The Appalachian
Oct. 6, 2021
Community Combat ClimACT ramps up climate conversation page 8
Becca Bridges
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Oct. 6, 2021
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editor@theappaalchianonline.com. Opinions expressed are those of individual columnists, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the news organization overall. Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The Appalachian editorial board.
News
Oct. 6, 2021
Career Development Center finds new home in Plemmons Student Union Rachel Leahy | Reporter With the semester in full swing, there is a new addition to Plemmons Student Union: the Career Development Center. Located on the second floor of the student union, the Career Development Center offers a variety of services, including on-campus employment, resume workshops and internship placement. Previously located in John E. Thomas Hall, the career center replaced the White Water Lounge and updated the career exploration center with new furnishings and resources, as well as temporarily restricted access to the balcony overlooking the solarium. Students can use the app Handshake to schedule appointments with career counselors as well as search for internships. Sarah Parker serves as the
customer service and support specialist at the Career Development Center. She is responsible for greeting students when they come in and making sure their student staff directs people to the right places. “It’s really nice to see students coming in and checking out the space,’’ Parker said. The center has coaches that help with career exploration in many different professions and help students decide what major they want to pursue. The employer relations team also partners with companies for all majors looking for interns. According to Parker, the Career Development Center offers students access to hundreds of possible internships. “We want students to feel supported here,” Parker said. “Most
students coming in right now are interested in the space and most are looking for jobs on campus.” One main goal of the center is to get campus dining and on-campus shops the help they need to stay open. They hope to reopen places like Cascades that are closed this semester due to staff shortages. Les Miller serves as the interim associate director of student employment and internships. “I work closely with the general counsel, the Registrar’s Office, faculty and staff to ensure all of the necessary documentation and record keeping is accurate for students’ internship experiences,” Miller said. There are a variety of internships, including traditional internships, practicals, clinicals, field experiences and student teaching. According
to Miller, the Career Development Center has approximately 8,500 student experiences recorded annually.
The Career Development Center also serves as a place for students to relax and study.
The new Career Development Center in the Student Union can be found on the second floor near the Greek Life and SGA offices. Previously located in John E. Thomas Hall building on Rivers Street, the center decided to create a new space so they could have “a more accessible space on campus,” Sarah Parker said. “We want people to know where we are.” Kara Haselton
ACT, LEAD offices join forces for greater impact Abi Pepin | Reporter After struggling during COVID-19, the former Appalachian & the Community Together office and the Leadership Education and Development office have teamed up to combine the offices into one. The new office, Community-Engaged Leadership, offers similar programs that the ACT and LEAD programs have provided in past years. The office engages students in experiences that will enhance their abilities to serve and lead local and global communities. Courtney Holder, associate director of CEL, said there were several reasons for the transition. “There was some restructuring within the department that allowed us as a group to reimagine how things are structured, how things happen and what might be the best way to support students moving forward,” Holder said. Holder said in addition to observing what was happening across campus, the office looked at what other universities and campuses were doing. By using the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership, a research institution aimed at fostering leadership development, Holder said they discovered community service and engagement is one of the top predictors and
methods of increasing students’ leadership capacity. “If you look at our past mission statements and values, we were already working towards similar goals,” Holder said. This year, CEL is creating a new brand and identity by developing new mission values and involving students that have been part of the program previously. CEL focuses on active learning, ongoing responsibility and connection to the community. The office will not be implementing new programs as of now, but they are working to create new ways of “going about them.” “This allows for the programs to connect with things that ACT did or things that LEAD did more,” Holder said. “Our student leader team that worked with ACT programs in the past get to benefit from our leadership training that the LEAD office offered and vice versa.” Holder said the CEL office wants to ensure signature programs continue so students and community members who have relied on them are not affected. Students can expect programs such as the annual blood drive and alternative service experiences to continue.
CEL members can often be found in the office space on the first floor of Plemmons Student Union working and planning upcoming service opportunities. Sam Cooke
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News
Oct. 6, 2021
University employee of 18 years dies from COVID Jake Markland | News Editor An App State employee died Sept. 15 due to complications that arose after he contracted COVID-19. He was 46. Johnny Bunton, a Watauga County resident who worked at the university for 18 years, is survived by his 6-year-old daughter Paige Bunton, his mother Linda Bunton and partner Lindsay Taylor, Paige’s mother. “He was a great guy. He loved, loved, loved his daughter,” Taylor said. “He lived for that little girl. He loved her so much.” Bunton tested positive for COVID-19 the fourth week of August and was hospitalized Sept. 4. He was put on a ventilator Sept. 8, developed a blood clot in his lungs and was put into a medically induced coma. He passed days later. Before being put into a coma, Bunton, who was not vaccinated against COVID-19, said he wished he had gotten the shot, Taylor said. She got the first dose of the Moderna vaccine Sept. 23 following Bunton’s passing. When not at work in Plemmons Student Union with the building services staff, Bunton spent time with his daughter, “his number one joy,” Taylor said. The two would play hide-and-seek and tag, play with Paige’s Barbie dolls, go down the slip-and-slide and make snowmen. “He was so proud the day that she was born. You should’ve seen the look in his eyes. He was so proud,” Taylor said. The family loved going to the Tri-Cities flea market in Bluff City, Tennessee, and shopping in Tennessee on weekends, Taylor said. A great admirer of Nascar and all things racing, Bunton had a YouTube channel dedicated to the sport with a following of over 1,000. Bunton lived with and took care of his mother Linda Bunton in Flat Springs, 30 minutes outside of Boone.
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Bunton originally worked at the now-demolished Broyhill Center and later as part of the building services staff in the student union. Sandra Presnell, one of Bunton’s coworkers, said it feels like Bunton isn’t really gone, more like he is away on vacation but will be back soon. “It’s weird to think that he won’t be back. I can’t think of it that way,” Presnell said. “It feels like he’s just out.” Tammy Ritchie, who worked with Bunton for his entire career at the university, said he was a big jokester. Bunton and his co-worker Gary Wolfe made a bet with Ritchie and Presnell that the Denver Broncos would win Super Bowl 50 in 2016. “They wanted steak and potatoes cause they won. He won. So, we got them some beef jerky for the steak and some potato chips for the potatoes,” Presnell said. Ritchie said none of her doodles or drawings were safe in the housekeeping office in the union because Bunton would “write something crazy on it every time.” The office would always have something related to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bunton’s favorite team, written on a whiteboard or a piece of paper taped to the wall. Bunton, an avid listener of heavy metal and a video games fan, was always laid back, said co-worker Brian Reece. Gary Wolfe, who worked alongside Bunton during the second shift for nine years, recalled memories of playing pool and going out to dinner with Bunton and their friend Clayton. “It’s hard. But time heals everything,” Wolfe said. “Johnny is gonna be missed. He was an awesome guy.”
It’s hard. But time heals everything ... Johnny is gonna be missed. He was an awesome guy.
