April 8, 1997

Alternative transportation committee releases list of recommendations
Beth Bliss
Staff Writer

Suggestions reaching beyond the Appalcart and walking to class have been drafted by the Alternative Transportation Committee, which was appointed by Chancellor Frank Borkowski in 1996 in recognition of the need for transportation alternatives in the Appalachian community.

The committee consists of nine members, including three students, and was described by Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration Al Rapp as a good cross-section of the University.

Recommendations made by the committee include improvements and alternatives for campus buildings and grounds, parking and general transportation, Rapp said.

A complete list of the recommendations has been published on the back page of the Appalachian.

Rapp described the suggestions as a "comprehensive package." To form alternative transportation suggestions, the committee gathered information from various expert sources, Rapp said.

Such experts ranged from University Police officials to the Director of Transportation at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he said.

In early December 1996, the committee sought public and university input with an open forum and a student survey, Rapp said. Rapp said this input was considered as the committee developed its recommendations, and opinion has been sought again this semester before the recommendations are forwarded to the Chancellor for consideration.

"We've gotten a number of positive comments and suggestions," he said.

A majority of feedback received has come from Appalachian students. However, not all student feedback has been positive, said committee member Cliff Fitte.

Fitte, a junior, said some students have expressed concern that they will have to sacrifice too much with alternative transportation, especially with parking alternatives. "(Students) are not the only ones sacrificing," Fitte said. "Everyone has to give a little bit."

For example, Fitte favors the recommendation for "satellite" parking lots, which would allow students to park one or two miles off campus and ride a shuttle to campus. Fitte explained the committee formulated such suggestions to exhaust all possibilities before Appalachian administration makes plans to build a parking deck on campus.

"Parking can only get worse," Fitte said. "The responsibility (rests) on faculty, staff and students to sacrifice something."

A summary of ATC recommendations:

Parking:

The committee proposed implementing satellite parking lots with shuttle services running every ten minutes and reduced parking fees.

The committee suggested a plan which would reduce the number of vehicles traveling to the interior of campus and to reward carpoolers by providing free parking for cars with three or more passengers.

The ATC proposed restricting all residence hall student parking to perimeter lots regardless of academic year (excepting handicapped students) and not issuing on-campus parking privileges to those living within a reasonable walking distance of an AppalCart route.

The committee also proposed enforcing parking regulations regardless of time of day.

Transportation:

The committee hopes to establish "an environment designed to encourage walking and bike usage" through development of additional bikeways and building bike ramps where only stairs currently exist.

The committee suggested disallowing the use of bike lanes for overflow parking and adding sidewalks.

The ATC supported university cooperation with the Town of Boone and N.C. Department of Transportation to encourage safe bicycle and pedestrian traffic, particularly on Rivers Street.

The committee advocates creating a "pedestrian feel" to campus by closing selected roads to general traffic flow within campus to reduce congestion and increase pedestrian safety.

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Students encouraged to apply for SGA cabinet
Beth Bliss
Staff Writer

Students with a genuine love for Appalachian and a willingness to serve the student body are encouraged by future Student Government Association president Fernando Little to pursue a position on the 1997-98 SGA Cabinet.

Little and vice-president elect Jake Parker are seeking students with experience parallel to the duties of each Cabinet position, he said.

"We encourage anyone who has an interest in student government or student concerns to apply for a cabinet position," Little said. "That's the only way we can get a broad representation of this campus."

Previous SGA or Cabinet experience is not a necessity, Parker said. "We (need) people who are experienced in student government, but we've also got to have people that have fresh ideas."

Parker said any prospective cabinet member must have the ability to lead and should be willing to make student government his or her first co-curricular priority.

Applications for Cabinet positions are available in the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership on the second floor of the student union. Completed applications are due April 17 by 5p.m.

Interviews will be conducted April 21-25, and the Cabinet will be announced April 28.

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Little, Parker hope to spread excitement
Beth Bliss
Staff Writer

One prides himself on his integrity; the other admits he is often labeled intense. Together, they share a love of basketball and an argument over who is the more talented player.

But perhaps more importantly, Fernando Little and Jake Parker have a common goal: to effectively serve Appalachian State University and to make a difference as the 1997-98 Student Government Association's president and vice-president.

