MOON TAXI AT THE SCHAEFER CENTER PHOTO ESSAY ON PAGE 11
TENNIS CONTROVERSY RESPONSES PAGE 3
CENTER BAILEY PLUMMER SHINES IN SUN BELT PAGES 8-9
OP-ED::
ARE LOOT BOXES ETHICAL? PAGE 14
FEB.
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2018
Feb. 8, 2018
THE TEAM Sydney Spann @spannooo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Wilkes @theappalachian ADVISER
EDITORIAL Victoria Haynes @victoriahayness MANAGING EDITOR
BUSINESS Jules Blaylock @jayblay96 CHIEF COPY EDITOR
MULTIMEDIA
Jonathan Mauldin @MauldinJonathan GRADUATE ASSISTANT
Nora Smith @noraagracee GRAPHICS EDITOR
Halle Keighton @halle_keighton PHOTO EDITOR
Braxton Coats @brxcoats22 WEB MANAGER
Jamie Patel @jptalksfooty VIDEO EDITOR
Q Russell @Q_M_Russell OPINION EDITOR
Ashley Goodman @AshleyGoodman97 A&E EDITOR
Bradley Workman @Brad_Workman BUSINESS MANAGER
Moss Brennan @mosbren IN-DEPTH EDITOR
Aidan Moyer @Aidan_Moyer_ NEWS EDITOR
Cristian McLaughlin @CAMcLaughlin MARKETING DIRECTOR
Brooks Maynard @BrooksMaynard SPORTS EDITOR
T H E COV E R: Spencer Thomson playing the guitar to the song “Never Too Late.” Moon Taxi performed in the Schaefer Center on Feb. 1.
Lindsay Vaughn
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
CRIME LOG
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
CAMPUS FEB. 5
FEB. 3
8:59 a.m. | Criminal Damage to Property Owens Field House Closed
1:50 a.m. | Possession of Marijuana Coltrane Hall Closed
FEB. 5
FEB. 2
10 p.m. | Communicating Threats Cone Hall Further Investigation
10:44 p.m. | Criminal Damage to Property Stadium Parking Lot Closed
FEB. 4
JAN. 27
11:29 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Hoey Hall Closed
2 p.m. | Criminal Damage to Property Varsity Gym Closed
FEB. 3
JAN. 27
10:45 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Gardner Hall Closed
11 p.m. | Underage Consumption of Alcohol Cannon Hall Closed
FEB. 3
JAN. 27
10:00 p.m. | Possession of Marijuana Belk Hall Closed
4:55 p.m. | Larceny From Buildings Student Recreation Center Further Investigation
ACROSS 1 Color changers 5 Allowing for the uncertainty of the future 0 Fairy tale bear 4 Set 5 Greenland coin 6 Holiday lead-ins 7 Aerialists’ insurance 9 Days in Durango 20 Side by side? 21 Medical priority system 23 Visually transfixed 26 Porsche Boxster, e.g. 29 Mauritania neighbor 30 Make a big stink 31 Immobile 32 Lining fabric 34 Zebra hunter 36 Breakfast order ... and a hint to the last words of 17-, 26-, 51- and 58-Across 41 Loaves that may be seeded 42 Printing goofs 44 Narrow groove 48 Take to heart 50 “Yikes!” 51 Like some pizza ovens 53 Decorative draperies 54 Brand name for the sleep aid zolpidem 55 Culture starter? 57 Tropical tuber 58 Conflict in Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” 64 Tiny bit 65 Broadcaster 66 Sticking point 67 Many Christmas presents 68 Involuntary muscle contraction 69 Jet black DOWN 1 Wedding reception VIPs 2 Vote for 3 Cookie baker in
4 More disreputable 5 Terrier breed from Scotland 6 Richly decorated 7 Rival 8 Colony crawler 9 Stops working for a while 10 Highway divider 11 Pilot 12 Scanty 13 State strongly 18 Little Italian number 22 “Stand By Me” director 23 Bowling alley initials 24 Some square dancers 25 Baldwin brother 27 “Maybe” 28 1930s migrant to California 30 Beverage company __ Cointreau 33 Coffee server 35 Binged (on) 37 Paint brand sold at Home Depot 38 Got big enough for
By Susan Gelfand
39 “Born This Way” Lady 40 Antlered animal 43 Program interruptions 44 Try to hit, as a fly 45 Minestrone ingredient 46 Drink named for a Scottish hero 47 Make a scene and act up
49 One of a ’50s singing quartet 52 Ancient empire builders 53 Madrid Mrs. 56 Start of an idea 59 Fabric flaw 60 Yo La Tengo guitarist Kaplan 61 Break the tape 62 Whichever 63 King of ancient Rome
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
02/08/18
Feb. 8, 2018
APP STATE RESPONDS TO TENNIS PLAYER’S RACIST COMMMENT Aidan Moyer│
n Sunday, Jan. 28, Appalachian State suspended a men’s tennis team member for his derogatory comments made towards a North Carolina A&T State University tennis player John Wilson IV. Wilson took to twitter after the match and called out the team member Spencer Brown, tweeting “Spencer told me, ‘At least I know my dad.’ Their coach responded by saying, ‘...we have a black guy on our team.’” Wilson, a senior, is the student body president at N.C. A&T State University, and serves as the Minority Serving Institution Representative for the North Carolina School System, according to the N.C. A&T website. According to the website, Wilson has been on the tennis team since his freshman year and is also the son of John Wilson III and Sherry Wilson. In response to Brown’s comments, Chancellor Sheri Everts released an email statement Jan. 30 which said that the actions of the two men were “antithetical to the university’s commitment to creating a community that values diversity of thought, belief and community.” Everts said that Appalachian would be “engaging a
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@Aidan_Moyer_│News Editor
third party to provide an independent assessment of and guidance regarding the diversity and inclusion practices in our athletics programs.” Athletics director Doug Gillan also suspended men’s tennis coach Bob Lake for four matches due to Lake’s conduct during the Jan. 28 match, according to an announcement on the Appalachian State sports website. The Appalachian Black Student Association also released a written statement Feb. 1 via twitter, which said that the BSA was saddened, but not surprised to learn about Brown’s discriminatory comments. The BSA said that they will continue to be a safe space for black students on campus. The BSA also said that they will work to improve the environment for students of color on campus, and denounced the behaviour of Brown and any other oppressive actions. They said that Brown’s comments represent only a fraction of the treatment that marginalized communities receive on campus. According to App’s Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning website, Black students made up 3.7 percent of the student body in fall 2017, and minority students made up 16 percent. The BSA wrote that this percentage of students has a major
impact on App’s campus, and that the BSA will work to represent and celebrate those students’ achievements. The Appalachian student body president Anderson Clayton also released an email response Jan. 31, “The racist statements made by Brown and Head Coach Bob Lake are not representative of what the Clayton/Lee Administration stands for and counter the values of diversity and inclusion we hold.” Clayton also said that the apology would not correct Brown’s wrongdoing, admitted that hate does exist on App’s campus and that the recent #Nohateappstate would not be enough to combat the marginalization of communities on campus. Clayton’s response also coincided with the BSA’s, both saying that students of color receive racial discrimination on campus everyday. Both the BSA and the Student Government Association said in their responses that they will be open to student comments, and that they will be ready to help marginalized students in any way they can. When reached for comment, Brown said in an email that his comment was made after a statement was directed at him and that he has since apologized to the university.