Johnny Bunton and Lindsay Taylor with their daughter Paige during a trip to the Lackluster Museum at Grandfather Mountain. Courtesy of Lindsay Taylor
News US Senate candidate Jeff Jackson meets with Mountaineers
Oct. 6, 2021
Jeff Jackson has served in the military for 18 years, having enlisted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Max Correa
Abi Pepin | Reporter Rather than order lunch from the food trucks or hammock between classes, App State students joined senatorial candidate Jeff Jackson on Sanford Mall Sept. 24 to discuss his aspirations for North Carolina. Jackson, who has represented North Carolina’s 37th district in the state Senate since 2014, is running for United States Senate in the upcoming midterm election in November. “I grew up in Chapel Hill, and the joke was people who go to App never come back because this is just gorgeous,” Jackson said. Jackson said he wants to use this campaign to raise people’s expectations about what they deserve from a senator. If elected, Jackson would be the second youngest U.S. Senator so he is visiting 20 North Carolina colleges to connect with
young voters. “Part of what they should expect is that he or she actually shows up to listen to people,” Jackson said. “People of this campus want to
It’s still super cool just to have somebody invest in young voters
interact with the U.S. Senators, so they should be given that opportunity.” When it comes to student debt, Jackson said if elected, he would support the College Affordability Act. The act would lower the cost of college for students and families, increase debt-free options and increase Federal Pell Grants. “I know there are a lot of future teachers at App State,” Jackson said. “One of the major programs that is there for them, but isn’t really, is the PSLF, and fixing that would be a huge deal.” Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a program that allows employees of public service a way out of student loan debt. Jackson also touched the economy. He said the quickest way to boost the economy is to encourage
more people to get vaccinated and wear a mask. “We’re still in the middle of a pandemic,” Jackson said. “We’re kidding ourselves if we think there’s any quick trip way out of this if that doesn’t involve more people being vaccinated.” While Jackson is running as a Democrat, the crowd wasn’t just Democratic students. River Colins, the president of App State College Republicans, said he came because he’s interested in hearing what other candidates are pushing, rather than just listening to one side. Dalton George, a current Boone Town Council member who is running in November to keep his seat, said he was excited to see App State receive the credit it finally deserves. “It’s still super cool just to have somebody invest in young voters,” George said. “There needs to be a dialogue, not doing things traditionally.” While the crowd of around 100 students stood and listened to Jackson speak, he said he wanted to
leave plenty of time for people to ask questions and comment on anything. After Jackson answered several questions, he allowed students to talk to him individually. Several students stopped to take photos with the candidate as well. Jackson said some of the students who attended the event are most likely going to run for office one day. “I can’t tell you how desperately we need you,” Jackson said. “I want you to watch me and think to yourself how you would do this better because you’re going to need to. We’re going to need you to do what I’m doing better than I’m doing it, and we’re going to need that pretty soon.” For students hoping to run for public office, Jackson said they need to start reading local newspapers. “You don’t want to have to cram to learn what people care about when you start running for office,” Jackson said. “You want to have built a real knowledge base, and reading a local newspaper is an inexpensive and relatively simple way to build that knowledge.”
Former State House Representative and App State professor Ray Russell was also in attendance for the campaign stop. Max Correa
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News
Oct. 6, 2021
Gardin + Evans Cabinet overview Following their Sept. 7 confirmation, The Appalachian sent all 11 members of the Gardin + Evans Cabinet the same questions via email, asking what attracted them to their positions and about their goals for SGA in the 2021-22 academic year. Olivia Shepard, director of campus resources, could not be reached for a photo by time of publication. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com Leah Rogers | Reporter
Sam Cooke | Photographer
Bailey Gardin, Student Body President
DJ Evans, Vice Student Body President
Major: Political Science (PreLaw Studies) “The biggest goal of my presidency is to amplify the voices of our students and ensure that university administrators are taking our concerns seriously.”
Devyn Reilly, Chief of Staff Major: Communication, Advertising “I think the most exciting and important thing we will be accomplishing this year internally will be increasing our numbers and building outreach with our community.”
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Major: Political Science “My biggest goal regarding SGA this year is to invoke a healthier relationship between faculty, administration and students. I want to make Appalachian feel more inclusive to all students.”
Thomas McNeill, Director of Academic Affairs Major: History, Social Studies Education “The thing I am looking forward to accomplishing the most is to make the overall classroom experience more equitable for all students.”
Olivia Jones, Director of Public Relations Major: Journalism “I wanted to really make sure my voice was being heard, and have the opportunity to help bridge the gap between the Gardin + Evans administration and the student body.”
News
Oct. 6, 2021
Christian Martin, Director of Diversity and Inclusion Major: Middle Grades Education (Social Studies & Language Arts) “The Appalachian State Student Government Association was created to ensure that students of the Appalachian community have a voice on our campus.”
Isabella King, Director of Sustainable Development Major: Sustainable Development “It’s difficult to pick a favorite, but I’d say my biggest goal for this year is to radically increase the amount of collaboration between sustainabilityfocused organizations on campus.”
Charlie Rosa, Co-Director of Marketing & Communication Major: Communication, Public Relations “My biggest goal is to promote inclusivity and positivity through our social media platforms and to uplift the rest of SGA and the student body.”
Ariela Allen, Treasurer Major: Economics “As treasurer, my biggest goal is to increase the financial transparency between App and its students.”
Patrick McRee, Co-Director of Marketing & Communications Major: Advertising “I am striving to get every student the ability to connect with student government in some form.”
Olivia Shepherd, Director of Campus Resources Major: Elementary Education “I am looking forward to a more equitable space for students on campus and within their classrooms!”
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News
Oct. 6, 2021
ClimACT joins global climate strike, protests board of trustees Cameron Stuart | Reporter As part of the Global Climate Strike, dozens of students and Boone community members filled the Plemmons Student Union with emotional stories of climate activism outside a closed session board of trustees meeting. Members of ClimACT attended the BOT meeting at 2 p.m. Sept. 24, holding flyers and standing silently along the walls. More people gathered outside of the closed session afterward, protesting the BOT’s silence and listening to people’s climate stories. In April, ClimACT sent a list of four climate-related demands to BOT members, which they want to see implemented at App State by Dec. 3. Chief Communications Officer Megan Hayes said in an email Chancellor Sheri Everts is the only person with the authority to make decisions about the university’s climate action plan, not the BOT. The climate activists marched through campus afterward, where they led chants and carried posters. “The goal of that is just to raise awareness that this is a global movement, and it extends beyond Boone,” said Sarah Sandreuter, junior sustainable development major. The Global Climate Strike from Sept. 20-27 was a way of drawing attention to the climate crisis. On Sept. 24, people were encouraged to skip school or jobs to raise awareness, with a total of 1,557 strikes organized worldwide, according to youth-led movement Fridays for Future. After silently attending the BOT meeting June 18 and emailing BOT members afterward with no response, Sandreuter said the group wanted to convey the message that
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being ignored by the BOT will only motivate ClimACT more. Hayes said Chief Sustainability Officer Lee Ball met with professor Brian Burke Sept. 20 after, “several outreach attempts to members of ClimACT spanning nearly two years.” Hayes said Ball provided Burke and ClimACT with updates on the university’s climate action plan. “After Friday’s board meeting, one of the Trustees went into the hallway to greet the demonstrators, offered his contact information and began a dialogue,” Hayes said. “Unfortunately, the response to this entree was curse words being shouted at him.” On Sept. 24, both Sandreuter
and professor Brian Burke were told to leave the meeting after attempting to speak during it. Burke, associate professor in the Department of Sustainable Development who has been involved with ClimACT since 2018, was told to leave after requesting the floor to raise the issue of considering their demands that several other university groups have already unanimously agreed to. “We’ve been ignored time and time again,” Burke said. “Given that we’ve gone through all of the official channels for making change and been ignored, really the only options left to us are to find new channels to make change.” Burke said ClimACT will
continue to show up to these meetings until changes are made because “we can’t just sit around and let a bunch of unresponsive administrators run our future into the ground.” This was Sandreuter’s statement after Burke’s: “We are here because it’s our futures at stake, and you are our decision-makers and you are our leaders. We want you to listen to us and we want you to work with us because you represent us all and you have the duty to do what’s right.” Senior sustainable development major Max Shirikjian said the meeting was a win because the BOT addressed the university’s climate action plan, as well as the university’s increase from under 2% to 15% renewable energy purchasing, which
Michael Weiss, leading ClimACT organizer, makes comments during the organization’s protest outside of the Sept. 24 BOT meeting in the Plemmons Student Union. Becca Bridges
