The Appalachian March 26, 2021 by The Appalachian

The Appalachian

March 26, 2021

More than just a meal

Nonprofit’s new delivery program combats food insecurity in the High Country Ethan Hunt | Reporter A local food bank is delivering food to the homes of food-insecure children in Watauga County. The Hunger and Health Coalition’s backpack program provided food-insecure children with food boxes at the end of the school day for more than a decade prior to the pandemic. Food boxes will now be administered through a mobile delivery service which relies on volunteer drivers to carry food to children in need. To be food insecure means to be unable to consistently access or afford adequate food, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary. Watauga County had 8,080 food-insecure residents in 2013, according to Hunger Research. That number is now 7,450, with 25% being children, according to the HHC. The contents of each food box varies with the donations to the

HHC that week. They generally contain canned foods, frozen meats, dairy products, pasta or rice and breakfast items. Elizabeth Young, HHC director, said the pandemic has increased food insecurity in Watauga County and caused costs to skyrocket. “We’ve seen a lot of new people come our way unfortunately,” Young said. Luckily, Young said, the community has risen to the challenge. A combination of fundraisers, individual donations and grants have allowed the HHC to continue servicing those in need. North Carolina ranked eighth nationally in food insecurity with an average 20.9% of children living in food-insecure households in 2016, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Continue on page 14

Watauga County Schools’ students gain face time in transition back to classroom

Music City to making a difference: alumnus makes career change for good

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The Hunger and Health Coalition receives shipments three times a week: prepared meals arrive on Monday, produce and dry goods on Tuesday, and dairy on Friday, Anita Wilson said. HHC orders food for five different programs, including two programs developed during the pandemic: a mobile delivery program and a food pantry at Watauga High School. Kara Haselton

News

Mar 26, 2021

Watauga County Schools face-to-face for rest of school year Jake Markland | Associate News Editor Middle and high school students are going back to in-person learning four days a week starting April 12. In a special meeting March 15, the Watauga County Board of Education voted 5-0 to send students in Watauga County Schools back to classrooms. Once students return from their spring break, they will have the option to go to school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Wednesdays will continue to be used as cleaning days. Watauga County Schools instructed virtually from March 2020 to the middle of the fall semester

last year; however, K-5 students have been in person four days a week since March 22. Since mid-October, WCS has operated on a hybrid schedule with cohorts. One cohort attended in-person school on Mondays and Tuesdays and another on Thursdays and Fridays. Gary Childers, chairman of the Board of Education, said teachers and staff will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when students return on April 12. Now, under Plan A, students are asked not to come to school if they have any symptoms of COVID-19,

wear masks inside and social distance as much as possible. “While there is no specific social distancing requirement under Plan A, we still want to make sure that we provide enough distance between students, particularly during transition and throughout the school day,” said Scott Elliott, superintendent of WCS, in a video released on its YouTube channel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their guidelines March 19 and announced only 3 feet of social distancing is necessary in schools. Gov. Roy Cooper announced

lifted restrictions beginning Friday as COVID-19 cases in North Carolina have been decreasing. In public, however, masks and 6 feet of social distancing are still required. Anne Ward, a parent of two children at Watauga High School, said she wants to know how the district will prepare students for “this abrupt shift in safety messaging.” “Safely distancing students in the classroom will not be possible when everyone returns after spring break,” Ward said. “That is a concern.” Jeanne Mercer-Ballard, who has two children in Watauga County Schools, said she is conflicted. She

said she wants to follow the science but also knows her children will thrive in a social, in-person learning environment. Another parent, Chrystal Dean, said she is ready for her daughter to be back in school and is confident that her daughter’s middle school and other Watauga County Schools will operate safely. “She wants to see her friends and be able to communicate with her teachers face to face each school day,” Dean said. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Student body presidential campaigns begin entering election Gianna Holiday | Reporter Two students became the first to announce their candidacy for student body president and vice president Thursday. Adam Zebzda will run for president alongside Jenn Banh, who will run for vice president. Both are current members of the App State Student Government Association. Zebzda, a political science major, currently serves as SGA director of external affairs. “Our campaign is focused on putting students back into the student government association,” Zebzda said. “Jenn and I have been advocating on behalf of all students since we joined SGA in 2020.” Zebzda said that the duo is ready to continue their work as student body president and vice president. “I am very excited and honored to announce my candidacy for student body vice president and am very proud to be running alongside Zebzda,” said Banh, a psychology and criminal justice major. Banh currently serves as a multicultural affairs senator in SGA. The two will release more infor-

Jake Markland | Associate News Editor mation about their platform as soon as they are able to according to election bylaws. Zebzda said that the two are planning on launching official campaign socials and a website Monday after the debate. Ardeshir Pirzadeh, SGA director of elections, said he and other SGA staff are working with university faculty to plan Monday’s debate while balancing COVID-19 protocols. He, Chief of Staff Gaby Romero and SGA advisers are working alongside staff for the Plemmons Student Union and M.S. Shook Student Health Services. Pirzadeh said the debate will most likely be open to candidates, a few campaign staff members, advisors, and members of the media. A debate between all presidential and vice presidential candidates will take place Monday from 5-7 p.m. in Plemmons Student Union and will be livestreamed and posted afterward for students.

Adam Zebzda and Jenn Banh are the first students to announce their candidacy in the 2021 election for student body president. Courtesy of Adam Zebzda

Bailey Gardin and DJ Evans announced their candidacy for student body president and vice president Thursday, the second day of the declaration period. The Appalachian contacted the candidates but they declined to comment for this story, saying that they are waiting to release information until the official campaigning period begins March 29. Presidential candidate Gardin, a junior political science major, currently serves as the director of academic affairs for the student government association. In his role this semester, Gardin has pushed for mental health days for App State students and the re-implementation of the Pass/No Credit system. Gardin, a Dr. Willie C. Fleming Scholarship recipient, is also an active member of the Black at App State Collective, a group pushing for a more equitable and anti-racist environment at App State. “I’m a first-generation college student leader succeeding at a predominantly white institution,” Gardin

said in a Black at App State Instagram post. “I’m proving to a younger generation that it’s possible to excel in environments that were never meant for you.” DJ Evans, vice presidential candidate, is also a junior political science major. Evans has served as the SGA Interfraternity Council Senator and is a member of Sigma Nu at App State. Presidential and vice presidential candidates will debate on Monday at 7 p.m.

