comes with that. I can only imagine how much more pressure there was for him as the first Black president.

Two Black professors, Nii Okine and Folarin Oguntoyinbo, were asked the same questions about with Black history means to them.

Folin Oguntoyinbo is a professor in the Department of Chemisty and Fermentation Sciences.

Who in Black history has inspired you and why?

I have been immensely inspired by the life and times of Marcus Garvey for the role he played during the PanAfricanism movement. He selflessly unified and connected people of African descent worldwide. As a notable civil rights activist in the U.S. who supported the Universal Negro Improvement Association, he became the publisher of Negro World newspaper and was involved in labor union for print tradesmen in Kingston. He immensely supported Black emancipation and struggled for separate but equal status for persons of African ancestry. In addition, Garvey significantly contributed to the independence of Black states around the world especially in Liberia and West African countries.

If you could meet your Black history hero, who would you meet and what would you want to ask them?

Marcus Garvey is my Black history hero. I would ask him about the lessons he learned in the struggle for liberation and the wisdom to pursue the struggle for the freedom of Africans.

What’s your favorite Black History Month tradition?

Apart from enjoying the talks and gathering of African Americans at events in February, I particularly like items that enable reminiscence of the origin of African Americans, the traditional arts that depict the struggle for freedom, cultures of Africans as demonstrated through the dressing and African foods.

What excites/inspires you about Black History Month?

I am excited about Black History Month because it is a month to reflect and celebrate the achievements made

by African Americans and showcase the legacy of African Americans across U.S. history as well as society and around the world. It is also an avenue to celebrate many Black heroes and their contributions that led to freedom.

Additional comments: February is Black History Month for the celebration of freedom and to pay tributes to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve equal rights and citizenship in the U.S.

Graphic by Kaitlyn Close

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OPINION: The attack on Black history Emily Escobedo Ramirez | Opinion Writer Editor’s Note: This article contains a description of a historical event that mentions rape.

Black History Month, launched

by Carter G. Woodson, was originally known as Black History Week in 1926 to highlight Frederick Douglass’ efforts in abolishing slavery and to recognize Black heritage. Later, it evolved to Black History Month in 1976, and its mission to highlight and honor Black history has remained constant.

However, due to escalating tensions between the federal government and the Black community, the effectiveness of Black History Month has been compromised. There is an attack happening on Black history, and it is due to the fragility and racism of current political leaders and people.

Black History Month has been limited to highlighting important figures and reviewing the “basics” of Black history. Yes, people learned about the Civil Rights Movement, know about Martin Luther King Jr. and understand that the 13th Amendment banned slavery, with the exception of prison labor. But many people do not know other important events that can never be forgotten, such as the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was home to Black Wall Street, a thriving Black community against all odds. It all came crashing down when Dick Rowland, a Black man, was accused of attempting to rape Sarah Page, a white woman.

White people took matters into their own hands and over the course of two days laid siege on the community. What was once a thriving city full of life and future was destroyed by racial violence.

But school textbooks do not acknowledge the government’s failures to give reparations or invoke justice.

Textbooks do not mention the various riots of 1964, such as the one in Harlem, that happened in the weeks after the Civil Rights Bill was signed.

Violent act after violent act has been a pattern in history, and to pretend it is over because the Civil Rights Movement ended is rewriting history. It is not a coincidence that some of the darkest events in history were at the hands of the U.S. government and are not taught in the school system. Because why would the U.S. bring to light the atrocious things that it has done? Majority of U.S. residents cannot comprehend the thought that the U.S. has actively been on the wrong side of history, and the U.S. would like to keep it that way.

Black history is U.S. history. This country was built on the pain and involuntary servitude of Black people, and it would be insulting to deny that their contributions were for nothing.

Yet there comes pushback from white people who attempt to discredit it, claiming that slavery, racism and discrimination are too “political” to discuss. Limiting the discussion of history, because it is uncomfortable, shows that they do not care about the truth; instead, they want to live in a

bubble where it is in the past. The past is not over; it never left. Racism is prevalent in the country, at the hands of all generations.

Gerrymandering is done in order to weaken the votes of Black people.

Neighborhoods and public schools are still experiencing segregation due to gentrification and budget cuts. There is a loophole in the 13th Amendment that allows prisoners to be forced into involuntary servitude, and the majority of workers are Black. These are real instances of discrimination occurring, but people turn a blind eye and say it no longer exists.

To put into perspective, Ruby Bridges was the first Black child to be integrated into a white elementary school at the age of six. She is currently 69 years old. Some people’s grandparents were alive to witness desegregation, and it is not always easy for older people to let go of prejudice and hatred. The argument that segregation and racism are nonexistent is not factual, it is a blatant lie that has irreparable damages.

Graphic by Rian Hughes

It is impossible to discuss Black History Month without mentioning current laws and motions that are responsible for the dilution of it. These attacks occur in both K-12 schools and higher education, with the majority happening in Republican states. For example, the “battle against critical race theory” is a witch hunt dedicated towards denying systemic racism, which is a real thing. Systemic racism is when a structure or system in place actively engages in practices that are unfair to minority groups. It helps explain how the current government and structures provide unequal opportunities. It goes alongside critical race theory, which explains that race is not a subgroup of humans, instead created to oppress people of color.

CRT shows that racism is embedded in everything of U.S. society, something that white people refuse to acknowledge. Many people immediately assume that CRT places blame on white people; however, it designates it to the current systems in place. With this belief, they assume

that it is being critical of the country, something deeply “unpatriotic” and damaging to the pride of the U.S. In the era of fake news and misrepresented information, many representatives have taken this contorted definition and have lobbied to ban it from schools. There are 18 states that have issued laws banning CRT from being talked about in class,

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Leah’s Lens: The foundation of art Americans often forget

Leah Boone | Opinion Editor

Black History Month is a celebration well known across the country, with events being held in many states to honor the importance and meaning of the month. There are many ways in which February is dedicated to celebrating and spreading information about Black history, such as mobile museums, national events and local events. There are also multiple opportunities in which individuals can be involved in the celebrations.

This year’s theme for Black History Month is African Americans and the Arts in order to honor the foundations laid by African American and Black artists in the art industry of the U.S. This is an extremely important theme, as credit within the arts is often ignored when it should be accurately recognized.

Many famous artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Elvis Presley, were heavily influenced by Black and African art. Picasso often used cubism in his artwork, which originated in Africa, while Presley was deeply inspired by the Black musicians he grew up listening to. Both of these men earned their fame through pure talent and excellence at what they do, but it would not have been possible without Black and African influence.

Rhythm and blues, commonly known as R&B, is still a very popular genre of music today, including artists such as Summer Walker and Bryson Tiller.

