The Appalachian
September 18, 2020
On-campus voting site in limbo after lawsuit
App State student finds creative fame online
Men’s Tennis cut devastates players, staff
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Handmade Hustle Local artists adjust to a changing business Ansley Puckett | A&C Editor Within Boone’s local business community are several small artists offering patrons personalized, handmade, unique products. Like normal businesses, these artists had to adapt to a global pandemic, changing the way they create, package and interact with customers. Calligraphy artist Inaya Mack, who creates and sells home decor and wedding signs out of her home, says the pandemic hit some parts of her business harder than others. “There haven’t been many weddings, so I haven’t had signs from there,” Mack said. “But I am grateful to not have been super negatively impacted by the pandemic because I know other people have.” Mack mainly relies on Instagram, word of mouth and Etsy to sell her products, but with larger orders comes shipping difficulties and safety concerns. “A lot of people come to my home as well, especially with wedding signs because it’s hard to ship these really large plexiglass signs and so I’m not able to do that right now,” Mack said. Similar to traditional businesses, artists who create and sell their products must sanitize their inventory and take precautions to protect themselves and customers from infection. Elizabeth Walton, who has sold her handmade jewelry since the age of 8, has also taken safety into account when selling products. “I’ve been intentional (sic) to wear a mask going to the post office for everyone’s safety, and I try to go in the morning when it’s less busy just so I’m around less people,” Walton said. However, across the state, shipping delays caused by COVID-19 have affected delivery dates, and local artists like Walton and Mack have had to rush to keep up. “I’m having to definitely adjust my schedule and how quickly I can get things done, but also not charging them extra because of all of this that is happening,” Mack said. “It’s hard because sometimes it does negatively affect me and how I’m making money off of it.” Walton now relies more on selling jewelry from in-store locations that house her products rather than dealing with long shipping delays. “In some instances, if I’m worried about someone getting something, then I will just try to avoid shipping, and they can go to an in-store location,” Walton said. Despite its challenges, the artists believe the pandemic’s effects on their businesses haven’t been completely negative. Local artist Rachel O’Hare, who has been making and selling her creations since the eighth grade, sells earrings and stationery online and in local stores. Continued on page 3
Kara Haselton
News
Sept. 18, 2020
Office of Sustainability hosts virtual film series during fall semester Jake Markland | Reporter The Office of Sustainability has organized a film series each academic year for 10 years. Originally only offered in the spring, a new series is now put on each semester and shows three to four films. One of the four films, “Right to Harm,” was shown Sept. 15. The Office of Sustainability partnered with Working Films out of Wilmington to screen a handful of social justice documentaries from North Carolina centered around environmental disaster relief. Leila Jackson, communication specialist, and Rebecca Walton, outreach coordinator in the sustainability office, said they started with a list of over 30 films and felt these three touched best on climate issues and environmental justice. The office adjusted its plans to
provide the series in a completely virtual format due to COVID-19. Last year, 75 to 100 people attended each screening in I.G. Greer theatre. “We’re hoping we have a similar turnout virtually this semester,” Walton said. In the past, attendendees had the opportunity to participate in a discussion with a panel of students and experts on the topics covered after the screenings. This semester, a virtual panel will be held after the Nov. 17 film. Students and faculty can register through the Office of Sustainability’s Engage page. Those interested who don’t have an App State email account can email sustainability@appstate.edu to receive a Zoom link to attend.
THE UPCOMING FILMS “Artifishal” Oct. 5, 7-8:30 p.m. Patagonia documentary that shows how human activity has destroyed fish populations and their environments. Working Films - series of short features Nov. 17, 7-8:30 p.m. The Office of Sustainability partnered with Working Films out of Wilmington to screen a handful of social justice documentaries from North Carolina centered around environmental disaster relief.
Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.
Available for free to App State students, faculty and the public, the Office of Sustainability will host a climate and environmental justice film series this semester to foster community, despite a pandemic, and educate on environmental issues being faced in North Carolina and across the nation. Jennifer Maxwell, program manager for the Office of Sustainability, said the series’ purpose is to “engage the campus community” and educate people on the social, economic, cultural and environmental aspects of sustainability. “When all of these are considered and balanced, sustainability is more achievable,” Maxwell said. “We try to get that broad perspective of how sustainability touches everyone and everything in some way or another.”
Faculty and students create phone application, campaign for COVID-19 behavioral accountability Gianna Holiday | Associate News Editor Phone application Habitood allows students to hold one another accountable for their actions related to COVID-19 by tracking behaviors and using positive and negative reinforcement. The app, introduced by Timothy Ludwig in the psychology department, aims to study, observe and encourage peer reinforcement to shape healthy COVID-19 behaviors. Habitood’s slogan and goal is, “No Name, No Blame, No Shame. Only Infection Reduction.” App State’s Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the psychology national honor society, initiated the App State vs. COVID campaign, which allows App State students to become active participants in slowing the spread of the virus.
