The Appalachian
January 19, 2022
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Court and The Cottages: Town sued over housing spills Pg. 7
The spring bucket list you don’t want to miss Pg. 11
NFL set sights on Mountaineer linebacker Pg. 16
Maria Smith
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Jan. 19, 2022
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adviser@theappalachianonline.com The Appalachian is the award-winning, independent student-run news organization at Appalachian State University, published since 1934. The student staff maintains all editorial discretion, and there is no prior review by university faculty, staff or administrators. The Appalachian strives for accuracy in newsgathering and reporting. If you think we have made an error, email editor@theappalachianonline.com. Participation in The Appalachian is open to all current full-time students at the university. For more information about joining, email outreach@theappalachianonline.com. The opinions pages of The Appalachian are an open public forum. Contributions are welcomed via email to editor@theappaalchianonline.com. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the news organization overall. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The Appalachian editorial board. One copy of The Appalachian per person. Additional copies can be purchased from the newsroom for $1 each.
News
Jan. 19, 2022
Administration, faculty at odds over COVID-19 protocol Ethan Hunt | News Editor
Emily Broyles | Editor-in-Chief
Faculty and administration started the first day of class in disagreement over COVID-19 protocol for the semester. Seven deans said faculty members may be spreading misinformation regarding university COVID-19 protocol in an email to all students Jan. 10. The email came on the first day of class shortly after the wide circulation of a professor’s open letter to students, writing the App State administration has “failed” in its pandemic response. “It has come to our attention that some faculty might be sharing misinformation about university COVID safety protocols, procedures and decision-making that are inaccurate and potentially harmful,” said the deans’ email. All college deans signed the email except for Sue Polanka of the Library and Information Commons and Jeff Vahlbusch of the Honors College. App State Chief Communications Officer, Megan Hayes, wrote in a statement to The Appalachian that the Jan. 10 email was intended to ensure students have factual information regarding the universities COVID-19 response, particularly because Centers for Disease Control guidelines have recently changed. Sustainable development professor Richard Rheingans wrote about his displeasure with the university administration’s pandemic response in an open letter to students Jan. 9. He shared the letter with colleagues who sent the message to other students or departments. Rheingans also sent the statement to the SGA Cabinet. “In so many ways, the Appalachian State administration has failed us throughout this pandemic and now, despite a month of warning that we would face another major covid surge, they have done virtually nothing to set us up for a safe, undisrupted semester,” Rheingans wrote. Rheingans advocated for booster shots, properly worn and better face coverings such as N95, KN95 or KF94 masks, and clearer communication on testing policy in the letter. He also wrote that Chancellor Sheri Everts refused to meet with faculty, and the university did not tell students to
get tested for COVID-19 on the fifth day of quarantine. Hayes told The Appalachian both statements were false. Rheingans wrote that the administration has not provided faculty with sufficient support and guidelines for how to handle students who test positive for COVID-19 or have been exposed. “The Chancellor writes to students telling them to talk to faculty about shortterm remote options, but I have not heard a single message or policy or strategy regarding what that would realistically look like for faculty,” Rheingans wrote. Everts wrote in a message to the university, Jan. 3 that students should communicate with faculty about arranging short-term remote options, and faculty should reach out to supervisors for help facilitating them. “Faculty who have questions about classroom management should, per their faculty handbook 2.8(f) and (g), work with their department chairs to determine the best course of action,” Hayes wrote Jan. 11. Other faculty members agree they have not received adequate support or guidance from administrators. During the Faculty Senate meeting Jan. 10, faculty senators presented a survey in which 441 faculty members answered COVID-19 related questions. Of the respondents, 63% answered they do not believe App State’s pandemic policies will allow the semester to continue without disruption. Additionally, more than 300 did not believe App State’s COVID-19 protocol will protect students and the greater High Country community. As of Jan. 17, there are 21 active cases at App State, according to the university’s COVID-19 dashboard and 538 cases in Watauga County, according to AppHealthCare’s dashboard. “The administration needs to be realistic,” said Stella Anderson, management professor. “There is only so much faculty can do to accommodate individual circumstances, have a class in person going and provide quote ‘remote options’ for students which as stated I don’t know exactly what that means.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
Graphic by Mia Mendez
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News
Faculty of color leave due to “toxic work environment”
Jan. 19, 2022
Cameron Stuart | Associate News Editor Hollie Moore | Reporter At least 21 faculty and staff members of color have left or retired early between 201521, according to the Faculty/Staff of Color Affinity Group Working Group Report presented at the Faculty Senate meeting Nov. 8. Ta m m y Wahpeconiah, a Native American English professor and member of the Faculty/Staff of Color Affinity Working Group who has since retired, presented the report to Faculty Senate, having worked on it since this past summer, she said. At the meeting, the report got a majority vote, putting it in motion. The motion gives permission for it to be emailed to administration, faculty and staff members. In the report, faculty and staff members left due to either a “toxic work environment” for people of color, as Wahpeconiah described it, or they didn’t provide a reason. “It is great to hire faculty of color to encourage students of color to come to the university,” Wahpeconiah said. “But my concern has always been the inclusion aspect. When people get here, if they are not made to feel like they belong, if they are not valued and validated, they’re going to leave.” Current data shows that threeyear and five-year retention rates for non-white faculty and State Human
Resources Act staff is larger than white faculty and SHRA staff, Megan Hayes, university spokesperson, wrote in an email. Hayes said retention rates for nonwhite, exempt from the SHRA, staff are lower than white SHRA staff. An affinity group survey “was sent to a small group with the purpose of determining the need for affinity groups on campus, and it did not meet the standards of a campus climate survey,” Hayes said. Faculty members in the Faculty Senate meeting voted Nov. 8 to amend people’s identifiers for privacy of the staff involved. Before being released, they redacted identifiers such as their departments and specific quotes. “I think this could be a wonderful place for people of color, but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done,” Wahpeconiah said. The report also includes a list of requests for the university to create a more inclusive work environment and improve its retention rate. Some requests include creating an affinity group for people of color, establishing equitable tenure and promotion policies, and training hiring authorities on equitable salaries and cultural differences in negotiations. Affinity groups are groups of people “having a common interest
...They should not fear going to work. They should not fear teaching. They should be respected ...
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or goal or acting together for a specific purpose,” according to Merriam-Webster. In her Oct. 27 message, Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jamie Parson wrote that she assembled a working group over the summer to address faculty and staff updates and to develop recommendations for serving underrepresented populations on campus. The results will be compiled in a report this spring. “We value the input of different stakeholders on campus through formal and informal conversations to help shape the best ways to report the state of diversity, equity and inclusion on our campus,” Parson said. Some of the recommendations from the report have been “underway for some time” and will be included in the spring report, Hayes said. This includes recommendations for affinity groups and recruitment and retention. Hayes said Chancellor Sheri Everts approved a Faculty of Color Affinity Group, and Parson established an Affinity Group Council comprised of four existing affinity groups: The Black Faculty & Staff Association, Queer & Trans Staff and Faculty, App Unidos and the Asian & Pacific Islander Caucus. “The university is expanding its ongoing efforts in faculty hiring practices, which include reviewing trainings and enhancing search committee resources,” Hayes said.
