April 5, 2019

THE APPALACHIAN April 5, 2019

Lighting up the stage for 25 years

Department of Theatre and Dance invites alumni back for a revival of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the first performance in the theatre 25 years ago.

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES RAISES FOUR STUDENT FEES

WHS STUDENTS FILL EMPTY BOWLS FOR HHC

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN PUNTER AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP

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News

April 5, 2019

Lottery leaves 800 students without on-campus housing for 2019-20 academic year Anna Muckenfuss ‫@ ׀‬MuckenfussAnna ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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fter neighbors received an invitation to live on campus for the 2019-20 academic year, Torie Dera, a freshman psychology major, said she frantically called University Housing because she had not received an invitation herself.

Dera, Gardner Hall resident, said she applied for housing as soon as the application opened.

“I don’t really have the financial means to live off campus on my own,” Dera said.

Dera learned she would not have on-campus housing the week before spring break.

“It created a massive amount of difficulty because then we had to scramble to find an apartment,” Dera said. “We never had to find our own kind of housing, it created this massive amount of panic.”

Ian Drewery, Living Learning Center resident and freshman commercial photography major, said they applied for on-campus housing because they were not financially ready to live off campus.

“My parents and I both thought on-campus housing would be beneficial for at least two or three years of college,”

Drewery said.

Drewery said the late notification made it difficult to find a place to live because many apartment complexes were full.

“I don’t have a car, so being on campus would have been a lot more convenient as far as getting to class and getting basic things like groceries and laundry done,” Drewery said. “It brought more financial concerns into my life.”

Current App State students reapplied for on-campus housing from Dec.1-Jan. 31 and received an invitation to live on campus via email in February, according to App State Housing. The Uni-

versity Housing Management System chooses students at random through an applicant pool.

Tom Kane, director of University Housing, said only 5,674 spaces are available on campus, and priority was given to the 3,700 incoming freshmen.

“The process for picking these students is random,” Kane said. “A few hundred at a time are offered the chance over a 48hour period to pick a room and bring in a roommate if they applied for housing and want that roommate.”

Kane said 800 students did not receive an invitation to live

on campus. Of the students invited to live on campus, 350 chose not to accept.

Kane said the P3 project, which will build seven new residence halls, has not caused the number of available beds to decrease. App State will not tear down the residence halls set for demolition until it can provide new beds for students.

“The P3 in the stadium area will create about 300 more spaces for students,” Kane said. “The problem is campus space. We just do not have the land to build about 500-plus beds to meet the need.”

Board of trustees votes to raise fees by a total of $252 Moss Brennan ‫@ ׀‬mosbren ‫ ׀‬News Editor

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he App State board of trustees voted on March 29 to raise Miscellaneous Service Fees for the 2019-20 academic year.

The total increase to the Miscellaneous Service Fees is $252, raising the fees to $8,150.

The board of governors approved a $36 total increase in athletics and student activities fees on March 22, which brings student fee increases to $288 for the 2019-20 academic year.

The room/housing increase will support an increase in labor, operating and maintenance costs and “projected capital renewal expenditures to existing residence halls,” according to the Miscellaneous Student Fees proposal.

Capital renewal expenses

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are the costs associated with replacing old building subsystems like roofs and electrical systems.

“As we build the new housing, we want to have upgrades to the existing housing too, so that they’re closer in status and value and amenities,” Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Paul Forte said. “So, really in repair and maintenance like rugs and carpets and things like that that have aged.”

Forte said the $10 increase for textbook rentals is to provide more digital content.

“We think that’s the way the industry is going,” Forte said.

Student Body President DeJon Milbourne is the student representative on the board of trustees. He said students have no say regarding a lot of what was decided.

“I don’t know if there’s a lot of student perspective because there’s not a lot of student input,” Milbourne said. “If anything, we want to talk about trying to have some say in those conversations.”

Milbourne said when students are in a board of trustees meeting with him he can relay their concerns more effectively manner.

“It’s one thing for me to say, ‘This is a problem,’ or ‘This is how we want to see these funds directed,’ but it’s another thing when students are actually here,” Milbourne said.

The board of trustees will meet next on June 20 and 21 at App State.

Sports editor Brooks Maynard contributed reporting for this story.

Raised fees Meal/Board Plans $2714 $2794

Room/housing $4470

2018-2019

$4620

textbook rental $288 $300

transportation $150 $160

2019-2020

News

April 5, 2019

Renewable Energy Initiative plans for sustainable future

Organization to build sustainable development department greenhouse, wind turbines Logan Parks ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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n the fight to reduce App State’s environmental impact, the App State Renewable Energy Initiative will work with the Department of Sustainable Development using cutting-edge technology to construct a solar greenhouse for students.

Responsible for implementing several sustainable projects on campus, including the Broyhill Wind Turbine and solar picnic tables in front of Peacock Hall, ASUREI is dedicated to making the university as sustainable as possible.

“I think sustainability is definitely one of the keystones of our university,” senior sustainable technology major and ASUREI committee chair Josh Leonard said. “The technology

is important, but the optics and the principles of sustainability are what we really support in this organization.”

Leonard said ASUREI scheduled the build for a solar greenhouse for the sustainable development department’s Teaching and Research Farm.

The 35-acre farm, located in Fleetwood, offers sustainable development students an opportunity to enhance their understanding of sustainable farming practices.

“We’re partnering with Food Services,” ASUREI project manager and sustainable technology graduate student Gordon Miller said. “We’re going to start trying to grow food on our campus and reduce some of those associated costs and

energy that goes into bringing outside food into our campus.”

The solar greenhouse will use “phase change materials,” Leonard said.

Phase change materials collect and store solar thermal energy so unpredictable variables, such as sun exposure, affect energy efficiency less. Solar thermal energy stores heated materials, such as water, and converts them into energy.

“We’re going to get started on that in the summertime,” Leonard said, adding that he hopes ASUREI completes the project by the end of fall 2019.

ASUREI will also install two wind turbines on Beech Mountain. One will measure wind data and energy output, as well as provide a way for

students to get hands-on experience with wind turbine operation. The maintenance, and the other will generate energy.

ASUREI also received a large shipment of solar panels from SunPower, which Leonard said the organization will potentially install near the State Farm parking lot.