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“Psi Chi decided on what behaviors we want to pay attention to, so, once we identified what those behaviors were, we were working with Habitood to get those into the system so that data could be collected for that,” said Connor Linden, a graduate student in the Industrial Organizational Psychology and Human Resources Management Program. The Habitood app is interested in the collection of behavioral data only, such as how well students are abiding by COVID-19 regulations and restrictions. Infection control behaviors include wearing a mask, washing hands, social distancing or using hand sanitizer. “This is an area of psychology that we call behavioral psychology. We
are focusing on behavior change and, through the years, this process is built on reinforcement,” Ludwig said. “The idea of reinforcement is that if you do a behavior and come into contact with a consequence that is desirable, you are more likely to do it again.” As the slogan suggests, no user can input identifying features about a student. It allows students to remain anonymous. The home page on the app asks students to share whether they live on or off-campus. After students click on this button, they can choose a “team” to designate where they are on or off-campus, including academic buildings, common areas, dorms, apartments or off-campus. Data will be collected electronically and the trends will be publicly
displayed. “If we all join in and show that students are making a difference then, maybe, we will be able to stay on campus while protecting our community at the same time,” Ludwig said. Already, data collected from the app over the first week has shown that the biggest risk is social distancing when unmasked in dorms and apartments around people who don’t live there. Another risk is outdoor areas on campus, notably Sanford Mall. Ally Curry, president of Psi Chi, said the club has continued to promote the app through virtual flyers, word of mouth, Zoom meetings and in the psychology department. “We’ll be doing this for as long as it will impact students on campus, which, right now is a really uncertain
amount of time,” Curry said. Students, regardless of their department, are encouraged to participate and encourage safe behaviors on and off-campus through the application. “It does not take much effort to be active in our community and this is a good way to show love for those in it,” Psychology Club treasurer Madison Billowus said. “Plus, if we continue to try our best at staying safe and preventing further contagion, we are able to continue to have an open campus and lean toward a ‘normal’ spring semester.” Students can download Habitood from the Play Store or App Store, and sign up using their App State email and a business code.
News
Sept. 18, 2020
Nursing students mask up for a new kind of semester
Left: Leon Levine Hall, where the Beaver College of Heath Sciences is housed. App State nursing students have gloved up to tackle not only quizzes, but patients. Right: Holly Young, a nursing student ambassador for App State, stands in front of Leon Levine Hall Sept. 15. She said she feels safe with the nursing department’s safety precautions. Cole Elledge
Cole Elledge | Reporter As students have returned to classrooms spaced with saran wrap, App State nursing students have gloved up to tackle not only quizzes, but patients. Kathleen Rayman, chairperson of the Department of Nursing, said in-person instruction involving clinical and laboratory work operates according to previously planned schedules. Clinical education involves treatment of live patients, whereas labs involve simulations of clinical work. Rayman said nursing students
follow the same safety guidelines as the rest of App State. Furthermore, students in clinical or lab settings wear personal protective equipment such as masks. Rachel Ramakrishnan is a junior nursing major at App State. She says she is required to sanitize desk areas before and after labs or in-person lectures. She is also required to wear a face shield whenever she is in contact with patients. “I don’t feel like I shouldn’t be there,” said Holly Young, a junior nursing student, about in-person
classes. She said she feels safe with the nursing department’s safety precautions. Young said she keeps hand sanitizer in her car and only goes out when necessary, such as to attend class or pick up groceries. Facing the risk of catching COVID-19 also encourages Ramakrishnan to be cautious. She fears getting COVID-19 will hinder her progress in the nursing program. Rayman said clinicals would be replaced with lab work if conditions relating to COVID-19
change. All lecture courses in the nursing department operate in a hybrid format. Class groups are split up, with one half going to an in-person course at a time while the other receives online instruction. “It is weird being hybrid. Professors take advantage of the online format and post lectures as often as they can,” said Young. Ramakrishnan said she thinks her education through labs and clinicals would be affected negatively if App State returns to a complete-
ly online model. Planned in-person clinicals over the summer were canceled, replaced by students filming themselves performing drills on family members. “It’s been grounding to actually have patient care and still have that available to us, because it’s like every Friday you remember why you’re studying every day during the week,” Ramakrishnan said.
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News
Sept. 18, 2020
Watauga County Board of Elections members file lawsuit against state board over App State campus voting site Abi Pepin | Senior Political Correspondent Republican members of the Watauga County Board of Elections are challenging the legality of the App State’s one-stop early voting site just one month before early voting starts. Board members Eric Eller and Nancy Owen filed the lawsuit Sept. 11 in Wake County and are asking the court to stop the state board of elections from adopting the App State early voting site. Eller and Owen are arguing that Watauga County BOE Chair Jane Hodges was not acting on behalf of the full board when she notified App State that the board requested the Blue Ridge Ballroom as an early voting site. “The general statute requires that the local board of elections request the use of a building 90 days in advance of the time of voting, the time of voting being October 15,” said Nathan Miller, the lawyer representing Eller and Owen. “Since the board didn’t do it, the state board has zero statutory authority to essentially seize the building and take control from ASU.” Patrick Gannon, spokesperson for the state board of elections, said he will comment after the state board responds in court. Miller said the lawsuit asks for the state board to instead use the Holmes Convocation Center as the early voting site, which representatives from the App State administration said was available for use. Dalton George, a member of the Watauga County Voting Rights Taskforce, said the group — which focuses on ensuring voting is accessible to every citizen — will do “whatever we need” to ensure the voting site is in the Blue Ridge Ballroom. “I urge that the administration
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Moss Brennan | Political Editor
does not sign on to, or assist, an obvious attempt to circumvent the majority decision by the state board of elections and accepts the decision made in late August,” George said. George said he hopes App State officials will reach out to the court and ask it to not support the lawsuit that would be “suppressing student voting rights.” Miller said the notion that this lawsuit is seeking to suppress the student vote is “absurd.” “The reason it’s absurd is because this voting site is still on campus,” Miller said. “This has nothing to do with taking a voting site away from the university.” Matthew Dockham, App State director of external affairs and
