April 2, The Appalachian

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The Appalachian Thursday, April 2,24, 2015 Tuesday, February 2015

UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION SGA votes down bill to give individual Greek councils a seat in the senate

by Laney Ruckstuhl News Editor

T

he Student Government Association voted down a bill proposed Tuesday night that would have broken Greek Life seats down by individual council in a 19-15 vote, a decision that left many in attendance in tears.

The Greek Life Equal Representation Act, or Senate Bill 048-009, proposed that there be three seats on the senate allotted for Greek Life – one for the Interfraternity Council, one for the PanHellenic Council and one for the National PanHellenic Council, or the historically black Greek letter organization.

Currently, SGA has three seats designated to Greek Life, though they are general seats and not broken down by council. NPHC does not currently hold a seat.

At the end of fall 2014, Appalachian’s Greek Life as a whole had 1,841 members, with only 25 belonging to NPHC. Currently, five fraternities and sororities are part of NPHC at Appalachian.

The bill was sponsored by Becky Cooke, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, PanHellenic President Carson Lamb, NPHC President Reginald Gravely and Interfraternity Council President Alex Lipe, along with presidents from several Greek chapters in

SENATE SEAT BREAKDOWN The Greek Life Equal Representation Act proposed changes to SGA’s senate seats that would separate Greek Life from clubs and organizations, giving one seat to each indivdiual council: IFC, PHC and NPHC.

CURRENT:

Class (48) Academic Colleges (14) Clubs & Orgs. (14) SGA Relationships (7) Transfer Students (2)

PROPOSED:

Class (48) Academic Colleges (14) Clubs & Orgs. (11) SGA Relationships (8) Greek Life (3) Transfer Students (2)

Source: sga.appstate.edu the different councils.

The rules committee, made up of 11 senators, heard the bill last Thursday when it received a vote of unfavorable, with only one member of the committee voting in favor of the bill. However, the rules evaluation was suspended in hopes of shortening the bill’s timeline, meaning that senators were not allowed a chance

Infohraphic by Malik Rahili to read the bill before voting on it.

Gravely was one of 17 NPHC members present at SGA’s meeting, though he said SGA’s attendance was poor and senators who were present were disrespectful – rolling their eyes, making side chatter and looking at their phones.

Gravely said this is not the first instance where racial bias

Appalachian to sell DC House

by Laney Ruckstuhl News Editor

The App House in Washington, D.C. has been a resource for students and alumni but will soon be up for sale, as voted on by Appalachian State University’s Endowment Fund Board of Trustees March 27.

The house, located at 622 North Carolina Ave. SE in D.C., is a place for undergraduates, graduates and alumni of Appalachian State University who are taking internships or even pursuing careers in the area. The goal was to offer affordable housing in the area at the rate of $825 per month.

Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs Greg Lovins said when the house was purchased in 2003, it was intended to be run like a hostel, where students could come and go for short trips as needed. The house was run like this for several years, similar to Appalachian’s loft

in New York City.

The university purchased the current App House in September 2003 after losing the lease for a house at another address in March of that year that the university had owned since 1978.

“We found out that when the purchase of the house was made, we’re not in an area that is zoned to allow us to be using it the way we’d been using it,” Lovins said.

Lovins said Appalachian attempted to negotiate with the D.C. zoning administrators, but students and alumni wanting to live in the house still had to sign a lease for at least 30 days. The house was on the market in 2009, but wasn’t sold due to the economy, he said.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to generate as much use to make it financially viable,” Lovins said. “We’re not utilizing a

SEE DC HOUSE PAGE 3

has been an issue in the senate. A bill was first proposed about two years ago to allow a representative from the Multicultural Center a seat on the senate, he said, but the motion only recently just passed.

“Many multicultural students feel that SGA is not a proper representation of us,” Gravely said. “They’re racist – there’s no way to sugarcoat it.”

While IFC and PHC are known for hosting mixers, formals and socials that usually involve alcohol, NPHC does not allow alcohol at any of their events and focuses primarily on service, rather than social interaction, Gravely said, setting them apart from the rest of Greek Life due to

SEE UNEQUAL PAGE 4

Bill passed to protect sexual assault victims

by Mary Wood Intern News Reporter

A bill intended to protect sexual assault victims by allowing them to file for permanent protective orders was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly last week.

North Carolina Bill 60 states that a victim of a sexual offense would be able to obtain a protective order lasting the lifetime of the perpetrator, even if the order is not requested at the time of sentencing. The bill goes into effect October 1, 2015.

This bill will matter for Ap-

palachian State University students, faculty and staff, as it will intend to provide safety and protection to victims of sexual assault.

Student Conduct Director Judy Haas said Appalachian already provides a no-contact directive in some cases.

Similar to Bill 60, this directive provides safety for the victim of sexual assault or anyone who feels as if someone has or will promote conflict. The directive is used not only for sexual assault, but for conflicts with friends, roommates and others.

SEE BILL PAGE 5

2

ASIAN FESTIVAL

Alex Gates

The Asian Festival, which was hosted by the Asian Student Association and five other organizations, gave Appalachian students an opportunity to learn more about Asian culture The event was held in the Blue Ridge Ballroom of Plemmons Student Union on Wednesday evening.

news

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Conference aims to educate, inspire activism

by Thomas Culkin News Reporter

T

he Office of Multicultural Student Development will host Appalachian State University’s second annual Equality in Action Conference April 11 in the Reich College of Education building.

