Students, faculty swarm Varsity Gym for Convocation

Aaron Petticord - Student Development Beat

The entire university community, students and teachers alike, gathered Thursday to learn from Dr. Jo Ann Burkholder and view the reception of several awards in Appalachian State University's 2000 Fall Convocation.

This year's Convocation began with a greeting from ASU Chancellor Dr. Francis T. Borkowski which was followed by "The Gift To Be Simple," a beautiful choral selection performed by the University Singers. Soon after, Borkowski led the awards recognition ceremony.

The first recipients were for the Governors Teaching Award. "These persons have been singled out as representatives of the fine, professional work carried on by faculty across our campus," said Borkowski.

One recipient is chosen per year from each of the schools in the University of North Carolina system and is given a bronze medallion and a $7,500 award. This yearÕs recipient from Appalachian was Dr. Cheryl Knight, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Knight also received a certificate of appreciation from Appalachian. An award of $1,500 is given to the runner up of the statewide award, and five awards of $1,000 are given, based on vote, to professors who teach at the baccalaureate and lower level insitiutions. This yearÕs runner-up for the system-wide award was Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, John Genoviac. The additional recipients of the awards were Dr. Betty Coffee, Dr. Drew Hensen, Dr. Delma Huntsley, Dr. Michael Mayfield, and Dr. Frank Bolder.

The next to be recognized as award recipients were the winners of the Staff Awards, who Dr. Borkowski said had contributed, "outstanding services to Appalachian State University and the state of North Carolina." This yearÕs recipients were Mrs. Lewis Forester, Mrs. Paula Hicks, and Mrs. Nadene White.

The third set of awards to be given were the W.H. Plemmons Leadership Medallions. According to Dr. Borkowski, these are give to students, faculty, and staff who "exceed their peers in providing leadership that enriches the quality of student life, and advances the education of students".

Recipients of Leadership Medallions for 2000 were Dino DeBernardi, Dr. Rick Guisse, Eric Reichart, Dr. Jimmy Smith, Kiley Kostner, and Joe Kifsentino.

After the recognition of award recipients, the audience was introduced to guest speaker Dr. Jo Ann Burkholder. Dr. Burkholder, a highly accomplished scientist who has been recognized nation-wide as an authority on issues of water quality, began her speech by discussing risk. Through a colorful tale of her childhood, Dr. Burkholder shared with the audience a wonderful lesson on taking risks. She classified risks into two categories, positive risks, which could be anything on which a person takes a chance, and risks for the worse, of which she only specified two.

Dr. Burkholder then described the two greatest risks for the worse. "The first great risk for the worse," said Dr. Burkholder, quoting words from her father, "is, 'settling for what is safer and easier, settling for complacency rather than meeting challenges'." The second is, "about whether the high road, or a road below it is taken in a persons actions" and the challenge to choose Òhonesty over dishonestyÓ said Burkholder. "A goal reached dishonestly has a hollowness to it that will, in the, end damage all who are touched by it."

Dr. Burkholder does, however, encourage taking positive risks. ÒIf you lead a life without riskÓ, according to Burkholder "your life would become a boring ritual, filled with timid fears of what might have happened, so that nothing happens," she said. Burkholder continued to give an inspirational speech, which encouraged students to accept challenges and deal with issues honestly. Dr. Burkholder discussed her studies on the water quality in the coastal plains of the state, and the opposition she faced. In her studies, Burkholder discovered that the water quality in North Carolina was almost the worst in the country. When she tried to raise awareness of this issue in order to improve the situation, she ran into a wave of problems.

Politicians, scientists, and business owners tried to discredit her work and silence the findings of her studies. Burkholder told of how she kept trying to raise awareness, stuck to her beliefs, and refrained from selling out. The state has now recognized the problem, and given credit to Dr. Burkholder for the efforts being put into water quality improvement in North Carolina. As Dr. Burkholder closed, student and teachers were invited to an open forum that afternoon, where questions were answered about water quality issues and the effects they have on every aspect of the state.

ASU climbs ladder in annual rankings

Appalachian State University ranks fourth among the top Southern public universities and 10th among all public and private universities in the South, according to U.S. News and World Report in its 2001 America's Best Colleges Guide.