“That would be the largest photovoltaic solar array we have on campus,” Leonard said.

Photovoltaics is the process of turning light into energy, which is the standard process for solar panel technology.

ASUREI was conceived in 2004 by Ernie Hodgson, former president of the Sustainable Energy Society. Hodgson proposed the idea to the Student Government Association

in hopes of drafting a bill that outlined the initiative’s goals and plans for funding. After SGA passed the bill, Chancellor Kenneth Peacock and the board of trustees approved it.

ASUREI was officially formed in 2005.

“The way we’re funded now is through students,” Leonard said. “A portion of their tuition is set aside that’s roughly $5 per student, and that’s where we get pretty much all of our budget.”

Since 2005, ASUREI has promoted sustainability initiatives on campus by using its resources to construct technologies that reduce App State’s impact on the environment.

ASUREI will hold a forum in the fall to update students on its progress.

Rise Market and Bakery promotes sustainability on campus Olivia Bouzigard ‫@ ׀‬oliviabouzi ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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ise Market and Bakery in Leon Levine Hall is working toward Food Services’ goal of sustainability on campus.

Rise purchases coffee beans from Hatchet Coffee, a local coffee shop. It is the first App State food service to buy products from Hatchet. Rise saves energy by buying coffee beans from Hatchet instead of purchasing beans from another distributor because of its location close to campus. Rise also serves Stick Boy Bread Company products.

“We are rising early in the

morning, we are there first and we want to prepare nourishment and a staple that students, faculty and staff can rely on while they are working to do the best at what they do,” said Stephanie Lee, Food Services communication specialist.

Lee said she works handin-hand with the Office of Sustainability to implement sustainable practices for Food Services.

When Food Services employees make decisions based on sustainability, they always consult with the Office of Sustainability. In the past, both have used Eco-Products instead of Styro-

foam packaging and have implemented composting.

Rise was the first on-campus food service to debut eco-friendly packaging made from renewable resources. Food Services based its decision to use the Eco-Products brand packaging after meeting with the Office of Sustainability. The eco-friendly packaging was then implemented by Food Services across campus.

Food Services and the Office of Sustainability decided to use these products because they decompose in the campus composting facility.

“From the very beginning, our office was in the entire design of Leon Levine building and that included Rise,” said Leila Jackson, communications specialist for the Office of Sustainability.

When creating the menu for Rise, the chefs considered what was already sourced at food service facilities. For example, spinach is a staple food on campus.

The chefs considered popular foods when making the menu so they could use it in all Food Services locations. Getting it from one distributor allows Food Services to use less energy when

delivering the food.

Food Services and the Office of Sustainability employees meet once a month to speak about Food Service’s sustainable practices across campus.

“There is a long history of sustainability work with Food Services,” sustainability program manager Jennifer Maxwell said. “This partnership is working directly with managers, Stephanie, workers. Whenever they are making decisions they are always consulting with us.

They have done a lot of work around local food; they are always asking for our input.”

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News

April 5, 2019

App State senior lecturer unable to keep up with Blowing Rock real estate prices Anna Muckenfuss ‫@ ׀‬MuckenfussAnna ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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senior lecturer in the Department of History was forced to move out of the house he built in 2018 because he could not afford the mortgage payments.

Ralph Lentz said he makes about $39,800 per year, which was not enough for him to keep his home in Blowing Rock. Lentz lives in a cabin in Meat Camp, which is 9.5 miles away from Boone. Lentz said he hopes to move into his grandmother’s house when he gets back on his feet.

Lentz, an App State alumnus, said when he first started teaching as an adjunct professor in 1999, he

had no benefits or insurance, and had to teach seven classes per semester.

“I was slipping; it was not good for me or the students,” Lentz said. “I wasn’t able to do as good a job because I was tired. I was overworked.”

Now that he is a senior lecturer, Lentz’s salary and retirement benefits increased, but he said he has no savings.

“If I have a serious medical problem and can’t work, I lose everything,” Lentz said. “There’s no way to save on that kind of salary to have a safety net.”

Lentz said due to the cost of

living in Boone, other faculty at App State are leaving, some of whom are award-winning scholars.

“There are two faculty members from my department who are leaving because of the pay rate,” Lentz said. “They found better pay at a different university.”

Despite his financial difficulties, Lentz has no plans to leave Boone or App State.

“My family is here and my family roots go back literally hundreds of years,” Lentz said. “I love teaching, I love what I do; it’s my calling. I value my family and my history and home more than I do money.”

Anna Muckenfuss Ralph Lentz is a senior lecturer in the Department of History. Lentz was forced to sell the home he built because he could no longer afford the mortgage payments.

Highway 105 Superstreet now in Boone Town Council’s hands Christina Beals ‫@ ׀‬christinalala_ ‫ ׀‬WASU News Coordinator

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fter the North Carolina Department of Transportation reviewed public responses to its N.C. Highway 105 plan, the department told Boone the project is now in the town’s hands regarding whether or not to remove the planned median.

The NCDOT sent a message to Boone officials, which was announced during a town officials meeting.

During the meeting, NCDOT District 11 engineers Ramie Shaw and Mike Pettyjohn went over the changes to the project.

The Boone Town Council asked NCDOT to reconsider the medians in the original plan, but Shaw and Pettyjohn stressed that if Boone officials choose to cut the medians out of the $10.52 million project, it will no longer be affiliated with NCDOT.

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Town Manager John Ward met with Shaw and Pettyjohn on Feb. 19 in a closed-door meeting to discuss the project changes made after the October public comment period.

After the meeting, Ward said a lot of the changes were based on public comment.

The changes come after NCDOT released its “Superstreet” plan in September, meant to help slow traffic flow and decrease car accidents on the 5.5-mile section of N.C. Highway 105 between Clark’s Creek Road and N.C. 105 Bypass by limiting left turns on and off the highway.

NCDOT’s original plan turned the middle turn lane into a median and had drivers first turn right at a stoplight, then make a U-turn at one of the eight designated U-turn bulbouts, or curb extensions.

The change worried several

local businesses along Highway 105 and the local government because they feared it would limit traffic flow to businesses.

In an October meeting, Peabody’s Wine and Beer Merchants owner Jeff Collins presented a petition that denounced the project, signed by other local business owners.