DJ Evans (left) and Bailey Gardin (right) are running for student body vice president and president, respectively. The pair announced their candidacy Thursday, but are refraining from talking publicly until after SGA’s official campaigning period begins Monday. Courtesy of Bailey Gardin

News

Mar 26, 2021

College of education makes five-peat in National Board rankings Hollie Moore | Reporter App State’s Reich College of Education ranked first in the nation to produce National Board Certified Teachers for the fifth consecutive year. App State stays at No. 1 in the Top 50 Alma Maters as well as being included with the No.1 NBCT state. North Carolina continues to have the most National Board Certified teachers, presenting 23,090 educators with the certification since 1987. This year, 121 alumni earned the certification, adding to the 2,178 alumni already certified. Melba Spooner, dean of RCOE, and Rebekah Saylors, the director of marketing, communications, and engagement, expressed their pride and excitement in the RCOE’s National Board Certified alumni “The recognition is important because it affirms all the work and dedication and contributions of faculty, staff, alumni, and students,” Spooner and Saylors wrote. An NBCT credential comes from an accomplishment of five propositions: teachers committing to students and their subjects, monitoring students’ learning, learning from their experience and being constructive members of the learning community. “The certification is reflective practice,” said Sue Drake, an App State alumna with a thrice-renewed National Board Certification. “You don’t have to be perfect, but you have to know what you aren’t good at and know what you messed up on with a plan to make it better.” App State implemented a opportunity for prospective NBCT teachers to connect with board-certified alumni. The program, NBCTApps, is organized on campus through RCOE. Betsy Rosenbalm, director of Public School Partnership, connecting App State with P-12 public schools in Northwest North Carolina, and NBCTApps explains that RCOE’s program produces teacher leaders that are encouraged to succeed. “When you are part of a winning team, you want to be a winner,”

Rosenbalm said. Terry Chvala, an App State almuna with a twice-renewed National Board Certification, says some teachers view mentoring peers as “giving back,” but she looks at NBCTApps differently. “I see it more as my civic duty to match the goal of the national board to get at least one certified teacher in every classroom. Why shouldn’t I be on that mission with them?” Chvala said. RCOE also provides a student teaching program to assist teachers in getting the experience they need for the classroom. “When I student taught, it was magical to me because the moment I walked in, I knew I was in the right profession,” Chvala said. “They taught me the realities that a textbook never did. The theory to practice was seamless to me.” The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, which is in charge of the NBCTs, has added challenges to attaining the certification. North Carolina previously paid for the program, but now leaves the payment to each individual. Secondly, the NBPTS changed the certification to be active for 10 years to five years. Spooner and Saylors said that this certification requires a teacher to analyze their own instructional practice which tends to lead to a “strengths-based focus and positive

classroom environment for learners.” “Teachers who receive this certification tend to be very effective, engaging and impactful both in their classrooms and their schools,” Spooner and Saylors said. Challenges have also arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing teachers to find ways to work and teach differently. “During this year that has presented extraordinary challenges, our alumni have demonstrated their commitment to teaching excellence with resilience and distinction,”Spooner and Saylors wrote.

Karen Walker, an App State alumnus and Reich College of Education faculty member works with new teachers in the surrounding counties as a support coach. The National Commission of Teaching and America’s Future found that nearly half of new teachers leave the profession within their first five years; Walker supports teachers to keep them teaching. Jesse Barber

Turning the tassel again: Students able to walk in 2021 graduation Gianna Holiday | Reporter

Jim Brooks, an App State alum with a doctoral degree in education, has taught at West Wilkes High School for 36 years. Brooks teaches English, Latin and the student yearbook class. Brooks is on the teacher certification board and helps bring up candidates for national board certification. Jesse Barber

Spring 2021 graduates will have the option to attend de-densified, in-person commencement ceremonies with limited guests or an optional virtual ceremony. App State will adhere to state capacity guidelines by hosting ceremonies over five days, which will take place May 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 in the Holmes Convocation Center. Spaced out ceremonies will allow for further cleaning and sanitizing. A limited number of guests will be allowed per graduate, but this number will not be determined until all graduation registrations are complete. This number will be based upon state-mandated occupancy limits. During each ceremony, graduates will have their name announced, walk across the stage in Holmes Convocation Center and be professionally photographed when they receive their diploma. Ceremonies are scheduled to last 60-90 minutes and will include graduates from each of the university’s colleges. All graduates must obtain tickets for their guests in order for them to attend the in-per-

son ceremony. Information on registering their guests will be sent to graduates’ App State emails at a later date. Seating will be arranged to ensure physical distancing is practiced among graduates and guests. All graduates’ guests will be seated in pods to ensure physical distancing is maintained. Face coverings are mandatory for all guests and students who will walk in person. Face coverings will be provided to all graduates. Students attending the in-person ceremony are required to purchase regalia, which is available for purchase on the University Bookstore Website. All regalia must be ordered before 5 p.m. on March 26. Ceremonies will be livestreamed for guests who may not be permitted to attend due to capacity limitations. A virtual ceremony will be made available on the commencement website on May 7. Advance registration for graduates is required by 5 p.m. April 9. The Office of the Registrar will reach out to students with a date, time and link to complete the graduation registration.

News

Mar 26, 2021

Historic Preservation Commission seeks dedicated downtown district

(Left) The Jones House sits just above King Street. This historical property was first built in 1908 by Dr.r John Walter Jones.(Middle) Frank Linney House, built originally as a smaller house by R.L. Councill, the house was purchased and altered by Frank A. Linney in 1902. (Right) Originally surrounded by grass, having stone pillars at its entrance, the Watauga County Courthouse has seen some changes over the years but still shares a similar location. (All of these buildings are located within the proposed historic district and impacting owners’ abilities to make changes to the homes and protecting them from getting torn down.) Kara Haselton

Ethan Hunt | Reporter A construction crew armed with machinery approached 136 North Water Street on a January morning. Then, D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company demolished The Hardin House. The house was the childhood home of Bobby Hardin, a former mayor of Blowing Rock. Built in 1926, it was an important architectural example of late 1920s residential construction, according to a report by the Boone Historic Preservation Commission. The Historical Preservation Commission recently recommended to the Boone Town Council designated that an area of downtown as a local historic district. If it is passed, the designation would protect the properties in the district