The top three ranking public universities in the South are James Madison University, Mary Washington College and The Citadel.

In last year's rankings, Appalachian was tied with Elon College for 15th place. Since 1986, when the rankings first appeared, Appalachian State has consistently remained among the top 15 public universities in the South.

In a press release, Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski said, "This improvement in the rankings reflects our continuing emphasis on classroom instruction at the undergraduate level and our efforts to strengthen the intellectual environment on campus."

There are 505 regional universities examined for the rankings. Regional universities are considered to be those which offer a wide selection of undergraduate programs and master's degrees, but few doctoral programs.

Aspects taken into consideration are academic reputation, retention, which is the proportion of freshmen who return to campus the following year and eventually graduate, faculty resources and student selectivity.

Financial resources, which specifically measures the average spending per student on instruction, research and student services, graduation rates and alumni giving are also measured.

Several other UNC system schools are included in the top Southern public universities rankings, including UNC Charlotte, sixth; UNC Wilmington, eighth; and East Carolina University, ninth.

UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington and East Carolina also appeared in the top 30 list of the magazine's rankings of Southern universities in the combined public and private category.

U.S. News and World Report ranks colleges to provide a source for data information to allow the public to compare different universities.

Fraternities gather for pre-game picnic

It's that time of year again: football season.

Before Appalachian State University's first home football game, many pre-game socials were in effect. This is the best time of year for get-togethers and gatherings. One boisterous gathering came together at the playground and picnic area behind Horn in the West. Alpha Pi Alpha (APA) and Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), the two founding black Greek organizations, came together for the first time Saturday and hosted a barbecue.

In the past, the APAs and the Pi Beta Sigmas organized this party. The Sigmas were busy this year, so APA asked AKA to join in on the fun. The two groups split the cost of the cookout. "I think it was a great turnout. It was a good opportunity for everyone to come together and have a good time," said Fateama Fulmore, president of AKA.

"It was good for the community to come together and mingle," said Anthony White, president of APA. This event was open to everyone, not just AKA and APA.

Several organizations were also represented. Among them were the Ladies Elite, Men's Service Club, the Little Sisters of the Men's Service Club, the Order of Black and Gold, the Black Student Association, the Council for Cultural Awareness and the Gospel Choir, who sang during the halftime show. Representatives from each organization came to eat and enjoy themselves.

"I was honored for our organization to be asked to co-sponsor this event. There was a lot of fellowship and diverse organizations represented. Despite many differences, we all came together," said Fulmore.

An estimated 60 people attended this event. "If you came after 4 p.m., there wasn't any food left," said Fulmore. Desserts, including cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies, were made, along with corn-on-the-cob and potato salad. Several varieties of chips were also offered. McDonald's donated orange drinks and cups for the event.

When the hotdogs and hamburgers came off the grill, grace was sung over the food, led by a member of the Gospel Choir. After everyone settled down, Spades was played. Someone brought a stereo and music blared and people danced. Some had their second childhood as they played on the playground.

"This is the largest turnout I have ever seen," said Kelly Forney, the president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). Forney said that it is a tradition for several spades games to occur. "Someone always brings a deck of cards to start a Spades game," she said. White said APA will probably ask AKA to co-sponsor their cookout with them again next year.

This is White's first year as president of APA. He is very excited about what the fraternity will do this year. So, next year, don't miss out on the fun and join AKA and APA for their annual cookout before the first home football game!

Car accident claims life of Appalachian student

On Sept. 3, 2000 a member of the Appalachian State University community was killed. Student Michael Craven Falls, 21, of Charlotte passed away as a result of an automobile accident.

Michael (Mike) was born May 7, 1979 in Lumberton and was a graduate of Providence High School. Survivors include parents, T. Bryan Falls, Jr. and wife, Mary Jane Lowe Falls, brother, Keith Martin Falls and maternal grandmother, Mrs. Russell Lowe, all of Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The United Cerebral Palsy Development Center, 716 Marsh Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209.

