Tuesday November 6, 2012

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THE APPALACHIAN Tuesday, November 6, 2012

TheAppalachianOnline.com

Vol. 87, No. 18

UNC-system schools create new funding metrics

by JOSHUA FARMER Senior News Reporter

A

ppalachian State University and the other 16 UNC-system schools may soon have funding allotted based on a new set of criteria.

“The General Administration, the higher education authority for the UNC-system, asked each campus to indicate a set of

metrics that would demonstrate improvement,” Provost Lori Gonzalez said.

The new performancebased metric system, which would incorporate several new and varied criteria, may help protect universities from serious issues.

The core measure, which will be applied to all campuses, are freshman to sophomore retention rate,

six-year graduation rate, undergraduate degree efficiency, number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Pell Grant recipients and financial integrity.

In addition, universities were asked to create their own set of criteria to be judged fairly. Appalachian’s metrics were transfer four-year graduation rate, graduate student degree efficiency, invest-

ment per degree and space utilization, Gonzalez said.

“It is still a current conversation at General Administration,” said Cameron Carswell, Association of Student Governments president.

“The research is being completed to accommodate for the individualism of each university, since one standard funding metric would not be equal at

schools of different sizes and demographics.”

Previously, funding was appropriated based on each university’s enrollment growth. This criterion was good for some universities, but crippling to those that were not growing, said Frank Byrne, ASG’s chief of staff.

“Western Carolina is having serious infrastructure problems to the point

that they’re having trouble keeping the campus open,” Byrne said. “But, I doubt they’ll let it get so bad it does close.”

“We do not know how the funding will be distributed or if funding will be distributed,” Gonzalez said. “However, our campus always works to improve quality, so this process will be very beneficial.”

Early voting brings candidates to campus

by STEPHANIE SANSOUCY

Senior News Reporter

Maggie Cozens | The Appalachian

Watauga County Commissioner candidate Tommy Adams speaks with sophomore Spanish major Nicole Salmon at Monday's Rock the Vote.

During early voting, candidates visited Plemmons Student Union to talk with voters before they cast their votes.

Candidate for N.C. House of Representatives Cullie Tarleton said he chose to come to the student union to talk to early voters because he wants them to know his record.

Tarleton, who has served two terms in the house, said he “worked very hard for ASU” and he wants students to know that.

Tarleton was “delighted to see the number of students voting.

“It means they take it very seriously,” Tarleton said.

Democrat District 3 Board of Commissioners candidate Billy Kennedy said “the best thing about early voting is getting to meet people.”

Kennedy, who has two

Board of Elections declines student petition

children in college, said he visited the student union because he thinks students are the future and wants to be in touch with them.

Republican District 3 Board of Commissioners candidate Tommy Adams said early voting is “a great way to talk to the voter right before they make a decision, tell them something they didn’t know about your candidacy, your background or what you stand for.”

Adams said the student union is “one of the busier polls,” a reason why he chose to visit campus.

Adams said he chose to talk to students because they are still in his peer group.

“I’m not that far removed from what they are going through, what they are going to face when they graduate,” Adams said.

Watauga County Board of Education candidate Barbara Kinsey said she

14,686 early voters in Watauga County

would also be visiting all the polls on election day.

Kinsey chose to visit campus because “education depends on young people,” she said.

“What I’ve seen up here is so cool because first time voters are so ecstatic,” Kinsey said. “I hope they will continue that habit for the rest of their life.”

Early voting started Oct. 18 and ended Nov. 2. During that time, 5,326 people voted in the student union.

5,326

early voters on-campus Source: Jesse Presnell, vice chair Watauga Democrats

42,577 15,425 registered voters in Watauga County

registered voters in Boone City Limits

Alpha Phi hosts Red Dress Gala

by JOSHUA FARMER

the voting process, from early voting and election day hours and locations Senior News Reporter to site security.

Sophomore political science maThe change didn’t seem warranted jor Ian O’Keefe started a petition to since there were numerous other days extend early voting hours after Hur- to vote, Eggers said. ricane Sandy caused poor voter turn“It’s beyond me why folks would out last Monday. That day, 138 people want to come in and change a plan voted, the lowest of any day during that everyone’s known has been in early voting. existence for the last four months,” Despite the request, the Board of Eggers said. “Stella Anderson and Elections did not extend early voting Rusty Henson are the two Demohours. crats on the Board. They voted to “We received more than that in change the early voting plan and I a single hour on multiple days,” voted against the change. The State O’Keefe said, “After seeing the dras- Board affirmed the decision not tic voter decrease, I contacted the to change the early voting plan for Watauga County Board of Elections Watauga County.” and spoke with them about extendNo hours were added from the ing the hours. I was latoriginal plan, but Egger told the hours were ers said that this move not extended because “I couldn’t imag- was in no way antiof the single vote of the ine not having an student. sole republican on the Eggers is an Appalaearly voting loca- chian alumnus and votBoard of Elections.” tion on campus. I ed on campus while he Stacy Eggers IV is the only republican on think it’s incredibly was a student, he said. important to the the Board of Elections.

“I couldn’t imagine O’Keefe said Eggnot having an early system.” ers “single-handedly voting location on Stacy Eggers IV, Board of refused to extend early campus,” Eggers said.

Elections voting hours,” in the “I think it’s incredibly petition. important to the sys“It’s amazing to tem.” think that I have such authority, Jesse Presnell, the third vice chair but… that is simply not true,” Egg- for the Watauga County Democratic ers said.

Party, signed the petition.

The Board of Elections is a three“I signed the petition because I member, non-partisan board ap- had watched the numbers of people pointed by the governor. There is a voting go down dramatically durboard in every county in North Caro- ing the snow storm,” Presnell said. lina, each made up of two democrats “Clearly, many people wanted to vote and a republican, since the governor’s early, and clearly, their ability to vote party typically gets a majority, Egg- early was adversely impacted by the ers said. blizzard in Watauga County.”

The one-stop implementation plan The petition’s goal was to gain 500 was decided in June. The plan out- signatures, but only had 405 as of lines parameters for every aspect of Monday.

Sarah McTeague | Photo Courtesy

The Alpha Phi Theta Nu chapter at Appalachian State University hosted its first Red Dress Gala last Saturday at Meadowbrook Inn & Suites in Blowing Rock. The sorority, with help of parents, friends, alumni and the founders of the Appalachian chapter from 1991 raised over $6,000 in silent auction items that will go toward the Alpha Phi Foundation to support heart health, a major health risk among men and women in America.

Enrollment, classes per faculty increase

by ANDREW CLAUSEN Sports Reporter

With the university’s growing population of students, there has been an increase of students per class.

Appalachian has 17,589 total students and 3,028 first-time freshmen. This averages to a 17 to one students to faculty ratio, according to the Fact Book from the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment.

The average class size at Appalachian is 26.

Provost Lori Gonzalez said they have plans to keep the freshmen class at about 3,000.

