The Appalachian 2/13/20

The Appalachian

FEB. 13, 2020

What to know before the primary Page 2

Provost steps down, new interim named Page 3

Fiddlers’ Convention in photos Page 7

Students pulled from study abroad during new coronavirus outbreak Rachel Greenland | Reporter

The new coronavirus has killed more than 1,000 people in China and sickened over 42,500 across the globe as of Monday, and App State students are feeling the ripples of what the World Health Organization called a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.”

Monique Geter, a junior global studies major with a minor in Chinese, arrived in Chengdu, China, for her study abroad experience Jan. 10. Within a month, she was forced to return to the United States and transfer to another University Studies Abroad Consortium in Uruguay.

Geter was just one of “a handful of students” from App State who were asked to leave their study abroad program and return to Boone or transfer to another country in their third-party program due to the new coronavirus outbreak.

The new coronavirus is a respiratory illness that is a member of the coronavirus family, along with SARS and MERS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Students from a variety of programs with many different durations — a year, a semester or an upcoming trip — were forced to leave China.

“I’ve always been interested in East Asia, and I find China particularly interesting because of its long history and rich culture,” Geter said. “Studying abroad in China would give me the opportunity to learn so much about Chinese culture while allowing me to increase my proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.”

Geter said she spent a lot of time studying the culture, applying through the Office of International Education and Development, applying for third-party programs and scholarships, and saving money before her trip.

During her time in China, Geter followed some U.S. news outlets and a handful of Chinese media outlets to monitor the new coronavirus.

Geter said the timing of the outbreak was inconvenient because it came just before Chinese New Year, so many festivals were canceled and travel became difficult.

“When I went to Walmart, the security guard used (a) non-contact digital thermometer to take the temperature (of shoppers) before people entered to make sure no one had a fever,” Geter said.

Back in Boone, OIED was monitoring the coronavirus on an hourly basis. Jesse Lutabingwa, associate vice chancellor for OIED, said his office has never seen something of this magnitude and determined it was only going to get worse.

Continued on page 4

News

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Feb. 13, 2020

Graphic by Moss Brennan

News

Feb. 13, 2020

Provost steps down, college of business dean named interim Moss Brennan | Editor-in-Chief

An Earth Fare employee begins closing down the meat department early, after store hours were cut.

Max Correa

Asheville-based Earth Fare closes its doors

Emily Broyles | Associate News Editor Earth Fare, the Asheville-based grocery store home to organic and natural goods, is closing all stores, including its Boone location.

“Earth Fare is not in a financial position to continue to operate on a go-forward basis,” the company said in a press release Feb. 3. “As such, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to commence inventory liquidation sales while we continue to engage in a process to find potential suitors for our stores.”

Justin Frye, a sophomore psychology major who works in the kitchen at Earth Fare said he and his coworkers had the “best crew” and he felt working there had been a good fit.

The location at 178 W. King St. has seen local and student customers alike saddened by the closing.

“I don’t shop here a whole lot but there’s certain things we get here that some places don’t carry. It’s kind of a bummer it’s closing,” said Boone resident Jenny Ellerbe.

Yui Takada, an international student from Japan, said she frequents the store to get produce because the bookstore market doesn’t carry the products she wants.

“Since I don’t have a car, this is the (closest) store to my home, so I’m very worried,” said Takada, a global studies major.

Junior marketing major Mackenzie Hemingway said that while she appreciates the pesticide-free and free-range meats Earth Fare carries, she said it’s “way more expensive than it needs to be.”

“I think that the health food market is really saturated, and Earth Fare is just not price competitive to those other options,” Hemingway said. “There’s some people I know who go all the way to Wilkesboro just to get food from Aldi to save money, so it would be awesome to see one here.”

She said she wants to see a grocery store in Boone that would cater to the community.

“To think about the population of Boone and the fact that it’s the third poorest county in North Carolina, we need to find something that’s more price competitive and Aldi would be bangin’,” Hemmingway said.

Chancellor Sheri Everts announced Monday that Darrell Kruger has stepped down from his role as provost and executive vice chancellor, effective Feb. 8, after five years of service beginning in 2015.

“I support Darrell in his decision, and I know everyone in the Appalachian community joins me in extending appreciation to him for his leadership and service to the university and his work to support Appalachian’s slow and steady enrollment growth and superb graduation and retention rates,” Everts said in a message to faculty and staff.

Megan Hayes, App State’s spokesperson, said it was Kruger’s decision to step down.

Everts also said in her message Kruger would be assigned to special projects in the chancellor’s division for the remainder of the academic year.

Heather Norris was named interim provost and executive vice chancellor for App State.

“Heather’s career of service to Appalachian, her passion for the continued success of the university and her stellar reputation combine to make her an excellent choice for interim provost and executive vice chancellor, and I thank her for stepping into this position,” Everts said in her message.

Norris joined the Walker College of Business faculty in 2003 in the Department of Finance, Banking and Insurance. In 2005, she was named dean of undergraduate programs, associate dean for undergraduate programs and administration in 2008, senior associate dean in 2012, acting dean in 2014 and interim dean in 2015.

Norris became dean of the Walker College of Business in July 2016.

In an email to colleagues with the subject line “With Gratitude,” Kruger explained that when he interviewed for the position, he indicated it was his intent to serve for three to five years.

He wrote that stepping away from his role as provost and executive vice chancellor would enable “a smooth transition in Academic Affairs.”

“I value the collegial friendships that I have cemented here, and I will remain a member of the university and wider community with a different title in front of my name,” Kruger wrote. “I wish you all well as you continue to grow Appalachian and build on the accomplishments we have achieved together.”

A national search for provost and executive vice chancellor will be established in the fall according to the chancellor’s message.

Sandra Vannoy was named acting dean of the Walker College of Business effective Feb. 10.

“Sandy’s steadfast leadership and student-focused approach will

serve her well in her role as acting dean,” Norris said in a press release.

“I thank Sandy for her continued service to the Walker College and know the entire college will continue supporting her in this new role.”

Vannoy joined the Walker College of Business faculty as a lecturer in the Department of Computer Information Systems in 1998. In 2010, Vannoy became an assistant professor and then dean for graduate programs and research in 2014.

In 2015, she was promoted to associate professor and associate dean, before promotion to professor in 2019.

She holds an MBA from App State and a Ph.D. from UNCGreensboro.

Darrell Kruger (left) stepped down as interim provost and executive vice chancellor for App State on Feb. 10. Heather Norris was named interim.

Courtesy of App State

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News

Feb. 13, 2020

Monique Geter was one of several App State students forced to transfer from their study abroad experience as a result of the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus.

Courtesy of Monique Geter ◊ Continued from page 1

“We were concerned about the health and safety of the students,” Lutabingwa said. “We were concerned about the ability to be able to evacuate the students from China if things got worse, and, in fact, that has happened as airlines canceled their flights.”

