Early morning incident genrates concern about late night entry

Adam Bennett - Chief Graphic Designer

Living in the residence halls on the Appalachian State University campus can be very convenient for students.

Everywhere a student needs to go on campus is within walking distance and home can be easily accessed between classes. Washing machines and basic necessities are close to the rooms.

However, most students do not think of the disadvantages of living in a residence hall atmosphere. Two female students reported to Appalachian State University Police three males harassing females as they entered Doughton Residence Hall 3 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15.

Other students, two days later, reported unauthorized males in the building that same morning. The three males were seen on the fourth and sixth floors of the residence hall, where they wrote random messages on dry-erase boards attached to doors.

The university police officers have been unable to confirm exactly who the men were, but have received several calls within the last week reporting the same men returning to Doughton Hall.

"I was spending the night with my friend on the fourth floor and at about four in the morning, these guys came up to my friend's room. He kind of knew them, but not really. He had only seen him once," said Lyndsay Cox, Doughton Hall sixth floor resident. "One of them was trying to hit on me, not really feeling me, harassing me, but touching me and calling me sweetheart and stuff. It was just kind of scary. I told them they should hurry up and get out."

According to Appalachian State University Police, in 1999, 50 percent of all sex crimes on campus happened in campus residential facilities.

Residents questioned on the first floor who entered the dorm at around 3 a.m. stated the Community Action Patrol (CAP) staff member on duty did not check their student identification cards for verification of their residence.

The Department of Housing and Residence Life maintains resident hall security around the clock through different student programs. The main program protecting residents in the early morning hours is the CAP.

The CAP staff works from midnight to 5 a.m. in the residence halls to enforce university and residence hall policies so that Residence Life may provide a satisfactory living environment that meets the safety and security needs of Appalachian State University students.

Other CAP duties include checking student ID cards and providing support to resident assistants and directors in emergency situations.

"(The men) yelled at my roommate and she told them to be quiet," said Cox. "I don't see how they can be in the dorm for so long without anyone reporting it. No one knew them and they had no reason to be here."

"It's hard to sleep when you know a guy you don't know, who you just heard in the parking lot, is walking on your floor in sneakers," said Alex Moody, also a sixth floor resident. "They (Doughton Hall staff members) were blaming it on the residents when it was CAP's fault. Who are we to know who these people are with? It's CAP's fault for letting them in without checking their ID."

Doughton Hall Resident Director Trey Standish investigated rumors that led to a building-wide meeting to dispel rumors and learn what really happened in the early morning after Valentine's Day.

When asked what the university plans to do about further incidents, he declined comment.

He also notified all building resident-assistants to do the same.

The CAP program is currently the built-in security for Residence Life on campus in the early morning hours.

Dee Allard, Eastridge area coordinator, confirmed that the CAP staff member on duty Feb. 15 did not fully carry out his job of securing the residence hall. She said the staff member has been reprimanded. CAP staff will now be going through a refresher course so similar incidents will not be repeated.

CAP staff members must undergo an application process with many references before being chosen for this position on campus. They are then interviewed and hired to screen residents in campus residence halls.

All three students interviewed from Doughton felt let down by university security.

Doughton resident Lianne Mitchell said, "If CAP does nothing about guys drinking outside the building, (at least) something needs to be done (to tighten security inside)."

Jane Nicholson - Director of Public Affairs

Who wouldn't be fascinated with the inner workings of a tank? The sheer size and speed of the U.S. Army's M3A2 Bradley and M1A1 Abrams are guaranteed jaw droppers. Just imagine 62 tons of steel powered by a turbine engine roaring toward you at 50 m.p.h.

Twenty-six Appalachian State University students, administrators and staff members climbed on and through the machines and tested the Army's multimillion dollar Close Combat Technical Trainer (CCTT) during a recent trip to the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Kingsport, Tenn.

The university's Department of Military Science arranged the trip for students in the program. The rest of the group tagged along to see what students in Appalachian's ROTC program are doing and to learn more about opportunities for students interested in military careers.

The CCTT includes a computer-filled trailer with programs simulating any tactical, logistic, communication or support situation encountered on an actual battlefield, including the sights and sounds of armored vehicle combat.

Another trailer contains modules with control areas for the "tank's" driver, gunner, loader and commander.

