The Appalachian
February 26, 2021
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Alumna’s viral TikTok raises questions about professor, student well-being Jackie Park | Editor-in-Chief TikTok, the space often used for learning new dances, seeing a day in someone’s life or just for laughs is one of the top social media platforms. However, some of its users are using the platform to call attention to problems or misgivings they have. An App State alumna is one among an estimated 100 million users of the app in the U.S. She is using TikTok to bring forward complaints she has about a professor in a series of videos that now total almost 2.1 million views. Her TikToks set off alarms across social media this week after she interpreted an email from her professor as him telling her to get cancer “at a more convenient time.” Anna Randall, who graduated from the university in December, initially posted a TikTok Dec. 3 claiming that her professor, Eric Frauman in the Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education, wouldn’t give her an extension on her final paper. Randall asked for the extension af-
ter getting surgery to remove a tumor. She was diagnosed with stage 1 melanoma just after Halloween, but is now recovered. “I know that COVID has been really difficult for everyone this semester and that everyone is having a really terrible time … I just have to share with you what the (obscenity) my professor just said,” Randall said in her video. She then shared a screenshot of an email exchange she had with Frauman. She emailed him about her grade on a final assignment, saying, “This is ridiculous. We sent you our paper 3 times and you never said any of the things listed on your grading review here were an issue. You ASSURED us that this would be an A paper before we turned it in and congratulated us on being the only group to have sent you a draft.”
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Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.
Gov. Roy Cooper relaxes some COVID-19 restrictions
High Country Clay thrown into the wheel of business
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News
Feb 26, 2021
University and Banfield Pet Hospital announce partnership for aspiring veterinarians Gianna Holiday | Reporter App State and Banfield Pet Hospital have partnered to provide those in rural areas with better access to veterinary care for their pets beginning next semester. Banfield Pet Hospital is the leading provider of preventive veterinary care in the U.S., and partnered with the university due to a critical shortage of veterinary professionals, especially in the High Country. A recent study from Banfield found an estimated 75 million pets in the U.S. could lack access to necessary veterinary care by 2030. “App State excels in developing visionary academic programs that
address professional workforce shortages in rural communities and help advance industry standards,” Chancellor Sheri Everts said. “This partnership with the leading pioneer in preventive health care for animals is synergistic and forward-thinking.” This sponsored contract will allow App State to develop a new, 4-year online program to educate future veterinarians. The program will provide core training in veterinary technology through 70 credit hours of coursework in subject areas required by American Veterinary Medical Association accreditation. It will also include 15 credit hours in subject ar-
eas like science, math and communication skills, approximately 55 hours of coursework in domain-specific areas and 240 hours of practical experience obtained through clinical externships, according to App State director of communication Megan Hayes. “The degree will mark expansion in the non-clinical knowledge, skills and competencies that should be successful as team leaders upon graduation such as communication, critical thinking skills, leadership and ethics,” Hayes said. Focused expansion of the core clinical skills include recognized veterinary technician specialties and a
career path to leadership positions in veterinary practices. Banfield put forth several million dollars toward the development of the new online degree program for aspiring licensed veterinary technicians. Similar to a nurse, a licensed veterinary tech is able to offer specific services such as administering vaccines to an animal or checking their vitals alongside a veterinarian. Some students feel that, while Boone is considered rural, the program could have been brought to a community college. “While I think it’s a good idea, I think it would’ve been a better program to come to Caldwell,” said
Hannah Baker, a junior psychology major. “Most tech programs are seen at community colleges and prevet med programs are seen at the university level. It is a good step forward, but I don’t think it’ll be utilized as well as it could have been.” This online program will be part of the College of Arts and Sciences. It will combine both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science credentials with preparation for veterinary technician licensure. University faculty will craft the curriculum for the courses.
Governor lifts statewide curfew, eases restaurant and sports attendance restrictions Emily Broyles | News Editor North Carolinians can expect fewer COVID-19 restrictions and a lifted 10 p.m. curfew starting Friday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday in a press conference. Cooper is lifting the stay-athome order at 5 p.m. as cases in the state have “declined and stabilized” after high case counts in January. Almost more than half of North Carolinians 65 and older have been vaccinated, despite the U.S. reaching 500,000 deaths this week due to the coronavirus. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 3,346 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and 1,530 people are currently hospitalized with the virus. The state has reported 849,630 cases of the virus since the start of the pandemic. According to the new Executive
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Order 195, bars, taverns and restaurants can serve alcohol until 11 p.m. Bars and taverns can open up to 30% capacity, while restaurants, breweries and wineries can open at 50%. Indoor amusement parks, movie theaters and indoor sports arenas can also open at 30% capacity. Gyms, pools, museums, aquariums, barbers, outdoor amusement parks and retail locations can open at 50% capacity.. Under the new order, indoor sports venues that seat 5,000 or more people can open at 15% capacity if they follow health and safety guidelines. Indoor venues that accommodate fewer than 5,000 people may only host 250. Most outdoor venues will now be able to open at 30%. Specific capacity limits depend on venue size and space. For example, the Spectrum Cen-
ter will now be able to host about 15% of its 20,200 capacity at 3,030 people for Charlotte Hornets games. Technically, Kidd Brewer Stadium, which can seat 30,000 people, could allow 4,500 people in the stadium, though there won’t be any football games anytime soon. “We’re depending on people to be responsible. The mask mandate will not change,” Cooper said. “As more people gather together, it will be more important than ever to social distance.” Educators were eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine Feb. 24, as providers continue to vaccinate the state in Group 1 and Group 2, consisting of those 65 and older and frontline health workers. Cooper said children returning to classrooms is “critical for their education and overall health.”
