The Appalachian November 20, 2020 by The Appalachian

The Appalachian

November 20, 2020

Meet Marvel Maull

App State’s newest upcoming makeup artist Emily Broyles | News Editor Drained from Zoom calls and a packed schedule, an App State student decided to take a nap. When she woke up, Miley Cyrus had commented on her TikTok, inspired by the singer. “That one sent me into cardiac arrest,” said Marvel Maull, a junior apparel and design major. It isn’t skits or a trendy dance like “the renegade” that landed Maull attention on the platform and on social media in general: it’s makeup. As of Nov. 19, Maull had 951 followers on her makeup Instagram account and 6,378 followers on her TikTok account. After her little sister helped create the TikTok account during stay-at-home orders in March, Maull has 339,600 total “likes” on the app. “Within the past year, I think I’ve become super serious about (makeup). This is what I want to do, this is something I need to put time into, so I’ve been trying to focus more on it. But I’ve always loved (it),” Maull said. Maull started practicing with

makeup her sophomore year of high school, five years ago. Only going off of YouTube tutorials, especially by creator and makeup artist Nikkie Tutorials, she slowly found a new meaning to eyeliner and contour. “It had such a negative connotation to me for so long because everybody was like, ‘If you wear makeup you’re trying to be something you’re not – you’re ugly, and you’re trying to hide it’ is kind of the vibe I got up until my sophomore year. Then I was like, ‘Who cares? It’s fun to do — it’s so much more than hiding your insecurities,” Maull said. Now, Maull receives free products from the brand Danessa Myricks Beauty Makeup and is involved with its selective beauty community that shares different techniques and tips. The brand e.l.f. Cosmetics and YouTuber Allana Davison have also noticed her. Maull said brands like Myricks’ have not only doubled her Instagram following — they’ve taught her how to reach more people with every post.

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Marvel Maull, a junior, has gained social media recognition from the likes of Miley Cyrus and Rihanna’s makeup line, Fenty Beauty, Jesse Barber

Student group calls on university to implement climate neutrality

“Good days add up” for App State basketball

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News

Nov 20, 2020

Student-led climate advocacy group calls for urgent university climate action plan Jake Markland | Reporter

After working alongside App ganizer, said the group believed if State to make the university climate they didn’t act soon, that “disaster on neutral, the Climate Action Collabo- a wide scale” would be inevitable. rative withdrew from the university’s Simple ‘Neutrality’ official process in August to create its ClimACT said the university own climate action plan. currently spends $6.3 million on elecThe collaborative, also known as tricity, natural gas and carbon offsets. ClimACT, is a group of students, fac- The group proposes that, rather than ulty and community members who using nonrenewable energy, App State envision a world where human-driven should purchase its energy from reclimate change could not happen, ac- newable sources. Accounting for the cording to its website. remaining greenhouse gas emissions, On Nov. 3, ClimACT released ClimACT advocated that App State their “Just Climate Action Plan,” a purchase carbon offsets, essentially six-chapter, 71-page document that paying to fund a greenhouse gas reexplains how App State could become duction project elsewhere, to make up climate neutral. This means the uni- for the emissions caused by the university would not strain the climate versity. and would have The “simnet zero green- It’s not going to matter ple ‘neutrality’ by house gas emis2022” plan Cliunless students and sions, a balance acknowlcommunity members mACT between the emisedges on its webshow up and ask why site, does not sions produced and the emissions make App State App State is doing eliminated. climate neutral, these things. The Office because although of Sustainability released the univer- the university would be funding sussity climate action plan, AppCAP, on tainable projects elsewhere, purchasNov. 12. AppCAP outlines the path ing carbon offsets will not stop App for complete carbon neutrality by State from contributing to climate 2050 and significant greenhouse gas change. emission reduction by 2025. They advocate against reliance ClimACT offered steps to have on simple “neutrality” because, acnet-zero greenhouse gas emissions cording to ClimACT’s website, it by 2022 in its “simple ‘neutrality’ by could give a false impression and al2022” option. low climate change contributions to ClimACT established itself in continue as usual with a “clean con2018 after a report released by the science.” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate The group says this plan would Change explained the consequenc- cost $7.4 million, a $1.1 million ines if the Earth’s temperature rose 0.5 crease representing 0.26% of the total degrees Celsius to 1.5 degrees. university expenses in 2019. The United Nations group However, ClimACT argued that warned this increase would lead to App State may be further behind extreme heat waves, droughts, species than it realizes. The group said that extinctions, food shortages and a sub- the university is “vastly” undercountstantial economic blow. ing its actual contribution to climate Michael Weiss, a ClimACT or- change by not including many of its