Lutabingwa said App State is fortunate it began monitoring the situation well before the U.S. State Department changed its China travel advisory from a level three to a level four. Level three advises U.S. citizens to avoid travel to the affected country, while a level four advisory tells citizens not to travel to that country, often resulting in airlines canceling flights.

Lutabingwa said another reason the university moved swiftly to re-enroll its students was because the university system census was approaching, which plays into the number of students who can enroll for the fall.

“When we responded initially in calling our students back, we followed our own education abroad procedures to make sure that our students are safe and healthy,” Lutabingwa said.

While Geter was in China, she worked directly with OIED and her affiliate program to find a solution.

“At first, I thought I was going to be able to stay in China and just wait it out. We didn’t really know how fast it was spreading,” Geter said. “As the outbreak progressed, the safety of the students was prioritized, and my affiliate program decided it was best to

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cancel the program overall.”

When her program was canceled, Geter expected to come back to App State like many of the other students studying in China.

However, USAC offered her a place in Montevideo, Uruguay, a country “completely different” from China — in temperature, language, culture, food and living situation.

Geter and other spring semester students were not the only ones affected by the virus and travel advisories. Programs for the summer were canceled as well.

The Walker College of Business Holland International Business Fellowship has partnered with Fudan University in Shanghai, China, for more than 20 years to focus on global learning. Each year, the Chinese students travel to Boone in March, and App State students visit Shanghai in May.

Holland Fellowship Director Jesse Pipes said in an official statement that after watching the coronavirus outbreak for weeks, the 2020 fellowship determined to suspend travel to and from China.

“It is with a heavy heart that we make this decision, but at this juncture the possibilities of a reversal of travel restrictions is unlikely in a necessary timeframe,” Pipes said. “The planning and forecasting that goes into this program each year requires a great deal of certainty, and clarity is not something we have at this time.”

Pipes and Lutabingwa said major airlines have canceled all flights to and from China for the foreseeable future, making it challenging to schedule summer trips abroad even if the virus is contained by then.

“There is no way that we can responsibly purchase the tickets for things we don’t know what they are going to look like in the summer,” Lutabingwa said.

The students are disappointed that the trip will not be happening, but are more concerned for the friends they have made from Fudan.

“It’s very sad,” said Bailie Smith, a Holland Fellow and senior finance and banking major. “Someone in my cohort’s family is from the Wuhan district, and since it was Chinese New Year two weeks ago, they had to have virtual celebrations because of the travel bans.”

The fellowship will still work alongside Fudan through a “virtual experience,” and the App State students will travel to a different Asian country this summer, Pipes said.

As for trips in the fall, Lutabingwa said those are contingent upon the management of the virus, the status of the State Department’s travel advisory and the individual students’ comfort levels traveling to the region.

Geter applied for third-party programs and scholarships, and saved money for her trip before being forced to leave one month into her study abroad trip to Chengdu, China.

Courtesy of Monique Geter

Students displaced after grease fire at Appalachian Heights Tucker Wulff | Reporter Amidst a crowd of evacuees, an Appalachian Heights resident watched as emergency vehicles filed into the residence hall’s parking lot and rumors of smoke in the hallways spread amongst students.

Timothy Christopher, sophomore general theatre major and resident of Room 108, decided to wait out the ordeal in his car where he could fend off the chilly Sunday air and blast the heat. As he waited, he pulled out his cell phone to let his roommates know their dorm may actually have a fire.

As Christopher warmed his car, Noah Rabe, undecided sophomore and Christopher’s roommate, sat on the third floor of Belk Library where he saw emergency vehicles headed up Bodenheimer Drive toward Appalachian Heights and made lighthearted jokes about his room being engulfed in flames.

However, the fire wasn’t in Room 108, but the room directly above it.

On Jan. 26, apartment 208 of Appalachian Heights was the location of a cooking-related fire, which set off the alarm and one ceiling sprinkler head, said Boone Fire Department Fire Prevention Captain Jacob Burleson.

The fire spread to the back of the stove top in Room 208 and climbed up the wall when the sprinkler head was activated, Burleson said.

“The sprinkler system is what suppressed the fire prior to our arrival,” Burleson said.

Although only one sprinkler head was activated during the incident, the majority of damage was caused by water, Burleson said.

“There was extensive water flow that got (Room 208) and several rooms to either side of it and water leaking through the floor damaged some ceiling and electrical fixtures in the ceiling of the first floor,” Burleson said.

After Boone Fire evaluated the scene, police officers brought the residents of Room 108 to their room to collect their belongings, Christopher said.

“We open the door and get inside and there’s just water pouring through the ceiling,” Christopher said.

Furniture, bedding, bags and schoolwork were destroyed by the water. However, most of their valuables

and sentimental objects were OK, said Alexander Boudreau, sophomore community and regional planning major and resident of Room 108.

Eleven of the building’s 290 residents were temporarily relocated because of water damage from the sprinkler system to the unit in which the fire happened, associate vice chancellor and chief communications officer Megan Hayes wrote in an email.

Rabe and his roommates might be the last of the 11 to move back in, he said.

“Our room got it worst,” Rabe said.

Christopher, Rabe and Boudreau were given $20 on their express accounts to clean their clothes in dorm washing machines in addition to meal plan options, but they said they have had mixed experiences with University Housing since the incident.

Boudreau said his experience with University Housing has been “not particularly stellar, and if anything, slightly below average.”

Rabe said, “they have been the bare minimum of helpful.”

“They kind of just dropped me off in a room and, like, gave me the new key and the 20 bucks on my express account and said, ‘good luck,’” Rabe said.

Rabe has also had some difficulty with his academics because of the incident.

“They had also told us that all of our classes and assignments over the weekend would be delayed, postponed, exempt … because of the circumstances,” but when Rabe returned to classes, he said his professors had no idea about what happened.

“The teachers were 50/50 on that front,” Rabe said.

In an email, Hayes stated that the university “will continue working with these students to meet their housing needs until their apartments can be reoccupied.”

“The timing of their return will likely vary as damage differs from unit to unit, but we are working to return them to their Appalachian Heights apartments as quickly as possible,” Hayes wrote.

Feb. 13, 2020

Petition brings question of Second Amendment sanctuary to Watauga County

News Freshman pushes to bring back App State’s first fraternity Xanayra Marin-Lopez | Reporter

North Carolina Second Amendment Sanctuaries No action

Efforts underway

voting soon passed sanctuary additional measures

Passed resolution denied or failed

yellow counties are not Second amendment sanctuarys.

Cyan counties have an oath with either the state attorney or the sheriff to not enforce gun control.

Dark blue counties have one or more people attempting to receive a vote by the County Board of commisioners.

Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr

Abi Pepin | Reporter Watauga County could become the next Second Amendment sanctuary county, joining 50 other counties in North Carolina, after an App State student started a petition to preserve gun rights.

“It’s basically saying the county isn’t going to dedicate any resources, funding or personnel to supporting any state or federal gun control that is considered unconstitutional or any further gun control than what is already existing in its place which includes red flag laws, universal background checks, etc,” said Connor Hoy, the petition’s creator.

Hoy, a junior history major, said he was doubtful about how far the movement would go and how many students would sign it.

With over 200 signatures on the petition within three weeks, Hoy said the next step is to continue to spread the word.

“I need to get as many people aware of it, signing the petition,” Hoy said. “Then, I can take it to the county commissioners and maybe take it to the sheriffs to get their endorsement.”

Hoy said he is worried that if people are unable to defend themselves or their loved ones, then there’s no guarantee of their safety or freedom.

“As a 23-year-old who can’t run for office yet, it was really the only thing I could do besides just talking to people about individual liberty and try to advocate for it, so that’s why I (started the petition),” Hoy said.

Hoy said he would not be surprised if an attempt to repeal the Second Amendment happens in his lifetime.

Carson Jennings, a senior political science major, said he was not surprised by the petition.

“With a lot of the gun reform you’ve seen come out in other states recently, most notably the state of Virginia, it makes sense that people of the Republican Party would be concerned with their gun rights,” Jennings said.

Watauga County’s neighbors, Ashe and Avery Counties, were declared Second Amendment sanctuaries in late January.

Jennings said because Watauga County has a population of over 55,000 people, the number of signatures the petition currently has is insufficient to make an impact on the political landscape.

“This isn’t particularly concerning,” Jennings said. “I don’t think it would come to anything. It doesn’t change how happy I am at App. It

doesn’t change the way that I feel about my safety on campus or around the community.”

Jennings said the petition’s goal of 500 signatures is not enough to pass this resolution.

“The notion of sanctuary cities surpasses just the issue of gun control,” said William Hicks, a political science professor. “The basic notion of it is that we will create an informal rule within a small jurisdiction that we will not observe or respect a law written by the federal or state government.”

Hicks said he is concerned that if there is enough support to pass sanctuary-style laws, laws won’t be enforced like they are supposed to.

Hicks said the counties that have already passed similar notions may have bigger consequences than they realize.

“At the end of the day, I think most of this is about the relationship between public opinion and policy,” Hicks said. “This goes back to a really old concept in political science: if your views, your values, your preferences are not consistent with the public, change the public.”

After two decades, an App State freshman decided it was time to reinstate the service organization Alpha Phi Omega.

APO was the first fraternity established on App State’s campus in 1967. It is service-based and focuses on leadership, friendship and service. Former First Lady Michelle Obama is an alumna of APO. The co-ed service fraternity has been inactive since 2001 because of lack of interest and previous members graduating, but Giovanna Perazolo is reinstating it.

Perazolo, a freshman, said that APO is separate from social Greek life and focuses on the importance of serving the Boone community and beyond.

There are no academic requirements to get involved. Members are required to earn at least 25 service hours a semester. Hours can come from any volunteer organization, allowing students to serve where their interests lie.

Perazolo has connected with F.A.R.M. Cafe, a nonprofit community kitchen that offers free meals for volunteer work, to offer volunteer services from APO. She said she wishes to get involved with other local organizations such as The Children’s Playhouse and Watauga Humane Society.

Perazolo first heard about APO from her sister, who goes to NC State and is a member of its APO chapter.

The Iota Lambda chapter at NC State came to Boone on a retreat last fall. Perazolo went with her sister and said she enjoyed her time volunteering and making new friends. The trip inspired her to start a chapter at App State.

“Everyone at the retreat was so

nice and friendly,” Perazolo said. “I love volunteering. I’ve been volunteering at F.A.R.M. Cafe ever since I’ve been at App, and it all seemed like a perfect match.”

There are currently eight prospective members of the 10 needed to officially restart the fraternity.

Laisa Marquez-Martinez, freshman and prospective member, found out about APO through a text Perazolo sent in her dorm’s group chat.

She messaged Perazolo to find out more about what the fraternity had to offer.

At first, Marquez-Martinez was hesitant.

“You know how movies and TV shows depict frats and sororities.

I’ve never known anyone in them so I never knew what it was actually like,” Marquez-Martinez said.

After speaking to Perazolo, she found out APO was different from her expectations. Marquez-Martinez said she is ready to volunteer, but nervous.

“I’ve always wanted to volunteer, but I’m always worried that I’m going to enter a place of need and know so little,” Marquez-Martinez said.

Perazolo says she is ready to take in Marquez-Martinez and prospective members with open arms.

The next interest meeting for APO is Feb. 17 at 5:15 p.m. in Crossroads Coffeehouse.

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News

Feb. 13, 2020

Emotional support animals help students handle mental health Quadajah Rivers | Reporter

In the past, humans relied on a friend or family for moral support, but more than ever, doctors are medically prescribing animals to help individuals dealing with mental illness.

According to the National Alliance of Mental Health, one in five adults living in the U.S. experience mental illness each year. These individuals suffer from depression, stress and anxiety more than anything and sometimes, antidepressants aren’t the right fit.

Senior Maddie Kiousis, a psychology major, said she wanted to try something other than taking prescription pills.

“I believe I was 17 or 18 when I started to experience depression and anxiety. I was going through a lot with family and school, and I knew I needed to find another way of help because I didn’t want to be medicated,” Kiousis said.

Kiousis started seeing a therapist during her first year of college and brought up the idea of an emotional support animal after a few sessions.

“I see a lot of ESA registrations online, but those applications are not real.

You must ask for permission from a licensed therapist,” Kiousis said. “And you can’t just walk into an office and say that

‘I need an ESA;’ that conversation takes time.

Kiousis got her first emotional support animal during her second year of college and values the experience so far.

According to U.S. Service Animals, emotional support animals help individuals with emotional disabilities by providing comfort and support. Kiousis’ ESA is a dog named Luke. Kiousis said that the patient gets to choose the type of animal they want, as long as the animal isn’t out of the norm like a lion, leopard or a cheetah.

“One of my friends introduced to me Luke when he was six weeks old. He used to live on a farm in Illinois and his parents were farm dogs,” Kiousis said.

Their relationship, at first, was just like any other dog, until Luke experienced Kiousis’ first incident with her.

Kiousis was feeling really anxious that day and nearly broke down crying because of a car accident.

“My car got totaled, and I was really upset about it. That’s when he first showed affection. Over time, he grew in that understanding of knowing when I need him or when we need each other,” Kiousis said.

According to the Therapy Pet

Severus, a 4-month-old emotional support dog, and his owner sharing a warm embrace in Durham Park.

