March 13, 1997

And they're off and running
SGA candidates introduce platforms
Beth Bliss
Staff Writer

Bill Clinton may have sealed the 1996 national election, but campaign fever still lingers across campus as candidates have declared their intentions to run for the offices of Student Government Association president and vice-president.

Hopefuls appeared before the SGA senate Tuesday to announce their plans to pursue office.

Three tickets will vie for the presidency and vice-presidency. The teams of Fernando Little and Jake Parker, Cliff Fitte and Michelle Lawrence, and Mike Hagerty and Jewel Irish will campaign through Wednesday for student votes.

Candidates appeared before the senate to field questions from senators. Each ticket discussed platform goals and qualifications for serving as SGA president and vice-president.

The team of junior Fernando Little and sophomore Jake Parker (candidates for president and vice-president, respectively) has made restoration of the student voice a main campaign goal.

"We are the true advocates of students," Little said.

Little and Parker's platform goals include "Breakfast with Borkowski," a program which would allow students to have breakfast meetings with Chancellor Borkowski in order to discuss concerns, a referral system between campus residence halls, mandatory Resident Student Association meetings for on-campus senators and "town meetings" held weekly as an opportunity for off-campus senators to communicate with their constituents.

Both Parker and Little feel their varied leadership experiences make their ticket the best choice. Little said that while Parker has SGA experience from serving as Mountaineer Escort director last semester, he has gained leadership experience through other activities and has gained the knowledge to serve students through these experiences.

"We are committed to being your voice at Appalachian State," he said. "We are here to serve students of ASU—not the administration. We accept that role enthusiastically."

Juniors Cliff Fitte and Michelle Lawrence (candidates for president and vice-president, respectively) asked students to concentrate on the current issues at Appalachian and what may happen next year in order to determine the ticket with platform goals that will best accommodate the needs of students.

"Think about this year, and think about next year," Fitte said. "Look through all of the gunk and comprehend what (the candidates) are trying to say."

Platform goals of Fitte and Lawrence include safety seminars incorporated into Phase I Orientation and Freshman Seminar classes, improvement and expansion of SGA's Operation Outreach program, traffic management improvements and concentration on student concerns such as diversity.

Both Fitte and Lawrence said their SGA experiences add to their ability to serve the student body effectively. "I don't think anyone could do a job without hands-on experience," Lawrence said.

Experience held by Fitte and Lawrence include cabinet positions as External Affairs chairperson and State Affairs Chairperson, respectively. Lawrence said their positions have allowed them a view of state-wide affairs which could benefit Appalachian.

The final ticket of junior Mike Hagerty and sophomore Jewel Irish has organized their campaign around a desire to improve the overall Appalachian community.

"In the past, students have felt that we (SGA) don't reach students," Hagerty said.

If elected, Hagerty said, he and Irish would improve this situation through various outreach programs in order to take student concerns to the administration.

Hagerty said he and Irish formed their platform goals based upon the opinions of a group of 20 students, with whom they have been working on a campaign since October.

Other platform goals include beginning an outreach program called "The Appalachian Connection," advocating ASU police on mountain bikes, supporting the protection and maintenance of University Woods, and implementing a security/student "ride along" program.

Both Hagerty and Irish feel the strength of their ticket lies within their SGA experience. Both have served as senators and cabinet members. Hagerty currently serves as Academic Affairs chairperson, and Irish is the SGA treasurer.

"We observe a lot that goes on," Irish said.

Voting will take place March 19-20. Off-campus students may vote in the student union between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., and on-campus students may vote in their residence halls between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

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NAACP reactivates campus chapter
Perrin Avent
Staff Writer

African-Americans,Whites, Hispanics, and any color of the rainbow of races make up the almost 500,000 Americans who belong to the National Association of the Advanced of Colored People.

Since 1909, the nation's largest secular citizens action agency has grown to become the most powerful and respected civil rights organization today.

Now, its continuing growth reaches Appalachian State University as the campus officially received its own charter last February.

With that charter comes a new hope of respect for the organization and the people it represents.

Yet some believe the NAACP's representation poses limitations on the color of skin.

"One of the founders was white," said President Jackie Poage, a freshman from South Carolina. "We (the NAACP) want to inform every student of the problems blacks and other minority groups are facing."

"The main purpose is to end discrimination, and to make sure everything is equal, and to improve the political, educational, social, and economic status of minority groups," stressed Poage.

Poage wanted to clear up any misconceptions that the very mention of the name NAACP can sometimes cause.

"We don't boycott everything that happens, and a lot of people think that's what's going to happen. Those are methods of the very last resort," Poage said. "We need the support of the school. We're not starting riots."

"We want to bring harmony to the campus, especially with the alleged rape and all the recent negative attention Appalachian has been receiving," Poage said.

Even the work of vandals does not stop the group's efforts.

"We'll put up posters and an hour later they'll be gone," Poage explained. "There are also incidents when our posters will be covered up. We put hard work into this, but we don't get mad. We'll just take more time and make more."

These instances add more fuel to the organization's fire, by proving more than ever why the continuing struggle for awareness first needs to overcome the endure of ignorance.

