|
|
| Dec. 2, 2004 | |||||||||
|
Other sites of interest: Student Government Association Center for Student Involvement & Leadership Appalachian & the Community Together Multicultural Student Development |
Peacock names Robinson interim athletics director Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock appointed Dr. Linda K. Robinson as interim athletics director one day after Director of Athletics Roachel J. Laney officially resigned, according to an Appalachian State University press release yesterday. Robinson will fill the position immediately. “In this time of transition, Appalachian is indeed fortunate that someone of Dr. Robinson’s caliber is willing to step in as interim director of athletics,” Peacock said in the press release. “Linda has working knowledge of the university through her 20-year professional investment in athletics and human relations, as well as extensive experience with the NCAA and the Southern Conference.” Robinson is currently the director of the Equity Office, but she has a strong background in sports. During her 1984-97 tenure as women’s basketball head coach, Robinson posted 236 victories, a school record. She also led five different teams to the NCAA Tournament. Since retiring as head basketball coach, Robinson worked exclusively in the Equity Office. She was the assistant director from 1997 to November 2000, when she was named acting director. Robinson was promoted to full-time director in May 2002.
Peacock said Robinson’s leadership experience was an important factor in the decision. “She is a seasoned administrator on our campus, and she is eminently qualified to provide strong leadership as we move forward,” he said. Robinson received her bachelor of arts degree in health, physical education and recreation from Mars Hill College in 1978. She earned her master’s degree from Appalachian State in 1979. Robinson also holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on equity and diversity. With the position of interim athletics director filled, Peacock said the university can now look toward forming a search committee. He said the committee will be formed quickly, possibly within a week. The committee will be responsible for conducting a national search for a permanent athletics director. “I anticipate that the committee will move quickly,” Peacock said. “Given the reputation of our athletics program and our university, I believe the committee will receiver a large number of qualified applicants.” Robinson was unavailable for comment as of press time. The Boone Police Department made an arrest last Tuesday in connection with the rape of a 19-year old Appalachian State University student. Javier Soliz Rivera, a 46-year-old resident of Boone, was arrested and charged with second-degree rape, according to a Boone Police press release. The assault was reported on Nov. 20. The victim, whose identity has not been released, said she had fallen asleep in a residence on Oak Street. When she woke up, she said someone was having sex with her, according to the press release. Capt. William Greene of the Boone Police said he could not give much information, as the case is pending trial soon. However, he could elaborate on whether Rivera and the victim had a prior history. “I can tell you that they did not,” Greene said. Rivera has been charged before with several different crimes, including assault on a female, assault with a deadly weapon, second-degree trespass, communicating threats and shoplifting. Rivera will stand trial Jan. 5 in the Watauga County District Court. SGA reports reveal campus issues Top student concerns at Appalachian State University include traffic and parking, Student Government Association (SGA) Director of Internal Affairs Corwyn D. Sergent said. SGA senators amass student opinion through monthly constituency reports. Senators give completed reports to the Internal Affairs committee, who analyze the reports and passes them on to proper SGA committees. Several issues have surfaced as matters of concern for Appalachian students. “The main problem we’ve had with the reports in the past has been differentiating between what are needs and what are wants,” Sergent said. Parking and traffic have typically been standout issues, Sergent said. Students have expressed concern over the lack of parking, higher citation fees and being towed on campus. Senior psychology major Jessica S. Gurvis said getting from one place to another in Boone is frustrating. “What should take five minutes to get from point A to point B can sometimes take 20 minutes,” Gurvis said. Sergent said many students believe the crosswalk on Rivers Street is dangerous and have requested increased traffic control during heavy traffic times. SGA Director of Student Affairs Matthew D. Whisenant and University Police are currently looking at this issue, Sergent said. Students have also requested additional guest parking at University Highlands apartments on N.C. Highway 105. After the recent court decision declaring University Highlands exempt from Watauga County property taxes, this might be possible, Sergent said. Some students have requested that full-time Food Services employees receive a complimentary shift meal. Others want healthier food choices on campus and better wages, Sergent said. “The fact that students are actually caring about what the employees and staff get paid makes me feel a little better about the human race,” Sergent said. Smokers in Lovill Residence Hall disagree with a recent resident advisors’ decision forbidding smoking within 25 feet of the building and the ability of resident advisors to formulate policy without consulting residents, Sergent said. Other concerns include the request for a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Center, more feminine hygiene product dispensers in rest rooms, a comprehensive online apartment guide and a Web site with every professor’s syllabus. Sergent said he is pleased with the constituency reports this year. “I’m very lucky to have a committed Senate comprised of mostly first-year senators,” he said. Sergent hopes to see “a slew” of legislation written in spring. SGA has also sent senators to gather input from clubs and organizations through Operation Outreach. “We have visited over 30 clubs, and the feedback I have been getting from the senators has been positive,” SGA Liaison Director Leila H. Ghannad said.