“Growth will come through transfer students with an emphasis on those who have completed the 44 credit general education core,” Gonzalez

said.

Keeping freshmen steady allows them to grow in graduate programs. Gonzalez said the dean of the graduate school has been charged to work with the Graduate Council to develop a plan to grow enrollment by 15 percent by 2020.

But for faculty, they are teaching more students.

“Because of the budget cuts coupled with enrollment growth last year, faculty members taught more students than before and a number of classes were larger than usual,” Gonzalez said.

English professor Elaine O’Quinn said it hasn’t affected her department.

“Because we do research in our department, most professors have a three-course load and then three hours for research, but that

may not be the case in all departments,” O’Quinn said.

Accounting professor Ken Brackney said he hasn’t see much of a change in his department either.

“It may be that some faculty have experienced an increase, perhaps subtle, in their teaching loads in the last few years,” Brackney said. “I am not aware of that for myself, or for any of my colleagues in the Department of Accounting.”

Gonzalez said that despite budget cuts, they still will add more faculty if needed.

“We will add faculty lines to those programs with greatest need if the lines are available,” Gonzales said. “By controlling enrollment and replacing lines when possible, we hope to limit large enrollment classes when appropriate.”

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| November 6, 2012

University explores environmentallyfriendly alternatives to road salt

by JULIEANNE PIKE Intern News Reporter

Road salt used to help melt ice has several damaging effects on vegetation and aquatic environments.

The university has been exploring alternative de-icing methods that are better for the environment, Landscape Services Superintendent Jim Bryan said.

The university uses calcium chloride from Detroit Salt Co., Bryan said.

If at all possible, the crew tries to use less than the directions suggest, but that depends on the weather conditions, he said.

Safety is the biggest concern and using the right amount of salt is like a balancing act Safety, effectiveness and the environment are all factors that must be considered, he said.

Landscape Services has experimented with two different organic solutions, but neither proved to be effective, Bryan said.

A beer distillery byproduct was used, but was ineffective in melting the ice in low temperature conditions. Landscape Services has also tried a sugar beet byproduct, but they experienced issues with the product stopping up equipment, Bryan said.

He said that it is difficult to find a product that is effective in all weather conditions.

“Salt can be quite toxic if it’s in large amounts,” biology professor Howard Neufeld said.

Salt can run off of paved roads into streams and have negative effects on aquatic organ-

isms. Salt is sprayed onto vegetation by passing cars, Neufeld said.

“If you have ever driven between Blowing Rock and Boone, you’ll notice a lot of pine trees have brown needles on the side facing the road, and that’s a direct impact of the deicing salt,” he said.

When salt enters the soil, it can kill roots or be transported to plant shoots. The salt can accumulate to toxic levels and cause leaf death, Neufeld said.

Sometimes, dark-colored grit is used to provide better traction on the roads, but is not necessarily effective in melting the ice, Neufeld said. The grit will also run off into streams and could alter the habitats of organisms such as crayfish and aquatic insects.

“Nothing is good, because every time you throw something on the road, it ends up in the stream,” Neufeld said.

Pulses of salt into a stream could cause a short-term kill, and then, as the salt is washed downstream, the stream may recover, Neufeld said. Long-term accumulation of salt can lead to an increase in the salinity of a body of water, which could harm sensitive species.

Several studies have shown the negative environmental effects of de-icing salt, and researchers are trying to discover effective alternatives that are less damaging, Neufeld said.

Bryan attends a snow summit each year to try to stay up-to-date with new technologies and ice removal methods. Landscape Services is continuing to explore alternatives that would be better for the environment, he said.

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Fake snow is good for business, safe for environment

Joey Johnson | The Appalachian

Thousands flock to App Ski Mountain every year to enjoy the fresh snow. The resort can convert up to six million gallons of water a day into snow.

by JOSHUA FARMER Senior News Reporter

Ski resorts around Boone depend on machine-made snow, due to the lack of natural snow produced in the eastern U.S., said Brad Moretz, general manager of Appalachian Ski Mountain.

App Ski Mountain can convert six million gallons of water in a day into snow, Moretz said. The resort uses both automated and manual machinery.

The product used to convert water into snow has been tested to see if it’s damaging to the environment.

App Ski Mountain uses a product called Snowmax, a protein-based product added to the water in small amounts which allows for snow-making at higher outside temperatures, Moretz said.

The ratio of Snowmax is very low at only, “a few parts per million,” Moretz said.

Michael Flowe, Appalachian alumnus, did research for his capstone project to de-

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termine if the additives of local ski resorts, including App Ski Mountain, had any environmental impact.

“He never found results that would support the hypothesis that artificial snow may have measurable chemical influences on local streams,” said Chris Thaxton, professor of environmental science. “However, his data does support the idea that general ski resort land use has a similar impact on local streams commonly attributed to urbanization, in general.”

JB Rudisill is a freshman physics major and an avid snowboarder. He’s been snowboarding since he was eight years old.

“Any snow is good snow,” Rudisill said.

“It brings in riders - it brings in business.”

Appalachian Ski Mountain will likely open Nov. 16, and will probably produce fake snow, Moretz said.

“If we depended on natural snow, the season would be sporadic,” Moretz said.

“Without it, it wouldn’t allow for a sound business model.”

Appalachian’s average professor salary lower than peer institutions

by KELLI STRAKA

SageSport is an authorized dealer for Boone

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

News Reporter

On average, the university’s adjunct, assistant, associate and full professors make $68,207, which is at the 80th percentile, Provost Lori Gonzalez said.

Appalachian’s peer institutions’ average salary for professors is $77,975.

Professors also work an average of 55 hours per week, Gonzalez said.

Increasing the salary is a goal, but “because of the times we’re in, we can’t change salaries,” which has been the same for the last four years, said Tim Burwell, vice provost for Resource Management.

The General Assembly appropriated funds of up to $22,221,350 to support a 1.2 percent pay raise for faculty for the 2012-13 year, Burwell said.

Some professors received an additional increase based on performance, breaking the four-year “dry spell” without pay raises, he said.

Leslie Cook, an associate professor in the English Department, said the pay raise was a potential tank of gas or a winter coat for her daughter.

As a single mother, the pay raise helped, especially when the cost of living in the High Country is expensive, she said.

On average, Cook, who has worked at Appalachian for five years, said

she works 40 to 50 hours up, and my salary is not a week. going up,” he said.

“Forty to 50 hours is This pay raise was “betwhat you’re doing if you’re ter than nothing,” he said. doing your writing and This fall, Venable said service and your teaching,” his daughter just started Cook said. “It’s more of a college. lifestyle as opposed to job.”

Without his salary inThis semester, she is creasing, Venable said it teaching four classes, while cuts down on his “ability to also being involved with do personal things.” service and scholarship as a “But I’m not going huntenured professor. gry,” he said. “We’re not “I love my career, I love missing mortgage paywhat I have chosen to do,” ments or anything.”

