March 18, 1997

Appalachian graduate student reported missing
Chris Kenner - News Editor
Darin Glass - Staff Writer

Tanya Lynn Belanger, an Appalachian State University graduate student, was reported missing Feb. 28.

Belanger was reported missing by her brother Troy, also an Appalachian student, to the University Police, according to Officer Patricia Elkins.

Belanger is a 27 year-old white female. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Her height is 5'6" and she is approximately 175 lbs.

Elkins also stated that Belanger's vehicle was reported missing as well. Belanger drives a dark blue 1988 GMC pickup truck.

The Beech Mountain Police Department has also been informed of Belanger's disappearance.

Neither police department has any clues as to her location or any suspicion of foul play at this time.

Anyone who has seen Belanger or has any knowledge of her whereabouts is asked to contact the ASU Police Department at 262-2150 or the Beech Mountain Police Department at 387-2342.

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Appalachian student commits suicide
Darin Glass
Staff Writer

An 38-year-old ASU student took his life during Spring Break while at his brother's house in Raleigh.

Michael Brian Bentley, an elementary education major, was working on his last semester in school and was planning to pursue a career in teaching.

Robert White, a history department professor and a friend of Bentley's, said that Bentley was a very involved student who had a love for learning.

"Michael liked to take problems apart. He was a compassionate person who contributed," said White of Bentley.

Bentley had gone to China this past summer in a Summer Study Abroad Program with White and was a vital part of the trip.

"He really added to a class because he charged right in. He asked the questions that other students might find odd or uninformed," said White.

Dr. Jefferson Boyer, an associate professor in anthropology, said the news of Bentley caught him by surprise. " He cared a lot. He wanted to give something back, " said Boyer.

"I was just getting to know him. I know it is a loss for ASU and us all," said Boyer of the impact of that Bentley's death has had on him.

Dr. Boyer also stated how he wished he could have prevented this suicide. "I think if there was a stronger friendship support network, then it might have been prevented."

Both professors stressed the importance of students and teachers realizing the signs of suicide. Depression and withdrawal are just two signs of suicide that are outwardly seen.

"We all are our own keepers," said Boyer of how this tragedy could have been prevented.

Michael Bentley was a very unique student who was excited about learning and was willing to spread his knowledge to children. He will be missed by professors, students, his family and ASU.

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Thomas Hall dedication
ASU News Bureau

John E. Thomas Hall, the new academic building at Appalachian will be formally dedicated on Friday, March 21 at 1:30 p.m.

The building is named for Appalachian's fourth chancellor. Thomas came to the university in 1974 as vice chancellor for academic affairs. He was named chancellor in 1979 and retired in 1993.

Construction of the building began in April 1995 and houses the admissions, financial aid, cultural affairs, registrar and the university's visitor center.

During the Thomas administration, enrollment rose 25 percent and applications increased 60 percent.

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Guitarist to perform at ASU Music Festival
ASU News Bureau

Internationally known guitarists Anthony Giles, John Michael Parris, Thomas Patterson and others will perform and teach master classes during the Appalachian Guitar Fest March 21-23. Sponsored by Appalachian State University's School of Music, the three-day event includes workshops and performances.

Tickets for individual concerts are $8 for adults and $5 for students with an ID. Tickets for all three days' concerts are $20 for adults and $12 for students with ASU IDs. The cost for all concerts, master classes and workshops is $40.

Tickets are available weekdays at the School of Music and will also be available at the door. Call 262-3020 for more information.

The event begins March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon with a master class conducted by Patterson. Parris will lead a master class that afternoon from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

Patterson is director of guitar studies at the University of Arizona and regularly teaches at festivals in the United States and Latin America. He has studied with many of the world's leading teachers including Abel Carlevaro, Oscar Ghiglia and David Russell. He has performed in China, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Italy.

Parris has won three international guitar competitions, including the 1990 Guitar Foundation of America international competition. He is a member of the N.C. School of the Arts faculty.

Glise will conduct a workshop on composing for the guitar from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 21. Glise was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in composition in 1991. He currently teaches in southern Germany.

The concerts themselves will begin March 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Rosen Concert Hall, when Director of Guitar Studies at ASU Douglas James will be joined by other ASU music faculty and Parris.

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. March 22, jazz guitarist Richard Stephan from the State University of New York-Potsdam will perform with Glise in Rosen Concert Hall.

Activities on March 23 include a workshop and master class from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a 2 p.m. concert by Patterson, also in Rosen Concert Hall.

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Colleges to be revamped
Darin Glass
Staff Writer

A Collegial Organizational Committee has been appointed by Provost Harvey Durham to study the issue of Appalachian's college organization.

The committee members are Sally Atkins, Howard Dorgan, Mark Estepp, Delbert Goff, Jane Lieberman, Frank Mohler, Joe Murphy, Conrad Oswalt, Thomas Rhyne, Lyle Schoenfeldt, Arthur Unsworth, Gary Walker, David Wood and Faye Sawyer, who is the chair of the committee.

The committee will be asking the question: Is there a better way of doing things?

"We may or may not need to reorganize things. We are looking at balancing the colleges more," said Dr. Howard Dorgan .

Getting greater access for programs in the colleges and taking a look at the sizes of the colleges are just some of the questions that will be looked into.

The committee has only met one time and has not set a date for another meeting yet.

The committee plans to have an answer by the end of the fall semester.

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In the News...

Hoops for Habitat

Basketball players of all ages are invited to participate in "Hoops For Habitat," a three-on-three basketball tournament to benefit the Watauga County Habitat for Humanity.

Sponsored by Hampton Inn of Boone and Sigma Nu Fraternity, participants will compete for cash prizes while supporting the Habitat For Humanity. The tournament will be held April 5 and 6 in Varsity and Broome-Kirk Gyms.

Entry fees are $10 per player. Registration forms are available at the Hampton Inn in Boone and at the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Office. Forms must be returned to the Hampton Inn or the Appalachian Intramural Office by March 24.

For more information, contact Habitat For Humanity at 262-1213.

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Hispanic writer presents lecture

Marcos McPeek Villatoro, author of numerous nonfiction books on the history of Central America, will speak on "Hispanic Appalachian Identity" Monday in Edwin Duncan Hall, Room 02. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Villatoro is a lecturer, storyteller and guitarist who combines his Latino and Appalachian heritage into his lectures. Preceding his lecture, Villatoro will be available during a reception at the Center for Appalachian Studies, University Hall.

For more information, contact Dr. Patricia Beaver at 262-4089 or the Anthropology Department at 262-2295.

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Coach chairs library drive

Women's Basketball Coach Linda Robinson has been selected as chair of the Richard T. Barker Friends of the Library membership drive.

"The quality of education that all students receive is highly dependent on the quality of the library, and I want Appalachian's library to be the very best it can be," Robinson said. "I want our students to have all the resources necessary to master their course work and succeed in their chosen fields."

The Friends of the Library hopes to attract 100 new members during the drive, which ends March 31. The organizations supports the library through book donations and special events, including appearances by regional authors.

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TV special focuses on education

How well college students are prepared for college is the topic of Appalachian Perspective, the cable television program produced by Appalachian.

In "Developmental Education: Are Students prepared for College?," Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski interviews two experts in the field: Dr. Hunter Boylan, director of the National Center for Developmental Education, and Dr. Anita Kitchens, director of Appalachian's developmental math program.

The 30-minute program airs weeknights at 6 on AppalNet channel 20. It also airs on Booth Communications' channel 2 Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.

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