The Climate Action Collaborative leading a climate strike in Boone on Sept. 20, 2019. The ClimACT group released a document Nov. 3, detailing how App State could move toward climate neutrality. Jesse Barber polluting activities and evaluating cli- after year. According to ClimACT, ty can find a way to harness the pasmate change on a 100-year scale rath- sequestering App States non-electric sion of ClimAct in a way that draws er than a 20-year scale, which Cli- emissions through agroforestry would upon the strengths of our common inmACT advocates for. cost $13.7 million. ClimACT adds terests,” said Ball. Goals and Desired Outcomes that $11.2 million in student fees go On their website, ClimACT said Weiss said the group is trying to towards athletics every year. they expect little results from the App send a message to the university and The university has not responded State administration, adding “Please show that a goal of climate neutrality to the CimACT plan being released. –– surprise us!” by 2022, viewed as radical by many, Constraints and Desired Solutions Weiss said the reason these seemis possible. Weiss said that the group appre- ingly simple changes have not been “To say that 2050 is the only rea- ciated being invited to the table with made because of who makes decisions sonable goal, our … simple ‘neutral- the Office of Sustainability during cli- at public universities. ity’ shows that is untrue in so many mate action talks but felt their voices He acknowledged that the Office ways,” Weiss said. were not being heard. of Sustainability is constrained by uniAlthough ClimACT says climate “They did make an effort to in- versity and UNC System. neutrality by 2022 is possible, they ar- clude us. But doing that in the presRead more online at gue more long-lasting solutions, like ence of power relations… it’s tough to www.theappalachianonline.com weatherization of homes and agrofor- navigate,” Weiss said. estry, need to be implemented by 2025 Lee Ball, chief sustainability ofat the latest. ficer for the Office of Sustainability, Agroforestry, intentionally plant- said the office worked hard to make ing trees for environmental benefit the process as collaborative as possible and human use, would sequester or and was sorry to hear their thoughts. suck up carbon through the soil year “I am hopeful that the universi-

News

Nov 20, 2020

University makes progress on demands from racial justice advocacy group

Xanayra Marin-Lopez | Multimedia Editor Five months into the Black at App State Collective’s 36-month demand implementation deadline, the collective alongside university administration met Nov. 12 to discuss faculty and staff diversity recruitment and retention. Black At App State and university administration recently announced the formation of a steering committee within the university’s Diversity and Inclusion Accountability Team, which was formed this summer. Consisting of six students, student affairs personnel, and members of the Chancellor’s Cabinet, this committee will devote its time to specific demands from the collective. In Black at App State’s initial July demands, the group called for change in multiple areas of admissions, faculty, student retention, and overall support, like: • Mandatory bias training for every member of faculty or staff who have contact with current students,

prospective students or alumni • A commissioned comprehensive report regarding diversity, equity and inclusion by the university • An increase in Black and Brown representation within faculty, staff and Board of Trustee membership • Exit interviews from students, faculty and staff of color regarding their university experience According to university data, “underrepresented” faculty members make up 10.7% of the 1,429 total faculty members for the 2020-21 academic year. The data describes “underrepresented” as all races and ethnicities with the exception of “white” or “not reported.” There was a 1% increase in diverse faculty, compared to 9.7% in 2019. As for staff, 6.7% of 1,813 total staff members meet the “underrepresented” category. “We hope to create a space where there will be longevity around conversations and actions of demand imple-

mentation,” said Korbin Cummings, a leader of the collective. From their meetings, Cummings said the university is taking an active step toward recruiting Black, Indigenous, and other students and university personnel of color. Some meetings, Cummings said, have introduced better advocacy for more funding, better faculty and staff payment and benefits, and diversity training within search committees. She says she has faith in the university administration’s cooperation with the collective thus far. Black at App State said it’s grateful for those administrators, faculty, staff and student organizations who show involvement and continue to have conversations with the group. Reflecting on the Nov. 12 meeting, Cummings said she appreciated administration providing a rundown and updates on their work. “The meetings help us establish trust and ways we can hold ourselves

accountable to get the demands implemented in the most effective way,” Cummings said. After Black at App State’s initial announcement this summer, this wasn’t always the case. Chancellor Sheri Everts had not attended any of the meetings Black at App State held with administration since their first meeting July 21. But, she was present at the Nov. 12 meeting. Before the meeting, Black at App State took to Twitter and asked followers their prediction about Everts attendance. 97.7% of responders voted against the possibility of Everts’ attendance. Cummings described Everts’ participation as “attentive” and engaged in conversation. “The Black at App State Collective was genuinely surprised to see the chancellor attend the team accountability meeting,” Cummings said. “However, it is commendable that she

could attend and speak on ways she plans to advocate for students on a statewide and institutional level.” Because App State is a predominantly white institution, Cummings said that administration must work more intentionally to ensure a safe and inclusive campus environment. She said she would like to see safety, better resources, better communication and respect for Black people at App State. “When I graduate I hope that students of color will not have to face the same issues I faced. Tokenization and the emotional labor of Black student leaders has progressed for too long. I am hoping that the accountability meetings and further demand implementation will lead to an eradication of that issue.” The Appalachian reached out to University Communications, but did not hear back in time for publication.

Jane Gooddall discusses climate change, activism with students in special presentation Gianna Holiday | Associate News Editor Jane Goodall, who has spent the last 60 years researching and advocating for primates, spoke to App State students this week via Zoom. One of the world’s leading scientists, conservationists, and humanitarians, Goodall offered a virtual presentation through the Schaefer Center titled “Reasons for Hope.” Goodall, who said during her discussion that she was “born loving animals,” has spent nearly 60 years of work to protect chimpanzees from extinction. “I believe if you want to talk about something or do something about something, you have to have first-hand experience,” Goodall said. She began her work by researching chimpanzees in Eastern Africa and went on to speak about threats facing chimpanzees. According to Goodall, chimpanzees are endangered, protected by law and are found in only 21 African coun-

tries due to habitat loss. help the environment,” Goodall said. Goodall, who called herself a “large animal The Office of Sustainability, Appalachian activist,” spoke out on using chimpanzees in en- Popular Programming Society and the Office tertainment and mediof Arts and Culturcine. al Programs partnered Every single day that She said that even to bring Goodall up the though they are like us, we live, we make some mountain in September chimpanzees are not part of the Schaefer impact on the planet. We as humans and we should Center Presents season. can choose what sort of fight against using anWhen COVID-19 imals for medical reforced the cancellation impact we make... search and other kinds of live events, originalof experiments. ly scheduled for Sept. 9, “The main message is, every single day that Goodall and her institute offered a virtual prowe live, we make some impact on the planet. We gram as a precursor to her rescheduled in-percan choose what sort of impact we make and, be- son event in fall of 2021. cause everything is interrelated, every group of “Goodall is somebody we thought was imroots and shoots should have three projects: one portant to bring to campus because her message to help people, one to help animals, and one to now, she is speaking about hope, climate action

and climate change,” said Lee Ball, chief sustainability officer. “She really connects with the younger generation and she recognizes that we don’t have a lot of time to get our act together in regards to global climate mitigation.” Allison West, director of marketing and public relations for the Schaefer Center, said Goodall’s talk was a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for students. “We, of course, jumped at the opportunity, especially when presented with the option of a live webinar in which she would interact with university students who are inspired by Goodall’s work,” said West.

Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

A&C

Nov 20, 2020

Office of Sustainability partners with national nonprofit to empower students through film Kait Rous | Reporter This fall, the Office of Sustainability partnered with a national North Carolina-based nonprofit to stream the film series “Revisioning Recovery” via Zoom. The organization Working Films utilizes minidocumentaries to educate viewers about the connections between climate and social injustice. “I just really hope students are empowered, and I hope students can take from these films inspiration from the people that have made a difference,” said Rebecca Walton, outreach coordinator for the Office of Sustainability. The films in“Revisioning Recovery” discuss pollution, climate gentrification, environmental disparities between zip codes based on wealth and race as well as instances of discrimina-

tion in disaster response. According to Working Films’ website, the documentaries further the initiatives for social justice and environmental protections. The nonprofit also dedicates itself to providing a platform for underrepresented filmmakers. Hannah Hearn, impact coordinator for Working Films said the nonprofit consciously connects with filmmakers who are people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women and those who have disabilities. “We believe in the power of storytelling to move the dial forward on the most pressing issues of our time,” said Hearn. Hearn said documentary films al-

The Office of Sustainability has partnered with Working Films to show a Fall Film Series, Revisioning Recovery. This graphic represents an interpretation of a scene from the first film in the series, “Cooked: Survival by Zip code.” Graphic by Camryn Collier

low for a deeper connection between viewers and social issues. “What we’ve found with films is that it’s a way to tell people’s stories,” she said. “Facts and figures and data are incredibly important, and there’s the other side of the coin where it’s listening to people’s personal stories, listening to what people’s needs are, hearing it directly from them.” Hearn said many viewers are inspired to form local coalitions, sign petitions and write to their congressional representatives to push for legislative change after watching the film series. Walton says students can surround themselves with other change-driven individuals by joining clubs and taking part in volunteer opportunities cleaning campus and tending to the community gardens. Keeping App State’s campus green and learning about climate issues are just a few ways in which students can make a change in their local community. Located on the first floor of Plemmons Student Union, Appalachian and the Community Together has opportunities for students to provide a helping hand across the state, country and world. These alternative service experiences take place in the fall, winter and spring. Through films and hands-on activities, App State provides students with plenty of resources to keep campus, the community and the Blue Ridge Mountains clean, Walton said. “We really want to educate people and empower people that they can make a difference,” Walton said. “Sustainability is an important frame of mind and sustainability is an important topic on App State’s campus.” Students looking to take action locally can visit the Office of Sustainability’s website or visit their office located in East Hall.

Casey Pile in a Syndrome sweatshirt. Pile, an App State student, and his friend Lucas Harmon created the clothing brand Syndrome in June 2019. Courtesy of Casey Pile

TWO SCHOOLS, ONE BUSINESS Hometown friends start clothing brand across state lines Aubrey Smith | Reporter The distance from Boone to Savannah, Georgia has not stopped two innovative fashion students and their up-and-coming clothing brand. App State student Casey Pile and friend Lucas Harmon, a student at Savannah College of Art and Design, are redefining fashion with their brand Syndrome. Although their ultimate goal is an art collective –– a project with collaborative efforts from multiple different artists –– right now, Syndrome is, at its base, clothing. Syndrome has had a wide range of products, from shorts to backpacks, that displays Pile’s vibrant and eye catching digital art paired with Harmon’s unique and expressive cartoons. Pile and Harmon started Syndrome a little over a year ago, dating back to around June 2019, when the two sold clothes out of Pile’s bonus room. Business was booming, Pile said, and that was when the two knew they had to keep doing it. Pile and Harmon believe that Syndrome stands out against other companies because of how personal it is. Instead of simply just putting a name on a shirt like other brands do, Syndrome is a representation of their artistic styles; Harmon’s cartoons are branded on the center of many of Syndrome’s clothes, and Pile has found various ways to implement his digital art into the brand’s products. “It’s us,” Harmon said. Though business is different now because of the pandemic, Syndrome has gathered local support in Boone, along with a manufacturer, website and social media presence that has helped them stay steady in business. Despite the insecurity that a pandemic can bring to businesses, like adjusting to not making the majority of the brand’s sales in person, Pile and Harmon’s dedication to Syndrome has not faded. “I care so much about it that it’s impossible for me to take my mind off of it,” Pile said. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Nov 20, 2020

