March 20, 1997

Appalachian Heritage Week shows the spirit of Boone
Jeremy Ball
Assistant Features Editor

Appalachian's campus is going native this week. The Appalachian Heritage Council is sponsoring a week of music and dancing, along with SGA, and celebrating the culture of the Appalachian mountains.

For those of us who may not have really put any thought into the culture around us, Lucas J. Pasley, a junior from Raleigh and a member of the Appalachian Heritage Council, suggests that we wise up and learn a little "because we're right smack in the middle of it".

It may come as a surprise to some that the Appalachian mountains are just teeming with valuable culture. Just look in the Appalachian collection. There are scores of books written about our back yard, but many of us don't know the first thing about it. Well, the Appalachian Heritage Committee is seeking to put an end to that ignorance and it is making a strong effort this week.

Things were kicked off in Tradewinds last night with a concert by one of the hottest old-time bands in the world, the Freighthoppers. Old-time is a traditional form of music native to the Appalachian mountains. It usually incorporates a fiddle, guitar, bass and banjo. But the Freighthoppers aren't just a bunch of old folkies. They play their music with an extra kick.

This may have been one of the last opportunities to hear this band on campus. They recently signed with Rounder Records, a major record label.

But, if you did miss them they are the opening act for this year's Merl-Fest, one of the east coast's largest acoustic music festivals, held right down the road in Wilkesboro from April 24 to 27.

On Saturday the week's festivities continue with the monthly contra dance in Legends. This month the Red Hots will be the dance band and the widely acclaimed, Rodney Sutton, will be the caller. The dance starts at 8:00 and it is $1 for students, $4 for non-students.

If you haven't been to a contra on campus yet, this may be a good opportunity for a first try. The caller, Sutton, has taught at many festivals and is well known throughout the area. He should also add a little excitement for the more experienced dancers. And remember, after this dance there's only one more left for this semester.

The heritage week is rounded out the following Thursday with a concert by some one that Pasley says "may be one of the best dulcimer players ever in existence", Don Pedi. The mountain dulcimer is an instrument native to the Appalachian mountains, and is played on the lap by strumming across the strings.

He will be performing with fiddler Steve Millard. Pedi has incorporated Tai Chi into his training so that he is able to play fiddle tunes incredibly fast.

Pasley says the amazing thing about Pedi's playing is that he plays the fiddle tunes almost note for note. You're just not supposed to be able to do that.

So, if you're bored this Saturday or Thursday night, or if you just want to have a good time, come out to one of these events and learn a little about the culture that surrounds you.

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Up with people celebrates diversity
Press Release

Okay, so who hasn't been there? It's a summer kind of afternoon...or a lousy winter, fall or spring one. You're sitting in class, teacher droning in the background, and it suddenly hits you — what in the world are you doing here? Especially when you could be out there, exploring the world instead of hearing about it. Doing something instead of reading about it.

Turns out this is an international syndrome that crosses ethnic, cultural, gender, and all other lines. And about 120 students from 20 countries have found a cure. Prescription? The Australian Outback. Or maybe St. Peter's Square in Rome after a chat with the Pope. Or how about exploring Poland or Russia, or helping kids in central Los Angeles, or living on a farm in Cozad, Nebraska for a few days? Or maybe center stage at Carnegie Hall, or the Olympics, or the Superbowl is more like it. Or how about all of that?

It's happened. Up With People students — who last year were sitting the same kind of classrooms that you are — are out of and now on a major road trip — 10 months, worldwide, some even for college credit. And they're coming here on Tuesday, March 25 to perform a two-hour rap-and-rock show called Festival, work on community-service projects and live with Boone families.

Once you talk to them (and find out how you can get in on this), you'll find out the adventure pays off. Counting themselves among Up With People's 17,000 students through the years are the current director of NBC Sports television; the principal trial attorney in San Francisco's District Attorney's office; a New York producer, actor and director; the head of Sweden's public-relations campaign; journalists; teachers; and executives at Paramount Pictures, C-SPAN television, Walt Disney Co., Scandinavian Airlines, and Covenant House/Latin America. Up With People alumni are leaders in media, business, education, law, medicine, social work, the fine arts, and government.

All that after a year on the road.

"I learned firsthand about racism, how M&M's are made, cultural differences, recycling, baking doughnuts and building houses," says Jenny Porter, and Up With People cast member and a graduate of American University. "When I returned to college after my year of travel, I was ready to read and study and really learn more about the world."

During her Up With People year, Porter lived with more than 75 host families from all walks of life, means and backgrounds. She also performed a two-hour show twice a week with cast members from 14 countries. "By living and working, day after day, with people from all over the world and backgrounds very different from my own, I learned how important it is to understand different points of view, even if you don't agree with them."