Faculty Senate chair Louis Gallien said one goal of the report is to create a culturally responsive environment in the university and the town of Boone that “not just tolerates people of color, but actually welcomes them and is prepared to handle some of the issues that are important to them.” Gallien said Faculty Senate members are still absorbing the information in the report because members did not realize the extent of the low retention rate. “If we’re going to advance the number of people of color, we’ve got to know why they’re leaving, why we haven’t been able to retain them,” Gallien said. “We don’t want a revolving door here of people of color on any level.” SGA released a statement Nov. 9 calling on the university to make the report publicly available for students, create a strategic plan to improve low retention rates and reinstate the associate vice chancellor of equity position, which was last active in 2016. Everts created the cabinet-level Chief Diversity Officer position when the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Compliance was reorganized in 2016. The Chief Diversity Officer position reports directly to Everts, and Hayes said this reinforces the priority given to diversity, equity and inclusion work at App State and establishing a direct voice representing perspectives of DEI at the
We don’t want a revolving door here of people of color on any level.
university’s highest levels of decision making. SGA diversity and inclusion chairperson Madison Harris said SGA has not yet received a response from the university about its statement. Hayes said SGA cabinet members have direct access to the Chancellor’s cabinet members, and Parsons has met with SGA’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion to talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, and the report has come up during several of those meetings. Harris said accountability, a priority of the Gardin + Evans administration, is a way to make real change. “The school really thinks they can get away with racism,” said Harris, a junior political science major. “With the document possibly going public, this gives an opportunity for students to be heard and listened to, and the school to also not just say ‘Oh, we’ve done so much. Look at what we’ve done.’ Now they have to really say, ‘This is what has happened, and this is why we need to change and do better.’” Harris said SGA’s first step is outreach so students can read the report. “We should be protecting our faculty and staff,” Harris said. “Faculty and staff should not be at Appalachian State and receive racist comments. They should not fear going to work. They should not fear teaching. They should be respected, and so it comes to a point where students need to back up faculty and be there for them and say, ‘We hear you. Things need to change.’”
News Faculty attends 26th annual UN climate change conference
Jan. 19, 2022
Jenna Guzman | Reporter Three faculty members attended the 26th annual United Nations climate change conference, also known as COP26, which was held in Glasgow, Scotland, Oct. 31 through Nov. 12. The members in attendance were Lee Ball, the university’s chief sustainability officer; Dave McEvoy, chair of the department of economics; and Martin Meznar, associate dean of global and civic engagements. The purpose of the conference was to “bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change,” according to the U.N. Climate Change Conference’s website. In 2019, McEvoy submitted an application on behalf of the university to be considered as an observer institution. Non-governmental organizations must be admitted to the Conference of the Parties as an observer organization to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change before representatives gain admission to the sessions. The university officially earned the title of observer institution two years after the initial application was
Lucy Bomar | Reporter
submitted. In addition to world leaders, including President Joe Biden, who gave a speech during the opening session, 197 nations attended the conference. People also protested outside the conference demanding a quicker resolution to climate issues. Meznar explained there were many different sessions attendees were able to observe. He said the entire experience was eye-opening because of the sudden realization of how complicated dealing with climate issues can be, especially on a global scale. “There was a wide array of very important climate-related issues, but the importance was not consistent across all the countries. Different countries had different priorities,” Meznar said. Ball explained there was a point where all of the countries realized the urgency and importance of fixing the climate crisis and that they needed to work together to come up with a plan to fix it. “If we don’t work together, the climate emergency is going to just get worse, and the effects of that are going to be astronomical, both for people and for the planet,” Ball said.
Lee Ball sits in his office in the Office of Sustainability, located underneath East Hall, Jan. 11, 2022. Seen next to him is Team Sunergy’s recent trophies from the American Solar Race Challenge. Kara Haselton
Attendees sit in for a panelist session and listen to facilitators at COP26. Courtesy of Lee Ball
There were disagreements active in combating climate issues. among the countries, such as decidHe said this may be due to the uniing to reduce or completely stop usversity’s strong sustainability focus. ing fossil fuels. However, the “To help solve this cliparties collectively came up mate crisis, it takes an indiMy goal is to get our with a common goal to phase vidual focus in changing your students more involved down the use of fossil fuels in own life. I think that App each country, as well as some State students have an apin this process so that other goals which are stated preciation for that. This is an they can understand on their website, like protectopportunity to see how those ing and restoring ecosystems things work in conjunction to more fully what’s at and speeding up the switch high-level policy and regulastake, what the timeline to electric vehicles. tion,” McEvoy said. is to get something Ball said App State Depending on the locaplans to incorporate the tion of the international nedone, and they can goals of the conference on gotiations, the university may take an active role in campus by decarbonizing be eligible to send delegates transportation, adding more again. Next year’s U.N. cliengaging in the process electric vehicles and encourmate change conference will of reducing climate aging driving less, as well as be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, change. decarbonizing App State’s Egypt. steam plant more swiftly. “It would be life-chang- Martin Meznar, Associate Dean for “We can’t afford to play Russian ing for students to have a chance to Global and Civic Engagement roulette with the planet,” Ball said. be a part of that and really see the McEvoy noted that in his expemagnitude of the problem,” McEvoy rience on campus, students appear said.
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News
Jan. 19, 2022
Student club finds intersection between sustainability, entrepreneurship Cameron Stuart | Associate News Editor A student club is combining sus- through November and placed fourth tainability and entrepreneurship on in the country out of 182 entries. an international scale by turning botThe C6 project began in 2020. tle caps into refurbished plastic prod“It is a plastic upcycling initiative ucts. that works with local businesses and Enactus is a global nonprofit recycling facilities around the state to organization comprised of student collect excess, high-density polyethteams from around the world. App ylene plastic, which is your average State’s Enactus chapter was founded bottle cap, type 6 plastic, and then in 2018 by alumna Hannah Ross and turn that into products that address student Adam Garrison. The team both environmental and social needs,” began with seven people and has since Ross said. grown to around 80 members. The idea of the project is to Ross said the purpose of the turn bottle caps into products such as teams is to create projects and busi- coasters for local businesses. nesses that adRoss said dress the United the success of the It’s really an Nations’ sustainproject will be deinclusive space able development termined by how where everyone has much plastic was goals. The 17 that common interest prevented from SDGs are part of going into landfills of making the world the U.N.’s 2030 and the amount around them just a of CO2 emissions Agenda for Sustainable Developlittle bit better.” reduced from the ment and address atmosphere. environmental, economic and social Matthias Von Feilitzsch, Enactus’ sustainability around the world. Some vice president of projects, said now of the goals include eliminating pov- that machine parts needed for turning erty; affordable and clean energy; in- the bottle caps into consumer proddustry innovation and infrastructure. ucts have arrived, the next steps are “What we do is we take a look at to build the machines and experiment our community of Boone and beyond, with them. and we see what issues are going on in Von Feilitzsch, sophomore interthe community,” Ross said. “And we national business and German double create projects that have those roots in major, said the collected plastic is first the SDGs but are addressing our local shredded, then taken to those maissues.” chines where it becomes pliable and One of the team’s projects, C6, is expanded over molds that become won the early stage Enactus competi- finalized products after cooling. tion for two years and was showcased “From the ground up, we build at this year’s Enactus World Cup. our projects with the sole function of During the world cup, Enactus being a business and being sustainteams around the world present their able,” Von Feilitzsch said. “If that projects and compete for monetary design structure for more businesses prizes. was implemented, that would be an Enactus competed in the Red overall good thing.” Bull Basement Competition October Von Feilitzsch said other cur-
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Sophomore Matthias Von Feilitzsch stands outside Peacock Hall Jan. 10, 2022 where club Enactus meets Mondays. Von Feilitzsch is vice president of projects for Enactus. Kara Haselton
rent projects include creating a replacement for single-use plastics using mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms; reducing the stigma of learning differences such as dyslexia and ADD in young children; and preventing toxic paint chemicals from going down sink drains. Rachel Sampey serves as the group’s vice president of sustainability. She said sustainability is more than just environmental and ensures projects are economically and socially sustainable as well. Sampey, a sophomore sustainable development major, said projects
are made socially sustainable by creating long-lasting products and keeping people’s interest in them, and economic sustainability includes keeping track of finances so projects don’t run out of money too early. “For entrepreneurship, you’re taking ideas that you create and turning it into a business,” Sampey said. “Sustainability is important because sustainability is the longevity of your project. So if you really want your product or idea to be long-lasting, you have to incorporate sustainability or else you will burn out five months or five years from now.”
