Holmes Center slated to open in time for UNC game

Subcontractors will be in attendence at season opener to correct any problems

Catherine Quill Business Affairs Beat

Despite opening delays, the George M. Holmes Convocation Center will be finished in time for the Appalachian State University vs. the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill game scheduled for Nov. 17, according to Director of Design and Construction Clyde Robbins.

Robbins said the primary reason for the delays is that several features needs correction, such as fire alarms and other safety devices.

Robbins pointed out, "We are hesitant to accept a building under those conditions."

The fire alarm system needs more pull stations and alarms, which Robbins said added $40,000 to the project.

The next inspection of the structure will take place on Monday and Robbins expects beneficial occupancy will occur, which means there will still be some items on a punch list (painting, detail work and concrete repairs) that will need to be addressed.

He said the problems "wonÕt prevent us from using it."

Robbins pointed out that this same situation occurred with the Chemistry, Astronomy and Physics (CAP) Building five years ago because of a leaky roof and it was only this past month that the building was officially completed.

The original completion date in the contract for the Holmes Center was Sep. 19, but the contractors were granted extra time, and the date back to Oct. 19.

"The fault lies with the architects, engineers and contractors; there's a shared responsibility,Ó said Robbins.

The first event that will take place in the Holmes Center will be the sold-out game between Appalachian and Chapel Hill.

Robbins said specialty subcontractors will be at the game to "take immediate action" and fix anything that is not functioning properly.

"It's a good test venue. Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong,Ó said Robbins.

He also said the building will probably not be finished with detail work until the beginning of 2001.

Some administrators are expecting to relocate to their offices in the Holmes Center on Nov. 1, including Center Director Eddie Crawford.

Crawford is also confident that the Nov. 17 game will occur in the new facility.

"We'll definitely be ready for the basketball game. The UNC game is the first event we're going to have."

An exhibition basketball game scheduled for Nov. 4 in the center has been moved to Varsity Gymnasium, raising speculation about whether the new building will be ready for the season opener against Chapel Hill.

Crawford said the exhibition game was moved "to be on the safe side," but says the Nov. 17 game being played in the Holmes Center is "a done deal."

Crawford also added that issues found at the Monday inspection will be "minor enough to work around" and said that there will be four games in a seven-day period in November that will not be affected.

Mark Dreibelbis, Appalachian State director of athletics, said, "We decided to move the exhibition game just not to push things. We'll be ready to open up on the 17th."

Dick Baddour, Chapel Hill director of athletics agreed that the game will still be played.

The delays in opening should not affect long-term plans for the building. The Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science (HLES) will still begin to move its equipment to the Holmes Center in November or December.

"We knew we would not move in until 2001," said Vaughn Christian, chairperson of the HLES department. "There is nothing going on now that would complicate us from moving over in December."

SGA set to push bond issue

Robyn Dailey Chancellor Beat

The Appalachian State University Student Government Association (SGA) is pushing hard for votes for the upcoming bond referendum with a contest, bond rally, pamphlets and speeches.

According to Katherine Allen, director of state and national affairs, Student Government has already participated in several efforts to spread the word about the Nov. 7 voting day.

Allen said SGA has "already kicked off with a voter registration drive partnering ... [with] Alpha Phi Alpha."

They also co-sponsored a voter registration drive and informational session dealing with political issues on Oct. 9 and 10, said Allen. Members of student groups such as the College Republicans, College Democrats, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the Green Party set up contact tables with information from their parties that stated their platform and goals for the upcoming years.

Allen said this was to help inform students as to which party carries or best coincides with his or her ideals.

The SGA State and National Affairs Committee has been speaking to all of the Freshman Seminar classes advocating voter registration and the bond. After speaking to classes, representatives registered the students to vote.

According to Allen, they also have tentative plans to hold free busing to the poles for Appalachian State students. Student Government also has plans for a possible march to the poles on voting day.

SGA is hosting a bond rally on Nov. 4. They will be providing food, and speakers. According to Allen, SGA is also "starting a project to co-sponsor bond and voting events with Caldwell Community College."

SGA will also be hosting a bond banner contest. The contest is for residence halls, clubs and organizations to make banners advertising the bond. Prizes will be awarded to the best banners, said Allen.

"All residence halls and some clubs and organizations will have banners displayed from the date of the bond rally to the [day of the] vote."