The tweet from John Wilson IV on Jan. 28 regarding App State tennis player Spencer Brown. freshman hospitality and tourism major, and the comment he made during a match. Spencer Brown was recently suspended from the team.
Responses to Tennis Controversy JAN. 29 Appalachian State Athletics “Appalachian State Athletics is wholeheartedly dedicated to the university’s commitment to diversity of thought, belief and community...The conduct displayed on Sunday does not reflect the values of our tennis program, department and university.”
JAN. 30 Chancellor Sheri Everts “Our entire student body deserves an environment that fosters and supports their academic and personal development. Your university leadership is committed to ensuring this environment at all levels.”
JAN. 31 Black Student Association “BSA will continue to denounce oppressive behaviour from our peers. We will keep amplifying the voices of marginalized students, whether or not they are a member of Appalachian’s community.”
JAN. 30 Clayton/Lee Administration “On behalf of the entire Clayton/Lee Administration of the Appalachian State University Student Government Association, I sincerely apologize for the extremely racially charged and derogatory comments made by a student of ASU.”
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Feb. 8, 2018
App State students visiting Running Start’s office in Washington D.C. The program helps to train young women to lead in politics, which is also the goal of Elect Her.
ELECT HER: PREPARING WOMEN FOR A FUTURE IN OFFICE Savannah Nguyen│
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ppalachian State University’s Student Government Association and the Department of Government and Justice Studies are partnering up with the organization Running Start to put together a free training program called Elect Her. The event is set to take place on Feb. 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Price Lake Ballroom of the Plemmons Student Union, but the location is subject to change. The workshop will focus on training students and members of the community, particularly women, to run for more student government opportunities on their college campuses. During the three-hour workshop, participants can expect to craft their own elevator speeches, experience what it is like to form their own campaigns with an immersive simulation and construct the issues that they hope to run on. Special guests Anderson Clayton, the university’s
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student body president, and North Carolina State Senator Deanna Ballard will be talking about their experiences running for office. Although the event is geared toward educating women on the importance of running for political office on campus, the Department of Government and Justice Studies hopes that everyone, regardless of their identification, will come to the event. “We think that it’s not only important for women to get involved but for young people in general,” Ellen Key, an assistant professor of political science, said. “Descriptive representation is important. Seeing people like you in government, it affects trust and and also people’s ambitions to run for office.” The organization sponsoring the event, Running Start, was founded by a political action committee designed to raise money for women under 40 and encourage them to run for political office. By registering for the event, partici-
@TheAppalachian│A&E Reporter
pants will be included in the Running Start online network, which gives entry to opportunities and access to mentors that will allow students to have a competitive edge when applying for internships. The department chair of the Government and Justice Studies department, Phillip Ardoin, said he hopes that those who attend the event will garner skills that will encourage them to pursue a future in public office. “What does it take to wipe away the fear?” Ardoin said. “We are hoping that the students who attend this workshop will say ‘you know what, I can do this.’” Running Start sees the root of the issue, the lack of encouragement for women to aspire for political office, that is inhibiting women from becoming more politically engaged. Despite the large amount of women on college campuses, the organization confronts the disparagingly low number of women in student government. Clayton, who will be
speaking at the event, will share stories about her experience as the only female running for student body president during her election season. She will also discuss what it means to be a woman in politics as well as the importance of having diverse representation in many levels of government. Before running, Clayton said she had aspirations of joining the Student Government Association since her freshman year. However, while she was running, Clayton was accused of not being mentally stable by some of her opponents. “When I said that I was going to put 110 percent into it, that’s what I did,” Clayton said. Questions such as these are not out of the ordinary in instances where women are running against men for public office. Clayton was often told by Alan Lee, Vice President of the Student Association, that if she were a man in her position, no one would question her ability.
“It was weird hearing that coming from a man,” Clayton said. While Clayton was running for student office, she was asked how she would represent issues that do not necessarily affect her directly. Sexual assault was one of these issues. “For me, that’s what brought it forward. I needed to be in that room to talk about those issues. It’s a woman’s issue, and it’s something you need a woman’s voice on,” Clayton said. Clayton said she eventually came to the realization of why women are less likely to take office. This disparity is due to the lack of support women recieve from a young age. “Whereas men are never told that they cannot do something, they are always encouraged to do more than women,” Clayton said. “I want people to see that women can. That is why this training is so important, because a lot of times women aren’t encouraged like that. This is that opportunity.”