The Equality in Action Conference is a social justicethemed conference that seeks to improve understanding between different identity groups, create conversations around how the community can effect positive change, and make Appalachian’s student body more informed, thoughtful and equipped to confidently discuss and resolve minority student issues.

“It’s designed to engage students who are interested in social justice topics, and foster a sense of civic engagement,”

DC HOUSE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 great asset as well as we should.”

Appalachian alumna Elizabeth Bennett is currently living in the house after graduating in fall 2014. She said real estate agents have already come to look at the house.

“Quite frankly, myself and the alumni and students who have lived there are very upset,” she said. “It’s a great resource that App has for helping its students with career building so I’m angry that that was what they decided to cut.”

Sharon Jensen, the interim director for ca-

said Gus Pena, the director of the Office of Multicultural Student Development.

Under the broad direction of the Office of Multicultural Student Development, the events at the conference will be held by student organizations such as the LGBT Center, Student Government Association, the Sexuality and Gender Alliance and the Appalachian Popular Programing Society.

“The intention is to give people a wide variety of options to learn about things they don’t know about already,” said Betsy Kelly, a graduate student in the counseling department who works with the LGBT Center.

Maddie Majerus, a senior political science major who helped organize the event, believes the conference is important because it brings social justice issues to the forefront.

reer development, is in charge of booking the house but said she has not been informed that the university is looking to sell it. Jensen has been getting interns prepared for the summer semester and has already booked many spots in the house.

“I’m full steam ahead for summer,” Jensen said. “I have not been told anything.”

But Lovins said there is no way of knowing when the house may be sold.

“It could sell now, could take months,” he said. “We are looking at alternatives for students who are looking to book the house for the summer.”

“People are having these conversations on a greater scale, and are ready to act on these ideas and these issues,” Majerus said.

Jacob Tobia, a recent graduate of Duke University, will be the keynote speaker. Tobia is a prominent writer, speaker and advocate for justice for gender nonconforming, genderqueer and transgender people and will be giving a speech about careers in social advocacy.

This year’s conference will feature numerous differences from last year’s conference.

Last year the conference dealt specifically with LGBT issues.

This year, the conference covers multiple facets of social justice.

“Last year our LGBT Center had really grown and changed in the last few years, and we felt like the community and

our volunteers were ready for a bigger project,” Majerus said. “But this past year, with our changing campus climate, it seems like people are really looking for that opportunity to have intersectional discussions, so we changed the focus to be on social justice in general.”

In addition to including a wider range of groups, this year’s conference will also place a greater significance on activism and civic engagement.

“It’s very intentional this year that it’s for students who not only want to learn, but they also want to be able to apply that new information in their communities,” Pena said.

Students can register for the event at www.glbt.appstate. edu. Registration is free, and the the deadline is April 6.

University Communications

The App House in Washington, D.C. will soon be up for sale due to a lack of use by students and alumni. The decision was voted on March 27.

Greening My Plate Month focuses on local, healthy food

by Chamian Cruz News Reporter

Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture are bringing Greening My Plate Month to Boone for the second time with free events that serve to entertain, celebrate spring and educate the community about the importance of eating and buying fresh, local food.

Greening My Plate was started last year by Margie Mansure, consumer sciences agent at Watauga County Cooperative Extension, and took place over the course of a week with over a dozen events.

Suzanne Fleishman, program coordinator at BRWIA, said Mansure started the event last year after noting that many organizations in Watauga County were focusing on healthy eating and local foods, but

there wasn’t an event where they could all come together.

“She decided to create a group that would plan this big kick-off leading up to the opening of the Farmer’s Market to highlight growing season and healthy eating,” Fleishman said.

Due to the success of the community’s interest and involvement, BRWIA extended their efforts to a month long series of events. With 20 organizations involved and 30 events all leading up to the Farmer’s Market opening day, Greening My Plate Month will be March 29 through May 2.

“We’re really trying to reach the entire community,” Fleishman said. “The purpose of bringing all these organizations together is that everyone has kind of their own audience

and by forming a coalition, we can target the community as a whole.”

Almost all events are free. Events vary from cooking classes and demos to volunteer work at various local organizations to live entertainment and film screenings.

“Greening My Plate is growing into a local campaign which supports the work of health care providers, local growers and families trying to make good food choices,” said Susan Miller, secretary of the board of directors at PHARMN, or Preserve Heritage Agriculture & Regional Markets Now. “Like many such community-based efforts, it takes time to be heard in the community.”

PHARMN will be participating at Greening My Plate for its second year. The organization

is a non-profit, which administers agricultural grants for local organizations and operates the Kids’ Corner at the Watauga County Farmers Market during its season of May through October each year.

Miller said she is serving in the Greening My Plate committee for the second time. Just as last year, PHARMN will provide a Greening My Plate activity on opening day of the Farmer’s Market with the Wheel of Green, where children spin a wheel decorated with vegetables and have to eat the fresh vegetable wherever the wheel stops.

“Aside from providing nutrients essential to life, fresh food supports health and helps our kids develop physically,” Miller said “Educating the community to the benefits of consuming food that is

not processed in a factory is important, because it’s better for us to eat foods prepared at home, with local ingredients and without the vast amounts of salt, sugar and preservatives often found in processed foods.”

In addition, Miller said support for local food is important in order to support the local economy and because it’s healthier and fresher, since the food does not have to travel days in a truck from hundreds or even thousands of miles away, losing its nutritional value during transport.

