Graham's High Country Festival arrives at ASU

Ai Lin Loh - Multicultural Beat

Franklin Graham spoke on Sanford Mall Tuesday. Originally scheduled for Rankin Science Building, Graham's question and answer session was changed to the outdoor setting.

Around 100 people listened to Graham speak about faith and to address people's questions about religion. Graham also spoke about his experiences abroad.

"I really enjoyed that he made himself accessible in the question and answer time," said Adam Gilbert, staff member for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. "I felt that it put him in a vulnerable position, for the sake of building trust for the students and the campus. I really appreciate his simple message that he sticks to, which is his simple message of the Gospel and Jesus Christ."

Graham has dedicated his life to spreading the word of God. "I want people to know there is a God in heaven who loves and cares for us. I want to help people know the truth about God and his love," Graham said.

All the festivities and concerts for the High Country Festival are sponsored by local churches and charities.

Like many of the individuals who will dedicate their time to the festival, Graham is a volunteer.

Graham serves as chairman and chief executive officer for Samaritan's Purse, a local charity dedicated to missionary work in underdeveloped countries. "People in every country, of every race, every creed, every culture want to know, 'Is there a God?,' " Graham said.

Graham has participated in other events other than the High Country Festival. There have been festivals in Raleigh, Wilmington, Lubbock, Texas, Spartanburg, South Carolina, Nicaragua, the Honduras and Brazil. Different bands play for each event, depending on the artists located in the area. Graham chose Boone because Appalachian State University is his alma mater and he recognized the desire and need of people from the area to receive his message.

Originally kicked out of the University of Texas, Graham was given a second chance by his parents to go to another school close to home. He transferred to Appalachian, majored in business, and with a senior-year paper, Samaritan's Purse was developed.

"I did a paper and started applying this paper as a program we wanted to do called Samaritan's Purse, where we send doctors all over the world right out of Boone, to Sudan, Africa and Asia and India. I believe that if people are hurting and down in the ditch along life's road and you start to help them, they are going to listen to what you have to say," Graham said.

One experience Graham talked about was his time in Rwanda.

"Sin separates us from God. I've been around the world where I've seen evidence of sin. I was in Rwanda after a million people were butchered. These were the Tutsis who were killed by the Hutus. There were parts of their bodies on every street corner. You see the evidence of hatred and sin wherever you go in the world."

When Graham closed his speech, he said, "Either Jesus Christ is the biggest liar or the biggest fraud, or what he said was true. For me, studying and looking and searching, I believe that every word he said was true... I know what God has called me to do. "

EditorÕs Note: The following is Dr. Willie FlemingÕs speech which he presented at the annual Walk for Awareness. Fleming is an Assistant Professor and University Faculty Fellow for Human Development and Pyschological Counseling.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his pilgrimage to nonviolence wrote, "my personal trials have taught me the value of unmerited suffering. As my suffereing mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering. I decided to follow the latter course. Recognizing the necessity for suffering. I have tried to make of it a virtue. If only to save myself from bitterness, I have attempted to see my personal ordeals as an opportunity to transfigure myself and heal the people involved in the tragic situation which now obtains. I have lived these last few years with the conviction that unearned suffering is redemptive."

Some 11 years ago our community was devastated with "unmerited suffering" in the form of a violent act against a woman named Jeni Gray. As a community we felt violated, outraged and overwhelmed with the fact that such a horrible act of violence occurred in our quiet and safe little town. We didn't feel so safe anymore and we are still recovering. Although, we had a choice in our finite freedom to either, "react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force." We, like Dr. King, have chsen the latter. For the last decade we march silently, to speak loudly, we overcome this act of violence with peace. We save ouselves from bitterness, transfigure ourselves and heal, by realizing that "unearned suffering is redemptive."

The word redeem comes from the Hebrew word "padah" which celebrates the solidarity of the family. Further, redemption is a release effected by the payment of a ransom price from some bondage, restriction or taboo. As a family, we the Appalachian and Boone community, come in solidarity to make payment of ransom. We know the expensive price of unmerited suffering as it has presented itself by way of violence against women and others, racism, sexism, discrimination based on religion, and the list goes on. Tonight we come to pay a debt to release our family members.

Honoring this year's theme "Coming Out of the Darkness," we take the redemptive outlook and say that we can overcome evil, that something graceful and beautiful, even powerful can be extracted from something so horrible. There are some who see "unmerited suffering" as only a stumbling block, others consider it foolish, but like Dr. King, I am more convinced than ever before that it is redemptive and evokes a sense of individual and social responsibility that has come out of so "dark" a situation.

Each year we come out of the darkness of being discouraged by our wounded world and the pain associated with the darkness that is capable of utterly destroying us. So each year we take more steps on this pilgrimage to nonviolence. Here we choose not to be bitter but to be transfigured. We are transfigured by the realization that although individually each of us are but one child with limited abilities, we have many sisters and brothers, who are resourceful enough to pay the ransom.