App State’s Enactus chapter is located in the college of business but has members of all majors. Some of the committees outside of specific projects include membership, community engagement and marketing. Ross said Enactus’ central idea of innovation and helping local communities is applicable to any major. “We want to create a place where students can come and have their ideas heard,” Ross said. “It’s really an inclusive space where everyone has that common interest of making the world around them just a little bit better.”
News
Jan. 19, 2022
Watauga County faces legal troubles over The Cottages spills Ethan Hunt | News Editor
A recent lawsuit could hold Watauga County responsible for numerous treated and untreated wastewater spills from The Cottages of Boone, if the court rules in the plaintiff’s favor. Adam Zebzda, senior political science major and Boone Board of Adjustment member, filed a complaint Dec. 3 for declaratory ruling, requesting the North Carolina superior court division grant declaratory relief against Watauga County. Declaratory relief means the court determines a ruling without ordering an action or awarding damages, according to Cornell Law School. The Cottages spilled 300 gallons of wastewater Oct. 1, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. NCDEQ also received incident reports of untreated wastewater spills from The Cottages, Aug. 29, 2020; Sept. 23, 2020; Jan. 10, 2021, April 21; Sept. 28, totaling 76,445 gallons. Additionally, The Cottages reported a treated wastewater spill March 15 to NCDEQ. The 44-day incident consisted of 2,343,056 gallons of treated wastewater discharging into Laurel Fork Creek. Wallace Loft, LLC, the company that owns The Cottages, has received $64,704.87 in fines from the NCDEQ for wastewater incidents. “I’ve been pretty critical of the county for a long time when it comes to The Cottages,” Zebzda said. “I felt like if I had the opportunity to do something, and I didn’t, it wouldn’t make me any better than the county.” Zebzda cited article 14 section five of the North Carolina Constitution as grounds for the complaint. The North Carolina Constitution says it is the policy of the state “to protect the land and water” of North Carolina as well as “limit the pollution” of lands and waters. Zebzda requested the superior court declare Watauga County has
“constitutional and statutory obligations” to protect its lands and waters, specifically Laurel Fork Creek and the Watauga River. The complaint also asks the court to declare Watauga County has violated its constitutional and statutory obligations and that Watauga County’s inaction regarding The Cottages amounts to negligence. Watauga Riverkeeper and MountainTrue High Country regional director, Andy Hill, has been vocal about The Cottages’ wastewater incidents. “We commend this young man for taking action to protect his community and the environment,” Hill wrote. “MountainTrue has no intention of joining this suit and therefore wouldn’t be able to provide a comment on an ongoing lawsuit.” The Watauga County board of commissioners disagreed with Zebzda in an email obtained by The Appalachian. “The lawsuit filed by Adam Zebzda has made allegations against the county that is based on a misunderstanding and misapplication of the law. That being said, when the county files its response, it will be-
come public record, and the unmeritorious allegations will be specifically addressed,” the BOC wrote. Watauga County filed a motion to dismiss Zebzda’s complaint Jan. 4, writing no relief can be granted because there is no “actionable controversy.” The county also wrote Zebzda lacks standing to pursue the claim. Zebzda said he plans to argue against the motion. Watauga County solid waste enforcement officer, Wes Hawkins, issued a notice of violation of the county’s solid waste ordinance to The Cottages Oct. 14. The county subsequently sent out a press release Nov. 16 announcing that it was levying the maximum civil penalty against The Cottages as a result of Hawkins’ notice. However, Watauga County manager, Deron Geoque, wrote in an email to Zebzda that The Cottages never paid the civil penalties. Hawkins determined that The Cottages had come into compliance before the deadline set by him and therefore did not have to provide payment, Geoque wrote. “Despite the avoidance of civil
penalties by The Cottages, the ultimate goal of accountability and compliance has been met with regards to the County’s Solid Waste Ordinance,” Geoque wrote. Zebzda cited the email exchanges and the notice of violation as partial grounds for negligence in the complaint. He said that if the court granted his requests, it would open the door for other people with more standing, such as The Cottages’ residents or homeowners affected by the spills, to file their own suits. Rose Hernandez, The Cottages community manager, said that The Cottages is continuing to work with NCDEQ to maintain in compliance with its’ permit. Hernandez said The Cottages is implementing “voluntary” water reduction measures, such as replacing existing toilets, showerheads and kitchen and bathroom taps with “low-flow fixtures.” The Cottages’ residents are unhappy with the organization's behavior regarding the spills. “If I had known they were going to do things like that, I probably wouldn’t have given them my money,” said Autumn Pollard, who has
lived at The Cottages since August. Pollard said she supports Zebzda's suit but isn’t personally going to file one of her own; however, she does want to see The Cottages held responsible. “Honestly, I don’t think they’re going to change it unless they’re forced to because they probably don’t really care,” Pollard said. Elizabeth Norman has also lived at The Cottages since August and said shutting down the organization might be the only option since they have been unresponsive to fines. “Make them unable to continue being a spot for residents,” Norman said. Norman said it’s important to make sure residents are informed of The Cottages wastewater spills. “If it could get more recognition, than I think it would work better. There is still a lot that we don’t even know about it, like the most that we get is we turn on the faucet sometimes, and it comes out brown,” Norman said.
Graphic by Mia Mendez
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Jan. 19, 2022
ONLINE FARMER’S MARKET CONNECTS COMMUNITY
Kara Haselton | Photographer
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he High Country Food Hub is an online farmer's market established in 2016 connecting local farmers and the surrounding community yearround. It doubles as a storage facility for the farmers, enabling local producers to sustain a higher yield and continue benefiting from sales even during the cold months. When the pandemic hit in 2020, the food hub saw a spike in customers when grocery stores lacked food and online markets became appealing. Serving as a branch of non-profit Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture, the food hub is housed at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center located between King Street and Rivers Street in downtown Boone.
