March 29, 2019

THE APPALACHIAN March 29, 2019

Field house sacked The Owens Field House was demolished with a new facility expected by the 2020 football season.

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BOARD OF GOVERNORS RAISES STUDENT AND ATHLETIC FEES

RAPPER SABA TO PERFORM AT LEGENDS ON APRIL 18

LESSER-KNOWN CLUB SPORT SEEKS HARDER COMPETITION

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News

March 29 , 2019

Inaugural Walk to Board of Governors approves Defeat ALS honors increase in athletics and student activity fees dean of libraries Cameron Stuart ‫@ ׀‬cameronlstuart ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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n honor of Dean of Libraries Dane Ward, App State is hosting a walk on March 30 to combat Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a neurodegenerative disease in which nerves stop communicating with muscles.

“My first symptoms occurred around March or April of 2017,” Ward said. “My left leg was just not lifting properly.”

Ward said he thought he was suffering from an old football injury, but after not doing anything about it, he start using a cane, then a rolling walker, and now uses a wheelchair.

Ward became the Dean of Libraries in August 2017 and was diagnosed with ALS in October 2017.

Ward said he is beginning to lose motor functions in his arms and legs, though he is not in any pain.

“Everything is much more immediate for me. I have to do things that I really wanted to do that matter,” Ward said. “It really makes you think about what’s important, what your priorities are in life.”

There is no cure for ALS and 5,600 people are diagnosed every year, according to the ALS Association.

The Walk to Defeat ALS will raise money for research and educate people on the rare disease, Dean of Health Sciences Marie Huff said.

Huff said of the event’s $25,000 goal, $26,056 has been raised as of

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March 24.

Ward said he did not have much, if any, awareness about the disease before he was diagnosed.

Since his diagnosis, Ward said he has noticed people enthusiastically raising money and awareness for ALS in social movements.

“My wish is that somehow ALS becomes incorporated into teaching, learning and research on campus,” Ward said. “I would love for the campus as a whole to get behind the movement.”

Ward said he also hopes the walk becomes an annual event.

“These kinds of events not only address a great cause, but they’re bonding experiences,” Huff said. “It brings people together, gives people a sense of pride about being part of the university or part of a team and doing something to make other people’s lives better.”

Huff said she hopes to involve more people in this event in the future.

“Going forward, we hope that more people are inspired by the event, that more people are educated about ALS, more people are continuing to support the organization and research towards finding a cure,” Huff said.

The App State Walk to Defeat ALS will take place at 10 a.m. on March 30 at the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences.

Donations can be made at webnc.alsa.org.

Moss Brennan ‫@ ׀‬mosbren ‫ ׀‬News Editor

Moss Brennan ‫@ ׀‬mosbren

Chancellor Sheri Everts listens during the Board of Governors meeting held at App State for the first time in over 20 years.

The BOG voted to raise athletic and student fees at the meeting.

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or the first time in over 20 years, the Board of Governors met on App State’s campus, where it voted to raise student fees.

The board voted to raise App State’s Athletics Fee from $760 to $783 and the Student Activities Fee from $646 to $659 for the 2019-20 academic year.

The BOG deferred a $54 debt service fee for App State.

“As we were in the process, the Board of Governors was coming up with a plan to ask the legislature for funding increase to repair and renovation funds on a system-wide basis,” Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Paul Forte said.

Forte said the legislature is trying to get the funds during the cur-

rent legislative session.

“It’s something the board and we as a staff are very concerned about and are anxious to manage it as well as we can,” Interim UNC Systems President William Roper said. “We understand the concern about the total cost of attending college.”

The BOG appointed Roper as interim president in November.

“Costs matter and there’s a lot of focus there,” BOG Chair Harry Smith said. “The word tuition had gotten so costic, everybody started kind of sliding over to the fee side.

The fact is tuition and fees are both large buckets of college.”

Five schools did not have their athletics fee raised, and two schools, East Carolina University and Fay-

etteville State University, had theirs raised by $50. App State had the second lowest raise with UNC-Greensboro in first with a $19 increase.

Nine schools did not have their student activities fee raised and one school, Elizabeth City State University, had its fee increase $35.15.

UNC-Chapel Hill’s undergraduate and graduate student activities fee decreased $3.81.

The BOG was on App State’s campus for three days beginning March 20.

“It’s been fabulous,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “They are delighted with the campus. Many of them mentioned that every single person they met was friendly and engaging and loved Appalachian State.”

March 29 , 2019

University and RISE move forward on West Campus residence hall construction

News

Jackie Park ‫@ ׀‬jackiempark ‫ ׀‬Associate News Editor

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tudents on West Campus now have the sounds of construction as the soundtrack to their days.

Matt Dull, assistant vice chancellor for finance and operations, interviewed Dave Blanks of University Communications and Jeremy Doss, senior vice president of RISE Real Estate about RISE’s role in West Campus’ residence hall construction.

“We serve as the developer here on this project, as all the projects we pursue and partner on, and as the developer for the project, we are the single contractee with the university,” Doss said.

Doss said RISE ensures other companies involved in the construction, like Choate Construction and Jenkins-Peer Architects, meet their

deadlines and budgets, and App State is happy with the end result.

“Knock on wood, to date, we have never delivered a project late, and we’ll do everything that we have to do to deliver a project on time,” Doss said.

Doss said RISE and the university are using tax-exempt bonds to pay for the project, meaning it’s notfor-profit.

With the residence halls, Doss said RISE wants to “finance and build them on their own merit, on their own demand.”

To build the residence halls “on their own demand,” a third-party not-for-profit owner is needed outside of the university. RISE proposed Beyond Owners Group, a group Doss said he has worked with

before and trusts.

Beyond Owners Group is serving as the owner of the residence halls until App State pays off the “rent” on the bonds used to build the residence halls. After this, App State will own the buildings.

“That’s all done via a ground lease, where we just wrap basically a ground lease around the base of these buildings, around these improvements and transfer them over to the nonprofits ownership during the term of the financing,” Doss said.

A ground lease is when a tenant can develop on land during the lease period. At the end of the lease, the land and developments are turned back over to the property owner.

“It allows the university to free

up their ability to finance libraries and classrooms and other things that don’t have direct revenue tied to them. The project’s setup to be self-sustaining,” Doss said.

Blanks, Dull and Doss also discussed what roles App State and Beyond Owners Group will have once the first residence hall is completed.

Dull said the university is the operator of the facilities, meaning it is in charge of tasks like cleaning and residence life programming.

“It’s the group that’s doing some of the maintenance, the dayto-day maintenance of, ‘Hey, this light bulb went out, our filters need to be changed in our HVAC units,’” Dull said.

Dull said Beyond Owners Group acts as the owner of improve-

ments to the buildings.

“Their role really is long-term asset manager for the project.” Dull said. “So they’re thinking about and helping us plan for things like roofs, HVAC systems, bigger systems that are a part of these buildings.”

