Your student newspaper
THE APPALACHIAN Thursday, September 20, 2012
TheAppalachianOnline.com
Vol. 87, No. 07
Students attend Occupy anniversary in New York
Hugh Harper | Courtesy Photo
Jose Garrido | Courtesy Photo
Appalachian students join fellow Occupy protestors in a meditation circle at a New York City intersection this past weekend (top left). Occupy protesters re convene on Education Day in New York City for the one year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement (top right). Occupy protesters march across the street from Zucotti Park, ground zero of the Occupy movement, in New York City for the one year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement (bottom left). Occupy protesters participate in an anti-fracking march against the Spectra Pipeline in New York City for the one year anniversary of the Occupy Wall Street movement (bottom right).
Jose Garrido | Courtesy Photo
Jose Garrido | Courtesy Photo
Six Appalachian students meditate in intersections for Occupy anniversary in New York City last weekend by ANNE BUIE
Managing Editor
T
he Occupy movement took place a year ago, but for six university students the decision to drive up to New York City last week to particpate in the anniversary was “spur of the moment.” “I’ve supported the Occupy movement since it began and I’ve been following it for a long time ever since the beginning,” Cameron
Keener, sophomore political science major, said. “It’s something I felt like I needed to be a part of in person to solidify some of the support that I’ve had for Occupy for a long time.” Keener said attending the anniversary had “matured” him. “Regardless of what the media says, this movement has the potential to bring change,” Keener said. The students teamed up with about 10 people to
meditate in the street. “We felt that meditating in the midst of all this chaos showed unity and peace,” Keener said. The group was there to occupy the police from the main protests going on around New York City. “We’d shut down the intersection and try to draw cops away from the crowd where the masses were and divert them,” Hugh Harper, sophomore sustainable development major, said.
All six students said they had not had the opportunity to physically partake in Occupy Boone when it existed last year. “I think that’s why we wanted to go up there,” Caitlyn Blakelock, sophomore child development major, said. “We wanted to jumpstart our involvement. It means nothing if we just talk and don’t show our involvement.” Hugh said going to the Occupy anniversary was
As clash continues in Middle East, it’s personal for one ASU senior by MEGHAN FRICK
Social Media Manager
Conflict is continuing in the Middle East, but for one student at the university, the conflict is hitting a little closer to home. Senior journalism major Lena Aloumari’s father is stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a, Yemen. There -- and in Egypt and Libya, initially -- the American embassies have been targeted by Muslim protesters. The anger centers around an American-made film, “The Innocence of Muslims,” circulating online. “What started in Egypt and Libya has spread to Yemen, where my dad is,” Aloumari said. “The past year has been kind of crazy because he actually just was sent back to Yemen in June. During the revolutions of the Arab Spring, they evacuated him to Kuwait as a safety precaution.” Curtis Ryan, an Appalachian professor who specializes in Middle East politics, said the film provoking reactions “is incredibly offensive, and was intended to cause hate or fury.” “For many, it’s just the latest episode of overt disrespect for the world’s second-largest religion,” Curtis said. “Also, one of the main issues behind the Arab Spring was a pro-democracy movement against dictatorships that historically were backed by the U.S., with the exception of Syria and Libya. More democracy, even in an unstable transitional stage, means more protests. It goes with territory.” And the demonstrations have tapped into pre-existing local griev-
empowering. “It showed us, just some students from North Carolina, that we can make the national news reel and make a profound change,” Hugh said. But Hugh said at times the resistance could be “frightening.” At one point, Hugh said the policemen surrounded him and the other students on all sides. “One policeman is fine,” Hugh said. “But NYPD as a
Math, science departments oppose gen ed changes by CHELSEY FISHER Senior News Reporter
Lena Aloumari | Courtesy Photo
Senior journalism major Lena Aloumari's father is stationed at the U.S. embassy in Sana'a Yemen. His embassy-issued car was damaged when protests broke out in response to a controversial video, "Innocence of Muslims."
ances, Ryan said. “In Yemen, the U.S. drone strike campaign has wreaked havoc with the al-Qaeda branch in the country, but it has also killed many, many innocent Yemeni citizens,” he said. “That’s true in Afghanistan and Pakistan too. So anger at the U.S. is also rooted in the death toll of this campaign.” But there are nuances to the situation -- including the fact that most of the world’s Muslims have never protested, demonstrated or rioted, Ryan said. “They represent the real Islam and, like most people in the world,
they have more to worry about on a daily basis than YouTube clips of a hate film,” he said. Aloumari made a similar point. “I think the main thing I would like people to know is that there are people from diverse backgrounds that are out protecting and serving our country in different ways,” she said. “My dad is an Arab American and he is Muslim. But that doesn’t affect his quality of work or his commitment to the United States. He’s there risking his life as much as any other diplomat and I am so proud of him. I just hope and pray he comes home safely.”
whole is a ruthless machine.” But despite the arrests to fellow Occupiers, Keener said the overall experience “matured them.” “Overall, we all had similar political ideas, grievances and ideologies,” Keener said. “We all came back clearheaded and calmer.” The students said they want to continue bringing back Occupy ideas to Boone. For further information, visit the Twitter page twitter.com/s17mountaineers.
The math department and several science departments have written formal statements opposing proposed changes to general education at the university. The potential changes were proposed June 19. Under the new system, students would no longer take “perspectives” based on their majors. And Science Inquiry would become Science Literacy, causing a one-credit-hour loss. This is the change to which the departments are responding. “A reduction…would mean that Appalachian would fall even further behind in STEM literacy with weaker core requirements than community college systems,” the math department’s statement reads. Cutting one credit hour cuts 25 percent of requirements, said Rick Klima, assistant chair of the math department. And removing the word “inquiry” from the science inquiry perspective and adding “literacy” implies that science is something one can simply read about, the statement from the science departments argues.
“I personally believe that lowering requirements forever because of a resource shortage that may be temporary is a mistake,” said Tonya Coffey, associate professor of physics and astronomy. “If the budget turns around, we’ll have the resources again, but if we make a cut in the requirement, it is cut forever – or at least until Gen Ed is revised again.” But Director of General Education Paulette Marty believes the changes will make for a “smoother” educational experience. “Students will be able to take classes they are generally interested in,” Marty said. The changes were discussed and agreed upon by the faculty, Provost Lori Gonzalez said. The administration helps guide the process, but ultimately the faculty determines the changes, she said. The proposed changes could be approved as early as December, Marty said. Faculty Senate will discuss the proposal at its October meeting. The changes must b e approved by the General Education Council, the University College Council and the Academic Policy and Procedure Committee.
ON THE WEB Follow blogger Alex McCall as he studies abroad in England www.theappalachianonline.com/ blogs
In Photos: Check out photo coverage from Tuesday’s volleyball game
Look at our photo coverage from Jomeokee Music Festival