Courtesy of Phillip Ardoin
Feb. 8, 2018
APP STATE AND WATAUGA HIGH SCHOOL STAY CURRENT ON ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATIONS Jackie Park│
n recent years the frequency of shootings, particularly at schools, has risen dramatically. Research has shown that since 2011, the number of mass shootings per year has tripled. Two weeks ago, there were two school shootings the day after one another. “Fortunately we have not (encountered an active shooter situation); however, we continuously train and
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prepare for these types of situations,” Capt. Todd Corley of Appalachian State Police Department said. Additionally, with the uptick in gun violence, policies must adapt. “University Police policies and training methods are regularly reviewed and updated to provide officers with protocols for assessing a threat and performing rapid intervention tactics to limit serious injury or loss of life
@jackiempark│News Reporter
when responding to active shooters and similar deadly force incidents,” Corley said. Watauga High School also must keep up-to-date with the steps they take in a possible active shooter situation. “To my knowledge, there hasn’t been an active shooter on the campus of WHS. We had a scenario earlier this year where we had to have a lockdown, and our students and staff handled it very well,” Watauga High
School Principal, Chris Blanton, said. “As far as changes, the plans are reviewed on a pretty regular basis to ensure student safety,” Blanton said. “I think Columbine is what really triggered everyone to take a close look at what we are doing to keep kids safe.” “University Police offer ‘Shots Fired’ training to students, faculty and staff on how to respond to an ‘active shooter ’ on campus
or in the workplace,” Corley said. “This training is approximately 60-90 minutes with response techniques and Q and A. This training helps individuals get in the right mindset if ever confronted with an active shooter situation.” Additionally, App State Police Department participates annually in exercises to keep them up-to-date and test their responses to emergency situations.
MCFARLANE FAMILY INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP BEING OFFERED TO HONORS COLLEGE STUDENTS Christina Beals│
etween the two scholarship opportunities offered to Watauga Residential College students, only one provides the partial funding meant to help its students study abroad. According to the Watauga Residential College website and the McFarlane Family International Travel and Research Endowment, students must be students of the WRC to apply. The students “must have completed 12 semester hours of investigation work, be enrolled in a project relevant to the study abroad and be mentored by a WRC faculty member.” Following the brief summary, a link to the scholarship application follows. The beginning of the application states the donor’s preferences for the endowment of the scholarship to be given towards “support to students currently active in the Watauga Residential College
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and enrolled in a universitysponsored study abroad trip or coursework, be enrolled in a research project relevant to the study abroad opportunity, and be mentored by a WRC faculty member.” The application itself asks for personal school information, the information of the applicant’s faculty advisor, research conducted by the applicant regarding the cost of the desired study abroad trip, how they will receive additional funding and a brief project description of what the applicant would want to achieve during their potential study abroad opportunity. Dr. Harry Clark Maddux, professor of interdisciplinary studies and director of the Watauga Residential College, administers the McFarlane scholarship award. Regarding backstory on the McFarlane’s and their generous endowment, Maddux talked of the McFarlane family in-
@christinalala_│News Reporter
cluding Appalachian State and WRC alumni. “The McFarlane’s are business and civic leaders from the Raleigh area. Ms. McFarlane is the mayor of Raleigh. Their children attended Appalachian State University and Watauga Residential College and wanted to give back to Watauga after their children came here,” Maddux said. Nancy McFarlane and Ron McFarlane have a history of giving back to family alma maters. According to the Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Pharmacy website, the couple both earned their bachelor’s degrees from the School of Pharmacy in 1980. Both Nancy McFarlane and Ron McFarlane “have donated $250,000 to the school for an endowed professorship in pharmacy practice.” Before that, they also established the Phi Delta Scholarship and the Nancy L. and Ronald H. McFarlane Scholar-
ship at VCU. The McFarlane’s have their own business stationed in Raleigh, North Carolina, called MedPro Rx, Inc. The company is, according to the same website, “an accredited specialty infusion pharmacy that focuses on treatments for people with bleeding, autoimmune neuromuscular, rheumatologic disorders and other complex medical conditions.” The opportunities offered to students through the internship given to Appalachian State, however, are unique from the pharmaceutical-related endowments given to VCU students. “The award provides between $1,000 to $1,200 to assist a student who studies abroad either short-term or for a semester, which is deposited into their student bank account. If more than one student is awarded the money during the academic year, the award is divided equally,” Maddux said. “The major benefit of the
award comes in that students are able to pursue an independent research project, mentored by a faculty member, related to their work overseas.” Maddux also discussed past opportunities in which receivers of the endowment were able to respectively pursue, such as research done on the biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef, ecotourism of Costa Rica and member cooperatives in southern France and the Basque region of Spain. According to Maddux, along with the other qualifications listed on the website and application, students must also be able to come back to Appalachian State and present their work from their study abroad experience to the student and faculty body of the WRC. For interested students, the McFarlane Family International Travel and Research Endowment deadline for Fall 2018 is April 15. The Spring 2019 semester deadline is Oct. 15.
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Feb. 8, 2018
FORREST PRZYBYSZ LOOKS TO CLAIM SOUTHERN CONFERENCE TITLE BEFORE HIS TIME IS UP
Senior Forrest Przybysz wins his match in the 2017 season at home in Boone.
