Thursday, September 3, 2015 TheAppalachianOnline.com
Hundreds of students gather before the walk to hear music and a speech from Chancellor Everts. Members of the Red Flag Campaign lead the walk along with the Chancellor. Emma Kovasckitz
Appalachian State holds 26th Walk for Awareness University, community members raise awareness for interpersonal and domestic violence Thomas Culkin Senior News Reporter
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ppalachian State University held its 26th annual Walk for Awareness Sept. 1. The walk is held to raise awareness for interpersonal and domestic violence. “The goal [of the Walk for Awareness] is to honor and recognize those who have experienced interpersonal violence,” said Ellen Hartman, the interpersonal violence support coordinator for the Red Flag Campaign at Appalachian State. “It’s a very difficult and sometimes debilitating experience, so this is an opportunity to honor them and tell them that they are not alone.”
Hartman also said the walk serves as a reminder to the members of the Appalachian State community that interpersonal violence is a very real issue, and that we all can play a part in preventing it. “These are not the social norms that should exist,” Hartman said. “We need to stand up and do something about this.” Students, faculty, and other community members congregated in Sanford Mall, where Chancellor Sheri N. Everts gave an opening statement. The group then marched in total silence to the Schaefer Center for Performing Arts, where Hartman, Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity Bindu Jayne and Kit Gruelle, an Appalachian State alumnus spoke about why they march.
Solar Vehicle Team fights adversity, perseveres Thomas Culkin Senior News Reporter
Appalachian State University’s Solar Vehicle Team never had it easy, but that hasn’t stopped them from pulling through. In March, a group of Appalachian State students attended a conference on sustainable transportation in Michigan. At the end of the event, they were approached by members of the solar vehicle team at Iowa State University, “PrISUm,” who offered to give them a hull of a car in order to build their own solar-powered car. The Appalachian students accepted and vowed to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix, which is a part of the American Solar Chal-
lenge, a collegiate competition where schools design, build, and drive solar powered cars. The event was held in Austin, Texas from July 28-31. Unfortunately, the hull didn’t arrive until the beginning of June. With approximately five and a half weeks until the competition, and the Appalachian State team was far behind schedule. “It usually takes most teams two years to build their car,” said Bailey Winecoff, a senior appropriate technology major. Daniel Blakeley, a graduate technology student and team leader, said the group worked tirelessly in the weeks leading up to the competition to
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Gruelle is a survivor of domestic abuse and has been an advocate for battered women for over 25 years. She urged everyone to take a stand against violence, even if you think your actions wouldn’t make a difference. “There’s no act of kindness that’s too small,” Gruelle said. “Sometimes, those acts of kindness are the ones that are the most meaningful.” According to Judy Haas, the associate dean of student conduct, there were approximately 1,000 people at the walk.
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Appalachian State on ‘Cool Schools’ List for sustainability Thomas Culkin Senior News Reporter
Sierra Magazine recently released its rankings of the greenest schools in America, “Cool Schools,” and Appalachian State University was included on the list of 153 total universities. Appalachian State was ranked 23, and earned 719.16 out of a possible 1,000 points. The Sierra Magazine, which is published by the Sierra Club, bases its scores off of data compiled by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Using the data borrowed from the AASHE, it then implements its own grading scale. The ranking for the list looks at a number of catego-
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File Photo
Appalachian State University was recently named one of the greenest schools in America by Sierra Magazine. The university ranked 23 out of 153 universities nationwide and earned 719.16 our of a possible 1,000 points.
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