Peering through gun sights, trainees see a computer-generated terrain complete with enemy tanks. A surround sound-like audio system generates enough noise to create vibrations when shells are "fired."

The CCTT provides such a realistic experience that some trainees experience "simulator sickness" or motion sickness.

It is the ultimate video game, and, while expensive at $6.5 million per unit, it is a more cost-effective long-term training method than the estimated $100,000 needed to train a tank crew of four soldiers during a weekend exercise using a real tank. Ammunition alone costs around $800 each, and the Abrams holds 42 of the 45-pound bullets.

While fun, such activities also give students an opportunity to learn about the military.

"Students can enroll in military science courses their first two years of college without making any commitment to the Army," said Captain Daniel B. Smith of Appalachian's Department of Military Science.

Smith, a 1995 graduate of Appalachian and the ROTC program, is the military science department's recruiter.

With other ROTC activities include spring field training exercises at Fort Bragg, the annual 5K road race through Boone, the department's honor society, Scabbard and Blade, and ROTC Drill Team (Pershing Rifles) and Commandos, which are open to all students.

The department also provides the color guard for athletic events, ushers for ballgames, and cadets to assist during the university's summer student orientation.

Military science is a minor at Appalachian. Students in the program pursue a variety of academic majors, such as criminal justice, technology, education or business.

The scholarship opportunities during college for students committing to a four-year tour of duty are good, especially for those paying their own way through college.

Scholarship packages range from approximately $4,000 to $5,000 a year for in-state students. Students with prior service, or who are members of the National Guard, receive financial packages ranging from $6,000 to $13,000 a year depending on rank. A three-year active duty commitment is required.

Most of Appalachian's current cadet battalion of 50 students, however, did not enroll for financial reasons.

"Many are looking for a job that's challenging, and they don't want to be stuck behind a desk all day," Smith said. "Some are the sons or daughters of armed forces members."

A few education majors are considering National Guard as a way to augment a teacher's salary, Smith said. "It's harder to get someone who's not familiar with the military to take an unbiased look at us," Smith said.

"Don't stereotype us until you learn about us. If students come away with a good feeling about the Army and learn something about the Army and don't join, that's fine."

Elizabeth Frye - Mutlicultural Beat

Various heads of multicultural organizations meet on a biweekly basis to discuss issues and events affecting their clubs in a gathering referred to as the Presidents' Round Table (PRT).

The last PRT meeting, which occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 27, involved the examination of publicity of multicultural programs.

The Presidents' Round Table was formed during the fall 2000 semester.

The PRT advisor is Margaret G. Rada, the multicultural student development graduate assistant.

Rada said, "These meetings are primarily a network opportunity for leaders from multicultural organizations and underserved populations to come together and share resources."

Rada worked to develop the Presidents' Round Table because "most of the people involved in the multicultural groups are in three or four organizations. In the past, groups had to compete for attracting members from a small pool of people.

"The Presidents' Round Table is a way for people to cooperate and feel like they do not have to choose between this or that," said Rada.

Students present at the Tuesday PRT meeting were Kevin Perkins and Katy Medley, B-GLAAD (Bisexuals, Gays and Lesbians Allied Against Discrimination) co-presidents; Ai Lin Loh, Asian Student Association (ASA) president; Yong Yang, ASA vice president; Anthony White, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. president; Linda Lea, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. president; Tiffany Fant, NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) president; and Ezell Williams, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. president.

The meeting began with icebreakers in order to acquaint everyone.

Each person present gave his/her name, birthday and shoe size. Then the group went on to discuss publicity of events on campus. They talked of places they have seen advertisements on campus, including the university post office, Plemmons Student Union, residence halls, academic buildings, the tunnels, Sanford Mall, and in e-mails. Boone businesses and the passing along of information by word-of-mouth also help clubs promote their happenings. The most commonly used methods of advertising of the ones listed, the students at the meeting said, are fliers in the post office and student union, display cases and contact tables in the student union and e-mail.

The Presidents' Round Table group members brainstormed ways to better advertise across campus in order to attract bigger and more diverse crowds to their events. The need for better publicity seems to be a pressing issue for many of these organizations.

Rada encouraged the students to work together to help each other's groups advertise.

Medley added, "I think it's important to reinforce things. If you know you are going to have an event, five weeks before you're going to have that event say every week, ÔRemember, this day we're having this.'"