Garrett Wold│
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orrest Przybysz is one of the few senior wrestlers on Head coach Johnmark Bentley’s team. Przybysz has been on the team for five years now after redshirting midway through his freshman year, amassing over 56 career wins with more on the way. While this may be Przybysz’s final season at App State, thoughts of the end are far from his mind. Instead he is focused on the match with Duke and a Southern Conference title. He is focused on what is directly in front of him, not what is yet to come. “No matter who we wrestle, we wrestle our style,” coach Bentley said. “We have our own identity, and
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we use that identity every single day.” With hard work and a strong team behind him, Przybysz has gone from a 4-3 freshman to a SoCon runner up at both 165 and 175 pounds. “I would wipe the floor with me from freshman year right now,” Przybysz said. He is probably not wrong, seeing how Przybysz only wrestled in seven matches his freshman year for the Mountaineers before redshirting. With that time to develop, he returned the following season a whole new athlete. Przybysz finished the 2014-2015 season with a 12-12 overall record, losing only one of seven duals matches for the Moun-
@G_Dub1000│Sports Reporter
taineers. He also claimed second place in the SoCon Championships while also making the conference all-freshman team. “We go out there, and we wrestle hard for seven minutes,” junior Irvin Enriquez said. “What happens in the past stays there. We focus on the future.” That certainly seems to be the case, seeing how Przybysz has statistically improved every single season. He finished his sophomore year 18-10 overall with an NCAA qualification and a 2-1 record at the National Freestyle Duals tournament. The following season he posted a 22-12 overall record while placing second in the SoCon for a third
time. Przybysz recorded victories against opponents from Oregon State, Duke and North Carolina State to add to an already impressive junior year. Wi t h t h e p a s t i n t h e r e a r v i e w m i r r o r, a w h o l e new set of goals awaits t h e s e n i o r l e a d e r, g o a l s that include one last shot at the SoCon title. This past weekend, App State defeated Chattanooga by a score of 18-16. Przybysz defeated Justin Lampe by a 4-2 decision, and the Mountaineers claimed at least a share of the SoCon title for the third straight season. App State is set to wrestle Duke at home for their senior night this year, which will be Przybysz’s fi-
nal home match as a Mountaineer. While it is hard to imagine a wrestling match without him, Przybysz said he looks back at his time here in Boone and cannot help but smile. “There is nothing like the atmosphere in Varsity Gymnasium,” Przybysz said. “The fans, the entrance run from the wrestling room to the competition mat, you cannot beat wrestling in Boone, North Carolina.” He came to App State and fully committed himself to the identity coach Bentley teaches his team. With so much on the line and so many goals yet to be accomplished, it is hard to think of a more fitting end to Przybysz’s career.
File Photo
Feb. 8, 2018
Travis Holden, senior right-handed pitcher, ices his shoulder after practice last Thursday. Holden tore his supraspinatus last season and works to make sure he will not get hurt again.
BASEBALL INJURIES REQUIRE TOUGH REHAB AND PREVENTION Moss Brennan│
strain in the elbow or shoulder may prompt some to stretch or ice the sore body part. But for baseball players, it can mean an end to their career. According to the Rothman Institute, two of the most common injuries that a pitcher can face are a rotator cuff tear in the shoulder or an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. If a player wants to get back to being able to throw the baseball following a bad UCL injury, they will undergo Tommy John surgery. Baseball pitchers are not the only ones who may undergo Tommy John surgery. Beau Myers, redshirt sophomore, is an outfielder for the Appalachian State Mountaineers’ baseball team and recently underwent Tommy John surgery.
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Moss Brennan
“Tommy John surgery was horrible because I was stripped of doing something that I have done all my life. It was tough not being completely sure whether or not you’ll ever really come back to your old self,” Myers said via email. Tommy John surgery is a reconstruction of the UCL. Tommy John surgery was first performed on a MLB pitcher named Tommy John in 1974 when he was part of the L.A. Dodgers. The surgeon takes a tendon from a donor or from a different part of the patient’s body and grafs it to act as the new UCL, according to the Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Myers said that he knew after a throw from the outfield that his arm was done. He explained that sitting around for a two-week period waiting for his MRI was painful because he did not know if he would
@mosbren│In-Depth Editor
ever play again. “When I got my MRI I already knew and had accepted that my UCL was 100 percent torn, so I didn’t really have any reaction at that point,” Myers said. Jon Mitchell, the director of athletic training, said that after a surgery the athletic trainers will work closely with the physicians during the rehab process so the athlete can return to playing their sport. “If we are moving a little slower or a little faster, we are in conversation all the time with the physician so we can figure out if something’s not working we can make it work,” Mitchell said. Myers started doing his rehab about three months after his surgery. He said that there was a lot of painful stretching because his arm had been locked at a 90-degree angle for months, causing everything to
tighten up. “Every day I worked on getting my range of motion back. Once my range of motion came back, I did a lot of band work strengthening all of the muscles around my UCL,” Myers said. Myers said that Christina Biddle, the baseball athletic trainer, helped get him back to where he was before his injury. At the end of last season, Travis Holden, senior right-handed pitcher for the Mountaineers’ baseball team, was doing his normal long toss when he felt a pull in his shoulder and later found out it was a tear. “I did all the necessary things and went to get an MRI, and they said that I had a partial tear of my supraspinatus, which is part of your rotator cuff,” Holden said. Holden said that initially after the tear he “stopped throw-
ing completely,” and got a cortisone shot to try and play the rest of the season but ended up being unable to. He was in a sling for four weeks before starting a rehab program. “We kind of started with just a various set of loosening-up exercises, like bending over and swinging my arm to working to doing bands and internal and external rotation, weighted ball stuff, and I guess more stretching to build up everything around it,” Holden said. Holden said that in order for him to not get hurt again he strengthens the deltoid and bicep tendon so that they can get strong enough to compensate for all the pitching. Myers also works to not get hurt again and has a certain focus for himself after his injury. “Now all I do is work on keeping my forearm as loose as possible,” Myers said.
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Feb. 8, 2018
Bayley Plummer looking for a teammate to catch the basketball. The Mountaineers lost against the Trojans 52 to 40.
PLUMMER GAINS NATIONAL EXPOSURE FOR DOMINATING PERFORMANCE H Silas Albright│
ard work, grit, hustle and blue-collar have been terms that have carried importance this season for the App State women’s basketball team. The player that has personified these terms almost precisely game in and game out for the Mountaineers has been Bayley Plummer. Plummer leads her team as well as the entire Sun Belt Conference in rebounds per game, with a season average of 11.7 per game. The mark is also good enough for 12th place in all of Division 1. She also plays the role of rim-protector for the Mountaineers, averaging 1.6 blocks per game which leads App State and is good for fifth in the Sun Belt.
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While she has found a ton of personal success this season, Plummer remains humble and focused on helping out the team as much as she can. “I’m feeling pretty good this year, just trying to stay healthy, stay strong and just really help my team out and try to get some more wins,” Plummer said. Plummer never quits on a play and is relentless on the offensive side of the glass as well. Her offensive rebounding clip is good for second in the Sun Belt with 3.3 per game. Those boards translate to extra possessions for the Mountaineers and have come in clutch throughout the year, giving them the opportunity to pull out some back-andforth victories.