1. The food hub is run by volunteers and staff from local non-profit BRWIA. On Tuesdays, the team receives goods from the producers to be stored and sold. The food hub partners with 90 producers within 100 miles and covers Watauga and Ashe counties, said BRWIA operations director Liz Whiteman. 2. On Wednesdays, food hub workers like BRWIA distribution coordinator, Sam Springs, carry out individual orders of produce that socially distanced customers picked up. The food hub’s fully outdoor process was developed after the start of the pandemic; however, food hub manager, Taylor Campbell, says it’s a system they’ll be keeping. 3. Local producer Jana Jones has partnered with the food hub for three years, where her 16-year-old business, Handmaid Creations by Jana, sells natural body care products. When talking about the food hub, she said it is “really helpful for the vendors to basically sell your stuff for you.” 4. The High Country Food Hub reached a new level of business in the spring of 2020. “When the grocery stores were struggling during COVID-19, people started using the food hub more,” manager Taylor Campbell said. “The pandemic showed the importance of having sustainable agriculture and having a local food system.” 5. Boone locals and App State alumni Debora Macey (right) and Jill Smith (left) shop at the food hub at least every other week. “You can’t find food like this anywhere,” Macey said while unpacking the day’s pick-up order. 6. Volunteer Keith Tindall sanitizes bins that are used when delivering orders to customers. Tindall started as a customer from Ashe County but became a volunteer after the beginning of the pandemic. 7. Outside the High Country Food Hub, various vendors sell their goods while customers pick up their orders every Wednesday. Vendors like Mae Startari, pictured selling hand-drawn coloring prints, are present for the food hub’s weekly pickup day year-round.
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“Larger than life”
Christmas comes to children’s hospital Jenna Guzman | Reporter With the help of several communities, an App State student and her family brought Christmas cheer to a girl who lived in a hospital for nearly three years. Grace Smithson, a senior psychology major, and her father, Miles Smithson, were at Brenner Children’s Hospital during the week of Thanksgiving for a family member. Upon their arrival, they noticed the room next to theirs was very large and already decorated for Christmas. “We were wondering if the person that’s in there was going to be there for the holidays,” Miles Smithson said. When the Smithsons asked the nurses about their neighbor, they found she was a 16-year-old girl named Alexis Ratcliff who is paralyzed from the neck down. She has no immediate family to care for her and lived in the same hospital for over two and a half years, according to nurses. The hospital staff became her makeshift family. Those that know Ratcliff describe her as extremely light-spirited, witty, strong and a huge App State fan. After learning this, the Smithsons decided they wanted to deliver Christmas to her. “The story of this little girl just touched my heart,” Miles Smithson said. During their time in the hospital, the father-daughter duo found that Ratcliff loved movies and cooking shows, liked many genres of music and “loves to be pampered,” Grace Smithson said. Miles Smithson said seeing how the hospital workers treated Ratcliff
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inspired him and his family to do as much as they could for the 16-yearold. On Nov. 24, Miles Smithson posted on Facebook asking people if they would like to send Ratcliff Christmas cards. The post led to 15 people donating cards. Miles Smithson said the outcome was not what he had wished for. Because of this, Grace Smithson shared the post on social media platforms, including on Facebook group Appalachian Classifieds. “I knew as an App State
student, that I had a pretty big platform to reach farther than just my community,” Grace Smithson said. She said the responses were almost instantaneous from students. Some university organizations, such as the men’s rugby team, donated so Ratcliff could receive a variety of gifts, and many students donated money via Venmo. “The App kids really showed how strong they were and how giving they were,” Miles Smithson said. As people shared Ratcliff’s story, the post reached further
The Smithson family gathered around Alexis Ratcliff for a photo. Courtesy of the Smithson family
than the Mountaineer community. Grace Smithson said members of a fraternity from UNC-Wilmington donated money. Students at Ledford Senior High School also made over 100 cards for Ratcliff. In total, the Smithsons received over 200 cards, around 60 wrapped gifts and roughly $250 from donors. When Miles Smithson called Brenner Children’s Hospital to set up a delivery date, he was told that Ratcliff had moved out of the hospital with a foster mom. Ratcliff said the transition from living in a hospital for so long to
living in a home is a blessing and something she’s wanted for years. Ashley Harrington fostered the 16-year-old after knowing her for around two years. Harrington said she met Ratcliff in a similar way to how the Smithsons met her — they were hospital room neighbors. “Alexis is larger than life and is resilient,” Harrington said. The Smithsons delivered the gifts and cards they bought and received Dec. 23. “It was very sweet, and I was really surprised. I was really thankful and appreciative because I knew that they didn’t have to do that,” Ratcliff said. “I didn’t expect anything from anyone.” The Smithsons said they want to stay friends with Ratcliff and be there for her whenever she needs help. Ratcliff said she and Grace Smithson are close now. “I think that they are great people,” Ratcliff said. The Smithsons also plan on getting resources lined up for Ratcliff so she can enjoy events such as football games at the university. “We wanted to do whatever we could in our power to make her life a little bit better,” Miles Smithson said. Harrington said it’s important for people to realize how fortunate they are and understand that helping and supporting others goes a long way. “It was so special that somebody had heard her story, wanted to be involved and wanted to support her and her life experiences,” Harrington said.
A&C
Jan. 19, 2022
How to spend your spring semester Aubrey Smith | A&C Editor
With the new semester underway, it’s the last few months at the university for some before they turn the tassel and walk across that stage without looking back. Here’s a few things to be sure to do this spring semester and especially before you graduate.
Take a skiing trip
Explore the hiking trails
Try out all the different coffee shops
Even though the cold winter months in the mountains can be quite freezing, they do make a good climate for some activities: skiing and snowboarding. With Appalachian Ski Mountain located just 10 minutes from campus, it’s the perfect opportunity to try gliding down the mountain or skate in their ice rink. If the ski slopes aren’t your scene, visit Hawksnest Snow Tubing in Seven Devils to go for a ride in the snow.
Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in classes and homework and forget about all the outdoor adventures Boone has to offer. But there are a plethora of hiking trails that will get you outside and away from school stress. Whether it’s a quick stroll around the popular Watauga Recreation Greenway Trail or a more strenuous hike at nearby Elk Knob State Park, some time in nature, whether you’re alone or with company, is a healing way to spend the day.
Coffee is something Boone doesn’t run low on — in fact, there are probably more coffee shops in town than you might realize. Whether it’s Crossroads on campus, Talia Espresso on King Street or Local Lion on Blowing Rock Road, Boone has plenty of options to fulfill your caffeine needs. While making your way through the semester, it might be worthwhile to test out different coffee from all around and find your new go-to.
Spend a celebratory evening on King Street As college students, breaks from schoolwork are of the utmost importance. Why not get together with some friends and ditch the microwave meals for one night? Treat yourself to a stroll downtown — make some stops in local shops such as Common Good Co. or Dancing Moon Earthway Bookstore and then choose from a selection of dining options such as Lost Province Brewing Co. or Macado’s.
