The Appalachian 9/14/19

The Appalachian

Oct. 4, 2019

Mountaineer battalion advances to 50 years Rotc program celebrates half a century of training future army officers Page 2

TEAching across borders

“Pedal with Purpose”

QB’s “Meech” their match

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News 50 years of the TEA Fellows bring worldwide Mountaineer Battalion education to campus

Oct. 4, 2019

Josie Barnes | Reporter

From camping and rappelling to field training exercises and jumping out of airplanes, App State’s Army ROTC program is celebrating 50 years of military training.

App State’s program is known as the “Mountaineer Battalion.” It offers students the opportunity to develop their scholastics, athletics and leadership through immersion in military leadership and a well-rounded lifestyle, according to its website.

“The primary focus of ROTC on a college campus is to take select college students and make them Army officers,” said retired Lt. Col. D.J. Weatherford, enrollment/scholarship officer and freshmen instructor.

Weatherford said ROTC exists on college campuses because the officer corps should be as diverse as universities across the United States and represent the American public.

Former App State President William Plemmons requested the establishment of an ROTC program in August of 1967, and it was approved that November. Twenty cadets attended basic training camp for the first time two years later in 1969, marking the beginning of the program.

Maj. Gen. John Evans, a Distinguished Military Graduate from App State and commanding general at Fort Knox in Kentucky, said the program helped him focus on leadership, core army values and gave him the ability to work with others.

“You’re a leader, but you’re also a follower. You’re in charge, but you’re also a teammate. You are trying to accomplish things, and you realize that you can’t do that unless you’ve got other people that are rolling in the same direction,” Evans said.

The program participates in homecoming, summer training and hosts annual military balls.

App State’s ROTC formed the Mountaineer Commandos Club in 1972, which conducts military adventure training sessions to develop individual discipline, confidence, professionalism, teamwork and leadership

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Emily Broyles | Associate News Editor

skills, according to the division of student affairs website.

Evans said he enjoyed the commandos for the physical rigor it provided.

“I wasn’t playing varsity athletics at App, so this was kind of my varsity athletics, to get out there and ruck march and run and hike through the woods, but it was also mentally rigorous. You really had to think about what it was you were doing, and you had to understand the basics of tactics,” Evans said.

The App State ROTC program offers students the opportunity to develop their scholastics, athletics and leadership through immersion in military leadership...

Hudson Stevens, an ROTC student and junior exercise science major, is a current commandos club participant and competed with the Ranger Challenge Team, a varsity level physical fitness organization. “(ROTC) has definitely shaped me to become a better leader, and it’s taught me valuable attributes like presence and intellectual capacity with traits like mental agility, interpersonal tact, confidence, and military bearing that a successful Army officer needs,” Stevens said.

On Nov. 23, the program will celebrate its 50th anniversary with alumni, benefactors, seniors and friends at a tailgate party during the App State football game against Texas State.

Jesse Lutabingwa (left), the associate vice chancellor of international education and development, stands with Majedah Aldmour (right) who is from Jordan. They were two of the many participants in the Welcome Reception for international educators.

Courtesy of Emmie Smith

Some students look forward to studying abroad during their college career — China, England or somewhere else entirely. As it turns out, some teachers look forward to traveling abroad, too, especially when the destination is Boone, North Carolina.

The Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program allows international secondary school teachers to visit schools and universities in the United States for professional development. The program is part of the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the nonprofit International Research and Exchanges Board, according to the program’s website.

“Being in Boone is like something out of my control of the world, I would say,” said Justo Hodgson, a TEA Fellow from Nicaragua. “There’s totally different people, they’re kind — say ‘good morning’ and ‘hello.’”

Hodgson is a secondary education teacher who teaches English as a second language. He said in comparing the education systems in Nicaragua and the U.S., he has learned about many different cultures within the program: 20 to be exact.

“I’ve been learning not only on education, but learning about culture,

and that’s the most important thing,” Hodgson said.

Hodgson believes he was placed in Boone for his first U.S. visit because he enjoys the mountains and hiking.

He said App State’s campus has taught him about technologies and sustainability, which he hopes to teach in his classroom in Nicaragua.

App State is the only university in the UNC System to participate in the Fulbright TEA Program this semester.

East Carolina University participated in the program for the first time last semester.

“This program allows us to bring the world to our campus,” said Maria Anastasiou, executive director of the Office of International Education and Development.

Anastasiou said while App State has participated in the program for nine years, this is the first year 20 TEA Fellows have come from 20 different countries.

“The exchange of ideas that we have with these people is really powerful,” Anastasiou said. “On our campus we have made a decision that global learning is important.”

One of these specific idea exchanges involves the Appalachian

Community of Education Scholars of the Reich College of Education. Students like Berenice Blanco-Rodriguiez, who is in the ACES program, worked one-on-one with a TEA Fellow to focus on diversity in the classroom and different teaching styles.

“It was definitely a different experience to share teaching styles with someone from a different country,” Blanco-Rodriguiez, junior elementary education major, wrote in an email.

“Through this experience, I realized how different cultures put more or less emphasis on certain material based on the careers they value as a society.”

Blanco-Rodriguiez said while she was inspired by her former teachers to become an educator, she noticed they sometimes could not relate based on their different backgrounds.

Blanco-Rodriguiez said her experience with the TEA Fellows is one way to help her future students not experience a disconnect.

“I want to provide my students with the support and love my teachers did for me while changing the narrative and helping contribute to the growing diverse environment of teachers,” Blanco-Rodriguiez wrote.

Diego Hernandez-Guillen, junior Spanish education major, wrote that interacting with teachers from countries such as Nicaragua, Tunisia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, inspires him to do the same in his future classroom.

“I want my students to be culturally aware of the world and surrounding environments,” Hernandez-Guillen wrote. “I want to be able to show my students aspects of different education systems and see how we can benefit from them.”

As for Hodgson, he said the value of comradery in the U.S. is one of the most important things he has experienced and hopes to share it with his students and colleagues in Nicaragua.

“One important thing to take back is all the love, the friendship that I have with my fellows,” Hodgson said.

News

Oct. 4, 2019

App State food pantry gains national recognition Anna Dollar | Reporter

Garrett Royall, a senior sustainable technology major, and Nicholas Shanahan, a junior sustainable development major, volunteer at the Food Resource Hub. Both students pulled food supplies from the food storage closet to distribute to the other pantries on campus.

Ansley Puckett

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ome students may stress over studying for tests. Others can sometimes worry about how and when they will get their next meal.

The New York Times published

an online article by Anthony Abraham Jack titled “I Was A Low-Income College Student. Classes Weren’t the Hard Part,” which he referenced App State’s food pantry.

Jack mentioned the food pantry,

and other resources at colleges and universities, when discussing the nearly 40% of undergraduate students who are food insecure in the United States.

