Let them eat pizza

Letter writers help rats

Women Respond

To the Editor: 

     Congratulations for all the hard work, creativity and commitment to Appalachian shown by your groups during Homecoming ’98. 

     I am writing to apologize for a very unfortunate mistake which was made in the Student Programs office, which impacted the outcome of the Homecoming Champion in the UFO category announced at halftime of the VMI game. 

     Due to an omission on the scoring spread sheets, the Ambassadors were not credited with their 50 points for their “Into the Streets” service project. When this score is added, the Ambassadors finished first, with a total of 275 points. 

     APPS and SGA were previously announced as winners, having tied with 245 points each. Thus, APPS and SGA actually finished tied for second. 

     Even though the spread sheets were checked by two different pairs of people, the omission still went undetected. 

     I sincerely regret this error. I feel for the Ambassadors who missed their recognition at halftime. (They will be properly recognized at their meeting today and at the Homecoming Awards Reception on Nov. 18.) 

     I have apologized in person to both the SGA Senate and the APPS Executive Cabinet. I deeply regret the disappointment these fine groups must feel in being falsely led to believe they had won such a huge university honor. 

     Because of SGA’s sponsorship of the parade, “Into the Streets” and king and queen selections, and APPS’s sponsorship of Jeff Dunham, Lavelle Crawford, Duck Pond Carnival, Jump Little Children, Step Show After Party, the Spike Lee Film Series and Madonna Rama Bowling, Homecoming ’98 was a smash success. 
 

     The fact that the Ambassadors could perform all their Alumni Department tasks and still enter homecoming competitions and that SGA and APPS could do all they do and still enter these events is an amazing tribute to their respective organizations and the students who lead them. 

     While I regret our mistake and its unfortunate consequences, we all celebrate these and other campus groups. I hope that your memories and learnings from Homecoming are positive and that the bonds of your membership are stronger as a result of your participation. 

     Congratulations to the Ambassadors, the Appalachian Popular Programming Society and the Student Government Association for helping to make “Homecoming ’98 the Heart of Tradition” one of the best ever.  You are all champions in my book. 

Dave Robertson, Director 
Department of Student Programs 
Homecoming ’98 Chair

To the Editor: 

     Homecoming ’98 at Appalachian was a huge success due to the efforts of many people. 

     Changes were made this year which improved Homecoming with the movement of the SGA-sponsored parade to Saturday morning and the pep rally on Friday night. 

     I hope that students will seek out members of SGA, APPS, ACT, CRSA and the RSA’s, NPHC, WASU, The Appalachian, the Ambassadors, the marching band, the Greeks, the cheerleaders, and the football team and thank them for all their efforts to make this Homecoming so much fun. 

     The effort required to plan, organize and execute so many diverse events in such a short time is enormous, and credit is due to many people for their contributions. 

     They include: Gretchen Meister, SGA Coordinator for king and queen and the parade and SGA Parade Committee; Brad Vest, Homecoming Co-Chair ; Chris Joyner, Graduate Assistant; Dino Dibernardi, Director of CSIL; Mike Daniels, The Appalachian Editor-in-Chief and staff; Matt Morrow, The APP Station Manager and staff; Holly Hinkle, CRSA Homecoming Coordinator; Jason Choakel and Scott Ranger, Staff in Residence Life; Mark Dreibelbis, Roachel Laney and Debbie Richardson from Athletics; Dr. Jay Jackson and the Marching Band; Randy Kelly, Peggy Setzer, Scott Cato, Tricia Turner, Kelvin Ratley, Melody Garden, Dee Gray and Betty Church in Student Programs; Janine Underdown, Sue Naff, Dr. Betty Bond, Centennial Homecoming Committee; Tracy Ford, Michael Coleman, Barbara Burgin, Alumni Affairs; Linda Coutant, Jane Nicholson, Mike Rominger, News Bureau; Michelle Bolick, APPS’s President and APPS’s Councils and Chairs; Larry Foster and Campus Police; Barry Sauls and Traffic Patrol ; all participating clubs and organizations; Jim Bryan, Terry Beach and the Grounds Crew; Jerry Moore and the Mountaineer coaches; April Jones and the cheerleaders; Boone Police; Dr. Greg Blimling, Bob Feid, Donna Krause in Student Development; Sarah Heustess, Gregg Williams and the Farthing staff; the Watauga Democrat, Mountain Times; and WASU. Many others worked behind the scenes to create a big success, and they, too, deserve thanks. 
Finally, officers of all student organizations are invited to attend the Homecoming Awards reception on Nov. 18 at 5p.m. in the Grandfather Mountain Ballroom. Plaques will be presented to top finishers in the parade floats, walking groups, kazoo bands, and banner contest. 
Checks will go to all non-university funded groups for participating in the parade, and prize money will be awarded to those who place. 
Thanks again for the unbelievable show of spirit and community which make Appalachian so great. 