Cook said. “But yes, money Venable also shares a is important because we parking pass with his wife have to live.” to save money.

Tenured professors, in Appalachian pays its addition to instruction, professors based on data are required to be involved provided by College and in scholarship, which in- University Professional cludes expanding their Association for Human knowledge in Resources, their field, and which is an services acrganiza“I love my career, otion tivities, which that I love what I have p r o v i d e s provides their service in their chosen to do. But salary indiscipline. yes, money is im- f or mation Mark Ven- portant because we to instituable, a protions, Burhave to live.” fessor in the well said. biology de- Leslie Cook, associate English Ap p a l a partment, said chian looks professor he usually at what works 50 to 60 they think hours a week. is a “comVenable, who has worked petitive” salary based on at Appalachian for 17 what the university can years, teaches three courses and should provide comthis semester in addition pared to universities at, to service and scholarship above and below our level, with the university. he said.

While there were no pay Professors are paid for raises, Venable’s son was in their effort over the ninecollege. month academic year over “And of course the price 12 months for benefit reaof everything was going sons, Burwell said.

A&E

The Appalachian

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Bitches Brew celebrates women musicians

by WILL GREENE

T

A&E Reporter

he first Bitches Brew concert was held Thursday at Alchemy Coffee on King Street, hosted by owner and guitarist Kat Chaffin.

The event was designed to showcase the talents of female performers from the area in an intimate environment.

The event played host to musicians Kendra Warren, Appalachian junior advertising major Carly Taich, Chaffin and Grammy-nominated artist Melissa Reaves.

Reaves and her band, the Meldavians, were recently added to the ballot for the 55th annual Grammy Awards. Reaves and the Meldavians are on the ballot twice for Best Rock Performance, once for Best Rock Song and once for Best Americana Album.

“I am rewarded and excited for my nomination,” Reaves said before her performance Thursday.

The Meldavians have been performing as a band since early 2011, when Reaves needed instrumental accompaniment for both her original instrumentations and vocalizations.

“Melissa and I have performed with mutual friends and musicians alike in the years preceding Bitches Brew, and I asked her to perform at it, the first of such events, following her Grammy nomination,” Chaffin said.

Chaffin also asked singersongwriter Carly Taich to play at Alchemy.

“I have been playing for about eight years and I have wanted to play in Boone for a long time, and just coming into Alchemy all the time and meeting Kat, she just asked me to be a part of the concert,” Taich said. “I want to play here more often and be a part of more concerts and events that Kat puts on.”

November 6, 2012 |

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Review: ‘Paranormal Activity 4’ feels stale, predictable

by EMMA SPECKMAN Senior A&E Reporter

Editor’s Note: The following reflects the opinion of the author.

Aneisy Cardo | The Appalachian

Junior advertising major Carly Taich performs at the Bitches Brew concert at Alchemy Coffee Thursday.

Chaffin has been a manager and employee at Alchemy Coffee for the past two years, as well as a performer at the very first Bitches Brew.

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“Bitches Brew is the first event in the hopefully long list of events that Alchemy hopes to host and take part in,” Chaffin said. “I have wanted to host

LUNAFEST films draw attention to women filmmakers

by KALEY CAMPBELL A&E Reporter

The traveling movie series, LUNAFEST, made a stop in Boone Thursday evening.

LUNAFEST is composed of a series of nine short films that are created by women to help inspire women. Starting as a single event 12 years ago, the traveling film series has grown to host over 150 screenings a year, according to the LUNAFEST official website.

This last season alone, LUNAFEST received 950 domestic and international film submissions.

The film series is sponsored

by Clif Bar. Suzy Starke German, LUNAFEST program manager, said the series was inspired by Clif Bar’s CoCEO, Kit Crawford, who has a background in the arts.

“We wanted to support women in film and offer a platform that tells women’s stories from women’s unique perspectives and bring the community together while fundraising for causes we care about,” German said.

The film series is also an opportunity to bring independent films to campus. Senior social work major Elizabeth Penick, an intern with the Multicultural Center, said she was glad to help put on films that are not male-dominated.

Olivia Wilkes | The Appalachian

Sophomore art management major Kyle Hazard enters a raffle drawing at LUNAFEST Thursday evening in Greenbriar Theatre. LUNAFEST is a showing of short films displaying inspirational roles of women.

The proceeds from Thursday's program will be donated to Girls on the Run of the High Country and Appalachian Women's Fund.

“The media is dominated with male figures and distorted perceptions of what it means to be female,” Penick said. “This film series helps broaden the definition of beauty, femininity and the socially ‘acceptable’ roles women are allowed to play in society.”

The films are diverse group and range from comedy to deep subjects that dipped into the idea if the unfair societal constructs of women.

One film, “The Bathhouse,” was purely animated without any words, while another, “When I Grow Up,” sheds light on the life of a young

Senior A&E Reporter

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girl whose low-income family struggles to see the value of education.

The proceeds from each event go to non-profit organizations, such as Girls on the Run of the High Country.

Mary Sheryl Horine, council director of the charity, was a recipient of a portion of the proceeds.

“We see it as an opportunity to bring women and girls together,” Horine said.

“Boone has such a limited ability to show independent films that we hope to really grow this event over the next couple of years.”

Rating:

1 out of 4 stars

New director of orchestral activities expands repertoire, focuses on living composers

by EMMA SPECKMAN

Boone’s Largest Ski & Board Shop

a concert for women exclusively for a long time. I just wanted to gather a group of ladies together and play the music that we love to play.”

Fans of the “Paranormal Activity” series might be disappointed by the latest installment.

“Paranormal Activity 4” moves along even slower than the first three movies and fails to answer any remaining plot hole questions.

The first installment of the series brought a certain freshness to the horror movie genre. Instead of a gory slasher film, “Paranormal Activity” Director Oren Peli created spine-chilling, tense scenes that built toward a shocking climax.

The second “Paranormal” followed the same model and added an explanatory backstory to thicken the plot. But after the sequel, things fell flat.

The scares in the third movie were almost all repeats of techniques used in the first two, and the new characters did almost nothing to explain the mythology behind the activity in the house, as they were originally intended to do.

Sadly, “Paranormal Activity 4” does nothing to reverse this trend. The scares are all stale, and though the characters are a little different – the main victim is a teenage girl instead of a young couple – the climax fails to deliver anything new.

Even the biggest “Paranormal Activity” fans will find this installment predictable.

It uses the same technique of cameras – this time laptops – set up around the house by victims to monitor the activity. Much of the film is seen through shots of the sleeping occupants of the house to keep the audience guessing where the next creepy noise or unexpected motion will occur.

One of the only new scare tactics revolves around a Nintendo Wii. Through one of the night-vision, motion-detection cameras set up in the house, audiences see shots of the ghosts in the house from the sensors on the Wii. The film’s climax is the most unsatisfactory of the four movies. It appears too suddenly to be all that scary and ends just as quickly. And if viewers have seen the previous movies, then they’ve seen almost this exact ending before.