R&B music played a large role in the evolution of rock and roll, a genre that was dominated by artists such as The Beatles and Elton John.

R&B began to develop in the earlyto-mid 20th century, during which the population of Black citizens was growing in U.S. cities. Around World War II, the Black population increased by 33%, greatly increasing the entertainment scene.

The influence spans far beyond

visual arts and music, being evident in the fashion industry as well.

There are many trends that can be traced back to Black or African culture. Acrylic nails were worn by Cleopatra, an Egyptian queen, as early as 3000 BC and were then popularized by singers Donna Summer and Diana Ross. Josephine Baker became directly correlated with hoop earrings, which are still a staple accessory to this day.

Dapper Dan is a fashion icon who popularized many fashion trends.

These are just a few examples of the impact Black people made in the arts industry that are often brushed past.

It should be noted that while these artists have had major influence on white people within the arts, simply discussing the beauty that Black artists have created is just as important of a conversation. Whether it be a powerful example of resilience and strength, such as “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, or a classic hit like “When Doves Cry”

by Prince or “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner, the art is incomparable.

While all art has the potential to elicit some sort of emotional response from the consumer, it can easily be said that art created by Black people often has a much more moving backstory. It has been used as an aid to share their stories for decades, through some of the most tumultuous times. It is a concrete depiction of the resilience of Black people.

One of the most moving art pieces to date is a 1956 piece titled “Behold thy Son” by David C. Driskell. It captures the story of Emmett Till in an extraordinarily heartbreaking and poignant manner; it is very clear that Driskell wants the viewer to see the stark resemblance between his art and the crucifixion.

Another incredibly moving piece of art was created more recently, during the Black Lives Matter movement.

The 2020 mural shows George Floyd, a Black man murdered by a white police officer in Minneapolis, with names of other Black people who were killed in the background. The bottom of the mural says four simple yet agonizing words: “I can breathe now.”

These are just two examples of the emotive artwork Black people create based on their own personal struggles; struggles with which white people could never relate. The art created

by Black people deserves much more attention and fame than it receives today.

During this Black History Month, many organizations are creating lists of overlooked Black artists that deserve more attention. However, it is insufficient to enjoy these artists in February only; they deserve continuous notice for the incredible art they create. Whether it be music, visual arts, fashion or written art, celebrating the artists is important year round.

Without the influence of Black people on the arts, a vast majority of what people listen to, read and look at today would not exist. It is far past time to give credit where credit is due in the arts industry, and this year’s theme of Black History Month will hopefully catalyze this effort.

Graphic by Kaitlyn Close

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Virtual book club ‘meets at the community level’ to promote inclusivity in literature K. Slade | Visual Managing Editor Melissa Giblin said the humanities act as a pathway for empathy and connection. Giblin, director of the North Carolina Center for Books, saw a community need for a physical space to nurture connection while engaging in important topics informed by the state’s cultural and historical context.

This was the basis for North Carolina Reads.

From February to June, NC Reads hosts a monthly virtual book club based on a series of five selected books featuring diverse voices from North Carolina. Facilitators from NC Reads invite the book’s author and a topic expert related to the novel’s themes in an hour-long discussion followed by a Q&A. Last year, App State joined NC Reads in collaboration with the Office

of Diversity and University Libraries to host their own discussion panels and watch parties for community members.

North Carolina Humanities, the host organization for NC Reads, launched the program in 2022 with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities to celebrate U.S. diversity and the organization’s 50th anniversary.

According to its website, NC Humanities said the heart of the book club is the “desire to connect communities through shared reading experiences.”

Attendees ranged from native North Carolinians to people from 13 different states. Each discussion is recorded and uploaded to the NC Humanities YouTube channel for

those who are unable to meet during the scheduled time.

In preparation for the program, NC Humanities staff discussed the how. How could a book club be accessed by communities across North Carolina and beyond? By connecting with state librarians on how to expand reading resources, NC Humanities curates a selection of books focused on racial, social and gender inequality through a North Carolinian lens.

This year’s selection includes: February’s nonfiction narrative of false imprisonment and racial discrimination in “Beyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt” by Phoebe Zerwick.

March’s historical fiction novel detailing camaraderie in a Charlotte shell plant during World War II in “Poster Girls” by Meredith Ritchie.

April’s nonfiction collection of stories from a daughter of refugees, U.S. immigrant, English professor, and activist settling in North Carolina in “American Refuge: True Stories of the Refugee Experience” by Diya Abdo.

May’s fiction novel about a stolen musical heirloom: “The Violin Conspiracy” by Brendan Slocumb.

June’s memoir focuses on an intern at a minor league baseball team: “Welcome to the Circus of Baseball”

by Ryan McGee. “We really want to leverage North Carolina Reads to share our love of stories and create those new shared reading experiences by having people come together,” Giblin said.

Sixty-two groups consisting of universities, public libraries and museums plan on attending this year.

NC Humanities has packed around

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Located less than one mile from campus.

250 book boxes and close to 4,000 books for this upcoming program.

Book boxes can be requested by individuals or on behalf of a community group free of charge.

Inside each book box is a copy of the requested books, NC Reads merchandise and a curated discussion guide.

Feedback is integral to NC Reads’ operation as it helps gauge public interest and the success of the program. Giblin said last year’s surveyed participants said NC Reads exposed them to new ideas and perspectives.

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Reggae: A story of race, religion and redemption Briley Turpin | A&C Editor

In the 1960s, as race tensions were high across the globe, one island in the Caribbean found a way to spread a message of peace and hope among the oppressed, shouting their fight songs for the world to hear.

Born from the mento and ska music popular in the area in the 40s and 50s, a new sound emerged on the island of Jamaica: Reggae.

Reggae, in its early days, could be heard from every street corner in Jamaica as the style gained traction and popularity across the island.

Since the very beginning of reggae music, the message has always been about peace, love, justice and resistance to the oppression Black people face every day.

Amongst the various inspirations for reggae music is a religious movement that emerged in the 1930s across several African and Caribbean countries. The music draws inspiration

Peter Tosh illustrated above Graphic by Kaitlyn Close

Bob Marley illustrated to the right

from the Rastafari religion, a sect of Christianity. Drawing from the Old Testament of the Bible, Rastas believed Jah, or God, was testing African people through slavery and economic injustice, and that Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I was the new coming of Christ.

Many Jamaican Rastas are the descendants of African slaves who were taught Christianity while enslaved on the island. Although it is difficult to determine the number of Rastas that are practicing around the globe, their messages of love and hope are what live on through reggae, spreading far and wide, even into the little mountain town of Boone.

Susan Mills is a professor of music education at App State and played in a reggae band for 12 years. She said reggae music pulls partially from gospel and religious tunes.