Like Porter, Up With People cast members work on community service projects with locals in every town on the tour (and help them keep it up after the cast leaves). They experience "career days" in several cities to figure out personal interests and strengths. And they go through internships to learn public relations and public speaking, education, event planning and leadership, marketing and merchandising, business management, fine arts, human resources, logistics management, and technical performance.

Up With People students run cast events and coordinate some cast operations; they go on tours and take part in other educational events around the world; they meet with business and political leaders; and many of them find out they're entrepreneurs and marketing whizzes when they raise their $12,600 tuition which covers transportation, room, board, and educational events. (In case you're wondering, that compares to some U.S. private university fees that run as high as $28,900.)

That real-world experience, added to the conventional classroom stint, is what has given Up With People Students the global experience and educational edge that sets them apart form their competitors in the job market. They come away from their cast year with the kind of world perspective, international contacts, leadership, business know-how, and management, presentation and technical skills that can only be gained on the world stage.

Plus, it's a lot of fun, and you don't have to know how to sing to do it.

Up With People is an international, non-profit, independent educational organization for students ages 17-25 whose purpose is to bring people of different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs together while achieving personal and professional growth, developing world-wide education and leadership skills, and reinforcing the value of community service.

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Get ready for the Oscars
Jason Foster
Reporter

Since the 69th annual Academy Awards will be handed out Monday night in Los Angeles, I thought I would write a little something out them. The Oscars are far superior to the Grammys and Emmys for so many reasons, to many to list here. Anyway, these are my thoughts on about half of the categories. Take these predictions however you want. But please, no wagering.

Best Picture: I would say the two biggest contenders are The English Patient and Fargo.

The English Patient reminds the Academy of the epic films of the Golden Age, which they really like. This is perhaps the film's biggest strength and could end up getting the film the award. Fargo, on the other hand, has the fresh factor going for it. The Coen brothers have a unique way of storytelling that has gone relatively unnoticed until now. It wouldn't be too surprising if the Academy chose to honor their film with the grand prize. As for the other films, Shine probably has the best chance of pulling out an upset, with the rest being underdogs.

The Academy can be unpredictable sometimes, so really anything is possible. However, I'm going to say The English Patient will be victorious when the winner of the category is read at about 12:00 am Monday night.

Best Director: It is usually customary, though not always the case, for the director of the Best Picture winner to take home this award. Whoever wins this may very well serve as an omen of things to come.

Having just written the above paragraph, however, this may be one of the years when the awards are spread out to cover all the major films. This will probably be the case, so look for Fargo director Joel Coen to win. He's talented and it's about time he gets recognized.

Best Actor: Geoffrey Rush is definitely the front-runner in this category for his performance in Shine. The Academy loves it when actors play characters with disabilities or other problems, as he does here. To be honest, there is really no competition for him.

Best Actress: Frances McDormand is almost a shoe-in for her performance as a pregnant policewoman in Fargo. She has been the favorite for a while, so it appears unlikely that she will be denied come Monday night.

Best Supporting Actor: The favorite for a while was Edward Norton for his role as an accused killer in Primal Fear. But it now seems that a late surge of enthusiasm for Cuba Gooding, Jr. in Jerry Maguire may prove to be enough to make Mr. Gooding a very happy man when the winner is announced. Show me the money! Isn't that getting old?

Best Supporting Actress: It seemed for a while that Joan Allen would win for The Crucible, but now it looks as if the Academy will go for the more comedic performance (which they usually do in this category) and award Lauren Bacall with her first Oscar.

Best Original Screenplay: It's a toss-up between Fargo (Joel and Ethan Coen) and Jerry Maguire (Cameron Crowe). Both are from the minds of writers who can mix wit and humor well, so it's hard to say. I'm going to go out on limb and say that Jerry Maguire will take it, though it would be nice, but very unlikely, to see a tie.

Best Adapted Screenplay: The swarm of enthusiasm for The English Patient will likely pay off for the film here. It seems like the obvious choice for voters, but I wouldn't be surprised if they give the award to Arthur Hiller for his adaptation of his own classic play, The Crucible.

Best Song: There's no Disney song nominated this year so the Academy will actually have to use their brain to choose the winner. Look for "You Must Love Me" from Evita to take the award. They'll want to give the film something and this is the perfect category.

Best Dramatic Score: I would guess it will go to Gabriel Yared for The English Patient, though Elliot Goldenthal's music from Michael Collins could provide stiff competition. However, the voters could choose John Williams for Sleepers because they recognize his name.

Best Musical or Comedy Score: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (in accordance with federal law established in 1989 that states that Alan Menken must win whenever nominated). I would give it to Rachel Portman for Emma, though.

As for the technical awards, look for Twister and Independence Day to take these. Also, expect The Nutty Professor to take the Make-up award.

Well, these are my thoughts, if you care—and if you've read this far then you must. We'll know how close I came on Tuesday morning. If you're still reading this, I thank you. Also, you might want to get some help.

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