Dull said Beyond Owners Group is also in charge of setting money aside for improvements as the building grows older.

“This is a very similar structure with these buildings as we currently have with our housing on campus,” Dull said.

Due to multiple interview requests, University Communications records weekly podcasts with Dull about the West Campus construction project to provide to news organizations.

Deconstruction of Owens Field House begins, new facility expected by fall 2020 Brooks Maynard ‫@ ׀‬BrooksMaynard ‫ ׀‬Sports Editor

T Lynette Files ‫@ ׀‬lynettefilesphotography The Owens Field House underwent the beginning of its demolition on March 25. A new end zone facility take its place by the 2020 football season.

he demolition of Owens Field House at Kidd Brewer Stadium began on March 25, making way for the new end zone facility.

Originally named “Stadium Fieldhouse” and built as a part of Conrad Stadium in 1962, it was renamed “Owens Field House” after a renovation in 1978, according to the Library Digital Collections at App State. An addition was also made to the north side of the building in 1990.

App State Athletics announced in October that the UNC Board of Governors approved construction of

the new end zone facility, signaling the end to Owens Field House 14 years after the university initially announced its plans to replace it.

“It’s just been great to see the university grow over the years,” former App State head football coach Scott Satterfield said after the Sun Belt Championship game. “It’s just been great to see the rise.”

A multi-purpose building that will include a medical facility, an App State apparel store, equipment rooms and increased stadium seating will replace the field house. The project is scheduled for completion in time for the 2020 football season.

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News

March 29 , 2019

Student Body President re-elected, 15 senators elected with 743 total votes Moss Brennan ‫@ ׀‬mosbren ‫ ׀‬News Editor

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tudent Body President DeJon Milbourne was re-elected for the 2019-20 academic year with 636 votes. Milbourne ran unopposed.

Only 743 votes were cast in the election compared to over 3,095 in 2018 and over 2,400 in 2017. Fifteen senators were also elected to the Student Government Association Senate.

“We obviously wanted to get more votes, but it’s very difficult to that when it’s only one ticket,” Milbourne said. “I think a lot of people respected the work that we’ve done this year.”

Milbourne ran for re-election with junior political science major Michael Davis, who is a senator and delegate to the Association of Student

Government.

“My No. 1 goal is to leave a legacy that will outlast me and my administration,” Milbourne said. “I want to leave something behind for the entire campus so that we can be self sustaining.”

Freshman journalism major Aiyana Willoughby was re-elected to serve on the Sophomore Class Senate.

She said many of her plans for 201920 involve health and wellness.

“I have a lot of plans that I didn’t get to implement this 52nd Senatorial Session, so I’m really happy that I’m on it again so I can try again next year,” Willoughby said.

election year comparisons

Senator results:

Sophomore Jeremy Doblin - College of Arts and Sciences senator.

Sophomore Connor Schlaline - Honors and Academics sSenator.

Sophomore Thanh Schado - Special Interest Groups and Service Initiatives senator

3,095 votes

Sophomore Class Senate: Aiyana Willoughby Emily Hogan Devin Mullins Maddie Vargas Tyler Gacek

2,400 votes

Junior Class Senate:

Alexandra Larocca Ardeshir Pirzadeh Cameron Hunter Michael Maldonado-Melgar Greg Steckbeck

743 votes

Walker College of Business senators: 2017

2018

Junior Cameron Thompson Sophomore Brenton Ervin

2019

AppalCart board discusses sustainability and adding buses to routes

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Savannah Nguyen ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

FILE PHOTO

AppalCart's board meeting took place March 26. Members discussed possible route and parking changes for the next academic year, as well as sustainable innovations to the public transportation system.

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ppalCart board members deliberated on route changes, the extension of available parking and sustainable initiatives that may change how residents use Boone’s public transport during the 2019-20 academic year at a board meeting on March 25.

AppalCart Director Craig Hughes can apply for a grant worth $2.5 million for the purchase of sustainable transport after approval from the board.

The Low or No Emission Competitive program will require AppalCart to match 15 percent of the cost of a single low-emissions bus and charging station. Hughes estimates the total cost of the project at $900,000.

The new bus would increase AppalCart service by 1,000 more trips.

“If we really want to become dedicated to sustainability, we need to take advantage of this opportunity,” Hughes said.

Hughes has until May 14 to submit the grant application.

Hughes also discussed increasing parking for App State faculty and students, and the board approved asking the Town of Boone for an appraisal on the 3-acre lot at the corner of NC 105 Bypass and Highway 301.

“This may be our only shot for expansion in this town,” vice chair of the board Barry Sauls said.

In the fall, students who ride Express or Pink routes may find a less congested ride from Shadow Line Drive.

“We need to add a new Express or Pink Route in order to fill the need of the new apartment complex built

by Southern Group Property Management,” Hughes said. “The route is taking about 500 trips a day already, and the routes are already at capacity, so the inclusion of a new bus there would reduce congestion by a lot.”

The board’s conversation will continue on April 15 at the next meeting starting at 3 p.m. in Room 201A of the Plemmons Student Union.

News

March 29 , 2019

Professor receives $8,000 grant to study bats on Parkway

Anna Muckenfuss ‫@ ׀‬noel1122 ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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welve bat species live on the Blue Ridge Parkway. White Nose Syndrome, a lethal infectious disease, affects nine of those species.

The National Park Service granted $8,000 to Mark Spond, an App State professor and NPS App State liaison, to survey bats on the Blue Ridge Parkway, identify what species are present and which are at risk for White Nose Syndrome. This disease is lethal to bats because it causes them to wake up early from hibernation and starve to death.

“White Nose Syndrome is a big concern amongst land managers in the National Park Service right now,” Spond said. “Managers first observed

(White Nose Syndrome) in New York in 2006, and by 2019, it’s spread to almost 30 states and a good portion of the Canadian provinces as well.”

Robert Cherry, a wildlife biologist for NPS, said bats are important because they eat insects.

“They’re kind of a natural pesticide and keep down some of the animals that would eat like cabbage and corn,” Cherry said.

White Nose Syndrome thrives in damp, cool environments, which is why the disease affects bats that hibernate in caves more, Cherry said.

“The ones that sleep for long periods of time, the fungus develops on them,” Cherry said. “It wakes the bats up in the wintertime when they’re sleeping. The bats basically starve to

death.”

When conducting the survey, biologists use acoustic detectors to record bat calls at a higher frequency.

Biologists then run recordings through a bat call identification software program, Cherry said.

Cherry said he believes bats are unappreciated because many people think they are evil.

“I think it’s amazing what bats can do with their echolocation and fly around trees and catch moths in the dark,” Cherry said. “They eat agricultural pests, they eat mosquitos, they benefit us that way.”

Spond said additional funding for a summer survey is pending.

