Coffee Anyone?

Adam Bennett | The Appalachian
Plemmons Student Union officials held a bid meeting Tuesday for prospective buyers of the old Tradewinds space. Tradewinds closed their doors earlier this month.

Kara Hodge - Senior Staff Writer

At the 2001 Commencement, Appalachian State University officials announced the largest gift ever received in the universityÕs history. Mariam Cannon Hayes of Concord, N. C. has made a $10 million endowment gift to the universityÕs School of Music. Hayes has been a longtime supporter of the arts at Appalachian and higher education, according to a press release.

Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski said, ÒThis unprecedented gift elevates AppalachianÕs School of Music and its programs to the highest possible level of music education and service to the state and will make Appalachian one of the strongest schools of music in the Southeast.Ó

The Appalachian Board of Trustees has named the school the Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music, after recognizing her commitment to students and her involvement in the arts at the university.

School of Music Dean William G. Harbinson said, ÒTheÉ Endowment will provide our students and faculty access to the finest quality of performance instruments; bring noteworthy performers to campus to share their talents; and increase scholarship support making Appalachian more competitive in recruiting top music students in the state and across the Southeast.Ó

Hayes and her late father, Charles A. Cannon founded Cannon Music Camp in 1969, which brings hundreds of high school musicians from across the Southeast to Appalachian for instruction for four weeks. She is also a member of the School of MusicÕs Advisory Board and a former member of the Appalachian Board of Trustees, serving from 1981 - 89. Hayes was a member of the universityÕs board on visitors in the 1960s and 1970s.

She is president and director of The Cannon Foundation in Concord and a trustee of the Charles A. Cannon Charitable Trusts, according to a press release. The Appalachian Medallion is the highest honor given by the university and the Board of Trustees.

It recognizes significant service to the university. Hayes received the award in 1994. The Mariam Cannon Hayes School of Music offers both bachelor and masters degrees in music education and music performance. Other undergraduate degrees include music therapy and music industry studies.

The school houses 50 faculties and 500 music majors and is located in the Broyhill Music Center. The endowment gift will fund needs in the School of Music, both current and future.

Board of Trustees Chairman John A. Allison IV said of the endowment, Ò(It) will forever benefit students by strengthening the nature and scope of music education at Appalachian.Ó

Rush guides prepare for Fall Rush

Adam Bennett - Editor-in-Chief

Rho Chi discussed preparations for Fall Rush events during the final Spring Semester meeting in Sanford Hall on May 6.

Rho Chi is a group of 35 sorority sisters and eight executive members who act as rush counselors and help guide rushees during formal sorority Rush. Part of the organizationÕs tasks include reserving rooms for rush events and planning for transportation to and from last bid parties.

Sorority Sisters must apply to join Rho Chi and only a select number are chosen. Rho Chi members leave their sorority for a semester to join the organization. They must disaffiliate with their sorority while involved with Rho Chi to remain unbiased during the selection process.

This year, sisters must be completely disaffiliated by July 1. To symbolize their commitment to being unbiased during the Rush process, each Rho Chi member must give up her favorite letter shirt to the organization.

Sarah Bursley, Rho Chi executive member, said ÒItÕs like theyÕve joined a completely different sorority from July 1 to Bid Day.Ó

The Center for Student Involvement and Leadership has planned to hire an advisor to handle mainly the Greek organizations. Rho Chi Trainer, Ginny Blitchington said, ÒThe new advisor will give us added support and a better focus on improving the process.Ó

Sorority rush for Fall 2001 will be held Sunday, Aug. 19 through Saturday, Aug. 25. All applications for Rush must be submitted to the Greek Office by Friday, Aug. 17.

Contact tables will be set up by the post office, Plemmons Student Union, Welborn Cafeteria, and Trivette Hall before Rush begins. Rho Chi members will be available at the tables with Rush information and to answer questions. For more information, conact the Greek Office at 262-2525.

2001 Rho Chi members include: Julia Bernatovitz, Ginny Blitchington (trainer), Sarah Bursley, Carrie Gwin, Brynne Johnson, Tricia McDonnell, Brooke Yoho, Erin Alba, Lindsey Atalese, Tabitha Call, Ali Callahan, Lauren Cole, Kate Costigan, Natalie Christman, Erin Davenport, Jenny Deere, Jenni Duensing, Jill English, Sara Jane Gibson, Melissa Geraghty, Marlee Glass, Brooks Hamrick, Liz Hanson, Ashlyn Huffman, Jayme Hynoski, Heather Laws, Kari Lucas, Janet McNairy, Peyton Meyers, Kelly Ollis, Angela Palmieri, Shannon Pecinich, Paige Posey, Katherine Roach, Corey Robinson, Beth Sasso, Lindsey Smith, Erin Spencer, Amy Todd, Stephanie Vacendak, Amber Watson, and Courtney Willard.

