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Helpful pointers for your graduation day
Ric Beard
Staff Writer

Graduation serves as the end of an era for college seniors. It can be a time of joy when a senior is prepared to put 16 or 17 years of education behind to move into the real world. It can also be a real pain.

Dan Beard graduated from Appalachian State last May. But his preparations for graduation began in the fall of 1995.

To be prepared for his journey into the real world, Beard started job hunting in September. His effort to find gainful employment continued well into the new year.

When January rolled around, he heard someone say that they had already started to make hotel reservations for graduation. Suddenly the revelation of graduation struck him. "It was a real wake-up call," said Beard.

Before someone makes hotel reservations, he or she must order announcements. A list has to be made of people who the graduate thinks should attend his or her graduation.

Beard ordered the small package. It cost between $25 and $30. When he ordered the announcements, he also had to order his cap and gown.

"I got lucky because a friend of mine had already graduated, so I was able to borrow his gown," Beard said.

There are many other factors involved in preparation for the big day. "You become a coordinator," said Angie Coolidge, another Appalachian graduate. "Nobody’s going to do it for you."

In preparing for graduation, she had to figure out where people would eat, schedule her time so that she could fit everyone in (not an easy task for someone whose parents are no longer married), and remember to keep her sense of humor.

Even if the graduating senior does have the necessary arrangements made, things can still become difficult. When the big weekend comes, things can become disorganized. Faults may be found in the scheduling. Parents may make suggestions beginning with, "Why don’t we do this," and, "Maybe it would work better if..." Coolidge had an answer.

"The person graduating has to take charge and say, ‘This is how it is going to be,’ or your parents will drive you nuts," she said.

She said that people with separated or divorced parents really have to labor. "Making time for both parents can be a real pain," she said. "I had a friend who almost decided to not even walk to avoid having her parents fight over who would get what time of day with her. One would say, ‘I want to buy you lunch,’ and the other would say, ‘No, I want to buy you lunch.’"

Then comes the presentation of gifts for the graduate, and Beard and Coolidge both agree that the best gift at the end of a senior’s college career is money.

Beard said, "When you are graduating from college, you are still just as broke as when you started college." Coolidge said that seniors should, "...pray for money and not some lame gift."

Beard said that the money they did receive for graduation was not enjoyed for long. "Ninety percent of my money was spent on setting up my apartment, buying clothes for work, and getting things that you don’t really think much about, like dishes and a bed, not to mention deposits." Just getting settled into his new home cost Beard close to $1000.

When the Sunday of graduation weekend arrived, Coolidge and Beard were hardly relaxed. Even though the relatives were gone, and they found time for themselves, the realization that they had graduated hit home.

To Coolidge, thoughts about parents no longer "bailing you out" and wondering "...when you are going to see your best friends from college again," are just a couple that run through the graduate’s head.

Beard suggests that ASU seniors find out about on-campus programs to help with resumes, on-campus interviewing and cover letters.

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Controversial drug flick coming to ASU
Jeremy Ball
Staff Writer

Does it strike anyone as odd that one of the most controversial films of this year, "Trainspotting," which happened to be the third highest grossing British made film in British history, did not make it to Boone?

Could it be that there are those among us who are still fighting the War for Independence? Or, could it be that theater managers expect moviegoers to be content with the independence from thought of "Independence Day," as they collect not only our money at the door, but our minds as well?

Amy L. McWhirter, a senior from Kingsport, TN and the chairperson of APPS Films, said that one of the goals of Films is to bring movies to campus which students would not usually get to see unless they traveled to a large city.

McWhirter says that the theater managers in Boone know that their audience outside of Appalachian students tends to be conservative, so managers are usually not willing to take a risk on a controversial film like "Trainspotting." That’s why APPS Films is bringing the film to Appalachian.

"Trainspotting" is a British made film about a group of strung-out, Scottish heroin addicts in Edinburgh, Scotland who do everything they can to escape from what society expects of them.