“School districts across the state know this, and within the next few weeks, schools serving 96% of our public school students will offer in-person instruction,” Cooper said. Mandy Cohen, secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said that even with restrictions easing and vaccines being distributed, the state needs “to keep our guard up.” Cohen said with more than half of North Carolina counties labeled in critical community spread and the uncertainty of COVID-19, people still need to wear face coverings and wash their hands “We still have more work to do,” Cohen said. Silas Albright contributed reporting to this story. Graphic by Xanayra Marin-Lopez
News
Feb 26, 2021
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Eric Frauman is a recreation management professor at App State who taught alumna Anna Randall in her final semester at App State. Randall took to social media in December to share frustrations about Frauman.
Courtesy of Department of Recreation Management and Physical Education
Frauman responded, telling Randall that she did not follow instructions on several parts of the final quiz in the class and that her group members did not upload their final paper. “I had suggested you consider your health earlier in the semester and seek other options to finish my course,” he wrote. “You chose not too (sic) and unfortunately your overall grade may have suffered. In short, your group, and yourself, underperformed at times this semester and your final grade reflects that.” Randall says this was Frauman telling her to get cancer “at a more convenient time.” He did not use those words, however. “It is important to note that while we are aware of many communications, we have no indication Dr. Frauman denied Anna options to complete her work nor any indication that he told Anna she should have gotten can-
cer ‘at a more convenient time,’” Megan Hayes, associate vice chancellor and chief communications officer for the university wrote in an email. After the exchange, Randall brought concerns about Frauman’s response and teaching throughout the semester to the Office of the Dean of Students, which referred her to the Beaver College of Health Sciences dean, Marie Huff. The dean of students’ office has a case management department responsible for helping handle class absences related to circumstances like death of loved ones, hospitalizations or interpersonal violence. For ongoing problems like chronic mental or physical health ailments, the university requests that students get in contact with the Office of Disability Resources. “App State has options available for students to take a grade of ‘incomplete’ and finish coursework at a later
date, in the event they are facing illness or some other unavoidable cause that prevents them from successfully completing their coursework by the end of the term,” Hayes said. “Dr. Frauman took advantage of this policy and offered to extend her coursework deadlines through May 2021. Additionally, the department chair and academic dean have been engaged with Anna for a number of weeks to address her concerns.” Huff referred Randall’s concerns to recreation management department chair Melissa Weddell. “I sent her all of the information that I’ve sent to all the other deans about (the situation) like screenshots from all of his emails that he sent us and exact quotes from what he said, on his reviews from our paperwork from like our coursework, and grading notes and things like that,” Randall says. After getting in contact with
Weddell, the two spoke on the phone for more than an hour. Randall shared the same screenshots from their emails and grading. Weddell said she’d speak with Frauman at the time of their annual reviews in January and February. In the meantime, she asked Randall to write Frauman a letter, which she did. Frauman ended up giving Randall an 80 on her group’s final paper and she ended the class with a 70.5, good enough to pass. Randall was still upset by the treatment she felt she received, and emailed Weddell to follow up on their reviews on Jan. 15 and again on Feb. 3. Weddell reassured her that when she met with Frauman, she would address Randall’s concerns. However, on Feb. 15, Randall sent Weddell another email which she called “a little more aggressive.” Read more at theappalachianonline.com
Black at App State Collective releases updates on demands, transparency with administration Xanayra Marin-Lopez | Multimedia Editor Only 27 months away from their 36-month deadline, the Black at App State Collective reported that it has made significant progress with university administration on its demands for change. In a Feb. 19 Instagram post, the collective shared updates on initiatives such as a public demand tracker and the permanence of SGA’s director of diversity and inclusion position. Since its Sept. 29 meeting with the university, the collective has met with administration members on four separate occasions. Chancellor Sheri Everts attended the Nov. 12 Accountability Team meeting. However, the collective also meets with a smaller committee of university administrators that the chancellor does not sit on.