Al Sirkin, SGA senator and member of the state affairs committee, was one of the people speaking to Freshman Seminar groups. He said, "First I make sure that everyone's registered to vote Ñ I try

ACT, VOC team up to beautify Boone

Elizabeth Frye Multicultural Beat

Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT) and the Watauga County Volunteer Outreach Center (VOC) are co-sponsoring the Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 28. The theme of this yearÕs event is "park beautification" and volunteers will be working in local parks doing such activities as picking up litter, planting trees and flowers, repairing trails, and distributing mulch.

Make A Difference Day is a national program held by outreach organizations across the United States. In Watauga County the day is usually an annual event, although last year the service project did not occur. The purpose of the day is to gather people of Watauga County, including Appalachian State University students, together to work for improving the community. Jenny Koehn, community service coordinator for ACT, said, "The VOC does in town what ACT does on campus, which is find volunteers activities that match their interests."

Make A Difference Day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a kick-off at the Jones House Community Center located at 634 W. King Street. A speaker will address the group of volunteers and then at 9 a.m. people will depart to different sites. Transportation will not be provided so those who have cars are asked to bring their vehicles and allow others to carpool with them.

The areas in which volunteers will be working are Blowing Rock, Boone, Cove Creek, Greenway and Junaluska Parks. Activities will also be done with OASIS Incorporated. The service project should last from 9:30 a.m until noon and a picnic will follow at each site. Volunteers are asked to bring their own bagged lunch.

People working at the sites should wear clothing they are comfortable in and do not mind getting dirty. The parks will provide tools, so bringing equipment is not necessary. A fairly large group is expected to participate in the event.

"Student support for these events is always really impressive so I think we will have a good turnout," Koehn said.

Anyone interested in signing up for this project should contact Shantra Beane of ACT at shantrabeane@hotmail.com by noon Friday, Oct. 27. Name, phone number, and e-mail address should be provided to Beane for registration.

People are encouraged to get involved with this event in order to help their community.

Beane said, "I think this project is a wonderful opportunity for students to give back to the town they live in."

Bond dollars would finance more than academic building renovations

John T. Bennett - Associate Editor

When the North Carolina General Assembly passed the final verdict on a $3.1 billion higher-education bond referendum to voters, a state-wide campaign was organized to persuade voters to approve the funding package.

Along with the broader effort, each of the 16 University of North Carolina (UNC) system institutions and 59 community colleges began organizing individual public relations campaigns designed to garner support for the bond.

Appalachian State University officials adopted the slogan "Bonds for Students" as the guiding light for their campaign to persuade students, faculty, alumni and members of the Boone community to cast their respective ballots in favor of the higher-education bond package on Nov. 7.

Of the buildings included in the Appalachian breakdown, all serve direct functions to students with two exceptions: the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building and Founders Hall.

According to Senate Bill 912, which includes a comprehensive breakdown of UNC system institution projects that would receive funds if the referendum is successful, over $2 million would be directed toward renovation projects to the two non-academic buildings.

Given the state of disrepair of several academic buildings on the Appalachian campus, some have called into question the inclusion of B.B. Dougherty and Founders Hall on the institution's list of structures that would receive dollars from the bond.

Asked if she thought a larger portion of Appalachian's $82.3 million share should be devoted to academic buildings, Chairperson of the department of biology Dr. Vicki Martin sternly replied, "Yes, I do."

Bob Shaffer, Appalachian State vice chancellor for public affairs, defended the inclusion of the two non-academic buildings by pointing out that both house departments that serve indirect functions for students.

Shaffer added that while B.B. Dougherty and Founders Hall were included on the list despite their classification as non-academic buildings, the two were the "smallest investments" of the nine buildings that would be renovated with funds made available if the $3.1 billion bond is approved by voters.

Jane Helm, vice chancellor for business affairs, was also quick to discount the notion that the $2 million for the two non-academic facilities could be better used to improve classroom buildings given the fact that State Construction Department was responsible for conducting the study.

"It's really hard to argue with those buildings because we have had engineers come in and look at all of our buildings. State Construction [Department] is the one who comes in and puts the numbers [final costs of renovations] on them," Helm said.

Officials at each of the 16 UNC-system schools used the UNC Capital Equity/Adequacy Study in determining which buildings would be renovated with dollars from the higher-education bond.

The results of the study were used to evaluate the structures in the highest state of disrepair.

According to the study, B.B. Dougherty's overall score is lower than any other campus structure that would receive renovation dollars from the $82.3 million allotment if the bond is approved.