Host a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway Grab some snacks, back your car up and soak up the Blue Ridge Parkway views. Whether it’s just for an hour or an entire evening, spending time overlooking the mountains and taking in the scenery can be therapeutic and refreshing. Mix that in with some grub and the company of others, and you’ve got a fun, memorable outing.
If the opportunity presents itself … take a snow day Sometimes in the wake of snowfall, it can be more of an inconvenience than a pleasure with canceled classes, delayed schedules and unreliable transportation. But if the High Country continues to get snow days this winter, take some time to enjoy the gift from nature. Make some hot chocolate, cozy up under the covers or grab a sled and have some fun in the snow. Graphic by Xanayra Marin-Lopez
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A&C
Jan. 19, 2022
STUDENT MUSICIANS I
nstead of sitting around in lecture halls, many of App State’s music production students can be found in the Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio, producing and editing musical tracks with state-of-the-art recording software, playing a variety of musical instruments or singing into professional microphones. A part of the Hayes School of Music, the RFG Recording Studio is a multi-million dollar recording studio serving students and local artists who take advantage of the studio’s equipment. “All of the gear that we have is spectacular,” said Jake Kremer, an App State student and studio manager for RFG Recording Studio. “We probably have the most gear out of any public university in North Carolina.” Fellow student musician and RFG Recording Studio veteran, Grayson OxendineParr, also highly praised the recording facility. “The facilities are like a mirror copy of what you see in the professional realm. They’re very applicable,” Oxendine-Parr said. “The studio is like a hidden gem.” Typically, the recording process in the studio starts with establishing basic musical
UTILIZE ON-CAMPUS
RECORDING STUDIO Jacqueline R. Behringer | Reporter tracks, then the creation of a demo. Once that demo is created, the artists build off of it to work toward creating a song they are satisfied with. It takes about a month to record a piece and send out the final release. However, the process takes significantly longer for commercial artists, Oxendine-Parr said. “Every engineer has their own flow,” Oxendine-Parr said. Dylan Innes, a student and musician at App State, took advantage of the on-campus studio to record his album, “Taste The Tide” and his latest single, “Little Blue House,” which was released Dec. 10. “I love working in the studio. Only con is booking time since there’s so many recording students the space is very limited,” Innes wrote in an email. Aside from individual artists frequently using the studio and its equipment, North Carolina-based bands, such as Juniper Avenue and Sidepony, also visit
Andrew Poplaski and Jacoby Brown create sounds for a workshop in the Robert F. Giley studio Jan. 12, 2022. Andy McLean
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RFG to record some of their musical material. “I like working with bands. Everyone has a stake in it, and it’s a different kind of energy,” Oxendine-Parr said. “There’s a camaraderie to it.” Both Kremer and Oxendine-Parr said equipment in the studio isn’t the easiest to work with, but with some practice, one can get used to it. There are many different kinds of technology available to students and staff of the studio, including a soundboard priced at over $200,000. The technology in RFG is designed to be more difficult but “in a good way,” as it helps students learn and gain more experience with the various types of technology, OxendineParr said. “It’s by far the best recording studio at any public NC university,” Innes wrote. Kremer, Oxendine-Parr and Innes regard the studio positively and said that others, if granted the opportunity, should also take advantage of it and get involved. “People should work with the RFG,” Kremer said. “It’s good to get involved internally with App State.”
A&C
Jan. 19, 2022
Creative writing club helps members get on ‘write’ track
Daniel Ham meets with Author’s Atmosphere in Wired Scholar Jan. 12, 2022. Evan Bates
Brionna Dallara | Reporter
When one creative writing student transferred to App State, he struggled to find time in school to write. After noticing a writing club shortage on campus, he decided to start his own. Daniel Ham, a junior, founded Author’s Atmosphere, a club offering space for writers to share their creative works while setting aside time for individuals to engage in their creative processes. “For the most part, this is just people working on projects that they may hope to someday publish or just for fun,” Ham said. “I know a few people who don't plan on ever becoming a writer as their profession, but they just love it so much that they have to have a time to come do it.” Club member Rowan Riggs is a secondary education major and an avid writer. They said they joined the club to have a set schedule for their writing and gain more insight from fellow writers. “To have an excuse to sit down for 30 minutes, no procrastination, is very helpful for me,” Riggs said. “And I like being a part of a community and learning from others perspectives.” For the first half of club mevetings, members spend roughly 30 minutes immersing themselves in their creative works. Ham said the second half of meetings are more social, where members split into smaller groups to exchange pieces and discuss advancements in each story. At the end of each meeting, the group engages in a guided discussion where Ham throws out a topic and the group shares personal perspectives. Riggs said that as a future educator they like hearing the perspectives of their peers on what they wish would’ve been incorporated into their middle school curriculum. They said the club has been an excellent source for this feedback. Club member Wells Whitman, a sophomore English major with a concentration in creative writing, was in Ham’s class when he first proposed the idea for the club. Whitman said he was immediately on board and works on songs he’s writing, short stories and projects pertaining to his courses in the club. “I love putting words on paper, and there's a lot of freedom and creativity you can have with creative writing, especially with all the people here,” Whiteman said. “There's people to share it with and who care about what you're doing, and you get to care about what they're doing.” Through Author’s Atmosphere, Ham said he’s gotten over the fear of sharing his written works. “I can share my work with, you know, a buddy right next to mve, and he'll read it. And we're friends. So if he says, ‘this part really sucks,’ I don't take it to heart,” Ham said. “That's been the real thing that has helped me improve.” Aaron Lamb is working on his master’s degree in social work and is an active Author’s Atmosphere member. Lamb said he joined the club to schedule a time for socializing and writing in his busy week as a graduate student. “It's about having creative space to think through problems and write interesting stories, and to be empathetic with people that might not even exist,” Lamb said about his love for creative writing and initiative for joining the club. Lamb said he doesn’t have a plan to publish his works, rather he just enjoys the creative process, curating stories and worlds that reflect his interests. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
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A&C Graphic by Camryn Collier
Jan. 19, 2022
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir Release date: March 1 From bestselling author Sabaa Tahir, “All my Rage” centers on best friends fighting for better lives. After growing up in the small town of Juniper, California, Salahudin and Noor are reeling after a fight that ruined their friendship. Now, Salahudin has to run the motel his mom started while Noor works at her volatile uncle’s liquor store and applies to college to escape Juniper. However, the pair’s friendship is tested when Sal’s efforts spiral out of control.
Most anticipated books of 2022 Ansley Puckett | Managing Editor Gabrielle Troutman | Chief Copy Editor
Whether reading more is on your list of New Year’s resolutions or not, 2022 already has an exciting lineup of new books. With a collection of nonfiction, fantasy, literary fiction and romance, this year’s releases are sure to have something for any new reader or seasoned book lover. Violeta by Isabel Allende Release date: Jan. 25 Told through a letter sent to the one she loves most, Violeta del Valle tells her life story. Starting in 1920’s South America and spanning 100 years, Violeta’s life is marked by not only love affairs, wealth and poverty, joy and loss, but also by some of the most significant moments in history: the Great Depression, women’s voting rights, tyrannical leaders and two pandemics sandwiching it all.