community relations, said the university supports the use of Holmes Convocation Center for the campus voting site. “Because of COVID-19, the university is holding classes every weekday in the Blue Ridge Ballroom in the Plemmons Student Union,” Dockham said. “Voting in this location will displace classes for hundreds of students for 20 days during the fall semester.” Currently, eight classes are held in the Blue Ridge Ballroom with a total of 303 students in those classes, according to university registration numbers. At least three of those classes are listed as hybrid. Dockham said the administration supports the Holmes Convo-
cation Center because it allows for a greater “assurance of health and safety” for county residents and members of App State. He also said it offers close parking, wheelchair accessibility and is a recognizable building that is well known in the community. “Appalachian State University is non-partisan and unequivocally supports on-campus voting,” Dockham said. The lawsuit, if successful, could mean the convocation center would become the early voting site. The early voting site on App State’s campus has seen a variety of lawsuits in the past 10 years. In 2014, after the Republican-majority Watauga County BOE
Eric Eller (left), Nancy Owen (second from left) and others take oaths at their swearing in as members of the board of elections in 2019. Eller and Owen filed a lawsuit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections challenging the legality of the App State campus voting site. Anna Muckenfuss
voted to take away App State’s campus voting site, the Watauga County Voting Rights Taskforce sued the state board of elections. A superior court judge agreed with the plaintiffs and ordered the county to submit a new plan that included an early voting site on App State’s campus. The state then asked the North Carolina Supreme Court for an emergency stay and appeal. The state Supreme Court granted the state’s petition, but the board voted to have a voting site on campus anyway for that election. In 2016, a North Carolina Court of Appeals panel voted 2-1 to dismiss an appeal of the 2014 Superior Court decision. But, tension over the App State early voting site didn’t end in 2016. In 2017, after board members could not come to a unanimous decision, then board member Stella Anderson filed a petition of review. Anderson, who is now a member of the state board and an App State professor, filed the review after first petitioning the state board of elections and Ethics Enforcement — which had no members at the time — to adopt and implement an early voting plan in Watauga County, according to the Watauga Democrat. Because no one could hear Anderson’s petition, the court established the early voting plan for Watauga County, which included a site at the Plemmons Student Union.
News
Sept. 18, 2020
Students call for board of elections member to Moss Brennan | Political Editor
Abi Peppin | Senior Political Correspondent
App State organizations are calling for the resignation of a Watauga County Board of Elections member after a letter sent to App State police garnered criticism and claims of suppressing Black voters. Board of elections member Eric Eller sent a letter to App State Police Chief Andy Stephenson in July adressing the “potential security threats in the upcoming election cycle” related to demands made by the Black at App State Collective — a group of students committed to fighting for Black students’ safety and equity. “Obviously, concerned Black Mountaineers have a Constitutional right to peacefully protest any university or governmental policy they feel is unjust,” Eller wrote. “But, their right to protest does not include the right to disrupt or interfere with the election process, or otherwise violate the civil rights of voters, poll workers, and the public at large.” Eller wrote about the demands,
written by Black at App State in July, that were addressed to Chancellor Sheri Everts, the App State administration and all Student Affairs personnel. The letter contains concerns regarding how the university handles student retention, health and wellbeing, campus culture, leadership and scholarships in relation to Black students. In a statement to The Appalachian, Eller said he did not find the demands concerning, but rather the language letter sent with the demands. Eller also said he has no intention of resigning. Eller wrote in the letter that he was specifically concerned about Black at App State’s potential actions that will “disrupt all university operations and escalate until our demands are met.” “When voting is being conducted in a university building, then a protest of any sort — peaceful or otherwise — (is) designed to disrupt university operations in that building,” Eller
said. “Any protest near a polling site deters certain voters from exercising their Constitutional right to vote.” Eller said he never asked Stephenson to provide a law enforcement presence at a polling place. “While on the Watauga County Board of Elections, I have consistently taken the position that, in the absence of an emergency situation, there should not be a law enforcement presence at the polls specifically because that presence may tend to deter some voters from exercising their Constitutional right to vote,” Eller said. Stephenson said he saw no information indicating disruption of the election process on campus. “I told (Eller) that we had no information to indicate there would be any attempt to disrupt the election process at polling sites on campus, and also indicated that laws pertaining to the voting process at polling sites would be enforced on our campus just as they are at other polling
sites,” Stephenson said. Korbin Cummings, a member of the collective, said the group was very troubled by the letter Eller sent. “We are demanding the immediate apology and resignation of Eric Eller for his violent rhetoric around Black students on Appalachian State’s Campus,” Cummings said. “The language and suggested actions were apparent attempts to suppress and criminalize Black voters.” Adam Zebzda, App State Student Government Association director of external affairs, is also calling for an apology from Eller and his resignation. “We cannot normalize attempts of voter suppression, nor the targeted weaponization of our electoral process,” Zebzda said. “Regardless of partisanship or opinion surrounding the use of Plemmons Student Union as a voting site, Mr. Eller’s narrative is indefensible, as he attempted to claim Black students were a threat to election security and to the community’s
resign civil rights.” In mid-September, the Watauga County BOE responded to the concerns surrounding Eller’s letter, calling them “valid.” According to a statement from the Watauga County BOE, “Nothing in (Black at App State’s) letter suggests disruption of the 2020 election, and nothing even hints at harm to any voter or poll worker.”. The letter states that the board recognizes and supports the constitutional right to peacefully protest and, “does not believe the exercise of Constitutional rights threatens the electoral process.” The board said it will continue to make voting accessible for Watauga County voters regardless of race, religion, age, gender or party affiliation. Cummings said the collective is appreciative of the BOE’s statement, but said it is concerning that the response was so delayed.