On Oct. 18, Boone Town

Council unanimously voted to approve a resolution draft that requested the NCDOT provide other design options besides the original superstreet plan.

Both the town council vote and petition were sent to NCDOT during the public comment period.

After the public comment period ended on Oct. 23, the

NCDOT reviewed the submitted public comments.

Shaw reported that NCDOT received 169 comments during the public comment period.

Thirty-eight comments were in opposition, nine were in favor and 47 requested an alternate solution.

NCDOT officials could not be reached for comment.

April 5, 2019

Talent Jam provides students with networking opportunities

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Cameron Stuart ‫@ ׀‬cameronlstuart ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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hrough short pitches and networking, students had the opportunity to showcase their talents to potential employers in a high-energy environment of Talent Jam. Talent Jams originated in Asheville to connect job seekers with local employers, with Jams taking place from Hickory to Cork, Ireland.

Geralyn Mitchell is the assistant director of career development at App State and the App State point of contact for Talent Jam. “There’s something to be

said for our students and our alumni who want to stay here,” Mitchell said. “I love it here, and if someone wants to be in Boone, then I want to help them and give them the opportunity to find jobs or something here fulfilling for them so they can stay.”

Two groups of people attend the event: students looking for jobs, and companies or employers looking to hire people.

Mitchell said those two groups will alternate with one-minute talent pitches, and afterward participants will network.

“Our hope is to be able to bring together local employers

and organizations who are looking for local talent,” Mitchell said. “We just want to focus on that local piece.”

Mitchell moved to Boone from Pennsylvania in 2015 for her job at App State.

“Our students bring a lot of diversity to the area,” Mitchell said. “I think that that’s been a beautiful thing that I’ve seen coming from Pennsylvania and very small institutions and very small towns.”

Mitchell said App State students benefit the Boone economy with their diverse ways of thinking.

Susan McCracken, director of career development and economic engagement, said Boone is not as diverse as major cities in North Carolina.

“The more talent from Appalachian that decides to stay here brings so much more richness and great experiences and wonderful opportunities to everybody in this community,” McCracken said.

Mitchell said when students at App State have an entrepreneurial spirit and stay in Boone after graduation, they help the Watauga County economy by creating new jobs and businesses.

McCracken said some career development events can feel too formal for students, but Talent Jam is not like normal job fairs.

“The thing about Talent Jam is it’s an opportunity to be in a fun, festive networking environment where people are talking about what their passions are and what their talents and skills are that they have to offer,” McCracken said.

The Career Development Center will host a Talent Jam in Watauga County each year for the next three years. The first jam was a trial run hosted at Ransom on April 4.

Residents of the Cottages dissatisfied with conditions Anna Muckenfuss ‫@ ׀‬MuckenfussAnna ‫ ׀‬News Reporter

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COURTESY PHOTO‫ ׀‬Chris Wagstaff Chris Wagstaff and his roommates had a leak in their apartment at the Cottages of Boone. Maintenance came to fix it and left behind a six foot hole that was left unrepaired for weeks.

ome residents at The Cottages of Boone are experiencing poor maintenance after their units have holes that have gone unrepaired for several weeks. The units set the standard for “upscale living,” according to the complex’s website.

Chris Wagstaff said he chose to move into the Cottages because the units looked nice from the outside and the Google reviews assured him it was one of the safer options in Boone. Wagstaff moved into the Cottages in January 2018.

“It’s too expensive for what

you actually get,” Wagstaff said.

Wagstaff said a leak started in his unit’s kitchen, traveled to the bottom floor and created holes in the ceiling and a bug problem.

“We contacted the maintenance and they came in, and they ripped a relatively large hole in our ceiling, and they just left it,” Wagstaff said.

Wagstaff said management tried to blame the hole on him and his roommates.

“When they figured that they couldn’t bill us for it, they sent someone within the next two days and now it’s leaking again,”

Wagstaff said.

Mackenzie Foust, senior biology major and a former resident of the Cottages, said she had a similar problem in her unit after discovering a dripping sound.

“There was a small wet spot.

You could see where the ceiling was bowing in,” Foust said. “We called them, and they cut the first hole which was about 3 feet wide.”

Foust said that she and her roommates thought their problems were over, but the dripping sound returned.

“We called them back out,

they cut an even larger hole, that one was 5-6 feet wide,” Foust said. “They left the hole for like a month. It took them six weeks to come in and close it back up.”

Foust moved out of the Cottages in June and said anyone interested in living at the Cottages should be careful.

“I see a lot of people on (the Facebook page App State) classifieds. Some have good experiences, but there’s still bad stuff happening,” Foust said.

The Cottages’ management could not be reached for a comment.

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Arts and Culture

April 5, 2019

High school students sell handmade ceramics to support Hunger and Health Coalition

Georgia Privott ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

Daisy Tucker ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

Georgia Privott

Jorma Krebs

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Jorma Krebs’ appreciation for punk has influenced his political beliefs and music taste, which shows through his everyday style.

Krebs, junior history education major, uses fashion to express nonconformity to mainstream culture and to demonstrate punk individualism.

“Punk is going against the norm, and the best way to do that is to just look different than everybody,” Krebs said.

His overt mohawk and unconventional style occasionally causes people to give Krebs strange looks. Krebs said their looks never bother him, and he finds humor in people’s lack of acceptance.

He portrays his confidence through combat boots and denim jackets covered with buttons and patches from bands such as Bad Religion, The Exploited, Ramones and Misfits.

Since coming to college, he has collected enough merchandise to create his two denim masterpieces, a vest and a jacket.

Krebs said paying full price for clothing goes against the anti-capitalist punk attitude, so instead of paying for band T-shirts, he makes his own.

“I had a bunch of white T-shirts and nothing to do with them, so I made stencils for different bands and spray-painted the stencils on,” Krebs said.

He has painted a few buttons with phrases like “Punk’s not dead,” and a Ramones lyric, “Do the cretin hop.”

Krebs adds a finishing touch to his outfits with two pieces of jewelry, his Afro-Atlantic heart-linked necklace and his lock and chain necklace. “(My jewelry) is an act of solidarity and unity for anyone who is in the working class majority, which are inherently chained,” Krebs said.

Liberty and equality are key motifs for his daily look, Krebs said. Whether he is wearing anti-nationalist patches on his vest or a chain around his neck, Krebs continually represents the punk philosophy.