This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi Release date: Feb. 1 Inspired by Persian mythology, the author of the acclaimed “Shatter Me” series debuts a new fantasy trilogy. Alizeh is the long-lost queen from the nearly-forgotten Jinn race, though hidden in plain sight as a servant. Kamran is the current crown prince, drawn to the girl with strange eyes and plagued by a prophecy that could change his life and kingdom. As the forbidden romance trope requires, the two are pulled together, and their worlds begin to change as the prophecy — that Kamran fears and Alizeh is destined for — looms above both futures.
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Civil Rights Queen by Tomiko Brown-Nagin Release Date: Jan. 25 This book details the life of Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to argue a case in front of the Supreme Court. Learn about how she defended Martin Luther King, fought Jim Crow Laws and argued in Brown v. Board of Education in this biography about the iconic female leader. Written by legal and Civil Rights historian Tomiko Brown-Nagin, this book is the perfect nonfiction addition to your bookshelf this year. This Monk Wears Heels by Kodo Nishimura Release date: Feb. 8 From one of Time Magazine’s next generation leaders comes a memoir about self discovery and acceptance told through dissection of Buddhism and experience. Kodo Nishimura, Buddhist monk and makeup artist, found fame through “Queer Eye: We’re in Japan.” Through his experience as a celebrity makeup artist and as a trained monk, his novel is meant to be a guide to self-acceptance, self-love and positivity through his modern take on Buddhist teachings.
The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout Release date: March 15 After the first book in the “Blood and Ash” series took the book community of TikTok by storm, the anticipated fourth book debuts in March to an awaiting audience. Set to continue the high fantasy story of Poppy and Casteel, an important maiden and her guard, the explanation Armentrout offers to the plotline is that “War is only the beginning…”
Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez Release date: April 12 This novel starts in 1973, Montgomery, Alabama, and spans decades through the eyes of Civil Townsend. Civil is a young Black nurse hoping to make a difference in her community through the family planning clinic in her town. When two of her new patients are poor, young Black girls being forced to take birth control due to their welfare plan, she watches over them — until the unthinkable occurs. Years later, now a doctor and mother to a grown daughter, Civil looks to retire but is confronted by the past. From NYT bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez comes this hopeful historical fiction novel of redemption inspired by true events.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry Release date: May 3 TikTok’s book community fawned over Emily Henry’s recent “Beach Read” and “People We Meet on Vacation.” This novel, set in summer as Henry’s other novels are, has readers meeting cutthroat literary agent Nora Stephens on a trip to a small North Carolina town with her sister, Libby. Nora envisions her own meet-cute on vacation, but instead continuously runs into Charlie Lastra, a book editor she already despises from the city … Do you smell an enemies-to-lovers trope? Because I do. “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” author Taylor Jenkins-Reid calls this “a rom-com lover’s dream of a book.”
A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan Release Date: May 10 Inspired by the time Tom Holland visited the author’s school for research in his Spider-Man role, “A Show for Two” takes that experience and turns it into a love story. The main character, Mina Rahman, has the chance of a lifetime to win the Golden Ivy student film competition when indie movie star Emmitt Ramos enrolls at her school under a secret identity to research his next role. Making a deal to help him with photography in exchange for his help in her short film, Mina and Emmitt must work together, but then Mina realizes her dreams may not be what she wants after all.
Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White Release date: June 7 Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Benji, a 16-year-old transgender boy, is on the run from the cult that raised him and wants to use him to wipe out the rest of the population. Trying to keep the cult from using the bioweapon they injected into him, Benji meets a group of teenagers from the local LGBTQ+ center known as the ALC. After being taken in by the group, Benji is pulled toward the group’s alluring leader, who just so happens to know Benji’s bioweapon secret, but he has an agenda of his own.
A&C
Jan. 19, 2022
REVIEW Jonathan Long | Contributor This review is spoiler-free, with the exception of some details shown in trailers. For those who have not seen trailers, proceed with caution.
Sony and Marvel’s latest installment of the “SpiderMan” franchise is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. “SpiderMan: No Way Home” is directed by Jon Watts and once again stars Tom Holland, Zendaya and Jacob Batalon as they continue their adventures with our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Peter Parker encounters a turning point as his identity is now on the world stage due to the events of the previous film, “Far From Home.” Torn between Parker and SpiderMan, he soon begins to receive unwelcome visitors from other universes, including Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock and Willem Dafoe’s Green Goblin. Soon, Parker must discover what it is that makes him a hero, as well as the decisions he must make that will define himself and save the ones he loves most. Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” trilogy from the early 2000s, starring Tobey Maguire, was definitive for both the Spider-Man character and the superhero genre as a whole. The use of simplistic, contained storylines driven by character development and emotion were at the core of this classic trilogy. In many cases, “No Way Home” pays homage to this exact style, allowing itself to dig deep and drive home the feelings of the characters we’ve come to know and love. On the other hand, the movie tends to tether itself to the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe without letting go of the sometimes unfavorable habits that arise in MCU films. Though it occasionally doesn’t take itself seriously enough, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” still makes for another fantastic Spidey film that manages to stand on its own. Upon release, this film gained a level of hype that hasn’t been seen since “Avengers: Endgame” and rightly so. Having created its own fresh take on Spider-Man, Marvel and Sony have revitalized the character for an all-new fan base, while still paying respect to the classic trilogy many grew up watching. What’s most impressive is their ability to establish characters that not only feel real but are extremely likable. With this also comes the challenge of exhibiting growth from film to film often risking stagnation or, possibly, boredom. “No Way Home” does a wonderful job of enabling its characters to grow. It addresses topics that fit their lives around their ages, such as applying for college and navigating
Spider-Man: Heroism at its finest relationships. It’s not afraid to tackle some of the more difficult topics for this age group either, like finding one’s way in adulthood and being forced to make conflicting decisions. These arcs make the film feel more mature than its predecessors, and while it is perfectly capable of standing on its own, this development appears most obvious after watching “Homecoming” and “Far From Home.” A great example of this is Parker’s ongoing battle with his morality. As the films progress, his morals become sharper. The films show him struggle as he questions himself and resists the temptation to act on his impulses. By the third act of “No Way Home,” this growth is much more defined, and most importantly, it feels earned. While Marvel and Sony multiversal films open doors to many new adventures with Spider-Man, the story of Parker’s journey into adulthood ends on a satisfying, though somber, note. This fits quite well with the themes developing in the two prior films. Whereas the previous two films had a rather heavy emphasis on villains, this story doesn’t take this route. To be clear, there is no shortage of villainous mischief in this film. In fact, there are quite a few moments and nods that give each one of them something new. Unlike “Far From Home” and “Homecoming;”, these villains provide an intriguing new challenge for Parker’s maturity. Having seen all of them in previous iterations of Spider-Man, the film assumes the audience has already witnessed their progressions and simply takes their presence as the villain itself. Unlike “Spider-Man 3,” this choice works because at the end of the day, this movie is about Parker, which is exactly what it needs to be. “No Way Home” does a wonderful job with its characters, but there are issues. Superhero films nowadays tend to sacrifice individual films to build on a bigger universe. This can result in a film that lacks
focus and sometimes feels uncommitted, such as 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Fortunately, “No Way Home” doesn’t come anywhere close to this level of indecision, yet it tends to spend lots of time providing fan service, nods and humor. All of these things are exactly what Marvel fans love, though, in a film as deep and emotional as this one, they sometimes feel unfit. It’s not uncommon for this film to upstage itself. The serious and deeply emotional moments get pushed to the wayside in favor of jokes and further worldbuilding. These sequences could have been much more effective if they were given the time to breathe and embrace the arcs built by the previous films. Part of the reason Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2” was so successful was because of its ability to simplify everything and focus solely
Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.