Now the site of the Magic Cycles Bicycle Shop, the Watauga Motor Company building began construction in 1919 and was finished two years later in 1921. Samuel Cooke

from substantial change, add obstacles to demolition and cause an increase in tourism. The proposed district borders Rivers Street in the east near the Beasley Media Complex and Queen Street in the west by the back of Lost Province. The north and south boundaries of the district are roughly the Watauga County Courthouse and Appalachian Street near Boone Saloon. The Hardin House is one of 120 properties listed in the report as evidence of the historic significance of downtown Boone. Each property meets the 50-year-old age requirement and has either architectural significance or a connection to historic events or individuals. Town manager John Ward said the demolition of the Hardin House and other historic buildings in recent years have served as reminders of the pace of change. “These losses have propelled our elected town officials to place a heightened value on our community’s history and work to protect it,” Ward said. A local historic district is a type of zoning that applies to entire neighborhoods or areas composed of many historic properties. The zoning provides guidelines for the appearance of properties and limits property owners’ ability to demolish these properties,

according to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resource,. In Boone, a property owner will have to wait one year after deciding to tear down a property before they can do so. During that year the HPC will discuss other options with the owner, according to the downtown Boone local historic district design guidelines and handbook. The Boone Town Council will not vote on the recommendation immediately. A vote will take place after public hearings where residents can review and comment on the details of the recommendation will be reviewed and commented on by residents. The HPC began researching the report more than 10 years ago under direction of the town council. In 2014 Eric Plaag, founder of Carolina Historical Consulting, joined the team. Plaag said before he joined, the HPC attempted writing guidelines property owners would have to follow if the downtown area became a local historic district, which is generally one of the last steps of the process. In 2015, the HPC announced a new strategy. The commission began a new survey involving meticulous research into the history of every property with suspected historical signifi-

cance in the downtown area. The town council approved $8,000 of funding for materials and hired three interns to assist Plaag with the research process. In late 2019, Plaag and the HPC completed the 400plus page survey detailing the reason for preservation of property outlined within the proposed district. “I wanted this document to be something that captured as much information as I could,” Plaag said. “One of my complaints about most architectural surveys is they tend to be more of a snapshot in time and less of a true architectural survey where you are looking at change over time.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Still having distinguishing features today, the Watauga County Bank Building is now home to The Shoppes at Farmers. Despite its new purpose the building still has its night depository box and stone, engraved sign from when it was still a bank. Samuel Cooke

News

Mar 26, 2021

(Left) Hunger and Health Coalition’s mobile delivery coordinator Candace Kelling-Salzer (left) and director of operations Anita Wilson (right) organize and process their March 23 shipment. This shipment, from Second Harvest Food Bank in Winston-Salem, holds the products for the first delivery to their new food pantry at Watauga High School. (Middle) Jennifer Wandler, Watauga High School social worker, helps unpack the first shipment Hunger and Health Coalition delivers to the food pantry hosted at the high school. Wandler said that they haven’t advertised the food pantry much because they were not sure when the first shipment would be, but that HHC is working with marketing classes to come up with flyers and foods classes to come up with recipes for the items they receive. The pantry will be available for students, families, staff and faculty. (Right) Candace Kelling-Salzer started volunteering with Hunger and Health Coalition in October. She is now working on staff, coordinating their new mobile delivery program established after COVID-19 hit the U.S. Kelling-Salzer is excited for this “fulfilling” and “purposeful” role in which she gets to connect with the community. Kara Haselton

Cont. from page 1

The backpack program provides food boxes to families who register in person, on the website, by phone call or are referred to the HHC through Watauga County Schools. The HHC has other other delivery services besides the backpack program. In 2019, the HHC incorporated a program called A Simple Gesture, which was founded by Jon and Karen Trivers in California. A Simple Gesture is a national organization whose program is incorporated in food banks throughout the country. Donors in the program are provided with a green bag, which they fill with donations such as canned goods pasta and other non-perishables over the course of two months. At the end of the two months, the donor leaves the bag on their porch and a volunteer driver comes to pick it up. A Simple Gesture has collected over 100,000 pounds of food and accumulated 600 donors in roughly two years, said Jenn Bass, A Simple Gesture’s coordinator. Two App State faculty members volunteer for A Simple Gesture as drivers.

Beth Davison, sociology and cultural gender and global studies professor, reached out to the HHC last summer when the pandemic was still relatively new. “I was looking for a way to help out with the dire needs many people found themselves, being distressed,” Davison said. Adam Hege, public health education professor, started driving this January. He said the pandemic combined with a new year’s resolution is

what influenced him contact to the HHC. “Knowing that a lot of people are struggling right now with food insecurity and job loss and all those kinds of things, I think I was really drawn to it,” Hege said. Davison said she plans to continue driving after the pandemic is over. “It’s simple to be involved, for both the people who are donating the food, which really they’re doing the bulk of the work and the giving and

service and it’s easy for the drivers to drive by and pick it up,” Davison said. Following the model of A Simple Gesture, the backpack program mobile version will be contactless and low-profile. Drivers will only know how much food to deliver and where to deliver it. “We know that when people have access to nutritious food they are better able to show up as partners, as family members, mothers, fathers, community members, employees,”

(Left) The new pantry at Watauga High School will be available for students, families, staff and faculty. This first shipment contains dry goods and produce but cold and frozen items will be coming in next week, Wandler said. (Right)When COVID-19 hit Boone, Hunger and Health Coalition lost all their volunteers, director of operations Anita Wilson said. At first, it was just staff receiving and distributing deliveries, but it eventually allowed volunteers to come back granted they had a negative COVID-19 test. However, older volunteers are still unwilling to come, Wilson said, leaving HHC still in need of volunteers. Kara Haselton

Young said. “They’re able to live their life better.” The HHC also provides necessary pharmaceuticals for those who qualify and a wood lot which offers free wood for cooking or heating. One anonymous resident said they have been unable to access retirement money and that the service has been incredibly helpful, in a statement to the HHC. “This has been a very humbling and embarrassing situation to find myself in after all these many years and being such a private person,” the individual said in a statement from the coalition. “Again, thank you so much for help which really has been such a blessing to us. We are very grateful for you all.” Most volunteers of HHC disappeared as a result of the pandemic. Students who interned with the organization and high-risk senior citizen helpers left. Those who wish to donate or volunteer with the backpack program or A Simple Gesture program can sign up at the Hunger and Health Coalition’s website.