Brendan Hoekstra | @brendanhoekstra Locals shop around the Empty Bowls event at Watauga High School on March 30. All proceeds from the event benefited the Hunger and Health Coalition.

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n March 30, Watauga High School held its 18th annual Empty Bowls event, where students’ handmade bowls were the centerpiece for a community-wide event focused on combating hunger.

In partnership with Hunger and Health Coalition, WHS students made ceramic bowls, which community members bought, along with a meal at the event. Proceeds went toward the Hunger and Health Coalition.

“It is an international project to fight hunger, created by artists, students and art organizations on a community level,” said Teri Niederhammer, program coordinator for the Hunger and Health Coalition. “First held in 1990 in Michigan, the founder wanted to create a way that artists and art students could make a personal difference in their community, including fiber artists, glassblowers, sculptors, painters and other artisans.”

Empty Bowls works to raise money to feed the world’s hungry people, increase awareness of hunger-related issues and to advocate for arts education, according to the organization’s website.

Brett McDonough, WHS teacher and event coordinator, was involved in the event when he was

a student. Now he helps in the event’s production each year. “(Empty Bowls) is meant to raise money to fight hunger while also highlighting the disparities in your community,” McDonough said. “The idea of taking home an empty bowl serves as a reminder of those who are struggling with shortages of basic needs within your community.”

Over the past 17 years, WHS has raised $118,400 from the event, McDonough said, and 100% of it went to Hunger and Health Coalition.

Those involved in the event’s production said it would not be possible without students.

“They do everything from making bowls, designing the posters, creating art for the silent auction, designing and printing T-shirts for volunteers to wear, setting up and taking down the event, and so many other things,” said Dacia Tretheway, WHS teacher and event coordinator. “We’re more here to guide them and make sure they have the framework to run the event as much as they can on their own.”

Aside from the handcrafted bowl, community members received a meal with their donation, and they had plenty of options to choose from.

Twelve local restaurants including Stick Boy Bread Company, F.A.R.M. Cafe and Pepper’s Restaurant served homemade soups and bread. Students also worked with Friends of WHS to make desserts for the event, Tretheway said.

To Niederhammer, this event represents much more than a community gathering.

“This is so very important because it engages young people and their families to participate in fighting hunger in their community,” Niederhammer said. “It teaches awareness, empathy and a sense of personal pride in knowing that the event truly makes a difference in the lives of our neighbors, not nameless people on the other side of the planet.”

After seeing the long lasting positive impact this event has had on the Boone community, those involved hope to see it continue at WHS for a long time.

“It seems to really unite the community in a positive way, without political or religious affiliation and is very inspiring to see people this excited about giving back to their community and this excited about the art being created by kids and adults,” McDonough said. “We have a very talented county.”

Arts and Culture

April 5, 2019

PEOPLE OF

BOONE

Asian Festival promotes diversity, makes Asian culture more accessible Marlen Cardenas ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

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hen junior accounting major Sachin Iyengar came to App State, he quickly noticed the lack of Asian representation on campus.

“There is just absolutely no one that you see,” Iyengar said. “It’s really easy for someone to become comfortable in their own environment, in their own bubble. You don’t really see any other culture in Boone, and you kind of get used to that, and it doesn’t allow you to have a broad diversity of thought.”

The Asian Student Association and the Appalachian Popular Programming Society hosts the annual Asian Festival to help the school promote diversity, ASA president senior computer information systems and supply chain manager major Merton Chen said.

“Our main goal is to showcase the Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ community on campus and the different stories we have to tell. We showcase different cultural foods, traditions and clothing,” Chen said.

This festival is ASA’s biggest event of the year, with around 300 people in attendance. It includes food, student performances and a guest speaker.

The 2019 guest speaker is Kulap Vilaysack.

“We usually have a guest speaker come and speak about their identity and experiences. Kulap is a writer, comedian and actress,” ASA vice president and senior psychology major Jules Crisostomo said.

Chen said ASA will serve Lao, Indian and Japanese food, and performances will include Bollywood dance, Chinese Yoyo and a fashion show that showcases traditional clothing.

Iyengar has performed in the fashion show for the past three years, wearing a kurta pajama, a tra-

ditional Indian outfit, every year.

“This was an opportunity to showcase some of my clothing. Even if it was in a more of a minor way, I was still able to do it,” Iyengar said. “I think it was actually one of the first opportunities that I had to actually show my culture on campus.”

This is the first year the Asian Festival will have a theme.

“It’s going to be focused on origins,” Chen said. “It’s going to talk about AAPI individuals and what their origin story is and how they’ve come to be themselves. Everyone has their own unique story, and we kind of want to showcase that.”

Crisostomo said the festival will expose attendees to different stories, backgrounds and people, widening their under standing of what being Asian really means.

“Our Asian Fest does a really good job of highlighting all the different kind of Asians that exist on our campus,” Crisostomo said. “People think the Asian race is a monolith, but that is really not the case.”

Chen said the festival is one of the biggest opportunities for people on campus to inform themselves and “have a bigger worldview.”

“It’s a lot of fun to watch people introduce themselves and introduce their culture,” Iyengar said. “You will get a lot of chances to see beautiful traditional clothing and have a chance to meet a lot of amazing people.”

The Asian Festival is on April 10 in the Parkway Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the festival runs from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free.

“Please come,” Chen said. “Even if you’re not Asian, it’s for everyone. As long as you’re interested and have an open mind, we welcome everyone.”

You will get a lot of chances to see beautiful traditional clothing and have a chance to meet a lot of amazing people.

Alexis Poff Landree Person ‫@ ׀‬TheAppalachian ‫ ׀‬A&C Reporter

“In high school, I didn’t think I was going to go to college.

It just wasn’t something I wanted to do. It wasn’t an opportunity either of my parents had, and I didn’t realize it until I was older. Then something shifted in me, and I can’t really explain why I am here, but I have so much peace about it. Every day in communications, I learn new things that have helped me grow as a person, and I really appreciate that... I know that I couldn’t have gone to college in a big city either. I love that I am here in a small place and in a quiet place that is very intimate. I would love to work for a nonprofit. I am learning so much about myself and about my faith that it’s all happening at once, and I am always processing it. This semester has been really hard, but I am from upstate New York, and so when I came and toured here I was like, ‘Wow, this reminds me of home.’ I have just met such amazing people here and spending time with them is so great. Photography was a hobby growing up. My escape. I would like to think I could use that someday to help me in my career, but for now, it is just something that I enjoy. As a student, which is something I never truly pictured myself as later in life, I would just encourage everyone to really take care of themselves and enjoy the time that they have here because it is really short and sweet.”