“You can imagine, as with many oppressed people, they turned to religion as an escape from poverty and poor social conditions,” Mills said. “The lyrics of these songs were typically laments about the social conditions in Jamaica and the negative consequences for people involved.

The music represents that organized spirituality.”

Alongside the religious aspects of reggae was the unification of the people of Jamaica against violence and injustice.

Jonathan Priest works in IT for App State and has a personal history with reggae music. He began listening to the genre as a kid when he had a neighbor from Jamaica who introduced him to the style. He fell in love with the music and later ran a reggae radio program in Florida.

“It was a really interesting time in Jamaica that gave rise to reggae.

There were two political parties that would arm gangs of young people to fight against each other,” Priest said.

“It basically divided the nation, but the music that came out of it was like,

‘stop the violence, let’s come together, let’s know ourselves and our cultural roots.’”

It is that very idea of peace and unification that sparked the revolution of reggae music. With popular names like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh spearheading the movement, reggae exploded into the pop culture scene, finding a place for itself not only in Jamaica, but across the globe.

“The liberation of people from oppressive regimes through reggae spread around the world to other countries who were fighting for independence, and they gained a lot of empowerment from the music and the sounds,” Priest said. “It spread around the world far beyond Jamaica to produce such strong messages.”

Many of the songs are full of cries of pain and calls to action. Songs like “War” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, which shouts “That until the basic human rights / Are equally guaranteed to all / Without regard to race / Dis a war,” over a peaceful drum beat, became beacons of hope and outlet of expression for the oppressed.

It is also those very messages that keep reggae alive six decades later.

“It isn’t as though all justice has been restored in Jamaica, or in Africa, or in African-America or in the Caribbean,” Mills said. “Reggae has relevance today in injustice. It’s relevant to what we see happening in the Middle East. It is relevant in terms of people having to silence themselves in fear of their own life or their loved ones. There is lots of relevance for people who feel like they need a voice for oppression.”

The powerful lyrics of reggae music are complemented by the irresistible beat backing the words.

From the unmistakable one-drop beat of the drums, to the beachy calypso inspired instrumentation to the blaring horns often present in reggae songs, the music captivates the mind

13 and body.

“When people dance to reggae music, sometimes they say it’s so easy to dance to it’s like you’re walking down the beach. It’s very natural, and I think that’s why people feel spiritually connected. It’s just easy,” Mills said.

Priest echoed these thoughts, saying the unique style of the music is what gets people moving.

“Reggae wouldn’t be reggae without the strong bass and drum line. Those components give you a full body desire to move,” he said.

Peter Brown, a local Boone musician and App State alumni, plays guitar, keyboard and sings for the reggae band Rastacoustic. An avid lover of all things reggae, Brown says he thinks the reason reggae is still relevant years later is the spirituality inherent in the music.

“You know, getting into reggae wasn’t a consciously planned thing for me. I think that kinda speaks to the spiritual and cosmic nature of the music and lyrical content,” Brown said. “Bob Marley said that reggae will find the people who need it, and it sure found me.”

In celebration of Bob Marley’s birthday on Feb. 6, Rastacoustic played at Boone Saloon Feb. 10 for the second annual Bob Marley Birthday Bash. Brown said the band was looking forward to this event as a way to spread the magic of reggae.

“Reggae music is obviously very Afro-centric and a revolutionary style of music,” Brown said. “I find it very cosmic that this guy from a tiny island spread his message around the world.

It’s fun to celebrate his music, but the very nature of that lends itself to Black history, which is so important.”

Brown said the show means more than just playing music with his friends.

“My hope is that through these types of events, we could bring more people in to explore more reggae music,” he said.

As the world continues to fight oppression, economic disparity and racism, the lyrics and messages embedded in reggae music continue to offer words of hope, love and justice, and the poignancy of the words are

ever present, even 60 years later.

Acknowledging the work of reggae musicians in the efforts of fighting oppression is at the heart of keeping the spirit of reggae alive.

“Humans have this innate yearning for a togetherness and a society that’s built on love and respect,” Priest said. “When you’re in a world that doesn’t really reflect that, the lyrics and the spirituality of reggae speak of a redemption and a relief from that world.”

For those in Boone looking to dig deeper into reggae, check out this playlist full of some classic reggae songs mixed in with some less popular songs.

Ziggy Marley illustrated above

Graphic by Gracean Ratliff

Graphic by Kaitlyn Close

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Former App State defensive back Steve Wilks and his wife Marcia Wilks has coached for the Chicaago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals and is the current Defensive Coordinator for the San Franciso 49ers. Courtsey of Marie Freeman, University Communications

Former Mountaineer Steve Wilks’ journey to the Super Bowl

Chance Chamberlain | Associate Sports Editor The early 2022 season firing of former Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule saw App State alum Steve Wilks serve as interim head coach to finish the season. Wilks revitalized the team’s culture before becoming the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 after going 6-6 with the Panthers.

“Steve is a leader of men. He has experience as a head coach, and I thought he was the best candidate in the building for that role,” said Panthers owner David Tepper during Wilks’ introductory press conference.

Wilks’ football journey began as a defensive back at West Charlotte High School. Mountaineers head coach Sparky Woods recruited the Charlotte

native to the High Country in 1987.

He played under Woods until 1989 when Jerry Moore became head coach after Woods went to South Carolina.

After his final season in 1991, Wilks totaled 103 tackles, four interceptions and four blocked kicks as an App State defensive back.

Wilks’ time with the Black and Gold proved valuable as a player and coach, learning the fundamentals of taking control of a locker room.

“I feel like I learned how to treat players when I was at Appalachian,” Wilks said. “Coach Woods always addressed us by calling us men, because that’s the way he wanted us to think of ourselves as young men and that’s how he expected us to act.

Coach Moore treated everyone the same.”

Wilks’ collegiate coaching career began at Johnson C. Smith in Charlotte, serving as defensive coordinator in 1995-96.

After serving as defensive coordinator, Wilks served as head coach at Savannah State from 199799. In 2000, Wilks transitioned to Division I, where he coached defensive backs for Illinois State.

Wilks returned to App State the following season as defensive backs coach, reuniting with Moore. The Mountaineers finished with a 9-4 record as the former player-turnedcoach continued to learn under Moore.

After one season in the High Country, Wilks coached at four different colleges from 2002-05 before earning his first NFL coaching opportunity with the Chicago Bears

in 2006.

In Chicago, Wilks served as defensive backs coach and connected with his mentor defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

“He’s one of the guys who could come into my office and basically say, ‘Coach, you f—ed that up,’” Rivera said. “He’d be very honest and very blunt and tell me what I needed to hear, not what I wanted to hear.”