@SilasAlbright│Sports Reporter
The standout 6’4” sophomore out of East Davidson High School in Thomasville, North Carolina, had her most dominant and impressive game of her young career on Dec. 16, during an away, non-conference matchup with the Thundering Herd of Marshall University. She played every minute of the nail-biter and her career highs of 16 points and 18 rebounds led the Mountaineers to their 56-54 victory. Plummer also added three blocks, three steals and a pair of assists in the contest. After falling behind by five points with less than five minutes to go, Plummer led the comeback effort and hit a pivotal andone shot as the Mountaineers closed the game on a 13-6 run
to pick up the win. As her stat-line showed, Plummer does whatever she can to help the team. She is an unselfish player, and although she does not average a crazy amount of assists, she does whatever she can to help get her teammates open. “Her ability to read defenses and find her teammates on the floor makes her a great teammate,” women’s basketball assistant coach Kate Dempsey said. “She is always there to kick the ball out. She’s the last that wants to score herself so the way she screens, the way she outlets the ball, she’s just a great overall teammate.” She was rewarded for her efforts in the Marshall game by being selected to the NCAA’s weekly Starting Five
at the center position. The Starting Five is basically the team of the week selected out of the entire country. Plummer was awarded the spot by winning the fan vote on Twitter with 44 percent of the votes, edging out Tashia Brown, forward (Western Kentucky), Camille Zimmerman, guard/forward (Columbia) and Teige Zeller, forward (Nevada). Plummer was joined on the Starting Five by some of the nation’s top players from some of the most successful programs in the country. Also named to the Starting Five were Jessica Shepard, forward (Notre Dame), Teaira McCowan, center (Mississippi State), Brooke McCarty, guard (Texas) and Chennedy Carter,
Lindsay Vaughn
Feb. 8, 2018
Appalachian State center Bayley Plummer shooting a free throw. guard (Texas A&M). “She’s already accomplished so much in just less than a year. I think her future is as high and as bright as she wants it to be. She adds an extra element to our game, she causes problems for the other teams, matchup-wise,” Dempsey said. Plummer has been a bright spot during somewhat of a rebuilding year for the Mountaineers, a team that lost five seniors from last year’s squad to graduation and brought in eight newcomers at the start of the year. The leader and rock of this year’s team was expected to be senior guard Madi Story, who led App State in both points and rebounds a season ago and was named the All-Sun Belt
Lindsay Vaughn
third team. Story tragically suffered an ACL tear in the exhibition versus Tusculum and was ruled out for the season. With very little experience on the roster, somebody had to step up and attempt to fill Story’s shoes. That somebody has become Plummer. “We don’t have any juniors or any seniors since Madi got hurt, so it was up to me and (fellow sophomore Armani Hampton) to just try to help all the younger ones out when they need it,” Plummer said. After averaging just over 15 minutes per game, 4.3 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game last year as a freshman, she worked hard to lose some extra weight and get as much from her body as possible.
“I just started losing weight, just getting back into shape, just really understanding the physicality of college basketball. It really is super physical down there in the post,” Plummer said. “I just try to stay consistent and work on free throws and on the small things.” Plummer gained a lot from her experience as a freshman. She was able to better prepare for what to expect coming into this season. “Both the physicality and just the speed of the game is a lot different than high school ball, so you have to really stay locked in and really be ready for the fast pace of the game, especially in the Sun Belt,” Plummer said. Her hard work is evi-
dent on the court, as she has stepped up in a big way and become a dominant low-post threat in only her second season of NCAA play. This year, she has doubled just about all of her statistical averages from a season ago. “We knew that when we started conference play, our record started over, and we’ve already won more games in conference than we did in non-conference, which is a plus,” Plummer said. “We just gotta keep growing, keep building every day to get ready for March when the conference tournament comes around.” “I think Bayley has stepped up on the court in terms of her play, just by feeling more confident in herself,” Dempsey
said. “She’s been asked to fill a role that was really big, and she has done a great job at that, in terms of getting everybody together, growing the culture, she’s been great at that. On the court, she’s the first one in the gym, last one to leave. She is constantly working on her game and always asking for film.” Although App State currently sits at 6-17 on the season and 4-8 in conference play, with the majority of the contributions coming from young players like Plummer, freshman guards Tierra Wilson and LaPresha Stanley and freshman forward Lainey Gosnell, the Mountaineers are built for the future and will be an exciting team to follow as they gain experience and continue to improve moving forward.
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Feb. 8, 2018
Marina Delgreco, a junior, psychology major, takes a selfie alongside other Second Chance Prom attendees in 2017. This year the dance will be held Feb. 16 and hosted by the LGBT Center.
