January 30, 1997

APPS: a little somethin' for everybody
Jeremy Ball
Assistant Features Editor

Each school year Appalachian hosts a number of bands, performances, films and speakers for students' entertainment. You might wonder who decides what comes and who pays for it.

Or, here's an even better question: at the beginning of each year, students pay a fee called the Student Activities Fee. Where does that money go?

Partial answers to both of these questions can be found at one source, APPS (Appalachian Popular Programming Society).

But what is it and what does it have to do with the money we pay?

According to Landon Pratt, a senior from Kingsport, Tenn. and the chairperson of the APPS Films council, APPS is the programming organization which provides the majority of student sponsored entertainment on campus.

Brad Vest, Coordinator of Student programs, says "Imagine an Appalachian of ten years ago, then imagine the Appalachian of today. Ten years ago, without APPS, students were leaving in droves because there was nothing to do. Now we have one of the highest retention rates out of all of the State sponsored schools".

What about the money? Well, the largest portion of that money you pay each year in your Student Activities fee ($135, 939 in 1996, according to the APPS budget summary) goes to APPS.

APPS is divided into seven smaller councils. These are: Films, Concerts, Stage Shows, Club Shows, Special Events, Appalachian Heritage and Council for Cultural Awareness.

At the top of this organization is an executive council made up of the council chairpersons, four officers, the advisors and two graduate students.

Jennifer L. Edwards, an senior from Charlotte and the president of the executive council says that her council makes sure that all of the separate councils are communicating and not creating scheduling conflicts.

Each of the smaller councils is responsible for a different area of programming. Films brings movies to campus. Concerts is in charge of the large acts which come to campus. Most of these are held in the Varsity gym, which can hold about 3,000 people.

Stage Shows is responsible for all of the medium size shows which are held in Legends.

Club Shows is responsible for the smaller shows held in the Alpine Lounge and the new venue of the Tradewinds Coffee Shop. Special Events covers the events that lie outside of usual programming, such as the Super Bowl party last weekend.

Appalachian Heritage is responsible for bringing in events and activities which inform the student body about the traditional culture of the Appalachian mountains. The Council for Cultural Awareness is responsible for addressing minority entertainment needs. Each of the councils is allotted a certain amount of money according to their programming needs. Concerts, for example, receives the most money ($30,000 in 1996 according to the same budget summary) because it hires the highest profile bands.

APPS is moving to two different venues for smaller shows, the Alpine lounge and Tradewinds coffee house. For those groups which are not required to produce a revenue, Tradewinds has become a good venue for hosting. Organizations can not charge for events in there because it is privately owned.

The Appalachian Heritage Council, which is not required to produce a revenue, is hosting a night featuring female traditional musicians next Tuesday in Tradewinds.

What has APPS done so far? As Vest said, he believes it has been largely responsible for the high retention rate at Appalachian.

According to Vest, the main difference now, as opposed to ten years ago is that when Dave Robertson, the APPS advisor and the Director of Student Programs, was hired to change student popular programming he took what had been in the hands of faculty and gave it to students. APPS is run, for the most part, by students. Vest says that has made the programming very successful because "if you get students involved, and their time and energy involved, they'll bring acts that they would enjoy. They'll turn out and they'll bring their friends".

What shows has APPS brought to campus? Remember two little bands called Hootie and the Blowfish and Dave Matthews? You could have seen them here first, both of them appearing at campus only weeks before they signed the record contracts that made them so popular.

APPS also brought Leftover Salmon (who will be back again on February 19), Coolio, Cracker and George Clinton and P-Funk (who will also be returning on April 4).

Club Shows hosted their first event of the semester in the Alpine Lounge last Friday night, featuring the Warmers and Monorchild.

In the future, Outkast will be coming to campus and, according to Vest, APPS films will be sponsoring a new channel on the cable system which will feature movies for on campus students, beginning in February.

APPS is open to any student or faculty member who wishes to join. You can contact the APPS office at 262-2855 for meeting times. Members of the councils decide what shows come to campus and they often receive certain benefits. Some events are considered "all APPS", which means that members get in free.

So, if you like what we have on campus and you want it to continue, or if you want to see something change, join a council and do something about it.

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Ways to safeguard yourself from sexual assault
Sandy Edwards - Reporter
Kristi Graves - Contributor

The issue of Sexual Assault has come to the forefront in our community. Such events are startling, and may leave the survivor with a wound that can take years to heal. These incidents also have an impact on the community. Responses from fear to perceived immunity may sweep through the community, bringing about cries for more to be done. The Wellness Peer Educators agree something must be done.

We commend Steve Peake for his article last semester which expressed the concern that society should change its attitude toward sexual assault. Change of society, although a noble idea, can only occur after individuals of both sexes begin to change and work together to combat the problem of sexual assault.

As a group that provides education to the ASU community on this and other wellness issues, we would like to enunciate some ideas that apply to all students.