2019-20 Common reading tells story of criminal justice and civic engagement

Erin O’Neill ‫@ ׀‬erinnmoneill ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by Bryan Stevenson is the Common Reading Program book for the 2019-20 academic year.

“Just Mercy” is about the criminal justice system, how it discriminates against those in poverty and Stevenson’s work to reverse that discrimination through his nonprofit organization, Equal Justice Initiative.

Stevenson’s memoir details his experiences as a lawyer with individuals in the criminal justice system who have been wrongly accused, Common Reading Program committee member Heather Lippard

said. The book also addresses poverty and racial discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Director of the Common Reading Program Martha McCaughey said the committee chose “Just Mercy” in hopes that the story would expose students to pressing social problems.

“Ideally, the common reading book, and this is one of the reasons we picked ‘Just Mercy’ for next year, will get people talking. It will get them curious and get them introduced to what it means to be a member of an intellectual community,” McCaughey said.

McCaughey said she hopes stu-

dents will recognize the way Stevenson transformed his education into a life of service and civic engagement.

“He really used his education to make the world a better place, and I think that was a really inspiring message, and the committee thought that was a really inspiring message for people who are starting out their college career,” McCaughey said.

McCaughey also said the committee never chooses a book in an attempt to have all students feel the same after reading.

“We strongly believe in academic freedom, so when we talk about the common reading book we don’t want them to have a common

viewpoint,” McCaughey said.

Lippard, who has served on the committee for eight years, said the Common Reading Program provides a common language for incoming students who will read the book and discuss it in their first-year seminars.

Lippard said the Common Reading Program allows students to “engage in meaningful dialogue in a professional way without hostility” and helps students “talk about things that are maybe out of their comfort zone.”

The program is in its 22nd year, and McCaughey said common reading programs are considered a na-

tional best practice.

“The idea behind it is that students can get engaged in their studies and that’s when they can really learn a lot and have that transformational, educational experience that we’re offering at App State,” McCaughey said.

One of the most important criteria for selecting a book is that the author is alive, so they can come to campus and speak to students, McCaughey said.

Stevenson will address students on Aug. 27 at the Black and Gold Convocation.

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Arts and Culture

March 29 , 2019

APPS and Black Student Association bring Saba to Legends Mericlaire Williams ‫@ ׀‬mcxwilliams ‫ ׀‬A&C Columnist

Georgia Privott ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

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Hayley Canal | @hayley_abigail

Cassidy Andrews Cassidy Andrews creates looks by combining her loves for magic and nature.

Andrews, sophomore commercial photography major, has a bright and animated style she shows through fashion.

Andrews’ wardrobe is inspired by shows like “Powerpuff Girls” and “Winx Club.” She adds accessories like butterfly earrings, bright glitter and butterfly stickers to her outfits to combine elements of nature and magic. She directly copies the colors and “cuteness” from cartoon characters like Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup from the Powerpuff girls into her fashion. The characters she channels brighten her mood.

“I don’t even feel like a human half of the time. I want to be something else,” Andrews said.

Andrews said she does not mind people’s stares and even takes them as a challenge to invite more people to notice her bold looks.

“It was really transformative when I realized I could use fashion as an art,” Andrews said.

Andrews’ mood drives her two styles, which she calls “scary” and “cheery.” The weather affects her emotions, so when the weather is gloomy, she is drawn to darker colors. On sunny days, she overloads her outfits with color.

Andrews has always had an interest in fashion, but since coming to college, she said she has learned to involve her personality. Andrews’ fashion has always been bold, but now it is an art platform for her. “(Fashion) gives me an outlet to express myself and what I’m feeling, and it allows me to not feel so consumed by my emotions by putting it outwards to others,” Andrews said.

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ith the No. 1 rap album of the year rated

by NPR and more than 1 million listeners on Spotify, Saba is coming to Legends on April 18. Saba first gained recognition when he appeared on Chance the Rapper’s mixtape, Acid Rap. The U.S. rapper and producer is passing through Boone on his way to Raleigh on tour for his album “Care for Me.” Saba is one of the first major rappers to perform in Legends, said Alex Brody, club show chair of Appalachian Popular Programming Society.

The Black Student Association gave a list of artists it wanted to see perform at Legends to APPS’s, which sent that list along with dates and price ranges to an adviser. Saba accepted APPS’ first offer.

In the past, indie and country artists have performed at Legends, such as Shakey Graves, Chase Rice and Rainbow Kitten Surprise. APPS hopes that bringing a rapper will reach a broader audience, Brody said.

“We were trying to up the diversity in Legends because we have tended to stick toward the same type of shows,” Brody said.

Saba is bringing his own DJ to perform before him APPS is also choosing a performer to open for the show and is waiting to hear back from Saba for approval, Brody said.

Students in APPS arrange promotions for shows, contract artists and even set ticket prices.

“We compare prices off of what a normal venue is for the artist and give subsidized tickets for students because we don’t even have to break even, we are made for the students,” Brody said.

Tickets for Saba’s Legends show went on sale March 19 and will sell while supplies last. Prices are $18 for students and $25 for the public and can be purchased online on the Holmes Center’s website.

COURTESY PHOTO ‫ ׀‬APPs

Saba is coming to Legends on April 18. The Black Student Association wrote Saba’s name on a list sent to APPS of artists they'd like to see perform at App State.

An Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Radio Station of the Year Finalist

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Arts and Culture

March 29 , 2019

APPS sensory friendly films create accessible movie-going experience Camryn Collier ‫@ ׀‬camrynecollier ‫ ׀‬Senior A&C Reporter

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he modern movie theater experience is typically defined by a blacked-out theater with the sounds of people munching on popcorn, scattered whispers and the movie filling your ears. At IG Greer theater at 2 p.m. every Saturday, this is not the movie-going experience to expect.

Appalachian Popular Programming Society’s Films council implemented sensory friendly showings. Established about eight years ago, APPS shows movies with different sensory adaptations that accommodate a wider audience, including those who may have different abilities or disabilities that hinder their normal movie-going experience.

During the sensory friendly showings, the lights are dimmed, the volume is turned down and closed captioning is turned on. The audience is allowed to move and talk freely, and viewers can bring outside foods to accommodate dietary restrictions.

“We try to take into account different kinds of sensory aspects and perspectives people have,” senior biology major and Films council chair Taylor Cromer said. “It’s all about accessibility and people being able to feel as comfortable as they can in our theater.”

At first, the sensory friendly showing was only available for movies with a PG rating. As sensory friendly viewings became more successful, Films council decided to offer a sensory friendly viewing for every movie it shows.

“I thought there was something that we were missing by limiting the showings only to kid films because that assumes that all the people on our campus would not enjoy films that aren’t PG-rated,” Cromer said.

