Appalachian The
Appalachian State University's student newspaper since 1934
Thursday, August 29, 2013
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Search committee plans to find new chancellor by end of school year
Vol. 88, No. 03
ASG, town council respond to voting changes by Chelsey Fisher Senior News Reporter
Justin Perry | The Appalachian
President of the UNC system Tom Ross addresses the chancellor search committee during a meeting at Appalachian State University on Tuesday.
by Stephanie Sansoucy News Editor
T
he search committee for Appalachian State University’s next chancellor met Tuesday for the first time, where the group received instruction from UNC President Tom Ross.
University Board of Trustees Chairman Michael Steinback announced the final membership of the committee Aug. 21, according to a press release from the university. The 21-person committee is responsible for finding candidates to replace Chancellor Kenneth Peacock.
Taking the Dream Home to Boone rally held by Nicole Bellamy Intern News Reporter
by Stephanie Sansoucy News Editor
A Taking the Dream Home to Boone rally was held at Harvest House on Tuesday – the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington – in opposition of recent legislation passed by the North Carolina General Assembly and the actions of the Watauga County Board of Elections. The rally was one of 14 held across the state, organized by North Carolina National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Approximately 600 people attended the rally, said planning committee member Tommy Brown. Brown said the event created “a great energy to take forward,” and that he plans to work on campus to make sure students have the opportunity to be a part of the cause. Senior anthropology major Alexandria Nystrom said she attended the event because she was feeling empowered about the issues. Nystrom said her and her friends feel strongly about the issues and she was excited about being part of a community with like-minded views. Author and Duke University professor Timothy Tyson was asked by the North Carolina NAACP to speak at the event. Tyson said that it was humbling and emotional to speak on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Tyson said that it was imperative that MLK | page 2
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In April, Peacock announced his resignation from the post after nine years as chancellor. Peacock said he would continue in his current position until a successor is identified and hired, according to an article in The Appalachian from April 22.
Steinback is acting as the spokesman for the committee as all other members have signed confidentiality agreements. Steinback said the committee has a preliminary timeline for the search, and is hopeful Search | page 3
Random compliance checks attempt to prevent underage alcohol purchases by Chelsey Fisher Senior News Reporter
Compliance checks run by the Boone Police Department and Watauga Substance Abuse Prevention found that 81 percent of 83 businesses in Boone did not serve alcohol to minors this year, said Hollie Storie, the community prevention coordinator for the Western Youth Network. Compliance checks happen when an underage adult, along with an undercover alcohol law enforcement officer, attempt to purchase alcohol. If the business refuses to serve the minor alcohol, they “pass” the compliance check. If they do not ID the student or still serve the student alcohol after viewing the underage ID, they “fail” the compliance check. “Most alcohol passes through the hands of an adult before it reaches the hands of a youth,” Storie said. “Preventing underage drinking through retail compliance is one of the most effective strategies available.” WSAP has been doing compliance checks for more than four years with grant funding from the North Carolina Preventing Underage Drinking Initiative. The same initiative provided the Boone Police
Both the Association of Student Governments and the Boone Town Council wrote resolutions this week in opposition to the Watauga County Board of Elections’ recent decision to combine Boone voting precincts. ASG also wrote a resolution called “A Statement Regarding the Actions of the General Assembly” in opposition to the recent decisions of the North Carolina General Assembly. This includes allowing guns on college campuses, the possibility of tuition hikes and the possibility of attorneys being involved in legal matters typically handled by universities. The resolution is also against the voter ID poliASG | page 2
State Board of Elections meeting set for Tuesday by Gerrit Van Genderen Intern News Reporter
Ashley Spencer | The Appalachian
Department with a $1,200 grant to help with compliance checks. Before the checks began, WSAP offered four free training sessions for businesses on responsible beverage service, held from May 2012 to March 2013. During those training sessions, only 19 businesses came, Storie said. WSAP offered another training session for the High Country Beer Fest, to be held Aug. 31, which 10 attended. Kendal McDevitt, the
wellness coordinator for Appalachian State University and liaison between WSAP and the university, said these compliance checks are important because underage students often do not know the risks of underage drinking. “We know that underage students who have less experience with alcohol are more likely to injure themselves or others,” McDevitt said. WSAP also hosts alcohol purchase surveys for busi-
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Alcohol | page 2
The State Board of Elections will meet Tuesday concerning issues tied to college students around the state. Appeals of alternative one-stop voting plans for Watauga County in the upcoming 2013 municipal elections will be heard at the meeting. A one-stop voting location was removed from Appalachian State University’s campus in recent voting law changes. The decision on the matter will be made Tuesday, said Don Wright, general counsel of the State Board of Elections. Appalachian’s Student Government Association and College Democrats both have tentative plans to be present at the meeting. SGA is hoping a small number of members including Dylan Russell, SGA president, will be BOE | page 2
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