Becca Bridges

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website, ESAs have a profound effect on an individual’s psychological state. ESAs provide comfort and can prevent an individual from feeling isolated and lonely.

Spending time with an ESA is known to lower stress levels and reduce an individual’s anxiety.

Elicka Sparks, a professor in the Department of Government and Justice Studies, brings her 3-year-old therapy dog named Ethel to class, and her students admire the love they get from her.

According to the American Kennel Club, therapy dogs are dogs that go with their owners to volunteer in public settings such as schools, hospitals or nursing homes.

“Some students stay after class to pet her. I had one student last semester who started crying when she petted her. That student was seeking comfort, it was an opening for me to be supportive through whatever they might be going through,” Sparks said.

Therapy dogs are not service dogs.

Therapy dogs work along with their owner to improve the lives of other people.

Sparks is Ethel’s handler, meaning she trains Ethel to behave and not act aggressively toward individuals. As a handler, Sparks recognizes when Ethel needs attention or affection. She also understands that communication is essential when training Ethel.

“My daughter and her husband were dog trainers, and they taught me everything I need to know,” Sparks said.

Sparks always asks for permission before having Ethel in public places.

Sparks said she believes having Ethel in class is a great thing, because she understands that some students have pets at home but can’t bring them to campus for numerous reasons.

New Faculty Senate committee will evaluate online classes Gianna Holiday | Reporter A new ad hoc committee of App State faculty members will soon take on the job of ensuring quality online courses for university students.

Faculty Senate Chair Michael Behrent said he believes the Ad Hoc Committee on Quality Online Teaching and Learning is important for App State’s future in online classes.

“There are a whole lot of concerns right now in higher education in what the future of higher education is.

There is a lot of talk about how students of the future might be different from students of the present. There may be a lot of non-traditional students,” Behrent said.

There was considerable interest in the committee after its proposal by Ben Powell, a former Faculty Senate member who was appointed to the position of interim vice provost for online learning.

Krista Terry, associate professor of instructional technology, said the initial challenge is identifying what makes App State’s online classes unique and different from those offered elsewhere. A second challenge is identifying how “quality” online classes would be defined.

“I’d say some faculty have a lot of anxiety about online teaching; some feel that it is a form of lesser education, that it is a way of cheaping education,” Behrent said. “This committee is based on the assumption that online education is not only the way of the future, but it can also be very good education if it is done right.”

Terry’s goal will focus on “collaborating with multiple stakeholders in the UNC System to design, develop and deliver a competency-based online learning program focused on learning design and instructional innovation.”

The first task of the committee is to establish App State’s online identi-

ty and evaluate the courses, similar to how App State uses course evaluations to assess on-campus classes.

“The idea is that as we move toward increasingly emphasizing online education, we need to have some framework, some kind of structure in place that monitors the quality of our online offerings that is comparable to the way we have for our classroom teachings,” Terry said.

The significance of online education to the university comes after US News and World Report’s published a list of “2019 Best Online Programs,” in which App State was named in both “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs” and “Best Online Graduate Education Programs.”

Currently, one-third of App State’s students are enrolled in an online course, and more than 6,000 students enrolled in online courses this fall alone. Over 300 courses are offered online each year, totaling over 700 available course sections.

“Part of the goal is to reach 20,000 students by the year 2020,” Terry said. “As our enrollment increases, we want to make sure those who are taking classes, whether online or on campus, are able to get a quality education regardless of where they are.”

The resolution for the ad hoc committee ultimately passed with a vote of 25 to eight.

“Eighteen to 22-year-olds will always be crucial to the mission, but there is a lot of talk about people going back to school, training people who need new job skills to go back into the job market, older people, educating veterans,” Behrent said. “Online education can be particularly appealing to students of these categories so we have to think about that.”

Feb. 13, 2020

Fiddlers’ Convention 2020

The 12th Annual Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention took App State's campus by storm the weekend of Feb. 7. Participants of all ages were welcome, with a weekend packed full of family-friendly activities such as workshops, competitions and a market featuring local crafters. The convention kicked off on Friday with a performance by Chatham Rabbits at Legends and will end Feb. 25 with a send-off show by Trampled by Turtles in the Schaefer Center.

Jesse Barber

A&C

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A&C

Chatham Rabbits and their rise to popularity

Grace Smith | Reporter Before the show even started, Chatham Rabbits singer, Sarah McCombie, sang as if in front of a rowdy crowd. Her husband and guitarist of the duo, Austin McCombie, played off of her harmonies during their Feb. 7 performance at Legends.

The Americana, style band writes its own music and plays old-time instruments for a more authentic feel.

The old-style instruments allow for breaks in the songs, and with the rise in popularity of bluegrass music, Sarah McCombie said it was not hard to find old-time instrument players.

The duo played alongside four other musicians: a mandolin player, a bassist, a keyboard player and a drummer. The six members have played and practiced together before, but their Legends performance was their first live show all together. Sarah and Austin McCombie have played together since 2014. The group plans to perform together more in the future.

Austin and Sarah McCombie started playing for fun, but it soon became apparent that their passion could blossom into a career.

They quit their jobs eight months after forming Chatham Rabbits in 2018.

“After being in the recording studio with our first album, we played some of the songs for people, and they said it was really good.

We were encouraged to quit our jobs and give it a try. So, we took it very seriously after that,” Austin McCombie said.

The band has an Instagram following of 12,500, and they said touring and performing is a great way to interact with their online fans.

“We have a lot of goals to play for and

meet with so many of our fans we have only had the opportunity to connect with online,” Sarah McCombie said.

T h e y said they have experienced some stress on their rise to popularity.

But, the stress turns into excitement at the end of the day.

Sarah McCombie said they try not to dwell on being tired. Austin McCombie added that the career path is tiring sometimes, but in all the right ways. They focus on the reason for being tired, which is playing high energy shows and pouring their hearts into their music.

Sarah and Austin McCombie said music lovers who want to make a career out of their talents should have no fear when it comes to getting themselves discovered.

“You really have to look at it like a music and a sales job,” Austin McCombie said, “Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, and shake all the trees and get off all the fruit that you can.”

The duo said they are excited to play more shows because that is what they love about the music business. The past few months have been slow for them in the show department because they were releasing new material. Sarah and Austin McCombie said Chatham Rabbits plays about 120 shows a year, so they can’t wait for touring to “ramp up.”

“Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, and shake all the trees and get off all the fruit that you can.”

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Feb. 13, 2020

Campus club seeks to encourage students to explore Chinese culture Marlen Cardenas | Reporter A club on campus aims to show students that there is more to China by teaching different Chinese traditions and customs during their club meetings.

Senior global studies and East Asian languages and cultures major Sefrah Muhammad started going to Chinese Culture Club after she chose to learn Chinese for her major’s language requirement.