A&C

Continued from page 1 “Before, when I wasn’t in it, it’s kind of hard to motivate yourself because you’re not getting any attention whatsoever,” Maull said. “I’d get like 16 likes on a picture, which is fine but … I’ve put time and effort into this look, and then it goes nowhere, and I really liked it. It’s like a hit to your self-esteem almost, it’s like ‘what am I doing wrong?’” Maull knew she was doing something right when TikTok personality Brittany Broski, who has 5.8 million followers, commented on Maull’s TikTok recreating one of Broski’s makeup looks. She saw Broski’s comment during her usual morning phone check before her 8 a.m. class on Sept. 8. “I was waking up for communication law and I went on my (phone) and I had saw that I had got, I mean like, 30,000 likes overnight. I was like, ‘You’re lying to me,’” Maull said. “I was literally in communication law not paying attention whatsoever, just texting everyone I knew, like ‘no effing way this is happening.’” The TikTok in which Maull recreated Miley Cyrus’ glitter-punk makeup, blew up Sept. 24, even gaining a comment from the star. One week later, Rihanna’s makeup line Fenty Beauty reposted Maull’s TikTok look inspired by Rihanna on the company’s Instagram account, which had 10.4 million followers as of Nov. 12. “Every other day there was something,” said Angela Arnold, a sophomore who became friends with Maull this

Marvel Maull gained “overnight” fame by creating makeup looks inspired by pop stars on TikTok and Instagram. Courtesy of Marvel Maull

year. “It was really out of nowhere.” Maull earned a total of 136,119 likes and 616, 623 views from the two posts. “That was really surreal for me, and Rihanna’s makeup artist followed me on TikTok,” Maull said. “That was when I think it felt like...‘Am I going somewhere?’” Sarai Maull, Marvel Maull’s mother, said while “it’s nice when other people see what you see in your child,” she’s stunned at how her daughter actually does it. “To see a platform now that she’s able to put out her product on a daily basis and still maintain good grades in school, and good sleeping hours … things that are important to moms, and also with this new platform … being recognized, it’s just amazing,” Sarai Maull said. One side of Marvel Maull’s dorm serves as a makeup studio with a desk organized with all types of face Marvel Maull recreates makeup looks inspired by stars such as Miley Cyrus for her followers on products, a ring light for picture light- TikTok and Instagram. ing and a curtain that “takes away the Jesse Barber hideousness of a dorm.” “Sometimes, I’ll be a little late to to be famous. I really am just waiting to see the separation she created for herself between a Zoom call because my eyebrows are her keep growing,” Arnold said. “I think she’s makeup and the outside world. not finished, but I try to set myself on great, and she’s deserving of everything she “I don’t edit any of my pictures. I’m not a schedule,” Marvel Maull said. has. She’s so kind to everybody, and I think going in and making something more pigmentArnold said she met Marvel she’s such a unique personality too.” ed, I’m not going in and ‘FaceTuning’ my douMaull through virtual resident-assisSarai Maull said she feels good her daughble chin away,” Marvel Maull said. “I like when tant training in the ter is making connections I can go to someone’s page and just get lost for summer, first noin a career that can be hours because it’s just something that I want to I like when I can go difficult, but is also con- watch. I don’t want to see political opinions … ticing her makeup. Now, they spend to someone’s page fident “she has some- it’s nice to just step away and be blank for a minnights on duty toto say with makeute.” and just get lost for thing gether and cook up.” That something is Once insecure in high school, she said, hours dinner together evkindness. “now I’ll walk around with gems on my face, ” ery evening. “She’s really just crediting makeup for helping mold her into who “I literally was obsessed with helped me, taught me so many things about she is today. As for now, Marvel Maull is “just goher over Zoom, and I had never met acceptance… political differences, racial difing with the flow” when it comes to her love for her,” Arnold said. “She always had ferences, everything that we’re going through musician Harry Styles and makeup, but the lather makeup done really crazy. It just right now,” Sarai Maull said. “I really see her ter is what she sees herself obtaining a real fulooked really awesome.” using her makeup as a neutral ground, as a ture in. Arnold says she’s excited to see place where she can talk to anyone. I really like “I used makeup at first to hide and not reMarvel Maull take off in the make- that about it.” ally make myself known. I just (wanted) to covup industry. When the pair became The 20-year-old makeup artist said she’s er everything that’s different about me. But now, friends, Maull only had 200 followers “tried to be as real as possible” in how she I’m like, ‘Girl! Just see me, OK? I don’t put this on Instagram. She said Maull, “just presents herself on social media, juxtaposing much highlighter on for you to not notice me has some kind of magic to her.” today’s “beauty community” that has garnered when I walk by,’” Maull said. “I tell her every day she’s going attention for being toxic for creators. She likes

A&C

Nov 20, 2020

Professors foster online global food community for home cooks during COVID-19

PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK Kait Rous Reporter

Courtesy of Cookvid

Makaelah Walters | Reporter When restaurants closed in March due to COVID-19 restrictions, two App State professors created a virtual space for people to connect through food. Cookvid-19 is a Facebook group dedicated to “the art of cooking in the time of COVID,” creators Jack Kwong and Peter Fawson said. Kwong, a philosophy professor, and Fawson, a social work professor, are neighbors who share a background in the food service industry and a passion for cooking. They regularly get together to talk about food and make meals for each other’s families. When the virus hit, the pair felt a certain anxiety in the air. Fawson said he realized that when restaurants closed, people would suddenly lose a huge part of their community. The pandemic forced people who dine out regularly to either order takeout or cook at home. “The thing is, no matter what, people have to eat, and this is going to be a time where people will have to learn how to cook,” Kwong said. “One night, I just decided if talking about food, sharing pictures of food, brings me some happiness, maybe it will make other people happy too.” What started as a local online community grew to have a global audience in just three months. Cookvid-19 now has over 8,000 members. Fawson said there are members in 30 different countries, including Spain, Italy and Taiwan.

