NAACP celebrates the many successes and advancements for African Americans 

Tiffany Fant Multicultural Beat 

For 90 years, this organization, through political pressure, marches, demonstrations and effective lobbying has served as the voice of African Americans. The organization is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 

The NAACP was formed on Feb. 12, 1909, the 100th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, “by a group of black and white citizens committed to social justice.” Ida Wells, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard and William English Walling led the meeting “on the concept of creating an organization that would be an aggressive watchdog of Negro liberties.” 

The NAACP has had many successes in making advancements for African Americans and people of color in general. In Guinn v. United States, the NAACP was able to get the Supreme Court to “strike down the grandfather clauses of state constitutions as an unconstitutional barrier to voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment.” NAACP was also successful in declaring the Louisville ordinance unconstitutional. 

Though the process of change was “slow and evolutionary” the NAACP knew “it was the only way to win full constitution guarantees for the rights of minorities.” 

Currently the NAACP has an economic boycott on South Carolina.  This boycott is to get the confederate flag removed from atop the state’s capitol. 

The college chapter of ASU’s NAACP has been dormant for a few years but the help of Harry Williams and the students of ASU, hopefully all of that will change. To help ASU get on the road to reorganization Gina Pettis-Dean will come on Feb. 16 to help ASU re-evaluate its chapter. 

Because of the name many people are hesitant to come.  One of the first things that should be mentioned is that the founders were both black and white.  Also, anyone who is fighting for injustices against humans are welcome as well. According to the NAACP, “the struggle continues and we invite all Americans to stand with us - Native-Americans, black, white, and Hispanic, young and old, Jew and Gentile, male and female. Wherever Americans of goodwill and decency reside - they are welcome to join our ranks until freedom for all is won.” 

Banner contest for final game in gym  

The Appalachian State University Athletic Department is sponsoring a banner contest for the final game at Varsity Gym against Western Carolina University. Banners will be hung from the catwalk in Varsity Gym. All student organizations are encouraged to show their support and enter the contest. 

Prize money will be awarded to the three best banners as selected by men’s basketball head coach Buzz Peterson. 

The theme is “Farewell to Varsity Gym- Going Out in Style” and will commemorate the years of service from Varsity Gym. 

The basketball game will be Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. 

The banner can be no longer than 20 feet, there are no width restrictions and the banner must be in good taste. 

Prize money will be awarded to the top three banners. First place will receive $200, second place will be awarded $100 and third place will receive $50. 

All entries and information sheets, which were received in the mail, must be turned in to Assistant Athletic Director Mark Driebelbis no later than noon on Thursday, Feb. 24. 

Any questions can be directed to Christopher Ellen and John Foard at 263-3080. 

Chinese New Year Celebrated on campus this past weekend 

Tiffany Fant Multicultural Beat Editor 

The year 2000 is not only a new century, but it is also the year of the dragon. 

On Saturday, the Chinese Club celebrated the beginning of the Chinese New Year.  

The Chinese New Year is a 15 day celebration which begins with the new moon on the first day of the new year. During the 15 day celebration, participants pay respect to the earth, heavens and their ancestors through various performances and traditions. 

The 15th day, which ends the celebration, is in accord with the full moon.  The last day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival. 

Saturday, the second floor of the Food and Consumer Science building became the site of the Chinese New Year. Over 200 people were in attendance for the event. Local restaurants, along with the hard work of some students, provided an array of food that was unimaginable. 

“I am open-minded, and I tried everything to see what I liked and disliked ... and that what has to be done with every culture,” said Mark Lloyd. 

The celebration also had presentations of Chinese poetry and dance, along with the dance of the dragon. 

After presentations on the inside, the participants went outside to enjoy the feature of the firecracker show and another dance of the dragon. 

For Lloyd this was a culture shock as well as a learning experience. “Everyone celebrates the new year differently ... and celebrating the Chinese New Year with them helped me to understand that,” said Lloyd. 

Peer Career: the means to an end  

Zaneta Wood Student Organization Beat  

“Peer career is a means to an end,” said Michelle Brown, graduate assistant for the Peer Career Center. 

The Peer Career Center is a resource center for students designed to provide peer guidance in choosing majors and careers by staffing undergraduate students as volunteers.  They are trained in communication skills, organization skills, listening skills and teamwork. 

The peer career volunteers lead students through four steps to help them make decisions about careers. 

The first step, called “Self-Assessment,” focuses on a student’s interests, abilities, experience and values desired in his or her chosen career.  Based on answers given through inventories, the student is matched with a specific field. 

“We assess where they’re at in their career decisions and help them research,” said Brown. “The student can learn more about themselves through discussion.” 

The second step, “Information,” allows a student to narrow down his or her choices to two or three areas of study.  The center has a career research library, internet resources and computer resources.  Literature, like the Occupational Outlook Handbook, describes job tasks, qualities, salaries and project growth. 

“The fastest growing fields are social work, environmental sciences, computer sciences and healthcare,” said Brown. 

“Decision Making,” the third step, is where the student weighs the pros and cons of the fields and careers of interest. By ranking the importance of values in a job, the student is able to focus on making a well-informed and concise decision. 

“Career Planning” is the final step before the Career Development Center (CDC). At the CDC, the student can build his or her resume, have mock interviews, apply for internships and search for jobs. 
Peer career has nine undergraduate volunteers and one graduate assistant. 

Co-coordinators are Jennie Cassidy, associate director of the Counseling Center, and Marjorie Ellis, associate director of the Career Development Center. 

The Peer Career Center recruits volunteers every semester.  Each volunteer works five hours a week and is required to attend one staff meeting a week. 20 hours of training are required. 

The center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to noon on Fridays. 

“Peer career is a wonderful way to get involved with students and gain experience for the future,” said Gina Slagle, undergraduate volunteer. 

“I had trouble choosing a major.  Peer career helped me and now I hope I can help others,” said Wesley Allen, undergraduate volunteer. 

For more information about the Peer Career Center, call 262-2029. 

Plemmons Medallion seeks nominations  

Caitlyn Payne SGA Beat  

Barbara Daye, dean of students, is looking for nominations for the Plemmons Medallion award, an award that recognizes the time, energy, leadership and dedication of students and faculty. 

Daye spoke to SGA last Tuesday about nominating professors and student leaders for this year’s award. Any student or staff member may nominate a student leader or faculty member for the award. 

The Plemmons Medallion was established in 1996. It was named in honor of Dr. William H. Plemmons, the president of Appalachian State University from 1955 to 1969.  It commemorates the dedication of faculty and students to Appalachian. One student leader and one faculty member will receive the award. 

Any student or staff may nominate a student leader or faculty member for the Plemmons Medallion. 

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 16, 2000. The nomination forms are available in the SGA office, located on thesecond floor of the Student Union. 

Technical difficulties strike WASU  

Leslie Hitchcock Editor-in-Chief  

WASU 90.5 The App is off the air, temporarily that is. 

The voltage regulator card broke in the mixer board, and the station has had to order another one, said Larry Cornelison, engineer. 

A voltage regulator card is the device that supplies power to the entire mixer board. 

Cornelison said he ordered the new part last Friday and he anticipates having it repaired today or Wednesday. 

The sound board broke last Tuesday and the station has been off the air ever since, except for a broadcast of the Appalachian State University women’s basketball game on Saturday. 

To broadcast the game, it was necessary to reroute the signal through a mixer, said Station Manager Jimmy Moore. 

“It is just one big headache,” Moore said. 

The current sound board has been in use at WASU since 1972. “It is about time something broke,” said Moore. Return To Top