he felt was due in part to ClimACT’s pressure. Hayes said that increase is due to the university’s new contract with Carolina Power Partners beginning Jan. 1, as well as the combination of App State’s commitment of $100,000 and the Appalachian State Renewable Energy Initiative’s contribution of $50,000 to the university’s purchase of hydroelectric power. “This is an important demonstration of a student-led, student-funded organization working cooperatively with university administrators to effect important purchasing changes,” Hayes said. Shirikjian said the increase in sustainability talk was a sign that everyone will get more done by working together, and if “we could sit down together at a table and try to come to solutions to these issues, we would all be much happier.” SGA President Bailey Gardin was supposed to have time to speak and campaign for ClimACT’s demands during the meeting, according to Shirikjian. Though there was no time for Gardin to make a statement during the BOT meeting, he said he and administration members feel more work can be accomplished through talking about sustainability initiatives with individuals in the same room. “I think there’s a lot of misconceptions from both groups,” Gardin said. “Everybody needs to sit down and have an honest, open and transparent conversation, and I’m going to take that upon myself along with members in administration to help facilitate that.” Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
News
Oct. 6, 2021
Boone, university aim for carbon-free 2050
Hollie Moore | Reporter
Boone maintains its attraction with the neighboring Blue Ridge Parkway and rolling mountains. In order to preserve this natural landscape, the town has planned steps toward clean energy and air, hoping for a carbon-free town by 2050. In January, Boone Town Council created a new position to prioritize sustainability. George Santucci, the first occupant of the sustainability and special projects manager role, took immediate action to begin sustainability operations. “We take a five step approach to eliminating carbon emissions,” Santucci said. “By 2030, our goal is for municipal operations to be net neutral.” Municipal operations refers to Boone’s government operations. Net
neutral doesn’t necessarily mean zero carbon or greenhouse gas emissions, but if there is still carbon released by the municipal operations, it has to be offset with something else such as planting trees. The first steps are the “two monsters,” Santucci said. First is to “green” the electricity and energy being burnt. The town intends to purchase 100% carbon emission free energy. If the budget is approved, Boone will buy 1.6 gigawatt hours in hydropower from New River Light and Power and about 5.3 gigawatt hours in solar energy from Blue Ridge Electric. This will add up to the amount of power the town used in previous years. The second step is to have no
carbon emissions associated with government-operated vehicles, such as police cars and snow plows. In 2019-20, “1,154 metric tons of CO2 were emitted by vehicles associated with the town,” Santucci said. Considering these statistics, most new vehicles purchased by Boone will be hybrid, meaning they partially run off of a battery which is recharged by stepping on the brake of the vehicle and then use gas once the battery runs out. Along with these hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles will be added into the town’s vehicle fleet and with them will come new installments of charging stations, Santucci said. Santucci is working on installing a charging system behind town hall for
both government electric vehicles and a port for the public. The remaining three steps of Santucci’s approach involves converting any heating systems in buildings into electric-based systems, tightening buildings so they need to use less energy, and exploring local generators, finding what can run off solar energy and where solar power can be installed. Santucci explains that “the outreach piece (is) what we need to start doing.” The goal is to make people aware of what’s available so they can “green” their own footprint. “I know there are plenty of other things around sustainability like recycling and composting,” Santucci said. “But climate change is our biggest threat, so we are really trying
to eliminate our carbon footprint. That’s our primary goal.” App State’s Office of Sustainability has joined the movement toward clean energy, following similar improvements and adjustments. “We focus on clean energy goals, climate action, climate justice,” said Lee Ball, the university’s chief sustainability officer. “There is a lot to do as we imagine how to decarbonize our society. You can’t just do it in isolation.” App State’s switch to carbon free power will begin in January. The plan for this transformation has been in the works since 2016, Ball said. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
The Cottages of Boone spills almost 5,000 gallons of wastewater
Ethan Hunt | Associate News Editor The Cottages of Boone spilled 4,725 gallons of raw wastewater into Laurel Fork Creek Sept. 13, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental and Natural Resources. The Cottages reported the spill around 5 p.m. Sept. 14 to NCDENR, according to a Division of Water Resources five-day-reporting form. Private companies like Wallace Loft LLC, which owns are required to selfreport wastewater incidents. Anna Gurney, NCDENR water quality division public information officer, wrote in an email that the wastewater discharged from the equalization basin. A clogged suction line caused the basin to overflow. “What we’re dealing with here is an organization that’s discharging human waste,” said Andy Hill, MountainTrue high country regional director and Watauga Riverkeeper. “Some problems this causes is one: it’s a major public health risk, whatever is in the human body is now in the river where it can enter into someone else’s body.” Hill said the wastewater spill has
also been detrimental to the ecosystem. “Nature’s solution to pollution is dilution right, and that’s why people think it’s ok to discharge into waterways. But what it does is it compounds and becomes an escalating problem over time,” Hill said. The Cottages spilled an estimated 70,000 gallons of wastewater into Laurel Fork Creek April 21. The spill was due to a clogged membrane, according to a Division of Water Resources five-day-reporting form. The Cottages also reported wastewater incidents Aug. 29, 2020, Sept. 23, 2020 and Jan. 10, according to NCDENR. “I’m willing to admit that sometimes accidents happen, but the accidents happen over and over and over again, which we can prove that they are. I don’t think that we’re dealing with a good neighbor,” Hill said. Hill said he found abnormally high levels of fecal coliforms, like E. coli, in Laurel Fork Creek through water quality testing and other contaminants passed through fecal matter, such as COVID-19, could be present. “What it is causing now is an algal
bloom in laurel creek. So what we’re seeing now is a gross filamentous algae, brown in color right, and it only occurs when there’s elevated nutrients,” Hill said. Hill explained that a waterway as small as Laurel Fork Creek will never be able to recover from the amount of raw wastewater that has been deposited into it. Hill also noted the multiple spills from The Cottages are the “most egregious” wastewater spills he is aware of in the Western North Carolina area. Junior Brynn Fussell said The Cottages have no regard for the environmental damage they are causing and the spill is “disgusting.” “This kind of behavior definitely doesn’t align with Boone’s environmental values,” Fussell said. “Having a business do something like this several times without consequences completely goes against that idea.” NCDENR has issued two civil penalties to Wallace Loft LLC. The first civil penalty, issued June 10, totaled $22,621.23. The second penalty, issued July 2, totaled $38,541.77. Both penalties are for permit violations.
The Cottages renewed its wastewater irrigation permit in 2017, and it will be valid until April 2022. The permit allows Wallace Loft LLC to operate a wastewater irrigation system that can process 108,530 gallons of wastewater daily without penalty as long as it adheres to all requirements stipulated in the permit. “There are dozens of permits like this in the county, for example, within
the watershed, but this is the only one that we keep reading about in the paper right, and this is the only that is discharging with this frequency and this severity,” Hill said. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
The Cottages of Boone, a large student apartment community off of interstate 105, won Best Pet-Friendly Complex for Best of Boone 2021 despite various controversies surrounding the neighborhood. Andy Mclean
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News
Oct. 6, 2021
The march back:
Marching Mountaineers return to the field Cameron Stuart | Reporter After not performing in the 202021 football and basketball seasons due to COVID-19, the Marching Mountaineers are honoring essential workers in their halftime shows this year. The band’s first performance was at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte Sept. 2, followed by two home games at the Kidd Brewer Stadium Sept. 18 and 23 and away game in Atlanta Oct. 2. “We understand that in the grand scheme of things, not being able to put on a marching band show wasn’t the most important thing that was lost last year,” said Jason Gardner, director of the Marching Mountaineers. “And so we wanted to acknowledge that, and also acknowledge everyone who sacrificed a lot.” The halftime show began with a thank you to health care workers, police officers, firefighters, truck drivers, the military and other essential workers with a series of songs including “Help” by the Beatles and “Not Afraid” by Eminem. The band then played a medley
of “Amazing Grace” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical “Carousel” as a reminder that everyone is in this pandemic together, according to Gardner. So far this season, all performances included the same songs, and as a special addition Sept. 2, App State and Eastern Carolina’s bands came together and performed James Taylor’s “Carolina in My Mind,” creating the shape of North Carolina on the field. “It was just a great opportunity for us to come together and celebrate the state that we’re both a part of,” Gardner said. “It was happy feelings all around.” Joe Busuito, director of athletic bands at ECU, said he and Gardner have known each other since going to school together in Illinois, and they began planning for the Sept. 2 performance last spring. Busuito said marching bands at football games is an old tradition, and this is a great way for schools and students to learn that despite there being competition, it “doesn’t
The horn line has used musician masks since the beginning of the pandemic. It allows them to play their instruments while also having their face covered. Becca Bridges
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On a rainy day, the color guard team can be found indoors practicing inside of the music building. Becca Bridges
always mean that we are opposed in everything that we do,” especially being in the neutral site at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Hours before the game, both bands gathered together at a park several miles from the stadium and rehearsed their performance for two hours, though Busuito said for a halftime show, it normally takes an average of six to 12 hours to put together. “Band is a place where magic happens,” Busuito said. “It was really great to work with students at App State. They couldn’t have been more friendly. I loved seeing them interact with our students. That was a great moment.” Sophomore music education major Hailey Walker described the echo after the cutoff at the end of the two bands’ final rehearsal at the park as a “chef ’s kiss.”