ASU is not unique in its fight against societal stereotypes: one in four women in universities across the country will experience sexual assault before leaving college; one in every 6-10 males will experience sexual assault before the age of 18. This number is staggering, and as peer educators, we would like to provide guidelines that are similar for both men and women. We realize that men can also be assaulted by women or other men, and that women can be assaulted by women. We do not wish to portray all men as perpetrators or women as victims. We chose this perspective because a women is statistically more likely to be assaulted by a man.

Women:

1. Be aware of your surroundings. Recognize where you are, who you are with, and what is happening around you. If you find yourself in an unsafe situation, you can leave or call a friend.
2. Use the buddy system. When you go out, bring a friend. Do not leave a friend at a party alone. Be aware of where the other person is throughout the evening.
3. Watch out for "Roofies." Roofies, are also known as the "rape drug," and when put into your drink can knock you out, so that you cannot remember anything the next day. Roofies are here at ASU, and you want to make sure that you do not accept a drink from someone if you have not seen where it came from.
4. Be aware of your limits. This statement refers both to amount of alcohol consumption and "social interaction" limits. Define what you want and expect out of the evening before you go out.
5. Be assertive. Be a clear communicator. Walk with your head and chin up, your shoulders back, and a determined look on your face. This will inform the world that you are not a "victim." Make your limits clear, and express your opinions openly. If a person is infringing on your personal space/rights, say, "I DO NOT WANT YOU TO DO THAT. STOP NOW," very loudly and clearly. Do not worry about drawing attention to yourself, that is what you want to do, so the other person leaves you alone. You can be assertive and ward off potentially dangerous situations.

If you choose to begin any sexual advances, make sure that what is happening is O.K. with the other individual. The only way to be 100 percent sure of this is to ASK! A word of caution: the law in North Carolina now states that if either person has been consuming alcohol, then sexual intercourse is considered rape. Now, this is not to say that two consenting partners cannot have intercourse after drinking alcohol. This law was created to protect individuals who are too intoxicated to give proper consent (i.e. not being able to say NO or being too intoxicated to accurately assess the situation). Any indication of indecision by your partner should make you stop.

Men:

1. Be aware of your surroundings. Are the people around you comfortable? Are you in a situation that you feel comfortable in? You can do an awareness check every now and then to make sure that you are in an appropriate place and situation.
2. Use the buddy system. Men can use this system as well. You can have a friend check up on you , and do the same for him or her. Keep track of each other throughout the night.
3. Be aware of your limits. Alcohol affects each individual differently. For all people, it lowers inhibitions. However, make sure that you are not reading other people's signals in a misconstrued manner because of your lowered inhibitions. Check your own limits for both alcohol consumption and behavior.
4. Be a clear communicator. Before you begin any sexual advances, make sure that what is happening is O.K. with the other individual. The only way to be 100 percent sure of this is to ASK! A word of caution: the law in North Carolina now states that if either person has been consuming alcohol, then sexual intercourse is considered rape. Now, this is not to say that two consenting partners cannot have intercourse after drinking alcohol. This law was created to protect individuals who are too intoxicated to give proper consent (i.e. not being able to say NO or being too intoxicated to accurately assess the situation). Any indication of indecision by your partner should make you stop.

Above all, rape and sexual assault are very personal crimes, crimes that leave behind very deep emotional scars. There is a grave tendency to pretend that we are not susceptible to such a crime. Because we believe this couldn't happen to us, we find excuses for why it happened to someone else, often laying the blame on his/her shoulders. We are all human, we are all vulnerable, both men and women, and we are all at risk. Every time an incident such as sexual assault or rape occurs, we are all responsible.

The law protects our rights and gives us freedoms of expression and voice. Yet, always remember that not everyone respects our personal freedoms. By the time the law intervenes, the crime has already been committed. Once it happens, nothing can be done to make an individual the same person he or she was before the incident.

The Moral: Be the first to protect yourself. Be aware, be assertive and know your limits.

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Growing pot in the high country
Jeff Sprouse
Staff Writer

There are felons among us. Sitting next to you right now could be a person actively committing a felony. He or she may not necessarily look like a criminal, but in their closet, basement or spare bedroom, the illegal plant called marijuana grows under artificial light.

He or she does not want you to know their activities. Most go to great lengths to conceal them. Growers black out windows, regulate power bills and keep information of their activities on a need to know basis. Because, as this half of a two part look into the life of a marijuana grower will show, it is an extremely risky hobby.

Marijuana is a schedule VI controlled substance under NC law. "It is unlawful for any person to manufacture a controlled substance classified in schedule VI. A person who violates (this law) shall be be punished as a class I felon." (NC General Statutes, chapter 90-95).

This is the minimum, for depending on the amount, where you grow it or who you give it to, the degree of felony increases.

If convicted, the offender could receive a minimum of four months, and that's only if the individual has no prior record. That's also assuming the offender has been caught with less than fifty pounds. It's important to note that most law enforcement agencies weigh the the entire plant, minus only the root system. It's also important to remember that if convicted of a felony, the individual looses some basic rights, such as the right to vote during incarceration and probation as well as right to own a firearm for five years following conviction.