Following the 2006 season, Rivera left to coach for the San Diego Chargers and Wilks stayed with the Bears until he was fired in 2008. Wilks then reconnected with Rivera in San Diego, and followed alongside him until Rivera was hired as the Panthers head coach in 2011.

The Charlotte native was hired as defensive backs coach with the Panthers in 2012. Wilks rose up the ranks within Carolina’s coaching staff as he was promoted to assistant head

coach in 2015, a season that saw the Panthers finish 15-1 and appear in Super Bowl 50.

“There is no secret that my goal is to be a head coach in the NFL, but it’s very important to take care of what is in front of you,” Wilks said in 2016 to the Appalachian Today. “I’ve learned throughout the years that you pay attention to what you should be doing and good things will happen.

In 2017, Wilks was promoted again to defensive coordinator and became a top head coach candidate as he led the Panthers’ defense to rank seventh in total defense and third in rush defense.

This performance pushed him to be hired as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. Wilks inherited a rebuilding Cardinals team and finished with an NFL-worst 3-13 record, leading Wilks to be fired after one season.

“The hard part for him there, he

15 was the last guy hired,” Rivera said.

“So all the guys that were on his coaching list, they were already locked in. He had to hire guys that he really didn’t want to have to hire. He had to keep guys he didn’t want to keep.”

Wilks went on to serve as defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2019, leading him to return to the college ranks in 2021 as the Browns did not retain him.

Back in collegiate coaching, Wilks was hired by Missouri and former App State head coach Eli Drinkwitz to serve as his defensive coordinator.

After a season in Missouri, Wilks returned to the Panthers coaching staff as he was hired by Rhule in 2022. The firing of Rhule led Wilks to be named interim head coach of the Panthers.

Wilks inherited a 1-4 team and turned around the Panthers season to finish 7-10, nearly clinching a playoff spot. His efforts as interim head coach brought together a divided locker room and restored the ‘Keep Pounding’ mentality to the team.

“We’re at the point in our season where it’s about ‘Keep Pounding,’” Wilks said at his introductory press conference. “If we’re going to turn it around, that’s the mindset we need to have.”

This turnaround led to current and former players calling for Wilks’ interim tag to be removed and become the permanent Panthers’ head coach.

“You guys keep asking the question, we want Wilks,” said Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson to reporters before the offseason.

Ownership decided to go in another direction, hiring Frank Reich as Wilks was named defensive coordinator for the 49ers.

“Coach Wilks is awesome,” said former Panthers and 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey before the 2023 season. “I think I could talk about Coach Wilks a lot and just the type of man he is, but it says a lot to see how all the Panthers players reacted to him and them vouching for him to get the head job. That’s a testament to who he is, and that explains a lot about not just the coach he is but the guy he is.”

With the 49ers, Wilks led the

“I’ve learned throughout the years that you pay attention to what you should be doing and good things will happen.”

- Steve Wilks defense to rank third in points, fifth in turnovers and eighth in total yardage during the regular season. As the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 12-5 record, San Francisco defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round and the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship, claiming a spot in Super Bowl 58. Facing the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas for Wilks’ third Super Bowl coaching appearance, the 49ers fell short in a 25-22 overtime loss.

Like in 2017, Wilks’ name has been mentioned in several head coaching vacancies as he looks to become an NFL head coach again.

Off the field, Wilks and his wife Marcia, continue to make an impact for App State, forming The Steve and Marcia Wilks Post-Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship in 2021. The scholarship is given to one student-athlete from an underrepresented population pursuing a graduate degree at App State.

“Marcia and I are honored to offer support to the dedicated and deserving student-athletes of Appalachian State,” Wilks said. “We are committed to making a positive impact on their educational endeavors.”

Former App State Steve Wilks played defensive back at App State from 1987-91. Wilks and the team would go into their second year in a row, and second time overall, as conference champions and have a playoff apperance. Courtesy of App State Athletics

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‘Boone is closed’: revisiting the Blizzard of ‘93 Madalyn Edwards | Associate News Editor

Already this spring semester, students have woken up to snowfall on multiple days, resulting in class delays or cancellations. However, the inches of snow from this semester fail to compare to one specific week in App State’s history, when from March 15-19, 1993, App State experienced a snowstorm that would cancel classes for five straight days and later be referred to by media outlets as “The Storm of the Century.”

The Appalachian reported on the storm, headlining its paper “Blizzard of ‘93 extends break.” News Editor Suzi Landis cited it as the longest class cancellation in App State’s history. The blizzard caused Boone to receive 2-3 feet of snow and cost App State approximately $30,000, or approximately $64,000 in today’s dollars when inflation is factored in, according to a 1993 issue of The Appalachian.

Most students were away from campus during the blizzard on spring break, but an estimated 160 students remained on campus, according to The Appalachian’s report.

With students spread throughout the

state and country, contacting each student regarding the cancellation of classes proved to be difficult in the age before cell phones and social media.

In an effort to notify students of the hazardous weather, App State’s news bureau director Speed Hallman reached out to major North Carolina news outlet and notified the Associated Press of the closure to inform out-ofstate students.

Students who called in asking whether or not classes were canceled were told that classes would remain canceled until Thursday. However, App State officials later decided to cancel Thursday and Friday classes in anticipation of the fact that Boone was not ready for App State’s students to return because roadways were still being cleared. This caused some confusion, resulting in some students attempting to return early, The Appalachian reported.

University officials, including App State’s chancellor, provost and vice chancellor met before the blizzard hit Boone to discuss options regarding the campus closure. The following day, it was decided to cancel classes, extending spring break by a week.

The university remained open, however, and crews worked around the clock to clear the snow, The Appalachian reported.

Kevin Barney graduated from App State in 1993 and was living in Boone off-campus when the storm A military helicopter sits outside the Food Lon inBoone surrounded by banks of snow. Some Boone residents were unable to make it into town, warranting airdrops of essential supplies via helicopter. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Shatter

hit. Barney and one of his friends visited Cancún, Mexico during spring break and returned to Boone before the blizzard hit.

Barney said in a recent interview that he woke up to 2.5 feet of snow and no electricity.

He later called another friend who lived about 10 minutes away who had oil heating. Barney made the journey to his friend’s house and remained there for approximately a week with 10-11 other students.

“The oil heat for the furnace started to get low,” he said. “The last four days, none of us are taking showers.”

Barney said he and the other students had to use a small fireplace as a source of heat, using wood that a neighbor gave to them to keep warm.

For supplies, the students trekked to a small store that was open and lived off of “bread, bologna and beer” for a week.

Toward the end of the week, Barney said he and the students who were still staying over ventured out to the mall in search of open restaurants and witnessed a helicopter land in the parking lot.