News

Mar 26, 2021

All NC adults eligible for COVID vaccine April 7 Ethan Hunt | Reporter Gov. Roy Cooper announced Thursday that all North Carolina adults will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine beginning April 7. The rest of Group 4, which includes college students living in dorms, will be eligible on March 31, one week earlier than anticipated. Group 5, all adults, will be eligible April 7. Beginning April 7, 16 and 17 year olds will also be eligible, but only for the Pfizer vaccine because the others are not authorized for minors. North Carolina has had 903,374 cases of COVID-19, 2,112 new cases, 945 hospitalizations and 11,987 deaths as of March 25. The state has administered 4.2 million vaccine doses, 19.1% of the population is fully vaccinated. Cooper did not give specifics on when the mask mandate will be lifted. He said the key to

that happening is people continuing to get vaccinated. Cooper said he is concerned that a large part of the population is unsure about getting vaccinated and may “refuse.” He called upon doctors, friends and family to convince those who are unsure to get vaccinated. Despite these considerations, Cooper said there is hope that a return to normalcy can happen soon and that, “we’re looking forward to summertime.” Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, announced a new initiative called Healthier Together: Health Equity Action Network, which aims to equitably distribute vaccines to marginalized communities. Healthier Together

is a public private partnership between the state and the NC Counts Coalition. Stacey Carless, executive director of NC Counts Coalition, described the plan which will focus on community based outreach. “COVID has exposed and exacerbated racial and ethnic health disparities stemming from a history of exploitation, disinvestment, disenfranchisement and marginalization of (communities of people of color),” Carless said. The program will use federal COVID-19 funds to coordinate local vaccine events at trusted locations, schedule vaccine appointments, offer translation services and ensure people receive their second vaccine dose. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 23.1% of

Black residents, 9.8% of Hispanic residents and 71.7% of white residents have been vaccinated. Cooper addressed residents’ desire to get vaccinated through their primary care physician and said the main obstacle is cold storage requirements for the vaccine, specifically the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. The governor said greater supply of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which does not need the same cold storage, will allow residents to get vaccinated through their primary care provider. Cooper said the goal is to create more supply of the vaccine than there is demand. “We’re close to getting where we want to be, let’s stay the course and get there faster,” Cooper said.

Alcohol, capacity restrictions loosened today Ansley Puckett | A&C Editor Restrictions are easing in North Carolina effective afternoon. Gov. Roy Cooper announced in a COVID-19 briefing that he is lifting the 11 p.m. curfew for on-site alcohol consumption and increasing maximum occupancy limits for several establishments. On Tuesday, Cooper announced Executive Order 204, which lifts restrictions on the late-night sale of alcohol, allowing establishments to serve until 2 a.m. The order will also allow restaurants, amusement parks, retail businesses, gyms, pools, breweries and wineries to increase capacity 75% indoors and 100% outdoors. Spots like bars, sports arenas, conference centers, reception venues and other establishments for live performances can increase capacity up to 50%. Other mass gathering limits will be increased to 50% indoors and 100% outdoors. However, Cooper said the mask mandate will remain in place, and 6 feet of social distancing

will be required of all of these locations. Cooper also said some establishments may not reach the maximum capacity the order allows because of the location’s size. “These are significant changes, but they can be done safely,” Cooper said. “We have said all along that the science and data would be our guide in this dimmer switch approach, and they show we can do this.” These changes come as the state sees significant improvement in COVID-19 metrics. Cooper urged the state to continue taking precautions against the spread of COVID-19 so the state can continue to ease restrictions. “I’m grateful for the efforts of people across the state,” Cooper said. “But the pandemic is not over. We’re only able to keep the virus in check while we ease restrictions if people act responsibly and follow safety protocols.”

CHANGES Establishments can now serve alcohol until 2 a.m. Capacity for restaurants, amusement parks, retail businesses, gyms, pools, breweries and wineries will increase to 75% indoors and 100% outdoors Capacity for bars, sports arenas, conference centers, reception venues and other establishments for live performances will increase up to 50% Mask mandate will remain in place, and 6 feet of social distancing will be required of all locations Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.

A&C

Mar 26, 2021

Review “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” Xanayra Marin-Lopez | Multimedia Editor If Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe had a kid in the 21st century, it would be Lana Del Rey. She’s as American as they come and “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” her latest album released March 19, embodies nothing less than her patriotic aesthetics of the past 10 years – but this time with more intention. American iconography and devotion have always been central to the character of Lana Del Rey. She writes about being “American made” on 2019’s “Venice B----,” being proud like an American on her appropriately titled 2012 track, “American,” falling asleep in an American flag on 2012’s “Cola,” and other songs from her discography. First entering the business under the name Lizzy Grant, her sound was inspired by her trailer park home, experiences in boarding school and rebellious teenage years. Her struggles as an artist have never been much of a part of her sound — until now. After some time in the industry, she changed her name to Lana Del Rey and her look followed. From straight blond short hair, Grant evolved into a ‘60s inspired, old Hollywood look. Her early music and accompanying videos were high budget, bringing fantasy and glamour. Today, Del Rey’s music videos are homemade, similar to her breakthrough track “Video Games,” which she shot and directed herself. “Chemtrails Over the Country Club” speaks to Del Ray’s former persona, Lizzy Grant, not Lana Del Rey. And before anything, the album demonstrates that she is a songwriter. Coined by many as a “pop-poet,”

her sound has always been lush; it’s vintage, yet new, and depressing. But is Grant a pop artist? In the mid 2010s when Tumblr inspired Gen Z’s music taste, she was lumped with other “indie” artists at the time. This includes the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, the 1975 and Marina and the Diamonds. You can give all the credit to Grant for pioneering the sounds Billie Eilish, Lorde and Melanie Martinez rely on. These artists, emerging during the end of the last decade, employ the same pop melodies and deep lyricism as Grant that so many can relate to. These female personas as “women of depth” have grown in popularity in recent years in comparison to the industry’s traditional “plant” pop girl. A plant in the industry refers to an artist whose fame was created by a record label and team at work, however the growth of the artist is displayed as “organic.” For example, an organic rise to fame can involve an artist growing social media followers from content of their performances. In 2014, Rolling Stone called Del Ray “a mystery that 10,000 tortured think pieces have failed to solve.” With that, there’s no more need for analysis on her musical character and identity. “Born to Die” and “Paradise” were cinematic, no matter what the critics say. “Summertime Sadness” played at Jay Gatsby’s parties, after all. Del Rey explores Americana further with folk songs different than the usual “sad girl” genre critics limit her to. Pitchfork recites her young-