“I really love the Chinese language and the culture,” CCC president Muhammad said. “I just wanted to put my love for that into the new position that opened up when I became vice president (of the club) last year.”

There are people more open to learning about other East Asian cultures like Japanese and South Korean culture, but more hesitant when it comes to learning about Chinese culture because of the socialist stigma around the country, said Wendy Xie, Chinese professor and mentor to CCC. “As someone from China, I do not want to downplay these issues,” Xie said. “I do want the students to be aware of the political issues, but also see through and know that there is more to learn.

Although students taking Chinese classes and international students from China come to CCC, studying Chinese is not required for members.

“There are a lot of different people that are in a lot of different majors, but just really love Chinese culture, and so we can share that together and learn about different parts of Chinese culture together,” Muhammad said. “Right now, most of the people in our club are not in Chinese classes.”

CCC’s goal is to expose students to different parts of Chinese culture, junior and graphic design chair Jenna Godwin said.

“It is different every meeting,” Godwin said. “But the

Sefrah Muhammad is the President of the Chinese Culture Club and hopes to "promote Chinese culture in a more comprehensive way."

Muhammad encouraged students of all backgrounds to join.

Becca Bridges

goal is always to give them a more indepth view.”

Xie said that it is not the students’ fault that they might have a negative view of China.

“The socialist stigma attached to the country makes you think China is a threat, not just economically but (also) ideologically and culturally,” Xie said.

Xie said that when China is brought up they only talk about the “heavy stuff” like social issues and she wants to teach students about the culture that is brushed aside.

“Chinese culture is very much misunderstood. (Students) are being cautious because they do not know enough,” Xie said. “I think in CCC it is our mission is to promote Chinese culture in a more comprehensive way.”

During CCC meetings, members participate in culture-based activities, like calligraphy, martial arts, trivia nights, and scavenger hunts. “(During) our first meeting this semester, we did Chinese Lunar New Year,” Muhammad said. “Next year, I am hoping that we can do a larger scale Lunar New Year’s event so that more people within the App State community can interact with the culture instead of just people within the club.”

Godwin said she joined CCC because of her fascination with the Chinese language. She said she saw how passionate Muhammad was and wanted to find out why the language was so interesting.

“It’s a tonal language, and if you get the tones wrong, you could be saying something completely different,” Godwin said. “It really intrigued me with how it is not necessarily what you say, it is how you say it.”

A&C

Love

in the High Country:

How students celebrate

Valentines' Day

Ethan Murphy | Reporter

Red roses, heart-shaped chocolates and candlelight dinners come to mind when imagining the holiday of romance. However, these don’t apply to some students who opt for simpler celebrations.

Cody Hill, a freshman philosophy major, has different plans for his Valentine’s Day this year.

“I thought about doing some big show of things like you see in the movies, but I realized that isn’t what the day is supposed to be about. Instead, I’m just going to bootleg a movie with my girlfriend and have a nice night,” Hill said.

To him, many of the traditional gifts and activities seemed problematic.

“Honestly, I think the whole idea of it is kind of fake. All of these little trinkets people go out buying to impress their partner don’t really mean anything. You can’t package love in a box or a card.”

He also spoke on the subject of the holiday itself.

“I don’t see why you need a day to show affection for someone. Sure, I’ve heard it said that it’s a special kind of affection, but I think that’s something you share every day. At least everyone tries to in their own way.”

Keegan Jenkins, a sophomore biology maGraphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr

jor, has plans for himself on Valentine’s Day. “I’m going to wake up, do a little stretching, maybe get a cup of coffee and carry on like any other day,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins also shared his perspective on living the single life this time of year.

“You’ve gotta love yourself, man. Improvement is a big way that I love myself every day. I don’t meditate traditionally, but I do it in my own special way through my routine,” Jenkins said.

“Sometimes, I just sit and think to try to improve my mental state, and worrying about who I’m going to be with or where I’m going to be on Valentine’s Day isn’t a good way to do that.”

Jenkins said this way of thinking has allowed him to remain carefree with life.

“All of the effort people go through to impress someone really isn’t worth it, and it isn’t who they are,” Jenkins said. “I’m glad I don’t have to worry about ‘fixing myself up in the morning’ or making sure my clothes are perfect. I just live, man.”

Both students decided to take an alternative route to the holiday, but not everyone may do the same. Some may go out and have a picturesque dinner, and some may buy a box of chocolates.

New York Times Best Sellers found at Belk Library

Feb. 13, 2020

F

or those who are always looking for their next great read, the App State library offers access to a number of New York Times bestsellers that people can't seem to put down. All for the price of $0.

Here are some suggestions for those who need a break from those required textbook readings.

“Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption”

By: Bryan Stevenson, 2014 “Just Mercy” details the inspiring story of Bryan Stevenson who, after graduating from Harvard Law School, moved to Alabama to start the Equal Justice Initiative and represent those wrongly convicted who couldn’t afford effective representation. The book details the case of Walter McMillian, who was sentenced to die for a crime he did not commit. It also includes other cases that open readers’ eyes to problems in the justice system, and those who fight to change it.

“Educated” By: Tara Westover, 2018 In her memoir, Tara Westover details growing up in the mountains in Idaho, where she was away from mainstream society and lacked formal schooling. Westover’s story takes readers through her journey to get an education at 17 years old, despite her upbringing. This Goodreads Choice 2018 winner explains how education can transform and move you to new places.

“Outliers: The Story of Success” By: Malcolm Gladwell, 2008 Originally published in 2008, this book takes a look at what makes high achievers different, and what factors may contribute to their success. Gladwell examines how The Beatles became such an admired and acclaimed musical act, how one of the most successful law firms was built and how Bill Gates achieved extreme wealth. This book is perfect for anyone interested in how our life experiences can shape who we become.

“Where the Crawdads Sing” By: Delia Owens, 2018 With over 4.5 million copies sold, the story of Kya Clark, who struggles to take care of herself after her family abandons her in their small shack nestled in the marshes of North Carolina, has captured the attention of its readers. Painted as the town outcast, Kya is accused of murdering Chase Andrews, a popular resident of the town. Can she overcome her fear of abandonment, or will her fear be her downfall? “Where the Crawdads Sing” is an up-all-night page-turner that will make readers wonder how far they would go to survive.

By reporter Ansley Puckett

Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr

97

Sports App State Baseball set for 2020 campaign

Feb. 13, 2020

247 App State student-athletes named to academic honor roll Moss Brennan | Editor-in-Chief

The 2020 season is nearing for baseball, and it’s the new faces on the team that offer hope for a promising run this spring. With the team’s first game on Feb. 14, the Mountaineers “just need to play better baseball,” head coach Kermit Smith said.