Student organizations mobilize marginalized voters ahead of election Abi Peppin | Senior Political Correspondent Students involved with the Multicultural Center, Black at App State and the Intercultural Student Association hope they can “make a difference” by keeping students informed for the upcoming election. The Women’s Center, LGBT Center and Multicultural Center are partnering up to host a voter registration week the week of Sept. 28. “During this time, the centers will hold a space for students to come, register to vote, grab snacks and ask questions,” said Imani Dillon, Multicultural Center graduate assistant. “This way, the centers are doing their part to make sure that students can and will vote.” Dillon, also co-president of the Black Graduate Student Association, said if students don’t speak out, demand change and vote, the government won’t know what they need.
“It is important for marginalized and diverse students to vote because there is a war going on in our nation,” Dillon said. “We want our voices to be heard in a way that we know will make a difference. Voting is one of the ways we can make our voices heard. Pew Research shows that although racial and ethnic diversity among United States voters has grown steadily since 1990, Asian, Hispanic and Black voters have a significantly lower turnout than white voters. In the 2018 elections, 72.8% of voters were white, while 11.9% were Black, 9.6% were Hispanic and 3.5% were Asian, according to Pew. Watauga County, as of Sept. 12, has a total of 45,509 registered voters. Of those, about 88% are white, according to the North Carolina Board of Elections. In Watauga County, 94.8% of
the population is white, according to the 2019 Census data. “It is our right and responsibility to be heard through our votes,” said Lamont Sellers, director of Intercultural Student Affairs at App State. Sellers said he is actively working to encourage students, faculty and staff to make sure they are registered and vote in all federal, state and local elections. “Essentially, I want the president and leaders across the board to uphold our rights and fight for equality, equity and justice for all, regardless of their backgrounds and identities,” Sellers said.
Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
Graphic by Moss Brennan
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A&C
Sept. 18, 2020
Continued from page 1
Boone bands
look to the future
Kaitlin Rous | Reporter
Inaya Mack creates wedding signs for her calligraphy business, Letters of Grace. Across the state, shipping delays caused by COVID-19 have affected delivery dates, and local artists like Mack have had to rush to keep up. Courtesy of Inaya Mack.
O’Hare said she didn’t make her business a priority until quarantine, where she was able to refocus on it by selling products relevant to the pandemic. Recently, O’Hare has been creating personalized stationery for teachers to send to students during their time away from school. She hopes that her stationery will let students know “that there’s someone rooting for them, and that’s their teacher.” “So, just knowing that there’s a really personal tie for whoever is ordering those things and whatever that is for them in this season, is something special,” O’Hare said. Walton said she also took the extra free time during quarantine to work on her business. “My website was not in great shape before COVID, and then COVID happened, and a lot of my plans got canceled, so I was like, wait I have all this time, this is the perfect time to organize my business,” Wal-
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ton said. “I think at this point, my business is probably the most organized that it has ever been.” Although many traditional businesses have struggled to stay open in the wake of the pandemic, extra free time and the safety of online shopping have pushed more users online, and calligraphy artist Mack has seen an increase in orders. “I think people are just trying to find new ways to decorate their homes because they can’t really do much else, and so I’ve gotten a pr etty good amount of orders since March, but in the wedding aspect, I have seen less,” Mack said. For O’Hare, creating her products gives her the chance to give back during a time of confusion and pain. “You have to pivot in this kind of season, and you have to build the narrative around that pivot,” O’Hare said.
Basements, garages and bars once packed with peomuch we were doing it until it was gone,” said Collin ple, colored lights and music-saturated air are now silent. Register, Cocoa Bat’s bass player. Due to COVID-19, tightly-packed crowds dispersed and The band’s nostalgia has fueled their determination studios closed down, giving way to masked fans and atto stay productive. home recording in the music scene. “We were able to record a little three-song EP while “All of a sudden, we went from having like four or we were in quarantine, because we all have our own levfive shows in the next couple of weeks to zero, and since els of gear at home to record with,” said Caison Rogers, then, we’ve played one show, but that was something that Cocoa Bat’s drummer. “We’ve still been able to be prowe kind of put together ourselves,” said Luca Wilber, ductive, it’s just we’re having to find those different ways guitarist for local band Galloway. to do so.” Galloway was forced to cancel several scheduled Cocoa Bat’s self-titled EP released in July and is shows, including a performance at Boone in Blossom, available on several streaming platforms. The band also because of the pandemic. Back in June, the band orgahas an album set to release in a few months. nized Byrdstock, a socially-distanced backyard concert Despite the challenging circumstances, the musifeaturing several other North Carolina-based bands. cians are optimistic about the eventual return to normalWilber said the gathering was a success because of cy in the music scene. the band’s precautions. “Given the eagerness of people to sort of get back “We did our absolute best to be as safe as possito normal, especially once a vaccine is out widespread ble,” Wilber said. “We took everyone’s temperatures available, I can’t imagine that things won’t,” Wilber said. when they got there, we put hand sanitizer everywhere, we tried to make sure that folks sat with who they came with, and overall it turned out really, really well.” The backyard bash provided a hopeful glimpse into the future for the band. Temporarily shut doors began to open and the air flooded with music once again. “We went into the studio to record a single in January, and then I think we were just about to finish,” said Robert Redfield, one of Galloway’s guitarists. “Then all of COVID started, so we kind of have this song just sitting in our repertoire for probably like ten months waiting to be finished.” The start of the fall semester enabled the band to finish working on their new single, “Buzzcut,” which will come out Oct. 9. Similarly, band Cocoa Bat has struggled with the drastic change. They, too, have had to cancel in-person shows and practices. “I didn’t realize how much I was Vocalist Lawson Galloway leads the band, Galloway, during in performance. gonna miss it. I didn’t realize how Courtesy of Galloway