“There are practical and immediate steps that can be tailored to the campus and student body,” Jack wrote.

“Opening food pantries and food banks, as at Bunker Hill Community College, Appalachian State University and Columbia University.”

With food pantries on so many campuses, what sets App State’s apart?

Rebecca Walton, sustainability outreach coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said when she started her job about a year ago, one of her first tasks was to research other UNC System food pantries.

“We, by far, have the biggest and the most open hours with the least rules,” Walton said.

Because the pantry is run by staff

instead of students, unlike other universities, it is open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. to serve App State students, faculty and staff. While it is not intended to serve Boone locals, pantry staff does not turn anyone away.

The Office of Sustainability opened smaller food pantries around campus in Garwood Hall and the Reich College of Education. The main food pantry, located in the basement of East Hall, is now called the Appalachian State Food Resource Hub. “We act as a food hub instead of a food pantry in a singular location,” Walton said. “We do weekly routes and drop off food.”

A graphic design capstone class helped the food pantry rebrand itself as a food hub last fall. Students designed new logos, posters and stickers. Walton said because of this, more people on campus became aware of the food hub, which saw an increased

number of visits.

The food hub aims ensures students do not go hungry. It also welcome community members’ help.

The pantry accepts food donations, money donations and volunteer work.

“Having the ability to give back is very meaningful to people,” said Jennifer Maxwell, sustainability program manager.

People can leave notes about what the food pantry means to them in a box in the main food pantry.

One person wrote an anonymous letter stating, “I’ve had so much anxiety and uncertainty alleviated due to the food pantry and free store. Thank you so much for being here for us. I don’t know that I could ever fully express my gratitude.”

SRC houses Watauga County pool users amid new county recreation center construction Ansley Puckett | Reporter

As Watauga County prepares its new recreation center for a spring 2020 opening, the Student Recreation Center’s aquatics facility is providing the county’s pool needs.

Stephen Poulos, director of Watauga County Parks and Recreation, wrote in an email that discussions of a new facility started almost five decades ago in the 1970s and has required a lot of planning ever since.

Poulos wrote that parks and rec tore down the previous building and pool and completed and land deal purchase with App State, which included the old Watauga High School campus.

According to Poulos, all parks

and rec programming is ongoing except for pool-related programming.

Poulos wrote the old recreation center was torn down in early May. The new recreation center is in the same spot near the Leon Levine Hall of Health Sciences.

Cheryl Eddins, University Recreation’s aquatics associate director, said the SRC has worked to accommodate Watauga’s pool needs after parks and rec closed its pool.

“We’re accommodating the county swim team because the parks and rec are closed to build a new facility, so we’re doing that on Sundays and Tuesdays, and that’s the space we had

that we offered them,” Eddins said.

The aquatics center’s deep end is used for a number of other university events, such as stand up paddle boarding, water polo and paddle board yoga classes in addition to the county swim team practices, Eddins said.

Physical education classes, university swim club meetings, swim classes and soccer team training also take place in the aquatics center.

The shallow end is blocked off specifically for recreational swimmers, Eddins said.

“We’re accommodating any students, faculty and staff that want to swim at any time,” Eddins said. “So,

our goal is whenever we’re open to always be open for those lap swimmer recreational swim times for all of our students.”

Silvana Bravo, a lifeguard at the SRC, said the pool is important for students and staff who take advantage of its low-impact workout opportunity.

“I’m the type of person that doesn’t really run or do weights, so swimming, for me, is my exercise,” said Bravo, a senior environmental science major. “So, I think it is important for people to have this pool facility to do their exercises.”

Corinne Cassini, an adjunct professor in the Hayes School of Music,

said it is important to her that the pool is open for her workout.

“I really like the pool, and so I’d like it to be open as much as possible,” Cassini said. “I only use the pool.

I walk my bike outside, and I use the pool, so that’s my main reason for being (at the SRC).”

The Watauga County swim team will use App State’s aquatics center until the new recreation center’s spring 2020 opening.

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News

Oct. 4, 2019

Walker College of Business takes over HOW Space, transitions to Walker WORKspace

Hayley Canal | Reporter

HOW Space, the multipurpose collaborative space fostered by the College of Fine and Applied Arts for two years, officially transitioned into the Walker WORKspace this semester.

Over the summer, Walker College of Business acquired the space on Howard Street across from The Local while solidifying plans for the new Walker Experience, which encourages college of business students to “learn by doing,” according to the Walker College of Business website.

Bob Stec, a management lecturer and experiential learning faculty fellow for the college, said access to

the new space is the first step in bringing the Walker Experience’s goals of experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration to fruition.

Despite the transition, other departments, individuals and community members are still welcome to apply to use the space for events. Those interested can find the application on the Walker College of Business website under the facilities page. However, Stec said priority for booking will go to those affiliated with the college of business.

The purpose of the space is shifting and it will primarily serve as a supplement to the classroom. Stec

said the intention is to create an environment that supports team-building, creative learning methods and interaction with industry professionals — which the traditional layout of Peacock Hall’s classrooms hinders.

Jacqueline Tilton, an assistant management professor said she has already taught several classes in the workspace. She said the space helps her teach creatively. For her first class there, Tilton’s students practiced civil discourse in rotating pairs.

“There’s no podium or separation, I can just sit with my students around a big table,” Tilton said.

In the future, she said she hopes

to use the space for hosting guest experts who can offer direct feedback to students on their community projects.

This collaboration between the university and the wider community follows a precedent set by the steering committee, which includes students and community members who previously gave life to HOW Space. Their work transformed a former car showroom into an interdisciplinary community-facing venue, and laid the groundwork, enabling the university to hold space downtown.

The previous director of HOW Space and assistant art professor IlaSahai Prouty worked with the town

council, permitting the U1 University zoned space to exist within the B1 Central Business zone.

As part of the agreement, all work done at HOW Space was community inclusive. In the two years HOW Space was open, it hosted art shows, senior showcases, potlucks, pop-up shops, meetings, guest speakers and interdisciplinary events.

“I think the bones of the space and the history of the space are enough that any college, because of the way it’s zoned, would be able to support a wide variety of things,” Prouty said.

Professors earn grant to expand computer science in Appalachia Erin O’Neill | Reporter Three faculty members in the Department of Computer Science are trying to make computer science classes and programs more accessible to students in rural Appalachia. A $300,000 grant they received from the National Science Foundation will help make that possible.

Department of Computer Science Chairperson Rahman Tashakkori and professors Cindy Norris and Jay Fenwick submitted their proposal, “CS4App: Bringing Computer Science to High Schools in Rural Appalachia,” in February and received the grant Sept. 17. The grant funds a twoyear project to train teachers in rural areas of Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia to teach Advanced Placement Computer Science classes in their high schools as part of the NSF’s

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initiative, Computer Science for All. “Only one out of every four high schools offer(s) a computer science course. Students attending high schools in rural areas particularly suffer; 47.2% of rural districts have no students enrolled in any Advanced Placement (AP) courses, compared to 20.1% in towns, 5.4% in suburban and 2.6% in urban areas,” according to the proposal.