“It’s been eye opening to see what we have in common with people, not only in North Carolina, but worldwide,” Kwong said. Grace Wong, who lives in Toronto, Canada, discovered the group in March. At the time, there were only a couple hundred members, she said. “The group has grown to be so large now, it’s nice to be able to share our experiences together,” Wong said. Fawson and Kwong are constantly impressed by how the group continues growing, but said it isn’t really about the numbers. From the beginning, community was the group’s priority. Kwong said it’s about providing a source of joy and fellowship through food in a time of so much anxiety and uncertainty. “It’s truly enriching and, in a way, during what I call (these) strange and uncertain times, I know what Cookvid has brought me and maybe some other people is a little bit of escape,” said Shana Swain of Charleston, South Carolina. Both Swain and Marjon Zimmerman, a professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at App State, have been active members of the group since March. “It’s a place where people in real life might have different lives and perspectives but there it’s about the food and that’s pretty cool,” Zimmerman said. In ‘the cookvid manifesto’ posted April 8, Kwong wrote, “Cookvid-19 is for all of

...so long as people are cooking, so long as people are looking for ideas, I think it will remain strong.

you. It welcomes anyone with an interest in looking at, eating, and cooking food. It is a place to help and support one another.” In April, Fawson and Kwong felt called to give something back to the Boone community on behalf of Cookvid-19. They announced that Cookvid-19 merch would be available – t-shirts, aprons, totes, and sweatshirts, and the proceeds would go to local nonprofits. “The Cookvid gear is obviously something to remember these troubling times by, but proceeds continue to go to local charities.” Kwong said. “We’re pretty fortunate in this situation but there are a lot of people who aren’t,” Fawson said. In just one week, they raised $4,000, some of which they used to make food boxes for restaurant employees who were laid off due to COVID-19. They donated $400 to Casting Bread Food Pantry, a self-choice food pantry operated by FaithBridge United Methodist Church in Blowing Rock. Kwong and Fawson also encouraged them to donate directly to Wine to Water, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to clean water in Northeast Africa, on behalf of Cookvid-19. Though the group is private, Cookvid-19 is open to members of all levels of expertise, from beginners to professional chefs. It was important to Kwong and Fawson that Cookvid-19 provide a space where people felt comfortable learning from one another. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Graphic by Camryn Collier

As the end of the semester approaches quickly, finals are right around the corner and masked students will flood the local coffee shops to study. However, for those who will be studying from home, we’ve made a playlist full of your coffeehouse favorites. This playlist will give you the feeling of studying at a coffee shop, but from home. So, make a cup of joe, break out those books and enjoy this week’s playlist of the week, “Coffeehouse.”

Sports

Nov 20, 2020

Men’s basketball capitalizes on momentum of a new season Ben Brady | Reporter

Senior guard Pre Stanley (#5) shoots a layup during an App State women’s basketball preseason practice. Stanley, who was named to the preseason all-Sun Belt second team, is making the switch from shooting guard to point guard in 2020. Courtesy App State Athletics/Jay Crain

Women’s basketball looks to turn corner Dan Davidson | Associate Sports Editor With just one winning season in the past seven years, App State women’s basketball is entering 2020 with high hopes of turning the program around. “During the pandemic, our staff did what I would call like an autopsy on our program,” head coach Angel Elderkin said. “How can we get better here? What do we need to do better here? How can we change a couple of things here?” This offseason has been far from a standard offseason Elderkin and her players usually enjoy. With COVID-19, racial injustice, a presidential election and more surrounding the nation, the team has found a way to enjoy basketball and use it as a way to escape the outside conflicts in the world. “It’s been kind of difficult just adjusting with COVID and everything, but with all of my teammates wanting to get on track … it’s been awesome,” senior guard Pre Stanley said. “This is probably the best year so far for me. I’m getting in there, competing really hard and making it fun, even though there’s a lot of other things going on outside of this.” The Mountaineers return a plethora of talent and experience for the 2020 season, including seniors Maya Calder, Michaela Porter, Lainey Gosnell and Stanley. Porter comes off a 2019 campaign in which Elderkin said, “she didn’t meet the expectations,” but has emerged as an early bright spot for this squad.

“Over the summer, she worked her butt off. She has been impressive,” Elderkin said. “Just her work ethic alone has been tremendous. She’s been a huge, huge bright spot.” Heading into her seventh season with the Mountaineers, Elderkin noted one thing in particular she wanted her team to improve on: assisting. “We haven’t been a team that’s assisted the ball at a high level,” Elderkin said. “In practice this season … we are assisting at a rate of 65% on all of our made baskets.” Elderkin has outsourced and drawn inspiration from coaches and organizations across the country during the offseason to improve her team. In particular, Elderkin has tried to teach her team about Villanova men’s head coach Jay Wright’s two-foot jump stop. Wright teaches his players to come to a stop on two feet, mainly so that they’re under control. Also, Elderkin has looked to advances made in the NBA in terms of catching the basketball and quickly deciding what to do. “I watched a lot of our stuff, and we would catch and hold … and be very robotic,” Elderkin said. “The NBA is always ahead … it’s just been really neat to kind of take some of those concepts and then apply them to our game, and to see our players really enjoy playing with that kind of freedom.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Throughout an unusual offseason defined by uncertainty, App State men’s basketball has spent the past few months preparing themselves for anything. As the season quickly approaches, the Mountaineers are hopeful to maintain their highest level of play. “It’s been challenging. With any normal season, we would have had things planned out up until our first game, but now we have to take a week by week approach,” head coach Dustin Kerns said. “We’ve got to control what we can control, and believe that nothing will break us.” Though the team was unable to practice together for the majority of the offseason, and training work had to be done in small groups over the summer, the coaching staff said the players kept themselves disciplined and in shape. “When they weren’t in Boone, our staff was checking in on all the players on a daily basis,” said assistant coach Frank Young. “We wanted to see what they were eating, if they had access to a gym, and if they were finding ways to better themselves, so we were able to integrate our fundamentals and our core values pretty quickly.” Young and assistants Patrick Moynihan and Bob Szorc each worked under Kerns at Presbyterian College and moved to Boone alongside Kerns last year. In their first season with the Mountaineers, Kerns and the coaching staff helped lead the team to their most wins since 2009-10 at 18 and