Graphic by Xanayra Marin-Lopez er music recipe as “sad girls + Americana + string sections + quotes from other famous songs.” “Chemtrails” knows personal confessions, new bridges, long drum breaks and an airy head voice. This is Del Rey’s most vocally daring album by far. “White Dress,” Del Rey’s choice for the first song on the album, gives the 19-year-old Lizzy Grant working as a waitress a chance to reflect on the career Lana Del Rey has now created. Her rushed lyric, “down at the men in music business conference,” speaks to how Del Rey, as a young adult, spent time in Orlando and Miami playing shows in search of fame. Not only is Del Rey vulnerable about her feelings toward fame in this line, she tries her hand at a jazzier execution in the lyric. The third track, “Tulsa Jesus Freak,” showcases Del Rey’s vocals in a matter no different than her standard. It’s a ballad we can expect from the singer on any body of work. This song was originally named “White Hot Forever,” its catchiest lyric. “White Hot Forever” was also Grant’s first pick for an album name. “Dark But Just a Game” is easily the most unique song on the album. Halfway in is a switch to a trip-hop beat we would typically get from Grant on her earlier albums, though the guitar is still there. Compared to records like “Ultraviolence’’ and “Lust

for Life,” “Chemtrails” is underwhelming in its heterogeneity. We know Grant can make a breakup song, a makeup song and everything in between, even for atypical love stories. But, let’s consider that it’s hard to follow what Pitchfork would agree is her best album yet — “Norman F--ing Rockwell!” (A drastic change in opinion from the publication on the artist.) The two albums share piano ballads, insights into Grant’s life and her truths about the media’s perceptions of her. She’s mature, risky and she’s got the help of Bleacher’s Jack Antonoff. Del Rey’s questionable “question for the culture” Instagram post last year sparked controversy over the singer’s sentiments. In the statement, the artist said that other big female artists like Doja Cat, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj have made hit songs talking about “being sexy, wearing no clothes, f---ing, cheating, etc” but have not faced the criticism she has. Since the beginning of her career, Del Rey has been singing about these topics, but said she faced a lot of backlash from music critics and had a low public opinion. She alludes to herself being the first to do this. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

A&C

Mar 26, 2021

Student joins lineup of North Carolina artists to work with Avett Brothers’ producer Aubrey Smith | Reporter

or most students, junior year is spent hitting the books and trying to figure out what’s next after graduation. But one App State student is managing all of that and more – including recording an album. Dylan Innes released “Taste The Tide,” a nine-track album, on March 20. Innes worked with producer Doug Williams, who has worked with big North Carolina artists such as The Avett Brothers. The two started talking back last year after connecting on Instagram. Innes liked the studio, ElectroMagnetic Radiation Recorders, and Williams’ big collection of mics and old recording gear. When Innes first booked time at Williams’ studio, he spent eight hours there recording his songs. “I was really excited but also really nervous,” Innes said. “This was my first time I’ve ever paid for studio time.” Innes said he experienced some anxiety while recording and felt doubtful after leaving the studio, but as he listens back to the tracks now, he feels it’s better than he originally thought. “After spending eight hours in the studio, you don’t really feel euphoric about the art anymore,” Innes said. Innes has been involved in music since he was little. From piano lessons to chorus, he made his way to music production. “In middle school, me and my friend started making dubstep on this software on the computer,” Innes said. “That’s how I got into producing music.” Innes also picked up the guitar in middle school, and when his parents gifted him an eight-track mixing console in high school, he dove into the music production world. While Innes stuck with guitar, he did not stick with dubstep. His album “Taste The Tide” has an acoustic, singer-songwriter sound. Innes has also performed in bands. He currently plays in 80 Unlacey, a Boone-based band. “Sometimes the lines between my solo stuff and 80 Unlacey blur,” Innes said. “Sometimes I’ll play some of my solo stuff just to kill up the set.”

While Innes is comforted by the opportunity to make music on his own, he enjoys having both a solo act and a band as music outlets. Innes said he also loves the connections and friendships that have come from the band. Friend and fellow 80 Unlacey band member Alvin Carlisle has worked with Innes since 2019. “Dylan is a great musician to work with. He’s very passionate about music,” Carlisle said. “He’s also an amazing songwriter.” Innes’s album features an acoustic version of one of the most popular songs by 80 Unlacey, “Bristol.” The band wrote the song together and all got to contribute, Carlisle said. Photographer Julia Lynn, who took pictures for the band and Innes in preparation for his album, said she enjoys working with Innes and likes his music. “He has always been very nice and very generous,” Lynn said. For the release of “Taste The Tide,” Innes is most excited for people to hear songs that he’s been holding on to for a long time or songs he’s played at shows. “Now there’s finally going to be a body of work,” Innes said. “The songs people have been hearing for a long time are actually going to be recorded and put out there.” Working in music has given Innes something to do. Whether it’s just sending music-related emails or writing songs, Innes is “never bored.” “If nothing else were to come out of it, at least I have something to do every day,” Innes said. Innes said songwriting and producing are his favorite aspects of working in music. Sofie Pedersen, a fellow artist and App State student who works in the same recording program as Innes, has worked with him in the studio multiple times. Recently, the two put out a song together called “Clean Record,” featured on Pedersen’s EP, “I Killed Cupid.” “I think Dylan is really good at making things catchy, and he’s really good at being honest with his work,” Pedersen said. “I think that being honest with your lyrics is what makes a really good songwriter.”

I think Dylan is really good at making things catchy, and he’s really good at being honest with his work ... I think that being honest with your lyrics is what makes a really good songwriter.