“The local food movement has been growing nationally,” Miller said, “and is causing a heightened awareness of the importance of fresh and local, along with exercise, in order to maintain a healthy life.”

4 UNEQUAL

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 formals and socials that usually involve alcohol, NPHC does not allow alcohol at their events and focuses primarily on service, rather than social interaction, Gravely said, setting them apart from the rest of Greek Life due to differing goals.

The current senators for Greek Life are affiliated with IFC and PHC and recently presented a constituency report to SGA, which Gravely said NPHC was never asked for input on.

“Our voice has not been heard at all,” Gravely said. “I knew there were three Greek seats, but as NPHC president, I never met them [prior to the presentation of the constituency report].”

The bill will be revised and resubmitted by NPHC, then will be reheard on the Senate floor on April 14 after passing the rules committee. Gravely said he foresees the bill passing now that senators have heard comments from NPHC and senators will be given a chance to read the bill in full.

“We’re not asking for your help, we’re asking for equality,” Gravely said. “We’re asking for equal representation across the board. We’re not just fighting for people of color, we’re fighting for students in other marginalized groups.”

Gravely said it is important to note that despite popular belief, one of NPHC’s members already has a seat on senate next year as a Greek Life representative. The

other two seats are designated to members of PHC, with no one from IFC being represented.

“This is not the NPHC bill,” he said. “This is the Greek Life Equal Representation Bill.”

Walt Grayson, freshman class senator and rules committee member assigned to the bill, voted against it but listed other reasons for the bill not passing.

The main problems with the bill, Grayson said, were that it did not have a date set for implementation and did not include normal policies for Greek Life senators such as acquiring 50 signatures to become a senator and requiring all senators to register through Student Development Records.

“I can definitely understand why people might think that [race was a factor] but we all voted no for those three reasons,” Grayson said. “I’m positive that it will pass and hopefully that will prove racial bias is not a factor.”

Connor Strand, representing the Appalachian and the Community Together office and the sole member of the rules committee who voted favorable, said the committee’s chair is not supposed to allow subjective questions, but the discussion went far beyond its purpose.

“I think it was definitely based on race, although it wasn’t explicit,” Strand said. “We were only supposed to talk about research, grammar and formatting. Everyone else on the committee asked very opinionated questions.”

Strand now plans on resigning from student government, a

National PanHellenic Council President Reginald Gravely said he does not feel that NPHC and other Greek Life organizations are being given proper representation in SGA’s senate alongside other Greek councils.

decision he says was not wholly influenced by the bill, but it was what drove him to the edge.

“There are definitely individuals in SGA that aren’t educated enough on racial issues to a point where they should be allowed to have any input on racial conversations,” he said.

Senator Virginia Reed, representative for APPS, said that though she thinks constitutional changes to seats and minor aspects of the bill may have played a part in the decision, she was not surprised by the outcome of the vote.

“There obviously are a lot of racial tensions and microag-

gressions on this campus that I don’t think everyone is willing to recognize or admit to,” Reed said. “I don’t think that anyone wants to think that they’re a racist, but there definitely are microaggressions that privileged people have that you can either address and move past and stop using them, or you can continue to ignore and continue contributing to the problem.”

Reed was one of many senators to express her feelings about the decision on social media Tuesday night. As of press time, Reed’s Facebook post had received over 80 shares.

“I feel like all year, every iso-

Laney Ruckstuhl

lated incident that has come up has just been like a flash in the pan where people talk about it and then nothing happens,” Reed said. “I don’t want this to be another one of those things.”

Reed said she hope conversation surrounding the issue will continue and that people will hold SGA accountable to representing their constituents.

“I think this is coming at the end of a very long and very trying year for Appalachian,” she said. “I want this to kind of fuel people’s fire and passions to do something now that they’ve seen what’s happened in their own student government.”

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Democracy Matters encourages student activism

by Madison Barlow Intern News Reporter

When freshman chemistry major Christa Adjei first saw a flier for Democracy Matters hanging in Sanford Hall, she thought of it as nothing more as an opportunity for an internship. Little did she know, Democracy Matters would soon become a major part of her life.

After learning about the internship with DM, a non-partisan campusbased organization that educates students about politics and encourages student activism, Adjei realized part of her requirement would be to start a chapter of the organization at Appalachian.

Adjei said she became particularly passionate about democracy, because she saw how it affected aspects of her daily life, such as when she tried to apply for financial aid.

“Both of my parents are hardwork-

ing, but we are ultimately middle class,” she said. “When I filled out FAFSA, I was told I would only be eligible to take out loans that would later have to be paid back. That angered and frustrated me. Maybe if students get their voice heard, and start actively participating in politics, then public school’s tuition nationwide will stop increasing. And then my parents and I would be able to afford my education.”

Moving forward, Adjei and DM are planning a week of action starting April 13 that she hopes will encourage work with other campus political organizations.

“The week of action is going to be so much fun,” Adjei said. “Right now, we’re planning to have a screening of ‘Koch Brothers Exposed,’ followed by an all-inclusive discussion panel.

We’re also planning a Pizza and Politics mixer that will hopefully make politics less scary.”

Joan Mandle, the nationwide executive director of DM, said the organization’s hope is to help give students nationwide a political voice. Mandle said DM also focuses on “getting private money out of politics, and getting students back in.”

“I am a sociology professor, so naturally I think about everything,” she said. “One day, I realized just how harmful money and big corporations are to democracy. More times than not, people of political power will listen to their corporate campaign donors, rather than ordinary citizens.”