“We wanted to still have that environment with every single one of our films in IG Greer. We want everyone

Brendan Hoekstra | @brendanhoekstra An advertisement for a sensory friendly showing of “A Star is Born.” APPS hosts sensory friendly movies each Saturday at 2 p.m. The showings appeal to audiences with diverse abilities with dim, not blacked-out lighting, reduced volume and subtitles.

to feel like they can come into that space and have an accessible opportunity to watch any movie.”

Films council was not alone in the process of making sensory friendly viewings possible. Since its development, the council has worked with community partners including the Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program and Parent to Parent.

Rebekah Cummings, the academic and life skills coordinator for SDAP, played a big role in establishing sensory friendly viewings.

Cummings said she was part of an initiation that asked the questions, “What was available to App State students, and how do we in the community recognize that all of our students on campus are part of our community, and how do we support them?”

Cummings works with the 10

students in SDAP, a two-year program that allows college-aged students who have intellectual disabilities work toward their education.

Cummings teaches two university classes about disabilities, including Autism: A Broad Spectrum and Beyond Normal.

Cummings regularly attends the sensory friendly showings and encourages the students in SDAP and her classes to attend as well.

“There is one family who comes only to the sensory friendly showings and their child does laps around the theater,” Cummings said. “He’ll walk and then suddenly stop and look at the screen and then watch for awhile.

He’ll give a little laugh, a hop and a skip, and then he walks some more.

I’ve been able to watch how he’s responded over time to the films and

how comfortable he’s become in that environment.”

Kaaren Hayes, director of Parent to Parent, has promoted and contributed to APPS’ sensory friendly viewings. Parent to Parent provides “free support, caring connections, information and hope” to families that struggle to find resources for their children. This includes families with children who have disabilities, chronic health conditions, emotional or behavioral problems, families that have had a premature baby or experienced the death of a child.

“Your profession, job, education level, none of that really matters,” Hayes said. “You’re trying to be the best parent that you can be. You’re trying to help your child be the best that they can be. That doesn’t vary from one family to another.”

Parent to Parent has worked in Watauga and surrounding counties for 31 years. In the last 10 years, Parent to Parent has helped make more than 10,000 connections for families that reached out for help. Some of the families were pointed to sensory friendly showings for a source of family entertainment.

“Originally we thought we would be lucky if we got one movie a year to work in this sensory friendly environment,” Hayes said. “If we got two, it would feel like we reached the top of the mountain. In reality, it just caught on. The Films council has done a really great job of sustaining it and letting it grow for even more people to enjoy.”

Both community partners have worked with Films council over the years to keep the discussion about sensory friendly viewings open and look for new ways to accommodate more people.

With discussions of disabilities and accommodations increasing, APPS’ Films council establishing the sensory friendly viewings is a step toward more acknowledgment on campus, Hayes said.

“We’re all learning how to do this. We’re all learning how to make a more accepting world, a more inclusive world where everyone has the same opportunities,” Hayes said.

“The Films council is creating one of those really important pieces that shows being accommodating is not that hard to do, but it is also really impressive.”

Films council produces a new movie every weekend. Upcoming movies with sensory friendly showings include “On the Basis of Sex,” “Green Book,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” “Mid90s” and “If Beale Street Could Talk.” Movies are $1 at the ticket desk prior to the showing and $2 at the door.

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Arts and Culture

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Christine Dudley ‫@ ׀‬chridud ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

hen freshman psychology major Andrew Vest first stepped onstage in full drag in high school, he was almost shaking with nerves. Once he started his routine, the infectious energy from the crowd gave him a rush. After that small talent show, Vest never looked back.

“Normally I’m not the loudest,” Vest said. “I’m a little more reserved, and so drag allowed me to sort of grow out of that, and kind of open up, which really helped for college.”

Now Vest is organizing his own show, “Life’s a Drag Show,” to make drag more prominent in Boone. Vest noticed that App State clubs Appalachian Popular Programming Society, and Sexuality and Gender Alliance organized all the drag shows in Boone.

“I want to get drag culture out there,” Vest said. “I want it to be presented as a culturally important thing and something that we can do in Boone, and it doesn’t just have to be through the school.”

Vest will donate proceeds to Applied Family Services, a nonprofit in Winston-Salem that gives families support, skills and resources to help children with developmental delays. Vest said he wants to give to this organization because his younger brother has autism.

Vest said his parents do not love that he does drag because they still see it as a taboo subculture of the gay community. Vest said they especially hate his drag name, Faggety Anne. His parents do not understand drag culture but have slowly grown accustomed to it, from seeing pictures of him in drag and watching him invest a lot of time and money into the hobby. Vest said his parents are slightly more accepting now that he is raising money for charity.

Freshman communication studies major Abby Harris, an aspiring event planner, is working out the show’s logistics, putting together the set list and setting up the room. Vest said he is grateful for Harris’ help because it has been a challenge keeping up with classes while organizing the show.

“If I get too stressed, I go to sleep and then I wake up and I try again in the morning,” Vest said.

Harris is going as Abigail Moon and said she might perform, but she will mainly emcee.

Vest convinced his roommate, freshman education

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PEOPLE OF

BOONE

Student organizes drag show hoping to make community more accessible

March 29 , 2019

major Hunter Jefferson, and friend, freshman environmental science major Garrett Jordan, to perform a duet as Cheyenne Peppers and G-String. The show will be their first time performing in drag. Jefferson and Jordan will perform a combination of comedy sketches and lipsync routines. Vest took them shopping at Goodwill for their outfits.

“The only look we could get was like a church lady look, so we’re playing off of that,” Jordan said.

Jefferson and Jordan said they have practiced walking in heels and feel much sassier now.

“We’re going to look sexy as hell,” Jefferson said.

Along with the newbies, Vest booked a few professional drag queens. Natasha Noir Nightly will drive from Asheville to perform.

Vest is performing as Faggety Anne.

“I took the qualities I liked about myself, like my humor, wit…and exaggerated them all,” Vest said. “And so it’s just like a branch of myself that gets to come out when I’m in drag.”

Faggety Anne will rock a punk look—wavy pink hair, a ripped, black T-shirt, pink fishnets and black torn up tights. Vest said one of his routines will include clips from his favorite horror movies.

Jordan and Jefferson said Vest is their biggest drag inspiration. Vest educates them about the drag community and introduced them to “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” a reality TV show in which queens compete to become “America’s next drag superstar.” Vest said this generation and the generations before fought for drag to become mainstream, fun and free.

“It’s something different, it’s new, you can kind of go up there and be a whole different thing that you’ve never been before,” Jordan said.

Jefferson said he likes drag because people do not judge as much in that environment.

“No matter who you are or whatever you’ve been through, you can still go on stage and have the best time of your life, or at least watch someone have the best time of their life,” Harris said.

“Life’s a Drag Show” is on March 30 at 3rd Place.

The doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m.

The cover charge is $3, and tips for the performers are highly encouraged.