The last part of the meeting consisted of the students telling of upcoming programs within their organizations. Fant said that the Appalachian chapter of the NAACP is currently working with the Multicultural Recruitment Task Force to encourage minority students to attend Appalachian State University.

The NAACP is planning activities such as a "cultural expressions dance" and a "dream-cast tournament" for the near future, Fant stated. Fant also said that the Appalachian State University Gospel Choir will soon be attending GospelFest in Charlotte.

Lea said that Zeta Phi Beta will have a contact table set up in the student union Thursday, March 1 and Friday, March 2 to collect dimes for the March of Dimes.

The sorority will be hosting a week of activities the week after Spring Break with events like "Beautify Yourself from the Inside Out."

Lea is also part of the Peer Mentor program, and said that the program will also have a contact table present in the student union on Thursday, March 1 for recruitment purposes.

White told the Presidents' Round Table that last semester his fraternity did a lot of work off campus, so the members are looking to have more activities on campus this semester.

White also takes part in the Men's Service Club (MSC) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The MSC is planning "a program celebrating the African-American culture" for the middle or end of March, White said.

NPHC is working on putting together a step show scheduled on Saturday, April 7 to coincide with Black Awareness Weekend.

Williams' sorority is also preparing a series of events for sometime in March. She said Alpha Kappa Alpha is doing many activities this semester "off the mountain."

Medley said the biggest upcoming event for B-GLAAD is the Drag Show scheduled for Saturday, March 3 at Legends at 8 p.m.

B-GLAAD will also present a program on Thursday, March 8 about traveling safety and "gay-friendly travel spots," Medley said.

A rave at Legends will be held Friday, April 20 to raise money to help fight AIDS.

DUI, vandalism, disorderly conduct atop list of arrests

Sarah Sparks - Police Beat

The Appalachian State University Police Department was busy the weekend of Feb. 23-25 with a DUI arrest, a number of vandalisms and two disorderly conduct charges.

Derrick Ryan Smith, 19, was arrested in the construction area behind Chapell-Wilson Hall on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2:35 a.m., said Sergeant Stacy Sears of the University Police Department.

Smith was taken uptown and charged with a DUI, failure to carry a North Carolina driver's license and possession of an open container.

Smith, not an Appalachian student, was released on a written promise. He will be tried for all three charges on Friday, March 2.

As a safety precaution, Smith was banned from campus, said Sears.

The campus was also plagued with a series of vandalisms this weekend.

The automatic teller machine (ATM) in Trivette Hall was vandalized for the second time on Sunday evening/Monday morning, sometime around or after midnight, said Sears.

An unknown suspect tried to pull the bottom of the teller machine door off, causing damage to the machine. Police have no evidence that the first and second vandalisms of the machine are connected, but they have not ruled out the possibility. Police are asking for any information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Another vandalism took place in the First Presbyterian Church parking lot next to the University Post Office. An unknown perpetrator probably removed the lock by cutting it off of the gate. Police are also asking for information concerning this incident.

A third vandalism occurred in front of D.D. Dougherty Hall, where the suspect(s) tore down part of the construction fence blocking the sidewalk. Many students have made complaints that the fence is in the way of their path to classes, so police believe the act of vandalism was done in retaliation for the inconvenience, said Sears.

Anyone with information concerning the vandalism of the fence should contact the University Police Department at 262-2150.

Police were also called to Newland Hall this weekend after two female students became engaged in an argument.

The students were charged with disorderly conduct, according to Sears.

Duck Pond Field saved from recreation center

Catherine Quill - Business Affairs Beat

With over 400,000 individuals participating in the University Recreation program (URec) last year, officials are making plans for a new recreation center with hopes that it will alleviate overcrowding.

According to Joe R. Carter, director of Recreational Sports, the first stage of the plans included discussion that persisted for several years about adding a new pool to the Broome-Kirk Gymnasium.

The pool is often shut down, sometimes for two to three months, for problems involving leaks and heating coils.

Carter said this proves to be a predicament since the number of students utilizing the pool has increased.

"We have seen a growing number of participants," said Carter, who said about 10,000 individuals use the pool in one year.

As a result of the growing demand, scheduling has become an issue since the pool can only be used for one activity, such as free swim, laps or class activities, at a time.