“A state trooper gets off with a guy in a suit,” he said. “So imagine six college students standing outside of a car of the Boone Mall, and this guy walks up to us and goes, ‘Y’all okay? Would you like to meet the governor?’”

Barney said Governor Jim Hunt visited the town of Boone after the blizzard when helicopters were delivering supplies by air.

“We hadn’t taken a bath in days,” he said. “We were just holed up by a fire. We smelled like firewood.”

A family enjoys sledding and walking in the snowy weather brought in by the blizzard. A man stands by a truck that took part in helping plow the 19 inches of snow Boone got on Jan 26, 1998. Photo courtesy of Randy Reinink.

Another App State alum who witnessed supplies being delivered via helicopter was Cheryl Shatterly, who was a freshman living on campus in the dorms during the storm.

Shatterly worked at the local Food Lion where supplies were being loaded onto helicopters and dropped off to Boone residents who could not make it into town for supplies. She recounts running into the store, grabbing the store’s Polaroid camera and snapping a photo of a helicopter.

“They actually had the military helicopters land in the parking lot, come inside the store, make the purchases, and prepare them for airdrop,” she said.

Shatterly said she doesn’t recall losing power in her dorm, but said she was snowed in for a couple of days.

The Appalachian’s March 25, 1993 print edition was filled with columns and articles related to the snow and closures. It was reported that the winter weather lowered crime rates and postponed the SGA elections. As assistant commentary editor Brian Winkler wrote in his column, the entirety of Boone was “closed.”

Leah’s Lens: #TBT, The Appalachian style

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Leah Boone | Opinion Editor

The Appalachian has been around for 90 years and has evolved in many ways; more writers, better coverage, longer papers and an online version.

However, there are some things that remain the same, no matter how long it has been. The Appalachian has always wanted its readers to pitch in, with letters to the editor being a prominent part of the paper then and now.

From the 1930s to now, there have been letters to the editor that remain true to this day. Ranked in order of relevance and current newsworthiness, here are nine examples, one from almost each decade The Appalachian has existed. #9: April 2, 2014 - “There is another side to the climate change debate” The letter begins with the sentence, “Climate change is a myth that has zero evidence.” It is ranked last. #8: Sept. 8, 1981 - “Soccer Team Says Thanks To Fans” Since May 2020, App State has not had a men’s soccer team. This letter was written by Walter Bowling, co-captain of the team at that time, thanking the fans for showing their support at the game against Clemson University. This Letter to the Editor is ranked eighth due to the nonexistence of the soccer team. #7: Oct. 30, 1953 - Gratitude from a transfer student Transfer students are a large part of the App State community. In Fall 2021, there were 1,524 new transfer students, and the community continues to grow. The letter to the editor shows gratitude towards other students for being friendly to transfer students and treating them with the same respect.

While important, it is impossible to look at a student on campus and immediately know whether or not they are a transfer student, so as long as you are simply a nice person, it is a moot point. Therefore, this letter is ranked

seventh. #6: Oct. 9, 1934 - Respect alumni Homecoming is still quite the shindig on App State’s campus, and alumni are greeted with open arms.

This Letter to the Editor calls for all current students to make alumni feel welcome as the Homecoming crowd comes to town. There are many events during Homecoming weekend on campus in which alumni are honored and treated like family. It is second nature to current App State students to welcome all alumni for the Homecoming festivities, putting this Letter to the Editor at number six. #5: Dec. 17, 1948 - Lack of sportsmanship The letter from 1948 criticizes App State students for their lack of respect at football games, specifically the Guilford game. The writer, a

student, encourages his fellow students to exhibit more sportsmanlike activity, such as not booing at the referees.

App State students during football games are a force to be reckoned with, and certainly do not hide their opinions regarding the game.

Perhaps booing referee decisions could be considered a bit much, but it has become a common feature of football game culture. At the end of the day, students are rooting for their Mountaineers in whatever way they deem fit. Due to the normalcy of potentially unsportsmanlike acts at games today, this Letter to the Editor is ranked at number five. #4: Sept. 19, 1963 - “East Sardine Hall?”

The headline really says it all — multiple seniors submitted this letter to the editor to air out their frustration regarding the lack of communication

between administration and students about East Hall. The students say that while most of them signed up with one roommate, some rooms in East Hall were holding three residents. The year 1963 is not the last time that East Hall has undergone fairly major changes with little to no warning; imagine the students’ surprise if they knew that East Hall was made into office spaces in 2022. While the sentiment has not changed over the years, East Hall certainly has, putting this letter at number four. #3: Jan. 26, 1973 - “A victim speaks” Donald Secreast brings up the issue of App State’s food services in the early 70s in this letter to the editor, noting things such as hair in his food, uncooked pasta and roaches on plates.

While it is not a published letter, there is now an Instagram page for

people to submit photos of their disastrous experiences with App State dining, showing multiple of the same issues discussed by Secreast. The account has not posted since February of 2023, perhaps insinuating the food situation has improved. Nevertheless, it has remained a pressing issue in the last couple years, making this letter number three. #2: March 14, 1996 - “Parking deck not the answer” This Letter to the Editor came out almost 28 years ago, yet still rings true today. Former professor Harvard Ayers, urges App State to turn to different methods, such as not giving parking passes to freshmen and using the money for public transportation and improved pedestrian pathways.

A new parking deck is in the process of being built behind Holmes Convocation Center, making it the third on campus. Though most freshmen park in the Appalachian 105 lot now, the rest of his frustration would be echoed today, making this letter the second-most relevant. #1: Feb. 13, 2020 - “Defining consent” It is no surprise that the most relevant letter to the editor is the most recent, especially with it being about such an important cause. The writer, Kat Ward, discusses exactly what consent is and what it is not.

In short, anything other than a firm “yes” is not consent. Ward then goes on to bring attention to the ‘#MeToo’ movement, as well as the issues with the ‘Consent is Sexy’ movement. This letter is still extremely important, with nonconsensual activities still being far too common and too many excuses being made. Not only does it take the spot for most relevant, it should also be common knowledge.

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Mountaineer legend immortalized in Hall of Fame

sports

guys and fans. So, I do not entertain.” of mine,” Edwards said. “Without plaque was unveiled along the team After Edwards’ time wearing the those guys on the field, that wouldn’t facility of the North End Zone.

Black and Gold, he was selected in have happened.”

Edwards then said a few words to Ethan Smith | Sports Editor the third round of the 2010 NFL draft The weekend leading up to the the App State faithful in the crowd.