College of Business students jump the pond, spend summer in Europe

Jenny Trest - Features Beat

Ever wonder what the weather is like in Italy in the spring?

ÒIt was 90 degrees and sunny every single day and if it rained, it was in the afternoon, when we were too tired from the day anyway,Ó Sarah Whittington said.

The same students enjoying this weather were also able to see Venus Williams play tennis, witness the Euro 2000 soccer madness, be blessed by the Pope, pick up rocks in the Colosseum, and have a personal gondola tour of Venice, just to mention a few experiences.

43 students from the College of Business spent June 4-26 in Italy and England. For 26 days, students studied and traveled through Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and London with the help of Dr. Duane Daggett, Ruth Daggett, R.N., Dr. John Geary and Judy Geary, M.A.

Students were required to take Business Anthropology and were given a choice between International Business and International Law, for a total of six credit hours. Much of the classwork was completed in the spring semester before the trip. Every two weeks, the students met for three hours, studying intensely for the trip overseas.

While in Italy and England, students gave reports on areas of specific interest and kept a journal detailing their trip.

ÒThe trip was a mixture of really tight structure and a lot of freedom. Students had a lot of places they had to visit and there was a test on it. Ruth and I set it up a scavenger hunt. We gave them an envelope and said Ôprove to us you went thereÕ,Ó said Mrs. Geary. In Milan, students were able to see such sights as Leonardo Da VinciÕs ÒThe Last Supper,Ó St. MarkÕs Basilicia and the Duomo, the third largest church in the world.

ÒFlorence is a girlÕs dream come true because of all the great shopping, the leather markets and more. The town is centered around a beautiful duomo (church),Ó said Jenne Burlingame.

In Florence, the students saw many original works by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Botticelli. MichelangeloÕs home, the ÒDuomo of FlorenceÓ created by Brunelleschi, and the popular Flea Market were also among the sights of Florence.

ÒFlorence had a younger nightlife. Bars are on all the little streets, clubs on the water and a much younger crowd. They had men doing performances on the streets, walking on broken glass or carrying a woman across the broken glass barefoot. It was all great,Ó said Burlingame.

Venice was a favorite of many students. Some of them were even able to see the beauty of the city on a gondola ride.

ÒThe business of being a gondola driver is passed down in your family. ItÕs your lifelong occupation. He took us on a tour, saying Ôthis house has really bad luck over here; here is where you stay if youÕre really rich.Õ We went through these little tiny canals, and there were people hanging out their laundry from the windows,Ó Whittington said. ÒVenice was my favorite.Ó

While in Rome, students visited the Roman Forum, The Colosseum, and the Pantheon. While touring the Vatican, they saw the Sistine Chapel with works by Michelangelo, St. PeterÕs Basilica, and the Vatican Museum. They were even able to climb to the top of the dome, overlooking Rome and the grounds of the Vatican.

ÒThis year is called Jubilee 2000 and itÕs a pilgrimage for a lot of people from all over the world. The Vatican is very regal, very small, all to its own and there were masses of people everywhere. He came out of his room, this red tarp kind of rolled out of his bedroom window and he spoke for a while in several different languages and blessed the crowd.Ó

In England, students visited Canterbury, the sight and subject of ChaucerÕs ÒCanterbury Tales,Ó the White Cliffs of Dover on the shores of the English Channel, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the British Museum and Covent Gardens, a longtime leading market in London.

ÒOn the day we went to Wimbledon, we got to see Venus Williams play! We just happened to end up on the wrong court. All of the sudden, we were three rows away from her. We got the signature of the girl she beat,Ó said Whittington.

Students visited the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and even the Crown Jewels.

ÒIt was awesome. There were several crowns and staffs, solid gold, huge emeralds and diamonds. We also got to stand on the very spot where people were executed on the scaffold. We got to see Sir Walter RaleighÕs room where he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. One of his children was even born in there.Ó

The students also had a free weekend during the trip and an opportunity to travel to a destination of their choice.

ÒA group of about 15 of us visited Amsterdam in Holland. It was the craziest place IÕve ever been; the red light district and of course the smoking of what we [Americans] know as illegal substances,Ó Burlingame said of Amsterdam.