Overall, the “Paranormal Activity” franchise has run its course, and “Paranormal Activity 4” has failed to bring it back to life.

Hayes School of Music welcomed Chung Park as the new director of Orchestral Activities, this semester. Park conducts the Appalachian Symphony Orchestra, Appalachian Philharmonic and Appalachian Opera Theatre.

A violist and violinist by trade, Park plays piano, as well, with considerable skill, or as he puts it, “badly.”

He cites a wide variety of personal influences for his music including classical composers, more modern, living composers and popular bands such as The Beatles and The Jackson 5.

“I’ll put on old Jackson 5 albums for

my students sometimes,” Park said. “Michael Jackson has a perfect human natural vibrato.”

As a graduate student at the University of Miami, Park and a friend created Project Copernicus, a large chamber ensemble that concentrates on works by both living composers and much older ones.

“We focused on living composers and old-old baroque-era composers - the works that most orchestras ignore,” Park said.

Park continues that focus in his work at Appalachian today. His students play the standard Tchaikovsky, Bach and Beethoven, as well as more modern sets.

“My ears are always opening,” Park said, referring to his eclectic assortment

of influences. “I’m always listening.”

Before moving to his home in Valle Crucis to work at Appalachian, Park was the music conductor and director of the Idaho State-Civic Symphony.

An “avid road cyclist,” Parks feels at home in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“It’s like living in a national park,” he said.

For Park, the transition to the high country has been a very smooth one, which he credits largely to Appalachian’s music faculty.

“I think if I had gone to school here I would be a much better musician,” he said. “Great musicians and great people have made this [move] not feel like a transition at all.”

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Official University News & Announcements

Meeting Notes

Send copy to David W. Freeman, Director of Student Publications, Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, second floor, Plemmons Student Union, or e-mail: freemandw@appstate.edu.

Spring Counseling Center groups

Understanding Self and Others Group—Issues commonly addressed vary from depression, anxiety, relationship concerns, self-esteem, issues of family conflict or abuse, etc. Students who want to resolve specific concerns as well as those seeking personal growth are welcome. Mondays 1:30-3 p.m., Tuesdays 1:30-3 p.m. and 3-4:30 p.m. USOGet Moving (moving your body to increase wellness- see below for details), Wednesdays 2:30-4 p.m., Thursdays 1:30-3 p.m. (Transitions to ASU Group, doesn’t start until October) and USO-DOG 3:30-5 p.m. (group Therapy with co-leaders and a therapy dog)

Lesbian/Gay /Bisexual Therapy Group—This group will present an opportunity for lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals to explore life challenges. Fridays 1-2:30 p.m.

Painful Pasts, Promising Futures Group—This group is designed for those who have experienced traumatic events in their lives or who come from backgrounds in which they did not feel safe. Wednesdays 3-4:30 p.m.

Transgender Therapy Group—This group is similar to the “Understanding Self and Others” group in that a variety of issues will be explored in a safe and supportive environment.

Wednesdays 5-6:30 p.m. (For information contact Sheri Clark: 262-3180 or clarksl@appstate.edu)

Food/Mood Group—This group is designed for students who use food and/or exercise to cope in ways that would be considered “unhealthy”. To Be Determined.

An Introduction to Mindfulness Group—Mindfulness involves stepping out of “auto-pilot” reactions and learning to pay more attention to our present experiences. Mondays 3:30-5 p.m.

USO-Get Movin’ Active Bodies Healthy Minds—Did you know that exercise is one of the best mental health interventions we know of? Tuesdays 3-4:30 p.m.

To get started with a Counseling Center group, come to the Counseling Center during Walk-In Clinic, call 262-3180 or visit our website for more information www.counseling. appstate.edu. If you are interested in group but these times do not work for you, please get in touch with Chris Carden at 262-3180 or cardendc@appstate.edu.

Music therapy group at Wellness

Are you looking for support in making a lifestyle change or recovery regarding alcohol, substance use, or other addictive behaviors? Music therapy may help you in this journey!

No musical training or experience is needed, and a variety of musical experiences will be used. For more information, call 262-3148, or come by the ASU Student Wellness Center, 2nd Floor Annas Support Building, beside Health Service), starting in October, date and time TBD.

13th annual Queer Film Series begins

The 13th Annual Queer Film Series continues Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Library 114, Facing Mirrors (Iran, 2011, Unrated, 102 min., in Farsi with English subtitles) The first narrative film from Iran to feature a transgender main character, Facing Mirrors is a story of an unlikely and daring friendship that develops despite social norms and traditional beliefs. Rana drives a cab in order to survive financially and pay off the debt that keeps her husband in prison. By chance, she picks up Eddie, who’s on the run and desperately awaiting the passport he needs to leave the country. When the religious and inexperienced Rana learns that her wealthy passenger is FTM, conflicts arise, but maybe they also can help each other out of their dire situations. Winner of the Best Feature-Length Movie of the 36th annual Frameline LGBT Film Festival. Also, four special screenings sponsored by APPS Films with a panel organized by QFS:

Monday, Nov. 26, and Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. in I.G. Greer Auditorium, Bully (USA, 2011, Unrated, 98 min.) - This documentary, directed by Sundance and Emmy-award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, offers an intimate, unflinching look at how bullying has touched five kids and their families. Filmed over the course of the 2009/2010 school year, Bully opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, including 16 year old lesbian, Kelby, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. It documents the responses of teachers and administrators to aggressive behaviors that defy “kids will be kids” clichés, and it captures a growing movement among parents and youths to change how bullying is handled in schools, in communities and in society as a whole. A discussion panel will take place between showings each night.

All movies are free and open to the public. Discussions follow the films.

Flu vaccine clinics for students

Students, don’t spend weeks sick in bed, missing classes and finals. Protect your health by getting your free flu vaccination. A Daily Flu Vaccination Clinic will be held MondayFriday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), at Student Health Service, 2nd floor Miles Annas Building (post office building). After Hours Flu Vaccination Clinics will be held Wednesday, Nov. 14, 5 to 7 p.m., Student Recreation Center.

Black Saturday 5K set for Nov. 10

Appalachian State University’s Recreation Management Association (RMA) will hold the 4th Annual Black Saturday 5K on Nov. 10, at 8 a.m. The 5K will begin on campus, starting and finishing at the Holmes Convocation Center.

Proceeds from the 5K will go toward the Recreation Management Scholarship Fund, which is awarded to a senior majoring in recreation management. Registration fees for the Black Saturday 5K are $10 for students and $15 for non-students if received before Nov. 10. Registration after Nov. 10 is $20 for all entries. T-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Awards will be presented to the overall male and female, as well as the top male and female in the following categories: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Faculty/Staff, Over 50, High School and Other. Refreshments will be available. For more information about the Black Saturday 5K, or to register for the event, go to http://blacksaturday5K.appstate.edu.