“Integrating computer science classes into high schools is important for students because the material can provide them with greater opportunities in the future,” Norris said.

“For students that graduate from college with a (science, technology, engineering and math) degree, particularly in computer science or computer engineering, there are just so many

jobs, so it can really help these poorer communities to allow these students to have some confidence when they go into college,” Norris said.

“Integrating computer science classes into high schools is important for students because the material can provide them with greater opportunities in the future.”

The training is a four-week program on App State’s campus in the summer, accommodating to teachers’ busy schedules during the academic school year, and will prepare them to teach AP Computer Science classes.

The Friday Institute from North Carolina State University, a program providing students with opportunities to explore computer science, will also assist with the training, Tashakkori said.

Fenwick said the training is necessary for teachers because there is a lack of teacher preparation at a time when “the industry is moving more and more to computing touching every field, and you have parents that want (computer science classes) for their kids, but schools don’t have teachers who know it.”

Fenwick said teachers are often not taught computer science while they are in college themselves, which leads to the disconnect later on.

The training the teachers receive will not end when the educators leave App State’s campus, as they will also receive support throughout the school year as they begin teaching computer science classes.

“This is what we call the research practitioner partnership. The teachers are the practitioners, and we are the researchers,” Fenwick said. “We’re trying to continue to interact throughout the school year, so it’s not just they come in the summer, they spend four weeks, and then they go, and we don’t see them again. We’ve built in a lot of opportunities to continue to interact with them.”

A&C

Oct. 4, 2019

Georgia Privott | Reporter

Movie Review In the Shadow of the Moon

Ebony Foster | Reporter The new Netflix film “In the Shadow of the Moon” poses the questions: What if you could stop a war before it began? Can you truly erase an idea before it spreads?

The mystery-thriller was directed by Jim Mickle and stars Boyd Holbrook from “Narcos,” Cleopatra Coleman from “The Last Man on Earth” and Michael C. Hall, who starred in “Dexter.”

Holbrook portrays Locke, a hopeful cop and father-to-be working when a murder case turns unusual: three victims with nothing in common are killed at exactly the same time, far from each other and in the same horrific way. After accidentally killing the murderer, the police force believes everything is over, until nine years later, when it happens again.

The movie jumps every nine years, and as the story unfolds, Locke becomes more undone as he tries to solve the case and stop the killer.

But, we later find out the growing number of victims are not as innocent as they appear.

While the movie leaps around in tone and time, it is constantly engaging. The film goes from cop drama, to family drama to sci-fi mystery. The story itself is easy to follow, which viewers might be grateful for, given the narrative could have easily evolved into a convoluted mess some time travel movies become. The script makes the time travel methods easily understandable.

Netflix’s filmmaking capabilities are growing as it challenges itself to take on new genres.

The films seem to get better, and “In the Shadow of the Moon” is no exception.

Liam Brown

Magical stories and wizardry are often found in fairy tales, folklore and on the streets of Boone. Liam Brown took the form of the wizard of Boone last year, after going through a spiritual journey and realizing his true self.

Before Brown became a wizard, he dressed up as multiple characters, such as Batman and Harry Potter.

“The transition from Harry Potter to the wizard of Boone was kind of like graduating from Hogwarts and putting away the wand and getting a staff,” Brown said.

Inspired by wizards like Gandalf from “The Lord of the Rings” and Radagast from “The Hobbit,” Brown carries around a staff he calls “Beef,” symbolizing strength and integrity.

The staff is decorated with crystals, carved Nordic symbols and a fake cat eye. The Nordic symbols burned into the staff represent wealth, ambiGeorgia Privott tion, success and creativity. His handmade hat has symbolic pieces on it, such as a bird’s nest inspired by Radagast, pins of the Cheshire Cat and Grateful Dead, and bells attached to dream catchers.

“Originally, I started (making) this hat back in February. All I really had were these two little pine branches, and as we went into springtime, I started adding flowers. But, now that we’re going into fall, I’m adding some leaves around the back,” Brown said.

He found his orange geometric patterned blazer and his dark paisley button-down at local thrift stores. He tops off his look with an opalite moonstone necklace, an elven brooch from “The Lord of the Rings” and a Gandalf pin.

Brown said his daily attire evolved as he became a wizard. His outfit is different from when he dressed up as characters because it’s more symbolic of who he is now.

“As I overcame different things in life, I expressed my art through dressing up, and that eventually led me to a clear goal. Like, here’s something bigger than me that I’m good at. So, I took on the form of the wizard of Boone, and I started sharing what I’ve been learning on my path,” Brown said.

Brown said wizards do not have to know how to use magic, they just have to acknowledge it exists. Brown shares his wisdom wherever he goes and has self-published a book based on his experiences.

“What started as just my journal that I’ve been using throughout my spiritual endeavors, it became something that everybody else started chiming in on. I took the book around and asked (people) to teach me the most important thing the universe has taught them,” Brown said.

Brown photocopied each response and created his book, “The Wizard of Boone’s Book of Magick: A Psychedelic Field Guide to the Art of Living.”

He said the history, folklore and community in the mountains helped form the book and his attire.

The wizard of Boone can be found at local concerts, parties and the forest where he shares his wisdom and influences the magic in Boone.

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A&C

Oct. 4, 2019

Boone’s first indoor cycle studio creates inviting workout environment Meredith Nanney | Reporter

The low lighting in Revolution Boone’s cycle studio grows even darker as the music’s tempo speeds up and the class instructor on the front podium tells cyclists to pick up their pace to a sprint.

Midway through the sprint, Hannah Eddins instructs participants to raise their right hand, as if swearing an oath, and instructs them to place their hand on the resistance knob and increase it.

Eddins is an instructor at Revolution Boone, Boone’s first indoor cycle studio, and a junior advertising major.

The Revolution cycling studio opened its doors on September 23 and after only four days open, owner Greyson Summens host her first full class. "It has been a powerful opening week and very humbling by the amount of support," Summens said, "the community that has already been established after four days is incredible."

As Eddins instructs the cyclists in her class, she encourages them by name to push through the workout.

“Teaching here is great (with) having the lights and the music and the surround sound. It’s definitely a community here, and working with Greyson is awesome,” Eddins said.

On Sept. 23, owner Greyson Summey opened the cycle studio with the slogan, “Pedal with Purpose.”

Each month, a portion of the studio’s profits are donated to different nonprofit organizations in Boone.

Summey said there is a suggestion jar in the studio lobby for people to submit local nonprofits “near and dear to their hearts” for the next month’s consideration.