Collectively we advance further on our pilgrimage of nonviolence tonight. We walk to remember Jeni Gray, we make a commitment to practicing good personal safety habits, and we support victims and survivors of acts of violence. We affirm and reaffirm our commitment to awareness and to make a statement against acts of violence.

Tonight we walk in solidarity as part of the world family. We remember the words of Dr. King. "We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. What effects one directly affects all indirectly. I cannot be all that I ought to be until you are all that you ought to be. And you cannot be all that you ought to be, until I am all that I ought to be."

Sigma Nu runs ball to Wake Forest for season opener

Event benefits cancer society

Caitlyn Payne -Greeks Beat

Continuing a 16-year tradition, the Sigma Nu fraternity completed a "game ball run" for the American Cancer Society. The ball that was to be used for the Aug. 31 Wake Forest University versus Appalachian State University football game was relayed from Boone to Groves Stadium in Winston Salem.

The relay began at Appalachian State at 7:30 a.m. and was completed some 10 hours later, when game officials accepted the ball from the final Sigma Nu runner.

"I am not sure how the idea (of the game ball run) originated," Sigma Nu Advisor Brian Williams said. The runners received sponsorship from 10 corporations. North Carolina Govenor Jim Hunt sent a proclamation that it was Game Ball Run Day across the state.

A motor pool was created for the run, with a van to transport runners. The van drove ahead of the runner, and runners switched off after completing between one and two miles. Runners wore orange vests for safety.

There were 40 runners in the relay. The participants scheduled times and relay sections to run around their class schedules. Game officials accepted the game ball in the middle of the Groves Stadium.

It was a triumphant finish to a long day for the runners. Does Sigma Nu plan to continue the game ball run? "Absolutely," Williams said. "We want to continue the tradition."

There is a possibility that next year the run will start at East Tennessee State University and end here in Kidd Brewer Stadium. Sigma Nu hopes to run to next year's Wake Forest game as well.

For rushees anxiety builds as Bid Day approaches

Jenny Trest - Features Beat

As of Thursday, there were 207 women participating in the Fall 2000 Rush Week at Appalachian State University. As the week progresses, the applicants will narrow their choices, while the sororities determine who their newest sisters will be.

Students who have been in the student union this week will have seen and heard the excitement surrounding the final week of Rush. Months of preparation have led up to this event. There are strict rules surrounding acceptable behavior for sorority members as well as rushees for this event.

A Rho-Chi leader is defined in the recruitment handbook as "Your personal guide through Formal Recruitment." These sorority members have had to keep their sorority identities secret since August.

"All the girls that are in a sorority weren't allowed to hang out with independents when they first got up here," said Liz Brown. I lived with a sorority sister last year, and this year I wasn't allowed to see her, to go out to lunch with her or anything when we got back to school. They didn't want anyone to think that there was any 'dirty rushing'."

BEGINNING RUSH WEEK

Rushees first submitted applications consisting of general high school and collegiate activity questions and photographs. Thursday began the Rush week with orientation. The rushees met their Rho-Chi and other girls in their group. They were told the rules of Rush and their rights. They also made personalized name tags to wear throughout Rush.

"It's a really small group, so the Rho-Chi can cater to your needs," said Brown. "She's there as a mentor for you through the whole rush process. She's in a sorority, but we have no idea which one she's in, so she won't influence us in any way."

"She's kind of like you mother," said Mollie Temple.

"They have a box of stuff for us, like mints, a brush, a mirror, lip gloss, things to freshen-up with between parties, even a cell phone," said Rebecca Williamson.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Friday began First Round, in which the applicants were introduced to all the sororities, with only 20 minutes for each. "Friday was crazy," said Brown. "You walked in, there were two groups of girls on either side, forming a tunnel, and they were chanting and screaming at you. They grab you, and introduce themselves to you."

"They (the sororities) are so enthusiastic!" said Ruthie Smitha.

"You walk in and they're all screaming sorority chants. You meet as many girls as you can, and try and make a good impression," said Williamson.

"A really good thing our Rho-Chi did was make us write down how we felt about each sorority after we left the room, so that we would remember our initial feelings," said Brown.

"They asked us basic 'get to know you' questions: Where are you from? What year are you? Where do you live? and What other clubs and activities are you involved in?"

PHILANTHROPY NIGHTS

Saturday and Sunday were Philanthropy nights, where each sorority displayed the organizations with whom they're involved. These parties lasted 30 minutes each. "Each sorority has a different philanthropy they are associated with," said Brown. "We did a craft that night dealing with their individual community service projects. You worked on the craft and got to know eachother better. It was a lot of fun, because it was more relaxed. You got to meet more people, you actually got to sit down and carry on a conversation."

DISPLAY PARTIES

On Monday the applicants picked up invitations to the Display Parties for Monday and Tuesday nights. Each of these parties lasted 40 minutes.

"That's where a lot of people stop, if they don't get back an invitation to the sorority they like," said Temple.

Monday and Tuesday night parties give the applicants a better idea of the specific information about each group.

"You can only go to four display parties," said Williamson. "In those parties, they show you the cost, their routine, special functions that they do, community service."

"They did a skit and had posters of everything you could think of: finances, philanthropy, other events they do throughout the year, their social events, T-shirts," said Trexler.