New tool to aid students to plan

DegreeWorks, a web-based academic advising and degree audit tool, is now available to students at Appalachian State University. It is an academic planning tool with real-time counseling capabilities, giving students meaningful and consistent direction and providing advisors and student records managers with up-to-date curriculum information.

A Service of the Division of Student Development

With a theme of “Finish in Four,” the Division of Academic Affairs has implemented the degree audit tool for students in response to a request from the Student Government Association to help students navigate curriculum requirements and keep them on track towards completing their college degree in four years.

“We believe DegreeWorks will empower students to assume more responsibility for taking the appropriate classes required in their intended major,” said Susan Davies, associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at Appalachian.

“This online tool makes degree requirements more transparent for the student, which will free up time in their advising appointments to focus on career aspiration rather than asking ‘What classes do I need to take,’” she said.

DegreeWorks allows students to explore “what if” scenarios, such as how a change in their major will impact the number of additional courses that will be required to graduate in four years.

Freshmen who entered Appalachian this fall learned about DegreeWorks during summer orientation. Rather than keeping up with paper degree checklists used in the past, they and other students will have access to their program of study 24 hours a day through the web-based program.

In the next year, additional options will be added to DegreeWorks. Students will have an opportunity to create a fouryear plan using a curriculum planning tool, and academic departments will be able to use that information to better understand demand for certain classes when they are creating departmental class schedules.

More information about DegreeWorks is available at http:// degreeworks.appstate.edu.

Reception for state’s poet laureate

The Appalachian State University community is invited to a reception to celebrate Joseph Bathanti’s selection as the North Carolina Poet Laureate, an honor held by only six previous poets. The reception, hosted by the Department of English, will be held Thursday, Nov. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Plemmons Student Union Solarium. Joseph Bathanti teaches creative writing in the English Department and is Director of Writing in the Field and Writer-in-Residence in Appalachian’s Watauga Global Community. He was appointed Poet Laureate by Gov. Bev Perdue, who praised both his many award-winning works of poetry and his “robust commitment to social causes. As Poet Laureate he will be an ambassador for North Carolina literature. He will also continue his tradition of service: Gov. Perdue has announced that he will be helping “veterans to share their stories through poetry—a valuable and generous project.”

BSA to host ‘Adopt-A-Family’

Black Student Association will host an “Adopt-A-Family” Event with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Nov. 11-17.

On Nov. 7-9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. there will be a contact table set up by Cascades for representatives of student organizations to sign up to “Adopt-A-Family”. Student organizations are welcomed to pick up a “family packet” containing family information, clothing sizes, and requested needs for their organization to collect and donate to their adopted family.

Organizations will be responsible for returning their donated items back to BSA by 5 p.m., Monday Nov. 19 from 2-5 p.m. in the BSA office located upstairs in the student union beside McAllister’s.

Other events include: Today, 6:30 p.m., Belk Library, “Race, Ethnicity, and the Death Penalty.”

Today-Nov. 9, Canned Food Drive.

Nov. 13, 7 p.m., Broyhill Inn Ballroom, “Are you my n*gga or not?”

Nov. 17, “Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Day.” Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m., Belk Library, “Innocence and the Death Penalty: Featuring Darryl Hunt.”

Nov. 28, 6 p.m., Legends, “Kwanza Celebration.”

Register for the Gobbler 5K Race

Registration is now open for the Gobbler 5K, a race scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8:30 a.m. at Duck Pond Field. The cost is $16 and includes: race day t-shirt; warm cobbler; entertainment. Register by Nov. 13 to be guaranteed a t-shirt. All proceeds support International Service-Learning Scholarships (ACT) and the Community Care Clinic. For more information contact Jessica Blanford, blanfordjl@appstate.edu.

Logo, Video contest; Win money!

Appalachian’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Marketing Team is hosting two contests for Appalachian students, a logo and video contest. The contests provide opportunities for students to exhibit their artistic abilities while helping to advertise Appalachian’s Global Learning QEP. The QEP’s theme is “Global Learning: A World of Opportunities for Appalachian Students.” Prizes are: First place, $500; Second place, $300; Third place: $200.

The logo must convey the spirit of Appalachian and global learning. The emphasis is on global learning opportunities here on campus. The use of the phrase “Global Learning” within the logo is at your discretion. It is not mandatory. Entrants can use official Appalachian marks from the virtual toolbox, but must not alter them in any way. Official Guidelines. Logos must have all original content; contestants cannot use unauthorized, copyrighted material. Both full color and black and white versions of the logo must be submitted. Logo images must be scalable from thumbnail to billboard size. The contest is open only to current Appalachian students. Students may enter individually, or in a group of no more than two students (this includes undergraduate and graduate students). All logos become the property of Appalachian State University upon submission.

Complete an entry form and submit your logo via email to Terri Lockwood at lockwodtl@appstate.edu or send DVD submissions to Terri Lockwood, 1028 Anne Belk Hall. Submissions are due by 5 p.m., Nov. 30.

The video must convey the spirit of Appalachian and global learning. The emphasis is on global learning opportunities here on campus. Describe what the QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) is and why it is important.

The contest is open only to current Appalachian students.

Students may enter individually or in a group of no more than four students (this includes undergraduate and graduate students). Only one submission per individual/group. Videos must comply with the Student Code of Conduct. Videos must have all original content, music, images, etc.; contestants cannot

use unauthorized, copyrighted material. The video should not be longer than two minutes or shorter than 30 seconds. Please do not submit videos produced via cellphones - submissions will be judge on video quality. All videos become the property of Appalachian State University upon submission.

Complete the entry form and email videos to lockwodtl@appstate.edu or send a DVD to Terri Lockwood, 1037 Anne Belk Hall. Submissions are due by 5 p.m., Dec. 7.

Mountain photo contest opens

The 10th Annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition (AMPC) is accepting submissions through 5 p.m. Nov.16.

This competition celebrates the unique people, places and pursuits that distinguish the Southern Appalachians and it attracts entries from across the United States. Amateur and professional photographers 13 years of age and older are encouraged to submit entries at http://www.appmtnphotocomp.org. A panel of professional photographers will review all entries and select those that will be displayed in exhibition at Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts March 1 through Aug. 16, 2013. The judges will also select the final winners that will be showcased during the exhibition. The Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition is a partnership among Appalachian’s Outdoor Programs, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. For more information about this photography competition, please visit http://www.appmtnphotocomp.org, or call Outdoor Programs at 828-262-2475.

Remember ASU’s deployed troops

The Office of Student Development is asking for your assistance in sending care packages in mid- November to our deployed students. There are two “drop off” points (beginning Nov. 5): 109 B. B. Dougherty Administration Building and under the stairs in the “International Hallway” next to Crossroads, 1st floor Plemmons Student Union. The Office of Student Development will package and mail the boxes. We would like to have everything ready to package by Friday, Nov. 16 at 5 p.m. The following are suggested items: ASU ITEMS, Pins, Flags, Pennants, Magnets. Food items suggested are: Granola Bars, Hard Candies (including Tootsie Pops), Trail mix, sunflower seeds, peanuts, Water flavoring packets (hot item!!), Lunchables, Microwavable popcorn, soup, mac/cheese, Beef jerky (hot item!!!), Small cans of beanie weenies, Bagged Tuna.