The smaller committee is a steering committee made up of members of the collective and a few administrators. Those consistently present include Heather Norris, J.J. Brown and Willie Fleming, according Black at App State member Bailey Gardin. The statement said these meetings have focused on accountability, transparency and departmental updates on demands. In efforts to keep the community involved with Black at App State’s demand progress, the collective brought an idea to Willie Fleming, chief diversity officer, for a website with a public demand tracker. The proposed website would display progress toward all of Black at
App State’s demands and an frequently asked questions page. “We believe the tracker to be the bridge of cooperation between students and university administration,” said the collective in its statement. The idea for a tracker came about in a Jan. 22 meeting among the collective. Christian Martin, a member of the collective, said the group focused on a need for more transparency from university administration on demand implementation. From there, came the idea of the tracker. “The collective has and will continue to amplify Black and Brown voices, with or without the support of administration,” said Martin. “We have made progress since our first meeting
on July 21, but there is still work to be done.” The website is not active yet. Another area of progress is the recently established permanence of the director of the diversity and inclusion position on SGA. This student government position had never been consistent within the cabinet and making it permanent was one of Black at App State’s demands. The collective celebrated this achievement in their statement, saying it’s one of the few demands that have been implemented.
Read more at theappalachianonline.com
Graphic by Maggie Watts
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News
Feb 26, 2021
New River land set aside for conservation and carbon neutral municipal service complex Jake Markland | Associate News Editor
Land along the New River was formerly a dairy farm before the Town of Boone purchased it in 2016. A majority of the purchased land is protected conservation land, established to support the habitat.
Courtesy of the Town of Boone
The Town of Boone will conserve land along the New River to allow the natural environment to thrive and establish a future municipal services complex. The nearly 54-acre parcel of land, a former dairy farm, was purchased by the town in 2016. A majority of the land, about 30 acres, is now protected conservation land aimed at enhancing the wildlife habitat, promoting cleaner water and preventing flooding downstream, according to a Feb. 16 press release from John Ward, town manager. “This project exhibits exactly the kind of actions that need to be taken throughout the entire watershed – from North Carolina to West Virginia,” said Chelsea Blount, restoration director for New River Conservancy.
The remaining acreage is the future site of a consolidated facility for police, 911 communication, public works, town planning and a new fire station for the Town of Boone. The Town of Boone has a goal for this facility to be completely carbon neutral, meaning net zero carbon dioxide emissions, George Santucci, sustainability and special projects manager for the Town of Boone, said. To accomplish this, the town is exploring options such as geothermal energy, solar power and transitioning town vehicles, like police and fire, to electric. “I do think these goals are achievable and as the technology continues to improve and things get better and better – it’s looking hopeful,” Santucci
said. The 30-acre portion of the land being conserved will allow for the New River to flow and flood naturally rather than the water being forced further downstream and flooding there. The New River Conservancy and Brushy Fork Environmental Consulting will construct rock and log structures along the riverbank, creating a “more gentle grade” so the river can reach the floodplain around it, Blount said. “This function is vital for rivers because it gives the river a chance to expand into the surrounding floodplain, slow down and soak into the soil,” Blount said. Read more online at theappalachianonline.com
Local Lion wins Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Olivia Jones | Reporter When the Local Lion, a coffee shop that specializes in fresh roasted coffee and house-made doughnuts, opened its doors for the first time in April 2012, owners Josiah and Meredith Davis never would have guessed the amount of success their venture would gain. Their impact on the community combined with the unique products they provide led to Local Lion being named the 2020 Small Business of the Year by the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce. “Winning Small Business of the Year, especially in 2020, meant a lot to us,” said Josiah Davis. “It was such a hard year and to get that kind of affirmation is something that was very emotional for me.” In addition to a morale boost, the award has other benefits for the
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business. “Winning an award like this might bring in more business, but that’s not really what means the most to us.” Josiah Davis said. “Just knowing that people see our hard work and dedication and know that we’re working hard means everything.” The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce also provides yearly awards for other categories, including Large Business of the Year and Startup Business of the Year. “At the time (we opened), Boone did not have any drive-thru coffee or any scratch-made doughnuts,” Josiah Davis said. “It was just a practical need that I saw in the community and that led to the idea that would eventually be named the Local Lion.” Since opening, the coffee shop
has become a favorite among students and working locals, who stop by to hold meetings, complete schoolwork and enjoy their many food and drink options, including specialty lattes and uniquely flavored doughnuts. “Our purpose is to serve the community and create an environment that really values our customers and supports their achievement,” Josiah Davis said. “I think that clear vision that we’ve spelled out is what drives us forward and helps us be successful.” For students who frequent Local Lion, many perks keep bringing them back. “I really like that they’re a local business with local owners,” said senior Dana Baxter, who visits five days a week. “The atmosphere
Josiah Davis, one of the owners of the Local Lion, the first local drive-thru coffee and doughnut shop in Boone. He stands in the drive-thru window.