most Sun Belt wins ever with 11. The absence of graduated senior leaders Isaac Johnson, O’Showen Williams and Hunter Seacat, means the team looks to younger players to step up and fill roles. The coaching staff especially praised the development and leadership of sophomores Donovan Gregory and Kendall Lewis over the offseason. Gregory, a 6-foot-5-inch guard, started in two games last year, averaging 1.8 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. This season, he looks to fulfill a bigger role on the team. “All of it is really just a process,” Gregory said. “The coaching and staff and my teammates never lost confidence in me, and it allowed me to become a leader for this team.” Over the offseason, 6-foot-7-inch wing Kendall Lewis put emphasis on improving his perimeter shooting. With the help of assistant coach Frank Young, who, during his playing time at West Virginia, broke the record for three-pointers made in a single season, Lewis gained a newfound trust in his jump shot. “He kept seeing the ball go in the basket more and more, and that helped his confidence,” said Young. “His jumper is much more consistent, and that should help us move forward this year.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com

Senior preseason first team all-Sun Belt selection Justin Forrest drives in last year’s 70-62 loss at NC State. After finishing above .500 last season for the first time since 2010-11, the Mountaineers are looking for more in 2020-21. Lynette Files

Sports

Nov 20, 2020

“Good days add up”

Kerns leads App State basketball into new chapter

One season ago in his first year in Boone, head coach Dustin Kerns helped lead App State basketball to its best season in nearly a decade. “I feel like we’re just getting started,” he said. Courtesy App State Athletics/Jay Crain

Silas Albright | Sports Editor It was a cloudy, dim, early-November morning in Boone. App State men’s basketball’s preseason practices were underway and beginning to pick up pace. Second-year head coach Dustin Kerns sat swiveling around in his office chair, thoughtfully. “I think before you win, you have to understand what loses,” he said. Before Kerns became the 22nd head coach of the Mountaineers in March 2019, App State basketball hadn’t finished a season with a winning record since 2010-11. Former head coach Jim Fox, who spent five years in Boone, finished with a record of 56-99. Multiple batches of App State alumni never experienced a winning basketball season during their time in college. Mountaineers fans learned to put more hope into the football and wrestling programs. They often paid more attention to their favorite ACC schools during basketball season anyway. In 2018-19, the Mountaineers followed up a hopeful 2017-18 season by opening Sun Belt play with six straight losses en route to an 11-21 overall record. Fox was fired three days after App State’s first-round loss to UL-Monroe in the conference tournament. In 2019-20, however, things were different. During Kerns’ first year at the helm, he led the Mountaineers to their first winning season as a member of the Sun Belt conference, which App State joined in 2014. The Mountaineers finished at 18-15 overall and 11-9 in the Sun Belt, including a win-

ning record on the road in conference play. Attendance increased by 70%. Across the board, the program’s growth in one year was evident. But how? What did the new coach do? How was such a drastic turnaround possible in just one season? He said there wasn’t one simple answer: everything he does and every decision he makes about the program is calculated, but it started with establishing the mindset that he wants to build the culture around for years to come. “I don’t want people to feel like it wasn’t difficult to do it. I mean it was very, very difficult to change the mindset of the players in the locker room. Schemes and all that, yeah, OK. Changing the mindset and belief is the hardest part,” Kerns said. “That takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight, but good days add up.” He said taking a daily approach made the positive growth the program has shown since his arrival possible. “I don’t want to say ‘fight,’ because I don’t think our players resisted,” he said. “Everybody wants to win until they start realizing what goes into it. It was a daily conflict to establish what wins and what loses. I think that’s probably easier than getting into the details, because it was a lot of stuff.” Kerns and his staff placed a high value on establishing a winning culture at Presbyterian College, and they’ve worked hard to build that at App State as well. Kerns brought all three of his assistants at Presbyterian with him to App State. “His attention to the culture, and the amount of time

that we put into culture building, is a big piece that goes to us being successful on the court,” assistant coach Frank Young said. “He always says ‘If we’re not right off the court, there’s no way we’ll be right on the court.’” Growing up in a “basketball family” in Kingsport, Tennessee and playing for Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kerns developed his love for the game early on. His time at Dobyns-Bennett helped solidify his love for winning, as Kerns said they have the most all-time wins out of all high schools in the nation with over 2,000. From there, Kerns went on to Clemson University, where he worked as a student assistant with the basketball team. “One day, I walked into the Clemson offices and one of the coaches said ‘Hey, you’re going out to California to work Michael Jordan’s flight school,’ and I said, ‘I’ve never been west of Nashville,” Kerns said. He coached at the camp for three summers, working with basketball minds such as Andre Igoudala and Jay Williams. Kerns was there when a high school senior named LeBron James played at the camp. While in California, he also met with legendary UCLA coach John Wooden. After graduating from Clemson in 2002, Kerns spent a year as Tennessee Tech’s director of basketball operations before joining Buzz Peterson’s staff at Tennessee as a graduate assistant the next year. From 2004-17, Kerns honed his coaching skills by spending time on staff at Wofford and Santa Clara before taking the head job at Presbyterian in 2017. Taking over a team that had won just five games in the season before his arrival, he led the Blue Hose to their first season with more than 20 wins since elevating to Division I in 2007,