Personal care items suggested are: Toothbrushes, T-shirts (Large and X Large), Toothpaste, Floss, Deodorant, Cough drops, Magazines, Paperback books, Telephone cards, Baby wipes, Foot powder (hot item!!!). Other items are: Rubics Cube (great stress reliever), Twenty ?’s or other games, Reading Items. Items that cannot be sent include: Any used items; no expired dates on food items; Chocolate; Home-baked food; Glass or Aerosols; Lighters, matches, or lighter fluid. And, lastly, a personal note is always welcome! Below are the names of the students we have on file that are deployed at this time. We welcome any changes to the list, if needed. Current Deployed Students are: Ryan Pope, Michael Simmons, Ethan Smith, Ryan Smith. We also have a former ASU student who was severely injured in Afghanistan a couple of weeks ago.

(Go to http://www2.wataugademocrat.com/News/story/ASUalumnus-injured-in-Afghanistan-suicide-attack-id-009313. ) We also like to send “Well Wishes from ASU” to James Pierce.

White, Jazz 1 scheduled for Nov. 7

Saxophonist Paul White joins Jazz Ensemble 1 for a Nov. 7 performance at Appalachian State University. The program begins at 8 p.m. in Broyhill Music Center’s Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free. White earned his undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University. He earned a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.

He currently is a staff sergeant and bass saxophonist for The Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band based in Washington, D.C. He is a founding member of the Austin, Texas-based Paul White Quintet. The Nov. 7 performance will feature many of White’s compositions. He will be soloist on “Blues in Another Minute” by Thad Jones. While on campus, White will lead clinics on jazz writing and arranging, jazz improvisation, composing. For more information about White, visit http://paulwhitequintet.com.

2012 Multicultural programming Fall Programs Tuesday, Nov. 27, Legends Nightclub, 6 p.m., Kwanzaa Celebration. Kwanzaa is the first African American holiday established in the United States.

Friday, Nov 30, Blue Ridge Ballroom, 5 p.m., Find Yosef a Holiday Festival. This fair-style event offers an “a la carte menu” of the images, sounds, foods, and activities that represent winter holidays from around the world. Attendees will learn in fun and interactive ways about many international holidays, cultures and customs.

Spring 2013 Programs Tuesday, January 22, 2013, Holmes Center, 7 p.m., The 29th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration: An Evening with Maya Angelou. Dr. Maya Angelou is hailed as one of the great voices of contemporary black literature and as a remarkable Renaissance woman. A mesmerizing vision of grace, swaying and stirring when she moves; Dr. Angelou captivates her audiences lyrically with vigor, fire and perception. Dr. Angelou, born Marguerite Johnson on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis was raised in segregated rural Arkansas. She is a poet, historian, author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. She lectures throughout the U.S. and abroad and is a lifetime Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina since 1981.

Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, Blue Ridge Ballroom, 7 p.m. “Hidden Voices: The Lives of Queer Muslims.” Participants will learn about sexual and gender minorities within the Muslim world and examine the complex intersection of Islam, sexuality and gender.

Faisal Alam is a queer-identified Muslim activist of Pakistani descent. At age 19, while trying to reconcile his sexuality with his faith, Faisal organized the firstever gathering of LGBT Muslims, which led to the founding of Al-Fatiha, an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex & questioning (LGBTIQ) Muslims, and their allies. Today, Al-Fatiha has sister organizations around the world including Canada, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine & Indonesia.

OPINION

The Appalachian

The Appalachian | TheAppalachianOnline.com November 6, 2012 | 5

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

THE APPALACHIAN Your student newspaper since 1934 MICAHEL BRAGG

STAFF OPINION

Reality distortion is rampant in modern day politics

Editor-in-Chief

ANNE BUIE

Managing Editor

ABBI PITTMAN Copy Editor

CHELSEY FISHER News Editor

R. SCOTT MORRIS A&E Editor

KEVIN GRIFFIN Opinion Editor

MAGGIE COZENS Photo Editor

LIZZIE McCREARY Graphics Editor

LIBBY DALLIS Video Editor

Contact Information EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (828) 262-6149 BUSINESS OFFICE (828) 262-2157 FAX LINE (828) 262-6256 Associated Collegiate Press

KEVIN GRIFFIN One of the greatest casualities of the environment of political polarization has been one of the most fundamental: reality.

It is pitiable that reality should require a defense, but two recent events point to the necessity of the cause.

According to The New York Times, the unaffiliated Congressional Research

Service withdrew a report under republican pressure, seemingly because the study debunked the idea that tax cuts help the economy.

At the same time, Nate Silver, an analyst known for accuracy, has received much heat over his model, which predicts that President Barack Obama has an 85 percent chance of winning.

Both of the studies in question are clear and rely on math and, as far as can be discerned, are sound analysis.

In today’s political climate, this cannot stand.

There seems to have been a not-so-organized

conspiracy between politicians and the media to distort the actual state of things.

Whether the motivation is ideology or a media desire to sensationalize news to create suspense and garner ratings, there seems to be a desire to discredit certain objective information.

Sure, all models have their faults, but the two under controversy are quite sound. The CRS report fits in well with a significant body of work that refutes the idea that tax cuts are economically beneficial.

This deals a significant blow to core republican values, so it most go.

Similarly, Silver’s pre-

dictions fly in the face of the conventional idea that the race is a toss-up.

His model itself is fairly sophisticated and takes into account polls from all across the country, as well as the Electoral College.

Despite the accuracy, the attacks continue.

This problem is easy enough to spot, but finding a way to overcome it is more problematic. However, a look at how the sources under attack have responded is instructive.

Disappointingly, the CRS folded and eventually removed the “controversial” study. An anonymous source close to the agency indicates this was

due to republican pressure, rather than an issue with the study’s content.

Silver has stood by his model, while simultaneously maintaining awareness of changes in variables and explaining in a transparent way his predictions.

It is time that those who set out to objectively observe the world display the clarity and qualified confidence of Silver.

For the sake of sane discourse, it is vital that we all adopt the Nate Silver approach.

Griffin, a freshman journalism major from Madison, is the opinion editor.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

Our Mission The Appalachian, a student-run publication at Appalachian State University, strives to provide fair and accurate news for the campus community; to inform, entertain and create a forum for ideas; to provide an outlet for reader's opinions; to be a champion for student, faculty, staff, and community interests; and to remain independent, exercise and insure its First Amendment rights.