Arguably, the most decorated “I can remember how quiet the by the Carolina Panthers. At the next ceremony was spent reflecting with “Thank you and go App,” Edwards player in App State football history stadium was,” Edwards said. “Pretty level, Edwards made the transition to some of Edwards’ former teammates said. was elected into the College Football much practice all summer all through wide receiver. After the NFL, Edwards making the trip up the mountain for Hall of Fame Jan. 8. Armanti Edwards camp for a loud stadium, practicing spent time in the Canadian Football the commemoration and the game. set 64 program records and 14 SoCon silent count. We’re not going to be League where he won the Grey “We had a very nice dinner where records during his time in the High able to hear each other, but once it was Cup as a member of the Toronto I was able to see former players Country. all said and done and we came with Argonauts in 2017. and guys I haven’t seen for five to “On behalf of the entire App the victory, just hearing how silent it Changing positions at the highest 10 years,” Edwards said about the State family, we congratulate Armanti was.” levels is an extreme challenge and weekend. “We reminisce and talk on this significant recognition,” said The 2007 season ended the same Edwards was no exception. about the good old days and see how Director of Athletics Doug Gillin. way it had in 2005 and 2006, with the “It was obviously hard work, hard everybody’s doing at that time. So, it’s “This is a well-deserved honor, and Black and Gold atop the mountain. road, starting out switching positions been beyond, past my expectations.” we’re excited he will be joining the Despite missing four games due to at the highest level,” Edwards said.

At halftime, it was time for the No. other Mountaineers as members of injury, Edwards threw for 1,948 yards “It was pretty hard to do, but as the 14 to take its place in the rafters, or in the College Football Hall of Fame.” and 17 touchdowns while rushing for years went on, I kind of got a feel for this case the North End Zone.

Edwards attended Greenwood 1,588 yards and 21 touchdowns. it. Got the right mentors in my corner Edwards was joined at midfield High School in Greenwood, South In 2008 and 2009, Edwards won and I had another opportunity to go along with his family and Moore Carolina where he started as a wide FCS National Player of the Year in to Canada and the CFL and continue as a tribute video played across the receiver. Midway through his junior addition to becoming the only twoplaying wide receiver. That’s when I scoreboard. Once the video ended, the season, Edwards transitioned to time FCS Walter quarterback and tallied 1,400 passing Payton Award winner, an honor pretty much started to understand.” yards and 18 touchdowns. As a senior, given to the most outstanding Edwards returned to Boone in Edwards threw for 2,000 passing yards offensive player.

He became the fall for the retirement of his No. and rushed for 1,000 yards while the FCS record holder for 14 jersey during halftime of the accounting for 29 touchdowns. career rushing touchdowns at Mountaineers’ matchup against rival It took Edwards no time to make 65 and the most seasons with over Georgia Southern Nov. 25, 2023. an impact while wearing the Black 3,000 yards of total offense.

“A very special day here at App to and Gold uniform as he won SoCon Paired with Hall of Fame be able to honor Armanti Edwards Freshman of the Year and first coach Jerry Moore, the and what he stands for,” said head team all-conference. After 10 starts, duo saw a 42-7 record during football coach Shawn Clark postgame.

Edwards broke every program record Edwards’ time as the starting “When you think of Appalachian for a freshman quarterback. quarterback.

Edwards State, you think of Coach Jerry He totaled 2,251 passing finished his App State career Moore, Armanti Edwards, Dexter yards, 1,151 rushing yards and 30 with 10,392 passing yards Coakley.” touchdowns. The Mountaineers and 74 passing touchdowns Boone was filled with black and capped off Edwards’ rookie campaign along with 4,361 rushing yards, gold at tailgates around campus along with their second-consecutive national becoming the second Division with fans wearing No. 14 jerseys in championship in 2006.

I player to reach 10,000 passing honor of the former App State signal The next three seasons were what yards and 4,000 rushing yards. In caller. Due to number shortages, it critics and fans alike expected of 2016, Edwards was inducted will be the last time an App State Edwards from week to week: greatness. into the Southern Conference Hall football player will have their jersey As a sophomore in 2007, Edwards of Fame. memorialized. led App State into The Big House Despite numerous awards “It’s obviously a great achievement in Ann Arbor, Michigan where few and his success while in the thought the Mountaineers from a High Country, Edwards doesn’t small mountain town had a shot at think about being considered App taking down the No. 5 Wolverines.

State’s G.O.A.T. By the end of the afternoon, the “No, that’s definitely not for Armanti Edwards (left) shakes hands with Director of Athletics Coug Gillin as his #14 is retired during the last game of once loud and passionate maize and me to consider,” 2023 season Nov. 26, 2023. Edwards won back-to-back Walter Paton awards in player in the NCAA Division 1 Football blue crowd turned to pure stunned Edwards said.

Championship Subdivision. Photo by Ashton Woodruff. silence.

“That’s for you

“without those guys on the field, that wouldn’t have happened” - Armanti edwards

sports

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2 journeys, 1 destination: Transfer duo plays to win Kolby Shea | Sports Reporter

Two transfer App State standouts have made an immediate winning impact for head men’s basketball coach Dustin Kerns.

Junior forward Tre’Von Spillers and junior guard Myles Tate found a new home in Boone this season, and have contributed to an App State team looking to return to the NCAA tournament.

Before the season, the Mountaineers projected to be one of the top teams in the Sun Belt Conference. Six impact players returned from last season’s team that went 16-16 and lost in the second round of the conference tournament.

This year, it took the Black and Gold 20 games to match last year’s win total. Their record currently sits at 20-5 overall and 10-2 in conference matchups. Some of the success can be credited to the returning players, but this team has been profoundly changed by the two transfers.

Spillers leads the team with 13.4 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, adding the second most blocks at 1.44 per game. His team-leading point total comes on the back of offensive efficiency as he shoots just under 64% from the field. Through 19 games, he has accounted for six double-doubles and four 20 or more point games.

Tate has come off the bench for the majority of games, but leads the team with 3.4 assists per game and 1.1 steals. He puts in 8.6 points per game and is the team’s best free-throw shooter at 77.3%.

Tate’s best game came against Auburn, now one of the country’s best teams. He scored a season-high 18 points, including five in the final 33 seconds. A step-back three-point jumper and two clutch free throws from Tate vaulted the Mountaineers above the Tigers, sending the App State faithful into a frenzy.

The two high-performing transfers have found a home in App State, but

their journey’s don’t look the same.

Both played high school basketball in South Carolina, but had different routes to the collegiate level.

Tate played at Dorman High School in Roebuck, South Carolina, where he won four state championships. As a four-star recruit, he received offers from big-name schools like South Carolina, Ole Miss, Butler, Clemson and Pittsburgh.

He eventually made his decision and committed to become a Butler Bulldog.