The Euro 2000, a worldwide soccer competition, was also taking place throughout Europe while they were overseas.

ÒHolland was in the finals,Ó said Burlingame. ÒThere were soccer fans everywhere, thousands of people dressed in bright colors with soccer ball hats and jerseys.Ó

ÒWe were right in the middle of a soccer frenzy. It was like the Super Bowl. One of the places we were, everyone was screaming what we thought was ÔPut it in the goal.Õ Really they were shouting ÔPortugal.Õ Whoever was yelling, we would say, ÔWeÕll pull for your team tonightÕ,Ó said David Gragg.

This exciting summer adventure was the ninth trip that Dr. Duane Daggett and his wife Ruth Daggett have directed for students to travel overseas through the business department.

Ruth Daggett and Judy Geary went as unpaid volunteers on the trip, providing the needed assistance for an organized trip of 43 students and only two paid faculty members. As a matter of fact, both Daggett and Geary had to pay their way on the trip.

ÒThe students were great. We couldnÕt have done it if we hadnÕt had such a great group of students.Ó The students on the trip were selected by Dr. Daggett from more than 80 applicants.

ÒThe very fact that the students were selected out of a group gave them a greater sense of responsibilty,Ó said Judy Geary.

ÒDr. Daggett and Dr. Geary were awesome. They knew how to let us have a good time, but also when we had to be serious they knew how to get us together,Ó said Gragg. ÒThey reminded us to be cautious, be smart and have fun.

ÒThey taught us a lot while we were there, but they made it the kind of environment where we had classtime, but they told us to go and experience this, learn and then apply it to our classes.Ó

ÒAs soon as we got back I wanted to leave,Ó said Gragg. ÒSeeing how other people live, their style, the way they dress, was so different from America. A lot of us, sometimes, would just sit there and watch people, watch how they interact with one another.Ó

The culture was truly fascinating for many of the students. ÒItÕs just a completely different culture,Ó said Gragg. ÒThey are so rooted in history.Ó

Overall, the trip was a success and something that those students will probably remember for the rest of their lives. Studying abroad with some incredible professors allowed them to gain international experience, learn the history and culture of another country, and have a wonderful time far away from Appalachian State University.

Burlingame summed up the trip by saying, ÒIt was a blast. I recommend a study abroad to anyone.Ó

Bond dollars vital for university

With a $3.1 billion bond on the ballot Nov. 7, a reasonable question is: What is in it for Appalachian State University?

According to the Board of Governors' Capital Improvement Allocation, $82,349,700 is what we will receive.

The General Assembly of the State of North Carolina found that Òthe current facilities of the university have been allowed to deteriorate due to decades of neglect and have unfortunately fallen into a state of disrepair because of inadequate attention to maintenance.Ó

This can be seen throughout the Appalachian campus in buildings such as Rankin Science Building, B.B. Dougherty Hall, Smith-Wright Hall and Founders Hall. These four buildings will receive comprehensive renovations, especially Rankin Science to bring the building up to par both technologically and safety wise with the type of research and work going on in the biology, geology and geography and planning departments. Chancellor Borkowski recently commented on Rankin Science Hall during his weekly television program Appalachian Perspective. "It [Rankin] is simply not up to date. The facility is not amenable to the rapid changes in science with the new technologies available. And we have had a substantial increase in the enrollment, especially in biology, and we simply donÕt have the facility to accommodate students.Ó

Commenting on the state of science buildings at both Appalachian State and Western Carolina University, WesternÕs Chancellor John W. Bardo stated, ÒThe kinds of issues science is going to be addressing over the next decade are things that five years ago we wouldnÕt even imagine, and these laboratories that were built in the 1950s and '60s were never intended to teach the kind of science that we are having today.Ó

More than half of AppalachianÕs designated cut will go towards building a new library and information commons. With an ever-increasing demand for updated print and electronic library resources, Belk Library, which was built in 1968, cannot meet these demands. Another major factor in the requirement of a new library is that enrollment at the university has doubled since Belk Library opened its doors.

The facility cannot allot the amount of study space needed to accommodate the increasing number of students at Appalachian State.