Letters to the Editor The Appalachian welcomes Letters to the Editor. Letters should be 250 words or less and include the author’s name, ASU Box, phone number, classification and campus affiliation, if any. The Appalachian reserves the right to decline publication of any letter and to edit letters for the purpose of clarity and space. Although we are unable to acknowledge those letters we cannot publish, we appreciate the interest and value the views of those who take the time to send us their comments.

Letters should be submitted electronically via our Web site or e-mail. Letters may also be mailed to “Letter to the Editor,” The Appalachian, ASU Box 9025, Boone, N.C. 28608. Letters may also be brought to the newsroom, located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union.

STAFF OPINION

Exit polling is inaccurate

Andrew Cox | The Appalachian

STAFF OPINION

‘Star Wars’ will remain an iconic film under new owner KAITLIN NEWKIRK When you go to vote, you are required to stand in line with your cell phone safely stowed away.

It’s the normal voting experience – private and secure.

But the moment you leave your voting station, you have the potential to get bombarded by an exit poll surveyor.

Why keep all the security inside a polling place to secure our privacy if it is just constantly violated outside?

And furthermore, is this truly necessary? More often than not, exit polling produces false advertising for the public and false hope for a presidential candidate.

This year, only 31 states will be polled instead of 50 according to washingtonexaminer.com.

Couldn’t this mean that information is being compromised?

If exit polling is costing too much money and only generating partial results, then why do we keep doing it? Accuracy should be the first and foremost goal of these polls, and yet it’s not.

The polls do not change the outcome – it only keeps the drama high in an already dramatic race. The inevitable results come Tuesday, is the country so impatient we can’t wait?

If we were still polling all 50 states, I wouldn’t hate exit polls as much.

But without 19 states, there’s no way exit polls will be accurate.

They are of no benefit to this country or this election.

Newkirk, a junior English major from Wilmington, is an opinion writer.

MALIK RAHILI From the moment I saw “Star Wars: Episode I the Phantom Menace” when I was a child, I was an instant fan of the series.

And I have been a die-hard “Star Wars” geek ever since.

We have all heard that the Walt Disney Company purchased the “Star Wars” franchise.

Well, fellow fans, I am here to say that it will be okay.

If history is any indication, Disney will not ruin the new

movie, slated for a 2015 release, or the series as a whole.

A big misunderstanding here is that Disney will be making the next three or six “Star Wars” movies.

This is not the case at all. LucasFilm was not disbanded.Disney just purchased the $4.05 billion stock, and now LucasFilm is a subsidiary of the company.

Let us not forget that Disney purchased Marvel Entertainment back in 2009, and I have seen nothing but terrific movies from that franchise ever since.

Disney realizes that these studios have a huge following and will do everything to make sure they retain their highy respected statuses in the film industry. Disney isn’t going to have Darth Vader riding a flying carpet, singing “A Whole New World” around

the Death Star with his new master Mickey Mousewalker.

Another reason to not be worried is that series creator George Lucas is going to be a creative consultant for the new trilogy, according to ign.com. Lucas will make sure these films are nothing less than the “Star Wars” movies we have come to know and love.

Also, it has been said that Lucas has already planned out this new trilogy. In an interview with TheWrap, LucasFilm biographer Dale Pollock said he has seen the plan for “Episode VII,” “VIII” and “IX” and “they had propulsive action, really interesting new worlds, new characters. I remember thinking, ‘I want to see these three movies.’”

Disney buying LucasFilm does not mean the end of “Star Wars,” it means a new beginning.

This generation has lost the great film series that have made the last decade of movies so great, series like “Star Wars,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter.”

Now we have something to look forward to.

Something more than a girl who is emotionally torn between the sparkly vampire or the wolf-boy who can never seem to find a shirt.

Disney has expanded the life of “Star Wars.” Without this deal, viewers would probably never see an “Episode VII.” There is no cause for alarm, fans. “Star Wars” is in good hands, because it is in the same hands as before.

Malik Rahili, a freshman computer science major from Durham, is a senior graphic designer.

STAFF OPINION

October’s job report shows the need for actual change

RYAN SCOTT The Bureau of Labor and Statistics released its jobs report last Friday for the month of October, which stated unemployment had risen from 7.8 percent in September to 7.9 percent.

To put things in perspective, when President

Barack Obama entered office in January 2009, unemployment was at 7.8 percent, and during his term, it peaked at 10.2 percent in October 2009.

It is easy to defend Obama’s situation. You can say he inherited an awful situation from President George W. Bush and that he has done the best he can.

I can say, however, as somebody who will be entering the workforce in the next few years, Obama trying his hardest is not good enough.

“He said he was going

to lower the unemployment rate down to 5.2 percent right now, today we learned that it is actually 7.9 percent and that’s nine million jobs short of what he promised,” Gov. Mitt Romney said in a speech in West Allis, Wis. last Friday.

The promise of this 5.2 percent Romney referred to comes from the Job Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, released by some of the Obama Administration’s top economic advisers on Jan. 9, 2009.

This report projected that by this point, unem-

ployment would be at or below six percent whether or not the economic stimulus was passed.

Their projections were just a bit off, and by a bit off I mean by a factor of nine million Americans out of work.

This does not even take into account those who have given up hope and stopped looking for work.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not so sure of Romney’s economic policies. He makes a lot of bold claims about fixing the economy, but offers little explanation as to

how he’ll do it.

What I am sure of, however, is that four years of Obama’s policies have proven to be ineffective.

Unemployment is higher now than when he took office, and most other economic indicators remain stagnant.

While I’m not so sure Romney is the right answer for our economy, I am 100 percent sure Obama is the wrong one.

Scott, a sophomore computer science major from Huntersville, is an opinion writer.

SPORTS

The Appalachian

| TheAppalachianOnline.com

November 6, 2012 |

FOOTBALL

BASKETBALL

Appalachian upsets No. 1 Georgia Southern, 31-28

by JORDAN DAVIS Sports Reporter

W

Zachary Palmer| Photo Courtesy

Junior accounting major Zach Palmer stands with head coach Jerry Moore after the football team returned from their game against Georgia Southern.

ith just under a minute to go and the game still hanging in the balance, ASU’s safety Troy Sanders intercepted a pass to seal a 31-28 victory over the No. 1 Golden Eagles.

Saturday afternoon was the first time Appalachian had ever beaten a number one ranked team on the road.

And it also happened to be head coach Jerry Moore’s 300th game with the Mountaineers.

Georgia Southern kept the lead for most of the game, but after the Eagles missed three short field goals, Appalachian was able to retake the lead.

Despite being hampered by a knee injury he suffered

last week, quarterback Jamal Jackson threw a career high 384 yards and three touchdowns, none bigger than a 23-yard touchdown throw to Tony Washington that put App on top for good.

Jackson completed most of his passes to wide receiver Sean Price, who continues to rewrite Appalachian’s record books.

Price’s 231-yard gain is the best ever by a freshman and good for fourth on App’s all time list.