McAnulty a 'Who's Who' in teaching An Appalachian State University assistant professor was recently named a “Who’s Who” in the teaching world. Dr. Lisa S. McAnulty, assistant professor in the department of family and consumer science, received the Who’s Who Award for teaching “I think it definitely is indicative of the hard work that I do put into teaching and to have a former Who’s Who student select me was an honor,” McAnulty said. Every two years Who’s Who Among American Teachers publishes a book highlighting a unique collection of teachers and professors who have made a difference in their students’ lives. McAnulty said that the student who nominated her had to write a letter describing what ways she had influenced their lives either academically or just by encouraging them to go beyond the usual expectations of a student. Each student is allowed only one nomination in their collegiate career. “She is a remarkable researcher who brings that thirst for knowledge to the classroom,” family and consumer science department Chair Dr. Sammie Garner said. “She is adept at engaging her students in learning.” McAnulty, who has been a part of the Appalachian family since 1999, said she thought long and hard about why she was nominated. “Knowing the student and the fact that she was a graduate student I really think she saw how we tie in the research we do into our classroom teaching and was able to get to know me outside academia,” McAnulty said. “There are generally a few students that you just feel comfortable enough or they feel comfortable enough with you that the mentoring goes outside the classroom setting, I think that really impacted her to realize that teaching doesn’t just stop in the classroom.” McAnulty said she received a letter in the mail informing her that she had been nominated and chosen to be recognized. “It definitely encourages you to strive to do your best,” McAnulty said. “It was just a nice award to come at a perfect time in terms of not ever knowing if you are truly reaching students or not. Just to even have one student recognize you for what you try to do is important.” McAnulty encourages students to nominate professors that have impacted their academic and everyday lives. “It really does mean a lot in terms of just getting that mutual respect that is out there,” she said. “You get recognized a lot for your scholarly work but a lot of times people don’t quite see what you do in the classroom setting. The recognition from the teaching standpoint meant a lot.” Her colleagues are thrilled that McAnulty was honored with such a prestigious award. “We celebrate the award she deserves with her. We are pleased to see her get this mark of distinction and we are delighted to see the recognition,” Garner said. Public hearing set to discuss parking The Boone Town Council will hold a public hearing to evaluate changes made earlier this year to alleviate traffic concerns in town. Specifically, the public hearing will address issues concerning cut-throughs in some of Boone’s residential neighborhoods. The hearing is slated for Dec. 14 at 5 p.m. in the town council chambers. Director of Public Works Blake Brown said the community meeting was planned when the changes were originally made. The meeting was to be held for evaluation 60-90 days after the changes were made. Eggers said the changes have come with mixed reactions from citizens. For every complaint, Eggers said he has also received a show of support. Town council member Graydon Eggers said the meeting is open to all citizens, including Appalachian State University students. Eggers said the town council looks heavily at what the public has to say. “Citizen input is extremely important to me,” Eggers said. Eggers said he is open to any input from Appalachian State students. Eggers said when the town council becomes aware of citizen concerns, it is their responsibility to act on them. Such was the case concerning cut-through traffic in residential neighborhoods, he said. Eggers said the changes were on a trial basis and the public hearing on Dec. 14 will be used to determine what changes have been effective and what changes need revision. “We try to deal with reason and common sense,” Eggers said. “A fair number of those were on Stadium Drive,” Post said. Post said since then officers have been issuing fewer citations. “We don’t want to write tickets.” Post said the residents he has talked with have expressed that the situation has improved, but said there are some changes that are not working and will need to be revised. He said Bear Trail is one of those places where something different will need to be done. Post said he wanted to express appreciation to Appalachian State students for staying out of residential neighborhoods. The town council also amended an ordinance concerning non-consensual towing in private parking lots involving devices such as boots. Eggers said the revision was made due to people getting upset because they were having a hard time finding who was putting boots on their cars. Eggers said clearly visible signs explaining that cars may be booted are now required in the lot or parking space. The sign must also post the fee, and a person who can remove the boot must be in the general area to do so if the fee is paid. Celebrations promote holiday diversity The holiday season has arrived and the celebrations have begun. Appalachian State University tries to embrace all holidays this season starting last Tuesday with the Office of Multicultural Student Development's Kwanzaa Celebration and the campus-wide event "Find Yosef a Holiday" Monday. Sponsored by Appalachian's Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Multicultural Student Development with support from the Equity Office, "Find Yosef a Holiday" will be held on the first floor of Plemmons Student Union from 5 to 8 p.m. "Find Yosef a Holiday" is free admission, but toiletry donations are accepted in celebration of Boxing