on the task at hand: defining Parker as a hero. Despite the unfortunate timing of some of the jokes and add-ons, the enjoyment in them is not lost. Longtime Spider-Man fans especially will find lots to love here and will likely be discussing this film for years to come. In comparison to the other Spider-Man films, it’s hard to label “No Way Home” as the “best” one, though it certainly earns a spot in the ranks. From start to finish, this film is exciting and filled with tension, leading to a conclusion that is gripping yet sincere. “SpiderMan: No Way Home” doesn’t consistently stay on target, but by the end, it proves itself to be a meaningful installment in a franchise, serving as a beacon for superhero fans everywhere. “SpiderMan: No Way Home” gets a rating of 7.7/10.
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Sports
Jan. 19, 2022
LINEBACKER LOOKS TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF FOOTBALL
Hiatt Ellis
Drew Bailey | Reporter
One Mountaineer has become paramount on defense during his football career at App State. Senior inside linebacker D’Marco Jackson has made memorable moments on the field while leading the team as a team captain off the
SINCE HE WAS A FRESHMAN, HE'S BEEN A SPECIAL TYPE OF PLAYER.
field. Jackson was named first team All-Sun Belt in his final two seasons, earned multiple All-American recognitions, and was the 2021 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year. “He’s been a special type of player. He gives you everything he’s got. He’s just an incredible leader on and off the field,” said defensive coordinator Dale Jones. “All the guys love being around him, coaches included. He’s just a remarkable person.” While Jackson is now a decorated player, his career did not start that way. In 2018, Jackson played primarily on special teams and as a backup inside linebacker. Many App State fans were introduced to Jackson the second game of 2019 against Charlotte when he returned a blocked punt 16 yards for a touchdown. “It was just like a thriller, finally getting out there on the field and just making a play,” Jackson said. “It’s just like, the best feeling seeing the crowd and my teammates go crazy. It was a heck of an adrenaline rush.” This explosive play led to Jackson receiving six starts that season. However, this was not Jackson’s only signature performance. After not playing in front of fans during the 2020 season, App State defeated Elon 44-10 in their 2021 home opener. Jackson was able to welcome the Mountaineer fan base back by notching a career-high three sacks. “Supporters don’t realize the impact they have on the players. They have a big part in the App State gameday,” Jackson said. “They make it feel like
HE GIVES YOU EVERYTHING HE'S GOT. HE’S JUST AN INCREDIBLE LEADER ON AND OFF THE FIELD. 16
- DALE JONES
home. It’s a blessing to be out there and playing.” This strong play continued throughout this season as Jackson reached his career highs in tackles, tackles for loss and sacks. In addition, Jackson proved to be a versatile player, becoming the second Division I player since 2000 to have at least 110 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, six sacks and 18 passes defended. Jackson has matched these achievements by embracing his role as a team captain, as voted by players and coaches. “I take great pride in it, and I’m glad that the guys trust me with this position,” Jackson said. “I just want to make sure that I do the right thing every day by leading and setting the right examples.” Jackson wanted to set the right example for not only his teammates but future Mountaineer football players by being a role model. “People don’t realize it, but when I see kids out there, that’s like kids out there giving me handshakes, that makes me want to go harder,” Jackson said. Jackson’s versatility and leadership traits has resulted in an invite to the NFL combine and become a highly rated NFL Draft prospect. This is why he will be leaving to pursue a career in the NFL next season. “I think he definitely has the ability to play in the NFL. He does all the right things,” Jones said. “He studies the game well, so he’s gonna know it, which is very important. He’s got a great base with all the games that he’s played here.” While Jackson is leaving Boone, he said he will miss the mountains and the people that inhabit the town. “The mountains are special, but the people who live here are more special,” Jackson said. “They helped me out a lot going through this whole process, and it’s like a family atmosphere.”
Sports
Jan. 19, 2022
CORNERBACK ON JOURNEY FROM PLAYING SPECIAL TEAMS
TO SETTING RECORDS Drew Bailey | Reporter One cornerback wrote his name into the record books this season.
(Right) Senior defensive back Steven Jones Jr. celebrates with outside (Left) linebacker Nick Hampton during the 31-7 victory over South Alabama Nov. 13, 2021. Hiatt Ellis
... IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE FANS BACK OUT THERE WHENEVER WE MAKE PLAYS. WE NEED THEM A LOT ON THIRD DOWN ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE AT HOME TO GET THE CROWD LOUD ...
On Nov. 6 against Arkansas State, senior cornerback Steven Jones Jr. came away with three interceptions and two pick-sixes, which tied the App State record for both categories. His performance earned Jones Jr. a Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week award in addition to the Walter Camp and Bronco Nagurski awards, which are given to the national defensive player of the week. “I just went out there, executed and did what I had to do,” Jones Jr. said. Jones Jr.’s Arkansas State game gave him four career pick-sixes, which tie him with the all-time Sun Belt record. At five interceptions for the season, Jones Jr. is tied for the second-most interceptions in the nation. Despite currently being a successful cornerback, Jones Jr. started his App State career primarily playing special teams. During his sophomore season in 2018, Jones Jr. produced a sensational special team’s performance against Garner-Webb that rivaled his game against Arkansas State. Jones Jr. blocked two punts and recovered one in the end zone for a touchdown. Tying the App State record for punt blocks in one game led to Jones Jr. earning that week’s Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Week. Jones Jr. would go on to play in every game in 2019 and 2020, following his special teams’ success. In 2020, Jones Jr. had two interceptions and made the most out of both of them. One was a pick-six against Troy, and the other was a 63-yard interception return against North Texas at the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Jones Jr. credits his work ethic for helping him blossom into a quality starter. “I just had to come to work every day. I had to play my role and do what I had to do on special teams, and now I’m the guy,” Jones Jr. said. Jones Jr. felt like the fans deserve some of the credit for his success. He specifically enjoyed playing in front of them again after playing in front of empty stadiums last season. “Oh, it’s great to have the fans back out there whenever we make plays. We need them a lot on third down, especially when we are at home to get the crowd loud and mess up the offense,” Jones Jr. said. Jones Jr. was one of nine Mountaineers this season to be named first team All-Sun Belt. The national spotlight shined down on him, and he earned All-American awards from Walter Camp, the Cotton Bowl, Phil Steele and Pro Football Network. He will return next season to try to build on his breakout year. Clark feels like Jones Jr., along with the other returning players, could lead the Mountaineers to a lot of team success next season. “Those are guys that have the experience to be great leaders for us,” Clark said. “They want to be here, and we want them here.”
