Undecided about vote for president, easily vote for county commissioner

Catherine Quill

With so much coverage of the national campaigns, local election issues are sometimes overlooked. As students, we comprise a huge voting block in Watauga County, making it vital for us to participate in local voting as well.

Unfortunately, many of us will look at the ballot and not recognize any names, causing us to either leave some blank or cast votes in support of candidates who actually go against our own ideas of what is important for our county.

One of the reasons many of us chose to attend Appalachian State University was its beautiful mountain setting, complete with access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Howard's Knob, along with views of the New River. Although some of us won't decide to live here permanently, there is something we can do now as students that will help the future of Boone and the residents of Watauga County.

Beginning on Oct. 16, registered voters can cast three votes for County Commissioner candidates. Two of these votes should befor Pat Wilkie in District 5 and Dennis Grady in District 2.

Wilkie and Grady are both advocates of land use control, which means they will fight against industries building on the New River and developments threatening HowardÕs Knob.

Although Wilkie has never run for political office, she is a former Sierra Club board member and has been nominated for the Top Business Women of the Year award. She also works with the North Carolina Christmas Tree Growers' Association to reduce pollution. Wilkie supports zoning that would keep industries out of neighborhoods.

Dennis Grady believes that there should be a more open government because he feels the same people are on all the boards and commissions. Grady wants strong water quality monitoring and improved air quality.

Wilkie is running against Denny Norris and Grady against James Coffey. Both opponents do not support any type of land use regulation.

If you ask most local residents, they will tell you that the platforms of both Wilkie and Grady will be the most beneficial to the area. This is great incentive for students to take an active role in helping to preserve natural features that define Boone's entire atmosphere. When it's our turn to head back to Boone as alumni for Homecoming, I don't think any of us will be happy to see a filthy river or buildings constructed in the same places where we used to spend afternoons hiking.

Even if you're undecided about voting for Bush, Gore or Nader, casting a vote for Pat Wilkie and Dennis Grady for County Commissioner can now be one of the easiest decisions on the ballot.

Catherine Quill is a Business Affairs Beat reporter. She can be reached at: theaap@appstate.edu.

Homecoming 2000: a weekend to remember

It is that time of year again. Competitions have begun, floats are being built, and the parties are commencing. From today on, Boone and Appalachian State University will be inundated with alumni and their families, joining with students who may have chosen to go home every other weekend, but will stay for this one.

This will be a weekend to remember.

All week students have been preparing for a culmination of what has in some cases been weeks or even months of planning.

Tradition surrounds the festivities that happen during homecoming, from banner contests to the bonfire to homecoming court and homecoming king and queen. Oh, and may we not forget the yearly thrashing in Kidd Brewer Stadium as the Mountaineers blow out yet another opponent for the homecoming game itself.

On Saturday, those who can will wake early and drag themselves to King Street for that time-honored tradition: the homecoming parade. Kazoo bands and floats will take over downtown Boone, if only for a few brief hours.

Following the parade, Kidd Brewer Stadium will be filled to capacity with obnoxious Appalachian fans ready to watch Wofford get completely humiliated.

Yes friends, this is homecoming.

Homecoming: a time for some friendly competition among clubs and organizations. A time to party with friends. A time to watch the alums return to the college life they have longed for since graduation.

A time for a football game against a team so pathetic, the Mountaineers could win in their sleep.

Whatever homecoming means to you, enjoy this weekend.

Remember the spirit of homecoming. It is about welcoming our alumni and being proud to be a Mountaineer.

Grades should not depend on attendance policy

Sean Oakley

Before I even begin to get into my subject, let me first say that in no way am I condoning skipping class. Studies have found a direct correlation between class attendance and good grades, although I don't think this is groundbreaking news.

In fact, I would claim that since we, as students, pay for our education we should at least bother to show up. One of my friends once told me what each class breaks down to in dollar signs, and though it has presently escaped my mind, it definitely made me think twice about sleeping through classes.

But now that I've made that point clear, let me get into my real one. Attendance policies really do not belong. Now wait a second, I'm sure many of you who are reading have all of a sudden labeled me as lazy, an underachiever or just someone who can't stand to go to class. None of those stereotypes are valid.

My hatred for attendace policies finds its roots in other reasons. I think the attendance policy is a nuisance. It slowly turns a college professor into a babysitter. It also begins to base our grades on things that really are not that important.

If you can skip every class and still get As on all the tests, then why should your grade get marked down? If you received all As, then you must know the material, so why should it matter if you showed up at class or not?

Again, I am not questioning the fact that going to class usually means better grades. I just think that if someone doesn't bother to go to class then their grades will reflect that. If the person is good enough to skip class and still get everything done, then who cares?

My uncle taught history in high school for thirty years. He once offered me some advice that I will always hold to heart. He said, "If you want to teach, then be a professor; if you want to babysit, then be a high school teacher."

He explained it to me this way. In high school, you get kids who want to learn and then kids who just have to be there. But in college, everyone is supposedly there to learn, so thatÕs what they do.

We are supposed to be budding adults. Yet I find that hard to believe when my professors tell me that if I miss more than three classes I will have five points deducted from my grade. And this attack is in no way aimed at professors, since most attendance policies are now departmental policies.

There really is no justification for deducting points for missing class. Some may say that a big part of class is class participation. Well that's what class participation points are for. Taking more points off for exceeding the missed-classes limit seems to be a double blow.

Besides, seeing as how I spend $10,000+ a year in out-of-state tuition, I think I should be able to decide when I need to go to class. I'm supposed to be a maturing adult who can make good decisions. With implemented class attendance policies, the decision is being made for us.

In closing, let me re-emphasize that going to class does help your grade and does help you learn a lot more. But for $10,000 I would at least like to make the decision myself. If I can earn an A with five absences instead of the allowed three, shouldn't I be applauded instead of chastised?

Sean Oakley is a Features Beat reporter. He can be reached at: theeapp@appstate.edu.