Dylan Innes with his guitar. Innes worked with North Carolina producer Doug Williams to create his new album, “Taste The Tide.” Courtesy of Julia Lynn

A&C

Mar 26, 2021

PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK Camryn Collier Reporter

From Tennessee to teaching Alumnus leaves music career to train students with autism Zoe Zink | Reporter

Graphic by Camryn Collier The sun shining on your skin, blue skies and the smell of flowers in the air can only symbolize one thing: spring has arrived. With the equinox occurring this past week on March 20, a season of rebirth and rejuvenation pushes the white, cold, harsh winter months into nothing but a memory, only to be seen again in the far-off months. For the Appalachian region, spring brings more than just blue skies and sunshine. It also brings touches of yellow and gold. A color recognizable all over App State’s campus, the Appalachian region is home to many iconic golden-hued flowers like Ruth’s golden aster, goldenrod, spreading avens and more. Gold and yellows are not only for the plants, though. The Appalachian region is home to many yellow-hued critters that come back for the season as well, including the bumblebee, golden-winged warbler, American goldfinch, and eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies. With the spirit of the golden sunshine in the sky and the yellow flowers at our feet, this playlist represents the feeling of the emerging spring.

When an App State alumnus graduated in 2003 with a degree in music industry studies, he never expected to be teaching students with autism spectrum disorder in a warehouse in Colorado just 13 years later. Danny Combs was living most musicians’ dream – playing and teaching guitar in Nashville. He was working with Disney and hanging out with fellow country musicians like Taylor Swift and Faith Hill. However, when Combs’ son Dylan was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, he recognized a need for a program to build upon his son’s strengths, not just point out his weaknesses. “Therapists were great … but I always left hearing what my son was doing wrong and what he needed to do better. I wanted to hear what he was good at,” Combs said. The Combs family comes from a long line of tradespeople, and Combs recognized that Dylan was a natural in this department. He and his wife began looking for resources, and when they struggled to find some, Combs set out on his own and founded Teaching the Autism Community Trades in Denver, Colorado in 2016. TACT trains students with ASD in various trade skills and helps them to find jobs in that field. They offer workshops to students as young as five to introduce them to the world of trade and help them find a field they are passionate about. TACT has impacted the lives of over 700 students. They have workshops and classes in auto mechanics, welding, electrical and more. These students are now able to use skills to find jobs that highlight what they are good at. In a survey the program sent out to parents, Leigh Brown, the mother of a student at TACT expressed her gratitude for the program. “(They have) more hands-on auto-mechanics than he would ever get in public school, and in a group setting where he doesn't stand out as 'different,’” she wrote. Most people don’t pay out of pocket to work with TACT. They accept insurance and are now able to accept Medicaid, which continues Combs’ desire to foster

Danny Combs (right) helping a student build a rocking horse. Combs left his music career to create Teaching the Autism Community Trades, which teaches students trade skills like woodworking. Courtesy of Danny Combs

an inclusive community. Additionally, they use grants and donations from the community to grow. TACT alumni are spread across various fields, such as students who work in accounting firms or change airbags for Audi. Combs said one student went from struggling to find his lunchbox in a cubby to being able to read a sixteenth of an inch on a tape measure and changing batteries by himself at home within four weeks of being at TACT. Within the first five years of TACT, Colorado Parent Magazine nominated the organization for one

of the top five nonprofits in the state of Colorado. Last fall, “Returning the Favor,” a Facebook series hosted by TV sensation Mike Rowe, featured TACT, a series that almost 1 million people have viewed. TACT is also now affiliated with Easter Seals, America’s largest nonprofit healthcare organization, targeted at people with disabilities. Combs hopes that this partnership will help grow TACT outside of Denver. “We are still the only program in the country that does this,” he said.

Sports

Mar 26, 2021

Millner

named All-American

school-record seven wrestlers

compete at NCAA tournament

App State junior 149-pounder Jonathan Millner in action during his SoCon title match win over Campbell’s Joshua Heil. In St. Louis March 18-20, Millner became the eighth Mountaineer of all time to earn All-American recognition at the NCAA Championships. Max Correa

Cameron Burnett | Senior Reporter Among a school record seven wrestlers who competed at the 2021 NCAA wrestling championships in St. Louis March 18 through March 20, App State’s 149-pounder Jonathan Millner secured an eighth place finish to earn NCAA Division I All-American recognition. The redshirt junior became the eighth Mountaineer in program history to be named an All-American, the fourth since head coach JohnMark Bentley took over in 2009, and the first since Denzel Dejournette in 2017. “Since Denzel, to keep putting App (State) on the map, just to rep-

resent the program and my coaching staff, it means the world to them and me,” Millner said. As the No. 7 seed, Millner opened the competition 2-0 on Thursday, clinching All-American honors after a 10-7 decision against Duke’s No. 27 seed Josh Finesilver as the 149-pound bracket was cut to eight Friday night. In the quarterfinals, he ultimately dropped a 5-2 decision against unbeaten No. 2 seed and finalist Austin O’Connor of North Carolina. In the seventh-place match, Millner fell 5-3 against Stanford’s No. 8-seed Jaden Abas, securing his eighth-

place position. “I couldn’t be more proud of him, our program and our coaching staff and all of our alumni and supporters,” Bentley said. “It’s tough when you get out here and you’re wrestling against the best guys in the country, and your emotions are going up and down throughout the tournament with different wrestlers participating.” Millner competed at NCAAs alongside six App State teammates: redshirt juniors Anthony Brito (141) and Cody Bond (157), redshirt sophomore Will Formato (165), sophomore

Sean Carter (133), and redshirt seniors Thomas Flitz (174) and Codi Russell (125). Russell qualified for the tournament for his third consecutive season, while Millner and Flitz made their second appearances. Brito, Bond, Formato and Carter each made their NCAA tournament debuts. Russell and Carter each joined Millner in picking up tournament victories, as they both went 1-2 in the tournament. No. 16-seeded Russell fell 7-6 with an opening round loss to West Virginia’s Killian Cardinale, but broke a 5-5 third period tie with a reversal in his consolation match, holding onto the lead to claim an 8-6 decision against Virginia’s Patrick McCormick. Russell then fell to Minnesota’s Patick McKee by a first-period pin. No. 31-seeded Sean Carter fell 20-5 by technical fall in his first match against Penn State’s Roman Bravo-Young, but won an 8-6 decision following a last second takedown against Northern Colorado’s Mosha Schwartz in the night session. Carter dropped his next match to Lehigh’s Malyke Hines by a 10-2 score. As the No. 16 seed, 2021 SoCon Wrestler of the Year Formato fell 3-2 after a decision in his first match against Thomas Bullard of NC State, with an early takedown being the difference. In the night session, Formato fell 11-2 against Northern Iowa’s Austin Yant. Cody Bond, a No. 20 seed in his bracket, dropped an 11-5 decision against Oregon State’s Hunter Willits in his opening match, and lost 5-4