At Butler, he played in 57 games over three seasons, starting 18 games as a freshman. In his first year, he played over 25 minutes per game, the most of his career. His time on the court and his numbers took a downturn in the following two years, leading to his decision to enter his name in the transfer portal.

“It all starts with him being an incredible teammate and always putting the team first,” Kerns said.

“That attitude and mindset becomes contagious and his teammates love him.”

Spillers played high school basketball at Military Magnet Academy in Charleston, South Carolina. He had a tougher recruiting process out of high school with little interest.

“The JUCO recruitment process for me was better once I left South Carolina and traveled further away from home,” Spillers said.

He made a stop at the University of South Carolina Salkehatchie before taking the junior college path, playing at Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Missouri. He quickly found success on that level, leading all Division I JUCO players with 4.9 blocks per game and the third-most rebounds per game at 11. While contributing on the glass and defense, he added 12.9 points per game with 62% shooting success, leading his team to 30 wins and four losses.

After he was recognized as an All-American at the JUCO level, he made the decision to take his game to another degree and transfer to App State and the Sun Belt.

“On both sides of the floor he provides tremendous value for our team,” Kerns said. “He is someone who puts the team first and has embraced and fulfilled his role to the team really well.”

Both players felt an immediate connection to the team during the transfer recruiting process.

“I came and played pick-up with the guys and that was the main thing that made me come here,” Tate said. “Just playing with them, seeing their game, seeing their personalities off the court too.”

The instant chemistry and family-feel has paid off for all parties. Tate and Spillers contribute at a high level Cadet Summer Training puts you and App State gets two on an accelerated path to leadership players that as an Army Officer after graduation have instantly and can earn you scholarships and impacted a monthly stipend. winning in Sophomores may qualify for a $5,000 Boone. bonus. Contact DJ Weatherford at (828) 262-2994 or weatherforddj@appstate.edu to learn more.

Junior forward TreVon Spillers slam it home againnst James Madison. Jan. 25, 2024. Spillers transferred to App State from Moberley Area Community College.

Photo by Emily Simpson

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OPINION: Realistic romance has disappeared from TV

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Graphic by Lilianna Rivera

Bella Lantz | Associate Opinion Editor Romance reality TV shows are great when you want to sit down at the end of the day and watch someone else’s dating life unfold. Many of these shows have been incredibly popular throughout the years, an example being “The Bachelor,” which first aired on March 25, 2002. That was almost 22 years ago and the show is currently on its 28th season, with

multiple other shows in the franchise.

If “The Bachelor” is too outdated, then maybe more recent shows such as “Too Hot to Handle” or “Love is Blind” might be better options. If you want a show with more LGBTQ+ couples, there are shows like “The Ultimatum: Queer Love” or “Ex on the Beach.” No matter what, there is a common theme amongst all of these shows: ridiculously good looking people, models if you will, get grouped together to find their perfect match, which happens in the span of a few months. Some shows give even less time, such as “Married at First Sight” where people are paired together and forced to feel love at first sight and find their love immediately through matchmakers. Romance reality TV shows are great to watch, but are

incredibly unrealistic when it comes to dating in real life.

A lot of people call these shows their guilty pleasure, wanting to relate to these influencers and wealthy people, but never admitting it. People watch these shows because of the drama and suspense. Since humanity is naturally curious, it would only make sense for someone to want to watch people’s love lives unfold and think about what you would do if you were in their shoes.

These shows seem like paradise, built around the complexity of relationships, love and heartbreak.

Many times, the reason why people keep coming back to watch these shows is the idea that most people find love by the end of the series. After the show, these couples are meant to live happily ever after, which is what many viewers believe. However, it is difficult to think about that perfect married life after finding out only 4% of couples from “The Bachelor” have stayed

together. These statistics should raise the questions about how realistic the love is between the couples in reality TV shows.

The main issue that is not talked about enough is the idea that a single person goes off and dates a bunch of people for a few months, figuring out who they like better. In real relationships, if you flirt with someone other than your partner and tease that there could be something more, many would consider that cheating.

In reality shows, viewers are rooting for men and women alike to talk to other participants and the viewer begins matchmaking who they think these participants would be better off with. This creates an insanely toxic atmosphere with many people becoming jealous and insecure.

This does not and should not translate over into real relationships.

Nobody should have to go through what these people go through while trying to find love. The standards

OPINION: Platonic love is underrated Courtney Quinton | Opinion Writer Love is in the air this beautiful February season. When people hear February and love, our minds automatically go to Valentine’s Day and a partner to spend it with.

Why? Valentine’s Day is a beautiful concept: 24 hours dedicated to someone you love. Although traditionally reserved for a romantic partner, the narrative should switch to a day of celebration for anyone and anything you love in your life.

Most things learned throughout life about relationships and love are learned from friendships. There is something endearing about the fact a complete stranger, who owes you nothing at all, chooses to love you.

Chooses to spend hours with you, chooses to hear your cheesy jokes and your loud belly laugh and chooses to

stand by your side when you cannot hold yourself up.

Life is hard enough; do not over complicate it by searching for your missing piece when you have the whole puzzle already. Have grace with yourself. These can be the best years of your life, not because of the romance you find, but because of the memories you create.

The bittersweet thing about growing up is creating those bonds and memories with special people, then having to temporarily say goodbye when everyone starts finding their separate life paths. Consider it a beautiful tragedy of life, finding your people then having paths diverge. The fun part is it allows you to visit them at new places, meet new people and see your friends grow into better versions of themselves.

Getting older and facing life is scary. The responsibilities that pile up and balancing your own inner complex human can be a lot to handle. Everyone needs to learn to have grace with themselves. When you are 30, you have only been an adult for 12 years.

You are not even a teenager in adult life yet. The point is, there is time.

Life is unpredictable and throws curveballs, so live your best life and remember it is okay to slow down and enjoy where you are and who you are with. Do not keep wishing for the future and forgetting to appreciate where you are now. You used to wish for the exact times you are having now.

This Valentine’s Day, appreciate the love and friends you have right now.

There is no need to always want more in terms of love or constantly think of the future. Instead, try to

enjoy where you are. It is just as special.

The rarity of two people choosing one another is something that should be celebrated and cherished. Through the best times of your life, the worst times of your life and even the regular Tuesdays of your life, you will find your village who will guide you, hold you and support you.

Life is confusing enough; there is no need to add extra stress believing you need a romantic partner to feel unconditionally loved.

Something to always keep in mind as well is that your childhood plays a part in how you love. It is a rough and unfair truth that something you had no control over can affect you for the rest of your life. It may determine your attachment style and your capability to form healthy attachments as an adult. Children who grow up

being set in reality TV should never be able to influence others that flirting with anyone other than their partner is okay.