Sarah Miller Georgia Privott ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

“What has crystallized in my mind when I travel is when you come from a place of privilege whether it’s your skin color, your socioeconomic status, or the accident of your birth, it creates or denies you a lot in life. We have a myth of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps in the U.S. and that is true if you are already in a place of privilege, but for some people, they will always work hard and it won’t pay off in those ways. When you travel extensively abroad you learn to see that your perspective is one of many. You listen to learn... and sometimes all people need is to just be heard. I find that same instinct as a parent, but sometimes my role is to just listen and ask questions. The first time I went to Uganda, I went with two very small children and actually had a baby there, and then the second time I went with children who were able to experience it on their own. It was a very different way of being together as a family. I think the more people have those experiences like learning to be in a place that is different, whether that is a different country or just being in a different group of people than you are normally with, it makes all of us more balanced.”

Arts and Culture

March 29 , 2019

Boone hosts Banff film festival for 23rd year, facilitating appreciation for the outdoors Savannah Nguyen ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

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rom the skin-ripping cold of the Patagonia mountains to the damp backwoods of British Columbia, Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour brought stories of triumph, tradition and outdoor expeditions to Boone for the 23rd year.

For two days each year, over 1,500 people come to Boone for the film festival. The town of Banff, wrapped in the Rocky Mountains where the festival has run for 43 years is similar to the small community of Boone. Mom and pop shops line the streets, tourists can rent outdoor gear on street corners and the town is completely surrounded by mountains.

The festival brings together audiences from different geographical and personal backgrounds to share this annual bonding experience at Banff.

Joe Quinn, a retired geology professor at App State, has attended the festival for the 23 consecutive years it has toured at the university.

“There has become a cult of people who come here to see this in Boone, this annual bonding experience,” Quinn said. “This is very much a group bonding experience. In fact, you’ll probably see people who you only get to see once a year.”

Fans of the festival consider Quinn the catalyst for bringing Banff to Boone.

“Richard Campbell, who is now the director of Outdoor Programs, was my grad assistant when I was the director, and I told him we needed to bring Banff here,” Quinn said.

Forty-five screenings later, he does not get sweaty palms or heart palpitations when he sees athletes go to extremes or when he takes in the natural beauty of the world on-screen, Quinn said.

For some, experiencing the films as a member of Banff ’s audience is an experience like no other.

“There is a feeling of connectedness to what you’re seeing with the people around you. It’s truly a feeling I don’t get at any other time at any other event,” said Michelle Boisclair, executive director at Business Career Services.

Amy Odum, associate director of BCS, said the festival had a larger message for the future of the community.

“We cultivate appreciation with our students on the elementary, middle and high school levels,” Odum said. “We all have this shared appreciation for the landscape and with that we can potentially be inspired to do anything, like those on-screen.”

App State’s Office of Arts and Cultural Programs held a screening for K-12 before the premiere of the festival. Lonnie Bedwell, guest speaker for the event, also led a workshop on March 23 before the second day of screenings.

The festival is a way to share Bedwell’s story and a platform to promote the mission of his life’s work as a trainer and motivator.

Bedwell told his story as a blind veteran living with disabilities who kayaked the entirety of

the Grand Canyon.

“I want to motivate and inspire others to embrace life with confidence and courage,” Bedwell said.

Outdoor Programs, the Turchin Center and Virtual Blue Ridge continued the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition for its 16th year. The competition allows amateurs and professionals to share their perspective of the Southern Appalachians. The exhibition will run until June 1 in the Turchin Center.

“We have such a cool mountain community here in Boone, and through photography we celebrate our love for the community more through these images and encourage more people to contribute every year,” said Campbell.

Over the span of two nights, 36 films were shown representing 40 countries in over 550 locations.

Campbell said an overarching theme of the festival is that everyone is entitled to an active lifestyle.

Siebe Vanhee, one of three climbers in the featured 30-minute short, “Notes From the Wall,” recalled when he was stuck clinging to rock in the Patagonia mountains en route to one of the hardest trails on a 1,200-meter-high journey.

“Rock climbing is more than just a sport,” Vanhee said. “When I set out to help make this movie after the climb, I wanted to make something real, and the depth of climbing is a beautiful example for representing that. Everything manifesting in that challenge represents frustration, love and humor. Remember, with a good vibe, you can do much more than anything you could ever think of.”

Savannah Nguyen | @TheAppalachian Lonnie Bedwell (left), star of the outdoor film, “Feel of Vision” addresses a crowd of 1,500 people at the 23rd annual Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour in the Schaefer Center for Performing Arts on March 23.

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Sports

March 29 , 2019

Mountaineer Day scheduled for March 30 Brooks Maynard @BrooksMaynard Sports Editor

A COURTESY PHOTO | App State Athletics Senior Randall Diabe takes on Jake Woodley of the University of Oklahoma on the first day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 22. Diabe lost the match.

Mountaineers perform at NCAA Wrestling Championships

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our members of App State’s wrestling team competed in the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 22-23 including senior Randall Diabe, juniors Cary Miller and Matt Zovistoski, and sophomore Codi Russell.

Diabe, Miller and Russell all earned their seed in the tournament by winning a Southern Conference title during the regular season.

In the final year of his career at App State, Diabe finished the regular season with a record of 26-7 and a SoCon Championship. He was defeated in the first round of the tournament by a 4-3 decision to Jake Woodley of the University of Oklahoma. He lost his following match in the consolation bracket 3-2 to Brett Perry of the University at Buffalo.

Diabe will finish his time at App State with a career record of 77-48 and a SoCon Championship, with two appearances in the NCAA Wrestling Championships.

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Garrett World ‫@ ׀‬G_dub1000 ‫ ׀‬Sports Reporter Miller also lost in the first round of the tournament after an 18-6 major decision to Amar Dhesi of Oregon State University. He advanced to the second day of the consolation bracket after defeating Billy Miller of Virginia Tech.

“He was a good kid, but I felt him slowing down, and I heard my coaches telling me to finish,” Miller said. “That’s something I’m trying to get better at: turning my brain off and just listening to my coaches.”

He lost his next match 3-0 to Conan Jennings of Northwestern University. Miller finished this season with an overall record of 24-13.

Russell, in his first NCAA appearance of his career, became the first Mountaineer to record a pin in the tournament since Mike Longo in 2016. He was defeated the next day by DJ Fehlman of Lock Haven University by a 6-1 decision. His season record was 22-12.

“I didn’t come to this tournament for the expe-

rience,” Russell said. “I didn’t come here to go 0-2; I came here to win and make it to the second day.”

The only Mountaineer in the tournament that did not win a SoCon title, Zovistoski, lost his first match by a 10-2 major decision to Brock Mauller of the University of Missouri. He was defeated by technical fall in his next match 16-1 by Anthony Artalona of the University of Pennsylvania.