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Arts and Culture

April 5, 2019

From damp gymnatorium to polished theater

Valborg celebrates 25th anniversary Christine Dudley ‫@ ׀‬crisdud ‫ ׀‬Senior A&C Reporter

Alex Hubble | @theappalachian This year, the Valborg Theatre is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In celebration, alumni are invited back for a special showing of “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” on April 10-14.

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o celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Valborg Theatre, the Department of Theatre and Dance is inviting alumni back for a revival of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” on April 10-14.

Alumni will teach master classes for theater students April 11, and on April 12 the theater department will hold panels of alumni discussing teaching, performing and writing. The department will host an alumni banquet in the Solarium on April 12 and a gala reception on April 13 at 8 p.m. that is reserved almost exclusively for alumni.

“We haven’t been great about engaging our alumni,

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and we thought the 25th year would be a good opportunity to try and do that,” department chair Kevin Warner said.

Warner said they expect 120 people to come to the events that weekend, and 60 have already RSVP’d.

Before the Valborg Theatre was built, faculty and students had class and performances in the Chapell Wilson Hall gymnatorium. For plays, the basketball court became a stage and the nets stayed up, according to “Angels in the Blue Ridge Mountains,” an article written by Susan Cole, former chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. Chapell Wilson was built in 1937 by the

Works Progress Administration, a New Deal agency that built public buildings and roads. Many gymnatoriums were built during the Great Depression because it was cheaper than building separate gymnasiums and auditoriums, Cole wrote.

Cole said the building was so cold in the winter that students and actors had to wear coats in class and during rehearsals. The large overhead heater made too much noise during class and performances.

“There were days that I canceled class because it was just too cold even with overcoats,” Cole said.

Cole said winter rehearsals for “Cabaret” made it

Arts and Culture

April 5, 2019 nearly impossible for musicians to play their instruments because their mouth pieces were frozen. Cole designed the costumes for the show, but struggled to accommodate for the cold temperatures.

“I needed to see the people wearing their costumes on stage,” Cole said. “They would come out...they would open up their coats and say, ‘See! Am I OK?’” While rehearsing for a musical in the summer, Cole said they had to open side doors because it was so hot.

The fluctuation in air temperature caused the instruments to constantly go out of tune.

Cole said because of poor ventilation, the side roof eaves were always open. When it snowed, it would fall on the stage and in the first few rows of the auditorium.

Birds and bats flew in through the eaves and created a mess. Eventually, the eaves were closed permanently.

Actors had minimal backstage area and little space for the scenery construction. Because the dressing rooms were under the stage, they could not flush the toilets during performances because the audience would hear it.

The dressing rooms were frequently flooded and invaded by water bugs and rodents. A mouse fell from the ceiling during a dress rehearsal, and another skittered across the sound board during a performance.

The department desperately needed a new theater, but money was hard to come by. Cole said a new theater was a low priority for the school. Six faculty members in the theater department gave administrators tours of the gymnatorium, pointing out all of its problems. The North Carolina General Assembly approved $1.3 million

for the project in 1991, but it was not enough money to completely fund the building. Former Chancellor John Thomas went to Chapel Hill and fought for the $370,000 needed to complete the building.

The auditorium closed after the spring production of “Playboy of the Western World,” and renovation began fall 1992. Scenic and lighting designer Frank Mohler designed the space using a drawing program on the department’s first Macintosh computer.

“I didn’t worry about building codes and (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations,” Mohler said. “I was just worrying about what would be a good theater.”

Mohler designed a flexible theater. The basic stage is 34 feet wide, but technicians can open side panels to make it 50 feet wide. The front part of the stage can be removed to create an orchestra pit. To accommodate for a lobby on the other side of Chapell Wilson, the seating and the stage was flipped. Ten rows of 334 seats wrap around the stage. The slope of the original auditorium from front to back was only 3 feet.

“No matter where you sat, you were looking at the back of someone’s head,” Mohler said.

Mohler handed off the conceptual design to Jim White, the principal architect from Calloway, Johnson and Moore, based in Winston-Salem. The architect stayed close to Mohler’s conceptual design, except for minor adjustments. While the new theater was constructed, the theater department’s productions took place in the IG Greer Studio Theatre.

The department still needed money for lighting and

sound equipment, and furniture for the lobby, dressing rooms and green room.

Two sisters, Lorraine Sinkler and Valborg Sinkler Crossland, came to the rescue. Crossland, a well-known 1940s solo actress in the Midwest, was dying, so Sinkler wanted to honor her. She consulted associate vice chancellor for planned giving Wayne Clawson about a gift in her sister’s name. Her $400,000 bequest funded computerized lighting and sound systems, about 100 additional new lighting instruments, shop equipment and a mezzanine to provide additional space at the rear of the shop.

Once construction was complete, no one was hired to install the new equipment, so Mohler, theater professor Joel Williams and student assistants worked for two weeks, installing the lighting and sound systems and building the scene shop.

The first show performed in the Valborg was “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” in spring 1994. Cole directed the show, and both students and faculty acted in the play.

Twenty-five years later, faculty no longer need to act in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” because the department has grown so much.

Warner said the department hopes to build more to accommodate for its growth. The department just completed a feasibility study for an addition to the Valborg that would add a studio theater, so they would not have to use IG Greer, dance studios or rehearsal studios. Warner said they do not have a set timeline for the construction because it is not approved.

The history of Valborg Theater Fall 1992

1937

Construction is completed on Valborg Theatre

Construction on the auditorium begins

Chapell Wilson Hall is built

1989

Department of Theatre and Dance is formed

Spring 2019

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” is performed for the 25th anniversary

1993

December 25, 1992

Valborg Sinkler Crossland dies

Spring 1994

First production in the Valborg, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” is performed

9

Sports

April 5, 2019

Moss Brennan ‫@ ׀‬mosbren The App State football team rushes the field to celebrate redshirt freshman punter Clayton Howell receiving a surprise scholarship during Mountaineer Day.