in the 2018-19 season. Then, Kerns helped snap an eight-year losing streak at App State in his first year on the job. “From a first year standpoint, (I) couldn’t be more proud and happier for not only Dustin, but our entire men’s basketball program,” App State Director of Athletics Doug Gillin said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him and more, and I’m really excited about the future of Appalachian men’s basketball.” Just like how Kerns says creating the positive growth within a program doesn’t boil down to any set number of specific changes, his assistants say the same thing about what makes his coaching style so effective at turning around programs. “I think every day he wakes up, his goal is to pull greatness out of individuals in the program, be that staff or players,” assistant coach Bob Szorc said. While the turnaround of the App State men’s basketball program can’t be accredited to any one specific thing, it was made possible in large part simply because of the person Kerns is and the mindset he brings to everything he does. “He just really wants the best for Appalachian, not just for the sport of men’s basketball, and not just in the athletic department, but for the entire university,” Gillin said. “So I think that’s another attribute you really don’t see because it’s not on the court. But behind the scenes, he’s just a really good teammate that really wants the best for Appalchian as a whole.” Although the trajectory of the program is undoubtedly trending upwards, Kerns is far from satisfied. “I have high standards and expectations to get to,” he said confidently, glancing out across campus through his office window. “I feel like we’re just getting started.”

Sports

Nov 20, 2020

game day

GAME NOTES App State (6-1, 4-0 Sun Belt)

App State will be taking on the fifteenth-ranked undefeated Chanticleers on the road with a spot in the Sun Belt Championship potentially on the line. The Mountaineers are coming off of a nail-biting win over Georgia State that saw senior QB Zac Thomas go down with an injury. App State rallied and escaped with a 17-13 win. Coastal Carolina is coming off a double-digit win after their game against Troy was postponed last week. App State has run the Sun Belt conference for half a decade and this weekend, the Chanticleers have the chance to dethrone them. The winner of this game will likely win the Sun Belt East division.

STATUS OF ZAC THOMAS

UNDERDOG

App Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s senior starting QB went down with an injury and was taken into an ambulance with precaution in their last game. Thomas is now day-to-day with this injury after returning to practice, and his status for the game is unknown. Backup QB Jacob Huesman stepped in and helped lead the team to victory against Georgia State and could have some momentum if he gets the start on Saturday.

For the first time this season, App State is an underdog. Going up against the highly-touted Chanticleers, the Mountaineers have a chip on their shoulder, knowing they control their own destiny. The last time App State was an underdog, at South Carolina last year, the Mountaineers won the game.

Coastal carolina (7-0, 5-0 Sun Belt)

DEFENSIVE FOCUS Especially if Thomas is out, the Mountaineer defense will have to step up to the plate and lead this team to victory. App State has not let an opponent score more than 21 points this year and with the Chanticleers averaging over 30 points per game, the defense has something to prove against a ranked opponent.

PLAYER TO WATCH Points Per Game

32.1 Points Allowed Per Game

16.9 Passing Yards Per Game

188.3 Rushing Yards Per Game

261.4

#9 Demetrius Taylor SENIOR DEFENSIVE END

Points Per Game

37.9 Points Allowed Per Game

Demetrius Taylor leads the Mountaineers in sacks this year with 4.5 and will have to create disruption against the vertical Coastal Carolina offense. Taylor has a history of stepping up in big games, especially with his memorable performance against UNC-Chapel Hill last year, finishing with 2.5 sacks, a fumble recovery for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and an interception.

16.3

Coastal Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freshman QB Grayson McCall is having a career season and has only one interception on the year to go with 16 touchdown passes. McCall has yet to face true pressure from a defense in his short career and Taylor has a chance to force some ill-advised decisions. If he can help create the turnovers, it could help the Mountaineers pull off the upset.

238.7

As a senior this year, Taylor wants to walk off with a conference championship and more. To do this, beating Coastal Carolina is a large part of the equation. Knowing the circumstances, expect to see a big performance on the stat sheet if the Mountaineers come out with the win.

203.3

Passing Yards Per Game

Rushing Yards Per Game 9

Sports

Nov 20, 2020

Men’s basketball newcomers prepare for

an unpredictable season

Cameron Burnett | Reporter

App State is welcoming seven players to their men’s basketball program for the 2020-21 season. Of the seven, three are transfers and four are freshmen coming out of high school. This recruiting class had to adjust to a different kind of season due to COVID-19 guidelines and hasn’t had the regular opportunities to prepare for the season. “With the NCAA rules, we would’ve scrimmaged probably one or two people by now, at least one, to get a chance to adjust some things and see yourself against someone else,” head coach Dustin Kerns said. Freshmen guards Xavion Brown and Michael Eads are the 4th and 5th highest-ranked recruits all time at App State, according to 247Sports.

Brown is a 6-foot-3-inch, 180-pound guard from Sacramento, California, who won Co-Delta Player of the Year at Sheldon High School and helped lead the Huskies to the Delta League title. “We were turning over every rock in the country and Xavion was a guy that was presented to us, and ironically, he wanted to travel east,” Kerns said. “(He) has some family in Greensboro, just wanted to get away from home. He was someone who really fit what we are about.” Eads is a 6-foot-4-inch, 200-pound guard from Orlando, Florida, who averaged 16.8 points and 9.3 rebounds at Edgewater High School. “Eads is a big guard who can shoot the ball, and he has had some really good days for us,” Kerns said.