Summey said she hopes her business will eventually grow in profitability so contributions can be made to two nonprofits each month.

Before opening Revolution Boone, Summey learned how to develop an app for clients to schedule cycle classes.

“I had to become an Apple developer,” Summey said. “I mean, I am a teacher, and I just raised some kids. I am not an Apple developer. I had to interview with Apple, (and) they had to vet me. I had to get this global number, so my app is available in the Republic of Korea and Germany.”

Summey is a former middle school math teacher and taught in Philadelphia for 10 years.

“Throughout my teaching career, fitness was always a side gig. I started teaching group fitness so (my husband) and

I could get free gym memberships because we couldn’t even afford gym memberships. It was always a side dream,” Summey said.

After she stopped teaching, Summey was a full-time parent for 10 years.

“I was just not done with the (work) world yet. I was ready to go back to work in some capacity, I just didn’t know what, and then it was this. So, that’s where Revolution Boone came from,” Summey said.

Revolution Boone features stationary bikes without numbers telling cyclists how fast they are pedaling and how high their bike’s resistance is.

“Some spin studios have screens on the bike, and you adjust your metrics. You see how fast you’re going and how much power you’re using. I feel like, sometimes, those can be a little distracting, and you can end up comparing yourself (to others),” Summey said.

Summey said gym intimidation is a main reason why people don’t feel comfortable working out in public places.

“I just want this to be for everyone. Inviting, friendly and comfortable, because being uncomfortable is hard. That’s my vision,” Summey said.

Revolution Boone offers classes as early as 6 a.m and as late as 6:30 p.m., depending on the day.

People can register online at Revolution Boone’s website, or through the Revolution Boone app.

Tess Orr

A breath of fresh air

Lavender House offers relaxing atmosphere Elaina Woodlief | Reporter Lavender is a naturally soothing plant with strong healing abilities. The same goes for the Lavender House, a place of relaxation and creative inspiration.

The Valle Crucis Lavender House offers a relaxing escape from the busy downtown Boone area. A farmhouse-turned business, the Lavender House values nature, relaxation and creativity.

When Madelyn George moved to Boone five years ago, she said she did not think she would own a 100-yearold lavender farm.

George said she wanted to provide an experience different from the shopping and eating most people do in Boone.

“At first, I thought that we would just have a gift shop and classes that would give people a farmhouse experience,” George said.

The Lavender House offers classes to teach people how to make different body and skincare products, candles

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and tea.

Seating under a willow tree and free Wi-Fi allow students, tourists and anyone looking for a breath of fresh air to sit, relax and spend time with others.

“The energy is completely different here,” said Madelyn Riordan, an employee since May. “This is a community space where wonderful creation can take place.”

The Lavender House sells products made from herbs grown on site and other locally-made products.

“Beyond just providing a magical place for people to come hang out and drink tea, we have a secret mission of supporting creative, young entrepreneurs in achieving their goals,” George said.

Lavender House employees and young entrepreneurs gather for accountability groups that work through personal and professional development, and business skills.

“I think that it gives everybody who’s working here an opportunity to grow into themselves,” George said.

Lavender House employee, Haley Riodan, makes a heartbeat latte. The specialty drink includes “beats root powder, ginger, cinnamon and a lot of love," employee Madelyn Riodan said.

Tess Orr

A&C New campus restaurant offers From Boone to South Korea Campus club unites K-Pop fans plant-based options Oct. 4, 2019

Camryn Collier | Reporter

Terra Verde is an eatery new to Roess Dining Hall this semester. It offers vegan and vegetarian meal options for students and faculty members with plant based diets.

Becca Bridges

Ethan Murphy | Reporter Campus Dining introduced a new vegan restaurant to Roess Dining Hall at the beginning of the fall 2019 semester that has developed into a flagship for quality on-campus food options.

“Terra verde” means “green earth” in Latin, which reflects the restaurant’s plant-based menu. Campus Dining created Terra Verde as an on-campus vegan option, and its menu includes stir-fried vegetables, in-house prepared veggie burgers and roasted mushroom quinoa.

App State executive chef Jules Bott said he proposed opening Terra Verde to create a diverse mindset about plant-based food. He said he has experienced lackluster vegan options and wanted to change that.

“Over most of the world, people don’t eat a meat-centric diet. In most places, the meat is more of a seasoning for the plant, and it’s easy, when you look at it that way, to take the meat out of the dishes and still have real food,” Bott said.

Danny Bock, a former Coyote Kitchen chef, is the assistant director for Campus Dining.

Bock said he and Bott worked together to create dishes for a new generation of diners.

“You can put a completely out-of-left-field ingredient in front of this audience, and it will have a market,” Bock said.

Surveys conducted on student eating hab-

its indicated a desire for different vegan options, and because of this demand, campus staff continuously change dining options.

Stephanie Lee is the communications specialist for Campus Dining and oversees Terra Verde marketing.

“We’re looking to address a new brand a semester, and planning some awesome stuff. Students can already experience that, too,” Lee said.

Bott said Campus Dining plans to rebuild and revamp numerous brands across the board.

“We have chefs running dining outlets now.

We’re really building up our culinary army to take over Campus Dining,” Bott said.

Bock serves as an example of this culinary revolution. Since coming to App State, he has brought his skills to the table both literally and figuratively, Bott said.

“The chefs in these dining units are solely focused on the food. Traditionally, in Campus Dining, supervisors and managers did a little bit of everything. With this, we’ve really been able to unify the food and bring quality up,” Bock said.

Seven thousand miles separate Boone and Seoul, South Korea, the capital of Korean Pop. This distance disappears during the K-Pop Association’s weekly meetings.

Members are greeted with a graphic interchange format, or GIF, of K-Pop artists on a projector waving, with “Welcome” in bold text above it.

Sophomore child development major Paige Biallas is a first-year student at App State, and the K-Pop Association was the first club she joined. She was introduced to K-Pop music through a group called Bangtan Boys, or BTS, a all-male K-Pop group that has sold millions of records worldwide, sold out stadiums and was recognized by the Billboard Music Awards, according to BTS’s website.

Biallas said she likes K-Pop, specifically BTS, for its “pop sounds with hip-hop elements.”

App State alumnus Yebin Han created the K-Pop Association in 2017, before current president Emily Ujevich joined.

Ujevich, junior supply chain management major, said she has liked music all her life, so the K-Pop genre was exciting to explore.

“A lot of people argue that it’s so different because we don’t understand what they’re saying, but for me, I know the majority of the songs’ words, and K-Pop has given me so many relationships that I don’t know where I would have gotten them otherwise,” Ujevich said.