These reality TV shows can have their couples talking for months, weeks or even just a few days. Either way, it is recommended that relationships are built off of friendships first and then develop into something more later on, which takes more time than the shows give. Granted, dating apps have become big. However, with the success rate on Tinder, one of the most successful dating apps, only being 16.5%, friendships before relationships fare better.

in a house where they see healthy relationships flourish, having the seed planted in their minds that love is even possible. Kids who do not have that may sometimes struggle to form the thought that attachment is healthy and can be a beautiful thing when they have never seen it. It is important to remember you are your own person, and can create the life you dream of with people who help you learn that sometimes taking a chance on love is worth it.

All in all, remember in this season of love to celebrate the beautiful friendships around you. Go play in the snow, go to a nice dinner, watch a movie or play a game; celebrate the humanity you have around you.

Graphic by Gracean Ratliff

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Married Minds: App State faculty navigate love and careers

Graphic by Gracean Ratliff

Abby Buckner | Associate A&C Editor In the realm of higher education, where intellectual pursuits flourish, an intriguing dynamic often takes center stage — the world of married college professors. Beyond the lecture halls, office hours and helping students succeed, two App State couples explore the balance between professional careers and personal relationships.

According to a 2008 study from Stanford University, 36% of professors or academics are married to each other. Jeffrey and Rebecca Coats, as well as Kevin Warner and Bradley Parquette, are no exception to this statistic. The two couples shared their “how-we-met” stories, all the unique ways they navigate their careers and marriage as well as advice on how they think college students could approach their own.

Jeffrey and Rebecca Coats For the past seven years, Jeffrey Coats, professor in the honors college and first-year seminar instructor, and Rebecca Coats, director of assessment and accreditation with the Reich College of Education, have worked together at App State, where they have found “their place” in Boone after many years of working in different higher education institutions.

Their relationship started long before either received their Ph.D., dating back to even before their high school diplomas.

“We met in middle school. I was in the eighth grade and Rebecca was in the sixth, but the timing was off and we were always busy with other things and people,” Jeffrey Coats said.

The would-have-been middle school sweethearts didn’t reconnect until graduate school when they both landed at Auburn University in 1999 and he decided to ask her out on a date. One thing led to another, and the

pair got married in 2002.

They have now been married for 22 years, and work together in higher education.

Rebecca Coats noted that typically the last thing they do when they get home is talk about work. For them, defining the line between the relationship as colleagues and as a married couple to people within their professional communities is challenging, but the two emphasized how crucial it is.

“We have always had a rule that we leave the office at the office,” Jeffrey Coats said. “Like in all things, balance is extremely important, and you need that in your marriage.”

After many years of marriage, the couple said one way they nourish their relationship is by recognizing their varied interests and having time for their own hobbies.

“We are very independent people with very different interests,” Jeffrey Coats said. “One of our best date nights is going out to dinner and to the theater, but we will split and see different movies that we’re interested in.”

Through their varied interests, they said they are always learning new things about one another and what they are passionate about.

“I get to learn so many new things from him about the things he has spark for,” Rebecca Coats said. “We aren’t constantly having the same conversations over and over again and it opens your eyes to different experiences.”

The little things are what make a relationship long lasting, and the pair emphasized how much it means to them to find those times amidst their busy lives.

“It’s the little moments every day, like when we are both sitting on the couch and we look at each other knowing exactly what the other is

arts & culture

arts & culture ceremony, but the moment went differently than expected.

“Right when we started saying our vows a hawk came and scooped up a Kevin Warner and Bradley squirrel, all we could hear was it just Parquette screaming and screaming, we laugh about it now,” Parquette said.

The art world is small, and ties The pair understand each other’s together artists in little mysterious worlds, but think differently. Parquette ways. For Kevin Warner, a professor said they have the unique opportunity of dance studies, and Bradley to talk about so many creative aspects Parquette, an adjunct professor in the of their lives and often hear opposing Department of Theatre and Dance, a thoughts and feelings. connection formed before they crossed “We both are really career-driven paths. and are so busy we don’t typically see “We knew of one another before each other much during the week,” we ever met,” Parquette said. “We Parquette said. “This semester Kevin both worked at an outdoor summer is directing ‘Carrie: The Musical’ on theater but at different times, and campus and I am helping with the everyone we worked with said we were promotional materials for it. It’s cool supposedly so similar.” to be able to collaborate artistically The pair finally met one summer together.” at a reunion and agreed they were In Warner’s bright warm office, nothing like each other, but wanted to the pair noted qualities that they see where things could lead. Parquette love in one another. Warner said said at the time they lived three hours it’s easy to find things to love about apart and dated long-distance for a Parquette, specifically noting his sense year, seeing each other when they of humor and “outgoing and vivacious could on the weekends. personality” that Warner thinks “There were good things about the complements his more serious and distance. It helps you ease into things stoic personality. and not be completely immersed in After a personality-fitting chuckle, each other 24 hours a day,” Warner Parquette affirmed Warner’s thoughts said. “There’s truth to the saying and shared his favorite thing about his absence makes the heart grow fonder.” husband.

Warner and Parquette were “Kevin is just incredibly thoughtful domestic partners for many years until and so totally unlike me it’s unique 2015 when same-sex marriage became and intriguing,” Parquette said “I legal. watch the effect it has on other people They said they were well into their when he is just truly listening and mid-30s when they met, and it brought responding to someone, that’s rare.” them a different mature perspective on their relationship. While marriage Relationship Advice didn’t feel like something that was a necessity to them, they decided to get Through years of cultivating their married regardless. relationships and navigating life, the “Kevin came home one day and two App State couples have collected told me we had to get married one many nuggets of advice. They gave week for our jobs, and he got one guidance and suggestions they feel of his students who was ordained to are important to help anyone who is marry us,” Parquette said. “We needed exploring life and relationships. a witness and asked our neighbor who “Communication sounds like a just so happened to be outside walking stereotype, but it’s a stereotype for her dog if she and her husband a reason. We don’t bury things, it’s wanted to come.” important to talk about it and then Leaping into a sporadic wedding move on,” Rebecca Coats said. “Also, ceremony, the about to be newlyweds recognizing it’s okay to say you need decided to seal the deal in a scenic the space to think, and then coming park with hopes of an intimate little back to talk when you’re ready.”

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thinking because we’ve known each other for so long,” Rebecca Coats said.

“Those, those are the special ones.”

ion t a c i n u “Comm ea k i l s d ’s t i soun t u b pe, y t o e r e st ra o f e p y ot a stere ...” n o s a e r ats o C a c c - Rebe

“It’s so surro importa nt to und y with o peop urself le wh accep o t you you a for w re.” ho - Br adley Parq uette

Graphic by Rian Hughes

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