“Oh my gosh, it was incredible,” Walker said. “The way it just reverberated hit all of us. It went on for a pretty good while because of how crisp the soundwaves were at the end of it.” Gardner said the theme for the Oct. 20 home game will be “Women and Rock,” featuring artists like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Lady Gaga. There are 254 members of the Marching Mountaineers, and Walker is one of the 190 students who publicly performed with the band for the first time this year. Walker said performing in front of so many people at the Sept. 2 game was “absolutely surreal.” “There were definitely nerves, but I think adrenaline kicked in over it,” Walker said. “There was more excitement than anything when we were on the field especially, actually
getting to have a crowd reaction because a lot of us haven’t heard applause when we’re performing in two years.” Junior music education major, Sean Andrade, started marching with the band in 2019 and has not played for a crowd in over a year. He said he enjoyed interacting with fans at the game. Andrade recalled how one fan came up to him and said they’d gotten season tickets for 2020 but only went to two football games because, without the band, it didn’t feel like they were at a college football game. “It was really nice to see that people cared that we were back on the field performing for them again,” Andrade said. Read more online at www.theappalachianonline.com
A&C
Oct. 6, 2021
Sanford style What people are wearing on the mall
Xanayra Marin-Lopez
Her process for getting dressed each morning is simple. She places future outfits for the week on a small clothing rack on the floor of her bedroom, while the rest of her pieces stay in her closet, or as she likes to call it, “inventory.” App State also serves as an inspiration for the senior student, who said the fashion scene in Boone is motivating for dressing to impress. “A lot of people do dress nicer here, and people have unique styles here, but for me, it's more of like the confidence to go about my day,” Cardona said. “I want to make sure when I get in class I feel confident in myself both on an intellectual level but also on a physical with clothes on my body that make me feel like I can do what I want.” With evil eyes, peace signs and crystal beads adorned across her neck, freshman Angeluz Murillo takes to the sidewalk in almost knee-high Demonia-styled shoes, the goth platform boots. She said she bought them on the popular selling app Depop. Murillo said she decided to buy the shoes from an online seller because they were $10 cheaper on the platform. Past the straps, belt buckles, studs and zippers, Murillo rocks a cream skater skirt tied to her waist with an attached
Xanayra Marin-Lopez | Visual Managing Editor Grabbing your Crossroads order from the Grubhub shelf and bolting to your next class as you answer one of the five texts from your mom, you pass the eno jungle, preacher’s paradise and frisbee tournament arena that is Sanford Mall. Sanford is an App State student’s destination for studying in the sun and unintentionally showcasing their outfits on the way to their next class. Here’s what students are wearing this fall on the biggest and beloved quad. Thrifting specialist Jocelyn Cardona sports a fiery tiedye baby tee dawning a Myrtle Beach South Carolina logo. Worn atop light wash, distressed, mom jeans and Harley Davidson combat boots, Cardona keeps it casual yet edgy in her Sanford attire. Fashion sustainability is important to senior student Cardona, as seen by her “Sustain App State” tote bag, reusable water bottle and her summer internship. Cardona spent her summer at Amy's Closet Boutique, a nonprofit that helps domestic violence victims with its proceeds and donated items, according to their website. Inspired by the store, Cardona says her closet is about 90% thrifted.
Xanayra Marin-Lopez
corset belt. Over her black top is a dark flannel that sits right under her curly cut with purple bangs. Though her outfit may be a statement, Murillo said she used to feel too insecure to show her true style. “My sister, she kind of inspired me,” Murillo said. “She started dressing however she wanted to. She didn’t care what people thought. And honestly I was like, ‘Dude, that’s so cool.’” Murillo’s style icons come from others in history who she said also dressed freely, like artists David Bowie and Freddie Mercury. As she let go of these insecurities, Murillo also began to dye and cut her hair. From pink to now purple bangs, Murillo said that a year ago, we would’ve seen her with a long, undyed do. Sipping on her smoothie that almost matches the pink on her skirt, Hallie McGee steps onto Sanford Mall in her mothers low top sneakers that almost resemble Golden Goose’s, the luxury Italian leather shoes. Above that is McGee’s pink miniskirt paired with a black slouchy sweater. Layered under her sweater is a white top just below several gold necklaces that compliment the neon skirt. For her hair, McGee puts it up with a claw clip. Inspired by the fashion of the 90s, claw clips have been a way to place your hair away from your face without having to “dent” it like a hair tie would. And since it’s been seen on models like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber, the clips have made their way into the fall trends as well. But no matter the trend cycle, Sanford is still home to glimpses of App State’s best dressed students. Just like there’s endless amounts of ways to enjoy your time in the green grass, there’s endless combinations of outfits that cross the center of campus, every season.
Xanayra Marin-Lopez
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Oct. 6, 2021
FIVE FILMS FOR FALL Grace Underwood | Reporter As the seasons change and the weather cools, you may find yourself spending more time inside than before. One of the best activities for a chilly autumn day is curling up under a blanket with a mug of something warm to drink and watching a movie. Compiled below are five different movies across several genres that are perfect for a fall-themed movie night, so be sure to take some time out of your busy schedule to sit down with a film you enjoy and just relax.
Knives Out (2019)
In this modern mystery, millionaire author Harlan Thrombey is found dead under mysterious circumstances in the aftermath of a family gathering. Respected detective Benoit Blanc is summoned to investigate, and he places every member of the Thrombey family under suspicion. “Knives Out” is filled with intriguing plot twists, surprising humor and just enough knit sweaters for this to qualify as a must-watch during the fall season.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
The first in a series of magical films that captured the hearts of many children and adults alike, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was released almost 20 years ago and follows the adventures of young wizard Harry Potter. Harry must learn how to navigate a new school, make friends and, of course, defeat an evil wizard. Filled with witches, pumpkins and plenty of red and yellow scarves, fall is the perfect time to watch, or rewatch, this magical movie.
Little Women (2019)
This recent remake of Louisa May Alcott’s most well-known novel tells the story of the March sisters’ growth into adulthood through the many seasons of their life. The four March sisters are vastly different people who fight and grow apart just as much as most siblings do but still find their way back to one another at the end of each of their tales. This particular adaptation of “Little Women” places a beautiful emphasis on the fall and winter holidays that will make you long for falling leaves and chilly days.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
This light horror film is loosely based on Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Set in 1799, the story follows Detective Ichabod Crane’s investigation into several mysterious murders in the small town of Sleepy Hollow. The town suspects a supernatural headless horseman as the culprit behind the murders, but they eventually discover the true force behind the horrors. Based on a classic Halloween fable and filled with plenty of haunting imagery, “Sleepy Hollow” is a great choice for your next scary movie.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This holiday time classic follows the adventures of Jack Skellington, Halloweentown’s very own pumpkin king, as he discovers the joys of Christmas. Deciding that Christmas is a much happier new holiday, Jack attempts to take Santa Claus’ role as Father Christmas. However, he quickly discovers that running Christmas isn’t as easy going as he first imagined. “The Nightmare Before Christmas’’ is the perfect film to watch as the fall season ends and begins to shift into the holiday spirit, and it truly captures the essence of both Halloween and Christmas.