Mandle said it was this realization that pushed her to start DM alongside her husband and son.

“We started DM in 2001 with the long term goal of strengthening democracy,” she said. “Historically, students and young people have proven to be the driving force behind any major social change in the U.S. So we

knew the only way to even begin to reform politics was to get college students involved.”

Adjei has also teamed up with English professor Hailie Bryant to create a “Potty Politics” newsletter that she posted on the inside of bathroom doors in different locations around campus.

Bryant said she was excited to see students take initiative and interest in political issues, as they are the future voters of America.

“Voting is one of the most important ways to foster a sense of responsible citizenship at both the local and national level,” Bryant said. “As future decision makers, college students have the benefit of becoming involved with issues that matter to them most. They are transitioning from life at home to careers which provide an opportunity for growth and education on these important issues.”

Club seeks to connect Appalachian’s two psychology programs

by Madison Barlow Intern News Reporter

A new club focused on a unique branch of psychology was formed recently to fill a gap between programs that junior psychology major Chris Maples noticed on Appalachian State University’s campus.

The Industrial Organizational Psych Club held their first meeting on Monday in Smith-Wright Hall. The club’s goal is to connect Appalachian’s undergraduate and graduate psychology programs, specifically the Industrial-Organizational and Human Resources Management – IOHRM – program.

IO psychology is the study of human behavior in the workplace, Maples said.

It combines business with psychological theories to help organizations work with their personnel and improve relations.

“As a psychology major with a double minor in human services and business, IO psychology is something I’m very passionate about,” Maples said. “App has one of the strongest IOHRM graduate programs, but it dawned on me that many of the undergraduate students don’t get to interact with the grad students a lot or even have an environment for further education about IO psych.”

It was this drive that

BILL

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “We have to look at the severity of the situation and how each individual responds to the no-contact directive,” Haas said.

In addition to the directive, Haas said student conduct may be seeing the bill in their offices once it has gone into effect in 2015.

“We might be seeing this bill in the next couple of years with incoming freshman,” Haas said.

Conduct will take those who have

prompted Maples to contact psychology associate professor Shawn Bergman and department director Tim Huelsman to discuss the logistics of the club.

“They were excited by the idea, but wanted to make sure the club was as interactive as possible,” Maples said. “There are so many ways that psychology can be used in a business setting, so after that meeting my personal goal for the club became to encourage members to work together to learn more about how to apply IO psych.”

Junior psychology major Diana Martinez attended the first meeting, and said she is enthusiastic about

the bill under serious watch due to the severity of the bill’s protective orders. Haas said Student Conduct would have a responsibility to keep up the bill if an Appalachian student has it documented by the court.

ASU Police Chief Gunther Doerr said if passed into law, this would only apply after an offender was convicted in a criminal court of a sex offense under state law.

Then, the victim must file a request through the courts for a permanent no-contact order and only after a judge approves finding rea-

joining the club.

“I have a concentration in business, so when I heard about the IO psych club I knew it would be very beneficial for me,” she said. “I really, really like the fact that there are opportunities to connect with graduate students and professors, as well as chances to attend educational conferences.”

Martinez also said she hopes to apply what she learns from the club to her responsibilities in everyday life.

“I hold a position as the recruitment chair in my sorority, so I’m looking forward to learning different IO psych techniques that I can use to better myself and

my organization,” Martinez said. “It helps a lot that recruitment is such a big part of IO psych.”

For now, Maples is focused on spreading awareness and possibly attending events with other organizations on campus.

“Obviously, the club is new so, we’re still trying to reach as many people on campus as possible,” he said. “I would love to collaborate with different organizations to not only spread the word about IO, but to also emphasize how applicable this particular branch of psychology is to practically everything.”

sonable grounds exist for the victim to fear future contact with the convicted offender, would an order be granted, Doerr said.

ASU Police would not be directly involved with the process of the law, but Doerr said they are thrilled to see the bill passed, as it could bring justice to victims of sexual violence.

Appalachian has had ten on-campus sexual assaults reported since the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year, with one being determined to be a false report at a later date.

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6

Skateboarding, art to collide at 3rd Place

by Kelsey Hamm Intern A&E Reporter

T

wo Appalachian State University students, an alumnus and two local artists will display their original painted skateboard decks during Art Crawl on Friday as part of the first annual Decked Out Art Show at 3rd Place.

Local artists Greg Andersen and Michael Guerin, alumnus Ryan Harrison, senior graphic design major Ethan Streicher and junior studio art major Alec Castillo will display skateboard decks at the event. The show is inspired by similar events happening in cities all over the United States, Streicher said.

“There’s a [similar show] happening in Charlotte and we decided to bring that to Boone,” Streicher said.

“Skateboarding is still pretty illegal in here, which is something I don’t understand. I would understand if people were destroying property, but most people who skate are using it as a method of transportation and a way to get around.”

Harrison, who is known artistically as “Ryan Patric,” based five of his six skate decks on the kingdoms of life: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi,

Monera and Protista.

“On the surface, it doesn’t seem very parallel with skate culture, however, by depicting each type of existence to its own skate deck, I am stressing its relation to skateboarding as a lifestyle,” Harrison said “Serious skaters dedicate their blood, sweat and tears to this sport, practicing trick after trick, big or small, until it’s perfect. Skaters are also notorious for being innovative when trying new things, using whatever mostly public or private resources they can find to create makeshift skateparks.”