That's the worst that could happen. Due to prison overcrowding, more judges are handing down deferred sentences and probation, which usually includes a significant amount of community service hours. Also on cases such as these, District attorneys are giving more plea bargains to lesser charges.

Tom Rusher, the District Attorney of Watauga County, estimates that he saw thirty-five to forty cases involving the cultivation of Marijuana in Watauga county. It is one of the more popular cases. However, this number pales in comparison to neighboring counties, such as Wilkes and Madison.

A State Bureau of Investigation official stated that these counties are notorious for marijuana growth. He adds however, that the number of arrests are in decline. Ten years ago it was not uncommon to find hundreds of acres of the green stuff, hidden in valleys and hollows. They now find only a tenth of that. The official would like to think this is due to inter-agency interdiction efforts, but more probably is a move to indoor growing and an influx of the drug from Mexico.

A student who wished only to be identified as KGB is someone you would never guess was a grower. Typical appearance, typical student with a good GPA. He could be sitting next to you right now.

KGB has been growing pot for over a year. He lives in a relatively remote area, but it's only a fifteen minute drive to campus. In a secluded closet in his basement KGB grows marijuana. Hanging from the top of the ceiling is a 250 watt high-pressure sodium growing light. The sides of the closet are lined with tin foil and typical fluorescent shields. Also augmenting the light is a 100 watt metal halide, (stolen from the front of a local retailer) and another 75 watt hps.

While the plants are young, KGB has them in potting soil. They will remain there until they are sexed (male plants do not bud and therefore contain no THC). Once the female plants have been determined, he transplants them to a contained hydroponic system, in which the roots are suspended in water which contains all the essential nutrients to ensure healthy and rapid growth. With his system, the buds (most intoxicating part of plant) are ready to be smoked in three and a half to four months.

KGB was understandably hesitant to tell his story. He has developed a real paranoia. "The key is to keep it on a need to know basis only." He says the only people who know about his activities are his roommates. Another key to his secrecy is an absentee landlord.

He is also careful about fluctuations in his power bill. He has heard horror stories of unwitting growers whose power bill doubled due to the massive amounts of electricity needed to power the lights. Such fluctuations prompted the utility company to ask questions, sometimes allowing them to notify the authorities.

When asked why he grows, his answers reflect the problems most marijuana users have when dealing with a underground and often corrupt procurement system. "Good buds are way too expensive. I don't have the money to drop for a hundred dollar bag of kind bud. Plus, when you buy, you never know what you're getting, or if the bag weighs. By growing it myself, I know what I'm getting and it's way more affordable. It's kind of like my hobby, you know. I've got it down, but it took me several times of trial and error."

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ASU students fight fires
Danny Sink
Staff Writer

It seems that at one point or another all children fantasize about shiny red fire trucks and big yellow helmets. As these children grow up, many of them leave these dreams behind.

However, there are those few individuals who choose to follow their dream and stare the flames in the eyes.

These fire fighters risk their lives everyday. They are the embodiment of the word "hero."

Among the student body at Appalachian exists just such a group of individuals, sacrificing their time and security to make the University and community a safer place to live.

Among this elite group is Junior James Hall of Greensboro. Hall has fought fire for four years, two of which he has served on the Boone squad. He is currently the only student-fire fighter to obtain the level of fire fighter one.

In the fire fighting profession there are three levels of fire fighters. There is the probationary fire fighter, the rank of fire fighter one, and fire fighter two. The probationary fireman is someone who has not yet completed their training for fire fighter one. This type of fire fighter can arrive on the scene and work the truck, attaching hoses, pulling off equipment and the like.

To become a level one fire fighter, you must become state certified by taking over 20 different classes. Once you have obtained the rank of fire fighter one, you are able to begin the actual fire fighting.

Fire fighter two requires another 15 or so classes that fine tune many of the skills that are taught in the initial course.

For Hall it was a family tradition stemming from his grandfather.

"I like helping people," said Hall. "I've had my legs fall through floors and ceilings come down on me." Yet, Hall keeps on, daring the flames, to do his job.

"It's an adrenaline rush." said probationary fireman Chad Scoggins, a sophomore at Appalachian. Scoggins has been on the Appalachian force a little over a year now, and has been an active fire fighter since 1994.

So what exactly does a Probationary fireman do? According to Scoggins, they unload hoses, act as gophers, and do everything but go into the actual fire. Sometimes if there are houses close enough together, the Probies may spray the unaffected homes down to keep the fire from spreading.

One of the more rewarding things that a fireman can do is teach children fire safety.

"We do our best teaching fire prevention and education," said Hall. "We teach children how to put out grease fires, Stop-Drop-and- Roll, and show them how to escape from a burning home.

"When you go to a fire, you just have to put it out. You're saving people's memories and tokens," Hall said. "It's just rewarding to know you're helping people."

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E-mail The Appalachian Online at theapp@conrad.appstate.edu