Helm gave no specifics as to what kinds of improvements would be made to B.B. Dougherty, but would only speculate that the $1 million tagged for the facility would most likely be used to replace the mechanical systems in the building.

In addition to the funds that would be used to renovate B.B. Dougherty, another $1 million would be used for renovation projects in Founders Hall.

Helm added that the sum earmarked for Founders Hall was desperately needed in order to make much-needed improvements in the areas of air conditioning and ventilation.

SMITH-WRIGHT & WALKER HALLS

Several classroom buildings are slated to undergo comprehensive renovations with the use of $3.4 million that would be made available by the bonds.

Helm said university officials plan to repair any aspect of those two buildings that are subject to state codes.

"The fire alarm system in Smith-Wright is the big issue É and probably the mechanical systems as well. Typically those are just shot in our buildings," Helm said.

Along with those improvements, the vice chancellor also said that window and roof replacements, as well as plumbing upgrades would be made in both Smith-Wright and Walker Halls.

TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE

When members of the University of NorthCarolina General Administration began studying the total sum needed for building renovations, included was a unique sum for each institution.

The General Administration used a study to determine the cost needed to bring technology infrastructures across the state to a minimal point.

The study determined a baseline point that technology infastructure at UNC system institutions should meet.

Based on the findings of that study, the General Administration determined that $4.8 million would be needed to bring the current infastructure at Appalachian State up to par with the aforementioned baseline standard.

"(Technology infastructure) is basically the wiring for the computer network across campus," Helm said.

ASU gets first-hand lesson in Alcohol 101

Sarah Sparks Police Beat

A new "virtual drinking" video game is currently being used in universities across the country to teach students about the dangers of drinking.

Students at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., are required to play "Alcohol 101" as part of their Alcohol Awareness Week.

Some students at Appalachian have also had the opportunity to experience the virtual game that involves a realistic party scene, including drinking and passed out party-goers.

Freshman Aileen Barry said she had the opportunity to play the game in her Freshman Seminar class.

"It was really interesting and informative. I recommend all students take a look at it," said Barry.

The game asks for the student's height, age, weight and gender, then calculates blood-alcohol levels as the students partake in virtual alcohol.

The primary goal of the game is to make students aware of the dangers of drinking before they have to learn them the hard way.

Bicycle bandit has focus set on dorm racks

Sarah Sparks Police Beat

Students at Appalachian State University have been plagued by bicycle theft since the beginning of the semester. According to Major Larry Foster of the Appalachian Police Department, 14 bikes have been stolen since August, with four of those having been stolen in the last five days.

The bicycle thefts have occurred all over campus, specifically from bike racks outside of dorms.

Winkler residence hall has been a prime target for the thefts. Three bicycles have been stolen from the Winkler bike rack, two reported on Oct. 14 and one reported on Oct. 16, said Foster.

Authorities believe that all three bikes were stolen at the same time by the same person(s), but were reported by the victims at different times.

It is believed the bike thief is cutting the locks from the bicycles and removing the whole bike from the rack. Foster reports there has been no physical evidence to indicate that the bicycles have all been chained, but the victims have reported that they were secured to the bike racks.

The police department is not sure of the motive for the thefts.

"In a case like this we check the pawn shops to see if any of the stolen items turn up, but we haven't had any luck with that so far," said Foster. The Appalachian Police Department urges students to secure their bicycles at all times. Foster explained that a bike chain is not always sufficient because it can easily be cut. A more recommended means of securing a bicycle is a graphite u-lock, because of the theft-proof guarantee.

Foster said, "I recommend the u-lock because you are not supposed to be able to cut through it. We have had some of the victims reporting that their bike was secured with a u-lock, but the majority have been bike chains that were cut."

The police department also offers a bike registration program. Students can register their bicycles with the department, making it easier for recovered bikes to be identified.

Bicycles can be registered using the serial number on the bike, or if there is not a serial number, the police department can engrave a registration number on the underside of the bike.

Major Foster said that students may approach any bike officers on campus to register their bicycle.

The bike officers carry registration materials at all times to make bike registration quick and easy for students.

The police department currently has no leads as to the identity of the thief, said Foster.

"We are asking for any information people may have to offer. If anyone spots a suspicious character on campus, specifically around a bike rack, they should report it immediately," said Foster.

The Crimestoppers hotline is available for anonymous tips and may lead to a $1,000 reward.