Kara Haselton
is very cozy and the service is super quick.” In addition to good customer service, their products seem to speak for themselves, according to Baxter. “I’m super picky with coffee but theirs is definitely at the top of my list,” she said. “I also love that they
sell locally made goods such as jewelry, flower bouquets and pastries. I also love that they hand make their doughnuts.” The Local Lion is open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. every Monday through Saturday.
A&C
Feb 26, 2021
Boone artists gain new studio space at High Country Clay Xanayra Marin-Lopez | Multimedia Editor
Michael Bewley, App State grad student, throws a clay bowl on a pottery wheel. Max Correa
Surrounded by other members’ pieces, Michael Bewley works on his throwing skills at High Country Clay, a new art studio geared toward ceramics.
There’s a new spot in Boone to throw on the wheel, mold with your hands and glaze your clay creations. Located on the North Carolina Highway 105 Bypass is High Country Clay, a community studio for clay artists. Before opening its studio space, High Country Clay was just a group of artists in a garage. Last summer, the artists saw a building available for rent last minute and jumped at the opportunity. “We really struggled finding a place because we were such a small business starting in the middle of a pandemic with no money,”Andie Aldred, communication outreach coordinator, said. The studio’s current building is rich in Boone art history. The space they use now used to be The Blue House, a single artist’s studio who also gave lessons to the community. Before that, it was a recording studio, which required soundproofing the entire space. In the left corner of the building are sliding glass doors, which once held the recording booth. Now, there are display racks of clay work and a kiln. Aldred, started their position in October and was a beginner when arriving at High Country Clay. They are now a member of the studio and say clay is their favorite art medium. Becoming a member of the studio requires an application process through their website. No portfolio or experience is needed. Members receive benefits such as 10 pounds of reclaimed clay, access to equipment and 6 feet of shelf space. “We are open to people who have never touched clay before to people that have
had experience for 20, 30 years,” Aldred said. Trecia Smith is a former App State student and member of the studio. Her love for clay started when she was a student and collected ceramic pieces made by the school’s ceramic club. When a spot opened up at the studio, she took advantage of it. Smith said that High Country Clay offers a safe and fun place to learn and create. “Fine arts can often seem like a closed-off community that’s inaccessible. I think HCC is all about being a place that’s open to everyone from beginners to experts, a place where no matter your style, method, or experience, you are celebrated,” Smith said. Besides membership, High Country Clay holds events and workshops at their studio open to anyone in the community. They recently held one on Valentine’s Day and are aiming at having them twice a month. At this workshop, couples received a pre-made mug and were able to paint it however they’d like. One week later, participants received their mug glazed, fired and ready for use. Most of their workshops are for beginners, but Aldred said they are looking to branch out and create some for those with more experience who can’t get into the studio space. You can try your hands at working with clay by visiting High Country Clay’s Instagram for information on upcoming events.
Max Correa
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A&C
Feb 26, 2021
BRAHM memorializes King Street altar for Black lives
PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK Ansley Puckett A&C Editor
The Altar for Black Lives that stood in Downtown Boone in June. The altar is now on display at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum in collaboration with Small and Mighty Acts.
Katie Garceran
Zoe Zink | Reporter The killing of George Floyd in May sparked an outcry of unrest across the country, including in the High Country. Small and Mighty Acts, a grassroots organization in Boone, set up an altar on King Street to honor those killed by police brutality in previous months. Since then, the altar has been removed from downtown but is now available for viewing at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum. In honor of Black History Month, BRAHM is collaborating with Small and Mighty Acts to curate and showcase an exhibition around the altar until March 27. “When the altar went up, we immediately reached out to ask ‘how can BRAHM support you?’” said Willard Watson, program and outreach director. Watson said that as the only art and history museum in Watauga County, BRAHM must use its platform for good. Cara Hagan, founder of Small and Mighty Acts and professor in the dance department, recognized that different art forms might be able to connect people to one social cause. This played a large role in the initiation of the variety of events being hosted. “With any art event, we want to give people as many ways to enter the conversation as possible. This collaboration has been really great for that, and (BRAHM) have been really open for all of the ideas that have come up,” Hagan said. Besides the altar, BRAHM is hosting virtual programming starting with “Songs of Freedom,” an event exploring songs of the civil rights movement with Boonebased artist Melissa Edd. “In this program, we want to talk about the power of
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Small and Mighty Acts Altar for Black Lives on display at the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum.