Courtesy of App State Athletics

Cameron Burnett | Reporter The App State baseball team finished 22-31 and fifth in the Sun Belt in 2019. After losing seven seniors from the 2019 team, the team will have a lot of new faces with six freshmen and four transfers coming into the 2020 season.

Senior pitcher Andrew Papp said many of the young players have shown a lot of promise.

“I think Noah (Hall), our right-handed pitcher, is gonna have a pretty significant role,” Papp said. “I mean, just watching him this fall, he’s definitely got some really good stuff. Not just the stuff he has on the mound, but his mental game toward going out there and pitching, he doesn’t act like a freshman on the mound. I can see him being really big for us in some big-time spots.”

Hall was a second-team honor on the 2019 Collegiate Baseball High School All-American team. The Providence High School graduate is part of a group of six freshmen Papp said he believes will make a big impact in their first year.

Papp has seen a lot of ups and downs in this program, but said he is very hopeful for this year. The team won 19 games when he was a freshman, and they haven’t finished above .500 during his career at App State. He said he believes that they have improved in recent years, and this year could be where it all comes to fruition.

“Going into this year, every guy thinks that we can win every single game we are gonna play this year, and when every guy thinks that, it’s a good thing,” Papp said.

Head coach Kermit Smith affirmed that sentiment.

“My expectation is that there is a group of guys in that locker room that is gonna go out every day and win a baseball game,” Smith said.

Luke Drumheller, a sophomore infielder, had an impactful freshman year in 2019 that featured a .337 batting average, 37 RBIs, 67 hits and 15 doubles. He broke the

10

school record and tied the NCAA record with five doubles against Furman.

“You just know he’s going to show up every day and that resonates in the dugout and throughout the locker room, so it’s nothing that really needs to be said, and I think that’s a leadership characteristic,” Smith said.

Coming off a year they believe didn’t reach their expectations, the Mountaineers are hopeful to make some noise this season. Smith has built the roster so everyone can make an impact, not just the juniors and seniors. This is a characteristic that the coaching staff believes can help them throughout the season, knowing every guy can step onto the field looking to make a big play to help pick up a win.

“We just need to play better baseball. Guys settling into roles and making sure the coaching staff is evaluating the guys in terms of getting pressure outs or pressure hits and who we want out there that’s going to make that play,” Smith said. “The better we evaluate that and communicate as a coaching staff, the better situation we will put our team in to be successful.”

Smith said he believes players will present themselves as being able to make the big plays, and those will be the guys that play more this season.

Papp has seen all of these players grow with him throughout the fall and believes many of them will have a large part in helping this team be successful.

“We’ve got Jack Hartman coming back, he throws hard...Peyton (Idol), the competitive attitude that guy brings to the field every single day,” Papp said. “In years past, it seems like they struggled to be what makes them good, and it seems like this group is really being themselves.”

The Mountaineers open the 2020 campaign on Feb. 14 at Gardner-Webb.

App State athletics announced that 247 student-athletes made the fall 2019 academic honor roll. Out of those 247 athletes, eight were graduate students and 33 had a 4.0 GPA for that semester.

Seventy-three total members from the cheer team, dance team, athletic training and other student support staff were also named to the academic honor roll.

A student achieves academic honor roll if they earn a 3.25 GPA or

higher during the fall semester while enrolled in at least 12 credit hours.

The average GPA for student-athletes for the 2019 fall semester was 3.17, which is the highest since 2012. The cumulative GPA for all student-athletes is currently 3.16.

Recognition for the student athletes will take place at the women’s basketball game on Feb. 27 against Louisiana.

Read more at theappalachianonline.com

Graphic by Moss Brennan

Feb. 13, 2020

Ballard far from done in 2020

Sports

Connor Davidson | Reporter When junior sprinter De’Shawn Ballard was a kid, he would often find himself outside running around in the country. Given this upbringing, it is no surprise he decided to run track when he got to high school.

Early on in his high school career, Ballard wasn’t a star. He started running track at Laney High School in Wilmington his freshman year, but it took a couple of years before he started to develop into the athlete he is today.

“My junior year (is) when most of my development started coming along. That’s how (App State head track coach Damion) McLean recruited me, from my junior year,” Ballard said.

“I improved from my junior year to my senior year.”

There weren’t a lot of schools looking at Ballard, but McLean saw something there.

“One thing you can’t coach is height, and for him, he already had that,” McLean said. “He had really good technical attributes in his running form, and then that was one thing I knew I didn’t have to coach.”

The summer after his senior year at Laney, Ballard had a breakout postseason. He made it to the high school nationals, where he competed in the 200-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay. Ballard finished first in both events.

“I recruited him when he was OK, and then that summer he was one of the top sprinters in the country, so it was one of those rare gem finds that I got fortunate on,” McLean said.

After showing the country what kind of athlete he could be, Ballard caught the attention of other schools. However, Ballard decided it was best for him to become a Mountaineer.

“After I signed and with the times that I posted, there were other schools, but with me being the athlete I was at the time, McLean was really the only coach that was able to trust me and invest in me,” Ballard said.

During his freshman season at App State, Ballard broke the 200-meter school record time twice and contributed to school records in the 4x300 and 4x400-meter relay teams. Even with success, there were still some setbacks.

“He’s had a couple of little nagging injuries here and there, so he really hasn’t even blossomed yet, even in his third year here,” McLean said. “So, him and I are still waiting on him to really showcase what he naturally has, and then we’re going to build off of that.”

Ballard, now a junior, has made waves this season. In the season opener, he broke the

“...I think he’s got a good chance at being one of the best in the Sun Belt.”

school record for the 300-meter dash with a time of 34.16 seconds, which was a record that previously stood for nearly 20 years. At the same meet, Ballard was part of the 4x300-meter relay team that broke the school record with a time of 2:18.74.

At the VMI Team Challenge earlier this year, Ballard posted two first place finishes, one in the 60-meter dash and one in the 200-meter dash. This performance earned him the Sun Belt men’s track athlete of the week award.

“I would say it’s a good start, but we’re just getting started in the season,” Ballard said. “I plan on having some bigger accolades than just athlete of the week, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Even with a great start to the year, Ballard and McLean have big goals and high expectations.

“If you don’t set (the bar) high, then you’re not going to reach the lower levels,” McLean said. “So for him, I think he’s got a good chance at being one of the best in the Sun Belt.”

For now, Ballard is taking it one meet at a time, and McLean is confident in the junior sprinter.

“Even this weekend we (are) going to go out to New Mexico (to) compete against some really good competition,” McLean said. “Depending on how his competition is, I think he’s going to run really well.”

That weekend at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic on Feb. 7, Ballard performed just how his coach thought he would. In the 200-meter dash, he ran a time of 21.18 seconds, once again breaking the school record.