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Vampires, vengeance and vicious crabs Books for the spooky season Ansley Puckett | Managing Editor Turn on the lights, pull your feet off the edge of the bed and check inside the closet. October is back and so is the season to transport yourself to fictional settings that terrify you. Vampire slayers, vengeful creatures and a dark village with a history of death are all included in this thrillerbased list of horror books.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix This creepy novel takes southern housewives and turns them into modern-day Van Helsings when a handsome stranger moves into their South Carolina community. Turning out to be a blood-sucking monster, Patricia Campbell and her book club must take matters into their own hands when local children go missing, and Patricia suspects the strange newcomer. With a mix of southern charm and incredibly suspenseful action, this book is best read when the sun is shining. Clickers by J.F. Gonzalez and Mark Williams If you enjoy classic horror, then this book is for you. Set in Phillipsport, Maine, giant monstrous crabs come out of the ocean and attack the residents of the quiet village, forcing them to fight back. However, what’s driving these fearful creatures to land might be more terrifying than the vicious crabs themselves. White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi Set in Dover, England, the Silver family has been crushed by the death of their mother, Lily. Trying to cope with the loss, her daughter Miranda begins to change, becoming more connected to spirits. Meanwhile, the Silvers’ house grows enraged by outsiders and shows it, affecting those that live inside.
The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor Jack Brooks and his 14-year-old daughter just moved to Chapel Croft, a village which 500 years ago burned eight Protestant martyrs at the stake. Now, the town is wrapped in secrecy after two teenage girls go missing and the vicar of the local parish kills themself. Instead of finding peace, Jack finds himself and his daughter pulled into strange sightings and finds that finding the truth as an outsider can be dangerous. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones This award winning novel starts when four American Indian men hunt elk on land reserved for tribe leaders. The events that follow disturb them for years to come. To make matters worse, they find themselves fighting for their lives against a spirit focused on revenge. With Teeth by Brain Keene Four men walk into the woods hoping to find a place to cook meth and then sell it to provide for their families. However, things don’t quite go as planned when they discover they aren’t alone in the woods and something scarier than being caught by the police has found them.
A&C
Oct. 6, 2021
Fulfill your fall experience in the High Country Savannah Brewer | Reporter
With leaves changing and sweaters coming back into fashion, autumn in Boone is just around the corner. This October explore all that the High Country has to offer. Fall Festivals:
Pre-game the ski season with Sugar Mountain’s 31st annual Oktoberfest. Browse vendor wares and ski gear while enjoying live music. Don’t forget your best pair of lederhosen as the event also hosts a Bavarian costume contest. The fest will be held Oct. 9 - 10 at 1009 Sugar Mountain Drive. Experience the best of Grandfather Mountain’s peak leaf colors at the Fall Color Ramble. Twenty minute guided walks will be hosted for participants Oct. 3-11 at 2050 Blowing Rock Highway. Reservations for access to the park can be purchased on Grandfather Mountain’s website. Escape the busyness of everyday life for rolling farmland views at Valle Country Fair. Hosted in Valle Crucis, this annual fair emulates the roots of Appalachia, from clogging to bluegrass, homemade apple cider and regional artists. The fair will be held Oct. 16 at 122 Skiles Way from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Admission is $10 per vehicle. Not far from Valle Crucis, Banner Elk will also be hosting a festival Oct. 16 through the 17. The Woolly Worm Festival will host its 44th annual event at historic Banner Elk Elementary at 185 Azalea Circle. Witness the High Country’s version of Groundhog Day as Wooly Bear Caterpillars compete in races for the honor of predicting the coming winter forecast. Admission cost is $6 for adults, $4 for children between the ages of six and 12 and admission is free for children under the age of 5.
Halloween Festivities:
Spice up this Halloween by entering into the holiday season with a myriad of local events and festivities. Blowing Rock’s Halloween Festival will be held Oct. 30 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join in on the costumed fun at Memorial Park. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. The festival is located
at 1036 Main St. For some spooky late night fun, Tweetsie will be hosting ghost train rides through Oct. 30. Stop by on Friday or Saturday nights. Ticket prices can be found on Tweetsie’s website. Get more than one use out of your Halloween costume by attending The Hunger and Health Coalition’s seventh annual Masquerade Ball. The event will be held Oct. 29 at The Mill at Rock Creek 3306 Highway NC-194. Tickets start at $40. This event is hosted for adult’s only. Join in on family fun with pets included for App State’s Spooky Duke 5k, 10k and costume march. This event will occur Oct. 16 in the Peacock parking lot. Free children’s activities will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Both races will start at 9 a.m. Registration is open on App State’s website.
Fall Produce:
Harvest Time is here and with it the promise of brightly blooming mums and colorful arrays of squash. Explore the High Country’s markets and roadside stands for the best of the season’s crops. Tucked between the flowered hills of Daniel Boone Natives Gardens and shaded cabins of Horn in the West is a wealth of local produce and goods. Watauga Farmers Market will soon be speckled with seasonal oranges and yellows. Stock up on pumpkins, gourds, baked goods and wildflowers. The market is open every
Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 591 Horn in the W Drive. Take a short trip to Deep Gap to experience the expansive corn maze and sprawling pumpkin patch of New River Corn Maze. Located between the New River and historic Brown Family Farm, the location is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. until dark and Sundays from 1 p.m. until dark. The farm is located at 660 Laurel Gap Ridge Road. The Mustard Seed Market is celebrating 30 years of greenhouse goods and garden materials. Browse an array of plants, decor and seasonal goods while supporting a locally-owned business. Visit the market from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 5589 US-321. Drop by J & M Produce for more seasonal goods as well as canned fruits and vegetables for the coming winter, all while enjoying the festive decor of this rustic roadside stand. Find this stop at 117 Shore Drive. The stand is open from 10a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fall Menu Checklist:
Fall isn’t complete without a warm cup of fresh apple cider and pumpkin flavored baked goods. Discover the local Boone kitchens and bakeries that will be serving seasonal goods this autumn. Visit Stick Boy’s Bakery for fall specials such as cran-apple pumpkin seed, pumpkin cinnamon chip brioche, shaker squash and more. Visit stickboybread.com for a bakery schedule. Follow the smells of pumpkin spice into Appalachia Cookie Co., or have the savory scents delivered right to your door. Their seasonal pumpkin spice cookie was featured in Asheville’s Western North Carolina magazine. Make your way onto King Street for Hole Lotta Doughnuts. Celebrate the last of the apple season with their apple cider cake doughnut. Experience the classic taste of Blue Deer Cookies with a twist from their seasonal fall menu. Apple pie and pumpkin pie ice cream are just a few of the flavors that will be available. Visit Talia Espresso for a myriad of fall-themed drinks. From pumpkin white mocha to salted caramel pumpkin iced latte, there are enough options to make everyone happy. A crisp Boone morning calls for bagels from Boone Bagelry. Stop by to try their seasonal pumpkin cream cheese.