Working Hard, Clayton Howell receives scholarship

F

Brooks Maynard ‫@ ׀‬Brook Maynard ‫ ׀‬Sports Editor

ans thought they were just watching a football scrimmage on March 30 during Mountaineer Day, when suddenly the field was rushed from both sides. Water was thrown through the air and every member of the App State football team was screaming. The announcer’s voice rang through the air. Sophomore punter Clayton Howell was put on scholarship.

“It was just the best feeling in the world,” Howell said. “We’re such a big family here. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”

Howell, a High Point native, came to App State in 2017 as a preferred walk-on after turning down a scholarship offer to Winston-Salem State University. He redshirted his first season but earned the starting job as a redshirt freshman in 2018, posting a net average of nearly 42 yards with 10 punts going longer than 50 yards.

The Football Writers Association and The Athletic website named him a Freshman All-American, ranking No. 8 in the country and No. 1 for freshmen in average punt length. His best punt of the year was against Middle Tennessee State in the New Orleans Bowl, going 62 yards before it was downed at the 1-yard line.

“I was just continuing to work, put my head down,” Howell said. “Every opportunity I get, I’ll

10

take the best shot I can give it.”

New head coach Eliah Drinkwitz has only known Howell for a few months but is confident that making Howell a scholarship player was a good decision.

Howell is the first walk-on player awarded a scholarship since Drinkwitz was hired.

“He’s a guy that shows up everyday (and) works hard,” Drinkwitz said. “(He’s) always on time, never on list, has good grades. He’s the right fit for App State, and we’re sure glad he’s a part of the Mountaineer family.”

Howell’s parents were at the scrimmage to see his big moment. His eyes teared up slightly while he talked about the help his parents gave him over the years and the position they have strived to put him in.

“My mom told me she started to cry,” Howell said. “They’re the ones that keep pushing me.

My dad is like my rock and always helps me with everything.”

Even through the emotion, Howell could still crack a joke about what to do with the money his family will save now that he is on scholarship.

“I mean, I would like a Mustang,” Howell said, smiling.

Fans get first experience of Drinkwitz era Brooks Maynard ‫@ ׀‬Brook Maynard ‫ ׀‬Sports Editor

F

ans got their first taste of what App State football will look like under new head coach Eliah Drinkwitz during an open scrimmage at Kidd Brewer Stadium on March 30.

A few hundred dedicated fans and students showed up on the brisk, cloud-covered morning to watch the scrimmage. Coaches didn’t split the team into two squads, but chose to have the offense face the defense, making adjustments as they saw fit. Players were usually switched out after every score or defensive stop. “(I saw) continuity. Doing the same thing over and over again and getting better results,” Drinkwitz said. “Spring is all about fundamentals and technique, and I think our guys are getting more comfortable within our schemes.”

The scrimmage opened with a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Zac Thomas to junior wide receiver Malik Williams. The defense then settled down to make several stops in a row, facing every quarterback on the Mountaineers’ active roster.

Other big plays included a 75-yard interception return by redshirt freshman linebacker

Nick Hampton, a 60-yard touchdown run by junior wide receiver Jalen Virgil and a long reception by redshirt freshman running back Camerun Peoples.

“Nick Hampton has really had a good spring,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s been a dominant force at the boundary bandit position.”

The biggest part of Mountaineer Day occurred off the field, as coaches announced their decision to award sophomore punter Clayton Howell a scholarship.

“Coach (Jerry) Moore talked to us yesterday and he said, ‘Your best friend can be work,’” Howell said. “I’ve worked all year, lifting weights, on the field, doing everything I can to be in this position.”

The Mountaineers will continue to work toward fall camp and their 2019 season opener on Aug. 31 at home against East Tennessee State. While there’s still much to learn, Peoples said he is confident the team will be ready to go.

“You’ve got to take it one day at a time,” Peoples said. “Every day is a learning process. We’re going to be ready by the time the season (starts).”

Sports

April 5, 2019

volleyball adds TWO new coaches to staff Garrett World ‫@ ׀‬G_dub1000 ‫ ׀‬Sports Reporter

A

fter the departure of former App State volleyball associate head coach Chad Willis, who is now the head coach at Georgia Southern University, two members have been added to the volleyball staff by head coach Matt Ginipro for the 2019 season.

Amber Hildebrandt was announced on Jan. 7, and Colby Arrington followed closely after on Jan. 11. Hildebrandt is a former App State assistant coach who left the program to coach at Xavier University for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. She also held a coaching position for Southern Select Volleyball Club in 2018.

Hildebrandt was a four-year letter winner for her alma mater Oakland University, where she volunteered as an assistant coach after graduating in 2013. She also earned all-conference academic hon-

ors twice while there.

“I want the players I coach to achieve that feeling of being a champion,” Hildebrandt said. “My goals are to help our players achieve their goals.”

Arrington is a former assistant coach at The College of William and Mary, and held various positions at James Madison University after graduating from JMU in 2017. He was also a member of the nationally ranked JMU men’s club volleyball team.

He spent three years coaching for Next Revolution Volleyball Club in Roanoke, Virginia, before accepting the position at JMU. “I’m a competitor and a dreamer.

One reason I fell in love with coaching is the opportunity to wake up each morning and compete for a championship,” Ar-

rington said. “I want to push our players to prepare them for those championship moments, but at the same time let them know how much I care.”

App State finished the 2018 season with a 22-9 record overall, 13-3 in conference play. The Mountaineers also advanced to the second round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament after defeat-

ing Arkansas State three sets to one. They lost to Texas State three sets to zero.

With the addition of coaches Hildebrandt and Arrington, the App State volleyball team will look to improve on its 2018 conference tournament performance and secure a spot in the NCAA National Championship.

PHOTOS COURTESY | App State Athletics (Left) Amber Hildebrandt returns to coaching at App State after three seasons away, spending 2016 and 2017 with Xavier University and 2018 with Southern Select Volleyball Club. New volleyball assistant Colby Arrington was hired on March 11 and comes to App State after coaching last season at William & Mary. (Right)

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Sports

April 5, 2019

Longanecker continues excellence, 13-1 season record Zack Antrum ‫@ ׀‬zantrum17 ‫ ׀‬Sports Reporter

Q

uality pitching is one of the most important building blocks of a successful softball team, and junior Kenzie Longanecker provides that for the App State softball team.