De’Shawn Ballard has hit the ground running this season. Currently a junior, Ballard is still holding himself to high standards to further his strong start to the season.

Courtesy of App State Athletics

11

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

Kat Ward Consent is “Yes.” Consent is not “not no.” Consent is not a short skirt. Consent is not too many tequila shots.

Consent is not “we’ve had sex before.” Consent is not a pass that never expires. Consent is not being too afraid to say no. Consent is not contingent on how much you spent on dinner. Consent is not “maybe.” Consent is not “just this once.” Consent is not “nobody needs to know.” Consent is not able to circumvent unfair power dynamics. Consent is not “convince me.” Consent is “yes.” Consent is an enthusiastic, non-coercive, informed, revocable “yes.”

The prevalent dialogue surrounding sexual assault in contemporary times frames consent as a “modern issue.”

The “#MeToo” movement causes many individuals to believe the conversations about consent as a modern, “trendy” conversation, brought about by third-wave feminism and pussy hats. Conversations about consent and sexual violence create a space for survivors to share their stories and allow for the general public, especially young people, to be educated and informed on the shocking relevance of assault.

Consent, at its roots, comes from bodily autonomy.

Anyone, regardless of gender, intoxication, sexual orientation, relationship status or any other extraneous factor reserves the right to decide what happens to their body. There are no “blurred lines” or “what ifs” about it. At the end of the day, if there is not “yes” given, it is not consent. Consent is a human right that has existed since the beginning of time.

Conversations about consent and sexual violence often inherently place the responsibility of consent on one party.

Perpetrators of rape culture have complained “asking for consent ruins the mood.” There has been a counter-movement popularized by The Good Men Project titled “Consent is Sexy.” The idea is that asking for consent doesn’t ruin the mood, but can be made sexy and erotic. This is dangerously flawed. Consent is not “sexy,” consent is mandatory.

If ensuring that your partner is comfortable with the acts being performed during sex has sex less enjoyable, there is a violent and unhealthy power dynamic in play. Consent is more important than romance or lust or “the mood.” Normalizing conversations about consent is one way to confront sexual violence. It is imperative that both parties feel safe enough to say “no” and know that “no” will be respected.

It is the responsibility of all people involved to ensure that consent is freely given and discussed. It should not be something that only comes up after the fact, when a boundary has been crossed and someone has been violated.

In an era of heightened accountability and visibility about consent and sexual violence, some individuals claim to be confused about consent, presenting it as this abstract, newfound, complicated “issue,” which often is used a defense when accused of sexual assault. The burden of defining consent is often placed on women, to victim-blame and forgo responsibility for one’s own actions. Consent is simple.

If it is not a “yes,” it is a “no.” If it is a “no,” it is a “no.” No questions asked. There is no place for coercion or convincing in consent. “No” was likely most of our first words, and it is long past time we start respecting it.

Kat Ward is a junior middle grades education major who works in the Women’s Center.

Submit letters to the editor to editor@theappalachianonline.com

12

Feb. 13, 2020

caleb’s

CONCEPTS Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Editor The modern individual is lonely. According to a 2018 Cigna survey of 20,000 people, nearly half the participants report feeling left out, with Generation Z, college students, being the loneliest.

Social isolation is nothing new. Karl Marx argued that people are inherently collective and that capitalism isolates people through artificial means, such as consumerism. There is truth to this theory, because modern consumerism is dictated by social media, a place where people consume time and Instagram determines internal worth, causing an artificial identity. Thus, an individual cannot discover themself in other people’s opinions.

Marx’s argument is contradictory because modern isolation is caused by the collective determining their value through social media. We let different groups tell us who we are, neglecting ourselves in the process. Therefore, to find happiness and meaningful relationships, we must first find peace within ourselves.

The self is an expression of one’s identity determined by two factors; our thoughts and external stories we internalize. In his 1637 book “Discourse on Method,” Rene Descartes forms the basis of identity with his induction and conclusion, “I think, therefore I am,” meaning that our ability to think we exist is proof of our existence. Yet, identity is never fixed. Rather, both internal and external forces battle for control of the soul.

The collision between these opposing forces is what shapes people for who they are. No two people internalize information the same way, causing divergences from the source. Therefore, it is impossible to find ourselves in others because we determine our own identity.

We are lonely because we expect to find happiness in our friends and material experiences — instead of in ourselves. This philosophy is an interpretation of “hedonism” which only pursues pleasure — ignoring suffering. Yet, according to Plato, this philosophy is impractical because people can cause themselves pain on the road to pleasure.

Instead of pursuing happiness through material things and pleasures, look at happiness as a permanent state of being. How is this done? Through habit. Get to know yourself and find what makes you happy. As Aristotle says, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Feb. 13, 2020

Vinyl: The Greatest Musical Medium since 1867

Opinion

Ethan Murphy | Opinion Writer People listen to music everywhere: on the bus, in cars, walking or sitting. This negatively affects their day because they meet no one new, miss out on the sounds of the world around them and appreciate the music less because of oversaturation.

In the past, people listened to live performers. Then came vinyl, cassettes, CDs and mobile devices. In person shows almost always trump other mediums because of the unique experience taken from them. However, vinyl is a close second.

From the invention of the record player to digital streaming, musical mediums have consistently evolved. During this process, the listener gained greater convenience. But does convenience overrule quality?

The experience of vinyl records differs greatly from other methods. Buying the record in the store, watching it spin, amassing a collection and the signature. The experience creates a feeling impossible for digital sound to mimic.

So, why don’t more people listen this way?

First, buying both record players and records are

costly investments, certainly more costly than the $5 per month Spotify charges students. Second, people want their music on demand, and record players cannot supply this want.

Not all vinyls cost a week’s pay. Record stores often carry used records, which only cost a dollar.

This removes financial obstacles preventing people from going into the store and immersing themselves in the record-buying process.

All around, vinyl is better than digital airwaves projected directly into the ears. Want to relax? Throw on some jazz on a low volume, and let it float around. Want to energize yourself ? Crank the volume up and let some punk or psychedelia shake things up. Regardless of musical taste, everyone can find something special that works for them.

If an album peaked curiosity before, it forces questions now. If an artist inspired before, they motivate now. With a small investment and a touch of commitment, music can have some tangibility again.

Graphic by Brendan Hoekstra

Your Vote Always Matters,

especially in North carolina Rickey Barker | Opinion Writer The 2020 election is coming, and it may feel that our vote won’t make a difference because so many people are voting. This is faulty logic because North Carolina’s track record for elections is anything but straightforward.

North Carolina is a swing state, meaning that either party can win because the state is not historically loyal to Democrats or Republicans. North Carolina has voted for both Democrat and Republican presidents. However, one thing is certain, North Carolina presidential elections are alway very close.