Streicher, on the other hand, focused on creating characters with different personalities.

“My skateboards are wacky and bright colored illustrations,” Streicher said. “Depending on the board, it takes me about six or seven hours to finish one. I really like to use house paint, which gives me nice flat colors.

Figuring out what I want to do takes more time than the execution.”

All of the pieces are cohesive and repetitive in shape, Streicher said, and the group will have the same canvas size for the entire show.

Both Harrison and Streicher said they have or have had a personal

Ethan Streicher

As part of Friday’s Art Crawl, local artists and Appalachian students will display their original painted skateboard decks at the first Decked Out Art Show at 3rd Place. The artists focused on different topics such as the kingdoms of life and characters with different personalities.

connection with skateboarding, adding influence to participating in the show.

“I grew up with plenty of friends who skated, some more serious than others,” Harrison said.

“To my chagrin, I can barely stand on a skateboard, let alone ride. I love the culture though, especially artistically – graffiti, fashion, photography, videography.”

Harrison added that he thinks the Town of Boone should build a public skatepark for locals to use.

“[We] want to keep our kind safe and off the streets, and give a growing skater population the opportunity to legally pursue their passion and art,” he said.

Local skateboarder and sophomore sustainable development major Savannah Wishart agreed with Harrison’s stance, saying she wants a place to skateboard in Boone but is skeptical that it will ever come.

“I’m going to the show on Friday because this is the first skateboarding exhibit I’ve seen in

the area,” Wishart said.

“I am constantly at skate shows on this coast and I’m thrilled that we’re having one here.”

In addition to skate decks, the exhibit will also feature one painted smoker bench for viewing purposes, Streicher said.

The group started an online Kickstarter to support the purchase of skate decks for the show.

After debuting at 3rd Place during Friday’s Art Crawl, the exhibit will remain at the venue until the end of April.

‘Rockstar’ professor releases new book on campus

by Katie Murawski Intern A&E Reporter

Emma Speckman A&E Editor

An Appalachian State University English professor and North Carolina Poet Laureate held a book signing and reading from his newest book, “The Life of the World to Come” in the university bookstore on Monday.

Joseph Bathanti is a well-known author of eight books of poetry, three previous works of fiction and one nonfiction work. He is also the recipient of numerous awards such as the Ragan-Rubin Award, the Sherwood Anderson Award and the Spokane Prize.

“The Life of the World to Come” is set in mid-1970s Pittsburgh. In it, Bathanti tells the story of a lawyer in debt to a gambling ring, who has to flee to a fictional place called Queen, which he said is supposed to represent Charlotte.

Splashed with local color, poetic candor and gripping plot development, the book is in line with much of Bathanti’s previous works of fiction.

“Right away, we are alerted to the prose treat that Bathanti will lay before us with astonishing constancy: at times poetic like Allen Ginsberg; at times staccato like Raymond

Chandler; dramatic and full of dialogue, as with Pat Conroy; and soaring, yes, like Wolfe, but with an Italian Catholic repertoire,” described a book reviewer in the Asheville Citizen-Times, who gave the novel a high rating.

Fiction writer and visiting professor Abigail DeWitt introduced Bathanti at the event, describing him to those gathered as a “rockstar among writers” and an advocate for North Carolina.

After reading a couple alluring sections of his new book, Bathanti led a question and answer panel for the 15-20 faculty and students present.

“The event went great, we had a nice crowd and sold about half of the bookstore’s copies of Joseph’s new novel,” said the Scholar’s Bookshop manager Bill Pillow. “We are extremely lucky on our campus to have one of North Carolina’s most prestigious and generous writers and teachers in our midst.”

Bathanti credits much of his success and talent to the people he works with at the university.

“I’d like to say how fabulous the creative writing program is here at Appalachian State,” he said, describing his colleagues and the program as a whole as “nurturing and wonderful.”

Halle Keighton Appalachian English professor and North Carolina Poet Laureate read from his new book, “The Life of the World to Come” at a book signing in the university bookstore Monday.

“The Life of the World to Come” is currently available in the

university bookstore for a reduced price of $23.99.

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opinion

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Pope continues to inspire acceptance, love Lauren Burrows Opinion Writer

Pope Francis addressed a crowd of thousands in Naples, Italy, on Saturday, honing in on anti-immigration sentiment being one of the country’s largest problems.

Francis, elected in March 2013, has often been known for his open-minded spiels regarding issues that the church typically turns its face from, including homosexuality, non-gender conforming identity, AIDS and HIV and immigration. Once again, Francis exhibited great love toward a group of people marginalized by society.

In a message given in July

2014, to the Mexico-Holy See Colloquium on Migration and Development, the Pope spoke against the “racist and xenophobic attitudes” that most immigrants have to face on a daily basis, according to The Huffington Post.

He also embraced migrant children, asking prime ministers and clergy to protect them where they are able.

“Whether they travel for reasons of poverty, violence or the hope of uniting with families on the other side of the border, it is urgent to protect and assist them, because their frailty is greater and they’re defenseless...they’re at the mercy of any abuse or misfortune,” said Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin while Francis was speaking elsewhere.

On a trip home from the Philippines in January, Francis spoke about how the next time he visits Mexico, he

would like to cross the United States–Mexico border in homage to immigrants. He said that the imagined escapade would be a “beautiful gesture,” according to The Huffington Post.

The Pope crossed yet another line drawn by conservatives of the religion Saturday in Naples, saying that any anti-immigration sentiment is corruption in and of itself.