Day. Started by Housing and Residence Life Area Coordinator Peter P. Smith, "Find Yosef a Holiday" celebrates various holidays that take place from the middle of November to the middle of January. "It started as more of an opportunity to get faculty to come into the residence halls up at Queens College, which is now Queens University of Charlotte, back in 1997-98," Smith said. Smith said they created this program that happened to be around Christmas and made the decision to decorate the halls. "What happened was when I was out shopping for some decorations I saw some Hanukkah decorations. I picked them up and I hung them up. After the program some students came up to me and thanked me sincerely for having recognized that they just did not celebrate Christmas. That made such an impact on me that I remembered that the following year when this program started to take the shape it is now," Smith said. Smith said the program took on the shape of representing each holiday through a table and each year this program has expanded itself to include more newly discovered holidays. "Each table will have three main components. It will have a decoration component, where the colors, traditions and activates of that holiday will be represented. The second part is the educational component. Every table will have either handouts or a display board where anyone who stops by can learn about the holiday. The last part if appropriate there will be food and drink samples," Smith said. This year's "Find Yosef a Holiday" includes an estimated 20 holiday celebrations such as traditional, religious and international Christmas, the Chinese New Year, Boxing Day, Day of the Dead, Kwanzaa and many more. Assistant Director of Multicultural Education Dejon J. Banks said acknowledging there are more holidays than just Christmas is very important, and is one of the reasons why they hold the Kwanzaa Celebration every year in Legends and are beginning "Find Yosef a Holiday." "I think [it's important] just knowing that the university and people on this campus have taken time out to help [people] become aware of some of the other holidays that are celebrated all around the world, " Director of Multicultural Student Development Tracey L. Wright said. Wright said for students who celebrate other holidays, this celebration holds great respect because not only do people respect their beliefs, but there is something being done physically about it. "This is a very outward show of that respect. I think it's going to make Appalachian feel more like home for students that might fall outside the traditional rounds of celebrating Christmas," Wright said. Sign language ministry performs Tonight the Renascent Sign Language Ministry will be performing on campus for the first time this year. Renascent will be at Crossroads coffeehouse at 8 p.m. and will perform for an hour and a half. The performance will consist of a mixture of contemporary Christmas, Gospel, Reggae and Praise and Worship Music. The group, which began here at Appalachian State University in 1998 under the name Signs of Christ, is intended to reach out to the campus through the use of sign language, drama, interpretive dance and contemporary Christian Music. "Although we are a performance group, our primary purpose is not to perform for people; instead, it is to glorify the Lord. By using sign language as a part of worship, we become active in our praise," sophomore elementary education major and first year member of Renascent Abigail M. Huggins said. The group is made up of nine members who meet on Sundays from 3-6 p.m. and on Thursdays from 8-9 p.m. Of the nine members, six are new to the group this year. Most of the members have no background in sign language but find the routines easy to learn from books and through watching other members rehearse. "The club is very small and intimate. It allows us to get to know each other really well. The other members are always ready to help in any way. We share a lot of the responsibilities and see that each member is valuable," sophomore business management major and co-president of the club Garret P. Anderson said. "It has truly been a blessing to be a member of this ministry. It is so wonderful to be able to praise God through sign language. And the people in Renascent have been such an inspiration to my faith" Huggins said. The members, which co-President Jamarl D. Clark calls a "close-knit fellowship," represent multiple Christian denominations and have performed for many campus ministries and churches in the area. "We provide a unique, beautiful way of worshiping the Lord through sign language and it truly gives a new perspective on the ability to be one with God," two-year member Katie L. Herman, a junior food and nutrition major, said. The group also makes a yearly trip to the Avery Mitchell Prison. "My favorite location to perform is the prison. I enjoy it so much because we are able to perform for them and create a joyful atmosphere at a place that does not get a lot of hope. They also appreciate us coming a lot and I think it is so much easier to perform where you know that the audience is thankful for us being there," Anderson said. "It's for a good cause," Clark said. "You're making a difference; you're bringing someone out of a slump. Sign language is not just your hands, it's your facial expression, your emotion. Of course it can be intimidating going into a prison, but it goes way beyond that. You're bringing someone hope." Renascent is always accepting new members. There is an application and interview process. "[Renascent] helps each individual grow spiritually. It also gives students the opportunity to use their interest of signing as a ministry to others to show God's light," first-year member and junior middle education major Lacy P. Hester said. "We really have a passion for what we do, so we're taking our opportunity tonight to show people our love," Clark said. |
© 2004 ASU Student Publications