     Because so many worked as a team, “Homecoming ’98, The Heart of Tradition” solidified its place in the hearts of Appalachian students, staff and alums as one of the many memories which bind us together as “Mountaineers” and bond us to this wonderful university. Thanks to you all. 

Dave Robertson, Director 
Department of Student Programs 
Homecoming ’98 Chair 
 
 

Let them eat pizza
 

To the Editor: 

     “Appalachian’s Finest Fights To Stay Alive,” “Pizzeria Workers Fight Back,” “Pizzeria Gives Cold Shoulder to TCBY,” “Pretzel Scare Rocks Pizzeria,” all of these headlines sound humorous, but if you are a Pizzeria employee, you could be fearful of your job security. 

     Anyone breathing knows that the Pizzeria is in danger of being taken over by TCBY and/or a pretzel shop. Take a closer look at the effects of what will happen. 

     What will happen to our delivery guys? Do you really think that ASU is going to paint the delivery truck and have bells put on it so that they can cruise dorm to dorm selling yogurt cones? 

    That is okay, though. I’m sure that every student lays back in their room and dreams of trucking cross campus at 11:00 on a cold, rainy, Feburary night to get a high priced yogurt or day-old pretzel, right? 
Besides, consider this, the Pizzeria sells, on average, 100 pizzas a night, at an average price of $10 a pie. 

     Do the simple math. That is about $1,000  a night and close to $6,000 a week. The average pretzel or scoop of yogurt costs only around $2-3 apiece. The new TCBY/pretzel shop would have to sell at least 500 units a night to keep up. 

     Now how many people believe that 500 ASU students are going to buy some yogurt or a pretzel on a nightly basis? Not many. 
Plus, if students want yogurt or a pretzel that bad, between Park Place and the Food Court you can get both. 

     Why should ASU ask one of the few on-campus pizzerias to sell yogurt or pretzels when both are available at other locations throughout the Boone area? 

     Personally, I see it as another way ASU is disregarding students’ opinions and values, and I think most would agree. 

     Hey, if they want to spend that much money, why not apply it to improving the Pizzeria, instead of destroying it? And speaking of destroying, what will happen to our beloved supervisor? Will she be left struggling as a dishwasher at the Food Court? She has been there and done that. 

     We Pizzeria workers do not complain about the 105 degree temperatures raging from the ovens of death, or the smell of the government cheese in the wee hours of the night. 

    No, we take the cards that ASU Food Services deal to us and keep on baking. It would be nice of ASU to think about what the students want and need instead of attempting to make more money (which most likely they will not). 

     Everybody needs a little pizza in their life, and they do not call us Appalachian’s Finest for nothing. 

Helen Harris hh23876 
David Hicks dh28360 
Amy Huntsman ah24309 
 
 

To the Editor: 

     It is so absolutely amazing. I am so dumbfounded I can’t see straight. It appears that the general population of this institution has shown that their I.Q. level is no larger then a three-year-old’s shoe size. 

     The masses have spoken, and they have spoken about such important topics as how to find the most pointless grammar mistakes and how everyone’s favorite coffeehouse must be the best. 

     Give me a flying break, will ya?  No, I cannot write, and yes, I have a favorite coffeehouse, but how in the world does that pertain to you? 
Is that something you want to know about me or anyone else you are not dating? So much for getting away from the immaturity of high school. 