A&C
Sept. 18, 2020
“I NEVER EXPECTED MY VIDEO TO BLOW UP” Photographer finds video fame on Tik Tok Rebecca Parker | Reporter What started as a high school hobby brought App State junior Riley Curtis nearly 4,000 new followers on TikTok and 400 on Instagram. “I told myself I’d never make a video, but I started seeing photography Tik Toks and thought it might be a cool way to get my pictures out,” Curtis said. Curtis posted his first Tik Tok, which included photos of Boone, in July. Within hours his video was shared hundreds of times, racking up 107,400 views. “I never expected my video to blow up,” Curtis said. “I posted the video before work and I came back to 60 new followers on Instagram and people messaging me to do senior photos. I was surprised, and that’s what motivated me to keep doing them.” After the success of his first video, Curtis posted more, each getting similar responses. Curtis’ interest in photography began while looking through family photos, and he has been teaching himself how to take pictures since he was a senior. Curtis found himself inspired by pictures his grandfather took and decided he wanted to carry on the craft. “I needed a new hobby towards the end of high school, so I asked for a camera and I started taking pictures for fun,” Curtis said. His work got a lot of positive feedback from friends and family, which inspired Curtis to keep taking pictures. Curtis’ Instagram features dozens of photos he’s taken of Boone and surrounding areas. Most of his pictures are landscapes taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway. His roommate Drew Neill says the process is not an easy one. Neill has accompanied Curtis to photoshoots and
seen his process first hand. “He’s very committed to it,” Neill said. “One time we were at Linville Falls and it was 15 degrees outside, and Riley spent an hour trying to focus on this one fern. He sees things as a photographer that I would never think of.” Although his following has grown and people from all over have seen his pictures, Curtis has not let it change him, according to his girlfriend, Reiley Baker. “He never really lets on how much work he puts into his photography,” Baker said. While photography is one of Curtis’ passions, he feels that if he is forced to do it every day he could fall out of love with it. He hopes to keep photography a weekend pastime while he pursues a career in pediatric mental health counseling. Curtis doesn’t plan to continue with Tik Tok, but he plans to keep his Instagram and website updated. “I want to use my Instagram and the website as a way to make sure my friends and family can see my photos,” Curtis said.
He sees things as a photographer that I would never think of.
Courtesy of Riley Curtis
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A&C Artists showcase work in annual Art in the Park Festival Savannah Brewer | Reporter The rain didn’t stop artists from lining Park Avenue in Blowing Rock with tents, masks and hand sanitizer. The Blowing Rock Art in the Park Festival has occurred in downtown Blowing Rock for 58 years since its inauguration in 1962 by founders Robert Snyder and Edith Carter. The festival takes place several times a year, although the May and June events were canceled this year due to the pandemic. Artists apply to participate in the festival every year. A panel of judges decides which applicants are given spots for the event. There are usually around 100 participants, but September’s festival saw about half that. “This is the only location that has been able to host their art shows,” artist Deborah McCarthy wrote in an email. “All other shows in my yearly line up have been cancelled. This shows their willingness and dedication to this event, and to the arts, to go the extra mile to make this show a success for the artist and the patrons that want to come out and support the arts community.” McCarthy has been glass making since she was 13 years old when her father taught her the art. She has brought her glasswork to Blowing Rock for eight years. “Art in the Park in Blowing Rock rates as my favorite art show, with the most art appreciative crowd of any show I do,” McCarthy said. “It’s about the only show they’re having now,” said painter Danny O’Driscol, in reference to art festival organizers. O’Driscol sat surrounded by his realist wildlife paintings, many of which include animals found in the High Country. While O’Driscol recently re-entered the art scene, many of the artists at this event have been coming for years. The art festival was host to a myriad of art mediums,
The rain didn’t stop artists from lining Park Avenue in Blowing Rock Sept. 9. The Blowing Rock Art in the Park Festival has occurred in downtown Blowing Rock for 58 years since its beginnings in 1962 Savannah Brewer
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Sept. 18, 2020
PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK Camryn Collier Reporter
Cale Williams and his wife have been coming to Art in the Park for 17 years. The festival takes place several times a year, although the May and June events were canceled this year due to the pandemic. Savannah Brewer
including leather work, woodwork, cloth work and metalwork. This year marked Sue Gouse’s third year at the festival. “The Blowing Rock shows are well run, the people who attend are faithful and come even in the rain, and my work seems to be well received there,” Gouse wrote in an email. “Plus, we just love Blowing Rock.” Gouse’s tent was lined with landscape oil paintings, some of which depict scenes from nearby towns like Sapphire and Cashiers. Others depict sunny southeastern beaches, as well as what Gouse refers to as her “tween” paintings, which portray landscapes between Florida and Georgia. A few tents down from Gouse was potter Janet Donnagelo. “Is this going to be an inside chicken, or an outside chicken?” Janet asked as she packaged a ceramic rooster for a customer. “He’s going to be an inside chicken,” the customer said, smiling, as the pair ducked under a tent away from the rain. Donnagelo has come to Art in the Park for three years. She was surrounded by some inventive pieces including a sponge holder/bowl, an earring holder and ‘berry bowls’ all of her own making. She smiled from her chair, which read: ‘I’m a potter, what’s your superpower?’ Also bright against the rain was Ginnie Parish and her polymer clay pieces. Many of Parrish’s pieces are inspired by nature, especially the beach. “I like seashell forms, patterns, textures and the colors of the tropics: turquoise, coral and sand,” Parrish wrote in an email. Currently, her favorite piece is a conch shell she covered in clay. Parrish wrote that the festival is, “ranking pretty high in quality of art, ease of setup and breakdown, communication with artist, artist amenities, and my sales are usually good for a one-day event.” The next Art in the Park will take place in Blowing Rock from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 3rd.
