February 6, 1997

Lecturer resigns amidst allegations;
Three female students file harassment complaint
Darin Glass
Staff Writer

An Appalachian State University lecturer from the philosophy and religion department resigned Friday after three female students filed complaints against him with University Police last week. According to three separate University Police reports, the women said Dr. Young Mann Park "inappropriately touched" them in his office located in I.G. Greer Hall.

A university police spokesperson said that a further investigation into the reports is on–going.

According to university records, Park was hired in 1996 to teach in the philosophy and religion department.

Park was hired as a temporary replacement for Dr. O'Hyun Park who is currently in Japan studying Japanese religion and has been with the university for 26 years. The two men are not related.

Dr. Young Mann Park is a native of Korea and a graduate of Berkeley University. After graduating, he was hired at Appalachian.

One of Park's colleagues, Dr. Frans van der Bogert, said, "Dr. Park was a very serious, studious and religious man. He was very much into meditation and was very spiritual."

Bogert also said that Park had a "cultural misunderstanding" when it came to American society.

"He did not totally understand all the customs that we have here.

"He practiced Tai Chi on a regular routine and was a very non-aggressive person," said Bogert of Park's personality.

"I think that their is a double standard with students and teachers. I don't understand why this situation was released and covered so much more than other (similar) situations with students."

Department Chairperson of Philosophy and Religion Dr. Alan Hauser, said, "It is most unfortunate that this has happened and our primary concern is with the students."

Hauser also said that nothing like the reported incidents has happened in the 15 years that he has been at Appalachian.

Park's classes are being covered through other department faculty. "I am really grateful for all of the professors willing to help out with the classes," said Hauser.

Hauser also said, "We almost have all the classes worked out and are totally concerned with the students welfare."

Park was unavailable for comment as of late Wednesday evening.

The police reports state that the alleged victims were offered counseling through the ASU Counseling Center. No further information was available at press time.

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Ask the Chancellor
To get things started for what we hope will be a regular feature, I met with Chancellor Borkowski and asked him about a few issues important to students at Appalachian.

Below are my questions and Borkowski's answers. -Vanessa Urruela, Editor-in-Chief

Question:
Many students wonder exactly what a chancellor does. Could you summarize your responsibilities for me, briefly?

Answer:
The Chancellor plays the role of providing a vision for the University, and also having to be responsible for the university achieving that vision. I must interact with multiple constituencies, all of whom have a truly honest, vested interest in the success of the university. I report to a president, and a Board of Trustees, and the president reports to a Board of Governors which makes policies. I also have to be sensitive to and respond to legislators. Clearly, students have an important role, as do the faculty, administrative council, and various advisory groups. Also, federal issues require response, such as proposed cuts in federal financial aid. Also, the chancellor works with benefactors. So, it is the responsibility of the chancellor to listen to several constituent groups and maintain an enormous breadth of relationships.

The chancellor needs to be a person sensitive to the history and tradition of an institution, and establish a vision based upon those things. He or she must be a decision maker and oversee the implementation of those decisions. A chancellor must listen long and hard and be responsive to multiple constituents and communicate frequently what the university stands for and what direction it should be going in.

Question:
Growth is a very controversial issue on this campus. With pressure from the UNC Board of Governors to add a certain number of students and faculty on a strict timeline, what do you see in Appalachian's future.

Answer:
I think we have a responsibility as a public university to grow and to respond to the access demands of constituents that want to take advantage of the opportunities Appalachian has to offer. I do not, however, think that we can expand dramatically in Boone.

Consequently, we will need to provide programs and courses at off-campus sites. The legislature has already approved that Appalachian can offer upper division courses at three community colleges. We are doing that now and the response has been positive. Soon, I will meet with community college presidents and legislators to discuss what has transpired in our current outreach efforts and to see what else we can do.

We now offer courses at the graduate level for teachers in the rural public schools through broadcast technology that even provides live feedback from the remote sites.

We are now looking at other ways to use this technology such as for the offering of solid liberal arts courses in various parts of the state. There are also other methods we can utilize in our outreach such as CD-ROM's, the Internet and basic live instruction.

I think we can increase our enrollment without growing dramatically here in Boone. We have a responsibility to offer courses and keep the environment and infrastructure in Boone stable.

Question:
In a recent address to the faculty senate, you said you believe students should have more input on university committees. Could you elaborate on that statement?

Answer:
Students have unique perceptions and insights because of the generation that they are. They perceive issues differently due to the age differential. I think that [when you're dealing with] courses, curriculum and programmatic considerations, students' views can help shape a direction because they can bring a singular perspective. Students can be and should be very involved in policy making.

It is incumbent upon the administration to affirm a position of being accessible, being visible and being willing to seriously consider issues. We need to constantly reaffirm our stance and the weight we place on student input.

From the student standpoint, the situation needs to be that issues are addressed in such a way as to facilitate open communication. [The best way to do that is to] write a proposal and set up a meeting with members of the administration and other key people like the deans or vice chancellors. There is a tendency to assume that we don't care about issues, but that stems from people not bringing them to us.

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Judicial Board chairman explains methods to SGA
Beth Bliss
Staff Writer

Chairman Eddie Smith explained the policies and procedures of the Student Judicial Board to the Student Government Association at their 12th business meeting Tuesday.

