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Paul
Sherar - Chief Photographer
Health
Services takes steps against anthrax
COMING
THURSDAY
An in-depth look at measures
University Post Office officials
plan to impent to combat
the threat of anthrax
Robyn
Dailey - Business Affairs Beat
Health
Services is taking precautions and outlining procedures to contest the
ongoing threat of anthrax, said Dr. Patricia Geiger, director of Health
Services at Appalachian State University.
“The most important thing we’re doing is to stay informed,”
said Geiger.
She said the clinic has been receiving almost daily updates from the
North Carolina State Heath Department and the Center for Disease Control
(CDC) in Atlanta.
Conditions are changing daily in the United States, and Heath Services
is trying to adapt to those changes, said Geiger.
“We’re undergoing a whole new experience in this country,”
said Geiger.
She said Health Services has sent its infection control officer to a
statewide meeting and a recent national CDC meeting in Atlanta.
“One of the biggest problems with this whole thing … has been
misinformation,” said Geiger.
She said Health Services has decided against launching an awareness
campaign on the campus, but the staff will try to keep students informed.
Health Services is, however, keeping medical staff educated and prepared
for any situation, Geiger stressed.
“We don’t want to cause panic, but at the same time we want
people to be aware,” said Geiger.
Geiger said Health Services has not faced threats of possible bio-terrorism
in Boone, and to her knowledge, there has been no exposure of anthrax
in the area.
She said Health Services is not equipped to handle samples of anthrax
in a lab.
University Post Office personnel are aware of the potential danger of
the bacteria being in the mail, and Health Services is determining appropriate
procedures for mail handling and potential attacks, said Geiger.
“They’re [University Post Office employees] our highest risk
people on campus,” she said.
The guidelines state any suspicious envelope or package and any potentially
infected person should be reported first to local law enforcement officials.
Anyone who thinks they may have come in contact with the chemical substance
should shower with soap and water as soon as possible, according to
the CDC.
The CDC guidelines make it clear all incidents must be reported to the
State Public Health Laboratory and then the FBI immediately.
Geiger said the university is prepared to handle any potential situations
and the Health Services staff is staying vigilant for any warning signs.
“We’re just trying not to feed the fire of panic.”
SGA
ready for vote on Liberty bill
Sarah
Newell - SGA Beat
The
Student Government Association (SGA) Senate will vote tonight on a piece
of legislation calling for the non-renewal of Appalachian State University’s
athletic contract with Liberty University.
Liberty Chancellor Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell, said on “The 700 Club,”
a Christian television show, that pagans, abortionists, feminists, homosexuals,
the American Civil Liberties Union and the People for the American Way
are partly to blame for the attacks.
If the senate passes the resolution of support, the body will join the
Faculty Senate, which passed a motion last week recommending that Appalachian
administrators sever ties with Liberty University as soon as current
athletic contracts with the school expire.
Thus far, SGA and the Faculty Senate are the only two organizations
on campus that have gotten involved in the debate over Liberty University.
No administrators have made statements about the controversy.
“No other university has gone public and made any statement against
Liberty that I’m aware of,” said Roachel Laney, director of
athletics.
SGA off-campus senator, Mark J. Miller, is opposed to the legislation.
“I believe, and represent my constituents, when I say that diversity
should include everyone, including the conservative Christian values.
To promote diversity, we should not play a team because of values. Sporting
events shouldn’t be politicized,” said Miller.
“We’re being hypocritical about our views on diversity if
we criticize the more conservative opinion,” Miller continued.
Paul Funderburk, an off-campus senator, and co-author of the Liberty
legislation, disagrees with Miller’s sentiments. “This is
a student issue, not a political one, because it directly attacks our
students,” said Funderburk. “Athletics are our only direct
monetary connection with Liberty University, and their school benefits
financially from our relationship with them.”
“The purpose of this legislation is not to use athletes as political
tools; it is to stand up and protect minority students who were attacked
not only by statements made by Falwell, but Liberty University as well.”
Paul
Sherar - Chief Photographer
Boone
attorney Dr. Karla Rusch gives legal advice to ASU students each Thursday.
Local
attorney offers free
legal advice to ASU students
Kristina
Egger - Chancellor/Student Development Beat
Free
legal advice is available for all students in the Student Judicial Affairs
office on the second floor of Plemmons Student Union every Thursday
from 1-3 p.m.
At the recommendation of Dr. Gregory Blimling, vice chancellor for Student
Development and the Student Government Association (SGA) last fall,
the university contracted Boone attorney Karla Rusch to advise students
on legal matters.