Courtesy of Blowing Rock Art and History Museum
song to unite people … music is a technology people use to convey meaning and process events,” Watson said. The programming takes place until March 4 and includes a screening of the documentary “Wilmington on Fire,” a documentary that chronicles the massacre against the African American community in Wilmington in 1898. The programming also includes a two-part writing workshop and a discussion revolving around the relationship between dance and social justice. Each event features various members of the Boone and North Carolina communities. All of these events are available for free on BRAHM’s website and will take place through Zoom. A driving force behind this exhibition was not only to show solidarity with the Black community during Black History Month, but to keep the conversation about race going. “As things happen, it’s easy to let things get buried … we need to recognize there are still things happening as part of the undercurrent of our socio-political existence,” Hagan said. The exhibition is made possible by Small and Mighty Acts, as well as financial support from the North Carolina Humanities Council, the Watauga Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council. “Our goal is to foster conversation in the High Country around race … where we can actually start talking about the substance and how we can see this in our community,” Watson said. Visitors can see the altar in the museum for free Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and photographs of the altar are available online. BRAHM is hosting a form on its website for anyone to claim anonymous work they created for the altar.
Graphic by Camryn Collier Cultivating and creating jazz, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and more, while also innovating instruments like the banjo and drum, the Black community has changed and shaped American music for hundreds of years. “African American influences are so fundamental to American music that there would be no American music without them,” said Steven Lewis, curator at the National Museum of African American Music, on the Smithsonian website. To continue celebrating Black history and the impact Black Americans have on the music industry, here are three playlists highlighting and celebrating Black artists from every generation.
A&C
Feb 26, 2021
Music therapy group seeks to alleviate mental health concerns for students
Review
On Record Claud: “Super Monster” Aubrey Smith | Reporter
Music therapist across the world and right here on App State’s campus bring musical talent to soothe minds. An App State graduate student created a thearpy group to help students through active and engaging music sessions.
Kara Haselton
Jaclyn Bartlett | Reporter Good music, connecting with others, and a calm, welcoming atmosphere amid the stress of college life. This is the plan for App State’s new music therapy group. Kathryn Santiago, a certified music therapist and graduate student at App State, is starting a virtual music therapy group, The Music in Me, this semester. The group will focus on mental health factors that may impact college students, including stress relief, self-care and self-exploration through music. Santiago is from Georgia and came to App State for her undergraduate degree because of the music therapy program and her love for Boone. In the future, she hopes to work with youth and mental health, focusing on the developmental period of late teens and early 20s. This was one reason for her starting The Music in Me. Santiago got the idea for the group based on what she plans to do for her thesis, which is working with undergraduate students on mental health and discussing how music can be used to understand identity and influence it. “What I’m really hoping is that this will be a space that students can come and just disconnect from the stress of school for a little while, and re-
ally connect with music and connect with other people,” Santiago said. The group is still in the recruitment process, but Santiago is hoping to have weekly sessions over Zoom, as well as involve the group in a research study. “I feel like there is not a lot of research in the music therapy field on the population of undergraduate students,” Santiago said. “So, I really wanted to bring something into our research that wasn’t necessarily there already. I also am just really passionate about the impact of music on our identity and how culture comes into that and if cultural music is also impactful in identity formation.” Music therapists work in a variety of settings, from hospitals, mental health facilities, schools and even prisons. “Music therapy itself is very broad because music therapists work with premature babies in ICU to adults, as they literally take the last breath of their life,” said App State music therapy program director, Cathy McKinney. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
Singer-songwriter Claud is making their mark in the music world with their newest, refreshing release. The 21-year-old artist from Chicago, who uses they/them pronouns, created a catchy coming-of-age album, dealing with many of the trials and tribulations Claud has encountered in life so far. Their debut album, “Super Monster,” is a colorful arrangement of songs that touch on growing up, falling in love, vulnerability and heartbreak. The 13-track album tackles many of Claud’s lessons in love from their life so far; all painted over a familiar indie-pop beat. Opening the record with “Overnight,” Claud confesses how they often jump straight into love very quickly. Like most of the songs on the album, the dreamy, upbeat instrumentals ease some of Claud’s punchy lyrics. On “Super Monster,” Claud embraces vulnerability, from singing about missing an ex-lover on “Soft Spot” to desperately wanting to get closer to someone on “Cuff Your Jeans.” Claud also deals with the strange feelings of growing up. In “This Town,” Claud reminisces about significant experiences in their life and recognizes that they are “changing with the season” and that it is time to move on. The singles Claud released as the album rolled out such as, “Gold,” “Soft Spot,” “Cuff Your Jeans” and “Guard Down” are some of the strongest and most memorable of the album. Although, the rest of the record does not fall far behind. With the deep and serious undertones that Claud features on the album, the fun and catchy instrumentals remain afloat.
