The Appalachian 11.14.13
Appalachian State University’s student news source since 1934
Voter turnout fails to turn up Brantz, Peña get four years on town council; Boone shows low voter turnout by Chelsey Fisher Senior News Reporter
T
he Board of Elections finished counting the provisional votes cast during the municipal election held Nov. 5, but the numbers did not change any winners, said Jane Hodges, director of the Watauga County Board of Elections. Of the 117 provisional ballots cast, 94 votes were accepted by the Board of Elections, Hodges said. The percentage of provisional ballots accepted is typical for a municipal election, she said. The added provisional ballots did not change who won any elections, but changed which Boone Town Council candidate won the highest number of votes, according to the State Board of Elections. Before the provisional ballots were added, Rennie Brantz had the most votes for Boone Town Council,
with 1,127 votes, and Jennifer Pena was in second with 1,126 votes. After the provisional ballots, Peña received the most votes with 1,202 and Brantz came in second with 1,191, according to the State Board of Elections. Both Peña and Brantz will have four-year terms. These votes bring the voter turnout for Boone to 11.7 percent. Boone Mayor-Elect and current Town Councilman Andy Ball said he is disappointed with the low voter turnout every year during the municipal elections. “I think what happens at the local level, with town council or the county commission, affects people directly,” he said. “From the quality of your roads, your sidewalks, fire and police protection, public safety – all these things are critical to your quality of life and how you live, work or study somewhere.”
News Reporter
by Nicole Bellamy Intern News Reporter
Ashley Spencer | The Appalachian
by Carl Blankenship Intern News Reporter
SEE PANEL PAGE 2
Molly Cogburn | The Appalachian
Professor in the Department of Computer Science Rahman Tashakkori spoke Tuesday night at a panel discussion based on the book ‘The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam’ by F. E. Peters. Appalachian faculty briefly spoke about their experience with three monotheistic religions and took questions from the audience.
Mountaineer competes in NC pageant by Natasha Bostok Intern News Reporter
Allie Dunn | Photo Courtesy
Freshman hospitality and tourism management major Allie Dunn finished fourth runner-up in the 2014 Miss North Carolina USA pageant on Nov. 9 in High Point. This is Dunn’s second year competing in pageants. She was first runner-up at the North Carolina Teen pageant and went on to win the title of Miss Stallings USA, which allowed her to advance to the Miss North Carolina USA Pageant. “I decided to go into pageants because it was something I was always interested in,” Dunn said. “Competing has opened so many doors – I now have a modeling career. It goes be-
A&E
Campus groups put on events to support hunger, poverty awareness by Gerrit Van Genderen
Panel discusses religion during Let’s Talk About It series Approximately 100 students and faculty attended a panel discussion of the book “The Children of Abraham” Tuesday night in Belk Library. The talk was part of the Let’s Talk About It program series hosted by the library and the Muslim Student Association. The talk featured three Appalachian State University professors: Maria Lichtmann and Alan Hauser from the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and Rahman Tashakkori from the Department of Computer Science. The professors gave introductory statements about their backgrounds in regards to Christianity, Judaism and Islam, and then proceeded to pose several discussion-leading statements about the book before taking questions from the
Vol. 88, No. 21
yond just the title, and it is so much fun.” Dunn’s sponsors include Jim and Barbara Little, Curt and Fran Robertson, Karen Ford, Benita May, Dentistry at Rea Village, Electrical Construction & Design Inc., Griffin Masonry, East Coast Entertainment and The Cheeky Bean. The sponsorship money covered the $1,200 entry fee, wardrobe, spotlight page and any extra costs associated with the pageant, Dunn said. A spotlight page is a page in the program book that contestants pay to have more photos in, giving the judges a better view by providing a variety of pictures, she said. Dunn said she began preparing for the pageant eight
SPORTS
months ago. She completed daily workouts, practiced walking in heels, found her wardrobe and flew to New York City for photo shoots. Dunn said her Alpha Delta Pi sisters encouraged and supported her throughout the entire process. “A group of girls and I got together each night of the pageant to support her through live streaming, best wishes, tweets, text messages and prayer,” Sarah Gulledge, Dunn’s sister in Alpha Delta Pi, said. Dunn said she encourages fellow students to go after what they are passionate about. “If it’s something you want to do, you will regret it more if you don’t go after it,” Dunn said.
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, a campuswide attempt to make people aware of national poverty, hunger and homelessness, will begin Saturday, according to act.appstate.edu. Multiple campus organizations have set up events throughout the week. The Black Student Association is partnering with Western Youth Network and Hospitality House to provide an opportunity for campus organizations and individuals to select one of 15 anonymous local families to send items that meet their personal needs, Aisha Cotton, BSA Public Outreach chairman, said. This is the second year that the association has hosted an Adopt-A-Family event. Cotton said the anonymous families provide the Black Student Association with a list of clothing sizes, interests and hobbies that will help registered organizations or individuals pick out items to package and return to the BSA. “As it gets closer to the holidays, people tend to have a heart of giving,” Cotton said. “We want to provide an opportunity for people to give back and dedicate support to the community.” Package drop-off is Nov. 22 from noon to 5 p.m. in the BSA office, Room 215 of Plemmons Student Union. Registration for the event is open until Friday and forms are available at contact tables in the Solarium foyer. Appalachian State University’s Amnesty International chapter will host three events for Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, to help shed light on poverty on a national and local level. Amnesty International works to protect human rights worldwide with approximately 3 million supporters, activists and volunteers, according to amnestyusa.org. Amanda Moore, senior global studies and public relations major, started the Appalachian chapter in April 2012. The three events Amnesty International will host include two film screenings, “Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County,” at 6 p.m. on Monday in Room 114 of Anne Belk Library and “From Place to Place” documentary screening at 6 p.m. on Nov. SEE HUNGER PAGE 3
ON THE WEB Follow our blogs at TheAppalachianOnline.com/blogs. Health & Nutrition
Is Lady Gaga's latest album 'ARTPOP' an art flop? Read what our music critic had to say about the hit maker's latest effort.
The Appalachian State football team traveled to Athens, Ga. for an SEC battle against Georgia. The Mountaineers lost 45-6.
SEE LADY GAGA PAGE 4
SEE GAME DAY PAGE 8
Find out how you can live a better, healthier lifestyle with The Appalachian’s latest blog.
Check out TheAppalachianOnline.com