During the meeting, the club goes over K-Pop news, along with a music spotlight and artist spotlight. They cover everything from SHINee member Key’s birthday to watching the music video for “3YE” by OOMM for the music spotlight. During the artist spotlight, a member presented the timeline of f(x), a girl group that has struggled to stay afloat in the K-Pop world.

Jenn Brna (left), a senior psychology major, Emily Ujevich (middle), a junior computer information systems major, and Chanda Richardson (right), a creative writing major all help in the growth and leadership of the K-Pop Association.

Aron Herba

K-Pop groups are groomed from young ages to become stars, and they often go through “really, really intense training,” which is why many of the groups and individual artists are adept at dancing and singing, Ujevich said.

Ujevich said there is a difference between boy K-Pop groups and girl groups: boys groups are usually more popular.

“A lot of the girl groups tend to have more ‘cutesy’ concepts that you don’t see a lot in the boy groups,” Ujevich said. “Some of the girl groups will have members starting in the 14 to 16 age range. So, ‘sexy’ concepts just don’t fit them or the audience.”

Everyone involved in the K-Pop genre has their favorites, senior psychology major Jenn Brna said. A K-Pop fan for seven years, Brna said she noticed an evolution in the groups in recent years.

“Ten years ago, it was Super Junior and Shinhwa, and now you have Red Velvet and BLACKPINK,” Brna said.

Groups like Shinhwa gained popularity in the early 2000s. Within the last couple of years, the rising popularity of BTS and K-Pop collaborations with American artists, like Steve Aioki, have opened the door for K-Pop in America, Brna said.

Recently, the club hosted a workshop, teaching the dance in “Everglow” by Adios. The workshops are some of the most fun and interactive events, Biallas said.

“I found a big chunk of my friend group from this,” Brna said.

“It may not be the world’s biggest club or be the best for some people, but for me, it means a place where I can feel at place and build friendships.”

The K-Pop Association meets Mondays at 6:15 p.m. in Room 100 in Plemmons Student Union.

7

Sports

Oct. 4, 2019

GAME DAY

Game 5 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 8:00 p.m. | Cajun Field | Lafayette, LA

Appalachian State (4-0, 1-0 Sun Belt)

VS

University of Louisiana at Lafayette (4-1, 1-0 Sun Belt)

Game Notes:

Starting off the season 4-0, App State will look to remain undefeated as it takes on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In week four, the Mountaineers defeated Coastal Carolina, which was their first game and win in Sun Belt Conference play. App State will have to bring everything it has on defense as the Ragin’ Cajuns are averaging 44.4 points per game and 314 rushing yards per game. Last year, the Mountaineers and Ragin’ Cajuns faced off in the inaugural Sun Belt Championship Game which App State won 30-19.

Sun Belt Showdown

Wednesday's game is the second conference game of the season for both teams. Currently, both teams are first in their divisions. The two will battle to keep conference championship dreams alive and make a statement on who runs the Sun Belt.

History History shows App State owns the Cajuns. App is 6-0 all-time against Louisiana-Lafayette and looks to continue its success. The ‘Neers largest margin of victory came in 2017 when they defeated the Cajuns 63-14. Louisiana-Lafayette is off to a 4-1 start and looks to dethrone App State from the unbeaten ranks.

Red Zone Defense From 2015-18, App State’s defense was unrivaled in red-zone defensive performance. Over that time, Mountaineer opponents only scored on 75% of their red-zone possessions and converted touchdowns on only 45.3% of those. In 2019, those averages jumped to 92.9% overall, and 78.6% of those scores were touchdowns, so far this season.

PLAYER TO WATCH POINTS PER GAME

47

#14 Malik Williams Jr. Wide Receiver

OPP. POINTS PER GAME

29

YARDS PER GAME

429.3

OPP. YARDS PER GAME

14

420

POINTS PER GAME

44.4 OPP. POINTS PER GAME

In the last three games, Williams averaged 75.3 receiving yards.

Williams is looking for his first touchdown since Aug. 31 against East Tennessee State University, while Louisiana has only given up one receiving touchdown in the past three weeks.

Williams is averaging six catches and 12.5 yards per catch against Sun Belt Conference teams this season.

21.4

YARDS PER GAME

540

OPP. YARDS PER GAME

345.2

Oct. 4, 2019

Demetrius TayloR terrorizing opposing quarterbacks

Sports

Dan Davidson | Sports Reporter After stripping UNC’s quarterback, junior defensive lineman Demetrius “Meech” Taylor scooped up the ball and ran 20 yards into the Carolina blue end zone to score his first career touchdown. As shocked Tar Heel fans looked on, he put a finger up to his mouth to silence the crowd. Taylor had a dominant performance in Chapel Hill, totaling 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception.

Taylor was born in Florida on May 27, 1999. There, his mother, Yolanda Whitehead, raised him and his brother, Tremaine. Taylor considers his mother’s work ethic and sacrifices his main inspiration to excel in everything he does.

“She raised me and my brother by herself, so watching her struggle influenced me to be better in school, sports and anything I did,” Taylor said. “I hope to pay her back for everything she did for me one day.”

While Taylor had no father in his life, he did have a father figure: his grandfather.

“We used to fix cars together, stuff like that. He’d always teach me life lessons about everything. We’d sit down and talk for hours, just talking about life,” Taylor said.

Taylor said he endured tough times during his childhood, but appreciates everything those experiences taught him.

“Now, I’m just here enjoying the journey,” Taylor said.

It wasn’t until he was 9 years old that Taylor started playing football. However, Taylor only played three games during his first season because of his weight. It wasn’t until his coach brought him back the next season that football would begin to take off for Taylor.

“I grew to love the game, and every year since then, I’ve been getting better and better,” Taylor said.

Taylor attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School, a school nationally

known for its football excellence. The school is home to notable alumni, such as New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper.

Taylor received All-Dade County and All-State honors as a senior, but only received a two out of five star rating from major sources like 247Sports and Scout.com.

“It’s really been a tough road because I really didn’t get any offers until my senior year,” Taylor said. “App gave me an offer in late May, and stuck with me ever since.”

Taylor was drawn to App State not only for the football and education, but because he wanted a change of setting. He had never left Florida until his official visit to Boone on Oct. 1, 2016. He committed to play football at App State the next day.

“It was just totally different from what I was used to,” Taylor said.

In Taylor’s first two years as a Mountaineer, he received less in-game opportunities than he hoped, amassing 29 total tackles. He spent much of his time on the sidelines as a backup.

“It’s been a rough two years for me being behind a couple of guys that had more experience because I felt like I was ready to play the role I’m playing now,” Taylor said.

Despite a slow start to his college career, Taylor has burst onto the scene as a junior.

He accumulated as many sacks as he had all of last season in just the first four games and is second in the nation in forced fumbles with three. Taylor is 10th in the country in tackles for loss, with 6.5 and 15th in sacks with four.