According to Smith, the Student Judicial Board intervenes after a student has been accused of any activity in violation of the University Code of Conduct.

Accusations can come from university police officials, residence life staff members, faculty members, or any student, Smith said.

When a case is sent to the board, it is first reviewed by Director of Judicial Affairs Lee McCaskey. Following this initial review, the director can determine which charge(s) may be filed against the accused, Smith said.

According to Smith, an accused student then meets with an administrative advisor, at which time he or she is told his or her rights and is given the opportunity to give his or her side of the story.

If the accused pleads guilty to a violation, the process ends after this consultation and an appropriate punishment is given. However, if a student wishes to claim innocence, the case will be brought before the Student Judicial Board for review.

According to Smith, a majority of cases brought before the board are drug-related. At such hearings, a student is read his or her rights and is warned of the consequences of perjury. In addition, he said that all hearings are tape recorded.

According to Smith, members are trained to recognize four types of evidence: direct, circumstantial, hearsay and documentary.

"(Students) are innocent until proven guilty," he said.

Smith said that the Student Judicial Board acts upon a policy of preponderance of evidence. According to Smith, the board examines if a crime was more likely to happen than not, and it is the responsibility of the accuser to prove the guilt of the accused. No lawyers are used in the process.

The Student Judicial Board may also determine the punishment given to a student, Smith said. According to Smith, the punishment depends on the seriousness of the crime and whether or not a student has any prior record.

Punishments can range from a "slap on the hand" to expulsion from the university, Smith said.

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Seminar to focus on safety, self defense
Laurie Lyda
Staff Writer

The main priority of any individual is to feel safe, and many believe Appalachian State University, with its relatively small student population, offers that safety. However, since the fall semester of 1996, assaults, rapes and other incidents have left Appalachian students with little reason to feel comfortable.

In response to the campus safety issue, Appalachian's Greek community will sponsor the highly acclaimed Survive! seminar on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in Farthing Auditorium. The seminar is free and open to the public and will be conducted by world-renowned speaker and self-defense expert Debbie Gardner, director of the Survive! Institute.

"We hope it establishes a safer mentality around campus," said Eric West, chapter president of Kappa Alpha Order.

"We came up with the idea for a self-defense speaker in late October or early November of last semester, after the rape at the K.A. party," said Michelle Meyer, chairperson of Panhellenic Women's Circle. This other incident has unfortunately happened (alleged rape in Justice), so now the seminar is "kind of timely, along with the teach-ins held on campus" last night, Meyer said.

Gardner's emphasis is on empowerment. "Only the masses, with real empowerment, with real adjustment of their sense of vulnerability, will make this nation stronger, healthier," Gardner said.

Her main move in self- defense is not a strategically placed kick or punch, it's believing in yourself and doing or saying whatever it takes to get you out of the situation alive.

"I hope it [the seminar] has an effect on campus safety, but I'm afraid at this point that it won't," said sophomore Elizabeth Cox.

For more information about the Survive! seminar, call the Greek Councils office at 262-2525.

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In the News...

Students Invited to "Bust" Debt

Appalachian State University students and Boone area residents are invited to balance the federal budget at a special workshop entitled "Debtbusters 2002."

Developed by the Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan deficit-fighting organization, Debtbusters 2002 is an educational program where participants assume the roles of members of congress and attempt to devise a realistic six-year budget to balance the federal budget by 2002 using actual congressional budget figures.

The workshop will be held Feb. 17 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Watauga County Agricultural Conference Center between King Street and Poplar Grove Road. Call 262-3085 no later than Friday to register.

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Shootout for Shelter

The Hospitality House of Boone will hold their second annual Shootout for Shelter March 15 in Varsity Gym.

The Shootout for Shelter is an annual basketball tournament between Boone area teachers and preachers. Proceeds will benefit the Hospitality House, which supplies food, toiletries and other household goods to the homeless.

For more information, contact Jim Thompson or Robert Cox at 264-1237.

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Phi Kappa Phi Offers Fellowships

The Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society is accepting applications from outstanding seniors for competitive fellowships for first-year graduate or professional study.

Fifty awards of $7,000 are given nationally, along with 30 awards of $1,000. Criteria for these fellowships include a 3.7 minimum GPA, high standardized test scores, honors and enrichment programs, leadership and participation in University and community activities, expression of study plans and career goals and evaluation by faculty.

One nominee from Appalachian will be chosen for this national competition. All materials must be received by the selection committee no later than Feb. 14. Contact Lynne Getz at 262-6010 for additional information.

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Women's History Month Films

"Women's Realities: A Series of Documentary Films in Celebration of Women's History Month" will be features at Appalachian in February and March.

The first of these films, "Maids and Madams" will be shown Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Attic Window Room of Plemmons Student Union,. The film will be followed by a discussion led by Dr. Winston Kinsey of the Department of History.

Admission is free. For more information, call the Office of Women's Studies at 262-7603.

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ASU Awarded Biology Grant

The North Carolina Biotechnology center recently awarded Appalachian with a $64,810 grant toward the purchase of equipment and computer software for the university's molecular biology, immunology and cell biology courses.

According to biology department chair Dr. Doug Meikle, most of the new equipment will be used in the new cell biology course. The equipment will provide analyses of DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids.

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