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A&C
Oct. 6, 2021
FOOTBALL PLAYER TO TACKLE
NEW YORK CULINARY SCHOOL
Lily Kincaid | Reporter
Dan Davidson | Sports Editor
One App State football player is bringing his Lowcountry cuisine to the Big Apple next year to cook up a culinary career. Gage Blackston started playing football when he was 8 years old. In 2017, he was redshirted as an offensive lineman for App State, but he suffered a knee injury early in the season. While recovering from his injury, he picked up cooking as a way to relieve stress and pass time, he said. That was when Blackston realized his passion for cooking. “I think it’s surprising to a lot of people just because I’m really passionate about it,” Blackston said. His mother, Angela Blackston, said she remembers a conversation she had with Gage’s father when he was little. They were talking about what they could see Gage doing as a
career, and she remembers making the comment that she could see him as either an English teacher or a chef. However, she didn’t tell him about this conversation until after he decided to pursue a culinary career. “His favorite toy was his Little Tikes Kitchen,” Angela Blackston said. “He would always cook in his kitchen. At dinner, he was always able to pick out flavors and ingredients in the food that we would eat.” Now, Gage Blackston is a senior majoring in food systems management at App State. He said his cooking style is heavily influenced by the Lowcountry cuisine of his hometown in Savannah, Georgia. Food from the Lowcountry typically combines seafood, rice, vegetables and corn, with some of the more common dishes being she-crab soup and shrimp and grits. He blends
that with his knowledge of French cuisine, but Gage Blackston said he tries to learn new techniques and cook different dishes every time he’s in the kitchen. Reilly Williams, Gage Blackston’s girlfriend and a junior criminal justice major at App State, said he’s always trying to learn more about culinary arts, whether he’s watching YouTube videos or looking through cookbooks. His mother said he’s also started his own recipe book to record his own dishes. Reilly Williams and her mother Meredith Williams said they wanted to get Gage Blackston a cookbook for Christmas, but they had trouble finding one that he didn’t already own. “We ended up getting him a cookbook on how to make pasta from scratch,” Reilly Williams said. “I
got him a bunch of other things for Christmas, but then when he opened that he got really excited because he’d been wanting that for a while, and it was sold out.” The first time Gage Blackston cooked for Reilly Williams was on their second date, she said. He made chicken salad because he knew she liked it, and she said it was probably the best chicken salad she’s ever had. When Gage Blackston met Reilly Williams’ family, he cooked them chicken carbonara from scratch. Meredith Williams still remembers that first meal as her favorite Gage Blackston has cooked for them. “I feel like I like to give and do for people,” Gage Blackston said. “I feel like one of the most special or intimate, at times, things you can do for someone is cook them a meal.” As a member of the Mountaineer offensive line, Gage Blackston frequently gathers with his fellow teammates for potluck get-togethers. The Savannah native always prepares and brings one of his signature dishes. “They all think I’m a pretty good cook, not to float my own boat,” Gage Blackston said. “I think it’s evident that I cook probably better than the average college kid.” Gage Blackston rooms with three other players on the football team, including super seniors Thomas Hennigan and Xavier Subotsch. In their time sharing an apartment, it’s not uncommon for Blackston to
treat his roommates to a well-cooked, homemade meal. “Out of five stars, compared to like the top Michelin star, I’ll give him a three and a half. I’m a decent critic,” Subotsch said. “For where he’s at compared to everyone else his age, he’s pretty good.” After he graduates from App State in May, Gage Blackston intends to move to New York, where he will attend the Institute of Culinary Education. ICE is an award-winning culinary institution that has produced famous alumni such as celebrity chef and restaurateur Bobby Flay. “I’m really excited about moving out of the South,” Gage Blackston said. “The South definitely has great places to learn food and all, but if you want to be big-time, if you want to make a name for yourself, a lot of people either start in New York or L.A., so I figured I’d start in New York.” Gage Blackston plans to remain in New York after attending ICE and work his way up the culinary ladder. He hopes to become an executive chef or chef de cuisine as he makes a name for himself. Long-term, Gage Blackston dreams of opening his own restaurant one day. “I’m super excited,” Gage Blackston said. “It’ll be nice to just go and do something I love to do every day.”
For where he’s at compared to everyone else his age, he’s pretty good. Kara Hasleton
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Sports
Oct. 6, 2021
NEW KID ON
THE BLOCK Chase Brice leads veteran App State team Connor Davidson | Reporter One App State football newcomer’s Another reason for the journey through the college football quarterback search was App State’s landscape has been anything but head coaching situation. Clark is the conventional. Graduate transfer third Mountaineer head coach in the quarterback Chase Brice started his last four seasons, which turned away career with Clemson, where he served recruits at the quarterback position. as a backup from 2017-19 before The transfer portal became a saving transferring to Duke. As a starter grace for the team to find the right for the Blue Devils last season, Brice player and fill that gap. threw 15 interceptions, the most Super senior wide receiver Corey of any quarterback in the country, Sutton sat out last season to recover while recording from an injury, a meager 2-9 him The guys in this locker allowing record. to help recruit room are very tight, “He didn’t Brice. As soon have the season as Sutton but we’re also very he wanted last knew Brice open ... The guys in year,” head was coming to coach Shawn this locker room are App State, he Clark said. was already nice dudes ... It’s “When he got making sure the something I’m proud transition was here, you could tell he was very smooth. about to be a player comfortable with “When I here at App State. the system we found out he have.” was coming, we After App State’s 2020 season, talked on FaceTime before he came up the Mountaineers were without here, just telling him what to expect,” starting quarterback Zac Thomas and Sutton said. “He’s going to be a onebackup Jacob Huesman. To fill this year quarterback, but we have to be hole, Clark began the search for his meshed like we’ve been playing for next quarterback, and Brice ended up years.” being just what he was looking for. Brice was thrown into a program “We recruited about 15 with a rich history at the quarterback quarterbacks and decided Chase was position, dating back to Armanti our guy,” Clark said. “When he got Edwards and the three-peat national here, he hit the ground running. He championship teams from 2005-07. In wanted to be the guy that took us to order to continue that success, Brice the next level.” and his teammates needed to bring the
Quarterback Chase Brice looking toward the stands. Brice played at Clemson and Duke before taking over the role of quarterback for App State this year. Andy McLean
right mindset to the team. “A lot of it is guys buying into the program, a winning program, winning mindset, the culture and executing the game plan,” Brice said. “App had an ‘off year’ at 9-3. In most cases, that’s a great season for other teams, but for them, they were not happy.” One key factor in Brice settling in with his new team was the return of Jacob Huesman. After leaving the team and working a job away from football, Huesman decided to use his extra year of eligibility and return to the team in the summer a few months after Brice joined. Huesman played a key role as a backup for Thomas over the last three seasons, and now he could provide Brice with the same help. “We make each other better,” Brice said. “He’s definitely pushed me and really helped me see the offense in a different way.” With so many returning players, building chemistry was no small feat. Most of the team has played together for multiple seasons and already has chemistry built. Bringing in a new
player, especially a quarterback, can be tough, but the team welcomed Brice with open arms. “The guys in this locker room are very tight, but we’re also very open,” Huesman said. “We’re going to welcome anybody in. The guys in this locker room are nice dudes. They’re good people. It’s something I’m proud about to be a player here at App State.” Once he meshed with the team, learning a new system was the next hurdle to overcome. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Frank Ponce worked with the previous two starting quarterbacks at App State, so Brice was in good hands. Brice spent a lot of time watching how former quarterbacks Thomas and Taylor Lamb ran an offense in the past. “I really focused on what he was teaching us and how they did things,” Brice said. “I watched old film from Taylor Lamb and Zac Thomas and how they did it.” Brice didn’t just pay attention to what Lamb and Thomas did on the field, but what they did off it. Every week before a game, Brice treats his
offensive line to a meal, a tradition he kept up from the Lamb and Thomas eras to show appreciation for the work they put in to protect him. “We get a good hour, hour fifteen of just bonding time and fellowship,” Brice said. “We don’t really talk about football. That’s something we leave at the door and just see how everyone’s doing. We check in on each other’s NIL deals. It’s been good.” In his first games as a Mountaineer, Brice showed how all of the work he put in over the offseason paid off. Through four games, Brice accounts for 1,034 passing yards and five touchdowns for an average of 258 yards per game. After his first game against East Carolina, he noted how it was nice to have fun playing football again after an unorthodox season last year. “Mentally and physically, I’m in a better state of mind,” Brice said. “Just appreciating where I’m at, how far I’ve made it and just keep building each week. Still got a lot to improve on, but I’m getting better.”