“My role at the university is to offer free legal advice and consultation
to all students enrolled at Appalachian. It is written into my contract
that I can’t represent students in court, but if necessary, I can
refer them to lawyers in the area,” said Rusch.
Rusch has lived in Boone for the past eight years. When she is not doing
work for the university, she is an attorney at the Appalachian Community
Law Center, a non-profit organization that provides legal aid for the
less fortunate.
The legal clinic at Appalachian is not affiliated with Student Judicial
Affairs, she said. Rusch said she felt it important that students know
“everything discussed in the office is completely confidential.”
Rusch
sees approximately three students every week. The most common questions
students bring into her office revolve around landlord-tenant disagreements,
minor criminal infractions and personal injury cases. Rusch said students
interested in law also come to her to discuss pursuing a career as an
attorney.
Judith Haas, assistant director for Student Judicial Affairs, said the
legal clinic is very student oriented.
“Karla is great at providing advice and guidance for students.
What many students don’t realize is that hiring a lawyer isn’t
always necessary and Karla is happy to advise them as to the appropriate
measures,” said Haas.
Students are not required to make an appointment for consultation. Walk-ins
are welcome.
As far as future plans, Haas and Rusch are currently planning educational
workshops for the spring semester.
“We plan to do some educational workshops in correlation with [SGA’s]
rental fair this spring. We will cover what it means to be a renter,
as well as the importance of reading the small print in contracts because
that is what Karla deals with the most,” said Haas.
Haas said the only problem she sees with the program is too few students
know about its existence. She said she welcomes any and all student
feedback as to how the program could be improved.
“I think it is a great service for students, and I am glad that
we are able to provide it.”
Nate
Grubbs - The Appalachian
Senior Nancy McRae
(left) and sophomore Katie Armfield go over class material during a
tutoring session Friday afternoon.
Spending targeted
due to budget cuts
Tutorial Services implements steps to stabilize funds
Kristin
Davis - Academic Affairs Beat
Tutorial Services
has enacted several measures to curb expenditures in light of the recent
budget cuts handed down by Gov. Mike Easley, said Wesley Waugh, tutorial
service coordinator.
“We’ve been handed no official cuts from Academic Affairs.
It’s more of a cooperative effort to limit our spending,”
said Waugh. He said Tutorial Services usually spends more than it has
been allocated but has always been accommodated by Dr. Harvey Durham,
vice chancellor for Academic Affairs.
Appalachian State University was forced to implement a 2.3 percent budget
reduction late last month. An additional 4 percent cut was executed
just two weeks later, trimming an additional $3.5 million from the institution’s
state-allocated
$84.9 million budget.
State officials deemed the latest cut only temporary, touting it a one-year
surcharge, said Durham during an Oct. 11 meeting with college deans,
department chairs and faculty members.
At press time Durham was unavailable for further comment.
Actions taken to alleviate spending include a freeze on hiring any additional
tutors during the current semester, no new tutoring requests after Nov.
9 and a cap on further hours for tutors. Waugh said these measures ensure
tutoring is
available in the spring. “We’re pacing ourselves.”
Recent figures showed Tutorial Services spent 25 percent over its university-mandated
allotment in September, Waugh said. With a new facility, tutoring has
grown, resulting in an increased amount of spending. “We are stabilizing
rather than cutting funds,” said Waugh.
Despite the monetary cutbacks, Waugh said he sees no long-term effects
on students. Those who are proactive will have already obtained a tutor
by Nov. 9, said Waugh. “With the semester more than half over,
we feel like those who come in now probably haven’t done the work.
We don’t want to be a ‘bail-me-out’ resource.”
With 105 tutors on payroll, slots are always becoming available, said
Waugh. “Those who continue to come by will get a tutor. Persistence
will pay off.”
It is also important for those who do obtain a tutor to show up for
their appointments, said Waugh. When students do not show up, it takes
up a spot and still costs tutorial services.
“We have several hundred no-shows per semester,” Waugh said.
Students unable to obtain a tutor may take advantage of Department Help
Labs, said Waugh. While the labs are not as catered to the individual
needs of students, they are always available, he added.
Among others, labs are available in math, statistics, accounting, economics
and physics and are staffed by tutors, graduate assistants and faculty
members.
“There will always be resources there for people who need them,”
Waugh said.
Poll: increase
in racial profiling anticipated
Chris Bohle -
Multicultural Beat
Although it has
been seven weeks now since the World Trade Center towers went up in
a terrible cloud of smoke and dust, the effects of the terrorist strikes
continue to hit home.
