COMMENTARY

New evolution of Yosef represents ASU

Ian Hutchinson

For certain reasons, one of which involves this being a university newspaper, I cannot fully express how I feel about the new Yosef. My feelings, however positive they may be, must be subdued to maintain the professional atmosphere of The Appalachian.

Therefore, I have composed an alternate expression that will adequately convey my feelings.

How I feel about the new Yosef rhymes with "Mad-bass monster-trucker."

I saw the new Yosef last week in Plemmons Student Union, accompanied by a PSU employee handing out handbills, and was impressed-- impressed and somewhat intimidated. At the time of the sighting, Yosef was 6'4" and looking mean. He looked like he was going to eat somebody, but he was actually fairly friendly.

Of course, a mascot should look mean. A mascot should represent the students of the university, and the students and faculty here are all mad-bass monster-truckers. We have mad-bass athletes, mad-bass writers, excellent monster-trucking musicians and our student organizations can kick major monster-trucking bass.

The new Yosef is the best mascot representation this university could ever hope for and it is great to see him around.

The last Yosef we had, who was a Thanksgiving Day parade pansy, did not represent the students of this university. What that Yosef represented was what some New Yorker thought a mountaineer was, after a clean shave and a few bong hits.

The last Yosef didn't represent us. I can't shave every day; I don't always have the time to. I don't look doped-up and happy all the time like the Man in the Yellow Hat-- do you?

No, many students here don't shave and have huge, weird beards. Likewise, the new Yosef has a huge beard. We wear big boots and he wears big boots.

We kick major arse, gluteus maximus and big booty. We may not win every time, but I think the active students of this university represent Appalachian State University to the best of their abilities. We have students with dedication oozing out of their pores whether they are involved in the Student Government Association (SGA), Appalachian Popular Programming Society (A.P.P.S.), WASU, Circle K, Alpha Kappa Alpha, the soccer team or any other student group.

As far as I'm concerned, all those people who gripe about boring Boone is and how there is nothing to do here can take a hike. They can take that previous candy-bassed, pasty-faced Yosef with them, too.

As for the original Yosef, the Yosef that past Appalachian State students grew to love, there is some romanticism that needs to be relinquished. The original Yosef was a noble, lovable guy and did indeed embody the spirit of the university. Sadly, the original costume was in disrepair and had to be replaced.

Honestly, I think the latest incarnation of Yosef reflects all the qualities of the original ... he just looks a little older, wiser and has a really gnarly beard.

Maybe the only problem is that the new Yosef's height varies from sighting to sighting. I think some short person is wearing the costume to the football games and that needs to stop. There isn't anything intimidating about a 5'3" Yosef. Hopefully, someone taller will be called in for the mascot job at our games.

While times have changed, I think the new Yosef (when he's 6'4") embodies this generation of students just like the classic Yosef did for past students. Appalachian State University kicks some serious monster-trucking bass and so does the new Yosef.

Ian Hutchinson is an Entertainment Beat reporter. He can be reached at theapp@appstate.edu.

Our Perspective......

Become a Maniac and you can see the UNC-ASU game for free (or pay $7)

As one of 1,000 Mountaineer Maniacs, you get a T-shirt, midcourt seating, some free food, and perhaps the one driving factor for many, a ticket to the opening basketball game in the George M. Holmes Convocation Center: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill versus Appalachian State University.

You also get to pay $2 more than the Maniacs from the last two years. This is not a problem if you take into consideration the usual increase in prices for things that we use everyday, and certainly not compared to gas.

Mountaineer Maniacs are to get 1,000 of 2,405 available student seats, leaving non-Maniacs 1,405 seats for "free," as we already pay to see athletic events in student fees.

If we had over 1,000 Maniacs show up for each year of basketball, then there would be a reason to cap the total. However, last year Appalachian got only about 250 Maniacs to come out, according to the Athletic Department. Of those, about 50 went to games regularly.

Now we have a 750-person discrepancy in the number of Mountaineer Maniacs. If you want to see the inagural game in the Holmes Center, then it will cost you $7, unless you are lucky enough to get in that other 1,405 students that get to wait in line Oct. 8 for the remainder of the tickets earmarked for students.

Outside of that, the game will cost you $20 to get in, despite the fact that all home game tickets were $8 each last season and, with the exception of hosting Chapel Hill, will be $8 this season.

Police department reaching out to both students and community

Sarah Sparks

The Appalachian State University Police Department is making great strides this year to reach out to students and the community. Unlike many police departments that want to present a threatening, imposing image, the Appalachian State Police Department wants the students to know that the department is in place for the safety of the students.

For the past few weeks I have been working hand-in-hand with Sergeant Stacy Sears of the police department and I can say from personal experience that they are truly concerned with the well-being of the students. Sergeant Sears has made it very clear that the department is not out to get students, but rather to provide safety while enforcing the law. Sears and the other officers make themselves accessible to the students whenever possible.

The department has done everything within its power to make information available to students, faculty and staff. They also encourage input from the students and community by holding meetings such as the Crime Awareness meeting coming up tomorrow. If students have concerns, they should attend this meeting rather than aimlessly whine about issues to their friends.

The members of the department are all very kind and willing to listen to the concerns of the students at any time. Even more important than listening, they are willing to make their best effort to address and resolve the concerns of the students. They want suggestions from the students as to how they can make the school and community a better and safer place.

The department also has programs put into place to protect the students and the students' assets, such as the bicycle registration. This program offers some reinforcement in the event that a student's bicycle is stolen.

Other such programs include the Crime Stoppers hotline and the release of the weekly crime report. The police department does not want crimes on campus to be a mystery to the students. Rather, they feel that it is important for the students to be aware of the dangers on campus.

The Appalachian State Police Department should be commended for its efforts to work with the community towards a common goal of safety and well being. I encourage students not to take for granted the opportunities the department offers for the students to be involved in the crime-fighting process on campus.

Students should not be intimidated by the police department but, rather, comforted by its presence and concerns for our safety. The more closely we all work together, the more often we will achieve our goals.

Sarah Sparks is the Police Beat reporter. She can be reached at theapp@appstate.edu.