“If we close the door to immigrants, if we take away people’s work and their dignity, what do you call this?

It’s called corruption!” Francis said in Naples. “Corruption is a dirty thing! A corrupt society stinks!”

Not only has Francis stood up for immigrants in Italy, but also in the United States and other countries.

During a border crisis in summer 2014, Francis urged President Barack Obama and

the U.S. to welcome the nearly 60,000 unaccompanied child migrants.

With his stance on antiimmigration, Francis took a dangerous but worthwhile step when condemning hatred and instituting mercy, one of the greatest of the biblical values, among immigrants.

The Bible says in Luke 6:36 that believers should act with mercy, and in this Francis represents the Catholic church exceptionally. However, one does not need to be Catholic or of the Christian faith in order to love others and be sympathetic to their needs as human beings.

Mercy has been accounted for afresh by many immigrants this week by the hands of the Pope.

Burrows, a freshman journalism major from Mint Hill, is an opinion writer.

Emily Howard | The Appalachian

Current NCAA system does massive injustice to players Kevin Griffin Opinion Writer

The idea of paying college athletes brings forth strong reactions. What about amateurism? Do their scholarships not count as payment? Are they not students as well?

The NCAA itself has used points like this to justify not paying players. Yet, we are nearing the end of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, by far the NCAA’s most lucrative venture. The 14-year, $10.8 billion broadcasting deal the NCAA has with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting

brings in a significant portion of NCAA revenue, according to NCAA data.

And the players, those individuals most central to the event, are not allowed to see any of that money.

Any honest evaluation of the available information shows that so-called student-athletes are primarily valued by their schools for their athletic abilities. A survey of the experiences of student athletes from 2007 found that 60 percent saw “themselves more as athletes than students.”

The scholarships also do not cover as much as many think they do. A 2011 report by the National College Players Association found that, even with full athletic scholarships, 85 percent of on-campus student athletes at FBS schools lived in poverty, with a nearly iden-

tical number for off-campus athletes.

At its core, the issues here are justice and fairness. The players who generate the bulk of value in the system are prevented from being paid and placed under constraints.

Increasingly, there are signs this unjust system is changing.

A regional division of the National Labor Relations Board ruled last March that Northwestern University football players could unionize.

U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken ruled last August in the case O’Bannon v.

NCAA that the players could receive limited payments for the money generated from the use of their likenesses.

Though there has been no ruling yet that forces the payment of college athletes, these developments indicate change

may be coming. But what would happen to the NCAA if players had to be paid?

The system’s current structure would be upset, but there is no reason the NCAA cannot afford to pay players.

The Huffington Post recently surveyed several economists who agreed that the NCAA has the money to pay players. A reallocation of the resources, primarily from coaches and athletic directors, to players is all that would be needed.

Taking such an action likely would not go over well with those coaches and ADs who benefit tremendously.

Yet, for fairness, and perhaps, soon, by legal mandate, the change should be made.

Griffin, a junior journalism major from Madison, is an opinion writer.

classifieds

9

CRIME LOG BOONE

March 29 11:35 p.m. | Damage to property (Vandalism) Convocation Center This incident is under investigation.

March 31 11 p.m. | Larceny of a wallet Student Recreation Center This incident is under inves- March 29 tigation.

11:05 p.m. | Possession of marijuana March 30 Dale Street 10 p.m. | Larceny - from An arrest was made for the buildings possession of marijuana.

Unknown location on campus March 29 This incident is under inves- 12:55 p.m. | Possession of marijuana tigation.

Rivers Street An arrest was made for the March 29 possession of marijuana.

11:41 p.m. | Drug paraphernalia March 29 Dale Street 12:49 p.m. | Possession of An arrest was made for marijuana drug paraphernalia.

Dale Street An arrest was made for the

possession of marijuana.

March 29 12:41 p.m. | Possession of marijuana Dale Street An arrest was made for the possession of marijuana.

March 28 3:25 p.m. | Burglary - nonforced entry Gardner Hall This incident is under investigation.

March 26 11:30 p.m. | Possession of marijuana Legends An arrest was made for the possession of marijuana.

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The Appalachian 217 Plemmons Student Union, Boone, N.C. 28608 828 • 262-6149 Copyright © 2014 The Appalachian

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

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Joshua Farmer Managing Editor Gerrit Van Genderen Visual Managing Editor Malik Rahili Chief Copy Editor Abbi Pittman News Editor Laney Rucksthul A&E Editor Emma Speckman Sports Editor Cory Spiers Graphics Editor Samantha Cordialini Photo Editor Alex Gates Video Editor Chris Deverell Enterprise Editor Michael Bragg

BUSINESS OFFICE Business Manager Paul Heckert

Remember to vote for your favorite Boone foods, places, organizaitons and more on TheAppalachianOnline.com Results will be compiled in the final issue of The Appalachian on April 30

Voting closes April 3

ONLINE Web Manager Justin Perry Community Outreach Stephanie Sansoucy

ADVISER Assistant Director, CSIL Allison Bennett Dyche

Contact Information EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (828) 262-6149 BUSINESS OFFICE (828) 262-2157 ADVISER OFFICE (828) 262-2245

Associated Collegiate Press

app news

10 Submit Announcements App News is a service of the Division of Student Development. Email dycheab@appstate.edu.

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 given for events that are free or have a nominal cost.