“It’s probably just having a made-up mind. Having a made-up mind that he wants to be the best. He wants to go out every week and perform at his best,” said defensive line coach Anwar Stewart.

Stewart said he has high expectations for Taylor and expects him to step into more of a leadership role.

“I’m really looking for him to be the alpha male of this team and the D-line. The sky’s the limit for him,” Stewart said. “He’s a guy that can really step it up big time. He’s athletic, he’s fast, he’s strong, and so I’m very excited for him.”

Taylor said finally seeing these opportunities come his way is a long-awaited payoff for all of the years of hard work he put in.

“I just want to continue to get better as my career continues here,” Taylor said.

Taylor said he hopes, by the end of his time with the Mountaineers, he will earn his degree and make it to the NFL. “I just want to enjoy everything this game brings to me, all the traveling, all the practices, and, hopefully, make it to the next league,” Taylor said.

Junior defensive lineman Demetrius "Meech" Taylor is receiving local and national attention for his stellar performance in the Mountaineers' victory against UNC Chapel Hill. Taylor is from Florida, and leads the nation in forced fumbles and is not far behind in sacks per game.

Megan McCulloh

9

Sports

Oct. 4, 2019

Student trainers

Keeping App State athletes healthy since 1973 Silas Albright | Sports Editor A lot goes on behind the scenes of a football program, especially one the caliber of App State’s. The Mountaineers have won four bowl games in four seasons of bowl eligibility and at least a share of the Sun Belt crown the last three seasons.

They are currently 4-0 in 2019 with a win at UNC on Sept. 21.

Besides the coaches, players and managers, there’s one important facet of the program that is sometimes taken for granted: the student athletic trainers.

“They’re extremely dedicated,” junior offensive lineman Baer Hunter said. “They do a great job (with) everything that they do, and we really appreciate all the hard work that they put in to make sure that we’re able to do what we can do on the field.”

The App State Athletic Training program was created in 1973, and was the first National Athletic Trainers Association approved program in the UNC System, according to its website.

The program’s mission is to “develop evidence-based healthcare professionals with the ability to think critically and reflectively and communicate effectively while exhibiting the highest standards of ethical behavior in a changing healthcare landscape,” according to its website.

Although student athletic trainers aren’t paid, they receive educational credit and hands-on experience in their intended career field.

“It’s kind of like student teaching. (It’s) like on the job training in a lot of ways,” said Jon Mitchell, senior associate athletic director for student-athlete health & well-being.

“It’s built into their curriculum that they have to get so many practicum hours, that they’re getting handson hours with what they’re doing.

As they evolve in the program and go up, their education increases, but not only does their education increase, the things that they are exposed to also increase.”

10

Student athletic trainers are at every practice and game, and often arrive early and stay late.

“They’re assisting with patient care; they’re getting here early before practices; they’re working on field setup; they’re working on athletic training setup in the facility that’s here,” Mitchell said. “Anything that you can think of that an athletic trainer does, they’re working under that preceptorship. Whether it’s taping, doing modalities, doing rehab.”

Student athletic trainers have duties and responsibilities for the team they are assigned to, but get just as much as they give through their experience.

“They are providing a service, they’re here to assist and help, but they’re also getting a lot out of that, too,” Mitchell said. “There’s a huge

There’s a huge return on investment for them, so the more they come in, the more they give, the more that they’re getting out. return on investment for them, so the more they come in, the more they give, the more that they’re getting out.”

The curriculum for athletic training students is a mixture of classroom learning and hands-on experience.

“What you try to do is bridge that gap of, you’re learning it in the classroom — that’s great, but now let’s put it into practice when you come to the clinical setting,” Mitchell said. “So, the more that you can

expose them to when they’re in that clinical setting, the more they’re going to be able to function once they go into the real world. Yeah, you can read a book, but if you can’t handle that patient or handle what’s going on, it becomes a challenge.”

In May 2020, the athletic training program will transition from a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training to a Master of Science in Athletic Training, or MS-AT. “We’re going to admit our first entry-level masters class in 2020.

One or two more undergraduate levels are graduating, and then it will be strictly entry-level masters,” Mitchell said.

Students in the athletic training program at App State can rotate which team they assist each semester. Sometimes, a trainer might stay more than one semester with a team if they want to and the numbers allow. “(In) athletics and especially with athletic training, you have to be well rounded,” Mitchell said. “Our challenge here, as educators, is to get them the most varied experiences (we) can. They have to have an upper extremity sport, lower extremity sport and an equipment-intensive sport. We spread it out even more.

We’re going to try to get them a male sport; we’re going to try to get them a female sport. It just all depends on how everything flows out.”

The student athletic trainers are an integral piece of the football team.

“Everybody has a vital role, and everybody’s got to do their role, and star in their role, and when you do that, you help the organization be as successful as we possibly can,” head football coach Eliah Drinkwitz said.

“Obviously, their role is to make sure we’re hydrated, make sure that we’re recovered, get our bodies right. As a football player, your body is your most important weapon, and so you got to have it right, and they do a great job of making sure that it’s right for us.”

My last

word Volleyball’s new season starts now Brooks Maynard | Columnist The volleyball team had a rocky start to the season, posting a 4-9 record in its first 13 matches. Its seen some tough competition, such as Duke, Maryland and nationally ranked Arizona. During this rough stretch, head coach Matt Ginipro said the team has had its opportunities to win, but its just not capitalizing frequently enough.

This past weekend, the Mountaineers opened up Sun Belt Conference play with a win against the Georgia State Panthers, three sets to one.

Next, they knocked off Georgia Southern to open their conference slate 2-0.

The new volleyball season starts now. Forget the 4-9 non-conference record. They’re now 2-0 in the Sun Belt. They can still finish the season out strong by playing well in the Sun Belt; winning the conference is a huge key for making the NCAA Tournament in volleyball. And all signs point to the Mountaineers having a strong conference season: they have players ranked in the top three in the Sun Belt in five of the six major statistical categories, including sophomore libero Grace Kinsch’s league-best 1.50 service ace average.

If they can keep up this strong Sun Belt play, 2019 is wide open.

Sports

Oct. 4, 2019

walk-ons see hard work pay off

Zack Antrum | Reporter

game day grades 56-37 Overall team grade: b+

The Mountaineers made a statement by hanging 56 points on the Chanticleers. Before the game, Coastal Carolina’s defense led the Sun Belt in points allowed (18) and yards allowed per game (254.3). Along with the 56 points, App State gained 430 yards of total offense, blowing both of Coastal’s averages out of the water. The Mountaineer defense could have been a bit more dominant, but it doesn’t really matter when the offense plays like they did. However, App State has given up at least 31 points in their last three games. If an opposing team can figure out how to stop the Mountaineer offense, they might be in for a wake-up call.