Carter said officials then discussed building an aquatic center.

"I don't think people would come out just to a pool," said Carter. This finally led officials to make the decision that an entirely new recreation center was needed because of the high volume of URec participation.

Although a new sports arena was recently constructed on campus, the George M. Homes Convocation Center has not relieved the overcrowding in the Broome-Kirk Gymnasium because the facility is not used for recreational use, including the university's popular intramural and club sports programs.

"The (Holmes) Center is not a help for us," said Carter.

"We have 19 club-sports teams," he added. He also said there are 153 intramural basketball teams and between 87 and 97 indoor/outdoor soccer teams.

"They practice where they find the space," he said.

Although the Quinn Center is used for informal use, it is also overcrowded, with about 400-700 people a night using the four basketball courts, according to Carter.

In addition, Broome-Kirk Gymnasium receives about six requests a month for meeting space to accommodate other student activities.

"It's tough to turn students away who need space," said Carter.

Originally, plans called for the new recreation center to be built at the site of Duck Pond Field, near Trivette Hall.

"We weren't happy with that site," said Carter. "That space is used every day by students."

Eventually, Chancellor Borkowski asked for different sites to be examined, which led officials to decide on an area behind Justice Hall.

The new facility will be located between the Quinn Center and the Rivers Street Parking Deck after it is constructed.

Currently, the site survey has been conducted by the contractors and the results from the geo-tech will reveal the type of rock structure present at the site.

Carter speculated that the new facility will include four basketball/volleyball courts, an indoor rock climbing wall, a suspended indoor track and a weight room. The Outdoor Programs Outing Center, now located on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union across from the post office, will be relocated to the center. A smaller auxiliary gym may include a multi-function floor, which would allow students to rollerblade or use it for arena football with the use of artificial turf.

Carter expects the building to be about 100,00 to 117,000 square feet. "We would be pretty comfortable with that, with where we're at (in enrollment)," said Carter.

The facility would also allow for more convenient scheduling.

"It wouldn't be a shared facility with athletics," he said, but added that it will serve some academic needs.

Clyde Robbins, director of Design and Construction, said, "By looking at where we are right now, I would say the project would start a year from April."

Robbins said time is needed for a design to be submitted and for plans to be approved.

For the cost, Robbins said, "We're targeting $19 million."

He expects the construction to last for about 26 months.

L. Nicole Tallent - SGA Beat

Project Nightlife is a Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored plan which, once in effect, should provide a "free, safe ride home" to Appalachian State University students from local clubs and bars.

Still in premature stages of development, Project Nightlife stems from the desire to develop a system of transportation in which students do not put themselves or others in danger due to alcoholic consumption.

The SGA Research Committee produced a paper survey on Project Nightlife in December and January. Survey results showed that an overwhelming majority (77 percent) of Appalachian State students drink alcohol, with over half (51 percent) of them drinking more than once a week.

According to the survey, heavier drinking days typically run from Thursday through Saturday, with an average of five to six drinks consumed.

SGA President Ryan Bolick said, "Students will continue to use alcohol and Project Nightlife will address the fact-based reality of this issue."

According to Bolick, over 47 percent of students surveyed have driven under the influence and 95 percent know someone who has driven under the influence. Survey results also showed that 64 percent of students would benefit from Project Nightlife.

Although the plan is still in premature stages of development, the SGA Project Nightlife Subcommittee of the Student Affairs Committee is hoping to receive up to $8,000 from the N.C. Governor's Institute on Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Robin Ziman, the Institute's project director, said the program will "assist schools in reducing the occurrence of high-risk behaviors associated with alcohol use."

"We do not want to increase student fees, and we may look for corporate sponsorship within the Town of Boone," said Joanna Clary, SGA chief of staff.

The Night Owl AppalCart route (no longer running) and the Mountaineer Escort Service were both developed out of a student need to get to places in later hours of the night, according to Bolick.

However, these projects were confined to on-campus and State Farm destinations, and were both ineffective in meeting the need to go off campus.

Project Nightlife does not yet have official running times and dates. However, based on SGA survey results, it would most likely run Thursdays through Saturdays, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.

When questioned about clubs and bars included in this system, Bolick said SGA would "find out where people are going and where the need is."

Bolick hopes to see Project Nightlife begin a trial shuttle-run by the end of the semester.