CJ Huntley is a 6-foot-10-inch freshman forward from Huntersville who brings a lot of length to the floor on both ends. Sasha Glushkov, a 6-foot-11-inch center, is another freshman who adds to the size of the team, and can play inside and out for the Mountaineers. Kerns and his staff brought in the Russian native as a developmental player for the team. “He’s versatile and we like that. He’s a guy who can step out and shoot the three, he’s a guy that has some good size, and he’s gained some good weight since he’s been here … certainly gonna be a good player here for us,” Kerns said. The four freshmen bring versatility to the floor because two are guards and two are frontcourt players. It adds to the depth for the future

This year’s App State men’s basketball recruiting class features four true freshman and three transfers. After winning their most games since 2010-11 last year, the Mountaineers and these new pieces will look to compete for a Sun Belt Championship. Courtesy App State Athletics/Jay Crain

of this team. Besides the freshmen, three transfers are coming to the Mountaineers, including guard Michael Almonacy. Almonacy is a graduate transfer who played at Southern New Hampshire during the 2019-20 season, averaging 15.6 points per game. He had multiple transfer options, but decided that App State was his best opportunity. “For me, it was coming down to where I felt like I could win a championship to finish my college career as well as to get better as a player,” Almonacy said. “It felt like it was the best situation for me to play at and compete for a championship with the team we got.” Almonacy is one of the oldest players on the team and brings a veteran presence, having played three years of college basketball at other schools. RJ Duhart is another transfer on the team. Duhart is a 6-foot-9-inch, 205-pound forward who led Northwest Mississippi Community College in blocks last season with 47 before transferring to App State. The coaching staff is excited for transfer Deshon Parker, but he hasn’t yet had his waiver cleared to play at App State in 2020-21. Last year, Parker was James Madison’s starting point guard who led the team in assists while averaging 10.1 points over 30 games. As a 6-foot-4-inch guard, he also brings length to the team like the freshmen and expects to be able to play this season. The Mountaineers will begin their season Nov. 25 at South Carolina State.

Opinion

Nov 20, 2020

Underrated Holiday Artist Dolly Parton

is a National

Treasure

Ella Adams | Opinion Writer From elections to guns to the economy, Americans have no shortage of things to disagree about – except Dolly Parton. Based on a YouGov survey, only 6% of people held a negative opinion about her. Her music, movies, charity work and iconic look make Dolly a darling of country music and a mainstay of American culture. There is no doubt Dolly Parton has an incredible career. She has 25 No. 1 singles on the Billboard country music charts, nine Grammy awards and 49 nominations, over 90 albums, 799 songs, an entire theme park and more. Songs such as “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You,” which was covered by Whitney Houston in 1992, have rightfully earned their place in American music history. Dolly is not only one of the most iconic artists in country music, but in music as a whole. Born fourth of 12 children to a poor farming family in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Dolly Parton is a true American success story. Her songs “Coat of Many Colors” and “My Tennessee Mountain Home” are written about her experiences growing up in rural Appalachia. Her exposure to Appalachian folk music as a child heavily influenced especially her early music. Despite her success, Dolly never forgot her roots and is heavily involved in charity work in Appala-

chia. In 1995, she established Imagination Library, which sends free books to children from birth to age five to encourage a love of reading and support literacy. She is involved in nine charities supporting causes such as foster care, animal welfare and music education. Recently, Parton gave $1 million to Vanderbilt University for research towards developing a COVID-19 vaccine . She is committed to using her fame and fortune to make a difference. Regardless of her famous wigs, rhinestones and butterflies, Dolly is taken seriously as a musician. Her reputation and respect within the music and entertainment industry is a testament to her incredible talent and drive. There’s a reason Dolly is so beloved. She works hard, stays humble and minds her own business. Her legendary career is a direct result of her character: she is unapologetically herself. The impact she has made, and continues to make, in entertainment, charity and American culture as well as her rare ability to bring people together is why Dolly Parton is a national treasure.

Bob Dylan

Stephen C. Leverton II | Opinion Writer It’s that time of year again: Christmas decorations out the day after Halloween, holiday music playing on speakers in Walmart, and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” streaming everywhere. When thinking about Christmas music, Elvis Presley, Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Mariah Carey all come to mind. While these gems of music are fantastic, one album stands out from the rest: Bob Dylan’s “Christmas In the Heart.” Released in 2009, Dylan’s Christmas album is not very well known unless you’re a Dylan fan. Critics have been quick to call the album “weird, but fun,” pointing out Dylan’s gravelly voice not being suited for Christmas. Despite the vocal sounds, the album is a blast. For example, “Must Be Santa” is action packed, with a faster tempo, accordions and a big-band feel that can’t be felt in other recordings. Dylan’s gravelly voice gives songs like “Silver Bells” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas” a unique edge to them, something that isn’t com-

mon with typical holiday songs. He’s no Frank Sinatra or Mariah Carey, but his voice gives the songs a much-needed charm. Uniqueness makes “Christmas In the Heart” an underrated holiday album, not only from a musical standpoint but from a humanitarian standpoint. Dylan made sure that all of the profits that the album generated went to homelessness food programs, like The World Food Programme. Not many artists do this; many are looking for a quick cash grab. Dylan, with more than 30recorded albums under his belt, doesn’t necessarily need the money. If you’re looking for something underrated to listen to this holiday season, pick up “Christmas In the Heart.” The album is slam-packed with classic holiday tunes that are fun, upbeat, and enjoyable to listen to. It’s also not overplayed, unlike some artists. Plus, the proceeds go toward a good cause.

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Nov 20, 2020

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