against North Carolina’s Joshua McClure in the consolation bracket. Brito, ranked 22nd in the 141 bracket, opened with a 10-1 loss to Navy’s Cody Trybus. Brito reached a 4-1 lead against CSU-Bakersfield’s Angelo Martinoni in his consolation bracket match, but in the final 30 seconds, Martinoni overcame a 4-3 deficit with a four-point near fall to secure an 8-4 win. As the No. 15 seed, Flitz fell 7-5 against Oklahoma State’s Dustin Plott in his opening match. Flitz’s consolation match against Lehigh’s Jake Logan featured no takedowns by either wrestler, and needed overtime to be decided. Flitz conceded an escape, breaking the 3-3 tie and solidifying Plott’s victory. The Mountaineers’ record-breaking success in the 2020-21 season further brightens the future of the wrestling program. Sending seven out of 10 starters onto the NCAAs was impressive in its own right, and Millner’s success in the tournament was icing on top. Bentley expressed that the sacrifice and energy put into developing his wrestlers not only helps them reach their own goals, but the program’s goals too. “In our program we always want to have All-Americans, that’s what we want to do at the end of each year,” Bentley said. “It helps with recruiting, it helps with fundraising and donor support, it’s a special moment for our coaching staff, and we’re proud to have another All-American in this program.”

Sports

Mar 26, 2021

...I want to run my final race and look back to feel that I put it all out there and that (I) was the best athlete I could have been. App State freshman track athlete Bianca Copeman in action during her high school career at Ashley High School in Wilmington. In her first collegiate meet, she broke into the App State record books, finishing the 1000-meter run in the sixth fastest time in school history. Courtesy Bianca Copeman

Dan Davidson | Associate Sports Editor

Freshman mid-distance runner

enters App State record books after first career race

reshman mid-distance runner Bianca Copeman burst into the App State record books at her first meet as a Mountaineer. Copeman ran the sixth-fastest 1,000-meter run in program history at the Brant Tolsma Invitational last month with a time of 3:09.41. “A week before the race, I was worried I was going to get last,” Copeman said. “I am just extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team and program.” Copeman’s road to the record books began far before she stepped foot in Boone. Growing up in Wilmington, Copeman played soccer and only ran to stay fit for the soccer season. When she tried cross country to stay in shape, she fell in love with running. “My cross-country coach encouraged me then to try track, where in my first track season, I was able to set a school record in the 4x800-meter relay and go to states,” Copeman said. “After this, I decided to run full time and quit soccer, one of the best choices I have ever made.” Copeman credits her parents for having the most influence on her track career, thanks to their constant encouragement for her to work hard and do her best. “From biking my workouts by my side to driving me to races all over North Carolina, they have done it all for me,” Copeman said. “I can be pretty hard on myself after a bad race or just in general, but they always know how to cheer

me up and motivate me to do better next time. I would not be where I am today without them.” Before her first meet as a Mountaineer, Copeman was both excited and nervous. The race at Liberty would be just her third time ever running the 1,000-meter. “I started in the middle of the pack, but by 800M, I moved my way up and had a super strong kick to get second,” Copeman said. “Faith (Younts) and I were neck and neck at the line, and I was so happy to finish by her side and my teammate Angelina (Diblasi) as we are all good friends.” The Wilmington native plans to continue to practice hard and improve her personal records as the team moves into the outdoor track season, which began March 13. “I just want to continue what I have been doing,” Copeman said. “I have been running solid workouts and hitting consistent mileage, which I hope will pay off.” By the end of her time in Boone, Copeman hopes to accomplish more than new personal records. She wants to be the best teammate and athlete she can be. “I take my specific goals season by season, but overall I want to be able to make a positive impact on the team,” Copeman said. “I want to run my final race and look back to feel that I put it all out there and that (I) was the best athlete I could have been.”

Opinion

Mar 26, 2021

Cherokee County native on hate back home Ella Adams | Associate Opinion Editor It seems that every mass shooting in the U.S. follows the same chain of events: shooting, media blitz, candlelit vigils, politicians on cable news promising change they will never deliver and those unaffected moving on a few weeks later. It’s hard not to become desensitized when gun violence is so frequent. The March 16 Atlanta-area shootings are one of the most recent senseless acts of violence, but these shootings weren’t random. The shooter specifically targeted his victims based on their gender and race. Of course, hate crimes aren’t unheard of in the U.S. but this shooting is a symptom of a much larger problem: the escalation of racism and violence against Asian Americans.

I’m from Cherokee County, Georgia, the location of the first shooting. When I heard about the shootings, I was angry, embarrassed and heartbroken but not surprised. Casual racism is common in a place like Cherokee County. In March 2020, Captain Jay Baker, the former spokesman for the county sheriff’s office, promoted t-shirts reading “COVID-19 imported virus from Chy-na” on his Facebook page. This is the casual racism that goes on every day not only in Cherokee County but in counties all over the country. Anti-Asian rhetoric creates an environment for more extreme forms of racism to occur. Yes, the March 16 shootings were a result of one hate-

caleb’s

CONCEPTS

filled individual, but he was enabled by a combination of irresponsible gun laws, sexism and racism against Asian women that escalated during the past year. The hesitation to label these murders a hate crime is deeply insulting to the victims. Even if these attacks weren’t racially motivated, which they were, they were motivated by misogyny. The shooter claimed the attacks weren’t racially motivated but rather a result of his alleged sex addiction. But the shooter doesn’t get to define his crimes and how they affect the people he targeted. He attacked Asian-owned businesses and Asian women in particular. This is a hate crime, regardless of law enforcement’s, and the

shooter’s, refusal to label it as such. These tragedies happened in my hometown. Many of the people who died were my neighbors. These attacks weren’t far away tragedies. Many of our Asian American friends, peers, neighbors and coworkers have been affected by this violence. Physical distance doesn’t matter when people that look like you are being murdered for their heritage all across the nation. Hate crimes have rocketed nearly 150% over the last year in 16 major U.S. cities. It’s not like there weren’t red flags. Asian Americans have been attacked and scapegoated by prominent political figures on the right including the former president. People in power spewing

xenophobic and racist remarks encourages prejudice. Anything other than a firm denouncement of hate is gross negligence. We are not helpless and can all take an active role in preventing hate and violence against Asian Americans. We can start by calling out casual racism and pushing our legislators to support common-sense gun legislation. Especially in areas where Asians are in the minority, like Cherokee County and Boone, it’s crucial to listen to what these communities have been saying. Hate must be taken seriously before it has the chance to turn deadly.