Honoring university leadership award winners At 2 p.m. April 24 in the Parkway Ballroom of PSU, the Division of Student Development will honor the recipients of the 2014-2015 Who’s Who in American Universities and Colleges, along with the recipients of the Ronny L. Brooks Award for Outstanding Leadership, the Bobby L. Dunnigan Award for Outstanding Service and the Gregory S. Blimling Award for Outstanding Graduate Student in Student Development.

The reception is open to recipients, their families and friends.

Expressive Arts Group for Veterans Open to any faculty, staff and student veterans at Appalachian State University. The group’s purpose is to allow for the establishment of community amongst veterans and to offer creative outlets to explore through multiple modes of expression. Email falckms@appstate.edu or call 828-262-2696. All sessions will be held at 5:45 p.m. in room 306, College of Education. The dates are: March 31, April 14 and April 28.

Free tax assistance ASU’s Walker College of Business will provide free tax assistance for individuals or families with a combined household income of $60,000 or less. Anyone can prepare and e-file their own federal and state income taxes for free using www.myfreetaxes.com.

The Free Tax Help Lab, will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, through April 15, room 2014, Peacock Hall. Email hofmannma@ appstate.edu.

Appalachian Allies The Appalachian Allies program promotes an open, affirming and inclusive environment on campus by establishing a recognizable network of trained Allies who provide support and information to the LGBT community. Faculty, staff or students who complete the 2.5-hour training program successfully will be offered membership in App Allies. Trainings will be offered once more this semester: 5:30-8 p.m. April 20, location TBA. Register by visiting the AppSync portal. For more information, email kellyek1@email.appstate.edu.

UREC jobs Camp UREC is hiring counselors for the summer. Counselor application materials are due April 10 by 5 p.m. Visit campurec.appstate.edu.

Transfer Connect Open to transfer students, and presented by the ASU Counseling Center. Call 828-262-3180 or visit counseling.appstate.edu.

• Stress Management: Finish the Semester on a Strong Note, 5:306:30 p.m. April 8-9, Rough Ridge, PSU

History lecture David Johnson will present “New Delhi: Last Imperial City,” 7 p.m.

April 9, lecture room, Belk Library.

Johnson will be connecting themes in British and Asian history, imperialism, representations of political authority and consent, and the power of ideas and their material symbols.

Spring Supper & Poetry/Prose Sharing The event, for transfer students interested in majoring in creativing writing, will be held at 5:307:30 p.m. April 9, Linn Cove, PSU. Students are invited to bring two poems or two-three pages of creative prose to share, if they’d like, or just come to listen. Sponsored by the English Department. To register, email weinbergsc@appstate.edu.

Global Opportunities Conference Scheduled for April 10, the event will explore the potential for innovative businesses to solve global social and environmental problems.

Doc Hendley, founder of Wine to Water who was hailed as a CNN Hero of the Year in 2009, will be the keynote speaker. Also featuring a panel discussion on the role of innovative business in solving social and environmental problems. Visit www. goc.appstate.edu.

GSAS 5K Race for the Cup The Graduate Student Association Senate (GSAS) is sponsoring a 5K, beginning at 7:45 a.m. April 11, Kidd Brewer Stadium. A portion of the proceeds will go to Mountain Alliance to offset expenses for the high school experimental learning

program. A circulating trophy, currently held by the Biology graduate students, is up for grabs. Prizes go to the top three finishers of each gender as well as the academic department with the highest representation. To register, go to www. eventbrite.com/e/gsas-5k-race-forthe-cup-tickets-15442881073.

Buy a Meal fundraiser A group of students taking the Principles of Fundraising Course is holding a Buy A Meal fundraiser for the FARM Cafe. The event will be held April 12 at Lost Province, off King Street, and will feature dinner and live folk music. The group will be selling FARM Cafe meal tokens for people in need: $8 buys one meal at FARM Cafe for a person in need. All other donations will be accepted as well.

Spring Boyles CEO Lecture Featuring John Osborn, president and CEO of BBDO New York, 10 a.m. April 15, Holmes Convocation Center. Free and open to the public.

With 15,000 employees in 289 offices across 81 countries, BBDO is the second largest global advertising agency network, with its headquarters in New York. For more information, visit www.ceo.business. appstate.edu.

The Wellness Workshops Presented by the Counseling Center, The Wellness Workshops: Feelin’ Good in the Neighborhood. Call 828-262-3180 or visit counseling. appstate.edu • Reducing Stress with Mindfulness, 12:30-1:30 p.m. April 15, Three Top Mountain, PSU

March/April

sunday

monday 29

5

tuesday 30

State Holiday

6

wednesday 31

1

Dr. Grant Wacker presents “Billy Graham and the Shaping of a Nation,” 7 p.m., room 124 B & C, Reich College of Education, free

Daniel Bukin Student Composition Recital, 8 p.m., Rosen Concert Hall, free

State Holiday

7

friday

thursday 2

saturday 3

4

Blood drive, 10:30 Spring Exhibition a.m.-3:45 p.m., Blue Celebration, 6 p.m., Ridge Ballroom, Turchin Center, free PSU

Matthew Dickson Bombadil with Student Trumpet Bootstrap Slick, Recital, 6 p.m., Re9:30 p.m., Legends, cital Hall, free $6-$8 “Mighty Ducks” “Mighty Ducks” screening, 7 p.m., screening, 7 p.m., Greenbriar, PSU, $1 Greenbriar, PSU, $1