The 11th track, “Pepsi,” is an excellent display of Claud’s songwriting skills and is one of the most creative and outstanding instrumentals exhibited on the album. While singing about losing trust and “falling into the lust” with someone, the song breaks into the chorus as the sounds of popping open a soda can erupt, and light drums mixed with a funky bass line quickly follow. A mellow guitar solo aids the transition from Claud’s lyrics, adding to the song’s dreamy indie-pop feel. “Super Monster” features artists Nick Hakim, Melanie Faye and even Claud’s own band: Shelly. The record remains an incredible display of Claud’s individuality, even with the collaboration amongst artists. After releasing two EPs and multiple singles, Claud was the first signee to fellow singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers’ record label, Saddest Factory Records. Signed back in October, Claud announced “Super Monster” in December. Claud remains the only artist under the record label so far. When the album dropped Feb. 12, Claud hosted a Zoom listening party for fans. The call, with fewer than 100 people, created a unique and memorable experience for listeners. Fans engaged with Claud through the chat and shared their first reactions to the new music with strangers worldwide. “Super Monster” is a breath of fresh air for the indie/bedroom pop genre. The 37-minute long record is a memorable piece of work. Claud’s most personal lyrics combined with unique and colorful instrumentals provide a beyond enjoyable listening experience.
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Sports
Feb 26, 2021
Boone Area Sports Commission brings support to High Country sporting events Alex McCaskey | Reporter Boone is a tourist destination, and many people come to the High Country for sporting events. The Boone Area Sports Commission helps with the process. When App State hosts a sports championship, the Boone Area Sports Commission is available to assist in a variety of roles, such as coordinating with fan groups from other schools to give them a place to gather before the event, and to provide insight on businesses in Boone so the visitors can enjoy their time before, during and after the event. The sports commission has many roles, overseen by Roachel Laney, former director of the Mountaineers’ athletic department for 14 years, from 1990-2004. “Doing the little things adds up, we put gift baskets in the coaches’ rooms,” Laney said. The sports commission works closely with the Watauga County Tourism Development Authority to promote sporting events in the area and provide visitors with information about the town. The commission is looking to recruit events to the area and assist, but not run, the events, Jackson said. The commission also helps out with youth sports tournaments, including two basketball, baseball, and soccer tournaments, in addition to championships that App State host and local events such as the Highland games according to Laney “A lot of communities are developing sports commissions to bring people in and in turn help the local economy,” Laney said. Boone Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Jackson, who was the voice of
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Former App State standout running back Darrynton Evans scores a touchdown in the 2019 Sun Belt Championship game against Louisiana at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. The Boone Area Sports Commission works to bring events, such as App State conference championships, to the Boone community.
Lynette Files
the Mountaineers’ football program during the historic Michigan win, founded the sports commission. The commission was established in 2019 and is in the process of becoming a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In 2019, current App State Athletic Director Doug Gillin had a conversation with Jackson about starting a sports commission. Don Schumacher, who was, at the time, the outgoing president of the National Association of Sports Commissions, put together a feasibility report in order to see how, and if, a sports commission would benefit Boone. After the report came back from Schumacher, they decided a sports commission would be a good idea. The report analyzed various factors such as the quality of sports facilities in the area and the strengths and weaknesses of the area in regard to sports related tourism. Currently, there are nine members on the sports
commission, which reports to the Boone Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Development Authority. “The first event the commission assisted was the Sun Belt Football Championship when App State hosted the University of Louisiana at Kidd-Brewer Stadium in Boone,” Jackson said. The commission also helped bring sports teams to the High Country. On July 9, 2019, Tobacco Road FC and Tri-Cities FC faced off in a USL League 2 soccer match at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in Boone. The match was a success with 700 attendees. After seeing that, the commission proposed to bring a professional soccer team to the community. Laney says the match between Tobacco Road FC and Tri-Cities FC was agreed to in one day after former App State men’s soccer coach Jason O’Keefe made a few calls. Eventually, after many meetings and careful
planning, the commission decided to bring a soccer team to the High Country. In May 2021, Appalachian Football Club will play its inaugural season as a member of the National Premier Soccer League, one of the largest men’s leagues in the country with over 90 teams. The team will play home matches at the Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex in Boone. Additionally, the Boone Bigfoots are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit baseball team that plays in the Textile League. The league fields eight teams from Virginia and North Carolina. The Bigfoots play their home games at Beaver Field in Boone and the season runs from early June until early August according to the team website. Proceeds from the games and merchandise go toward a scholarship fund for App State Athletics. “The sports commission works with many different organizations for a variety of functions,” Jackson said. When App State hosts a sports championship, the Boone Area Sports Commission is available to assist in a variety of roles, such as coordinating with fan groups from other schools to give them a place to gather before the event, and to provide insight on businesses in Boone so the visitors can enjoy their time before, during and after the event. “Doing the little things adds up, we put gift baskets in the coaches’ rooms,” Laney said. The commission is looking to recruit events to the area and assist, but not run, the events, Jackson said. The commission also helps out with youth sports tournaments, including basketball, baseball and soccer tournaments, according to Laney
Sports
Feb 26, 2021
Experienced pitcher anchors Drumheller changing App State App State softball pitching rotation baseball culture as a player and leader Connor Davidson | Reporter
After App State senior pitcher Kenzie Longanecker went 14-9 with a 2.40 ERA in 2019, and she became the first Mountaineer in history to be named a first-team all-Sun Belt selection. “I know I’m not the most vocal on the team, but I still do think of myself as a leader,” she said.