The two connected on a 67-yard bomb from App’s one-inch line and swung the game in App’s favor.

A win next Saturday in the season finale at home against Furman will guarantee the Mountaineers at least a share of the conference title.

The Black Saturday kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m..

6

Justin Perry | The Appalachian

Top: Senior forward Nathan Healy dribbles around Lees-McRae defenders. The Mountaineers defeated the Bobcats 76-55. Bottom: Junior center Brian Okam eyes the basket during the exhibition against LeesMcRae.

VOLLEYBALL

Sigma Nu volleyball tournament raises $2,500 for Haiti

Paul Heckert | The Appalachian

Participants in the Sigma Nu and App State volleyball team’s “First Annual Volleyball Tournament for Haiti” pack the Varsity Gym on Sunday afternoon.

by ANDREW CLAUSEN Sports Reporter

A joint volleyball tournament between Sigma Nu and Appalachian State’s volleyball team raised $2,500 dollars, as of press time, for the Nehemiah Vision

Ministries’ relief efforts for Haiti Sunday.

Event coordinator and Sigma Nu brother Read Caulkins had the idea for the event because he went on a mission trip with the organization for five weeks the summer after his freshman year.

“I fell in love with it,” Caulkins said. “They do really good work there and the people are doing really great things like building hospitals and orphanages for them.”

According to the World Bank, Haiti is still the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

“A dollar in Haiti goes a lot further than it does for an American organization,” Caulkins said.

The Sigma Nu fraternity and the Appalachian State volleyball team hosted 22 teams at the varsity gymnasium for the Port au Prince based ministry.

Coordinator Andrew Kuyper said the turnout was “awesome” but “not surprising.”

“We planned it and didn’t really know how it would turn out, but to see everyone out here supporting the volleyball team and Ministries, it feels good,” Kuyper said.

“I think because it is such a good organization,” Assistant coach for the volleyball team Eli Valentin said. “The Ministry, a lot of the community and Appalachian wanted to help with it.”

Kuyper said they wanted to integrate Greek Life and athletics and create a more wholesome atmosphere.

Valentin said that the support Sigma Nu provides to the team is like “having a seventh player.”

“It’s an amazing feeling as a coach, and I know for the girls it means even more,” Valentin said.“They’re right by our bench, they have chants to the other team. They’re chanting for us, cheering for us. It’s a really good atmosphere for our fans and players.”

Kuyper said this wasn’t going to be a one-time thing.

We have a long-term goal,” Kuyper said, “since we’ve had brothers who have gone down there, and there is a kind of personal relationship with the cause, to, maybe a few years down the road, send a mission trip down there.”

WRESTLING

BASKETBALL

California wrestling champion wrestles against leg injury

Darcie Vincent looks to lead women’s basketball to third SoCon championship

GoASU | Photo Courtesy

Freshman wrestler Brian Sergi broke his leg while wrestling an NCAA scout.

by JESSE WARE

Intern Sports Reporter

Freshman wrestler Brian Sergi was set to wrestle for Appalachian this season, until an accident changed his plans.

Back in June, Sergi was injured while wrestling an NCAA scout. Consequently, he broke his tibia, fibula and talus when the scout’s knee landed on his lower left leg and ankle.

“When Brian called and told me that he broke his leg, I was obviously not happy,” head coach John Mark Bentley said. “We were hoping to wrestle Brian this year, and I knew when he told me he had broken his leg that we wouldn’t be able to use him this year.”

Although Sergi targets late December as his goal for being healthy, Bentley targets secong semester unattached tournaments for his Appalachian State wrestling debut. Sergi is eager to begin his rigorous training regimen again.

“I took like two weeks off after I broke it,” said Sergi. ”It was my first extended break in a long time. I’m ready to get started again. I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”

Sergi has been wrestling since high school. A California man, he chose to focus the entirety of his training on wrestling, becoming a rare one-sport four-year letterman.

Sergi would train seven days a week, sometimes twice a day to be the best he

could be.

“I chose wrestling because it was hard, it was challenging,” Sergi said. “I love to challenge myself.”

After being named team Most Valuable Player for College Park High School his junior and senior seasons, Sergi took his talents to the California Interscholastic Federation state championship, where he took first place after tearing through the tournament with an undefeated record.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Sergi said. “It didn’t feel real for over a week. It felt like a dream or something.”

Sergi parlayed his championship to full-ride scholarships from colleges and universities across the country including a partial scholarship to ASU. “I chose Appalachian because of their mix between a great wrestling program and great academics,” Sergi said. “Most schools either had one or the other - App was everything I was looking for.”

One of Sergi’s former coaches at College Park, Leroy Rivers, knows that Sergi has what it takes to make it back to the top.

“Nobody works harder than Brian,” Rivers said.“You just tell Brian what to do and he’ll do it and a little extra.

He’s the kind of kid every coach wants.”

by KAITLYN THRUSTON Senior Sports Reporter

When women’s basketball head coach Darcie Vincent landed in the High Country, she inherited the broken pieces of Appalachian State’s women’s basketball team.

The program had managed only one winning season in the 12 years prior to her arrival.

Now, approaching her fifth year at App, her team has been chosen to repeat as Southern Conference champions.

In 2007, during the App State v. Michigan game that put the university on the map, Vincent’s attention was piqued.

“I watched that football game and I was like ‘who’s this App State?’ They win the game and six months later you’re interviewing,” Vincent said. “I interviewed and 45 minutes later you’re taking the job. It was in God’s plan for me to be here and take on this challenge.”

When she arrived at Appalachian, she was unaware of all of the challenges she had waiting for her. “[Director of Athletics] Charlie [Cobb] did not inform me of all the issues I was in store for - I didn’t

realize where we were, especially academically,” Vincent said. “We really had to struggle with a few of these kids to get them to understand how important this degree was.”

In Vincent’s career, she has been no stranger to rebuilding basketball programs. She worked extensively for women’s programs at California, Pa. and Slippery Rock.

“All you have to do with these kids is make them believe in something bigger than themselves,” Vincent said.

Senior Courtney Freeman was a member of Vincent’s first recruiting class and has been a staple in the program from the beginning.

“When I had signed and they only won maybe eight games, I was like ‘wow it’s going to be difficult,’” Freeman said. “But just by talking to [Vincent] you could tell that there was a passion there, that she wanted to turn the program around and that she was capable of doing that.”

Another integral part of the Appalachian coaching staff is associate head coach Heather Kearney. She played under Darcie Vincent at Slippery Rock and went on to coach beside her

Aneisy Cardo | The Appalachian

Women’s basketball head coach Darcie Vincent has been working for the team for five years and hopes to lead them to their third championship.

at California, Pa. and now at Appalachian.

“We spent a year apart because I stayed at Cal as the head coach when she came here, and I think what we learned during that year is that we’re much better together,” Kearney said. “I think we just instilled that championship mentality. It’s not about striving to be better than your opponent, but it’s about striving to make yourself better.”