Take the 2016 election: 46% of North Carolinians voted for the Democrat candidate and 49% voted Republican. You’re probably thinking that those percentages don’t add up, and you’re right, because 5% of people didn’t vote. Four percent could have changed the outcome of North Carolina’s electoral votes.

It was even closer during the 2008 elec-

tion, in which 49.7% voted Democrat and 49.4% voted for the Republican. The Democrats won by a 0.3% spread. Think about how this election could have changed had a couple thousand people voted. One vote can make all the difference in tight races like these.

It is likely that the 2020 election will be as contentious as past elections. Both sides will turn out in droves to get their candidate into the White House. But don’t let that discourage you from voting, because your voice matters now more than ever. Whatever side you take, remember that your vote may determine the president in 2021.

Graphic by Caleb Garbuio

Et Cetera

Feb. 13, 2020

If you’re interested, come to roOm 217 Of psu thursdays @7pm

MOSS BRENNAN EDITOR IN CHIEF

IRA DAVID LEVY ADVISER

EDITORIAL HARLEY NEFE MANAGING EDITOR

SOPHIA LYONS CHIEF COPY EDITOR

BUSINESS

JACKIE PARK NEWS EDITOR

STEVEN CAUGHRAN

CHRISTINA BEALS

BUSINESS MANAGER

SILAS ALBRIGHT

ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANAGER

A&C EDITOR

SPORTS EDITOR

CALEB GARBUIO OPINION EDITOR

SHELLY BANZ MELISSA ALSUP MARKETING DIRECTOR

MULTIMEDIA SADIE MADDOCK

ANNA MUCKENFUSS

BRENDAN HOEKSTRA

EFRAIN ARIAS-MEDINA JR.

NEWS PRODUCER PHOTO EDITOR

VIDEO EDITOR

GRAPHICS EDITOR

ACROSS 1. A bitter quarrel 5. Train track 9. Arab chieftain 13. Hindu princess 14. Orderlies 16. Ice cream holder 17. Makes a mistake 18. Orchard 19. Vandals 20. Colonic 22. Most slippy 24. Water chestnut 26. Anagram of “Diets” 27. Letter 30. A boring movie 33. Genus of canola 35. Less hazardous 37. Top part of an apron 38. Protrusion 41. A law enforcement agency 42. Bottoms of shoes 45. Loyalties 48. Yield 51. Molasses 52. Lascivious looks 54. Indian dress 55. Remove from a list 59. Work dough

62. Journey 63. Coarse edible red seaweed 65. Within 66. Afflicts 67. Water balloon sound 68. Flat-bottomed boat 69. Lacquered metalware 70. Tropical American wildcat 71. Song of praise DOWN 1. No charge 2. Acquire deservedly 3. Undependable 4. Terminate 5. A small piece of cloth 6. Haughtiness 7. Graven images 8. Frivolity 9. Spiny anteater 10. Pout 11. Hotels 12. A musical pause 15. Old photo color 21. Picnic insects 23. Church benches 25. Smooth-tongued

27. Wanes 28. Earlier in time 29. Anagram of “Cue” 31. Competence 32. Renegade 34. Alien Life Form 36. Ascend 39. Obtain 40. Hearing organs 43. Oval 44. Search 46. An escape of water 47. Sully

49. Requires 50. A company of performers 53. Tarnish 55. Immediately 56. Threesome 57. Small brook 58. Russian emperor 60. “Smallest” particle 61. Not up 64. Estimated time of arrival

Feb. 13, 2020

What To Do PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Thursday, Feb. 13 Friday, Feb. 14 Saturday, Feb. 15 Sunday, Feb. 16 Monday, Feb. 17 Tuesday, Feb. 18

Wednesday, Feb. 19

Not Your Average Valentine PSU Solarium 6-8 p.m.

Inclusive Language and Why it Matters RCOE Room 237 1-2 p.m.

Dance Marathon 10 a.m. Feb 15 to 1 a.m. Feb. 16 Legends

Galentines Day App Hall Room 162 7-8 p.m.

Filling Your Tea Cup: Self-Care & Coping RCOE 227 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Transfer Day at Camp Broadstone Camp Broadstone 2-8 p.m.

Dance Marathon 10 a.m. Feb 15 to 1 a.m. Feb. 16 Legends

Electronics and Soldering Inspire Makers Lab 3-4 p.m.

Career Studio Week Leon Levine School of Health Sciences - Atrium 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

TPUSA Hosts Mark Robinson PSU Room 220 6:15-7:15 p.m.

Mindful Tuesday’s: Kintsugi PSU Room 413 3-5 p.m

Look Smart Professional Closet PSU Attic Window 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Recovery Summit Parkway Ballroom 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Vagina Monologues 2020 Parkway Ballroom 7-9p.m.

App News

SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS

App News is a service of the Division of Student Affairs. Email editor@theappalachianonline.com for submissions with subject line: APP NEWS PAGE. Submissions should not exceed 100 words and must include the event title, date/time, location and cost, and a contact email, phone and/or URL. Announcements will be edited as needed and will run as space allows. Preference is given for events that are free or have a nominal cost.

The Vagina Monologues 2020

“V-DAY, the global movement to end violence against all women and girls (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender based violence) has seen it’s work evolve over the past three years. The rise of misogynist, authoritarian regimes all over the world - from the United States to the Philippines, India to Brazil - has recalibrated our work, further escalating the urgency with which we feel compelled to fight for gender, climate, economic, and racial justice. We are in the midst of a rising tide of right-wing nationalism, white supremacy, fascism, tyranny, hatred of and fear of immigrants, misogyny, femicide, homophobia, transphobia, corporate greed and climate destruction. We cannot beat these violators on their terms. We will never be the cruel, discompassionate, greedy, or murderous. We cannot let ourselves be changed by or sunk in their cynicism, hatred, divisions and destruction.

WHAT WE CAN DO IS REMEMBER WE ARE THE MANY AND WE CAN RAISE THE VIBRATION THROUGH ACTION, ART, CONNECTION, IMAGINATION AND LOVE.” Join the Appalachian State University Women’s Center and this year’s fantastic Vagina Monologues cast in our theatrical production of the 2020 Vagina Monologues!! We stand behind V-DAY in their fight to defend all women and girls across the world, and 100% of this year’s proceeds will be donated to Watauga County’s women’s and survivor’s shelter and service center, Oasis, INC.!

Tickets can be purchased at the PSU Information Desk for $12 in advance, or can be purchased for $15 at the door.

BRING YOUR AUDIENCE ANYWHERE.

PHOTOGRAPH FOR THE APPALACHIAN NEWS GROUP BUILD YOUR RESUME. ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO. GET PUBLISHED.

ROOM 217, PSU THURSDAY 7 P.M. SEE YOU THERE.