8

Honky Tonk Blue Country Throwdown, 9:30 p.m.-midnight, Legends, $1

9

Boone Creek clean-up, 4 p.m., meet at AMB, free

“The Hobbit: The Battle of Five “The Brave Little Armies” screenToaster” screening, ing, 7 p.m. and 9:45 7 p.m., Greenbriar, p.m., I.G. Greer, $2 PSU, $1 Dark Side of the Dead, 9:30 p.m., Legends, $8-$12 Poetry/prose sharing & dinner, 5:30 p.m., Linn Cove, PSU, for transfer students

10

From Bears with Rainbow Kitten Surprise, 9:30 p.m., Legends, $4-$6

11

Leave Yosef a Legacy Day, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Blue Ridge Ballroom, PSU, free

“The Brave Little Toaster” screening, Equality in Ac7 p.m., Greenbriar, tion Conference, 9 PSU, $1 a.m.-7 p.m., Reich College of Educa“The Hobbit: The tion, free Battle of Five Armies” screen“The Hobbit: The ing, 7 p.m. and 9:45 Battle of Five p.m., I.G. Greer, $2 Armies” screening, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., I.G. Greer, $2

game day

11

SOFTBALL APRIL 8 VS ELON (22-9, 4-2 CAA)

APRIL 3-4 VS GEORGIA SOUTHERN (8-25, 1-11 SUN BELT)

PREVIOUS GAME

0 1 8 0 5 X X 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2 0 0 0 1 X X

R

H

E

14 9 2 3 9 0

THE MOUNTAINEERS HAVE LOST 8 STRAIGHT GAMES.

SEASON LEADERS

by Cory Spiers

PITCHING Hitting

Sports Editor

Keep wounded Eagles down App State’s first of two home opponents over the next five-game stretch is Georgia Southern, more good news.

The Eagles are off to a rough start at 8-25 overall.

Their struggles in Sun Belt play are not unlike App State’s, as the Eagles have won only once in 12 Sun Belt games.

Add to the equation the fact that Georgia Southern is 2-9 away from home, and it’s not unreasonable to think the Mountaineers could easily get a jump over a struggling rival during a pleasant weekend of weather in Boone.

.267

0-12 9-21

Getting the ball rolling Make home friendly again App State softball had a chance to snag its first Sun Belt win in a three-game weekend series at home against UT Arlington, but the Mavericks proved to be a very tough opponent.

App State (9--21, 0-12 Sun Belt) was outscored 37-11 in the three games in Boone, remaining winless in the Sun Belt.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as the team still has their next five games at home – good news for a team that is winless on the road.

The Mountaineers have 1-3 record at home, although it likely won’t stay that way.

AVG

CONF OVL

AVG

OBP

Sarah Warnock Sarah Warnock

HR

Carolina Chambers & Haley Stewart

Heather Josey & Sarah Warnock

AVG

.333

.413

4

ERA

K

W

Vanessa Ciocatto

4.55

RBI

16

Alissa Shoelkopf Vanessa Ciocatto & Alissa Shoelkopf Kathrine Johnson

50

3

.296

12

BASEBALL

CONF OVL

AVG

2-10 8-21

.252

APRIL 3-5 VS. TROY (15-15, 4-5 SUN BELT)

0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2

3

4

by Cory Spiers Sports Editor

APRIL 7 @ SOUTH CAROLINA (20-9, 5-4 SEC)

PREVIOUS GAME 1

Winning the close ones

5

6

7

8

9

0 1 1 1 2 1 2 0 X

*Stats for Wednesday night’s game at NC A&T were not available as of press time.

R

H

E

3 6 2 8 9 2

APP STATE SNAPPED A 6-GAME LOSING STREAK WITH A WIN OVER HIGH POINT.

PITCHING Hitting

SEASON LEADERS

AVG

OBP

HR

RBI

Brandon Burris Michael Pierson Dillon Dobson Conner Leonard

.327

.441

7

20

ERA

W

AVG

K

Taylor Thurber Taylor Thurber

1.78

3

Taylor Thurber Jeffery Springs

.183

41

Closing out ball games App State’s previous weekend series against UALR was a true heartbreaker.

TheMountaineerswere swept and lost the three gamesbyacombinedfour runs – including an extrainnings loss in the series finale.

Indeed, closing out games is never an easy task, but App State needs to find a way to start doing that if they are going to string together wins.

An 8-3 home win over High Point on Tuesday night helped take away some of the sting from the close losses over the weekend and snapped a six-gamelosingstreak,but withahomeseriesagainst another Troy looming, all eyesshouldbeontheninth inning.

Can the Mountaineers find the killer instinct to close out the Trojans?

Get some homes wins With Troy (15-15) coming to town, the Mountaineers should like their chances of grabbing a couple of wins from a team that is 4-5 in Sun Belt play.

And that is important to keep in mind as after Troy, App State hits the road for a very tough stretch of five straight games on the road through mid-April.

The road stretch includes a trip to face SEC foe South Carolina as well as Sun Belt opponent South Alabama who is 7-5 in the Sun Belt this season.

The Mountaineers will need to grab some wins at home while they can, because winning won’t get easier.

Fun in the Sun Belt App State’s matchup with Troy is a Sun Belt matchup, but it will also feature plenty of sunshine.

While there is the potential for rain forecast for Saturday, Friday and Saturday are expected to feature sunshine and 60+ degree temperatures.

If you are in town, try to get out and enjoy the game and weather.

As for the team, it should be beautiful conditions to play ball in.