CrossroadÕs Coffeehouse to open fall semester

Adam Bennett - Editor-in-Chief

The door to CrossroadÕs will be open in the fall.

The closing of Tradewinds in May had officials rushing to find a successor to the space in PlemmonsÕ Student Union. The small family-owned business from Raleigh decided not to renew the lease after five years because of personal business reasons.

Over 100 requests were sent out to vendors in Greensboro and Charlotte. The vendors were selected from a list of North Carolina coffeehouses at www.smellthecoffee.com. The bid process was also open to any coffeehouse or full-service restaurant owner who has had a full-service operation in North Carolina for at least two years.

Four companies attended the pre-bid meeting on May 22 where the request for proposal (RFP) was discussed. This included exact work parameters, financial arrangements, and award criteria used by the selection committee to choose the business.

Three local businesses that submitted bid proposals included details about their current business and future plans for the new ASU coffeehouse. These businesses were KoJayÕs Coffeehouse in Blowing Rock, JacksonÕs Java in Charlotte, and Red Onion CafeÕs ÒThe Green BeanÓ in Boone.

The selection committee, which included staff and students, awarded the space to the Red Onion Cafe. Ò(The committee) selected the one that we thought would do the best job for students and create the best atmosphere for a coffeehouse,Ó said Dave Robertson, director for student programs.

However, Dr. Gregory Blimling, vice chancellor for student development, and the committee decided to change the name. Last week, a survey with almost 50 name suggestions was handed out to students and staff around the student union. Of the names, the ten most popular were voted on in committee. ÒCrossroadÕs CoffeehouseÓ was selected as the new name. The name will be followed by the following slogan: ÒWhere coffee and culture connect.Ó

ÒThe consensus of the committee was they liked their coffee the best and that was probably the main consideration in selecting them,Ó said Robertson. Crossroads will be using a coffee roaster from Durham called Counter Culture Coffee.

The beans they buy and roast are grown in an environmentally sensitive manner, Òwhich is important because coffee plantations generally are located in tropical areas where itÕs important to be mindful of the reduction of the tropical rainforests,Ó noted Robertson. According to Counter Culture, the health and rights of the workers are also looked after on the plantations.

ÒIt is a place to bring people together. ThatÕs what happens at a crossroads,Ó said Robertson.

New chairs have been chosen to match the tables in the space and the couches will be recovered. Crossroads Coffeehouse is slated to be open by the first day of school.

Kristin Davis Staff Writer

In an effort to promote diversity at ASU, the office of Multicultural Student Development is producing three videos for training and recruitment tools. The videos feature the discussions of underrepresented ASU alumni, students and their parents on university life in Boone.

Two of the videos will be used for staff and faculty diversity training. The videos allow faculty and staff to understand the voices, feelings and challenges of diverse students, according to Tracey Wright, Director of Multicultural Student Development. ÒIt will give them new knowledge that will be very beneficial,Ó she said.

The recruitment video is geared towards minorities, as well as disabled students. ÒIt will hopefully dispel the myths about Appalachian and show students and parents that there are diverse students here,Ó said Wright. In North Carolina, ASU ranks last of eight universities in diversity. However, Wright is hopeful. The honest dialogues and efforts to unify will be profitable, according to Wright.

ÒEveryone benefits from having a diverse campus,Ó said Wright. ÒAmerica is becoming more and more diverse, and we must prepare individuals for the work place.Ó ASU has a 5.16 percent minority Ðhopefully, a number that will increase this fall. ÒIt would be great to reach 10 percent or more,Ó said Wright.

The recruitment video will give prospective individuals an opportunity to hear from students. Those appearing in the videos were given a list of open-ended questions. Categories include life at ASU, life in the community and how students chose ASU. ÒOverall my experiences here have been pretty good,Ó said senior Erin Hill, a participant in the videos. ÒWe hope to expand everyoneÕs outlook on people of different races and cultures. It is vital for progress.Ó

The videos are near completion. They are being produced by Media Services and have been filmed all around campus. After taping is complete, Wright must take segments from the interviews to incorporate into the final product, with the help of Barbara Daye, dean of students and associate vice chancellor for student development.ÒThe videos are the brainchild of Barbara Daye,Ó Wright said.

Other programs to enhance diversity at ASU have been planned for the upcoming academic year. Anwar Cruter, Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Development is in the process of developing a calendar of events, including a diversity and speaker series. The Office of Admissions is enhancing their present strategies on recruitment. ÒIÕm looking forward to seeing the rewards from their efforts,Ó said Wright.

Students, faculty and staff interested in diversity at ASU are encouraged to stop by the multicultural office in Plemmons Student Union or the Equity Office in I.G. Greer.

Jen Wysmuller - Staff Writer

As one of the premiere music camps in the Southeast, Cannon Music Camp is currently celebrating its 33rd year as a reknowned institution.

Offering experiences in Orchestra, Band, Jazz, Chamber Music, and Choir, the focus remains in the intensive college preparatory work for performance and music theory.

The hills are alive with the sound of Cannon Music Camp. Cannon Music Camp (CMC), now in its 33rd year at Appalachian State University, offers students in grades eight through 12 preparatory work in performance and music theory.

Students have come from all over the East Coast as well as California and Germany to participate in the camp. Recognized as one of the most comprehensive musical instruction courses in the Southeast, students take part in the ensemble experience through Orchestra, Band, Jazz, Chamber Music and Choir.

Karen Hewey is the associate camp director of CMC and helps to oversee the program. ÒThis summer we have 204 excited high school and middle school students ranging in age from 12 to 18 making music for the month of July. Each one of those students is in a music theory class five days a week and all are performing in ensembles that will perform several times during their duration here,Ó she said.

She went further to say that the students Òtake away advice from some of the best studio teachers across the country. They all have lessons with highly qualified teachers. They take away the wonderful music they have made with their ensembles and the great friendships that they have made during the four weeks,Ó Hewey said.

Karen Coffey, secretary of Cannon Music Camp, is celebrating her 7th camp year with CMC. She has met students that have followed in the tradition of their family and they too have come to spend their summer at CMC.

ÒRight now, we have 204 campers and we are in our 33rd year with some of the campers here as second and third generation students. Some of our campersÕ parents have been here, along with their aunts or uncles,Ó she said. She also added that she Òenjoys working for Cannon Music Camp very much.Ó

Jessica Dentner, from Durham NC, is in her first year at Cannon Music Camp. ÒMy best experience here has been the Jazz Vocal Program. IÕve learned a lot and have had a lot of fun,Ó she said.

Logan Sheets, in his 2nd year at Cannon Music Camp, hails from Lexington, NC. He explained that Òthe reason IÕve come to Cannon Music Camp, is not only is it one of the best music camps in the East, but [IÕve come] for the environment. Not only the scenery but the friends and people are accepting, and fun to be around,Ó he said.

CMC Director of Music Dr. Steve Hopkins is working with the program for his first year and has found it to be Òa lot harder and a lot easier than [he] thought it would be,Ó he said.

ÒYou really donÕt know how good it can be until youÕre in charge. The counselors, head-staff, secretaries and faculty all do such good work and it gets the job done. ItÕs like a well-oiled machine,Ó he said.

With the program providing students with college preparation, Hopkins sees it as a Ògood chance for students to see if they want to make music for life,Ó he said.

Students who are interested in learning more about CMC can contact Dr. Steve Hopkins, Director or Ms. Karen Coffey, secretary at the School of Music at 828-262-4091.