Do you ever look up into the night sky and find yourself wondering how you fit into the grand scheme of things? It’s amazing how big the Earth is, but when one looks up, they may realize that even the Earth is just a speck amongst time and space. Sometimes it’s nice to remember that we’re all just a small moment in time. It’s nice to remember that our problems and stresses are nothing compared to the immense size of the world. Lay a blanket down, take a seat. Feel the air around you, let it fill your lungs. Put in your earbuds, and press play.
Sports
Sept. 18, 2020
“Tremendously disappointing” players react to app state men’s tennis cut Sasha Pisareva | Contributor When the App State men’s tennis program got cut in the middle of the season the players’ and coaches’ lives were significantly changed. App State Athletics announced May 26 that it was cutting several sports, including men’s tennis, due to the financial difficulties caused by COVID-19. “The whole situation was tremendously disappointing,” said Jack Maddocks, a former player and assistant coach. The program was discontinued in the middle of the season, before the Mountaineers started conference play. Maddocks was looking forward to seeing how the team performed in the rest of the regular season and the postseason. “We had some great matches during the season, especially when we beat UNC-Charlotte right before getting cut,” Maddocks said. “The boys were always working hard, and I think they had a good chance of playing better at the conference tournament.” Maddocks spent six and a half years at App State as a player and an assistant coach. He is now with the Wildcats at the University of Arizona as a volunteer coach for the women’s tennis team this fall.
According to former App State tennis player Matvey Rodionov, it was devastating to hear that the program was cut. “We were on a tough schedule, and we were getting better and better every match, and, unfortunately, we couldn’t finish it. It is not fair that we got cut just because we are not (making) money for the school. App State lost good talent,” Radionov said. The team being cut was one of the most challenging experiences of his life, Radionov said. It meant he’d have to transfer to a new school for the second time. Radionov spent one year at the University of Nevada at Reno before transferring to App State as a sophomore. He ended up transferring to Drexel University in Philadelphia after the App State program was cut. According to Zion Heaven, a sophomore from Hawaii and former App State tennis player, the news was life changing. “Up until this point, COVID-19 had done little to disrupt my life, outside of wearing masks and a two-week quarantine upon arriving home to Hawaii,” Heaven said. “That morning, I received a text from my coach that said ‘we have been cut.’ The news hit
my stomach immediately as I couldn’t process it at that moment.” Heaven said he was almost in tears when he heard. All the memories that he had at App State glimpsed in front of his eyes. Like Radionov, he also had to find another school to continue his collegiate tennis career. “I asked to be put on the transfer portal in order to find a new school. Over the next few weeks, I talked to many coaches and players from different schools,” Heaven said. Heaven said he felt a little guilty for leaving App State because of the community friendships he created as a Mountaineer. His final two schools were Liberty University and Brigham Young University. “I ended up choosing Liberty University, and I must say I love my time here so far. The people have been great, and athletics has welcomed me in so warmly and helped me with all my transfer troubles,” Heaven said. Heaven says the pandemic caused initial havoc and chaos in his life, but the team’s cut happened for the better, and he is happy for the time he spent at App State and excited for what the future holds.
Former App State men’s tennis players Milo Bargeron (left) and Zion Heaven (right) high five during a match. The App State men’s tennis program, along with men’s soccer and men’s indoor track and field, were discontinued because of budget cuts due to the pandemic this spring. Courtesy of App State Athletics
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Sports App State football coach apologizes after player makes controversial instagram post Connor Davidson | Reporter After App State’s season opening win, a Mountaineer tight end posted an offensive photo from the postgame locker room to his Instagram account. App State senior tight end Mike Evans posted a photo depicting several players sticking both middle fingers up in the shape of a “T” while posing with Charlotte’s “Club Lit” sign. Tight end coach Justin Watts also appeared in the photo, but posed with a peace sign. “After the game, an inappropriate picture was taken in our locker room and posted on social media,” head coach Shawn Clark said. “This is unacceptable and does not represent the values of our football program, our athletics department or our university.” The “Club Lit” sign is used for Charlotte locker room celebrations after victories, but the 49ers mistakenly left it in Boone after their 56-41 defeat in 2019. The post provoked a response from Charlotte junior wide receiver Cameron Dollar, who tweeted, “Thankful for the opportunity to play this game. Came up short to a team that simply won the day, despite the rain (and) lack of fans. Good game App State. Hats off to the guys whose jerseys were wet from something other than the rain.” In Monday’s press conference, Clark condemned the players’ actions, saying, “I apologize to Chancellor (Sheri) Everts and the Appalachian State University community on behalf of our program.” Clark also apologized to Charlotte head coach Will Healy after learning about the controversy. The two exchanged texts in order to clear the air. “Shawn sent me a text. He’s classy; I’ve got no problem with Shawn,” Healy said. “Congrats to them on the win… Until we beat them, we can’t really say anything.” Not long after it was posted, the photo was taken down and replaced with the same image, only the Mountaineers were holding up their index fingers.