The Mountaineers are off to their best start in over 10 years and sit on a 23-9 record, 10-2 in Sun Belt play, and Longanecker is a big reason why. Statistically, she is off to the best pitching start in App State history.

“I just want to be the best pitcher I can be for the team,” Longanecker said. “I just try to have that positive energy to bring to the team to help them have that positive mindset no matter what.”

The Mountaineer ace is 13-1 in the 2019 season. She is ranked in the top 25 nationally in wins and is No. 4 in the Sun Belt.

“I’ve seen fire from her a lot,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “On the field she’s really stepped up her game, and it’s been really fun to watch her compete this year.”

She hit the ground running as a freshman and the Mountaineers have considered her a staple since 2017. That season, she led the team in innings pitched with 134 and 112

Lynette Files | @lynettefilesphotography Junior pitcher Kenzie Longanecker is 13-1 so far in the 2019 season and has the lowest ERA on the team of all players with more than eight appearances.

strikeouts. She finished the season ranked No. 9 in the Sun Belt with an ERA of 2.77.

As a sophomore, she led the team in appearances with 30. She also had the lowest ERA on the team at 3.83, ranking No. 10 in the Sun Belt.

As a junior, she has shown improvement in stats across the board. Her ERA has dropped to 2.41 and when she is on the mound, the Mountaineers have outscored their opponents 100-48.

As the Mountaineers prepare for the second half of the season, they look at Longanecker to lead them to a strong finish in conference play and a solid showing in the postseason.

Longanecker’s presence off the field is just as important to the team as when she plays.

Her teammates consider her a perfect fit for the family that Hoerner and her staff have worked so hard to build.

“Obviously she’s a fantastic softball player, but she’s a great person too,” senior catcher Jenny Dodd said. “She just brings a lot of passion to our team and a lot of grit.”

Athletics introduces new men’s basketball coach Brooks Maynard | @BrooksMaynard | Sports Editor

A

thletic director Doug Gillin and App State Athletics introduced Dustin Kerns as the new App State men’s basketball coach at the Ricks Athletics Complex on March 29.

Kerns was approved as the new head coach by the university board of trustees the morning before the 1 p.m. press conference. Yosef Club members, the trustees and App State media greeted Kerns.

“It’s an honor to be the next head basketball coach at Appalachian State University,” Kerns said.

“We’re all in this together. When I say that, I mean you, the alumni, the fans, the student body and certainly the past and present players.”

Gillin said he believes Kerns brings a winning attitude to Boone. Kerns coached at schools like the

12

University of Tennessee and Wofford College and was the head coach at Presbyterian College from 2017-19.

Kerns turned the Blue Hose into a 20-win team after they posted a 6-25 record the season before he arrived. His team also went 9-7 in Big South Conference play, its best record since joining the Big South.

“If we’re going to compete and put the ‘A’ on and put the jersey on, we’re going to put it on to win,” Gillin said. “That’s where we’re really excited about what Dustin brings to us here in terms of competitive excellence.”

In the 2019 season, the App State men’s basketball team produced an 11-21 record with a 6-12

Sun Belt Conference record. The program hasn’t visited the NCAA Tournament since 2000, and they haven’t had a winning record since going 1715 in 2010.

Kerns said he knows fans are frustrated, but believes success depends on strong work.

“My grandfather was a coal miner,” Kerns said.

“My dad was drafted in Vietnam. My mother was a blue-collar worker. They taught me the importance of hard work and a ‘taking the stairs’ mentality.”

Kerns said he believes a winning team is not far away.

“I think timing is everything in life,” Kerns said. “And I think the time is now at Appalachian State.”

Opinion

April 5, 2019

Popular and profitable Esports deserve the same respect as conventional sports

W

Q Russell ‫@ ׀‬Q_M_Russell ‫ ׀‬Opinion Editor

hen asked about Amazon’s acquisition of streaming giant Twitch in 2014, former ESPN President John Skipper had blunt words for the esports community.

“It’s not a sport—it’s a competition. Chess is a competition. Checkers is a competition,” Skipper said. “Mostly, I’m interested in doing real sports.”

Four years after his statement, two years after his resignation and in opposition to his stance, ESPN hosted the Collegiate Esports Championship Countdown on March 29.

CEC Countdown is a weekly show that includes the top news and highlights from the fast-growing collegiate esports scene.

Esports is the blanket term for the world of organized, competitive video gaming. It generally involves teams or individuals competing in tournaments for games such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, League of Legends, Street Fighter and more.

Regardless of the accuracy of Skipper’s statement, the esports scene is incredibly profitable. In 2018, market analysis company Newzoo estimated the total esports revenue for that year was $900 million, a 37.4% increase from 2017. This includes revenue from the sale of media rights, sponsorships, advertising, merchandise, tickets and game publisher fees.

The scope of esports tournaments is expanding exponentially. In 2018, the Esports Stadium Arlington opened in Arlington, Texas. It is a 100,000-square-foot, $10 million gaming and esports facility. The stadium officially opened in November with FACEIT’s Esports Championship Series Season 6 Finals, a $750,000-prize pool tournament.

The success of esports comes from its differences from conventional sports like football or basketball. Two of the primary differences are ease of entry and audience accessibility.

It’s easier for a gamer to replicate what a professional Overwatch player does than it is for a football fan to replicate Tom Brady’s throwing motion.

It’s also easier for players to practice video games online with others than gathering groups together to play traditional sports.

A prime example of this is Boone’s Super Smash Bros. community. Organized through the Facebook group Boone Smash Ultimate, members

meet for organized, bi-weekly tournaments, and more casual meetups.

Jonathon Taylor, the tournament organizer for Boone Smash Ultimate, said since the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, its tournaments have had a turnout of over 50 people. The group’s firstplace prize is usually around $150, which Taylor said isn’t much compared to the $500-600 prizes available at bigger tournaments in Raleigh and Charlotte.

“Back home in Wilmington, where I’m originally from, me and my best friend created a tournament scene where we had a weekly Friday tournament,” said James Johnston, a freshman communication studies major and a member of Boone Smash Bros.