This was Zovistoski’s second career appearance in the championships, following his 27-15 junior season.

Miller, Russell and Zovistoski will all return for 2019-20 after a season that ended in two of the group’s first NCAA Championship appearances. With a team of experienced wrestlers and the guidance of head coach JohnMark Bentley, the App State wrestling team will look to add a fifth straight SoCon Championship and more individual appearances in the postseason.

pp State Athletics will host Mountaineer Day on March 30, giving fans a chance to see and interact with App State football players, and attend other App State athletics events.

Football will kick things off with a scrimmage at 10 a.m. at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The game will last approximately two hours. Fans are invited to a meet-and-greet with the team.

Limited concessions will be available on the east side of the stadium.

Gates open at 9:15 a.m. and fans should park in either Peacock Lot or Rivers Street Parking Deck.

Baseball and softball will also host Sun Belt opponents, with baseball taking on Texas State at Smith Stadium at 1 p.m. and softball facing off with South Alabama at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium at 2 p.m.

Baseball is coming off its first Sun Belt series win of the season over Louisiana, and softball won its third consecutive Sun Belt series for the first time in program history after taking two of three games against Georgia State.

Women’s basketball will host Campbell University in the Women’s Basketball Invitational semifinals during Mountaineer Day at 7 p.m. in the Holmes Convocation Center.

Sports

March 29 , 2019

Men’s soccer hires 2 coaches including former MLS player Zack Antrum ‫@ ׀‬zantrum17 ‫ ׀‬Sports Reporter

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fter getting off to its best start in years at 4-0, the App State men’s soccer team finished with a record of 8-6-3, its first winning season in almost 10 years.

Sophomore defender Zeiko Harris and freshman forward Camden Holbrook were named to All-Sun Belt teams. Holbrook earned national player of the week after the first week of his college career.

The Mountaineers now look to use the offseason to take the program to new heights.

Not only has the team worked in the weight room and practiced against each other, but it has also gotten the chance to face off against opponents to measure their progress.

“The guys have really been getting after it since January,” head coach Jason O’Keefe said. “The spring is always going to be very important for us.”

So far, the team has faced High Point University and Greenville Triumph, a first-year pro team of the United Soccer League.

The team has over 18 returning players and has seven new ones, who will offer more depth and diversity to the team.

App State is also welcoming two new coaches to the staff, Matty Evans and Mitch Hilderbrandt. “(I look for) a working knowledge and experience at a high level,” O’Keefe said. “Matty and Mitch are

both home runs in all of those departments.”

Evans brings in quality experience as a coach and a player. He played over 3,000 minutes as a goalie at Seton Hall University and coached at West Chester University and Lander University.

He also played a season for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, a member of USL League 2.

“I can see the direction this program is taking and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Evans said. “Every single player has bought in, and they bring 100 percent in every training session and it just creates a great environment.”

Hilderbrant, also a goalkeeper, had a successful year at Oakland University before beginning his professional career.

He played a season with Major League Soccer Cup winner Atlanta United before retiring from professional soccer.

“I think the experiences throughout the road I’ve taken to be a professional, I hope, I can help these guys if they want to play soccer or anything else in life,” Hilderbrant said. “When Jason offered the chance to come and help the program, it was obviously a no-brainer.”

The Mountaineers will play several exhibition matches before the spring season ends.

COURTESY PHOTO | App State Athletics Head coach Blake Mosley encourages the women's tennis team to get better every day and not stress about winning. The team is 4-0 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Women’s tennis strives for success, starts 4-0 in Sun Belt Jackie Park ‫@ ׀‬jackiempark ‫ ׀‬Associate News Editor

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ith an overall record of 10-4 and 4-0 in the Sun Belt, App State’s women’s tennis team is pushing through the 2019 season with success.

The team practices every day for two hours starting at 6 a.m. and it has one day off after matches.

“Definitely the most challenging thing is to keep up (with) school and to be positive all of the time on the court and to work hard,” sophomore criminal justice major Teodora Sevo said.

Head coach Blake Mosley said the team does a good job of keeping each other’s spirits up, especially if someone is down in a match.

“They understand that they’ve gotta fight for each other,” Mosley said The team traveled to Charlotte, Arkansas, Tennessee and Chicago March 16-17 and Asheville, Charleston, South Carolina, Florida, and other locations over spring break.

“Sometimes it’s hard to keep energy up because you’re tired, your match didn’t go well the other day or you just remember how you played the other day and you get sad,” Sevo said.

Freshman undecided major Kate Earnhardt said getting used to college-level tennis has been intense compared to high school.

Mosley said he tries to get the team to embrace a growth mindset

and improve every day.

“I try to keep things simple and make them realize it’s a privilege that they have this opportunity to be playing a sport that they love at a great university,” Mosley said.

Mosley also said he tries to boost the team’s confidence.

“They put the pressure on themselves about competing and winning, but I try to relieve that,” Mosley said.

“The sun is still going to come up if you lose this match, it doesn’t matter, it’s a game at the end of the day.”

The next match is on March 30 against the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

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Sports

March 29 , 2019

Club Ice Hockey sets sights on harder competition Mariah Reneau ‫@ ׀‬reneau2 ‫ ׀‬A&C Editor

COURTESY PHOTO | App State Athletics App State’s club hockey team competes in teh Blue Ridge Conference and has to travel to Winston-Salem each week for suitable ice to practice on. The team members hope that with focus and drive, they can compete with teams like UNC-Chapel Hill and High Point University in the 2020 season.

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n any given Wednesday during the cold winter months of Boone, sophomore accounting major Karst Bouma gets to campus at 10 a.m., attends classes all day and then goes to his fraternity meeting from 6-7 p.m. When his fraternity brothers go home, Bouma gets in a car with his teammates at 7:30 p.m. and drives to Winston-Salem, for the only available ice time for the App State club ice hockey team.

The App State club ice hockey team was created in 1997 and allows players of different skill levels to compete in over 10 games per season, according to the team’s website. Because there isn’t an ice rink in Boone or the surrounding area for hockey, the team travels once per week to practice for 1 1/2 hours in Winston-Salem.

“Last year we used to go Tuesdays and Thursdays to Sugar Mountain for an hour-long practice, but the ice was literally the size of a tennis court, and it didn’t have glass either, so we would lose several pucks,” Bouma said. “We couldn’t really run an organized practice there and this season, since we got a lot of new guys and better guys, we actually made it to playoffs and we’re starting to take it more seriously.”

By the time these college students have driven to the rink in Winston-Salem, practiced, showered, stopped to buy Cook Out trays and come home, it’s 2 a.m. The long drives each

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week, while tedious, create a strong bond between the players of one of App State’s lesser-known club sport teams.

“I remember last year as a freshman coming in, I didn’t say a word on the first ride, but after the practice, I was talking the whole time,” Bouma said. “It was 11 p.m. and some guys had 8 a.m. classes the next day, but it was always nice to just get done with school and go out and play ice hockey for fun.”