To read the full grades go to www.theappalachianonline.com

Quarterbacks

Defensive line

Running backs

Secondary

B+ a

Wide receivers

a-

Linebackers

a+

a

b+

A+

Offensive line

Lynette Files

b+

Their names might not be heard through the stadium speakers on game day, and they might not put up the most stats, but their work ethic, desire and dedication can turn a good team into a great team.

For college teams around the country, the walk-ons are often the unsung heroes of the team.

Walk-ons are members of college athletic teams who do not receive athletic scholarships for playing on the team.

Those who tend to walk on to a college team were good players during their prep or high school careers. Some receive scholarship offers from different schools but choose to turn them down to play for a school that offers them different opportunities, whether academic or personal.

Every year, however, some walk-ons are surprised with scholarships as a reward for the work they put in. The App State football team is one of many teams across the country with walk-ons who have received scholarships.

Junior center Ivan Reyes and junior defensive lineman Tommy Dawkins were walk-ons who both received scholarships at the beginning of the 2019 season.

Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz told them

they needed to stay after practice to discuss their meal plans before they were officially awarded scholarships by the coaching staff, according to AppStateSports.com.

Reyes redshirted his freshman year and made his debut against Savannah State in 2017, and has appeared in five games since.

When Reyes learned of his scholarship, he said it was a very special moment for him.

“I couldn’t control my emotions. It was an unbelievable feeling,” Reyes said. “All that hard work, to see it finally pay off in that moment, it just all came to me at once, and it was amazing.”

Dawkins has played in 13 career games, including three this season, and has recorded seven total tackles. For him, receiving the scholarship showed his effort was worth.

“It was definitely exciting,” Dawkins said.

“It shows my hard work paid off.”

Even though both players earned their scholarships, they know they must keep the team-first attitude that got them to where they are, if they want to have a successful season.

“Winning as a team is bigger than yourself.

The team is bigger than yourself,” Reyes said.

“My dream would be just going there and winning my fourth conference championship. Being part of that is truly amazing.”

Special Teams

Junior center Ivan Reyes (right) is one of the many walk-ons for App State football this season. Reyes redshirted his freshman year and has appeared in five games since 2017, including Saturday's win against Coastal Carolina Megan McCulloh

11

Opinion Want to be heard?

Send letters-to-the-editor to editor@theappalachianonline.com

Oct. 4, 2019

App State jumps on the meatless train Keith Rudd | Opinion Writer

Stop comparing Trump to other impeached presidents Tommy Mozier | Opinion Editor

Now that President Donald Trump is about to join the exclusive fraternity of impeached presidents, historical comparisons to his predecessors are coming. But, comparing Trump to presidents Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon is lazy and does not fully capture the gravity and uniqueness of the history unfolding.

Of the three impeached presidents in United States history, none were convicted in the Senate and removed from office.

Johnson, Abraham Lincoln’s successor, is widely considered one of the worst presidents in U.S. history. His policy failures, including ending Reconstruction, virulent racism and alcoholism aside, Johnson was ultimately impeached because he fired Lincoln’s secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, without Senate approval. The House of Representatives impeached Johnson under the new Tenure of Office Act, a law repealed 20 years later under questions of its constitutionality. Johnson escaped removal from office by a single Senate vote. Johnson was ultimately impeached for being a terrible president, not for a legitimate crime in office.

Clinton lied about a sexual relationship with a 22-year-old White House intern, and was impeached by a Republican-majority House led by Speaker Newt Gingrich and his promise to never compromise with Democrats. Clinton famously lied, but his offense, while not presidential, did not compromise national security nor directly affect any democratic institutions. The Senate acquitted Clinton and he served the rest of his elected term.

Nixon’s impeachment was justified. Facing bipartisan pressure, he resigned to avoid removal from office. Watergate represented the closest the U.S. came to removing a president through the process created by the founders. Nixon’s offenses are the closest comparison to the current situation, as the president and his men unarguably committed high crimes and misdemeanors. Even Nixon’s harshest critics cannot claim he compromised national security.

Overwhelming evidence suggests Trump has compromised national security and used the office of the presidency for personal gain. That’s on top of more than 12,000 false or misleading claims as president, according to Washington Post fact-checkers. Although the House rightly began impeachment proceedings after a formal complaint regarding Trump’s phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the House has a plethora of offenses to choose from, not just the headline grabbers.

But, Trump must be impeached in both houses of Congress. The Democratic-majority House will impeach him. The Republican-majority Senate will not convict him, either by dismissing articles of impeachment before the trial or voting them down during. The U.S. will not see President Mike Pence. Instead, President Johnson might get to move down a spot on the list of worst presidents.

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Growing up in a vegetarian family, it was always a struggle to eat on road trips. We would try to pack our own lunches for the road, but in the excitement of getting on the road, that didn’t always happen. So, a lot of the time, we were left with fast food, and often, the meat-free options were not good. I’ve lost count of how many Taco Bell bean burritos I’ve eaten on the way to the beach.

Lately, the fast-food industry has changed with companies developing and heavily marketing meat-free options. Maybe it’s a public opinion shift or an increased public interest in environmentalism, but one thing is certain — from Burger King to White Castle to KFC, fast food companies want customers to try their vegetarian options.

This summer, Burger King introduced the Impossible Whopper in over 7,000 stores. Chris Finazzo, president of the North American Burger King Corporation told Business Wire they have “heard great feedback and know the Impossible Whopper appeals to both current guests who are already big fans of the Whopper sandwich, as well as new guests who are exited about this new option.”

KFC has introduced its Beyond Fried Chicken, which reportedly sold out in less than five hours at the Atlanta test location. White Castle started the trend late last year when it introduced Impossible Sliders.

Impossible Burgers are made using a special ingredient from fermented soy beans called heme. Impossible Foods’ products closely mimic meat in taste and texture, encouraging more people to eat less meat, a central tenet of Impossible Foods’ philosophy.

Its mission statement states: “We’re making meat from plants so that we never have to use animals again. That way, we can eat all the meat we want, for as long as we want.

And save the best planet in the known universe.”

Lately, the effects of cutting meat out of diets has seen increased interest.

The Environmental Working Group,

an American activist group advocating for decreasing impact in the agricultural and farming industries, said the production and distribution of meat uses large amounts of pesticides, fossil fuels, water and other materials, and contributes large amounts of greenhouse gases and other toxic chemicals to the environment. It takes 1,799 gallons of water to make one pound of beef. By cutting out just one pound of beef a week from a diet, it can save thousands of gallons of water.

Cutting out meat doesn’t just help the planet, it also has health benefits. Those who eat less meat consume fewer calories, weigh less and have a lower risk of heart disease than their meat-eating counterparts, according to the Mayo Clinic, a top-ranked non-profit academic health system.

Now, the Impossible Burger is coming to App State’s dining hall. Before coming to App State, I admired the school’s commitment to lowering its environmental impact.