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Sports
Oct. 6, 2021
“IT’S NOT A JOB, IT’S A LIFESTYLE” Head coach leads App State women’s soccer in 12th season Alex Urquiza | Reporter App State women’s soccer had a difficult 6-11-1 season in 2020, which culminated in an early Sun Belt Tournament exit. This year, they plan to bounce back with head coach Sarah Strickland leading the program. Strickland started her tenure at App State in 2010 when she was assigned as the head coach of the women’s soccer program. A decade later, she enters her 12th year in the program as she plans to take it toward a new direction. “She’s built an awesome culture here and has empowered us to help coach the team and improve things here,” assistant coach Mitch Williams said. “I think we’ve gotten off to a really good start our first two years together and we will continue to get better and better.” Strickland graduated with a B.A. in psychology at George Mason University in 1998 and received an M.S. in the foundation of education at Troy University in 1999. She played three years at George Mason University, where she played a crucial role in their back-to-back NCAA appearances in 1996 and 1997, reaching the Sweet 16 in 1997. Strickland has over 20 years of experience in coaching, beginning her collegiate coaching career in 1998 serving as the assistant coach at Troy, where she became the interim head coach the following year. She continued her coaching career in Alabama, switching from Troy to Auburn University, where she was the assistant coach for the men’s and women’s programs from 1999 to 2000. She was the director of coaching for Montgomery YMCA
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Women’s soccer head coach Sarah Strickland coaches junior forward Hayley Boyles ahead of their 2-1 win against the University of South Carolina Upstate. Strickland has led her squad to a 4-6-1 start to the 2021 season. Hiatt Ellis
Capital City Streaks from 2000-04, girl’s director of coaching for the American Soccer Club from 2004-06 and the staff director for Birmingham United Soccer Association from 2006-07. She left Alabama in 2008 to become the assistant coach at Mississippi State. Strickland became the head coach for the women’s soccer club at App State in 2010, becoming the third head coach in the program’s history. She led the program into the Sun Belt Conference, transitioning from the Southern Conference in 2014. Strickland set the foundation for App State in the Sun Belt, going from
8-11 to 10-6-4 in their second season. The Mountaineers went undefeated at home in 2018, which was the first time the program didn’t lose at home since 2001. “She’s been here a while. She knows a lot. She knows what we need to do to win. She prepares us well,” junior defender and team captain Olivia Cohen said. The first day of last season, they had to train in smaller groups of eight due to COVID-19 regulation. When all 31 players were allowed to train together on the first day this year, it was a breath of fresh air to start the new season.
“A lot of the freshmen have been committed here for quite a while. We’ve been watching them play and waiting for that opportunity,” Strickland said. “We knew they would make an immediate impact. It wasn’t players we thought we were going to invest a lot of time in to develop.” The Mountaineers’ new recruits have had an instant impact into Strickland’s system, filling the missing pieces in her forward lines. Against the University of South Carolina Upstate, App State had 17 shots with 13 coming from new players. “She’s been able to see the strengths that each of the freshmen have and how they compliment how we as a team play, and she’s been vital in putting them in the spots they’ll be most effective,” junior defender Liney Brantley said. App State women’s soccer team had a strong start to the season, winning its first two home games of the season against 3-0 UNC Asheville and 2-1 USC Upstate. The Mountaineers took a step back afterward, losing their next two home games to the College of Charleston and Wake Forest, where junior goalkeeper Kerry Eagleston pulled off 20 saves. They finished their non-conference schedule with a record of 4-2-1, preparing for the Sun Belt Conference in a winning ratio. “12 years, each year is different. I’m expecting this one to be pretty memorable,” Strickland said. “It’s not a job. It’s a lifestyle.” App State women’s soccer’s next game is Oct. 7 at Troy.
Sports
Oct. 6, 2021
JERRY MOORE STATUE UNVEILING CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER SPRINTS FOR ANOTHER GALLERY Max Correa | Associate Photo Editor
SUN BELT TITLE
Drew Bailey | Reporter
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4 1. Head coach of App State Football for 24 years, Jerry Moore led the Mountaineers to three consecutive NCAA Division 1 Championship victories and a 34-32 victory over the University of Michigan, a game considered by analysts as one of the greatest upsets in college football history. 2.Coach Moore and his wife, Margaret, react to the unveiling of a statue of Coach Moore outside Kidd Brewer Stadium. 3. Moore speaks to a crowd of fans after the unveiling of a statue in his honor in the newly constructed Jerry Moore Plaza. 4. Fans filled Jerry Moore Plaza, waiting to see the newly built sculpture before App State’s first home game of the season. 5. Chancellor Sheri Everts helps Moore lift the cover off his statue built outside Kidd Brewer Stadium.
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Daniel Smith, a graduate student, is just entering his first season as a Mountaineer but has already garnered a Sun Belt Men’s CrossCountry Runner of the Week award and is settling in in Boone. “This is a place where I can come in and feel at home, and the team definitely helped out with that a lot,” Smith said. Since Smith transferred to App State from the University of Tennessee at Martin, he quickly made an impact on the Mountaineer cross-country program. In addition to being named a Sun Belt Men’s CrossCountry Runner of the Week, he also finished seventh overall during the season opener and first during the Firetower Project. Smith hopes to continue his hot start towards the Sun Belt Championships. “I hope to place top 10 at the conference meet or hopefully top 5 even. I think that will help out the team,” Smith Said. Smith is not the only Mountaineer runner to start out the season well. The Cross Country team finished second in the season opener and first in the Firetower Project. This success has caused Smith to feel optimistic about how well the team can perform this season. “Practice is showing that we could all be the runner of the week,” Smith said. “I am just waiting to see how this season turns out, and I am thinking that some other guys are really going to step up to the plate and surprise some people.” Last season, App State finished second at the Sun Belt Championships. Because the team finished in the top 2 in the first two races of the season, Smith feels this year’s team can go all the way. “To possibly win the conference, that’s our main goal,” Smith said. “If
you look at the 2019 season where we went on to win conference, and if you look at the results from the first meet of the season, we actually averaged 10 seconds faster this year.” Smith is no stranger to leading his teams to championships. Dating back to his time at Oakland High School, he led the Patriots to a 2016 4-AAA Region Championship. Smith was named to the Daily News Journal all-area cross-country first team from 2014-16 and was named to the all-state team in 2017. With these accomplishments, Smith said he wanted to transfer to a program that could help him achieve more. “I was kind of looking at programs where I could run and that were in a competitive conference or were competitive within their conference,” Smith said. “I also looked at University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, and just comparing the teams, it was a clear decision that this was gonna be the best place for me to be.” Smith said he feels comfortable at App State due to it having things he enjoys doing such as climbing, hiking, and kayaking. He also is a big fan of how passionate the Mountaineer fanbase is. “I just love the environment here. Especially when I step out there on the course wearing that uniform. I feel like I got superpowers with all these people cheering me on,” Smith said. Smith and the Mountaineers will continue their quest for a conference title Oct. 15 at the High Point Vert Cross. At the time of original publication, Daniel Smith was not a staff member of The Appalachian. Smith now works in The Appalachian’s business office.
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Opinion
Oct. 6, 2021
Letter to the Editor
West campus is superior
A Big Win for ClimAct, App commits to more renewables Michael Weiss
I
t worked. You signed our petition and blasted our events on Instagram and in your classes. You showed up to the rallies,
painted signs and chanted loudly. Some of you spent hours making social media posts, sending emails and coordinating volunteers.
Maria Smith
And it worked. App just agreed to move from using less than 2% renewable energy to 15%! And this good news reveals a lot. It shows us that we are powerful. Last year, when Black students organized and consistently put in the work, they too got their demands met. When our community stands up to demand what they need and is persistent, we can win. It also shows us that so much more is possible. To make huge leaps in sustainability, all that App needs to do is say the word. But this movement is not just about energy percentiles. It is about restructuring our public university into a public good: transitioning from authoritarian governance of our school to something more democratic, investing in local business and infrastructure, purchasing ethically and sustainably, and more… To achieve this, and to protect our future from the climate crisis, signs and rallies may not be enough. We need to think more strategically. As students and faculty, we have power — to influence their reputation, to scare off incoming students. Even to stop App from functioning all together. This is our university. If it can not operate without harming our community, then should it be allowed to operate at all?