SECOND CHANCE DANCE RECREATES PROM FOR LGBT STUDENTS Ashley Goodman│
n Feb. 16, the Henderson Springs LGBT Center will revamp the glitz and glam of the high school prom in the organization’s annual Second Chance Dance. The dance, which will feature music, food and a photo booth, is intended as an opportunity for LGBT students to attend a prom while feeling comfortable bringing who they want and wearing what they want. Junior psychology major and administrative coordinator Marine Delgreco said that for some students, the dance can be a do-over or even a firsttime opportunity for LGBT students to experience prom the way they want to. “The goal of the event is a second chance prom for people in the center who maybe didn’t go to their prom the way they wanted to or weren’t allowed to be out,” Delgreco said. “It’s supposed to be a do-over of sorts. You can present yourself the way you want to and just have fun.” The event will take place in the Summit Trail Solarium, where Delgreco said the center will dim the lights and allow the trees’ lighting to illuminate the room. Paper chains and table props will decorate the space, creating a subtle ambience well suited for Val-
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entine’s Day. Delgreco said the dance will have a “bring your own theme,” referencing the dance’s lack of dress code and laid back atmosphere. She hopes the dance will create an opportunity for students to explore their identities while making connections with the center and other LGBT students. “It’s important to have events like this because I think college in its own way is a place for coming into yourself,” Delgreco said. “You’re still trying to figure out who you are, and if that journey just started in high school, you can continue it here, where we have things like this fun dance just for people to get together.” The dance only became a tradition three years ago, and Delgreco was there for the first Second Chance Dance her freshman year. “I just thought it was really exciting to get to cut loose a bit for people from the center and other people who otherwise don’t really come into the center to come to this event and have fun with us,” Delgreco said. Lee Hansen, a sophomore studio art and nursing major, said his experiences at the Second Chance Dance gave him an opportunity he could not have in high school. “It’s just like coming in
@AshleyGoodman97│A&E Editor
and knowing that you can be safe in whatever you’re wearing,” Hansen said. “You can just completely have your own choice and your own opinions and live it while being with your partner or your friends. It’s just a lot of leniency and acceptance. I thought it was a lot of fun because I never got to experience prom. It was definitely a big thing for me in particular. It was touching to be able to do that.” He said his favorite part of the dance, however, was spending time with his friends afterward. “We all got to dress up and dance and take funny pictures at the photo booth, but then afterward we went out and had a nice dinner,” Hansen said. “I hadn’t been able to have an excuse to dress up and have a nice dinner with friends in a really long time, so it was really nice to be able to do that.” This year, Hansen said, he hopes to convince his partner, who lives in Virginia, to come to Boone to attend the dance. Hansen also hopes to see new faces at the dance, enjoying the same experience he did when he first attended. “I’m excited for all the new people who have come to the center to be able to have this experience, because I know it was really important to me my first time going,” Hansen said.
Desk shift volunteer and junior public relations major Becky Parsons said she hopes that the dance will also bring attention to the LGBT Center’s other resources and opportunities. “I think events like this really give App’s community an opportunity to be more involved with the LGBT community here and also to learn more about the center and resources available,” Parsons said. “Whereas with more educational events like LGBT 101 or the booths that we do, people might not stop by because they might not know what it is if they’re not already involved in the community.” Parsons hopes the event will provide connections and resources for LGBT people and allies alike. “Basically, as the LGBT Center, we strive to provide resources, a sense of community and a welcoming environment for LGBT folk but also for allies who are looking for resources to provide maybe to a friend or even for them to learn more about the community and the identities that fall under it,” Parsons said. “But it’s all about education in a friendly way that provides resources and builds a strong community.” The LGBT Center hosts panels, discussions and events throughout the year, both in
the center and around campus. They also are involved with or help run six LGBT-oriented clubs at App State. Three are directly involved with the LGBT Center: the Sexuality and Gender Alliance, the transgender and nonbinary club TransAction and the asexual and aromantic spectra club A-SPEC. Three more, the Gay and Progressive Pedagogy club, the Queer People of Color club and the Accessibility Council are more loosely affiliated with the center. “A lot of people don’t think the Accessibility Council necessarily falls under MSD or is related to the LGBT Center, but it really is, because a lot of LGBT folk are also in some way not as able-bodied,” Parsons said. “The university is taking this new stance where they want to include people of different abilities in their definition of diversity, which I think is super cool.” The Second Chance Dance will be held on Feb. 16 from 7-10 p.m., and admission is free. “People can expect a funfilled night,” Parsons said. “It’s just something I hope people enjoy and want to come back again next year. It’s a chance for them to come let loose and make new friends while eating good food. I think we’re even going to try and make punch.”
Courtesy of Marina Delgreco
Feb. 8, 2018
PHOTO ESSAY
MOON TAXI AT THE SCHAEFER CENTER
APPS brought Moon Taxi back to App State’s campus on Feb. 1 at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts at 7 p.m. Moon Taxi is a five-piece band from Nashville, Tennessee, founded by Trevor Terndrup, vocals, guitar; Tommy Putnam, bass; Spencer Thomson, guitar, programming; Tyler Ritter, drummer and Wes Bailey, keys.
Moon Taxi’s lead singer, Trevor Terndrup, singing “Two High.” “Two High” is a song that has gotten Moon Taxi to the top of the streaming charts.
They have appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Late Show with David Letterman and CONAN. Moon Taxi has also performed at Bonnaroo, Coachella, Governor’s Ball and Lollapalooza. They have a new album coming out in early 2018.
Wes Bailey playing the keyboard during the song “Two High.” On May 5, 2017, Moon Taxi released the single “Two High,” and since then it has been a big hit.
Spencer Thomson playing the guitar to the song “Never Too Late.” Moon Taxi performed in the Schaefer Center on Feb. 1.
Lindsay Vaughn
Tommy Putnam playing the bass to the song “Never Too Late.”
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Feb. 8, 2018
Devin Nunes has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003. He currently represents California’s 22nd congressional district.