     And I thought a college attendance policy was bad. But looking in this paper’s editorial section every week has shown me the reality of your priorities, and they are WHACKED. 

     If these are the only letters the paper gets, then I cannot imagine the headaches the staff goes home with every night after reading all of this bunk.  No offense to the staff of this paper; you have all done a wonderful job covering the news on this campus. But I wouldn’t use the letters to the editor section to pick up dog droppings. 

     I see letters in this paper where people get on a soap box and start spewing forth half truths, since they have no ability to research the topic first, and then forget about what they have done. The best example of this is all of the hype about the library. 

     My dream for a library is to be able to get  lost on one of the 12 floors, as well as in a book that hasn’t seen the daylight since the 50s. That way, when I have to write a research paper for a class, I can find all of the information that I could ever possibly use; so much so that the teacher tells me I have too much information on the topic. But I am at Appalachian, and that is not the case. 

     Instead of hearing about how we as students can help the library get extra funds for expansion or even getting new books, you throw stones at them because they don’t fix a leak in the ceiling. But at the same time, the college is building a new science building. 

     What the general ignorant masses do not know is that the university has to follow state procedures on getting it fixed. Now, if anyone knows anything about the way state governments work, well then you probably know that it is quite ridiculous and extremely SLOW. Heck, they are spending all of the surplus money from the budget figuring out what to do with it. 

     Another prime example of unintelligent articles is the whole discussion of frats. Part of the campus thinks they suck, and another part defends them. 

     The rest of us just skip the articles. Yes, frats are both good and bad, just like everything else. So why throw mud at each other and waste everyone else’s time when you could just go about your business of getting educated. 

     I personally would like to know why someone hasn’t asked why there are no sorority houses in Boone? Answer: because it would be legally considered a whorehouse. But no one brings up that point, so I have to see some totally ignorant person say they suck, probably because they can not afford to get in. 

     And some other geek, I mean Greek, defends themselves, probably because they are so used to getting their way from mommy and daddy. 
So get over it already, and show me something that is pertinent to the world. 

     I can already hear the campus rumbling about how crazy I am and how you are going to show me wrong in front of everyone (No ego here). You want to pop my ego? Start writing things that prove not all of the people on this campus are dumber then dirt!! 

     You want me to look stupid in front of the whole campus? Write about how to get my food and things cheap so I can boycott the outrageous food places and bookstore. 

     Yet, I guess none of you have that ability to do the work that it takes to actually think about what you are saying,  and that is why I have to read these immature articles. 

     Ah well, I guess we are just stuck in an immature rut and need a push from the real world to get us out. 

     I am going to line my rodent’s cage now; luckily, you all have provided a great deal of paper for it. I will talk to you later. 

Paul Emerson 
ASU Box 08130
 
 

Women respond

To the Editor: 

     I am writing to share my views on the opinion article written by Nathan McKinney entitled, “Polygamy is more than just getting laid.” 

    I do see the humor in the article and don’t want to come off as a witch (for lack of better words) that is just looking for something to complain about. 

     He begins by stating that he wants to recapture the morals of past generations by initiating himself into the “exciting” world of polygamy. 

     Maybe he should consider the morals and values of the past generations a little more. 

     They not only respected their women but treated them as great and honorable creatures, not like “potato chips” as stated in the last sentence of his article. 

     He also included a horrible quote from Mark Twain about how men should be praised and glorified because they take these women that are “poor, ungainly and pathetically homely creatures” that no one else would want. 

     I hate to be the one to point this out, but the male population does not consist entirely of Tom Cruise look-alikes. Looks should not be the issue in any case. 

     Monogamy is commiting yourself to one person for the rest of your life. It is finding the soul that touches your soul or the smile that is forever engrained in your memory and knowing that no one could ever begin to touch your heart or make you as happy as that one person. 

     It is obvious that the author has yet to experience this and therefore, can conciously hold the view that he does. 

     I say to Nathan McKinney, rewrite the article after you have fallen in love, and you will find it impossible. 

Human beings mate for life, not for minutes. 

Anah McRae 
am24906