Not only is it easier for players to set up games and tournaments, but it’s also easier for viewers to watch them. Most esports tournaments are broadcast for free over the streaming service Twitch, unlike more conventional professional sports broadcasts that require a cable subscription.

Evo 2018, the largest fighting game tournament in the world, had 3.5 million unique viewers and almost 2.5 million hours watched over the 16-hour-36-minute livestream.

Esports has even become a varsity collegiate sport. The National Association of Collegiate Esports formed in 2016 to govern collegiate esports.

Over 130 universities are members, including Boise State University, Georgia Southern University and the University of Utah.

According to NACE, in the 2018-19 academic year, its member universities awarded nearly $15 million in scholarships to over 3,000 esport student-athletes. The average esport student-athlete receives roughly $4,800 in tuition per year.

Whether or not esports is a sport doesn’t really matter at this point. The scene is incredibly profitable and growing more each year.

With esports rate of growth, it is not far-fetched to imagine a future where kids dream of someday becoming a professional esports player the same way some dream of becoming the next Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.

Regardless of opinion, the esports scene is here. Instead of regarding it as a niche interest, it is time to start respecting it as its size and profits demand.

NUCLEAR POWER Q Russell ‫@ ׀‬Q_M_Russell ‫ ׀‬Opinion Editor On March 25, the U.S. Senate voted 57-0 to reject the Green New Deal, a resolution introduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Feb. 7. The plan focused on moving the U.S. in a more climate-friendly direction and transitioning to solar and wind energy to cut down on carbon pollution.

The plan lacked in short-term viability due to a shortage of consideration for nuclear power, a failure many environmentalists share.

Solar and wind are good ideas, but they are not feasible as a short-term option. In 2018, solar and wind power plants had an average capacity factor of 26.1% and 37.5%, which means they operated at full power for 95.3 days and 136.9 days out of the year respectively, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In contrast, nuclear power plants had an average capacity factor of 92.6%, which means they operated at full power for 338 days out of the year.

In 2013, NASA published a report stating that global nuclear power prevented an average of 1.84 million air pollution-related deaths and 64 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite the viability of nuclear power, it has not seen a wide adoption due to a widespread fear of radiation.

This fear can be traced to prominent geneticist Hermann Muller, who received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work on radiation. Muller’s research on fruit flies led him to conclude that all doses of radiation caused irreversible damage.

This conclusion was challenged by German American geneticist Ernst Caspari, who extended the range of the research to lower doses of radiation, when he found that fruit flies exposed to a low dose of radiation showed no damage at all. Despite this, Muller’s research had taken root in the public eye, and the nuclear disasters at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima have further ingrained the fear of radiation in the public consciousness.

However, of all nuclear accidents or incidents, only Chernobyl and Fukushima resulted in doses of radiation to the public higher than those resulting from natural sources, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Nuclear energy is the safest, most viable form of energy available. The biggest priority in the fight against climate change should be replacing coal power plants with nuclear power plants.

13

App News

April 5, 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, April 5

Saturday, April 6

Sunday, April 7

Monday, April 8

Climate Stories Showcase HOW Space 5 p.m.

AppKIDS Superhero 5k ($25) Peacock Traffic Circle 8 a.m.

Women’s Tennis vs. Georgia State Varsity Tennis Courts 10 a.m.

Financial Wellness Workshop Belk Library Room 421 4 p.m.

CRC Spring Gala Whitewater Lounge 6 p.m.

Farm Day of Service Legends 10 a.m.

“Memory, History, Image, Archive” Belk Library Room 421 5:30 p.m.

Alpha Psi Omega Production IG Greer Studio Theatre 7 p.m.

“Green Book” sensory friendly showing ($2) IG Greer 2 p.m.

Baseball vs. Georgia State— Sundae Sunday Beaver Field Noon

“Green Book” ($2) IG Greer 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

GuitarFest Broyhill Recital Hall 1 p.m.

Moises Kaufman Schaefer Center 7 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9

Wednesday, April 10

Thursday, April 11

Friday, April 12

Moises Kaufman: Reading and Book Signing Grandfather Mountain Ballroom 9:30 a.m.

Identity and Ice Cream Multicultural Center 4 p.m.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” ($10) Valborg Theatre 7 p.m.

CRC Social Check-ins Wellness and Prevention Services 12-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.

Asian Festival Parkway Ballroom 6 p.m.

“Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse” IG Greer 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” ($10) Valborg Theatre 7 p.m.

“Appalachian Reckoning” Belk Library Room 421 6 p.m.

Officer Transition Workshop PSU 102 7 p.m.

“Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse” IG Greer 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Global Film Series Greenbriar Theatre 6:30 p.m.

SGA Senate Meeting PSU, Linville Falls 6:30 p.m.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” ($10) Valborg Theatre 7 p.m.

Treble Choir and Glee Club Rosen Concert Hall 8 p.m.

Et cetera

April 5, 2019

ROCK ON

BY NEIL AGNEW

Across 1. Smooch 5. King’s counterpart 9. Plant genus and eye part 10. Famous cookies?

12. Manufactured, as a coin 13. Charge 15. Second 22-down: Abbr.

16. Irani ruler 19. Front rows of a balcony 24. Mythical river between Earth and Hades 25. Vehicles for employees to invest in the company, in brief 26. “Top 10” list, for example 27. Jubilation 31. Opposite of urban 32. Strata, in geology ... or what all the shaded answers are

Down 1. Possible cartoon character?

2. Born in Dublin, say 3. Transgression 4. Ultrafast air travel, in short 5. End of a proof 6. Body part whose function rhymes with its name 7. Ostrich relatives 8. Scent, to a wine snob 11. Sure, slangily 14. Swanky 16. Brother’s sibling 17. Enchanted Adams 18. Bewitch 20. Letters to catch?

21. What’s a negative forwards and heavy backwards?

22. Nasdaq debut 23. Inappropriate for the office: Abbr.

26. Be reluctant toward, with “at” 28. Mongrel 29. Packed concert abbr.

30. Tic’s candy companion

T H E C OV E R :

Freshman theater arts major Ahmed Al-Kadhi adjusts lighting rigs for “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” on April 10-14 at the Valborg Theatre. 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of the theater. // Photo by Brendan Hoekstra

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