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Ricky Barker | Columnist In our first issue of the school year, you were fed a lie, dear reader. An opinion so completely wrong and off base, it needs to be corrected. An editorial was published stating East Campus was better than West Campus. This is maddeningly inaccurate. What’s obvious the minute you step into West Campus is it’s the side with culture. Greeted with a beautiful pond of little ducks and a majestic statue of Yosef standing proudly. It looks nicer because many of the buildings are newer and renovated. It’s as if you were stepping into a fancy office complex. There are sculptures and art around every corner. Look at East Hall or Dogwood and tell me that’s beautiful. Those buildings look decrepit. Another example of this is the dining facilities. Yes, Roess has more options available but it’s more about the ambience of a meal. Trivette feels like going into a restaurant. Sitting with a nice solarium looking over campus as you enjoy your noodles. Trivette is never as crowded and considering how long those lines are at Roess, that’s a plus. Not to mention, whose McAllisters is still running? Also, the west side of campus has the stadium. Boom. Living on West Campus gives you quicker and more immediate access to home
games than anywhere else.. You could be in bed then get to a game within five minutes. I guess you could watch the football game from the comfort of your unairconditioned dorm room, but I prefer the alternative. West Campus has the baseball stadium too if that’s your thing. Speaking of sports, west side of campus has the Student Recreation Center. If you like running, basketball, weightlifting or rock climbing, it’s all there. The SRC is probably one of the nicest facilities on campus. It’s clean, filled with everything you would want in an indoor gym and just a short hike from all the west residence halls. With the exception of game days, west side of campus is quieter too. Living next to the student union may seem nice until you realize that hundreds of people walk by every day right outside your window. Most of the time, West Campus is eerily silent, which is a positive in my book. It feels more peaceful and removed from the hustle and bustle of the main campus. Look freshmen don’t even get to decide where they live. But let’s set the record straight, if you get placed on West Campus, you won the draw. West Campus is cleaner, quieter, nicer and has all the best recreation. Case closed.
Opinion
Oct. 6, 2021
The hillbilly stereotype Social Media has destroyed
is outdated and lazy your self image Nadine Jallal Columnist
Ella Adams | Opinion Editor The hillbilly stereotype is prevalent in American pop culture. As early as the 1904 silent movie “The Moonshiner,” stereotypes have been a crutch for lazy writing. The 1972 movie “Deliverance” and more recently, the 2016 book and 2020 movie “Hillbilly Elegy” have encouraged and continued harmful misconceptions about Appalachian people. Stereotyped as poor, uneducated, unclean and white, Appalachian people have faced years of economic, environmental and social prejudice. Rampant poverty, unemployment and addiction in rural Appalachia is not a punchline or a plot point for Hollywood. It’s a product of gross underdevelopment due to neglect by the government and corporate carelessness. Rosann Kent, Appalachian studies professor at the University of North Georgia, asked, “Why are we the last acceptable stereotype?” Kent raises an important question. Why are Appalachia’s culture, people and dialect a source of mockery rather than a unique and respected facet of American culture? Appalachian culture is a melting pot of traditions culminating in a uniquely American expression of identity. Appalachian music, dance and food are a combination of cultures predominantly from West Africa, the British Isles, and the Cherokee and other Appalachian tribes. One of the most heavily stereotyped aspects of Appalachian identity is the Appalachian dialect. Speakers of the dialect often face preconceptions about their intelligence, competency or potential, especially in professional and academic settings. Appalachian speakers are perceived as less educated, less intelligent and poorer than speakers without an accent. Stereotypes lead to prejudice in the real world. Linguistic and cultural diversity should be celebrated, not suppressed. Not only are stereotypes about Appalachia damaging, they wildly mischaracterize the region. The assumption that all Appalachian people are white writes off the many minority groups residing in the mountains. The Cherokee and the Shawnee called Appalachia home long before white settlers. Melungeons, a mixed race people with African, Native American and European ancestry, historically reside in Appalachia. Junaluska is a Black community right here
in Boone. In fact, Junaluska is the only remaining community of its type in Watauga County. The misconception of helpless, poor mountain people has also been emboldened by political tokenism. Presidents including Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, as well as religious leaders like Billy Graham and Jesse Jackson, went on “poverty tours” that characterized Appalachia as “poor, backward and white.” Appalachia has long been used as a political bargaining chip for politicians and public figures that have left the region a graveyard of broken political promises. It’s no wonder Appalachia is known for its fierce independence and mistrust of the government. The disregard of the culture and struggles of the Appalachian people is flawlessly represented in Frank Rich’s 2017 essay “No Sympathy for the Hillbilly.” Rich expresses that the working class “hillbillies” who voted for Trump are a lost cause and don’t know what’s good for them. He takes a rather pretentious stance on Appalachian politics stating, “let them reap the consequences for voting against their own interests.” Rich seems to know an awful lot about Appalachian interests for a wealthy Manhattanite. Working people in Appalachia are time and time again scapegoated and othered because of inaccurate and outdated stereotypes. The hillbilly persona isn’t just a harmless caricature. These misconceptions lead to real consequences for Appalachians. Appalachian stereotypes are unfortunately not going anywhere, but awareness is the first step in combating harmful misconceptions. App State has done a great job of making Appalachian Studies accessible and engaging to students. Appalachian Politics, Appalachia in Film, Appalachian Culture, and Diversity in Appalachia are just a few classes the university offers. Stereotypes are rooted in ignorance. Learning about the region we go to school in is only common sense. If the classroom isn’t your forte, strike up a conversation with an Appalachian person - we’re very nice, I promise. Communication and education challenge prejudice. Stereotypes are lazy and outdated, and we can all do better to not feed into them.
We live in unprecedented times, but the pandemic isn’t the only thing that comes to mind. The abundance of technology and presence of social media in college students’ lives is unlike ever before. Research concerning how the constant use of social media has impacted college-aged students, especially women, is a small but growing topic of interest and worry. For example, internal research documents from Facebook have reported that one in three teenage girls with body image issues report they have become worse because of Instagram. Facebook also uncovered evidence that increasing levels of anxiety and depression could be linked to social media outlets like Instagram. The impact of social media on teenagers and college-aged young adults is becoming more evident everyday. As of Feb. 8, 84% of women aged 18-29 in the U.S. use at least one social media site. College-aged women and teenage girls constantly see and compare themselves to one another on social media. At every point in history, there has always been an ideal body type for women, whether it’s the boyish figure of the 1920s or the hourglass Marilyn Monroe-esque figure of the 1950s. Social media creates an easily accessible outlet for the promotion of whatever body type is “in style,” even if that body type is nearly impossible to attain. From celebrities to regular people, editing photos before posting them on social media has become the norm. Weight, skin color, facial structure and more are altered in many photos online, which promotes unreal beauty standards. Young women are being fed fake photos and are comparing themselves to bodies that are unrealistic. Nonetheless, young women want to fit in and achieve the ideal body type, even if that means wanting to look like an edited version of themselves. The constant promotion of the ideal body type few have can destroy the self image and confidence of vulnerable young women. People
with a negative self image are more susceptible to mental health issues like depression and developing eating disorders. An increasing number of young women have turned to disordered eating to achieve the ideal body type. In response to the increase in disordered eating and mental health issues, the body positivity movement was formed. The movement combats the unrelenting body standards young women are struggling with. The body positivity movement is supposed to promote confidence, love and acceptance for one’s body despite its perceived flaws. As body positivity gained traction, it lost sight of its purpose. It became yet another way to isolate women who are not thin or average in size. Lizzo, a popular music artist and body positive icon, speaks about this issue. She highlights how the movement has helped small to average-sized women accept their bodies but does a bad job helping or even including plussize people in the conversation. Body positivity among plus size women is still often stigmatized and branded as promoting unhealthy habits on social media. Instead, Lizzo encourages a new movement often coined “body neutrality.” Body neutrality promotes a lack of attachment to one’s body and how it looks. It encourages viewing one’s body as a vehicle that helps one function as a human being. The focus is removed from loving how the body looks to appreciating how it functions. The body neutrality movement has the potential to be inclusive of every body type as it removes the need to highlight body types. Body neutrality is the key to combating the destruction of young womens’ self image issues stemming from beauty standards on social media. As more people promote viewing their bodies as functioning vessels in need of fueling, beauty standards will begin to feel less impactful. Afterall, women are more than just their bodies, and it is about time a movement such as body neutrality was formed.
Efrain Arias-Medina Jr.
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