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Sept. 18, 2020
Mountaineers set to take on old SoCon rival Marshall in week 2 Connor Davidson | Reporter App State football looks to get its second win of the year against Marshall on Saturday. The matchup renews a rivalry of years past when the Mountaineers and Thundering Herd were both in the Southern Conference. The most recent matchup between the teams was in 2002, when Marshall blew out the Mountaineers 50-17 in Huntington, West Virginia. App State comes off a 35-20 win over Charlotte, in which the Mountaineers racked up 512 yards of total offense. This included 279 rushing yards and four touchdowns between three separate running backs. Marshall defeated Eastern Kentucky 59-0 on Sept. 5 behind redshirt freshman quarterback Grant Wells’ 307 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Marshall defense only allowed 166 total yards of offense. “As we’re moving on to Marshall, we have our work cut out for us,” said App State head coach Shawn Clark. “They have an outstanding quarterback ... If you can stop the run, they have a vertical passing game. You look at their receivers, they can straight out fly, they’re long, and we’ll have to be very good to stop them.”
A few App State coaches have West Virginia roots, including Clark. Clark was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and he grew up cheering for Marshall. “It’s a chance to go back home, I have a lot of respect for that state and the people in that state,” Clark said. Offensive coordinator Tony Petersen set 16 different career and single season SoCon records as Marshall’s starting quarterback from 1987-88. In 1987, Petersen was the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year and in 1988, he was named the SoCon Athlete of the Year. Petersen also had two coaching stints at Marshall from 1991-98, and again from 2010-12. “Marshall is a special place for me and my past,” Petersen said. “But I also know how special this rivalry is and I’m on the other side of it now, so I can’t wait to get up there.” The Mountaineers and Thundering Herd kickoff at 3:30 p.m. in Huntington, West Virginia, and the game will be aired on CBS.
Player to Watch This week’s player to watch is senior defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor. Taylor had a successful year in 2019, and the pressure he put on quarterbacks proved to be beneficial to the App State defense. After Marshall threw for 345 passing yards in its last game, getting after the quarterback early and often will help limit the impact felt through the passing game.
Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.
Opinion
Sept. 18, 2020
North Carolina, your vote matters
Jean Holman | Opinion Writer
North Carolina is a swing state. This means that the majority of North Carolina’s votes for officials this season could turn out Republican or Democrat, but no one is entirely sure judging by analytics. Your vote could determine North Carolina’s decision. In the past, North Carolina was a Democratic state, “where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 or 3 to 1,” according to Republican strategist Carter Wrenn. Wrenn says that over the years, more people have become independent, causing nearly an equal count of Republicans, independents and Democrats. Issues like the recent protests, police brutality and the environment impact a person’s vote. People’s opinions on race and police violence have significantly changed compared to 2015 polls, according to an Associated Press poll. According to the poll, more Black and white adults believe police officers “are more likely to use deadly
force against black people.” These changes in people’s opinions affect who they vote for. Get informed fast and be active, because the 2020 presidential election will be here Nov. 3. North Carolina’s early voting is an option for App State students from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31. You can also vote by mail. According to census data, sixty-one percent of eligible voters reported voting in 2016, 61.8% voted in 2012 and 63.6% voted in 2008. As of 2016, 46.1 % of voters ages 18 to 29 reported voting. On the other hand, 70.9% of voters ages 69 and up reported voting. Do you see the problem? Not enough young people are voting. Ideally, all age groups would have an equal percentage. We need everyone’s vote, especially young people, because we are the world’s future leaders. This is our chance to fix injustices, have more employment opportunities and better healthcare. We are
the ones who will have to live in a political world that older generations are currently controlling by voting more than younger generations. We young people can level the playing field if more of us vote. Voting is important because it gives us a chance to voice our opinions, earn more rights and solve problems. Are you annoyed with the tax rate? Vote. Do you think abortion should be legal in all states? Vote. Presidents and state governments decide these types of questions. You too can get involved in your own local elections by running for office or voting for people who share the same ideas and values you have.
Social media contributes to political extremism Ethan Hunt | Opinion Writer According to Business Insider, the pandemic has made Americans politically aware. It has forced people to spend even more time with technology. However, research shows that the ways in which people express themselves over the internet are vastly different from in person. Social media platforms often provide anonymity, but even if they don’t, they provide the illusion of distance. Because of this, people are outspoken, resistant to criticism and aggressive. The image of extremism that social media presents is not accurate. Social media is a flawed imitation of reality. One must only scroll through their own social media page to know that what is on it does not reflect a true and full picture of themselves. In the same way, political conversation through social media is not a true and full representation of real life. It encourages people to post what they believe their followers will like. This discourages posts that disagree with the general narrative of the group. This, in turn, creates feedback loops of agreement where everyone posts things with the goal of receiving approval from their peers online. The danger of people having their beliefs constantly re-
affirmed and legitimized on social media is that it can begin to appear as though anyone who disagrees is not only wrong, but that they are a threat. The real-world danger and consequence of this amplified political world on social media is showing more and more each day. For example, Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who shot two people in Kenosha, W.I. was an active member of a social media page that embodied the same feedback loop previously described. He was a member of a Kenosha Guard Facebook Page intended to bring together people who wanted to assist the Kenosha police during Black Lives Matter demonstrations. This in part prompted him to attend the demonstration with a rifle, where he shot three people, killing two. Another example would be the infamous “Pizzagate” incident from 2016, which began with accusations made against the Clintons on social media. Social media users then circulated the accusations under the hashtag #pizzagate, resulting in Edgar Welch firing an assault rifle into the pizza restaurant Comet Ping Pong. Luckily, no one was injured. Still another example would be the Black Lives Matter
demonstrations, which began with the killing by police of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The video of Floyd’s murder was shared in much wider bubbles of agreement and resulted in the insurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Subsequent protests saw deaths at demonstrations and millions of dollars in property damage. It would do us all a service for people to remember that political conversation on the internet is the same as most other interactions on the internet. It is hyperbolic, heavily influenced by the user’s social circle and exaggerated. None of these things are inherently bad, but can cause people to take unwanted action in the world. Political activism should never be discouraged, and hopefully the heightened level of political awareness social media has contributed to will increase voter turnout among young people during the 2020 election. But those same young people should remember it is likely the posts they see from their peers were tailored to fit the narrative of the online social circle they inhabit, and should be treated with the according skepticism.