WHY THE NUNES MEMO IS A DUD
he memo written by House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes, R-California, was released on Friday after weeks of being hyped up by the Grand Old Party. Only four pages long, the memo was conceived by Nunes as a means of exposing partisan-motivated wrongdoing on the part of the FBI and the ongoing Department of Justice investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The memo states that in Oct. 2016 the DOJ and the FBI sought and received a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act probable cause order that allowed for the surveillance of Carter Page, a former Trump campaign advisor. It then states that this information provided to the judge relied on a single source, the Steele dossier, a document compiled by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele that detailed allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. The memo emphasized that the impartiality of this dossier
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U.S Congress
Q Russell is a junior journalism major from Charlotte, North Carolina. You can follow him on Twitter at @Q_M_Rusell. should be questioned as it was commissioned by Fusion GPS on behalf of the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Convention. It then alleges that the FBI lied to the federal judge that issued the warrant about whether or not they were solely relying on the Steele dossier. The memo concluded that the FBI and the DOJ abused their power and were using the investigation as a partisan measure to undermine the Trump administration. Overall, it seems that the point of this memo is to discredit the FBI and the DOJ
in order to hinder, and/or ultimately dismantle the ongoing investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. The memo, however, seems to do the opposite of that. While Nunes and the Republican party would like to claim that the warrant for the surveillance of Page was based purely on the Steele dossier, this is not the case. The New York Times reported that back in 2013 three Russian intelligence operatives had met with Page in order to recruit him. Further, in an interview with NPR’s Rachel Martin, Adam Entous, a reporter for the Washington Post, said, “In order to get a case like that, you have to look through what would have been available to the FBI. They knew from previous court cases back in 2013 that Mr. Page had engaged with a Russian - what he thought was a Russian diplomat that turned out to be an intelligence officer for Russia.” “That was one piece of the puzzle that they had to basically show the court in order to get this FISA,” Entous said. “But that’s just one piece. We
don’t have a full understanding of the intelligence that went into the request that ultimately the court approved.” As for the accuracy of the document as a whole, the FBI, in a rare public statement, said, “As expressed during our initial review, we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.” How ironic is it that Nunes is guilty of the same thing that he accuses the FBI and the DOJ of doing? Where he accuses them of misleading a federal judge, he is guilty of misleading the public. Not only is he misleading the public, but he is also doing so without having even read the documents that he cites in the memo himself, according to a letter from the DOJ. Furthermore, in his attempt to discredit the Russia investigation, he actually provides the public with more proof to support it. On the last page of the memo it says, “The Page FISA application also mentions information regarding fellow Trump campaign advisor George Pap-
adopoulos, but there is no evidence of any cooperation or conspiracy between Page and Papadopoulos. The Papadopoulos information triggered the opening of an FBI counterintelligence investigation in late July 2016 by FBI agent Pete Strzok.” This means that the investigation into the Russian interference was not based solely on the Steele dossier, but instead it was non-partisanly triggered by the actions of Papadopoulos. So what does this mean? It means that the GOP has yet again shown the American people that it will always put party over country. This brazen partisan act of attempting to subvert justice should show just how close to the truth the DOJ investigation is. Ultimately this raises the question, if a large portion of the GOP is so desperate to stop this investigation into collusion, and few on the right are opposed to this action, how many of the GOP are complicit? Only time will tell.
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Feb. 8, 2018
An example of a loot box system in Blizzard’s 2016 release, “Overwatch.” Screens such as this are becoming increasingly common sights in popular video games.
LOOT BOXES ARE AN UNFORTUNATE SIDE-EFFECT OF MODERN GAMING PRACTICES ne major goal in many video games is to progress far enough to unlock new items or upgrades to make the player stronger or to make the game easier to play. These unlockables have long been tied to gameplay meaning they could only be obtained by utilizing the ingame systems. Loot boxes are a virtual means of circumventing these systems and allow the player to randomly acquire unlockable content. Loot boxes are different from regular items that can be acquired through normal gameplay. They are often used as a means to monetize games past their initial price point. This is because they can be bought with real-world money to give players more chances at unlocking the items they desire. Loot boxes are not a new phenomenon. One of the first examples of loot boxes was in 2010 with the crate system in “Team Fortress 2.” The system allowed players the opportunity to spend money to open crates to unlock items that ranged from new weapons to
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Joshua Baldwin is a sophomore computer science major from Greensboro, North Carolina. wearable headgear. Since then loot boxes have risen to greater prominence in the video game world, with many mainstream video game series implementing them. There has been an ongoing debate about whether or not loot boxes should be allowed in video games, but they have become accepted as commonplace in recent years. However, in 2017 the debate over loot boxes came to a head during the beta testing phase of Electronic Arts’ long-awaited “Star Wars Battlefront II,” where it was revealed that loot boxes would be tied to the game’s progression system. This meant that players would be required to
open loot boxes to get items that would make them stronger than other players. What angered consumers was that it was far easier to open loot boxes by spending money, creating a “pay-towin” system that allowed players with more money to gain an advantage. EA faced such immense public backlash over their implementation of loot boxes that they decided to disable the ability to buy loot boxes a day before the official release of the game. The controversy renewed the debate on loot boxes, and it also highlighted some key differences in different company’s approaches to loot box systems. Many consumers have less trouble accepting loot boxes that only give players purely cosmetic upgrades, such as in the popular shooter “Overwatch,” rather than game-changing ones, such as in “Star Wars Battlefront II.” However, loot boxes as a whole are still a serious problem in video games. This is due to the fact that loot boxes use variable-ratio reinforcement schedules to entice consumers into buying and
opening them. Variable-ratio reinforcement is the psychological idea that certain behaviors are reinforced after a random number of responses. Due to the inherently random nature of loot boxes, they can be likened to casino slot-machines. This makes loot boxes highly lucrative and creates large amounts of revenue for games that implement them. Loot boxes have reached such a high level of public scrutiny that politicians around the world have begun weighing in on the issue. One major concern is whether or not loot boxes should be considered virtual gambling. In Nov. 2017, Belgium’s Justice Minister, Koen Geens, expressed interest in classifying loot boxes as gambling. New Zealand has declared that loot boxes are not a form of gambling, while China requires that game companies post the odds of winning certain items in loot boxes. U.S. Sen. Chris Lee of Hawaii declared that he would push to classify loot boxes as gambling in the wake of the “Star Wars Battlefront II” controversy, with an emphasis on
protecting younger consumers, particularly children, from the practice. On Jan. 25, state Sen. Kevin Ranker of Washington state proposed a new bill that aimed to determine whether loot boxes were considered gambling under state law, whether minors should have access to loot boxes and whether game companies should be required to disclose the odds of obtaining certain items in the loot boxes. This came right before EA announced they would be bringing back paid loot boxes, presumably in response to poor sales of “Star Wars Battlefront II.” Loot boxes are an unfortunate side effect of modern gaming that reflects an attitude of many game companies to prioritize profits over a positive gaming experience for consumers. In a perfect world, loot boxes would not exist. However, it is unlikely they will ever be fully removed from games. This is why it is so important for consumers to remain active in opposing the worst offenders of the practice so the more predatory version of loot boxes do not become commonplace.
Victoria Haynes
SUBMIT ANNOUNCEMENTS
App News is a service of the Division of Student Affairs. Email wilkeso@appstate.edu 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.
WHAT TO DO THE APPALACHIAN OPEN HOUSE Thursday 6-6:30 p.m. This general interest meeting is open to all students who are interested in learning more about The Appalachian and potentially joining our team. Any student is able to join The Appalachian and any of these desks, regardless of major or experience. There is also no club fee to join. For questions or concerns email mclaughlinca1@appstate.edu.