Craig Cox - Staff Writer

Local supporters of ÒThe Justice for MumiaÓ vandalized the George M. Holmes Convocation Center the day before graduation. Approximately 9:30 p.m. on May 11, ASU Police received a call reporting persons around the Convocation Center defacing the property.

The parking lot side of the Convocation Center suffered damages of $2,030, with writing on the sidewalk, lampposts, and adjacent grassy areas.

The damage was writing and painting stating, ÒJustice for MumiaÓ and ÒFree Mumia.Ó Most of the writing was done in chalk, while a grass and dirt section was spay-painted. Sgt. Stacy Sears of the ASU Police said, Òwhile the students have a right to voice opinions, weÕre also concerned about the defacing of university property.Ó

Six individuals were apprehended near the stadium and charged in the incident with Kevin Kenney arrested on the charge of resisting a public official. Two of the six involved were students, and have been referred to Student Judicial Affairs.

Kenney is facing charges from both Judicial Affairs and the city of Boone, but was released on a written promise. The four non-students have been banned from campus for a period of one year, and violation of the ban would result in a 2nd degree trespassing charge.

The individuals involved in the incident are part of the group Rise Up, which meets locally on Thursday nights. Three persons including Kevin Kenney met with Chief Gunther Dorr last week to discuss both why the group had defaced university property and their displeasure with the treatment of Patrol Officer Philip Trivette and Sgt. D. Dugger.

The group Rise Up is sympathetic to political prisoners, specifically the prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. Kevin Kenney said, ÒWe were trying to get information about Mumia and the cause to the families visiting for graduation in a non-intrusive and non-violent way.Ó

Kenney said the group is in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal because like many political prisoners, Òhe is innocent.Ó Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former journalist for the Black Panthers, was convicted for the murder of Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner and subsequently sentenced to die. At the time of the murder, Mumia was a prominent journalist and radio personality in the city.

Twenty years later, students at ASU continue to protest what they feel is an injustice. Referring to the US legal system Kenney said, ÒWe must standup and question justice, discussion between community and police must improve, and freedom of speech must stay free.Ó The group has been involved in several other altercations with police that have resulted in citations and arrests.

Most recently, several arrest were made at the Boone Staples, where persons from the group were protesting. Despite being arrested for the Convocation incident, Kenney maintains, Òit is important to get information out about the injustices taking place.Ó

The University Police and Rise Up have come to terms for now. Damages from the Convocations Center have been cleaned.

Elon College to become Elon University

Adam Bennett - Editor-in-Chief

Elon College recently announced the plan for transition to Elon University June 1. As part of the transition, the current city of Elon College, N.C. will change to Elon, N.C.

University status comes after a strategic planning and 47 million dollar capitol campaign. The campaign will help future advancement endeavors of the university, including technology programs and growth of current colleges.

With 4100 students and 45 majors offered, college officials feel Elon relates more to universities rather than colleges.

As the third largest college in the state, Elon College took Òa serious look at (the college) to see if we are ready for university status,Ó said David Hibbard, Director of the News Bureau. ÒWe feel that we are.Ó

Chris Baucom - SGA Beat

Appalachian State University students now have a medium through which they can communicate about classes and professors.

The InsiderÕs Guide at www.appleprof.com will allow students to rate their classes and professors, as well as find out how other students rate them.

The Web site has been created for students by the Academic Integrity Committee and its advisor, Al Alschuler. According to Patrick Sullivan, a member of the Academic Integrity Committee, the Web site is important for several reasons. Sullivan pointed out that it will help students pick a learning style that best suits them.

They can also check out class requirements for specific professors on the Web site. ÒStudents can tailor their class load based on the prior experience of their classmates,Ó said Sullivan.

Sullivan and Ashley Goad, a member of the Academic Integrity Committee, wanted to make it clear that the system was not only to rate professors. Professors will be rated along with the class itself. ÒThis site is not intended to bash professors,Ó said Goad.

The site has many features for students. A section entitled ÒThe InsiderÕs Guide to Getting AÕs at Your CollegeÓ contains the ratings of other students for classes at Appalachian. It also all contains forms for students to fill out new ratings for classes they have already taken. The Web site states that this function, which is one of many, has two goals.