"Last night I was so tired," said Temple. "I was sick of answering the same questions, of smiling. But tonight was so much fun! I was so wide awake and excited after the presentations."

EXPECTATIONS

Wednesday is a day off and a day to pick up invitations for the Preference Parties on Thursday night.

"Preference day, I heard, is very formal, said Williamson. You get maybe 50 minutes. And I think it's off campus."

"You'll go to those parties and I'm not sure exactly what goes on, said Trexler. Those are the big parties."

On Thursday night, the rushees will write down their first and second choices, and their Rho-Chi's turn them in. If this matches up, formal bids are given on Friday.

Not all 207 women have participated all the way through Rush this year.

"I heard that one Rho-Chi lost all the girls in her group," said Temple. "It is so overwhelming, said Smitha, who decided on Sunday to withdraw from Rush. "My face hurt after the first night from all the smiling.

It's hard to remember people. It's all at once. "My mom was in a sorority and she wished she had waited a year. Whether or not you want it to, it does pick your friends. She was afraid that I would be friends with only those people."

Smitha said she had a good time in the process, but that it wasn't really for her right now.

WHY THEY RUSH

So what are some of the reasons that girls have decided to participate in Rush this year?

"I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it last year," said Brown. "I had a feeling that if I hadn't, I would have always wondered 'What if?' And I love it. It's been so crazy. It's so much fun. We're so busy with so much going on, but it doesn't even seem like it."

"I went into this with an open-mind," said Williamson. "I really want to have fun with it."

"I feel like I have enough friends outside, so that I can be friends with a new group of people," said Temple. "I'm a really busy person and I wanted to get involved," said Williamson. "My mom was in a sorority as well, and she said it was like having 60 best friends, and 60 closets to go through for clothes. But I thought, I just want to go through Rush, see what it's all about and meet new people. That's really what it's about--meeting people and having connections."

WHAT THEY LOOK FOR

What kinds of things are these applicants looking for in the Rush experience and the sororities? "It's not one particular thing," said Temple. "It's just the feeling I get when I walk in the room. My Rho-Chi told me, 'If you were to walk into a room and trip and fall, which group of girls would you want to be around?'

That's a good way to tell which one you feel comfortable with. I'm looking to see if they have the same types of qualities that I have, if I get along with them. I'm looking for people who know how to have fun and will also be there for me.

Some people say its like buying your friends, but its not. It's like, we all like to have fun and have stuff in common, so we're all going to hang out together. And yeah, we're going to pay this money, but it's going to some really good causes."

"I still have no idea which one I want," said Brown. "I love every event that I go to," said Brown. "I'm really tired," said Trexler. "I'm nervous a little, about Friday. But it's been so much fun."

Student Development, Outdoor programs team up, travel to Alaska over summer

Aaron Petticord - Student Development Beat

Outdoor Programs and Student Development came together for the first time over the summer, traveling to Alaska where students were involved in outdoor leadership, service projects and earned school credit from the Recreation Department.

Rich Campbell of Outdoor Programs collaborated with Wayne Williams of Recreation Management in preparing this trip, which provided a possible seven credit hours to participating students. Recreation Management and a Wilderness Education Practicum were the two classes for which credit hours were provided.

Future trips will provide similar course options, but the Outdoor Programs staff is willing to work with any faculty in planning a trip. While on educational trips with Outdoor Programs, students spend a great deal of time in backcountry and wilderness settings.

Time is also spent learning about certain issues involving the trip location and on various service projects. Over the past summer, a group of sixteen students, two student leaders and two Appalachian State University faculty leaders ventured to Alaska on an expedition that was divided into three main components.

The first was time spent in Denali National Park where the group participated in the Service Learning Program, in which they explored current issues involving the park. The second component of the trip was a six-day sea kayaking adventure in Prince Williams Sound.

The group was dropped by a fishing boat in an area that was two days paddling distance from any town. The third section of the trip was on the Keni peninsula, where the group split into two groups of ten and hiked across from different directions.

While the trip may sound like there was a lot of playtime included, the students did attend meetings and lectures. Course requirements for the two classes offered on the trip were met through discussion and lecture with the National Park Services Conservation Association, the Small Business Owners Association and commercial outfitter organizations.

Students also met with Fire Ecologists and park officials in Denali and marine biologists on the Keni Peninsula. This allowed students to learn experientially and gain a better understanding of some of the events taking place in the world of recreational studies and outdoor leadership.

ÒThese trips provide a great learning opportunity,Ó said Rich Campbell of Outdoor Programs. ÒItÕs such an eye-opening experience for the students to see what it takes to take care of yourself in a wilderness setting."

According to Campbell, the groundwork is already being laid for another trip that will offer similar course hours. Some of the staff at Outdoor Programs has met with world famous Mt. Everest climber Tinsing Norge in working out a trip to Everest base-camp.

Students will participate in similar activities as in the Alaska trip. According to officials in the department, Outdoor Programs welcomes all students to participate and is willing to work with all faculty in the development of an outdoor learning program.