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Opinion
Sept. 18, 2020
Getting rich the Carnegie way
Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Editor
Cato Institute suggests younger generations will resent the rich because the U.S.’s existing wealth inequality seems to be getting worse. At App State, 57% of students take out a federal loan and the average student graduates $23,105 in debt. It takes years for students to pay off their loans because the average starting salary at App State is $34,000. Clearly, the deck is stacked against students. Yes, inequality is a problem and many people are born into immediate wealth. However, many of the richest people in American history did not come from generational wealth. Take Andrew Carnegie, a poor Scottish immigrant born in poverty that became a billionaire. Sounds like a fantasy? Nope. Pass the popcorn, Disney. This is a real story! Born in 1835, Carnegie’s story is one of hard work and perseverance. Without two cents to his name and little formal education, Carnegie conquered life’s obstacles. How did he do this? Hard work. In 1848, Carnegie’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Scotland. Upon landing, Carnegie worked at a factory, where he
made a whopping $1.20 which amounts to $37.58 today. The next year, Carnegie landed a job as a telegraph manager and received a promotion as a telegraph operator two years later. People noticed his work ethic and promoted Carnegie to a railroad superintendent in 1859. During this time Carnegie made a series of smart investments quitting the railroad in 1865 to develop the Keystone Bridge Company further. This company spearheaded steelmaking innovations, increasing the steelmaking industry’s efficiency. By 1889, Carnegie and Carnegie Steel Company held a monopoly over steel production, bringing in revenues while lowering the cost of steel. Though considered a “robber baron,” someone who becomes rich unethically, critical examination of Carnegie’s life shows this couldn’t be further from the truth. Carnegie was always charitable, remarking “your first third of life goes to learning, second third earning and the final third to giving it all away.” So what’s the point? Why does a dead billionaire matter? Because Carnegie showed that where you come from doesn’t matter. He’s not alone: John Rockefeller cannot claim he inher-
ited his wealth. Rather, he worked hard and created a successful company to become one of the richest people ever. Although it’s suspected Jeff Bezos will usurp that throne. Yet, this history lesson doesn’t prove why we should care. Carnegie, Rockefeller and Bezos caused drastic wealth inequality and can be blamed for the inequalities we face today. Not so fast though. Long-term economic growth suggests that prior to the 1500s, everyone was poor. Peasants had nothing and lived and died where they were born. According to Our World in Data, capital accumulation of people in 2020 shows higher life expectancy, less hunger and more entertainment mediums. Sure, economic inequality is a problem. It isn’t a secret that Bezos lives better than fast-food workers. However, a critical examination of historical data suggests that the average GDP per capita is significantly higher than it was before the 16th century. Why should some live better than others on the backs of inheriting wealth? Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
campus tunnels provide political expression through art Braedyn Garland | Opinion Writer When I first came to App State, I thought I had seen everything on campus. From the duck pond to Durham Park, there wasn’t much I hadn’t experienced until I went through the tunnels that connect East Campus to West Campus. I never thought to explore them. Now, I go through these tunnels once a day because it links me to East Campus. I couldn’t help but notice the graffiti decorating these tunnels. I’ve observed three categories of artwork: political activity, creativity and stupidity. Yet, the most intriguing art is political by nature. The graffiti existing within App’s tunnels exists not only as a way for students to express themselves or create a piece of art. Students are now using spray paint to voice their opinions and thoughts on current issues plaguing our state and America. First, a brief history. In 1965 Darryl “Cornbread” McCray, the world’s first modern graffiti artist, popularized the art form. Rather than take part in drug use and violence with counterparts, Cornbread decided to put his signature on the Youth Development Center (YDC) in Philadelphia, the place where he spent most of his time. Cornbread made it his mission to find as many blank spots as possible to etch his name on. Eventually, his tag inspired others, causing a surge in wall tagging. “Graffiti can be a springboard for the examination
of personal identity, commercial design, social history, and community conflict, says Jessie L. Whitehead, the assistant art education professor at the University of Georgia. The words “community conflict” are what stick out to me the most. These two words sum up the mass artwork being displayed in our tunnels. From Black Lives Matter to the 2020 elections, this community has a lot to say. As we all know, the Black Lives Matter Movement has been one of the most prevalent topics in mass media these days. Most of the Appalachian community, as well as many other college campuses, have chosen to raise
Braedyn Garland
their voices for this cause. Both tunnels at App have at least one Black Lives Matter marking on their walls. This is just one of the many examples of local students taking to art to express their thoughts and opinions. Another huge topic of debate would be the campus’ chancellor, Sheri Everts. In case anyone forgot, our country is in a pandemic. The mask-wearing argument has become constant on the Appalachian campus. The state required, all residents must wear a cloth face covering when in a public area and remain six feet apart from others on Aug. 27. The App State board wasted no time requiring that every student wear a face covering while on campus as well as in public areas on campus and maintain their distance. However, many students, including the Black at App State collective, believe the Chancellor has been putting financial needs before students and is failing to implement change for minority groups on campus. The “Sheri, wake up” emblem has made its way across campus as a way for students to say, “Enough is enough”. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
Et Cetera
Sept. 18, 2020
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