Each season, team members pay $800 to play hockey. This fee doesn’t cover everything the team needs. Team members often pay additional money for gas and hotels, said assistant coach Emily Claire, senior exercise science major.

The fee does pay for game ice, game transportation, hotels, jerseys and socks, but it doesn’t cover any equipment, so players have to have their own, Bouma said.

“For youth hockey, dues would be like $3,000 or something,” Bouma said. “For us, it’s only $800, which is insanely cheap for a whole year for ice hockey.”

The barriers to play hockey have taken a toll on the team. At the beginning of the season, the team started with 30 players, but by the end, the number was down to 19, Claire said.

“Hockey is one of those sports that you just have such a passion for,” Claire said.

“When you grow up in this environment, where so little people play it, you just feel really special playing it, and it’s hard to stop playing it.”

The club ice hockey team isn’t allowed to cut any members from the team, according to App State Club Sports.

“We have guys on the team who just got equipment and just learned to skate, and we’ve got guys on the team who have played AA or AAA hockey, which is the highest tier for younger hockey,” sophomore marketing major Joseph Kromer said. “We learn off of each other and have fun doing it.”

Because of the diversity in skill level, the team decided this season to break the team up into a practice squad and game squad.

“Everyone gets game time, but for their own safety, you don’t want guys to get injured on your watch,” Bouma said. “You have guys who’ve played juniors hockey and there are guys who started out last week. With ice hockey, it’s really easy to see who hasn’t been playing long.”

In the 2019 season, the team saw massive improvements, having a winning record and making the playoffs.

“The freshmen we got this year were super talented, and they helped us a lot,” Kromer said.

The team is moving up next season to a league where they will begin playing teams such as UNC-Chapel Hill and High Point University, who are more skilled than former opponents and

closer to home, Bouma said.

“I think this is a big step for us,” Bouma said. “We’re Division III hockey, so we like to take things seriously when game time comes, but at the end of the day, win or lose, we’re not too upset.”

With the increased focus on competition the team hopes to change its attitude.

“When I was in elementary school, the ice hockey team here was really good, and we won our division,” Bouma said. “I think we’re on that road again and it’s going to get a lot harder, more expensive and a bigger commitment. We’re all excited for it, but we’re also a little nervous too.”

As the team sees more success, it hopes to build a larger fan base.

“We’re in North Carolina and no one knows we have hockey here,” Claire said.

“There’s not enough promotion, and we play in Winston-Salem, so it’s really hard to get fans out there. Sometimes we also have games that start at 11 p.m. in Winston Salem, so no fans want to go.”

Regardless of the barriers or the fans, the players who make up the team have dedicated many hours over a season to play the game they love with friends.

“The guys I meet with ice hockey are the guys I keep for the rest of my life,” Bouma said.

“Obviously, I love the sport, but the main reason I’m still playing is because I’ve got the guys.”

Opinion

March 29 , 2019

White supremacists and Social Media The Double Standard with Jihadis

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Tommy Mozier ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬Opinion Writer

t seems all too familiar: an attack, the initial shock and an outpouring of support from all sides, followed by a search for reason.

To U.S. citizens looking at New Zealand, where a white supremacist attacked two mosques in Christchurch, killing 50 people during prayer on March 16 while live streaming on Facebook, it is painfully familiar. The difference is that it took New Zealand less than a week to make concrete policy changes to prevent a future attack as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the ban of military-style semi-automatic rifles.

Americans know gun law reform is needed. The numbers back it up: 67 percent favor banning assault weapons and 84 percent support background checks for private gun sales, including at gun shows, according to the Pew Research Center. The Christchurch tragedy rightfully restarted that debate in full throttle. However, an equally important debate revolves around terrorists’ use of social media.

The government and public tend to use the term terrorism when referring to one group: militant Muslims. Militant Islamic terrorist organizations pose a threat to the U.S., but another group poses a far greater one: white supremacist terrorists. These people are not patriots looking out for the good of the country.

Since 9/11, white supremacist groups have killed more people in the U.S. than jihadis. In a study of 573 “extremist-related fatalities” from 2002-18, the Anti-Defamation League found that right-wing extremists killed 80 percent of victims. In 2017, the Anti-Defamation League found white supremacists responsible for 18 of 34 extremist-related deaths compared to nine by jihadis. In 2018, white supremacists killed 50 people.

Militant radical Muslim terrorist attacks receive almost four times more press coverage than their white supremacist counterparts, according to a study from the University of Alabama. Fewer than one-fifth of FBI terrorism investigations, 900 of over 5,000, focus on domestic terrorism.

The White House has ignored the simmering, but now rising threat of white supremacy and attempted to institute a ban on Muslims entering the country instead. Prominent congressman Steve King publicly questioned how “white supremacist” became an offensive term.

It should come as no surprise that the relative lack of negative media coverage and government persecution, as well as outright encouragement from the House of Representatives emboldens white supremacists. They have taken to the internet to spread messages of hate on platforms not subject to government regulations.

When the Islamic State began exploiting social media platforms to recruit and radicalize potential new members, Facebook, Twitter and Google faced a dilemma. They

could stick to the message of freedom of speech and expression or seek out and eliminate terrorist content on their respective platforms.

Facing external pressure from advertisers and boycotts, they chose the latter, but not until ISIS had already created a massive social media presence. Thirteen social media companies joined the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism, which is somewhat effective in removing jihadi content and reducing their influence. However, some content will slip through the cracks due to the sheer mass of posts every day.

Social media platforms are making the same mistakes with white supremacists that they made with Muslim extremists. White supremacists and Muslim extremists, while fundamentally opposed, are almost the same. They copy each other’s tactics and rationals. Each believes they must resort to violence to protect their race or religion from an outside invasion, real or imagined. Each uses social media algorithms to spread messages of hate and intolerance under the guise of free speech.

“The rise of the alt-right is both a continuation of a centuries-old dimension of racism in the U.S. and part of an emerging media ecosystem powered by algorithms,” behavioral scientist Jessie Daniels wrote in a research paper for the American Sociological Association.

“Algorithms deliver search results for those who seek confirmation for racist notions and connect newcomers to like-minded racists, as when (Charleston church shooter) Dylann Roof searched for ‘black on white crime’ and Google provided racist websites and a community of others to confirm and grow his hatred,” Daniels wrote.

Roof directly inspired the Christchurch shooter, according to the shooter’s trailing rant some called a manifesto.

YouTube is a haven for white supremacists, just as it was for ISIS. Despite recent crackdowns, white supremacist rhetoric still thrives, including content from the group that advertised at App State last year.

Over 4,000 people viewed the live stream of the Christchurch attack before it was reported, and Facebook took it down after 29 minutes. Facebook argued that the moderating artificial intelligence could not discern if the video was fake or not.

