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The circus comes to Boone
Brad Wilkinson
Reporter

This member of the Royal Hannaford Circus shows her amazing flexibility by bending over backwards to have something to drink (Photos by Bethany Parrish)

"Peanuts, Popcorn, get it all right here." No, it’s not an Appalachian football game, instead, the circus has come to town equipped with a show for "boys and girls of all ages."

The Royal Hannaford Circus rolled into town and right into Varsity Gym Wednesday night to entertain and amaze all comers with its daring feats and humorous acts. While parents were busy buying food and toys for the kids, the children were simply smiling with eyes wide, trying to take in all of the unfamiliar sights.

"I want to ride the elephant daddy," four-year-old Troy Reese said to his father Tony, as he struggled to carry the inflatable dolphin his dad had purchased for him before the show started. As Tony led him down to the third ring, where he decided instead to take a pony ride offered to the crowd for a fee, Troy skipped with excitement. Oh to be a kid again.

The show began with the grand entrance which put all the entertainers in the spotlight simultaneously. As they paraded around in their sparkling costumes, the crowd cheered, for they knew they were about to be dazzled.

Whip it good! The ringmaster for the Hannaford Circus demonstrates his ability with the classic curcus instrument.

From out of nowhere, a pack of poodles entered the gym and every kid’s mouth dropped. Familiar cries of "look at the doggy" echoed from one end of the building to the next, as the young viewers eased to the edge of their seats.

It was none other than the "Canine Capers" dog troop, come to amaze the crowd with their tricks of balance and astonishing scooter riding.

As Fifi took the handle bars of a small two-wheeler,

she kicked her leg vigorously to roll it around the ring. Ooohs and Aaahs followed her segment-ending performance.

Although 11 dogs running around the ring may be a hard act to follow, the trapeze act of "Kimberly and Rebecca" took a great shot at it. Highlighted by their perilous one-foot inverted hanging, their show gave way to the time-consuming Mark Corroli Riders.

The Corroli Riders, led by rider and comedian Mark Corroli, performed in excess of 25 minutes. As they amazed the crowd with their abilities of horse riding, Mark added a spice of laughter to the segment.

Many believed that the coming of the circus to town was needed. "I think it is a good thing that Boone allows the circus to come to town," said Angie Greer, mother of two and an Ashe County resident.

"It’s nice for the circus to come here. We don’t have to go two hours to Charlotte."

With all the positive jeers in favor of the circus, so too came negative reactions.

Upon entry to the gym, numerous youths were stationed in front of the building, busy dispersing flyers outlining the cruel and unnecessary treatment of the animals used in the circus. The flyers showed how animals were kept in small cages, malnourished and often sedated before the shows.

While two of the activists representing "People for Animal Liberation" had to be escorted out of the building, show comers did not seem to be fazed.

Along with the happy cheers from the crowd came sneers as well. Many people joked and mocked the circus for being unprofessional. This type of thing can be expected from a circus that dresses the same person up in three different costumes, for three different acts, and only changes the names that were announced.

No matter what the personal view of the grown-ups and young adults, the kids seemed to be the ones who benefited the most. But after all, isn’t that the most important objective?

As the show closed, young Troy, slumped down in his seat with tired eyes, took his dad’s hand and made his way to the door, headed for home and dreams of animals and clowns to fill his night.

For those who were kids long ago, a smile filled their face as they left. Maybe it was their delight in seeing the children so happy. But possibly, it was simply that the joy in the eyes of one four-year-old still lives in each of us.

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Visiting writers inspire aspiring authors
Ric Beard
Reporter

When Appalachian suffered the loss of Cathy Fitzgerald almost two years ago, her friends wanted to do something special in honor of her memory. As a result, author Lee Smith will be visiting Appalachian in October.

Smith was Cathy Fitzgerald’s favorite author. She is one of 13 writers who will speak at Appalachian this year. The effort to bring the author here just begins to show the hearts of the people who work with the Visiting Writer’s program at Appalachian.

People like Susan Weinberg and Lynn Doyle look for authors who are going to be in the state and have them listed two years in advance in some cases so that they have time to get grants. The program is independently funded, so it takes a lot of time and effort to find supporters.

Speaking with Doyle about the program, one will hear the excitement in her voice. It is work she loves. Her only fear is that some people may not attend because they think that the seminars will be boring. Doyle says that this is not the case.