Courtesy App State Athletics Ben Brady | Reporter
In her freshman year, senior pitcher Kenzie Longanecker arrived at an App State softball program that had won just 11 games the season before, including 2-22 in conference play. This year, she leads a Mountaineers team that has posted winning records in consecutive seasons. Longanecker solidified herself as a presence on the mound in the 2019 season, as she became the first softball player in App State history to be named to the all-Sun Belt first team, after posting a 14-9 record and 2.40 ERA. In last year’s shortened season, she led the team in strikeouts with 51, also good for 5th in the conference. Beyond her individual success, in the past two years, the Mountaineers recorded consecutive winning seasons for the first time since the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Longanecker accredits the team’s newfound success to the values of the coaching staff and program. “I think the biggest thing was coming together and playing like a team,” Longanecker said. “Coach (Shelly) Hoerner came in with the mentality that we are a family, and I believe that that has really helped us work better together.” For Longanecker and other senior leaders, success did not always come easy: across the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the Mountaineers post-
ed a 31-69 cumulative record, including going 6-42 in Sun Belt Conference play. Senior infielder Sidney Russell, who arrived alongside Longanecker in the 2017 season, said she understands the benefits Longanecker’s presence has brought the program. “When we first came here, our pitching was very weak,” Russell said. “When Kenzie came, she showed the program what we were building, and as the years have gone by, our pitching has really improved.” Simultaneously, she and fellow senior pitcher Sydney Holland take on the responsibility of leading a deep, dynamic pitching group, including three freshman newcomers in Delani Bucnker, Amala Clawson and Lindsey Manhart. Having once been a newcomer herself, Longanecker understands the importance of her role as an experienced leader. “I know I’m not the most vocal on the team, but I still do think of myself as a leader,” Longanecker said. “As a part of the pitching staff, I want my other pitchers to feel like they can come to me anytime for me to help them in whatever they need to be successful.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
During junior infielder Luke Drumheller’s rein App State, so when he got the call to become a cruitment, the App State baseball team was not in Mountaineer, he didn’t hesitate. the best place. The Mountaineers were coming off “App was one of the top three schools I really of an 18-36 season only two years after head coach wanted to go to. So, when they did offer, I was pretKermit Smith and his staff took over the program. ty dead set and I was ready to commit once they The team had certain needs to fulfill, and one of said the word,” Drumheller said. those was a left-handed hitter. After Drumheller arrived in Boone, nobody In high school, Drumheller was an all-concould have predicted what would happen next. As ference player his final three a freshman, Drumheller led years and batted over .330 More and more guys the team with a .337 batting his last two years. His stats average, 37 RBIs, 67 hits and started doing extra and accolades were impres15 doubles. His batting aversive, but it was the intangi- work because they were age peaked at .468 and was bles that really caught the trying to find out what still at .400 through 29 games. attention of the coaching was the secret sauce, This performance landed him staff. on the Collegiate Baseball and the secret sauce “I think the thing that Freshmen All-American Teawas probably the most imis not secret, it’s hard mand took his team by storm. pressive with him was how “Coming in freshman work... he commanded the entire year, I was so happy to just be respect of his team. He was by far the leader,” assison the field,” Drumheller said. “I knew that I was tant coach Britt Johnson said. “You normally don't just gonna go out there and do what I could to help see that in young kids, especially at the time he was the team. I didn't even know really where I stood a sophomore when all of this started.” as to what role I played on the team, so my whole The thing that sold Drumheller on App State freshman year I was just grateful to be out there.” was Smith’s commitment that Drumheller could Read more online at be part of changing the culture surrounding App www.theappalachianonline.com State baseball. Drumheller was already interested
App State junior middle infielder Luke Drumheller hustles around third base during a game at UNC Greensboro last season. The Charlotte native broke out in his freshman season of 2019, leading the Mountaineers in batting average, hits, RBIs, doubles and OBP, en route to being named a freshman all-American by Collegiate Baseball News.