So, don’t expect Mel Gibson to make any guest appearances.

It is set in the modern day underworld of Scotland, where leather has replaced kilts, and rather than seeking independence from England, the youth seek independence from a two-story house, one dog, one cat, two children, and a future which they feel society has planned for them.

"Trainspotting" is controversial because its goal is not to condemn heroin use or to condemn a life of aimlessness, but to simply portray life as it is for this group of people.

The movie’s characters show the misery and depravity of their lives, and at the same time, they give detailed accounts of the ecstasy of the drug rush and their statements against modern society.

"Trainspotting" is a film which was intended to make people think. And now, it’s coming to Appalachian’s campus.

The film is showing Nov. 8-10 at I.G. Greer. On Friday and Saturday, the film will show at 7 p.m. and at 9:30 p.m. On Sunday, it will show at 5 p.m. The cost will be $1.

One of the many concerns this film has raised is whether or not it is ethical to make a film which portrays drug use so blatantly, and which some say glamorizes it by failing to condemn it.

In Great Britain, it has been a huge marketing device for such products as sneakers.

Nancy Reagan definitely would not have used it in her war on drugs.

On a campus where drug use is something we are all forced to think about, this film may raise some interesting questions.

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Yoga relieves stress
Aimee Yawn
Reporter

Have classes got you all tied up and tense? You need to try the art of yoga to smooth out all of your kinks.

No, we’re not talking about that little green guy on "Star Wars." We’re talking about the ancient practice of yoga that has been used for over 5,000 years to relax the body and cleanse the mind.

AkalDev Sharonne, an instructor of yoga at Appalachian State, has been practicing yoga for 25 years. According to Sharonne, one of the ancient beliefs of yoga is that everyone has only so many breaths in life, and once you have breathed all of your breaths, you die. Yoga, therefore, teaches you to slow your breaths and regulate them.

According to Sharonne, the benefits of yoga are many. They include increased flexibility, regulated systems of the body and deeper sleep. Sharonne also says that yoga helps you to become more centered, focused and emotionally calm.

Many students find that yoga helps them with their physical injuries.

Alyson R. Huskey, a senior from Charlotte, uses yoga as a pain management treatment for her back disorder. Huskey, who has been attending yoga for about a year, says that yoga is a type of mind over body exercise that she uses in all areas of her life.

Others, such as Rebecca A. Long, a senior from Raleigh, heard about yoga from a friend who uses it as an alternative to aerobics.

No matter what your reasons for taking yoga, Sharonne believes it will help you in all aspects of your life, keeping you healthy and helping you cope with the unexpected.

"Many students rush around campus all day and don’t leave time for themselves," says Sharonne. Yoga helps you focus on yourself while letting the rest of the worries around you fall away.

Those interested in attending a yoga class can catch one on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30 in the Mount Mitchell Life Fitness Center in Plemmons Student Union. No experience is necessary. For more information call 266-8301.

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Percussion ensemble to perform

Chains, chimes, rattles and rasping sticks are among the different percussive sounds highlighted in a Nov. 12 percussion ensemble concert at Appalachian State University. The School of Music ensemble’s concert begins at 8 pm in Rosen Concert Hall. Admission is free. Call 262-3020 for more information. Directed by Robert Falvo, the 16-member ensemble will perform "Taqsim." The piece was written by music school faculty member Scott Meister for the NC Percussive Arts Society. This will be the first time the work has been performed at Appalachian. The piece uses suspended cymbals and nylon string, a triangle in a bucket of water, bass drum, small chain and other instruments. (photo provided by ASU News Bureau)

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One Mississippi leaves you wanting more
Rob Gaddy
Reporter

Unique bands come a dime a dozen. Any idiot could bang his head against a wall, record it and sell a hundred copies.

Any other idiot can actually write nine or 10 good songs, record them, sell 5,000 and then act cooler than any other musician ever (i.e. Perry Farrel, Pavement and any punk band playing today).