The first goal is to help students learn more efficiently, and the second is to encourage professors to improve their courses and teaching. There are currently 16 courses listed on the site for Appalachian. Students can look at othersÕ ratings and add comments.

From this system students can get a very detailed look at the style of teaching a professor has, and see what they will be required to do in a class. Appleprof.com has many other features to inform students. The features are all intended to make college life easier on students.

The Academic Integrity committee is especially excited about the InsiderÕs Guide because students will no longer have to go into classes blindly. ÒWe want to have comments on good and bad teachers included,Ó Goad said.

Goad and Sullivan, along with other members of the Academic Integrity Committee, would like to invite all students to check out this site before the next registration. They believe it will help students build a schedule they will enjoy.

Brian Stevens - Staff Writer

After passing a well-needed bond referendum Appalachian has more than 84 million dollars to spend on construction.

With such a large sum of cash in their pockets Dr. Clyde Robbins, the head of university construction, is very enthusiastic as to what the future might hold, ÒWeÕve seen major changes come to the campus but what is in the works will dwarf what we have seen.Ó

Dr. Robbins is referring to the master plan, a ten-year construction plan that has Appalachian leading the way into the future.

According to Robbins, over 100 million dollars will be spent in the next three to five years on construction. We have only see the very tip of this iceberg in the 2000-2001 school year, construction on the campus will continue throughout the summer.

Many of the areas under construction and renovation right now will be finished during the summer. By the time we reach next fall, many changes will have come to Appalachian.

Much of the student union was closed off last year due to heavy construction. There will be much more for students next year in the Student union.

Students will be able to spend time after class at the new sports bar in Plemmons Student Union. The Blue Ridge Cafe will be renovated once again into a deli sandwich shop. Tradewinds will not be here next year but in itÕs place there will be another coffee shop.

Traffic was a major problem on the Appalachian campus during the 2000-2001 school year. The university will be taking many steps to alleviate some of the problems students encountered this year.

State Farm parking lot and Raley Hall parking lot will be rebuilt. There will also be a new parking lot on Hill Street next year. Howard Street will be a multilane road next year, relieving some of the traffic.

Groundwork will be laid down for the new parking deck. Many of the buildings across campus are receiving renovations. Winkler Hall will receive new elevators and many other buildings will have their heating, air conditioning and venting refurbished.

The George M. Holmes Convocation Center was opened last year but it is still having work done. With the convocation centers opening day pushed back further and further, many students wondered if they would get to see the inside before the end of the year.

Luckily construction was completed in time for Appalachian to host Carolina in basketball. Due to the haste which was taken to finish construction, the convocation centers roof sprung a leak, damaging AppalachianÕs newly finished basketball court.

Over the summer the convocation centerÕs roof will be fixed and the basketball court will be refinished. In addition landscaping of the exterior will begin and be complete by the end of the summer.

There are still many more changes in the works over the summer for the Appalachian campus. Much of the groundwork for some of AppalachianÕs major undertakings such as the new dinning hall, the new workout facility, and the new library will be planned out this summer.

Construction is not scheduled to begin on many of the new facilities in the near future.

Suzanne Lakey | The Appalachian
Part of the construction taking place on campus this summer includes the parking deck being built on Rivers street between the Kerr Scott and CAP buildings.

May is Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

Kristin Davis - Staff Writer

In a statewide campaign to promote education and awareness on teen pregnancy, Governor Mike Easley has declared May as Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month.

The goal is to advocate, support and implement programs to prevent adolescent pregnancy and actively seeks the involvement of parents, youth, teachers, spiritual leaders and community members.

The Adolescent Health Committee (AHC) sponsors Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month in Watauga County. AHC supplies Watauga County Library with books, tapes and curricula on a variety of topics to assist parents and their children on issues of teen health and development.

AHC is also sponsoring At Fifteen: Teenagers in North Carolina, a photo exhibit of teens by Dr. John Moses. Moses is a pediatrician and documentary photographer. The exhibit portrays the private reflections, social times and play times of teens. Community members are invited to participate in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month by viewing this photo tribute to teenagers.

The exhibit is showing through the end of May at the Mazie Jones Art Gallery at the Jones House Community Center on King Street. The campaign on teen pregnancy prevention began in 1991. AHC, formerly known as the Watauga County Coalition for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy was established in 1987 to decrease the number of unwanted teen pregnancies.

The campaign seems to be working. In 1999, the county saw only 47 teen pregnancies, the lowest in the state, and down from 127 in 1985.