"We hope to be the voice of African-American students, accomplish awareness and increase the number of African-American students up here," said Poage. "We're not even 3%."

With low enrollment, the initial 60 members of Appalachian's NAACP have to speak loudly for their voices to be heard.

Yet, it is Poage's hope, that with the help of the SGA and student development, their voices can be even louder.

"We want to work with the SGA and student development to raise the African-American enrollment. We want to go to high schools to recruit."

Increased African-American enrollment also means an increase in diversity for the campus.

However, the NAACP's survival also depends upon it. With this year's African -American freshmen building the backbone of the organization, Poage is certain the next three years for the charter will insure stability.

"The NAACP plans to get the incoming freshmen pumped up and excited (about the NAACP) especially during Black Awareness Weekend," Poage explained. "We're not just political, we're also fun, and that's important."

Hands are what build and hold the NAACP together. Yet, money is still needed to help ease the support that keeps them there.

"The NAACP is not a club. It's an organization," Poage said. "We're still going through funds, and we want a budget. So we're going to ask organizations to set aside certain amounts for next year and ask churches."

Support didn't fail, however, to come from Vice Chancellor Blimling, the Black Student Association, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Harry Williams of admissions, or the Council for Cultural Awareness.

Yet, Poage admitted that there were certain forces that believed the NAACP wouldn't make it this far. But, even to those eyes, the NAACP's determination to stay is inevitable.

"We have the support from the main office, if nothing else, and that's the main thing," Poage said.

Appalachian's NAACP operates within the national policies but from a college level, which is what the national NAACP wants every school to have.

Even members of the national organization can still be part of the NAACP at their schools. One of the first functions of Appalachian's NAACP was the induction ceremony for board members last month.

The newly inducted executive board at Appalachian include: freshman Jackie Poage, president; junior LaShona Fulmore, vice-president; freshman Wakeelah Ar-Rahem, secretary; and senior Vontrice Roundtree.

Meetings are held every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in room 214 of the Broyhill Music Center. "Anyone can join," stressed Poage. "We're all fighting for the same cause."

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Parking deck construction delayed
ASU News Bureau

Construction of Appalachian State University's parking deck has been delayed.

Jane Helm, vice chancellor for business affairs, says bidding on the $5.6 million project has been delayed until September because of a personnel change in the architecture firm and the need to bore deeper than planned for testing soil quality. The university had planned for bidding to take place in March with construction scheduled for this fall.

"We're a year away from construction," Helm said.

The deck will be built in the driving range parking lot near Raley Hall. The deck's square footage has not been finalized, but Helm said the preliminary sketch includes space for about 500 cars, roughly more than 300 spaces than what is available now.

The project must stay within the $5.6 million budget to honor a previous promise to the university community not to raise parking fees, Helm said. The earmarked budget also will be used to build a walkway from the deck across Rivers Street, she said.

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In the News...

Stack to discuss "Struggle"

Carol Stack, professor of Women's Studies and Education at the University of California Berkeley will present "An American Struggle for Community" Monday at 8 p.m. in I.G. Greer Auditorium.

During her lecture, Stack will discuss the social phenomenon of "reverse migration," a recent trend that shows African-Americans are returning to the South to reclaim their Southern roots.

The lecture is sponsored by the Appalachian chapter of the National Collegiate Honor Society. For more information, contact Dr. Patricia Beaver at 262-2295 or the Center for Appalachian Studies at 262-4089.

"Honky Tonk Angels"

Dr. Heather Ann Bean of Scholars Bible College in California will present "Honky Tonk Angels: Country Music, Women and Theology" Tuesday at 8 p.m. in 104 Whitener Hall.

Sponsored by the department of philosophy and religion, Bean, an expert on women and religion, will discuss women's impact on country music.

For more information, contact the department of philosophy and religion at 262-3089.

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"Huckleberry Finn" presented

Mark Twain's adventure novel "Huckleberry Finn" will be presented by the Appalachian Young People's Theater Friday through Sunday.

The story chronicles the rites of passage of Huck Finn, played by Lee Randall. To escape his home life with Widow Douglas and the mean-spirited greed of his Pap, Huck stages his own murder and finds freedom traveling down the Mississippi River with his friend Jim, played by Michael Zachary.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the I.G. Greer Arena Theater. Tickets are $2 for children and $4 for adults. Call 262-3063 for more information.

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Chicano poet to speak

Poet and novelist Benjamin Alire Saenz will speak March 20 as part of Appalachian's Visiting Writers Series.

A self-described Chicano writer, Saenz will discuss the writing of fiction and poetry. He will also discuss the lives, problems and triumphs of contemporary Southwestern minorities expressed in many of his works.

The lecture starts at 2 p.m. in 307 Sanford Hall. Saenz will read from his work at 7 p.m. in the Calloway/MacRae Peak rooms of Plemmons Student Union. Both events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call 262-2871 or 265-0393.

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School of Music Receives Donation

Musicians Ken and May Laderoute and local entrepreneurs have contributed $2,000 toward the completion of the school of music's recording studios.

The Laderoutes own TCBY locations in Boone and Lenoir and play professionally with their band, "Cloud Nine." They are also active members of the music school's Music Industry Studies Advisory Board.

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