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Sports
Jan. 19, 2022
Mountaineers rally behind WKU before bowl showdown Dan Davidson | Sports Editor
Shawn Clark and Western Kentucky football head coach Tyson Helton answer questions at the pre-bowl press conference Dec. 14, 2021. Courtesy of App State Athletics
One week before the Boca Raton Bowl showdown between App State and Western Kentucky in December, the state of Kentucky suffered the deadliest storm in its history. “It was heartbreaking, honestly,” said Western Kentucky receiver Jerreth Sterns. “I think the next morning, me and my little brother were just kind of walking around some of the parts, and you see trees everywhere, people’s roofs gone, glass everywhere. It’s crazy to think about, and it’s saddening that people were in the houses at the time, little kids.” A slew of devastating storms and tornadoes struck six states across the South and Midwest, and as of Dec. 19, 78 Kentuckians were left dead. With the bowl game scheduled for Dec. 18, it was apparent the contest would represent more than football. “This is going to be a big game,
and we both know that, and I think this is bigger than football,” said head coach Shawn Clark before the matchup. “We’re going to play a football game for all our fans to be proud of, but again, it’s bigger than football.” Despite their matchup on the field, the Mountaineers and Hilltoppers immediately joined forces to support the WKU community in the face of tragedy. App State Athletics aided Western Kentucky by asking Mountaineer fans and community members to donate supplies to send as relief. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Western Kentucky with the tornadoes, and I’m very proud of our university, our alumni for supporting the blood bank at Western Kentucky,” Clark said. “I think it speaks volumes to our program of what we represent.” One podcast that focuses on
Mountaineer sports launched a GoFundMe to help support the communities ravaged by the deadly storms. The Black & Gold Podcast’s GoFundMe soared past its initial goal of $3,333, which represented Boone’s elevation, raising $20,956 in total to benefit the Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center. “In the spirit of good sportsmanship and teamwork before our bowl game in Boca Raton with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, we’re helping out the folks in western Kentucky,” said the Black and Gold Podcast on the GoFundMe page. “We chose to benefit Western Kentucky Regional Blood Center Inc, and any donation will help make an impact during this chaotic time.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
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Opinion
Jan. 19, 2022
THROUGH ELLA’S EYES Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.
End misinformation with accessible research Ella Adams | Opinion Editor
Academic journals, like Nature and PNAS, are beacons of knowledge within the research community. Peer-reviewed research and publication are cornerstones of the scientific process, and journals play a crucial role. Although they are a valued component of the academic community, how do journals benefit the public? Many have pricey subscriptions, sometimes hundreds of dollars a year, and research papers have advanced to jargony language nearly impossible to understand. Journals and the academic community enable misinformation by making research inaccessible to the public. It’s time to retire the outdated mentality of academic elitism and make research attainable for everyone. The first obstacle to research is paywalls. Reading scientific research can be expensive. For individuals, articles can cost $50 a piece. An early subscription to PNAS for 2022 costs $235. Most college students are lucky enough to access journals and their subsequent articles through universities, but even institutions must pay ridiculous prices to access journals and articles. In 2017, the University of California completely canceled its subscription to the publisher Elsevier after the company refused to give the institution open access to its journals, even though the university was paying a stunning $10 million a year. The two reached an agreement, but the dispute stands as a notable step in the fight for open access to
scientific research. Publishers and journals are charging an outstanding amount for access to their research, and it is entirely based in greed. If their motives were only about expanding knowledge and the advancement of science, research would be open and free to academics and the public alike. Another barrier inhibiting access to research is how difficult articles are to read. In fairness, academic research is written for other academics in their field of study rather than the public. However, overly jargony language turns the public away from reading legitimate, peer-reviewed research. Science journalists are often the middleman between academia and average readers, but journalists cannot possibly cover every single research report. Academic writing uses unnecessarily difficult language and vocabulary. It wouldn’t harm academia to simplify writing styles for the public. After all, shouldn’t science be for everyone? Academia has a long history of gatekeeping higher education and access to research alike. Making journals and research reports more accessible will help close the divide between academia and the public, benefiting both parties. Greed and elitism have no place in the search for knowledge. Only good can come out of open access to research.
Stop thrifting gentrification Nadine Jallal | Columnist It is no secret thrifting has surged in popularity over the last couple of years. People who would have never entered a thrift shop a few years ago are now routine customers. Shopping secondhand is cost-effective and beneficial for the environment, but it seems a lot of shoppers’ intentions are not that simple. Opportunistic shoppers are contributing to the gentrification of thrifting. Gentrification is the purchasing of rundown areas or neighborhoods and rebuilding them to appeal to higher-income businesses and families. In the case of thrifting, gentrification is the ever-growing business of going to thrift stores, buying things of value and reselling for a profit. In other words, taking the practice of secondhand shopping, historically utilized by low-income people, and popularizing it to appeal to the richer population. The people who do this, in an attempt to normalize their business practices, have opted to call themselves “curators.” The simple business model has turned the world of thrifting upside down for multiple reasons. Recently, resellers sell their thrifty finds on Depop, an online platform for buying and selling secondhand clothes. Items that could be from a thrift store for under $10 are selling for $50 or more. Not to mention, the beneficial aspects of buying secondhand are diminished by online resellers who contribute to shippingrelated pollution and use unsustainable packing materials. As reselling thrift store finds become more prevalent, thrift stores across the nation are noticing the increased demand for secondhand items, which allows them to increase their prices. Resellers will continue to participate in thrift shopping because of the ridiculously high-profit margins, so the price increases are not stopping them from continuing their business. However, lowincome secondhand shoppers have suffered because of the increasing popularity of
thrifting and reselling. Low-income consumers have depended on thrift stores for affordable apparel and household items for decades, tracing back to The Great Depression, and they are tremendously affected by these price increases. Thrift stores used to be places where clothes were affordable, usually less than $3 to $4. However, now those same thrift stores have prices comparable to bargain retail stores such as Ross Dress For Less and TJ Maxx. The priciness of secondhand stores has also made its way to Boone. Anna Banana’s, a popular secondhand store on King Street, is often as expensive or more expensive than retail stores. Finding affordable clothing is becoming increasingly difficult, hence the resurgence of fast fashion. If shopping secondhand costs the same as getting a new piece of clothing off of Shein, a fast fashion clothing site, then most people will opt to get that new piece of clothing. The gentrification of thrifting is proving to have detrimental ramifications on the environment, even though thrifting is supposed to be sustainable. Thrifting has become enjoyable and exciting for everybody, whether or not it is done out of necessity. I am not asking anybody to quit thrifting at all. In fact, one version of the buy and sell business model entails the upcycling or repurposing of thrifted clothes. Putting in the time and work to upcycle an old T-shirt and then sell it is different than upcharging a T-shirt bought and sold as-is. The artistry and originality upcycling requires separates these sellers from their gentrifying counterparts. The issue lies with those who buy out thrift stores with the intention to resell without adding any value to these items. Those who put easy profit over compassion for the environment and the people who need to shop secondhand compromise the integrity of thrifting.
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