Courtesy App State Athletics
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Opinion
Feb 26, 2021
Amanda Gorman: An Inspiration to All Stephen C. Leverton II | Opinion Writer When reciting her poem on Inauguration Day National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman moved millions. On Feb. 7, she became the first to recite a poem at the Super Bowl. These poems are different from each other; the inauguration poem focused on unity and the future of the country, while the Super Bowl poem focused on three “captains” highlighted that night. Gorman’s first poem, called “The Hill We Climb,” focused on the same values the Biden campaign ran on in 2020: we will rise above division and hatred. Gorman’s poem came two weeks after the riot at the U.S. Capitol, in which the nation watched thousands of supporters of former President Donald Trump storm the Capitol in an attempt to overturn a legal election. She brings up the event in her poem, saying “We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation, rather than share it. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.” Gorman successfully spins a tragedy into a symbol of hope; regardless of what outside forces try to do to hurt “American democracy will always prevail. While her words captivate you, her use of body language
helps you feel the poem. Her hands help paint a picture that she is creating with her words, emphasizing on keywords. It’s remarkable how effectively she used both to convey her points. Gorman’s Super Bowl poem highlighted different people who have helped make a difference during the pandemic; a teacher, a health care worker and a veteran. Each has acted selflessly during the pandemic, from helping connect their community to the internet to saving lives in an ICU. Intense music and Gorman’s body language helps further the impact these “captains” have on our society. Gorman ends her poem with a battle cry, saying “Let us walk with these warriors, Charge on with these champions … For while we honor them today, It is they who every day honor us.” Not only does Gorman have two national renowned poems under her belt, but she’s also a cum laude graduate of Harvard University, has three books scheduled to be released in September, and has received multiple awards and recognitions from YoungArts to Scholastic Inc. As impressive as she is, she’s only 22 years old. She still has a lifetime left to continue to awe and inspire millions nationwide.
We the successors of a country and a time Where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one
Graphic by Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.
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caleb’s
CONCEPTS
Why you should think like a statistician Caleb Garbuio | Opinion Editor Immanuel Kant wrote, “it can be said all knowledge is based on experience. However, not all knowledge is derived from experience.” Meaning that our experience constructs our worldview, but our perspective is not complete. Research done by Nobel Prize-winning economist and cognitive psychologist Daniel Kahneman demonstrates that intuition is not always correct. In his masterpiece “Thinking Fast and Slow,” Kahneman shows that given certain circumstances, our intuition will fail us. This does not mean intuition is always wrong; rather, it is not a perfect source of knowledge – sorry, Descartes. Therefore, it follows that there must be a source of truth beyond our intuition. This is called a “priori,” which is Latin for “from the previous.” Priori reasoning is based on evidence not associated with our experiences. A typical a priori truth stems from a universal concept like logic, mathematics or language, all things that exist outside our world. Think about it: numbers exist regardless of whether we’ve had the pleasure of learning that 2 + 2 = 4. Our experience, or lack thereof, does not negate the universal truth that mathematics holds. Thus, for our purposes, priori reasoning will circumvent our intuitive limitations. Intuition is a product of cultural and ecological forces acting upon us and shaping our actions, forming a unique organism with unique experience. Every person is a product of their relationship with forces out of their control. Others’ perception of us is built around separate knowledge from different experiences. The same holds for others we encounter. We can never fully understand their completeness because we lack their experience. Therefore, it is impossible for us as humans to understand the full existence of one another. Superficial characteristics affect our deci-
sion-making when interacting with other people. Research suggests it takes a few seconds to form an opinion about someone based on our perception of them. However, our minds have limited access to stimuli, meaning we can only process so much information at one time. This alters our perception. Thus, our opinion about others is warped because we filter only bits of information, making it highly probable that our faculties are wrong since we operate on limited information. This is where statistics come in handy. Regression analysis tells us that our results will be biased if we omit certain variables from a problem. Thus, to get a complete picture, we must account for all relevant variables to avoid statistical bias. However, there is a caveat: we cannot add too many variables because it messes up the variation of the problem, making information equally unreliable. Our minds operate similarly because we cannot factor in all available environmental cues, nor would we want to. We are, after all, a product of our evolutionary history and have adapted accordingly. However, it is a mistake to assume that because our minds work a certain way, that how they work is correct. This is utter nonsense, as Kahneman demonstrated that the intuitive mind makes blunders from time to time. Rather, we should analyze people in a manner that explores what may not meet the eye. Everyone has struggles and it remains doubtful that you will perceive anything other than what your mind allows us to perceive. Like a novice statistician, you have omitted a variable of a problem. Instead, recognize your initial bias and seek to explore what could influence how you feel in a situation. It isn’t easy and requires practice. But, with practice comes perfection.
Feb 26, 2021
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