What happens when you run out of ideas?

Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Editor Writer’s block. That dreaded moment when you are finally ready to work on your term paper, but cannot find words to describe your thoughts. Yet, this problem that every college student will at some point face, can be easily avoided by early preparation. Professors tell students to make an outline to structure their stories. The intentions are for you to structure your paper around your main ideas. Then you fill the paper with additional information about

that particular concept. Now, let’s look at an example. Say we are writing a seven page book review. We want to summarize the story, explore themes and analyze motifs. So far we have three concepts, however, there is no guarantee that these three points will fill seven pages. This is where Google comes into play. Google different themes of a particular book to further illustrate concepts that you may have missed. Then develop these themes further, through your

interpretation of the text. Use what I call the power of your experience to interject your own ideas to form a textual narrative. Just make sure you back it up with hard facts from the actual book. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, one useful idea to explore is the concept of love versus lust. You summarize the parts in the book that illustrate this concept such as our initial impression of Romeo who is obsessed with a young woman named Rosaline. Then he goes to a

party, meets a new girl, Juliet, and shortly after they are married. Now, I’m not a marriage expert, nor is anybody really, but let’s say Romeo and Juliet rushed things. Added to this theory, is the fact that Juliet is 13 and Romeo is anywhere between 13 and 17. Therefore, Romeo and Juliet is not a story about love, rather, it is a story about youthful angst love that brought a city together through tragedy. Coincidentally, here’s another idea, teenage angst, class privilege,

masculinity and religion. Case in point, there is a lot that you can talk about in one book. However, it is important to bring something from your personal experience to the table. It is a lot easier to write about what you are interested in, than something you are not. After all, I ran out of ideas for this week’s column, and came up with something.

Et Cetera

Mar 26, 2021

HOLY SHEET Recipe by Sophia Lyons

The sheet pan is a god-tier kitchen item for its pure usefulness. Put a sheet pan under another pan to catch drips in the oven, or use it as a work surface under a cutting board to contain fruit or meat juices. Even though most sheet pans in home kitchens are actually half-sheet pans, it’s still ample size for one of cooking’s superstars, the sheet-pan meal. Sheet-pan dinners cook all the ingredients together in the oven, making them awesome for people who don’t have much time to spend cooking and people who aren’t willing to wash a ton of dishes. They’re also endlessly customizable: just choose a protein, some vegetables and some seasonings, making it easy to try a new vegetable or protein. Here’s a quick guide to preparing and seasoning a sheet-pan dinner any way you like.

Sheet-Pan Dinner Guide

15 minutes prep time, 15-35 minutes cook time . Serves 4 to 6, depending on ingredient quantity. Recipe halves well. Step One: Preparing the ingredients

Step Two: Roasting

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Combine a pound prepared protein of choice (see suggestions) with desired quantities of two to three vegetables (see suggestions) in a large bowl. Pour over the desired seasoning ingredients and toss to coat. If using seafood, toss it in the seasoning mix before adding vegetables and remove to another plate so it doesn’t get damaged tossing the vegetables. Marinate if desired — optional, but will make seasoning ﬂavors deeper.

Scoop the mixture onto the prepared sheet pan, leaving the extra seasoning and oil in the bowl while spreading out the ingredients evenly. Roast until vegetables are tender and protein is done using a thermometer to assess. If something ﬁnishes before everything else (chicken and other meats sometimes do this), remove it to a plate until serving time. Feel free to sprinkle with herbs, ﬂaky salt or lemon juice before serving.

Simple Seasoning

Spicy Garlic-Ginger Seasoning

Sweet Honey-Lemon Seasoning

you’d like to try your own spice blend, feel free to

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

add more spices to this basic recipe)

• 1 to 2 tablespoons sambal oelek, to taste (You could also

• 3 tablespoons olive oil • Juice of half a small lemon (About 2 tablespoons) • 1 teaspoon honey (Any more will burn.) • Pinch red pepper ﬂakes, or to taste

(Start here if you don’t know what you like, or if

use gochujang, chili garlic sauce, Sriracha, harissa or any • 3 tablespoons olive oil

similar thick hot sauce.)

• Juice of half a small lemon (about 2 tablespoons)

• 2 cloves garlic, grated

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1” piece ginger, grated (No need to peel ﬁrst, just wash.)

• Ground black pepper to taste

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • Ground black pepper to taste

Protein Suggestions:

Vegetable Suggestions:

• Chicken thighs, with or without skin and bones, marinated in seasoning for up to 24 hours, roast 20-30 minutes, flipping once until browned • Peeled, deveined shrimp, marinated in seasoning up to one hour. Add shrimp at the very end of cooking vegetables, roast 5 minutes or until pink • Skin-on salmon fillets, cut into servings, marinated in seasoning up to one hour. Add toward the end of cooking vegetables and roast 10-15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork • Drained, pressed tofu, cut into 1-inch cubes, marinated in seasoning up to 24 hours, roast 25-50 minutes, flipping as often as desired until browned • Canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed, marinated up to 6 hours, roast 15-20 minutes shaking the pan often to promote browning

• Yellow or red potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes, roast 25-30 minutes turning once • Sweet potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes, roast 25-30 minutes, turning once • Summer squash or zucchini, cut into half-inch-thick rounds, roast 12-15 minutes, turning once • Red onion, quartered,cut into wedges, roast 10-20 minutes for soft or 20-30 minutes for crispy • Broccoli, cut into small florets, roast 20-25 minutes until browned • Cauliflower, cut into small florets, roast 20-25 minutes until browned • Brussels sprouts, cut in half or quartered, roast 20-25 minutes until browned and crisp on the outer layers

Et Cetera

Mar 26, 2021

Sudoku

Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain all of the digits 1 through 9.

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editor@theappalachianonline.com

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ANSLEY PUCKETT

MANAGING EDITOR

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OPINION EDITOR A&C EDITOR

NEWS EDITOR

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APPALACHIAN WEEKLY NEWS PRODUCER PHOTO EDITOR

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BUSINESS MANAGER

business@theappalachianonline.com

Previous Week’s Answer Key

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MARKETING DIRECTOR

ALLISON BENNETT DYCHE ADVISER

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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.

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