However, what separates the geniuses from the jerks is being able to write a good CD, sell a load of them and still recognize that you can play nice with the other kids. Billy Joe Armstrong does it. Kurt Cobain did it. Hell, even Eddie Vedder is warming up to the idea. Well, here’s another name for you to put on the list: Brendan Benson.

His first release, One Mississippi, is a great example of a guy who doesn’t give a damn about the Top 10, but still has a good attitude about playing his music. He’s pretty good at it, too.

The album starts off with a medley ("Tea/Bird’s Eye View/Sittin’ Pretty") that starts off sounding like Ben Folds Five, moves on to sound like the Indigo Girls on crack and ends up with a happy little ditty about holding a woman hostage.

After this stream of consciousness there is "Sittin’ Pretty," which has "Taxman" engrained right smack dab in the middle of the song. This is just one obvious piece of evidence that points at the Fab Four throughout the entire album.

The fifth track, "Crosseyed," is a beautiful little pop rock tune about a girl that the singer is amazed by, even though his "friends think (she’s) ugly." Absolutely one of the best songs I’ve heard in a while.

The middle of the disc ("Me Just Purely/Got No Secrets/How ‘Bout You") drags a bit, but is still very enjoyable. It also has a pretty amusing cut of Benson being entertained by something in the studio.

After this break in being amazed, "Emma J" is the best song on the album. This love song has a Latin flavor that flows smoothly and you find yourself lost in its dreamy groove. If this CD gets heard by enough people, "Emma J" could be a classic.

From this point, the album finishes off strongly. It ends with "House in Virginia," a quaint retrospective look at what seems to be his childhood home.

But once you think the album is over, you get your head screwed with. There is a hidden track that will make you look at your friends weird and make sure your CD player is functioning properly all at the same time. That’s all I’ll say about that.

So, in the end, hear my plea. Please get this album if you’re looking for something new. It will sound great without sneering at you for not being alternative enough.

4.5 stars

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Out and About on Sanford Mall
Students enjoyed games, free stuff!

If you walked by Sanford Mall wondering what the heck was going on Friday afternoon, wonder no more. Members of the East Coast Health and Fitness Tour '96 set up the inflated Jeep and Clearly Canadian bottles that afternoon as well as a few tents in preparation for yesterday's festivities.

Basically, in case you were one of those too shy to wander around, the Health and Fitness Tour '96 came to promote products from several companies and the concept of physical fitness and wellness.

Samples of products such as Trojan condoms, Arrid deodorant, Pearl Drops toothpaste and Clearly Canadian and the new beverage Orbit were offered at the "free stuff" tables.

There were also several physical fitness games such as giant boxing and a mini–rockclimbing wall. Students seemed to enjoy the games as they knocked each other around with the oversized, padded boxing gloves and later scaled the wall.

"It's like trying to punch someone with 50 pounds of bricks on your hands," Jason Yepko said.

Yepko's opponent in the boxing ring was Marcel Dawson. "It's supposed to be health and fitness, but I'm not healthy or fit. In fact, I need a cigarette," Dawson said.

The twentysomethings working the tour seemed to also be enjoying themselves as they chose which alternative music to blast and gave away items like t–shirts to students who filled out credit card applications.

"It's the best job I've ever, ever had," said Peter Herzog, who is from Los Angeles and began travelling with the tour three years ago.

"You get paid very well to travel free across the United States for nine months and hang out with cool people," said Kim McDowell who saw an ad for the Tour in her hometown of Belmar, N.J. and answered it.

McDowell said the Tour goes to two schools per week and lasts nine months. The crew of 18 people sets up for one entire day and then runs the show for two days. Then, they travel to another school and start all over.

Don't miss out on the '96 tour. You still have time to register to win a trip to the Bahamas, a Plymouth Breeze, Eagle Talon, or Jeep and gather bunches of free stuff in the process.

--Vanessa Urruela

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