The Impossible Burger is a great example. It’s a big step for the school to take this opportunity to offer this option not only for vegetarian students, but also meat-eating students looking to lessen their impact, or just wanting to try something new. With the growing industry of meat-free alternatives, it’s easier now than ever to lower beef intake, especially for the everyday consumer who might not seek out a veggie burger otherwise.

proteins

Soy and Potato

Heme

An essential molecule that makes meat taste like meat

oils

Coconut and sunflower

Methylcellulose

a culinary binder commonly found in ice cream, sauces jam

Opinion

Oct. 4, 2019

Trump should be worried Ricky Barker | Opinion Writer It was an eventful couple of weeks for President Donald Trump to say the least. A rumor of wrongdoing has evolved into the greatest threat to his presidency, potentially leading to the end of his tenure in the White House.

It began Sept. 18, when The Washington Post broke the news that an intelligence official filed a whistleblower complaint, a reveal of secret information, relating to the president and a call with a foreign leader. This call occurred on July 25 between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The news caught on like wildfire in the media, Democrats, and even some Republicans.

Feeling the pressure, the president chose to release a memorandum of the call, not a transcript, as it appeared to be based on informal recollection and not a word-for-word recording of the conversation. Trump later released the original whistleblower complaint.

The whistleblower made several claims.

First, they received multiple reports Trump solicited foreign interference in the 2020 election.

During the phone call with Zelensky, “the President used the remainder of the call to advance his personal interests. Namely, he sought to pressure the Ukrainian leader to take actions to help the President’s 2020 reelection bid.�

Second, multiple senior White House officials “intervened to ‘lock down’ all records of the phone call, especially the official word-for-word transcript of the call.�

Finally, the whistleblower alleged Ukrainian leaders were led to believe that their president could only speak to Trump if Zelensky was willing to “play ball.�

An edited memorandum of the call showed Trump did indeed ask for Zelensky to look into a political opponent. In the memorandum, Trump said, “There’s a lot of talk about Biden’s son, that Biden stopped the persecution and a lot of people want to find out about that so whatever you can do with the Attorney General would be great.�

This is specifically about a supposed deal former Vice President Joe Biden made to stop his son from prosecution for wrongdoing while Hunter Biden worked for a Ukraine oil company. Prosecutors found no evidence of wrongdoing at the trial.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Washington Post revealed that just a week before the call, Trump withheld $319 billion in aid to Ukraine. The president claimed this hold was a tactic to urge other European countries to provide

more military funding.

This is clearly not a good look for Trump. He foolishly attempted to defend himself at a U.N. meeting with the Polish president: “I put no pressure on them whatsoever. I could have. I think it would probably, possibly have been OK if I did.�

It would not have been OK. In fact, everything about the call is not OK. Trump revealed he asked a foreign power to interfere with a national election, and not only that, he appears to have used intimidation. It’s an egregious act to use U.S. foreign policy power as a means to personal gain, that’s exactly what Trump did.

It’s no accident senior White House officials attempted to hide the phone call. The minute they heard it, they knew it was a problem.

The president, not long after railing against Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian collusion, had jeopardized the sanctity of the national election and national security.

After all this information came out, the impeachment calls grew to a breaking point. On Sept. 24, Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, announced an official impeachment inquiry. This begins the investigation that could lead to an impeachment trial in front of the Senate.

What Pelosi did is not easy, especially not now and especially not for her party. Impeachment is not the greatest political move Democrats could make. Frankly, it’s a pretty horrible one. Trump could get out unharmed and levy this event for all it’s worth in the 2020 election. But, constitutional duty comes ahead of partisanship.

Not beginning impeachment sets a precedent to foreign governments that interference in national elections is fine, and U.S. leaders can bully them into doing it. We tolerate a lot of acts from this president, many we wouldn’t accept from any other individual with this much political power.

It’s not an overstatement to say Trump has possibly committed impeachable acts already. But, this is unacceptable; the line is drawn here, and it’s time for Trump to face the possible end to his presidency.

This story is based on the information available to the public on Sept. 30. The volatile situation may have changed since original publishing.

Â

 �

13

Et Cetera

Oct. 4, 2019

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App News

Oct. 4, 2019

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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.

DR. SAFIYA UMOJA NOBLE VISITS APP STATE

WEB MANAGER WANTED!

If you have experience with WordPress or running a website, apply to be web manager for The Appalachian.

Experience in content management and coding is preferred, but not required. Interested? Contact brennanmp@appstate.edu for more details and an application.

design the Appalachian

Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble is visiting App State on Monday to give a talk on her best-selling book “Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism.” The book presents research and explores how race and gender biases are proliferated through contemporary uses of technology and digital media.

Noble’s visit is part of the University Forum Lecture Series and will take place at 7 p.m. in room 201 of the Plemmons Student Union.

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, Oct. 4

Saturday, Oct. 5

Sunday, Oct. 6

Monday, Oct. 7

Volunteer With the Children’s Playhouse 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Children’s Playhouse 400 Tracy Circle

Liza Forrester Vocal Masterclass 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

“Peter and the Starcatcher” by Rick Elice Play Performance 2-4 p.m.

Valborg Theatre

“Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism” Talk by Dr. Safiya Umoja Noble 7-8:30 p.m.

I.G. Greer Auditorium

“Hunting for the Largest Known Prime Numbers” Talk 3-4 p.m.

Walker Hall Room 103A

“Peter and the Starcatcher” by Rick Elice Play Performance 7-9 p.m.

Valborg Theatre

“Peter and the Starcatcher” by Rick Elice Play Performance 7-9 p.m.

Valborg Theatre

Community Band 6-7 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall SAI Sister Recital 8-9 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall

Symphony Band 8-9:30 p.m.

The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts

Wednesday, Oct. 9

Thursday, Oct. 10

“When Everything Beyond the Walls Is Wild: Being a Woman Outdoors in America” Talk by Lilace Mellin Guignard 5-7 p.m.

Belk Library and Information Commons Room 421

“Regulating the Regulators: Public Participation in Environmental Regulation” Talk by Lauren Waterworth 12-1 p.m.

Anne Belk Hall Room 342

“In Pursuit of Justice: How Criminal Justice Reform Freed Greg Taylor” Film Screening 7-9 p.m.

I.G. Greer Auditorium

Appalachian Symphony Orchestra 8-9:30 p.m.

The Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts

“What Do You Make of That?: Feminist Pedagogy and the Possibilities of Project Based Learning” Talk by Carrie Hart 6-7 p.m.

Belk Library and Information Commons Room 114

Tuesday, Oct. 8

Matt Guard/Student Piano Recital 6-7 p.m.

Rosen Concert Hall Percussion Ensemble 8-9:30 p.m Rosen Concert Hall

15

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