When Donald Harrington, A professor at the University of Arkansas, spoke recently, "...he really kept them laughing," Doyle said. She that it is wonderful that a man who had five-percent hearing in one ear and who had recently recovered from throat cancer had persevered and kept such a great sense of humor.

The numbers seem to agree with Doyle’s idea that these special guests can be entertaining. Six years ago, the average attendance for a visiting writer’s appearance was close to 30. Now it averages between 75 and 150.

So, if you think that "read-ins" are for geeks go see Lee Smith on October 24th at 8 P.M. at I.G. Greer. Trey Walden, a senior at Appalachian has heard her speak and says, "She is hilarious. She just kept me rollin’."

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Residence halls provide more than just living space
Sara Lewinter
Staff Writer

With the addition of call waiting, the residence hall experience continues to benefit students’ lives.

Besides having an accessibility to campus, students living in residence halls are constantly exposed to an encouraging and exciting environment.

In their mission statement, the Department of Residence Life states their purpose to "provide a satisfactory living environment which meets safety, security and physical needs of residents."

In residence halls, safety is provided at night through security assistants. Computer labs are available for students to use, and telephone directory assistance is free.

Resident Assistant Krista Prybylo describes the residence hall experience as an "opportunity to meet new people and learn about what the campus can offer each individual student."

Resident Assistants (RAs) focus on educating their residents on several different issues each month. This is done through programming, which involves planning a fun activity for the students that is also filled with valuable information.

The importance of residents taking part in delivering a program or creating one themselves is emphasized throughout the residence halls.

"On a floor, residents engage in activities that will make each person feel like a member of a community," says Coordinator for Residential Programs Tierza Watts.

Some topics addressed in programs are; students’ concerns about college life in general, safety and security awareness, substance abuse and diversity.

Freshman Laura Alexander says that "living in a residence hall is especially good for freshmen. There’s always somebody there- whether it’s somebody to study with from one of your classes or just somebody to talk to."

Encouragement and individual assistance is given to students in residence halls.

Think again about moving off campus.

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Student Union gets a touch of class
Jeremy Ball
Staff Writer

The Student Union is about to get a classier look. Starting on Oct. 23, the Union’s walls will display the 26 pieces of the Plemmons Collection of Contemporary Art.

This collection of artwork was selected from pieces which were chosen through the Summa Composite Art Competition, which was a national competition that Appalachian sponsored.

David L. Robertson, the director of Student Programs, said that when the Union was built, $41,500 was set aside out of the construction budget to buy art for the building. He said that the decision was made to select that art through the creation of the Summa art competition.

A prospectus was sent to over 7,000 art galleries, college departments of art, commissioned artists and art councils, asking for a submission of up to two slides per artist. Appalachian received 610 entries.

Robertson said that one of the objectives of making this competition a national competition was to get Appalachian’s name known in the art community throughout the nation. He said that because it was a national competition, there was also the hope that "we might pick up a piece by somebody who one day will be a world renowned artist."

The 610 entries were sent to the juror selected for the initial stage of the competition, Belena Chapp, who is the director of the university gallery at the University of Delaware.

Chapp selected 68 pieces to proceed to the next stage of the competition. Those artists whose pieces were selected were notified and asked to send their work to Appalachian. Of those artists, 60 chose to send their work.

These pieces were sent to the charge of Phil Arnold, the curator of building art in the Union. They are on display in the Looking Glass Gallery, Multicultural Center and Yadkin River Room.

On Oct. 8, a panel composed of administrators, faculty and student leaders completed the final stage of the competition, and selected the 26 pieces which will compose the Plemmons Collection of Contemporary Art.

Christi L. Hayes, a sophomore from Boone who visited the collection, said that the committee did an excellent job of selecting which works should appear in the Union. She said that she was particularly impressed with the charcoal and pen drawings in the exhibit.

Robertson says he hopes that students will recognize that the money to pay for the exhibit came from a budget which student funds feed into. He hopes students will give the pieces "the same respect and care that any fine artwork deserves," and that they will treat the art with the recognition that they paid for it.

Hayes says she feels that the decision to include artwork in the Student Union was a good idea. She also says that the Union already stays very clean, which shows that students will treat the art with respect.

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