The attacks have caused the issue of racial profiling to resurface in
many areas, including Appalachian State University, where there have
been a number of alleged profiling/discrimination accounts.
In a poll conducted Sunday by The Appalachian, 34 Appalachian students
from a range of ethnic backgrounds were asked about racial profiling
and what they had heard about the issue on campus.
In the study, racial profiling was defined as “when police officers
stop/question members of certain ethnic groups because they believe
these groups are more likely to commit criminal acts.”
Eighty-eight percent said they believed racial discrimination and profiling
would experience a sharp increase due to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,
while 74 percent had heard of an instance where profiling and/or hate
crimes had taken place on the Appalachian campus, according to results
of the study.
“A teacher told our class that an Arabic student was jumped and
beaten up at the Quinn,” said freshman Alan Gibson.
“Several people told me that a Muslim guy was attacked in one of
the tunnels [under River Street],” said freshman Klara Vinson.
Appalachian State University Police Department officials have not confirmed
either of the incidents, but many students are still voicing their concern
over the issue.
“I feel that anybody that discriminates [against a minority] because
of the attack should be punished severely,” said sophomore Evan
Richardson.
Racial profiling became a hot topic two years ago when a Gallup Poll
on black/white relations revealed that profiling had become widespread
across the nation, with four out of every 10 African Americans polled
saying they had been victims of racial profiling on the roads.
Some students said they feel the country needs to realize this war is
not on an entire ethnic group but just a small group of terrorists,
and the terrorists should not be viewed as models for their entire nationality.
“I feel that the real target here should be Osama [bin Laden],
not his whole ethnic heritage,” said freshman Joshua Stevenson.
“We should not hold all of the Afghanistan people accountable for
the acts of several men.”
Most participants in the study said they agree now is the time when
the whole nation must come together, regardless of color or creed and
use diversity as a strength.
“Now more than ever, we must realize that we are all American at
heart no matter what color we are,” said sophomore Elliotte Chandler.
Council approves
trio of new clubs
David
Forbes - Clubs/Organizations Beat
Club Council approved
three new organizations, H.O.P.E, the Student Athletic Advisory and
the ASU Sweethearts, earlier this month, making each an official club
at Appalachian State University.
A process that reviewed each clubs’ rules, membership and purpose,
ensuring the organizations were in compliance with rules detailed in
the Appalachian State University Guidelines for Student Organizations,
preceded the council’s approval of the three clubs.
H.O.P.E, “Helping Our People Everyday,” is the Appalachian
branch of a larger service organization with chapters in southern Florida,
Colorado, New Jersey and California. The organization seeks to “make
it possible for anyone to help [in service projects] regardless of the
hours they have available.”
Jeremy Spielman, H.O.P.E. president, said the purpose of the club is
also to “establish relationships not only among [club] members
but with the larger community as well.”
The Student Athletic Advisory is a representative group of student athletes’
interests, which currently has over 40 members. “We aim to address
issues each team is dealing with by talking to ASU officials and other
methods,” said president Jamie King.
The final club approved was the ASU Sweethearts, a female service organization
“dedicated to enhancing Boone and Appalachian State,” said
president Shalonda Goodwin. The Sweethearts also have historic ties
to the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
“It was a long process, with a lot of red tape,” said Spielman
of the approval process. Each potential organization had to meet a battery
of requirements, including paperwork, a membership of at least 10 people,
a faculty advisor, a unique goal not already served by another club
and a written constitution.
“We have to make sure that each club is consistent with the vision
and values of ASU, and that there’s sufficient student interest,”
said Julie Somppi, assistant director of the Center for Student Involvement
and Leadership and advisor to Club Council.
Each club’s constitution goes before the Constitutions Committee
of Club Council. It is checked for a variety of articles, ranging from
clear duties for officers, membership requirements and a standard meeting
time.
“They have to prove a need for their organization on campus. Most
of the constitutions that come before us are either really good or really
bad. Once I approve the constitution, it goes to the entire council,
where every member reads it,” said Deanna Dutting, vice president
of Club Council and head of the Constitutions Committee.
“The council was quite nice, especially when changes had to be
made to our Constitution,” said Goodwin.
Once every member becomes familiar with the constitution of the club
being considered, it comes to a simple majority vote in Club Council.
If passed, the club becomes official.
“We always want to give students the opportunity to be part of
the organizations on campus,” said Somppi.
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