CALLING ALL CREATORS! The Peel Literature and Arts Review is App State’s student-run literary arts publication. We are seeking students to submit their creative works for review and possible publication. Submit your art, music, design, poetry, prose, fashion and more at thepeelreview.submittable. com. Final deadline is Feb. 16 at midnight. Find more information by visiting thepeelreview.com or following us on social media @ thepeelreview.
PLEMMONS MEDALLION NOMINATIONS The W. H. Plemmons Leadership Medallion, named in honor of Dr. William H. Plemmons who served as the second president of the University from 1955 to 1969, was established by an action of the Appalachian State University Board of Trustees in 1996. The award was created to recognize the time, energy, skills and commitment of students, faculty, student development educators and staff who exceed their peers in providing leadership that enriches the quality of student life and advances the education of students. Students and university employees are invited to nominate a student or university employee for this award. Nominations are currently being accepted
for this award. Nominations are accepted until Friday online at https://plemmonsmedallion.appstate.edu.
COLLEGIATE RECOVERY COMMUNITY Every Wednesday and Thursday from 5:307 p.m. the Collegiate Recovery Community meets at Wellness and Prevention Services, located on the first floor of the Student Support Services Building (beside the post office). Collegiate Recovery Community offers support to students who are in recovery from any kind of addiction and/or mental illness including but not limited to, substance use, eating disorders, sex addiction or depression. This community assists in each individual’s unique recovery by preventing relapse, encouraging autonomy, providing support, increasing academic success and offering a safe space on campus to process, grow and reflect.
THE PEEL PRESENTS MORTIFIED We want your embarrassing stories! Do you have old love letters? Diary entries? Letters, class notes, etc? The Peel and Lyric present Mortified! Come to Mortified on Feb. 13 at Espresso News from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Mortified is a chance to tell funny and embarrassing stories about anything and everything. Please come and support The Peel in a fun-filled night you will not forget!
ents. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 828-262-2190 with any additional questions.
ADVERTISE IN THE APPALACHIAN Advertise your buisnesses and services to the student population of Appalachian State University while also supporting the student staff of The Appalachian! Visit http://theappalachianonline.com/advertise-with-us/ or email buisness@theappalachianonline.com with inquiries.
OUTDOOR JOBS FAR Do you love being outside? How about spending your entire summer in the great outdoors? Over 60 camps, conference centers, outfitters and resorts will be represented from throughout the U.S. at this fair. This is a great opportunity to secure both summer and year round employment and internships! Spend your summer gaining skills in teaching, counseling, leading, climbing, boating and much, much more. Feb. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Grandfather Ballroom, Plemmons Student Union.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SPEAKER SERIES
since 2012 and the 2015 USGBC’s Climate Leadership Award. Join Patrick and Jim for this exciting lecture where they will share their efforts, challenges and Appalachian’s energy reduction goals for the future.
VAGINA MONOLOGUES 2018 Vagina Monologues 2018 is here! Come see monologues based on real stories and experiences of people with vaginas! Be present in a space to feel empowered and defiant, while supporting our local charity, OASIS. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll think about vaginas in a brand new light! Vagina Monologues will be held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. in Parkway Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union. Tickets are $10 and will be sold at contact tables starting Feb. 5 and will be sold at the door. Merchandise will also be sold at the contact tables and at the shows. All proceeds will be go to Oasis and VDAY. If you have any questions, please email Shea McCullough at mcculloughss@appstate. edu.
15 MINDFUL MINUTES Students are welcome to join Still Point’s “15 Mindful Minutes” each Thursday at 3 p.m. in 155 Tater Hill Room, PSU. Skilled meditation leaders within the Appalachian Community will engage you -- literally for 15 minutes -- in mindful practices such as breath work, mind-body integration, guided visualizations, walking meditation and silence. Look for us on AppSync.
The Office of Financial Aid will be hosting a FAFSA Night on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in room 265 of John E. Thomas Hall. Financial Aid Counselors will be helping students file the 2018-19 FAFSA. Students are encouraged to bring FSA ID and 2016 tax information for themselves as well as their par-
Feb. 19, 4-5 p.m. in room 137A of Plemmons Student Union. Free! Appalachian State’s 45 percent is the highest energy intensity reduction for the entire UNC system; in doing so, the University has avoided $37 million in energy and water costs since 2002-03. Appalachian has recently adopted a 2017 Strategic Energy and Water Management Plan, has a student-led, student-funded Renewable Energy Initiative (REI) that installs renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on campus, and has received numerous awards including the STARS Gold rating
THURSDAY, FEB. 8
FRIDAY, FEB. 9
SATURDAY, FEB. 10
SUNDAY, FEB. 11
15 Mindful Minutes
Vagina Monologues
Fiddler’s Convention
Relax Yosef
3 p.m. Tater Hill Room, PSU
7 p.m. Parkway Ballroom, PSU
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Plemmons Student Union
2 - 4 p.m. Blue Ridge Ballroom, PSU
Collegiate Recovery Community
Kate Rhudy and Ellis Dyson
A Fiddler’s Square Dance
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wellness and Prevention Services
7:30 p.m. Legends
7 p.m. Legends
MONDAY, FEB. 12
TUESDAY, FEB. 13
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14
THURSDAY, FEB. 15
Speak to Your Heart: Open Mic Night featuring Anthony McPherson
The Peel Presents Mortified
Outdoor Jobs Fair
15 Mindful Minutes
6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Espresso News
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Grandfather Ballroom, PSU
3 p.m. Tater Hill Room, PSU
Collegiate Recovery Community
FAFSA Night
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wellness and Prevention Services
4 - 8 p.m. Room 265, JET Building
FASFA NIGHT
The Applachian Open House 6 - 6:30 p.m. Room 217, PSU
Vagina Monologues 7 p.m. Parkway Ballroom, PSU
6 - 9 p.m. Parkway Ballroom, PSU
Collegiate Recovery Community 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Wellness and Prevention Services
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