Social media platforms are responsible for the content posted on their sites. The balance between protecting free speech and allowing the spread of terrorist rhetoric is too far toward the latter. Facebook, Twitter and Google must correct this dangerous imbalance. White supremacists are terrorists. It is time the public, government and internet treated them as such.

MUELLER REPORT

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Q Russell ‫@ ׀‬Q_M_Russell ‫ ׀‬Opinion Editor

he Russian investigation is complete, and special counsel Robert Mueller’s report is in the hands of Attorney General William Barr, but it’s unclear what exactly that means for the future of the U.S. On March 22, Barr, in accordance with the U.S. Department of Justice regulations, sent a letter to Congress informing them of the conclusion of the two-year investigation in Russian interference into the 2016 election that led to 34 indictments.

“I remain committed to as much transparency as possible, and I will keep you informed as to the status of my review,” Barr wrote in his letter to Congress.

Barr must have an odd view of transparency because his view seems to involve not immediately releasing the report to the public.

This failure comes in spite of the overwhelming 420-0 House vote on March 14, urging the Department of Justice to publicly release the report.

Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Beto O’Rourke and several Democratic presidential candidates have taken to Twitter, calling on Barr for its public release.

Liberal activist group MoveOn issued a statement declaring its intention to organize over 500 rapid-react protests in cities across the nation, including Washington D.C., New York, Charlotte and Raleigh, should Barr announce that he intends to release any less than the full report.

House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, D-Calif, has threatened to use subpoenas to obtain not only the report, but all of the evidence Mueller collected.

Schiff’s intentions would fly in the face of what Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller to special counsel, said on Feb. 25 when he stated his belief that the Department of Justice should not reveal information on people it does not charge with crimes.

It’s a mess. It’s unclear whether the report will be released to the public, and it seems Democrats are gearing up to pry the report from the Department of Justice if they have to.

Barr needs to make the report public, but the road to its release seems bumpy and unclear.

All the public can do is sit back, and depending on political affiliation, look on with either hope or horror.

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App News

March 29 , 2019

What to do 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.

Lavender Graduation

Semicolon week

This event is open to all LGBTQ+ students—undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral—at App State who will graduate in the 2019, whether in May, August or December. Lavender Graduation is on May 1 at 6 p.m. in the Solarium in the Plemmons Student Union.

Semicolon Week begins March 25 and is dedicated to de-stigmatizing conversations about mental health and suicide. In a sentence, a semicolon marks a place where a writer could have ended their sentence with a period, but instead chose to pause and then continue their sentence. For many people, a semicolon symbolizes the decision to continue living despite mental health struggles.

Events during Semicolon Week feature real mental health stories, resiliency, and resources.

design the appalachian

Want to lay out this paper? Have a flair for graphic design? Email editor@theappalachianonline.com to express interest! Experience with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) preferred but not required. Opportunities available for student designers of all skill sets.

Friday, March 29

Saturday, March 30

Sunday, March 31

Monday, April 1

Get a Free Pill Box Plemmons Student Union 12 p.m.-3 p.m.

NerdCon Plemmons Student Union 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Men’s Tennis vs. UT Arlington Varsity Tennis Courts 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

HIV Testing Plemmons Student Union 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

“City of God” Greenbriar Theatre 7-9 p.m.

5h Annual Out of the Darkness Campus Walk Plemmons Student Union 2-4 p.m.

Hunter Cox Piano Recital Rosen Concert Hall 4-5 p.m.

Bike App! Rivers Street Skywalk 1-4 p.m.

“On the Basis of Sex” IG Greer 7-9 p.m. and 9:30-11:30 p.m.

Kesha Holmes Convocation Center 8-11 p.m.

DIY Mysticism Plemmons Student Union 5:45-6:45 p.m.

“On the Basis of Sex” IG Greer 7-9 p.m. and 9:30-11:30 p.m.

Brass Chamber Ensembles Rosen Concert Hall 8-9 p.m.

Steely Pan Band Schaefer Center 8-9 p.m.

Tuesday, April 2

Wednesday, April 3

Thursday, April 4

Friday, April 5

Coffee and Consent Plemmons Student Union 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Condom Fairy Live Leon Levine Hall 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Visible and Invisible Cosmic Web Garwood Hall 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Climate Stories Showcase HOW Space 5-8 p.m.

Bike App! Rivers Street Skywalk 1-4 p.m.

Life is Beautiful Greenbriar Theatre 7-9 p.m.

“City of God” Greenbriar Theatre 7-9 p.m.

Collegium Musicum Rosen Concert Hall 8-9:30 p.m.

Feminism, Science, and Interdisciplinary Encounters in the Lab Belk Library 6-7 p.m.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 50th Anniversary Celebration Reich College of Education 5:30-7:30 p.m.

“Green Book” IG Greer 7-9 p.m. and 9:30-11:30 p.m.

CRC Spring Gala Plemmons Student Union 6-8:30 p.m.

Et cetera

March 29 , 2019

A SPLASH OF COLOR

BY NEIL AGNEW

Down 1. Theatrical skit, often satirical 2. Common party summons, in modern lingo 3. Goes out with 4. Cartoon part 6. Molten rock 7. It may be A or B 8. 43-across, informally 9. Tic’s mint partner 11. “___ Kapital” (Marx critique) 14. What you get when you combine all the circled answers 15. Makeshift bomb, in short 16. Govt. agency whose name is a primate when flipped 18. Monster, in folklore 20. Oft-abbr. Middle Eastern country 22. Lowest point 23. Held gently 24. Concerning heredity 26. Task for an independent person 28. Takes off, as shoes 30. ___-de-France (region for Parisiennes) 31. Character to wait for?

32. Halliburton and Stanley Gardner 35. Gmail alternative 38. Common bacon and toast go-with 39. Popularized liberal web show, in short

Across 1. The Hunt for ___ October (1990s thriller) 5. Swiss mtn. range 10. Got away from 12. ___ carte (separately priced) 13. Essential 14. Greed 17. Colorado tribe members 18. Dangerous agent?

19. Direction opposing WWN 20. Bulldogs’ school, briefly 21. “Show Boat” novelist Ferber 23. Affectionate 24. Kind of thumb for an avid gardener 25. Song of praise 26. Confiscator of illicit drugs: Abbr.

27. Once in a ____ moon (rarely happens) 29. “Mood ____” (song by Duke Ellington) 32. Baseball stat 33. Warning card in a futbol match 34. Sailor 36. Vexed, with “off” 37. Shrinking flower?

40. Dry and humid 41. Dirge 42. What couples are, informally 43. Rank above corporal, shortly

T H E C OV E R : The Owens Field House underwent the beginning of its demolition on March 25. The new end zone facility that is replacing Owens is scheduled for completion by 2020. // Photo by Lynette Files

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