Fernando Little, a business administration major from Charlotte, is involved with several campus organizations, including APPS, Student Ambassadors and the gospel choir.

Political science major Jake Parker served as SGA's Mountaineer Escort director last semester and is Chaplain for Theta Chi fraternity.

However, Little and Parker both agree that their differences result in a powerful combination of leadership styles and experiences.

"I'm very intense, he's very laid-back," Parker said. "(People) are always wondering what Fernando is thinking, and (people) will know what I'm thinking right away. Our personalities have really meshed, and we make one unique team."

The unique Little-Parker team has several plans for their upcoming term, and Parker feels the strength of their partnership rests within their dedication to Appalachian students.

"We put students before our personal lives," Parker said. "The students come first. If someone wants to call me at (midnight) with a complaint, they can feel free (to do so)."

However, strong dedication can also lead to problems in leadership, and Little admits it will be difficult to avoid over-involvement with the personal concerns and complaints of constituents. "We have to be careful not to let our emotions conflict with the job we have to do," he said. "Our concern (for students) is so strong that it's hard not to get emotionally involved."

However, Little and Parker have no plans to allow their concern of over-involvement overshadow their desire to "restore the student voice," a major focus of their campaign.

Both Little and Parker said they want students to be familiar with and excited about their student government.

"Jake and I don't plan on being stuck on the second floor of the student union in the SGA office," Little said.

"We are going to be out (on campus) actively seeking input and getting concerns (from students) and letting students know who their student representatives are."

During his term as president, Little does not want any Appalachian student to feel as if he or she is left out of the SGA process.

"(SGA) is their organization," he said. "It is the governing body that was established to serve and represent (students). They should never feel like they don't have a say."

Parker echoed Little, explaining the need for an "esprit de corps" among the student senate.

"We need to build a (senate) community that is going to work together and get over their differences," he said. "The students will be served in the end, but will we be fragmented or will we work together?"

And hopefully, Little said, this enthusiasm will spread to the student body. "Jake and I want students to realize that there is nothing wrong with getting excited about your student government," he said.

"You can be business-like, but you can have fun doing it, and we're going to have fun whatever we do."

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In the News...

Gaither to speak at CEO lecture

Ann H. Gaither, chairperson and chief executive officer of the J.F. Heafner Company Inc. will speak Thursday at the Harlan E. Boyles Distinguished CEO Lecture Series.

For the past five years, Gaither has been named one of the Top Fifty Women Business Owners in the United States for her leadership of the largest tire distributorship in the Southeast. Gaither joined the Heafner company in 1974 and has served in a variety of positions from vice president for marketing to senior vice president, president, executive vice president, CEO and chairperson.

The event, sponsored by the Walker College of Business, begins at 2 p.m. in Valborg Theater, located in Chapel Wilson Hall. The lecture will be followed by a reception at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. For more information, call 262-2057.

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Greensboro Meteorologist to speak

Randy Jackson, chief meteorologist at WFMY-TV in Greensboro, will give a multimedia presentation on "Hazardous Weather in North Carolina" Monday.

Jackson has worked at WFMY-TV for 15 years. He has been a pioneer in on-site storm coverage of severe weather, including hurricanes, northeasters and tornadoes. He has authored numerous publications on severe weather and is a certified member of the National Weather Association.

His lecture begins at 7 p.m. in 279 Rankin Science. For more information, contact Dr. Pete Soule' at 262-7056.

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Seeger and Brown to perform

Musicians Mike Seeger and Paul Brown will present a collection of songs played on the banjo, guitar, fiddle and other instruments Friday at 8 p.m. in Tradewinds Coffeehouse.

Seeger and Brown will present duets and solos including fiddle tunes, early blues and their unique arrangement of familiar songs of familiar songs featuring the banjo, guitar, fiddle, autoharp, harmonica and Jew's harp.

For more information, contact the student programs office at 262-3032.

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Book Sale features bargains

Book lovers will find great bargains at a new book sale April 16-18 in Belk Library.

Sponsored by the Richard T. Barker Friends of the Library, the sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in Room 119 in Belk Library. Brand-new hardback books, discounted from 40 to 70 percent, will be available on subjects such as gardening, cooking, sports, hobbies, medicine and crafts. Bestsellers, children's books and games, and photo albums will also be for sale.

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